Tattoo

  TIME really flies so fast. Dalawang taon na pala kaming magkaibigan ni Rara. Every day with her is a good day. Mas lalo kaming naging malapit sa isa't-isa at mas nakilala namin ang bawat isa. We didn't leave each other side, even at our lowest. We understand and support each other.

Ilang beses na rin kami nagtravel dalawa-mostly, mga falls at bundok ang pinupuntahan namin. Mahilig kasi roon si Rara. The last waterfall we went to was the Hulugan Falls in Luisina, Laguna.

I took the lighter and lit the two candles on the cake. Then I looked at Rara, who was smiling widely while looking at the cake she personally made. I smiled before holding her chin so she could face me.

Our eyes flickered into each other.

"Let's wish, aphrodite," I whispered.

Ngumiti si Rara bago pumikit, gano'n din ang ginawa ko. I wish Rara to reach all of her dreams. I whispered those words before we blew the light of the candles in unison.

"Congratulations again, Dean Lister!" she muttered, giggling.

I smiled and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Congratulations to you, Miss President Lister," I whispered huskily.

Hindi siya umimik at tumingin lang sa akin. Hanggang sa napangiti siya at gano'n din ako, tumitig kami sa isa't-isa at gaya noon, nalunod na naman ako sa mga mata niya.

Pag-uwi ko sa condo, ibinagsak ko ang sarili sa kama at pumikit pero mukha ni Rara ang nakikita ko. Tangina. Mabilis akong nagmulat ng mata at bumangon saka tumulala sa kawalan, malapit na nga yata ako mabaliw sa kanya.

Mariin akong pumikit at malalim na bumuntong hininga.

Hindi pwede. Masasayang lang ang pagkakaibigan namin kung hahayaan kong lumalim pa 'tong kakaibang nararamdaman ko sa kanya. Baka init lang ng katawan 'to, oo baka nga. Maybe I need a cold shower to ease this feeling.

Tumayo ako at inilabas ang towel sa cabinet saka dumiretso sa banyo. I need a cold shower- a very cold shower.

The following days were like roller coaster. Parang kailan lang ay nagcelebrate kami ni Rara nang achievement namin dahil pareho kaming may award sa school, pagkatapos ngayon, Valentines naman.

Nagpaalam na ako sa Popsi ni Rara na aayain ko siyang kumain sa labas at pumayag naman siya, kung tama nga ba ang pagkakaintindi ko sa reply niyang 'Anong oras mo iuuwi?'. Yes, I got his phone number, and he was the one who voluntarily gave his number to me. Mukhang malakas na yata talaga ako sa Popsi niya.

Saktong paghinto ng sasakyan ko sa labas ng bahay nila ay siyang paglabas ni Rara sa pamilyar na artista van. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa manibela nang makita ang mga hawak niya. She was holding four sets of different bouquets of flowers.

Mas lalo akong nanlumo nang sumunod na lumabas sa van ang driver niya at inilabas ang mas marami pang bulaklak. There's even a chocolate bouquet, a teddy bear and a basket of fruits.

Bigla akong nahiya sa binili kong bulaklak sa kanya kaya halos itago ko iyon sa pinakailalim ng sasakyan—pero natigilan ako nang marinig ang pagkatok sa may gilid ko. I panicked and quickly rolled down the window.

"Tin, you are here! You're early!" Rara commented.

"Yeah, I thought—"

"You got me a flower? Oh, wow! That's so pretty!"

My heart pounded against my chest. I followed where her eyes darted, and it was to the passenger seat where the flowers were. I immediately handed her a bouquet of pink roses, which made her gasp in so much delight.

"Here," I bit my bottom lips. "Happy Valentine's Day, Aphrodite," I greeted.

She tilted her head inside the window and gave me a swift kiss on the cheeks as she accepted the bouquet. My heart doubled. Natuod ako sa kinauupuan ko at napatitig sa kanya. Even her eyes were smiling, indicating she was really happy.

