"Ah! It was a nightmare Yaya!"
I kept telling Yaya Minda about what happened that night when I tried looking at the mirror again.
"Lagi na lang siya ang nakikita ko! I tried it twice and his face appeared again!"
We were in the kitchen, Yaya Minda was preparing our breakfast while I was standing in front of her, telling her my rants about what happened last night. I sighed. I really hate that man. It's not that I don't like him; I just hated him so much.
Hindi naman ako lumaki ng kasama siya. Edward was my brother's best friend, he was two years older than and I only knew him because of my brother. Noong lumalaki ako, I remembered that he used to give me lollipops and candies every time na pupunta siya sa bahay namin, I really liked him back then. Lagi pa kaming naglalaro noon habang hinihintay niya si Kuya, but then thing started to change between us when we both entered high school, noong time na iyon, doon niya na ako sinimulang asarin nang asarin at hindi talaga siya tumitigil hangga't hindi niya ako napapaiyak.
Pero pinaka nagalit ako sa kanya noong Senior Prom. I was invited by a Junior back then, Sophomore pa lang ako noon, sila ni Kuya Senior na sila, that night, my mom made sure that I am wearing a very beautiful gown, she made sure that I'll be one of the most beautiful women on the prom – even Kuya Daniel said that I was pretty, but then Edward told me – straight on my face na:
"Bakit ganyan ang hitsura mo? Ang pangit. Hindi naman bagay."
Ang pinakamasaklap doon, he said those words in front of Ulysses – the Junior who invited me. Umiyak ako noon, iyak lang ako nang iyak hanggang sa makauwi ako.
Mula nang araw na iyon, isinumpa ko si Edward Varres.
Kung pwede lang ipa-assassinate ang gunggong na iyon, matagal ko nang ginawa. I hate him.
"Malay mo, Dandan, siya ang eternal lover mo."
I made an ugly face as I face Yaya Minda.
"Yaya! Do you really think I am that desperate?!" I shook my head. "I will never, never as in N-E-V-E-R in my life will I fall in love with that asshole! Ang pangit-pangit noon eh! Saka mayabang, saka abusado, walang modo, walang breeding, walang ---"
"Walang girlfriend." Nakatawang sabi ni Yaya Minda.
"Eh ano naman sa akin?" Naiinis na sabi ko. I turned my back on her. Gosh! I just had the most excruciating talk in my life! I thought Yaya would understand me. Nakita naman niya kung paano ako paiyakin ng Edward Varres na mayabang na iyon, tapos nakukuha niya pa akong tuksuhin doon? Nakakinis lang!
I headed towards the door, kailangan ko ng oxygen dahil baka ma-suffocate akokakaisip sa nakakainis na lalaking iyon. I was walking at the garden, admiring the flowers, inhaling the fresh air when I saw a sight that burned my eyeballs.
"Good morning, Dandan!"
Edward Varres.
I bit my lower lip – kinagat ko dahil nanggigigil ako sa galit! Anong ginagawa ng gunggong na ito dito sa Villa namin?! Nasa kabilang side ng road ang Villa nila, mas malaki iyon pero bakit nandito siya sa Villa ng pamilya ko!
"Argh! If you're going to ruin my morning, please! Step aside!" I told him. I turned away again. I heard his annoying laughter. I cannot believe this! Halos fifteen years na kaming hindi nagkikita ng taong ito pero naiirita pa rin ako sa kanya! I faced him again. "What are you laughing about? Do you wanna die?" I asked him.
Edward stared at me. He gave me his signature half smile that makes every girl's knees tremble – except for me. He was very casual looking today, he's wearing his khaki shorts, white v-neck shirt, a pair of leather sandals, and I could smell his aftershave from here. Mukhang fresh na fresh ang mokong.
"Kung hina-half smile mo ako para kiligin, pwes hindi ako kinikilig. Naaasar ako sa mukha mo."
"Tsk, hindi naman kita pinakikilig, Dandan, pero kung iyon ang gusto mo, I'll take the challenge, pakikiligin kita."
Napanganga ako. Did he just say na pakikiligin niya ako?
"I-judo kaya kita?"
Hindi siya nagsalita, he just stood there looking at me with his signature half smile. Ang tagal-tagal niyang nakatingin sa akin. I flipped my hair – take not kakapagupit ko lang it's a part of my moving on scheme, my hair now is very short.
