A/n: ang cravings natin for today ay kamay ni Kieran.
CHAPTER TWELVE - Villainess
Third Person's PoV
It's been a week since Shane and Kieran started living next to each other. They bump into each other in the halls occasionally and exchange awkward smiles. When the door was shut behind them, Shane melted on the groud while Kieran went on with his day unbothered.
On some days, Shane spent her whole afternoons reading a book on her deck with her coffee. And if she's lucky, she'd get a beautiful view of pink and orange skies looming over the busy city. And if she's even luckier, she would catch Kieran going out on his view deck to smoke. When she's there, he only took a few puffs then crushed the cigarette in his potted plant that hung by the railing.
They'd exchange small smiles and an awkward wave, then went on with their day.
On evenings for a week straight, Shane would open her door to see another tupperware containing newly cooked meals in front of her. A yellow sticky note on top with a doctor's handwriting on it.
You didn't eat it all last time. I gave you small portions tonight. Enjoy.
-K
Shane opened the tupperware and found adobo and rice inside. Kieran's neighborly concerns kept her well fed for the past week. Alam niya sa sarili niyang hindi niya dapat ginagawa 'yon pero hindi rin siya makatanggi. Masasayang lang yung pagkain kapag hindi niya gagalawin 'yon.
Most of all excuses she made to avoid him, her main one is that she missed his homemade meals.
Noong nanirahan siya sa bahay ni Kieran ten years ago, sarap na sa sarap siya sa luto niya. Hinahanap-hanap niya 'yon.
Sinubukan niyang hindi pansinin yung binigay na bagong pagkain ngunit pinalitan lang din agad ito. Nag-iwan pa ng note na may nakasabing:
Don't skip your meals. Eat.
-K
Shane decided that she had enough of his kindness. She realized it wouldn't sit well to Julia, his girlfriend, if they kept this up. If she's in her position, she would be really upset if she found out that her boyfriend is cooking meals for her ex.
And the fact that she, Kieran's ex-girlfriend, currently lives next to him would certainly cause disagreements and jealousy in their relationship.
Lakas loob niyang binitbit yung bagong hugas na tupperwares ni Kieran at kumatok sa pinto niya. Kumatok siya ng dalawang beses. Hindi nagbukas yung pinto.
"Kieran, are you home?" Should she be addressing her his title even if he's not working? "Doctor Kieran?" She still did just in case. "Bloody hell, Doctor Kieran. I know you're home."
Mas linakasan niya ang pagkatok, "Kieran!"
Bumukas naman agad ang pintuan. Inihanda ni Shane ang sarili niya't huminga ng malalim bago magsalita. Naudlot nga lang ito nang tumambad ang katawan ni Kieran na walang pang-itaas na suot.
Pawisan siyang sumalubong kay Shane at may nakasabit pang tuwalya sa balikat nito. Tumutulo ang pawis galing sa kanyang buhok paibaba sa kanyang batak na abs. Itim na shorts lang ang saplot ng lalaki na umabot sa lagpas tuhod.
Napatulala lang si Shane sa katawan nito't nag-init ang pakiramdam. Bumagsak lahat ng prinaktis niya kaninang dapat siya na sanang sasabihin. Pumipitik ang kanyang pulso sa may pang-ibabang bahagi ng kanyang katawan kaya naman klinaro niya agad ang lalamunan upang hindi mabigyan pansin 'yon.
Kieran's godly body that used to be on top of her made her knees feel weak. The temptation to climb on top of him hit her hard.
Shane scoffed, "You look fucking hot, by the way. Way hotter than before." She said loosely with an instinctive smirk. Ten years of not lusting over someone made her bite back the intense urge of pushing Kieran against the wall and fuck him there.
But Shane knows her limits.
"Thank you, Shane. I'm sorry for showing up like this. Kaka-workout ko lang." Nahihiyang sagot naman ni Kieran.
"No need to apologize. I have no complaints." Shane pinched her arm behind her back to force her to stop flirting. "I like the view." She's failing miserably.
Si Kieran naman ngayon ang napaubo, "Bakit ka naparito?" Pagiiba niya.
"Oh, right. Here." Binalik niya yung tupperware. "I want you to stop."
