Ang Mang-aagaw 2

U.N.A

It was the morning sun that welcomed Philip as he got out of the Airport. He felt euphoria upon seeing the same traffic jam he used to witness years ago. Feeling like a renewed person, he walked passionately as he leave the establishment.

Welcome back Philip! Welcome back to the Philippines! sabi ni Philip sa sarili.

Then a bitter smile flashed to his face.

Philip kept on walking as if he was searching something. Ilang segundo pa ang nakalipas,three stocky-muscular guys approached him and bowed as a sign of respect. One held his newly purchased Louis Vuitton bag, one sincerely asked for his 2-pocket Black Suede Kenneth Cole Jacket and the last one guided him to the car.

Ngayong nakafitted shirt nalang si Philip,naramdaman na din nya ang pagkagat ng araw sa kanyang balat. Napangiti si Philip,nasa Pilipinas na nga sya. Para syang Haring may mga bodyguard pa. Binukas ng isa sa mga bantay ang pinto ng Ford Black Expedition,agad na tumama ang mata ni Philip sa nakasakay. Kitang-kita ang gulat sa mga mata nito habang pinagmamasdan ang kabuuan ni Philip. He had his mouth cupped by his left hand with his eyes opened widely as if he has seen a monster.

Tumawa si Philip sa nakita. He has never seen Roj so dumbfounded.

“Parang nakakita ka ng multo Roj?” nakangising sabi ni Philip.

“Shiiiiiit.” napasigaw na sabi ni Roj.

Ngumiti si Philip, ilang segundo pa ay agad na yumakap si Roj sa kanya. Naramdaman nila ang init ng isa't-isa. Pahigpit ng pahigpit,damang-dama nila ang pintig ng kanilang mga puso. Sa ilang taon nilang pagkakaibigan at sa ilang taon nilang di nagkita,sigurado sila na marami silang pagkekwentuhan.

“Holy Shit!” nausal ni Roj.

Philip gave him a cute quizzical look. Roj stared at him with his eyes flooded by tears. Philip raised an eyebrow.

“Holy Shit mo your face.”

“I can't believe it. I really can't believe it.”

“Ang alin Roj?”

“You've changed.”

“Oo naman. Tulad ng tinuro mo sakin. Ginawa ko lahat para mabago ang sarili ko.”

There was anger in his voice. Roj felt responsible for everything. He was then,alarmed.

Philip did really change himself. Wala na yung nerd na laging nakasalamin. Wala na yung Philip na mababa ang tingin sa sarili. He's a changed person now. Physically,he's scorchingly hot. I was surprised. I mean impressed. Pwede ba both? Wala na yung patpatin na Philip. He's a buff now and his rosy cheeks complemented everything. He just looked awesome. Roj thought.

“Oh bakit natameme ka?” nakangising sumakay si Philip sa kotse.

Roj blushed slightly. He smirked. Sinara ng bodyguard ang pinto ng kotse after seeing the two adjusted inside. Umandar ang kotse. Roj and Philip kept on exchanging glances but no one dared talk.

“Roj.”

“Yep.”

“Andyan yung pasalubong ko sa'yo.”

“Ha? Ano yun?”

“Yung fleshlight na dati mo pa winiwish.”

Philip laughed. Roj blushed.

“Asshole ka. Sineryoso mo talaga yung fleshlight na hinihingi ko?”

“Bakit joke lang ba yun? Diba hindi naman? In fact pag magkachat tayo lagi mong nireremind yan.” tumawa si Philip.

“Oyy hindi ah! Ang kapal.”

“Oo kaya. Kapal nito.”

“Ano ba yan.”

Then there's silence. Back to the same routine,tahimik silang dalawa.

Bakit ganito? Bakit parang ang awkward ng pagkikita namin ulit ni Roj. Ang daming dead air sa conversations namin. Di ko alam kung bakit. Bakit ba ganito? Roj looked so so sooo better now. Mas kuminis sya at mas pumuti,magkasinglaki na rin kami ng katawan. I hate to admit it but yeah,Roj looked hotter. He did. Philip said to himself.

“Philip?”

“Ahh. Ahh Yeah?” natarantang sagot ng isa.

