Chapter Nineteen
"wag kang makulit kasi." natatawang sabi ko nag aayos kasi ako ng bag tapos si Steven ang kulit kulit nya. yakap ng yakap sakin.
kaninang umaga lang kami nakauwi kasi nakatulog nanaman ako sa braso nya. As usual. haha
"Siguro nung ginagawa ka ni Lord ako yung naisip nya. tignan mo. saktong sakto ka sa braso ko." nakangising sabi nya saka umupo sa tabi ng bag ko.
"bat? kasya din naman ako sa braso ng Kuya Andrei ko eh." natatawang sabi ko.
"Basag!" tumatawang sabi ni Sammy na kakapasok lang ng kwarto ko sa condo.
"Tss!" sabi nalang ni Steven saka lumabas ng kwarto ko.
"Haha. pikon" tawa ng tawang sabi ni Sams.
"Baliw ka talaga? bakit ba?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"eh, can i ask you a favor?" pacute na sabi nya. i gave her a skeptical look.
"what is it?" i asked.
"pwede mo ba kong ipagpaalam kay Mommy?" tanong nya. may alanganing ngiti sa labi nya.
"Saan nanaman?" i asked.
"Tell them we'll be in baguio on first week of March." kumunot yung noo ko.
"Bakit?" i asked.
"Si Suzanne." simpleng sabi nya saka umiwas ng tingin sa kanya.
"ahh. its almost finals Sam. makakaalis pa ba tayo?" i asked.
"Ako lang, Alexis. pag nakita ka ni Mommy sabihin mo umuwi ka na kasi may kailangan kang gawin sa ASC. anything Lex. basta makaalis lang ako next week." desperadong sabi nya. and there's no other way but us. kami nila Anton.
"Sige na. i'll take care of it." nakangiting sabi ko. ngumisi sya ng malaki saka niyakap ako.
"Thanks Sis! i knew i can count on you." nakangising sabi nya saka lumabas na ng kwarto ko. napailing nalang ako. kinuha ko na yung bag ko saka lumabas sa sala ng condo ko. si Steven ayun. nakatingin sa poolside. nagtatampo.
"Lets Go!" nakangiting sabi ko. inirapan ba naman ako. baliw lang.
"Why are you mad again?" i asked niyakap ko lang sya sa bewang.
"Tss! Madaya talaga." he whispered and hugged me back.
"di ka na galit?" i asked.
"madaya ka eh." nakangising sabi nya. he gave me a smack on the lips. "I love you Angel." he whispered.
"I love you too." i said softly and smiled at him. "Now lets go. its time to tell my parents." nakangiting sabi ko. pero malamang nasabi na ni Charlie sa lahat ng kamag anak ko yun.
"its nice to be in heaven." he whispered. inakbayan nya ko saka naglakad na papuntang elevator.
***
"We're here." nakangising sabi nya saka excited na bumaba sa kotse nya. ako naman nilock yung pinto sa side ko. kinatok nya yung pinto pero umiling lang ako. pinindot nya yung remote ng kotse nya. ayun nabuksan yung pinto sa side ko.
"Why Babe?" he asked. "whats wrong?"
"Parang ayoko nang pumasok." nag aalangang sabi ko. para akong bibitayin.
"Natatakot ka?" alanganing tumango ako. ngumiti lang sya saka yumuko para abutin ang labi ko. "i'm with you okay?" ngumiti ako saka tumango.
pagpasok namin sa mansion niyakap agad ako ni Vincent.
"Ate!" i went down and kissed his cheeks.
"Hi babylove, i miss you!"
lumabas sila Daddy galing sa kumedor. "Oh. Hi baby." lumapit ako kay Daddy saka humalik sa pisngi nya. humalik din ako kay Mommy.
"Hi Dad, My," alanganing sabi ko. binati din ni Steven sila Daddy.
"and what brought you here?" Dad asked.
"uhm. Dad kasi po-"
"Sir, we're officially together." nakangiting sabi ni Steven. napanganga ako sa ginawa nya. sila daddy naman natahimik.
"Wow!" nakangiting sabi ni Daddy maya maya. "Congratulations!" sabi ni Daddy saka niyakap ako.
"Nice Baby!" nakangiting sabi ni Mommy saka niyakap ako. sus. akala ko pa naman magagalit sila.
"kelan pa?" tanong ni Daddy.
"Kaninang umaga lang po. i suprised her. alam po nila Adam yun Sir." sagot ni Steven.
"Call me Tito, Steven. welcome to our family." nakangiting sabi ni Daddy.
