Long-held Torch – Part 18

Author’s Note: Just when you thought that this series has ended, another chapter gets posted. Seriously,  this chapter was just supposed to be an epilogue but my Richard had other ideas. Before I realised it,  I was again typing up not just one but TWO erotic encounters!  He’s insatiable!

Again, thank you to Ms. Alpha Grace, Ms. Liza and Ms. Dianne for critiquing and proofreading this chapter!  Huwag po sana kayong magsawa 🙂

 

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The newlyweds honeymooned in an exclusive  island  resort in Palawan.  It was  a picturesque  tropical paradise  with pristine white sands and  a clear blue lagoon  that was protected by  a natural coral reef.  The island  had  large  two and three bedroom  family  accommodations, as well as private tropical cottages for couples. Theirs was located at the far end  of the resort, beside a small cascading waterfall that  gathers into a small rock pool attracting  a variety of   birds with bright plumage.  The complex offers guided hiking trips  wherein  visitors can appreciate the indigenous flora and fauna.  Guests  can also enjoy a variety of water sports including  scuba-diving and snorkelling  along the reef  to marvel at the underwater beauty that Palawaneros have been fighting to preserve.

 

On their first day, they took advantage of the  onsite spa service wherein massage tables  were set up  right on their  private veranda, which was facing  the small waterfall.  White  muslin  curtains were drawn across  both sides  to protect their privacy from prying eyes.  Richard and Maya had been treated to a traditional hilot using virgin coconut oil and chamomile extracts.  Falling asleep during the therapeutic massage, Maya was woken up by Richard’s feather-light  kisses on her derrière trailing towards the base of her spine.  When she protested, her husband throatily reassured her that the two mature lady masseuses have left and that they were completely alone.

 

Maya tried to evade his advances but Richard had her trapped underneath him while he explored her naked back. After being soothed by kneading hands to sleep, Richard’s touch was searingly hot in contrast.  She could only gasp as his lips trekked up her spine, moaning as his hands cupped her breasts from behind.  Maya closed her eyes while Richard nibbled at the back of her neck while his fingers teased her nipples turgid.

 

“You have other muscles requiring a  massage,” he informed her in his deep throaty voice while his right fingers slid down her back to caress her between her legs.

 

She gasped when  he unerringly found her hidden nubbin. Panting, Maya’s fingers dug into the cotton-lined mattress as sensory  waves of delight  crested and ebbed within her.  When his finger invaded her entrance, Maya released a guttural moan as she reached her orgasm, convulsing around his finger which continued to thrust to and fro.

 

“Spread your legs, sweetheart,” Richard huskily instructed after awhile.

 

In an erotic haze, Maya complied with his command. She could feel his erection sliding between her bottom globes before poising himself at her moist entrance.  Richard groaned behind her as her soft flesh snugly clung to his hard phallus, slowly  penetrating her from behind.

 

Biting her lower lip in an effort to stop herself from moaning loudly, Maya  lifted her head to turn and see her husband concentrating on his task as he started to rhythmically thrust in and out of her.  Feeling her eyes on him,  Richard gazed  hotly  at her while he undulated his hips making Maya squeeze her eyes  shut with the incredible pleasurable  feeling.

 

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh…!” was her helpless response to the new heightened sensations that she was being introduced to by her husband.  She could only moan as she could feel herself  climbing to reach another peak.  Chest heaving, Maya surrendered to her husband’s hedonistic  ministrations  and  felt something shatter within her quivering core.

 

After a moment, she could feel Richard halting his movements and detaching himself from her. Bemused, Maya lifted her head  and  saw that her husband was now standing by her side. He felt his arms around her, nudging her.   Maya thought that Richard wanted her off the massage table but he stopped her from stepping down. Instead,  he sat her down at the edge and positioned himself between her legs which he  hitched up and bent over his forearms on  either side. With her body wide open and well-angled, his male shaft re-invaded her very  slick core.

 

Maya’s arms automatically went round him as his  head lowered to capture her lips in another thought-obliterating  kiss.  When his lips lowered to nibble at her neck, Maya could only hold on to his well-muscled broad shoulders while his hard rod moved in and out of her like a piston.  Within the mist of  desire, part of  her brain registered that she can now take his entire length and  that she was greedily welcoming his every plunge.   Feeling  her husband’s hands grab her bottom while his pace  went faster and faster, Maya could feel herself reaching another orgasm.  Richard grunted as he undulated deeply into her as they climaxed together.  With her energy spent, Maya went limp against her husband’s heaving chest as she tried to catch her breath.  Releasing her legs, Richard’s arms went round her in a tight embrace.

 

“Maya?”

 

“Hmmmnnn?”

 

“Are you okay?”  Richard put a small space between them so he could look at her flushed face. “I’m sorry. ”

 

Maya blinked and tried to focus on Richard who had a worried frown across his sweaty brow.  Both of them were covered in fine dewy sheen due partly to the  hot  and humid environment.

 

“Sorry? Para saan?” she asked breathlessly, still trying to recover from the  ‘erotic massage’.

 

“I think I was a bit rough just now. I lost control,” he admitted sheepishly while his thumb  traced her kiss-bruised lips as he gently framed her face.

 

“Oh, don’t worry. I actually enjoy it when you lose control,” Maya admitted shyly, cheeks getting redder as she bit her lower lip.

 

Richard adoringly smiled down at her before rewarding her honesty with another torrid melding of lips.  After breaking the kiss, her husband scooped her up and Maya’s arms automatically went around his neck.  He carried her into the inner sanctum of their  cottage  where they remained for most of the day.

 

Their idyllic island sojourn would have been perfect until Richard took exception to an Italian  guest who was initially  trying to chat up his wife up in the resort’s souvenir shop.  Maya politely excused herself,  hinting  that her husband was waiting for her.  She thought that was the end of that pick-up attempt.  When the same guy turned up the next day beside her on the breakfast buffet and started following her  to their  table, Maya did not know what to do. That was when Richard saw her predicament and took over the situation. He took her plate off her and just wordlessly ushered her out of the dining hall. They ended up on the beach where Richard just shrugged off his polo shirt and dove into the sea to do several laps to cool his temper.

 

Maya merely watched him, admiring his free-style technique. Feeling his temper waning down,  he  made his way back to shallow water.  As his feet hit the sandy bottom, Richard hauled himself up to slowly walk towards Maya.  With cheeks flushing, Maya’s mouth went dry as she  watched the rivulets of water running down his rippling muscles.  While throwing her a lopsided smile, Richard  guessed what was running through her head.  He swooped down to capture her lips in another searingly hot kiss. Bemusedly, Maya can only respond while Richard pulled her up against his length to seduce her once more with kisses and caresses.

 

Inevitably, they ended up going back to their private cottage making love with abandon.  Maya could not believe Richard’s stamina.  They made love so many times a day that they rarely ventured  out of their room.  They hardly did anything else during their entire stay.

 

When they came back to Manila, Richard was once again tied up with his challenging role as CEO of  Lim Infrastructure, Inc.  Maya, on the other hand,  has been familiarising herself with Richard’s Ayala Alabang home and the immediate affluent community.  She would venture further to scour the nearby malls and  public market  to see what’s available.  To her delight, she found the nearby supermarket selling a good range of spices and ingredients. Hence, she  has been preparing different mouth-watering dishes for her husband who had started complaining of weight gain.

 

From midweek to Sundays or when Maya’s erratic schedule permits, they would usually stay in San Nicholas where  Richard had set up another office so he could work from home.  Then, they would unwind by walking on the beach  or  just lazing on the  loungers to catch up on reading. Frequently, they would just walk up to the dela Rosa home and invite themselves for lunch or dinner.  Sometimes, Richard and Maya would join Tata Igme’s  children when they go for deep sea fishing.  During harvest time,  they would also help out   in the fruit orchard where they indulged on  fruits in season.

 

Six months after  the  church wedding,  Richard  transferred  his corporate  headquarters  to  the  newly erected building  in the Ayala Alabang business district.  He told Maya that he did not have to waste time driving to work and can spend more leisurely breakfasts with his wife.   Same was the case in the afternoon, he did not have to contend with the afternoon rush hour. He would just drive out of the business district, turn into the gated residential area and be home in less than ten minutes.

 

However, he confessed to Maya that he had an ulterior motive. He said that what he really liked about the new building was that it had good road frontage where thousands of cars pass each day.  He deliberately  kept  the ground floor space vacant even though many  have been enquiring and asking for its lease conditions.  He had shown it to Maya and told her that it was the perfect location for her new travel agency.

 

With much encouragement from her husband, Maya finally took the risk  and  decided to  set up on her own, with Richard’s  help of course. So,  Maya  filed her resignation from Time Airways and was leaving the HR office after her exit interview when she was waylaid by James Ventura on the wide corridor of the ground floor level of  TA building.

 

“Maya!”

 

Maya turned on her wedged heel to see James, garbed in a business suit and tie,  quickly making his way towards her.

 

“Good thing, I caught you.” James exclaimed  as he reached out to hold her arm. “I was told you were resigning?”

 

“Yes, James. I am setting up a little business and I need time to concentrate on that.” Maya confirmed.

 

“I see.” James had disappointment on his face but there was acceptance there, too.

 

“Thank you for everything, James. Time Airways has been very good to me through the years.”  Maya held up her hand but James smilingly shook his head and enveloped her in a tight hug instead.

 

“Richard is a very lucky guy to have you,” James muttered as he released Maya to look down at her.

 

“James, you are a very nice guy, really.  There is someone out there for you. You just have to look for her.” Maya smiled up at him in earnest.

 

“That is easier said than done. But I have a better idea.”

 

Maya’s brows lifted in wordless query.

 

“I will just have you cloned,” James quipped with a chuckle.

 

Maya laughed at his far-fetched solution.

 

“Sige na, Maya. Mukhang naiinip na yung sundo mo,”  James said while he nodded his head in the direction of the front automatic glass doors. Beyond was a navy blue BMW  parked at the bottom of the concrete steps.

 

With a grin, Maya nodded and said her final farewell.  Then she pivoted to the direction of the waiting navy blue BMW.  Maya’s passenger door was opened by the doorman and she quickly climbed into the passenger seat.

 

“How was it?” Richard posed the question while he maneuvered the car to rejoin the  post-morning rush hour.  Even though  Richard had a very bland expression,  Maya knew that her husband  had seen what transpired inside.

 

“It was okay. I have nothing but favourable comments for my immediate managers and TA as a whole.  I know my last assessment was great. So, I think they will re-hire me if ever I do apply for a job again.”  She slightly turned  in her seat to look at Richard’s expression closely. “And you? Are you okay?”

 

She heard Richard expel his breath harshly.  “If you must know, then no.  I am not okay.”

 

Maya  saw the hot angry  blaze in Richard’s eyes before he looked away. His knuckle bones were showing as he gripped the steering wheel.

 

“What are you thinking?” Maya asked curiously.

 

“I am thinking of murdering  Ventura.”  Richard retorted  with a mirthless laugh. “Hence, I have been counting each second and driving away until my temper subsides.”

 

“Is it working?” Maya asked  with her head angled towards her husband.

 

Having attended anger management sessions with a counsellor, Richard has learnt some strategies on how to control his temper and recognise his triggers.

 

Richard wrinkled his nose.  “I prefer using humour.”

 

“Humour?” Maya blinked, unsure what Richard meant.

 

“Hmmmmnn. I am imagining him as an old condemned building that I have to knock down with a wrecking ball.  He was screaming like a girl  while I  crushed him bit by bit.  That was more satisfying,” he replied with feeling.

 

“Grabe ka!” Maya couldn’t help but laugh at his wicked expression. Then when her laughter subsided, she asked, ““Nagdududa ka ba sakin?”.

 

“Hell, no!” Richard immediately denied. “I just want Ventura living on the other side of the planet. That’s all.”

 

Maya giggled anew.

 

“Pinagtatawanan mo na naman ako” Richard complained, slightly shaking his head.

 

“Ang cute mo kasing magselos. Lalong naniningkit yung mga mata mo.” Maya’s eyes sparkled.

 

“I know.”  Richard winked at her.

 

“Conceited!”  Maya rebuked  him, her nose wrinkling at him.

 

“I am not conceited,” Richard corrected. “The right term is confident. I am simply confident of my attributes.”

 

Maya burst out laughing again. She was loving married life with Richard.  He had  little bouts of jealousy but he now has a better handle on them.

 

Life was wonderful.

 

There was only one snag.

 

Children.

 

Maya wants a child or two.  But Richard has been so scared to get her pregnant again that he has been vigilantly monitoring her ‘unsafe’ period since they got back together.  She had tried to discuss this with Richard but he was adamant that he will not risk her life again.  The last time she broached the subject with him, he just clammed up and ignored her for several hours.

 

Knowing that  Richard has been utilising the most unreliable contraceptive method, Maya just let things be. She was convinced she will get  pregnant sooner or later. It was really just a matter time.

 

When she did finally become pregnant, Maya was unsure how to break the news to Richard.  All day she tried discussing the subject with her husband but Richard always changed the topic.  In the end, she took out the pregnancy test  cartridge and wordlessly presented it to Richard when they were getting ready for bed.

 

“Since when have you known?” Richard asked quietly while gripping the cartridge between his fingers.

 

“Mga ilang araw na ‘kong nahihilo pero kanina lang ako nag-pregnancy test.” Maya answered truthfully as she eyed the nerve ticking at his temple.

 

“I-I  need a drink,”  Richard declared through gritted teeth as he hauled himself out of bed and out of the bedroom.

 

Maya tried to stay in bed so that Richard can have the time and space to get his head around the fact that they have created another baby. Half an hour passed  and Maya could not settle down.  With a huff, Maya got up and looked for her husband.

 

When she found him, Richard was at the bar off the main lounge. He was sitting on one of the chrome bar stools  in his pyjamas and plain white V-neck t-shirt.  His hair was slightly tousled, evidence that he had been agitatedly raking his fingers through them. In between his hands was a rock glass with a neat double-shot of Ardberg Galileo Scotch whisky. Maya has no idea how many drinks he has had but Maya wants Richard  sober if they were to talk sensibly about the baby.

 

Clad in a cotton night shirt that reached mid-thigh, Maya hugged him from behind and rested her head against his back. She just stayed in that position for a few minutes until Richard turned around and hugged her back so very tightly.

 

“Galit ka ba?”  Maya asked against his skin with her head tucked into his neck.

 

Maya felt Richard shake his head in negative, wordless response.

 

“Hindi ka ba natutuwa na magkaka-baby na tayo?” Maya asked as she eased slightly from his hold.

 

“You know very well that I have been trying to avoid this from happening.” Richard muttered unhappily.   “You almost died the last time. I don’t  think I can go through that ordeal again.”

 

Maya held his face between her palms so that they can look each other eye to eye.

 

“But we can minimise the risks. Dr. de Guzman said that miscarriage can be prevented  by  a  simple surgical procedure.”

 

“When did he say this?” Richard frowned down at her, his chinito eyes mere slits.

 

“Well, I have been in constant communication with him. I have been researching my condition and—”

 

“You have been talking to him behind my back?” Richard’s voice was slightly raised.

 

“Hindi, Mr. Lim,” Maya was tapping his right cheek lightly while she shook her head in denial of his accusation. “Ilang beses ko kayang sinubukan na  sabihin sayo pero dine-dedma mo ako! Nung huling beses nga, hindi mo ako kinausap ng ilang oras!”

 

Richard’s face became fierce with that reminder but Maya merely glared up at him, unwilling to give an inch. Then, Richard sighed and kissed her nose.

 

“You’re right, sweetheart.  I was being bull-headed about this.” His arms went round her again.

 

“Dr. de Guzman said that my cervix needed to be sutured as soon as pregnancy is confirmed. This will prevent it from opening before my due date. Then in the very early stages of labour, the sutures will be removed so I can give birth to our baby.”

 

Richard merely looked down at her with a lot of misgivings, fear evident in his eyes.

 

“Richard, we were blindsided when I first became pregnant.  This time it’s different, ” Maya said  coaxingly.  “We now know my condition and we know Dr. de Guzman can help us.”

 

“I don’t know, Maya…”

 

Maya pulled a deep sigh.

 

“Well, the other alternative is to abort the baby. Is that what you want Richard?” Maya  frowned up at him. She knew Richard was avoiding pregnancy but surely he would not seriously consider a termination, would he?

 

“What? Hell, no!” Richard quickly answered, horrified at the idea.

 

Maya’s face cleared with relief that termination did not even cross her husband’s mind.  She beamed at her husband and cradled his head between her hands.   Tiptoeing, she gave him a loud smack on the lips,  triumphant that  she was getting what she wants.

 

Nevertheless, the following months after the surgical procedure were not easy for Maya since her pregnancy proved to be a difficult one.  Firstly, her morning sickness did not lessen until the fifth month.  And she found certain smells that she liked previously would currently cause  nausea. Even Richard had to stop using his after shave cologne for it gives Maya a headache.

 

However, giving up the cologne was nothing compared to Richard moving out of their bedroom.  Dr. de Guzman had cautioned them to ease up on their  bedroom activities for Maya’s genetic condition makes every pregnancy a delicate one. He felt the need to give up his ‘husbandly rights’ to avoid endangering Maya and the baby.  Maya was initially upset at this ‘separation’ but she knew it was the wisest thing to do.

 

In all other aspects, Richard was very much present and supportive with her pregnancy.  He always cleared his calendar so he can accompany Maya for her prenatal check-ups  and ultrasound scans. Richard already had a collection of  black and white  print outs of their unborn baby gracing his home  office wall.  They have made countless  trips to the baby section of different department stores to purchase   furniture and  bed linens for the nursery.   Richard also made sure Maya’s cravings for different  dishes  be catered by Sabel and Manang Fe.  When she started hankering for fruits, Richard had different varieties airfreighted directly from far-flung provinces so that Maya can also eat the ones which  are out of season.

 

On her 39^th week, Maya  had been feeling a dull ache  on her lower back. She was putting  back a file  into the filing drawer when she almost doubled-over  in pain from her lower abdomen.   At first she thought it was just another false contraction until she realised that she was feeling the sharp pain more frequently.  When she noted the time, she realised that she has been having contractions  every 20  minutes.

 

Even before Maya had a chance to call Richard,  her assistant  Minerva  took  it upon herself to notify Richard who was in the middle of  a  progress update meeting.   He had hastily excused himself,   muttering a family emergency before zooming down the elevator  to  where his wife was sitting down on a cushioned swivel chair and gripping the armrest as she gritted her teeth while another wave of contraction racked her swollen form.

 

“Sweetheart?”  Richard was peering down at her.

 

Maya wrinkled her nose  at Richard when the pain subsided. She smiled ruefully at Minerva who was openly watching her.   “Sabi ko na nga ba kaya mo pinagpilitang magtrabaho si Minerva sakin para bantayan ako. Huwag ka nang

mag-deny, Mr. Lim!”

 

Minerva has been working  for  the corporation for almost a year when she was assigned to assist Maya to set up  her travel agency.  At first, Maya argued that her business has just started and that she can not afford high overhead expenses. But her husband was adamant  that  she needed an office administrator to set up filing systems properly. So, she relented knowing she will not win when her husband was being bull-headed about  something.  Maya actually appreciated Minerva’s help and company.

 

“Guilty as charged, Mrs. Lim,” Richard readily admitted as he kissed her temple. “How are you feeling now?”

 

“Masakit pa rin ang likod ko. I think I am having labour pains.”

 

“Right,” Richard nodded. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

 

Richard did not wait for any verbal or nonverbal agreement from her.  The next second, Richard was scooping her out of the chair and carrying her out of the door while firing a series of instructions to Minerva including informing Dr. de Guzman of their pending arrival at the hospital.

 

One of the security staff at the ground floor level scrambled to press the lift button for the boss.  Maya smiled at the security guard named  Bugoy  who was constantly assisting her and Minerva, especially when shifting heavy furniture.  This  particular  security guard  was always  on duty during her business hours and does not seem to be on rotating shifts unlike the others.  Maya won’t be surprised to learn if he was specifically assigned to look after her as well.  Currently, he was accompanying them all the way to Richard’s BMW.

 

Due to the hospital’s proximity to Ayala Alabang, Maya was wheeled into the operating room very quickly.  Dr. de Guzman and his daughter,  another practicing obstetrician took out the sutures from Maya’s  cervix.  Then, they waited for her subsequent contractions and dilation. They waited and waited and waited.

 

Ironically, Maya’s contraction stopped.  When  the younger Dr. de Guzman checked her an hour later, she even joked that the baby changed his mind and decided to stay put.  Confused, Richard was frowning behind the mask he was wearing.

 

“Richard, I suggest you get out of that blue gown coz we will be taking Maya back to her private room,”  the  younger Dr. de Guzman addressed Richard.

 

“What’s happening?” Richard asked.

 

“Your wife’s contraction stopped, Richard. She won’t be giving birth just yet. Unless, you want her to be induced?” the older specialist responded.

 

“Is that advisable?”  Richard asked again.

 

The older specialist considered them both before answering. “Well, it is not yet necessary at this stage.  There is no sign for any foetal distress. Maya’s not yet overdue.  We can wait until she starts contractions again and then we will look at our options.”

 

With the baby safe and no sign of pushing out just yet, Maya insisted on going home.  Her specialist tandem advised that she stay overnight at the hospital just in case but Maya refused. She argued that she would be more comfortable going home and that she can easily return if  circumstances called for it.

 

Richard was very  quiet  when they got home.  They supped and got ready for bed and still,  he remained quiet.  Richard turned the bed covers for her and she slipped in. Richard gave her a peck on the temple and was turning away when Maya called him back.

 

“What is it?” Richard asked in concern.

 

“Can you not stay with me tonight?” Maya invited, missing her husband’s presence during bedtime.

 

“You know what will happen if I stay tonight, don’t you?” Richard’s deep voice went deeper.

 

Recognising his amorous regard, Maya’s cheeks went crimson in colour.

 

“I want you to hold me, Richard” Maya confessed her need.

 

Richard heard the plea in her voice and responded.  Without further prodding,  he slipped under the covers beside her and held her. Maya sighed with pleasure as she rested her head against his broad shoulder.

 

“I missed this,” Maya murmured against his chest that was starting to heave irregularly.

 

Richard groaned in response as he looked down at her. “I think I should go now.”

 

“Why?”

 

“You know why, sweetheart.  I can’t stay with you and not want to make love with you,”  Richard explained as if to a child.

 

“Then, why don’t  you?” she invited with a sultry voice.

 

“What?”  Richard looked down at her askance.

 

“Richard, the baby would have been considered full term if I had delivered a couple of weeks ago. Medyo naiinip na nga ako sa pagdating ng baby natin.” Maya’s voice lessened to a mere whisper. “Saka maraming reliable websites na nagsasabi na ‘lovemaking  naturally induces labour’.”

 

“Really?” Richard’s brow lifted.

 

“Yes, the mother is said to release oxytocin which causes the uterus to contract while the male partner releases prostaglandins which are substances similar to the medications used to soften the cervix when inducing labour,” Maya lectured in a no non-sense tone which belied the mischievous sparkle in her doe-shaped eyes.  She also remembered the argument against these claims but she chose not to mention them.

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Positive,” Maya answered while seductively draping her arms around her husband who needed no further encouragement.  “Turn off the light, sweetheart.”

 

“No, I want to see you,”  Richard refused to turn off the lampshade that was illuminating them with an intimate low-key glow.  He started unbuttoning the front of her cotton night gown to release her breasts which had become fuller in the last few months. “Very soon, I will have to share these with our son, so I will just have to take my fill while they are still exclusively mine.”

 

With their eyes not breaking contact, Richard lowered his head to her breasts and captured one enlarged  nipple which he gently laved and suckled before ravenously taking it into his mouth.

 

“Ooooh…” Maya panted as she felt herself getting wet at the juncture between her thighs.  Dazedly, she could only tug at his white  shirt which was preventing her from caressing his skin.

 

When he had thoroughly paid attention to her twin globes, Richard took pity on her and removed his white cotton V-neck shirt. Maya eagerly let her fingers roam over his muscled chest, kissing and nibbling his warm skin as she explored.  When she started tugging at the waistband of his pyjamas, Richard captured her hands.

 

“Not this time, sweetheart. Or I will be spent before we reach the main event.” Richard laughed at her disappointed expression before bestowing  another searing hot kiss. His lips lowered to her shoulder while he peeled off her nightgown.   Maya protested when her stomach was getting exposed. “What’s the matter?”

 

“Huwag mo n’akong  tingnan,” was Maya’s embarrassed whisper.

 

“Maya, you invited this…”

 

“Oo nga pero…”

 

“Walang pero-pero,” Richard declared. “I want to see my wife.”

 

“Baka ma-turn off ka…” Maya frowned as her husband fully peeled off her nightgown, leaving her smooth rotund stomach bare.

 

Reverently, Richard’s hands gently explored her naked belly, kissing her by her largest girth at midline as he had done countless times before.

 

“Do you have any idea what it does to me seeing you like this, pregnant with my child?” he whispered as he looked up at her. “The feeling is indescribable.”

 

“Hindi ka turned-off?” Maya asked again. In all her years, she had always seen men admiring sexy or svelte  women. But here was her husband confessing to the contrary.

 

Richard straightened to smile sexily down at her. In response, he took her hands to feel his raging hard-on.

 

“Oh!” Maya’s eyes rounded in wonder.

 

“I think that adequately answers your question, Mrs. Lim.  I am definitely lusting over my pregnant wife.”

 

Maya giggled at his leering expression.

 

“Pinagtatawanan mo na naman ako, hmmmm? Lagot ka sakin!” he declared before kissing her senseless that left her gasping for breath when he finally released her full lips.  Richard reacquainted himself once more with her naked body, exploring and kissing her every inch until he reached the junction between her thighs. Maya gasped as he felt his  lips ‘tasting’ her once more, evoking waves of pleasure cresting within her within minutes.

 

“Ohhhh, Richaaaaaaaard!” Maya screamed, unable to stop herself as she  reached the peak of sexual ecstasy.

 

Pleased with himself, Richard slowly removed his pyjama bottoms while he surveyed his effect on his wife. Slowly, he slid behind Maya who was still experiencing the aftermath of her first climax. Sweeping aside her shoulder-length tresses to expose the  back arch of her neck, Richard started nuzzling and nibbling her nape  and shoulders. From behind, his hands reclaimed her full breasts and played with her nipples.

 

Half-lying on her left side, Maya could feel her husband’s hard shaft  grazing between her bottom globes. While one of his legs slid and wedged  between hers, his hard body heat seared her back. Then,  Richard lifted her right leg and was slipping his erection  into her feminine core.

 

“Guide me in,” he commanded in dulcet tones.

 

Maya’s hands automatically went to his hard shaft to correct his angle so that his blunt head would rest at her moist entrance.  With a moan,  she felt him thrusting and penetrating her soft heat. Maya felt tears at the corners of her eyes at the sheer pleasure of finally joining with him after several months. She had missed this physical side of their marriage. She did not realise how much until that very moment of  blissful union.

 

Richard, for his part, was gritting his teeth as he fought for control.  Beads of perspiration gathered at his temples as he tried to concentrate on rhythmically thrusting to bring Maya into another climax.  His teeth grazed her dewy  skin as he buried his head into her neck. Deliberately, he removed his right  hand from  her leg  to travel up her front to caress her slick center, invading her  labia to tease her already swollen nubbin.

 

“Ooooooooh, Richard!” Maya  gasped  at this double stimulation with Richard stroking within and outside her feminine core. Arching her neck against Richard, her husband hotly licked behind her ear.  Groaning, Maya’s hand  reached for his jaw so that she could kiss him with all the passion that she was feeling at that very moment.

 

Maya could feel herself moving back and forth  to meet his thrusts halfway while feeling the pleasure cresting once more.  Maya licked her lips as sensations gripped her entire being. From her perspective, the physical side of marriage was only heightening at each encounter as Richard peeled away her inhibitions layer by layer.

 

Maya closed her eyes while she could feel herself reaching higher and higher into the heavens until she burst into a million blazing stars. Unaware, Maya’s core gripped  Richard who helplessly convulsed  and spilled his seed  within her.  Behind her,  Richard’s muted harsh grunt barely impinged on her consciousness as she slowly came down to earth.

 

“I love you, Maya.” her husband whispered as he gave her another searingly hot kiss before collapsing  beside her in a tangle of legs and arms.

 

“I love you, Richard,”  she responded drowsily as exhaustion took over their sated bodies.

 

Early next morning, Maya woke up wanting to go to the toilet.  She smiled as she recognised the heavy weight of her husband’s arm on her swollen abdomen  while his left leg was draped over both of hers. When she tried to dislodge him, Richard sleepily groaned in protest and refused to let go. Maya almost giggled at this unconscious display of  possessiveness. Unfortunately, her bladder was so full making it  a major effort to stop herself from voiding.

 

“Richard, I need to get up,” Maya shook his upper arm.

 

Richard sleepily released Maya and then resettled back beside her. Maya slid out of the blanket to realise that she was still naked.  She tried to look for her night gown but it was nowhere in sight.  Sighing, she silently crossed the carpeted floor to the ensuite bathroom. After emptying her bladder, she reached for her waffle robe hanging behind the door.   She was firmly tying the belt around her when she gasped at the intense pain radiating from her lower abdomen. When the pain subsided she slowly walked back to bed and noted the time. Ten minutes later, another contraction racked her form as she sat at the edge of the bed. Less than ten minutes passed, pain gripped her once more.

 

Catching her breath, Maya reached over to nudge Richard awake. Her husband merely groaned in protest and shifted to sleeping on his back. Since Richard rarely sleeps  without a shirt, seeing his bare wide chest and broad shoulders was enough to distract her despite her condition. Maya laughed self-deprecatingly for having ‘the hots’ for her sleeping husband just as she was about to give birth.

 

“Sweetheart?” Richard asked sleepily.

 

“Richard, get up please,” Maya muttered “we need to go back to the hospital.”

 

“Huh?”  His eyes clouded with sleep, Richard tried to focus on Maya. When Maya suddenly gasped in pain, Richard’s eyes finally became alert. Throwing the blanket off him, he jacknifed out of bed  and proceeded to scoop Maya with the intention of carrying her out of the bedroom.

 

“Sweetheart,” Maya shook his shoulders urgently. “You’re  butt-naked!”

 

“Bloody  hell!” Richard groaned realising that he was not wearing a stitch of clothing for he just spent the night making love to his wife. He paused by the bedroom door and put Maya on her feet. “Just hang in there for a sec, sweetheart.”

 

Maya could not help but giggle at the farcical situation, especially when Richard could only find his pyjama bottoms.  Giving up on finding his boxer shorts and white shirt, Richard just shoved his long legs into his pyjamas before pivoting back to where she was standing trying to contain her mirth.

 

Feeling the need to hold and comfort Maya, Richard woke up Joma to drive them to the hospital. With the periodic contractions intensifying, Maya barely noticed that they caused a stir when they came through the hospital doors. The female staff on graveyard shift certainly appreciated seeing a half-naked wide-chested good looking chinito briskly walking along the corridors at four in the  morning. Richard was raising female pulse rates without even realising it.

 

Maya was quickly assessed and transferred to one of the  operating rooms  of the  birthing centre  where she was dressed in a light blue hospital gown and attached to different monitors.  When Richard rejoined her, she noticed that he was dressed in asimilar hospital gown.

 

“That’s more like it, Mr. Lim.  Much as I like eyecandies, I can’t have you hovering around half-naked and causing palpitations among my nurses.  Not a safe way to practice!” the senior female middle-aged nurse joked while  eyeing the  younger nurses who were attaching a fetal monitor to  their baby.  Laughter rang in the room, including Maya’s.

 

“Pinagtatawanan mo na naman ako,” Richard chided Maya in an undertone.

 

“Sabihin ko kaya sa kanila na muntik ka nang makarating dito ng hubo’t hubad?” Maya whispered her mock threat.

 

“Then I will tell them that you seduced and took advantage of me.”

 

With eyes widening like saucers, Maya gasped at his retaliating remark and then broke again into giggles.  However, her giggle was cut short when another contraction gripped her very intensely.

 

“Sobrang sakit nun, ha!” Maya complained. “Nurse, nagbabago na yata ako ng isip. Gusto ko na ng epidural.”

 

Maya had actually wanted  an all-natural birth and intimated this to her specialist tandem who  verbalised to accommodate her wants as long as everything went well. Now, she is changing her mind.  Each painful contraction was draining her strength. She was afraid that she may get too weak when it was time to push.

