Chapter 41
Nakapangalumbaba ako sa bintana. Maraming pumapasok sa isip ko. The thing is, I'm still drunk and sleepy but the fact that I'm with Castielle inside his car taking me to wherever unknown kept me awake.
First of all, nasa isip ko parin ang kinalaman ni Arixton three years ago. I barely even know him, hindi kami magkakilala at kahit nag-aaral ako sa Thaguro ay hindi ko siya nakikita. Mabibilang ko lang sa daliri ko ang mga araw na nakita ko siya.
Marami akong nadiskubre sa gabing ito. That Ynesa might be one of Arixton's minion. I remember how she convinces me to do such childish thing.
Kung plano ito ni Arixton, napakaisip bata niya. Kung may alitan sila ni Castielle sana hindi niya nako dinadamay. Ngunit anong magagawa ko? Ang demonyo ay walang pakialam sa madadaanan niya makuha niya lang ang gusto.
But, what is his motive? Gusto niya bang turuan ng leksyon ang pinsan niya? May nagawa bang kasalanan si Castielle sa kaniya? Hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan pa akong idamay?
Pinaglaruan lang naman ako ng lalakeng to. Ang dami ko nan gang nalaman ngayong gabi, ngunit ang nag-iisang katanungan na laging pumapasok sa isip ko tatlong taon na ang nakakalipas.
Did he even love me? I know this is sound pathetic, alam ko na ang sagot three years ago, dahil kung mahal niya ako hindi niya ako paglalaruan.
But then, when I came back home I discover things that I failed to know back then. Things that made me confused. Things that's overwhelming.
Just like now... Why is he being like this? I know he has a girlfriend, si Loraine na baka isa sa mga babae niya na nagsinungaling na tatlong taon na sila.
Babaero parin siya sa buong tatlong taon kaya ano nanaman ito? Gusto niya bang ulitin ang ginawa niya sakin? Gusto niya ba kong paglaruan ulit? But, why?
Napahimas ako sa pisnge ko. Hanggang ngayon ay ramdam na ramdam ko parin ang hapdi at bakas ng kamay ni Susaine. This is his fault. Napaka-assuming kasi na kami ni Staven kaya ayan.
"Does it hurt?" biglang tanong niya.
Hindi ko siya sinagot dahil baka magtalo nanaman kami. Hindi ko talaga minsan napipigilan ang bibig ko lalo na't maraming gumugulo sakin ngayon. Sobrang litong-lito ako.
Akalain mong masaya pa siya dahil umiyak ako at napagtanto kung anong epekto niya sakin? Masaya ata siya dahil may nararamdaman ako sa kaniya at madali niya kong mapapaikot ulit.
"I'm sorry..." he sincerely said.
Sorry for what, asshole? Damn you! Hindi ko parin siya sinagot. The city lights are calming me a bit.
Naramdaman ko ang kamay niya saking pisnge kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya bago ko ito alisin.
"Get off." Kalmado kong sinabi at dumiretsyo ng tingin.
Binalik niya ang isang kamay niya habang ang isa'y nakahawak sa manibela. Nguint ng tabigin ko ito ulit ay dalawang kamay niya na ang humawak.
His touches were soft like he was slightly massaging it with his thumb. I remember his touches back then, kahit tatlong taon na ang lumipas, naalala ko pa ang mga hawak niya na tila ayaw kang pakawalan.
"Ano ba! Just drive! Pwede ba?!" singhal ko at muling tinabig ang mga kamay niya.
He flicked his tongue so I felt his frustration. Magdusa ka!
"I told you I'm sorry... Sorry for everything. And we'll talk..."
Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Why do you keep on saying that we needed to talk when we're already fucking talking? Ano ba talaga ang gusto mo, Castielle!?" asik ko at hinarap siya.
"If you're really sorry then you have to drop me off! Ayokong makasama ka!"
After you humiliate me a while ago with that Loraine in the hospital, may gana ka pang maging ganito.
"Cause we need to talk! In fact, this talk is now long overdue but I'm still willing to try." Mariin niyang sinabi bago ako tignan ng seryoso.
Napalunok ako. "I already know why at saan tutungo ang pag-uusap na sinasabi mo! Ginamit mo ko, niloko mo ko! Tapos! Kahit bumack-out ka pa!"
