CHAPTER 34
Boys and Watermelons
REN
HE WAS TRUE to his word. He waved at me as I made my way out of the hall and asked for a high five. "You have nice uniform here huh," he side comments as he scanned the twelfth graders walk out of the school gate, some were giggling as they steal him glances.
"What is it with your family and you good looks?" I pouted.
He laughed as he pulled the door for me and started his Accent. "Thanks for the compliment."
"So where is this affordable place you were talking about?"
"Well," he cleared his throat and spoke slowly, "Truth is it's free."
"Really?"
"Yel's sister owns the place. We're free to do whatever we want there."
"That doesn't equate for being affordable," I glared at him.
"You'll love it there," he smiled and flung his phone to my lap. "Feel free to check the photos in the website so you won't get bored while I get you there."
Dahil wala naman akong magawa ay tinignan ko na rin. Isa itong hidden garden resort and spa na may taniman ng mga ubas. Kung ako ang tatanungin ay tama ako sa sinabi ko kaninang malayo ito sa ideya nila ng abot-kaya.
Dapithapon nang makarating kami roon at hindi na ako nabigla nang salubungin kami ng limang lalaking dumukot sa akin. Nagngingitian sila at saka ako ginayak sa pasukan ng mga customer. Ang hindi ko inasahan ay ang makita rin si Yel sa desk na nakasuot ng puting loose collared shirt at beige na shorts. An aviator glasses was clipped around his undershirt.
"Welcome, Ren," aniya at ako ay inakbayan. Tinabig ni Hans ang kanyang braso at saka ito nangaral.
"You are on your duty, stop flirting with your customers."
They laughed and explained to me that Yel is currently on his OJT here. How convenient was that, no?
"I am not happy with your idea of affordable," I chided them as we walked up to a table with prepared course.
"We're not happy with your escape either. By the way, I'm Jared," the guy who looks to be the youngest said. I nodded and told my name.
"Yeah, yeah, your name has been the talk of the family for some time now. We all know you," the guy who looks to have the Filipino complexion said. "I'm Ty."
"Tyler?" I referred.
He groaned and complained, "Why do all girls always guess my twin's name first? Is my name hard to assume?"
Napatawa na lang ako.
"Tyrone," he pouted and went to sip from his pink beverage.
"Harcourt," pakilala ng lalaking misteryoso noong una pa lamang na makita ko siya sa van. "I apologize for kidnapping you. However, don't be confident if you think we'd never do it again. Right, Aes?"
Nag-apir sila ng tinawag niyang Aes at saka nagtawanan. Si Aes ang mestisong prankster sa bahay ng mga Romualdez. Siya rin ang nagdrive sa get-away van na ginamit nila.
"Palagi niyo bang ginagawa iyon? Ang mandukot tapos ituturing na guest sa isang hotel ang hostage ninyo?"
Ty grinned and offered me a drink. I nodded. "Oh, you drink?"
I shrugged and took the glass of what I think is Patron coffee whiskey.
Hindi pa ako nakakainom ng whiskey pero para sa aking dagdag na kaalaman, iinom ako ng isang beses at kaunti.
"Do you know the difference between a coffee whiskey and Irish coffee?" Aes asked as he started digging for his plate.
"That's a corny trying-hard to be genius pick up line, go find something else. The fuck, Aes, huwag mo ngang ipinapahiya ang pamilya natin," sabat ni Jared.
Nagsasagutan ang mga magpipinsan nang inilapit ni Hans ang kanyang ulo at saka bumulong sa akin.
"Do they even add up to your research about my family's good looks?"
I stabbed a cubed fish flesh with my fork and chewed it in my mouth. I heard him chuckle.
"I want to go to the sauna," ani Ty nang kami ay matapos nang kumain. Napuno naman kami ng kwentuhan at nalaman ko ring puro sila first year college sa New York at kasalukuyan lamang na nandito dahil may shooting sa kanilang campus. "Who's coming with me?"
Tumayo ang magpipinsan ngunit nagpaiwan si Hans.
"I'll walk her around here later. You wanna go with them?"
I shook my head.
"We can stay here for tonight if you want. I'll book two rooms."
"Hindi pwede at ayaw ko. Ibabalik mo ako nang gising at buo sa bahay bago matapos ang gabi."
"Why, are you Cinderella's daughter? You'll transform at midnight? You'll turn to a vampire or something?"
"Oh please. Can we just have another of this?" I raised the glass and clinked with him as we took shots.
HINDI PA RIN kami umaalis ng mesa dahil dumaan kanina rito si Yel at nagbagsak ng isang basket ng mga nabalatang prutas. Naobliga tuloy kaming umubos ni Hans. Hindi rin ito nakakatulong dahil ayaw niya sa pakwan at pinya. Tanging ang strawberry at ubas lamang ang nilalantakan nito.
Hindi ko inasahan ang aking makikita nang iangat ko ang aking patingin. Paparating si Knight at may kasama itong maputing babaeng nakasuot ng pastel green na dress at nakasuot ng puting de-takong na sapatos. Kaagad akong tumingin kay Hans at mukhang wala itong kamalay-malay sa pagdating ng kanyang pinsan.
