“Lesson number two… Walking.”
Ngiting-ngiti si Kristine habang nakatingin siya kay Fatima. Natitig lang ito sa kanya na para bang iniisip kung nagbibiro siya o hindi. Unfortunately, she was pretty damn serious about teaching her how to walk properly.
“Eleven months pa lang ako, marunong na akong maglakad. No thank you.” Aktong tatalikod si Fatima nang hatakin niya muli ito.
“Where do you think you’re going?” She asked. “You have to walk!”
“I already know how to!”
“In five inches heels!” Sigaw niya. Humarap si Fatima sa kanya.
“You have got to be kidding me!” Umiling siya at saka muling hinatak si Fatima. She took out the five inches high heels she bought for her that one time they went to Manila. She also bought her girly girl clothes pero matigas pa rin ang ulo nito dahil iyong pants at mga oversized shirts pa rin nito ang sinusuot nito. Okay lang naman iyon sa kanya, dinadahan-dahan niya si Fatima.
“Wear this.” Sabi niya. Naiinis man ay sumunod naman ito sa kanya. Sa maikling panahon na nakasama niya ito, she realized na hindi naman pala talag brat si Fatima, she’s a good kid at sa tingin niya Doña Isabelle was just exaggerating when she said that Fatima was a trouble maker.
She waited patiently for her para masuot ang heels na iyon. Fatima is very tall at mas lalo pa siyang tumangkad dahil sa heels na suot nito.
“Now you have to walk.”
“If I die, please tell Kuya to take care of Panama,” sabi pa nito. Natawa siya.
“Lalakad ka lang hindi ka mamamatay.” Nakangiting sabi niya.
“Ikaw muna!” Giit pa nito.
“Fine. Magsimula tayo dito papunta sa front door. When you walk, you have to walk like you own the floor.”
Sinimulan niyang maglakad. She had done this a hundred times before, she actually miss modeling. Pagkatapos niya dito kay Fatima, she will go back to Rami and ask for a modeling job, hindi na nga lang siguro sa UAE dahil ayaw na niyang makita pa muli si Jake.
Speaking of Jake, ni hindi na nga niya ito naiisip noong nakaraan. Kung sabagay, paano niya ba ba ito maiisip, kung palaging ibang tao naman ang laman ng isip niya? She was always thinking about Pablo. Nitong mga nakaraang lingo ay hindi niya ito napagkikita, sabi ni Fatima, nasa kabilang bayan daw si Pablo and he might stay there for a week or two kasama ang ilang mga katiwala nito dahil sa negosyo.
And she actually misses him.
Nami-miss niya iyong bigla na lang siyang hahatakin nito para halikan. Bigla siyang napangiti, she misses his kisses, she even miss his sexy voice.
“See, easy lang diba?” Nang balingan niya si Fatima ay wala na ito doon. All that was left of her was the pair of shoes na pinasuot niya dito kanina. “Ugh! Katigas talaga ng ulo!”
Pinulot niya ang sapatos ni Fatima at saka binitbit iyon. Pagharap niya nakita niya si Doña Isabelle na nakatingin sa kanya.
“Hello…” She greeted her. Nakataas ang kilay na nilapitan siya nito.
“Alam mo ba ang ibig sabihin ng flavor of the month?” She asked her. Kumunot ang noo niya.
“What?” Naguguluhang tanong niya dito, ano ang gusto nitong palabasin?
“Poor, Kristine…”Napapalatak na sabi nito. “Be careful, honey, the moment Pablo gets what he wants from you, he is so gonna dump you like a diaper with poo.” Doña Isabelle smiled at her, pagkatapos noon ay umalis na ito. Hindi niya maintindihan ang sinasabi nito. Was she trying to tell her to stay away from Pablo or was she giving her a warning?
Hindi niya alam.
May nalalaman ba si Doña Isabelle sa nangyayari sa kanila ni Pablo? She fell into a deep thought. Ano nga ba ang nangyayari sa kanila ni Pablo? Do they even have a relationship? Kasi right now, she doesn’t even know how to put into words the feelings she has for him. Hindi naman niya itatanggi that Pablo is special to her. Hindi naman siya papahalik dito kung hindi but then – ano siya para dito? Hindi niya talaga maintindihan.
Anong gustong iparating ni Isabelle sa kanya?
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“Señorito, nandito na tayo.”
Pablo opened his eyes when he heard Mang Tonio spoke. Agad siyang umibis ng sasakyan upang makapasok na sa mansion. He had been gone for almost two weeks, ni wala siyang balita sa nangyayari sa mansion. He didn’t have time to call or text Fatima to ask her how she was.
