CHAPTER NINE
"MAMA, Mama..." Mararahan na uyog sa braso ni Jess ang siyang pilit na nagpamulat sa kanyang mga mata.
Nakatunghay sa kanya si Atasha, tapos matamis siyang nginitian nang makitang gising na siya.
"Anak, morning."
"Moyning, Mama. Milk."
"Ohh," Nangiti siya at bumangon.
Nang tignan niya ang lalaking katabi ng anak ay napaangat ang isang kilay niya, unti-unti ang pagka-amuse.
Dwaye's sleeping peacefully on their bed. Parang siya ang nahihiya na madistorbo nila ang tulog nito. Nakadapa, ang mukha ay nakapaharap sa gawi nila, yakap ang unan sa uluhan.
His bedroom hair, his veined and muscled arms and his cute small snore, made her purse her lips to suppress at smile, ngunit hindi niya talaga maitago ang ngiti sa imaheng nasasaksihan.
She never witness this side of him before, staring at him freely at that moment only made her realized that he really have the looks that women can't resist, na kahit siya ay hindi nakatanggi, noon...at tila magpa hanggang ngayon.
Aminado siyang nahulog kay Dwaye, kahit anong pilit niya na huwag. Na hindi dapat siya ang lalaking pagbibigyan niya ng puso niya at lalo na nang sarili niya, pero, heto at sa huli, nangyari ang mga bagay na iniiwasan niya, at talagang nagbunga pa ng isang pang habang buhay na ala-ala mula sa unang lalaking minahal.
"Ang pogi ng boy-fend ko, Mama, di ba?" Si Atasha na pinagmamasdan din pala si Dwaye.
"Umm."
"Pero matigas po ang tiyan niya, Mama." Atasha paused for a seconds. "Peyo...masayap po i-hug ang ayms niya." Atasha caressed Dwaye's arm gently. "Look at his veins, Mama..."
Jess glance at Dwaye's veined forearm. Hitik ang mga ugat do'n, parang palaging galit, o marahil ay napwersa rin dahil sa madalas na pagbubuhat. It's looks very rough and dangerous, but she can't help herself but to fantasize in his arms.
She can even feel and imagine the time she was in his arms, na naging tahanan niya pansamantala nung mga oras na wala siyang ibang masandalan, kundi si Dwaye lang.
How come they end up like this? Paanong naging bato ang puso niya para sa lalaki? Bago niya pa masagot ang sariling tanong ay maagap na inalis niya ang kamay ng anak sa braso ni Dwaye nang gumalaw ito. Nagising.
"Morning..." Dwaye greeted using his bedroom voice. Damn, her heart is going wild early in the morning. Then he glance at her, he pursed his lips. "Morning, Jess."
"Moyning my boy-fend! How was your sleep in our bed?" Agresibong tanong ni Atasha, umupo sa kama, nasa kay Dwaye na naman ang atensyon.
"It was good, baby. Your bed is nice. How about you? Maayos ba ang tulog mo?"
Mabait na tumango ang anak. "Opo. Peyo..."
"Pero?" Nanantiya ang itsura ni Dwaye.
"Hmm, bakit matigas po ang tiyan mo? May bakal ba dyan my boy-fend?"
Napahigikhik siya sa turan ng anak, maging si Dwaye ay napahalakhak.
"Ahh, why do you have to be so cute, baby?" Parang natutunaw na sambit ni Dwaye. "Walang bakal sa tiyan ko."
"Bakit po matigas? Patingin..."
Walang sabi-sabi na curious na itinaas ni Atasha ang t-shirt ni Dwaye hanggang sa ibaba ng dibdib nito. His ripped hard muscles on his stomach made her rolled her eyes to herself.
A bit of his happy line is showing, uminit ang pisngi niya nang hindi sinasadya na bumaba pa ang tingin niya mula sa manipis na buhok sa ibaba ng tiyan, pababa pa. His morning erection that covered with his boxer shorts is quite impressive.
Mariin na napapikit si Jess. Ang aga-aga at naglilikot ang mga mata niya!
"Ano ito my boy-fend?" Tinusok-tusok ni Atasha ng hintuturo ang bawat pandesal sa tiyan ni Dwaye, na para bang naglalaro lang.
Dwaye chuckled, very amuse now while watching her daughter.
"We call it 'abs'."
"Abs? All men have abs like these my boy-fend?"
"Hmm. Hindi naman lahat."
"Yung mga pogi lang ang may abs?"
Umugong muli ang halakhak ni Dwaye, napapaangat ang mga kilay, tuwang-tuwa sa kausap.
"You find me handsome?"
"Very, very handsome!"
Uh, ang galing talaga ng anak niya, direct to the point and very honest. Jess moved and Dwaye noticed it, there's a question on his eyes that she can easily read.
