Lahat sa office, kasama na din si Josh, ay intent na nanunuod ng balita sa tv. Nagpa-press-con ang isang grupo para i-protesta ang misteryong pagkawala ng isa sa mga lider nila, at suspect ay mga pulis. Ngunit habang lahat sila nakatutok ang attention sa representative nila, iba ang focus ng attention ni Josh. Napansin nya na isa sa mga supporters ng grupong yun ay si Kate. Nanlalamig si Josh. Nakaramdam sya ng pag-aalala at kaba.
“Major, ‘di ba si Ma’am Kate yun,” tanong ng isa sa mga kasamahan nya.
“Shit,” mura ni Josh. Ngayon malalaman pa ng mga superiors nya na activista ang kanyang gf. This is a complication that he didnt need. Pero ang immediate concern nya ay ang safety ni Kate. Problema pa at nasa Mindanao sya, so far away from her.
<3
Nasa kalagitnaan ng pila si Kate sa mall nang marinig nyang nag-ring ang cellphone nya. Si Josh. “San ka na?” tanong ng binata.
“Hi, am at the mall, di ba sabi ko, Nagbabayad ng bills sa department store. Me kailangan ka ba? You want me to get you something here?”
“Will you take long?”
“Actually, palabas na ko ng department store…bakit…is there a problem…? Ano na ang nangyari sa yo jan? Do you want me to come see you there? Sabi ko kasi sa yo ako na ang magfla-fly jan dahil sem break naman dito. I can meet you in Davao sa break mo.”
“No need…,” sagot naman ng lalaki.
“Are you sure…,” concerned na tanong ng dalaga. “Kasi you sounded urgent last time we talked.” While they were talking on the phone, lumabas naman ng department store si Kate. Nagulat na lang sya ng makita si Josh sa harap nya, and grinning. Sa saya ni Kate, she skip-walked to him na parang teen ager. Niyakap nya ang lalaki at hinalikan sa lips. “You’re here! I was missing you a lot a lot…kelan ka pa nandito?”
“I just arrived two hours ago.” Josh was so relieved na safe ang dalaga, all he could do was wrap his arms around her, and take deep breaths, loving the scent of her shampoo. She was okay, and that was all that mattered for now.
“You must be tired… and hungry … you should have rested first, I wouldnt have minded kung later pa tayo nagkita,” concerned na tanong ni Kate.
“I wouldnt be able to rest hangang nakita kong safe ka,” sagot ni Josh. Namisteryosohan naman si Kate sa sagot ni Josh na yun. She kept staring at him habang naglalakad sila papuntang escalator. “Uwi na tayo…I want you to myself for a while.”
For her part, Kate was just happy to comply. She really did miss him, and all she needed for now was the chance to have him alone for herself. In pleasurable silence, Josh drove his pick-up to his home. Kate sat silently beside him, every now and then reaching over to give him tender kisses on the cheek. This was her way of telling him she was happy he was here, and safe.
Pagkapasok ng bahay, dumiretso si Josh sa shower, pero hila hila nya ang babae. “Take a shower with me,” hiling ni Josh. Kate followed after him sa shower. Noting how tired Josh looked, sya na ang nag-alis ng jacket at t-shirt ng binata. Hinubad nya pati jeans, boxers at shoes nya. What would have taken just minutes, took them longer dahil hinahaplos haplos ni Kate ang chest, arms, limbs ng sundalo. For his part, Josh stood silently, enjoying Kate’s gentle ministrations. When he was completely naked, hinubaran naman ni Josh si Kate, taking his time removing every stitch of her clothing. Her skin felt so soft and smooth against his calloused hands.
Wordlessly, in-on ni Kate ang shower, adjusted the heat at tinutok ang shower head kay Josh. “Let me take care of you,” Kate said. She reached for the shampoo and lathered it on Josh’s hair tenderly, massaging his scalp at the same time. Kinuha nya ang sabon next and soaped his body, paying attention to his chest, his arms and legs, and his cock. He chuckled when she did that. “Dapat malinis yan at kung saan saan mo sinusuot…” pilyang sagot ni Kate. Josh let her take care of him, bracing his arms against the shower walls. After massaging his aching body, Kate took a few minutes to soap and shampoo herself then turned the shower back on Josh and herself to rinse the lather away.
