Chapter Two

Friend

"Are you sure about this, Teen?" Aaron asked me.

I nodded as I gave him a smile.

We've been together as boyfriend and girlfriend for 4 years now and we were currently in college. When should really be the right time to do it? Dapat ba talaga kapag kasal na? I feel like I can do it now with my boyfriend Aaron because I love him. We love each other so who cares what will happen next after this? Sina mommy at daddy nga nauna pa akong ipanganak kaysa kinasal. And Aaron was conceived out of wedlock...

People nowadays are becoming more open to things like this. Hindi lang naman kami ang gagawa nito. People have been doing this so why can't we?

Napalunok si Aaron habang nakatingin sa mukha ko.

Nakatingin din ako sa kaniya and I gave him a reassuring smile. We were alone in his condo that his grandparents from his dad gifted him. Mahal din ng Ledesma bilang apo si Aaron. Dahil nga mabait naman talaga siya na bata. I'm just the naughty one between us two. Napangisi nalang ako sa sarili ko. Dahil medyo malayo na rin ang bahay nila sa university na pinapasukan namin ay minabuting magkaroon na ng sarili niyang condo si Aaron para mas malapit. Ako nga rin ay gusto ko na rin magkaroon ng sarili ko rin sanang place pero hindi pa lang ako pinapayagan ni daddy.

I sighed when I saw doubt in Aaron's eyes. Medyo nainsulto ako na nakitaan ko siya ng pagdadalawang-isip sa gusto kong mangyari. Oo ako. I was the first one who initiated our first kiss. And our first make out ako pa ang pumatong sa kaniya habang nagtatagal na kami sa halikan sa loob ng kotse niya. And now ako pa rin? Nakakainis na rin minsan si Aaron.

I withdrew and rested my back against his bed's headboard. I crossed my arms at bumusangot ang mukha na halata ang pagtatampo. Alam kong kita ito ni Aaron sa mukha ko.

"Teen..." he gently called my nickname. "I just... Don't you think we shouldn't do this yet?"

Medyo naiinis ko na siyang hinarap. "What? Why? We're more than four years as boyfriend and girlfriend now, Aaron. At hindi na tayo mga bata!" Dahil minsan pakiramdam siguro ni Aaron ay mga bata pa rin kami at dapat innocent pa rin sa mga bagay gaya nito. "We can certainly do things that normal boyfriend and girlfriend do!"

He reached for me. "I'm sorry. Alright..."

Hinarap ko siya muli galing sa pagsusuplada ko. Nagkatinginan kami hanggang sa bumalik na rin ang mood ko and I grinned. And then we started kissing again. And as we kissed each other's lips I tried to lift his shirt up. Pinasok ko ang kamay ko sa loob ng shirt niya para damhin and abs niya. He does workouts dahil healthy lifestyle din talaga si Aaron kumpara nga sa akin na magdodoktora pa sa future.

Hinubad na mismo ni Aaron ang shirt niya. And I did the same with my clothes. Bumaba ang tingin ni Aaron sa bra na suot ko pa. I grinned mischievously. He shook his head and just resumed kissing me.

I knew that it might hurt the first time but I didn't know that it would really hurt. I mean it really did hurt. Maybe because Aaron's blessed down his male part, too. I just smirked and I knew that the next times we do it it would be more pleasurable.

"I love you." I told Aaron.

He embraced my small body compared to his muscular one more as we cuddled on his bed after making love and he his kissed my temple. "I love you, Tristeen."

I smiled as my eyelids got heavy and I slept beside my boyfriend.

***

"Teen, you know him?" gulat pa na salubong sa akin ni Rica na classmate ko na simula high school.

Bahagya pang kumunot ang noo ko at tumango. She was pertaining to Noah Irizari. Of course I know the playboy Noah dahil anak siya ng Ninang Patricia ko na best friend ni mommy and his twin Chloe was like a sister to me. "Yeah. Why?" Ngumisi ako sa kaibigan. "Gusto mo?" I grinned at Rica.

She nodded with a mischievous smile on her pretty face, too. "Sana,"

"Bakit sana?" My forehead creased a bit.

Bahagyang ngumiwi si Rica. "Playboy, e." She shrugged.

Tumawa nalang ako.

Hindi ko pa pala sila napapakilala noon ni Noah kahit matagal ko na ring kaibigan si Rica.

"Teen, pakilala mo naman ako kay Noah!" May ilang mga babaeng kaklase pa at kaibigan na rin ang lumapit din sa akin.

I just chuckled a bit and told them okay I'll introduce them to the playboy Noah. Bahala na sila. Alam naman na nila ang reputation ni Noah kaya bahala sila d'yan kung masaktan sila ng playboy na 'yon!