"I will make milk for Daye." Aniya at tuluyan nang umalis sa kama.
Sa mini sala ng silid ay naroon ang gatas at mga bote para sa anak. Tahimik siyang nagtimpla ng gatas pero ang pandinig ay nasa dalawa.
Sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata ay nakita niyang humiga si Atasha at ang ulo ay nasa tiyan ni Dwaye. She silently heaved a sigh, the closeness of them made her feel guilt to herself for hiding the truth.
Kung bakit sobrang close ng anak niya kay Dwaye kahit wala naman itong alam na ama nito ang lalaki? Nararamdaman ba 'yon ni Atasha? Ang lukso ng dugo? Like how Dwaye felt it?
"You will go to woyk tomo-yow, my boy-fend?" Jess heard Atasha asked Dwaye, looking in the sailing while waiting for her milk.
"I'll go tonight actually."
"And, when do you visit again?"
"Weekend?"
"Mayaming tulog pa?"
"Why? You like me to visit you everyday?"
"If you can."
Ibinalik niya na nang tuluyan ang atensyon sa dalawa na komportableng nakahiga sa kama, nang matapos siyang magtimpla ng gatas. She was shaking the milk bottled while walking back to the bed.
"He can't visit everyday, anak. He has work to do. I already told you that." Aniya at ibinigay ang bote kay Daye na kaagad naman kinuha at inilagay sa bibig.
Nang pasimpleng sipatin niya si Dwaye ay mangha itong nakababa ang tingin kay Atasha, na ang ulo ay nasa tiyan nito, para bang ngayon lang nakakita ng bata na dumidede sa bote.
"Kapag bago matulog at pag-gising lang siya humihingi ng gatas."
Hindi siya sigurado kung bakit kailangan niyang ipaalam 'yon kay Dwaye, na ngayon ay nasa kanya na ang atensyon, lumamlam ang mga mata.
"S-saka last year lang siya nag g-ganyan." Dagdag niya pa.
"You did a breastfeeding in the last two years?" It was a casual question but she can feel her cheeks burned.
Jess nodded slowly. "Yes."
Tinanggal ni Atasha ang bote sa bibig at inosenteng nagtanong.
"Wala ka ng gatas Mama, di ba po?" At muling ibinalik sa bibig ang bote.
"W-Wala na." At pilit na ngumiti sa anak. She suddenly felt awkward talking about breastfeeding in front of Dwaye!
"I think two years were enough though." Then his eyes shamelessly went to her breast, his one eyebrow shop up, there's a smirk on his lips.
Naiilang na tumagilid siya para maitago ang hinaharap, ang init at inis ay naghalo. How dare him check on her breast?!
"It looks bigger...than before." He shamelessly said with a smirk on his damn lips.
Jess can't help herself but to glare at Dwaye to cover the embarrassment. Hindi niya alam kung compliment ba 'yon o ano pa!
Lumaki naman talaga ang dibdib niya matapos manganak, from 36' cup A to 36' cup B, pero hindi niya inaasahan na sasabihin pa iyon ni Dwaye, pwede naman na hindi na? But knowing him, he's quite bold in his words.
"Maghahanda lang ako ng almusal." Paalam niya para na rin makaiwas. "Anak, what do you like to eat?"
"Champoyado po Mama, please."
Sinulyapan niya ulit si Dwaye, kung bakit ay hindi niya rin alam pero nagsalita ito.
"Same...with milk." He said playfully.
Agresibo na inalis ulit ni Atasha ang bote sa bibig.
"With milk din po ako Mama ko."
Tumango-tango nalang siya bago tuluyang lumabas ng silid. Sa pagsara niya ng pinto ay parang nanghihina na napasandal pa siya sa frame niyon.
Ano nga ba itong ginagawa niya? Letting Dwaye sleep in their house and preparing for his breakfast? Wow, she looks like a loving and caring wife, huh. Though, she can't deny the fact that she always imagine it, having a completed family and giving Atasha a father...her real father.
Kung sana ay gano'n lang kadali magpatawad ang pusong labis na nasaktan.
Pero bakit nga ba niya iniisip ang pagpapatawad kung ang lalaking bumasag sa puso niya ay hindi naman hinihingi ang patawad na 'yon?
"TELL ME, where did you sleep last night? Who's the mother of your daughter?" Zyron asked aggressively.
They're inside of his office in D' Club. It's Monday night, the Club is not crowded compare when it's weekend. Mula sa tinted wall, tanaw niya ang iilang kababaihan sa dance floor. All are wearing sexy clothes, sophisticated and all are holding a glass of liquor.
The branch of D' Club in Bonifacio Global City is exclusive for celebrities, models and high profile person only. He made it more secure and private, unlike the other branches in the country, that everybody can go as long as they can afford the expenses.