Kunot noo niya kong tinignan. "You knew that I backed out?" seryoso niyang tanong.
Natahimik ako saglit. "I just heard it. Kahit gano'n, hindi parin mababago ang fact na ginamit mo ko at niloko mo ko at ginawang tanga." Mariin kong sinabi at nag-iwas ng tingin.
He was about to say something when his phone ring. Narinig ko ang pagdampot niya ng phone sa dashboard.
"Hello?" mariin na pagbati nito.
Sinilip ko siya at nakita kong seryoso siyang nakikinig sa kausap niya sa telepono habang nakatingin sa harap.
"Then fucking dig more! Kung kinakailangan ay maghanap ka pa ng ibang putanginang source. Find him and tell him to fucking face me 'cause I'm going to ki—" bigla siyang napatingin sakin.
He sure curses a lot. Maybe he's finding his devil of a cousin.
Napalunok siya at nag-iwas ng tingin. "—I'm going to talk to him. Just find him." Pinal niyang sinabi bago ibaba ang phone hindi ipinagpatuloy ang banta.
Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa na para bang nananatya ang mata kung anong reaksyon ko. Nag-iwas nalang ako ng tingin.
His phone rang again and he groaned as he answers it.
"Loraine..."
Tumaas ang kilay ko. So his girlfriend is calling him now. Kahit kailan, babaero siya, manloloko, malandi, fuck boy at gago.
"Yes... I'm with her. We'll talk..." nahihirapang sagot niya.
Parang kinurot ang puso ko. So alam niya na magkasama kami? He's not totally cheating! O ako lang ba to dahil may past kami? Maybe like me, he only want us to talk for a closure.
Damn you, Nari! Nag-assume ka bang pag-uusapan niyo ang nakaraan at pipilitin kang maging kayo ulit? Do you think he's that crazy for you that he wants to ruin his mother's blooming love? Damn it!
"I know you understand. Thank you. Nasa airport na ba si Angeleu?"
He talks to her like he was gentle not to hurt her. Nakagat ko ang labi ko upang pigilan ang anomang nararamdaman ng puso ko. My heart is literally betraying me right now and my eyes would also.
Ngunit bakit kasama si Angeleu? At kailangan ba talaga naming sumakay ng eroplano para sa usap na sinasabi niya?
They bid goodbyes. I was waiting for that sweet goodbye remarks like those I love you's but I didn't hear it. Magpapasalamat na ba ako?
"Why would Angeleu come? Saan ba talaga tayo pupunta?" tanong ko ng mahimasmasan but still avoiding his gaze.
He sighed, "Baler. He'll come because his grandfather needs him there and we'll come with him. Doon tayo mag-uusap."
"What? Why didn't you tell me soon!? May sinasabi ka pang plinano mong kidnapin ako tapos yun pal—"
"It's my idea since I discover you'll come home! Before I saw you with Staven." Mariin niyang sagot.
Nanlaki ang mata ko. Bigla kong naalala ang pagbalik ko. I thought he was there and I wasn't seeing things all along then? Siya nga talaga 'yun?
Hindi ako nakapagsalita. "Don't worry about your things. My secretary already took care of it. Dalawang araw lang naman..."
Hindi nako muling nakaimik hanggang sa makarating kaming NAIA Terminal 3. Kinuha niya ang mga gamit niya at mayroong lalakeng naghihintay samin. Ibinigay niya ang susi rito.
"Take care of it. Mga gamit niya?" tanong ni Castielle sabay turo sakin.
"Kasama na po ni Sir Angeleu sa loob kasama ang nanny niya."
"Okay, wait for his nanny. She will take care of her." Ani Castielle na ikinalaki ng mata ko.
What the fuck? The, I'm here just to babysit? So much for studying medical then. Fuck this man.
The guy salute bago sumakay sa magarang kotsye ni Castielle. Hinala ako ni Castielle, hawak ang kamay ko pero kaagad ko itong tinabig.
He flicked his tongue again but then he managed to catch it again and didn't let me get away. So I don't have the choice but to let him. Siya lang naman ang nakahawak.
When we went inside, parang may artistang dumating dahil nagsilingunan ang mga tao, lalo na ng mga kababaihan dahil sa kasama ko.
All of the sudden biglang ko ikinuyom ang kamay ko. Holding his hand. Gripping it tight as I secretly lay a glare on those women.
