Just as quickly as she caved in to his kisses, ganun kabilis nawala ang kahibangan nya. “Here is news for you, Mr. Carino! Ibahin mo ako sa mga babaeng kilala mo. Just because you can kiss the panties off me, doesnt mean I will let you into my bedroom.” Juliet turned her back on Dave, and strode off to the nearest curve para pumara ng taxi.
<3
Pagbaba nya to breakfast with her two boarders after her shower, halatang bothered pa rin si Juliet sa nangyari with Dave. She was annoyed with him, at lalo na sa kanya dahil bakit ba sya pumayag na pa-grope na lang sa lalaking yun. Nayayamot sya na hindi sa sarili.
“Umagang umaga, ganyan ang mukha mo. Bakit ba, anong nangyari?” usisa ni Barbie. Hindi rin mapigilan ni Juliet ang sarili, nasabi nya kung anong kalandihan ang ginawa nya sa gitna ng park. “Susugurin na ba natin sya? Sabihin mo, ready ako!”
“Bakla ka talaga…hindi no!… Pero ang kupal talaga ng maniak na yun. Kala nya sa akin, atat? Asa sya!”
“Sinampal mo ba naman sya? Dapat tinadyakan mo! Gunguna na,” dagdag naman ni Jen. Pero obvious sa kanilang dalawa na there was more to Juliet’s reaction than what was obvious. Mukhang attracted din sya kay Dave.”Hindi anohhh! Hmmm, ginusto mo rin ata!”
Nagblush ng husto si Juliet sa kantyaw ng mga kaibigan. “Oy, aminin….type mo din eh…sabagay, wala din akong masabi. Gwapo naman sya, macho…at alam ko din na matagal ka nang hindi nadidiligan…”
“Mga gaga kayo. Weno ngayun kung wala akong naging seriosong bf after Eric. Hindi lang naman kantot ang nagpapasaya sa buhay.”
“Oo nga, agree ako,” say naman ni Barbie. “Pero Juliet, tumatanda ka na. Di ba sa biology, sabi ng instructor nuon, pagka hindi daw nagagamit ang muscle, nag-aatrophy, lumiliit. Sige ka, pag hindi mo ginamit yan, baka lumiit ng lumiit hanggang magsara! Sayang pa naman ang kaseksihan mo at brains!” Naghalakhakan silang tatlo sa sinabi ni Barbie.
“Juliet, seriosong payo ito. Hindi na tayo bente-uno. Hindi na rin tayo bagay sa pa-tweetums tweetums at pa-virgin-virgin. If you are attracted to him, bakit hindi mo subukan kung saan pupunta. Pwede mo naman i-enjoy ang sex without being slutty yourself. You’re independent, financially able, you’re pretty much in control of your life. So grab the chance! Malay mo, mabuti ang kapupuntahan nyo ni Dave. Kung hindi naman, at least inenjoy mo…!”
“Teka nga,” tanong ni Jen na serioso, “speaking of enjoy….marunong ba sya sa tingin mo. Inenjoy mo ba ang kisses nya?”
Namula uli si Juliet, kaya hindi na kailangang marinig ang sagot nya.
<3
Dave was almost regretting how he spoke to Juliet that morning. Sa tagal nya overseas, nakalimutan nya kung paano makipag-usap sa pinay. On the other hand, hindi rin naman sya sorry that he told her what he wanted. It was not gentlemanly, true, but he always preferred being direct, sayang lang ang oras sa pagpa-paligoy-ligoy. Another one of his personal beliefs – When opportunity knocks, welcome it, dahil life is too short to waste on regrets.
Dave was planning to bring Juliet out on a date, buo na ang plano nya even before they finished the jog this morning. Pero of course, walang date na matutuloy dahil galit ang dalaga sa kanya. Nevertheless, he still planned on taking Juliet out, whether she wanted to or not. If only for him to apologize for his directness. After that, it was up to Juliet kung interesado sya kanya. If after he does his best, ayaw pa rin syang patulan, eh di move on. Di naman nya mapipilit ang babae. But before he could do anything, he called his brother. “Bok, kaw na muna bahala kay Kate. I need to do something.”