Kieran looked concern.
"Hindi mo ba nagustuhan mga luto ko?" He sounded hurt. Guilt washed over Shane.
"What? No. They're all delicious and thank you for that." His cooking was always her favorite. Unfortunately, she couldn't keep it for herself anymore. "But you have a girlfriend. And I'd be upset if I found out that she—"
"Stop."
Huminto naman agad si Shane sa pagsalita at pinanood na sinuklay ni Kieran ang buhok niya gamit kanyang kamay.
"Julia's not my girlfriend." He said while he stared directly into Shane's widened eyes. "She was...someone."
Hindi matukoy ni Shane kung sasaya ba siya o malulungkot doon.
"Is it because of me? Did you break up because of me?" Hindi sumagot si Kieran sa mga katanungan niya. Umigting lang ang panga nito. "That's...that's awful. How could you do that to her?"
"Hindi kami naghiwalay dahil sa iyo, Shane. 'Wag kang magalala. It's not your concern anymore." Isasara na sana niya yung pinto pero humarang yung kamay ni Shane.
"How the fuck is that not my concern, Kieran? I am the ex who is currently living next to you. The ex you were cooking meals to. The ex you just saved from her past marriage." And the ex you made love to many times before, hindi niya na dinagdag 'yon. "So excuse me if I doubt that your breakup was not somehow related to me."
There was no pride in her quivering voice. All she felt was guilt that she became the villain again. Shane left her serpentine reputation back in college. She's not inclined to ruin relationships and people's lives anymore.
Even peace is too much to ask for.
"I told you, Shane. It's none of your concern anymore." Mariing sabi ni Kieran dahilan ng pagtayo ng maayos ng dalaga't mapait na ngumiti. Sinara na ni Kieran ang pinto samantalang si Shane ay padabog na bumalik sa unit niya.
The last thing she wants is for her to painted the villainess who steals boyfriends. She knew she'll always have that image if she stayed here.
Kinuha niya yung car keys mula sa kitchen counter at ang kanyang bag. Lumabas na siya. Hindi niya pa alam kung saan siya pupunta basta ba makaalis lang siya sa palapag na 'yon.
"Bloody hell, Shane. Ang malas mo naman." Sabi niya sa kanyang sarili't inuumpog ang ulo sa elevator walls. "Matuturingan ka pang mangaagaw."
Pagkarating niya sa underground parking lot, may sumalubong na lalaking may hawak na kutsilyo.
"Holdap ito—h-hoy! Teka lang, holdap ito!" Tuloy-tuloy lang ang paglalakad ni Shane, ni-hindi man lang napansing may nakasunod sa kanyang holdaper sa sobrang inis sa sarili.
Akmang hahablutin na sana yung hawak niyang bag pero inunahan ni Shane sa sampalin yung lalaki sa sobrang gulat.
"Putangina." Gigil nitong sambit saka tinignan maiigi yung nahawakang parte ng bag. "Do you even wash your fucking hands before robbing someone?! There's dirt on my Fendi bag now!"
Napalunok sa kaba yung holdaper pero tinapangan niyang magtutok ng kutsilyo kay Shane.
"Akin na yung bag mo kung ayaw mong masaktan." Pagbabanta nito.
Sinamaan siya ng titig ni Shane bago linipat ang atensyon sa bag niya.
"Eto ba?" Tumango yung holdaper. "Okay, here you go." Hinagis niya yung bag saka tumalikod. "I have more upstairs anyway."
Tuwang-tuwang binuksan nung lalaki yung bag at natagpuang wala pala 'yon laman. For decoration purposes lang naman talaga 'yon kaya dinadala niya ito. Nakasiksik sa bra niya yung mga pera niya para walang makakuha non. Gigil na hinabol nung holdaper si Shane.
"Hoy! Ginagawa mo ba akong tanga?!" Hinarangan niya ang babae. Tinignan siya ni Shane pataas-baba habang nakaangat ang kanang kilay.
"Kailangan pa bang gawin kitang tanga? Alis. Nag-eemote yung tao. Wrong timing, amputa." Hinarangan ulit siya nung balak niyang dumaan sa tabi. "Nasa iyo na nga yung bag! What more do you want from me?" Pagtataray niya.
