Nakita niya lang ng ilang segundo ang mukha ng babae dahil dali-dali siyang umalis. Narinig pa niya na tinawag siya ni Jacob pero tuloy-tuloy lang siya.
"What was that?!" dinig niyang shocked na tanong ng babae rito.
Mabilis siyang pumasok sa kwarto at ni-lock ang pintuan kaya hindi na niya narinig ang sagot ni DFB. Parang nanghihina na napaupo siya sa gilid ng kama. Everything that happened just a moment ago flashed back and she felt the heat come up her neck to her face. Inis, pagkapahiya, at galit sa sarili ang nararamdaman niya. She did enjoy the kiss and that was unacceptable. Jacob was Jacob. Manyak. She hoped that he will be in a lot of trouble with his woman. Dapat lang 'yon sa kagaya nito.
After tonight, hinding-hindi na niya hahayaang mangyari ulit 'yon. She will fight him. Maybe she should take self-defense classes. Merong free classes sa university nila. She will definitely sign up para naman madepensahan niya ang sarili kahit papaano. Humiga siya sa kama. She can still remember the shocked face of the woman. Nicolette was very pretty, tall and slim. She looked classy. Walang panama si Gretchen. Guwapo si Jacob but he didn't deserve Nicolette. Sayang naman ang babae. She released a quiet and bitter laugh.
None of my business! She thought.
Ang dapat niyang problemahin ay kung paano iiwasan si Jacob. Nakagat niya ang ibabang labi. Hindi niya lang sigurado kung posible 'yon. Hinatiran lang siya ng hapunan ni Jezelle dahil sumakit talaga ang ulo niya. Uminom na rin siya ng pain reliever to help her sleep well. But the next day, she has to go out of her room. Naghihintay raw ang gumawa ng uniform niya and she has to fit them. Wish niya lang wala si Jacob. Napahinto siya sa paglalakad nang makita si Nicolette. Kausap nito ang isang babae na mukhang nasa mid-thirties. Una siyang nakita ng huli kaya tumayo ito and smiled at her.
"Hello, Crystal. Ako si Beth," pagpapakilala nito.
She took the hand the woman offered. Mukhang genuine naman ang ngiti nito so she smiled back. Iniwasan niyang tingnan si Nicolette. It seemed like she spent the night here. She was in a white top and capri pants now. She was in a one piece dress last night.
"Ang asawa ko ang gumagawa ng suits ni Jacob. At masaya ako na ako ang kinuha niya to make your uniform. Kaya naman pala..." Hindi nito tinapos ang sasabihin pero nakangiti pa rin ito habang nakatigin sa kanya.
"I guess she doesn't have to take her clothes off to fit them. You'll just check the length, right?" tanong ni Nicolette.
Tumango naman si Beth. Wala pang sampung minuto, tapos na ang fitting. Nakaupo lang na nakatingin at nakikinig ang nobya ni Jacob the whole time. Nang magpaalam si Beth, she was about to go back to her room pero nagsalita ito.
"Can we talk?" tanong nito sa kanya.
Wala siyang choice but to look at her. Hindi naman ito mukhang galit but she can't read her expression. She may not want to admit it openly but she admired this woman. Kung iba lang siguro ito, baka sinabunutan na siya o sinampal matapos makita ang ginagawa sa kanya ng boyfriend nito. Unless of course magaling talagang magpalusot at magpaikot ng ulo si Jacob or sobrang mahal lang ito ni Nicolette that's why she stayed with him.
Tumayo ito at lumapit nang kaunti sa kanya. Sinalubong naman niya ang mga mata nito. They were almost the same height but they didn't have the same body type. She has more curves and her breasts were a little bigger than Nicolette's. Maputi rin ito but her skin is rosier. Chinita ito and her hair was dark brown blunt bob with bangs. Hindi siya intimidated dito when it comes to looks at wala siyang dapat ika-guilty sa kadahilanan na hindi niya kagustuhan ang halikang nangyari sa kanila ni Jacob.
"Hindi mo ako kaaway, Crystal. Believe me. I didn't like what I saw but I understand. You are an attractive female and Jacob is a virile man. Hindi ako sang-ayon sa pagtira mo rito pero hindi naman kaya ng konsensya ko na kung saan-saan ka na mapadpdad. Jacob might find you attractive but you know how men are. The way you were dressed last night was kind of...provocative...so..."
