Eight

AJ shifted awkwardly on his feet. "Uuwi na ako ng Davao bukas."

My shoulders slumped at his news. "Really?"

Tumango-tango siya. "Yeah. Tapos na ang Christmas break ko, Kath. I need to go back to work."

I smiled sincerely at him. "Thank you so much, AJ. Hindi mo lang alam kung gaano ka kalaking tulong sa akin." Wika ko. Harry tensed beside me. He immediately wrapped a posessive arm around my waist and when I glanced up at him, he is already scowling down at AJ.

Napakamot ng batok si AJ. Then he smiled sheepishly as he looked at the two of us. "Ngayon alam ko na kung bakit gustong-gusto mong bumalik sa nasusunog na mall..." uminit ang mga pisngi ko sa sinabi niya. Ibinaling niya ang tingin kay Harry at tipid na ngumiti. "Dahil pala sa kanya..."

Ikinuwento ko kay Harry kung paano ako sinagip ni AJ noong nagkita kami sa Davao. Ikinuwento niya din sa akin ang pagpunta niya ng Pusan Point sa Caraga. He spent his Christmas there alone. Ang sabi'y may isang matanda daw ang nakakakilala sa akin. He went there hoping to find me but was only disappointed nang hindi pala ako ang Mary Grace na tinutukoy ng matanda.

On the last day of the year, nagpaalam na siya sa matanda as he planned to go back to Davao City and continue his search. Nang huminto ang bus na sinasakyan niya papunta sa Manikling terminal ay nakita niya ang Lavigan na sign board. Without really thinking, he swapped buses and went here instead. Nakita niya si Grand Ida at kinausap ito. The old woman said he'd be able to find what he is looking for before the year ends and invited him to the New Year's party last night where he finally saw me.

Isang pahapyaw na ngiti ang sumilay sa aking labi. I need to thank Grand Ida later on.

Tumango si AJ sa akin. "I'll get going. Kailangan ko pang ayusin ang mga gamit ko."

I waved at him. We both watched as he retreated to his own room and disappeared into our line of sight. Harry squeezed my waist. Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"How about some tour around the cape?" He smiled down at me. "I'm not planning to go anywhere without you. We might as well do something... wild."

I slapped his chest. It vibrated into deep chuckles. "Just kidding. I really want to try the beach though."

Marahan akong tumango. "Sure." Hinila ko siya papunta sa makipot na daanan bago kami makababa sa dagat. The palm trees towered over us. After trekking down for a few minutes ay naaamoy ko na ulit ang tubig-alat at naririnig ang malakas na bugso ng alon.

When we finally reached the sand, he gaze at the wide ocean that stretches endlessly before us. Then he smiled and pulled his shirt over his head. I couldn't help but stare a little too long at his well-defined muscles, full chest, and hard torso. I gulped. The last time I remembered it wasn't that defined.

"Are you peaking at me, Mary Grace Ferguson?" He sang. Uminit ang mga pisngi ko. Inirapan ko siya.

"H-Hindi ah! Akala mo naman..." I mumbled.

He chuckled and tugged my shirt. Napatingin ako sa kanya. "What?"

"Let's enjoy the beach together. Now get this damn thing off."

Something inside of me squirm. He's telling me to strip! Nag-aalangan kong hinubad ang t-shirt ko. Harry's eyes never left me. I averted my gaze and crossed my arms over my chest. "Stop staring at me." I complained.

Tumawa siya. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I just can't help it." I groaned. Neither did I. His voice sounded so sexy.

I tried to ignore the growing sexual tension between the two of us especially when I slip out of my track pants as well. Good thing I used to wear matching bra and panties. It wasn't really awkward to ran into the beach in black undergarments. Nakahawak si Harry sa kanang kamay ko. He gently drag me to greet the ocean waves. Dahil malalakas ang hampas ng alon ay hindi na kami nagpunta sa malalim na bahagi ng dagat. Nakapulupot nang mahigpit ang mga braso ni Harry sa beywang ko, kahit na sinasabi ko naman sa kanya na marunong akong lumangoy.

