"Coconut nararamdaman kong may hindi ka sinasabi sakin."

Bahagya akong kinabahan nang makita ang pangungunot ng noo ni MM mula sa screen ng laptop ko.

"Was that a hickey you have on your neck?!" Tumaas ang isang kilay nito.

Automatikong umangat ang aking kamay patungo saking leeg. "H-hindi, it's just bug bites."

"Bug bites..." Diskumpyadong sabi nito.

"Anyway, anyhow what's up with you? I've heard out na yung new book mo? Kaya pala ang busy mo na." Pag-iiba ko ng usapan, na sa awa naman ng diyos ay sinakyan ni Moana at hindi na nang-usisa pa sa marka saking leeg. Well I know she didn't buy my bug bite excuse though.

"I'm gonna fly to Argentina tomorrow, uuwi rin naman ako after a day or two. Kailangan lang ng presence ko sa isang ribbon cutting ceremony dun." She yawned. "Ikaw, kamusta naman ang pag-tatayo mo ng gusali dyan? Na-build mo na rin ba ang relationship niyo ni Vince mo? Nako, Corrine ha."

"Moan!" I hissed.

"Pero maiba nga tayo, Coco jam." Sumeryoso ang mukha nito. "Si Vince ba nandyan last Thursday?"

Nangunot naman ang noo ko sa tanong nito. "Oo, bakit?"

"Kailan siya huling umuwi ng Pilipinas?" Muli nitong tanong.

"Hindi ko alam. Bakit ba?" Lalo akong nag-taka. Why all of a sudden she's curious about Vince. "I have no idea when was the last time he went there, basta ang alam ko for the whole duration of my stay here he's here."

That's the truth, sa araw-araw na ginawa ng diyos I was with him. Mas maraming oras pa na magkasama kami kaysa sa hindi. Kaya sigurado akong hindi ito umuwi ng Pilipinas.

"Why are you asking?"

Nakita kong salubong parin ang kilay nito bago humugot ng isang malalim na pag-hinga. "Stay away from that man, Coco."

"Why?" Hindi ko napigilan ang bahagyang pagtaas ng aking tinig. "I mean, he's nice. Bakit gusto mo kong lumayo sakanya?"

"He's up to no good." Humikab pa itong muli. "Basta Corrine, making ka sakin. Goodnight na, antok na antok na talaga ako."

Ilang sandali matapos kong makipag-usap kay Moana ay sumulpot naman si Vince sa harapan ko. He's wearing a cool blue polo shirt na bukas lahat ng butones, giving me a glimpse of his sexy torso. Sa baba ay nakasuot ito ng cargo shorts at pares ng beach slippers.

Nanatiling nakatitig ako dito, with glasses on. He looked so damn oozing in the morning.

"Hey, good morning to you." He smiled.

Nakakahawa ang mga ngiti nito, kung kaya naman maging ako ay napangiti rin. Base on the articles I've read, Vince doesn't smile most of the time. I guess they're wrong because he is smiling every time.

"Do you have plans for today?" Tanong nito bago alisin ang suot na shades.

Today is our rest day from work. "Wala naman, bakit?"

"Good. There's a drag racing event in New Hampshire, I want you to come with me."

Bigla ay naalala ko ang sinabi ni Moan. He's up to no good... maybe my sister is just becoming a bit judgmental. Hindi naman niya kilala si Vince in person, so it's quite an accusation. "Drag racing?"

He wagged his brows, still smiling.

"Why? Is your twin brother there? Is he gonna join the race?"

"No." In a snap, his smile was gone. "But I will."

Namilog naman ang aking mga mata. "You do racing?"

"Yeah." Tipid nitong sabi.

"Bakit parang hindi ko naman yata yan nabalitaan? I mean, I can't remember reading an article about you doing such race."

"Hindi lahat ng nababasa mo, totoo." Simpleng sagot nito bago tumayo. "I'm not gonna force you if you don't want. Have a good day, Corrine."

"H-hey!" Mabilis akong tumayo nang tumalikod na ito at mag-simulang mag-lakad papalayo. "Vince!"

Hindi ito nakinig at patuloy lamang sa paglalakad.

"Vincent!" Muli kong tawag dito.

There he stopped, ngunit hindi parin ito lumingon. It's as if he's waiting me to say something.

"Sasama ako."

Bumalik rin naman agad ang mood ni Vincent, he's smiling ad he's all hyped as he drove the way to New Hampshire. He'd been talking about cars, ngayon ko lamang nalaman na kagaya ng nababasa ko tungkol sa kakambal nito ay mahilig din ito sa sasakyan.

Nang makarating kami sa racing arena ay maraming tao ang naroon. We went out of his car, he held my hand. Hindi na ako mag-sisinungaling pa, kinilig ako sa ginawa niya.

"Kurt!"

Napabaling ako sa pinagmulan ng tinig. A foreign guy wearing a rider's gear, he's smiling while tossing the key of his car on his hand as he walked towards us.