Muli akong lumingon upang makasigurong hindi niya ako makikita ngunit mistulang tinimpag na pader ang dibdib ko nang mahuli niya akong tumingin sa kanya. Siya ang unang kumalag sa tingin upang kausapin ang babae bago niya ito ihila ng upuan sa mesang nasa likuran ni Hans.
The girl sat with her back facing me and he walked round the table to sit across her, his eyes boring holes at the back of Hans' head and into me. It almost looked like a silent warning. Why is he even here anyway?
"I am nearly done with my berries. You need to finish that. Pagagalitan kami ng Ate ni Yel kapag may sinayang kami rito," patawang saad ni Hans.
Marami namang tao sa restaurant kaya naman pasimple na lang din akong nag-ikot ng tingin. Hindi ako makakilos nang maayos dahil nararamdaman ko ang kanyang tingin. Hindi ako sigurado kung special talent na maituturing ang ganoon ngunit hindi pa ako nagkakamali sa pagpredict na may nakatingin sa akin.
Naramdaman ko ang pagkalikot ng aking pantog sa dami ba naman ng pakwang pinakain ni Hans sa akin. "Saan ang banyo, Hans?"
"Bakit?" he asked as he was munching a couple of seedless grapes. "Samahan na lang kita."
"Huwag uy, nakakahiya at saka kaya ko naman. Nasaan ba?"
"Sundan mo yung carpet na iyon tapos diretsuhin mo lang yung hallway na iyan, tapos lampasan mo yung unang pintong makikita mo. Pagkalampas mo, lumiko ka. Doon ang banyo," saad niya.
Tumango na lamang ako at hindi na nagreklamo sa magulong mapping ng lugar na ito.
Nalampasan ko nga ang unang pinto at naiwan itong nakabukas. Hindi ko sinasadyang silipin ito ngunit malamang nang dahil nga sa nakaawang ang pinto ay nakita kong tila isa itong private room para sa mga gustong kumain nang hindi nakikisali sa mga tao doon sa diner.
Nakita ko na rin naman kaagad ang banyo. Nakaginhawa ako pagkatapos at naghugas nang marahan.
I checked my look from the mirror stretched on the wall. The counter has a set of sanitizing gels, body powder, disposable combs, and rubber bands. I took a band and went to bun my hair before walking back to the diner.
He moved fast and silent.
The private room's door slid shut and a weak red light illuminated the walls.
I can smell his cologne as if he was purposively spreading it all over the room to declare territory. When I met his eyes, they were burning and the red lighting does not help to tone down his stare.
"Do you enjoy defying me, Ren?"
There was a tinge of husk in his almost lowly whispered voice. My skin crept as warning was radiating off of him.
"I enjoyed eating with them," I truthfully said.
"Do you like Hans?"
I was taken aback from what he suddenly asked out of nowhere.
I couldn't speak not because of not knowing what to say but I was wondering why it matters to him.
Nagpakawala siya nang mabigat na hangin at saka humalakhak. "Really Ren? Trying to keep silent? That's not your thing. Speak."
"Lumabas na nga tayo. Baka hanapin—
I almost jumped to the force he placed in his hands as he planted them against the wall to stop me from walking. "I'm right here, Ren. I'm your Hans."
He suddenly sounded pleading.
"Huwag mo sanang sagarin ang pakikisama ko sa'yo, Knight. Kahit kailan, hindi ako ginipit ng mga kaibigan ko."
"What, this?" he motioned to his arms while caging me in. "Of course, they're just your friends."
"Iyon din sana ang inaasahan ko sa iyo. We really think you can be a good friend to us," I said.
Something lit up in his eyes and it is anything but pleasing.
He pressed his body to crush me against the wall.
"Do you know how good you look in your uniform, Ren?" he mumbled as he tilted his head to level my face. His words were sending electricity down my back.
"Knight—
"Do you know how weak you actually look like when you sleep?"
There was no stopping it. This side of him was picking my heartbeat as if I ran a mile for five minutes. "Knight naman—
"Do you still not know what lies between us?"
Those words pulled me out of the clouds and sent my blood back to my body. I stood straight and face him, chin pushed up.
"Of course I knew."
"Really now?"
"Yes. And it's my freedom to decide on my own."
"I TOLD YOU, dapat sinamahan na lang kita."
"Hindi naman ako nawala," sagot ko sa kanya at saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
"Hindi naman iyon ang tinutukoy ko," he chuckled and glanced the table behind him with his peripheral vision with the help of a little twisting of the neck. The lady sat alone and looks as if she was patiently waiting for her date to come back to the table.
"Kilala mo?" I casually asked.
"Looks familiar but not by name, I'm afraid. As if Knight has a lot of female acquaintances. He's sweet to girls but he doesn't really like hanging out with anyone of that sort. That girl might just even be a family friend."
Pang-ilang beses ko nang narinig ang pagiging sweet ni Knight sa mga babae mula sa kanyang mga pinsan ngunit hindi ko maisip kung gaano ka-sweet ang sinasabi nila.