 

The senior nurse went to stand by her bedside and considered her readings. “Hmmnnn, I don’t think that will be possible at this late stage, Mrs. Lim. But I will inform Dr. de Guzman of your request.”

 

Later, Maya groaned when told by her specialists that epidural can not be administered as she was already having strong contractions frequently. It was explained to her that it was no longer safe for the anaesthetist to administer the drug to the base of her spine.  However, the younger Dr. de Guzman offered to give a local pain killer via intramuscular injection when required.

 

“But we shall see how we go, hmnn?” the younger Dr. de Guzman said.

 

In the meantime, she was given a nitrous oxide mask, commonly called laughing gas, for pain relief as they waited for Maya’s cervix to fully dilate.  When full dilation was reached,  Maya threw away the plastic mask as it was just irritating her and providing no comfort whatsoever.

 

“Sweetheart, you need to put this back on…” Richard suggested after picking up the mask.

 

“It’s useless!” Maya growled at Richard who quickly set aside the offending contraption.

 

Maya gasped again and gnashed her teeth as another intense  painful wave swept through her. While the elder Dr. de Guzman  took a back seat in the procedure, the younger specialist  acted as lead doctor.  Positioned between Maya’s braced legs, she took charge of the delivery,  coaching Maya to push at each contraction.  Maya was almost passing out with the pain especially when she was crowning.  For pain relief, one of the assisting nurses injected  Pethidine  into her thigh but she did not even feel the 1.5 inch  needle due to the agonising pain which now concentrated on her birth canal.

 

Gripping Richard’s arm at each contraction, Maya was literally cutting the blood flow to her husband’s extremities.  Red and blue blood vessels were showing at her throat as she pushed with all her might.  At the back of her head, Maya was worried that their baby might get stuck in her birth canal and be deprived of oxygen.  But try as she might,  she could not push  hard enough.

 

Muttering a silent prayer, Maya pleaded to the  Lord Almighty to protect her baby.  With a shrill grunt, she gathered  her strength and bore down. She felt the baby’s head coming through with the rest of the body coming a second later. Maya anxiously waited until she heard their baby’s lusty cry before she closed her eyes in exhaustion.

 

“Sweetheart, he’s here.”  Richard whispered a few minutes later.

 

Maya reopened her eyes to focus on the bundle he was carrying. With his chinito eyes, pink lips and very fair complexion, their son was like a little replica of his father.   And judging from his father’s beaming expression, he was very well aware of that fact.

 

In the next few minutes, Maya and their baby was prepared for transfer to their private room.  Richard could only marvel at the little miracle swaddled in a  blue wrap and tucked neatly in a little transparent rectangular  bassinet.

 

“You did very well, sweetheart,”  her husband complimented, admiration in his voice as his eyes glinted down at his wife.

 

In response, Maya smiled tiredly but her eyes rounded when her husband’s head kept on coming down until his lips captured her in a  light  lingering kiss. In the background, someone started coughing and muttering that husbands need to leave their wives alone after giving birth.

 

However, Richard and Maya were oblivious to the teasing remark. They were wordlessly communicating their love for each other.  Each secure that the feeling is reciprocated.  For years, they have been bonded with invisible strings that have stretched and lengthened when they led lives physically separate from the other.  Yet the invisible strings were never severed for they found themselves pulled together with memories that won’t fade and feelings that refused to die.

 

Happiness and contentment finally came when they purposely wove one’s life with the other. Blessed with this  newest family member, their  union  is  filled with hope for the future. With their mutual love and devotion,  their interwoven lives promise a journey that has been destined to go the distance.

 

Epilogue (na talaga) to follow…

Long-held Torch – Part 14

Author’s Note: I would like to thank Ms Chuchy for all her input with LHT.  My special thanks go to Ms Flor who gave me very good grammar lessons recently :D.   And of course a BIG THANKIE to Ms Alpha Grace, Ms Liza and to Ms Dianne—who all generously gave their time to critique and proofread this chapter.   Please don’t be shy to press the ‘LIKE’ button and don’t forget to give your feedback after reading.  Enjoy reading, ladies!  😀

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Maya remained on cloud nine despite constantly feeling little twinges whenever she makes  sudden movements.  Her breasts felt heavy and there was tenderness in muscles she did not even realize she had.  Making love to Richard certainly made her ache in several places, but it was a delicious ache.  More than the physical sensation, Maya’s love for Richard deepened tenfold. This also made her feel very vulnerable.

Sighing deeply, she mulled over how things had happened so fast between the two of them – leaving her brain reeling and trying to catch up. In a matter of weeks, her relationship with Richard had progressed – from him being her Kuya Ryan’s best friend, to becoming her suitor, to winding up as her boyfriend. And now, he was her fiancé.  While she was mainly thrilled that she was marrying Richard, a part of her remained disbelieving of the reality of their current relationship status. To claim that she was  overwhelmed was rather  an understatement!

Maya couldn’t stop admiring the engagement ring that is now on her left ring finger. While the ring feels heavy on her hand, she has been ecstatic with her engagement. And she loved Richard all the more for making quite an elaborate effort in his proposal.

Richard had stopped the engine and they were now in front of her parents’ house.  Feeling a bit apprehensive, she heaved a sigh as she held hands with Richard while walking towards the house’s main entrance.  As they reached the partially hidden spot  just behind the fence, Richard stopped to frame her face with his hands.  She welcomed the kiss that Richard gave her, knowing they cannot be together once they have entered the house.

Her parents are still very old-fashioned and would certainly frown upon  what happened between her and Richard the last couple of days.  Come to think of it, Maya also thought that she was rather conservative herself.  But Richard had certainly shown her otherwise!

Enveloped in his warm embrace, Maya was again getting intoxicated as her lips melded with his. Then quite abruptly, Richard ended the kiss.  With a frown marring her features, Maya opened her eyes to see Richard staggering back from a side jab that landed on his right jaw.  Coming between her and Richard was the familiar figure of her eldest sibling.

“Kuyaaaaaa, huwaaaaag!”

Maya saw Richard stumbling back into Mamang’s flower bed before quickly regaining his balance. Blood was trickling down his cut lip.

“Hayuuuuup kaaaaa!!!” her Kuya Ryan swore at his best friend “sa dinami-dami ng babae sa Pilipinas, pati ba naman utol ko?”

“Look, brod” Richard started to explain, trying to placate Ryan “it’s not what you think…”

“Maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw ang nakita ko! Kaya pala palagi kang wala sa Maynila. Nandito ka’t bunsong kapatid ko ang pinupuntirya mo!!!” Ryan threw another side jab but Richard swung his left arm  and blocked the punch, while his right arm pushed Ryan away.

“Kuyaaaa, stop this!!!” Maya screamed at her eldest sibling who was not paying attention to her.. Then, she finally noticed Cristina Rose who was now standing beside her. “Kute, awatin mo sila, please!”

“Oks  ka lang?” Kute looked at her in disbelief. “Gusto mong ako ang tamaan ng suntok ni Kuya?”

“Baka magkasakitan sila,” Maya fretted.

“Hayaan mo sila. Mapapagod din yan.” Kute smiled and folded her arms in front of her as she watched the testosterone-fuelled encounter between their eldest sibling and his best friend.

“Ryan, seryoso ako kay Maya,” Richard exclaimed as he kept his open palms firmly positioned defensively in front of him.

“Bullshit!!! This is me you are talking to!” Ryan yelled in disbelief at him.  “What do you know about being serious? You’ve never had a serious relationship in your life!”

“That’s because I have loved Maya for a very long time,” was Richard’s beseeching response to the accusation.

“What do you mean? Since when has this been going on?” Ryan’s voice boomed “Have you touched her before?”
 
“I-I…” Richard did not know how to answer her brother.

Maya could tell Richard was taken aback by the question. Maya reckoned he was probably thinking of the time he kissed her on the beach many years ago. While nothing really happened, that kiss was far from innocent. Unfortunately, guilt was written all over Richard’s face.

“Walanghiya kaaaaaaa!!!!”Ryan went berserk as he imagined the worst of his best friend.

“Maya, stay back please!” Richard shouted when she attempted to approach them.

Stopping in her tracks, Maya could see that Richard has been continuously deflecting her eldest sibling’s blows. Getting angrier by the minute, Ryan started striking haphazardly but wasn’t getting anywhere near Richard.  From where she was standing, she could see Richard’s rock-steady legs-apart stance while his open-palm sweeps kept on parrying oncoming punches. Clearly, Richard can defend himself but was also refraining from counter-attacking her brother.

“Kuya, tigilan mo na si Richard!” Maya yelled at her older brother who kept on aggressively advancing even after Richard had shoved him away several times.

“Mapapaos ka lang sa kasisigaw kay Kuya,” commented Kute beside her.

“Magagalit si Mamang nito, eh!” Maya muttered while she eyed the havoc they were causing in Mamang’s garden as Ryan kept on knocking over potted plants. Then, they made such a ruckus when Ryan tipped over the huge metal drum that Mamang uses to collect rain to water her plants.

At this point, her parents and Mamang finally heard the commotion that was happening and were now running down the stairs.

“Naku! Anong nangyayari sa dalawang ‘to?” Mamang worriedly looked on as Tatay Arturo pulled Ryan back.

“Bitiwan ninyo ako! Papatayin ko yang lalaking yan!” yelled Ryan through gritted teeth, the veins in his neck showing in anger.

“Kumalma ka, Ryan. Kung anuman ang problema mo kay Richard, pag-usapan ninyo nang maayos,” reprimanded Tatay Arturo.

“Papaano ako kakalma? Ginalaw niya si Maya.”

At this point, Maya quickly reached Richard’s side to check his face.  His lip was now very swollen and blood was still trickling down the cut.

“Anong ibig mong sabihin?” Tatay Arturo asked.

“Naka-leave si Maya pero ilang araw nang wala siya sa condo. Wala rin siya dito.  Bakit hindi ninyo tanungin ang magaling ninyong anak kung nasaan siya at kung sino ang kasama niya?” growled Ryan.

“Maya, anong sinasabi ng kuya mo?” her father questioned.

“Tay—” Maya was tongue-tied.  How do you own up to your father that you just spent the last couple of days and nights with your boyfriend?

“Magkasama nga po kami ni Maya,” Richard calmly answered while protectively stepping in front of Maya. With her hand within his, Richard gave her a little squeeze of reassurance.

However, Richard’s upfront reply gave Ryan another burst of manic energy as he liberated himself from Tatay Arturo’s hold and went for Richard’s throat.  It was like Ryan had gone temporarily insane as he lunged at Richard in a rush, knocking Maya off her feet in the process.

“Maya—!”  Richard worriedly called out as Maya went off-balance and landed on Mamang’s flower bed, crushing a few daisies under her tushy.

“Hayuuuuup kaaaaaaa!” Ryan swore again as he attacked his friend but with a few fluid maneuvers, Richard was able to twist Ryan off-balance. He had Ryan pinned down the ground with one knee on his chest and with a firm hand circled around his neck.

“Are you okey, Maya?” Richard hollered out to her while still holding down Ryan who was choking at this point.

“I’m fine,” Maya hastily reassured him, as Kute quickly came forward to help her to her feet.

Richard immediately released Ryan and went to give Maya a hand.  Richard quickly checked Maya’s back and dusted off the dirt that clung to her dress. Both were preoccupied  with each other  so they missed the knowing smile that passed between Nanay Teresita and Mamang.

“How can you be fine when you have become one of his sluts?” Ryan hoarsely addressed his youngest sister sarcastically as he nursed his hurting throat. “Now, you even dress like one!”

Maya looked stricken at the insult as she defensively gathered her gaping front. She was sorely regretting wearing this particular sundress.

“I strongly suggest that you don’t insult Maya or I will give you the thrashing that you have been asking for.”  Richard turned and growled at Ryan.

“Ang kapal din ng mukha mo!  What you have done is the worst insult. We trusted you and treated you like family.  Then, you turn around and do this to my youngest sister,” Ryan screamed as Tatay Arturo helped his son to his feet.

“Kuya, stop this please!” Maya placed herself in the middle of the two men. Tatay Arturo was again holding Ryan. “Richard is not to blame. I seduced him!”

Oooops! You were not supposed to say that, Maya!

There was a collective gasp among the older women. Cringing as the enormity of what she has revealed sunk in, Maya wished for a magnitude 10 earthquake which would crack the ground beneath her feet wide open to swallow  her whole.   She has declared in no uncertain terms how intimate her relationship with Richard had progressed in the last few days. With this bombshell, a period of loaded silence seemed to stretch for an aeon, though it was merely seconds in reality.

“Cristina Rose, tama ba ang intindi ko?  Naisuko na ni Maya ang Bataan?” Mamang checked for understanding.

Cristina Rose started chuckling as she recovered from Maya’s shocking revelation. “Mamang, hindi lang basta-bastang naisuko.  As in ‘isinuko ng bonggang-bongga’ na may kasamang tumbling pa!”

“Kuteeeeeee!” Maya groaned under her breath.  She could also see that Richard was compressing his lips to prevent himself from grinning.

Pinagtawanan pa ’ko ng Singkit!

“Susmaryosep!” Mamang exclaimed as her right hand went to her chest.

“Nanay, okey lang kayo?” fretted Nanay Teresita when she noticed that her mother looked as if she was having chest pains.

“Medyo naninikip ang dibdib ko,” admitted Mamang.

“Naku, Mamang!” Kute exclaimed as she went to her grandmother’s side.  “Huwag na huwag kayong hihimatayin! Walang may kayang bumuhat sa inyo dito!”

“Ikaw, Cristina Rose, sumosobra ka na!” hissed Mamang at her granddaughter’s irreverent remark, forgetting her angina altogether.

“Naku, Cristina Rose, huwag mo nang buskahin ang Nanay,” chided Nanay Teresita.

“Si Mamang kasi parang gustong mag-overreact! Eh, handa namang pakasalan ni Kuya Richard si bunso.”

“Hay, naku! Hayaan na nga lang nating si Tatay ang umayos nito. Duon na tayo sa taas, Nay. Para makainom ka na ng gamot mo,” Nanay Teresita prompted her mother who complied without her usual protests.

Maya could feel her cheeks going hot as her father stared sharply at her. Richard stepped sideways, almost fully shielding Maya from her father.

“I take full responsibility for what happened.  Kaya nga po ako humaharap sa inyo para po hingin ang kamay ni Maya.”

“Kasal!????!” Ryan almost choked on the word as he balefully eyed Richard. “Nababaliw ka na ba?”

Ignoring Ryan’s outburst, Tatay Arturo pulled a calming breath and succinctly declared “Pasalamat ka’t alam kong seryoso ka kay Maya. Kung hindi, kanina pa kita tinaga diyan sa kinatatayuan mo!”

“Tay!!!” Maya cried worriedly as she held on to Richard’s arm.

“Yun! Kukunin ko na ba yung gulok mo, Tay?” Ryan offered, still lusting for Richard’s blood.

“Manahimik ka Ryan!” Tatay Arturo told off his eldest child. “Richard, Maya, umakyat na kayo para makapag-usap tayo ng masinsinan!”

Richard nodded and wordlessly guided Maya upstairs.

“Teka, Tay” Ryan asked bewilderedly “huwag ninyong sabihing papayagan ninyong makasal si Maya sa mokong na yan?”

“Kuya, hayaan mo na sila,” Kute advised her elder sibling.

“Cristina Rose, hindi ko pwedeng pabayaan lang! Teenagers pa lang kami, babaero na yan si Richard!”

“Baka naman nagbago na nitong nagka-edad na siya.”

“Yan pa ang isa! Napakalaki ng agwat ng edad nila ni Maya! Ten years!” Ryan pointed out “Para siyang matandang kabayo na gustong kumain ng sariwang damo!”

“Tumahimik ka, Redentor Yehoram Arturo Narcisso Dela Rosa! Bago kita mabatukan!” growled Tatay Arturo before he followed Richard and Maya up the stairs, leaving a cringing Ryan behind.

Ryan hated his string of given names which were the combined names of their grandfathers, Tatay’s and the saint whose feast day also fell on his natal day.  This was why he just opted to use the acronyms of his names to avoid being bullied at school.

“Pambihira naman si Tatay binanggit na naman ang buo kong pangalan! Binabaon ko na nga sa limot yun!”

“Ang kulit mo kasi, Kuya!” Kute told off her older brother with a laugh.

“Bakit sa’kin pa nagalit si Tatay?” was Ryan’s indignant question.

“Kasi naman nagbanggit ka ng matandang kabayo. Diba yan ang pang-asar ni Mamang kay Tatay?  Kasi nga dieciocho pa lang si Nanay samantalang  treinta  años na si Tatay nung magtanan sila?”

Ryan grimaced. “Pero—”

“Naku, Kuya, huwag ka nang humirit. Wala ka rin namang magagawa.  Mahal ni Maya at Kuya Richard ang isa’t isa.”

“Ha!????! Kelan pa!????!” Ryan incredulously asked.

“Mga bata pa tayo, crush na ni Maya si Kuya Richard.  Si Nanay naman matagal na pala niyang napapansin na may gusto si Kuya Richard kay Maya. Pero nito lang binyag ni Baby Abby siya nag-umpisang manligaw kay bunso.”

“Bakit hindi ko namalayan?”

“Ang hina mo kasi. Pati nga sa sapakan, mahina ka rin,” Cristina Rose teased.  “Kaya hindi ka dapat umiiba ng genre, Kuya.  Pamilya tayo ng mga dramatic actors at actresses. Huwag ka nang mag-ambisyong mag-action star!”

“Nalimutan kong nagko-compete nga pala sa martial arts ang mokong na yan nuong araw.” Ryan frowned as he lightly massaged his forearms which took the impact each time his blows were blocked by his best friend. Even the knuckles of his right hand were starting to swell. “Ang tigas pa ng panga.”

“Kaya pala iba yung galaw ni Kuya Richard. Para siyang si Ip Man,” Kute chuckled. “Buti hindi ka binugbog.”

“Hmmmmp!” Ryan glared malevolently at Cristina Rose before sprinting upstairs to follow Tatay Arturo.

“Pikon,” Kute was softly chuckling as she picked up Richard’s specs from the ground before slowly following her brother.

After a tension-filled conversation in the veranda between Tatay Arturo and Richard, the older man sighed and stood up first.  From her vantage point, Maya saw Richard and her father shake hands. Before leaving the veranda, her father even patted Richard’s shoulder, a  reassuring gesture that made Maya smile.  Everything will be alright, she said to herself.

While the two men were talking, her Kuya Ryan had been quietly standing by the balusters. Then, she saw her Kuya Ryan move to approach Richard when her father left.

“Ops, ops, saan ka pupunta bunso?” asked Kute when Maya agitatedly stood up. They were both sitting at the dining table and were monitoring what was transpiring in the veranda. Her mother was in her grandmother’s bedroom ensuring that the latter was taking her medication.

“Baka magwala na naman si Kuya, eh!” Maya fretted.

“Hindi na yan. Maupo ka lang diyan at hayaan mo silang mag-usap.”

She could see that Richard was trying to account for the recent events to his best friend.  Unfortunately, Ryan’s back was towards them. Thus Maya could not gauge how he was reacting to Richard’s lengthy explanation. Then, Maya saw Ryan abruptly stand up to leave Richard alone in the veranda.

“Anong sabi ni Kuya?” Maya asked Richard when she finally joined him with the first aid kit and an ice bag. Using a gauze damp with saline solution, Maya started patting Richard’s chin to clear off the dried blood.

“Actually, he didn’t say much. All he said was that he was far from happy with the situation. I guess he felt betrayed.” Richard sighed deeply as he inspected his specs which were slightly askew when he tried it on.

“Betrayed?” Maya asked worriedly.

“Hmmmmn,” Richard nodded.  “I broke the unspoken cardinal rule. I dated my best friend’s younger sister.”

“Yang rule na yan ang hindi ko talaga maintindihan,” Maya shook her head as she applied cold compress to Richard’s swollen lip.

“I will try to talk to him again,” Richard sighed. “It was my fault. I did not try hard enough to forewarn him before I started courting you. Then, of course, when I started, I was very distracted ‘coz you had me following you in a merry chase.”

“Ganon? Kasalanan ko?” Maya’s eyes glared at Richard mockingly.

Richard took her left hand between his palms and whispered “How can I blame you when you have made the last couple of days the happiest days of my life?  I can’t wait to spend the rest of my days with you.”

Maya’s eyes started filming with tears. Maya was searching for appropriate words to say when a voice hesitantly called their names.

“Richard…Maya…”

“Nay Teresita,” Richard stood up when Maya’s mother joined them in the veranda.

“Sabi sa’kin ni Tatay mamamanhikan na raw kayo sa susunod na linggo?” Nanay Teresita began.

“Opo, Nay,” Richard answered.

The older lady smiled at Richard as she patted his cheek. “Matagal na kitang tinuring na anak ko. Masaya ako dahil talagang magiging anak na kita.”

“Salamat po, Nay,” Richard enveloped the older lady in a hug.

Maya tearfully smiled as she looked on. Then, she was getting embraced by her mother.

“Maya,” Nanay Teresita said with a hitch in her voice. “Anak, ang swerte-swerte mo dahil mahal na mahal ka ni Richard.”

Maya smiled at her fiancè over her mother’s shoulder. “Alam ko po yun, Nay.”

“Ang bunso ko—” Nanay Teresita’s voice broke.

“Nay naman, huwag muna kayong umiyak,” Maya pleaded.

“Masaya lang ako para sa inyo ni Richard.  Dininig ng Diyos yung panalangin ko na makatagpo kayong mga anak ko ng mga magmamahal talaga sa inyo. Si Kuya mo masaya sa buhay pamilya niya. Ngayon ikaw naman.”

“Ang kaso mukhang masama pa rin ang loob ng Kuya,”  Maya remembered.

“Naku, hayaan mo lang muna yang Kuya mo sa tamporurot niya. Pasasaan ba’t huhupa din ang galit niya. Nagulat lang yun,” reassured Nanay Teresita.

“Sana nga po Nay,” Richard murmured.

“Hayaan mo, Richard,” Nanay Teresita smiled at her future son-in-law. “Kakausapin ko para maintindihan niya.”

“Salamat po.”

Maya sighed.  She should be thankful that her parents and Kute had shown their approval. Mamang, when she gets over the initial shock, would also extend her congratulations.  She just needed to work on Kuya Ryan who would hopefully come round once he had time to digest all the facts.

A week later, Richard and his parents arrived at the Dela Rosa residence just before 7pm  for the pamanhikan.  There was a little awkward moment when the two sets of parents met for the first time. The ice was quickly broken when Esmeralda Lim light-heartedly apologized and confessed that they are in the dark as it is their first time to do a pamanhikan with Richard as their only child.

“Mabuti nga po kayo makakaranas kayo ng pamanhikan.  Ako po’y hindi dahil tinanan si Teresita ko.  Alam sigurong hindi ako papayag,” retorted Mamang with pursed lips.

“Nanay talaga!” Nanay Teresita protested. “Siningit na naman yun.”

“Hmmmp, tutuo naman ah!”  Mamang insisted as she looked sharply at her son-in-law.

Kute was chuckling softly while Maya placed her palm over her mouth to control her giggle.

“Mga balae, maupo po tayo. Pagpasensiyan ‘nyo na po si Mamang. Kahit ilang dekada na ang nakakaraan, hindi pa rin siya maka-move-on sa nangyari sa’min ni Teresita.” Tatay Arturo wryly quipped as he shook hands with Richard’s father who was grinning broadly in amusement.

“May dala akong Soya Chicken at pandan chiffon cake para sa dinner natin,” offered Dona Esmeralda to Nanay Teresita.

“Naku, nag-abala pa po kayo. Salamat, balae,” enthused Nanay Teresita.

When they were all seated in the sala, the pamanhikan proper commenced.  Richard formally asked for Maya’s hand in marriage. In turn, Tatay Arturo gave his blessing and extended his hand to Richard who pressed it against his forehead. Richard did the same to Nanay Teresita’s and then Mamang’s hand. Then he shook Cristina Rose’s while his eyes scanned the space beyond her.

Maya knew that Richard was hoping to see her Kuya Ryan at this momentous occasion but he was nowhere in sight. The best of friends have not yet spoken to each other since their last encounter.  When notified of the pamanhikan, Ryan had sent word that he will not be coming and was therefore not expected. Still, Richard and Maya hoped that her eldest sibling would change his mind.

The next day, Richard picked her up so that they can accompany his parents to look at churches and to go sightseeing around San Nicholas.  While Roberto Lim was sitting on the front passenger seat beside Richard, Maya was seated at the back with Richard’s mother who noticed her ring.  The older woman was holding Maya’s left hand closely so she could scrutinize the engagement ring’s solitaire diamond.

“D grade without any visible inclusions. Excellent choice, son.”

“Thanks, Ma” replied Richard who gave Maya a wink when he caught her eye in the rear view mirror.

Richard drove the Land Cruiser to the town plaza and parallel-parked the vehicle off-street.  Maya smiled at Richard as he opened the door for her.

“Bakit?” Maya asked when Richard held her back while the older couple went ahead and inspected the inside of Catedral de San Nicolás. The church was built in 1813 and was inaugurated by José Gardoqui Jaraveita, who was then the Governor-General of the Philippines during that period.

“May nakakalimutan ka,” Richard prompted.

“Huh?” Maya shook her head.

“You haven’t kissed me good morning yet.”

Maya grinned and quickly pressed her lips against his.

“That will do for the moment,” he declared as he took her hand and led her to follow the older couple. “This was the church built by Señor La Rosa, right?”

“Ito nga.  Kaya nga halos lahat ng mga kasalan at binyagan ng pamilya namin dito ginaganap.   Si Tatay at si Kuya nga lang ang sumira ng tradisyon. Pero dito kaming magkakapatid  bininyagan.”

“I like the outside structure,” Richard complimented as he took a photo with his iPhone-5 “Let’s check indoors.”

Before they left the old church, they passed by the Administration Office. After poring through the available booking schedules, they were able to reserve a wedding date which was in two months’ time.

“Richard, I think I need to ask around for a reputable wedding planner. We cannot possibly do this in two months without one! What do you think, Maya?” Tita Esme asked.

“Tama po kayo.” Maya agreed “Also, I am due back at work by the end of this week.  We may not have enough preparation time.  Can we re-set the date, Richard?”

“No!” Richard quickly dismissed the idea of a later wedding date.

“Pero—”

“We will get married in two months’ time,” Richard cut through whatever protest she was going to voice. “Even if you have to wear something ready- made.”

Fortunately, Maya did not have to resort to the prêt à porter option. When she returned to Manila, Richard’s mother accompanied her to one of the top fashion designers in the metropolis. Esmeralda Lim was a long-time valued client and personal friend of the award-winning fashion designer and he was more than excited to design Maya’s and the entire entourage’s wedding outfits.  He was even willing to send his staff to San Nicholas to take her family’s measurements to save them the hassle of travelling to Manila.

The gay designer asked her and Richard a lot of questions with regards to what type of wedding they would like. Maya wanted a vintage Fil-Hispanic wedding. When probed which particular period they liked, Maya admitted that she was partial to the 1800’s.  The designer’s eyes lit up and started discussing turned-up collar, long-tailed waistcoats, ruffled shirt fronts and intricately-tied cravats.  The designer gleefully announced that he will have fun designing both the bride’s and the groom’s wedding outfits.

“Ruffled shirt fronts? Are you serious?” Richard asked when they were finally alone in the car, speeding away.

Maya giggled at Richard’s horrified expression. “Ideas pa lang naman yun. He will present to us several designs and we will have to approve them before he starts to work on the outfits.”

“I hope so, otherwise I really won’t wear it!” Richard said adamantly.

“Nagba-back out ka na sa kasal natin?” Maya curiously asked.

“Hindi, itatanan na lang talaga kita,” Richard responded.

Maya smiled and would have reminded him again  of his promise to Mamang when her phone rang. It was Edzelyn, her friend and colleague from Time Airways.

“Hello Edz, kamusta?” she greeted her friend.

“Heto, nagtatampo ako sa’yo,” Edzelyn replied. “Hindi mo man lang kami sinabihan na engaged ka na.  Kundi ko pa accidentally nabuksan yung society pages, hindi ko malalaman.”

“Ha?  Naka-diyaryo ang engagement ko?” Maya raised her voice for Richard’s benefit. Maya could tell that information surprised Richard as well.

“Ask which newspaper,” Richard prodded.

“Saang diyaryo mo nabasa Edz?”  Maya heard her friend refer to one of the nationally syndicated papers. “Naku, sasabihin ko naman sa inyo mamaya bago tayo mag-briefing pero mukhang naunahan na’ko.”

“So, it’s true!  You are the girl in the photo! And you are engaged to the CEO of Lim Infrastructure Inc.! My God, Maya! How did you two meet?”

“I have known him all my life. He’s my Kuya’s best friend,” Maya informed.

“But you never breathed a word about him! You owe us a lot of ‘kwento’, ha!”

Maya chuckled and promised her friend that she will tell them about her fiancé later and rang off.  Meanwhile, Richard spotted  a newsstand and  stopped by to get a copy of the newspaper. He scanned the story content before handing over the paper to Maya.

It was an article by one gossip columnist who had long chronicled Engr. Richard Lim’s love life for over a decade. The story quoted that ‘reliable sources’ had spotted the elusive bachelor, together with his parents, accompanying a pretty young lady  named ‘Maya’ to a well-known wedding planner. The writer speculated that circumstantial evidence was pointing to the conclusion that the CEO of Lim Infrastructure Inc. was finally settling down. There was a photo insert taken the day before with Richard talking to his parents while holding Maya’s hand as they left the wedding planner’s business premises.  While she has not been properly identified in the article, anyone who knew Maya could easily identify her as the pretty young lady in the photo.

“I am sorry about this,” Richard murmured.

“Why are you apologizing? You had nothing to do with this.”

“That may be the case but it’s because of my notoriety that makes me a target of gossip. And now, you will be a target as well,” Richard sighed and suggested, “I think you need to tell your place of work that you may need to beef up your security.”

“Hindi naman siguro. Hindi naman ako celebrity.” Maya dismissed his worries which annoyed Richard who went on to argue his point.  They were still lightly debating on the matter as they went up Maya’s condo unit.

Maya went to the kitchen to drink a glass of water when she eyed Emman’s note in front of the fridge. Her friend was in Dakak vacationing with his family and would be returning by the end of the week.  Richard read the same note and was now grinning from ear to ear.

“So, we have the place all to ourselves…” Richard said huskily as he looked down at Maya.

“Naku, hindi pwede yang binabalak mo! Meron akong 6pm flight!” Maya laughed at Richard’s suggestive wag of his brows.

“It’s not even 5pm yet, Maya. Sabi nga ni Jawo, kahit nga sa ilang segundo lang, marami pang pwedeng mangyari,” Richard said in an undertone as he took the glass from Maya’s fingers and placed it on the bench before pulling Maya by the waist.

“Sabi nino?” Maya was lost, unable to fully comprehend what he was talking about.

“You are obviously not a basketball fan, hmmnn?”

Maya shook her head at the rhetorical question as their bodies came closer. She draped her arms around Richard as his head went down to claim her lips in a passionate kiss while his hands went to unzip the back of Maya’s dress. The simple one-piece sleeveless navy blue outfit dropped around her feet in the next few seconds as Maya felt herself being pulled towards her bedroom. Richard’s shirt fell as they passed the dining table. Maya’s lacy bra followed as they reached her bedroom door which Richard kicked firmly closed.

It was the first time they were completely alone after a rather full-on couple of weeks.  After finally reaching an understanding, they have faced her parents, Richard has been forced into a confrontation with her Kuya Ryan, his parents arriving for the pamanhikan, to delving into 101 tasks in preparing for their wedding. While Richard’s current timing was not the best, Maya welcomed the moment of intimacy to physically reaffirm what was most important of all—their love for each other.

As Maya feared, she had barely time to shower and change into her FA uniform. She had opted to hop into Richard’s car bare of make-up and with her hair still down.  She does not have the skill to apply cosmetics in a moving vehicle though she attempted to put her hair up in a sleek chignon but failed abysmally.  When Richard stopped his BMW in front of the airport personnel entrance, Maya was wanting to quickly get out of the car so that she can dive into the nearest ladies room to make herself presentable.

Despite her quick thanks and goodbye, Richard’s arms went round her waist and commanded Maya’s full and undivided attention.

“Richard, I have to go. I am already late,” Maya pleaded, aware that airport employees were passing by and looking curiously at them.

