Bakit ayaw ni Crystal si Jacob? It's because he was hot as hell that so many women lust after him. Despite that, he didn't act arrogantly or he never bragged about his bitches which was absolutely surreal.
A discreet fuckboy! That's what Jacob Murillo was but she didn't want to go there right now. Lahat ng kagaya nito na super gwapo, mga makamundo, at mayayabang ay hindi dapat pagkatiwalaan.
"Hoy! Hindi ka na sumagot! Ano kako ang ayaw mo kay Jacob?" tanong ni Ramona.
Hindi siya agad sumagot. Nilaro-laro niya ang dulo ng buhok na nakatirintas.
"Walang masabi kasi walang maisip!" tukso naman ni Pearl.
Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang mga ito. "Madami," maiksing sagot nito at wish lang nitong tumahimik na ang dalawa.
Nag-make face ang mga ito.
"Nagpapapanggap lang 'yan!" banat ulit ni Pearl at pumalatak si Ramona.
"Palagay ko kailangan mo nang magsalamin tapos kornerin mo si Jacob! Baka kasi kapag nakapagsolo na kayo, ma-realize mo na boyfriend material siya and he is so sizzling hot! Swerte mo nga at BFF siya ng kuya mo kaya palagi mong nakikita. Hay, ang sharap talaga!" kagat ang ibabang labi na sabi ng huli habang halos nakadikit na ang ilong sa salamin.
They were in her bedroom. May balcony ito which was overlooking the pool. Nakaupo siya sa carpet na nasa tabi ng kama niya while the two were peeking behind the tinted glass door. Nasa baba ang Kuya Niel niya at ang girlfriend nito na si Jems na kontrabida ng buhay niya. Siyempre, present din ang best friend ng kapatid na si Jacob na villain din. Hindi naman naliligo ang mga ito. Shot-shot lang habang nagkukwentuhan.
"Mahina ka nga, sissy! Ang dali namang makagawa ng paraan para magsolo kayo. I am sure okay lang sa kuya mo kasi nga close sila! Sayang naman ang cuteness mo, 'no? Ilang taon lang naman ang tanda sa 'yo? Ano ba naman ang 9 years? Yung iba nga, lampas 10 years pa!" komento naman ni Pearl na hindi na lang niya sinagot.
"Naku, may dumating na bruha!" nakasimangot na reklamo naman ni Ramona na ikinatawa naman niya nang mapakla.
Alam na niya kung sino ang bagong dating. "Matangkad, maputi, maiksi ang buhok at pokpok manamit?" she asked.
"YES!" chorus na sabi ng dalawa.
"Gretchen Sandico. Babae ni Jacob."
Napatingin sa kanya ang dalawa bago lumapit sa kanya. Umupo ang mga ito sa tabi niya. She made herself busy by removing her braid. Hopefully, na-achieve niya ang kulot na inaasam niya. Her hair was shiny and straight which she felt was so boring to look at. She's maarte. She has to admit that. Vain talaga siya since birth siguro.
"Talaga? Akala ko pa naman wala siyang steady dyowa pero bakit nandito ngayon 'yan? Hmp! Ano ba ang babae na 'yan? Pokpok o puta?" nakataas pa ang kilay na tanong ni Ramona.
Natawa siya sa tanong nito. "Well from her appearance and how she acts, she could pass for either or both."
"Ano namang pinagkaiba? Feeling ko pareho lang 'yon, eh!" Inikot pa ni Pearl ang mga mata.
"According to my friend na si John aka Jhonalyn sa gabi, isang ex-puta but never a pokpok, ang pokpok ay nagpapatira nang libre while ang puta, nagpapabayad!" sabi ni Ramona.
"Ay malamang pokpok! Sa yummy ni Jacob, hindi niya kailangang magbayad ng babae!" sabi naman ni Pearl.
"Girls! Whatever she is, I don't care! Enough of this nonsense! Mabuti pa ihahatid ko na kayo. Tara na!" may pagmamadaling sabi niya sa mga ito.
Tumayo siya at hindi man lang nag-abalang magpalit ng suot. She was in a white tank top and denim shorts which left a little to the imagination. Naka-flip-flops lang siya na bagay na bagay sa maputi niyang paa. Kinuha niya ang susi sa ibabaw ng drawer.
"I'll drive! Ayaw ko nang istorbohin si Kuya Kulas. Hurry up!" sabi niya sa dalawa.
"Wait lang! Hindi ba bawal ka pa? After pa ng eighteenth birthday mo saka ka pwedeng magmanehong mag-isa, 'di ba?" tanong ni Ramona.
"Ayaw pa naming mamatay kaya mabuti pang magpapasundo na lang kami!" sabi naman ni Pearl.
She rolled her eyes. "Ang arte niyo! Marunong na ako, okay? Ilang beses na akong nag-drive."
"With your driver! Student's license pa lang ang meron ka!" Ramona said.
She squinted her eyes at them at nagpamaywang siya. When she does that, alam na ng mga ito na naiinis na siya.
"Sige na nga! Pero dahan-dahan lang, ha?!" paalala ni Pearl.
She rolled her eyes again and proceeded to the door.
