"Come on, Hara!"
I looked at Lazaro for permission to join at alcohol shots. Kanina lamang ay sinabihan nila ako nina Mama na huwag akong iinom pero maya't maya ako kinukulit ng ilang kaibigan ng magkakapatid. Lazaro was always beside me whole New Year night. He was guarding me.
"Just one glass," he whispered.
Dahil sa pagtayo ko mula sa upuan, senyales na iinumin ko iyon ay naghiyawan sila. Kanina pa kasi nila akong gusto painumin kaya naman tuwang tuwa ngayon. I took a one shot and immediately turned around to come back in my sit.
Kento's peacefully watching on his phone while his friends are drinking. He knew his limits as a kid, he's a good boy. Alam niyang bawal pa siyang uminom.
"Lazaro, lumapit ka na rito! Hindi naman aalis ang kapatid mo riyan sa tabi!" it was his friend.
I nodded at him and slightly pushed him to them so he can at least enjoy the night. He was with me since morning because his brothers wasn't there. Only Libero and Lazarus was left here in Cavite. Lahat ay nasa kaniya-kaniyang bakasyon dahil sa trabaho at ilang mga kaibigang hindi nabibisita.
Lazarus left just a few hours with Libero, baka raw kasi malungkot si Mama sa bahay dahil wala kami roon at halos lahat ay umalis so Lazarus was the only one who will take care of me while we're here at somewhere.
It wasn't boring, I had so much fun with them. I thought my Christmas and New Year would be lonely but then suddenly I received an invitation from the Manalo Family. Thanks to them.
"Kento," I called. "Are you sleepy?" kita ko kung paano unti unting pumipikit ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa cellphone.
Umiling pa siya, "hindi," pero muling napapikit at mulat.
A few minutes later, I saw him already sleeping on his seat. I shrugged and watched Lazaro talk to his friends. They're all having fun and minding their own business. Dahil sa walang kausap, inaantok na rin ako.
Our eyes met, after he saw my sleepy eyes he immediately stood up and excused himself.
"Uwi na tayo?" alok niya. "You look sleepy."
"Yeah," I answered honestly. "I am so tired these days… I didn't slept well too. Too many events," bumuntong hininga ako. "You done? Go get back in there, they're waiting for you."
He eyed Kento beside me and grabbed the boy's cellphone. He put it in his pocket and tapped Kento's shoulder but he didn't wake up so he just grabbed his arm and carried the boy.
"Tara na," hinintay niya akong tumayo. Hindi sinagot ang tanong ko at naunang naglakad palabas ng bulwagan at dumaretsyo sa elevator.
We were so silent until we get in the car. He put on my seatbelt and drove the car peacefully. Kahit antok na, pinilit ko pa ring maging mulat hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay. Mama welcomed me a hug.
"Gabing gabi na ang uwi ninyo, pagod ka na ba?" malambing niyang tanong sa akin, "Inday, prepare a warm bath for Hara!"
"Mama…" Lazaro kissed her cheeks, "I'm sorry, we had so much fun there."
Si Libero ang kumuha kay Kento at pinasok ito sa loob ng bahay. Lazarus waved at me and wiggled his eyebrows. Kumunot ang noo ko at tumawa.
"Hindi naman po ako masyadong pagod, Mama," sabi ko. "Antok lang po ako, salamat po sa pagpapa-prepare ng pagliliguan ko."
She sighed and hugged my arm. We started walking inside the mansion while talking about some things.
"Hay, uuwi ka na bukas. Mamimiss kita, sobra." buntong hininga niya. "But don't worry, Lazaro told me that he'll bring you on his hacienda so I already have a reason to go at Batangas soon! I'll visit you there… kahit doon sa bahay ng kinakasama mo, makausap ko man lang 'yang asawa - asawahan mo."
Tumigil kaming dalawa sa hagdanan. I looked at her and shook my head. I don't want her to be involved on our marriage, baka mabuking lamang ako na kakilala sila. I don't want to lose the opportunity to save them from my life so they won't leave me. No one will leave me because of my messy life.
"Mama, you can visit me on Lazaro's hacienda but you don't need to do that visit on our condominium, it won't help, Ma. Baka madamay lang kayo…"
"But he's not treating you right, Hara. I need to talk to him as your mother so he could do all his responsibility to you even though it's all fake. Tao ka pa rin, anak. You deserve respect and love. Kung ang aso nga dapat alagaan at mahalin, tao pa kaya?"
Ngumuso ako. Ayun na nga. Hindi ako aso. What a lucky dog.