“I want a proper kiss first.”

Maya complied and had planned to give Richard a quick kiss but he was having none of that. He took his fill when his arms enveloped Maya, uncaring of people looking on.  Maya was breathless when Richard finally loosened his hold.

“I will pick you up afterwards, okay?” Richard whispered as his lips brushed against hers.

“But that will be around 2am,” Maya informed him. She was on short haul flights at the moment with Hong Kong as her destination tonight.  “Baka mapuyat ka ng husto.”

“I will be here waiting, Maya,” Richard said in a voice that brooked no argument.  “Now, go in. You’re already late, Mrs. Lim.”

Despite wanting to come up with a smart retort, Maya dropped the subject and waved to Richard as she pivoted towards Time Airway’s premises, conscious of airport staff eyes on her and Richard. Among them were Ms. Buenaventura and Capt. James whom she both greeted as she hurriedly passed by.  Her former instructor greeted her back but Capt. James, who was in a business suit, did not for his attention was preoccupied with something behind her.  As she rounded the corner, she saw that the ‘something’ was Richard who was likewise returning Capt. James’ stare with a serious demeanor.

On her return, Maya abruptly halted by the hallway outside the briefing room.  Richard was seated a few meters away and was obviously waiting for her.

“Oh, Maya,” Edzelyn noted that her friend was not following the rest of the flight crew. “Hindi ka ba sasabay sa service?”

“Meron akong sundo, eh.” Maya smiled, shaking her head as she looked across to Richard who was now making his way towards her.

“In fairness, ang gwapo ng sundo mo,” Edzelyn teased with a  cheeky gleam. “Sige, see you tomorrow. Enjoy!”

“Edzelyn!” Maya laughed, protesting the veiled sexual innuendo before she went to meet Richard halfway.

Despite just parting from him several hours ago, Maya was excited to see him again. Richard’s arms went round her and kissed her thoroughly, not caring about the people milling around them.

“Hungry?” Richard asked afterwards as he held her hand while he dragged her small suitcase behind.

Maya shook her head.

“Then, let’s go home.”

At the condo, Maya had barely time to kick off her black heels before Richard started removing her uniform.  In between clothes dropping to the floor, Maya was being thoroughly kissed and caressed.

“You’re insatiable,” Maya huskily told him.

“Where you are concerned, yes!” Richard unashamedly admitted as he took her to bed.

“Hindi ka ba hinahanap sa inyo? Di ba dapat kasama mo ang parents mo habang nandito sila sa Pilipinas?” Maya asked as she tried to calm her uneven breathing while she rested on his bare chest an hour later.

“Merong blessing ni Mama yung pag-stay ko dito,” Richard answered while he kept his eyes closed, his chest likewise still heaving slightly.

“Blessing?”

“Uhhhmm,” Richard grunted. “I need to be here so I can start on her request.”

“Request? Anong request?”

Richard opened his eyes and looked down at her. “Mama wants grandchildren right away.  So, she does not mind my absence.”

“Don’t I have a say in that?” Maya laughed, embarassed that her future mother-in-law knows exactly what they have been doing.

“Of course you do but so far,” he smiled wolfishly at her. “you have been a very enthusiastic participant in the process.”

Inevitably, they both woke up late and had a leisurely brunch before making love again. Much later, Richard brought her to work and then picked her up afterwards. Richard would also bring her to meet up with the wedding planner to choose the theme, look, colors, music and various other details.   At one time, his mother joined them for food tasting but they still eventually ended up at her condo with Richard always staying the night. Hence, Richard was practically living with her ever since they got back to Manila. Even when Emman returned from his vacation, Richard continued to stay with Maya, much to her embarrassment.

The weeks quickly went with a flurry of preparation for the wedding.  They even did a prenuptial shoot with a locally renowned photography/videography team.   It was probably due to the hectic schedule and the sleep-deprived passionate days and nights with Richard that was making Maya feel so tired and sleepy even during flights.  She has also lost her appetite lately, but it was her morning sickness the last few days  that alerted her to the possibility.

Maya washed her face by the sink and then stripped to look at herself in the mirror.  Except for the fact that she gained a bit of weight, there was no visible bump on her abdomen. She counted back and realized that it has been almost five weeks since Richard first made love to her and she has not had her menses in that span of time!

Her suspicions became stronger when she went dizzy and nearly fainted  while having the pre-flight briefing.  One look at Maya’s wan face and Ms. Callandra ordered her to go to the sick bay.  There she discussed her suspicions with the nurse who did a pregnancy test, which came out positive.

Ecstatic with the news, Maya tried to call Richard right away. Unfortunately, her phone was already blinking until it died midway at the third ring.  The news will have to wait until she sees him at home, she thought.

Maya checked if there was any available service van that could take her home but there was none.   So, she decided to catch a cab which was impossible during the rush hour. She was standing a few minutes outside the TA airport premises when she started feeling dizzy. Her hands flailed out to hold on to the chrome stair railing to avoid falling down.

“Maya, are you alright?” asked a familiar voice.

Maya slowly looked up as sudden movements were making her dizzier.

“James…” Maya tried to muster a smile.

“You don’t look well. Do you want me to take you to the sick bay?”  James offered.

“Kagagaling ko lang dun.”  Maya opted not to tell him of her pregnancy as she wanted to keep the secret to herself for the moment.  Besides,  Richard deserved to know first before anyone else.

“Gusto mong dalhin kita sa doctor?”

Maya would definitely like to see a doctor but she would like Richard to accompany her.
“Hindi na. Kailangan ko lang magpahinga kaya nga uuwi na’ko.”

“Sige, I will take you home na lang.” James declared.

“Naku, James! Huwag na! Nakakahiya. Isa pa, rush hour na. Maiipit ka sa traffic.”

“All the more reason that I should take you home so you can rest.”

“Pero—”

“Maya, I insist.”  James turned to thank the valet parking staff who brought his Porsche Carrera GT to the front driveway for him.   He firmly took her elbow and guided her to the passenger side.  Gratefully smiling up at James, Maya lowered herself into the seat.

If Maya had looked to her left, she would have seen the navy  blue BMW going into TA’s driveway to join the queue of cars. Had she done so, she  would have felt very worried with the thunderous expression from the BMW’s driver who gritted his  teeth  while he watched Maya  and her male companion join the afternoon traffic.

to be continued…

Long-held Torch – Part 13

Author’s note: Muchas gracias Alpha Grace y Chuchy. Our collaboration has greatly improved my LHT series which has gained quite a number of eager followers.

To my dear readers, please feel free to comment for I love reading your feedback as much as I love writing the LHT series. Enjoy 😀 😀 😀

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Part 13

Richard could not believe his ears when Maya said that she wanted to stay with him instead of going home. It was guaranteed to obliterate his self-control into oblivion. Despite his years of experience, he behaved like a teenager and eagerly took what Maya offered.

And how she offered!

Maya gave herself unreservedly and beautifully that he lost his head. It was a good thing Maya pleaded that he take her gently that he was able to temper his libido somehow. He had felt the undeniable proof of her innocence but it was not enough to stop him from possessing her. If anything, the knowledge that Maya had never known any other man just aroused him further.

Making love to Maya was incredible just as he imagined and more. He had often fantasized making love to her eversince that fateful night when he saw her walking up the beach, her naked body glistening with sea water. That beautiful teen had blossomed into an even more beautiful young lady.

The beautiful young lady who became a woman in his arms.

“Oh, Maya” he said hoarsely as he moved in steady rhythm inside her very hot and very tight core that he felt himself being squeezed in a vice-like grip “you’re so incredibly tight, sweetheart.”

Richard kissed her palm when he felt her fingers on his face. Then he swooped down to bestow her yet another passionate kiss. Noting the creases around her eyes, Richard knew she was in pain but he just could not stop even if his life depended on it. He was gripped in intense pleasure as he involuntarily hastened his rhythm until he felt his groin constricting.

“Maaayaaaaaaa!” he groaned through gritted teeth as he could feel one of the most powerful orgasm of his life racking his body as his seed spilled inside her. Despite not having fully recovered, he lifted himself off for he was loathe to crush her with his heavy weight. He immediately felt bereft of her very snug soft heat. He couldn’t resist giving a very sleepy Maya another deep lingering kiss before he went to lie beside her.

It was a mind-blowing experience that left him in a daze. He was so enthralled with her that he threw all caution to the winds and made love to her without sparing a thought to contraception. And he does not care! He wanted to be close to Maya without any barrier whatsoever.

As his tachypneic breathing slowly decelerated to a more normal rate, his bemused gaze went over Maya’s features that were serene in her sleep. Her lips were swollen from his kisses and her cheeks were still flushed pink. His gaze went over her smooth and shapely length until it arrested on the blood stain on her thighs. The same stain was likewise partially coating his still erect shaft.

So, he has not imagined it!

Maya was a virgin until a few minutes ago! He still could not fully take that in. Given her age and her past romantic relationships, somehow she has managed to stay virgo intacta. How on earth was that possible? Did she hook up with one milksoppy boyfriend after another? If she was his, he would not be able to keep his hands off her.

This clearly explains your current post coital state, of course.

I am not like one of her milksoppy ex-boyfriends.

Hang on a minute! Who told you she had boyfriends in the first place?

No one in particular really, he answered himself. Ryan, and then recently Emman, informed him that Maya dated a few guys.

But no one specifically told you that she had a boyfriend, eh? You made that grossly wrong assumption all by yourself, Richard Lim!

Priding himself as a man of the world, he had told Maya that he could not care less about her past boyfriends. But if truth be told, he has been torturing himself with thoughts of Maya being intimate with other men when they only existed in his head. This would explain her blushing discomfort and extreme shyness whenever they get hot and heavy. He even subjected himself to extreme sexual frustration while he ‘exorcised’ her alleged ex-boyfriends out of her system. Yet, all this time, she has always been tucked up in her chaste bed all by herself.

Richard felt like a bloody idiot!

Nevertheless, he was a very lucky idiot, not to mention a very jubilant idiot for Maya chose him to be her first lover. He wondered whether she has also been waiting for him all these years. Richard would like to think so. He is fervently hoping that this is the case.

Smiling inwardly, he gathered her in his arms and pulled the cotton sheet over the both of them. Maya nuzzled his shoulder before resettling back to sleep. The caress sent jolts of pleasure through his spine but he doubted if Maya would welcome being made love to all over again. Still aroused and far from satisfied, Richard absently thought that it would probably take making love with Maya for several weeks, probably months, before he could dampen down his desire for her into a more normal level.

Smiling wryly, Richard settled down beside her and listened to her even breathing. For the first time in years, he felt emotional contentment despite his physical dissatisfaction. Being with the woman you love makes all the difference in the world. In his heart and mind, what happened between them felt right.

So, how will you face Tatay Arturo and Nanay Teresita after this?

A frown marred his handsome chinito features as his conscience pricked him. Maya’s parents have trusted him and he turned around to bed their daughter almost right under their noses. He slowly got up so that he would not jolt Maya out of her rest. He needed to make a few phone calls.

After almost an hour, he came back to bed. He kissed Maya’s forehead and snuggled as close as possible to her. He smiled to himself as this would be the first time he would literally be sleeping with a woman. No, that was not right. He had first slept with Maya the night of the storm.

“I love you, Maya” he whispered into her hair before he closed his lids.

Richard felt her initially stirring around daybreak before resettling back to sleep. He sleepily waited if she will wake up. When she didn’t, Richard kissed Maya’s forehead before he slowly got up to reach for the towel hanging on the gallinera seat’s backrest. Tucking it around his middle, he went to the alcove to carefully pick a red rose from the thick hedge to place it on the pillow by Maya’s head.

After having a shower, he didn’t bother putting on clothes. With a wrapped towel around his middle, he went to the kitchen. He came back with a huge oval platter of fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, buttered wholemeal toast and a small pot of black coffee and a tiny jug of fresh milk. There were also slices of rockmelon, pineapple and a lakatan banana.

Richard saw that Maya was awake and was smelling the red rose. Her hair was spread across his pillow and there was a healthy glow on her skin. Richard thought she looked like a woman who had just been made love to. She smiled shyly as she sat up in bed while trying to tuck the bed sheet to cover herself as another enchanting blush was creeping up her cheeks.

Richard wolfishly smiled as he watched her movements. He mentally debated whether to remind her of his photographic memory or just let her be. Richard considered her hiding behind the sheet as rather futile for he had already memorized every inch of her.

“Good morning, sweetheart” he greeted her with a deep lingering kiss as he placed the bed tray table across her legs.

“Good morning” was her husky reply.

“We forgot about dinner last night so I am sure you are very hungry,” he stated as he sat down on the bed beside her.

“Mmmmmnnnn” Maya appreciatively breathed in the savoury aroma as she regarded the breakfast feast before her. Then she poured the coffee into two cups and spooned sugar into one. Maya’s eyes rounded as Richard offered a forkful of scrambled eggs by her lips. Richard smiled as Maya opened her mouth. Smiling sweetly as she munched, Maya picked up a crunchy bacon strip and fed it to him.

“Marunong ka rin palang magluto,” Maya complimented as she peeled and sliced the banana to top it on a toast.

“Of course,” Richard nodded while chewing as he placed another forkful of scrambled eggs into her mouth and then continued “I had no choice but to learn when I lived overseas.”

“Nung nag-stay ka sa Dubai?” she asked after swallowing.

Richard nodded again and sipped his black coffee as he watched Maya eat. She mainly munched on her ‘banana on toast’ and then the sliced fruits.

“Finish the eggs, sweetheart,” he instructed as he considered her shoulder frame. With his connoisseur eye, Richard evaluated that Maya could do with a bit more weight. She would be sexier, he mused as his eyes became mere slits as he recalled what happened the night before.

“Ikaw?”

“I usually just have coffee first.” Richard really can not eat first thing in the morning. He needed to work up an appetite before he could have breakfast. “I’ll be back.”

Richard disappeared into the bathroom where he had recently installed a huge corner spa bath that could easily fit three people. He turned on the tap to fill it up with very warm water. Then he picked up a bottle of bath oil and squirted some into the rising water level.

Approaching the bed, he smiled at Maya who was finishing her coffee when he came back. He put away the tray and scooped up Maya who insisted on holding onto the sheet. He glimpsed the palm-size patch of dried blood on the bed’s fitted sheet as he pivoted towards the bathroom.

“Are you very sore?” he asked in concern.

Richard’s knowledge with virgins was limited. The last time he made love to one was during his college days for he avoided them like the plague. Still, he was aware that the ‘first time’ was not a pleasurable experience for most, if not all women. And the morning-after soreness was reputed to be even worse. Richard reckoned it would be akin to exercising for the first time after leading a sedentary lifestyle. Every aching muscle fibre would be protesting with every movement.

Richard noted Maya’s heightening blush as she nodded. Richard sighed as his hopes of making love to her again were clearly dashed. It can’t be helped, Richard thought. He needed to make more allowances for her inexperience. He was just glad they can spend a few days together.

“Hmmmnn, well, this should ease some of the soreness off,” he told her as he gently lowered her into the middle of the filled spa bath. He grinned when Maya had quickly taken the sheet off and gave the bundle to him to avoid wetting it. He placed it on top of the clothes hamper before shedding his towel. He stepped naked into the bath and sat behind Maya, with his long limbs on either side of her. He picked up the flannel and proceeded to wash her smooth back. He leaned forward when he went to wash her nape which he just had to bestow a kiss.

“Richard, may kiliti ako diyan!” Maya protested giddily as she tried to move away.

He just grinned as he went to wash her shoulders and arms. Leaning forward, he paid a lavish and lengthy attention to her twin peaks which had Maya squirming. He lowered the flannel to her abdominal area and then went further to wash off the dried blood on her thighs which made Maya sit very still.

“Maya…”

“Hmmmnnn?”

“How come I was your first?” he asked in a husky tone.

The ensuing silence was only disturbed by the gentle lap of water against their bodies.

“Maya?”

“Ahhh….eh…w-wala naman kasi akong naging boyfriend bukod sayo,” she explained hesitantly.

Elation surged in him as he confirmed that he was her first boyfriend as well. This could mean that she never felt any strong emotion towards any other man except him. He vowed he would be the last man in her life as well.

“Pero bakit nga?” Richard persisted. “I mean, I am sure you had suitors and that you have dated…”

“That’s right,” Maya agreed quickly “ Pero hindi naman ibig sabihin na nakipag-date ako sa guy na magiging boyfriend ko na siya. Hindi rin ibig sabihin na nakipagdate ako sa guy na maika-kama na niya ‘ko!”

Without meaning to, he was upsetting Maya whose head was bent. Tendrils have escaped her hastily chignoned hair and they were getting wet.

“Look, I am sorry. I did not mean to question your morals. I would be the last person to do that given my very chequered past. What I have been wanting to ask was and have been botching so far—”

Maya turned her head and looked directly at him with her wary doe-eyes that he lost his train of thoughts for a few seconds.

“Did you not feel strong attraction to the guys you have dated?”

Maya looked away, frowning slightly in silent contemplation.

“I was attracted enough to date them…but I don’t know…” Maya replied almost lost in her own thoughts “something was preventing me to go into a relationship. And I have been baffled at how I felt for years. I have often asked myself why I never could take the next step. Then a few weeks ago, my question was finally answered…”

“…I was still in love with you.” Maya turned her head to look seriously at him.

“How long have you known?” he asked quietly.

Maya smiled sweetly. “Tulad ng sabi ko, matagal na.”

“Since when?” Richard insisted when Maya looked away.

“If you must know, I have always felt something for you. It was weird coz I really disliked you when I was a kid coz you teased me a lot.”

Richard grinned at her as he resumed washing her thighs.

“You were such a cute smiley kid even without your front teeth, I could not resist making you pout. Ang haba kasi ng nguso mo kapag naka-irap.”

“Ang sama mo! Iniiyakan ko na nga nung mawala yung front teeth ko tapos tawagin mo ba naman akong ‘Bungi’. Lakas mo kayang mang-asar!” Maya chided him “Anyway, I did not like you very much. Or so I thought. Then I finally realised that I feel strange whenever you are around.”

“In what way strange?” Richard ‘s eyes were lifted in query.

“It’s like having butterflies fluttering around in my stomach whenever you are near. Then I found myself missing you. Especially when you and Kuya graduated from your degree studies and you both became busy with your respective careers. I was twelve when it finally dawned on me that I have a crush on you. But you stayed away.” she finished accusingly.

“But I still came back often.” Richard claimed defensively.

“Only for short visits. You never stayed for the summer months anymore. So, I got even angrier at you. I know it was irrational and childish but I was angry at you.”

“Kaya pala hindi ka ngumingiti sakin. Masayahin ka pero naka-irap ka pag ako na ang kaharap mo.”

“Naging protective mechanism ko yata yung magalit para hindi mo mahalata na may crush ako sayo,” Maya explained with a giggle.

“Hmmm…ang akala ko naman, ayaw mo talaga sakin.” Richard murmured against her nape. “Yet when I kissed you that night on the beach, I knew you were not kissing me back but I felt your response. I thought I imagined it coz afterwards your eyes were hating my guts. Then you ran from me crying.”

“Kasi naman first kiss ko yun. It was so momentous for me. Then you said that it was just a demonstration of ‘the possible dangers’ that can happen to me.” Maya pouted.

“And I still stand by that. You should not walk on the beach or anywhere else for that matter in the middle of the night, most especially when you are alone.” Richard declared and then sighed. “That night I told myself that I needed to stay away because I knew I will not be able to keep my distance if I keep on staying under your parents’ roof.”

“Funny, that was also the night I realised that I was in love with you.” Maya smiled sweetly at him as she turned to to kneel facing him to drape her arms around his neck. “Although later, I tried to convince myself that I was over you. I was merely deluding myself all these years. Because I am still crazy about you.”

Richard welcomed and deepened the kiss that Maya gave him after her confession. His arms went round her, exulting in being able to see and hold her most intimately. However, he can also feel his control slipping fast.

“Maya, we need to stop…” was his breathless warning when he broke off the kiss “unless, you want to make love again.”

Maya looked dreamily at him before a look of horror replaced her expression “Goodness, your shoulders are bleeding!”

Richard frowned and looked at his left and right shoulders where crescent-shaped marks were bleeding again. The high temperature of the steamy water must have loosened off the scabbed platelet plugs.

His grinned lop-sidedly as he informed her “You made those cuts last night, sweetheart.”

Maya was even more horrified as recognition entered her eyes. “Naku, sorry hindi ko sinasadya.”

“Don’t worry about it, Maya. I did not even feel it…” he paused as his eyes gleamed “…coz we were making love at the time.”

His admission brought on another wave of colour to creep up Maya’s cheeks. He frowned when Maya shivered. “Are you getting cold?”

At her nod, he adjusted the thermostat to a higher setting and then turned on the jacuzzi. With eyes closed, Richard was just quite content on holding Maya as they allowed hydrotherapy to soothe their muscles.

Afterwards, he went into his closet to put on a singlet and cotton printed shorts. He picked up another pair of shorts and a T-shirt which Maya could wear but when he rejoined her in the bedroom, she was already wearing his pale pink long sleeved polo shirt which he had shed the night before. With the shirt tail reaching down her mid-thigh, she looked very sexy.

“Don’t you want some fresh clothes on?”

Maya smilingly shook her head. “Mas gusto kong i-suot ito. Kung okey lang sayo?”

“Why should I mind if you go walking around the house half-naked with just my shirt?” he teased “but just to be on the safe side, I think it’s best we stay mainly in the master suite. I don’t want Tata Igme getting over-excited and suffering a heart attack if he sees you in that get-up.”

Maya giggled. “Jealous, Richard?”

“Most definitely jealous, Maya. I don’t want any other male seeing what should be for my eyes only.” Richard said mockingly but with a very serious undertone as he closed the gap between them and kissed her nose. “Now what do you want to do?”

“Hmmmmmnnn” Maya looked around the bedroom and stated “I want to look at curtain designs.”

Richard’s brows lifted again.

“The house needs curtains. I can check some websites to see the current trends for window furnishings.”

“Okey, I will set up the laptops in the sitting room. I will also have to check my emails for anything that urgently needs my attention.”

Richard had actually turned off his phone since yesterday afternoon for he wanted this special time with Maya to be uninterrupted. He had only turned it on for an hour to talk to Lisa to organise a special delivery for him. Afterwhich, he spoke lengthily to his parents to inform them of his marriage plans and to solicit their support. His father was relieved to hear that he was finally settling down while his mother was ecstatic and already requesting grandchildren right away.

Children.

The idea of precocious little versions of Maya running around barefoot was making him grin from ear to ear. Ideally, he would love three or four kids. Of course, this would also depend on Maya. But hopefully not quite yet. He preferred to have Maya all to himself for the first two or three years before bringing in kids to the equation.

Some things just happen, Richard. Especially, how you lost control last night. Maya could already be pregnant.

That thought nagged him as they both worked in companionable silence with a laptop each until Maya got up stating she was tired and getting back to bed. Richard noticed Maya walking slowly and wincing with every step. He frowned at her retreating back, wanting to scold her for suffering in silence. Richard got up and went to the kitchen. He took and opened a small packet of Oreo biscuits and a milky Milo drink which he made Maya consume to line her stomach before giving her Ibuprofen tablets.

“Why did you not tell me you were still sore?” Richard reprimanded her as he joined her in bed to hold her in his arms.

“Okey naman ako kanina after the spa bath, eh. Ang kaso bumibigat yung pakiramdam ko. Para akong may sinat. Magkaka-flu yata ako.” Maya revealed.

“Oh, Maya, you are so good for my ego! I usually get fantastic reviews for my bedroom performance.” Richard chuckled “But definitely not with you coz I actually made you sick. Priceless!”

Maya stuck out her tongue at him which made Richard laugh even harder. He gave her a squeeze and another peck on the nose. He was in bed again with Maya and was thoroughly enjoying this lazy day.

Later that evening, he stood up when he heard the familiar sound of the whirring blades of his helicopter hovering abovehead. Despite getting up from the bed carefully, Maya stirred and asked him where he was going.

“I am just going outside for a few minutes. Stay here please.” He kissed her on the lips before he went outside to his expansive front lawn to wait for a very special delivery.

Lisa jumped out of the chopper, followed by a couple of burly men carrying a myriad of items. With his face split with a wide grin, Richard came forward to greet Lisa and her companions.

“Thank you, Lisa, for doing this for me.” Richard expressed his gratitude as Lisa handed him a small package. He took the square box out of the bag and opened it. Smiling broadly, he inspected the exquisitely-made engagement ring for the first time. Though he never designed any jewellery before, he found himself drawing Maya’s engagement ring one night when he got inspired by Señor DE La Rosa’s wood carvings.

“Naku, sir. It is a privilege to be able to assist you on this very special occasion. I have the the dress you ordered. I think I have the right size.” Lisa looked around then asked “Sir, saan po kami magse-set up?”

Richard snapped the box shut and smiled at Lisa. “We have to go to the beachfront. Please follow me.”

An hour almost passed when Richard returned to the master’s bedroom. He went to lie beside Maya to wake her up with kisses. She merely groaned and shifted away. He snuggled behind her again and started kissing her neck.

“Nangingiliti ka naman, eh…” Maya moaned sleepily.

“Wake up sleepy head. We’re going out,” he announced as he straightened by the side of the bed.

“Saan tayo pupunta?” Maya finally opened her eyes and stretched on the bed, unknowingly enticing Richard who could only look on as the movement further exposed her shapely legs. He watched as she got up and smiled at him before giving him a hug and resting her head on his chest.

“It’s a surprise.” Richard replied as he enfolded her in his arms. “Got a dress for you.”

“Saan?” Maya lifted her head from him.

Richard nodded his head towards the direction of the turquoise printed maxi dress which he had laid out over the gallinera’s backrest. He had placed a canvass slingback sandal of the same shade by the chair’s feet.

Maya got up and measured the dress against her length. “Thank you for the surprise.”

Closing the gap between them, Richard held her round the waist and said “That wasn’t my surprise.”

“Huh?” Maya frowned.

Richard shook his head. “Change into that so we can get out of the house.”

Maya grinned up at him and complied. Richard was buttoning up his short sleeved polo shirt when Maya approached to fix his collar.

“Thanks, sweetheart,” he murmured before bestowing a quick kiss on her lips.

Richard then took her right hand in his left and guided her towards the main door to the cobbled path leading to the beach. Leisurely, they walked hand in hand under the star spangled night. A sweet fragrance was wafting from the clumps of jasmine bushes among the rocks.

They came upon a laid-out tartan blue picnic rug in front of a bonfire. There was a picnic basket and a bucket of ice with a bottle of Moet and Chandon champagne, a couple of wine flutes and a few large square cushions.

“Do you remember this spot?” Richard asked.

Maya frowned and looked around. They were on the stretch of beach between the Spanish villa and her parent’s house. No one was about except the two of them.

“It was a night like this when I kissed you eight years ago right on this spot.” Richard looked down at her.

“Dito ba yun?”

Richard nodded wordlessly.

Maya looked at the spot with new eyes and caught the reflection of fire against a very smooth rounded surface that was on top of the wicker basket’s lid. Maya slowly approached it with Richard right behind her.

“It’s a compass,” Maya exclaimed as she picked it up, to touch the smooth glass face.

“Yes, it’s an antique brass compass on its top cover, and when you open the flap, it’s a pocket watch. It was one of Señor La Rosa’s treasures that I found with the statue. I think it was appropriate to bring it out for the occasion.”

Maya looked at him questioningly.

“A compass guides voyagers because of its attraction to the magnetic north which is marked abovehead by Polaris. Both have guided Señor La Rosa in his journey from his land of birth from the far side of the globe to this particular island, to follow the woman he loves, and to ultimately make this place their home.”

Richard saw Maya’s eyes searching his and he smiled as he brought out the small square box out of his beige slack’s right pocket.

“I am making the villa a very comfortable house but I need ‘you’ to make it a home. You already know of my desire to make you my wife. I would like to know if this is also what you want.” Richard paused to go down on one knee in front of Maya as he opened the box. “I am asking you to marry me, Maya.”

“Oh, Richard…” Maya’s smiling eyes glistened with tears that gathered and was threatening to fall.

“Make me the happiest man on earth, Maya. Say yes, sweetheart.” Richard prompted huskily.

“Yes…yes!” Maya’s tears fell down her cheeks as she looked at the beautiful ring inside the box.

Richard pulled a sigh of relief, unaware that he was holding his breath the entire time. He got up and took the ring out of its cushion bed, placed it on Maya’s ring finger and kissed her knuckles. Then he wiped the tears off her cheeks with the pads of his fingers afterwhich he kissed her with a soul-searing kiss that conveyed all the emotion that he was feeling. They were both breathless when the liplock ended, with Maya resting her cheek against him. Richard held her around the waist, savouring the wonderful milestone in their relationship.

Under the stars, Richard and Maya celebrated their engagement with champagne. The picnic basket contained a square platter of clubhouse-style sandwiches, fruits and a variety of cheeses which became their supper. He hand-fed the sliced fruits to her while Maya kept on popping different cheeses into his mouth.

When they got back to the house, Maya sat on the four-poster bed as she scrutinised her ring under the bedside lamp. It was the intertwined rose design that pervaded the villa. The only addition was that a one-carat brilliant-cut  diamond was sitting on the fully bloomed rose and was with its accompanying rose bud with leaves attached to intertwined stems that formed the circle of the ring which had intricate tiny little nodules. It was made of precious platinum metal.

“Do you like it?” Richard asked as he sat beside her on the four-poster bed.

“Like it? I love it!” Maya’s arms went round his nape and kissed him again “who designed this?”

“Señor La Rosa did,” Richard quipped “well, I merely applied his intertwined roses design into a ring.”

“It’s so beautiful” Maya said in awe “how did you know my ring size?”

Richard smiled “I took Nanay’s ring finger size. Sabi niya pareho kayo ng mga daliri.”

“Alam ni Nanay na magpo-propose ka sakin?” Maya’s head was angled at him in query.

“Maya, I asked Tatay and Nanay’s permission to court you.”

Maya smiled at him, touched at his gesture of sincerity. Richard touched his forehead against hers.

“I love you, Maya.”

“I love you, too.” Maya angled her face and kissed him deeply as she removed his specs to put it on the bedside table. Richard revelled in this less inhibited Maya who instigates kisses. However, he was a bit worried when Maya started to remove his shirt and started to rain kisses down the column of his throat.

“Ahhhmm, Maya?”

“Hmmmmm?” she murmured as she punctuated his Adam’s apple with a moist kiss that had him grunting.

“Aren’t you sore?”

“I’m fine. I want to make love to you again” she admitted huskily.

“Believe me, I want to make love to you over and over and over again.” he said with feeling  “But you were very sore earlier…”

“Do I need to seduce you, Richard?” Maya asked in a sultry tone.

“Sweetheart, you can effortlessly seduce me with just a look.” Richard smiled wolfishly.

“Is that what happened yesterday?”

“Uhhhmmmm.” Richard nodded with a grin.

“Then I should be able to repeat the feat.” Maya declared as she proceeded to divest him of his polo shirt.

Richard’s tachycardiac heart rate went even higher as Maya’s fingers touched the skin that she has been exposing. She would nuzzle or kiss him. When she reached his pects, she bent her head to lave his nipple that made him gasp. Her head went further down to his flat abdomen to the waistband of his pants. This time she was able to manage his pants’ clasp and zip. Richard lifted his bottom to ease off his beige slacks as she watched Maya stand up to undress until she was just in her lacy bra and undies. Richard felt Maya pushing him down the bed and he very willingly complied.

Maya’s hands hesitated for a long time over his boxer-briefs so he took pity on her and peeled it off himself.

Maya’s fascination was very evident to Richard who was just waiting with bated breath for her next move. Then, as if in a trance, Maya’s fingers lightly went over his groin to the tuft of hair trailing a path to his hard shaft that seemed to grow harder with her caress. Richard closed his eyes as spine-tingling sensation shoot through him with her tactile caresses. Her feather-light fingers traced the ridges formed by a blood vessel network until she reached the rounded head where a clear drop of precome was glistening.

Richard gasped as incredible pleasure shot through his spine as he felt a very moist lightly abrasive warmth brushing over his tip. Dazedly, Richard opened his eyes and visually registered Maya’s head by his groin. And because he could not handle the extreme sensation, he pulled Maya who toppled over his chest.

“Ayaw mo ba nung ginawa ko?” Maya asked anxiously as she propped herself up to look down at him.

