NAKAUPO lang sa may pinto ng kubo si Amira habang hinihintay ang pag-uwi ni Francois. She was wearing a long gown gauze-like gown given by one of her sisters. Pinatungan lang niya iyon ng shawl. Nagsisimula nang lumamig ang gabi kaya naman parang gusto na niyang palitan ang gown at magsuot na lang ng pajama at sweatshirt. Maninigas na siya sa lamig ay wala pa ring nangyayari sa pagpapaka-alindog niya.
Mag-a-alas sais na noon ng gabi at ang alam niya ay tumuloy agad ito sa Rock Farm and Inn kung saan ipinatawag ito dahil doon tumutuloy ang isa sa mga senador ng bansa. Ito mismo ang ni-request para magluto ng tanghalian at miryenda dito. It was supposed to be their honeymoon. He was not supposed to be working anymore. Alam niyang importante iyon sa career nito at di ito basta-basta makakatanggi pero siguro naman ay maiintindihan ng mga ito na honeymoon nila.
“Baka naman ayaw na niyang mag-honeymoon kami,” aniyang may halong tampo. Masyado na sigurong nainip ang asawa niya at hahayaan na lang siya nito na i-enjoy ang pagiging virgin bride niya. Ikinatang niya ang ulo sa hamba ng pinto. “Francois, dadating ka pa ba? Hanggang kailan ako maghihintay?”
Mahina ang signal at walang sagot ang asawa niya kung dadating ito o hindi. It might take forever. Nagsisimula nang lumamig at nagsisimula na ring magutom si Amira. Nangako si Francois na ito ang magluluto ng agahan nila habang nasa honeymoon nila. Kaya naman hihintayin niya ito.
Naalimpungatan siya nang maramdaman niyang may bumuhat sa kanya. Pagdilat niya ay si Francois iyon. There was concern in his eyes… and fire.
“Hey! You’re here,” excited niyang sabi at hinaplos ang pisngi nito.
“Oo. Nakatulog ka na sa pinto. It is cold outside. Anong ginagawa mo doon?”
“Waiting for you to come home. You promised dinner,” aniya at sinapo ang pisngi nito.
“Don’t worry. I brought vegetable lasagna for you and mushroom burger patties. Pero kung ayaw mo, I will cook something nice. Gusto mo ba na ibulanglang ang bulaklak ng kalabasa,” tanong nito at nilingon ang isang basket na bulaklak ng kalabasa na naiwan sa pinto. “Bigay ba iyon ni Alex?”
“No. Para iyon sa iyo. Pinitas ko para sa iyo… according to tradition.”
Kumunot ang noo nito nang ilapag siya sa kama. “What do you mean?”
Isang mapanuksong ngiti ang gumuhit sa labi niya at hinila niya ang harapan ng polo shirt nito para magkalapit ang mukha nila. “It means, my dear husband, that it is the official start of our honeymoon. And I want you to make love to me tonight and the rest of our lives.”
Natulala ito saglit. “Honeymoon? Pwede na?”
“Oo naman. Hindi ba iyon nga ang last part ng ritual natin kanina? Hindi mo ba naintindihan ang mga sinabi ng mga magulang natin? Humayo at magpakarami.”
Ipinilig nito ang ulo. “Wala na akong maintindihan kanina. Amira, ilang gabi akong walang tulog. My head was floating with the wedding and the impending honeymoon. I am a patient man but that was probably the five longest days of my life.You are already my wife and I can’t have you?”
“Well, you can have me now.”
Mataman siya nitong tinitigan. “Wala nang tradisyon na gagawin. Baka may omen pa tayong kailangang tingnan at di na naman ito matuloy.”
Huminga siya ng malalim. “Pwede na nga. Kung hindi pa sapat ang bulaklak ng kalabasa para makumbinsi ka, this can help.”
Hinaklit niya ang polo nito at sinalubong ang labi nito sa isang nakakapasong halik na parehong nagpayanig sa mundo nila. Their lips clashed and kissed Francois in a frenzy. Nararamdaman niya na sinusubukan nitong pabalagin ang halik pero hindi niya pinansin. They tumbled on bed, her lips not leaving his. She was taking over him. She wanted to make up for the lost time.
She felt like she was responsible for the delay of their honeymoon. She was so intent on clinging to the tradition, they had a wedding where Francois was not consulted much and their honeymoon had to happen later than expected. Ayaw na niyang patagalin pa ang lahat. She wanted to have him now.
Hinawakan niya ng asawa sa magkabilang pisngi. “Amira…”
“Yes?” tanong niya at gumapang ang labi sa leeg nito habang abala naman ang kamay niya na kalasin ang butones ng polo nito.
“Relax,” anang binata kasabay ng pag-ungol. She found a treasure in his sculpted chest and her tongue danced on its ridges. Anong relax ang sinasabi nito? Ngayon pa ba sila magre-relax? Ito nga ang wala sa mood nitong nakakaraang araw dahil di natuloy ang honeymoon nila.
