Chapter 7

Consequence

It was my first kiss.

And I think Kalyx know that now, too.

Tumigil muli siya sa paghalik at tiningnan ako. I saw him smiling. And then his eyes looked gentle... "How's it?" He asked me.

"Hmm?" Napatanong naman ako. Because I didn't know what he meant...

"Our kiss...was it good?" halos pabulong niya na tanong sa akin. Pagkatapos ay lumapit pa ang bibig niya sa tainga ko. And I felt his lips touched my ear...

Pakiramdam ko ay pinanindigan ako ng mga balahibo ko sa ginawa niya.

And then he whispered in my ears again. "Let's do it, Rina... We're still in a relationship, yes? And couples do this..."

Bahagya akong lumayo sa kaniya para makita ko ang mukha niya. "What is..." Inosente naman akong napatanong.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. Pero imbes na sagutin niya ako ay muli niya lang akong hinalikan...

I was thinking that he was only frustrated...like he said. That this was just the consequence of my own action. And that I have to deal with it.

So I stupidly thought na pagbibigyan ko na lang siya...

After all, when I agreed to be in a fake relationship with him, at kahit pa peke lang ito ay hindi ko rin alam kung ano ba talaga ang mga pwedeng mangyari.

I've never been to a relationship before. Bahay, school, at minsan ay simbahan lang ako. Ganoon akong pinalaki. Especially after my father passed away... my mom just became more strict in raising me and my sister. Kaya naman wala pa akong alam tungkol sa mga ganitong bagay.

Paano ba ang maging girlfriend? Even though what I have with Kalyx is a fake, naisip ko pa rin na may kailangan pa rin akong mga bagay na kailangang gampanan for being with him...

Maybe Bianca was right after all when she said that Kalyx Sevilla would only corrupt me...

Naramdaman ko na binuhat na ako ni Kalyx. At dinala niya ako sa kwarto niya. Pagkatapos ay binaba naman niya ako sa kama niya. Before he resumed kissing me... Hanggang sa lumipat na ang mga halik niya sa panga ko at pababa sa leeg ko...

To be honest, I was also feeling anxious...and scared...

"Czarina..." He called as he stopped kissing me.

"Hmm...?"

Dinungaw niya ako habang nasa ibabaw ko siya at nakahiga naman ako roon sa kama niya. "You're a virgin, right?" He asked me.

Pakiramdam ko ay nag-iinit na naman ang mukha ko. His questions were a bit uncomfortable. And makes me feel a little embarrassed...

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at tumingin sa gilid namin. Pero tumango ako sa tanong niya.

And then I heard him sighing a bit...

I looked at him again. And he withdrew atop me. Umatras siya at napaupo na lang sa kama niya. Napabangon na rin ako. At inayos ko ang sarili ko—inayos ko ang damit at buhok ko na medyo nagulo.

"Are we done studying?" Bumaling siya sa akin mula sa ibang bagay na kung saan lang siya tumingin kanina. "Or can we stop now and let's just resume our study next time?"

Unti-unti naman akong tumango sa kaniya.

"Okay. Ihahatid na kita sa inyo—or ibabalik ba kita sa school at doon ka magpapasundo sa driver n'yo?" He asked. I think he's getting used to me na palagi lang nagpapasundo sa driver at hindi niya ako mahatid sa amin.

Tumango lang naman ako sa kaniya bilang sagot pagkatapos. Malapit lang din sa university ang condo ni Kalyx. Kaya naman madali niya lang din akong nahatid pabalik doon. Tinext ko na rin ang driver namin na sunduin na ako ngayon sa university.

Kalyx stayed with me hanggang sa sinabi ko na sa kaniya na malapit na ang sundo kong dumating. And that's just when he left me when he was sure na makakauwi na ako dahil nand'yan na ang driver.

"Ma'am Rina." Lumabas ang driver na may dalang payong para payungan din ako papasok ng sasakyan. Because it also started raining.

"Thank you, Kuya Rex." I said and went in the car.

At habang pauwi naman sa loob ng sasakyan ay napapaisip ako. Does Kalyx dislike a virgin like me? I don't know if it really does matter... But I'm all new to this thing...

And the next day at the university I saw Bianca talking to Kalyx. Hinanap ko kasi si Kalyx sa college building nila nang matapos na rin ang classes ko at wala na akong gagawin pa. I messaged him pero medyo matagal ang reply niya kaya naisipan kong puntahan na lang siya.

I didn't hear what they were talking about dahil medyo malayo pa sila sa akin nang makita ko silang nag-uusap. And then I saw Bianca walking away. At tiningnan lang siya ni Kalyx na umalis.

Tuluyan na akong nakalapit. At nakita na rin ako ni Kalyx.

"That was Bianca. What did she said to you?" I asked him. Alam ko kasi na parang ayaw sa kaniya ni Bianca, at baka kung ano ang sinabi niya kay Kalyx...

Umiling naman sa akin si Kalyx. "It's nothing, uh, what are you doing here?"

"I messaged you." I said.

Nilabas naman niya ang phone niya at tiningnan. "Oh. Do you need anything?"

