"Hindi mo alam ang sinasabi mo Corrine." He shook his head and smirked before he returned his gaze back to the field. "Maybe you're just carried away to the fact that I'm your first."

Bahagya naman akong nasagi sa sinabi nito. "Y-you think na sinasabi ko sayong mahal kita dahil lang sa ikaw ang nakauna sakin? Hindi ba parang ang unfair naman yata nun?"

Nakita ko ang pag-igting ng bagang nito. Kinagat ko ang aking dila upang pigilan ang aking pag-hikbi. Nakadama ako ng panliliit matapos malaman na ganoon ang tingin nito sakin, na matapos kong lunukin lahat ng natitirang hiya saking katawan maipagtapat ko lamang sakanya ang aking nararamdaman at ito ang makukuha ko.

"Vincent, hindi kita mahal dahil lang sa ikaw ang nakauna sakin. I've always had this crazy stupid infatuation for you since the first time I saw you. Years ago, when you give your speech to the graduates of Harvard na siyang kinabibilangan ko. I've stalked you like a creepy fan, lahat ng artikulo sa mga peryodiko na tungkol sayo ay hindi ko pinalagpas. Tapos ngayon, nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makilala ka. Na malaman kung gaano ka kaiba sa kung paano kang pinapakilala ng mga magazines at kung anu-ano pa. Mas minahal kita. A-at ngayon na lahat ng hiya ko isinantabi ko para ipaalam sayo yung nararamdaman ko na hindi ko ba alam kung dapat kong ipaalam o kung may pakialam ka ba, ginawa ko kasi gusto kong malaman mo kung gaano ako katotoo sa sinasabi ko. Kahit kailan hindi sumagi sa isip ko ang tungkol sa ikaw ang naka-una sakin. That thing is important to me but you are more important, ikaw at ang nararamdaman ko sayo."

Hindi ito nag-salita. Nanatili itong nakatanaw sa malayo na tila kay lalim ng iniisip.

"B-bakit ba ayaw mo kong paniwalaan?" Humihikbi kong bulong kasabay ng pag-patak ng aking mga luha.

"Dahil hindi ako naniniwala na may taong kaya akong mahalin." Mapait itong tugon. "Ang bagay na siyang unang una kong dapat maramdaman sa sarili kong ama. Na kailanman hindi ko maalalang naramdaman ko."

Natigilan naman ako. My heart ached for him. Punong puno ng hinanakit ang tinig nito.

"I'm a De Salvo, but I never felt I am one. I made everyone believe that I don't give a damn on how people treated me, but I do." Mahinang sabi nito. "My twin brother always exceeds in everything, everything that I can't be is him. My younger brother had always been the favorite of everyone, I have no match to his too good to be true attitude. And my little sister, well I love her. She's my gem. I've always been proud to everything she does."

"Vincent..."

"Don't pity me, Corrine. Tama na yung awang nararamdaman ko para sa sarili ko." He chuckled.

"Hindi ako naawa sayo!" Matigas kong sabi. "Naiinis ako sayo. Naiinis ako sayo kasi wala kang kumpyansa sa sarili mo. Mahina yang tiwala mo sa sarili mo na may taong handang mahalin ka sa kung sino ka at hindi sa kung sinong gusto ka nilang maging. Nakakainsulto lang kasi Vincent mahal kita. Pero kulang yang pagmamahal mo sa sarili mo."

Hindi ko alam pero nakadama ako bigla ng inis. Naiinis ako sakanya.

"Naranasan mong hindi mapahalagahan, yun yung ginagawa mo sakin ngayon. Alam kong maiintindihan mo kung masasaktan ako." Tumayo ako at tinalikuran na ito bago mag-simulang maglakad papalayo, ayokong makita niya kong iniiyakan siya ayokong makita niya kong ganito.

Masakit sakin na hindi nito Makita ang halaga nito sa kung paanong nakikita ko iyon. For me Vincent is one in a million. Kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi niya iyon mabigyan ng halaga.

Napahinto ako nang may kumapit saking braso. Hindi ko na kailangan pang lumingon upang malaman na siya iyon, sapat na ang mabilis na tibok ng aking puso ko na siyang aking lamang nararamdaman kapag malapit siya.

"I'm sorry..."