"That's a strong word to use to describe what I had on," sabi niya sa malamig na boses na ikinataas nang bahagya ng kilay ng babae.
"I just said you know how men are. Jacob told me that you can be rebellious. So if you are doing this to prove a point, please stop. Your brother is Jacob's best friend. Gago siya minsan, aaminin ko but their friendship is more important than his passing fancy. Save yourself from being hurt too. You are still under legal age so don't put yourself and Jacob in trouble. Uulitin ko, hindi mo ako kaaway," malumanay na sabi nito. May tipid pang ngiti sa labi nito.
She didn't smile back. Karibal pa rin ang tingin nito sa kanya but she should be thankful too. Because of her, maiiwasan na niyang makasama si Jacob na sila lang dalawa.
"Please do stay. Para naman mabantayan mo ang boyfriend mo and so you can discover that I don't have the intention of seducing him. I am not into older men and honestly, he is not my type. Excuse me. May gagawin pa ako," sabi niya bago tumalikod.
***
Hindi siya kailanman na-excite sa pasukan. But she is now. Tomorrow would be her first day and she felt happy that even for a few hours, makalalabas siya sa condo ni Jacob. She will be free. Maswerte siya that in the past few days, mukhang busy ito sa girlfriend nito at sa trabaho dahil hindi na niya kinailangang iwasan ito. Malamang gabing-gabi na itong umuwi at maagang-maagang umaalis kaya hindi sila nagkikita. Hindi rin niya nakita si Nicolette pero ayaw naman niyang tanungin sina Manang Pacita at Jezelle tungkol dito.
Her happiness was short-lived dahil pagbaba niya for lunch after siyang tawagin ni Jezelle, she realized na kasabay niyang kakain ang dalawa. Nakaupo na ang mga ito sa lamesa at mukhang hinihintay talaga siya. Seryoso ang mukha ni Nicolette and Jacob was thin-lipped as he looked at her. She didn't expect to see them today so she put on a black tank top na tinernuhan niya ng dark gray cotton shorts. Hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili dahil parang gusto na naman niyang ilabas ang katarayan niya. Kung tingnan na naman kasi siya nito kahit nasa tabi lang nito ang nobya, parang napakalaking krimen na ang ginawa niya.
"Do you want me to change?" tanong niya na nakataas nang bahagya ang isang kilay.
"Ma'am, paki-check po kung okay na 'yong roasted chicken," sabi ni Jezelle na biglang sumulpot mula sa kusina kay Nicolette.
Tumango naman ang huli but she touched Jacob's arm. Lumingon naman ito and the two had an eye contact for a second or two. Gusto niyang itaas pa lalo ang kilay.
Under yata si DFB?
Obviously, his woman was giving him a warning look. Tumayo na si Nicolette matapos siyang tapunan din ng tingin. Blangko ang expression nito.
"I won't be long," sabi lang nito bago sumunod kay Jezelle.
"Sit down!" utos sa kanya ni Jacob sa malamig na boses.
Poker-faced, she did sit down. She sat straight without looking at him. Sa tapat ng upuan ni Nicolette siya pumwesto.
"You just showed me that I can't really trust you. I expect you to abide by my rules even when I am not around!" he said through clenched teeth.
She turned her eyes to him but she didn't say anything. Mas maganda nang manahimik na lang siya dahil hindi pa rin naman siya mananalo rito. She said a silent thank you when Nicolette came back.
"It's ready. Pinapalagay ko na lang sa platter. We can start with the salad," sabi nito.
Gusto niyang matawa. She didn't trust Jacob kaya nagmamadali itong bumalik sa lamesa. She was not worried that Nicolette will ask her later about her provocative clothes though. She will just tell her the truth na hindi naman niya alam na makakasabay niyang kumain ang mga ito ngayon. Wish niya na matunawan siya after this meal.
Ang pinagpapasalamat na lang niya, at least bukas ay papasok na siya. She will savor the time outside. Mukhang may maganda ngang naidudulot ang mga nangyayari because now, she looked forward to school unlike before.
She concentrated on her food. Paminsan-minsan, nag-uusap ang dalawa and fortunately, she didn't have to join in their conversation. May mga tinanong si Nicolette about Jacob's business. The latter answered in monosyllable so finally, tumigil na rin ang una sa pagtatanong.
Pero nang malapit na silang matapos, Nicolette asked her casually, "Are you excited to go back to school, Crystal?"