"Zup?" Tugon ni Vince.

"I'm fine as fuck. You up for a race?"

"Sure." Vince smirked.

"De Salvo, you gotta ready your bucks. I've been practicing twenty for seven." Tumawa-tawa ang lalaki.

"We'll see." He gave him a smug smile.

"Anyway, who's this lovely lady you got here?" Binalingan ako ng lalaki.

"She's Corrine." Nilingon rin ako nito at nginitian. "Babe, he's Conan."

"Hi, it's so nice meeting you lovely." Inilahad nito ang kamay saking harapan, nginitian ko ito at akmang aabutin iyon nang hampasin iyon ni Vince.

"No touching." Simpleng tugon nito bago ako akayin papalayo.

Narinig ko pa ang pag-halakhak ng lalaking naiwan. "You jackass womanizer."

"Who was that?" I asked.

"A friend."

"Why did he called you Kurt?" Naguguluhan kong tanong. I don't know if it was only my imagination working or he really did called him Kurt.

He shrugged and smiled again. Hinapit nito ang bewang ko bago huminto sa tapat ng sasakyan nito. He pinned me against the car door before he kissed me fully.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit sa tuwing hahalikan niya ako ay tila ako nahihibang at nawawala sa sarili kong inhibisyon. Bago ko pa tugunin ang halik niya ay naputol na nito iyon.

"Come and race with me..." He whispered, brushing his nose against mine.

"P-pero--"

"Please?" He even pouted his lips cutely bago pag-dikitin ang aming mga noo. "Coco, please?"

My heartbeat races with the sight of Vince. Lalo na ng marahan nitong haplusin ang gilid ng aking mukha gamit ang likuran ng palad nito.

"Baby, please?"

"N-natatakot kasi ako sa mga ganyan ganyan. A-alam mo naman yun diba?" Pag-amin ko.

Tumango ito, ang mga mata nito'y nangungusap. "Don't you trust me?"

"I do!" Walang pasubali kong sagot. "Trust is earned when actions meet words. A-and for me you've been very genuine with your actions."

Umangat ang sulok ng mga labi nito. "Then trust me, I won't let you be harmed."

Wala na akong nagawa pa nang pag-buksan ako nito ng pinto ng sasakyan at alalayan papasok sa loob. Sinigurado nitong nakakabit ng ayos ang seatbelt ko bago nito paandarin ang sasakyan.

He held my hand and kissed the back of it with his eyes on the road.

"Relax, baby. You know I drive well." Makahulugan nitong sabi bago muling ngumisi.

"Vincent naman eh!"

Tumawa lamang ito, samantalang ako ay hindi na makagalaw sa sobrang kaba lalo na ng mag-simula ng bumilis ang pag-takbo ng sasakyan nito.

Lord, kayo na po ang bahala. I closed my eyes.

"Baby, you're missing the fun don't close your eyes." Narinig kong sabi nito mula saking tabi.

Hindi parin ako nag-mulat ng mata. Ayoko. Natatakot ako.

"C'mon, open your eyes and feel the fear we'll do it together. I'm with you, baby."

"Ayoko!"

Lumakas ang halakhak nito nang mas bumilis ang takbo ng sasakyan, pakiramdam ko lumilipad na kami sa ginagawa nito. Nanatiling nakakapit ito saking kamay sa bawat ma-pwersang pag-liko na gagawin nito.

"Corrine, you'll open your eyes..." Binitawan nito ang aking kamay at naramdaman kong lumipat iyon sa buckle ng seatbelt ko na tila ba kakalasin nito iyon. "or I'll fuck you right now?"

Sukat doon ay mabilis kong naimulat ang aking mga mata, only to scream when I saw the kind of path we're taking.

"That's it my screamer babe, scream as if we're having good fuck right now." He laughed.

"De Salvo, I'm gonna kill you later!" Muli akong napasigaw nang lumiko ang sasakyan, pakiramdam ko ay babaliktad kami pero hindi.

Binalingan ko si Vince, tila ba cool na cool parin ito sa ginagawang pagmamaneho.

Di naman nag-tagal ay unti-unti ko rin napakibagayan ang takot ko sa pamamagitan ng pag-sigaw. Unti-unti ay nawala ang kaba saking damdamin, nakukuha ko narin sabayan ang pag-tawa nito.

Never did I imagined that I'll be enjoying a crazy ride like this.

"Oh my God!" I beamed. "You won!"

Binalingan ako nito, kinalas nito ang seatbelt ko at hinapit ang bewang ko. He was quick, before I could even think of what he's about to do, nasa kandungan na niya ko.

"Hey!"

Akmang aalis ako nang higpitan nito ang kapit saking bewang. "Did you enjoyed it?"

"Unbelievably yes." Ngumiti ako. "You did great."

"I deserve a kiss, don't you think?" Ikiniling pa nito ang ulo bago ngumiting muli.

