Wayne’s POV

I woke up with my head resting on a pillow and my body covered with a blanket. I sat up, still half asleep but aware of my surroundings. Stretching my arms, I looked around to find that I was alone.

“Tanya!” I called out her name but no one answered. Tanya wasn’t there anymore. She’d probably left while I was asleep.

I hadn’t even realized I had fallen asleep. I looked at the clock hanging on the wall to see that it was already nine o’clock. Tumayo ako mula sa couch. My brows furrowed when I saw a small stream of sunlight coming in through the slight parted thick curtain that was covering the floor to ceiling window. Fuck! It was already nine in the morning. I thought it was only nine in the evening.

I was about to get up when my phone buzzed. I reached for it on the side table next to the couch. It was from a girl I gave my number to at some club but I didn’t pay much attention to that. I scrolled through my unread messages and a smile crept on my lips when I saw her name.

Good morning, Wayne. Pasensya ka na hindi na ako nakapagpaalam sa’yo kagabi. Ayoko na gisingin ka dahil ang himbing na ng tulog mo.

I was never a big fan of texting so I decided to call her. After just a few rings she finally picked up the phone.

“Good morning, Tanya.” I said.

“Wayne! Good morning.” Her voice was a mixture of surprise and smile.

“Ano’ng oras ka umuwi kagabi?” I asked.

“Mag-aalas onse na.” She answered.

“Jesus, Tanya. Sobrang late na nun. Sana man lang ginising mo ako para naihatid kita sa sakayan.” I shook my head. Wala naman kasing dumadaan na jeep, taxi o kahit anong pampasaherong sasakyan dito. Everybody uses cars here. She’d have to walk a few blocks to get to the nearest bus stop. “You walked all the way to the bus stop?”

“Oo, hindi naman ganun kalayo.” Sagot niya.

“Madilim na sa labas ng ganong oras. Paano kung may nangyaring masama sa iyo?” My voice slightly raised.

“Okay naman ako. Nakauwi naman ako ng ligtas.” She said in a timid tone. And I scared her again. Great, just fucking great.

I sighed, trying to collect myself before I spoke in a gentle voice. “Just don’t do it again, okay?”

“Okay.” Sabi ni Tanya. “Um, Wayne, kailangan ko na pumasok. Baka malate pa ako sa klase.”

“Ano’ng oras ang huling klase mo?”

“Eleven-thirty. Isa lang kasi ang klase ko ngayon pero twelve to eight ang shift ko ngayon sa trabaho.”

“Magkita tayo mamaya. I’ll call you later.”

“Sige.” She said. “Salamat nga pala sa pinauwi mong ulam. Nagustuhan ni nanay.”

I couldn’t help but smile like a doofus while I leaned back to the couch. “Syempre, luto mo yun.”

“Kailangan ko na talagang umalis. Bye, Wayne.” Paalam niya.

“Tanya…”

“Bakit?”

“Text me when you get to school so I know you got there safe, okay?”

“Okay.” I could hear a hint of smile in her voice. “Bye, Wayne.”

“Bye.” I said before hanging up the phone. I wasn’t sure why but I had the need to protect her. Was it because she looked sweet, delicate, fragile, eternally nervous and vulnerable? Damn it! This wasn’t the sort of relationship I wanted. I hired her so I could have someone to fuck without any commitment, expectation or emotional investment. But her softness had tantilized me. Things were moving in a direction I hadn’t plan for. She captured something inside me, she woke up something inside me. She made me feel things. And I couldn’t deny that or push it away.

I got up and took a shower. I excitedly checked my phone after getting out of the bathroom. Napangiti ako ng makita ko ang pangalan ni Tanya sa screen ng phone ko.

Nasa school na ko, Wayne. :)

Tanya’s POV

“Hoy, Tanya Helaine Andrada!” Nag-angat ako ng tingin mula sa phone na hawak ko ng marinig ko si Edna. Naglalakad siya palapit sa akin na may malapad na ngiti sa labi at huminto siya sa harap ko. “Ikaw nagtatago ka na ng sikreto sa akin ngayon!”

Kumunot ang noo ko. “Wala naman akong tinatago sa’yo.”

“Wala? Eh sino yung nagsundo sa’yong lalaki.” Pumamewang si Edna.

“Si Wayne…” Mahinang sabi ko habang pinipigil ang ngiti ko. “Kaibigan ko lang yun.”

“Kaibigan? May kaibigan bang kung maka-kapit sa’yo akala mo tuko.” Narinig ko ang boses ni Luis mula sa likuran ko. Pareho kaming napalingon ni Edna. Walang kangiti-ngiti sa mukha niya. “Dumating lang siya kagabi, iniwan mo na agad kami at sumama ka sa kanya.”