"You're blushing..." He said. My eyes widened.
"I am so not blushing!" I yelled at him. Tumawa na naman siya. He moved closer to me. I took a step back.
"You have grown..." Wika niya habang titig na titig sa akin. Ano bang pinagsasabi niya? He must have lost it, somehow.
"Huwag kang lalapit, masamang espiritu!"
My body stiffened when I felt his hand on my face. I swallowed hard, why is he doing whatever it is he's doing to me?!
"Anong ginagawa mo?" Ayoko man aminin pero nakadama ako ng kaba. It was like he was actually going to... kiss me? Ang lapit-lapit kasi ng mukha niya sa mukha ko. I want to push him away but I guess that half smile thingy was working on me. Right now, my knees were trembling for his hand was so warm, and that signature smile of his was so... overwhelming. Why was he smiling at me that way?
"May dumi..." Sabi niya. "Kulangot yata ito, Dandan, ang laki-laki mo na hindi ka pa marunong magkulangot." Napanganga ako. How dare him say na may kulangot ako?!!!
"Hoy! Ang kapal ng mukha mo ha! Wala akong booger!" I said to him. He just laughed at me.
"Wala daw, siguro hanggang ngayon, TL ka pa din kapag natutulog." Sabi pa niya. Inaasar na naman niya ako at sigurado akong hindi siya titigil hanggang sa hindi niya ako napapaiyak, kung inaakala niya na mapapaiyak niya ako, pwes nagkakamali siya. Hindi na ako iyakin, hindi na niya ako mapapaiyak!
"Iju-judo na talaga kita!' Sigaw ko. Naikuyom ko ang aking palad, I wanted so much to punch him in the face but then, I heard Lolo called us.
"Dandelia, Edwardo, umaano kayo diyan? Halina kayo at nang makakain na ng almusal." Lolo said. I looked at Edward.
"Bakit? Wala ka bang pagkain sa inyo at makikikain ka sa amin?"
"Bakit? Wala ka bang boyfriend kaya ang sungit-sungit mo? O baka naman menopause ka na? Sabagay age 40 nga ang simula ng menopause." He said while grinning.
"27 pa lang ako! At hindi pa ako nagme-menopause!"
Ni hindi ako pinansin ng Edward na iyon! Nilagpasan niya lang ako at pumasok na siya sa loob ng bahay. Gigil na gigil ako sa kanya. Sa hitsura ko bang ito mukha na akong menopause? I'm only 27, nasa kalendaryo pa ang age ko! Siya nga 30 na, two years na lang wala na sa kalendaryo ang age niya tapos sasabihin niya na ako ang menopause?!
"Argh! I really really hate him!"
---------
I was eyeing Dandan as she eats her food. Lihim pa akong napangiti as I looked at her. She had undergone some drastic changes for the past years at kagabi nang makita ko siya, I almost didn't recognized her. Kung hindi ko pa naalala ang candle incident which happened twelve years ago, hindi talaga papasok sa isip ko na ang babaeng nakatingin sa salamin habang may hawak na kandila ay si Dandan.
She had changed.
Gone was the young and carefree Dandan, the one that used to cry a lot when I tease her all that's left was Dandelia – a very attractive woman on her twenties who could make any man worship her. I was sure of that – at hindi ko naman itatanggi, I am attracted to her.
Maybe it was because of her little nose, or her little lips or her petite figure – I don't know but I am sure that this woman – yes she's a woman – in front of me can make my head spin – in a very sexual way.
I know I shouldn't be thinking about her that way, but I couldn't help it. She was so little – siguro nasa 5'1 lang ang height niya at weakness ko talaga ang maliliit na babae – why? Because you could easily control them in bed – and that's where I want Dandelia to be in the next few nights – in my bed – doing everything I tell her to do, paying homage to that silky smooth skin of hers, pleasuring her, exploring every sides of her body.
"As I was saying, Edwardo, kamusta ang Mama mo?"
"She's, okay Lolo Manuel. Malungkot pa rin siya because of what happened to dad, we'll we all are, but we're coping."
I looked at Dandan again, by that time she was pouting her lips while spreading cheese on her bread. She looked like she was in deep thoughts, napangiti ako. I wondered how she would look like under me while biting those sinful lips to keep herself from screaming my name.
I know I really shouldn't be thinking about her that way because she's the little sister of my best friend but I couldn't help it.