“On the contrary, sweetheart, I liked it just a bit way too much.” Richard muttered as he deftly took off her bra to free her perky breasts. He gently flipped her over so that he can access all her erogenous zones from her neck as he performed his meticulous downward kiss trail once more until he was ‘feasting’ on her once again. His lingual onslaught brought her to dizzying heights until Maya shuddered, reaching the peak of sexual ecstasy.

However, Richard heard her gasp of pain once more when he started to enter her. He retreated and moved over to sit with his back resting at the centre headboard of the four-poster bed. He pulled Maya so that he could hold her against his chest as he tried to get his libido under control.

“Richard, ayaw mo na ba?”

“I do but you are still in pain,” Richard said simply, his breathing still very uneven.

“Hindi ba masakit sa puson yan?” Maya asked indicating his state of arousal as she knelt by his side to look at him worriedly.

“Uhmmmmm,” Richard nodded “well, we can try something else…”

“What?”

“You can make love to me,” Richard suggested.

“How?” Maya looked at him blankly.

“Come on top of me sweetheart. This way you can control the movements and the pain.”

Richard patiently guided her as he instructed her to kneel astride him. With her hands gripping his forearms, Maya lowered herself as he guided his erect shaft into her feminine core. Richard gritted his teeth, almost delirious with pleasure at how hot and tight she was.

Maya was groaning in pain as she stilled after impaling herself on top of him. Richard kissed her while running his hands all over her flushed smooth length. He bent his head to suckle her pinkish peaks which had Maya panting. Then Maya started moving slowly, jerkily at first until Richard held her by the waist and guided her pace until she was moving rhythmically.

Maya had such a serious expression on her face as she concentrated on her sensual task that Richard could not resist kissing her torridly before paying attention to her twin peaked globes once more.

“Richard, I can’t do this if you keep on kissing me there.” Maya complained raggedly.

“Then, I will help you sweetheart.” Richard moved his pelvis upwards meeting Maya’s movements halfway.

“Ohhhhh…” Maya moaned.

“Are you still in pain?” Richard searched her features as he halted his upward thrusts.

Maya shook her head, her shoulder length tresses brushing against his face. “Not too much. It also feels so good.”

Richard could feel the tension from his groin rising as Maya moaned in pleasure as she moved. Then Maya was gripping his shoulders once more as she threw back her head to expose the swan-like column of her neck which was begging for his lip caress.

“Richaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrd!!!!” screamed Maya as she reached her first sexual peak with him inside her.

In turn, Richard felt his shaft being gripped by her inner muscles in another mind-blowing climax that had him shuddering helplessly underneath her.

Richard embraced Maya as she collapsed on top of him in exhaustion. He loved the feel of her length on top of him as he continued to hold her. Before he closed his eyes, he pulled the bedclothes over them. The temperature lowers significantly in the very early hours of the morning and he did not want Maya getting cold.

“I love you, Maya. You are my reason for living.” he whispered into her hair as he kissed her temple.

That night he dreamt of being present when the Spanish villa was being built. There were numerous skilled workers at the building site and he was supervising them. The walls were all up and the tile roofing was almost completed. From the corner of his eye, he saw a woman with long straight hair reaching past her waist. Traditionally attired, she was wearing a soft sleeved kimona with a very long striped skirt that covered her up to the soles of her feet. She was walking by the beach towards him when she paused to dip her bare feet into the water.

Then all of a sudden, it was evening and he was alone on the beach. He was looking at his brass pocket watch which indicated seven o’clock. He snapped it shut and returned it to his right pocket. The dark evening sky was well-lit with countless of stars. He could see Polaris shining brightly on the horizon. His gaze lowered as he saw a figure slowly rising from the water directly in front of him. Then, he was once more seeing Maya naked walking up the beach. Yet, she looked very different, with her hair centrally-parted and falling much longer at waist length. He saw her flicking her wet tresses with her right hand while her left hand hovered protectively over her softly rounded stomach. Then she looked up and smiled shyly at him as he held out a large towel which she ran into. He enfolded her in his embrace with his right hand covering her rounded stomach and murmured against her side temple “Mis razones de vivir”.

Mis razones de vivir.

My reasons for living.

Richard’s eyes opened after he said the words. Maya has since shifted and was now tucked by his left side. He slowly went to his side that caused Maya to lie on her back. Richard lightly kissed her on the lips. His gaze warmly caressed her, from her beautiful facial features to her neck, to her breasts until his eyes froze on her stomach that was a bit sunken when she lies on her back. It was too soon to tell, he thought. His gaze lowered to her hair-covered mound and her shapely legs.

Richard could feel himself getting aroused again. Actually, he has been aroused almost 24/7 since they arrived back in San Nicholas. He took another look at her length and then sighed before gently extricating his left arm underneath her head. He got up and padded to his walk-in wardrobe. He came out wearing a pair of cotton shorts sans shirt. His feet took him to the alcove in front of Señora La Rosa.

I believe you just visited me in my dream, he silently told her before his gaze lowered to the base of the statue. He read the engraving by her feet.

Mi razon de vivir.

Under the halogen lighting, more faint indentions after the first and second word were more visible to Richard. He went out of the alcove and went outside to the shelves beneath the carport to pick up different solutions, a small set of sculpting tools and rags. He returned to the alcove and knelt in front of the statue to rub out the varnish seal over the inscriptions. He carefully sprayed WD-40 to loosen the couple of century grime and left it for a few minutes to soak. Then, he picked up an Eckman plastic tool with a small rounded tip and started to slowly scrape off the dirt deposit to expose the remaining letters of the inscriptions.

Richard had been slowly scraping for almost an hour when Maya joined him in the alcove. Garbed in his cotton waffle robe, she padded to where he was crouching and hugged him from behind. He received a smack on his right cheek.

“Anong ginagawa mo dito ng madaling araw?” Maya asked sleepily.

“Just completing a task I started years ago,” he quipped “Are you able to read that?”

Maya peered over his shoulder and slowly read the inscription aloud “Mis razones de vivir”

Richard got up and took off the statues tapis and then placed his arms round Maya’s waist as he said “Tell me, why do you think her left hand hovers over her stomach?”

Maya frowned and looked at how the statue’s left hand protectively spans over her stomach. Her eyes went down to read the inscription again. “Mis razones de vivir.”

“My reasons for living,” Richard translated.

“He knew she was pregnant when he started sculpting her!” Maya stated in wonder.

Richard looked at the softly rounded lower abdomen of the statue and confirmed “She was probably in the first couple of month’s pregnancy. That’s why she was hardly showing.”

“Masaya siya dahil magkaka-anak na sila,” Maya guessed “So he sculpted this to celebrate the occasion. The statue was a celebration for the new life they created.”

“Tayo kaya?”

“Huh?” Maya looked blankly up at him.

“Why do you look so surprised? After what already happened between us,” he smiled down at her.

Maya looked worried all of a sudden.

“Ayaw mo bang magka-anak tayo?”

“Hindi naman sa ganun. Kaya lang, baka magalit sina Tatay.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll get married right away. My parents are actually both coming home next week.” he informed her. “Pagdating nila, pwede na kaming mamanhikan.”

“Talaga?”

“Kaya nga mamaya iuuwi na kita para makausap ko na sila Tatay at Nanay.”

“Haaaa? Iuuwi mo nako?” Maya sounded so disappointed.

“I don’t want to but I have to bring you home later.”

Richard noted her pouting full lips and he just had to kiss her again. It was a kiss that turned passionate that left them breathless when Richard lifted his lips from her a fraction, seeing mirroring passion in her eyes.

“But we can go later…?”

“Yes,” Maya agreed huskily “much, much later.”

It was already way past sundown when Richard and Maya finally emerged from the villa. He gave her a quick lipsmack as he reached for the safety belt to pull it across Maya to click it in place. Richard’s brows lifted when he glimpsed Maya’s cleavage shown by the dress’ neckline that was too plunging for Richard’s peace of mind.

“Bakit?” Maya asked when Richard continued to look at her chest.

“I don’t remember this dress as being this revealing,” Richard complained.

It was the same sleeveless avocado green sundress with wheat-print at the hem. Maya had laundered and drip-dried the dress in the alcove. It looked shapeless on the hanger but it looked very sexy on Maya.

“Hindi ko kasi makita kung saan mo hinagis yung singlet ko, eh!” Maya giggled. “Medyo sexy talaga itong dress na ‘to. Ayaw mo ba?”

“Ayaw,” Richard quickly quipped “Ayaw na kitang iuwi sa inyo. Mag-tanan na lang kaya tayo?”

Maya giggled anew.

“Naku, magagalit si Tatay niyan. Saka si Mamang, magtatampo yun sayo! Nag-promise ka na magga-gown siya sa kasal natin. Sige ka!” Maya warned.

“Oo nga pala ‘no?” Richard pursed his lips before he straightened in his seat to start the Land Cruiser’s engine.

When they reached the Dela Rosa residence, no one was about for the Souvenir Shop has been closed for several hours. Richard and Maya walked hand in hand from the vehicle to the house. But before they went upstairs, Richard stopped and faced Maya.

“I just want to kiss you one more time before we face the music.” Richard muttered before his lips captured hers in another passionate clinch. With Maya enfolded in his arms, Richard’s senses leapt as he felt the curvy softness of her length. He was wishing he delayed bringing Maya home for a few more days.

Richard’s attention was so wrapped up with the woman in his arms that he ignored the slamming of car doors and the approaching footsteps. The next thing, he was being violently pulled from Maya by the shoulder and receiving a punch by his right jaw that had him staggering back.

“Kuyaaaaaa, huwaaaaag!” Maya screamed as his vision blurred for he lost his specs.

to be continued…

Long-held Torch – Part 10

Author’s Note:  Again, thank you to Ms. Chuchy for always checking my work prior to submission or posting.  My very special thanks go to Ms Alpha Grace for critically reviewing my draft so that I can come up with a better quality work.  My effusive thanks to the readers who always make the effort to leave encouraging comments. As I have said many times over, your comments/reactions keep me typing and typing and typing…parang Energiser Battery lang ang effect 😉

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Much earlier that day, Maya’s time was spent mainly on woolgathering.   She had been absently smiling as she silently reminisced how her stargazing date with Richard went like a dream the night before. She was even singing a love tune while she did her household chores.  Mamang even caught her using the feather-duster as a microphone when she sang the chorus verses.

“Ang saya-saya naman ng apo ko,” commented Mamang as Maya gave her grandmother a quick hug when Maya encountered her in the living room “kaya lang wala pa rin sa tono.”

Maya giggled good-naturedly.  She never cared whether she sings out of tune.  She is in love with Richard and he ‘says’ he feels the same.  Under the stars, he had confessed that he had been in love with her for almost a decade. And she is beginning to believe him.

“Mamang…”

Her grandmother paused in her tracks as she was about to return downstairs to the shop.  “Ano yun, apo?”

“Ang ganda po talaga ng mga bituin sa langit, Mamang.” Maya sighed dramatically.

“Bituin?” Mamang looked up at the late morning sun that was intensifying as the day reached noontime. “Bakit ka nakakakita ng mga bituin?  Nabagok ba ulo mo?”

Maya smilingly shook her head as her grandmother checked her head for any lump or swelling.

“Hmmmp!”  Mamang pursed her lips and considered her youngest grandchild before heading back downstairs  “Teresita, itong bunso mo, nakakakita ng bituin kahit sikat na sikat ang araw…nagha-halusinasyon na…”

In the late afternoon, she had an unexpected visit from Capt. James who spent a few hours with her while his return flight was delayed due to minor repairs on his aircraft.  Since she was euphoric with how her relationship with Richard was progressing, she got a bit overzealous in congratulating him when he had confided that he was finally committing himself to taking on the deputy managing director’s post long offered to him by his dad. This meant that he will not be regularly flying commercial routes anymore.

Sensing that Capt. James was also attempting to formally express his feelings for her, Maya pre-empted him by stating that she has been in love with someone and that particular someone returns her feelings.  Capt. James smiled ruefully and stated that he had suspected that there has to be a special someone for Maya to keep on ignoring him, even joking that most women found him irresistible otherwise.  Like a true gentleman, Capt. James accepted the situation and they parted as friends.

Maya was bubbly the entire dinner time.  Then, the clock indicated 7pm which progressed to 8pm and then to 9pm. It was almost 10 in the evening and Richard was still nowhere in sight. She texted him but he did not answer.

“Bunso, kalma ka lang,” teased Kute as she noticed Maya jumping to see over the  front road window each time a vehicle passed by.

Nasaan na kaya si Singkit? Sabagay, wala naman siyang sinabing gabi-gabi siyang dadalaw.  Mahirap pala itong nasasanay agad-agad.

“Hmmmp!”  Maya pursed her lips in annoyance.

“Busy yun,” explained Kute as she noticed her sibling’s darkening expression.

“Kahit anong busy niya, nandito siya pagdating ng gabi” Maya argued.

“Wow, Maya! Daig mo pa ang asawa, ah!” Kute was laughing as she tried to balance the shop’s accounts that were spread in front of her.

“Kute, ano ka ba?  Baka marinig ka nila Tatay.”

“Pakinggan mo nga kasi ang sarili mo, ni hindi mo pa nga boyfriend yung tao, mukhang gusto mo nang rendahan!”  observed  Kute “saka nasa kuwarto na sila Tatay.  Si Mamang naman naghihilik na kanina pa.”

“Matutulog na rin ako,” Maya left her sister in the family room and locked herself in her bedroom to sulk.

Richard’s light gray suit jacket was on a wire hanger and was dangling by her wardrobe cabinet handle.  After a few minutes of debating on the wisdom of visiting a man’s home, she took the jacket and went out of her bedroom.  No one was about in the living areas so she decided to just leave without telling anyone.  She should be back before anyone realizes that she was gone anyway.  She trekked the sandy beach to reach the villa where Nana Benita and Tata Igme was just about to lock the side kitchen door behind them.  The old couple let her in and said their farewells.  Before they went, Tata Igme forewarned Maya that the boss was in a foul temper since late afternoon.

Maya may probably have been able to cope with Richard in a bad mood but she was certainly no match against Richard in an amorous mood!  Her physical attraction to him was just too strong for her to withstand his advances.  She had just had a small taste of his prowess in bed that had her behaving so carelessly and so wantonly.  She was delirious with pleasure as he seemed to instinctively hone in on all her erogenous zones.  He had caressed and stroked her so intimately that she was helpless as he brought her to heavenly heights where she burst into flames.

As she slowly came back down to earth, Maya’s sensual bliss was quickly replaced by acute embarrassment.  If only one can be swallowed up by the earth merely by wishing it, she would have done so to avoid facing Richard afterwards.  There she was lying in a wicker daybed with him, behaving like an overly emotional female as tears flowed in post experience reaction.

“Maya, what’s wrong sweetheart?” Richard softly asked in concern, which made her tears flow even more profusely.

“Maya?” Richard questioned softly.

Maya abruptly sat up and gathered her front, still crying silently.  She would have gotten up and walked away just as quietly had Richard not barred her way.

“Maya, look at me.”  Richard’s voice had a hint of pleading but Maya still can not bring herself to look at him directly. “Sweetheart, please talk to me.”

“I want to go home,” Maya hiccupped her response.

“What do you want me to say, Maya?  I cannot say I am sorry for what just happened coz I’m not,” was the unapologetic response as Richard framed her face.

Maya turned her head away as Richard tried to kiss her tears away. She desperately needed to get away from him. Now!

“Okey, fine!”  Richard bit out when Maya struggled out of his hold.

Richard and Maya both had mutinous facial expressions on the ride home.  The minute the Land Cruiser stopped, Maya jumped out without waiting for Richard to open the door for her.  She ran upstairs like the devil was at her heels and locked herself in her room.

She looked terrible the next day as she was not able to sleep for each time she closed her eyes, she could see Richard and how he caressed her traitorous body.  She would then get embarrassed all over again.  She stayed in her bedroom all day, feigning sickness.  Hence, it was easy for her to avoid Richard when he visited that evening with Kute making excuses for her.

Maya was on tenterhooks the entire hour that he stayed.  She could hear him chatting with her Tatay Arturo discussing structural reinforcements and other projects her father would like to do.  She could not hide in her bedroom like this, night after night.   She could travel back to Manila to stay at her condo in order to give herself a reprieve from Richard’s advances.  So, the next day, she informed her family that she needed to be back in the capital city for a few days to sort out some things.  Kute had looked at her with disbelief but did not ask probing questions.

Maya’s flight back to Manila was uneventful.  It was just what she needed to calm herself and try to rationalize what had happened between herself and Richard. The answer was pure and simple of course.  Powerful mutual physical attraction. With the strong pull between them, it was but natural that they would end up in bed. Sooner or later.

Pero hindi ko pa siya sinasagot! Saka sabi niya maghihintay siya!

Well, he did wait. He waited until the next day and almost made love to her! The worst part of it was she just let him.  No, that was not entirely accurate nor honest. She enjoyed his love-making.  With his vast sexual experience, she was certainly no match for him. And that was not fair!

Pilyong Singkit na yun! Sobrang eksperto sa aparato! Hmmmp!

She was still wearing a disgruntled frown when she went through the airport gates. The expression was still in place when,  Emman, her gay flatmate and fellow TA flight attendant, opened the door for her as she was struggling to find  the right key for the front door.

“Roomie? What are you doing back here?”  her friend asked as he followed her into their minuscule flat that barely had room to swing a cat.

“Dito ako nakatira diba?”

“My pink gosh!”  Emman’s left delicately plucked eyebrow was raised. “Ang alam ko, isang buwan ang bakasyon mo.  So, what’s up?”

Maya tried to look relaxed as she checked her mail. They were mainly bills as per normal but one was from TA training department which she quickly opened.  It was reminding FA’s of the first aid refresher courses that started to run from last week. She had another week to be able to attend one of the sessions.

“I just have to attend the first aid refresher course this week,” Maya quickly used the new information as her alibi as she glanced at the reminder letter  “Baka umuwi din ako ng San Nicholas pagkatapos.”

Emman smiled as he peered at her closely. “Roomie, meron kang hindi sinasabi sakin.”

Maya was taken aback. Did she really look different after almost making love with Richard?  Goodness, will everyone be able to tell?

“Ha?  Anong pinagsasasabi mo?” she asked worriedly.

Emman, perceptive as always, shook his head. “There is a sparkle in your eyes that was not there when you left.”

“Well…” Maya avoided her flatmate’s knowing gaze.

“My pink gosh! Meron ka na bang boylet?  Finally?” exclaimed her gay friend excitedly.

Maya smiled at the term ‘boylet’ and how highly unsuitable it was to describe Richard.  He was anything but a boy.

“There is someone but… I am just…well,” Maya paused as she tried to verbalize  the overwhelming feeling she had at the speed of how the relationship was progressing. “basta…saka ko na lang ikukwento sayo, kapag hindi nako nahihilo sa bilis ng mga pangyayari, ha?”

“Sige promise yan. Kukulitin talaga kita.”  Emman retorted as she headed towards her bedroom.

Maya just smiled ruefully as she closed her bedroom. She unpacked, undressed  and garbed on a thick towelling robe. She then gathered all soiled clothing into her laundry basket.  She glanced at her wall clock which just ticked a few minutes after 8pm.  She went to her ensuite bathroom and turned on the tap to fill the bathtub with very warm water.  Then, she lit her chamomile scented candles to fill the bathroom with a relaxing ambience.

With her long tresses in a high chignon, Maya was already soaking in the bath when Emman hollered that he will go to the mall to meet up with a few female colleagues from TA to watch the last full show screening of  a chick flick.  She yelled back that she was in the bath and requested that Emman lock the door behind him.

Resettling herself in the warm water, she took the ball puff  to scrub herself in places that was reminding her of her last encounter with the bespectacled chinito.  He had touched her in the most intimate places which were still very sensitive at the moment.  Even the gentle laps of water against the swell of her breasts were echoing the caress of the man who preoccupied most of her conscious thoughts at the moment.

With grim determination, Maya closed her eyes and tried to blank out any thoughts on Richard.  The very warm scented water eventually soothed and relaxed her body.  Maya frowned as she felt the light caress of fingers over her uppers arms which travelled to the upper swell of her breasts that were visible above water.  Maya languorously opened her eyes and saw Richard lowering himself into the bathtub,  causing a lot of scented water to overflow.  Maya blinked as he poised himself above her before his lips claimed hers in another searingly hot kiss.

Maya’s hands involuntarily went to his wide chest and felt his bare warm skin. Richard further deepened the kiss and she felt his length covering hers as water gushed around them.  The bath water may have cooled down, but Maya’s temperature was rising again as Richard’s hands were lightly stroking her while he continued with his drugging kisses.

Maya’s breathing hitched when Richard’s lips travelled down her neck to one upturned peak that leapt alive as he suckled hungrily and then fondled the other.  Maya was mewling with pleasure as Richard shifted his attention to her other peak.  Then his hands were exploring further down, much further down.  Maya bit her lower lip to stop herself from groaning when she felt his fingers probe between her feminine furrow.  She gasped as he found her hidden nubbin and started caressing it like before.  With eyes squeezed shut, Maya could only hold on to him as she felt hedonistic delight taking over.

Wordlessly, she felt one of his hands shift to cup one of her derrière and she felt him wedging her thighs open. Then she felt a blunt tip nudging her feminine entrance that made her eyes flutter wide open. She looked up at him and saw that his chinito eyes were glittering down at her before he swooped down again to cover her lips.  Maya felt herself being stretched as his male shaft inched its way into her feminine core.  When Richard released her lips, Maya’s breathing was very much uneven.  Richard gathered her in his arms, as his painstakingly slow invasion continued.

Maya’s hands went up and gripped his upper arms and rested her cheek against his left chest.  His heart was beating hard and loud. In fact, it was getting louder and louder that it alarmed  her for his heartbeat sounded very different from the ‘lub-dub’ that one normally hears.  It was more like the pounding of wood, like someone knocking very hard on a wooden door!

That was when Maya’s eyes finally opened.  She was still half-immersed within the scented water with her hands gripping either side of the bathtub while her legs were spread-eagled under the scented bath water.  But she was alone!  Her hands went to her hot cheeks in shame.  It was just a dream, albeit a very vivid erotic dream!

Damn the man!  She can’t even escape him even though she had already placed a great distance between them!  Her traitorous body certainly remembered, as she was reduced to fantasizing about him!

The hard knock came again.  She ignored it at first but was forced to get up as the relentless knock got louder by the second.  Any harder and the front door would be in danger of getting knocked off its hinges.

“Sandali lang!” she yelled out which halted the wood pounding.

Maya climbed out of the bath and self-deprecatingly noted the very dry bathroom floor tiles. She haphazardly towelled herself dry before putting on a towelling robe. Emman must have forgotten his set of keys again, Maya thought as she quickly padded barefoot to the front door.

“Emman?  Nakalimutan mo na nam—!”  Maya’s jaw dropped as she opened the door for it was Richard standing there with a thunderous expression on his face.

“Who the hell is Emman?”  Richard demanded as he walked through the door, brushing past Maya.

“Richard, anong ginagawa mo dito?” Maya finally asked as she recovered, ignoring his question.

“I should be asking you that question, Maya” he verbally threw back with both hands on his hips as he stood in the middle of the condo’s tiny living room.

“I don’t have to tell you anything!” she yelled defiantly but stepped back as Richard advanced on her like a tiger eyeing his prey “Well, if you must know I have training this week.”

“Really?” he questioned, scepticism written all over his stern face.

“Yes, really!”

“So, you were not actually running away from me?” he baited as he continued to advance.

“Bakit ko naman gagawin yun?”  Maya parried with another question as she moved away from him, her back now against the wall as she gripped  the doorknob.

“Dahil natakot ka sa nangyari nung isang gabi” he replied with eyes mere slits.

“Hindi ah!” was her vehement denial.

“Good!”  Richard looked pointedly at her towelling robe “Change into something decent.  We’re going out for dinner.”

In a bad mood, Richard can be derisive, demanding or domineering.  At the moment, he was all three which took her breath away, in a really very bad way!  How dared he imply that she was dressed indecently!  For goodness sake, she was in the bath when he arrived unannounced!  And he did not even ask if she wanted to go out with him. He just declared that they were and that was that!

“Sinong may sabing sasama ako sayo?”  she bristled, unwilling to be browbeated.

“Are you not hungry?”

Maya shook her head vigorously.

“Okey, then we’ll stay in and order food to be delivered.” Richard eyed her almost balefully.

“What? You can’t stay here!” Maya protested in panic.

His response was to close the door a bit more forcefully  than necessary as he closed the gap between them.  She was rooted at the spot, her back against the wall.  Then, Maya felt Richard’s right hand go round her waist while the other angled her face so he could directly look into her eyes.

“You are driving me insane,” he murmured as he lowered his face to hers.

“Richard, please!” Maya protested in a breathless voice as she tried to avoid his kiss.

Hmmmnnn…you smell very nice,” he murmured as his kiss fell on the side of her face while his right hand travelled upwards to go under her robe to freely explore.  His lips were making a trail across her neck while his hands cupped her twin peaks under the fabric.  Maya could only whimper as little ripples of pleasurable sensations coursed through her body.  She was helpless as Richard swooped up again for a passionate kiss.  All coherent thought processes fled once again as Maya’s traitorous body revelled in the attention that Richard was giving her.  Of their own accord, her hands had crept around his neck as she hesitantly kissed him back which made Richard just deepen the kiss.

“So, who is Emman?”  he asked when he broke the liplock only to trail his lips along her jawline.

Maya frowned. “Emman?”

“Hmmnnnn… when I arrived, you thought I was Emman.  I seem to keep on tripping over your boyfriends. What’s he to you?” he prompted in deceptively soft tone.

“He’s not my—oohhh!”  Maya forgot what she was trying to say as his thumb pad teased her nipples.

“Go on,” Richard prompted as he kissed the corner of her mouth.

“He’s not…my boy…friend,” Maya managed to gasp with unsteady breathing “he’s myyyy g—gay…flat…mate…”

“Good!” Richard said before kissing her that obliterated all rational thoughts from her head.

After a while, Richard released her lips and looked down at her.

“Maya?” he whispered.

Silence.

“I am sure you have something to say,”    he said huskily.

“No?” he sounded amused as Maya shook her head wordlessly. “Well, if you have nothing to say, we might as well continue this in your bedroom, hmmm?”

Maya gasped and then looked up at him.

“And daya-daya mo!” Maya complained as she glared at him “Dinadaan mo ako palagi sa bilis, eh!”

Richard’s brows merely lifted as he tried to suppress a smile which further annoyed Maya.

“Sabi mo maghihintay ka, diba?” Maya whined petulantly. “Ano?  Express Lane na naman?”

“Maya,  FYI,” he indicated towards his lower body where his hard-on was clearly visible against his pants “I am still waiting.”

“Oh!”  Maya blinked in realization, her doe-shaped eyes as big as saucers.  While she was consumed with passion, she did not even spare a thought for him.

Richard laughed in that throaty deep voice, his chinito eyes slanted upwards in very good humour despite his unsatisfied state.

Maya blinked again as she finally remembered that she was half exposed.  Her hands flew to gather her robe lapels as she tried to escape, her eyes avoiding Richard’s knowing gaze.  She went nowhere as Richard refused to release her.

“Maya, look at me,” Richard softly commanded as he gently turned her jaw to face him.  “There is nothing wrong with what happened the other night, if that was bothering you. What happened was just as natural as my loving you.”

Maya still kept mum, lost for words.

“Are you shy, Maya?”

Maya wordlessly nodded her head.

“Sweetheart, you shouldn’t be,” Richard laughed again throatily.  “We are physically attracted to each other so ‘this’ was inevitable between us.”

A rumbling sound interrupted their conversation.  It was Richard’s stomach growling with hunger.

“I haven’t had lunch and I am really getting hungry,” Richard informed her ruefully as he stepped back to release her. “It’s too late for a proper course dinner but I am sure we can find something if I drive around.”

With head averted, she quickly went into her bedroom.  For a minute, Maya weighed the merits of locking him out of her room.  He will probably just break it down and wake up the entire condominium building’s residential populace in the process!

“And Maya, I am just giving you 10 minutes.  If you are not dressed in that time, I will go in there and continue where we left off,” he hollered through her bedroom door.

That threat got her moving in lightning speed, unwilling to risk another bout of love-making with Richard. How was she going to get through the next couple of hours with him?  She would die of embarrassment each time he looked at her.

Funny enough, Maya was able to survive the late night date with Richard.  They went to a 24-hour American diner that always served breakfast and steak dinners.  She was even able to muster a smile when Richard ordered a banana with her steak and rice meal.

Richard’s behaviour changed, though.  At first, he had insisted on holding her hand as he drove his BMW.  It was like a tug of war at first, but he eventually won as he firmly held her hand against his thigh.  Then he was either holding her hand, or his hand would be at the back of her waist when they were walking.  And she had even felt his palm stray downwards to her derrière once or twice!  He had also held her very close when they were standing by the diner’s foyer, waiting to be seated.  He even stole a kiss as he did a quick lipsmack before guiding her as they followed the waiting staff  to their table.  While waiting for their food, he was holding her hands across the square table.

Richard was behaving like a boyfriend!  More specifically, her boyfriend!  He had decided that they are ‘together’ despite the fact that they never did the DTR.  Maya almost laughed at herself.  Richard had almost made love to her once, or twice, if you count what happened tonight.  Yet, she was still wanting a verbal confirmation of their relationship status!

When they got back to her condo, Richard had kissed her thoroughly for several minutes before releasing her and then watching her go through her front door.  He had whispered that he has an important meeting the next day  at the corporate head office that finishes by midday  but he would call her so that they can have lunch together.

First thing in the morning, Maya left for TA head office. She picked up her payslips and checked her next roster.  Then, she sauntered off to the training centre located on the third floor.  She presented herself to the elderly lady facilitator, who was part of the company nurse team, and confessed that she was not able to book herself as she had been away.  The facilitator smiled and waved her in stating that she did not have many attendees for that morning.  Maya breezed though the CPR training and finished early but the facilitator said something that struck Maya.

“Life is so precious and you never know what’s around the corner.  One minute, you are laughing with a passenger, a colleague, or a loved one.  The next minute, something happens and they are gone.  So, you need to be prepared but do not blame yourself if you cannot save that life, because there are no guarantees in life.”

There are no guarantees in life.  That statement kept on replaying in her head as she stepped into the elevator.

In retrospect, Maya thought about Señor La Rosa and his wife. They were both in the prime of their lives.  He had a brilliant career.  He had many plans, intended to have many children, hoped to fill the Spanish villa with love and laughter.  But it all came to a crashing end with the unexpected death of his wife and his own death soon thereafter.

The thought of Richard dying was unthinkable.  Yet, she had cowardly left Richard when she could not handle the situation.  He quickly followed but anything could have happened in between.  Then she thought about his chopper and she felt nauseous just thinking of the mishaps that could have happened to him while travelling to and fro Mindoro night after night just so that he could be with her.

She ran out of the elevator as soon as it stopped on the ground floor level.  Maya practiced some breathing exercises to calm herself down.   It took several minutes before her breathing regulated and her pulses beat in normal steady rhythm.

Without meaning to, the facilitator drummed a few home truths to her this morning.  In the final analysis, she loves Richard and he loves her.  Whatever the future brings, she owed it to herself and to him to have a chance at happiness.  There would definitely be problems with the difference in personalities.  She was not that naïve not to expect any.   But they can compromise which had always been the key to successful relationships.  And as long as he remained devoted and faithful to her, they can work out the rest.

With that decided in her head, she was again light on her feet.  It was an hour before lunchtime.  Maya would surprise him and visit him this time.  She was smiling as she hailed an oncoming taxi.

Despite the hideous Makati City traffic, Maya was practically beaming when she finally reached Richard’s head office.  The clerical staff were busy as she went through.  It was a good thing Miss Lisa came out of the boardroom and saw her.

“Miss Maya,” she smiled at her as Maya warmly kissed her cheek in greeting “Your Kuya Ryan is not here.”

Maya smiled shyly. “I am looking for Richard, actually. Is he free now?”

Lisa smiled conspiratorially at her. “We just finished a meeting with the public relations company.  You go into the boardroom.”

Maya hesitated not wanting to intrude on Richard when he has clients and employees with him. When she saw several people filing out from the boardroom, she went towards the door, smiling in acknowledgement as she passed them.  She quietly opened the door, but was transfixed like a statue as she saw Richard talking in hushed tones with a very beautiful woman in a very clingy backless halter top and silky black pants that showed off her curvaceously stunning figure. But what was damning was that the woman’s arms were around his neck while he was holding her upper arms.