Dwaye lazily rest his back in his swivel chair. Bored na tinignan niya ang kaibigan, walang balak na sabihin kung sino ang mga tinutukoy nito. He wanted to make sure everything before he announce it, but how can he do that if Jess don't let him have a DNA Test?
"Brute, as much as I want to tell you who they are, I can't. I'm still working some things to make it clear."
"Maybe I can help? Ano ba 'yon?" Sumimsim ito ng alak. Alam niyang hindi siya titigilan ni Zyron hanggat walang nakukuhang impormasyon. "You never post a pic of a girl in your Instagram. This kid must be very special to you. Your daughter, right? Aminin mo na, Dwaye."
"Do I really look like her? That you think that I'm her father?" Now, he sounds so confused.
Ang malaking pagkakahawig sa kanya ni Atasha ay isa ng ebedensya na baka nga ay anak niya, at ang tinatawag pa nilang lukso ng dugo na nararamdaman niya. The problem is, Jess denied it.
"Come on, kung hindi ko nga lang alam na dalawa lang kayo ni Alexza na magkapatid, iisipin ko na baby sister mo 'yung bata. What's her name again?"
"Atasha Daye." Wala sa sarili na sambit niya.
Zyron gasped in an over acting way. "Daye? Sounds like your name. Her mother seems like really in love with you that she named her daughter as almost same as yours. Hindi ka pa talaga aamin? Gagong 'to." Napailing si Zyron.
"I'm not yet sure, okay? Now, can you please leave?" Taboy niya. "Hindi ako makapag-isip nang maayos. You're disturbing me."
"Init ng ulo, ha. Hindi naka score kagabi?"
"Fuck you!" He spat.
"It was cold and rainy. Wala man lang painit kagabi?"
"Gago, may bata kaming kasama sa kama. Anong gusto mo gapangin ko kahit may bata?" Iritado na sabi niya. "Tang ina mo umalis ka na nga muna sa harap ko."
Halakhak ng kaibigan ang mas lalong nagpairita sa kanya. What? He was laughing at him because he was being respectful to Jess? What's funny then?
Though he wanted to feel her body against his and kiss her lips again, he did not do it last night. Because, he already felt contented sleeping in one bed with her and Atasha! Na kaya niyang isantabi ang pag-iinit ng katawan para kay Jess, basta kasama niya lang ang dalawa.
He can control the desire he felt for her, and that wasn't new to him. He had been controlling his secret desire for her a long time ago. Ano na lang ba ang isang malamig na gabi na pag control di ba?
The truth is, Jess was the only woman can control his desires. Hindi nga lang nangyari iyon nang ilang beses na may nangyari sa kanila nang pareho silang nakulong sa isang madilim na silid...
Their past is always hunting him. The bittersweet moments and their first hot and wild encountered in bed, yet they ended up both in pain, physically and mentally.
"WHERE THE HELL did you hide your sister, Dwaye?!" Tommy's angry voice thundered inside that dark room.
Bulag sa dilim at hirap sa pag-galaw dahil sa pagkakagapos, pinanatili niyang kalmado ang sarili sa likod ng mabagsik na galit sa loob.
"Your men are idiot as their boss. If I know where my sister is, do you think I am that stupid to tell her whereabouts to you? Moron!" Dwaye spat disgustedly.
Ilang marahas na yabag lang ay nahaklit na ni Tommy si Jess na hindi kalayuan sa kanya.
"Don't touch me!" He felt that she struggle with the way Tommy's held her.
"Hindi mo sasabihin? Kahit ang babaeng ito ang kapalit?" May panunuya at halong banta sa tinig na 'yon.
Dwaye jaw clenched. The fact that he can't do anything to save Jess frustrate the hell out of him. Hindi na sana ito dinamay pa ni Herrera! Lalo lang lumala ang sitwasyon!
"Wala akong kinalaman sa lahat ng ito! Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa'yo?! Napakasama mong lalaki ka kaya bakit papakasalan ka ng kaibigan ko—"
"Shut up!" Tommy cut her off. "Tumigil ka at baka hindi na ako makapagtimpi sa bunganga mo!"
"Ouch!" Jess groaned. "Sino kayo? Bitawan niyo ako! Ahhh!"
"Come on, Dwaye, tell me where is your sister and I will both set you free." Tommy negotiated.
"How can I be so sure, Herrera?" His voice was cold and stern.
"Well—"
"Let her stay here."
"Oh-oh, you really care about this woman, huh. Mario, turn on the lights, I wanna see the beauty of this woman."
Sa isang saglit lang ay bahagyang lumiwag ang madilim na paligid. Sapat na para hindi siya parang bulag na walang nakikita.