"How long exactly have you been here?" Tanong niya. I watched how the water from his skin trickled down his face then to his broad chest and joined its body again. Napalunok ako.

"Two years. Nilo almost hit me with his car. Dinala nila akong dalawa ni Grand Ida dito sa Parola."

He nodded his head. His other hand unconciously played with my green locks. Nakatitig siya sa buhok ko.

"And your hair?" He asked slowly.

I shrugged one shoulder. "Well, it was kind of spur-of-the-moment decision. Hindi ko naman pinagsisihan." I look up at him. "Bakit? Naninibago ka?"

He smiled down at me and gently nodded his head. "Yeah, kind of. But I was certain that I saw you on Davao. I know you well." He lowered his lips to meet mine. I immediately sighed. Inilapat ko ang mga kamay ko sa matigas niyang dibdib. We unconsciously padded into the rocks just a few feet from us. I pressed my back into the rock, he pressed his body on mine.

He carefully placed my green damp hair on my back as he pulled my head closer for him to explore my mouth. He nibbled my lower lips. A low growl of satisfaction roared from his throat. Mas lalong nag-init ang katawan ko. God, I missed him so much.

Mas lalo kong inilapit ang katawan ko sa kanya. His muscles feel smooth yet hard under my palm. The waves splash violently, as if yelling curses for us to continue our making out in bed instead of here. But we just don't care. I soon got lost with his kisses.

When we pulled away, we we're both panting. My lips curled in a womanly smile when I saw his lips are swelling and pulsing from my kisses.

Umahon kami pagkatapos nang ilang minuto. My feet keeps on sinking lightly beneath the sand, leaving traces of my footprints. Nahiga si Harry sa dalampasigan. I couldn't help admiring his lean and muscular body as he tuck both his hands under his head, his muscles flexing in the process. I notice a gold chain dangling from his neck with a small cross pendant. I pulled myself down beside him.

"This is great." He mused out loud. "No wonder hindi ka na nag-atubiling manatili dito,"

I automatically smiled of what he said. "Yeah," I nodded my head. "When I first came here I had no idea it's one of the extreme points of the Philippines until I was greeted by the beautiful Pacific Ocean. I'm so lucky to live here for over two years."

Tumahimik sandali si Harry. I threw him a glance. He looks like he's in a deep thought. Ibinaba ko ang tingin sa kamay niyang bigla nalang humawak sa kaliwa kong braso. It's still swelling but not that painful. Laking pasasalamat ko din at hindi na ito nagbalat pa otherwise I would have to call Are again.

"It's the wolf..." he traced the intricate blank ink dancing on my skin to  form an image of a wolf. "from little red riding hood?" he looked up at me.

Tumango-tango ako. His hands traveled up and down, tracing the permanent ink on my body. "And this is the girl?" tinitigan niya ito nang mabuti.

"Yes." Sagot ko. I chewed on my bottom lips.

"It's beautiful." He commented. Binitawan niya ang braso ko at ibinalik ang kamay niya sa ilalim ng kanyang ulo. Some of the sands were sticking to my back.

"Thanks. Are is a great artist."

"Are?" kumunot ang noo niya. "Siya ang tattoo artist mo?"

I told him about my peculiar friendship of an old tattoo artist. Tumango-tango siya.

"That's rather interesting. I'd like to meet him though," then he tugged on my arms again.

"What?" I asked. I was enjoying  the view of the big waves lapping the shore.

"Lie down with me," He said softly. Tinitigan ko siya nang ilang segundo, pinag-aaralan ang emosyong nagsasayaw sa kanyang mga mata. Then I lowered myself and lie down beside him. "That's more like it," he muttered before wrapping an arm around my waist. I slapped him gently on the chest.

"Wala tayo sa kwarto." Saway ko.

"Oh? Would you like to take our business to your room, then?" he wiggled his eyebrows.

Humalakhak ako. "Baliw ka."