After an hour and a half, she was so proud of herself. Nahatid niya ang dalawa without any mishap. She has to give herself a pat on the back. She did well. Hindi siya kailangang pagalitan ng kuya niya dahil itinakas niya ang kotse. But her happiness didn't last long nang makita niyang nakaharang ang sasakyang kilang-kilala niya. Itinigil niya ang kotse sa kabilang gilid ng kalsada and she got out angrily. Saktong palabas ng gate si Jacob na buhat-buhat ang babae nito. Nauna sa mga ito si Manang Cora na nagbukas ng gate. She was about to complain when Jacob saw her. His eyes narrowed matapos pasadahan ng tingin ang kabuuan niya in her skimpy wear. Sa liwanag ng mga ilaw sa poste, he won't miss a thing. Napansin niyang nagtagis ang bagang nito.
"Hmm... Babe..." maarteng tawag dito ni Gretchen bago mas humigpit ang mga brasong nakaikot sa batok ni discreet fuckboy.
"Pakibukas na ho ang pintuan, Manang," sabi nito kay Manang Cora na hindi man lang lumingon dito dahil nasa kanya ang mga mata nito.
Sumunod naman si Manang Cora.
"Will you hurry up? You are blocking the driveway! Akala ko malandi lang ang girlfriend mo, lasinggera pa pala. That suits you fine, I'm sure. You can have wild sex until the break of dawn!" she bluntly said bago tumalikod to go back to her car.
Inis na sumakay siya and sulkily sat. She gripped the wheel as she gritted her teeth. Kahit kailan talaga, panira ng saya niya ang DFB (discreet fuckboy) na ito. Kung hindi lang siya nag-aalala na marinig ng kuya niya, bubusina na siya. She turned her head again to glare at him through her tinted window but she frowned a little when she saw who went out. Nagmamadaling lumabas si Mang Kulas at kinausap ito sandali ni Jacob. Nakita niyang sumakay rin sa likod ng sasakyan si Manang Cora para samahan si Gretchen. Awang ang bibig na nakatingin lang siya sa galit na mukha ni Jacob na mabilis na lumapit sa kotse niya. Nataranta siya. Bago pa niya na-ilock ito, he angrily opened the door. She gasped and tried to move to the other side but he got her arm. Dinig niyang dumaan na ang kotse nito na dina-drive ni Mang Kulas.
"Aww!" angal niya when he firmly gripped her arm. Hindi masakit pero mahigpit.
He ducked his head and said through clenched teeth, "OUT!"
Alam niya that if she defied him, he will do something she won't like. Halata niya sa mga mata nito. Hindi pa niya nakitang nagalit ito. He had looked at her with narrowed eyes because of disapproval before but he almost had never said a single word to her after what happened years ago.
Now, Jacob Murillo was pissed as hell.
She got out without uttering a word but her face told how she felt. Galit na binawi niya ang braso rito and she raised her face to glare at him.
"Ilang beses ka nang tumatakas nang ganito? Your behavior is getting worse, Crystal!" sabi nito sa malamig na boses. His eyes were half slits.
"Hindi kita kadugo so don't talk to me and act as if you are my older brother!" pigil ang galit na sabi niya rito. She saw his eyes glint.
"I am glad about that. I can never imagine myself being related by blood to you, Crystal," he said. His voice was like icicles.
She snorted. "Well some things are not meant to be, right? I have a feeling na magsusumbong ka sa kuya ko. You probably want me to be grounded again! Diyan ka naman magaling, 'di ba? 'Yong sirain ang buhay ko?!" sumbat niya.
"Crystal!" galit na tawag ng kuya niya.
***
She was in shock. Kinailangan pa siyang painumin ng tubig ng kuya niya. Nakaupo pa rin siya sa sofa sa loob ng small office nito sa bahay nila. Jacob was standing on one side of the room. His tall and hunky frame was adding more anxiety to her. Ayaw na niyang tingnan ang mukha nito.
"I was planning to tell you this several days ago but nag-usap muna kami nang maayos ni Jacob. Bukas ko na sana sasabihin sa 'yo but I guess ito na ang tamang oras. You can't be acting this way Crystal while I am away! You have to behave while Jacob is your guardian!"
"No! Ayaw ko! You are not leaving me to him, Kuya!" pigil ang iyak na sabi niya sa kapatid.
She stood up. "Kung hindi namatay sina Papa and Mama, you won't do this!" sumbat niya.
Her brother's pained expression didn't soften her. Hindi siya papayag sa gusto nito. She will be 18 in a few months. He can wait until that time so she won't need a guardian anymore.
"Crystal, I want you to understand na kailangan kong gawin ito. Jacob will take good care of you just like a brother. Parang ako lang..."
"NO! NO! NO!" galit na galit na sabi niya and this time, she couldn't help crying.
If Jacob was not blocking the door, she would have walked out already. Isinubsob na lang niya ang mukha sa mga palad and cried.
"I'll talk to her, Niel. You have spoiled her too much," dinig niyang sabi ni Jacob.
Inalis niya ang mga kamay sa mukha which was now wet with tears to angrily look at him. She was about to say what she thinks of him but he spoke first.
"Everything is already planned, Crystal! You are staying with me and you have to accept that! Kung hindi ka kayang kontrolin ng kuya mo, ako ang gagawa n'on!" may diin na sabi nito.
Tumingin siya sa kuya niya to see what his reaction was sa sinabi ng kaibigan nito. To her dismay, lumapit lang ito kay Jacob and tapped his shoulder.
"Ikaw na ang bahala, pare. I trust you," may lungkot sa boses na sabi ng kapatid.
With his squinted light gray eyes never leaving hers, Jacob said, "I will change her and that is a promise."
Her heart skipped a beat. She was betting her life on it that his words have a hidden meaning.