Daig pa niya ang namatanda. Hinayaan lang niya si Jacob na hawakan ang magkabilang parte ng mukha niya para itingala. Nakayuko ito at para siyang hinihigop ng mga mata nito. Mas lalong guwapo ito sa malapitan and his breath smelled good. It's a mixture of coffee and his manly pleasant smell.
"I want you..." bulong nito sa paos at tila hirap na boses.
Dahan-dahang bumaba ang mukha nito kaya ipinikit naman niya ang mga mata. Hinawak niya ang mga kamay sa mga maskuladong braso nito. Napabitaw siya at nagmura naman ito nang mahina sabay ng paghihiwalay nila nang marinig nila ang boses ni Jezelle. May sinasabi ito kay Manang Pacita.
Pumihit siya para mabilis na pumasok sa kwarto. She has to stabilize her wayward emotions and thoughts before facing Jacob again. Naguguluhan siya sa revelation nito. Naiintindihan niya ang sinabi nito tungkol sa usapan between him and her older brother. They have been friends for a long time at ayaw lang ng kapatid na igaya lang siya ni Jacob sa mga babae nito. Now she wondered kung nabanggit ba ni Jacob sa kuya niya ang nangyari dati?
She erased that question in her mind immediately. Siyempre, hindi. Dahil malamang, hindi na matalik na magkaibigan ang mga ito kung sakali. Besides, kung hindi man siya ang babaeng involved noon, Jacob will not tell a soul. Discreet nga ito sa relasyon sa mga babae nito, kaya hindi ito ang tipong kiss and tell. Ilang beses na narinig niya dati pa na tinatanong ito ng kapatid about his women, but Jacob just shook his head and chuckled bago iibahin ang usapan.
At ngayon, ano nga ba ang pakiramdam niya matapos nitong sabihin na gusto siya nito? At ano nga ba ang dapat niyang maramdaman? Dapat ba siyang matuwa dahil nagkabaligtad na yata ang sitwasyon? She was infatuated with him but he treated her like a younger sister or dahil ba 'yon sa usapan nito at ng kuya niya?
Nailing siya bigla. Ni hindi nga niya alam kung kailan eksaktong nangyari ang usapan ng mga ito. Malamang nito lang noong iwanan siya ng Kuya Neil niya sa pangangalaga nito. Isa pa, hindi kailangang sabihan si DFB ng kapatid years ago dahil hindi pa siya pasado sa standard nito. Ang mga pinapatulan lang ni Jacob ay ang ang magaganda, sexy at gifted sa may bandang itaas ng katawan at pang-upo. Para siyang patpat dati and she had pimples and braces kaya hindi siya pasado rito. At ngayon na nagbago na ang hitsura niya, dapat ba siyang matuwa na may pagnanasa na ito sa kanya? She clucked her tongue. If that's the case, ang babaw talaga ni Jacob Murillo.
Isa lang ang sagot sa tanong niya. Wala siyang dapat maramdaman dito dahil siya naman ang magtataas ng standard niya sa lalaki kasi may karapatan na siya. Jacob was extremely hot but she was confident that she will meet other good-looking men who were better when it comes to handling relationships. Mas mainam nga na hindi kasing-hot ni Jacob dahil mas nakatatakot. 'Yong tipong para kang palaging paranoid kasi nga habulin ng babae pero cautious ito. Sobrang maingat. Dapat may pagka-CIA ka bago mo mabuko. Ang hirap magka-nobyo ng super yummy at mukhang kahit nabuko na, hindi pa aamin kagaya ni Jacob.
She was going to stop thinking about him. Nagbago na ang misyon niya. Ang misyon niya ngayon ay tatagan ang isip at loob habang nasa pangangalaga pa siya nito. Hindi naman siya takot that he will use force to make advances to her after today. At hindi naman ang tipo nito ang mahahayok sa babae lalo sa kanya. Para-paraan din naman lang ito dahil pasimple nga niyang sineduce so he felt na makakaisa ito sa kanya. Pero sa sarili niya, alam naman niya na kaya niyang kontrolin ang attraction sa physical looks nito. Hindi lang ito ang magandang lalaki sa Pilipinas at lalo na sa mundo.
The next day, before lunch na siya lumabas ng kwarto. Kinatok siya ng mga alas otso ni Jezelle para mag-almusal pero sabi niyang inaantok pa siya. Hindi man lang siya nangiti nang ma-realize na hindi siya binalak gutumin ni DFB unlike before. She can use his so called desire for her to take advantage of situations. Hindi naman mag-iinarte pero she will be more relaxed and less stressed.
Pagbaba niya ng hagdanan, may nakita siyang babae na nakaupo sa sala. Busy ito sa cellphone nito but when she probably sensed her presence, she raised her face. Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi nito.
"Crystal? Oh my God! Finally!" tuwang sabi nito bago tumayo to come to her for a hug and kiss.