I heard him chuckled but I'm too occupied by looking at those who gawk at him. I hate how he likes the attention.
"How did you get me a ticket?" tanong ko.
"We're riding Senator's plane." Sagot niya habang palapit na kami sa kinaroroonan ni Angeleu at ng nanny nito.
"So you don't have to worry about them gawking at me..." he whispered na ikinalaki ng mata ko. I was about to talk when we're already facing them.
"You can go now, she'll take care of him." Ani Castielle sa nanny ni Angeleu.
Ngumiti ng napakalapad ang babae at tumango. Kitang-kita ko ang pagkamangha sa mga mata niya. I glared at her kahit na hindi niya nako napansin dahil sa pagiging starstruck.
And again, Castielle chuckled kaya nag-iwas ako ng tingin. I don't know why he's laughing but when I looked at him he was amusingly looking at me.
Kumabog ang puso ko. Lalo na't ngumiti siya. Pakiramdam ko namula ako. Damn it, Narian! You supposed to hate this man!
"I like your natural blush on. Suits you..." he said seductively with sarcasm.
Mas lalo akong namula.
"It's called blush, not blush on," Angeleu spoke.
Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. He just shrugged and continue reading his book. Such a nerd!
Castielle chuckled. "Let's go then..." anito at binuhat si Angeleu na poker face parin ang mukha.
Ang ending ay ako ang nagtulak ng cart kung saan nakalagay ang mga gamit namin, but it was not heavy. People didn't stop looking at us. Ibang daan ang tinahak namin, Sinalubong kami ng dalawang naka-black suit and they usher us to the private plane that will take us to Baler.
It's a 15 minutes travel. Hindi lang kaming tatlo ang naroon kung hindi naroon din ang mga tatlong mga sopistikadang babae na mukhang mga asawa o anak ng politko. They watched us intently but we just greet them and smile.
"If I didn't know that that's Senator Valderama's grandson, I would really think that you three are family." Anang isang matandang babae habang sinusulyapan kami.
Pakiramdam ko ay namula nanaman ako sa sinabi niya. Looking the three of us sitting together in one lane, with Angeleu sleeping on Castielle's lap while facing his chest makes me flutter.
"That would be very nice though," sagot naman ni Castielle.
"Are you a couple then?" asked by the woman a bit young.
Tumaas ang kilay ko. Sasagot n asana si Castielle ng sumagot ako. "He has a girlfriend..." sagot ko at ngumiti sa kaniya.
Ngumiti naman ito pabalik. "But it's not you?" gatong naman ng mukhang ina niya. She looked at me lilke I was nothing.
Natahimik ako roon. Now what, Nari? Ngayon wala kang masagot.
"He's my step brother..." sagot ko at napalabi.
Ramdam ko ang seryosong pagtitig ni Castielle sakin.
"Oh!" yun nalang ang sagot ng dalagang babae na parang may kakaibang ngiti.
Damn it! What are you trying to do, Nari? Fuck.
Nang makarating kami ay pinakiramdaman ko si Catstielle. Hindi niya ako kinakausap and he's a bit cold. Gising na si Angeleu but he's sticking with Castielle habang ako ay bitbit ang mga gamit namin.
I thank God that we didn't ride with the Castuejas. I'm not familiar with the politics, given that I'm away for three years. Congressman Castuejas household. Ang mag-ina ay kamag-anak lang ni Congressman while the other woman is his wife.
Sa hacienda ng mga Valderama gaganapin ang isang pagtitipon na dadaluhan ng mga ka-partida at sa nalalapit na eleksyon para sa mga sangguniang panlalawigan at panglungsod. Dahil taga rito si Senator Valderama ay dito siya unang mangangampanya.
Angeleu is here para ipakilala siya dahil malamang ay siya ang susunod sa yapak nito but I wonder if where is his parents. Wala akong nalaman sa family background niya.
Sa hacienda rin kami tumuloy. Malapit sa dagat ang kanilang hacienda sabi ng driver ng magtanong ako dahil mukhang mahirap kausap ang kasama ko ngayon.
"Mayroon pong malawak na coconut farm si Senator," sagot ng driver. "Yung Hacienda niya ay katabi lang ng bagong gawang resort." Dugtong nito.