"How's your brothers?" Again Lolo Manuel asked me. I looked at him.
"Nathan's good, he's married and he's enjoying that life. Juan Miguel, I can't say he's good, Lolo, he missed the wild."
"Si JM?" I glared at Dandan. He called my brother JM? Why would she call him that?
"Close kayo ni Juan Miguel?" I couldn't help but to feel possessive over her, alam kong sa ngayon ay wala pa akong karapatan but I am going to make sure that one of these days, I'll gain rights over her.
"Oo, siya lang kaya iyong mabait sa akin noon sa school." Sabi pa niya. "Even Nathan teases me. I hate both of you." Nakangusong sabi niya. I took a deep breath. Hindi niya baa lam kung anong magic ang meron sa nguso niya? Everytime she does that, I feel like I wanna kiss her.
Sino ba kasing mag-aakala na ang iyaking si Dandan ay lalaking ganito? I didn't thought of that idea and now while looking at her, para akong nakakita ng real life ugly duckling that turned into sa swan. And I want that swan. I want her, and in my world, what Edward wants, Edward gets.
"So you like Juan Miguel... He's a heart breaker you see." I said while smiling. Dandan doesn't seem to mind. She just smiled.
"He's still a way better person than you, I like him."
I smiled but deep inside, I wanted to go to Juan Miguel and punch him in the face. I want to tell him to stay away from Dandan because I intend to make her mine, by hook or by crook, I am going to make her mine – all mine and no one's ever going to touch her.
I smiled at that thought. Lolo Manuel kept on talking. Hati naman ang attention ko, I was listening to Lolo Manuel but I was also trying to watch Dandan as hse eats, she looked so hot – in my opinion, if ever I'll get into her – she'll be the hottest fling I'll ever have.
"Kailan ka babalik ng Manila?" Lolo Manuel asked again.
"I don't know... right now, all I want to do is enjoy my indefinite leave."
"Good, maybe Dandelia can take you on a tour, Edward."
"Me? Lolo, hindi na kailangan ni Edward Yabang ang tour, like as if! Dito rin naman siya lumaki!" pagrereklamo nito. I smiled. Nalukot pa ang ilong niya habang nakatingin sa akin.
"We'll I've been gone for a long while, gusto ko ulit Makita ang kagandahan ng San Martin." Sabi ko sa kanya.
"Di mamasyal ka mag-isa mo!"
"Dandelia, why are you being rude to Edward?"
"Kasi naman, Lo eh..."
"Alright", I said. "If you don't want to give me a tour, okay lang... Ayokong pilitin ka." I said slowly. She made a face again.
"Fine! As if naman pwede akong tumanggi." She was still pouting her lips and right now, all I wanted to do is to push her down, kiss her and smother her body. But I didn't, not in front of Lolo Manuel.
I looked at Dandan and smiled. Darating din ang tamang panahon.
And I will patiently wait for that moment when Dandelia Santos will crawl to me just to beg me to take her...
-------------
"Good Morning, Dandan."
I made a face as I look at Edward sitting inside my Lolo's living room. Naiirita talaga ako sa mukha niya at mas lalo akong nairita because I had to wake up extra early today dahil gusto niang mag-hiking kami. Gusto niyang umakyat sa Mt. Santo Domingo para makita iyong false na sinasabi daw ng lolo niya dati.
"Nakakainis ka!" I hissed at him. Edward smiled. He moved closer to me to pat my head.
"Grumpy eh? Not a morning person." He concluded. I just gave him a sarcastic smile. I am actually a morning person, I like to wake up early and take a walk at the village park and observe people, I like drinking coffee at an early cold morning... I love watching the sunrise, but today I wanted to oversleep because I know that I have to interact with Edward Yabang Varres.
"Ready ka na ba?" He asked me.
"Hindi pa." I answered.
"Okay then, let's go!" Hinatak niya ang kamay ko at iginiya ako palabas ng bahay. Isinakay niya ako sa kotse niya and we drove away. I looked back at the house, I was fighting the urge of screaming for help because I feel like Edward was kidnapping me but I just couldn't. We passed by Yaya Minda who was watering the plants and I just lost it.
"Yaya Minda, help!" I screamed. Edward glared at me.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Takang-takang tanong niya. Ngumiti ako.
"Wala lang, trip lang." Umayos ako ng upo.
"You are very weird, Dandan..."
"It's Danni." I corrected him. He looked at me again.
