Chapter 25: lying lips

COOLER

I brushed my hands over my face, stressed out with what I am supposed to do. Saturday is in two days, and I still haven't figured out how to juggle my time. I made plans with Rustia and ended up being in charge of a big shipment. What luck.

Tiningnan ko si Poseidon. He was busy reading the newspaper, ngunit alam kong nasa akin ang atensiyon niya.

"What am I gonna do?" I asked desperately.

"Cancel on her," sagot niya nang hindi man lamang ako tinatapunan ng tingin.

Of course, I can't! Have you seen her face? She was looking forward to it, and I don't have the heart to cancel. I'm sure she will be sad—and sad is the last thing I want her to be.

"I can't," sagot ko. "She will be sad. I don't want her to be sad."

Ibinaba niya ang binabasa at bumaling sa akin. "Okay, loverboy. Any other option?"

"I'll cancel on Achilles," sagot ko. I know it's impossible. Even if you are on your deathbed and Achilles calls for you, kailangan mong pumunta. And me bailing out would mean so much to the commission at sa lahat ng may ayaw sa akin. I don't want to give them that satisfaction.

"You know Pi keeps a lot of syringes in case Apollo is being stubborn."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "What the fuck, Poseidon, are you saying I'll drug my girlfriend?!"

He sneered at me. "I'm just saying, and no, you don't have to cuss."

I threw my head back at ipinikit ang mata, as if I can find an answer to my problem in the darkness. Everything was already set—the beach and the yacht where we're about to stay at and the shipment I'm about to deliver. How can I be in two places at the same time?

Bumaling ako kay Poseidon. "What time is the delivery?"

He checked his phone just to make sure. "7 PM but Achilles wants to meet you by 6."

Hmm, not a good time. We plan to watch the sunset and then have a romantic dinner later. Bakit ba kasi hindi na lamang madaling araw so I can slip out of bed and slip right back when it's done? Alam kong hindi iyon ganoon kadali, but I am taking my chances here.

Rustia and I planned out already our day. We will go around the beach holding hands, some water activities, a nice time at the yacht and a little bar hopping before dinner at 7PM. May kalayuan ang lugar ng shipment mula sa pupuntahan naming beach. It's a one hour-drive, and it would have been convenient kung hindi lamang ganoon kaaga. Maybe I can push back our dinner by six, slip out by seven—and be at the shipment. Ano nga lang ba ang isang oras na byahe, if I drive like I normally do, ignoring road signs and all?

Pero ano ang sasabihin ko kay Rustia? Hey babe, I have thousands of guns to ship. I'll be back before you know it.

Umayos ako ng upo upang makapag-isip ng maayos.

"Do it the old school way," sabi ni Poseidon at naglapag ng maliit na pakete sa harap ko. It was a drug used to spike drinks.

Napasimangot ako at mahinang iniuntog ang ulo sa mesa. "How is that different from Pi's syringes?"

He shrugged his shoulders bago muling binuklat ang newspaper. "Hmm, no pointy needles, I guess? Look, Zeus, you have no other choice. You don't want to cancel on her, and you cannot cancel on Achilles. Ayaw ko ring gawin 'to kay Jaja, but what choice do you have? Slip that in her drink, tuck her in bed, deliver the merchandise, and yay, you're back in bed with her."

I may be the world's worst boyfriend for this, but Poseidon is right. What choice do I have?

***

Habang lumilipas ang oras ay mas lalo akong nababahala. We spent the whole day with each other. We swam, and had some fun time on the sand. She pretty much enjoyed the experience, and she did really look forward to tonight.

It was refreshing to see her in her swimsuit—a cute yellow two-piece swimsuit that was sexy but at the same time does not make her feel naked.

We lounged on the deck of the yacht, cuddling as she carefully placed her cheek on my chest, fingers touching my skin softly. Nakalingkis ang braso ko sa balikat niya, while my hand gently drawing patterns on her skin.

I told her I booked the yacht, and I know the owner. Hindi na niya kailangang malaman na sa akin iyon.

"Cooler?"

"Hmm?"

She peered at me. "Anong iniisip mo?"

You.

Later's shipment.

"Nothing in particular," iyon na lamang ang sinagot ko. "Can't wait for later. Pi gifted us some wine."

Naramdaman kong mas isiniksik niya ang sarili sa akin. "I like Pi."

"More than me?" Kunot-noong tanong ko.

She chuckled and shook her head. "No. You're number one." Muli niyang ipinilig ang ulo sa dibdib ko. "If it's from Pi, sigurado akong mahal ang wine na iyon."