Binawi ko mula rito ang braso ko ngunit balewala iyon nang yakapin ako nito mula sa likuran. I tried to wiggle off but he didn't let me.

"Corrine..."

"Nasasaktan ako..."

"I'm sorry..." Muli nitong bulong.

"Ayaw mo ba na mahalin kita?" Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero parang tinutusok ng milyong karayom ang puso ko sa tanong kong iyon. I'm afraid on what he's gonna say.

Ilang sandali ang lumipas ngunit nanatili lamang itong tahimik na nakayakap sakin.

"Don't you want me to love you, Vincent?" Mahina kong ulit saking tanong. "Kung hindi ka kayang pahalagahan ng mga taong sinasabi mo, ako Vincent... I can do that for you..."

"I don't wanna hurt you."

"You're already hurting me..."

"Corrine..." Humigpit lalo ang yakap nito sakin nang akmang kakalas ako.

"Nobody can ever make you happy unless you know how to love yourself." Bulong ko. "Maging ako, hindi kita kayang pasayahin pero handa akong tulungan ka na mahalin mo ang sarili mo. Na baka kapag naramdaman mo na may nagmamahal sayo makita mo mismo yung worth mo na iniisip mong walang nakakakita."

"Love me, Corrine."

Napalingon ako dito, his brown eyes greeted me. Napalunok ako sa intensidad na isinisigaw ng mga matang iyon.

"Corrine, love me... help me."

HINDI naging madali na pakisamhan lahat ng insecurities na mayroon sa pagkatao ni Vincent, pero hindi siya mahirap mahalin. Ang pagmamahal na yun ang tumulong sakin na ipakita rito ang halaga niya.

It's been a month since that day on the soccer field. I still don't know kung ano kami, basta ang alam ko masaya ako sa nakikita kong improvements niya these past few weeks. Palagi na siyang masaya, yung totoong saya na umaabot sa mga mata niya. Hindi yung dinadaan lamang sa mga ngiti sakanyang labi.

"Hey! Good evening." I greeted him as I opened the door.

"Evening." His lips quirked up in a tired smile as he stepped inside.

Agad na yumakap sa bewang ko ang braso nito nang maisara nito ang pinto. Napangiti naman ako nang halikan nito ang tuktok ng aking sentido. My arms went around his neck as I tiptoed and started planting soft kisses across his face.

Natatawang binuhat naman ako nito, my legs instantly wrapped on his hips. "How's my girl?"

My girl... Ilang ulit na niya akong tinawag ng ganoon pero tila kakaibang kiliti parin ang hatid ng mga salitang iyon sakin. And I can't help but blush.

Naglakad ito patungo sa couch at naupo roon, with me sitting astride on his lap.

"Okay naman, natapos ko na yung sketch na kalalabasan ng lounge ng hotel. Do you wanna see it?" Nakangiting sabi ko bago akmang aalis sa kandungan nito nang pigilan ako nito.

"No baby, stay. Mamaya na yun." Ngumiti itong muli.

"You seem so tired." I started to undo his tie. "Ikaw? How's your day po?"

He leaned and sighed. "Well it went well until my father called me."

Agad akong nag-alala sa sinabi nito. "Anong nangyari? Anong sabi niya?"

"Nothing but how disappointed he is on me." He shrugged and chuckled. "Wala naman bago dun."

"Oh..." I sighed and caressed his cheek. "You know that's not true. Kung sana naririto sila para makita lahat ng hirap at pagod mo sa pamamahala ng hotel, edi sana hindi nila nasasabi ang mga bagay na iyan."

"Well, I know better now. It's up to them if they'll see my worth." Muli itong tumawa, his hands started caressing my thighs until it went up to the waist band of my sweatpants. "I couldn't care less, as long as you're there to make me feel cherished."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi nito. I can feel my cheeks burning as imaginary butterflies started to attack my stomach.

Sinamantala nito ang pagkabigla ko upang hilahin pababa ang sweatpants ko kasabay ng aking pangloob.

"Vincent!" Napatili ako nang mabilis ako nitong ihiga sa couch. Bago pa ako makapagsalitang muli ay nasa ibabaw ko na ito.

"You look so gorgeous, Corrine. So lovely and so everything..." He chuckled again as his thumb finger started rubbing my cheek gently. "I'm always drown with your blue eyes..."