Maya felt a searing pain in her chest.  She stood there for a few seconds unconsciously gripping the doorknob before she finally remembered where she was.  Pulling a deep calming breath, Maya plastered on a smile as she felt the adrenalin rushing through her bloodstream as she switched on the fight mode.

You messed with the wrong woman, Richard Lim!

Maya walked further into the boardroom and stopped when she reached Richard’s line of vision.

“Maya!” he greeted in surprise.  But was that delight that she can also detect in his voice?

“Hello, Richard” she smiled which did not reach her eyes, “TA’s head office was nearby so I thought it was better for me to come instead of you fetching me for our lunch date.  But I can see you are otherwise busy with your favourite  ‘casual proclivity’.”

“Maya, it’s not what you think.”  Richard protested as he finally pried Catherine’s arms from around his neck but had to hold her upper arms again as she tried to snuggle up to him once more.

“Richard, who is this girl?  Tell her to go away so we can be alone.”  Catherine piped in as she looked up at Richard with sultry eyes.

Maya felt nauseous at the sight of Richard holding another woman.  “Miss Whoever-You-Are.  Let me introduce myself, I am Maya dela Rosa and I am his girlfriend,” she said, enunciating every syllable of that statement very clearly.

Maya allowed for a few seconds for her words to sink in to the creature between herself and Richard.

“You are?” Catherine questioned rather dumbly as she turned her head towards Maya.

“I would have been his fiancée if I had accepted his marriage offer.”  Maya informed her hardly as she glared at Richard.  “But after today, you are quite welcome to him. Coz I do not want to see his two-timing face ever again!”

“Maya—”

“Excuse me.  I need to go coz  I can’t stand your combined stench!”

Catherine gasped at the insult but Maya could not care less as she walked out of the boardroom with head held high.

Maya could hear Richard talking exasperatedly at Catherine as he tried to follow her.

“Maya, please wait!” Richard pleaded but she ignored him.

She smiled at Lisa who was just outside the boardroom door.  Her progress slowed down for she could not see where she was going. Her vision got blurry with tears.

“Miss Maya, are you okey?”  Lisa was looking at her with concern as she was handing her a tissue from a box of Kleenex.

“Thank you, Miss Lisa” Maya sniffed as she controlled her tears. “I will be okey.  I just need to get out of here.”

Maya pulled a deep breath and smiled tremulously at Lisa.  With head held high, Maya was the epitome of grace under pressure as she walked with poise towards the lifts which was opportunely held wide open as someone noticed her approach.

She saw Richard striding towards her as she quickly pressed down on the button to close the elevator doors faster.

to be continued…

Long-held Torch – Part 9

Author’s Note:  Again, thank you to Ms. Chuchy for always checking my work prior to submission or posting.  My effusive thanks to the readers who always make the effort to leave encouraging comments. Please keep it coming, ladies 😉

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After dinner, Richard expertly weaved through the nightlife traffic as he drove towards the higher grounds of Antipolo City to a hotel complex. Hopefully, he had timed it well so that they don’t have to wait too long. Richard parked his car and then opened the car door for Maya.  She seemed hesitant to come out of the car at first.

Now, what’s going on here?

“Maya?”

Richard saw her release a deep sigh before she climbed out of the car. Her skirt had ridden up a little so he saw a bit more skin.

She really has the most amazing shapely pair of legs.

“Is something the matter?” he asked while his right hand rested at the back of her waist  as he guided her on the slightly uneven ground of the parking area.

“Depende yan sa sorpresa mo,” she muttered as they were walking towards the main entrance and foyer where Richard nodded to greetings by uniformed staff who addressed him by his professional title and surname.

Richard’s brows went up at Maya’s comment. He had sensed that something was bothering Maya but he knew better than to nitpick and ruin the evening. So, he just wordlessly walked her through the function rooms of the complex. They ascended to an open deck to where another  uniformed  staff was waiting beside a giant telescope.

“Good evening Engr. Lim, ma’am”  the uniformed staff greeted them.

“Good evening” Richard nodded to the staff.

“Hello” Maya smiled in acknowledgement.

“Naka-set na po yan. If you need anything else, please use the internal phone to call me.”

“Thank you, Mario.”

“The staff knows you,” Maya noted when they were alone on the observation deck.

“My company built the complex for a friend who is also an astronomy enthusiast” Richard said matter-of-factly as he  looked through the giant telescope.

“You are in for a treat tonight for this is the fourth largest telescope in the country.” Richard said conversationally as he was looking through the eyepiece. “Come here quickly and have a look.”

Maya complied and had a peak. “Ano bang titingnan natin?”

“You are looking at the Great Square of Pegasus. Keep an eye on the part directly below that square,” Richard instructed.

“Eh, kahit sa San Nicholas pwede tayong mag-stargaze—-! Ayyy!  Merong shooting star!  Ayan pa!”

“You are watching the Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower.  It comes at this time of the year.” Richard informed. “And do you see another coming from a different direction?”

“Uhhumm” Maya confirmed,  unwilling to take her eyes away from the eyepiece.

“That will be part of the Perseid Meteor Shower. They overlap at particular  nights of the year.”

Both meteor showers can be seen faintly by the naked eye if one is strategically located  on the globe. With a high-powered giant telescope, it was spectacular. And judging from the way Maya delightedly exclaimed each time she sees a meteor blazing fire across the star-spangled midnight sky, she found the natural phenomenon exhilarating as well.

“Parang fireworks!” Maya gleefully enthused “ang ganda!!!”

“Maganda talaga” Richard agreed as he watched her very expressive features that altered between awe and delight.

Maya may have matured and acquired some degree of sophistication in the intervening years but she never lost that  child-like quality in appreciating simple pleasures.  Undeniably, her family had kept her grounded.    It was just one of the things he loved about her.

After a considerable time watching the meteor shower, Richard was in his element as he pointed out different constellations to Maya.

“Teka sandali,”  Maya said  after remembering something. Richard observed her stepping  away from the giant telescope to walk towards the stainless steel metal handrail. With both hands on the rail, she stood still with head slightly tilted towards the sky with her eyes closed.

“Maya?”  he asked as he took a few steps to close the gap between them.

“Sssshhhhh!” she put her pointer finger vertically across her lips to keep him silent. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes and beamed up at him “I was asking three wishes.”

“Three wishes?”

“Marami akong nakitang shooting stars pero sa tingin ko abuso naman kung hihiling ako ng ganun din kadami, diba?” Maya giggled at her own silly comment and then asked “hindi ka ba magwi-wish?”

Richard shook his head.

Maya slightly tilted her head. “I know you’ve already achieved a lot. But don’t you want something?”

“Definitely. I have many wants…”

With  you topping  that list of wants, he added silently.

“But wishes are for the innocent” Richard smiled to get the bite off his rather cynical statement  “I set goals, I plan and strategise, and then I execute to get what I want.”

Maya looked thoughtful before asking “And me?  Am I one of your goals?”

Richard looked at her seriously. “You were not part of the well-ordered life I planned for myself. I did not plan to fall in love with you. It just happened.”

“When?”  Maya was looking up searchingly at him.

Richard raised his brow in question.

“When did you fall in love with me?” Maya clarified  her query.

“You were about 15 or 16 at that time when I started feeling differently towards you.”  Richard  breathed out a short mirthless laugh.

“Really?  That long?” Maya smiled.

“Believe me it was not a good feeling!” Richard’s brow knitted at the memory.

“No?”  Maya sounded amused.

“Maya, I was already 25 years old then. Men of twenty-five  years  do  ‘not’  fall for girls of fifteen!  I actually thought that there was something wrong with me. That I was attracted to pubescent girls!”

More specifically, Richard had seriously dreaded that  he had Lolita complex at that time.

“And were you?” Maya probed further   “Were you attracted to pubescent girls?”

“Hell, no!” Richard denied emphatically “I was only attracted to you.”

“You have also been attracted to a lot of women, Richard”  Maya pointedly reminded him.

Richard silently groaned. He should have known Maya would bring up his other women again!

“Maya,   the  women I have seen casually knew exactly what they were getting into. I have never been emotionally involved with any of them and vice versa,” he explained calmly.

“Hmmmnnn…I am a bit ignorant to the type of relationship you have just described.  May I ask a few questions?”

Richard was again not liking the current conversation topic  but he had no choice but to nut this out with her.

“Fire away,” he nodded  rather resignedly.

“So these casual relationships,  how long do they usually last?”

“A few weeks, maybe a couple of  months. Sorry, I never took notice” Richard admitted with a grimace.

“So when you end one of these so-called casual relationships, you remain friends with the woman, is that right?”

“I usually never see them again” he prevaricated, remembering that his parting scene  with Stephanie was not pretty.

“Them?” Maya quickly picked up on the numerical significance of the term “Does that mean that  you see several women at the same time?”

Richard grimaced, realising that he had inadvertently dug himself into a grave.

“With casual relationships, both parties are free to see other people” Richard sighed “So yes,  there were periods that I see different  women.”

“I see.”

What does that mean? 

Maya looked at him directly. “So, how would you know that  what you want  is  not another casual relationship with me? Because I don’t do casual relationships, Richard.  Neither would I tolerate to be one among many.”

Richard digested what she said for a moment. She raised a valid point.  He was well-versed with the rules in ‘playing around’  but  rather inexperienced with committed relationships.

Maya smiled sadly as she turned again towards the railing. From the altitude of AntipoloCity, the impressive collective night lights of  Metropolitan Manila  can  compete with the luminescent stars against the infinite dark sky abovehead.

“Maya?”  Richard invaded her intimate  space again as he stood obliquely by her side,  his  polo-shirted-chest  brushing against her bare left arm.

“Yes?” Maya turned sideways towards him and he saw that her face was troubled.

“Do you see that big star?”  Richard pointed out a star that belonged to the constellation Ursa Minor or commonly known as the Little Bear.  It was big, bright and can be clearly seen on the horizon by the naked eye.

“That’s Polaris, the north star,” he said at Maya’s nod. “For centuries,  lost  travellers and seafarers have always used that to guide their way home because it remained bright and visible even with a full moon or electrical storm.  It is constant,  meaning it holds still while the entire northern sky moves around it.”

Maya was quietly listening.

“This may sound as if I am bragging but the fact is that I run a very successful firm where hundreds of employees depend on me to always be focussed and wise in making decisions.  Despite this, many  consider that I have been lost for a while  in  the more  personal aspects of my life.  But one thing remained constant in the last ten years and that’s what I have always felt for you, Maya.  And it is this undeniable  longing  that compels me to find my way back to you.   Because for the longest time, you have been my Polaris.”

Maya’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she  breathed “I don’t know what to say…”

Richard smiled down at her. Even in her three-inch heels, he was still taller by a couple of inches.

“You don’t have to say anything, Maya. But I do want you to seriously think about what I have been trying to tell you,”  Richard  gathered her hands in his and kissed both her knuckles and then looked into her doe-shaped eyes.  “I have never felt this way with anyone  else  but you. And  I very much doubt  that  I will ever fall out of love with you. If anything, I find  myself falling deeper and deeper each day.  Hence,  I would like to be with you in every sense of the word…”

Richard paused as he reached out to caress one smooth cheek with the back of his fingers.

“So it’s only fair that you should know that I don’t want you just as my girlfriend,  I want you as my wife.”

Maya was very quiet.

“Poor Maya, am I scaring you?” Richard tucked the errant lock of hair behind her left ear “but don’t worry, we’ll take things slow if that is what you want.  I  have already waited almost ten  years for you, I don’t mind waiting a little longer.”

“Talaga?” Maya looked at him searchingly.

“Oo naman. And lakas mo kaya sakin”  Richard  quipped to lighten the mood.

Richard felt so much better after laying all his cards on the table for Maya to see and understand.   He needed to clarify his intentions for he knew he botched up the  marriage topic when he brought it up the first time.  For a while now, Richard had known that he won’t be satisfied  with Maya just as his girlfriend because he yearned for  the sense of permanence that only marriage can bring. He wanted to see her face first thing  when he wakes up and to have her in his arms when he goes to bed. He wanted to come home to her after a long  working day and to spend lazy weekends with her just staying indoors. He wanted to provide for her and the children they will have together.

Maya remained very quiet on their way home.  Hopefully, she can look beyond his ‘wild-oats-sowing’ past and realise  what he was offering her. She would make him the happiest man on earth the moment she accepts his suit. In turn, he would move heaven and earth to make her happy everyday of their married life.

While Richard welcomed the temperature drop as time went,  he had noticed goosebumps appearing on Maya’s smooth upper arms.   He grabbed his suit jacket from the BMW’s backseat  and had wordlessly placed it  over her shoulders for which he got an appreciative smile of gratitude.

It was already early hours in the morning when they finally got back to San Nicholas.  He had left her at her doorstep before saying goodnight.  It  had been a long day but he was still very much alert and he doubted if he will be able to get some sleep.  He went to the master suite’s private sitting room where he had a bottle of Ardbeg Galileo  single malt scotch whiskey sitting on top of the bar fridge. He poured himself  a double shot on the rocks and proceeded to the private garden alcove that can only be accessed through the sitting room.  With a newly built glass conservatory and  re-cobbled grounds, the area was a great private outdoor space.  Richard went to the centre corner where a wrapped  figure was standing on a raised concrete dais.  He took off the protecting corrugated brown paper and bubble sheet to reveal a female wooden statue with long tresses.

“Welcome home,” with glass in hand, Richard saluted the wooden figure whose doe-shaped eyes seemed to glisten as its shiny surface reflected back the halogen spotlight above while her full lips remained curved in a shy smile.

Richard woke up the next day very invigorated despite having only a couple of hours sleep.   He quickly showered and donned on his overalls with the intention of joining his renovating team.    His men came at 8am and they systematically tore down one wall off the kitchen area where he decided to add a large naturally-well-lit family room where he could set up  a state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and a billiards table.

In the interim that the villa had no functioning kitchen, Tata Igme  and Nana Benita had been in and out of the villa, providing meals for him and his men.  When asked, Nana Benita informed him that there is more than enough budget to last for the next two weeks.

“Bago ho  matapos itong linggong ito, meron na ulit kusina ang bahay” he informed the old lady.

“Hindi naman po problema ang pagluluto, Sir Richard” the old lady caretaker answered.  Nana Benita had been cooking meals for Richard from her own kitchen and had been periodically bringing it over to the villa.

“Sir Richard,  marami na pong natanggal na talahib dun sa lagwerta” Tata Igme reported “Bago matapos po ang linggo, malinis na rin po and lahat.”

Tata Igme was referring to the western-most side of the estate that was naturally partitioned off by a stream.  This part had been home to a wide variety of fruit trees and was a very productive orchard. Unfortunately,  it had been overgrown with weeds eversince the family who had been leasing the property had neglected  and eventually left the orchard business altogether.  Richard had since built  a stone bridge for easier access for both man and vehicle. He planned to make the orchard profitable again so that the estate can be self-sufficient.

At around four in the afternoon,  Richard was already at the bottom step of the front staircase of the Dela Rosa residence. He smiled when he heard Maya’s teasing voice  but he frowned when he heard a responding  masculine voice that he had never heard before.  He  continued to ascend until he was by the  upper landing. At that vantage point, he saw Maya engrossed in deep conversation with a male guest in white uniform with three-striped epaulette on both shoulders. This visitor must be the driver of the hired white sedan parked in front of the Souvenir Shop.

Both were seated in the three seater but he could not see the male visitor’s face which was turned the other way.  Both Maya and her guest  did not see him.  Then  Maya hugged him!

“Oh, James. That’s wonderful!”  Maya gushed happily.  “I am glad you are finally committing yourself  to this…”

Richard was rooted to the spot.  He did not want to draw conclusions on what nebulous bit of  conversation that he had just overheard.  His immediate interpretation can not possibly  be the right one!  What he saw was just a hug between friends. It had to be!

Still, Richard decided that it was better that he did not enter the Dela Rosa residence.  Otherwise, he knew he will say or do something out of  jealousy and that he will regret it later. He quickly retraced his steps  for he can feel his infamous ‘tiger’ temper rising!  In this instance, it was the green-eyed monster of a tiger to be exact!

He went back behind the wheel of the Land Cruiser but he did not immediately leave.

He waited until  Capt. James left  almost an hour later.

What on earth were they talking about for almost an hour? He debated with himself whether or not he should go back into the house and sort this with Maya.

To sort what, Richard?  Are you wanting to question why she was entertaining another suitor? Or are you wanting to question what she was doing embracing another man?

BOTH!

Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! But you have no  ‘right’   to ask her anything, have you? She has not agreed to be your girlfriend.

GRRRRRRRRRRR!    The green-eyed tiger-monster growled!

In the end, he turned on the engine to drive to the main highway, burning tires along the way. He drove aimlessly for almost an hour before turning back to his estate.

The renovating team and the weeders have already left.

Tata Igme just looked on as his employer went inside the villa to change once more into his canvass overalls and CATs safety boots.  He borrowed one jungle bolo from the old caretaker with the intention of  picking up from where the weeders left off.

“Sir Richard, babalik ho ba kayo sa lagwerta?” Tata Igme asked  “medyo gumagabi na po, Sir Richard.”

“Meron ho tayong dalawang malaking portable spotlights. Pakisunod nyo na lang”  he ordered in a tone that brooked no further argument and then strode off.

When he reached the orchard, he saw that most of the weed clearing has been done.  He immediately started hacking through unwanted vegetation, stopping short only when encountering a tree trunk. He would then just viciously slash through via a different direction.

Tata Igme, accompanied by his eldest son,  arrived a few minutes later  to illuminate the area around Richard.  When the two men were about to join him, Richard sharply told them to stop and to stay out of his way.  Tata Igme just scratched his head as he heeded his employer’s instructions and wordlessly gestured to his son to do the same.

“Sir Richard, meron pong mga palumpong ng mga kape sa bandang gawi diyan…”  was the hesitant reminder by the old man but Richard was past caring whether he was also cutting down plants of the non-weed variety.  With his teeth gnashed and his lips locked in a sneer, Richard  hacked and hacked at vegetation. He felt some sense of satisfaction when he cleared all the weeds before calling it a night. His Omega watch indicated that it was almost ten in the evening.  He handed the jungle bolo to the old caretaker and instructed them to go home after putting away the powerful spotlights and  mini generator.

He strode back to the villa, feeling the soreness in his upper arms and shoulder joints. His right palm had blistered from the constant friction of handling the jungle bolo but he could not care less. He would just be adding to the calluses that he had been accumulating on his hands ever since he started renovating the Spanish villa. A few more wouldn’t matter.

After having a shower, he donned on his favourite white V-neck tee and printed cotton shorts. He did not replace his specs as he was massaging his temples. He could feel a migraine coming on which was undoubtedly brought on by the tension. He was in the process of  rummaging for  strong painkillers from the medicine cabinet when he heard drawers and cupboards opening and closing in the kitchen.

“Nana Benita?”  he hollered as he crossed the hallway from the masters suite, past the formal receiving  and dining area  to go through the kitchen where  the cabinets were already  installed, minus the benchtop.

He walked over to the open door of the walk-in pantry. Inside was Maya inspecting the shelves.

“Maya! What are you doing here?”

She smiled at him. “Nakalimutan kong isoli sayo itong suit jacket mo kagabi. Here.”

Maya handed him his light gray suit jacket which he automatically took.

Richard had all doors installed with deadlocks and bolts a couple of days ago.  Were they faulty?

“How did you get in?”

“Pinapasok ako ni Nana Benita tapos umuwi na silang mag-asawa.  Nasa banyo ka yata nung dumating ako.”

“I suppose you walked here alone?”

“Hinihintay kasi kita para maisoli ko yang suit jacket mo” Maya nodded  “nung hindi ka dumating, nag-text ako, nung wala kang reply, naglakad na lang ako.”

“You should not have come here at this time of the night” Richard muttered as he strode out of the kitchen back to the master suite,  with the intention of getting the Toyota Land Cuiser’s key.

He needed  to bring her back home for he was not good company at that very moment.  While he previously felt pangs of jealousy with the knowledge that Maya had dated other men, seeing her in another man’s arms  had roused  the green-eyed monstrous tiger which had been growling and struggling to be unleashed since this afternoon.  Until Richard can control this monster, it was prudent to keep his distance from Maya.

“Richard?” Maya called out from the master suite’s sitting room.

He came out of his bedroom to see Maya crossing the  sitting room towards the open bi-fold doors that led to the conservatory-enclosed garden alcove.  She stopped short a couple of feet away from the wooden sculpture.

Well, the  cat was now out of the bag, so to speak!

Richard sauntered to the private alcove where he saw a fascinated Maya lift her  right hand to trace the facial features that were so like hers.

“Maya, meet Señora La Rosa” Richard viewed the two female forms together and he was again struck by the similarity in height and bone structure.  If he hadn’t discovered the statue himself, he would think that Maya herself had posed for the sculptor. An antiquities expert’s  analysis report of the statue’s patina merely confirmed his suspicions that the statue was as old as the villa.

“Where did you find her?”  Maya asked incredulously  as her eyes kept running over her twin’s still features.

Richard closed the gap between himself and Maya before saying “I found her eight  years ago when I was inspecting the property with a view to buying it. She was in a hidden compartment behind the linen cabinet shelves in the sitting room. I would not have found her if the false wall had not come loose.”

The statue’s likeness to Maya was the deciding factor that made him buy the estate despite requiring funds for his then new venture into construction.  One look at her features and he knew he had to have her. He had her immediately transferred to his Ayala Alabang Village mansion with a view to having her restored.

“It’s amazing she has survived in extremely excellent condition.”  Maya  touched  the smoothly  polished  right arm that was raised to flick back her hair.

Filmed with almost two centuries of dust and grime, Richard originally thought that she was sculpted wearing a tapis. When the tapis crumbled with handling, Richard thought that he had damaged the statue until he discovered  that the tapis was actually made of woven fabric that had crusted and adhered to the  wood.  He then realised that she was actually a nude sculpture.  With the thought of her being handled by another male pair of hands abhorrent to him, Richard decided to restore her himself under the tutelage of an antique restorer.

“She was in a less than perfect  state when I found her,  but I slowly restored her through the years…”

And her presence kept me sane.

Maya touched the patadyong cloth that was wrapped around the wooden figure, modestly covering her from breast to mid-thigh.

“Magkamukha kami…”  Maya mused.

“Yes”  Richard agreed simply.

Richard followed Maya’s  gaze which went down to the base  that had inclined top    surface with continuous wavy patterns.  The  statue’s feet was slightly embedded in the base.

“At first, I thought it was just a design but I have since concluded that the sculptor was trying to emulate the wavy patterns of a sandy beach” Richard explained as his hand gestured towards the base before reaching and undoing the tapis.

“Ohhh!”  exclaimed Maya as she was confronted by the still nude version of herself.  Richard closely watched her reaction as her gaze viewed the proudly pert breasts with nipples slightly upturned,  the small waist,  the lushly rounded hips, the shapely legs and the triangular tuft of  ‘hair’  that was covering her feminine mound.  The details made up for an incredibly life-like feminine form. Evidently, the sculptor had a living model to come up with such masterpiece.

“Do you know why she’s naked?” Richard’s voice dropped to dulcet tones as he reached out to touch Maya’s flushed cheek while his other hand anchored itself to her waist.

Maya  shook her head wordlessly. Obviously, she was  overwhelmed which may be attributed  to her  seeing  a very detailed naked female body so very much like her own   or  it can be due to his  invasion of her intimate space.  Or both.

“I believe the sculptor  was trying to capture  her  liking for swimming unhindered by clothing…so you have more similarities than just looks” Richard whispered, his breath fanned her heated skin.

In some aspects, Richard envied the sculptor for he had intimate knowledge of his muse. He, on the other hand, only had his memory of Maya walking up the beach, her naked body glistening with seawater. And it was this image of Maya that had haunted him for years.

“It was a pleasure restoring and admiring her beauty  but  I would still rather have the warm living version.”

Then he closed the small gap to capture her slightly parted lips in a slow coaxing kiss.

Richard felt Maya go very still and then relax as her hands slowly crept up to rest on his chest. Richard nibbled her lower and upper lips before delving deeper.  Maya’s response was hesitant at first until she was also kissing him back. Richard deepened the kiss as the hand that had initially angled Maya’s face now travelled downwards to cup her right breast.  At his brazen touch, he felt Maya buckle in his arms.

Richard eyed the only furnishing in the alcove and picked up Maya without breaking the kiss. He gently placed Maya on the round wicker daybed and quickly joined her. He heard her moan as he touched her breast again  through her thin cotton shirt while his right hand skimmed her smooth back underneath her shirt to unhook  her bra.  After  deftly unbuttoning her front, Richard exposed her pert breasts while his moist kisses  coursed  down her neck to the valley between.  In deliberately  unhurried  motion, his lips trailed to one peak while he watched Maya’s eyes glaze over  with mounting passion as she tried  to view what Richard was doing.

“Richard…?”

Without breaking  eye contact, Richard palmed both proud mounds  and then bent his head to lave one pinkish areola with his tongue until it puckered up. Then, Richard slowly suckled the turgid nipple which made Maya arch her head back on the pillows with her eyes squeezed closed.

“Ohhhhhhhhh” Maya had bitten her lower lip in a futile effort to prevent more moans of pleasure from further escaping her lips.

Richard inwardly smiled as he moved up to give Maya another long scorchingly ardent kiss while he continually caressed her twin mounds.  After a while, he lifted his head slightly and propped himself on his elbows  as he surveyed her kiss-swollen  lips and  flushed smooth skin  that had spread  from her  cheeks to her heaving pert breasts.  An exposed Maya was a delectable sight for any hot-blooded male and  Richard’s eyes were reduced to  mere slits at the thought that another man had seen her like this.

Perhaps, Capt. James  had already sampled her charms and was wanting some more? Hence, he was willing to commit himself to Maya this time round? suggested by his alter ego in that jeering tone once more.

Over my dead body!  The green-eyed tiger monstrosity  was growling again.

Maya may have been involved with other men, this Capt. James included, but they would all have to be relegated to the past, preferably to a long dead and buried past!  To do this, Richard will just have to make her ‘see’ no one else but him.  Therefore,  he will just have to step up his campaign  and commence the process of exorcising other men out of her system, sooner rather than later.     `

“Say my name,” he commanded in between kisses along her jaw.

“What?” Maya asked breathlessly, confusion all over her face.

“Say my name” he whispered  again as  the pads of his thumb erotically caressed her nipples.

“Richard…!” Maya gasped as Richard  found the sensitive spot on her neck again.

“Say it again” he ordered as he refocused his attention to her breasts once more.

“Richard…oooohhhhhhh” Maya moaned helplessly as Richard suckled hungrily at her  right breast while her fingers involuntarily buried itself in the hair by his nape.

“And again”  he uttered as he diverted his attention to her other breast.

“Richard, please…!”

“Keep saying my name.”

“Richard…Richard…Richard” Maya’s head was turning side to side against the tides of pleasure he has been evoking.

Richard momentarily  paused  his erogenous onslaught as his hand went further down to her smooth stomach to unclasp the buttons of her culottes skirt so that his fingers can freely slide over her bellybutton and then further down  to  her lower abdomen  and  under her  panties to run over the downy hair covering her triangular mound of femininity.

“Richard?” Maya’s husky voice was unsure.

Richard recaptured her nipple to distract her  as his questing fingers furrowed  between her feminine folds to find her most sensitive nub. Maya panted helplessly as Richard suckled  at her  breasts again  while  his finger stimulation between her nether lips continued relentlessly. Richard felt the tension rise in the soft supple body beneath him.  Maya was very much aroused and restless.  To stop at this point without her achieving an orgasm would not be pleasant for her.

“You’re very wet…” murmured Richard against her ear as he nuzzled her neck once more as  one finger went beyond her  hidden nubbin and hovered by her entrance.

“Oooohhhhhh” Maya groaned  as Richard inserted a finger into her tight feminine core.  She was incredibly hot and tight  which made Richard’s eyes glitter,  intensely desiring  that he was  impaling his male shaft into her instead.

For the moment, he needed  to be content with just fanning her desire for more. A few more deliberate strokes within her and he felt her convulsing around his finger.

Richard quickly covered her lips with his own to smother her involuntary scream of pleasure as she imploded.

Maya was so passionately responsive that he longed  to take her to erotic heights that she has never reached before. But soon. Very soon.  He promised himself that he will properly make love to her and it will be incredibly mind-blowing!

Richard gathered Maya in his arms and felt her breathing slowly normalise.  He was just content to rubbing her back while she recovered. Richard smiled as he kissed her forehead. Despite his own aroused and unsatisfied state, he was in a much lighter mood.

The tiger was currently purring, like a cat who just had the cream.

He was quite content to lie down on the daybed until he felt Maya’s slight shaky movements.  Richard lifted his head to look down at Maya whose  eyes were still closed while her cheeks were now streaked with tears.

“Maya, what’s wrong sweetheart?” Richard asked worriedly.

to be continued…

Long-held Torch – Part 8

Author’s Note:   My SPECIAL THANKS  go to Ms. Chuchy  who  critiques and checks my work prior to submission.  And last but not the least, HUGE THANK YOU to all the readers who always take the time to leave encouraging comments. As I have said for the nth time, you guys, KEEP ME TYPING, AND TYPING AND TYPING…parang ENERGISER BATTERY lang ang effect.

Just  a word of caution, the flashback scene is like a tiny peak into what upcoming chapters will be like. If you feel that sizzling love scenes are not for you, please do not read on. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy reading   😉

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Year 2005

Maya was like in the midst of a maelstrom. She couldn’t breathe, she could only close her eyes and feel his searing punishing kiss, his polo-shirted chest burning  against her breasts through her thin cotton top. She had pushed at him but he was immovable with his arms around her like a vice hold.  Richard must have realised her emotional distress for he broke off  and she was able to gulp several breaths to inhale in oxygen to her starved lungs.

“Maya…Maya…Maya,”  he whispered her name like a litany against her  fevered skin. As if to make amends, Maya felt kisses being rained  all over her  lips, her chin, her nose, her cheeks. Richard was trailing his lips along her neck when she gasped as he found a particularly sensitive spot. He swooped up again to capture her slightly parted mouth at an angle for  an even deeper kiss, that was much gentler this time, like how a male lover would kiss to coax a response from his ladylove.

When Maya felt his tongue tentatively exploring the inside of her mouth, she lost the strength in her legs. She had instinctively held on to him but it was Richard’s firm hold by the base of her spine that had kept her upright. She would have fallen at his feet  otherwise.

So, this was how being thoroughly kissed was like. All her thought processes had fled, suppressed  by her senses that feasted…feasted on the man who was passionately kissing her.  All she could do was touch, feel, smell and taste Richard.  It was an experience that she can not properly describe except that it  was such a  surrealistic  pleasurable experience being held so closely against him.

However, when his exploration got bolder  and bolder, Maya felt alarm rising.  As Richard gathered her against him in an even tighter embrace,  panic started to take over as she finally  recognised what the hard bulge was against her lower abdomen.   Realising that she was way in over her head, she started pushing  against his chest once more.  Her brain screamed that she was not ready for this!

When Richard halted his sensual assault, Maya could feel his upper torso   slightly heaving under her touch as her hands remained on his chest.  Maya felt  him slackening  his hold  but did not completely let go. His hands remained resting on her hips, his forehead resting against hers.

“Siguro naman maniniwala ka na”  he said in an amazingly even tone.

“Sa alin?”  she asked breathlessly  as her eyes finally  fluttered open. Her befuddled brain could not make sense of what he was saying.

“That it is not safe for you to go out at night.  In a chance encounter, if  a man really wanted to have you,  you won’t be able to stop him. Is that fact now clear to you?”

Maya  could not believe her ears!  She had just shared her first kiss with him and he was saying that he was merely making a point!  But the most shameful part of it was, she allowed him to kiss her and would have responded if she had known how!

“Crys-crystal,” Maya had meant to state that succinctly but  she said it with a catch in her voice as she felt her eyes go watery. “Now, let me go.”

Richard released her almost instantaneously that she almost stumbled. With sheer will power, she mustered all her strength to pivot  to the direction of home. Maya  ran without looking back, her pigtails flying behind her.  Once inside the safety of her room, she gave way to the tears that have been threatening to fall.  She buried her head in her pillow to stifle her sobs as she did not want anyone else to hear.

