CHAPTER 4

"YES, THE CHURCH is okay na. The reception is maganda na and lahat ay ready na. I already checked everything at kayo na lang ang kulang," nakangiting balita ni Happy na pilit nagsasalita ng Tagalog sa abot ng kanyang makakaya kay Lucky habang nasa loob sila ng hospital room ng fiancé nitong si Blake.

"Thank you," nakangiting sabi ni Blake habang nakatingin sa kanya. "For helping my baby."

Her smile widened. "My pleasure."

Umalis si Lucky mula sa pagkakaupo sa tabi ni Blake at lumipat ng upo sa tabi niya sa mahabang sofa. Masuyo siya nitong niyakap at ihinilig ang ulo sa balikat niya.

"Salamat, Ate."

Nakagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi nang maramdamang nanubig ang mga mata niya sa simpleng katagang binitiwan ng kapatid. "It's my pleasure."

Puno ng pagmamahal na nginitian siya ni Lucky. "You're a godsend, Ate. Maraming salamat talaga."

Happy felt like something caress her heart. It was a simple thank you from Lucky but it meant so much to her.

Niyakap niya rin ang kapatid, saka hinagod ang likod nito. "Nandito lang ako for you, Lucky."

Tumango si Lucky, saka kumawala sa yakap niya at nginitian siya.

Doon bumukas ang pinto ng kuwarto ni Blake at pumasok ang kakambal nito.

"Blakey, your medicine," sabi ni Blaze nang makapasok sa kuwarto.

"Pasa ba 'yan?" tanong ni Blake nang makalapit ang kakambal.

Agad na nag-iwas siya ng tingin sa tanong ni Blake. Alam na alam kasi niya kung saan nakuha ni Blaze ang pasa nito. She gave it to him last night.

Blaze sighed. "It's nothing—"

"Who punched you?" Blake asked, bewildered. "Answer me, Blaze."

Mula sa gilid ng mga mata, nakita niyang napatingin sa kanya si Blaze bago umiling. "Blakey, drop it."

"Make me." Blake tsked as he looked at Blaze's swollen jaw. "Sino ba ang may gawa niyan sa iyo?"

Blaze stayed silent as he administered Blake's medicine.

Itinutok naman ni Lucky ang tingin sa panga ni Blaze. "That looks painful, Blaze."

Blaze glanced at her again before answering. "Not really."

Blake tsked again. "Walang nakakalampas sa iyo, 'tapos may pasa ka? It's either you're becoming a pussy, or you let that someone punch you."

Bumuntong-hininga si Blaze. "I'm fine."

Blake frowned. "Where's my drama king brother?"

Blaze showed his middle finger to Blake before leaving the room, while Blake looked at her questioningly.

"What?" painosenteng tanong niya.

"Did you punch my brother?" balik-tanong ni Blake.

"Blakey!" Tiningnan ito nang masama ni Lucky. "My sister is a nice woman."

Agad na lumambot ang mukha ni Blake nang bumaling kay Lucky, "I know, baby, but humor me, okay?" Kapagkuwan ay bumaling uli ito sa kanya at wala na ang lambot sa mukha. "Well, did you?"

Nakangiwing tumango siya.

"Ate!" Hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Lucky. "Sabi mo magiging mabait ka kay Blaze? You promised me."

She gave Lucky an apologetic look. "I didn't mean it."

"Paanong hindi mo sinasadya?" Hindi pa rin maipinta ang mukha ni Lucky at parang bata na nakasimangot.

Sa halip na sagutin ang kapatid, si Blake ang kinausap niya. "How did you know it was me?"

Blake shrugged. "He keeps on glancing at you."

Napalabi si Lucky. "Ano ba'ng ginawa ni Blaze at sinuntok mo?"

Umayos siya ng upo. "He kissed me." Her cheeks warmed. "Without my permission."

"Oh."

"Oh."

Sabay na mahinang sabi nina Lucky at Blake.