“May lakad kasi kami. Nawala lang sa isip ko.” Dahilan ko.

“Sino ba talaga ang Wayne na yun ha? Ano mo siya?” Nakasimangot na tanong ni Luis.

“Kaibigan ko nga lang siya.” Bumuntong-hininga ako. “Huwag na natin pag-usapan ‘yun, pwede ba?”

“Saan kayo nagpunta? Bakit gabing-gabi na sumama ka pa sa lalaking yun?” Pilit niya pa rin na tanong. Lalong lumalim ang kunot ng noo niya habang nakatingin sa akin at naghihintay ng sagot ko.

“Kasi nga may importante kaming kailangan pag-usapan. Tungkol sa… sa scholarship. May kakilala kasi siya na makakatulong sa akin, hindi ba sinabi ko na sa’yo yun noon?” Pagsisinungaling ko. Hindi ko na nga mabilang kung ilang beses kong kailangan magsinungaling hindi lang sa kanila kung hindi kay nanay din.

“At ano ang kapalit?” Makahulugan na sabi niya at tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi niya na parang nang-uuyam.

“A-ano bang gusto mong palabasin?” Sabi ko at nag-iwas ng tingin. “Nagmamagandang loob lang yung tao.”

“Nagmamagandang loob?” Sarkastikong tumawa siya. “Porque ba nagmamagandang loob siya may karapatan na siyang hawak-hawakan ka ng gano’n? O baka naman nasilaw ka na sa pera o sa magarbong kotse ng lalaking iyon? Akala ko iba ka.”

“Tama na nga kayong dalawa!” Awat ni Edna. “Baka kung saan pa mapunta ang usapan niyong ‘yan!” 

I looked down, hurt at what he said. Pati ba si Luis na isa sa mga best friend ko ipararamdam sa akin kung gaano ako kababang babae? I felt a lump on my throat habang pinipigil ko ang luha ko. Tumalikod na ako at walang salitang nagpunta ako sa klase ko. Umupo ako sa bakanteng upuan sa likod. Naramdaman kong nag-vibrate ang phone ko mula sa bag ko at inilabas iyon. Parang nabawasan ang bigat ng dibdib ko ng makita ko ang pangalan ni Wayne.

Good. Just got out of the shower and am getting ready for school. See you later.

Hindi ko naiwasan ang mapangiti ng mabasa ko iyon. Simpleng message lang pero bakit ganito ang nararamdaman ko? I texted him back:

Ingat papuntang school.

Ipinasok ko na ulit sa bag ko ang phone ko at humugot ng malalim na hininga. Kahit kailan hindi ko naman hiniling na sana naging mayaman ako. Pinalaki ako ng nanay na kuntento sa buhay na meron kami. Basta ba nakakain kami ng tatlong beses sa isang araw at may natutulugan kami masaya na ako. Pero bakit ngayon gusto kong hilingin na sana magkapantay na lang kami ni Wayne? Sana wala ako sa sitwasyon na ganito at sana hindi ako nanliliit sa sarili ko tuwing kasama ko siya. Oo, maayos ang trato sa akin ngayon ni Wayne at hindi niya ipinararamdam sa akin na binabayaran niya lang ako pero kahit magkunwari ako na normal ang kung anuman ‘tong relasyon namin dalawa, I know where I stand in his life. Pang-palipas oras niya lang ako. Libangan.

Naramdaman kong nag-vibrate ang phone ko ulit at kahit ayaw ko man, hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko na kunin iyon mula sa bag ko. Katulad ng inaasahan ko galing ulit kay Wayne ang message.

Sure. Para sa’yo mag-iingat ako. ;)

I found myself replying to his message:

Have a nice day :)

Makalipas lang ng ilang segundo nag-reply agad siya sa akin.

You too, angel. I have to drive. I’ll text you when I get to school.

Lalong lumapad ang ngiti ko. Angel?

Drive carefully

At agad ulit dumating ang reply niya.

Will do. Text you later.

Sinagot ko ang text niyang iyon. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sa tuwing mag-uusap kami ng ganito parang ayaw ko pa matapos iyon. Sana ganito din pagkaharap ko siya. I get really nervous around him. I get so nervous that sometimes I couldn’t even think straight. My heart beats a little faster when he’s around.

 Sige. Ingat.

Nag-vibrate ulit ang phone ko.

Tanya, don’t reply to this. I can’t resist replying to you and I’m going to be late for class.

