Chapter 10

Still raining outside. I left my unfinished homeworks on my study table. There's just something in this kind of weather that makes me sad, gloom, and alone but strangely, I want to feel it, feels like home. Maybe these was the feeling that linked to my idea of what is home or what feels like without having a home.

For a long time of being on my own, perhaps it is the reason why I'm used to it, learned to like it. 

When I was at the foundation I'm obviously not alone physically but I wouldn't expect Miss Cynthia to give her full attention to me when we're forty-nine children there back then. Unconsciously, I learn how to cope. I'm not used of getting much attention.

After sitting on my bed for few more moments of doing completely nothing,

What about visiting Ben? No, he might be busy in his apartment.

What about Belle? I asked myself. 

I didn't hesitate and head to Belle's room.

Wala kang homework? kaagad na tanong niya pagkabukas ng pinto.

Meron, sagot ko. Siya? Tapos niya na.

"Chess?" hamon niya. 

Seems like we don't have anything to do but chess so I agree. Unlike table tennis I think I have more chances of winning against her at chess.

Kinuha niya ang chess board sa pinakababang parte ng cabinet at inilapag sa mesa.

"Sa akin ang puti." sambit ni Belle

Kaagad namin inayos ang mga piyesa sa kani-kanilang pwesto. 

We started playing. 

By the way her face grin towards the board and on how long it takes her making a move I figured this game will be a tough one. That's just how she is, cutthroat.

She picked up my last tower and replaced her knight on its place adding to the three officials she had already eaten.

After making my move, I blurted a question I had said to myself not to ask to neither of them. 

"Si Ben...?" I wish I wasn't that impulsive asking a question starting with Ben's name.

"Hm?" Sagot niya habang napokus sa board.

"Uh... may asawa na siya?"

"hmmm," nakapokus parin siya sa board "some things had been complicated for my uncle." she said in monotone.

She made her move "Ba't mo natanong?"

I shrugged my shoulders,

"Wala lang, just curious." sagot ko. 

Her turn to move again. She thought for a second she held the head of the pawn piece but then she released it on the same position. She looked at me and said, 

"But his a good man... my uncle," 

Marahan akong tumango bilang pagsang-ayon.

Muli niyang dinampot and pawn at ginalaw paharap.

••••••••••••

Two-one, at syempre panalo si Belle. Pagkatapos ng tatlong laro ay nagpasya akong magpaalam para bumalik sa apartment ko. I would have stayed if she asked me. 

Bago ako lumabas ay sumilip muna ako sa veranda ni Belle. Hindi na ganoon kalakas ang ulan at paambon ambon nalang. Still gloomy and unusually dark for 4pm. 

I head down the building. Habang naglalakad papunta sa bluewaves laundry para kunin ang nilabhan kong damit ay napansin kong wala parin sa parking lot ang Jeep Wrangler ni Ben. Belle told me he's out of town for a business meeting and might not be back until Sunday. 

Kinuha ko ang mga nalabhang damit sa laundry shop. 

Sumakay ako ng elevator habang bitbit ng dalawang kamay ang laundry basket. 

Pagkarating sa fifth floor ay inintay ko munang makalabas ang tatlong kasabay ko sa elevator. Paglabas nila ay saka ako lumabas. Tahimik ang hallway at tanging ang mga ikaw sa labas ng pinto sa bawat unit ang nagbibigay buhay dito. 

Habang naglalakad ay biglang may nahagip ang kanang paa ko. Tumalsik ang bagay nang di sadyang masipa ko Ito. Tila mga baryang nahulog ang tunog nang masipa ko Ito. Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at tiningnan kung ano Ito. 

"Key chain?" tanong ko sa sarili.

Ibinaba ko ang hawak na laundry basket at dinampot ang bagay na nasipa ko na halos dalawang metro na ang laro mula sa kinatatayuan ko. Kumpirmado keychain nga. Tumingin ako sa paligid kung may taong maaaring nagmamay-ari ng keychain. Wala. 

Habang hawak hawak ang keychain ay nag antay ako ng kung sino ang magtanong tungkol sa nawawalang keychain. 

Ilang minuto ang lumipas at wala. 

Sino naman kaya ang nakahulog ng keychain sa hallway ng di manlang napansin ang tunog ng pagkahulog? Siguro'y magaling madali ang kung sino mang nakahulog nito.

Ilang minuto pa at aalis na'ko.

Pagkatapos ng ilang sandaling pag aantay ay walang kahit sinong nagpakita sa hallway. 

Tingin ko ay paalis ng El Viño ang naka iwan nito at tingin ko'y malayo na siya ngayon sa El Viño para balikan ang keychain.

Imbes na itago ay nagpasya akong ibibigay ko Ito sa guard o dikaya'y sa maintenance office sa groundfloor katulad ng ginagawa ng iba kapag may nadadampot na bagay sa El Viño. 

Ihinatid ko muna ang laundry basket sa apartment.