Happy awkwardly stood up then she quietly left Blake's room. Para siyang nakahinga nang maluwag nang makalabas. Pero agad ding nawala ang pagluwag ng pakiramdam niya nang makita si Blaze na nakasandal sa pader, sa harap ng pinto ng kuwarto.

"Blaze..."

Umalis ito sa pagkakasandal sa pader, saka walang sabi-sabing hinawakan ang kamay niya at hinila siya palabas ng ospital.

Happy was still confused as to what was happening when he forced her to ride in his car. At nakatingin lang siya sa lalaki habang naglalakad ito paikot sa unahan na kotse patungo sa driver's seat.

At nang makasakay, hinubad nito ang doctor's robe na suot, saka itinapon iyon sa backseat. Pagkatapos ay basta na lang din hinubad ang T-shirt na suot.

And Happy couldn't take her shameless eyes off of Blaze as his muscle flexed while he moved. And for the first time, his tattoos didn't look dirty at all. It looked blazing hot on his tan skin. It was mostly tribal tattoos and maybe some Celtic words.

Sunod-sunuran ang mga mata niya sa lalaki, lalo na sa abs nito, nang abutin nito ang damit na nasa backseat at nagbihis.

Happy actually felt disappointed when Blaze put a shirt on, followed by a polo shirt. Pero wala itong ibinutones na butones ng polo, hinayaan lang nito iyong nakabukas at itinupi lang ang magkabilang manggas.

And she was looking at him the whole time he was changing. So when he glanced at her, it was normal that he caught her staring.

But what was not normal was when he winked at her and her heart palpitated.

"Like what you see?" he asked, amused.

Happy gulped first because she felt hot all of the sudden. "Yeah."

Natigilan ang lalaki sa pagbuhay ng makina ng sasakyan at gulat na napabaling sa kanya. "You do? I mean, I know I look good but for you to actually admit it—"

"Your body is maganda. Right muscles in right places. The tattoos look maganda rin and you're welcome." She smiled at him. "So why am I in your car?"

Napatanga ito sa kanya. "Hindi ka man lang ba nailang sa ginawa kong paghuhubad sa harap mo?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Nailang?" Umiling siya. "No... I was enjoying the show. I have a gay friend way back in college and we used to go to this club where male strippers are everywhere. Like they're only wearing briefs or boxers. And paghuhubad sa harap ko? As I was saying, your body is maganda and wala akong pakialam—wait, dapat ba may pakialam ako?"

Lalo lang itong napatanga sa kanya. "You know what?" Binuhay nito ang makina ng sasakyan. "Nevermind, my ego is okay."

Kinunutan niya ng noo si Blaze. "Why do you look so disappointed?" tanong niya.

"I wanna see you blush," sabi nito, saka bumuntong-hininga. "Like when you accidentally flirted with me."

"Oh." Nakagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi. "Well, that was embarrassing. Alam ko kung how to flirt but first time kong ginawa 'yon kaya na-embarrass ako."

Napatango-tango ito. "And seeing a naked man's body is not your first, so you're not embarrassed?"

She nodded. "Yes. It's not, so why would I be shy? It's not like I haven't seen one before."

Biglang napasipol ang lalaki. "So... Lucky is innocent while you are... not really?"

Tumango uli siya. "I did go to college."

"You said it as if it explains everything."

"It does," mabilis niyang sabi, saka nagpaliwanag. "Noong nasa college ako, I went to parties and such, and I saw people making out and having sex. And then my roommates like watching porn for educational purposes they say. And I watched with them because I don't want to be called a prude."

"At hindi mo ginawa ang mga 'yon?" pasulyap-sulyap na tanong sa kanya ni Blaze habang nagmamaneho. "Making out?"

Tiningnan niya ito nang masama. "Bakit sa tingin mo I punched you?"

Sa tanong niya, napahawak ito sa pangang sinuntok niya. "Dahil nagulat ka sa ginawa ko?"

Umingos siya. "Partly... but I punched you because that was my first kiss. And you stole it like it's nothing—Blaze! Shit!"