Nagmamadaling pumasok siya sa loob. It was late at night kung kaya’t wala na siyang inabutan doon. He wanted to see her sister so bad. Miss na miss na niya ito kung kaya’t umakyat siya sa taas para puntahan ito sa kanyang silid.
But then, as he was walking down the corridor, he saw the last person he wanted to see standing in front of him, smiling.
“Isabelle.” Sabi niya. Isabelle smiled at him, she walked slowly towards him, giving him a seductive look, she moved as if she was taunting him. He shook his head. How thick could she get?
Nang makalapit ito sa kanya ay ipinalupot naman nito ang mga kamay nito sa kanyag balikat. She moved her face closer to his face and inhaled his scent.
“Mahal ko…” Wika nito. Ang kapal ng mukha nitong tawagin siyang ganoon. He tried pushing her away but she wouldn’t budge. “Miss na miss na kita, mahal ko…” She kissed her neck.
“Fuck! Stay the hell away from me!” Tinulak niya ito, sumadlak ito sa lupa. “Ano pa bang gusto mo?!” He yelled.
“Ikaw!” Sigaw nito. She knelt in front of him and hugged his thighs. “Ikaw ang gusto ko. Make love to me, Pablo, please. I am begging you!” Halos bulong nang lumabas iyon sa bibig nito. He was surprised when Isabelle zipped down his zipped and took out his shaft.
“I missed this.”
“Fuck, Isabelle!” Halos ipagtulakan niya ito. Lumayo siya dito at muling inayos ang sarili.
“Kailangan ko pa bang magmakaawa sa’yo?!” She yelled at him. “Mahal kita! Alam kong mahal mo pa ako Pabi, please, take me back!”
“You are crazy.” Tumalikod siya.
“Pablo mahal kita!” Sabi nito.
“Mahal pa rin kita, iyon ba ang gusto mong marinig?” He asked her in a sarcastic tone. He faced her. Isabelle’s face lit up.
“M-mahal mo pa ako? Sabi ko na nga ba…” she was about to run to him when he said.
“You must be dreaming. The moment you chose my father, my love for you died. And it will never come back.”
Muli niya itong tinalikuran. Hindi niya alam kung saan siya dadalhin ng kanyang mga paa. All he knew was that he wanted to get out of that place, ayaw niyang makita si Isabelle at baka mapatay niya ito. Alam naman niya kung bakit ito nagkakaganoon. Pinag-isipan naman na niyang mabuti iyon – the moment he takes over everything – gumaling o hindi man ang kanyang ama, he will surely get rid of Isabelle.
He walked, and he walked until he found himself standing in front of the Chalet House in the middle. He didn’t even bothered knocking, alam naman niya kung nasaan ang spare key, he opened the door, entered the house and he tried figuring out kung nasaan ang kwartong hinahanap niya. He saw a glimpse of light inside the room in the middle. Pinuntahan niya iyon at saka siya pumasok. He made sure na tama ang kwartong pinuntahan niya.
He sighed in relief when he saw Kristine’s beautiful face. She was sleeping soundly. He took a deep breath. Hindi niya talaga alam kung bakit laging ito ang nasa isipan niya ngayon, wala naman siyang problema roon – the only problem he encountered these past few days na hindi niya ito nakikita was missing her. He took off his shoes and his shirt. Dahan-dahan niyang tinabihan ito. He knew that she would freak out tomorrow pero bukas na niya aalalahanin iyon, the most important thing right now for him was the fact that she was beside him.
Iyon na lang muna. Sapat na iyon.
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Kristine woke up early the next morning. May work out sila ni Fatima ngayon at tulad ng dati ay kailangan niya na naming gisingin ito. She checked her alarm clock. Napangiti siya, naunahan na naman niya ang alarm clock niya. Sanay na siya sa buhay probinsya. At four am, halos lahat ng tao sa hacienda ay gising na, at eight pm naman ay tulog na ang lahat dito. Hindi rin masyadong mahilig manood ng t.v. ang mga tao roon, they prefer listening to the radio.
She sat up, naghikab pa siya at saka nag-inat-inat. She was smiling pretty wide, ang ganda ng gising niya at hindi niya alam kung bakit. She looked around the room; ganoon na lang ang tili niya nang makita niyang may lalaking nakahiga sa kanyang tabi.
“Ahhhhh!” Maybe it was her adrenaline or maybe she was just too strong, dahil naitulak niya ang taong iyon pababa sa kama. Hinatak niya ang kumot at ipinalupot iyon sa kanyang sarili.
