[A/N: R-18 chapter. ]

Cally Suarez

What was that about?

Asrow Ventura
It was for my classmate. 

I'm sorry for the trouble babe.

Cally Suarez
Wow, himala. You're actually replying to me.

Asrow Ventura
Are you mad?

*seen*

Asrow Ventura
I'll make it up to you after my OJT is done.

Sinarado ko ang phone ko agad nung narinig ko ang pagdating ni Madam Josephine, yung manager namin, sa loob ng cafe. When she got here, Clark and Suzy were nowhere to be found. Hindi ko sinabi sa kanya na may dalawang naglalampungan sa cafe kanina, kasi tiyak na masesesante si Suzy 'pag nalaman 'yon.

"Have you been waiting for too long?" She immediately asked me after we entered her office.

"Not at all ma'am, I just got here." Sagot ko naman agad.

Pinaupo niya ako bago niya ako binigyan ng isang papel. It was a paper containing all the reviews about my service towards my customers and they were all rated... high, very high.

"I'd like to congratulate you on this," She said. "Some of our regular customers became regular because of you. Hindi lahat ng waitress ay marunong umintindi katulad mo. Hindi lang 'yon, you also treated your customers like you're friends so they felt more welcome here than at any other cafes."

Napangiti ako sa pahayag niya, "Maraming salamat po madam."

"And with that, you'll receive a considerable raise from us. It isn't that much but I hope that it will be helpful to you and to your family." 

"Thank you po talaga, madam Josephine."

"Oh hija, bakit ka naiyak?"

"Po?"

"Look at your eyes, Cally."

Doon ko lang napansin na may tubig na pala sa may mata ko. Nabasa na rin nito yung pisngi ko. Wait, I'm actually crying? And of all people, I cried in front of Madam Josephine? Hindi naman ako iyakin at matagal na akong hindi umiiyak pero ano ito??

"M-Madam, napuwing po ata ako..." Paggawa ko ng excuse habang pinupunasan yung mga luha ko.

"Sigurado ka ba?" Nagtatakang tanong niya. 

"P-Promise po,"

"Alam mo, hindi naman masama umiyak, hija." She gave me a bitter smile before continuing, "I've been to many heart breaks and I believe that crying is not a sign of weakness; it's your heart's cries, ang iyak ng puso mong dinadala lahat ng mga nararamdaman mo. Nangyayari ito kapag napupuno ka na o kapag ramdam mo na hindi mo na kaya at normal lang ito, hindi ito dapat pinipigilan o kinakahiya."

"You've held onto your problems for so long and it's great that you were able to let out your feelings through crying it out. Kung ano man 'yang pinagdadaanan mo ngayon, palagi mong tandaan na kahit anong mangyari, magkakaroon din 'yan ng solusyon. So for now, just cry it out."

I was actually stunned at her. I never deemed her as a person who can give such advice to a person. Siya kasi yung tipo ng tao na akala mo palaging may buwanang dalaw dahil sa taglay na kasungitan. She was never the approachable type but you can't really judge a book by its cover without reading the contents.

"T-Thank you po," Nauutal na sagot ko.

Pumunta ako kaagad sa school pagkatapos ng pakikipag-usap kay madam. Kahit papaano ay gumaan yung pakiramdam ko dahil sa mga sinabi niya kanina. I couldn't remember the last time I cried and it actually felt great to let it all out in one cry. I feel like, my feelings are validated.

I still followed the same routine everyday. Dad was getting much better. He's eating all the healthy food my mom made for him and he's also doing exercises that can help strengthen his heart and body. My mom and I stayed by his side as he was recovering from his disease little by little.

As for Asrow, hindi ko pa rin siya tinitigilan sa pagsesend ng inspiring messages araw-araw, kahit na naka-stuck pa rin sa isip ko yung na-wrong send niya sa'kin. He explained that the person he was meeting at that time was Drew but there was something fishy about it.

Bakit sa kaibigan niya nakakapag-reply siya pero sa'kin, hindi?

It hurts to think that maybe, he considers his friends more special than me. Pero ayokong mag-isip ng what ifs kasi ito yung pwedeng makasira sa relasyon namin.

Thinking about what ifs is the same as slowly destroying your love towards that person.