Natawa ako ng mahina sa message niyang iyon. Makalipas ang ilang minuto nag-vibrate na naman ang phone ko at patago kong binasa ang message niya.

I’m already at school. On my way to my first class.

Ayaw ko sanang magreply dahil naglelecture na ang prof namin pero hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko. 

Lumabas na ako pagkatapos ng klase at nakita si Luis na nakasandal sa pader sa tabi ng pinto ng classroom. Nagkatinginan kami. Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Sumunod siya sa akin pero hindi ko pa rin siya pinansin.

“Tanya, mag-usap tayo.” Sabi niya habang naglalakad sa tabi ko. “Hindi ko sinasadya yung mga na sabi ko kanina. Nabigla lang ako.”

“Hayaan mo na muna ako.” Binilisan ko ang paglalakad.  

“Tanya, sorry na talaga.” Hinarang niya ang sarili niya sa harap ko at hinawakan ako sa magkabilang balikat para pigilan. Malamlam ang mga matang tinitigan niya ako. “Nadala lang ako ng selos.”

“Luis…”

“Oo, alam ko wala akong karapatan pero hindi ko kayang pigilan yun. Alam mo naman matagal na akong may gusto sa’yo.” Bumuntong hininga siya. “Mahal na kita, Tanya. Hindi ba sabi ko naman maghihintay ako hanggang sa handa ka na? Hindi ako titigil sa panliligaw sa’yo.”

“Luis, kaibigan lang talaga ang tingin ko sa’yo. Makakahanap ka rin ng iba at alam kong magiging maswerte ang babaeng mamahalin mo.” Ngumiti ako sa kanya.  

“Hindi ko kayang magmahal ng iba. Ikaw ang gusto ko. Ikaw lang.” Malungkot ang boses na sabi niya. “Gagawin ko ang lahat maging akin ka lang.”

Wayne’s POV

“Mr. St. Croix!” Our professor tapped her stick on my desk. My eyes averted from my phone to look up at her. I quickly lowered my phone under my desk but I was sure she saw it. “Are you paying any attention to what I was saying?”

“Of course, Mrs. Montoya.” I said.

“Then what did I just say?” She cocked her brow at me.

“You were talking about, um, ah…” I had no idea what she was talking about.

“Hindi mo alam kasi hindi ka nakikinig. Puro text ang inaatupag mo.” She sighed and held her hand out. “Give me your phone.”

I looked at my phone, not wanting to hand it to her. Damn it!

 “Give. Me. Your. Phone.” Ulit niya. With no choice, I let out an exasperated sigh and handed it to her. “Kayong lima…” She pointed her stick at me, Nick, Axel, Tristan and Wayne. “Kung ayaw niyong ibagsak ko kayo-”

“If you fail us again, you get us next semester.” Axel said with a taunting smile. We knew how much Mrs. Montoya hated us. She wouldn’t want to have us again.

 “Wala naman problema samin iyon. You’re our favorite professor.” Seth grinned.

Mrs. Montoya gave them both a scowling glare before looking at me. “You’ll get this back after class.” Mariin na sabi niya bago tumalikod papunta sa desk niya.

“Sino ba yung katext mo?” Tristan whispered.

“Oo nga, kanina ka pa pangiti-ngiti d’yan. Para kang gago.” Nick chuckled.

"Tangina! Pag ako nadamay d'yan ah. Maawa ka naman, dude, pag binagsak ako n'yan gastos na naman yan. Laspag na laspag na katawan ko." Sabi ni Tristan and all of us snickered quietly.

"Di ba enjoy ka naman sa trabaho mo?" Sabi ni Seth. "You get paid to shag MILFs."

"Damn ! Luck you, you get paid for fucking matured and experienced women." Axel smiled, shaking his head. "I haven't had a pussy for three fucking days."

A sigh escaped my lips. I haven't had one since Tanya came into my life. I didn't want else but her. I wanted her with an ache I couldn't even begin to understand. But I knew I couldn't have her. At least not just yet.

After that class I got my phone back but unfortunately Tanya was already at work. She said she couldn't use her phone anymore. God, why do I always want to talk to her and be with her? It was something way beyond my control. I didn't know why I was drawn to her. I just am. It was like those forces of nature that couldn't help their attraction. They glom on to each other whether they like it or not. And that was how it was when Tanya was near. She was the force I couldn't resist. And lately, I haven't wanted to resist which was fucking scary.

____

Author's Note

Alam ko. Bitin na naman. Hahaha. Bukas o sa Sunday na lang yung susunod na update. Pasensya na po sa mabagal na update. Busy lang talaga ako ngayon.