***

"Magkasama kayo ni Noah Irizari kanina?"

I grinned at Aaron and then I cling my hands to his arms. "Nagseselos ba ang boyfriend ko?" I teasingly asked him.

Aaron sighed then he shook his head. "No. I'm just..."

"Tumigil ka nga, Aaron Jaxon. Mga bata pa lang tayo kilala mo na si Noah bilang anak ni Ninang Patricia." I reminded him.

He nodded his head. "I know... I just know that he likes you."

I chuckled. When we were younger Noah confessed to me. Naunahan pa nga niya ang mabagal din na si Aaron. Ako talaga ang mabilis sa aming dalawa. "Hindi mo pa nakakalimutan 'yon? That was just some childish act from Noah. Mga bata pa tayo no'n. Anyway, may pinabigay lang ako sa kaniya kanina para kay Chloe kaya kami nagkita."

Noah Irizari was nothing but just really my friend since we were kids.

Tumango lang si Aaron.

"Hmm! Sa'n tayo? Tapos na ang classes natin. Tara sa condo mo?" And there's my naughty self again.

He sighed loudly. I chuckled. Pinagbuksan ako ni Aaron ng pinto ng kotse niya at pumasok na ako sa loob. Nahagip pa ng mga mata ko si Noah sa malayo na nakatingin yata sa amin ni Aaron at nakita kami pero dahil malayo na kami ay hindi na lumapit. At mukhang kasama din niya badboy friends niya.

So after our classes at the university we ended at Aaron's condo again.

Time passed by so quickly na graduating na pala sa college si Aaron. He took up business dahil malaki ang business ng mga Ledesma. Since he's a graduating student Aaron became busier than usual...

At nagtuloy-tuloy na ang pagiging busy niya hanggang sa nagtapos siya ng college at tumulong na agad sa business ng pamilya nila. Noong mga panahong iyon halos wala na siyang oras para sa 'kin...

"Teen, punta tayo sa may bagong bukas daw na superclub!" Sierra, another friend of mine invited me to join our friends.

Kakatapos lang din ng exam weeks namin at talaga namang nakaka-drain din maging BS Medical Technology student. Hmm. Hindi na rin masama ang mag party tonight. "Okay! I'll just call Aaron." paalam ko.

"Aaron's really busy na, 'no? Sa company ng dad niya. Sabi ni daddy he's doing very well daw sa work niya sa family business nila."

Alam kong business partner ng dad ni Sierra si Tito Axel. Medyo maliit nga lang din siguro ang mundo naming mga may kaya rin sa buhay.

I just nodded at Sierra habang nilalagay na sa tainga ang phone ko. Pero hindi sinasagot ni Aaron. Invite ko rin sana siya na mag-party with us. Baka gusto rin ng friends niya na sumama. Pero hindi niya talaga sinagot ang mga tawag ko. Sa huli sumama nalang ako sa mga kaibigan kong mag-party. Deserve din naman namin 'to after studying hard for the finals. One thing na hindi ko pwedeng pabayaan ay ang pag-aaral ko. My dad was an achiever at siyempre idol ko siya. Kaya nag-aaral din talaga akong mabuti kahit mahilig din lumabas kasama ang mga kaibigan.

"Hey,"

"Oh! Noah!" I felt happy when I saw him at the party. Nakakainis kasi sina Ava nagdala pala ng mga boyfriends nila. Feeling ko tuloy out of place ako kasi hindi ko naman kasama rito si Aaron. Ayaw ko rin maging third o fourth wheel!

He gave me his boyish smile. Napangiti rin ako. "Come on, doon tayo."

I nodded and just went with him. Noah brought me to his group of friends, too. Hindi kami pareho ng course and he's also taking business just like Aaron. Pero mas bata lang din si Noah kay Aaron at kami ang halos same age kaya pareho kaming studying pa.

Since then napapadalas na ang pagsama-sama ko kay Noah. Hindi mahilig mag-party si Chloe at madalas nasa bahay lang kung hindi nagbabasa ng books ay nanonood naman ng anime. Madalas na rin naman kami noong magkasama sa mga parties ni Noah pero lalo lang siguro ngayon at nagustuhan ko na rin ang friends niya na halong mga lalaki at babae. Noah's popular, too. Kahit mula noong high school pa lang kami o kahit nga noong kinder pa lang siya ay gusto na siya ng mga girl classmates niya sa school. And Aaron's been really busy.

"Napapadalas na raw 'tong mga late night party na pinupuntahan mo sabi nina tita." Sinundo ako ni Aaron sa isang house party ng isang kaibigan ko. Wala ang parents at nasa business trip kaya iyon we were free to use their house and Ava turned it into a club for the night.