Umiling ako. "Ikaw? May pupuntahan ka ba ngayon? Tapos na ba ang class mo? Pwede kitang samahan. Wala na rin naman akong gagawin pa." I said with shrugging my shoulders a bit.

Nakatingin sa akin si Kalyx. At umiling siya. "I'll have to do some school stuff with my classmates... Tapos na ang class n'yo?"

Tumango naman ako.

"Then you can ask your driver now na sunduin ka na kung wala ka nang gagawin dito sa school, then I think it's better for you to go home early..." He said.

Unti-unti naman akong tumango sa kaniya... At nakita ko rin na tinatawag na siya ng kaklase niya. He said goodbye to me and went away...

Pinanood ko na lang siya hanggang sa nawala na siya sa paningin ko. Doon na rin ako tumalikod at naglakad na rin paalis.

That whole week ay halos hindi na kami muli pang nagkita ni Kalyx. I only messaged him once to ask him about our study and he said that we can do it this weekend. Kasi busy siya ngayon gumawa ng projects kasama ang mga kaklase niya.

And the rest of that week I was feeling kind of bored, too. Kasi siguro ay hindi katulad kanila Kalyx ay parang wala kami masyadong ginawa ngayong linggo at puro lectures lang. Iyong mga kailangan ko namang ipasa ay napasa ko na rin. I also tend to submit my projects earlier and before the due date. Wala rin naman kasi akong ginagawa sa bahay at pag-aaral lang. So I guess I have some time to spare.

So I just looked forward to Sunday. Nagsisimba kami nina Mommy kapag linggo kasama rin si Manang. While Ate Eris was still on their honeymoon with Kuya Axel. But I already prepared an excuse para makapagpaalam ako ngayon kay Mommy na aalis ako pagkatapos naming magsimba.

"Where will you go, Rina?" Mommy asked me nang magpaalam na ako.

"Sa mall lang po, Mommy... I have to buy things for school..." I said.

Nanatiling nakatingin sa akin si Mommy kaya kinabahan naman ako bahagya. Sa huli ay tumango naman siya sa akin. "Huwag kang magtatagal. Pagkatapos ay bumalik ka na rin sa bahay agad. It's a Sunday, Rina. It should be a rest day. Sana ay sa ibang araw mo na pinamili ang mga iyan." Mommy said.

"Opo, Mommy. Kailangan ko na po kasi, at para bukas din..." sabi ko.

Tumango na sa akin si Mommy pagkatapos at pinayagan na ako.

Pagkatapos ay hinatid naman ako ng driver sa mall after naming manggaling sa simbahan. Hindi ako pwedeng magtagal, pero hindi naman agad mapapansin ni Mommy na hindi pa ako nakakabalik sa bahay mamaya dahil mag-s-stay pa rin naman siya sa office niya sa bahay mamaya or in the library to read some books about law and her clients' cases. If Manang won't remind her that I'm not home yet, then pwede pa akong magtagal sa labas. I think I'll just wait until tawagan o may message na sa akin si Mommy or si Manang at saka pa lang ako uuwi.

Pinabalik ko na rin sa bahay si Kuya Rex, ang driver. Pagkatapos ako nitong ihatid sa mall na malapit lang din sa kung nasaan ang condo ni Kalyx. Pagkatapos galing sa mall ay nag-Grab car naman ako papuntang condo ni Kalyx. At doon ay naghihintay na siya sa akin.

"Hi." I smiled when he opened his door for me.

Nakita kong ngumiti rin siya sa akin at pinatuloy na ako.

"Lunch?" He asked me. "I prepared some food for us. Pero in-order ko lang din. Check this, are these alright?"

Lumapit ako sa kaniya roon sa mesa ng kitchen niya kung saan nakalagay at nakapatong ang mga in-order nga niya na pagkain. Tiningnan ko ang mga iyon at tumango naman ako.

Earlier when we exchanged some messages, I told him that I'll be coming from the church. At maaga ang simba namin. It finishes before lunch. Kaya nag-prepare na rin si Kalyx ng lunch namin dito sa condo niya.

"Okay na. Mukha ngang masarap." I said when I saw some Chinese food that he ordered. I remember when he also asked me kanina sa chat kung ano raw ba ang gusto kong kainin for lunch, I mentioned that I'd like some Chinese food. At medyo nag-c-crave din kasi ako.

"Okay. Let's eat this first and then we will study na." He said.

Tumango naman ako sa sinabi niya at umupo na roon kasabay niya. And then we started eating.

And after lunch, while we study I noticed na ilang beses na rin ang nakita kong humikab siya. So I asked him. "Are you sleepy?"

Bumaling naman siya sa akin. "Hmm? Sorry, I barely had sleep last night because I finished something for my other subject and needed to submit it early morning today." He sighed.

"Ganoon ba." Nag-isip ako sandali. "Then, why don't you sleep for a while? Have some rest first."

Tumingin siya sa akin at umiling pa pero inayos ko na ang mga binti ko. And then I tapped on my lap. Sinasabihan ko siya na pwede siyang umunan doon at matulog muna kahit sandali. "I will wake you up. We'll just continue to study later after you get some sleep." I said.

