Chess Pieces Aftermath: Gray Sanford

Chapter 47

Napatingin ako sa pinto ng kwarto nang marinig ang pagbukas noon. I saw Gray step out of the room. He was only wearing maong pants without any belt so it was almost clinging desperately to his waist and I could see the waistband of his boxer shorts. There was a towel draped across his shoulders as he tried to dry his damp hair. Habang sa isang kamay ay dala n'ya ang puting tshirt n'ya.

Napatigil ako sa pag-aayos ng hapag nang makita s'ya. He was topless. I could see every skin of his upper body. Those biceps, his chest, his abs down his v-line...

He has scars—bullet scars and I could see them now. But he's still perfect in my eyes. Hindi ko akalain ganito ang magiging boyfriend ko.

Gray smiled when he saw me. Parang bigla akong nagising mula sa pagkakatitig sa kanya at napatikhim. Pinagpatuloy ko na lang ang pag-aayos ng pagkain sa lamesa habang naglalakad s'ya palapit sa akin.

He hugged me from the side. His scent attacked my nose. Napangiti agad ako at itinigil ang ginagawa. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang init ng balat n'ya dahil wala s'yang damit pang-itaas.

"Morning kiss," he demanded.

Natawa ako bago s'ya nilingon. He was smiling brightly at me and that smile was enough to brighten up my day. Pareho kaming nakangiti nang maglapat ang mga labi namin.

"Good morning," bati ko pagkatapos. He just smiled and planted another quick kiss on my lips before he finally let me go.

Gray took a seat across from mine on the dining table. Isinuot na n'ya ang tshirt na hawak n'ya. Tinapos ko na ang paghahanda ng breakfast namin para makakain na kami. I sat down and looked at Gray.

S'ya na ang kumukuha ng mga pagkain at nilalagyan na rin ang plato ko. I was just looking at him, observing him. He looked fine as he put hotdog and bacon on my plate. Mukha pa ngang natutuwa sa ginagawa n'ya. Napangiti tuloy ako.

Gray looked at me, finally noticing my stares. Nagtatanong ang mga mata n'ya nang makitang nakangiti ako sa kanya.

"How are you feeling today?" I asked.

Agad din akong napangiwi nang ma-realize kung anong naging tunog noon. That was my usual question to my clients at the start of every session. I got worried that Gray might be uncomfortable and might think that I was treating him as one of my clients.

Gusto ko lang namang malaman kung anong nararamdaman n'ya ngayon. If he's really okay or was just smiling 'cause he didn't want me to worry about him.

"Sorry, Gray. Nakasanayan lang. Walang ibang meaning 'yung tanong ko. Gusto ko lang talagang malaman kung okay ka ngayon."

Gray raised his eyebrows at me. Saglit pang kumunot ang noo n'ya na parang hindi alam kung anong sinasabi ko. Maya-maya ay napatawa na.

"It's okay, Rey," he said as he chuckled. "I'm okay. They're quiet... Surprisingly."

He was talking about his alters...

"Madalas silang maingay?" kuryoso kong tanong.

"Hmm," he just said 'cause his mouth was full with food.

"Anong mga sinasabi?"

Nagsimula na rin akong kumain. I wanted to give him my full attention pero ayoko namang mailang s'ya. Isa pa, nagugutom na rin naman ako.

"It was mostly, Gadriel." He gulped down the food in his mouth. "He's the one who's always near the front, telling me things I should and shouldn't do."

"Gaya ng kung kailan ka dapat kumain."

Gray chuckled. "Yeah..."

"Nabanggit n'ya nga sa akin na s'ya raw ang gatekeeper. So, I'm thinking he's always the one who's looking after all of you."