So when he arrived at my house after his OJT training, I let my what ifs set aside and I decided to just go with the flow. That way, I wouldn't need to overthink about small things by myself. Pero kahit na pinipilit ko na huwag nang isipin 'yon, hindi ko pa rin mapigilan kun'di magtampo sa kanya.

"I missed you," He whispered as he gave me kisses on my cheeks, nose, and forehead.

"Same," I replied shortly.

He pouted upon hearing my reply. "Babe, nagtatampo ka 'no?"

"Sa tingin mo?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Kung hindi ko kaya siya replyan ng maayos for three months, matutuwa ba siya?

"I'm sorry... I know that saying sorry to you isn't enough to make it up to all of the worries and trouble I've caused  towards you because I rarely opened my messenger, but I promise- No, I will make it up to you starting today." He said determined.

I scoffed at his reply. "Sure ka diyan?"

"Of course, you know that I'll do anything for you, right?"

"Nah, hindi ko alam." Nakangising pang-aasar ko. 

He pouted even more and that action just made him even cuter! Niyakap ko siya agad ng mahigpit pagkakita ko no'n. Ang hirap maging marupok, isang ngiti at isang salita niya lang, parang nakakalimutan ko na lahat ng mga problema. He makes me feel at ease.

"Namiss kita ng slight lang," Bulong ko.

Binitawan niya ako at kinunutan ako ng noo. "Slight?? Ikaw ha, you like teasing me ha??"

"Conyoist ka na ngayon?"

"E-Ewan ko sayo!" He hissed at me before looking around at my house. "By the way, where are tita and tito? And can you give me full details about tito's sickness? I wasn't able to fully understand what happened here while I was gone."

"Syempre, hindi ka marunong magcheck ng phone eh."

"Y-You don't know what happens whenever I'm checking my phone," He bit his lower lip and looked away.

"Huh?"

"Nothing, it's nothing. Anyways, fill me in with tito's sickness please."

Since he looked truly sincere and worried about dad's health, I immediately told him everything that happened to him. Hindi ko nasabi sa kanya yung nakita 'kong mga papel doon kay mama kasi ayokong mas mag-alala pa siya. Tsaka, hindi ko pa talaga alam yung tunay na nangyari kina mama noon. Kailangan ko munang malaman at maintindihan kung anong nangyari at bakit may utang pa rin kami hanggang ngayon.

After explaining it, he let out a long sigh and drank a glass of water. Nakita ko ang kaunting panginginig ng mga kamay niya habang nainom.

"I-I didn't know that... all of that happened while I wasn't around..." Nalulungkot na saad niya.

"It's okay," Sabi ko naman. "Shaira was there for me during that time, so I had a shoulder... I leaned on to."

Hinawakan niya bigla yung dalawa 'kong kamay at binigyan niya ito ng halik. "... Cally, I want to be present during your failures, downfalls, and success in life. Gusto ko na sa'kin ka sasandal, lalo na sa mga nakakalungkot na pagkakataon tulad nito..."

"It's fine, okay na. Babawi ka naman diba?"

"I must make it up to you... big time," He said before frowning again. "Nasa'n sina tita ngayon?"

"Nasa hospital sila, general check up lang ulit kay papa." 

Bigla nalang siya lumuhod sa harapan ko at hinawakan ulit yung mga kamay ko.

I was taken aback. "A-Asrow?? Ano 'yang ginagawa mo??"

"Sapakin mo na ako, Cally." Naging malalim at seryoso yung boses niya. "Sipain mo ako, sampalin, sambunutan, tadyakan, lahat-lahat na! Ibuhos mo na sa'kin lahat ng sama ng loob mo. Hindi ako aalis sa pwestong 'to, tatanggapin ko lahat ng niyan. Gawin mo na ang lahat ng gusto mong gawin, alang-alang sa nararamdaman mo ngayon."

"H-Huh?? Tumayo ka nga diyan! Para kang baliw," Pinipilit ko siyang tumayo pero ang bigat niya!

"Baliw na kung baliw. You suffered a lot throughout these three months and... unfortunately, I became a part of your suffering. Imbis na mapawi ko ang kalungkutan at pagkadismaya mo, nadagdagan ko pa lalo! I can never forgive myself for that, so please... do it."

Pinigilan ko yung luha na muntikan nang tumulo habang nakatingin sa kanya. He wants me to hurt him because... he hurt me? 