Fuck, my heart is pounding so loud.

Her eyes rarely tore off to the flowers. She smelled the flowers as the smile on her lips remained.

"Thank you, Tin. This is so pretty," aniya, nakangiti pa.

"You like it?" I asked almost in a whisper. "A-Ang daming nagbigay sayo," I said, then, later on, regrets because I sounded like I was jealous.

She looked down at the flowers on her arms before she chuckled. "My fans gave it to me. Iyong iba ay galing sa set at itong dalawa galing sa co-stars ko. . ."

"Talaga?" None from your admirers?

She nodded. "Yup! Wait lang, Tin, I'll just put this inside the house, ha?" She said, talking about the flowers.

Tumango ako habang may malapad na ngiti sa labi.

"Sige, ayos lang."

Pumasok na nga si Rara sa loob ng bahay nila at ilang sandali pa, lumabas na siyang nakangiti. She told me she put the flowers I gave inside her bedroom as the other she received was in the living room and pathway of their house.

Nakaramdam ako ng kakaibang init sa dibdib nang sabihin niya 'yon dahil sa dami ng bulaklak na natanggap niya ay 'yong sa akin ang bukod tanging nasa loob ng kwarto niya. I feel beyond special.

We headed to a fine dining restaurant for Valentine's Day. Of course, we were both dressed in formal clothes because the restaurant had a dress code.

May mga taong kanina pa panay sulyap sa table namin at alam ko naman kung bakit. Rara told me not worry about it, so I let them be.

"Tin, are you still pushing the date of your tattoo session?" she asked out of the blue.

"Yes, tuloy pa rin 'yon," I answered, twirling the wine glass in my hand. "Why? Do you want to accompany me that day?"

She shrugged. "I'm not sure. I'll be a guest in a game show and talk show on that day,"

"But you want to come?"

She stared at me for a while, then slowly nodded her head.

"I do. I want to get a piercing," her lips slightly pouted.

My lips twitched. "Hmm, I see. I can tell my tattoo artist to re-sched the date of our session if you really want to come,"

Her expression lightens. "Really? You'll do that for me?"

I nodded with a wolfish grin on my lips. "Yes, ikaw pa ba?" Sunod-sunuran ako sayo, eh.

My heart thumped when she reached for my hand and slightly squeezed it. "You are the best friend ever, Dustin!"

Parang tumigil ang tibok ng puso ko sa narinig. Tangina, sige pa, idiin mo pa na hanggang kaibigan mo lang ako.

The day of my tattoo session came. Hindi kami sabay na pupunta ni Rara sa tattoo shop dahil may kailangan pa siyang puntahan na contract signing nang bago niyang endorsement. Alas tres pa naman ng hapon ang session ko at anong oras pa lang naman.

I already have a settled design for my first tattoo. Napag-isipan ko rin na, hindi lang isa ang ipapatattoo ko. Instead, I'm planning to have five tattoos on the same day. I have a high pain tolerance so it's not a big problem to me. Last night, I asked Mom if I could get a tattoo and she agreed as long as it was minimalist.

I parked my car outside the tattoo parlour and waited outside for a minute. When a familiar black artista van stopped in front of me, I couldn't help but smile.

A beautiful woman wearing an off-shoulder pink velvet dress disembarked from the van. She looked illuminating with her make-up, and her blonde hair with tiny pink ribbon clips on it made her look so fetching. She has a wide, charming smile on her lips as she waves at me.

Damn it, I couldn't take my eyes off her.

"Hi," she greeted me.

"Hey, you look stunningly beautiful." I praised her, still not taking my eyes off her.

"Thank you," she giggled.

The corner of my lips rose as I stared at her.

"Stop staring, Tin! Let's go!" she immediately encircled her hand on my arms and pulled me inside the shop. Napangisi na lang ako nang mapasulyap sa kamay niyang nakahawak sa braso ko.