They were so attuned to each other they needed no words. They both left the shower, Kate taking two towels with her to wipe themselves dry. Gently, she wiped Josh dry patting him with the towel even in between his legs. Then did the same to herself. Josh handed her his shirt to cover herself up and wrapped a towel around Kate’s hair.
“Tulog muna tayo…,” request ng binata. “I’m sorry I’m not any good to you now… let me take a short nap, then we need to talk.” Kate was mystified at the serious but gentle tone ni Josh. But knowing that he was indeed tired from his non-stop trip from Mindanao, she let him pull her to the bed. On the bed, Josh laid on his naked back, pulled Kate to his chest, and in a few minutes was asleep, relieved that Kate was with him.
Naunang nagising si Kate. Gently, she stretched herself beside Josh. Josh was softly snoring, an indication he was in a deep sleep. Pinag-masdan nya uli ang katabi nya. He really was a beautiful man – inside and out.
After a few minutes, Kate stood quietly from the bed, kumuha ng kumot and gently draped it over Josh. She crept out of the room and headed for the kitchen. She needed coffee. After drinking the last of her coffee, she started looking around the kitchen for food to cook. The fridge was stocked with fresh supplies. In a few minutes, alam nyang babangon na din si Josh.
Nagising si Josh na wala na ang katabi. Nakaramdam sya ng kaba nun, but he calmed down after he realized that Kate was in the kitchen, and by the looks of it, cooking. He smiled in suprise….me pagka-domestic din pala ang gf nya. Putting on jogging pants and a shirt, he stepped to the kitchen. Abala si Kate over the stove.
Kate smiled at him. Josh leaned down to nibble at her lips. “I didnt know you cooked…” bungisngis ni Josh. He seated himself on the table and enjoyed Kate’s attention. She placed a plate of mushroom omelet sa harap nya. Me bacon, toast, orange juice and hot coffee pa.
“Why?..You think just because I dont stay at home much na I dont know how to cook…?…Kumain ka na nga…”
Matapos ang breakfast and clean up, they both went back to bed. It was raining outside and it was great weather for cuddling. Kaya lang alam ni Josh that they had to have that important conversation. “Kate…I saw you on tv last week.”
“On tv? Why was I on tv?”
“The Jeff Magsano case. You know him?”
“Yes, kababata ko sya…Nag-disappear sya three weeks ago. Hindi alam kung saan sya….sabi ng mga nakakita, pinulot daw sya ng mga pulis…”
“Kate…hindi ka ba pwedeng mag lie low sa pagsupporta sa kanila…?
“What do you mean?” tanong ng dalaga.
“I mean … dangerous ito, I can sense it. You cant be associated with them without being suspected yourself na kasama mo sila…Kate please…”
“You want me to stop, is that what you mean.”
“Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin…but parang ganun na nga…it’s not safe.”
“Josh…please listen to me…Jeff Magsano is a childhood friend. He is a friend. His family are friends. He disappeared, Josh, baka nasalvage na. Natatakot ako na baka nga tutuong nasalvage na sya. Josh, hindi ko pwedeng talikuran ang kaibigan ko…He has to be found.” Diniinan ni Kate ang hawak nya sa mga kamay ni Josh, as if doing so would make Josh understand her.
Tahimik si Josh, mulling their delicate situation. Part of his concern was because of his job, at hindi nya masabi yun. Alam nyang pag nalaman ang association nilang dalawa ng kanyang superiors, his loyalty will be tested. But he couldnt say it. It felt too selfish to say it.
But Kate was smart, and she realized that Josh’s career could be in jeopardy. At the very least, his promotions would be stalled somehow. “Do your superiors know you and I are going out?… Josh..I’m sorry…”
“I’m not sure. My men know… Please Kate…dont think it’s your politics I am concerned with or my job…it’s your safety that I worry about…I am asking you not to be seen with them…”
Kapwa silang tahimik ng matagal. Both thinking about what to do. Kate sighed…”Josh, if being with me so much as puts you in a difficult situation, I dont want that to happen. Ayokong maging selfish…baka it’s better if we just …”
“Dont you dare go there! Don’t even say it,” madiin na utos ng binata.
(itutuloy)