Lumuhod din ako sa harapan niya at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi. Pinaharap ko siya sa'kin bago ako nagsalita, "Asrow, are you being serious right now? How can I ever hurt the person I love? Sige nga, sabihin mo nga. Paano?"

"Mahal kita pero nasaktan kita... so it's only fair for you to hurt me too..."

"Hindi tayo dapat naggagantihan, diba? Hindi tayo dapat nagkakasakitan, diba?" I sternly told him. "You have a valid reason, Asrow. Enough na sa'kin yung nakauwi ka ng ligtas at yung babawi ka, okay na 'yun. I don't want to hurt you. I could never bring myself to harm you, sa kahit anong rason man 'yan."

His eyes softened as he slowly grabbed my hands that were on his cheeks. His touch was enough to weaken my knees and to send an electrifying feeling inside me.

"... Hey Cally, do you remember what you told me about confessing your love without having a meaning of why you love that person?"

"... Yeah."

"I love you," Nakangiting saad niya. "... and I don't know why,"

He suddenly leaned towards me and our lips immediately met each other. I found myself wrapping my arms around his neck as he asked permission to put his tongue inside my mouth. I've been longing for his touch, his lips, his everything, since the day he left. The bottle of excitement inside me just went all out because of his kiss.

" 'W-Wag dito," I murmured in the middle of our kiss.

I yelped when he stood up and pulled me with him. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko habang inaalalayan ako paakyat ng hagdan. He led me to my room and locked the door when we got inside of it.

Pinahiga niya ako sa kama ko habang tinatanggal isa-isa yung kanyang mga butones. I gulped at the sight of him stripping his polo slowly. Madilim pa man din yung kwarto ko ngayon dahil malapit nang mag-gabi, so I wasn't able to fully appreciate the view!

He leaned in towards me for another kiss and rest on top of me. His tongue reunited with mine and they clashed against one another. 

"A-Ah..." I slightly moaned when I felt his hand on top of my breast.

He deepened our kiss as his fingers were fondling with my mound. He was encircling his finger around my fully erected nipple. When I let out another moan, he ran his finger across it before putting his hand inside my shirt.

In one second, he was able to unhook my bra and his hand made its way to my exposed breast. I gasped when he fondled with it. I could feel his knee moving on my center as he pulled my shirt up to get a better view.

"A-Asrow," I bit ym tongue to stop another moan from coming out when his face came in contact with my chest. He kissed the top of it before claiming it with his mouth. 

Nanghihina ako sa bawat galaw na ginagawa niya. I wrapped my arms around his neck when I felt him sucking hard. Shit, he knows the places where I get weak and sensitive about! I gasped for breath when I felt his hand on top of my cave. I think he heard that because he started to encircle his finger on top of it.

"Damn, why are you wearing jeans," he groaned as he unzipped my jeans using one hand.

Doon ko lang napagtanto na malakas pala talaga si Asrow kasi nahila niya yung jeans ko pababa habang nasa dibdib ko pa rin siya. His hand immediately touched my cave again and started to fondle with it too.

"Cally, we're home!" Narinig ko si mama sa baba!

"H-Hala," Nag-aalalang sabi ko sa kanya. "A-Asrow, tumigil muna t-tayo,"

"Why?

"Huh?? Anong why?"

I found a sneaky lustful smirk on his mouth, "We can do this without them knowing. It's pretty exciting, don't you think?"

"Pero- aah!" 

Napatakip ako ng bibig nung pinasok niya ang kanyang daliri sa loob ko. He moved his finger freely inside while watching me make faces that I never made before.

"You were saying?" He innocently asked.

Kinunutan ko siya ng noo. "A-Ano ba,"

Narinig ko nanaman yung pagtawag nina mama sa baba pero hindi ako makasagot kasi alam 'kong patay ako 'pag nalaman nilang nandito si Asrow sa kwarto!  

"Don't worry, I already locked the door. After all, safety comes first." As if that would make me feel less guilty!

He inserted another finger inside so I let out another yelp. He was trying to stretch out my cave using his two fingers. Tinakpan niya ang bibig ko nung pinasok-labas niya ng paulit-ulit ang kanyang mga daliri sa loob.

"You're wetter than the first time we did it, did you miss this?" He asked teasingly while watching me control myself from letting out a sound.

"N-No," Pagdedeny ko.