"Please, Ma," buntong hininga ko. "Lazarus and Lazaro is there for me, malalapitan ko agad kung sasaktan man ako ni Evan ng pisikal."
Akma siyang magsasalita na agad kong pinutol at nilingon si Lazaro, "dalhin mo na si Mama sa kwarto niya. Goodnight, Ma." I kissed her cheeks.
Lazaro nodded at me and kissed my cheeks, too. Pinanood ko muna silang umalis bago ako umakyat sa kwarto. Even Lara wasn't here, nagover-night sa bahay ng kaklase. Sayang at mukhang hindi ako makakapagpaalam sa kaniya bukas.
After taking a bath, I immediately dropped my body on the bed and didn't dare to open my phone. Wala naman akong dapat kausapin kaya naman mas gugustuhin kong matulog na lamang upang maagang magising bukas.
I woke up early and packed my bags. Marami rami akong dala sa ngayon dahil sa mga regalo at groceries na pinadala ni Mama.
"I will miss you, Hara," Mama said and kisses my both cheeks while hugging me. "Mag iingat ka sa Batangas, ha? Tatawag ako sa'yo kapag may oras ako. Always text or call your brothers if you need something, okay?"
"Yes, Mama," I said and kissed her forehead. "I love you, stay healthy."
Leopardo hugged me tightly. He remind me a lot of things, time of eating, studying and bar hopping limits. Halos lahat sila ay pinagsabihan ako maliban lamang kina Lazarus at Lazaro na kasama ko pauwi ng Batangas.
Kay Lazarus ako sumakay pauwi, habang si Kento sa sasakyan ni Lazaro. Sila ang nauna sa Batangas kaya naman si Lazarus ang nagiisang naguwi sa akin sa condo.
"Ako na," sabi ko at isa isang binitbit ang mga gamit ko. "Huwag ka nang pumasok sa loob. Kaya kong dalhin lahat-"
"But that's a lot!" sabi niya at lumabas ng kotse.
The bags were already on my shoulders and hands that made him stop. Seeing me carry a lot of bags made him sighed heavily.
"I can carry all these bags, Lazarus. Huwag ka nang sumama sa akin sa condo," mariin kong sabi.
Hindi naman sa ayaw ko siyang sumama pa sa akin sa condo. Kung anong makikita niyang sitwasyon namin ni Evan sa loob ng maliit na bahay na iyon ay tiyak na makakarating kay Mama. Magkaroon pa siya ng dahilan para kausapin si Evan.
I left him at the parking lot at walked away from him after saying thank you. Walang kahirap hirap akong lumabas ng elevator at binuksan ang condo. Napuno ang tainga ko ng tawanan matapos buksan ang pintuan.
It was laughters of men. Nang makarating ako sa sala, natigil ang tawanan nila. Lahat ay nilingon ako bago ko binaba ang tingin ko sa makalat na sahig at ilang parte ng sala. Bago pa man ako tumunghay, isa isa silang nagtayuan at pinulot ang mga iyon. It's Evan's friends!
"Pare, gago may balat pa ng candy oh, kanino 'yan?!" sisi ng isa. "Hindi akin 'yan, Mrs. Dos Santiago, kung nakikita mo naman, 'di ba? All my trash was on my pocket!"
"Nako, kay Itik 'yan!"
"It's not mine! Nasaan ba si Evan?!"
Suminghab ako nang makita ang kalat na nakasiksik sa sofa. Nagawa pa nilang manood ng TV habang madami ang kalat sa paligid!
"Hindi ko kalat 'yan, pare. Tinuruan ako ng asawa ko kung paano maging malinis," the guy with a brown hair dramatically said. "Mrs. Dos Santiago, kalat lahat 'yan ng asawa mo."
"Oo, tama," lahat ay umapruba.
Hinilot ko ang sentido ko at nagakmang babaling na papunta sa aking kwarto nang masalubong ko si Evan. He was also shock when our eyes met. He was holding a chips on his right hand and a bowl of candies in the other hand.
Hindi ako umimik at umiling ng dismayado. I walked towards to my room and immediately shut the door. Lalong naging tahimik ang paligid, walang nag iingay kagaya kanina. Kahit ang TV na nakabukas kanina na malakas ang volume ay mukhang tinurn-off na nila.
I put back all my clothes in my closet and added some gifts from the Manalo Family. It was all dresses, perfumes and foods. Lahat ay talagang magagamit ko.
I just put all the groceries in my cabinet so Evan would not see and touch it. It's all mine, just mine.
After showering, I received a text message from Lazaro just fifteen minutes ago.
Lazaro Manalo
Nakauwi kana? Nasa hacienda na kaming tatlo.