"Wag mo na kong bolahin pa, hindi naman na ako makakapalag pa sayo eh at alam ko naman na hindi mo ko hahayaang makapalag pa." I rolled my eyes.

"Buti naman alam mo." His voice gets huskier as he started undressing me.

He didn't give me any chance to say a world. His lips went down to mine in a soft and inviting kind of kiss. He's quick to be able to remove his clothes in a snap. Pinagtuunan nito ng pansin ang suot kong pangitaas, while he's busy shucking off his pants and boxers in one swift move and resettling between my thighs.

His hands cupped my now exposed breast. His lips seared to mine. Making me moan into his mouth.

He caught my bottom lip between his teeth, licking his way into my mouth. He tasted as good as he smelled. His hard body brushed against mine. My body started screaming for him. It's him that I want right now.

But I can sense that it's not what he's thinking now. Umangat ito pabangon na siya ring nagpaangat saking ulo upang tignan ang siyang gagawin nito. His tongue dipped into the hallow of my stomach and swirled a slow, liquid pattern. His hands were on my knees, spreading them wider.

My head fell back against the couch when at last he put his head between my thighs . His tongue traced the tiniest loops. My fingers tangled in his hair. If I'll die now, I'll die a happy woman.

He licked again. No, a very very happy woman.

His was a tongue for the ages. An amazing, fantastic, should-be-bronzed-for-posterity tongue that flicked and teased, drawing out every breath of air in my lungs until I wanted to cry from the pleasure and agony.

And I did as I took my release.

My limbs wobbled, loose and relaxed, all the previous tension gone in a throb of heat.

Bago pa ako makahuma saking pag-hinga ay agad itong kumilos. He moved between my thighs, nudging my knees farther apart. I gasped and welcomed the sensation. His hands bit into my hips as he started moving in and out.

Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata. All I can hear is both our moans and groans. All I could ever feel is him inside me.

Bumilis ang pag-galaw nito na siyang lalong nagpaigting sa pagnanais kong kamtin ang isang bagay...

Then I felt hot fluid building its way to my lower abdomen. I moaned repeatedly and moved along with his rhythm.

"I'm near..." He whispered kissing my shoulders, quickening his movements.

"I-I'm there...." My breathing went rapid. "Ohhhh..... I-I love you, Kurt..."

Natigilan ako at agad na napamulat ng mga mata sa sinabi ko. We both exploded right in time. Naramdaman kong natigilan ito. How I hoped he didn't hear what I said...

But I was wrong. Nag-angat ito ng tingin sakin, his forehead knotted as he stared at me unbelievably. "What did you called me?"

"H-ha?" Napalunok ako sa paraan ng pag-titig nito sakin. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit iyon ang lumabas saking bibig, maybe because I've seen Kurt DeSalvo this afternoon appearing in an ad at the television.

"Yung tinawag mo sakin, ano iyon?" Lalong nagsalubong ang makakapal nitong kilay.

Guilt flooded me. Alam kong magagalit ito, sino ba namang hindi. Why I just called his twin brother's name as I climaxed!

"Corrine..."

"Alright! I'm sorry." I heaved a defeated sigh. "But don't ask me questions, hindi ko rin alam kung bakit iyon ang lumabas saking bibig.Maybe because I saw his ad awhile ago and I thought that he looks so much like you. From your beard, to your nose, to your eyebrows, everything. I know that's not an enough reason to be mentioning his name during our intimate time. I didn't mean to make you feel bad or something. Believe me that's the last thing I wanna do-"

"I love you."

Agad akong natigilan sa sinabi nito. Maang na napatitig ako sa mga mata nito. His deep brown eyes are saying something that I couldn't understand.

"I love you, Corrine. I'm not saying this because I have my dick right inside your cunt." Seryosong sabi nito. "I love you..."

"Vincent..."

Dahan-dahang gumuhit ang isang magandang ngiti sa labi nito. "Mahal kita Corrine, don't ask me when don't ask me how. Maging ako ay hindi ko alam. All I know is that, I love you Coco."

Hindi parin ako makapag-salita. I was lost for words. All I could do is just stare at him blankly.

"Be my girl, baby." He placed his forehead against mine and brushed our nose together. "I mean, officially at least."