NAPALAKAS ang paggamit niya ng kutsara't tinidor kaya gumawa iyon nag ingay nang tumama sa kanyang plato, bagama'y hindi siya sumusubo ng pagkain dahil nawalan siya ng gana.
Nagngingitngit ang kanyang loob dahil sa lalaking kaharap sa hapag-kainin. Tila ang saya-saya nito habang kausap ang kanyang Daddy habang sila'y kumakain.
It was early in the morning, but Harrison was already there in their house. Ang huling nagtungo ito roon nang ganoon kaago ay noong araw na hinalikan siya nito. Mula noon ay madalang na lang silang nagkikita. She got that he was busy with his movie, who went successful and wrapping everything up with the showbiz industry when he announced his early retirement. And at the same time, he was preparing for the job he took at her father's construction company.
She got it, she do. But why does she felt like he was avoiding her after they make out, the table turned like he was regretting what he did. He's bullshit! Hindi niya maiwasang hindi mainis dahil mula nang nangyari iyon ay hindi pa sila nag-uusap, parang siya lang ang naapektuhan sa lahat. Ang kapal ng mukha nitong halik-halikan siya pagkatapos ay kakalimutan na lang nito. He needed to be responsible for his actions.
What do you want him to do, Tara Violet? Right, maging ang katanungang iyon ay hindi niya masagot ng diretso. She's frustrated that he hadn't talk to her and after the kiss he only visited her twice. Dapat na matuwa siya dahil kusa itong dumidistansiya, pero hindi.
She missed him!
Napabuntung-hininga si Tara dahil sa pag-amin niya sa katotohanang iyon sa kanyang sarili. She might be crazy but she missed Harrison.
Snap out of it, Tara! You don't need a man, you don't need him. For all you know, he was just playing with you, and you're losing the game, or maybe you already lost.
"Is something the matter, Tinkerbell?"
Nagtaas siya ng tingin sa kanyang ama na kanina pa pala siya tinatawag. Nakatingin ito sa kanya na puno ng pagtataka at pag-aalala ang mga mata. Tiningnan niya ang kanyang Mommy sa kanyang tabi at kagaya nang una ay nakakunot din ang noo.
Then she took a fleeting glance at Harrison across her before looking back at her father and forced a smile. "I have no appetite and I'm still full from last night's meal," aniya na pilit nilangkapan ng sigla ang tinig.
Tumango ang kanyang ama ngunit alam niyang hindi ito kumbinsido dahil sa emosyong nakalarawan sa mukha. Bumalik ito sa pakikipag-usap kay Harrison at sa kanyang ina tungkol sa trabaho kaya muli siyang nanahimik.
Nang hindi makatagal doon ay dinampot niya ang baso ng fresh juice na nasa kanyang harapan. Her hand was trembling but she managed to lift the glass. Dahil sa panginginig ng kanyang kamay ay natapon ang laman niyon kaya ginamit niya ang kanyang kaliwa.
Her casts were remove, he can walk, she can use her hand but not a hundred percent. But it was good than being stuck with casts. Dinala niya sa bibig ang inumin at nagpaalam na sa mga kasama pagkatapos.
Hinalikan niya sa pisngi ang ina at ama bago mabilis na lumabas ng dining room ng hindi tinatapunan ng tingin si Harrison.
Paika-ika ang kanyang paglakad at may kaunting kirot siyang nararamdaman, but it was manageable. Dahil iyon sa hindi pa siya komportableng maglakad muli sa dalawang paa, ngunit hindi pasasaan ay magiging normal din ang kanyang paglakad.
Pagkarating niya sa garahe ay naroon na ang driver na maghahatid sa kanya at si Elsa na siyang kasama niya kapag lumalabas. She was back to teaching her students, sa katunayan ay pangalawang linggo na niya iyon sa pagtuturo mula nang maaksidente. She was happy doing it, hindi pa man siya makakapinta ng maayos ay masaya siyang magturo at ibahagi sa iba ang kanyang kaalaman.
"I'll take her to work."
Natigil ang pagbubukas ng driver ng pinto ng sasakyan nang marinig ang nagsalitang iyon. She looked at Harrison flatly who was looking at her with a smile on his lips.
"Sige na, ako nang bahala rito," anito sa driver at binalingan si Elsa. "You can take a day-off from your grumpy boss." Sabay kindat sa katulong na itinatago ang kilig.
Napaingos siya at nang makaalis ang dalawa ay sinamaan niya ng tingin si Harrison. "Anong kailangan mo?"
Iniling nito ang ulo habang hindi nawawala ang ngiti sa mga labi. "You need me."
"Ang kapal ng mukha mo!" she snarled and heaved a deep sigh to calm herself. Baka hindi niya mapigilan ang sarili at maibulalas ang mga bagay na gusto niyang sabihin pero hindi niya gustong marinig nito. He would surely laugh at her.
"This thick-faced man is here for you, and he misses you."
"Ha!" she scoffed. "Putanginamo!" and cursed in a low but crispy tone.
