Kiss and Run

SUMMER SPECIAL

Gabing-gabi na, nag-half bath na lang ako't nagbabad sa lamig ng aircon ngunit hindi pa rin maibsan ang init na nararamdaman ko.

This is one of my hate-loves when summer season. The heat.

          I was about to comb my hair and pull it in a bun when a furry creature nudges my feet.

          "Hey, Cuddly," bati ko sa kanya. He answered me with his cute usual meow but this time with a trace of urgency in his voice. My brows knotted at him and instantly look around for his other half.

          Fluffy's missing.

          Yumuko ako't tinignan ang ilalim ng aking kama, binuksan ang walk-in closet, bumalik sa banyo't lumakad sa kabuuan ng kwarto upang silipin ang mga maaring kinalalagyan niya ngunit wala.

          Lordie, no. Not now. That beast is too sensitive right now to be missing!

"Ate, have you seen Fluffy?" nag-aalala kong tanong habang pababa ng hagdan papuntang salas, nakasunod sa akin si Cuddly na alam kong nag-aalala na rin. "She's not in our room," ani ko pa nang tuluyang makaharap sa kanila.

          Nagkibit-balikat silang tatlo: Papa, ate Fifteen at kuya Shinichi at sabay na uminom ng Iced Tea.

          "Wala ba kayong balak mag-panic?" kinakabahan kong sambit sa kanila. Sandali akong lumingon sa orasan at mas lalong nadagdagan ang pag-aalala ko. "It's past ten already. She should be sleeping right now!" Kasama si Cuddly ay tinalikuran namin silang tatlo. "Where are you, Fluffy?" I uttered under my breath and proceed on marching outside. She's maybe strolling around our garden, eating plants.

          The herbs and the flowers my sister and father planted in our garden are blooming this season. Ang aliwalas tignan ng kapaligiran ngayon lalo na kung umaga: nababalot ng kulay berde, asul at dilaw. We can install a mini-pool if we want to complete the summer feeling.

          We don't need to go to the beach or travel somewhere far to honor this season. The person who loves us with the same intensity the heat of the summer can give is actually more than enough.

          "Meooowww,"I snap out of my reverie as I heard the familiar voice. Mabilis akong lumingon-lingon sa paligid, mas lalong nabalot nang matinding pag-aalala ang aking sistema. Hinawakan ko ang aking dibdib, pakiramdam ko kasi'y lalabas na ang puso ko.

          "Fluffyyy!" tawag ko.

          "Meowwww!" tugon niya.

          Ang tinig niya, ang tinig niya ay puno nang pagmamakaawa, hirap na hirap na siya, at parang sa tingin ko ay malapit na siyang bumigay.

          Kung pusa lang ako noong araw na nabaril ako ay malamang ganitong-ganito rin ang tinig na mamumutawi sa bibig ko.

          "Fluffy!" naiiyak kong tawag habang tumitingin-tingin sa gilid at likod ng mga paso, ilalim ng lamesa at loob ng mga nakalabas na box sa hardin. "Fluffy! Meow, meow, wiswiswiswiswis!" malakas kong tawag,gamit-gamit na ang makapangyarihang pang-summon ng mga pusa ngunit walang Fluffy na kumakaripas ng takbo patungo sa'kin.

          "Meow!" ungol naman ng kanyang asawa, si Cuddly.

          "Bakit mo kasi siya hinayaang makawala sa paningin mo?" sumbat ko sa alaga ni Eiveren, "at nasaan na naman ba ang amo mo?" dugtong ko pa habang tahimik na humihingi nang paumanhin sa mga itim na langgam dahil nabulabog ko ang organisado nilang pagpila. "I'm sorry, Cuddly," hinging  paumanhin ko rin sa kanya kinalaunan.

          God, we're both worried about Fluffy, there's no need of putting the blame to others even with this innocent feline.

          "Meeoorwwwwwuuu!" muling tawag sa'min ni Fluffy.

          Mas lalo akong naalarma. "Hala! Naging mumo na siya!" problemado kong sabi at tinakbo na ang kabuuan ng aming hardin.

          "Natalia?" mabilis akong napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses.

