CHAPTER 13

CLARIANETTE woke up the next morning without Cleevan on her side. She felt a hole in her heart as she lay in bed alone. Did Cleevan woke up early or did he leave her bed to sleep in his own room? I really have to clarify what I feel for my husband. This is not healthy for her.

Nasasaktan siya sa simpling pag-iwan sa kanya ni Cleevan sa higaan. How weird is that?

Wala sa sariling napahawak siya sa leeg niya. Her eyes widen when she felt the necklace Cleevan had given her last night. All the pain she's feeling disappeared and it was replaced by unexplainable joy.

If she wants to be happy and if she wants to know if Cleevan feels the same way for her, then, she has to do something. She won’t let the pieces fall into place nor wait for Cleevan to admit his feelings if he have any for her. She will be the one to put the pieces into place.

Hindi siya puwedeng umasa nalang sa destiny, kung mayroon man. Kailangan kumilos siya para maging masaya at para makasama ang lalaking unti-unti nang pumapasok sa puso niya.

Mabilis siyang bumangon at hinanap ang asawa. Nakita niya si Cleevan sa silid nito na inilalagay ang mga damit sa closet.

"Good morning!" Nakangiting bati niya sa asawa na nakatalikod sa kanya.

He looked at her and smiled then went back to putting his clothes in the closet."Oh, gising ka na pala. How's your sleep?"

"I sleep like a baby." She yawned then throws herself on Cleevan's bed. "Bakit ang aga mong magising?" Tanong niya rito.

"I don’t want you to kick me out or pushed me away, so, I wake up early to avoid that."

Sineryuso nito ang sinabi niya? She felt awful. "I didn’t mean that."

Nakita niyang natigilan ito at tumingin sa kanya. "You didn’t ... mean it?" His voice was somewhat hopeful.

She sighed then sat on the bed. She extends her arms at him like she's welcoming him. "Come here, please?"

Cleevan cautiously crawled unto the bed then sat next to her. "May kailangan ka?"

Nakaluhod na humarap si Clarianette kay Cleevan. Sinapo niya ang mukha nito at ngumiti. "I have a birthday request, would you grant it?"

Kumunot ang nuo nito. "Ano? Ayaw mo akong makasama? Sure, I can do that. Birthday mo naman ngayon, I can make an exemption—"

"That’s not what I’m going to request." She gave him a small smile. "My request is, today, let’s forget our forced marriage, let’s forget our arguments and let’s forget about our nonsense banters. Today is my birthday and I want us to be together as husband and wife."

Please, say yes. Ito lang ang naisip kong paraan para makasama kita ngayong araw na ito na hindi mo mahahalata ang nararamdaman ko para sa’yo. Ayaw niyang mag-away sila. Gusto niyang makasama ito sa kaarawan niya.

"Sure. I like that." Wika ni Cleevan na ikinangiti niya ng maluwang.

"Great!" She exclaimed then pressed her lips on his.

Natigilan siya sa ginawa. She quickly pulled away and nod down. She can feel her cheeks burning. Sinabi palang niya sa sarili niya kagabi na itatago niya ang nararamdaman, pero mukhang mahihirapan siya.

Mukhang hindi lang siya ang nagulat sa ginawa niya, Cleevan was looking at her like she lost her head.

"What?" She demanded at him.

"Nothing." Mabilis na sagot ni Cleevan.

"Hmp!" Umalis siya sa kama at lumabas sa kuwarto ni Cleevan.

Naramdaman niyang sinundan siya ni Cleevan sa kuwarto niya.

She faced him. "May kailangan ka?"

Cleevan stared at her, like he's memorizing every inch of her face. "Hindi tama yun."

Nag-isang linya ang kilay niya. "Anong hindi tama?"

"The kiss."

A needle pierced her heart. He didn’t like the kiss? Hindi ba tama na halikan niya ang sarili niyang asawa? "Oh, sorry kung hindi mo nagustuhan ang—"

"The kiss ... it’s not the proper way to kiss your husband." Pinalibot nito ang braso sa beywang niya at hinapit siya palapit dito at walang sabi-sabing tinawid nito ang pagitan ng mga labi nila.

Clarianette eyes dropped close when Cleevan’s lips touched hers. She wanted to savor the decadence taste that is Cleevan. Parang may sariling isip ang mga braso niya at pumalibot iyon sa leeg ng asawa at tinugon ang mainit nitong halik.

Mahina siyang napaungol ng bahagyang kagatin ni Cleevan ang pang-ibabang labi niya na para bang nanggigigil ito. Cleevan groaned when he heard her moan in pleasure. Then his hand started to touched her  ... started to pleasure her.

Clarianette squeezes her eyes shut when Cleevan started massaging her breast. Napakapit siya sa braso nito ng maramdaman niya ang isang kamay nito na dahan-dahang pumapasok sa loob ng pajama na suot niya. She can feel her body responding to Cleevan's touch. She can feel her mound tingling in anticipation, making her body burn for him.