Maya was crying  for many reasons. Firstly, she was so mad that she got herself in a position that Richard deemed it necessary to punish her like a recalcitrant child.  And she just hated it when people keep on treating her like one. For goodness sake, she was already seventeen!  Her Nanay got married at eighteen!

Secondly, she was crying because she just had her first kiss  and she was very emotional  about it.  She was mourning the fact that she will never share her first kiss with her first boyfriend whoever he would have turned out to be.

Last but certainly not the least,   she had come to realise the reason why she had always been so annoyed with herself for feeling or acting  weird  each time she sees him.  It dawned on her   that what she feels for the bespectacled chinito may have gone beyond than just a  mammoth crush.  Maya strongly suspected that  she was already on her way to falling in love with him!  And she was quite scared at the intensity of her feelings towards Richard!

Year 2013

The intensity of her fury with  Richard  was  at a degree that she was tempted to walk out on him!  Well, that’s what she felt at that very moment as she glared  at him! He was one of the most  insensitive man  she had the misfortune to meet! She would have given him a piece of her mind with regards to his nondescript proposal  had she not been distracted by Mamang. But, then again he did not actually propose, did he?

Her maternal grandmother had stood  frozen  there gaping at them and clutching her heart, appearing as if she was about to collapse.  Maya quickly came to her aid but Richard was assisting her grandmother before her.

“Mamang, okey lang po kayo?”  Maya asked worriedly.

“Anong nangyari?”  asked Nanay Teresita who came rushing from the dining area. “Nanay?”

Cristina Rose came closely behind Nanay Teresita.

“Naku, wala ito” Mamang reassured them  when Richard had her seated on one of the wrought iron chairs “nabigla lang ako kasi pakakasal na daw sila ngayong gabi. Ni hindi ko namalayan na naging magkasintahan sila, eh!”

“Haaaa?” Nanay Teresita and Cristina Rose  both exclaimed in shock as they viewed her and Richard.

Maya glared at Richard once more before explaining. “Naku, Mamang! Hindi po. Nagbibiro lang po si Richard.”

“I wasn’t—owww!”  he yelped when Maya kicked him on the ankle bone.

“Maige naman at hindi kayo magpapadalus-dalos.  Baka isipin ng mga tao merong ‘dahilan’ yung biglaang kasalan.”

Maya saw Richard’s eyes drop to her very flat stomach and heard him muse almost inaudibly “Hmmnnn, not a bad idea to expedite things…”

“Kalma lang po tayong lahat dahil wala pong  kasalang magaganap.” Maya said with finality, her cheeks flushing at how the cog wheels were turning in his head!

“Richaaard, hindi naman ako tutol,  botong-boto  naman ako sayo” Mamang was smiling up at him in reassurance as she patted his upper arm.

“Akala ko ba si Simon ang manok nyo?”  quipped Cristina Rose who was starting to pick up the broken  china and fork dropped by Mamang a few minutes earlier.

“Gusto ko lang sana makapagsuot  ng gown kapag kinasal si Maya…” Mamang continued, unmindful of Cristina Rose’s gibe.

“Nanay naman!” reprimanded Nanay Teresita.

“Anong problema mo, Teresita? Mabuti na yung alam nila, diba Richaaard?”

“Opo naman, Mamang” Richard agreed with a grin.

“Kasi si Arturo, tinanan nuon si Teresita, nung magpakita sakin kasal na, ganun din si Ryan,  tinanan si  Celine, tapos sa huwes kinasal.  Kay Cristina Rose naman,  pihado walang kasal sa simbahang magaganap” Mamang explained.

“Wow! Pinasok talaga ako sa usapan!”  Cristina Rose exclaimed sarcastically as she went off  in search of a rag  to clean up the mess.   There was a couple of suman sa lihiya with golden brown sweetened santan sauce and latik  that formed a sticky  mess on the polished tongue-and-groove  floor.

“Kay Maya na lang talaga, eh.” Mamang continued beseechingly, ignoring  the collective sounds of protest from the younger Dela Rosa women.

“Wala naman hong problema, Mamang.”  Richard reassured the old lady with such calm certainty.

In contrast, Maya was very much bothered  by what had just transpired.  The last time she checked, the  supposed bride’s agreement was also needed for any type of  wedding to take place! And unless she   developed  hysterical amnesia in the last few minutes, she has no recollection of  agreeing to anything!

Several hours after Richard had  left, Maya was  still very much bothered  as she tossed and turned in bed.   He  said he loved her!  Then, he made the most unromantic marriage proposal  as if he was  scheduling an impromptu meeting! Perhaps, she should have responded by checking her diary  to see if she was available as well?  The nerve of the guy!

Nevertheless, a teeny weeny part of her was flattered that he considered her wife material.  He must really want her.  But what a way to ask!  That must have been one of the   most unromantic way to ask a girl!

In frustration, Maya screamed into her pillow and then punched it until her strength was spent.  Then she took a deep shaky breath and calmly lied back, willing herself to go to sleep.  It was impossible!

At breakfast time,  Maya was  inevitably the subject of teasing.

“Kelan ba ang kasal?” asked Mamang as she bit into a pandesal after dunking it into her white coffee.

“Mamang, diba sinabi ko naman sa inyo kagabi?  Wala hong kasalang magaganap. Hindi ko pa nga ho sinasagot si Richard, eh”  Maya felt like stamping her foot  in frustration.  Instead, she made herself a strong cup of coffee as she badly  needed the caffeine.

Cristina Rose was just snickering and wagging her eyebrows suggestively at Maya.

“Bakit ba hindi mo pa sagutin ng magkaboypren ka na.  Hayan at may lumalapit na guwapo, mayaman, at mukhang patay na patay sayo…at ang pinaka-importante sa lahat—handa kang pakasalan sa simbahan!

Nanay Teresita merely tried to compress her smile at the outrageous comment.

“Nay,  marami namang nanligaw kay Maya na guwapo’t  may-kaya.”

“Lahat naman hindi pumasa,” complained Mamang “ewan ko ba dito sa bunso mong anak, Teresita! Sobrang pihikan!”

“Hindi talaga papasa yung mga yun. Kasi, si Singkit ang type ni bunso!”  scoffed Cristina Rose.

That was an understatement of course. At one time, she believed herself in love with Richard but that was when she was seventeen.  She liked  to believe that she has since outgrown  that emotion.

Through the years, she had met interesting men and had gone out on dates with a few. But somehow,  she could not even let her date give her a peck on the cheek, which can be awkward at times.  Edzelyn, her FA friend and colleague, had learnt of this particular quirk and had often  said  that  her  Maria Clara ways  literally belonged to the pages of  J.P. Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere.   Maya could not explain that she just could not let another man touch her.   She just couldn’t!

Now, with Richard  back,  Maya was able to answer some questions.  Physically, she was still very much attracted to him and it would seem  that  he wanted her as well.  He seemed to care. He even said he loved her. But then he made that nondescript marriage proposal  that  made her so mad!

So, what now?

Cristina Rose must have sensed that the situation was bothering her greatly for she started her probing questions when they were alone washing the dishes in the auxiliary kitchen.

“Sige umpisahan mo na” Cristina Rose prompted when Mamang and Nanay Teresita went downstairs to the Souvenir Shop.

“Naguguluhan ako kay Singkit. Sabi niya mahal niya ko. Tapos nagbanggit na kaagad ng kasal. Eh, ni hindi ko pa nga sinasagot. Ano ba naman yun?” Maya reverted back to calling him such without even realising it.

“Bunso, hindi naman agad-agad. Diba nagpalipas naman ng 48 oras bago nagtapat at nagyaya ng kasal?” Cristina Rose asked mockingly.

“Kuteeeeeee!”  protested Maya “hindi ka nakakatulong!”

“Sige, sige, seryoso na. So, anong problema mo?”

“Para siyang nakakaloko, eh!!!” Maya fumed as she vigorously  rubbed a plate dry.

“Hmmmmm…sa tingin ko naman seryoso si Kuya Richard”  Cristina Rose gave her unbiased opinion but could not resist adding “maaaring dinadaan ka nga lang sa  bilis pero mukhang seryoso siya.”

“Anong gagawin ko, Kute?”

“Mahal mo ba?” Cristina Rose looked at her directly.

Maya’s frown deepened as she tried to honestly answer the question. “Ewan ko… hindi ko alam.”

Cristina Rose halted scrubbing one coffee mug and looked at her again consideringly. “Palagay ko may pagtingin ka rin sa kanya. Kasi sa bawat naging manliligaw mo, nasasabi mo kaagad na wala kang nararamdaman.  Saka hindi mo pinagtatagal. Basted kaagad yung pobre.  Sa unang paramdam pa lang, sinasabihan mo kaagad na walang maaasahan sayo.”

“Kuteeeeeee”  Maya groaned “anong gagawin ko?”

“Wala.”

“Anong wala?” Maya looked askance at her sister.

“Sino ba ang nagsabing meron kang dapat gawin? Hindi mo naman kailangang desisyunan kaagad yang panliligaw niya, diba?”

“Papaano kung mangulit?”

“Eh, di sabihin mo yung tutuo na pinag-iisipan mo pa.”

“Papaano kung magtanong kung may pag-asa siya?” Maya kept on.

“Meron ba?”  Cristina Rose asked.

“Alam mo namang crush ko siya, diba? Pero ang chickboy niya, eh!”

“Hayun, lumabas din ang tutuo!” Cristina Rose laughed heartily.

“Kute naman, pinagtatawanan mo pa ‘ko.  Problemado na nga ako,eh!”  Maya pouted in annoyance with her sibling.

“Hay naku bunso! Palagay ko in-love ka rin sa kanya.”

“Sa palagay mo?” Maya looked stricken, as her eyes glistened with gathering tears.

“Oy, huwag mo akong iyakan diyan.” Cristina rose dried her hands with the tea towel.

Maya could not help it. A few tears dropped silently as she bent her head. Maya felt her sibling’s arms go round her  to comfort her.

“Natatakot ako, Kute”  Maya admitted in a soft whisper.

“Saan?”

“Natatakot akong masaktan” Maya explained quietly “Kayang-kaya niya akong saktan.”

“Bunso, tanggalin mo ang lahat ng nega. Hindi pa man, parang  hinuhusgahan mo na kaagad si Kuya Richard. Malay mo naman maging faithful siya sayo.”

“Sa palagay mo?”

“Sabi ni Kuya Richard mahal ka niya. Hayaan mo lang siyang ipakita niya yun sayo. Sa tamang panahon, malalaman mo din kung kaya mong magtiwala sa kanya.  Sa ngayon, enjoy-in mo muna.”

Maya sighed with relief and hugged her Kute. She was just so thankful that she has family that will always take her best interests to heart. Her sister  reminded her that she  needed to keep calm  and to  just take each day as it comes.

Consequently, she was in a better frame of mind when Richard  arrived that night. He had another beribboned cylindrical case containing three long stemmed red roses and  a  ‘peace offering’ as he called it.

“Ano na naman ‘to?”  she queried when Richard handed her a square white box tied up with a white satin ribbon.  She smiled when she saw it filled with dozens of scrunchies in varying colours and designs.

“To replace all the ones I took from you,” Richard lopsidedly smiled at her.

Even if she wanted to, it was hard holding on to her anger when he was turning on the charm. Maya could feel her anger melting away.  She could always choose to ignore what happened last night regarding his nondescript proposal.

Richard was also carrying a metre-long tubular cardboard case.  And of course, it piqued Maya’s curiosity.

“Ano naman yan?” Maya questioned.

“Kitchen designs for the villa.  I was hoping to pick your brains?”

Maya nodded eagerly.  Richard took  them out and unrolled them on the  table with the first design on top.    “This one features a stainless steel top breakfast bar—”

Maya was already shaking her head “Too modern.”

“But it’s very functional—”

“Hindi siya bagay sa bahay,”  Maya stated emphatically.

Richard  merely smiled at her. Then he took the sheet away to unveil the second design “this  one has a granite top island and has wooden veneer cabinetry—”

“No.”

“No?”

Maya noted his raised eyebrows as she shook her head at him. “Unless the wooden veneer is an exact match to the house?”

“It’s not.”

Richard  took  the sheet away  and  smilingly presented  the last country cottage design, which  aroused  Maya’s interest.

“Hmmmnn…this one maybe suitable…what’s the benchtop material?”

“Sealed  mahogany, the same with the slats-designed cabinet doors.”

“Maybe plain flush design would be better  for the cabinets but I suggest adding some wood carving accents—”

“The intertwined roses?”

“Yes, to have that design around the handles so it blends well with the house.  You need lots of cabinets, pot drawers and a sizeable pantry. Also, make the island bigger. Use a huge very solid wood table  and place the sink and dish drain area on one side, the other side can be used for food preparation and—”

Maya saw Richard making notes while she was prattling on but he looked up when she stopped.

“Go on” he encouraged.

“Hindi yata pwede yung  kitchen work  table kasi  sa pagkakatanda ko maliit lang yung kusina, eh” Maya grimaced.

“Pinalakihan ko.”

“Ows?” Maya looked at him.

“I knocked down the adjacent storage room so the kitchen area is now double the size.”

“Hindi ko matandaan yang storage room…hindi ko tuloy ma-visualise”  Maya frowned.

“Then, shall we have a look?” Richard   invited charmingly.

Maya hesitated for a second but the desire to see the Spanish villa again was very strong. “Sige, paalam ako kay Nanay.”

They crossed the road distance between two properties  in a few minutes. She noted that Richard directly parked on the curving driveway by the front door.  He quickly went round to the  passenger side to open her door and to pick her up again.

“Teka—” Maya had  brought the forearm crutch with her with the  full intention to use it.

“The ground is uneven here.  I will put you down inside” he explained   logically so Maya refrained from voicing any more protests.

They went through the large arched double doors after Richard gave it a little kick.  Once inside, Maya noted the changes to the villa.  Her gaze was quickly shifting from walls to the high ceiling. All the lights were  lit like the fire behind Maya’s doe-shaped eyes.

“I take it you like what I have done,”  he said softly.

Maya  was nodding her head briskly when she turned to him.  Her smile disappeared when she realised that Richard was looking at her lips which was at the same level to his.

“Richard, please put me down,”   Maya firmly requested in her most no-nonsense tone.

Maya heard him sigh before complying.  However,  he continued to assist her as they went through the front foyer into the main receiving room and formal dining area where the ceilings and walls were newly  painted  off-white.  Every domed ceiling was graced with  a large chandelier in the middle as well as down lights  on the sides and corners.

Maya fingers traced the mural feature wall  in the dining area. It had a clear varnish that beautifully enhanced the natural mahogany wood grain.  Like the rest of the villa, it featured intertwined roses.

“Alam mo ba kung sino ang nagpatayo ng villa?” asked Maya conversationally.

“A Spanish architect-engineer,”   Richard nodded  “kinwento sakin ni Nana Benita.”

Nana Benita was Tata Igme’s wife.   For as long as Maya could  remember,  the old couple had lived  and worked on the estate as its caretaker.   Their small house was  located  on the other end  of the property.  It was Nana Benita who had  in-depth knowledge  of the Spanish villa’s history as her parents,  her grandparents and great grandparents  before her were caretakers of the estate.

With word of mouth knowledge passed through the generations, Nana Benita had  narrated that the Spaniard had met the Mindoro-born lass on the mainland  and had followed her when she returned to the island. He was disowned by his own family when he decided to marry her but he was well-loved by the people of San Nicholas as he helped build the church that still stands in the town plaza.  He was so in love with his Filipina wife that he built this huge villa when they got married, hoping to fill it with many children.

“Yes, Nana Benita said that Señor la Rosa, who was also a notable sculptor during his time,   did all the  intricate carvings himself.  It was also said that he did several  life-size statues of his wife.”

Richard was very quiet.

“That’s why I love  this house which was a labour of love and was the setting of a great love story” Maya sighed.  “Unfortunately, his wife died giving birth to their stillborn child. And that he never recovered from her death. He died of a broken heart soon after.”

“That’s a great love story?”  Richard  was shaking his head.

“Hindi naman lahat ng  immortal love stories merong happy ending diba?” she countered.  “But there’s another  less known chapter to the story.  It was said that their firstborn was a twin and that the elder child survived and was cared for by the wife’s family. He reached adulthood, got married, lived a long happy married life with children. One of  his  younger sons  inherited the piece of land where our house stands.”

“So, you’re saying you’re related to the original owners of this villa?” Richard was looking at her strangely.

“Ano bang apelyido ko?”

“Dela Rosa…” his voice trailed as he followed where Maya’s  hands were gesturing towards—to the focal point of the mural which were  two huge roses,  one was fully bloomed while the other was just starting to bloom, both were on intertwined  stems with many leaves and thorns. Underneath the end of the intertwined stems was the signature of the sculptor. It read  ‘DE La Rosa’.

“His full name was  Desmundo Ezequiel La Rosa.” Maya announced dramatically.  “Nana Benita believed that somewhere along the line, a mistake with a birth record was made and La Rosa became Dela Rosa.”

Maya beamed at him who still had a thoughtful  look on his face.  “Tingnan na natin yung kusina?” she prompted.

Richard opened and held the swinging double doors that led  to the bare kitchen area. In the middle of the room was  a linen-covered rectangular trestle table standing so conspicuously out of place. On top was a bottle of Lindauer Classic Rose sparkling wine chilling in  a bucket of ice, two wine flutes, a long wooden board with Brie, Camembert, Swiss and cheddar cheeses,   assorted crackers, dried fruits and a bunch of black grapes.

“You planned this…” Maya accused him as he detached himself from her to open the bottle.  A small pop reverberated in the room. Then he poured the rose wine into the wine flute which he held slightly tilted to avoid generating more bubbles.

“I merely did a calculated guess that you will come. I  was hoping you would not be able to resist seeing the villa,”  he grinned lopsidedly.

“So you dangled ‘the villa’  carrot in front of me”  she laughed.

“Guilty as charged” he admitted as he handed her a glass of sparkling rose wine. “But seriously, I really needed your perspective on the kitchen design.”

“Well, let’s see…” Maya slowly walked to the middle of the room after placing the crutch on top of the trestle table. She took a sip of the wine as she  considered the bare walls. “On further consideration, I think it will be way  better to use the flush-type cabinets doors with the rose design…best to choose the handles first before you commission the carving…a huge thick  distressed wood slab  table here…kitchen bench all-round with wicker basket drawers…what type of kitchen appliances are you putting in?”

“Titanium steel finish.”

Maya took another sip of the sweet wine as she tried to visualise where the appliances should go.

“I saw this design in LA.  When you go into the kitchen, you won’t see the huge fridge coz it’s been incorporated into the kitchen cabinetry. Even the microwave was under a flap…”

“Maya…” he softly called her attention as he came to stand behind her.

She slowly pirouetted in place to face him, her wine almost sloshing on her right hand.  She felt him take and raise  her left hand for a  kiss.  Then he straightened and looked into her eyes while still holding her left hand  “I’m in love with you, Maya.  I have been for a very long time.”

Maya blinked in surprise. He was doing it again, overwhelming her with his overly straightforward manner.

“I have rendered you speechless again, haven’t  I?”  he smiled down at her.

“Nakakagulat ka naman kasi…ang tagal mong nawala…tapos ngayon—”

“I would not have been able to keep my hands off you if I kept coming back”  he interrupted her then his eyes twinkled  “besides your Kuya would have killed me.”

“Surely not, he’s your bestfriend?”  Maya was frowning at the thought that her Kuya Ryan would not want a relationship between herself and Richard.

“You would not understand. It’s a guy thing.”

“Siguro nga,” Maya’s brows was still knitted together, unable to understand.

“You were very young. I had no choice but to stay away to allow you to grow and pursue your career goals.”

“And now?” Maya prompted.

“And now, I’ll take you home,”  he grinned lopsidedly “baka si Tatay Arturo naman ang sumugod dito na may dalang gulok.”

Richard did not bring up the proposal again which was a good thing.  The same was the case for the next consecutive nights. He would come every evening with the cylinder case of three red roses  and Cadbury chocolates.  And Maya looked forward to his  evening visits. He was a cerebrally stimulating company for he was a great conversationalist, with good  knowledge of almost everything under the sun.

On the 5^th day post-injury, the homecare nurse removed her bandage and just covered her wound with a thin wide Tegaderm pad dressing.  Maya smiled  and wondered how quickly  Richard would notice.  She was looking forward to going out with him. Hence, she showered mid-afternoon so that she can dry and style her hair.  She was considering her wardrobe and trying to choose something suitable when her mobile phone rang.

She smiled when she saw Richard’s name flashing on the small screen.

“Hello, Maya?”

“Yes, Richard” Maya responded “napatawag ka.”

“Where do you want to go tonight?” he asked without preamble.

Maya’s jaw dropped. How on earth did he know that her thick bandages are off?  He must be keeping tabs on her.

“Sinong nag-report sayo?” she asked, annoyed at being monitored “nevermind, I don’t want to know.”

Richard was quiet for a few seconds.

“Dinner?”

Did  she really have a choice? She had  already agreed, hadn’t she?

“Ok,” Maya assented.

“What do you fancy?”

“Actually, I have been craving for pasta carbonara,”  Maya confessed.

“I know a nice little Italian restaurant.”

That nice little Ristorante Italiano  turned out to be located in Makati City. Maya did not realise that she will be getting into a helicopter  when he picked her up. Even with the bright yellow ear muffs that Richard placed over her ears, the ride was still very noisy. Despite garnering thousands of  air miles, Maya was still nervous for she had a constant  eyeful how  far they were from the ground.  And when helicopters develop engine problems, they drop!

Richard must have sensed what state she was in for he wordlessly reached for her   left hand that was gripping the edge of the seat. Cold seeped out of her hand under the warmth of his. Maya closed her eyes to fight the vertigo.

They touched down on a helipad that was on top of a skyscraper.  Richard  was constantly assisting her for which she was grateful.

“That bad for you?” Richard asked when they were in the lifts.

“Don’t mind me. It was just first-time nervousness.”

Richard considered her for a few seconds. “We just need to pass by my office to get the spare car keys.”

Maya nodded.

His corporate headquarters  occupied  the top three floors of the building.  Maya was engrossed with  looking around that she did not realise that there were still a couple of people in the office.

“Good evening, sir.”

“Good evening, Lisa, Sonny” Richard greeted back “this is Maya, Atty. Ryan’s  baby  sister.”

Maya looked at Richard pointedly at the word ‘baby’ before smiling at the two.

“Good evening po, Miss Maya” Sonny extended his hand for a handshake.

Lisa’s eyes had lit up as Maya warmly gave her  a  cheek to cheek kiss. “It’s nice to finally put a face to the name.  Favourite topic ka ng Kuya mo.” Lisa enthused.

“Talaga?” Maya stayed in the outer office while he went through doors which led to his private office.

“Lovelife mo ang sinisisi niya sa pagnipis ng buhok niya. ”

Maya smilingly wrinkled her nose.  “Pakialamero kasi yun. Pakiramdam niya minsan siya ang Tatay ko.”

“Lisa…”

“Yes, sir?” Lisa quickly turned her attention to her boss.

“Confirmed na ba yung return flight ni Atty. Ryan tomorrow?”

“Yes, sir. He sent the scanned copy of the signed contract earlier. He will be arriving early evening.” Lisa nodded “You can resume your vacation, sir.”

“I intend to.” Richard grinned “Maya and I will go ahead.  Don’t stay too late again tonight…and if you want, you can take a day-off tomorrow, Lisa”

“Yes, sir!”

Maya suppressed a smile that must have been revealed in her eyes.

“Now, what’s going in that beautiful head of yours, Ms Dela Rosa?” Richard asked as their elevator descended swiftly to the underground parking floors.

“Wala lang. Considerate boss ka din naman pala.”

“Thank you, I think” he murmured with a raised brow as he led her to his navy blue BMW 5-series.  Maya carefully got in the car as she was wearing a clingy peach dress that shows a hint of  cleavage.  She wanted to look  classy  yet femininely sexy.

The little restaurant was a small cosy little place with subdued lighting. At every table was a candle in a vino bottle accompanied by assorted condiments  and a narrow-mouthed wicker  basket containing breadsticks.

To Maya’s delight, the pasta twist carbonara was bursting with flavour on her palate. Maya was sweeping off the white sauce from her plate with a piece of garlic bread when she noticed Richard smiling at her.

“Ang sarap mong panuorin, nakaka-engganyo kang kumain” he commented as he forked penne Bolognese into his mouth.

“Eh, masarap naman talaga,”  Maya responded candidly. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“Your Kuya and I sometimes come here for lunch”  he informed “pero sabi niya magaling ka rin daw magluto ng pasta dishes?”

“Medyo may alam nako”  Maya nodded in between chewing  “kapag wala akong schedule, I attend one-day courses at Sylvia Reynoso-Gala Culinary Studio.”

“So what dishes do you know?”

“Hmmmnn, ang mga pinag-aralan ko yung mga hindi alam nila Nanay. I  first learnt Spanish dishes like paella and callos madrileña. Then I attended the Italian and Russian cuisine courses.”

“Wow! Kelan mo ako ipagluluto?” Richard looked expectantly at her.

“Pumunta ka sa bahay sa bagong taon, ako ang nagluluto ng paella.”

“Ang tagal naman nun!” he complained.

Maya shrugged and wiped her mouth with the napkin and stood up. “I’ll just go to the ladies room for a sec.”

Richard had automatically stood up as well which made Maya smile inwardly. In so many ways, he had old-school manners and she was loving it!

“Saan naman tayo pupunta ngayon?” Maya asked when they were driving away from Makati City several minutes later.

“It’s  a surprise.”  Richard grinned as he fleetingly glanced at her before concentrating back on the road.

“Saan nga?”  Maya insisted.

“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise.”

Maya pursed her lips but her eyes were smiling.  She shook her head for she was amazed at herself for her lack of apprehension.  Richard may want her and had expressed this in so many ways but  he will never force himself on her. He already had that chance and had  not taken advantage of her vulnerable unconscious state.  In this regard, he had earnt her trust .

When Maya finally found her bearings, she realised that they were heading up to Antipolo City. The BMW soundlessly sped by until it decelerated and turned into the wide driveway of a popular hotel venue for weddings!  Surely  he would not pull a Zoren Legaspi-like  wedding stunt now, would he?

“Richard?”  Maya gulped, apprehension back in full force.

to be continued…

Long-held Torch – Part 7

Author’s Note:   My SPECIAL THANKS  go to Ms. Chuchy  who  checks my work prior to submission.  

 

 

“Can’t get enough of her can you?”

Richard ignored his inner jeering voice as he drove back to the Dela Rosa household hours earlier than what he originally intended.
So here he was, appearing very much like the overeager beau bearing gifts.  He mentally shook his head for he had also made a detour to the town market in search for a specific item but came out with both hands full.  He had bought a bouquet of three dozens of yellow roses that were just starting to bloom. He also made arrangements with the florist to have a different flower arrangement delivered to Maya every day. He passed by the fruit section of the marketplace to purchase a variety of fruits which the fruit vendor happily arranged in a basket for him.  Noticing an odd looking bunch of bananas which peaked his interest and warped sense of humour, he also asked the vendor to place that at the top of the basket.  For good measure, he likewise  requested  for different  fruit varieties to be delivered daily to Maya.

Mamang beamed as she  received him when he ascended the stairs leading to the living area.  “Richaaard,  tamang-tama dito ka na mananghalian”  she invited  while she eyed the flowers and  fruit basket.

“Salamat po, Mamang. Pero hindi po ako pwedeng magtagal. Kailangan ko pong bumalik ng Manila.”

“Me problema ba?”  probed Mamang who knew that he was on vacation for at least a couple of weeks.

“Sa trabaho po,” confirmed Richard while trying to look beyond the empty  family room.

“Ayy, teka tawagin ko si Maya. Upo ka muna.”

Richard felt ill at ease as he hovered by the Cleopatra-style narra lounge,  the same seat  that he had sat on numerous times before as Ryan’s bestfriend and regular Dela Rosa household guest.  He inwardly shook his head again as he never envisaged himself  sitting down on the same intricately carved wooden seat as Maya’s suitor.

No,  your fertile imagination never delved  into the more mundane details.

He grimaced inwardly at that.

With Cristina Rose’s assistance, Maya approached him slowly as she tried to walk without putting too much pressure on her left foot.  Her shoulder length hair was still damp and she was wearing a pink printed sundress-style top and matching shorts.  Bare of any make-up, Maya’s natural beauty was enough to erase all worries from his head.  He barely noticed Cristina Rose as she left muttering that her presence was superfluous.

“For you”  Richard handed her the flowers and placed the basket on the  centrepiece table.

“Salamat, dapat sana  hindi ka na nag-abala”  Maya said as she sat down on the single seater and motioned for him to do likewise. “Pero bakit andito ka na? Diba sabi mo mamayang gabi ka pa  babalik?”

Richard lifted his eyebrows as he made himself comfortable on one end of the three-seater which was nearest to Maya.

“Your eagerness to see me again is so good for my ego” Richard retorted dryly.

Maya’s eyes rounded, aghast at her verbal faux pas. “Hindi ko naman— akala ko nga  kasi—’

Richard’s hand came up. “Stop, I was just teasing.”

“Minsan kasi kahit nagbibiro ka seryoso pa rin ang mukha mo. Ang hirap  mo tuloy tantiyahin  kung seryoso ka o nagbibiro.”

Richard expelled a soft mirthless short laugh.

“Believe me, hindi biro itong ginagawa ko.” Richard expressed sombrely as he tried to search her face for an indication of what she’s feeling.

Maya got tongue-tied  as she blankly looked back at him before turning her head  to study the yellow roses and baby’s breath  on her lap.

“Got something else for you,” Richard opened the brown package that contained Velcro strapped beige sandals. “This would protect your bandaged foot.”

He went down on his haunches and pried open the Velcro straps and adjusted it around the thick bandages wrapped around Maya’s left foot.  He also replaced Maya’s  right slipper with the other sandal.

“The design is a bit chunky but it will serve the purpose…” his voice trailed,  distracted by Maya’s smooth and shapely ankles.

“Oo naman, salamat.”  Maya agreed and smiled in gratitude.

Richard looked at her.  “Masakit pa ba?”

Maya shook her head “Tuloy pa yung inom ko ng gamot.”

“Good, ”   Richard  said  “dumaan din ako para magpaalam.”

“Ha?” Maya blinked back at him in surprise.

Richard sat down again and explained.

“I got a call from my project manager in Batangas  mid-morning.  They hit a gas pipeline that was not indicated on the  land information memorandum report and the company is threatening to sue us.” Richard sighed, then went on “I would normally let your Kuya Ryan handle this but he left for Hong Kong  early morning  to finalise a contract with one of our suppliers.”

Richard omitted the fact that Ryan was standing in for him as he was officially on vacation.

Maya nodded mutely.

“Hopefully,  I can be back after a few days.”  He heard the whirring sound of chopper blades  passing overhead.  He did not have much time left.   “Look, I now realise that I dropped a bombshell on your lap. But surely, you had ‘some’ inkling on how I have always felt about you?”

Specially  after that unforgettable kiss on the beach all those years ago?

With her head still bent, Maya just mutely shook her head. Richard inwardly smiled, his warped sense of humour appreciating  the fact that he had rendered her speechless again. Such incidents were rare occasions.

“Anyway,  my absence can give you a breather.”

A breather, Richard? But you’ve barely just begun courting her!

Ignoring his mocking inner voice, Richard came forward to reach the lock of hair that had fallen over her eyes to tuck it  back behind her left ear.  “It will give you the time to think and maybe… miss me a little?”

Silence.

Richard sighed again. His male instinct had  been cognizant  of the physical attraction between them for a long time.   But he never assumed for a minute that she would quickly drop on his lap. He knew he needed to allay whatever fears or misgivings that was in her beautiful head  before they can move forward.   Still, he was hoping for some sign of encouragement.

“Anong oras ang alis mo?”  Maya smiled, still not looking directly at him.

“Can’t wait to get rid of me, hmnnn?”

“Hindi naman ganun ang ibig kong—”

Richard raised both his hands in surrender stance.  “Teasing. I was just teasing.”

Richard saw Maya finally looking directly at him. This time, her lips were pursed in annoyance.   He promised himself  he would thoroughly enjoy turning  that pouting expression  into something else…

Richard abruptly got up but motioned Maya to stay seated.  “Magpapaalam lang ako kanila  Nanay.”

Richard went to the kitchen area and said his farewells.  Mamang even gave him a container of his favourite  oxtail and tripe kare-kare to bring with him.  Richard  felt the acceptance from the older Dela Rosa women  and was grateful for it.  If only Maya would be just as easy to convince.