Nandilim ang kanyang mukha sa sagot ko. Without a warning, he inserted another finger inside. That made me arch my back a little as he kept on thrusting his fingers in and out.

"Lying is bad, Cally." Saad niya habang nakatingin sa'kin. 

"I-I didn't lie,"

"Luhod,"

I looked back at him before following his order. Lumuhod ako ng patalikod sa kanya. My butt was exposed in front of him. I heard him unbuckling his pants before getting something from his pocket. He put it in between his teeth and opened it before putting it on top of his shaft.

Why did it look bigger... than last time?

Magkakasya ba 'yan sa'kin ngayon?!

I was starting to panic but then I felt its presence near my cave, ready to enter itself any minute now. Ngunit bahagya kaming napatigil sa ginagawa namin nung narinig namin yung pagkakatok sa pinto.

"Cally? Are you here, anak?" Mom asked while knocking. 

I-I won't be able to speak because I know that a lustful voice would come out instead of my casual one!

"Baka umalis siya," Sagot ni papa kay mama.

"Nagpapaalam naman siya lagi bago umalis eh," 

"Ngayon daw uuwi yung jowa niya eh. Antayin nalang muna natin sa baba, baka nagdedate pa yung dalawa." Papa naman eh!

"Tama ka siguro, pahinga na muna tayo. Sana magpakita yung jowa niya sa'tin 'no? Bilang respeto na rin,"

Nagpigil ako ng tawa nung nakita ko yung pagkagat ni Asrow sa kanyang ibabang labi, tila nag-aalala sa sinabi ni mama.

Nung narinig namin yung pagbaba nina mama ng palapag, hinawakan niya ulit ang bibig ko bago niya pinasok yung ano niya sa loob ko. I let out a really loud noise but thanks to his hand, we were the only ones who heard it. I felt my walls stretching out and adjusting to his length.

Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa kanyang braso. Pinahiga niya ako sa kama bago siya pumatong sa ibabaw ko. He raised my right leg and put it on his right shoulder before moving himself slowly while watching me struggling with his shaft.

"Can I move...?"

"Y-Yes,"

And without any second thoughts, he started to move faster. Hinawakan niya ako sa aking beywang niya ako hinalikan sa pisngi. His other hand made its way towards my chest and fondled it, making me feel more pleasure. 

I can feel that something is building up in my stomach as he continued on thrusting. Saglit kaming nagkatitigan bago niya tinanggal yung kamay niya sa bibig ko at hinalikan ako. His mouth was enough to help me suppress the sound I don't want anyone else to hear.

He ran his hand freely on top of my chest before flickering my nipple with his two fingers. Napahigpit ang mga kuko ko sa kanyang likod.

"A-Asrow, I-I'm-"

"Just let it all out," He said in a deep, husky voice.

I sucked on his tongue when I felt my release. It was the same for him. 'Ramdam ko na basang-basa yung ibabang parte namin dahil sa ginawa namin. 

He stood up before grabbing a roll of tissue on top of my study table. He went towards me, spread my legs, and he started to wipe the wetness formed on my cave. Tinanggal niya rin yung condom at binalot ito sa tissue para hindi mahalata. 

Hindi ako makatayo dahil sa pagod. I was gasping for air habang siya, mukhang nakarecover na agad! What the hell? Sana all!

"Up for round 2?" He asked with a devilish smirk before showing me another packet of condom.

"N-No, nandiyan sina mama!" I whispered shouted at him.

Tinawanan niya ako bago niya ulit ako binigyan ng halik. Pagkatapos no'n, tinulungan niya akong suotin ulit yung mga damit ko kanina. Hinayaan ko nalang siya at hindi na ako nahiya kasi nakita niya naman na lahat eh. 

"Uuwi na muna ako at maliligo," Saad niya bago niya ako tinulungan na umupo sa kama. "I don't want to face your parents in this... I look and smell like a guy who just finished having sex."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Ang lakas ng boses mo,"

"Nooo," Pagdedeny niya. "I'll message you when I'm done. Paano ka pala? Ano excuse mo sa magulang mo?"

"Sasabihin ko nalang na nakatulog ako," 

"Ah okay," Tumango-tango siya sa'kin.