The familiar receptionist's eyes widened at me when we entered the shop. She was wearing tank top that revealed a sight of her breasts and e-cigs in between them. Her hair was in a high bun, causing her neck tattoos to be revealed in the eyes.

"Hi, Dustin! Nice seeing you again," the familiar receptionist winked at me. Then she glanced at the woman beside me and gasped. "Wait, is this Rara? The Rara, as in the actress?!"

Ngumisi ako. "Yes, she is," I muttered, stating the obvious.

Rara smiled. "Hello,"

Cyrene squealed as she stared at Rara. "Hala, shit! Ang ganda mo! Mukha kang manika!"

I glanced at Rara, whose cheeks were flushing. "Ah, thank you," she muttered sheepishly.

"Hey Cyrene, is Blaire ready to tattoo my arms?" I butted in. She looked at me exasperatingly and pointed to the hallway.

"Teka lang, Dustin, papicture muna ako kay miss Rara,"

I abruptly rolled my eyes after hearing her request. I accepted her phone and took a picture of them. Cyrene and I have known each other for a long time. Her father used to work in my Dad's law firm but eventually resigned and went abroad. After the picture taking, Cyrene led us into the hallway, and then once we reached the private door, Cyrene pushed it open, revealing Blaire, the tattoo artist.

"Hi, Blaire," I smiled when she looked up at me. "This is Rara, she will have her piercing while I'm getting a tattoo."

"Ah, nice to meet you, Rara. Have a sit," she says and guides Rara into the chair. "I'll pierce you first before inking Dustin. Mabilis lang naman 'to."

Rara glanced at me, so I nodded at her with a reassuring smile on my lips. "It's okay, unahin mo na si Rara," I stated, which made Blaire nodded.

"Which piercing are you having?"

"I want to have here and here," Rara pointed to the part of her ears that she wanted to get pierced.

"Okay, so you'll be having forward helix, upper earlobe, and triple helix today," Blaire stated as she gathered her piercing tools.

Rara nodded. "Yes,"

"Alright. Tell me, if you can't handle the pain, okay?" Blaire asked and positioned herself into Rara's side.

"I-I will," Rara answered nervously.

I settle down in the corner of the room, watching them. Blaire started to stick the needle through Rara's cartilage, and as soon as the needle made contact with her ear, her eyes tightly closed.

Nakangiti lamang ako habang nagpapatuloy sila. I took my phone and secretly took a picture of Rara. However, I immediately put my phone down when Blaire glanced in my direction. She caught me taking a picture of Rara. She shook her head as she foolishly smirked at me.

Damn it!

A few minutes later, Rara was already examining her new piercings on her reddish cartilage with a satisfied smile.

"Thank you, Blaire. I like them all," she muttered.

"You're welcome, Rara," Blaire said, then looked at me. "Let's proceed to your tattoo, Dustin. Come and lay here."

I immediately stood up from my place, but before I could lay on the inkbed, I went to Rara and grabbed her face, making sure I didn't touch the piercing.

"Did it hurt?" I asked softly.

"It sting a little," she answered, giggling.

Napangiti ako at hinaplos ang buhok niya. "Good. You look even hotter now, Aphrodite," I commented.

Her cheeks flushed. "Thanks,"

Ngumisi lang ako bago siya binitawan. Lumapit na ako sa inkbed kung saan naghihintay sa akin si Blaire na may kakaibang tingin. I remained silent because I knew that once I opened my mouth, a series of speculations would roast. Madaldal pa naman ang babaeng 'to.

Nakaupo si Rara doon sa upuan na pinag-upuan ko kanina. I saw Cyrene entering the room with drinks on her hands. Then, she offered the drink to Rara while the other one is for me.

"I don't have one? I want iced coffee, dear!" parinig ni Blaire at napa-oo na lang si Cyrene.

Blaire puts on her latex gloves and cleans the part of my arm where I want my tattoos to be. Then she starts moving the paper where the prints of my tattoo are. She rubs the top of it before I hear the machine turn on.