"What?"
"Danni, please call me Danni. Not Dandan, Dandan is too – uhm we'll – too young and I'm now a lady." I said. I saw a smile formed on his face. Hindi ko alam kung para saan iyon pero I find it cute...?
"So how's my brother?" I asked him. I was just trying to start a small talk. My brother Daniel was in Los Angeles now, doon siya nagtatrabaho, doon na nga rin siya nakapag-asawa.
"Aren't you talking to him?" He asked.
"Nag-uusap."
"Why don't you ask him that yourself?"
"Ang sungit mo!" I don't know what came over me but I punched him right on his shoulder.
"Aray!" he said. He looked at me.
"What did you do that for?"
"Kasi nakakainis ka! Akala mo ha! I am now a lady; I can fight back, hindi mo na ako mabu-bully!" I made a face. I saw him shook his head pero hindi naman siya nagsalita.
"May araw ka din sa akin." Wika pa niya. Kumunot naman ang noo ko. Anong araw? Bakit gagantihan niya ba ako? After punching him hindi na ulit ako nagsalita. Edward, on the other hand, kept on driving, maya-maya ay huminto na kami. I got out of the car, Edward did too. I looked at the entrance of the forest, talaga bang mag-ha-hike kami paakyat sa falls? I don't know why Edward wanted to go to that falls. Naniniwala ba siya sa magic na naroon?
There's this legend that says, anyone who bathe in the falls, their wishes can come true. I looked at Edward and I was silently thinking, naniniwala siya doon?
"Why do you want to go to the fall?" I asked him. Edward just shrugged.
"Trip lang, let's go." He said. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Trip lang, dahil lang sa trip niya mahihirapan ako? Ano iyon? Padabog na sumunod ako sa kanya. I looked at him, he was walking and he didn't even bother looking back at me.
"Ungentleman." Naiinis na bulong ko. I sighed. I took my bag pack and wore it. Sumunod ako sa kanya. Ni hindi niya man lang ako kinakausap. Anong klaseng hiking ito? Hiking for mute people?
"Hoy, ang sungit mo kamo?" I said. He looked back at me.
"Don't talk. I am savoring the silence of the forest." He said. I bit my lower lip. Nakakainis siya ha. That attitude of him was one of the reasons why I hate him so much. Bukod sa napakayabang niya, napaka-ungentleman rin niya at super duper egotistic siya. I grew up with him and his brothers at sa kanilang lahat, si Edward na ito ang pinaka sa lahat! Juan Miguel was a bit mayabang but he could be really sweet at times, he's like my other kuya. The other one – Nathan – he's too quiet but like what they say, deep waters runs quietly – that says it all. Samantalang si Edward, he's so – ANNOYING!
Matagal-tagal na rin kaming naglalakad but Edward is not talking pa rin. I just sighed. I guess its better this way, at least hindi ako masyadong naha-high blood sa kanya.
He turned left and I followed him. I could hear the running water that means we're close. Nagmadali ako. Inunahan ko na siya sa paglakad. I was smiling really hard dahil lumalakas ang kaluskos ng tubig.
"Malapit na ta---Ahhhh!!"
I didn't realize that the road I was running on was bumpy and rocky, nakatapak ako ng bato and the next thing I knew, I fell right down the pile of mud in front of me.
"Aray!" I looked at myself and I saw how dirty I am. Pati yata sa buhok ko may putik ako. I looked up at Edward and I saw him trying to suppress his laughter. I raised my eyebrow.
"Subukan mong tumawa!" I hissed at him and to my surprise, he laughed out loud. Napaupo pa siya sa harap ko kakatawa at mukhang tuwang-tuwa pa siya.
"Ang kapal ng mukha mo! Bakit hindi mo ako tulungan dito?!" I yelled at him. Edward was shaking his head. Lumapit siya sa akin.
"You know, in L.A. there's this Mud Spa..."
"Eh ano naman sa akin?! Help me get up!" I yelled again. He just smiled tapos ay inabot niya ang kamay ko. Hindi naman siya nahirapan na itayo ako, ang lagkit ng pakiramdam ko. "My favorite shirt is dirty na... I hope it won't stain..." I whispered.
"Maligo ka na lang sa falls mamaya. Malapit na kaya tayo," sabi niya. Inirapan ko siya at saka dinuro.