"Thank you Sir." sagot naman ni Steven.
"Baby, Come here! Si Kuya mo to oh?" sabi ni Mommy habang hawak yung phone nya. niloudspeaker nya yung phone.
"Hi Kuya." nakangiting sabi ni Mommy kay Kuya.
"Hi Mom."
"Kuya may ibabalita kami sayo." masayang sabi ni Mommy.
"Talaga? what is it?" Kuya asked.
"may boyfriend na ang baby natin"
"WHAAAT?!" he shouted. "Anung boyfriend ka dyan Mommy?!"
"Hala, Si Kuya nag freak out." natatawang sabi ni Mommy. si Daddy din tawa ng tawa.
"May Boyfriend na ang baby natin Andrei." natatawang sabi ni Daddy.
"HINDI PWEDE! ANUNG BOYFRIEND? SINONG HUDAS YUN?!"
"THATS IT! I'M GOING HOME!!" he shouted and ended the call.
***
"confirmed Sis. nakaalis na yung plane sakay si Andrei." sabi ni Sammy sa kabilang linya. napakagat labi ako saka tumingin kay Steven.
"Oh, okay. Thanks Sam." pinatay ko na yung tawag saka tumingin kay Steven. "pauwi na si Kuya."
tumingin sya sakin saka nagkibit balikat. "Its okay. haharapin ko."
"You dont know my brother, Steven. he have a way of getting what he wants in any other way." namromroblemang sabi ko. totoo naman kasi. Adam and Andrei are two manipulative jerks. and they both tend to do anything to get what they want.
"and i'm a Devil, Babe. i dont play fair. hindi ako papayag na may maglalayo sakin sayo." seryosong sabi nya.
tinignan ko sya. "Aww." i said softly and touched his face. "I love you, Steven." i kissed his lips softly "So much its scaring the crap out of me. i didnt know that person could love this much."
"didnt know that too. but who cares? lets get lost!" nakangising sabi nya saka niyakap ako. "I dont care where will this take me. for as long as i'm with you. i know i'm exactly where i have to be."
***
"Tell me something about you that i dont know." nakangiting sabi ko habang nakaakbay kay Steven. nakaupo ako sa railings tapos sya nakatayo sa tabi ko. nasa park kami ngayon, yung park na lagi namin pinupuntahan nila Liz dati. ako actually ang nag aya dito. wala lang. i miss walking here.
"Hmm. i lost my virginity when i was thirteen." he said and smirked.
"Di naman yan na something about yourself." nakasimangot na sabi ko.
he chuckled softly. "wala naman kasing interesting sakin, Babe."
"ganito nalang. Q&A tayo. one question, one answer. okay?" Nakangiting sabi ko.
"Sure Babe, You first."
"How old are you?" i asked.
"twenty. my turn." umayos sya ng upo saka tumingin sakin. "How many exes?"
"None. you're my first boyfriend." i answered
"crushes?" he asked.
"Its my turn, Babe." nakangising sabi ko. napasimangot tuloy sya. "How many relationship. serious and not serious?"
"Fifty six? i lost count babe, no serious relationship. you're my first girl. the rest? flings." ngumuso ako para pigilan yung ngiti ko. bat nakakakilig marinig lang yung mga ganyang bagay.
"stop hiding your smile babe. i can see it. keep doing that and i'll kiss you." naramdaman ko nalang na uminit yung pisngi ko. shiiz!
"you look so fvcking beautiful when blushing. damn!" he hissed. "My turn. how many crushes?" pag iiba nya sa usapan.
"Just one." i answered. kumunot agad yung noo nya.
"SINO?!"
ngumiti ako. "Its my turn, Babe." i reminded.
"Damn." he hissed.
"Stop cursing too." nakangiting sabi ko. "favorite food?"
"Fried oreos. first crush?" he asked seriously.
"si Lance." i answered.
"Si Lance?!" his voice raised.
"Geez, Steven. bata pa ko nun." i said softly.
"Kahit pa!" he shouted.
"And that was ten years ago. paglabas ko palang ng mundo nabakuran na ko ni Kuya."
"i dont want you anywhere near Lance, Alexis." he said seriously.
"Hey," i said softly and touched his face. "Si Lance mahal na mahal si Ven. si Ven at si Ven lang."
"Right, si Venice ay para kay Lance. ikaw ay para sakin. sakin lang." seryosong sabi nya.