When the needle started to pierce my skin, I looked in Rara's direction. Her lips parted a little as her eyes glued to the procedure of my desire tattoo. I smiled and couldn't help but call her.

"Aphrodite,"

She looked up at me. "Tin, are you okay? Does it hurt?"

My smile remained. "I'm okay, Aphrodite. Come here, watch it closer."

I heard Blaire cough, so I frowned at her. Ito talagang babaeng 'to!

Lumapit nga si Rara at pinanood nang mas malapit ang ginagawa ni Blaire sa braso ko. The smile on my lips didn't alter as I watched Rara amusingly watch the process of my tattoos.

"I thought this would be more painful," I muttered in strain.

"You have a high tolerance, Altamirano. Of course, you'll say that." Blaire rebukes.

I tsked and looked down at my arms where my first tattoo was. The machine stops, and Blaire carefully wipes off the ink from my arm with a wet wipe before patching it up with transparent plastic. Then, she proceeded to do the rest of my tattoos.

After a few hours, finally, my tattoos are completely done. Blaire stands up and grabs a wipe before skimming it down the tattoos to remove a spot of excess ink.

"Have a look," Blaire said after a moment. I raised myself up before looking down at my freshly inked arms. Whoa, that wasn't so bad.

"Thanks, Blaire," I muttered and tapped her shoulder.

She nodded. "Don't forget to clean it with antibacterial soap. Keep it clean and moisturized, and you'll be fine."

"Noted," I answered in understanding.

"Anyway, the piercing is on the house since it was for your girl—I mean for Miss Rara," Blaire said, looking at me teasingly.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll be back next time. I want another tattoo," I muttered.

Rara chuckled. "Thank you so much, Blaire," she muttered sweetly.

Before we left the room, Blaire asked for a picture that she could post on the social media of her tattoo shop. Pumayag naman kaagad si Rara at syempre, kasali rin ako!

"On a scale of one to ten, how bad does it hurt?" Rara asked as we made our way to the counter to pay.

"It's more a level twelve kind of pain," I quips.

Her face prickled in annoyance which made chuckled in amusement.

"Iyong seryoso nga, Tin!"

"You mean my feelings for you?" I answered right away.

Rara gasped as she looked up at me. Natigilan ako at napalunok nang maintindihan ang sinabi ko.

Tangina! Gusto kong sakalin ang sarili sa sinabi ko. Saan nanggaling 'yon, Dustin?!

"Dustin talaga, oh. . . Stop with your silly jokes, okay?" Rara awkwardly fired back.

I inserted my hand into my pants, and it formed a tight fist. Then, I forced a smirk.

"I'm just teasing you," My heart sank. "It's not that bad, I promise. It might hurt a little bit if it is your first time." I assured.

She hums. "Oh, okay,"

"Why are you asking?"

She stopped walking, and so did I. Then she went in front of me and showed me her hands. I looked at it in confusion before looking up at her face.

"What is it?"

"I want to get a tattoo! But I want to ask Popsi for his permission first," she uttered, giggling.

My eyebrows draw together. "Seriously? Baka naman sabihin ni Popsi, bad influence ako sayo."

"Hindi 'yan! Popsi and Momsi also have a couple tattoo, no!"

I blinked upon hearing what she said. Couple tattoo? Does it mean she wants me and her to have the same tattoo? Damn! Hindi naman ako nagsalita, but deep inside, I was grinning like an idiot.

After leaving the tattoo shop, we ate at a nearby restaurant to have dinner, where we had a view of the city. Then, I took her home since I knew she was tired.

Hindi kaagad ako nakatulog nang gabing 'yon. Kaya nang magtext sa akin si Rara kung kailan kami ulit magkikita dahil pumayag na agad ang Popsi niya na magpatattoo siya ay sumagot kaagad ako. Ilang palitan pa ng messages bago siya nagpaalam na matutulog na.

From: Aphrodite

Good night, Tin. Thank you for today :)

I bit my inner cheek as I typed a response.