"Lumayo ka sa'kin! Demonyo ka! Hayop ka!" Jess shouted, disgusted by Tommy.
"Well, Dwaye, you really have that taste to women. No wonder she's special to you, too bad, I want to have her in my bed tonight."
"You wish idiot!" Jess spat.
"Matapang at palaban. I'm impressed."
"I don't really care about that woman." Dwaye said icily, making Jess gasped.
"At wala rin akong pakialam sa'yo, Dwaye!" Parang lason ang mga salita na 'yon na idinura ng dalaga. "Because of you I'm in trouble! My life is miserable! I hate you so much!"
Ang mga salitang 'yon ay parang kutsilyo na isinaksak sa kanyang dibdib. He knows that Jess wasn't really fond at him, and hearing those words from her made it more worse.
"I don't like you either." He said coolly, saving the bruise on his ego.
Hell, women would die for his attention! Why the fuck she didn't like him the way other women does?
"Boss, wala naman pala tayong mapapala sa babaeng 'to. Sa amin nalang."
Uminit ang ulo niya sa narinig mula sa isang tauhan ni Tommy. Are they panning to rape Jess? The idea made him angry.
"Mga gago! Kunin niyo ang attaché case ko sa office ko."
"Yung cocaine boss?"
"Yes, hurry! I wanna see these two being crazy." Tommy laugh evilly. "Mario, remove Dwaye's blindfold."
He waited for someone to remove the thing that covers his eyes, nang matanggal na ay nasilaw pa siya sa liwanag ng paligid.
Ang unang bumungad sa kanya ay si Jess na matalim ang titig sa kanya. She's wearing her sleeping clothes, pajama ang cotton sando, nakayapak at magulo ang buhok. Kahit na hindi maayos ang itsura ng dalaga ay talagang gandang-ganda pa rin siya rito.
The room wasn't big, but there's a bed in it with black sheet. He can't hear anything from the outside, and the only window there was close.
"Boss, heto na." May ibinigay na attaché case ang isang tauhan ni Tommy dito.
The man smirked at him. He put the attaché case above the table and open it. He lifted a syringe, Tommy evilly smile to Jess who looks frightened. Oh, his poor baby.
"What's that?" Jess asked Tommy with his shaky voice.
"Relax. So here's the deal." Herrera looked at him. "If you can't give me any information about Alexza's whereabouts, then, I'll be the one who will give both of you a prize. See, it's a prize."
Hinarap sa kanila ni Tommy ang laman ng attaché case. Hindi man siya gumagamit ng mga ipinagbabawal na gamot pero alam niya ang iba't-ibang uri ng mga 'yon!
"You are crazy man!" Jess shouted.
Though, they are in trouble, he can't just ignore how stubborn she is. Nanginginig na sa takot ay malakas parin ang loob sigawan ang si Tommy, kahit nga siya ay sinigawan. No women ever try to shout at him, only Jess.
"I'm crazy and I want you to be crazy, too. You and Dwaye, how's that, huh?"
"Those are drugs!" Jess looks very pale now, then she took a glance at him.
She was silently blaming him for putting her into this mess. Her eyes were burning in anger.
"Yes, a drugs. Masyado kayong madamot sa impormasyon. At dahil hindi naman ako masyadong masamang tao. I'll let both of you taste heaven." Nagsasalita si Tommy habang maingat na may inilalagay sa syringe. He can't recognize what really it is. "I think one shot is enough for both of you to enjoy each other."
"What are you talking about?!" Jess was confused, habang siya ay parang alam na ang ipinapahiwatig ng gago.
"Just wait and see, sweetheart. I'm sure you will enjoy it." Tommy said meaningfully then eyed him. "This is Dwaye's hobby, why don't he apply it to you?"
"Fuck you!" He spat at Tommy. "I don't need to use illegal drugs just to have a good sex, moron!"
Tommy laugh sarcastically. "Then this is different Dwaye. Mas high, mas masarap." Tapos ay nilingon nito ang mga tauhan, he motioned them to pin Jess in bed.
"Mga hayop kayo! Anong gagawin niyo sa'kin!"
"Damn it!" Dwaye was helpless and it made him feel angry at himself!
Apat na lalaki ang humawak sa magkabilang braso ni Jess at ang dalawa ay sa paa, nakahiga na sa kama at panay ang pasag.
"Relax, sweetheart, you will love this eventually." Ani Tommy at maingat na itinusok sa pulso sa braso ni Jess ang syringe. "See, it's done. Let her go."
He saw the tears that rolling down on Jess' cheeks while she's laying there, alone, weak and helpless.
"I hate you. I hate you so much..." She murmured while sobbing.
Dwaye felt something kicked his heart while watching her. He can't do anything to save her and that made him feel like he wasn't really deserve her.
And, Jess don't deserve a man like him.