“Okay. You relax, ako ang bahala dito,” bulong niya at kumawala sa pagkakahawak nito para patuloy na maglakbay ang labi niya pababa. She was really curious about that six-pack abs.
He tugged her hair and his face was turgid when she looked up. “Amira, we need to slow down. Wala tayo sa Olympics.”
“I just want to make up for the lost days. You’ve been patient with me since day one. I really appreciate it. So will you let me return the favor?” malambing niyang tanong.
Marahan itong tumango. “So, I was frustrated a bit. Di ibig sabihin kailangan nating magmadali. I don’t want to ruin this for both of us. Will you let me make love with you properly?”
“But…”
Bumangon ito at hinaplos ang pisngi niya. His touch was so gentle, she wanted to weep. It was not desire that shone in his eyes but adoration and love. If there was desire there, he was in control. “I will teach you whatever you need to know. I will make you feel good. Trust me?”
Marahan siyang tumango. “Yes.”
Hinalikan siya nito sa magkabilang pulsuhan habang hindi nito inaalis ang tingin sa mga mata niya. Pulsuhan pa lang ang hinahalikan nito pero parang sasabog na ang puso niya sa lakas ng tibok. Marahan nitong hinalikan ang noo niya, ang dulo ng ilong niya at ang pisngi niya. He was taking things so slow.
Tinatrato siya ni Francois na parang isang babasaging kristal na dapat ingatan. He was in no hurry to claim her. Mas mahalaga dito ang nararamdaman niya at ang dapat niyang maranasan kaysa sa pansarili nitong interes. It made her heart burst. This was beyond sexual. This was love. And torture at the same time.
He nipped her lips as if he was trying to stoke the fire within her. Slow kisses was driving her crazy. And she didn’t know how long that sweet torture would last. Their lips locked in a passionate kiss. Sa bawat panunukso nito, ipinapakita nito kung gaano siya kahalaga dito.
Nang kintalan nito ng halik ang balikat niya at ibaba ang strap ng dress niya ay napaungol siya dahil dahan-dahan din iyon. Her pulse was starting to rage. Nakasunod lang ang tingin niya sa marahan nitong paggalaw. She wished she could act on it but she promised to trust him.
“Francois, di ka ba galit sa akin dahil masyadong matagal kang naghintay para sa honeymoon natin? I mean, umaasa ka tapos di naman matutuloy.”
“Kahit maghintay pa ako ng limang taon para sa iyo. You are worth the wait.”
“How long will you make me wait?” tanong naman niya.
“Patience, Amira. Patience,” he whispered with a smile when her dress pooled at her waist.
His eyes intently watched her face when he cupped her breast through her demi-bra. He breath hitched when he rubbed the top of her bra. Her nipples stood in attention. His eyes sparkled as if he discovered a wonder. He definitely knew what he was doing. Amateur na amateur kanina ang ginagawa niyang pagmamadali. She thought things were simple when it comes to sex. Na sa romance novels lang iyon romantic.
But the way Francois’ eyes glazed when she bared herself to him, when his eyes glazed as he caressed her breast as if she was feeling the same ecstasy like she did, she realized that it was not about simple claiming. It was about the experience. Then she felt a shard pleasure straight to her groin. Mas matindi pa ito kaysa sa unang beses niyang inalok ang sarili dito nang nasa Lambayan sila.
When his fingers and lips moved lower, she felt tensed. “Francois…”
“Relax, mon amour. I must prepare you.”
Para saan? Isn’t this the point where he was about to claim her. She was already bared to him like an offering. She was already tortured enough with pleasure. Ano pang hinihintay nito?
She didn’t know how to lie still when Francois teased and licked her core. Mahigpit na hinawakan ni Amira ang kubre-kama. Hindi niya alam kung hanggang kailan matatapos ang torture na iyon.
She jolted when his finger slowly slid inside of her womanhood. “Shhh…” bulong nito at kinintalan ng halik ang tiyan niya. “Relax.”
“Easy for you to say when you are doing all that torture.”
He let out a hearty laugh. “Torture? So you are not enjoying this.”
Then his finger moved out then in. Then his thumb attacked her nub of pleasure and she just moaned. “Do you want me to stop, mon amour?”
“I will kill you if you stop.” Binigyan niya ito ng matalim na tingin. “You know that I will kill you if you do.”
Humalakhak lang ulit ito na parang madali ang pinagdadaanan niya. But he knew her body more than she did. Alam nito kung ano ang kailangan niya. At kahit pa gusto niya itong sakalin dahil parang napakahabang torture ang ginagawa nito sa kanya, he knew that he was doing it for her. He wanted to make it special.
Hanggang naramdaman na lang siya na may sensasyong humihila sa kanya pataas. Pataas nang pataas. She felt scared. It was the first time that she was feeling that kind of sensation. Hanggang nakita na lang niya na sumabog ang mistulang fireworks sa harapan niya.