Biglang siyang napahiyaw at napamura nang tumigil ang kotse nito at sunod-sunod silang nakarinig ng busina sa likuran.

"Blaze!" Sininghalan niya ang lalaki. "Are you trying to kill us?!"

Agad nitong minaniobra ang kotse para maitigil iyon sa gilid ng kalsada at humarap sa kanya. "That was your first kiss?" parang gulat na gulat nitong tanong.

Tumango siya. "Yeah."

"Oh, fuck." Napasabunot si Blaze sa sariling buhok. "And I didn't even kiss you right. I'm so sorry, Happy."

Hindi makapaniwalang napatitig siya sa lalaki. "You're sorry because you didn't kiss me right? Eh, hindi ka nga nag-sorry that you kissed me."

Natigilan ito at napatitig sa kanya. "I'm not sorry that I kissed you."

Sumama ang mukha niya. "You should be. Eh, you just kissed me lang naman kasi you want to know if the feeling is the same, tama? You want to check if yung feeling is the same when you kiss me and when you kissed her." Tumalim ang mga mata niya. "I told you, 'di ba? I'm not her. And I was actually insulted that you stole my first kiss because of someone else."

Napatitig sa kanya si Blaze at lumambot ang bukas ng mukha nito. "I'm sorry."

Tumingin siya sa labas ng bintana ng kotse. "I don't really care if hindi ka pa maka-move on sa kanya. It's your feelings and it's your emotions. But please lang, spare me. Huwag mo akong isali. I just want us to be friends and to be nice to each other, for our siblings, puwede ba 'yon?"

"I didn't mean to..." Blaze whispered.

"Don't bullshit me," sabi niya sa kalmadong boses. "I know sinadya mo. Sabi mo nga 'di ba you want to know if if feels the same. That's why I'm irritated and I want you to know how irritated I am with you. Para alam mo 'yong feelings ko. I hate keeping secrets from anyone. You deserve to know that I'm annoyed at what you did, and I also deserve to be respected."

Nagbaba lang ng tingin si Blaze at hindi nagsalita.

Nakaramdam siya ng awa rito pero hindi niya binawi ang sinabi. He had to know what was on her mind, he had to know that it was okay to disrespect her like that.

After a long minute of silence, he looked at her. "I'm sorry I disrespected you. I won't do it again?"

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. "Bakit with question mark?"

"Because I'm not sure?"

Bumuntong-hininga siya bago bumaling kay Blaze. "Ilang years na ba kayong hiwalay?"

"Eleven."

Umawang ang mga labi niya sa gulat. "And you still love her?"

Hindi sumagot si Blaze pero alam niyang oo ang sagot sa tanong niya.

"Jesus Christ..." She couldn't believe a man could love someone that long, especially if that woman broke his heart. "You have to move on."

"I know," sabi nito sa mababang boses. "I'm trying really hard to... move on. But I can't stop... loving her."

Nakaramdam si Happy ng awa kay Blaze. Looking at his face now, he looked so lost. Hindi katulad ng mukha nitong nakasanayan niya na nakangiti, tumatawa o kaya naman nagbibiro. O kaya naman 'yong mukha nitong parang kasama sa isang gang na sobrang badass tingnan.

This was the reason why he joked around? To calm himself and make himself smile?

Inalis niya ang seat belt na suot, saka humarap dito at masuyong sinapo ang mukha nito. "Look at me."

He did and his eyes... he was really lost.

Pinakatitigan niya ito sa mga mata habang masuyong sapo ang pisngi nito. "Ano'ng gusto mong gawin ko? If I remind you of her, then should I stay away from you? Ahm, gusto mo bang hindi ako nice sa iyo? Ahm... gusto mo hindi tayo magkita? If it helps you, I can do that. I mean, after Lucky's wedding, I'll go back to Pennsylvania and hindi mo na ako makikita. Can you endure, maybe two weeks or more, kasi alis din naman na ako? Kaya mo pa ba? Kasi parang you're having a hard time with me around. O kaya naman, tell me kung ano'ng ginagawa ko na naaalala mo siya para hindi ko na gawin hanggang sa makaalis ako?"