“What the? Hey! I am trying to sleep woman!”
“P-pablo?” Para siyang namatanda. Pablo stood in front of her. Kunot na kunot ang noo nito habang nakatingin sa kanya.
“Were you expecting someone else?” He asked. Muli itong bumalik sa kama at saka humiga. She stared at him. Anong ginagawa nito sa silid niya, sa kama niya? Kailan pa ito dumating at bakit hindi niya naramdaman na tumabi ito sa kanya kagabi?!
Nakakahiya! Baka naghihilik siya eh!
“Get up!” She said to him. To her surprise, nagtakip pa ng unan si Pablo sa mukha at muling natulog. Umakyat siya sa kama at nagtatalon doon. “Get up! Go home! Wala ka dapat dito!” Sigaw pa rin niya habang hawak-hawak ang kumot na nakabalot sa kanyang katawan.
Naramdaman niyang hinawaka nito ang paa niya. Hinatak siya nito, napatili siya. The next thing she knew, she was lying on the bed and Pablo was on top of her.
“Huy…” Hindi niya alam ang sasabihin niya. She swallowed hard. What should she do? “Ano… kasi.. uhm..”
“You look extra pretty without make up,” Komento pa nito. Bago pa siya makasagot ay bumaba ang mukha nito sa mukha niya. He was about to kiss her, she was sure of that – ang problema hindi pa siya nag-tooth brush: so she yelled.
“HUWAGGGG!”
And as if on cue, bumukas ang pinto. She didn’t know kung sino ang pumasok, she just heard voices.
“My god!” She heard Fatima’s voice. Agad na umalis si Pablo sa ibabaw niya.
“What are you doing here?” Pablo asked his sister.
“What are you doing here?” Balik tanong ni Fatima. “Is she going to be my sister-in-law? Cause if she is, then I have to nicer to her, nakakainis ka naman kuya eh!”
“What are you talking about?” Nagtatakang tanong ni Pablo. “Wala kaming ginagawa ni Kristine.”
“Yeah.. wala…” Segunda naman niya dito.
“Do I look like I’m stupid? Argh! Now I have to be nicer to the Barbie doll!” Sabi nito bago tumalikod. “Nakakainis! Ugh talaga!” Fatima closed the door. “I’ll be back in five minutes, please be decent!”
“Sorry…” Pablo said. Tumaas ang kilay niya. “What?”
“You apologized to me.” Nangingiting sabi niya.
“In behalf of my sister.” He said. Napanguso niya. Masyadong ma-pride ang taong ito. She remembered Fatima telling her how strong Pablo’s personality was. Ayaw na ayaw daw nitong nag-a-apologize lalo na kung alam naman nito na wala itong ginawang masama.
“Are you decent?!” Muli nilang narinig si Fatima.
“Rotten kid.” Bulong ni Pablo. Tumayo ito at kinuha ang t-shirt nito na nakalagay sa dulo ng kama.
“She’s like that because you spoiled her…” She said in a matter of fact of tone.
“She’s my only sister, so…”
“Tapos nagrereklamo ka kasi matigas ang ulo niya?” Muling sabi niya dito.
“I like it better when you’re sleeping. Hindi ka nakakainis.” Sabi nito. Napanganga siya. Iniinsulto na naman siya nito!
Pablo opened the door. Muling pumasok si Fatima but this time she’s not alone. She was holding a baby – very familiar baby.
“Where the hell did you get that thing?!” Sigaw ni Pablo sa kapatid nito. “I was gone for two weeks and now you have that… that ---“
“Shhh! The baby can hear you kuya! Saka ang O.A. mo! Para baby lang.” Lumapit si Fatima sa kanya at saka binigay sa kanya si Rhobie.
“What? Where?” Hindi mapakaling tanong niya.
“When and How?” Nakangiting sabi ni Fatima sa kanya. Maya-maya ay pumasok na ang hinahanap niya.
“Ericka… Why?” Naguguluhan siya.
“Hi, Kristine…” Ericka gave her a sad smile.
“Can someone explain to me what is happening? Who are these people?” Nagtatanong ang mga mata ni Pablo na tumingin sa kanya.
“Let’s leave them, Kuya. Wag kang epal!” Pilit na hinatak ni Fatima palabas si Pablo. She closed the door. Naiwan sila ni Ericka sa loob ng silid niya. Ang dami-dami niyang tanong pero hindi niya maisabibig iyon ngayong nakatingin siya sa umiiyak niyang kaibigan…