I was a bit excited. This is my first time going to Baler. Napakaganda ng dagat at magandang balita na narito kami sa Aurora.
Pagkarating namin sa malaking hacienda ni Senator ay kaagad kaming dinaluhan ng mga kasambahay. Binati nila si Angeleu at kaming dalawa ni Castielle.
"Hindi pa po dumadating si Senator, ngunit ang bilin niya ay dalhin ko kayo sa inyong kwarto at ang sabi niya ay pwede kayong mamasyal masyal muna sa resort dahil gagabihin sila." Sagot ng isang matandang babae na malamang ay ito ang mayordoma.
"Saan ang kwarto ni Angeleu?" tanong ni Castielle.
"Nasa itaas malapit ng kwarto ninyo." Anito habang umaakyat sa staircase.
Kumunot ang noo ko. "Ninyo po?" tanong ko.
Tumingin sakin ang mayordoma. "Ang mga kwarto ay accommodated na ng ibang politiko na kasama ni Senator, at ang sabi ni Senator ay kasama po ni Doctor Ongcuanco ang kaniyang girlfriend kaya ayos lang na isang kwarto ang ihanda ko." Mariin nitong sagot.
Napalunok ako. The way her eyes looked at me para bang hindi nako pwedeng magreklamo.
"But, I'm not his girl—"
"Ayos na po ito." Sagot ni Castielle.
"Pero..."
Castielle looked at me intently. "Do you have a problem with that big sis?" he sarcastically said with a gush of coldness.
Napaawang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya. Tinalikuran niya ako at sumunod sa mayordoma. Napakagat labi ako at sumunod nalamang. Galit ba siya dahil sa sinabi ko kanina, is that why he's being sarcastic?
Hinatid na ni Castielle si Angeleu sa kaniyang kwarto. Isang katulong ang nagpunta roon upang asikasuhin ito. Hinatid kami ng mayordoma sa kabilang kwarto na malapit kay Angeleu kung sakaling magka-emergency.
Malaki ang kwarto at kita sa malaki at malapad na bintana ang mga nagkukumpulang coconut trees at malawak na dagat. Saglit itong naagaw ang atensyon ko ngunit ng mapagtantong kaming dalawa lang ni Castielle sa isang malapad na kama ay tahip-tahip na ang kaba ko.
"Maiwan ko na kayo." Huling sinabi ng mayordoma bago kami iwan.
Napalunok ako. "I'll try checking in on their resort..." bigla kong sinabi at dinukot ang phone ko.
"I can't see any problem sleeping with me. Like you said, I'm your step-brother." Suplado niyang sagot at nagsimula ng i-unbutton ang kaniyang long sleeve.
It's already late at sa tingin ko ay mag-uumaga na dahil sa papalubog na buwan na nakikita sa dagat, I don't think I could even book a hotel this late.
Napakalakas ng tibok ng puso ko, hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla nalang akong kinakabahan dahil dalawa nalang kami.
"Totoo naman..." mahina kong sagot.
"Bahala ka..." malamig niyang sagot at tuloyang hinubad ang kaniyang suot revealing only his white sando.
I stop myself for watching him. Hinagilap ko nalang ang bag na para sakin at tinignan ang mga gagamitin kong damit. Namula naman ako ng makita ang isang puting lingerie. Naghanap ako ng pajama o iba pa ngunit wala akong makita.
Tanging tatlong lingerie with brassiere and undergarments ang naroon, puti, pula, at itim. Mayroong apat na magkakaibang dress na malayong maging pantulog dahil masyadong magara.
"What the hell are this? Wala man lang pajama?" tanong ko at itinapon ang bag sa kama.
His brows arched up and his widen when he sees those sexy lingeries. Mahina siyang napamura but then it disappeared and looked at me intently.
"I'll buy you tomorrow. Just sleep like that." He said and looked at my clothes.
"Are you fucking kidding me? Sobrang lagkit ko na."
"It's more than that if you'll fucking use that lingerie!" asik niya at naghubad ng kaniyang pants.
Nanlaki ang mata ko, but he's just wearing his boxers. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. My face is heating up. Bigla kong naalala ang gabing pinagsaluhan naming dalawa. Obscene thoughts are corrupting my mind right now.
"At least... lend me some of your shirts if ever you have some extra."