Pagkatapos ihatid ang mga damit ay lumabas kaagad ako para ihatid ang keychain. 

While walking I'm  still thinking of who might be the owner of the keychain. 

Sigurado akong paalis ng El Viño ang may-ari, common sense, hindi siya makakapasok ng apartment 

kung wala siyang susi. 

Then it suddenly strucked me, what if...?

Possible.

Di ko mapapatunayan kong di ko susubukan.

Imbes na tumungo sa baba ay may kung anong pumasok sa isip ko at dumiretso ako sa unit ni Ben. 

Magkakaparehas ang tatlong susi sa keychain. 

Pinalipas ko ang ilang minuto para siguraduhing wala nang taong dadaan.

Nang nasa harap na ako ng puntuan ay tumingin tingin muli ako sa kaliwa't kanan at nang masigurong wala ng tao ay saka ko ipinasok ang susi sa doorknob. 

Pinihit ko ko susi at saka inikot ang doorknob. 

Fortunately the knob clicks. 

"Whew!" 

Itinulak ko at bumukas ang pinto at sa gulat ko mukhang nakalimutan kong huminga. I got excitedly. Dali dali akong pumasok at isinara ang pinto.

"Tama hinala ko, kaniya nga to!"

I look around and immediately the frame caught my attention. 

Lumapit ako at tinitigang mabuti ang larawan. 

"Complicated...?" pag ulit ko sa diskripsyon ni Belle sa naging relasyon ng uncle niya. 

Maaaring anak niya 'tong nasa larawan o baka ang sanggol na to ay siya.

Pero base sa itsura ng larawan ay mukhang magandang camera ang gamit dito dahil sa quality.

Tingin ko ay may kakayanan din naman ang mga magulang ni Ben na makabili ng magandang camera para kuhanan siya ng larawan kaya may possibilidad ding si Ben ang sanggol.

Sa bagay may hawig din naman sa kaniya ang sanggol.

I roam around. I saw a cup on the top of his table. I lift the cup and saw that there's still coffee in it. Obviously it was already cold. 

Mukhang di inubos ni Ben ang kape bago umalis na halos nasa kalahati pa ng cup.

I hold the cup with my two hands. While holding it I imagine Ben holding it the way I am and drinking from the side of the coffee I am now facing. 

My eyes fixed on the dried coffee stain on the side of the cup.

This might be from Ben's mouth

I Slightly touch the drop of stain.

Or maybe it has some of his saliva in it.

I held the cup and draw it nearer, not on my mouth but on my nose, to smell it, to catch a something in it, something Ben's.

Of course it smells coffee nothing more and nothing less. I was hoping for more though. Maybe saliva.

I put the cup down exactly from where it was placed.

Next thing that comes to my mind was his laundry. If I want to catch his smell it would probably be his used clothes, much better, his underwear. And so I look for his laundry basket. The idea of just sniffing his untidy clothes aroused me. 

I went to his cr and found nothing until i saw his laundry basket under his bed and to my disappointment, it was empty.

He probably done his laundry.

Maybe I should settle for his clean clothes. I head to his cabinet and open the second compartment to where the undies usually are.

And I saw something that excites me even more. First, the compartment was full of his undies and second there's something that aroused me even more. 

"Porn Magazine?" I whispered shockingly to myself.

And yes I think it is a porn magazine, it must be porn magazine not unless there is another type of magazine that has a brunette naked woman touching her clits as a cover.

I felt a sudden warm. Certain kind of itch is creeping inside me. The naked brunette in he coverpage made me aroused, that's for sure but the idea of Benjamin masturbating with this exact image that's infront of me aroused me more. My body desires him, now. But there's nothing I can do about that. 

My hand is on its way to the epicenter. My eyes still on the magazine. I unbotton my pants. My dick was never as hard as this.

I placed the magazined on the floor. My left hand is creeping back and fort my neck and my chest caressing every bit of skin it landed. My other hand is doing its thing, amazingly dancing with the rhythm of my heavy breathing while I'm on my knee.

And then moment came, my every cell is trembling. 

Then I released it. Goo splattering over the girl. I didnt just wet her, I showered her.

When pleasure and heat toned down, it suddenly strike me, I just wet Benjamin's magazine with my cum.

"Shit! lagot ako neto!" I panicked.

Now after those desire the only thing that i felt when I look at the magazine was guilt.

Binalik ko ang basang magazine sa drawer kung saan ko ito kinuha.

"Bahala na matutuyo din yan." Pampalubag loob ko sa sarili.

I stand up and and look around. I try to remember what things did I touch and make sure they're on their original position. 

After making sure everything was right except the now wet porn magazine I slowly get out of his room making sure no one heard a thing and no one saw me creeping in his room.

Pagkadating ko sa apartment ko ay diretso kaagad ako sa kama. After a moment of remembering what I did I clench both my hands on my face.

Silly Jethro...silly.