Umiling ito. "Don't go... don't leave me."

Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Alam kong hindi ako ang ayaw mong paalisin. I know, Blaze, but I told you, I deserve to be respected, so don't look at me like that." Parang siya ang nasasaktan para kay Blaze pero hindi naman puwedeng siya ang mag-adjust para dito. "I will punch you and kick you and beat you up if you say something that is meant for her and not for me. Understand?"

Napalitan ng mahinang tawa ang lungkot sa mukha nito. "Loud and clear, Ma'am. Sorry again."

Tinapik-tapik niya ang pisngi nito bago pinakawalan. "Now..." Isinuot niya uli ang seat belt. "Where are you taking me?"

"I owe you dinner," sabi nito, saka pinausad ang kotse.

"It's just three PM, Blaze," she pointed out.

"Then I owe you early dinner," sabi nito na nakangiti. "Ipinagluto mo ako kaninang madaling araw, 'di ba?"

Nginitian niya ito. "So ipagluluto mo rin ako as payment now?"

Biglang bumagal ang pagmamaneho nito at sumulyap sa kanya. "Y-you want me to cook for you?"

Mabilis siyang tumango. "Yes. Para bayad ka na sa pagluto ko ng food sa iyo last night."

Bahagyang umawang ang mga labi nito, kapagkuwan ay dahan-dahang tumango. "Oh. Sure... I can, ahm, cook something." Kinabig nito ang manibela pakanan, saka nag-U-turn. "Sa bahay tayo, okay lang ba?"

Tumango siya. "Sure."

Tumango rin si Blaze, saka panay ang hinga ng malalim habang nagmamaneho na para bang kinakabahan ito na ikinakunot ng noo niya.

Nang makarating siya sa bahay nina Blaze, napahanga siya sa disenyo n'on. It was beautiful. A mixture of classic and modern architecture.

"Your house was renovated?" tanong niya habang papasok sila sa kabahayan.

Tumango si Blaze, saka tinapon ang susi ng kotse sa mesa na nasa gilid. "How did you know?"

"I noticed."

Napatango-tango ito, saka hinubad ang polo na suot. Itinapon lang din nito 'yon basta sa sofa pati ang T-shirt na hinubad din nito.

And the hot and dirty doctor was now walking around shirtless.

"Sit there." Itinuro nito ang sofa, saka binuksan ang TV. "Watch while I cook."

"I rather watch you cook—"

"No!" biglang pigil sa kanya ni Blaze na ikinabigla niya. "You stay here while I cook."

Napipilitang tumango siya. "Okay. If you say so."

Ngumiti ito, saka iniwan siya sa sala. Siya naman ay umupo na lang sa sofa at nanood ng TV.

Maybe ten or fifteen minutes later, Happy was enjoying the show she was watching when she smelled something burning.

Kunot-noong tumayo siya at sinundan ang amoy. She found herself inside the kitchen where smoke was everywhere!

"Blaze!" Panay ang paypay niya sa usok gamit ang kamay habang lukot ang mukha. "Off that goddamn stove!"

"H-how?" Para itong nagpa-panic na hindi mapakali at hindi alam ang gagawin. "Holy fuck! Fuck! Fuck! How do you turn off this thing, damn it!"

Blaze was lost all right. She had to do it herself!

Kaya naman siya na ang nagpatay ng stove at binuksan lahat ng bintana para lumabas ang usok.

And when the kitchen was finally cleared from smoke, she faced Blaze. "What happened?"

Napangiwi ito at napakamot sa batok. "I ahm, I have a confession to make..."

"What?" Namaywang siya. "You don't know how to cook?"

Napakamot uli ito sa sariling batok. "P-paano mo nalaman?"

"Oh, I don't know." Puno ng sarkasmo ang boses niya. "Maybe because you nearly burn down the whole kusina?"

Bumagsak ang mga balikat nito. "Gusto lang naman kitang ipagluto. Why is it so hard?"