He walks into his bag and got some huge shirt for me. He tossed it on me and jump on the bed. Napakagat labi ako. What then? Wala naman akong extra shirt.
"Extra short?" tanong ko muli.
"Get it in my bag." Utos niya.
Tumango nalang ako. He has some khaki shorts with him but none of it would actually fit on my small waist kaya ang kinuha ko ay ang kaniyang itim na boxer na pwede pang itali kong maluwag man.
Pumasok ako sa banyo at naligo. My heart is fucking beating so fast. Napahilamos ako pilit inaalis ang makamundong iniisip sa pagkakataong ito. Anong magagawa ko kung siya lang naman ang tanging lalakeng umangkin sakin?
Pagkatapos kong mag-shower ay sinuot ko na ang mga damit niya. Halos hindi ko na makita ang tinali kong boxer niya dahil sa kahabaan ng kaniyang damit. Neverthless, it's comfortable.
Nagpupunas ako ng buhok ng maabutan ko si Castielle na may kausap sa telepono.
"I'm with her, Mom. I am treating her nice..." sagot nito at pinasadahan ang kaniyang buhok. Hindi niya ako parin ako napapansin.
"Uh...huh. Don't worry, Mom." Sagot nito muli. "Bye, good night. Love you." Dugtong nito bago ibaba ang linya.
Lumapit ako sa kabilang gilid ng kama. Doon niya nako napansin ng makaupo ako habang nagpupunas ng buhok.
"Si Tita Sarah?" tanong ko sa kaniya.
"Mmm. And she wants me to treat you right." Sagot niya na ikinalingon ko.
Kumabog ang puso ko habang nakatingin sa madilim niyang mata. Napalunok ako. "You should be..." napapaos kong sagot.
"What treatment does my step sister want then?" he asked with his cold arrogant tone.
Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. "L-Like how you treat your sisters..."
I heard him smirked. "Uh...huh. Do you really want that treatment?' he asked and I felt on the bed that he put all his weight on it as he slowly moves near me.
Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. I even stop drying my hair with his sudden move and I could feel his presence on my back. Hindi ko nalamang ito pinansin. Humiga nalang ako at tumalikod sa kaniya.
"Good night," tangi kong nasagot.
"We're still talking big sis." Halos pabulong niyang sinabi at naramdaman ko ang paglapit niya sa akin. Napapikit ako dahil sa init na nararamdaman.
"I want to sleep now." Mariing sagot ko.
"Okay, but can I tell you a story before you sleepy?" he asked huskily.
"Ano ako bata?" asik ko habang nakapikit parin.
"I told you I'll treat you as my sister, isn't it?"
Napapikit ako ng mariin at hindi siya sinagot. That was a cue for him to tell his story.
"This is a story about a handsome prince loving something he couldn't have. But it was in his possession before, but he was stupid to let it go." Kwento nito.
Napakagat labi ako lalo na't naramdaman ko ang haplos ng kaniyang daliri saking braso. Stroking it softly giving me a heat up.
"It was a beautiful gem, but he has to choose a gold for the sake of his little princesses." He said and didn't stop what he's doing.
But his story was quite strange. I never heard of that story before.
I felt his hand snake around my waist pulling me close to him.
"W-What are you doing?" I asked but it's far from a voice who's complaining.
"Hugging my sister?" patanong niyang sagot at hinigpitan ang yakap sakin.
Napakagat labi ako. Damn it, now what, Nari!? Ikaw ang nagsabing itrato kang kapatid niya. How could I protest? Oh shut up, Nari! You just like it!
"The prince did his best to summon the King to join them again just by giving him that big gold that he thought could make the King come back. But, the King didn't." napapaos niyang sagot.
"The prince then realized that he fucking drop the beautiful gem and pick a fucking rock. And he fucking regrets trying to fix his family and letting go of that beautiful gem." dugtong niya at ibinaon ang kaniyang mukha saking leeg.
Napalabi ako. I could feel the pain in his story. Even if I didn't know that story but it feels real. It feels that it was his story and he was telling it to me.
I tried to shift my body in front of him but he stopped me. That was when I felt his tears in my neck. I could feel his pain... I could feel the prince pain.
"The prince... is getting his beautiful gem back, even that means dropping all the gold that he has."
**
What do you think of Castiello's prince story? Nagets niyo naman ba? Hahaha!