Wala naman ako sa mood at halos hindi ko pansinin si Aaron. Sobrang busy na niya! At ngayon sinundo ako dahil ngayon lang din siya halos nagka-time para sa 'kin. He's not really a strict boyfriend. He let me enjoy my life the way I want pero minsan parang si daddy rin siya kapag napagsasabihan niya rin ako gaya ngayon.

I went in his car. At pagkapasok niya ay nakita niyang sobrang umangat sa mga hita ko ang suot kong skimpy dress dahil sa pag-upo sa sasakyan. Sinubukan pa niyang ibaba ang hem ng short dress ko na sinuot ko para sa party na 'to and try to cover my bare thighs. Nainis lang ako sa ginawa niya at tinampal ko ang kamay niya. Natigilan siya.

He looked up at my face and he just quietly sighed. "Just drive." I told him.

Pero bago siya nagmaneho ng sasakyan ay may kinuha pa siya sa likod. Nang dalhin niya ang bagay sa harapan ko ay halos matabunan pa ako nito dahil isang malaking flower bouquet. Natigilan pa akong tinanggap ang bulaklak na bigay niya. It wasn't our anniversary yet or any special occasion. I knew then na sinusubukan na niyang bumawi sa akin. At dahil mahina naman talaga ako pagdating sa kaniya ay unti-unti na agad akong napangiti. Aaron gently smiled at me, too. As he watched me sniff the beautiful flowers a bit.

"I'm sorry." he said sighing. "I know nagtatampo ka na. I've been really busy. Ang daming trabaho sa office. How 'bout you? How's it going with your studies? I suddenly miss our days together at the university."

Tumango ako. "Ayos lang. Tapos na rin naman kami sa exams." I looked into his eyes. "I missed you, Aaron." I pouted.

He chuckled a bit and reached for my lips and kissed me for a while inside his tinted car. I smiled after the kiss.

"Let's go to your condo? I really missed you a lot." I told him with my pouting lips like I'm sad but a mischievous smile was escaping my a little full lips, too.

Aaron chuckled more that made me smiled widely at my handsome boyfriend. And then he started maneuvering his car. "How much did you drink, Teen?"

"Just a little. Cocktails lang. I'm not drunk, Aaron." I pouted.

Sinulyapan niya ako at inabot ng isang kamay niya ang kamay ko at hinawakan habang nagmamaneho. "Have you had dinner?" he thoughtfully asked me.

I nodded. "Yeah. How 'bout you?"

"Kumain na rin kasama sina dad kanina sa isang dinner business meeting."

I looked at our entwined hands on my lap and I smiled contentedly. I missed him. I really do. Nakakainis naman ang work niya. But I know that I'm being childish. Alam ko naman na kailangan niyang tumulong sa company nina Tito Axel. And it's for our future, too.

"Want to go somewhere else? LU?"

My eyes widened. "Right now?" I smiled widely and got excited!

Aaron smilingly nodded at me. "Pinagpaalam na kita kay Tito Tristan... Pumayag naman sila ni Tita Camille."

"Oh my god! Sige! Now that you said it I suddenly missed the beach!" I said giddily.

"Puro ka kasi night party."

I pouted. "Kasi ang busy mo! Ayaw mo na ba na nagpaparty ako lalo at wala ka?"

Umiling naman si Aaron. "No. It's not that. You may do as you like, Teen. Just be careful, alright?"

I nodded my head like an obedient child.

Aaron and I were both smiling as we drove to a beach resort. Kahit gabi na at wala akong dalang damit na pamalit. Dahil sasakyan niya ito ay nakasanayan niya dahil din sa impluwensya ko sa kaniya na may ilang damit at gamit siya sa kotse. Ganoon din ako noon pa man dahil hindi natin alam. Tingin ko ay normal naman iyon sa babae. It's my car and I wanted to bring some of my things in. Kaya may dala rin na some overnight necessities si Aaron sa sasakyan niya. And he said that I can just borrow his shirt later.

"Hmm. I can also sleep naked beside you, you know." I smirked.

Aaron just smilingly shook his head at my teasing. I just smiled and I feel comfortable that we're together again after his busy work schedules. I relaxed my body inside his comfy car.

At nang dumating na kami sa isang resort sa La Union ay dumeretso kami sa binayaran ni Aaron na room o villa para sa aming dalawa. Parang hindi pa kami pagod at hindi rin pagod si Aaron galing sa ilang oras din na pagmamaneho niya ng sasakyan. And we hastily claimed each other's lips as soon as the door closed behind me dahil sinandal din ako ni Aaron sa likod ng saradong pinto.