I hummed a reply. Well, that's where the drug is going. Sana lang ay huwag niyang malaman ang tungkol sa gagawin ko. "It will surely go well with our dinner."

"Cooler?"

"Yes, babe?"

"I like you so much."

Now she's making me more guilty. I can't look her in the eyes right now when I'm about to drug her later. Hinigpitan ko na lamang ang yakap sa kanya, planting a kiss on her shoulder. No matter how I tried to shake off whatever I'm feeling, the guilt continued to consume me.

"I like you more, babe." Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at dinala iyon malapit sa labi, feeling the cold touch of our matching rings. I showed her that I was wearing mine. Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinalikan iyon. I chuckled and did the same.

Damn, I like this woman so much, and I want to be good to her kahit alam kong imposible. Sa bawat segundong lumilipas ay mas lalo lamang akong kinakain ng konsensya ko.

I have to do something now, or she'll later find me out.

"How about we taste the wine now, while... while waiting for the sunset. Wait here, babe."

Tumayo ako at pumasok sa isa sa mga silid ng yate. I grabbed the wine glasses and the one hell of expensive wine that Pi gave us.

Dumaan ako sa banyo at tiningnan ang repleksiyon ko sa salamin. My thoughts immediately flew to Rustia—her innocent face and her sweet smiles. Kailangan kong lakasan ang loob ko. I grabbed the packet that Poseidon gave me at inilagay iyon sa bulsa ng suot kong board shorts.

Nang binalikan ko siya ay naabutan ko siya sa sulok, she was leaning on the railings habang tinitingnan ang papalubog na araw. I felt my heart drop, and I don't know what to do. I know I'll be met with similar dilemmas in the future, and I just have to smart my way through this. Inilapag ko muna ang wine at mga baso at nilapitan siya. I hugged her from behind at ipinatong ang baba sa balikat niya.

"S-sorry," mahinang usal ko.

Nagtatakang nilingon niya ako. "Sorry saan?"

I sighed. "I'm not a perfect boyfriend. There will be times where I may fail you, or hurt you."

"Wala namang perpektong relasyon," sagot niya sa akin.

"Just know that I'm trying," sagot ko sa kanya.

Hinarap niya ako at kunot-noong tiningnan. "You're acting weird, Cooler. What's with you?"

I debated what to do next. Should I stick to the plan, confess the truth, or what? Hindi ko alam bakit nahihirapan akong magsinungaling sa kanya. Lying is so easy for me, but when it comes to her, bakit ang hirap?

I opted to dodge the question. "The wine will be perfect now."

Tinalikuran ko siya upang kumuha ng alak. I walked towards the table, with my back facing her. Nagsalin ako ng alak sa mga baso at kinapa ang pakete sa bulsa. I swiftly tore it open, feeling the powdery substance inside. Kinuha ko ang dalawang baso at lumapit sa kanya, handing her a glass.

"Here."

Nag-aalangang tinanggap niya iyon. I moved towards her side, draping my arms around her waist once again. Dinala ko sa bibig ang alak, taking a sip of the expensive drink. Nagdulot iyon ng swabeng pakiramdam sa lalamunan, bitter but good.

"I like you," mahinang usal ko. "So much."

I gently grabbed her, slowly spinning her around so she could face me. I towered over her, left hand gripping the railing with the wineglass, the other tossing the pre-opened sachet into the ocean.

Nope, can't do it. I like my girlfriend so much that I can't bring myself to drug her.

I leaned closer, at inilapit ang mukha sa kanya. She instantly turned red, bringing the glass to her mouth and taking a sip.

"Did I tell you that you're pretty?" I asked. Sa utak ko ay binalikan ko ang unang araw na nagkita kami. She looked like a walking trouble with all that outfit and colored hair. But looking at her right now, she was simply pretty with her lips in its natural tint.

And speaking of lips...

I quickly planted a kiss on her, tongue slightly brushing at her lower lip..

She gasped softly against my lips, surprised by my sudden move, but soon melted into the kiss. Inangat niya ang mga kamay at agad na pinulupot sa leeg ko. I could feel her heartbeat getting faster as we got closer, matching mine.

***

JAJA

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko at hinayaang sakupin ni Cooler ang mga labi. It was a slow, sloppy kiss that tasted like wine and lies.

Cooler keeps on lying to me— forgetting I am a small time magician, knows much about deceit and mind games. Magic tricks maybe amazing but they're that — just tricks.

A sleight of the hand, misdirection, manipulations, preshow and body languages.

What was his lie about?

Pero masyado ko siyang gusto. I like him so much that I let his lying lips kiss me like there's no tomorrow.

