Ang Mang-Aagaw 17

“Nagawa mo na ba?”

“Yes po,”

“Dahil wala na ang manager, nasa sayo na ang posisyon.”

“Oo nga po eh. Salamat po sa tip, Sir,”

“Ayos lang yan, Aldrin. Ang mahalaga, nahuli na ng pulisya si Charles. At automatically, ikaw na ang bagong manager.”

“Oo nga po eh.”

“So kamusta ang bagong manager?”

“Nakakapagod nga po eh,”

“So ano ang sinabi mo sa mga tao? Hindi ba hinanap si Charles?”

“I informed them that Charles was arrested by the office due to drug trafficking,”

“Well done, Aldrin. Dahil nagawa mo ng maayos at malinis, bibigyan kita ng extrang bayad,”

“Salamat po,”

The conversation ended.

That's what he deserves. After humiliating me way back, Charles, yan ang dapat sayo. Kung tutuusin nga ay kulang pa yan, but thanks for making it easier on my part. If I didn't know you're dope, hindi ako magkakaidea. Salamat ng marami at sana,magdusa ka sa kulungan. And yes, the sex was good. Which I could have spanked you more.

“Si-sino ka?”

“Ako si Kenji. Ako ang nakabangga sayo.”

“Nabangga? Saan? Ba-bakit?”

Napatulala si Kenji sa narinig.

“Ahh. Tagasaan ka?”

Natahimik si Jhaspher. There's a sign of frustration in his face.

“Tagasaan ka? I just know your name Jhaspher. Sino ang pwede nating tawagan sa mga kamaganak mo?

“Wa-wala,” maiksi nitong sagot.

Nagtaka si Kenji. Napakamot ito. Nagpakawala ng isang buntong hininga.

“Anong ibig mong sabihin?”

“Wa-wala,” sagot ni Jhaspher. Litong-lito.

“Anong wala?”

“Wala akong maalala.”

Tila napagsakluban ng langit at lupa si Kenji sa narinig.

“Lugaw, oh.”

“Salamat. Namiss ko to,”

“Bakit ka naman nagpaluto ng lugaw, may sakit ka ba?”

Philip looked at him.

“A bit. Medyo masama lang ang pakiramdam. Maybe I overworked,”

Roj sat near him.

“Sino ba naman kasi may sabi sayo na kailangan mong magtrabaho ng husto?”

Philip placed his head on his right shoulder.

“I need to work for my family, and ofcourse, for my future,”

Roj got the bowl. He got some lugaw in his spoon at sinubo ito kay Philip. Para silang mga bata. At they never thought that they would get so intimate. Wala sa isip nila na magkakaroon sila ng romantic attachment. Romantic nga ba?

“You already have a lot of money. Why still work?”

“Because in the future, I will be having another soul to take care of. Papakainin ko lagi ng masarap, dadalhin ko sa mga magagandang lugar at ipapasyal sa ibang bahagi ng mundo,” Philip sounded so sincere.

Roj felt a pang of jealousy upon hearing the idea of Philip having another soul to nurture.

“Ipapakilala ko sa mundo bilang my other half. Whom will I treat as my spouse, confidante, friend, companion, sex buddy and stuff. Someone na mamahalin ko till my last breath,”

“He must be a very lucky guy,” maiksing tugon nito.

“Sobra. And I think nakita ko na sya,” dugtong pa ni Philip.

Feeling so hurt, napangiti nalang si Roj. Trying to hide his disappointment when he didn't hear Philip say he was the one he wants to spend his life with.

“Swerte nya, sana ako rin makakita na,” mahinang sagot nito.

Philip smiled. Alam nyang nagseselos ang kanyang bestfriend. He gently touched his nose, Roj smiled. Nakaramdam sya ng isang toneledang kuryente sa kanyang katawan. He doesn't know how Philip was able to make him feel real good. Infact, he was driving him crazy.

“And yes, you're one hell of a lucky guy for it's you who i've chosen to spend the rest of my life with,”

Roj got so surprised with what registered to his ears. Hindi nya napigilan ang ngumiti. Hindi lang ang labi nya ang nakangiti ng mga sandaling yon, maging ang kanyang puso. Magsasalita na sana sya nang maramdaman nya ang pagtapal ng labi ni Philip sa kanya. They were kissing already. It was intense. They could feel each others' longingness to have one another. Alam nyang iba na ang nararamdaman nila ngayon sa isa't-isa. One move, they both let go. They were both smiling after the kiss. To his surprise, he then saw Philip crying.

“Why are you crying?”

“Ma-masaya lang ako,” humihikbing sabi ni Philip.

“Ba-bakit?”

“Finally, i'm home.”

“Home?”

“Home, your heart. That's where I want to live. Noong una ay ayaw kong aminin sa sarili ko. Pero nung mga panahong hindi kita nakita, at mga panahong hindi ko alam kung nasaan ka, anong ginagawa mo, balisa ako. Dun ko napatunayan sa sarili ko na ikaw na nga talaga,” patuloy ito sa paghikbi.

“Do we feel the same?” tanong ni Roj.

Philip nodded.