"Aimie!" nakangiti ring sinalubong niya rito.
****
Inaya siyang mamili ni Aimie sa malapit na shopping mall sa condo ni Jacob. Hindi raw nito gusto ang suot niya na hindi na lang niya sinabi na si Jacob ang mga pumili. Natuwa siya na kahit papaano may ilang pirasong binili ito para sa kanya which were to her liking. Kanina lang kasi niya na-check nang maayos ang cabinet niya at halos kalahati ng mga damit niya ang wala. Mga bagong bili na naman ni Jacob ang mas marami.
His cousin made her choose some tops and bottoms na hindi naman exactly kagaya ng inaayawan ni Jacob pero hindi rin naman kagaya ng mga binili nito for her. Sakto lang. Pinapalitan nito ang pair of jeans at boring and almost baggy shirt from Jacob. She was now wearing one of the clothes she bought for her. It's a black sleeveless mini-dress which goes above her knees. Terno ito sa suot niyang off-white na strappy sandals. Nakalugay lang ang buhok niya and she didn't bother to curl it dahil nagmadali na silang umalis. Nag-lip gloss lang siya by Fenty Beauty na ang shade ay fussy.
"I am really happy to see you and to spend time with you," sabi ni Aimie habang nasa isang kilalang coffee shop sila. "It's more or less four years since we last saw each other, hindi ba? "
Tumango siya. Huminga pa si Aimie nang malalim habang halos hindi nawawala ang ngiti sa labi nito mula pa kanina.
"I missed braiding your hair, doing your nails, and putting makeup on you. Ikaw ang ginagawa kong modelo dati, naalala mo pa?" natawang tanong nito.
Natawa rin siya ng maalala 'yon. "I know right? Kaya yata lalong dumami ang pimples ko dahil sa kung ano-ano ang nilalagay natin."
Umiling si Aimie. "They were not bad. My zits were worse than yours."
She forked some of the cheesecake. "You are just nice like before. Napagtiyagaan mo ako."
"Come on, Crystal. You are too hard on yourself. I know the real you. We had lots of fun together in the past. You are likable and lovable even back then. Lalo na ngayon. Marami ka na bang suitors?" biro ni Aimie.
Umiling lang siya na may tipid na ngiti.
"Hmm, for sure bawal, 'no? Dati pa alam ko that you will turn into a beautiful woman and some man will claim you as his," dagdag nito na may kislap ang mata. Nakangiti pa rin ito.
"Tell you what! 'Di ba sabi ko kanina, one reason why I came back is because of the project I got from a local brand of beauty products? May kasama rin akong isa pang makeup artist na galing naman sa Singapore. Gusto mo isama kita the day after tomorrow sa photo shoot? Para makita mo naman na may hinantungan ang pag-e-experiment ko sa 'yo dati. I need all the experiences I could grab before I establish my start-up."
Excited siyang tumango. "I'd love to! Sige para naman bago magpasukan, mag-enjoy ako!"
"I can't wait!" sabi nito as she got her cellphone inside her bag.
She sighed. At least fruitful ang araw niya ngayon. Perfect timing si Aimie. Hindi siya naburo sa condo ni DFB.
"Uh-oh!" sabi nito before taking the call kaya napatingin siya rito. Kunot na kunot ang noo nito habang nakikinig sa kausap sa kabilang linya. "I did text you... No harm done...! Okay, wait!" sabi nito and with a heavy frown, inaabot nito ang mobile phone nito sa kanya. "Kuya Jacob wants to talk to you. Bakit hindi mo raw dinala ang cellphone mo?"
Umiling siya at itinaas ang kamay to say na ayaw niyang makausap ito. Walang nagawa si Aimie kung hindi kausapin muli ang pinsan. Humalukipkip siya at sumandal. Nakasimangot na rin siya. She intentionally left her phone. Malamang pumasok si Jacob sa kwarto niya kaya nadiskubre nito na iniwan niya ang cellphone niya sa ibabaw ng kama.
"Oo na... Uuwi na kami... No need to... Okay, fine!" naiiling na ibinaba nito ang cellphone. "He is impossible! Goodness! Para namang kung saan-saan kita dadalhin!" Naikot pa nito ang mga mata.
Bago siya nakasagot, tumayo na si Aimie. "Let's go. He will pick us up. Sa entrance na lang daw sa north wing tayo maghintay."
Naiinis na naman siya kay DFB. Pati talaga ang pinsan nito ay papakitaan ng pagka-Hitler when it comes to her. Mas maganda yata na ituloy niya ang unang plano. Papatulan na rin niya kunwari ito para pag nalaman ng kuya niya na sumira sa kasunduan nila si Jacob, magagalit ito and then babawiin na siya. At finally, makakawala na siya sa diktador na pervert na lalaking 'yon.
Puwede! she told herself.