Returning to the lounge, Richard  found Maya already standing by the hall table by the front door.  She was  already  arranging the  bouquet of  yellow  roses in a large brass vase.  He stood behind her and breathed in her freshly-showered scent.

When Maya sensed his presence, she turned her head sideways to look up at him.

“Try not to get into more accidents while I’m away, hmmmn?” he said affectionately down at her. Maya was about to retort but stopped short when he added in a whisper “I will miss you.”

With that he quickly went  downstairs.   Richard glanced back before he got into the Toyota Land Cruiser. Maya was standing at the top of the stairs looking at him. She waved and he nodded back before driving off.

Richard returned  to the villa to park his vehicle under the carport. He notified the caretaker elderly couple  of his departure and intended return.  He gave them the go-signal to hire people to properly clear the weeds that had overran the outer grounds.   He also  left last minute instructions to the renovating team who would continue with the work in his absence.  By the time he got back, a glass conservatory  enclosing the garden alcove would have been installed.

Then, he briskly strided to the front lawn where the MD520N helicopter  had been waiting to bring him back to Manila. It was one of many corporate transport that Richard uses to do his project  site visits  all  over the Philippines. Today, he needed to be in his Makati City Head Office as soon as possible. After giving the thumbs-up sign to Capt. Lem, they were airborne.

The next 24 hours were hectic with the legal team. Pouring over documents and retracing steps undertaken  had shown that they had followed the proper lawful processes. Atty. Ryan confirmed   as much  during their  teleconference call. Despite the good news, he was hating every minute that he had to stay in the metropolis.

In the  middle of  another meeting the following day,  he stepped out of  his office to  the balcony behind his massive desk.  With the Makati City traffic muted in the background, he called her mobile phone which Cristina Rose provided for him when he fetched  Maya at the airport.  He rang once. No answer. He rang again after five minutes. Still no answer.  He kept on calling  until  she finally answered on the nth try. He had actually lost count after his  23rd  unanswered call!

“Hello, Maya”  he managed to greet in an even tone while keeping his frustration and temper in check “why are you not answering your mobile?”

“Hello, who’s this?” Maya asked uncertainly.

Richard removed his specs and massaged the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. “As I have said, you are so good for my ego.”

“Richard?”

“Tulog ka pa ba?”  Richard checked his Omega wristwatch. It was almost 11am.

“Hindi.  Galing ako ng banyo.  Naligo ako ulit.”

“You just had a shower?”

“Uhhmmm.” Maya confirmed  “Ang init kasi.  Nakakailang paligo ako sa maghapon.”

Feeling suddenly very hot  under his collar,  Richard loosened  his tie.  The very high possibility of  Maya talking to him in her birthday suit almost undid him.

“How’s your foot?” he asked, mentally counting to ten to calm down.

“Uhmmn…okey na. ‘Healing well’  daw sabi ng homecare nurse na dumating kanina”  replied Maya “I’m also getting good at using the forearm crutch you sent.  Nakakakilos na akong  mag-isa. Saka dun sa flowers na dumating kanina, thank you ulit…thank you sa lahat pero sana…”

“Hindi ba pwedeng simpleng ‘thank you’ na lang? Yung walang ‘pero’?”  Richard cut off whatever  protest she was going to voice. “That is if you are indeed grateful?”

Richard had directed Lisa to arrange for on-going care so that the healing process will be faster.  Since he remembered her propensity for walking on the beach,  the care also included mobility equipment so that Maya  won’t be cooped up inside the house longer than necessary.

“Oo naman.”

“Prove it.  Come out to dinner with me.” Richard knew fully well that  he was taking advantage of the situation but all is fair in love.

“I…I can’t.”  she replied.

Richard frowned, hurt at the rejection. Did he misread the signs?

“Why?”

“Coz I  don’t have any pair of shoes that  would fit these thick bandages. But when they come off…” her voice trailed softly.

“Deal.  We’ll go the minute the bandages go off.” Richard readily settled the matter before she changed her mind. His eyes were gleaming at the prospect of dating Maya.   “You won’t be going anywhere tonight, right?”

“Sa bahay lang ako.  Magluluto daw kami ng suman sa lihiya. Nagre-request si Tatay, eh.”

He saw his PA Lisa gesturing for his attention through the tinted glass sliding doors.

“I have to go, Maya.  I will see you soon.”

When Richard rang off, he was grinning as he walked  back inside his office.  His smile was even broader hours later when he was parking his Toyota Land Cruiser in front of the  Dela Rosa residence.

“Good evening  po, Tatay Arturo,” he greeted  Maya’s father who likely just came home from work himself.

Taking advantage of the last rays of the sun,  the older man  was currently inspecting one of the house pillars by the Souvenir Shop which Mamang and Nanay Teresita manage.

“Good evening, iho. Tamang-tama ang dating mo. Pakitingnan mo nga itong halige.  Papaano ba ito papalitan?”

The next hour  was spent on discussing structural reinforcements.  Richard was just glad he can lend his professional expertise on this occasion.  It was only when Nanay Teresita peered over the window above them  to call them for dinner that Tatay Arturo stopped asking questions.

They went upstairs together like bosom buddies with Tatay Arturo’s left arm over  Richard’s shoulders.

“Dito maghahapunan si Richard, ” declared Tatay Arturo.

“Good evening  everyone.”  He greeted Mamang and Nanay Teresita  and then nodded to Cristina Rose.

“Nakabalik ka na pala” Nanay Teresita gestured him to sit down again on the other end of the table, opposite Tatay Arturo.

Richard only smiled in response.  He was only back for the evening  for he will be returning  directly  to Manila since he’s got a scheduled 7am  inspection at the project site under investigation.  Richard  stood up when Maya joined them.   Richard  saw that Maya had her hair up in a scrunchie, probably to keep cool.  She also expertly moved with the forearm crutch.  He quickly pulled  the chair  the one to his immediate  right.   She hesitated for a second before sitting down and smiling in gratitude at him.

Richard could not remember what he ate. All he remembered was Maya seated on his right  and  that  she had been surreptitiously  glancing at him when she thought he was not looking.  He was just happy to be within her proximal personal space.

After dinner,  everything was cleared to make way for the preparation of the suman sa lihiya which was another hilarious affair. It started with Cristina Rose overly toasting  the first batch of banana leaves to a crisp that they could not  fold-in  the glutinous rice mix without  the whole thing collapsing. Cristina Rose teased Mamang that she couldn’t  fold the banana leaves because of her stiff fingers. Mamang counterclaimed that even without her arthritic fingers, she could not work with substandard materials that Cristina Rose provided.  Mamang dramatically flounced off  to make the latik in the kitchen instead.  When Nanay Teresita  prepared another batch of banana leaves, Cristina Rose retaliated by teasing Maya because she was not tying the suman together tight enough.

“I bet I could do a better job,” Richard quipped joining in teasing Maya.

“Sige, ikaw dito,”  Maya retorted in challenge, gesturing  for him to take her place.

Richard grinned and stood up. He noted Maya’s eyes widening  and  then taking on a speculative look as Richard took a pair of suman. He skilfully tied it together very  tightly with Cristina Rose’s coaching. With flourish, he presented it to Maya for inspection.

“Sige na magaling ka ng magtali,” Maya commented  when she critically looked at the perfectly tied pair of suman  “kung magsawa ka ng maging engineer, meron ka ng pwedeng fall-back career…”

“…as magsu-suman”  Maya fluttered her lashes at him impudently.

Richard’s eyes gleamed down at her.  Maya was  really lovely, even with wisps of hair escaping her scrunchie.

“Magsu-suman pala, ha!”  Richard did what he had been tempted to do since she walked into the dining area.  He deftly took the scrunchie off  her hair and her long tresses  came  down.

Maya’s eyes and mouth formed big O’s  as she realised that he had taken her scrunchie!

Again!

“Ibalik mo  yan!”  she demanded advancing on him.

Richard calmly stepped away, waving the scrunchie tauntingly at her.  She hobbled  towards his direction again and he adroitly moved  back laughing.  Maya kept following while Richard  just kept  retreating out of her reach until they did one revolution around   the dining table.  Cristina Rose  merely chortled as she witnessed their antics.

“Bunso, huwag ka ng humabol at kahit kelan hindi ka naman umabot,”  Cristina Rose alluded to similar instances in the past  as she carried on with  tying the suman “lalo na’t ikay pilantod.”

Richard noted  the determined glint which entered Maya’s eyes at her sister’s remark. And he knew that Cristina Rose’s taunt merely goaded Maya into doing the exact opposite.

Distracted with evading Maya, Richard’s  leather  loafers  were caught by something which caused him to go a little off-balance. He would have righted himself had not Maya launched herself  at him to grab her scrunchie. And down they both went.

BLAAAAGGGG!!!

Borne of long-learnt martial arts training, Richard had automatically bent his knees, and rounded his back  to protect his head but he could not slap his palms on the floor to spread his weight. Instead, he had instinctively wrapped Maya in his arms so that he could cushion her fall.

While winded, Richard felt Maya quickly stirring. With  his eyes still closed, he whispered. “You didn’t have to resort to violence, you know.”

“Violence?” she asked cluelessly, looking down at him.

“You can have me horizontal and  ‘willing’  anytime,  you just have to ask.” he explained in sultry undertone  as he looked up at her. After the initial shock at impact,   having her warm softer  curvy  body  against his harder form felt sensational.   And her squirming against his hold was arousing him, to say the least.

Maya gasped  in shock as the veiled innuendo sank in.

“Asa ka pa!”  Maya hissed at him as she got up quickly, unmindful where her limbs went.

Richard doubled-up in pain as Maya’s knees almost crushed his ‘crown jewels’.  He gritted his teeth as he waited for the excruciating pain to subside. Hence, he was not able to get up.

Wonderful! She would emasculate you before you even got to first base! Serves you right for having a one-track mind, Richard Lim!!

“Okey ka lang ba?” Maya asked worriedly  when he continued to lie on the floor silently.

“Kuya Richard?” Cristina Rose also went round the table and  was  now  also peering down at his grimacing face.

When Richard finally recovered, he took Cristina Rose’s offered arm and hauled  himself up.

“Your sister’s going to be the death of me,” he declared  mock-seriously.

“Ano, suko ka na?”  challenged Cristina Rose up at him when he finally straightened.

“Hindi pwede, mahal ko, eh.” Richard countered.

Now, that slipped out unintentionally!

Yet, it did not really matter who else hears or learns what was in his heart.  He had been keeping a lid on his emotions for too long that it actually felt great being able to express what he felt for Maya…

for years.

Maya was looking back at him wordlessly as the atmosphere  became palpable. Even Cristina Rose was not able to intrude on the non-verbal communication that she was witnessing. She can only transfer her eyes from Maya to Richard who both had only eyes for each other.

“Magkape ka muna,  Richard” said Nanay Teresita as she walked through from the kitchen, unwittingly shattering the intimate moment  that was transpiring.

“Luto na ba?” asked Tatay Arturo who also came out of the bedroom.

Richard saw Maya look away and then bend down to retrieve the forearm crutch that caused their fall.

“Hindi pa Tatay” replied Nanay Teresita  who handed both her husband and Richard a  cup of coffee each.  She then ushered  both Richard and Maya to the veranda  stating “mas makakapag-usap  kayo dun.”

“Salamat po, Nay”  Richard smiled at the older lady then slowly walked with Maya to the veranda.  He pulled the wrought iron chair for her but excused himself for a few minutes to get a couple of items from the Toyota Land Cruiser. He forgot them earlier in his eagerness to see Maya.

He handed Maya a long clear beribboned cylinder encasing  three very long stemmed roses of  the reddest shade.   Before seating himself, he placed two boxes of  Cadbury chocolates  in front of her—one was  Continental  and the other was Milk Tray.

“Cadbury, my favourite!”  Maya’s eyes lit up.

“I know.”

“And dami mo ngang alam, eh. Sinong source mo?  Si Kute, no?”  Maya questioned.

“Some information did come from Cristina Rose,” he also wordlessly acknowledged  Ryan who had  been inadvertently giving vital information about Maya through the years  “but mostly from firsthand knowledge. I have a photographic memory.”

Almost immediately, Richard can tell that he said the wrong thing for Maya’s expression visibly changed.  Likely,  his comment reminded Maya that he had  seen her skinny dipping years ago like it was now reminding him.

Great going, genius!

“Dumating din ba yung prutas?” he quickly steered  the discussion to a less explosive topic.

“Hmmmnn. Thank you. ” Maya nodded, then looked at him sideways  “meron na namang piling ng saging na di namin kilala.”

“I thought your family loves the fruit?” he teased.

“Oo nga. Pero ang madalas lang naming bilhin yung lakatan, latundan…saka saba kapag naggi-ginataang halu-halo si Nanay.”

“Ano bang itsura nung saging?” Richard took out his iPhone-5 and searched the internet for a matching image of the banana in question. They spent the next few minutes discussing different varieties of the fruit until the topic veered towards its  dollar earning strength  as an export product.

“Kaya lang bakit yung mga hindi matatamis yung ini-export ng Pilipinas?” questioned Maya.

Richard shrugged. “I guess perishability would be a great factor  and maybe consumer palate. Many  Europeans will find your favourite lakatan and latundan overly sweet for their taste.”

“Sabagay nga. Kahit nga yung sikat na resto na pinuntahan namin ni Eduard sa London, matabang talaga ang pagkain nila.”

“Eduard?”

“Hmmmnn. Friend kong  violinist.”

Ahhhh, the British violinist! 

Richard went silent as he studied her profile. Then asked “Madalas ba kayong lumabas ni Eduard?”

“Dati.  Kaso sa Moscow na  siya based ngayon, eh.  Wala naman akong route papuntang Moscow. Minsan nag-te-text lang siya or nag-e-email.”

Richard felt some relief at that.

“Eh, ikaw?” Maya countered.

“Anong ako?” Richard’s  brows lifted.

Maya pursed her lips at him once more.

“Dates, we were talking about dates.  Di ba palagi ka namang may dine-date?” Maya probed in a way that she made it sound like an accusation.

Or maybe you are just feeling guilty?

“I go out…err…casually”  Richard explained lamely “But  I have never committed myself to any woman, if that’s what you are trying to find out.”

“I am not sure if that’s a point in your favour,”  Maya’s nose crinkled as her frown became more pronounced..

“Bakit naman?”  Richard was perplexed at  her way of thinking. Surely, a woman would  want  a  man devoid of  entanglements, whether that be legal or emotional?

“Eh, kasi naman. Sa edad mo,  hanggang ngayon wala ka pang nagiging serious relationship.”

“That was by choice—” Richard tried to explain but Maya just went on like she did not hear him.

“I mean, sigurado ako maraming magagandang babae na edukada ang nagkakagusto sayo.  So, anong problema sa kanila?”

“Wala namang prob—”

“Unless, your family follows traditional Chinese practices  like arranged marriages …and your bride was  already handpicked  for you and was just waiting…” then she looked at him measuringly “no—palagay ko hindi ikaw yung tipo ng papayag na iba ang magde-desisyon para sayo…”

Richard frowned at the very idea but just merely shook his head.

“Ang ibig sabihin, pwedeng nasa iyo ang  problema?  Palagay ko, ikaw nga ang may problema…”

Richard just could not keep up with her monologue-chatter when she gets going.  So, he just  left her to it until her blood sugar goes really low.

“Uyy, tinatanong kita!”  Maya nudged his foot under the table.

“Huh? Ano ba yung tanong mo?”

“Yung unang tanong ko, anong problema mo sa mga naging girlfriends mo?”

“Matagal nakong walang girlfriend”  he denied flatly.

“Maniwala ako sayo!” Maya scoffed.

“My last girlfriend was during college days pa. Hindi ka nakikinig sa sinasabi ko, eh. I said I go on casual dates, nothing more.”

Casual dates, Richard? You mean casual  sex  which  is hardly nothing, eh?

 “Ahhh!” Maya said knowingly, looking at him speculatively.

“Now, what does that mean?” Richard was getting annoyed despite promising himself that he will be very patient with Maya. He really did not like how this conversation was progressing.

“Tama. Ikaw nga ang may problema, ” she nodded.

“Which is—?”

“Commitment-phobe ka.”

“I am no such thing!” Richard denied hotly.

Maya nodded sagely. “And still in the stage of denial. Ever thought of having psychotherapy for your unresolved issues?”

“Psycho—!” he bit the profanity that hovered on his lips “Hindi ako baliw!”

But she’s driving you so very close to it!

“Hindi naman para sa baliw lang ang psychotherapy, pwede rin sa mga na-trauma, sa may mga phobia—”

“Maya” Richard raised his voice slightly “I am not a commitment-phobe.”

“Yeah, right.”  Maya’s eyes rolled up disbelievingly.

Richard could not believe it. He just said he loved her and now she’s brushing that aside by spouting psychoanalytical mumbo-jumbo at him. She would try the patience of a saint!

“I am not. And to prove this, I can call the provincial court judge right now. He’s my godfather and he would gladly officiate for us even at very short notice.”

“Judge?” Maya herself was now getting confused, he observed.

“Yes, depending on how fast you can change into something more suitable. We can get married within the hour.”

A clatter of dishes and cutlery sounded in the background.  However,  the sound was barely registered by his auditory sense as he was carefully regarding every nuance of expression on Maya’s face.  It had ranged from slow realisation, to shock to downright anger.

Now, what have you done, Richard?

 

 

 

to be continued…

Long-held Torch – Part 6

Author’s Note:  I would like to extend my appreciation to Ms Chuchy who always take the time to proofread my work prior to submission.

 

Maya’s brows knitted together  when she could not move. Along with the very heavy weight across her legs, there was another weight just below her breasts.  Both were effectively pinning her  down against the mattress. A moist warmth  was  trailing down  the side  of her neck as she felt something fondling her breast.  She involuntarily gasped as her nipple hardened  with deliberate strokes.  At the intense pleasurable sensations shooting down to her feminine core, Maya’s eyelids fluttered open while her hands instinctively  moved to still the cause. What she encountered was an arm, a rather muscular masculine arm!

Maya shrieked in alarm.

Then, she saw a head lifting  from the side of her neck.  And his chinito eyes were now peering down at her drowsily!  Her eyes rounded like saucers as she realised that it was Richard lying in bed with her!

Did he…?   Did they…?   Maya could not even frame the question in her head in sheer panic.  And because, her brain could not grasp what happened and what was still  happening, she screamed again in a futile effort to deny what her senses were perceiving.

A hand clamping  down on her mouth effectively cut off the blood-curdling sound. Maya glared mutely at Richard as she tried to pull down his hand by grabbing his wrist.

“Stop that!”  Richard  muttered  before removing his hand and jack-knifing out of  bed.

Maya sat up and checked herself. She realised that she was  still  wearing her clothes from yestereve. Somehow, she does not feel any different.  Her female friends  said  that a woman aches terribly afterwards.  She looked up as she felt Richard’s   watchful gaze on her.

“I did not touch you” Richard declared flatly when she glared up at him.

“Hah! Kaya nga ako nagising kasi hinahawakan mo ako!” she yelled back at him  while flushing in a deepest shade of  pink   “In fact, you were groping me!”

“Look, I did not realise what I was doing. I was still half-asleep.” Richard explained between his teeth. He was looking down at her with both hands on his hips.

Did he just say he was caressing her without knowing it was her?  Who the heck did he think he was in bed with? 

 

 If his excuse  was supposed to reassure Maya, it surely  missed the mark by a mile!

With her emotions in turmoil, Maya swung her legs on the side of the four-poster bed.

“Saan ka pupunta?”

“Uuwi nako!” Her light brown eyes shot daggers at him.

“Wait!”

“Don’t  touch me!”  Maya hissed as Richard tried to hold her arm.

Richard quickly held up both his arms with palms showing, in mock surrender stance.  Richard started to say something but Maya was beyond  the listening stage as she ran out. All she wanted was— to be out of  his bedroom!  ꜟAhora mismo!

At very early in the morning, everything was still in cloaked in darkness inside the villa.  She was disoriented as she went out of the master’s suite of rooms for everything was in chaos.  The light from the master’s suite was barely illuminating her way. There were wires hanging from the ceiling where lighting fixtures should be and the walls were patchy white with gypsum plaster marks in places.  Maya  bumped into a scaffolding which caused a box  of old light bulbs that was sitting on the  top platform  to crash all around her.  And because Maya could not see what spots to avoid, she stepped on a large sharp fragment and screamed in pain.

“Arayyyyyyyykup!!!”

“Now, what have you done Maya?”  Richard rasped as he caught up with her. “This is what usually happens when you go tramping about barefoot!!!”

Maya could see the top of Richard’s head  as he went down on his haunches to carefully inspect  her bleeding left foot.  As he lifted the injured limb, she had no choice but to hold onto him to steady herself.  Maya also noticed that he had slipped on a pair of chamois leather Sperry Topsiders.

He really does have a fine physique.

 

Maya absently admired Richard as her fingers held on to his wide shoulders. She could see his broad lats  muscles flexing as he bent down for a closer look at her injury.  Maya stifled a moan as she closed her eyes to blot out the visual stimulation.

Richard looked up at her with concern, mistaking her moan for pain.

“It’s a very deep cut with the glass still embedded in the flesh. We need to take it out.”  Richard looked up expectantly at her, waiting for a response.

Maya’s lips wobbled, this time  with the pain that was beginning to throb at that point.  Then, she nodded.  Richard took that as her agreement for treatment. Then he was lifting her again and carrying her back towards the master’s suite.

“Ibaba mo ko. Pwede naman akong maglakad!”  Maya was struggling in his hold.

“Maya, stop it!” Richard growled as he almost dropped her among the scattered broken light bulbs.

“I can walk! Put me down!” Maya protested.

“Kapag hindi ka tumigil, hahalikan kita!” Richard roared like a tiger.

The threat instantly halted  her  flailing movements.  All she could do was shoot daggers at him with her eyes.  Richard merely smirked as he spared  her a fleeting glance. He went past the huge four-poster to go into the adjoining bathroom.  Maya could only hold on to him and look back at the trail of blood droplets behind.

Richard flicked the toilet seat cover  closed with his Sperry-shod foot before seating Maya on top. Richard disappeared for a few seconds to put on his specs before kneeling down in front of her. He gently took the glass shards out of her left foot and more blood oozed out. He probed with light fingers to avoid inflicting any more pain than necessary.

“I think I have taken everything out.  But we need to go to the emergency clinic so that it can be properly cleaned and likely stitched…”  Richard said as if to himself  while  wrapping the injury with gauze bandage from the medicine cabinet.

“Naku hindi na.  Uuwi nako.”  Maya argued as she stood up and tried to walk with her injured foot. She gasped in pain and almost toppled over if it weren’t for Richard’s fast action. Maya felt her wound bleeding again.

“Bakit ba ang tigas ng ulo mo…I am beginning to think you want me to kiss you…?”  Richard voice became a whispher.

“Don’t you dare!” Maya protested, feeling vulnerable within his hold.

Richard laughed in that deep throaty voice of his. He shook his head. “I don’t know what kind of men you have dealt with before, my dear lovely Maya. But you don’t dare a man not to kiss you.  It just makes me want to do the exact opposite.”

Maya could only anticipate and dread as his head started coming down until his nose was just a millimetre away from hers. He was looking down at her with his chinito eyes mere slits.  Maya could not breathe as she uncomfortably shifted within his hold. She winced when she accidentally propped her full weight on her injured left foot.

Richard expelled a mirthless laugh “Once again, you have been given a reprieve. Next time, you won’t be, hmmnnn?”

Reprieve? What on earth was he talking about?

Richard led her back to the toilet seat and ordered her to sit still.  She remained silent as he retreated back to the bedroom.  Maya was left confused.

Was he threatening that he will kiss her next time?  Really, this flirtation really needs  to stop. It is already causing a lot of havoc to her senses.

Richard  went to look for his black denim pants, unmindful that she could see him  stripping just wearing a pair of white briefs from her vantage point. Then, he turned to grab a red US Polo Assn collared shirt. That was when her mouth went dry as she had a visual on his flat abs.  When her gaze further lowered to his turgid ‘lower’ profile, Maya involuntarily gulped in shock.  She immediately turned her head away for  she did not want to be accused of  perving  despite feeling the rush of heat.

Richard came back and knelt to wrap  her foot in a fresh white towel. “That will have to do. Now, stay there and I will get the vehicle ready.”

With that Richard disappeared for a couple of minutes. When he came back, he was talking to someone via a bluetooth device that was hooked over his left ear. “Is that the nearest? Okey, send me the closest route ASAP  as the GPS signals are weak in some parts of the island. I don’t want to mock around with the navigator before I even had my first cup of coffee.  And Lisa, call the medical facility and send them the details of the accident. Name of patient is MAYA, M for Mary,  A for Alpha, Y for Yankee,  and A for Alpha. Surname DELA ROSA, D for Delta, E for Echo, L for Lima, A for Alpha, R for Romeo, O for Oscar, S for Sierra and A for Alpha. Maya dela Rosa—yes, she’s Atty. Ryan’s sister.  Please double-check if they have the staff and facility for a minor surgery.  Also, I expect she will require anti-tetanus shots and maybe antibiotic shots.”

Richard was firing more instructions to his PA  that Maya felt sorry for the woman. It was barely 4 am and he was already a very demanding boss. Maya hoped this unknown PA gets paid really well to be at Richard’s beck and call  twenty-four/seven.

Maya refrained from further arguing when Richard carried her to the backseat  of the Toyota Land Cruiser.  Richard insisted on elevating her  towel-wrapped foot up on the seat.   He even clicked her seatbelt in place.

As it was still before daybreak, the trip to the medical facility took longer as Richard missed a couple of turns and had to backtrack  a few times.  It was a good thing that he was good at following  the online map that his PA Lisa sent. He was able to recognise landmarks even in the dark.  When they arrived though, Richard ignored the wheel chair and proceeded to bring her directly into one of the emergency cubicles  and started barking orders that flustered the front desk clerk  and triage nurse.

When she was  finally admitted properly, one of the nurses approached her.

“Uuuy, Maya,”  a pretty short haired morena greeted her “Remember me? We were batchmates in school.”

“Yes, I remember you. Classmate ka ni Simon, diba?” Maya smiled at the nurse in light blue scrubs suit.

“Oo, Lourdes.  Pero Lulu na lang. Kamusta ka na? Balita ko kay Simon international  flight attendant ka na daw.”

“Oo, nagbabakasyon lang ako.  Pero sa Manila ako nag-stay.  Meron akong flatmate na FA din.”

Lulu glanced to the side where Richard was speaking with the doctor.  “In fairness, ang gwapo ng husband mo, ah!”

Maya blinked, taken aback with the presumption. “Naku, hindi ko husband yan.”

“Aaaah!  Boyfriend mo pa lang…andaming kinikilig  sa  reception nang dumating kayo. Kasi parang ayaw kang bitawan kani—”

‘Teka, hindi ko rin siya boyfriend.” Maya corrected.

That information had Lulu stopping in mid-sentence. “Huh? Eh, ano mo siya?”

“Nothing,  he’s a family friend.”   Maya could see that Lulu was looking at her in disbelief.

When the two men approached, the male doctor smiled at Maya after reading the notes on the clipboard in his hand. “Good morning, Miss Maya dela Rosa, that’s still a miss right? I’m Dr. Gabriel  Marquez.”

Maya nodded while looking at Richard who was now frowning at the doctor. Lulu closed the curtains for privacy and  was about to approach Richard but his very  stern expression stopped her. The doctor also looked at Richard but thought better than to ask him to leave. Maya could sense that he will not budge even when asked to leave the treatment room. He was like a sentinel standing a few feet away with legs apart, and arms folded in front of him

“Let’s have a look”  Dr. Gabriel said cheerfully.

Maya was given a local anaesthesia before the wound was thoroughly cleaned and treated with antiseptic.  Afterwards, Dr. Gabriel did a couple of stitches to avoid wound dehiscence. Maya was also given an anti-tetanus  shot after Richard informed that she had been walking around barefoot before getting cut  by broken antique light bulbs.

Before leaving, Dr. Gabriel was smiling broadly as he gave Maya a script for paracetamol  and  amoxicillin before warmly telling her to take care of herself.

“I will take care of her.” Richard declared  after coming back from settling the bill, obviously hearing what the Spanish-mestizo doctor said.   He scooped up Maya in his arms again and marched outside. Maya was fascinated with his serious profile especially with the nerve ticking at his temple.

“Mananakit ang likod mo sa kabubuhat mo sakin”  Maya warned him, oblivious to the hospital staff  and  patients milling around the exit way.

He ignored her and continued to ignore her until they reached Maya’s home.  Nanay Teresita and Mamang fussed over her  after Richard seated her on the cushioned narra lounge.   Nanay Teresita took the small bag of prescription  medication from Maya and started reading the labels.

“Ano bang nangyari sa inyo?”  asked Mamang. Maya related the long story minus some ‘parental guidance’ scenes.

“Ang tigas kasi ng ulo mo, bunso” reprimanded Cristina Rose  “mabuti na lang si Kuya Richard ang kasama mo kagabi. Kung hindi baka na paano ka na.”

At that ironic statement, Maya pursed her lips while Richard smiled enigmatically.  Richard stood up and said his farewells after seeing her settled.  “Maya, tutuloy nako.  Pahinga ka.  Babalik ako mamayang gabi.”

“Haaaa? Bakit? Okey na naman ako. You don’t need to check on me.” Maya argued.

“I was not going to…”  Richard said softly while smiling warmly down at her.  Maya can feel everyone’s gaze were  focused at both of them. She even caught Cristina Rose’s eyes popping out while Nanay Teresita was  kinikilig.

“Hindi na kailangan.  Hindi na nga masakit, eh.”  That was due to the painkillers she took at the medical clinic.

“But I need to see you,” Richard insisted  “how else can I pay court?”

“Haaaaaa?” That was Mamang and Cristina Rose in unison.

“I will see you all later.” Richard nodded to the Dela Rosa ladies before flashing his most charming bedimpled lop-sided smile at Maya.

There was silence until Richard  was nowhere in sight. Then, Maya got the third degree.

“Bunso, isara mo yang bibig mo at baka pasukin ng langaw!”  Cristina Rose teased Maya.

“Tama ba yung intindi ko? Aakyat mamaya ng ligaw si Richaaard?”  Mamang asked her daughter with a very loud voice.

“Opo, nay. Manliligaw na si Richard kay Maya.”  Nanay Teresita giggled like a  teenager.

“Kaya pala hindi ka mapakali kagabi. Ikaw pa ang nagpunta sa kanya” teased  Cristina Rose.

“Naku, hindi ko siya pinuntahan, ah!  Ang pinuntahan ko yung lumang bahay, ” denied Maya.

“Tapos magdamag kayong magkasama! Maya Dela Rosa, meron ba kaming dapat malaman, ha?” Mamang glared at Maya.

“Naku, Mamang! Huwag po kayong mag-alala. Wala pong nangyari.” Maya denied quickly.

So, what about the early morning ‘making-out’ scene on the bed and the ‘almost ‘kissing’  scene in the ensuite bathroom?  Can those be dismissed as nothing?

“Bakit parang disappointed ka, bunso?”  jeered  Cristina Rose, her brows wagging suggestively at her youngest sibling.

“Tigilan mo ko Kute,” protested Maya once more.

“Tigilan, eh kinikilig ka diyan!”  Cristina Rose was rolling her eyes heavenwards.

“Hindi ah!”

“Denial queen!”  retorted Cristina Rose “Hoy, kung ikaw nakakalimutan mo na, ako hindi.  Inamin mo na kaya sakin yan nuon, ha!”

Maya scrunched up her eyes. She had forgotten about her  post-graduation holiday break.   Maya was euphoric for she had just graduated from her tourism degree  as Magna Cum Laude and had received confirmation of her acceptance at Time Airways. To celebrate, Cristina Rose treated her to her first drinking session which also included her Nanay Teresita and Mamang.  When the older women had retired to bed that night, Maya’s tongue got lose and admitted to having a mammoth crush on Richard for years. However, they never discussed the matter again until now.

“Anong inamin?” asked Nanay Teresita, her expectant look transferring from one daughter to the other.

“Kuteeeeeee!” Maya protested but she knew it was a losing battle.

“Na matagal na niyang crush si Kuya Richard” declared Cristina Rose. There!   Maya’s secret was out!