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata, throw my head back and let my mind enjoy the moment. Mas lumalim pa ang halik, at naramdaman ko ang paghawak niya sa binti ko. His hand reached the back of my thigh, lifting me a bit. Isinuko ko na lahat ng pag-aalinlangan at ipinulupot ang mga binti sa baiwang niya.

We heard a glass dropped on the floor pero wala kaming pakialam.

He walked towards wherever without breaking the kiss, hanggang sa muli kong naramdaman na inilapag niya ako sa lounge chair. Bumaba ang halik niya sa leeg ko, at hindi ako makapaniwalang sa akin ang mga mumunting halinghing na naririnig ko! Naglakbay ang mga kamay ko sa katawan niya, feeling his hard abdominal muscles, hanggang sa naramdaman ko ang waitsband ng shorts na kanyang suot. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ngunit sa tuwing naglalapat ang mga labi namin, my mind just always went blank. Nawawala ang mga boundaries na sineset ko sa sarili. Gusto ko ang mga haplos niya, and I enjoyed the warmth brought by his touches.

He grabbed my waist, flipping me onto his lap in a straddle. The transition was so quick that I found myself on his lap as he started feasting on my neck. We were wearing tiny pieces of clothing, and the skin-to-skin contact was just mind-blowing. He gently gripped my side, while his other hand slid down my inner thigh. With my eyes still shut, I tossed my head back, making tiny mewls.

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa mga nangyayari. He was rough and gentle at the same time, something I had never felt before. Mas humigpit pa ang hawak niya sa binti ko, hanggang sa umabot iyon sa puwitan ko. He pulled me closer, shifting his hips and shivering at the contact. Inilagay ko ang mga kamay ko sa mga balikat niya, exhaling softly. He kept teasing my neck, not missing any spots, circling his tongue after a good suck. I grabbed a handful of his hair, feeling the need to grasp something because of the sensation he was giving me.

Tuluyang bumaba ang mga halik niya sa dibdib ko, and a warm, large hand encircled my breast. There was an ache in my core that felt so unfamiliar, a deep yearning for satisfaction. Gamit ang kanyang tuhod, pinaghiwalay niya ang mga binti ko, positioning himself between my legs.

He was so hot, and it felt so good that it made me flutter my eyes closed, letting whatever this was supposed to lead to happen naturally.

But like always, Cooler restrained himself. He's stronger than me, because I'll just cave in, samantalang siya ay nakakaya pa niyang pigilan ang sarili. He stopped the aggressive kissing ngunit hindi niya inalis ang pagkakalapat ng mga labi namin. Huminga siya nang malalim, bago dahan-dahang kumalas.

"C-cooler..."

He kissed my forehead. "When you're ready, babe. When you're ready."

He must have felt my remaining hesitation, when I thought it all disappeared. Bakit, bakit kailangan niyang maging ganito? Why does he have to be so nice and all that? Bakit sa bawat bagay na ginagawa niya ay lalo lamang ako nahuhulog sa kanya?

He got off me, at inalalayan ako upang makaupo. Hindi niya binitiwan ang kamay ko, bago siya umupo sa katabing lounge chair. He squeezed my hand, avoiding my gaze. Tahimik na tiningnan ko siya, his board shorts a little lower than it used to be, exposing that fine V line. Teka, ako ba ang nagbaba niyon? I did remember holding on the waistband of his shorts. Agad akong yumuko upang matakpan ang pamumula ng mukha.

"Look..." he trailed off. "I know you're looking forward to our dinner later..."

Ilang beses akong kumurap, hinahanda ang sarili sa kung ano mang sasabihin niya.

"I have somewhere to be...later."

I know I was not able to hide the disappointment in my face.

He sighed, moving closer to me. "It's just something important..."

More important than me?

"Babe, you don't have to look like that," malungkot na sabi niya. "It's... it's work-related."

"Work-related?" tanong ko. "At Saturday night?"

"I know, I know, but you know, I am not an employee, right? I'm the boss, and unlike in the movies, bosses are actually busy and need to work whenever there's a call of duty..."

Napayuko. "Naiintindihan ko." At the back of my mind, I kept thinking, why does he keep on lying? Ano ang importanteng bagay na kailangan niyang puntahan? I could think of many things ngunit sa bawat bagay na naiisip ko ay nasasaktan lamang ako, despite none of the things I can think of involving other girls. 

"I'll be back before you know it," he assured me.

Wala akong nagawa kundi ang tumango at pilit na ngumiti. "Okay, you can go now. Hihintayin kita."

He smiled before kissing me on the top of my head. "Thanks, babe," sabi niya at halos lakad takbo na ang ginawa paalis.

He may not be lying about saying it's work. The real question is what work.

#

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