INCUBUS

CHAPTER XII

"When is your birthday, Thorn?" she asked. Nang hindi ito sumagot ay muli siyang nag-salita. "I know it's a personal question but I just wanted to get to know you better. Wala naman kasi akong alam tungkol sa'yo maliban sa pangalan mo."

"I...I don't have a birthday, Araceli. That's one thing that He didn't give us...the one who created me,"

"You mean your parents?" she asks innocently.

"Parents? Yeah, I guess so," he answered with bitterness.

"Would you mind if I ask you where your parents are?"

Nag-iwas ng tingin ang binata at tumingin sa bintana at tumingala.

"He abandoned me. I worshiped Him. I believed in Him. But He casted me away! And you know why I hate Him so much? Because despite how he treats my kind, humans still believes in him. Mabilis niyang pinapatawad ang mga tao, samantalang kaming nasa tabi niya ay mabilis maparusahan."

Araceli stared at him bewildered with what he said. Is he talking figuratively? But whatever that is, she could see the hatred in his eyes. At para bang pati ang panahon ay nakikisama sa sama ng loob ng binata dahil mas lalong dumidilim ang lumalakas ang ulan.

Hindi na alam ni Ara kung ano ang gagawin o sasabihin. Kaya inabot niya ang kamay nito at marahang pinisil. She beamed at him at sinalubong niya ang mga mata nito.

"Ako na lang ang magbibigay ng birthdate mo." nakangiti niyang sabi. "And that is today."

***

Hindi maalis ang ngiti sa labi ni Ara hanggang sa makauwi siya. Matapos silang tumambay sa boulevard ay nag-ikot-ikot din sila sa Embarcadero.

It is not hard to admit that she likes him a lot. Sa totoo lang, he is the total opposite of her ideal man.

She likes her man to be funny. Who can make her laugh aloud with a simple jokes. Kind and charming. Intelligent and passionate. And above all, 'yong palangiti. At hindi niya pa kilala ng lubos ang binata maliban sa seryoso ito sa buhay, ubod ng guwapo, at may nakakamatay na titig. Pero ang hindi niya maintindihan, dahil kahit kailan ay hindi pa ito nag-joke sa kaniya pero napapangiti siya nito.

"Saan ka galing, Ara?" ang tambad sa kaniya ni Mason nang makita siyang papaakyat papuntang silid.

Lihim naman niyang nakagat ang pang-ibabang labi. Hindi niya alam kung magsasabi ng totoo o magsisinungaling. Pero alam niyang mas dadami ang tanong ng kapatid niyang lalaki kung sasabihin niyang hindi siya pumasok.

"Sa office," she said as she averted her gaze upstairs.

"Office?" her brother said and she knew he's doubting her.

Hindi niya ito pinansin at tuloy-tuloy lamang siyang umakyat. She was about to unlock her room when she felt him followed her.

"Tumawag dito si Jecca, Ara. Hindi ka raw pumasok. And you left your car at the parking lot of your office!"

Dahan-dahan ay humarap siya rito at napabuntong-hininga.

"Kuya...malaki na ako. Hindi na ako college student na kailangan mong sermunan dahil lang sa hindi ako pumasok. I know what I am doing. Trust me." She said to him dahilan para mangunot ang noo ng kapatid na lalaki.

"I trust you, okay? Pero hindi mo sa akin maalis na mag-alala lalo na't ang sabi ni Jecca ay may kasama kang lalaki kanina. You're ditching work for a guy? Is he that worth it?"

"Kuya, all my life, I have followed the rules in this house. This is just one time so don't exagerate. And I don't want to live by the rules anymore. And to answer your question, yes, he is worth it."

Mabilis na binuksan ni Ara ang pinto at pumasok sa loob. She could feel her heart racing. Naiinis siya sa hindi niya rin maintindihan na dahilan. She's old enough for this kind of things. Oo, mali ang hindi pumasok sa trabaho gayong ang alam ng mga taong kasama mo sa bahay ay nasa trabaho ka. Pero paano naman 'yong nararamdaman niya?

Ditching work for the person you like is just the start to prove he's worth it.

***

Pakiramdam ni Ara ay hinehele siya sa kama nang magmulat ang kaniyang mga mata. Pa-simple niyang tiningnan ang relo sa bedside table at alas kuwatro pa lamang ng umaga.

Tumagilid siya par amaiba ang puwesto niya nang maramdaman niyang may nakapulupot sa bewang niya. Biglang lumakas ang kaba sa dibdib niya. Muli niyang inikot ang paningin niya at nasa loob naman siya nang kaniyang silid.

She heard a man's groan kaya mas lalong dumoble ang kaba sa dibdib niya. She tried to peak inside the duvet only find herself naked.

"Oh, no! Not again!" she whispered nervously.

Bumangon siya at marahas niyang tinanggal ang bisig na nakapulupot sa kaniya.

"Ugh! Hell!" she heard the man said.

Bumangon din ito at halos manghina ang kalamnan niyang makitang wala itong ni isang saplot. She could see his silhoutte na para bang purposely at tinatakpan ito ng dilim upang hindi niya makita.

"You're Raguel right? T-that...that dream-raper-man?!" she acused at narinig niya ang mahinang tawa nito.

"Dream-raper-man? Isn't it nice that you gave me a new name? Are you getting fond of me already?" he said as if teasing her.

"Bakit mo ba akong laging dinadalaw sa panaginip ko?!" naiirita niyang sabi.

"You know I won't answer that question, Araceli."

"That's the point! Ang lakas ng loob mong gawin ang lahat sa akin sa panaginip ko pero hindi mo man lang sinasagot ang mga tanong ko!" pigil sigaw niyang sabi sa lalaki.

Nang hindi umimik ang lalaki ay mas lalo siyang nainis.

"Itong ginagawa mo...ibig sabihin ba...nakuha mo na ang...ang virginity ko?" she asked. Alam niyang kahit madilim ay namumula ang mga pisngi niya dahil sa tanong niya.

"Is that even important?" he asked that made her eyes widened with disbelief.

"It is to me!" she scowled. Yumuko siya upang mabilis na palisin ang namumuong luha sa mga mata niya.

"Araceli..."

"I'm starting to like someone, you know that? For the first time in my life, someone has caught my attention. Pero dahil dito...because of this erotic dream, hindi ko magawang i-explore 'yong feelings ko sa kaniya dahil natatakot akong hindi niya ako matanggap."

What would she tell her future husband that she's no longer a virgin because someone has been constantly visiting her in her dream and claimed her? Walang maniniwala sa kaniya.

"This person...does he like you aswell?"

"I don't know. Maybe. But that is not the point! Dahil dito sa ginagawa mo, lahat nang lalaki na magugustuhan ko, maaring hindi ako matanggap!"

"Not all, Areceli. Not all."