"Hindi ka ba natatakot sa hawak kong patalim?" Itinutok lalo ng holdaper yung kutsilyo sa may bandang tiyan ni Shane. Isinaulo ng babae yung haba ng kutsilyo pero natawa lang siya sa igsi nito.
"I've handled dicks bigger than that, so no."
Halos maghimutok na ang lalaki sa sobrang inis. Wala man lang bahid ng takot yung babae. Tila ba parang wala lang sa kanya yung posibilidad na pwede siyang patayin doon.
"Gusto mo bang mamatay?! Ha?! G-gusto mo ba—teka, anong ginagawa m-mo?" Puno ng pagtataka yung holdaper nung ipinasok ni Shane kamay niya sa loob ng suot niyang cargo pants.
"Give me a second." Sabi niya't may hinugot sa loob. "Ah. There it is." May linabas siyang kalibre bente dos at pinagpagan pa ito sa harap ng nanginginig na holdaper. "I realized that a woman living alone is never safe so I had to get one of these. It's licensed, don't worry."
Nanginig lalo sa takot ang holdaper at binato pabalik kay Shane yung walang laman na bag. Bumagsak lang ito sa sahig.
"Sa iyo na 'yan!" Sigaw niya't kumaripas ng takbo.
Nakangiwi ang babaeng dinadampot yung designer bag mula sa sahig.
"Tsk. Bloody hell. Now it's really filthy." Malungkot niyang saad at bumuntong hininga.
"Dala-dala mo ba lagi baril mo tuwing lumalabas ka?" Muntikan ng mapatalon sa gulat si Shane nung nagsalita si Kieran sa likuran niya.
Nakapamulsa mga kamay nito sa suot niyang white coat at may nakasabit pang stethoscope sa kanyang leeg. Halatang papunta pa lang siya sa trabaho.
"I don't have bodyguards anymore." Sagot ni Shane. "I have to keep myself safe." Isinuksok niya pabalik yung baril sa gun holster na nakasabit sa kanyang hita. Kinailangan niyang kumuha ng maliit na baril para hindi ganon kahalata kapag nagsusuot siya ng bistida o maluluwag na pants.
Walang imik na lamang na tumango si Kieran.
Hindi napansin ni Shane na sa may sasakyan pala ni Kieran siya nakarating. Pinanood niyang binuksan ng doctor yung pintuan at mariing pumikit saka bumuga ng hangin.
"I meant it, Shane." Malumanay niyang sabi. "You're not the reason why it didn't work out between Julia and I. So don't be upset. You didn't do anything. You're not a villain nor a serpentine." Tipid niyang nginitian si Shane para i-assure siya. "Don't be too hard on yourself for the things out of your control."
Kumurap si Shane at umiwas ng tingin. Taimtim niya lang na pinanood si Kieran na umalis at hindi kumaway pabalik sa kanya.
May tunog ng mga sirena malapit sa may entrance ng underground parking lot. Natawa na lang nang marahan ang babae't umiling-iling.
Of course he'd call the cops for me.
Matapos siyang interviewhin ng mga pulis tungkol sa pagnanakaw, bumalik na siya elevator para umuwi. Habang naglalakad sa hallway, may nahagilap siyang babaeng nakaupo sa tapat ng pintuan ni Kieran na may hawak na bote ng gin.
Nakilala niya agad yung mukha kahit magulo ang buhok nito't puno ng mascara stains mga pisngi. It's Julia.
Tatalikod na sana si Shane para iwasan si Julia ngunit huli na nang makita rin siya.
"Shane, r-right? That's your name, right? Anastasia Shane?" Tawag ni Julia nang humihikbi.
"Umm..." kinamot ni Shane ang kanyang braso. For years that she wanted to live her life as only Anastasia Shane, this is the first time she wished she's not Anastasia Shane. "Yes, that's me. Do I know you...?"
Matamis na ngumiti si Julia at marahang tumawa.
"I'm Kieran's girl—well, ex-girlfriend." Her laughter didn't reach her eyes. "Can we talk? Please?"
You're not a villain nor a serpentine.
Kieran's words echoed in her head. If he thinks she's not a villain, then why the fuck does she still feel like one?