Hinalikan niya ulit ako bago siya umalis. He jumped off the window again, but this time, he was more quieter than the last time he sneaked out. Since wala na siya, napagdesisyunan ko na magpahinga muna bago palitan yung bed sheets ko. Ako nalang din mismo maglalaba para hindi malaman nina mama.

In the next few days, Asrow kept his word and he was doing his best to make up for all the time we lost. He actually got a part time job because he wants to help my family and I pay the hospital bills and other needs. Pinaalam niya muna 'yun kay papa, kasi ayaw niya raw nakikitang nahihirapan pa ang mga magulang ko sa trabaho. Even though dad refused his offer, he still did it, not because he feels guilty towards me, but because his actions and care towards us were genuine.

Suzy and I still haven't talked to each other whenever I'm on a shift. Halatang iniiwasan niya ako pero hinayaan ko nalang siya. Fine, kung gusto niyang magpakatanga, then I'll let her. It's her life, not mine. 

Moving on, Asrow having a job truly helped us a lot. Mas pinipili niyang magtrabaho, kahit sa mga araw na may practice siya kasama yung teammates niya. Nakakaramdam ako ng guilt pero dahil doon, nagkaroon ako ng oras sa pag-aaral ulit at hindi na ako kumukuha ng extra shifts sa cafe. I was really touched by his actions and that just made me fall for him even deeper. 

Everything was great, our lives were starting to go back to the previous happy ones we had before, until that day came by. 

"Are you sure I look presentable in these?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

I was wearing a white cami top, partnered up with a plaid skirt. My dangling earrings encircled the bottom of my ear and I wore a necklace I got from Asrow last year, with my initials written on it. I only wore my favorite white sneakers because I never liked wearing heels and such, like Shaira. Alam 'kong madadapa lang ako at mapapahiya kapag iyon ang sinuot ko.

"Of course, you look gorgeous as always." He said before flashing a grin at me. 

"Sure ka ba... na handa ka na para dito?" Kinakabahan na tanong ko.

"What? Introducing you to my family?" 

"Y-Yeah," Tinanguan ko siya. "Pwede namang hindi natin gawin eh, kung hindi ka komportable."

"Nonsense! We've been together for a year and a half now, they should know and meet the woman I'm dating." Saad niya. "Besides, you've been wanting to meet them for quite some time, right?"

Tumango ako ng dalawang beses. "I-I want our relationship... to be legal in both sides."

"Sorry for making you wait for so long," He bitterly smiled. "You know why, right?"

"Yeah, but if you don't want to do this, then please tell it to me now." Pagpupumilit ko sa kanya. "Mas importante yung nararamdaman mo kaysa sa pagpapakilala, Asrow."

"It's fine, really. Don't worry about it." He reassured me. "Pero first time ko ulit makakauwi ng bahay, kaya hindi ko alam kung anong ginawa nila sa loob... or if we have some guests, I'm not really sure."

Nginitian ko siya bago ko kinuha ang kanyang kamay. I intertwined my hand with his before facing the door of his condo, "So let's go?"

"Yes," Tumango siya sa'kin.

As soon as I touched the door knob, Asrow received a call and a message from his phone. Malakas kasi yung notification and ringtone sounds niya, kaya ayun. 

"Wait lang," He said before grabbing his phone from his pocket.

Tinanguan ko nalang siya at nagcheck muna ako ng Twitter and Instagram updates. There was an upcoming presidential election this year and I couldn't help but get disgusted at the person more than half the Filipinos is rooting for.

He's an incompetent man!

Ugh, they should really do some research before voting for someone. Knowing the candidates' background or history can help us choose wisely! Tsaka jusko ha, ang inambag lang naman ng lalaking 'yan ay pagpapalaki ng utang sa bansa.

I was cut out from my thoughts when I heard Asrow's phone fell on the ground. Kinunutan ko siya ng noo pero nawala ito nung nakita ko ang itsura niya. His bangs were covering his eyes and his mouth was slightly opened.

"Asrow? Okay ka lang?"

But of course he wasn't okay! He didn't look okay! Ang tanga ng tanong mo, Cally.

Curiously, I grabbed his phone from the ground and checked the recent tab he viewed.

... And I regretted reading it.

I almost lost my balance and drop his phone because of the message he received.

Archi
Bro! Tangina, hinahanap ka ng dean! Nalaman niya yung dati mong ginagawa, yung binabayaran mo si coach 'tas yung ibang students!

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