"Cleevan..." She moaned his name when Cleevan leave her lips to trailed kisses from her chin down to her collarbone.

He nipped and licked her neck, leaving scorching sensation on her skin. Then he return to her lips and dropped three sweet little kisses on her slightly parted lips.

"That's how you kiss your husband, Nett. Not just a simple peck on the lips." Cleevan whispered over her lips.

She nodded; still in dazed about the scorching hot kiss they just shared.

Cleevan smiled, making her heart skips a beat. "I better go to my room to take a bath before I do something that will get you mad at me."

"Okay." She was still in dazed.

"Okay." Cleevan gave her a peck on the lips before leaving her room.

A smile made way on Clarianette lips. That was a mind blowing kiss. Hindi siya makapaniwala na ganito ang pakiramdam na halikan ng buong puso ang asawa niya.  She's feeling happy and contented.

Hanggang sa naligo siya at nagbihis, hindi pa rin mapuknat ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Clarianette.

"Ready?" Anang boses ni Cleevan mula sa nakabukas na pintuan ng silid niya.

Humarap siya rito habang sinusuklay ang buhok niya. "Not yet." Aniya at ibinalik ang atensiyon sa salamin na nasa harapan niya.

Naramdaman niyang lumapit sa kanya si Cleevan at niyakap siya nito mula sa likuran.

Napatigil siya sa pagsuklay sa buhok ng makita ang repleksiyon nilang dalawa sa salamin. Her heart hammered inside her chest when Cleevan's eyes stared at her through the mirror.

"Can I comb you hair?" Tanong nito kapagkuwan.

Tumango siya habang magkahulagpong pa rin ang mga mata nila. "Yeah." She answered but she didn’t make the move to give him the comb.

Cleevan smiled as he slide his hands seductively, from her shoulder down to her hand, then he slowly snatch the comb from her hold. "Let me brush your hair." Anito. "Would you let me?" He asked while holding her stare on the mirror.

Claria was captivated by Cleevan's eyes. She can’t look away. It’s like he was reading her soul the way he looked at her.

"Would you let me?" Ulit nito ng hindi siya sumagot.

Tumango siya. "Yeah." Her voice came as a whisper.

He smiled then began combing her long hair.

Napapikit siya ng magsimula nitong suklayin ang buhok niya. It feels so good.

Her eyes snapped open when she felt a lip touched the side of her neck, making her gasped. "Cleevan..."

Cleevan looked up, staring at their reflection in the mirror then grinned mischievously. "Sorry. I can’t resist."

Sinupil niya ang ngiting gustong kumawala sa mga labi niya. "Ako na nga lang ang mag susuklay. Baka saan pa mapunta iyang pagsusuklay mo sa’kin."

Ngumito ng pilyo ang asawa. "Yeah. That's a better idea. "

Ibinalik nito ang suklay sa kanya pero hindi naman ito umalis sa likuran niya. Naiilang na tinapos niya ang pagsusuklay at hinarap ito. "Saan tayo pupunta?"

Biglang napatawa si Cleevan na para bang may naalala itong nakakatawa. "Iyan ang palaging tanong mo sakin nitong mga nakaraang araw."

Napatawa siya. "Yeah, pansin ko nga."

Naiiling na pinagsiklop nito ang kamay nila. "Kung saan tayo pupunta? That would be a surprise."

“Whatever.” Aniya pero sa totoo lang, excited na siya sa surpresa nito.

Lumabas sila ng silid. They walk side by side towards the elevator.

Habang naghihintay na bumukas ang elevator, may isang boses babae na tumawag sa pangalan ni Cleevan. Sabay silang napalingon sa tumawag.

Agad na kinain ng selos ang puso ni Claria ng makita ang isang magandang babae na nakangiti ng malapad kay Cleevan.

"Hey, handsome." The woman purred. "What are you doing here?"

Her jaw tightened as she waits for his reply.

"Mona, ikaw pala." Wika ni Cleevan sa pormal na boses.

"Yeah." The woman smiled seductively. "Mind if you join me for a drink?"

"Sorry, Mona, but I'm with my wife." Wika ni Cleevan at tumingin sa kanya.

Nawala ang ngiti sa nga labi ng babae at napatingin sa kanya. Kahit labag sa kalooban niya, nginitian niya ito.

"Hi." Ani niya na nakangiti pa rin ng peke.

"Hello. I’m sorry." Said the woman named Mona. "I thought Cleevan is still available—"

"Well he's not … available anymore." She cut her off. "Please excuse us."

Pumasok siya sa nakabukas na elevator, hila-hila ang walang imik na asawa.