To: Aphrodite

Good night, Aphrodite. Dream of me, please.

Kinabukasan, para akong nakasinghot nang rugby dahil sobrang active ko sa klase. I was able to answer every question the professor asked me correctly, even though I didn't review last night. Nakanganga sa akin ang mga kaibigan ko dahil lahat ng tanong ay nalusutan ko.

Wala na akong klase pag dating ng alas quatro ng hapon kaya maaga ang uwi ko. Noong lunch break, sabay kaming magkakaibigan na pumunta sa cafeteria at kumain.

"Tangina, tol. Ilang beses mo na kami ni-reject! Hindi kana sumasama kapag nag-aaya kami ni klinn!" nagtatampong sumbat sa akin ni Jethro.

Klinn wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him.

"Kaya nga tol! Kung kailan ako sinipag sa night out, doon ka naman hindi mahagilap. Saan ka ba nagsusuot nitong mga nakaraang buwan, ha?"

"Don't tell me nagseseryoso kana?"

I threw a stick of french fries in Jethro's direction. He chuckled after I missed the shot. Then he picked up the fries and swallowed it.

"Gago, busy lang talaga ako."

"Asus, babae 'yan panigurado," sabat ni Klinn.

"Wala nga, tol." natatawang sagot ko. Then, I opened the lid of my soda. "Tagal na nga simula nang may babae ako," I gulped an amount of the soda.

"Tol, kung wala ka pa lang babae, edi sumama ka sa amin bukas ng gabi! Sabado naman bukas, tol."

"Anong meron?"

"Birthday party ni Dravis! Sumama kana, tol," pag-aya sa akin ni Jethro. "Magtatampo kami kapag hindi ka sumama," aniya at ngumuso pa.

"Oo, magtatampo kami! Kilala mo ako, tol, matampuhin ako," nakigaya na rin si Klinn.

Napailing ako habang natatawa sa kanilang dalawa. "Oo na, tol, sasama ako," sagot ko dahil narealize kong matagal-tagal na rin simula nang lumabas nga kaming tatlo.

Kasi naman, palagi kong kasama si Rara. Hindi naman sa nagrereklamo ako na siya palagi ang kasama ko, actually, masaya pa nga ako dahil binibigyan niya ako ng oras kahit sobrang busy niyang tao.

"Before you enter inside, you have to drink," the bouncer handed each one of us a red cup with liquor.

I accepted the cup and smelled it first before drinking it. Blazing heat automatically rushed through my veins and filled my body. My friends and the other guest did the same. After that, doon pa lang kami pinapasok ng bouncer sa loob ng pool area kung saan ang mismong birthday party ni Dravis Cinco.

"Holy fuck," I cursed under my breath when the moment we entered the place, a group of people having public sex welcomed our eyes.

Moans and whimpers permeated out, accompanied by loud sensual music. There were couches that had a group of naked women sitting around talking as they nursed drinks. There are also couples having sex on the pool. A woman leaning on the edge of the pool and holding on to the stainless rails as she gets pounded by a guy.

"Tangina, nasa tamang party ba tayo?!" Klinn asked, almost shouting because the music was too loud to hear voices.

A group of naked women approached us and nursed us an alcoholic drink. "Boys, wanna join us in the pool?" the girls sensually asked us as their bodies swayed with erotic music.

Jethro was like an excitable puppy beside me, asked. "Orgy party pala 'to?"

One of the girls answered back and pulled Jethro on the other side. I also lost Klinn when two women gestured for him to join them on a sun lounger.

"Hey, you're all alone. Would you like to join me?" a blonde woman asked, almost pressing her naked chest on my face.

The light suddenly turned dim, and I could feel my body getting lost in the heat when the tip of her fingers grazes on my chest.

An image of Rara suddenly flashed in my mind as the heat in my body ignited like wildfire.

I wrapped my arm around her waist as my eyes blazed. "Fucking yes," I growled.