Pinag-isipan niya kung kalian nga ba niya aaminin sa dalaga na siya ang dati nitong minamahal. Kung sasabihin nga ba talaga niya o hihintayin na lang niyang kusang bumalik ang alaala nito. Masaya n asana ang samahan nila. Pero nahihirapan siya dahil araw-araw, lalo siyang nagui-guilty sa nangyayari. Walang kamalay-malay si Janine na sa simpleng pagpapanggap na bagong dating lang sa buhay niya si Kristian ay ilang buwan nap ala siyang niloloko ng mga tao sa paligid niya, na ang masakit, malapit pa sa puso niya.
Naenjoy na nila ang pag-upo nila sa may seashore. Medyo seryoso ang naging usapan nilang dalawa pero nagawa pa rin naman nilang maging masaya sa gitna ng usaping pag-ibig. Bakit nga ba tila napakaraming alam ng dalaga sa pag-ibig? Parang sa mga binitawan niyang salita ay may pinanghuhugutan siya.
She leaned on his shoulder. It was the first time she did that. This was the first time that they were this close. Hindi siya nailing. In fact, she wanted him to put his arms around her. It’s getting cold, and she feel the need of having a tight hug from someone. Napapaisip na rin si Janine kung bakit ba bigla na lang naging parte ng buhay niya ang lalaking ito. She remembered that she was just an ordinary patient on the hospital, but she was treated extraordinarily by this doctor. She wonders what is his real agenda. But the truth is, she’s quite curious about him.
Muling tumahimik ang paligid. Nakiramdam na rin si Kristian. He draped his arm around her shoulder because it’s getting cold. She could’ve taken it away, but she just let him embrace her. Napangiti si Janine. It was as if she felt something really good.
It was dead silent. Hindi niya alam kung ano pa ang pwede nilang pag-usapang dalawa. They stared through each other’s eyes. It seems normal for them to look straight eye-to-eye. Tila ba walang “ilang” na tinatawag. Nagawa nilang magtitigan na tila ba wala nang planong maglayo ang paglapat ng kanilang mga mata. Then she smiled. Natawa sila pareho. Without hesitation, she grabbed him near her and embraced him. Nagulat ang binata at hindi niya alam kung anong nag-udyok kay Janine para gawin iyon. But he couldn’t help but hug her back. He just couldn’t resist her. Her little body fit perfectly on his. It was as if they were two perfectly crafted puzzle pieces.
“Janine, I like you, I really like you,” hindi na niya napigilan ang bugso ng kanyang damdamin.
“Me too,” she whispered.
“Wait, did I hear it right? You.... like.... me?”
A tear dropped from her eye. “I wanted to say no, but this is what I feel. I’m so comfortable with you. I never felt this feeling for my 28 years of existence. Nobody ever made me feel this special, Kristian. Thank you,”
“Hey hey, don’t cry. So what kung 28 years ka nang hindi nakakaramdam ng ganito? I’m glad that I was the one who made you feel this special feeling. Out of billions of people in the world, napakaswerte ko naman na isang babaeng katulad mo ang magkakagusto sakin,”
“No, I was thinking about that too. Tama ka, there are billions of people in this world and I guess we are both lucky to have met each other. Kristian, I’m happy with what we have right now. Let’s not throw it away,”
He grabbed her the way she did. He wanted to hug her tighter. And this is the only way that he wanted to hurt her: by hugging her tight. Ilang buwan rin niyang inasam na marinig sa dalaga ang mga katagang iyon. Unconditionally, they both felt that something special is going on between the two of them.
“Of course, I’m so honored, Janine. Kung alam mo lang kung gaano kasaya ang puso ko na narinig ko yun sayo. I.... I was thinking a hundred times if I would tell you that there’s something in you which captivates me.. I’m just so speechless. Sorry for being too fast,”
“It’s no biggie. We like each other, okay. But that’s it. Komportable tayo sa isa’t-isa, and that’s good. Oo, napapasaya mo ako Kristian, you are my dear Dr. Love. And like you, i’m also honored,” she smiled.
Natigil ang usapan nang unti-unting maglapat ang kanilang mga labi. He was thinking if he would continue, but his heart started pounding, he wanted her so bad. He pressed his soft lips gently on hers, she didn’t pull away. It was a slow, and passionate kiss. Then they stopped. It was a short, yet breathtaking kiss.
Ngumiti lang sila pareho. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,” Kristian said.
“Don’t say sorry. It’s okay,” she’s breathing fast as if that kiss took her breath away. “Know what, that was the first time I did that with someone,”
“Really?”
“I’m glad it was with you,”
He remembered one moment. The first time they had the same breathtaking kiss. It was their fifth anniversary. The day they both gave in to each other. It was the most memorable night of their lives. The night they made love with each other.
Iniisip niya kung naaalala rin ba ito ni Janine, o tuluyan na talagang nawala sa alaala niya ang lahat ng mga magagandang nangyari sa kanilang dalawa. It was hurtful for him to know that the girl he loved so much doesn’t remember him anymore, and that there are very low chances that she will remember him again.
Bumalik na sila sa cottage. Sinamahan siya ni Kristian hanggang sa kwarto niya, para pareho na silang makapagpahinga. They had one last hug before they go to sleep. But he pressed his lips against hers again. He couldn’t resist her soft lips. He leaned her on the wall and started kissing her slowly. Pwede niyang itulak si Kristian palayo sa kanya. But instead, she let him do it. He turned off the lights, and laid her down on her bed. Hindi siya pinigilan ng dalaga. Naalala ni Kristian ang unang gabing ginawa nila ito. Their first time. As they were slowly kissing, everything turns into one sweet sensation. He pressed himself against hers, and she submitted herself to him.
“Hmmm—” she moaned.
“Janine, I really like you,” she continued kissing her. “I really want to love you. Hindi mo alam kung gaano ka kadaling mahalin,”
“It’s so sweet to hear that, Kristian,” they stopped moving. “Alam mo, parang nangyari na tong gabing to,”
Kinabahan siya. “Ha?”
“I mean, it was as if I already dreamt of this night,”
Dinaan na lang niya sa biro. “Ikaw ha, pinapantasya mo pala ako kapag gabi,” he laughed.
“Uy, hindi ha. But honestly, parang nangyari na to.... sa panaginip ko,”
If only you knew how much I wanted to make love with you again, Janine. Nasabi na lang ni Kristian sa sarili niya.
“I think we should sleep now, Ja. Maaga pa tayong babalik sa Manila tomorrow eh,”
“Yah, I think so, goodnight,” she smiled at him.
Pinigilan na niya ang sarili niya. He likes it everytime she shows that seductive smile. But he wanted to take this situation slow. “Goodnight, sweet dreams,” he kissed her for the last time tonight.
Pagkalabas ni Kristian ng kwarto, hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala sa nangyari. It has been a long time since they did that long, passionate kiss. It felt good for him. Nasabi na lang niya sa sarili niyang ito na yata ang pangalawa sa mga masasayang gabi ng buhay niya.
She smiled when he closed the door. It was one breathtaking kiss. She touched her lips, it was as if it touched his lips before. Just the way their bodies fit perfectly together, their lips was also meant to be together too. It was like a perfect love story, a match made-in-heaven. She couldn’t sleep. The way he stroked his lips on her, the way he touched her arms while kissing her, she knows it was the first time she did that, but definitely not the last.