Napailing siya. "Sana sinabi mo sa akin, so I could've cook instead of you."

Kinagat nito ang pang-ibabang labi. "I, ahm, I don't want to. Gusto talaga kitang ipagluto kahit wala naman talaga akong alam sa kusina. It was hopefully my way of saying I'm sorry for everything?"

Happy sighed when her irritation melted. Itinuro niya ang stool na nasa tabi ng island counter. "Sit. I'll cook, you watch."

"Yes, Ma'am," mabilis nitong tugon.

Kinuha niya ang pantali sa buhok na nasa bulsa ng pantalon na suot, saka itinali ang hanggang balikat niyang buhok. Isinuot niya ang itim na apron na nandoon, saka nag-umpisa siyang magluto.

She fried a marinated chicken, grilled a bacon cut marinated pork, fried some pork chops and lastly, she made a cheesestick before melting some mozzarella cheese.

Then she searched on the Internet on how to cook a rice perfectly. Sinunod niya ang instruction at hindi naman siya nabigo.

At habang ihinahain niya sa island counter ang mga niluto, titig na titig sa kanya si Blaze.

"What?" nakataas ang kilay niyang usisa sa lalaki.

Tumaas ang sulok ng mga labi nito. "You look hot while cooking."

Happy looked into his eyes. There was no longing there. He wasn't looking at her like a wounded animal or like he missed her.

He was looking at her... just looking at her.

She smiled. "Thanks." Nilagyan niya ito ng pinggan, kutsara, saka tinidor. "Eat up." Ikinuha niya ito ng malamig na tubig. Nang makakita ng fresh juice sa ref, ay sinalinan din niya ito sa baso. "Here..." Nilagyan niya ito ng kanin sa plato at sinunod niyang inilagay ay ang mga niluto niya.

And Blaze was looking at her the whole time she was fussing over him.

"What?" tanong na naman niya.

Umiling ito habang may ngiti sa mga labi. "Nothing. Hindi ko lang akalain na masyado kang maalaga."

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "My dad is a big baby. I'm used to it."

Agad na nalukot ang mukha ni Blaze. "I'm not a big baby—"

"Kasasabi mo lang kagabi that you're a big baby," she cut him off. "Own up and suck it up, bitch."

Napatanga ito sa kanya at nabitin ang pagsubo ng kanin. "Did you just call me bitch?"

Nangingiting kumuha si Happy ng plato para sa sarili, saka umupo sa stool na kaharap ni Blaze sa island counter. "You're eating the food I cooked, that makes you my bitch."

Agad nitong binitiwan ang kutsara, saka masama ang mukha na hindi ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain. "I will not eat. I'm not your or anyone's bitch. That was insulting, don't you know?"

Nangingiting tinusok niya ang grilled meat, saka inilubog iyon sa mozzarella cheese bago tumingin kay Blaze at sinubuan ito. "Come on. Open up. Masarap 'to." Mas tumamis pa ang ngiti niya. "You know na masarap akong magluto."

He looked at the food she was holding and then to her. He looked torn on what to do.

She smiled at Blaze. "Masarap 'yan."

Blaze blew a loud breath, like he was giving up, then he opened his mouth to accept the food she was holding.

Happy was grinning from ear to ear while Blaze was chewing.

"Masarap?" tanong niya.

To answer her question, Blaze used his own fork to eat more grilled meat and chicken and pork chop with mozzarella cheese and rice.

Mahina siyang tumawa sa hitsura nitong punong-puno ang bibig. "It's that good?"

Nginuya at nilunok nito ang kinakain bago nagsalita. "Masarap. Sobra."

She smiled sweetly. "And?"

They both knew what she wanted to hear.

Blaze's shoulders sagged. "And I'm your bitch," he grumbled before eating again.

Natawa na lang siya habang kumakain na rin. She didn't know that hanging out with Blaze could be this fun and lighthearted.

And because of her great cooking skills, she now had a bitch.

Blaze Vitale, the hot and dirty doctor.

CECELIB | C.C.