Naghari ang katahimikan sa loob ng elevator habang bumababa iyon patungong lobby ng Hotel. Hindi siya makapagsalita.

She knew that what she did was rude but she can’t stop herself from doing so. Nagseselos siya at kahit pa noon, nagkakaroon talaga siya ng sungay kapag nagseselos. Pero mali pa rin ang ginawa niya...

"Mona was more than a friend of mine." Narinig niyang sabi ni Cleevan.

"Why are you explaining?"

"I don’t want this day to be ruined just because of my past. It’s behind me now and I’m not planning on looking back."

Tumango-tango siya. "Okay."

"Look, Nett, Mona is nothing to me—"

"I don’t care about her." Putol niya sa iba pa nitong sasabihin. "I'm sorry." She blurted out. "I should have not said that to her."

She heard Cleevan sighed before answering. "It's okay."

Humarap siya rito para alamin kung galit ito o kung ano ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito pero laking gulat niya ng makitang may sinusupil itong ngiti sa mga labi.

"Bakit ka nangingiti riyan?" Usisa niya.

Cleevan let out his smile. "Ikaw." He chuckled. "Ang cute mo pala kapag nagseselos ka."

Inirapan niya ito. "I’m not jealous!" Humalukipkip siya. "I’m just guarding what's mine." Huli na para ma realize niya ang lumabas sa bibig niya. Napakagat labi siya. "That didn’t come out right."

Cleevan let out a deep chuckle. "I'm yours, Nett. Then and now, and nothing can change that."

Claria looked up at Cleevan, her eyes sporting confusion. "What do you mean?" Does he like me too?

Bumuka ang labi ni Cleevan para sumagot ng biglang bumukas ang elevator.

Cleevan smiled at her. "Maybe later." Anito na ang tinutukoy ay ang sagot nito sa tanong niya.

Magkahawak kamay silang lumabas ng Hotel at sumakay sa kaparehong pajero na sinakyan nila kahapon mula sa airport.

NANLAKI ang mga mata ni Clarianette ng makita ang swan boat. Nasa Burnham park sila ni Cleevan at kanina pa niya ito inaayang sumakay sa swan boat pero ngayon lang ito pumayag.

Isang malapag na ngiti ang kumawala sa mga labi niya.

"Oh my god!" She exclaimed in amazement. "The last time I’d been here was when I was a kid. I always wanted to ride a swan boat but mom won’t let me because it’s dangerous, she said."

Cleevan didn’t say anything. He just pulled her towards the swan boat.

Clarianette giggled giddily as they ride the boat. Si Cleevan naman panay ang iling sa reaksiyon niya.

Magkaharap silang umupo ni Cleevan sa swan boat at dahan-dahan silang nag-umpisang sumagwan.

She was giggling to herself as they row. Then a moment later, Cleevan was chuckling too.

They both stop rowing when they reach the center of the lake.

"This is nice." Komento ni Cleevan.

Claria smiled then leans in to Cleevan. "Lumapit ka."

Sinunod naman nito ang sinabi niya.

When Cleevan leaned in, she dropped her knees on the floor of the boat, making the boat wiggle. Mabilis na napahawak si Cleevan sa gilid ng Bangka para i-balanse iyon. Claria laughed at Cleevan’s reaction then pressed her lips on Cleevan's slightly parted lips.

She was about to pull away when Cleevan cupped her face then deepened the kiss. He smiled against her lips when she kissed him back with the same ferocity.

"I'm happy." Pag-amin ni Cleevan ng maghiwalay ang mga labi nila.

"Me too." Nakangiting wika niya at inilapat ulit ang labi niya sa mga labi nito.

Naa-adik na siya sa halik nito. She wanted more than a kiss from him. She wanted him to touch her. Pero alam niyang hindi iyon puwede rito.

Pinakawalan niya ang mga labi nito. "Gusto kong pumunta sa Lady of Lourdes grotto." Wika niya. "The last time na pumunta ako roon, kasama ko si Lance. It was an educational fieldtrip, tumakas lang kami para makapunta roon."

Claria saw how the expression on Cleevan’s face changed. From a smiling to grim.

"Sorry." Hingi niya ng tawad. Mukhang hindi nito nagustuhan ang pag banggit niya sa pangalan ni Lance. "I just want to go there with you."

Cleevan smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "Okay, will go there after here." Wika nito at nag-iwas ng tingin.

She felt her heart tightened inside her chest.

She cupped Cleevan's face then forced him to look at her. "Please, don’t be mad at me. Pasensiya na kung nabanggit ko ang pangalan ni Lance. I wasn’t thinking right."

"I'm not mad at you, Nett. I’m just jealous." He looked at her eyes. "Can’t you see how crazy in love I am with you?"

Napanganga siya sa narinig na sinabi nito. "What?"

"I'm in love with you, Nett. Can't you feel it?"