ONCE UPON A TIME IN PARIS (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 15: TYRONNE

Its good to know that Leandro Montemayor is still behind bars and its more a relief hearing the assurance from the police that it was not his doing but if it wasnt him? Who would dare to play that kind of prank on us? I massage my temple and leaned on the chair back and closed my eyes.. Kay Rebecca tumawag.. kay Rebecca!

'Shit!' I took my phone and dialed my sister's number.. 'where are you?'

(Nasa mall, nagshoshopping!)

'I want you home before 7..' I said and heard her cuss.

(Come on Ty..  but that's way too early) she protested, and calling me Ty means she's irritated.

'No but's Rebecca.. come home before seven or ill pick you up myself and you'll never gonna like it..' there's an authority in my voice and I heard her sigh. 'Baby, im sorry, but I just want you home before 7 okay?'

(What is this all about kuya?) she asked. Rebecca has no idea what happened to our parents back then and I wont take a risk when it come's to my sister's safety.

'Just come home, and from now on I want to know all your schedules, kung saan ka pupunta at kung sino ang mga kasama mo. Sige na Rebecca, I have to do something.. ill hang up' hindi ko na siya hinintay makasagot at nagbukas ako ng laptop. Im reading some e-mails when my phone vibrated.

'Kirsten Sandoval calling....' I smiled seeing her name  appeared in my cellphone's screen.

'Hi..' inilapag ko ang papeles.

(Hey.. busy ka ba tonight?' She asked.

'Tonight?' I cant help but grin.. tonight?

(Yes.. tonight.. I mean, dito na kayo magdinner ni Rebecca, ill cooked )

'Hmmm... okay!' Our conversation was short and I dont intend to make it long, im saving some for tonight's dinner.

Just as the darkness filled the earth, I slipped into dark pants and cream button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled-up and I hurried downstairs..
Inabutan kong kumakain ng sandwich si Rebecca sa kitchen..

'You're not coming with me?' I asked.

'No, ayokong maging sister who third wheel her brother and future sistet in law..' she said laughingly..

'Okay.. wag ka ng lalabas Rebecca' tumango lang to at tuluyan ko ng nilisan ang bahay.

Pasado alas 7 na ng makarating ako sa condominium pero saktong pagbaba ko nakita ko siyang papasok sa building na may dalang plastic, I bet its a wine may malapit lang kasi na wine store dito at familiar ang plastic na dala-dala nito.. tatawagin ko na sana siya pero biglang may lalaking humigit sa braso nito.. at first nagulat siya pero halatang hindi niya nagustohan ang ginawa nito, they looked like having an argument.. he's the guy from the bar who forcely took Kirsten.. pero mas nag-init ang ulo ko ng makita ko siyang pilit na hinihila si Kirsten... lakad takbo ang ginawa ko hanggang sa makalapit ako sa kanila..

'Wag kang mag-inarte.. I just wanted to talk..'

'Ano ba.. wala na tayong dapat pag-usapan.. let me--- Oh my God!' Bulalas ni Kirsten ng tumilapon sa saig ang lalaki.

'Sino kang-' hindi paman ito nakakabawi sa suntok ko, kwenilyohan ko siya at marahas na isinandal sa pader..

'Touch her again.. and Ill kill you!' Bigla ko siyang binitiwan at muntik na siyang natumba ulit kung di lang siya nakahawak sa semento, pinahiram nito ang dugo sa mga labi mula sa suntok ko gamit ang palad niya.

'Ty..' dun lang lumapit si Kirsten sakin at hinawakan ang braso ko.

'So you're the new guy..' nakakalokong ngumisi ito 'siya ba Kirs? Siya ba?' Natatawang tumitig ito kay Kirsten.. napahigpit ang hawak ni Kirsten sa braso ko, she's shaking.. napatitig ako sa kanya at kitang kita ko ang galit sa mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa lalaki.

'Leave Damian.. tigilan mo na ako'
'Akala mo hindi ko alam? Ginagamit mo lang ang lalaking yan para kalimutan ako.. at ikaw naman..' he smirked at me and I gritted my teeth.. 'kalalaking tao.. papayag kang maging rebound?' Ngumisi ito.

'Tarantado ka!' Akmang susugurin ko na naman siya pero pinigilan ako ni Kirsten.. she looked up to me and stared at me as if begging me not to..

'Damian... I love him.' She smiled at me before he looked at him again. 'Tigilan mo na ako..' Parang nawala lahat ng galit ko sa katawan ng marinig ko ang sinabi niya, hindi ko alam kung ano pa ang sinabi niya sa lalaking kaharap namin pero napatitig lang ako sa kanya.. sa maamo niyang mukha.

Kung hindi pa dumating ang guwardiya ng building hindi pa mapapaalis ang loko-lokong yun.. nasa front desk kami at kinakausap ko ang receptionist.

'What was his name again?' I asked her.

'Damian.. Damian Castillo' she replied.

'I want this guy on her blocked list,he is no longer allowed to visit her or asked for her unit..' tumango ang babae at napatingin sa magkahawak naming kamay.

'Im her husband.' I blurted out as an answer to her unspoken question.

'A-ahh okay po sir' agad itong nagtype sa computer. 'Okay na po Sir.. we'll inform the guards nalang po.'

'Okay.. thank you.. lets go' baling ko sa kanya at tumango lang ito.

Tahimik kaming naghintay na bumukas ang elevator, wala niisa samin ang nagsalita kahit hanggang nakapasok na kami sa loob at nagpalipat-lipat na ng floor ang elevator but I am still holding her hands until the elevator door opened. Binitiwan ko lang siya ng makapasok na kami sa unit niya. Tahimik na pumasok ito sa kwarto niya at ako naman ay nilapag ang wine sa table.. her unit is facing the city and the view is flattering dahil napapalibutan ng glass wall ang sala niya, I opened the wine and poured some in the glass pero natigilan ako sa pag-inum ng maramdaman kong yumakap siya sa likuran ko..she hooked her chin in my shoulder and wrapped her slender arms around me.

'Im sorry..' she mumble.

'For what?'

'For what happened earlier..' she silently said.

'Its not your fault.' I faced her and hugged her back.. 'so dont be sorry'

'You are not a rebound..' bahagya akong nabigla sa sinabi nito.. wala na dapat akong planong buksan ang topic na yan but I end up smiling like an idiot.. yes! Hindi ako rebound! Pagbubunyi ng kalooban ko!

'Sa gwapo kong to?' Pagbibiro ko at tumingala siya sakin..

'I am really....' she paused for awhile and blink twice 'falling for you' that's my cue, I lifted her chin using my knuckle and covered her mouth with mine.. my tongue explored inside her mouth and memorizing every detination.. she groaned when I gently suckled her tongue and pressed her body to me. I playfully stroke her spine. She cling her arms around my neck and I felt different.. No.. I think our kiss tonight is very different.. its more intimate.. more passionate..

'I think Ill go straight to my desert tonight...' I chuckled!

'And I think Ill have mine too..' she muttered while slowly unbottoning my shirt.. 'I guess ill have you as my cake..'

'Come here you little teased.' She laughingly screamed when I lifted her off the floor..

And we owned the night.. feels like we're back in Paris..