“I'm so happy to see you again. I really do.”

He felt the sincerity with the words of Roj. He must admit that those words sent shivers down his spine. Kinikilig ba sya or what? Di maipaliwanag ni Philip kung ano ba talaga ang nararamdaman nya.

“Ditto.” maiksi at nakangiting tugon nya rito.

Philip stared at Roj while saying that word. Roj felt different. He felt hot all over kahit sobrang lakas naman ng aircon. The two of them didn't even blink. They stared at each other,exchanged smiles that seemed to be flirty,a thing that they have never done before.

Bakit ganito ang mga titig ni Philip sakin? Bakit parang iba? Iba na nga sya talaga. Iba ba talaga sya o ako ang nagiba after ko syang makita ulit? Bakit ba ganun? Bakit ba? Ang jerk ko talaga. Roj thought.

No one has seen this coming. Ilang segundo pa ang makalipas mula nang sila'y nagsimulang magtitigan,Philip's face was found drawing near Roj's. Roj on the other hand felt a bit confused with what was happening. Before he could stop Philip from what he was trying to do, huli na. Nagtama na ang kanilang mga labi.

Roj felt his shaft thickening. Philip was enjoying the taste of Roj's sweet,soft lips. They both felt great with their first kiss. The first confusing kiss they ever had. Both of them let go. Nagtitigan ulit sila,ngayon,wala na ang mga ngiti sa kanilang labi. They both looked confused with what just happened. Nagpakawala ng isang buntong-hininga si Philip. Roj smiled.

“I really missed you Roj. Kung alam mo lang.”

“Ditto.” sagot nitong nakangiti.

Walang sali-salita,parang magnet na nagdikit ang kanilang mga kamay. May ngiti sa kanilang mga labi.

Patuloy ang masayang kwentuhan ni Roj at Philip sa Starbucks kung saan unang nagkita sila Philip at Arvin. For Roj,it was just nothing, For Philip,ang laki ng symbolism nun. Wala masyadong tao at okupado nila ang isang sofa set sa gilid ng coffee shop. Pinaikot-ikot ni Philip ang mga mata,kahit di man nya aminin,umaasa sya na makita nya si Arvin sa coffee shop na to. Who knows?

Makita lang kita ulit dito. Di ka na lalayo sakin. Philip thought.

He smiled.

“Nagkakape pa kaya dito si Arvin?”

“Arvin?” takang tanong ni Roj.

“Yung unang nagdump sakin.”

There's bitterness in his tone.

“Di ko alam. Who knows?” preskong sagot ni Roj.

He curled his eyes on Roj.

“Anong problema? Don't tell me galit ka pa rin sa kanya?” tanong ni Roj kay Philip.

“Galit? Hindi ah. Ang tagal na nun Roj. Kung sakaling makita ko sila o siya,baka makipagkwentuhan pa ako.”

“Good. Atleast okay ka na.”

Okay? Oo naman. Okay na okay ako. Okay na lahat ng plano ko para gantihan silang lahat. Kung paano nila ako pinaiyak noon,doble pa. Yan ang tatandaan nila. ang sabi ni Philip sa sarili

Lumipas ang ilang oras ng kanilang kwentuhan. Alam nila sa kanilang mga sarili na may nagiba sa paraan ng pakikitungo nila sa isa't-isa. Alam ni Philip na iba na ang paraan ng pagtingin nya kay Roj ngayon. Dati ay parang kapatid lang,pero ngayon ay di nya mawari. He couldn't even answer why he kissed his bestfriend and he even held his hand.

Namiss ko lang ba talaga si Roj? Bakit ako ganito ngayon? Hindi kami ganito dati. It's all different. It's weird. But there's a part of me that says I'm enjoying everything. Roj is a good friend. Kaya siguro comfortable ako sa kanya. But we never kissed before? Bakit ko ba sya hinalikan? Bakit ko din hinawakan ang kamay nya?

Then there goes Philip, giving a sigh that made Roj confused.

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing really. I just kinda miss you.” Philip beamed a flirty smile.

Roj looked fantastically at Philip.

