I woke up and it was already dark. From the wall clock at the far end of the room I could see that it was 9:30pm. I was still wearing the same clothes I wore the previous night at work. I was lying on my stomach. I looked up and I saw the most attractive face I have ever seen. He was sleeping so soundly like a baby. I smiled and tried to trace his face with my fingers. I hesitated, afraid that I would wake him up. So I placed my chin on my hand and watched him for a while. I could stay like that for eternity.
I still felt tired from the trip that morning as we did not have a decent breakfast. Right after shift, we drove directly to this place and grabbed two burgers and fries from McDo. We passed by a mall to buy some clothes and pairs of undies, as well as some toiletries. Like there was an emergency.
So that was his place in Bulacan. I remembered how happy he looked when he was driving with his left hand and holding my hand with his right. He would glance at me once in a while and I would beam. It wasn’t actually planned. After we admitted to each other our feelings (evil feelings), we just felt that we needed to have time on our own. So there we were in a large and beautiful house in Bulacan. He bought the house two years ago as a gift to his parents when they come home from the states in the near future. For the meantime that would serve as our love nest. It was a tiring day after work plus the shopping and talking and so we fell asleep around noon.
My arms were already wobbling as I continued to watch his sleeping. I was more than happy. I don’t know how to explain the feeling but somehow it gave me the feeling of achievement. I smiled to myself again.
I heard him pulled a deep breath and I began to panic. I didn’t want him to see that I was watching him like I was totally obsessed about him. I gathered myself, combed my hair and headed to the washroom. I showered only to find out after that I didn’t bring in my new clothes and towel. I stayed in the bathroom forever. I was pacing here and there thinking how the hell I would get my stuff. And those freaking stuff were placed on the sofa at the foot of the bed.
With fingers crossed, praying that he was still in dreamland, I slowly opened the door and started to tiptoe outside. One foot out of the door and I heard a chuckle. I quickly pulled myself back in and slammed the bathroom door.
“Where are you?” I asked.
“Here.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere where I would stay forever to see you.”
“I’m not kidding! Get out of the way, I need to get my clothes and the fuckin’ towel!”
Then a crispy laughter.
“Carlo please, it’s cold…”
“Okay. Why don’t you stay there and wait for me.”
“What?? No! Just get out of the room and let me get my things!”
“Ikaw talaga, kung ano-ano na naman naiisip mo. Hindi ako papasok dyan. Kukunin ko yung towel at damit mo kaya hintayin mo ko.”
Toink! I thought he would join me inside the bathroom. I shivered from the thought.
“Okay…Pakibilisan.”
After a few seconds, he was knocking on the door. I slowly opened it and through a little slit, I held out my hand. He gave me the towel first. Then the clothes. Then he was gone.
After I put on my clothes, I went back to the room and searched for him. After half an hour, he was back with a tray of food. I then just realized that I was really, insanely starving.
“Bakit hindi ka lumabas? Nasa kitchen ako kanina, nagprepare ako ng food natin.”
“Hindi ko nga alam kung saan ka pumunta eh.”
“Sorry. Hindi ka naman maliligaw dito sa bahay. Besides, walang ibang tao kundi tayo. Pinauwi ko muna yung caretaker para may privacy tayo.”
His smile was teasing but I ignored it. I knew why the caretaker was sent home. That is to avoid any issues. Even if I felt like dreaming, the reality that I was a mistress couldn’t be denied. It saddened me and hurt me but I couldn’t let it ruin the night. It would not happen again. It could be the first and the last.
We decided to eat our dinner in the dining room instead of in the bedroom. Afterwards, he toured me inside the house. I saw his parents’ photos and they looked like a happy couple. In the corner of my mind, I was imagining them to be my in-laws but I shook the idea. There were four rooms in the house including the master’s bedroom where most of his parents’ stuff was. The other three rooms had the same size and they looked more of guest rooms. There was nothing personal in them. Just uniform beds and cabinets and curtains. I wanted to ask if he had spent a lot of times with Jean in that house. But I felt like choking so I didn’t ask. As if reading my mind, he told me I was the first woman he brought to the house overnight. Not even Jean. He said Jean has been to the house a few times only to inspect if it needs some repairs, but no overnights. It is because the house was specially made for his parents and he didn’t want to invade his parents’ property. Then what was I doing there with him?
“But with you, it feels special. I mean, if only I could bring you to my place, why wouldn’t I? But you know I can’t. I could have brought you to a hotel or a friend’s place, but I didn’t. Because you’re special, Jessie. It doesn’t mean this is right but I can’t feel the wrongness. I’m happy, Jes. I really am.”
“I’m happy, too. And scared.”
“I know. I know.”