          "Lalabsko!" naluluha kong sabi at sinalubong siya ng yakap. Hindi niya 'ko ginantihan bagkus ay hinawakan ang magkabila kong pisngi at nag-aalalang tumitig sa'kin.

          "Why are you crying?" tanong niya habang pinupunasan ang luha sa ilalim ng aking mga mata.

          "Meeoorwwwwwuuu!" nagsusumamong tawag ng alaga ko.

          "That," tukoy ko kay Fluffy at muli siyang hinanap, "Fluffy needs my help! Where did she go?! Something ishappening to her!"

          "Hey," he grabs my wrist, pulling me to his warm embrace. "Breathe, Natalia," he murmurs, "calm down."

          "But she's meowing like she's dying!" tugon ko habang pilit na kumakawala sa kanya. If someone knows how it feels like when dying, that's me. My feline needs me. "Let me go, Eiveren," pakiusap ko ngunit inilapat niya ang kanyang kamay sa pagitan ng dalawang baywang ko. Binuhat niya 'ko't pinaupo sa round table na malapit sa'min. Hinalikan niya ang bunbunan ko't binigyan ako ng lollipop. Napakunot-noo ako, nagtataka siyang tinignan.

          "Stephen misses you, he wants me to give you that," tanging sabi niya at tumalikod na.

          "May laway 'to?" pahabol tanong ko pa dahil abala na siya at si Cuddly sa paghahanap kay Fluffy.

          "Saliva?" he uttered in disgust, "of course, n–oh, shit." Napatuwid ako ng upo.. "Jesus Christ." Sa kuryosidad ay nabitawan ko na ang lollipop at kumaripas ng takbo papunta kay Eiveren. Sa gilid ng mata ko ay kitang-kita ko rin sila ate, kuya at papa na papalapit sa direksyon namin. "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit," paulit-ulit pa niyang sabi. "I think I murdered a kitten."       

"What? What do you mean? Are you okay?" sunod-sunod kong tanong. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kinalalagyan namin ngayon.

Dito'y nasagot ko ang katanungang bumabagabag sa isipan ko.

          Fluffy's lying on the ground, furs covered with blood and five kittens meowing their cute tiny meows on her belly. Cuddly, who is worried sick seeking for his feline broke down into meows and lick the kittens in front of him, his kittens.

          "Oh, Lordie," I mentally count the tiny creatures,"five cuteness on our home," tangi kong sambit, naluluha.

          "Natalia," hindi agad ako nakalingon sa kanya dahil abala pa rin ako sa pagtitig sa kanila,"Natalia," naulit pa ng isa ang pagtawag niya sa'kin bago ko siya sinulyapan. Nasaksihan ko ang paglunok niya habang nakatitig sa kanyang mga palad na may bahid ngayon ng kaunting dugo. "There are..." I witness him swallows, "...six, actually," he ended and lower his head to indicate what he's referring to.

          I followed his gaze and there,I was greeted by a small, lifeless feline, lying soundly on the ground, inches away from Fluffy. There's no trace of blood in his skin, seems like his thoughtful of a mother cleaned him already. Cleaned him then realize that he is not even breathing.

The dam of my tears instantly broke.

Mababaw na kung mababaw but feline or not, person or not–life is still a life.

          And this tiny creature was denied of life, was denied of time. This adorable being hasn't even experienced his first summer.

I saw ate Fifteen lower to the ground and cradle the poor kitten in her palms.

          "We need to bury this, little one," malungkot na usal ni ate at umalis na sa kinalalagyan namin. Sumunod sa kanya si kuya Shinichi.

          "We have to get them inside where it's warmer," paalala naman ni papa't iniwan na kami upang kuhain ang paglalagyan nila.

          "Why does one have to die?" I asked Eiveren as I'm busy wiping my own tears. "Why?"

          "We all die, Natalia. It just a matter how early or late it is," tugon niya't puno nang pag-intindi akong nginitian. "Smile now," he places his thumbs on the both side of my lips, stretching it,forcing me to smile. "There," he said, contented. "At least, the feline doesn't need to suffer the cruelty of this world," he meaningfully added.

          "He doesn't need to suffer is he's with us."