Nahiga ako sa kama at nagtipa ng reply rito. Hmm, edi sana all.
Me
Kauuwi ko lang. Gusto ko na rin d'yan, sa isang linggo pa naman ang pasok ko. : ((
I badly wanna take a vacation on his hacienda dahil dadating na ang pasukan at hindi na ako masyadong magkakaroon ng oras para gumala. I'll be focusing on my studies and work after this.
Lazaro Manalo
I can pick you up now. Iuuwi na lamang kita sa sabado so you can rest on Sunday and prepare for your upcoming back to school.
Napaupo ako sa kama at nilingon ang closet ko. Ano ba 'yan! Dapat hindi ko muna ibinalik kung aayain naman pala niya ako!
I pouted and typed my message.
Me
Bukas na lang. Nakakapagod kasi, p'wede kayang bukas?
Lazaro Manalo
You can. Anytime.
Tila nabunutan ako ng tinik sa dibdib dahil doon. Akala ko pa naman, muli akong babyahe ng malayo ngayon gayong kakarating ko lang mula sa Cavite. Magpapahinga muna ako.
Lazaro Manalo
Lazarus and I will pick you up there in the morning, don't you worry. 👌
I thanked him and slept for a minute. I just woke up to make myself lunch. I changed my clothes into pajamas and a jacket and grabbed some vegetables from my cabinet. Lumabas lamang ako sa kwarto para magluto.
I saw the boys at the kitchen, cooking their food while talking something. Kagaya kanina ay natigilan siya sa pagpasok ko sa kusina. Hindi ko na lamang ito mga pinansin at pinagpatuloy ang pagluluto ko.
Evan was cutting chickens while the other two guys were chopping ingredients.
"Here," a man made me borrow his chopping board and knife. "I'm already done, don't worry."
I just nodded and started chopping the vegetables. The others of them continued talking while the others went silent.
"Baliw kana, Jacob," tawa ng isa. "Ang trabaho, trabaho lang. Kapag table girl, bawal kabaliwan 'yan kasi trabaho lang naman ginagawa nila sa'yo. Stop treating them special, we're paying for their service."
I started boiling the vegetables and put a little bit of salt and pepper on it.
"I can't forget her, dude," I simply glanced at the person who answered who was wearing a laboratory coat. "Maganda ang babaeng 'yon. Maganda ang katawan, mata, labi at makinis-"
"Manyakis!" a guy threw plastic on him.
Nagsimula na akong ilagay lahat ng putaheng kailangan ko sa niluluto ko. Evan was already bedside me, cooking their food. I can feel his glare on me but I didn't dare to look at on his eyes.
I finished cooking at put in on a bowl. Paalis na sana ako sa kusina nang tawagin ako ng isa.
"Misis! Saan ka kakain?" kumunot ang noo nito, "masama raw kumain sa kuwarto sabi ng matatanda. Dito ka na lang kumain-"
"Let her eat in her room, Axel," Evan cutted.
"Asawa mo 'yan, pare…" pahina nang pahina ang boses nila habang pumapalayo ang hakbang ko sa kanila. "Dapat kasabay mo kumain." the I closed the door.
Tinapos ko lamang ang pagkain ko bago hinugasan iyon sa sink nang mag isa dahil lahat sila ay nagkakainan sa sala. I stayed at the kitchen and opened my instagram account.
I scrolled down on my account and think to change my username again. Bakit ba ako nab-bother kung malaman ni Evan na ako ang may ari ng account na 'to? For sure, siya pa nga ang dapat mahiya.
I should not be affected if he finds out that I am the person who he was chatting with. I should be proud because he praised me without his knowing. Patunay na sa katawan lamang bumabase ang lalaking iyon.
Yeah, I should be proud!
Nakanguso kong pinaltan ang username noon at binalik lahat ito sa dati. I unblocked him so he can see my profile! Talagang ipaglalandakan ko sa harapan niya na ako ito!
I stood up with a smile and goes to my room while giggling. Kating kati na ako sa reaksiyon niya. Parang gusto ko siyang makita na nahihiya at halos galit na galit na.
He might think that I am a poser so I took a photo of my table and mask on my palms. Sa ig story ko lamang iyon inilagay at hinintay na makita iyon ni Evan.
I made myself busy on my laptop until I got a notification. It was his reply to my ig story.
@theodosantiago: WHAT
@theodosantiago: WHY DO YOU HAVE A MASK LIKE THAT?????
Naningkit ang mga mata ko.
@haraguev: Huh? Why not?