Like, is he doing all those things he's doing for me to other girls too?
As if he wasn't a New Yorker, Ren. He grew up Western. Come on. Not to stereotype but he might even be active the hook-up culture up there. He just doesn't do that here.
"Come on. Let's go take you to the spa."
Hinabol ko kaagad siya dahil hindi niya ako binigyan ng pagkakataong sumalungat.
Nakaupo na sa mesa si Knight nang malampsan namin sila ng babae at hindi ko mapigilang mapailing nang may sabihin ito gamit ang demure na pananalita.
"I didn't know that public school students can afford this place."
"I heard that," Hans chuckled when we finally got away. "You're not too naïve when it comes to aristocratic views so I hope it wouldn't mess your day up. We want you to enjoy, Ren."
I thanked him as he started showing me around the vineyard that leads up to the spa.
"Madalas kayo rito?"
"When we all are here in the Phil, yeah. Have you met Q already?"
"I saw him but nothing else."
He opened the door for me and followed as he led me to the counter. Hans pulled out two papers from the rack and ticked off some boxes as he gave them to the lady. "Q is especially talented. Too talented we could never understand him."
"Nasabi nga ni Knight."
He glanced at me as we walked behind the lady who led us to a space where there are separate rooms for males and females. "You sure have gotten his trust."
Wala na akong pagkakataon pang sumagot dahil pumasok sa siya sa kabilang pinto. The lady waited for me to enter before leaving.
I HAVE NEVER been to any spa before and I had no idea how hard a hard massage really is until the woman in her mid-forties gave me a taste of what felt like the karate moves of a masseuse.
Ilang beses kong hindi napigilan ang mapangawa sa bigat ng kanyang hilot ngunit hindi ko rin naman maitangging masarap ito sa pakiramdam.
Gumagamit siya ng amoy honey na bagay na ipinapahid sa aking balat. "Tatangkad pa po ba ako kapag hinila ninyo ako nang hinila?"
Tumawa ang babae at saka marahang ginaanan ang pagmamasahe sa likuran ng aking hita. Kanina lamang ay halos maradaman kong magputukan ang mga taba ko sa bandang iyon at hindi biro ang sakit.
Mayamaya pa ay may isa pang pumasok na masahista at iniayos ang katabi kong bed. May babaeng sumampa rito at nakakasilaw ang kanyang maputing balat. Naalala kong ito ang kasama ni Knight.
Nabigla ako nang ipilig niya ang kanyang mukha sa aking banda nang makadapa na siya at saka ako nginitian. "First time?"
I hummed in response.
She instructed the masseuse what to actually do and which parts of her body she wanted to be touched and not to be touched. She even told her about oils I have never heard before.
"I can see you are acquainted with Hans."
Palihim akong nagpakawala ng hininga. Kung ako ang tatanungin, dahil sa lumabas sa bibig niya kanina, ayaw ko siyang kausapin. Tama naman si Hans. I was supposed to enjoy.
"Aren't you going to introduce yourself to me?" she asked, nearly sounding a little pitched this time.
I see what you're trying to do right from the first time I saw you, Miss. You are not the first one.
"Society says the one who's more interested between both parties should be the one to introduce themselves," I chipped in before looking the other way.
I heard a gasp and it made me automatically roll my eyes without my consent. Entitled hypocrite.
"Is that what public schools teach you?"
I can feel her scanning me even if I won't meet her gaze.
Nararamdaman ko na ang init ng galit na hindi niya hinahayaang makita ng ibang tao hangga't maaari. Kaunting tulak ko na lamang ay sasabog na siya.
"Yes, and they teach it for free."
She let out a huff in disbelief and I wanted to watch her so I faced her as I let the lady work on my shoulders.
"And I am pretty sure you just came here for free because of Hans," she said in perfectly sweet tone but her lips were twisted. I wonder how one does that.
"Of course. I am not stupid enough to spend not hard-earned money for places like this," I triumphantly smiled as the sweet façade shattered.
"Oh so you're smart enough to make friends with people who can pay for you?"
That was a spicy comeback I have expected of her to say.
"No, my friends are just smart enough to warn me of people like you."
"And what did you mean by that?"
"Aren't you smart enough to figure that out yourself?"
This time, it was me who gave her a sweet smile as I rose to my feet and draped the robe over my naked body. I thanked the masseuse as she told me to freely check my list of activities from the counter.
I closed the door behind me when my smile dropped upon seeing Knight stepping out of the other room in his black robe. I felt like shrinking as he met my eyes and slowly, he travelled his gaze from my head down to my toes.
"Where are your clothes?"
Hindi ko siya sinagot bagkus ay tinalikuran ko siya at sinimulang tingnan ang list ng activities na minarkahan ni Hans kanina. I can see that he's gone to a Jacuzzi treatment ten minute ago. I took in the first mark I saw in my list and sped off to the two-person Juniper Sauna enclosement.
A member of the staff was waiting by the door and offered me to grab a towellete before entering. It took about a couple of moments before I heard the door shut. I heard shuffling behind me and that's when I decided to turn around just to face Knight and the same girl I just roasted.