And she did not expect what Harrison would do after hearing her oath. His hand cupped the back of her head and captured her lips. He nibbled and lick, but she was still taken aback.
Before she reacted with the sudden attack, he already pulled away. Napakurap-kurap si Tara at nang luminaw ang isipan ay mabilis na tumaas ang kanyang kamao sa panga nito.
NAKAHAKIPKIP na itinuon niya ang mga mata sa daan habang nakaupo sa passenger's seat. She heard him groan but she did not gave him attention.
"That was one hell of a punch, you nearly broke my jaw. You must be a boxer in your past life."
Hindi siya sumagot, hindi rin siya nakaramdam ng usig ng damdamin dahil sa ginawa. He deserved the bruised after she punched him. How dare he kissed her, again, pagkatapos siya nitong baliwalain ng ilang linggo.
"If that was the consequence of kissing you, then so be it. I will do it again, I'm warning you," he muttered with determination.
"Tumahimik ka kung ayaw mong sa mata ka sunod magkapasa!" angil niya nang hindi ito tinatapunan ng tingin. Hindi na ulit ito makakahalik, she'll be more alert now and she would punch him again if he'll try something nasty.
Lihim siyang nagpasalamat nang hindi na ito nagsalita ngunit pasulyap-sulyap naman sa kanya hanggang sa makarating sila sa kanyang studio. Napilitan siyang magpahtid kay Harrison doon, hindi lang iyon, she was stuck with him for the day.
Naroon na si Olive sa loob at inihahanda ang mga kailangan nila. Pagkaraan ng ilang sandali ay dumating na ang mga bata na siyang tuturuan niya sa umaga. Sa kalagitnaan ng ginagawa ay nahagip ng kanyang mga mata si Harrison na nakaupo sa pang-isahang sofa at may binubuklat na magazine. Nanatili itong tahimik mula nang makarating sila roon, she doesn't know if he was bored but it was none of her concern, ito ang nagpumilit na samahan siya ngayong araw sa trabaho.
Tila naramdaman nitong may nakatingin dahil nagtaas ito ng tingin sa kanya. Sandali lang ang pagkagulat pagkuwan ay ngumiti. "Do you want anything?" he mouthed and she just scowl at him in response.
Nang matapos ang session niya sa umaga at sunduin ang mga mata ay pumasok siya sa loob ng kanyang opisina at kumain kasama si Olive.
"So, what's the deal between you and Harry?" tanong sa kanya ni Olive sa gitna ng kanilang pagkain. Mukhang hindi ito nakatiss at nagtanong, nagtataka marahil kung bakit si Harrison ang naroon at hindi si Elsa.
Wala roon ang binata dahil hinatid nito si France at Germany pauwi.
"He's bored with his life, so he decided to bother me," she answered with a slight shrugged.
Tumango si Olive at nagpatuloy na sa pagkain ngunit pasulyap-sulyap sa kanya at parang may gusto pang sabihin. "Out with it, Olive."
Uminom ito ng tubig bago nagsalita. "Hindi naman siya mukhang bored, In fact, I saw that he was enjoying watching you."
"Were you looking at him the whole morning?" aniya na pinandilatan ito na agad na namula ang pisngi.
"Can't help it, T. He's hot. At hindi araw-araw nakikita ko siya ng personal. Sa TV ko lang siya nakikita sa malaking screen ng sinehan. I saw his latest movie last week and he was so good, sayang dahil iyon na ang huli niyang pelikula. Bakit kaya siya magre-retire, bata pa naman siya at maganda ang career niya."
Napabuntung-hininga siya pagkatapos lunukin ang pagkain. "He'll be working at my father's company soon, said he wanted to try something new," she answered casually. "What's with you women that you like him so much?" she asked as if she wasn't a woman herself and she was exempted from the ones who liked Harrison.
"He's perfect," sagot ni Olive na tila nangangarap. "A gentleman, talented, humble, his smile... oh, his smile, makalaglag panty girl." Hindi malaman ni Tara kung matatawa o maiinis sa assistant. She knew Olive since college, she was her classmate. Ngunit hindi ito nakatapos ng pag-aaral dahil nabuntis. Pinalad naman ito sa lalaking ama ng anak na pinakasalan ito. Olive was a good assistant and a friend to her, may pagkamadaldal nga lang ito. "Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit hanggang ngayon wala pa siyang girlfriend. Maraming rumors pero walang napapabalitang totoo sa mga iyon. Is he gay or something?" wika ni Olive ngunit mabilis ding ipiniling ang ulo dahil sa hindi pagsang-ayon.
Napangisi si Tara sa sinabi ng assistant niya. Gusto niyang matawa dahil sa tanong nito kung bakla ba si Harrison, kung alam lang ng assistant kung gaano kagaling humalik ang hudyo.
"No way! He's not gay, is he?" nanlalaki ang mga matang tanong ni Olive na marahil ay inakalang iyon ang dahilan ng ngisi niya. "He can't be. No! Tell me he's not gay, that's just not right," Olive asked persistently at her and she just chuckled in return because of amusement.