Tumingin sa akin si Kalyx. "Are you sure?"

I nodded. "Yes. Kaya matulog ka muna." sabi ko sa kaniya.

Nasa sala lang kami muli ng living room niya at nakaupo lang din ulit sa sahig. And with our books and notes on the coffee table again.

Kalyx moved, at umunan na nga siya sa lap ko. Pagkatapos ay nakita ko nang pumikit ang mga mata niya. Napangiti ako habang tinitingnan siya. He's really sleepy. Poor guy... Sinuklay ko rin ng mga daliri ko ang buhok niya...

He has a straight dark hair. At medyo mahaba na rin na tumatakip din halos sa noo niya at nagiging bangs. Bagay din naman sa kaniya ang may bangs. He looked like a member of an idol group—I sometimes watch K-pop groups and I like their music, too. Naimpluwensyahan na rin ako ni Kassie na nahilig din dati sa K-pop.

I don't know why Bianca always call Kalyx a bad boy... Bukod sa maayos naman na pakikitungo niya sa akin, Kalyx also has softer facial features...

He's also fair-skinned like me. But his skin even looks nicer, kasi may kulay and makes him look younger. Unlike me na namumutla na sa kaputian at nagmumukha pang multo. Ang healthy din tingnan ng buhok niya. It's bouncy like it's full of volume and I can feel it's softness and smoothness as I try to gently comb through it using my fingers. It's a shiny dark hair that suits his fair complexion.

Sa katunayan, Kalyx had more of into the good boy side look physically... Ang ganda rin ng mga mata niya, ang matangos niyang ilong at ang labi niya... He looks angelic in his sleep...

In short, he always looks neat and clean, and he smells fresh and good all the time.

Bad boys and villains always looked cool in books and movies... But this bad boy as they said him to be, resting in my lap now and peacefully taking some time to sleep rather look like an innocent baby...

Kalyx Sevilla was handsome...and at the same time cute. He's adorable and gorgeous.

And he's tall, too. And his muscles on their right places...

I feel like I wanted to pinch his cheek but I stopped myself from doing so. At baka magising ko pa siya. When he's just peacefully resting. I should let him rest for now.

And I almost didn't notice it but I was already softly singing him a lullaby too that I just recalled...

Gumising din si Kalyx after about two hours from his nap. And he looked more ready now to study than earlier that he's sleepy.

"Were you singing while I was sleeping?" He asked me.

Medyo nakaramdam naman ako ng hiya sa ginawa ko kanina. Singing while he sleeps. "Uh, I was just humming..." I said.

"It's nice. I mean you have a nice voice." He smiled at me.

I still feel a little embarrassed even if he's like complimenting me. Ngumiti na lang din ako sa kaniya.

"I think, you should sing more." He said.

"Oh..." I was looking at him. "I sometimes sing together with the church choir..." nasabi ko na rin sa kaniya.

"Wow! Really? Did you sing din ba kanina sa church n'yo? I think I should visit the church soon at baka marinig din kitang kumanta roon." He smilingly said.

While I was still feeling shy. Pero tumango na rin ako sa kaniya.

And he really did. He attended church and saw me singing there with the choir...

One time at the university, nilapitan na lang ako ni Sarah Elizondo at kinausap. She's Kalyx's ex-girlfriend...

"Uh, hi! Czarina Alcantara, right?"

Tumango naman ako sa tanong sa akin...

Pagkatapos ay naglahad siya ng kamay sa harapan ko. "I'm Sarah Elizondo. Nice meeting you." She smiled.

Dahandahan ko namang tinanggap na ang nakalahad niyang kamay. And after that nagpaalam na rin naman siyang aalis na and I just watched her leaving...

Medyo nabigla pa ako sa paglapit niya sa akin kanina.

"Rina, that was Sarah Elizondo?"

Nakita rin pala nina Bianca at Kassie na kakarating lang. Nagkita rin kasi kami rito lang din sa university ngayon.

Tumango ako kay Bianca. I think that was Sarah Elizondo indeed. Nakita ko pa lang dati sa social media ang picture niya. Pero mukhang hindi rin naman nalalayo ang hitsura niya in person. And I noticed that unlike me, she has a pretty tan complexion... She looked like a Latina fashion model. She's beautiful.

"What did she say to you?"

"She just... introduced herself..."

Bianca sighed heavily. "Where's that stupid Kalyx Sevilla?"

I couldn't answer her, at gusto ko na rin siyang pagsabihan sa pag-address niya madalas kay Kalyx. It's not good to call people names... And calling Kalyx stupid. Because he's not.

Bianca sighed again. Seryoso rin siyang tumingin sa akin. "Rin, please. It's for your own good. Lumayo ka na kay Kalyx at habang maaga pa. He's no good for you, Rina." She said.

But I turned to look at Kassie na nakatingin lang din sa akin. "Give it up, Bianca. Why don't you ask Rina first about how she really feels..."

My lips parted at what she said. Napatingin din sa kaniya si Bianca bago niya muling binalik din sa akin ang tingin niya. And I just looked at the two of them...