“Make me one promise,” naiiyak na ring sabi ni Roj

“And that is?”

“Don't cry anymore. I'm here to make you happy. And I won't let you cry.”

Philip cried harder. Admittedly, this intimate moment made him realize how much he longed for his bestfriend. Alam nya sa sarili nya na mahal nya ito from the very beginning. He made different lovers but he knew, that it was just him, and only him.

Roj hugged him tighter. He felt his vulnerability. He knows that he appears so strong and fierce outside but when you take a deeper look inside, he's just a piece of glass that has to be handled with care for it not to break.

“I-I promise.”

“And another thing,” Roj added.

“Yes?”

“Stop your revenge, just focus on us. Alam mo kung gaano ako kaseloso,”

Philip looked at him. And took a deep breath.

“Let me just do this. I won't compromise us. That's a promise,”

Kahit na hindi talaga sya sang-ayon sa mga plano nito, he just nodded.

Muling nagtama ang kanilang mga labi. They reminisced everything that night. They both waited for something that didn't come out. Marahil ay hindi pa panahon para sa mga salitang iyon. Marahil makakapagantay pa yon sa tamang panahon.

Lumipas ang ilan pang mga buwan at naging mas maayos ang kalagayan ni Jhaspher. Tutok na tutok si Kenji sa naging progress nito. Naging maayos na ang pisikal nitong kalagayan pero hindi pa rin bumabalik ang kanyang ala-ala. Dahil na rin sa gusto nyang maalagaan pa si Jhaspher, nagpasya si Kenji na dalhin ito sa kanyang pad.

Habang lumalaon ay tila ba nahuhulog ang loob niya rito. Hindi nya alam pero napakalambing ni Jhaspher. Sa t'wing umuuwi sya galing sa trabaho ay makikita nya nalang ito na nagluluto nalang ng kanyang paboritong pagkain. May mga panahon na rin na bigla nalang sya nitong bibigyan ng masahe kapag alam nyang napapagod na ito.

Alam rin nya na palagay na ito sa kanya dahil minsan na ring nasabi nito na,

“Sana di na to matapos no? O kaya kahit bumalik na ala-ala ko, sana ganito pa rin tayo.”

Hindi nya alam ang isasagot nya nung mga panahon na yon. He just found himself feeling so happy that Jhaspher has found a new home with him.

“Kenji! Kenji!”

That brought him back to reality. Then again, he was daydreaming.

“Yes Jhaspher?”

“Nagluto na ako. Kain na tayo. Alam kong pagod ka sa trabaho ihhh.”

Ihhhh talaga dapat. At wag kayong kokontra dahil ako ang writer nito.

“Ahh, sige sige Bem.”

Napatingin sa kanya si Jhaspher.

“Si-sino si Bem? Bem ba talaga ang pangalan ko?”

Napangiti si Kenji.

“Wa-wala lang. Gusto lang kitang tawagin na Bem,” sabi nito, waring nahihiya at kinikilig na parang Highschool student.

“Bem?”

Napaangat ng ulo si Kenji.

“Sige sige. Bem nalang tawagan natin. Mukhang maganda nga yun,” nakangiting sabi nito.

Naghain na sa mesa si Jhaspher. Natapos na rin itong magsandok ng kanin maging ang ulam na niluto.

“Kainan na!” masiglang sabi ni Kenji.

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen patay gutom po talaga siya. Chos.

“Ayyy saglit lang,” pagputol nito.

“Ba-bakit?”

“Maglolotion lang ako.”

Napataas ng kilay si Kenji.

“Alam mo lagi kang ganyan. Mula ng makarating tayo sa bahay, since day one, pansin ko na laging lotion ka ng lotion.”

“Hindi ko nga alam. Parang kusa nalang sakin na naglolotion ako lagi.”

“O sya sige. Kain na tayo.”

Things went differently on that dinner. Kenji couldn't help but wonder why Jhaspher became even sweeter. Hindi nya maipaliwanag kung bakit pero parang ramdam na that the latter was becoming more caring. Or was it just me? Hindi kaya sya lang ang nakakaramdam nito dahil na rin sa kanyang lihim na pagtangi rito?

Hindi nya na mapigil ang kanyang sarili. He wanted to ask him questions.

“Jhaspher.”

“Yes po Bem?”

“Nagtataka lang ako. Why are you doing all these to me?”

“Ang alin?”

“Ang pag-aalaga.”

Kenji blushed after saying the term. Jhaspher just looked at him.

“Nahihiya na kasi ako. After mo kong kupkupin, ang dami mo ng gastos sakin. Tapos ayun, syempre natural naman na bumawi ako sayo.”

Nakaramdam ng disappointment si Kenji pero di nya pinahalata.

“Ahhh, yun lang pala..”

“Anong ibig mong sabihin?”

“Wa-wala,”

Tumitig sa kanya si Jhaspher. Those dark brown eyes almost melted his existence.

“At isa pa, masaya at gusto ko ang ginagawa ko.”

Their eyes met.

“Gusto kong inaalagaan ka,” dugtong pa nito.

He almost fell from his seat.

Itutuloy..