Buti nga sa 'yo Harrison! She hope that Olive would spread a word about Harrison being gay. Iyon ang ganti niya sa pambabalewala ng binata sa kanya ng ilang linggo.
Nangilid na ang luha sa kanyang mga mata sa pagtawa nang bumukas ang pinto ng kanyang opisina at pumasok si Harrison.
"Sinong bakla?" he asked. He looked at them with a mixture of puzzlement and amusement.
"I-I got something to do, excuse me," ang mabilis na pagpapaalam ni Olive sa kanila at lumabas na ng kanyang opisina.
Muling kumawala ang tawa sa kanyang bibig nang makalabas ang assistant. Naiwan silang dalawa ni Harrison doon na nakatungo pa rin malapit sa may pinto. Walang salitang namutawi sa mga tabi nito at pinanood siya hanggang sa matapos at makabawi.
"That was... that was hilarious!"
"Did you tell her I'm gay?" Harrison questioned with a frown. He walked towards her and stopped on her side. Then his hand landed on the headrest of the sofa she was sitting on and bent to her. Their faces were inches apart. "So, did you?"
Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Tara nang marinig ang tonong ginamit nito. Wala siyang hostility na narinig doon, but it was deep and... and sexy. God, since when did he had a sexy voice?
"And if I did?" she taunted and arched her eyebrow. Pilit niyang nilalabanan ang damdamin na humulugpos dahil sa lapit nila. Hindi siya marupok!
"You know what will happen..." Harrison then moved his head to attempt to kiss her, but she caught his face before he succeeded. She covered the lower part of his face with her hand from the nose to his mouth.
"You wish!" she mocked before pushing him and got in her feet. "Linisin mo 'to." Sabay turo sa pinagkainan at naglakad palabas.
"Hey, come back here! Hindi pa tayo tapos!"
HER DAY had been great despite Harrison's sulking. Kaninang lumabas ito ng kanyang opisina ay nakasimangot ito hanggang ngayon habang ipinagmamaneho sila pauwi.
"Someone's happy," puna nito sa kanya.
Ngumiti siya rito ng ngising aso. "But of course, I had fun."
"You had fun making me a gay to the eyes of your assistant," he muttered in sarcasm. Mukhang naapektuhan talaga ito dahil sa pagkakamali ng akala ni Olive.
To stop his sulkiness, she agreed to have dinner with him first before going home. Tahimik silang kumain sa isang restaurant na ipinagtataka niya. Ang Harrison na kilala niya kahit naiinis ay hindi tumatahimik kapag kasama siya.
Tiningnan niya ito habang kumakain sila. Nakayuko ito sa plato at tila may iniisip. Iniisip pa rin ba nito ang nangyari kanina?
"Drink your meds first," usal nito nang mag-aya siyang umuwi.
Tumango na lang siya rito dahil napansin niyang wala sa mood si Harrison at okupado ng ibang bagay. She drink her medicine and drank the water he gave him after.
Nang makabalik sa sasakyan pauwi ay nakaramdam siya ng antok kaya ipinikit niya ang mga mata at sumandig sa upuan. Hanggang sa hindi niya namalayang nakatulog siya.
NAGISING si Tara nang maramdamang may pumipigil sa kanyang huminga ng maayos. She felt the weight on her body, but not enough to crash her. She felt the force on her lips, the softness of it, and the thing seeking entrance to her mouth.
A moaned escape her lips as she opened her eyes. She got confused for a moment when she saw someone hovering over her. Then she recognized him... Harrison! Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang mapagtanto kung ano ang ginagawa nito. He was kissing her, and it was what woke her up.
She pushed him and glared at him at the same time. Then the next, she felt confused. Why was he here in her room?
"Good morning," he said in almost a whisper and a radiant smile plastered his lips. Magulo ang buhok nito at naniningkit pa ang mga mata. Did he slept on her bed?!
"Why are you here in my room?" inis niyang tanong dito sabay ulo sa ibabaw ng kamay. Tiningnan niya ang sarili at napabuntung-hininga nang makitang suot pa niya ang mga damit kagabi.
Kapagkuwan ay bigla siyang natigilan at nagsalubong lalo ang mga kilay nang maramdaman ang pag-uga ng kanyang kinahihigaan. Inilibot niya ang mga mata sa loob ng silid at napagtantong hindi iyon ang silid niya.
Her eyes widen as she looked at Harrison who had a nervous smile on his face. Bumundol ang hinala sa kanyang dibdib lalo na't nalalanghap niya ang alat sa hangin ang naririnig ang mga tunog sa kanyang paligid.
Mabilis siyang bumaba sa kama at naglakad palabas ng silid. She heard footsteps following her.
A gasp came out of her lips when she confirmed her theory. She saw seagulls from a distance playing with the dolphins. They were in the middle of the ocean, and god knows where!
"Harrison!" she shrieked at the top of her lungs angrily.