"Kulit mo!" nakangising sabi ko saka niyakap sya sa leeg. "i like Lance, Okay? and you." tinignan ko sya saka ngumisi ng malaki. "i love you. so stop getting jealous." i said softly.
nilapit nya yung mukha nya sakin saka inabot yung labi ko. "i love you Angel. Always."
***
"Sis!" sigaw ni Sammy saka tumalon talon sa kama ko. ugh! inaantok pa ko. past twelve na ko hinatid ni Steven sa condo eh. ang kulit kulit kagabi.
"hmmm? what?" i asked softly and buried my face on my pillow.
"si Andrei nasa baba daw." she shouted.
"Hmm. kay." i said softly and closed my eyes again.
after two seconds napadilat ulit ako. "WHAAAAT?!" i said with a voice a little higher.
ngumisi sya ng malaki. "Si Andrei nasa baba na. at paakyat na sya ngayon so yeah, goodluck Sis." nakangising sabi nya saka lumabas sa kwarto ko.
Oh Geeez! napatayo na ko saka dumiretso sa banyo para mag hilamos saka brush.
paglabas ko ng sala ng condo ko nandun na si Andrei at ang sama ng tingin.
"hi kuya." i whispered and kissed his cheeks.
"Dont you 'hi kuya' me, Sit down!" he hissed.
umupo namam agad ako. kung takot ako kay Daddy. mas takot ako kay kuya pag nagalit. iba kasi.
"ANUNG SINASABI NI MOMMY NA MAY BOYFRIEND KA NA DAW?!"
huminga ako ng malalim saka tumingin sa kanya. "its true Kuya. may boyfriend na ko."
"WHAT THE HELL, ADRIANNE ALEXIS!" he shouted and stood up. "KELAN PA KO PUMAYAG NA MAKIPAGLIGAWAN KA, AND WORST! MAKIPAG BOYFRIEND?!"
"But i love him, Kuya." i said softly
"who's this bastard?!"
"No. kilala kita, Kuya. may gagawin ka nanamang katarantaduhan and i'm telling you, No. wag mong subukan saktan o gumawa ng kalokohan sa kanya Kuya, i'm telling you. i'll hate you forever!" i said seriously.
"Wala akong gagawin. kikilalanin ko lang." he answered.
"Good Morning Angel!" nakangising sabi ni Steven saka pumasok sa condo ko.
PATAY!
"And who the hell are you?!" kuya hissed and gave him a stern look.
"Steven Alexander Gonzales, you're Alexis brother." cool na sabi ni Steven kay Kuya bago ngumiti sakin. hinalikan nya ko sa pisngi. shiiiz! lagot na!
"good morning Babe, breakfast mo." nakangiting sabi nya saka nilapag yung paper bag sa harap ko.
"are you her boyfriend?!" mariing sabi ni Kuya. humarap si Steven kay Kuya.
"Yeah, i am." he answered.
"Baby, go inside your room. i wanna talk to this Boy, man to man." seryosong sabi ni kuya.
"But kuya!"
"Its okay Angel." nakangiting sabi ni Steven saka inakbayan ako at pinapasok sa kwarto.
***
hindi na ko mapakali sa kwarto ko. mag iisang oras na nag uusap si Kuya saka si Steven.
baka naman. tinakot nya si Steven tapos lalayuan na ko ni Steven.
HINDI PWEDE!
hindi na ko nakatiis. lumabas na ko.
si Kuya saka si Steven nagtatawanan.
NAGTATAWANAN?!
"seriously?" i asked and crossed my arms infront of them.
"Hi baby." nakangising sabi ni Kuya. tumayo na sya saka inakbayan ako. "Alis na rin ako. aalis daw kayo eh." he kissed my cheeks and started walking away. "bye Sis, bye bro! yung pinag usapan natin ah! see you again soon." huling sabi nya bago sya lumabas ng pinto.
"What was that?" i asked. ngumiti lang sya saka niyakap ako. he kissed my lips and smile.
"confidential." he whispered and buried his face on my neck. "hmm. strawberries."
napailing nalang ako. kahit anung gawin ko di naman nya sasabihin eh.
"Fine." i said in a resigned tone and went inside my room to sleep again. kinuha ko yung unan ko saka niyakap.
sumunod naman sya sakin saka yinakap din ako mula sa likod kasi medyo nakadapa na ko.
"di mo kakainin yung breakfast mo?" he asked.
"later. i'm sleepy." i whispered. half sleep.
"then lets sleep. goodnight My Angel." he whispered.
"Goodnight Baby ko." i whispered back and kissed his cheeks. binitawan ko na yung unan saka bumaling sa kanya para yumakap.