"Yeah, I know." Makahulugan niyang wika. Nanatili kami sa ganung posisyon nang ilang oras I might've fallen asleep on the process. Paggising ko ay wala na si Harry sa tabi ko. Naliligo ulit siya sa dagat. I pulled myself up and join him on the beach before we went back to cape as the sun started to sink beyond the great horizon.

---

That night, Grand Ida invited us to her house for a dinner. Gusto niyang i-celebrate ang engagement ng apo niyang si Ezekiel at ang girlfriend nitong si Laurie Ann. I helped in preparing the dinner while Harry and Ezekiel talked on the living room. Sina Jason at AJ naman ay abala sa pagba-barbeque sa labas ng bahay.

When we finished preparing the food, we all sat down on the huge mahogany table. Even though Christmas is over, Grand Ida refused to keep her nativity set. Naka-display lang ito sa kanyang malaking sala.

Nilo eyed Harry suspiciously as he dug into his spare ribs. "So, you really searched for her for over two years?"

We both tensed. All eyes were suddenly on us. Even AJ and Jason stopped bickering with one another.

"Ah, yeah.." tinapunan ako ng tingin ni Harry. "After I graduated, I set my foot on searching for her."

"How romantic." Nilo mocked, earning a glare from Grand Ida. "What? Don't look at me. You don't get to see a young man who'll spend his two years searching for his girlfriend everyday."

"Enough, Nilo. I'm sure both of them are not comfortable with the topic." Then she easily changed the topic to Ezekiel's engagement. I secretly sighed in relief. I earned questioning looks from AJ and Jason, probably wondering what the hell are we talking about.

After eating, I also helped in clearing out the dishes before Nilo invited us for a drink. Grand Ida retreated to her bedroom silently, leaving all of us bickering over a case of beer.

Harry was with me all the time. Sa tinagal-tagal kong pananatili sa cape, hindi na bago sa akin ang inuman nila Nilo. Kaya naman nasanay na din ang katawan ko. I'm even surprised Harry managed to survive when we were halfway through clearing out the red horse bottles.

He squeezed my hands. Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Ayos ka lang?"

"I feel like I'm going to puke." Nagtawanan ang mga lalaki nang marinig ang sinabi niya. Inakay ko siya patayo.

"You shouldn't force yourself." I murmured, my head spinning lightly.

"Magpahinga na kayong dalawa," si Nilo. "Since your little boyfriend couldn't handle this much beer."

Tumawa ako sa sinabi niya before I ushered Harry out of the house. He swung his arms over my shoulders as we progress slowly towards the rows of rooms situated next to each other. When we finally reach my room, I fished out the keys and opened the front door. Harry went directly to the sink and started throwing up. I switched on the lights and leaned by the doorway, watching him in amusement.

He gurgled some water and spit it out. Then he wiped his mouth using his hanky and gaze at me. "What?" both his eyebrows shot upwards. "Not all guys are into heavy drinks, you know." He muttered.

I laughed out loud. "Of course," natatawa ko pa ring isinarado ang pintuan. "You haven't changed much, Harry. You just grew some muscles and earned a nice tan but you're still Harry..." I trailed off. "—from two years ago."

He nodded his head after a while and went to sat on the edge of my bed. He slowly removed his shoes, suddenly finding an immense interest of his socks and worn out converse as if he couldn't bear to lift his gaze at me.

Natahimik kaming dalawa. I dreaded this moment the most. I could hear the blood pumping in my ears.

"Mary Grace..." His voice is silent. "Are you not going home?"

Ilang segundo din akong hindi nakasagot. I knew exactly what I'm going to answer once he asks me this question. I wanted him to know that the Mary Grace he once knew is already gone. I knew what to say and the reasons why I'm going to do this. But it all flew outside the window.

Instead, I just shook my head lightly. He watched me with eyes full of sadness and longing. I chewed on my lower lips. "No..." mahina kong sagot.

Tumayo siya. He padded towards my direction with his bare feet. Then when he is just inches away from me, he placed both his hands on my shoulder. He found his courage again to search for my eyes. "Bakit?" he asked softly.

"Because Harry..." I gave him a wry smile. "Some things are better off this way." Then I slowly removed his hands from my shoulder blades and walked past him.