I rolled my eyes and gave him a chase kiss. Bago pa ito makatutol ay umalis na ako sa kandungan nito at lumabas ng sasakyan.

Masaya ang lahat at nag-bunyi sa pagkapanalo ni Vince. They even invited us for some eat out but Vince politely declined.

"Where are we going now?" I asked when he started driving again.

"Soccer field maybe."

"We'll play soccer?" Kunot noo kong tanong.

"No, silly." He chuckled.

"Eh anong gagawin natin dun?"

"Kahit ano lang." Ngumiti ito. "Nagugutom ka na ba?"

"Medyo."

We stopped over an alfresco restaurant to have lunch, I don't know why I'm enjoying his company eh wala naman itong ibang ginawa kundi tumawa, magkibit ng mga balikat at ngumiti sa mga sinasabi ko.

But for some reason, I didn't find him boring.

Matapos mananghalian ay dinala ako nito sa isang soccer field. Wala masyadong tao roon, napangiti ako ng walang karate-arte itong naupo sa damuhan. Tumabi ako dito.

"Tell me something more about yourself, Corrine."

"H-ha?" Nilingon ko ito atsaka nginitian. "Well my dad died when I was a kid, my mother remarried. I have a cool stepdad and a wonderful stepsister, but I sometimes still misses my dad. Well I guess it's just normal."

"Have you ever had a boyfriend?" Ito naman ang lumingon sakin.

There's a glint of curiosity in his brown eyes. "Once, just a cute puppy love relationship that lasted a month or two. Can't barely remember."

"You seemed to be a fine lady, I mean you're not the type of girl who'll jump into different beds with different men." Nanatili itong nakatingin sakin. "I was just curious, why did you gave yourself to me? You're a damn gorgeous lady, Corrine. I believe I'm not the first one to invite you why give in?"

Natigilan ako sa tanong nito. Dahil miski ako ay hindi ko alam kung bakit. Tama si Vince, hindi siya ang unang lalaki na nagkainteres sakin. Hindi ko lang rin alam kung bakit nagawa kong hindian ang iba at ito ay hindi. "M-maybe because I like you."

"Very straight forward." He chuckled. "I like you, too..."

I was caught off guard. Hindi ko akalain na magiging ganoon ang sagot nito. I can feel my cheeks burning hot. Kaya naman iniba ko ang usapan upang pagtakpan ang aking pagkailang. "Ikaw? Hindi ko akalain na magaling ka rin sa racing. To tell you honestly, you amazed me. Ang dami dami mong kayang gawin."

"Hindi ka dapat mamangha, dapat natatakot ka dahil kagaya ng sabi mo marami akong kayang gawin." Makahulugan nitong sabi bago ibaling ang tingin pabalik sa malawak na field.

"Hindi iyon ang nararamdaman ko sayo, Vincent." Bulong ko. "Hindi ako nakakaramdam ng takot..."

Hindi ito agad umimik. Ilang sandali pa ay bumuntong hininga ito, nakahinang ang mga mata sa malayo. "I'm a messed up man, Corrine."

Nanatiling tikom ang aking mga bibig, nakikita ko sa mga mata nito na parang may kung ano itong bigat na dinadala.

"I have a whole messy life." Pagak itong tumawa. "I don't have priorities, I'm a jackass. I don't know what I want. I don't know what I need. I'm like a blind man crossing the street."

Bahagya akong nabigla sa sinasabi nito. The Vince I'm with now is way different to the Vince I knew through the articles I've read. Vince was usually described as an organized, dignified, confident and reputable man.

"People doesn't like me, Corrine. No one's in favor of me." Mapait itong ngumiti at umiling. "I was always a shadow."

"T-That's not true..." I whispered. "I like you and I mean it..."

He gave me a sideway glance, there's a bitterness in his eyes as he smiles. "You don't know what you're saying."

"I know. Ako ang nakakaramdam nun kaya ako lang ang makapagsasabi nun dahil ako lang ang mas na nakakaalam nun." Mariin kong sabi. "I like you.. so much..."

"You still do?" There's something in his eyes that I couldn't explain. "You see Corrine, I'm way different to the Vince you knew through the pages of shitty magazines."

"I know."

Halos mabutas na ang aking dibdib sa bilis ng tibok ng aking puso. Nilunok ko na lahat ng hiya na dapat kong maramdaman. I know I have to be true to my feelings. Atsaka ngayon pa ba ko mahihiya, kung kalian ilang beses na niya akong naangkin?

"Tama ka, ibang iba ka sa Vince na nababasa ko sa mga artikulo. I like you that way... but in some strange reason..." I inhaled deeply and bit my lower lip. "I love you, this way... yung ikaw na nakasama at mas na nakilala ko. Mas mahal ko yung ikaw na nasa harapan ko ngayon kaysa sa ikaw na nasa artikulo ng kung anu-anong pahayagan. I'm loving the idea of loving you..."