"This is your entire fault! May nalalaman ka pang pa-hike hike, ayan tuloy! I swear kapag may nangyari ulit sa akin ngayong araw na ito, iju-judo na kita!"
He just smiled at me. Ano bang meron at ngiti lang siya ng ngiti? Ngumuso ako, kahit hirap ay pinilit kong maglakad. Medyo masakit kasi ang binti ko. Siguro dahil naupuan ko. Bumaba kami ni Edward, ilang sandal lang ay tanaw na tanaw ko na ang falls. I smiled and run again.
"Baka madulas ka!" I heard him. Hindi ko naman siya pinansin. Huminto ako nang marating ko ang pampang. I started to take my clothes off – hindi ko na pinansin si Edward. I really don't care saka isa pa, doctor siya at kung anuman ang makikita niya, it wouldn't matter. Kumbaga walang malisya.
I took my pants off an my shirt, itinara ko lang ang underwear then I jump in to the water.
"Ahhh!" I screamed when I felt the coolness of the water coming from the falls. "Hanglamig!" I turned to Edward, he was staring at me. I smiled at him.
"Come! Ang sarap ng tubig!" I said. Lumubog ako tapos ay muling lumitaw. I was really enjoying myself, ang tagal na panahon na mula nang makadama ako ng ganitong saya.
"Edward, tara na!" I called him again. Natigilan pa ako nang makita ko siya. Titig na titig siya sa akin na para bang nakakakita siya ng multo.
"Anong problema mo?"
--------------
She took her clothes off.
Wasn't she aware of the fact that I am standing right here? That I could see her? That I could see almost everything? What is wrong with her? I watched her silently. Mukhang hindi na niya ininda ang presensya ko. I swallowed hard, I was feeling different, jeez! I am a man and there's a woman – almost naked – in front of me. Hindi ako bato!
"Anong problema mo?"
Tapos itatanong niya sa akin kung anong problema ko?
I shook my head. If I get in, baka hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko. I don't want to take advantage of her. Oo, nagnanasa ako sa kanya pero matino ako at alam kong hindi ako dapat magpadala sa nararamdaman ko. Dandan is innocent; she doesn't know what she was doing. I looked away, I chose to look away, I chose to just enjoy the scenery. Ibinaba ko ang bag pack ko then, I took off my polo shirt – so now I'm only wearing my white shirt. saka ko inilabas ang camera na dala ko. I will try my best to ignore the other beautiful sight on the water; I will never look at that way.
I assembled my SLR. I like taking pictures, back when I was younger, I wanted to be a photographer but I ended up being a doctor instead – that was what my father wants.
"Ano iyan?" Biglang nagsalita si Dandan sa likod ko. Napatayo ako.
"Jeez!" I looked at her. She was still wearing her underwear. "Put something on!"
"Sus! Kala mo naman. Bakit madalas ka naman makakita ng ganito. Doctor ka diba?"
"That's a totally different thing!" I yelled. "Put something on!"
"Oo na!" She said. To my surprise bigla niyang kinuha iyong polo shirt na hinaubad ko. She put that on. Hindi ko maiwasan na hindi mapatingin sa kanya habang isinasara niya ang butones noon. My lips parted with awe. Dandan – no she's not a Dandan anymore, she's more of a Danni.
"Danni," I said.
"Iyon! May ginawa ka ring tama ngayong araw na ito." She said smiling. I grinned. Lumapit ulit siya sa akin at tiningnan ang camera ko.
"Wow! That's one expensive camera." She said. She took my camera, tapos ay binutingting na niya. Sa lahat ng pangyayaring iyon ay nakatingin lang ako sa kanya. I have noticed the changes she had been through the past few years but right now as I was intently looking at her, ngayon ko lang nakikita, Danni is one hell of a hottie! And right now all I could think about is making her mine – all mine!
"Have you ever been kissed before?" I asked her. Mukhang nagulat naman siya. Napatingin ito sa kanya.
"W-what?" She said.
"Nothing..." I said. I looked away again.
"You asked me something about kiss." Muling sabi niya. I just shrugged. What the heck ba? I will tell her what's on my mind. I looked at her and smiled.
"I didn't asked you – we'll I did but in my mind, I was thinking about me kissing you savagely, kiss you all over, making you moan, feeling you until you explode. That's what I am thinking right at this moment, Dandelia."
Yes, at that moment, I didn't see Dandan anymore. All I could see is Danni.