Bandang 5:30 ng hapon nang kumatok si Dave sa bahay ni Juliet. Si Barbie ang nagbukas ng pinto. “Hi, si Juliet ba ang hanap mo? She’s in her room, come in, tawagin ko sya. Juliet, me bisita ka!”
Dave was standing expectantly in the middle of the sala, expecting Juliet to come out and drive him out of the house. Pagbaba ni Juliet ng hagdanan, Dave sucked in his breath at how freakin’ sexy she looked. Nauna nyang na-kita ang mahahaba at makinis na legs ng dalaga, and then ang shapely hips nya, tapos ang maliit na waist. She was in her shorts and v-necked shirt which was loose enough to fall over her hips but tight enough to show that she had nothing on underneath her t-shirt. Her hair was still a little damp, obviously she had just gotten out of the bath.
Juliet was scowling when she saw who was waiting for her at her living room. Behind Dave, Barbie was making kissy faces and quietly clapping his hands. Lalong lumalim ang kunot ng nuo ni Juliet. “What do you want?”
“I came here to apologize, and…make good on my offer of dinner.” Barbie was mouthing “say yes” at Juliet.
“I might go to dinner with you if I like your apology.” She then stared at Barbie to leave them alone. Thankfully, Barbie took the cue.
“Well… I’m sorry I was very blunt with you. I didnt mean to be forward with you.”
“That’s the apology? You did more than speak to me rudely, as far as I can remember.”
“What were you expecting me to apologize for? I am honestly sorry I talked to you that way. But that is the only thing I apologize for.”
Juliet was once more taken aback at the nerve of this man! Ngayun lang sya naka-encuentro ng ganitong klaseng lalake. “I cannot believe your arrogance…wala na sigurong dapat pag-usapan pa. Clearly, you dont know how to behave like a gentleman!”
“Alright, you want a proper apology. How about this!” Na-alarma si Juliet ng dahan dahang linapitan sya ni Dave but she stood her ground nevertheless. “I am sorry that you felt insulted that I was being honest with you, I am sorry you felt insulted that I showed you how much I was attracted to you, and most of all,” he continued as he was standing toe to toe with Juliet, “I am sorry that you feel compelled to deny that you are attracted to me as much as I am to you. But I am not sorry I kissed you!” Dave defiantly looked down at Juliet, daring the latter to say something.
Feeling ni Juliet, as she was staring right up at Dave, the oxygen was sucked right out of the room. She was breathing so heavily, nakikita ni Dave ang pag-taas baba ng dibdib nya. It was a futile gesture, but Juliet lifted her hand as if to ward Dave away. “Dont you think you are rushing me into this? Can’t we just be friends muna…then saka na yung “want want” na yan?”
Tenderly, Dave placed his hands on Juliet’s hips and pulled her to him. “Baby, I am an adult, not a teenage boy na pwedeng “friends friends” lang. Games like that are for kids. You better tell me if you want me or not, because I wont be played with like a naive boy.”
Juliet felt little shocks of kiliti running up and down her spine sa closeness nila ni Josh. Lalo na when he said what he said. He was right, they are both adults, and games are for children.
“So, isang tanong, isang sagot,” tanong ni Dave. “Gusto mo ba ako?”
It was the moment of truth for Juliet, and taking a deep breath, she softly whispered against Dave’s chest, “Gusto…”
“What? I didnt quite hear you?” Dave chuckled at his victory. He slightly tugged at her hair to make him look at him. “I want to look at your eyes when you say it, para sigurado ako, at hindi mo sabihin na pinilit kita…Gusto mo ba ako?”
Juliet took a deep breathe, stared back at Dave and bravely said, “Gusto!” Dave heaved a sigh of relief, and said, “Thank God for that because I so goddamn want you too!”
<3