Bakit nga ba hindi niya naisip 'yon kagabi? Well DFB made a mistake when he let that slip last night. He wanted her but he can't have her daw, hindi ba? At least ngayon, may alas na siya. She hid a sneer. Napukaw ang iniisip niya nang natatawang sinalubong ni Aimie ang papasok sa entrance na lalaki.
***
Kulang na lang ay tumalon na siya sa kotse ni Jacob dahil every minute with him was making her want to scratch his face or kick him where it hurts most. Natunaw lahat ng plano niya to be nice and sweet again to him. Kung umasta ito kanina, daig pa ang tatlong kuya sa higpit. He didn't even care that Aimie and Tommy were there when he looked disapprovingly at what she was wearing. He acted like a sorehead the whole time.
Bandang huli, sumabay na lang si Aimie kay Tommy pauwi imbes na sumama pa sa kanila. Hindi na niya narinig ang pag-uusap ng tatlo dahil nagmadali na siyang pumasok sa kotse nito. Mabuti na lang kahit papaano ay nakapagpasalamat siya sa pinsan nito and she was also able to manage to throw them an apologetic glance. She was about to get out of the car pagkapasok nila sa garahe but he stopped her with his icy words.
"Are you really provoking me Crystal?!" he asked.
Tinapunan niya ito ng matalim na tingin while her hand was on the car door handle.
"I don't know what you are talking about! You brought that upon yourself! You are becoming more and more impossible!" inis na sabi niya before she opened the door and ran inside quickly.
She was glad na mukhang nasa kusina sina Manang Pacita at Jezelle dahil kung hindi, baka magmukha siyang katawa-tawa dahil para siyang batang hinahabol sa bilis ng takbo niya. She wanted to get away from Jacob before she finally snapped again. Pero bago pa siya makarating sa kwarto niya, he grabbed her by her arm and before she could yelp, he covered her mouth with his other hand. Isinandal siya nito sa dingding. He was breathing heavily and his face was only inches away from her. Galit na galit ang expression nito at mga mata.
"Don't even think about making a sound. Kapag narinig ka nina Manang, I will fire them!" banta nito and she believed him.
Ang lakas ng tibok ng puso niya. Jacob was furious as hell at ngayon siya nakaramdam ng takot. This was the angriest she had seen him so far and it really scared the shit out of her. Napatango na lang siya as she stared at him with her eyes wide. He slowly removed his hand on her mouth. She made a small sound when he raised both her arms and pinned them above her. She can feel the hardness of his body pressed against her. He's breathing raggedly like her. Kung sisigaw siya at makita sila nina Manang Pacita at Jezelle, she doubted kung magsusumbong ang mga ito sa kuya niya. Hindi naman niya maatim na sisantihin ni Jacob ang dalawa dahil sa kanya. She has to mollify him.
"Jacob..." she murmured. It was a sound of apology and plea. Natatakot siya sa maaring gawin nito.
"You were flirting with Tommy! Fucking son of a bitch!" he said through clench teeth. His voice sounded hoarse and it was almost like a whisper.
Napaangat ang katawan niya mula sa dingding nang humigpit ang hawak nito sa kanya.
Umiling siya at binasa ang mga labi. "N-no. Kinukumusta lang niya ako... Jacob...!" Napapikit siya nang nagmura ito uli nang mahina pero madiin.
"I didn't like it!" he rasped.
She opened her eyes and looked at him again. His eyes were like fireballs. She released a sound of surprise when one of his hands went to the hem of her mini-dress at mas lumapit pa ang mukha nito sa kanya.
"You deliberately wore this trash for him?!" galit na galit na tanong nito. He was almost tugging at the garment and she was afraid and worried that he will rip it.
Binasa niya ulit ang mga labi.
"N-no. H-hindi naman namin alam na makikita namin siya ro'n. Jacob he is Aimie's brother..." She gasped when his hand on her dress went up her chin to cup it firmly.
"I don't want to see you talking to him again unless you want me to beat my own cousin!"
"O-okay! I won't. P-please Jacob... you are really scaring me... T-tama na..." Her lips quivered. Discovering his violent side was something she hasn't prepared for. Nakatatakot.
He was still breathing irregularly but his angry eyes slowly turned dark.
"Don't unleash the beast in me! Promise me that you will be a good girl from now on," he murmured in a throaty voice.
All she could do was say a shaky and quiet yes. Napapikit siya when his lips went down to hers. Sabik na sabik na hinalikan siya nito and she moaned in protest with a bit of surrender. She can't make him angry again. She will just let him kiss her to pacify him. Nakagat niya ang ibabang labi when his lips traveled down to her neck. He was murmuring baby against her skin. His warm breath, wet tongue and lips, and his stubble made her writhe her body from pleasure.
"Oh God, babe!" dinig nilang sabi ng boses ng babae.
Napamulagat siya when Jacob's lips left her neck to turn to where the voice came from.
"Nicolette?!" gulat na tawag nito before he released her to face the woman.