Nagulat ka, ano?! Sino kayang naglaway sa katawan ko at naging crush ako, 'di ba?
His friends was still there on his condo, makikita nila iyon kung sakali man ipakita ni Evan. Pagtatawanan pa s'ya!
@theodosantiago: You changed your username too, is this a coincidence?
@theodosantiago: Vivien Hara Guevara?
@haraguev: Yes?
Halos malukot na ang kumot ko kakatawa sa kama. I felt my hands trembling while typing because of my laughs. My eyes became blurry 'cause I laughed too much.
@theodosantiago: What?
@theodosantiago: Bitch, you hacker. Give it back to Pea!
My room filled with laughter because of him. I can even hear his friends laughing at him and his loud curse while calling my name.
@haraguev: It's my account, Evan. You can stalk the comments and see Lazarus commenting on my photos while calling me Hara.
@theodosantiago: Do you have proof? You ain't even sexy as her.
Nagtaas ako ng kilay sa screen. Talaga? Baka kapag nagsuot ako ng two piece sa harapan nito, tumigil siya sa pambababae? Nakakatakot naman iyon, hindi ba?
@haraguev: Sabi mo sa akin noong isang araw, sexy ako and you were even waiting my post because it's worth it and it's making your cock hard.
@haraguev: Just kidding. 🤪 (2)
A minute passed by, I heard a loud knock on my door. Hindi ko pa man iyon nabubuksan dahil hindi ko nailock ay nakapasok na siya't malakas na sinara ang pinatuan. I immediately stood up and threw my phone on the bed.
"Get out of my room, Evan!" nataranta ako dahil ang ilang gamit ko ay nasa labas pa. Hindi pa tapos mag ayos, miski ang mga labada. "You're not allowed here!"
"Give me your phone," mariin niyang sabi.
Pilit ko siyang tinutulak palabas ng kuwarto. He was just wearing a tee shirt and pajamas.
"This is trespassing-"
"This is my condominium, Hara," tinanggal niya ang kamay ko sa tiyan niya na tinutulak ko. "Ouch!" aniya nang madaplisan ko ng kurit ang braso niya.
Oh my God! My laundries was on the floor, ang mga bra at panty ko!
"This is a crime, you hacked Pea's account-"
"It was me, Evan! It was my body who made your cock hard! Pea is not existing!" nababaliw kong sigaw. "That was all my photos! You can even see my background, right? We have the same tiles because they were just taken in your condominium's bathroom!"
He was stunned to speak and eyed my body.
"I can remove my clothes in front of you for proof
, hindi ka naniniwala?" hamon ko. "Well, you can even say it by looking at my boobs. It was so big, 'di ba?"
Kung ano ano nang nasasabi ko maalis lamang ang lalaking ito sa kwarto ko. He swallowed hard and turn his gaze on my bathroom.
"Don't tell me you're a retired pornstar?" mangha niyang tanong.
My eyes widened, "of course not!"
I saw how he sighed and shut his eyes, he pushed me away from him and made a one step back.
"You're poser…" pilit niyang sabi sa sarili. "You're not even sexy! Look at your outfit!"
Mangha akong tumawa na may halong inis. Hindi raw ako sexy?! Sa katawan na nga lang ako bumabawi, hindi pa ako sexy?!
"I am sexy!" sabi ko at tinanggal ang jacket. Tanging sando na lamang ang natira. "You see this shape? You fucker, look at my body!" pilit kong inaalis ang pagkakataklob niya sa kaniyang mukha para lamang hindi makita ang katawan ko.
"That's plastic!"
Hell fucking no!
Tumama ang likuran niya sa pintuan habang nakayuko at taklob taklob ang mukha. Akala mo naman, ikamamatay ang pagtingin sa katawan ko.
"Oh, baka naman hindi sapat sa'yo ang makita lang? Gusto mo ring hawakan, 'di ba?" panuya ko. "Naglalaway ka pa nga sa akin sa chats pa lang. Nilalait mo pa ako dahil nakamaskara ako pero pagdating sa katawan ko halos magdamag ka na sa cellphone mo makahintay lang ng bagong post ko."
I grab his other palm and made it touch my belly. Para siyang tanga at agad na binawi iyon na may kasabay ng sigaw niya na animo'y nakahawak ng multo.
Humalakhak ako nang pilit niya akong tinutulak palayo sa kaniya ngunit ayaw naman niyang dumampi ang balat ko sa balat niya. Akala siguro niya nakamaskara ako ay pati balat ko nakakamatay.
Napaka-oa! Halatang diring diri sa akin!
"Oh my God! Your body must be carrying poison!" he shouted.