          "She does need to suffer if he's with you, you mean" Naiinsulto ko siyang hinampas sa kanyang balikat.

          "Ouch," mahina niyang bulong, "your ring," paliwanag niya.

          "Oh," guilty kong sabi. Hinipan ko ang kanyang braso at marahan itong hinaplos-haplos. Ngunit nag-aalala ko ring sinipat ang singsing ko dahil baka nagalusan ito. Nakahinga ako nang malalim dahil good as new pa rin 'to kung tignan. "Sorry," paumanhin ko,"kiss ko na lang din." Dinampi ko ang aking labi sa parte kung saan nag-landing ang singsing ko.

          My heart melted when he mouther I love you to me. He always to do and it still never fails my heart to do a little flip and flutter.

          "How do you know he's a he, anyway?" tanong niya matapos kong gawaran ng tatlong halik ang kanyang balat.

Saglit akong lumingon kaila ate Fifteen at kuya Shinichi na kasalukuyan ngayong nagtatalo kung sino ang maghuhukay ng munting libingan ng pusa. Eiveren and I swing our heads in amusement. The labor is clearly made for man and kuya Shinichi wants to do the job. But of course, knowing how feminist my sister can be, she will stand up and discuss the major difference between the past centuries and today, after, she punch him, of course.

She's good in stepping his fiancé's pride.

          I think ate Fifteen murmured some threat against kuya Shin 'cause he suddenly stop arguing with her–perhaps it involves postponing their wedding day. It always works, according to my sister.

I should probably do the same with Eiveren kapag gusto kong makipag-selfie sa kanya at i-record ang boses niya. Hihihi.

          "Kisstealer?" I snap out my attention to the love birds and gazes up at him. I can't help not to smile. "One moment you are crying, now you are smiling," komento niyam nangingiti

          "You are asking me a question?"

          "How do you know he's a he?" ulit niya

          "Just a guest," malungkot ko siyang nginitian,pati na rin ang mag-asawa at ang kanilang mga anak na kasalukuyan nilang binibigyanng init.

          "Smile," he tugs me to his side and encircle his arms around my shoulders. "It's summer now," he said, changing the topic,"you got plans for them, right?"

          "I already prepare their hats," I answered, eager to share what I've done over the past few days,"I prepared their small yellow umbrellas, even the beach background for their summer's photoshoot."

          "You really are serious about this, uh?" usisa niya.

          "Yes," bumalik ang ngiti sa'king labi.

          "How about marrying me tomorrow?"

          "Eiveren," I murmured.

"Or tonight perhaps?" pahabol niya pa.

"Eiveren," I said again.

Simula nang mag-propose siya sa'kin ay hindi na niya ko tinantanan. He wants to marry me as soon as possible but I always answered, no.

          Oo, hindi. sKahit nakakasampung bersyon na 'ko ng wedding day namin sa panaginip ko, no pa rin.

          "Kidding," he pouted.

Lordie, I suddenly want to nip his bottom lip.

          I cover my cheeks, ashamed with my thoughts.

          "You know what," he uttered, noticing my cheeks,"let's get these beasts settled inside so you can do whatever's running on your mind right now," he suggested and winks playfully at me.

          Pakiramdam ko'y mas lalo akong nangamatis.

          He snakes his arms around my waist and lick my earlobe. I swallow nervously.

I think I am going to collapse at any moment right now. I glance at the family of felines to distract myself but it didn't helps. Damn, Eiveren and his eyes, and his voice, and his lips and his presence and his everything.

He grazes his teeth to the length of my ear's frames and oh-so-slowly whispers, "You are getting dirty, kisstealer." The hairs on my skin erect with his baritone voice, "you are getting dirty and I love it. Just like how I love you," he declared.

          God, I almost gave in with his erotic whispers when my father came in.

          "Just marry already," he mumured in mix annoyance and disbelief before guiding the mother cat and her felines inside the big basket.

          "Told you soa," Eiveren seconded in an obvious triumph but instantly went disappointed 'cause he knew my answer would be a 'no' again.

          ...little did he know that I already have my veil prepared upstairs, ready for our little wedding..

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