Mamang and Nanay Teresita both squealed in delight which had the younger  Dela Rosa females laughing. Maya missed moments like these. Only her family can truly  empathise with what she feels, even before she acknowledges it herself.

“Nay, alam nyo bang nabili na ni Richard yung lumang bahay?” asked Maya trying to veer away from the topic that she has not yet properly processed herself. Heck,  she felt weird just referring to him by his first name. Cristina Rose did not miss this fact though for she mouthed his name exaggeratedly,   albeit silently at Maya.

“Ha?  Hindi ko alam yan. Wala namang sinasabi sakin ang Kuya Ryan mo.  Pero okey yan. Kung kayo ang magkakatuluyan, malapit lang ang bahay niyo.”

“Uuuyyyyy, future Mrs. Richard Lim!  Kaya pala parang bagong kasal yung peg nyo kanina.”  Cristina Rose referred to Richard carrying her into the house.

“Kuteeeeee!”

“Excuse me, bunso,” Cristina Rose got up  and joked “Pakihawi mo lang yang hair mo at baka mapatid ako.”

Maya can’t help but giggle at that ridiculous remark. Mamang, Nanay Teresita obviously found it funny, too.

When Maya retreated to her bedroom and was finally alone, she could not help but smile giddily as she sat on her single bed.  Ever since she set foot again on San Nicholas,   Richard had been literally dogging her steps and had been so attentive.  And now, she just needed  to  express  the  kilig she’s feeling.  Grabbing her pillow, Maya screamed into its softness to stifle most of the sound.

She still can’t take it in.  Richard likes her! And he likes her enough to  properly  court her  the old fashioned way,  with her family watching.

Yet, Maya just can not visualise Richard courting her, or any girl for that matter. Maya was fully aware that Richard had  been with lots of women even before her Kuya Ryan highlighted that fact. At 35 years, good-looking,  single,  wealthy  and CEO of his own incorporated company,  Richard would be considered prize-catch by many women. Maya would bet that he almost never had the need to court any woman he wanted. How often had she opened the newspaper to see his snap shot at a building inauguration or  a big social event with a beautiful woman clinging on his arm? The frequency was just a tad too many through the years.

Maya was still distracted with thoughts of  Richard  even after taking a rather complicated shower with her left foot covered  up in cling wrap. Maya’s shoulder-length hair were all over her face as she was combing through it in front of the electric fan, when Cristina Rose rapped on her door excitedly.

“Bunsoooo, ayan naaaaaa…nag-umpisa na  ng ligaaaaaw!!!”

Maya flicked her hair back in reaction.  She remembered Richard saying that he will return this evening. She frowned as the solar heat was just intensifying outside.  Maya  quickly glanced up at the analogue wall clock above her bedroom door.  It  indicated  a couple of minutes before 12 noon!

“Tanghaling tapat?” Maya was incredulous  at  Richard’s timing.  “Chinese-style   talaga ang panliligaw?”

to be continued…

Long-held Torch – Part 5

Author’s Note:  Special thanks again to Chuchy for proofreading my work prior to submission.

At Simon’s approach, Richard had felt irritation,  akin to what one would feel towards a pesky fly that refuses to go away.  One must really  swat  it  to get rid of the  pest properly.  Richard mentally shook his head.  Richard’s analogy was not really fair to a very nice guy like Simon.  In his estimation, Simon would be the type of guy whom he would entrust to escort his sister or daughter,  if he had any.    The younger man really deserves to find someone who can return the same devotion he has been showing Maya for years.

BUT that has to be someone OTHER  than Maya, right?  his inner voice jeered him.

Well, they simply won’t suit at all, he  silently concluded.  Maya would make herself and Simon miserable if she ever commits the blunder of accepting his suit.  Maya, for all her sweet   nature, always had a stubborn streak.

But she has never been sweet towards you, has she?

 

That was his fault, he acknowledged.  In the past, Richard  could not resist teasing her, particularly  when she’s trying to ignore him.  Richard was just so fascinated by the play of different emotions on her face, especially the fire  behind her doe-shaped eyes.  It was the same fire that would light her up when she’s happy,  the same fire that would radiate when she’s in the midst of her  loving family , the same fire  that would flare when she takes a strong stand on issues she believed in.

Although she was not spoilt, Maya, as the youngest child, has been mainly indulged by her older siblings and her parents alike. Hence, she can be makulit until she gets her own way.  She needed  someone mature who can be patient yet strong to be firm when required.

Someone like yourself, Richard?

The answer was a given, of course.

Richard had patiently allowed her  more than enough time to grow up, forge a career and form romantic attachments with other guys along the way.   Richard  had known that there was a high risk that she could fall for someone and subsequently form a permanent relationship.

Through the years, how often had he broke out in cold sweat each time he hears  Ryan  fret over  his  youngest sister  as she dates  someone new?   There was the  Senator’s son,  an international violinist  from Britain,  a hot shot young lawyer from Ryan’s law firm and  a Fil-Am baseball player based in California.   Of course, there was her perennial suitor Simon and  then this unknown Capt. James.   And each time, he had to control his knee-jerk reaction to barge into her life  to annihilate her would-be beau. He could do nothing but  feel  dread  at Ryan’s  next installment update of her current romance.  Despite whatever  he felt for her, Richard knew he did not have the right to be in her way.   He can only brood  whether she had been in love with any of them.

On the bright side,  time had also shown him  that  despite the intervening years,  Maya remained  unmarried and by all accounts, emotionally unattached and unscathed.  Richard smiled at the thought for this made everything   less complicated.  For at this stage, Richard had already firmly decided that her period of reprieve has just been exhausted. Unbeknownst to Maya, her time  was up.

Convincing her would be a challenge that he would relish,  starting with wiping off that disbelieving look on her face.   He had watched incredulity chase away the initial surprise from her features when he  blatantly declared  his  desire to romantically date her.   Richard could almost hear a disparaging comment forming on her lips  but  Maya had chosen  to  clamp it down.  Maya was quite a study as she struggled to keep quiet.   Her upper lips tightened while her delicate nostrils flared as another becoming blush crept up her cheeks.

“You’ve gone very quiet.”  Richard murmured in dulcet tones, his eyes shaded by the  photochromic lens that darkened under  the sun which was streaming through the canopied veranda.

“Ayaw ko lang patulan yang pang-aasar mo.” Maya whispered, her head bowed down as she tried to concentrate on her food.

“Why do you find it so hard to believe that I find you very attractive?” Richard continued to whisper as his eyes caressed her features. “And I do, make no mistake about this. I find you…”

“very very attractive” he slowly went on after an infinitesimal pause in that low voice that  bespoke of promised intimacy.

“Tigilan mo ako, Singkit.”  She hissed back.

“Richard”   he corrected.

Maya blankly looked up at him, both eyebrows lifted.

“Call me Richard”  he instructed.

Maya was about to answer but her phone rang.  Maya dropped her fork to take the device from her blazer’s pocket.

“Excuse me.  Hello James….?” The wrought-iron chair grated against the floor as Maya stood up and moved to the other side of the veranda to have some modicum of privacy.

Richard viewed her for a few minutes as she animatedly talked with ‘James’.  He guessed  this  would be the same  Capt. James who has been trying to court her.   He ground his teeth as he recognised pangs of jealousy at this  unknown  Capt. James who certainly has the knack to make Maya smile.

With his appetite non-existent, Richard stood up.  He  took both their unfinished plates to the auxiliary kitchen where Cristina Rose was doing her ‘tour of duty’ with the stack of dirty dishes.  He said his goodbye to Cristina Rose, then to Nanay Teresita who approached the sink with more dirty dishes.  Richard  informed  both  that he intended to come back  later in the evening.

Nanay Teresita smiled at him meaningfully. “May bagyong paparating mamayang gabi.  Kung aabutan ka sa daan. Ipagpabukas mo na.”

Richard smiled back and nodded.  He went  through the back door to get directly to his vehicle  without running the gauntlet of  each member of the  Dela Rosa clan halting his tracks.  He drove along the curving road   towards west and then after about two  kilometres, he turned into a very long driveway lined with  mango trees.  He parked the Toyota Land Cruiser under the detached carport and then walked on the cobbled paving to the side door which directly leaded to the kitchen.  Inside the villa, there were a dozen  tradesmen about who cheerfully greeted him before returning back to what they were doing.

Richard actually bought the Spanish  villa almost eight years ago  when he should have been concentrating  all his resources in his new construction firm.  However, purchasing the property was a very personal decision.  Even Ryan, who only learnt  about this property  a couple of years back  when he reviewed all documentation of  Richard’s assets and liabilities, had no idea of the true motivation behind his irrational action. To give him credit, Ryan never probed nor divulged anything to anyone including  his family, to maintain  his client’s  privacy.

As it turned out, Richard  never found the time to work on either the Spanish villa nor the surrounding extensive grounds.  He has postponed the restoration until he came back a few days ago,  preceded  by his renovating team.  Richard went to his private quarters on the western wing  to quickly shower to get rid of the smoky barbecue smell from his hair and body. Afterwards, he donned on his overalls and safety shoes to join his men.

At five pm, his staff hopped on the white Toyota long-wheel based service van that shuttled them to their temporary lodgings in the town centre while Richard went round the formal lounge area to check the structural reinforcements done.  Time had taken its toll on the arched way between the formal lounge and formal dining area. His fingers traced the intertwined rose carvings on one of  the supporting columns. It was actually the prevailing theme in the entire villa. The design was carved on the wooden panels on the mahogany doors,  the  mural wall feature  in the formal dining area and the plastered domed high ceilings of  every room, particularly the front receiving room and  the large ballroom.

Richard looked at his watch and dialled his friend’s mobile.

“Hello, brod” Ryan’s voice came through the receiver.

“Hello,”  Richard said “anong oras and flight nyong mag-anak?”

“In two hours, paalis na nga kami. Kung hindi lang sa schooling ng mga bata, hindi pa talaga kami uuwi ng Manila. Kaso back to school na sila tomorrow morning.”

“I can take you to the airport”  Richard offered.

“Naku, hindi na. Si Cristina Rose na ang maghahatid samin. Andiyan naman yung kotse ni Tatay.”  Ryan referred to the old Mitsubishi Lancer box-type that the Dela Rosa had owned for decades.

“Uhhhmmn”

“May problema ba, brod?” Ryan sensed the hesitation in Richard’s voice.

“Wala, brod” Richard quickly reassured his friend.  “I was wanting to discuss something.”

“Ganun ba? What is it?”

Richard shook his head. He can not discuss Maya over the phone.  He also  needed a tête-à-tête  with his bestfriend.  Like his talk with Tatay Arturo and Nanay Teresita, he needed to personally  express his honourable intentions and sincerity.  He could do no less with his bestfriend whom he considers more like a brother.

“It is best we discuss this personally.”

“Okey, sige I will wait for you in Manila. Sige, brod. Sinesermunan nako ni kumander.”

Richard swiped the red  ‘END’ bar  on his iPhone-5  screen and then stared outside.  It was darker than usual even though the sun has yet to officially set. He went back to his private  quarters.  It was the masters bedroom suite on the western wing that had its own little sitting room that opens to a secluded  garden.  Richard went into the walk-in wardrobe to change into a  black  box-cut-style Speedo.

Richard had been having a daily swim in the late afternoon just before sunset since he ensconced himself at the villa. He did dozens of  laps in freestyle before going on his back to do backstroke in a more relaxed pace until he reached shallow water once more.  His  wide chest was slightly heaving at the effort as he stood up and walked up the beach to where he left his glasses and towel.  He was towelling his hair dry when he noticed a movement inside the villa. He was not expecting anyone at this time so this intruder could have burglary in mind.

He put on his specs and stood still to concentrate on the human  shape that was quickly moving along the arched windows to the side door. Instinctively, he broke at a run and tackled the intruder  that could put a New Zealand All-Black rugby player to shame.  At first, Richard thought that the intruder  was a boy until he brushed against a very  curvy bottom as he straightened. Richard’s heart went to his throat as recognition slowly dawned on him. He gently turned the ‘burglar’ to see that her eyes were closed and that she was very still.

“Oh God, Maya!”  Richard was gently tapping her cheek  as he checked  her airways and breathing.  He saw that her chest was rising regularly. He then checked her carotid pulse and then gently checked for any dislocated or broken bones. He checked  for  broken skin and any sign of  bleeding. In the next few seconds, Maya’s lids fluttered open.

“Are you okey? Do you feel any pain anywhere?” Richard asked worriedly.

Maya moaned as she tried to get up.

“Teka muna. You may have broken ribs or something” Richard was looking at her chest area.

“I don’t think so” Maya said as she propped herself up on her elbow.

Richard very gently  scooped her up in his arms which made Maya instinctively circle her arms around his neck.  He went indoors and went  straight to his bedroom.

“This is the only furnished part of the house.”  He informed his uninvited guest who moaned again as he laid her down on the soft mattress.

“I am fine, really.” Maya started to get up again but was held down by Richard.

“Just take a few minutes.”  His quickly took his hands off her breasts as if scorched.  He combed his fingers through his hair in slight agitation.  He was getting uncomfortable and finally remembered he was just standing in his Speedos with seawater  drying on his skin.  He quickly grabbed another  white  towel and wrapped it around his waist and by the side of the bed.

“I am sorry, Maya.”  Richard scratched his forehead in search for more adequate words to say. “Akala ko kasi magnanakaw ka…”

She was quiet. This time when she slowly got up, Richard did not try to stop her.

“I am fine. Kasalanan ko rin naman.  Pumasok ako ng walang pahintulot. Pero kumatok ako ng kumatok, walang nagbubukas ng pinto.”

“Nasa labas ako ng bahay nang dumating ka.”

Maya was now sitting on the four-poster bed and was at eye level with his naked  wide chest. He could see another blush creeping up her cheeks as she turned her head away.  He frowned as she was behaving like she’s not familiar with the male anatomy.

“Kapitbahay ka na pala namin.” Maya said as she swung her legs on the side of the bed.

Technically, what Maya said was true.  The Spanish villa was the closest house to the Dela Rosa residence on the western side  despite the kilometre or so distance in between the two houses on the coastline  side.

“Pa-shhhecret… secret ka pa.” Maya’s voice was getting slurred that had  Richard frowning again. Richard hovered near as she got up. She was able to make it to the bedpost which she held on by hugging it.

“Maya, are you okey?” Richard could see that her eyes were closed as she rested her forehead on the post.  He was really getting worried.  It was possible that she had concussion. “Right, I am bringing you to the hospital…”

Maya giggled as she lifted her head to peer at him. “OA ka namaaaan, Shingkit.”

“But you don’t sound okey.” His arms went around her as she started slipping down the post.

“I’m fi—I’m okeeeeey” she answered as she leaned her head on his chest,  giving up any pretext of standing up independently. “I need to get  to bed, antok nakooooo…”

Then another thought occurred to Richard. “Are you drunk?”  He took a whiff of her and could not detect any alcohol scent.

“Maya?” Richard shook her as she settled herself in his arms. “Are you drunk?”

She shook her head and mumbled something against his neck that sent sensations up and down his spine.

“What was that?” Richard strained his ears  as  heavy rain started pelting the tiled roof above.

“Drugged…” Maya answered again.

Maya then licked her lips and commented  “ang alat mo…”  She smiled as her eyes languorously fluttered at him before closing again.

Did she say she was drugged?  His face thundered. What on earth did she take? She needs to be taken to the hospital. Where on earth were his keys? Where were his denim pants? Where the hell were his Loafers?

What was that buzzing sound?

Richard shifted Maya within his hold  so that he can carry her back to bed. Before he could take his arms from underneath her, he heard the buzzing sound again.  Maya’s head was flopped back, mouth slightly parted and was snoring like a bee!

Richard did not know what to do with her. In the end, he called up Cristina Rose.

“Cristina Rose, Maya’s here with me” Richard informed directly.

“Haaaa?”

“She had a little accident but she seemed okey.” Richard did not expound that he caused the accident in the first place  “then she started falling and now she’s  fast asleep.”

Cristina Rose laughed which further annoyed Richard. “Naku, pihado umepekto na yung ininom niyang  sleeping pills.  Sabi ko sa kanya kanina wag nang lumabas ng bahay pero matigas ang ulo.  Alinsangan kasi kanina. Hindi talaga siya makatulog kahit pagod na pagod na.  Halos 48 hours na yang gising dahil sa biyahe.”

Richard’s frown deepened. “Madalas ba siyang umiinom ng sleeping pills?”

Cristina Rose paused to think.  “Hmmmnnn…medyo madalas nitong mga huling uwi niya.”

“I see.”  Now what was he supposed to do?  He could carry her into his four-wheel drive and bring her home. But they will be soaked in seconds. “Pwedeng makausap si  Nanay Teresita?”

“Naku, tulog na sila Nanay at Tatay.  Pagod na pagod, eh.”

Richard sighed. “Listen, Cristina Rose. I think it is best that Maya stay here instead of bringing her home in the storm.”

As if on cue, there was a clap of lightning and then the boom of thunder reverberating outside.  Large rivulets of rain can be seen hitting the glass pane of his bedroom window.

“Ah, okey” Cristina Rose readily agreed.

“Depending on the weather, I will drive her home when she wakes up. Pakisabi na lang sa parents mo.”

“Okey”  said Cristina Rose as he rang off.

Richard bent down to rearrange the pillow behind her head and to pull the bedclothes to cover her.  He straightened as he continued to look at her serene form.  The sight of her sleeping in his bed was doing crazy things to his nether regions that he felt more discomfort in his Speedos that had nothing to do with seawater nor  stray sand.

“Bloody hell!” he swore under his breath as he quickly got up to go to the ensuite bathroom.  He turned the shower tap to the lowest temperature setting.  He swore again as he stepped  and  flinched  under the icy cold stinging spray.  He never took advantage of a woman before and he would be damned if he started now. Besides, he intended Maya to be fully conscious the first time he made love to her.  His possessive nature demands that he exorcise any man out of her system so that she could be exclusively his.  Anything less will simply  not do.

He quickly went to the wardrobe to put on a white V-neck  Hanes T-shirt and  Porontong cotton printed shorts.  He grabbed the unused pillow by Maya’s head  and  placed  it on the  wooden Gallinera-style  chair. He positioned it a couple of feet from the bed  so that he could prop his lower legs on top of the bed while sitting on the wooden chair.

Richard checked his Omega wristwatch. It was only  half  past  seven in the evening.  Judging from how the wind outside was howling like a banshee, this  tropical storm will be lasting until the wee hours of the morning.

“This is going to be a long night”  he muttered to himself as he placed his specs on the bedside table. Then, he tried to find a more comfortable position on the wooden  seat.

Richard must have dozed off for it was almost  nine when he peered at  his watch. Standing up slowly,  he felt the stiffness on his lower back and the numbness of his gluteal muscles.  He stretched and looked at Maya who was still sleeping, sans snoring.  Richard  covered her once more  with the blanket which she must have kicked off during the night.

Richard considered the space beside Maya. Surely it would not hurt if he stretched on the bed for a few minutes.  Besides, the thought of Maya lying beside him was guaranteed to keep  him wide awake. When he did lie down, he felt his lower back pain subsiding.

Ironically, he was asleep in fifteen minutes.

Richard was in a semi-conscious state.   He was in bed beside Maya and had his right leg over both of hers.  And he was trying to wake her up by nuzzling  her neck  while caressing  her left breast.  Why was she wearing so many clothes?  He wanted to make love to her again.

Then a very high-pitched sound blasted his eardrums which  stilled his lip and finger movements. Richard blinked, then unhurriedly removed his lips from the delectable neck that he had  been  nibbling. He drowsily lifted his head to meet Maya’s  alarmed incredulous eyes.

“Eeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!”  Maya screamed again so shrilly that it was enough to rattle  all the resident house geckos to go scuttling into the nearest crevice for cover.

to be continued…

Long-held Torch – Part 4

Author’s note:  Special thanks to Chuchy who proofread my work before submission. 

“Ikaw talaga kung makabiro, Kute. Mabuti hindi napikon sayo si Singkit”   chided Maya of her older sister when they were alone in the dining area. They were putting away the remnants of breakfast while Luke and Nikki Grace were running around playing tag in the adjoining family room which connects to the al-fresco veranda.

Among the siblings,  Maya and Cristina Rose were  the closest for they only have four  years age gap between them whereas her Kuya Ryan is older than Maya by ten years.  And for as long as she can remember, she had always addressed Cristina Rose as KUTE which was the compound term for kuya and  ate.  Even as a child, Maya had sensed  that her supposed Ate Cristina Rose  had a lot of masculine inclinations like her Kuya Ryan.

“Hindi naman pikon si Kuya Richard”  negated Cristina Rose.  “Saka ang lakas din kaya mang-asar nun. Weather-weather lang. He He He ”

Maya can see Tatay Arturo and Richard deeply engrossed in conversation on the  veranda.  Her Tatay Arturo had also glanced  in her direction twice which made her heart skip several heartbeats.  Maya had an uneasy feeling that they were talking about her.  However, she  could not hear what they were actually talking about.

“Ano kayang pinag-uusapan nila?”  asked Maya absently, her gaze following Nanay Teresita who went to the veranda carrying a tray with two cups of coffee.  Her brows lifted when Nanay Teresita was invited to join in the private conversation. “Kasama na rin si nanay?”

Maya was intending to go near the veranda when Cristina Rose stopped her progress.

“Hep! Hep! Hep! Saan ka pupunta, Maya dela Rosa? Baka mapagalitan ka ni Tatay” warned Kute.

“Sabi ko nga. Dito lang ako.”  She scooped Nikki Grace as she darted in front of her.  Her niece did an eardrum -piercing squeal as  Maya sniffed the child’s armpits. “And bigat mo na at ang asim na ng kili-kili mo, pwedeng pang-sinigang.”

Nikki Grace kept on squealing as she wriggled within her Tita Maya’s hold.

“Paliguan mo na yang mga bata.” instructed Cristina Rose of her younger sister.

“Tama, hihiluran ko kayong magkapatid at meron nang mga banil yang mga leeg ninyo” Nikki Grace giggled as Maya tickled her neck. Maya also quickly grabbed Luke as he tried to evade  both his aunt and the threat of being scrubbed by a pumice stone.

“Anong oras ba yung binyag?” Maya directed her question back to Kute.

“Alas onse. Kaya maligo na kayo’t gumayak.” announced  Mamang who rejoined them in the dining area. Her grandmother already had a shower with her wet hair still wrapped up in a towel and already dressed in Sunday clothes.

Maya chose a pastel yellow pant suit  and matching peep-toe wedged heels.  As it was Sunday, she managed to catch up with many of her former classmates from San Nicholas High School.  Standing beside Simon, she was chatting with a bevy of  female friends, who were eyeing  the  clean-cut chinito  hovering in the background.  Maya had been ignoring Richard all throughout the service. Although, she was  mindful that Richard looked good in pin-striped light gray long-sleeved polo shirt and charcoal grey pants.  Heck, he looked good whatever he wore.

Maya frowned  for she did not realise that he actually left the house while she was in the shower.   Richard normally stays at the Dela Rosa residence when he’s in Mindoro and she was expecting the same set-up.  Then again, Richard used to stay in her Kuya Ryan’s room but that is now also occupied by his wife and three children. With a cot in there, there was not even room to swing a cat.  But there’s always  the spare room that Mamang uses as a sewing room. So, the obvious reason was that he opted not to stay this time.   He had looked freshly showered when he  arrived at Church and seated himself beside her  on the pew.  So, obviously he had been lodging in the vicinity.  The question was WHERE?

The ride home was  a convoluted  event.  Initially,   Maya had intended to ride back the same way she came to town—with Simon.   Out of the blue,  he was drafted by Tatay Arturo and Nanay Teresita to accompany them to pick up the pre-ordered  lechon from the other side of town.  Mamang had grabbed her cousin Lino to get the cake from the town centre bakeshop.  Kuya Ryan herded his wife  and brood  into the  old  Mitsubishi Lancer that serves as the family car.  His wife Celine was already looking flustered as baby Abigail was due for breastfeeding and was already crying her lungs out.  Maya was about to follow them when Cristina Rose  halted  her progress by handing  her a few hundred peso bills.

“Para saan to?”  asked a bewildered Maya, raising her right hand that was holding the paper bills.

“Pakihawakan  mo at wala akong bulsa. Nagbilin si Nanay na bumili tayo ng softdrinks.”

“Samahan ko na kayo” volunteered Richard cheerfully as he spoke behind Maya.

“Ay,  nandito nga pala si Kuya Richard. Teka, kayong dalawa na lang ni Maya ang bumili kasi dadaanan  pa namin ni Jeff  yung gitara sa bahay niya, eh. Okey?”  Without waiting for a response, Cristina Rose jumped behind Jeff’s motorbike and the two sped away.

“Ha?” Maya’s  jaw dropped as everyone left.  She slowly turned to see Richard  smiling so charmingly down at her as he placed his forefinger  under her chin to close her mouth.

“I guess you’re stuck with me.”  Richard murmured as his forefinger continued to caress her chin ever so lightly.

At his touch, the butterflies in her stomach came back to life with a vengeance.  She tried to breathe in deeply to oxygenate her brain that had gone sluggish. Unfortunately,  Richard was standing at such close quarters that she also breathed in a tangy lemony soap smell that blended with a   masculine musk  that was purely Richard.  And Maya could not control the effect it was having on her.

In that bemused state,  Maya felt Richard’s hand at the base of her spine as she let  herself  be led  into his Toyota Land Cruiser.  Maya’s sense of presence slowly returned as Richard  drove to the nearest grocery. She frowned as he navigated  without getting any directions from her.  He certainly seemed to know his way around town like he has been living  locally  for years.  This brings back the question—-where was he  staying?

“Saan ka natutulog?”  Maya asked without preamble.

Richard just flashed his bedimpled lop-sided grin. “Is that a hint? Are you trying to invite yourself to where I sleep?”

“Nagtataka lang ako. Kasi diba palagi ka namang naglalagi sa bahay kapag nandito ka?”  Maya ignored his flirty tone.

“I bought a place of my own.”

Now, THAT was certainly news to her. Why has no one bothered to tell her?

“Really? Saan? Kelan pa?”  Maya asked before she could stop herself. She was not sure if she liked the idea of Richard living in her home turf.  The idea was making her uneasy.

“Whoa!  So many questions, Miss Dela Rosa.” Richard laughed.

However, he would not give anything away which annoyed Maya very much.  No matter how much she badgered him inside the grocery, he would not even give her a hint.  She smiled, she cajoled, she pouted and almost stamped her foot in frustration—all  to no avail. Then, it occurred to her as Richard was placing the bags of bottled drinks in the boot   that he might be wanting to keep his privacy. He may have a girlfriend in residence.  The thought visibly darkened her mood.  She turned quiet and then looked away, pretending to be interested in the passing scenery when the vehicle moved.

“Maya?”  Richard  called her name softly.

“Yes?”

“Look, the only reason why I have not told you,  nor your family,  is because I  am still  in the process of renovation.   I wanted to get everything in order before inviting you over.”

“I see.” Maya mumbled disbelievingly.

Richard sighed deeply.  Then, Maya felt the vehicle decelerating to a stop as Richard parked on the road shoulder. Maya turned towards Richard which was a mistake for he has shifted to peer closely at her face. She felt his fingers lifting the strands of hair that went over her eyes to tuck them  behind her right ear.

“Now, what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”

Beautiful?  Did he just describe her as beautiful? Was he flirting with her again?

“The place is still a mess. The electricians are still  re-wiring coz we had to tear out the old electrical  system.  The plumbers are working on the bathrooms at the moment. Next week,  the plasterers and then the painters are coming in.”

“You don’t have to explain. It is your place and of course it’s your prerogative who to invite.” Maya concluded.  “Tara na, hinhintay na nila yung mga softdrinks.”

Richard continued to consider her until he shook his head. He shifted in his seat and switched on the ignition. When they got back to the house, their place was jam-packed with family and friends.  Maya became busy refilling the buffet table. Even Richard took turns manning the barbecue to chargrill the marinated steak, tomato-relish stuffed  milkfish  and  bamboo stick-skewered hotdogs for the kids. Somebody even got him to wear  a white apron emblazoned with the cheeky statement in black bold letters. It read ‘I’M TOO SEXY FOR THIS APRON’ which he got ribbed for endlessly, mainly by her Kuya Ryan and his cronies.

“Maya, paki-abot mo nga ito kay Richard. Hindi pa nakain yun, eh”  instructed Mamang.

“Opo” Maya placed the refilled bowl of kare-kare on the buffet table and then took the plate of food downstairs.

Her Kuya Ryan was about to hand  Richard a bottle of beer when she was a couple of feet from him.  “Kuya, pakainin mo muna itong bestfriend mo bago mo lasingin.”

Ryan’s brows raised in  sudden realisation. “Naku, sorry pare. Iwanan mo na  yan. Kumain ka muna.”

“Masusunog itong nakasalang”  reminded  Richard.

“Hindi, akong bahala diyan” reassured Ryan as he took the long barbecue tongs off him. Richard removed the apron and handed it to his friend to take  the plate of food from Maya.

“Saan ka pupunta?  Di mo ba ako sasamahang kumain?” Richard asked as Maya was about to leave.

“Kukuha lang ako ng sakin”  with that she went back upstairs, with Richard dogging  her steps.  Maya saw Richard grab a glass of  chilled water.

They found an empty spot just vacated  by her cousin Lino and his female friend. It was the best seat by the veranda with the beach as backdrop.  Richard quickly pulled the wrought iron chair for her.  He placed the glass of water in front of her. Then remembering something, he went back to grab a glass of Diet Coke for himself and  a banana from the huge fruit bowl from the dessert table. He seated himself beside her then peeled the fruit and dropped the inside part onto her plate.

“What are you doing?”  She was unsure if she should feel flattered with the attention or annoyed because he did not even think of asking what drink she wanted or whether she wanted a banana in the first place.

“Having lunch?” Richard answered the obtusely.

“I mean…” her hands gestured towards the glass of water and the peeled fruit.

“You don’t like softdrinks  and only drink chilled water, right?”

“Oo nga—”

“And you always eat meals with a banana, right?”  It was actually like a family quirk among the Dela Rosa’s.  Every member must have a banana with lunch and dinner, regardless of what viand was accompanying the rice.  Maya, in recent years,  had even gone further and regularly eat bananas on toast for breakfast, a habit she picked up from her English friends.

“Oo, pero—”

“So what’s the problem?”

Ano nga bang problema, Maya?  Hindi mo dapat bigyan ng kahulugan ang mga ginagawa ni singkit.  Afterall, you just gave him a plate of food. He was just returning the gesture.

 

“Maya…”  Her head lifted. It was Simon  approaching them with a small plate of lechon.

“Thank you.” Maya smiled sweetly at Simon as she directly picked up a piece of crunchy pork skin off the plate offering with her fingers.

“Join us Simon.” Richard invited the younger man politely albeit unsmilingly.  This  had Maya frowning.  Did Richard not like Simon?

“Hindi na po, Kuya Richard. Tapos na po akong kumain, eh. Magpapaalam lang ako kay Maya.”

“Aalis ka na kaagad?” Maya questioned her childhood friend.

“May inuutos pa kasi sakin si Tito.  Meron kaming delivery bukas pa-Maynila. So kailangan maikarga na lahat sa truck yung mga paninda” explained Simon. “pero babalik ako mamaya, ha?  Dalawin kita.”

“Ah, okey.” Maya said slowly, not really knowing how to answer that without being rude especially with Richard looking on.   Maya deeply sighed as Simon walked away.

“Why don’t you put him out of his misery?” was her companion’s quiet suggestion.

“I beg your pardon?”  Maya blinked in astonishment.

“You don’t want him.  Bakit pina-paasa mo pa?” he said in an undertone.

“FYI lang Mr. Lim,” Maya tried to calm herself. “first of all, hindi ko pinaasa si Simon. Sinabihan ko na siyang hanggang magkaibigan lang talaga kami nuon pa…ilang beses na…bago pako natanggap sa Time Airways.”

“Maybe, you were not convincing enough?  Maybe he’s getting mixed signals from you?”

“Maybe you should not be meddling in my affairs?” Maya pointed out.

“Maybe you should date someone seriously so that Simon can finally get the message.”  Richard continued ignoring what she said.

Maya was amused at the ludicrous suggestion.  In essence, he was suggesting that she hooks up with a guy to get rid of another.  “And who do you suggest  I date, Mr Lim?”

Richard  turned to directly look into her eyes that she saw something she could not fathom.  Then he smiled enigmatically.

“Me.”

to be continued…