Ngayon ko lang napansin na ang ganda pala ng ngipin ni Philip. And his lips? Holycow! Naalala ko na naman kung paano nya ako hinalikan. Iba yun! I've kissed a lot of guys and girls pero Philip electrified me. Iba yun eh! Bakit ba iba? Bakit parang weird namin ngayon? Bakit ba ganito? Hindi kami ganito dati?

Roj was then surprised to feel Philip touching his face. Nagitla si Roj nang hawakan ni Philip ang kanyang mukha. He felt that touch again. Nostalgic. Nakatitig si Philip habang dahan-dahang hinahaplos ang mukha ni Roj. The latter looked completely puzzled yet he felt damned good. Roj felt that they could be this way forever. Philip felt sincerity with his own actions. He felt that Roj is someone he has to keep.

They both smiled.

Silence.

Roj adjusted his seat. He sat beside Philip. Philip felt a sudden punch of euphoria nang lumapit sa kanya si Roj. The two of them both don't know what was happening, What they know is,they feel home whenever they're together. Something that Roj has never felt,despite the fact that he's a playboy. Something that Philip has never felt, despite the fact that he's got all the money. They felt home in each other's arms. They both gave a warm smile. Nostalgic.

Dumating ang isang grupo ng mga callcenter agents para magkape. All of them got out of the white car except for the driver. Roj and Philip were staring at the car. Humanap ng tamang lugar to park, it took him minutes before he could fit in. Philip was excited to see how the driver of the car looks. For some unknown reasons, he felt excitement. The driver then got out of the car. Philip laid his eyes on him. The guy's familiar. He pinched Roj.

“Ohh bakit?”

“You remember Arvin?

“Yeah. The guy who first dumped you?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Sya yung driver. Kakababa lang nya ng kotse. Roj,it's really a small world. Sabi ko sayo makikita ko sya sa coffee shop na to.”

Philip looked excited. He was thrilled to see the guy he gave his heart to for the first time. He rose from his seat, Roj looked confused with what the latter's going to do.

“Anong gagawin mo?”

“Nothing. He has to be reminded.” sagot ni Philip.

“Reminded of what?”

“Of everything.”

There was sharpness in his voice.

Tumayo sya at sinalubong si Arvin na papasok sa coffee shop. Mabilis syang lumakad papunta sa pinto at umarteng nagtetext para banggain si Arvin. He intentionally bumped Arvin to get his attention. Nagtama ang kanilang mga katawan. Arvin looked at Philip slowly. Philip acted as if he was so apologetic about what happened.

“Hey. Sorry. Nagtetext kasi ako kaya di ko napansin.”

Arvin looked at him,scanning his face as if he was trying to recognize him.

“Philip?”

Bingo! Natandaan nya ako. Let the games begin!

“Hmmm. You know me?” pagmamaang-maangan nito.

“Yeah. Philip. It's me. Arvin.” magiliw na pakilala ni Arvin kay Philip.

“Arvin?”

Umarte si Philip na parang inaalala nya si Arvin. Seconds after.

“Yeah! I remember you!” Philip exclaimed.

Without hesitations, without second thoughts, Arvin hugged Philip.

Tangina ka ha? Humanda ka sakin. Magagantihan kita. Payakap yakap pa? Hahaha!

“Who's with you?” tanong ni Philip kay Arvin

“Kasama ko ang mga barkada ko. Ibang agents at yung partner ko.”

“Ahhh si JD?”

Arvin gave him a why-do-you-know-that look. Without hesitations,Philip again,talked.

“Ahh kasi di ka nalang bigla nagtext non, tapos tinawagan ko number mo. May sumagot,according to him,he was your boyfriend.”

Arvin looked guilty.

“Ahh.. Ahhh.. Kasi..”

“You don't have to explain. Ang mahalaga nagkita na tayo ngayon ulit. Maitutuloy na natin kung ano yung naudlot sa ating dalawa.” Philip said in a flirty tone.

Arvin stood there in a moment. He was really impressed with the changes Philip had. He felt like before. He wanted to have Philip again,but too bad he's taken. He's started having second thoughts. As he was thinking,Philip kissed him quickly,in public. He was then, dumbfounded.

To Be Continued...