U.2 ~ Up The Wall

As agreed, I met Ace again the following night.

When I arrived at his house, the movie was ready and dinner was prepared. He cooked some kind of pasta. We ate while watching 'Hairspray'. After the movie, we just talked, getting to know each other more, our eyes fixed on one another. Suddenly, he leaned his face closer to mine. I resisted the instinct to move away. I can already smell his breath. It was intoxicating, having a minty hint of celery which he chewed earlier after eating. Then, he started kissing me. Oh, that kiss, I will never forget that. It began slowly; his lips were soft, his moves were gentle but filled with passion. It sent shivers down my spine. I literally felt a spark of electricity. It was like being kissed for the first time. I wrapped my arms around his, locking him in a warm embrace. It was so romantic. I felt our hard ons touching through our pants as I got on top of him.

After several minutes of pure bliss, I broke off.

"Oh, bakit?" he asked, looking extremely confused.

"Pasensya ka na. Gusto ko sana talaga pero nag-aalangan ako... Sa mga ex ko kasi, usually may nangyayari muna sa amin bago maging kami. This time sana, gusto ko ulit maranasan na ma-in love muna. I know this sounds weird, pero I feel na nade-develop na ako sayo. Masyado bang mabilis? Sorry ha," I said, trying to see if that would easily scare him.

"Well... Feeling ko, somehow, ganun din... Pero siguro wala pa sa level ng kagaya ng sa iyo... Okay lang naman kung ayaw mo pa. Naintindihan ko," he said, smiling.

*whew* I was relieved. "Salamat ha. I hope hindi kita na-disappoint dahil binitin kita... Nga pala, mauna na ako. Anong oras na din kasi. Thanks sa movie and dinner ha. Nag-enjoy ulit ako," I said, returning his smile.

"Wala yun. Thanks din sa pagpunta. Hatid kita ulit, okay lang?" he asked.

"Gladly," I said.

"Uhm... Pwede ka ba ulit tomorrow? Bibisitahin ako ng tropa ko, may bitbit siyang isa pa nyang kaibigan. Baka gusto mo maki-hang out sa amin. Lunch and then konting inom," he invited.

"Naku, meron akong pupuntahang birthday party tomorrow eh. Sa Manila pa yun. Pero titignan ko kung kaya ko makapunta ha," I said.

"Okay. Sabihan mo lang ako," he said, flashing again his entrancing smile.

***

The next day, before I went to Manila for my friend's party, I gave Ace a surprise visit.

"Oh, Sepsep! Akala ko may lakad ka?" he exclaimed upon seeing me.

"Naisipan ko na din dumaan. Hindi rin ako magtatagal. Andyan na ba ang mga bisita mo?" I asked.

"Wala pa eh. Maya-maya pa daw sila. Kumain ka na ba? Tamang-tama, kakatapos ko lang magluto," he said.

"Hindi pa. Sakto at mahaba din byahe ko. Pagdating ko dun malamang gutom na ulit ako," I said.

I proceeded to the table and helped myself with his delicious adobo. He was such a great cook. I consumed 5 cups of rice in one sitting.

"So sino nga ulit yung mga bisita mo? Baka hindi ko na din sila maabutan kasi," I told him.

"Ah. Si Paul. Tsaka yung isa nyang kaibigan. Ipapakilala nya daw sa akin," he said.

"Ipapakilala? Bakit naman? As in irereto nya sa iyo?" I probed, feeling slightly uneasy.

"Ewan ko ba dun. Sabi ko naman may nahanap na ako eh. Don't worry, wala naman akong ibang balak doon," he assured.

I blushed. Did he notice my uneasiness? Was it that obvious? I tried to take it back.

"Ano ka ba. Hindi naman ako nag-aalala no," I said, feigning laughter, "How about Paul? Paano mo siya naging friend?"

"Actually, dati kong niligawan si Paul. After a few dates, we realized na mas okay kung magiging magkaibigan na lang kami. Ewan ko ba... Hindi lang siguro kami compatible," he explained.

I know it wasn't a good thing to ask this, but I still did, "Pero may nangyari ba sa inyong dalawa?"

He looked at me, studying my expression, and said, "Uhm... Oo, meron. Dun namin nalaman na hindi talaga kami bagay. Kasi ayaw nya ng foreplay. Gusto nya action agad. Samantalang ako, important sa akin yon. Gusto ko yung nag-iinit muna bago ang main course. So napagkasunduan namin na itigil na lang ang panunuyo ko sa kanya... Ayun... Bakit curious ka Sepsep?"

"Ah. Wala lang. Natanong lang... Teka, bakit ganyan ka makatingin? Wala akong ibang maisip na itanong eh," I said, getting more queasy.

"Sabi ko nga kanina, wag ka mag-alala. Mga parte na ng nakaraan iyon. Kita mo nga, parang wala na lang sa akin na ikwento ko sayo ang mga bagay na yan. Kasi meron na nga akong nahanap. Hulaan mo kung sino?" he asked, smiling sheepishly.

"Shit na malagkit naman oh. Ayos sa pahaging yan ah! At sabi ko nga din kanina, hindi ako nag-aalala!" I said in between laughs.

I don't really know why, but I still felt very squeamish. Was I already jealous? Oh my God. He's not even mine yet! I was getting more and more uncomfortable so I decided to leave

"Sige Ace, alis na ako. Ikamusta mo na lang ako sa mga bisita mo," I said, going for the door.

"Sayang naman at hindi mo sila mami-meet. O siya, ingat ka ha. Text-text na lang," he said.

***

I thought attending a party could keep my mind preoccupied, but I was far from enjoying it. I couldn't help but be worried about what's happening with Ace. Did he like the guy that Paul introduced to him? Did he change his mind upon meeting him? Will I lose him after tonight? I felt like going crazy. I checked my phone. No messages.

"Bakit, wala pa siyang text? Busy? Walang load? Nakalimutan na nya ako agad?" I told myself, "Baka kung ano na ang nangyayari. Ilang araw ko din siya binitin. Malamang hindi na iyon nakapagpigil. Siguro naman hindi magrereto yung kaibigan nya ng panget."

After a couple of hours, still no messages.

Thinking that what I was fearing had already happened, I sent him a text message, "Hey musta na diyan?"

Another hour had passed. No reply.

"Reply naman diyan Ace. Hay," I texted again.

Again, no reply still. I became more and more anxious with each passing minute.

When I couldn't bear it any longer, I finally gave up, texting him for the last time, "Text text na lang pala ha. Sige, mukhang nakalimutan mo na talaga ako. Sana nag-eenjoy ka ngayon. Nice knowing you na lang. And thanks sa lahat."

To be continued...