She shrugged her shoulders without looking at her. "Okay lang. So-so."
"For sure, shortened period pa lang kayo so your friends will probably ask you to go out after school."
"Hihintayin nina Roland at Manang Pacita ang paglabas mo. Go straight home after your last class," Jacob said coldly.
Hindi niya napigilang hindi tumingin dito. His eyes were on hers too. They looked steely.
"You mean they will wait for me the whole day?" manghang tanong niya.
"They are paid to do that," malamig na tugon nito.
"I don't think that's practical. Pwede namang sunduin na lang siya sa hapon. Crystal can call or text if pauwi na siya. Don't be too strict. You know how young people are. Kapag pinagbabawalan, lalong sumisige. Besides, let her be with her friends. She needs to socialize," sabi ni Nicolette na kunot ang noo.
"I know what I am doing," malamig na tugon ni Jacob sa nobya.
Naningkit ang mga mata ni Nicolette. "Do you? Must I remind you about last time..."
Hindi na natuloy nito ang sasabihin when Jacob uttered a bad word before raking his fingers though his hair angrily.
"Why do you have to bring that up again?!" he asked through gritted teeth.
"Because I have to!" Nicollete said angrily.
Pagalit na tumayo si Jacob. "For fuck's sake! Pagtatalunan na naman ba natin ito?"
Tumayo rin si Nicolette. "Look at you! Can you really say that you know what you are doing?! Mas mabuti pang umalis na ako! Do what you want! Wala na akong pakialam sa 'yo!" Galit na naglakad ito palabas.
"No wait!" Tila natauhan naman si Jacob pero bago nito sundan ang nobya, he glowered at her. "We are not done talking! I will deal with you later!" galit na sabi nito sa kanya na nagpaawang ng bibig niya.
Nakaramdam siya ng pagkabahala. Na-realize niya na ayaw niyang mag-away ang mga ito or worse, mag-break dahil sa kanya. If that will happen, the situation will be back to how it was before. Kailangan niya si Nicolette para kahit papaano, hindi na maulit ang mga nangyari. Mula nang dumating ito, at least, hindi na lumalapit sa kanya si Jacob. It seemed that seryoso ang relasyon ng dalawa. When she thought about that, may bigla siyang naramdamang kakaiba but she chose to ignore it. Tumayo na rin siya at bumalik sa kwarto.
***
Ayaw man niyang aminin pero kinakabahan siya. What Jacob said sounded like a threat. Even if she locked the door, he owned this unit so he can open it anytime he wanted to. Hindi lang niya alam kung anong consequence na naman ang haharapin niya lalo ngayon na kasama nila sa unit ang nobya nito. One thing was for sure though. Ano man 'yon, alam niya, siya at siya pa rin ang dehado.
She has to at least calm down. Mukha namang magtatagal ang sinasabi nitong he will deal with her especially now that his girlfriend was upset. Hindi na nga niya ma-imagine kung paano ito naging kalmado after what she witnessed and now, may bago na namang isyu. Mukhang mahaba-habang pang-aamo ang mangyayari between the two. Ibang klase rin kasi talaga si DFB. Hindi na inisip na hindi nito dapat pinarinig 'yon sa nobya. She wondered kung by nature possessive ito. Gano'n din kaya ito kay Nicolette?
Of course he is! Ano namang akala mo sa sarili mo? Special? You are his passing fancy according to his woman so huwag umasa na sa 'yo lang siya ganyan! Pinagalitan niya ang sarili.
Napukaw ang pag-iisip niya nang mag-ring ang cellphone niya.
"Kuya?!"
"Mabuti naman sinagot mo na ang tawag ko. Sana hindi ka na galit sa akin. Kumusta ka na?" malungkot na tanong nito.
Tinakpan niya ang bibig to stop herself from sobbing. Lahat ng inis at galit niya rito ay napawi. Ilang beses nitong sinubukang tawagan siya pero ayaw niya itong kausapin. She felt differently now. Na-miss niya ang kapatid.
"Is Jacob taking good care of you?" tanong pa nito.
Hindi siya agad sumagot. After a few moments, inalis niya ang kamay sa bibig. She bit her bottom lip to at least stop it from trembling.
"He did a lot of bad things to me, Kuya," sabi niya sa nanginginig na boses.
Napahigpit ang hawak niya sa telepono nang nagmura ang kapatid niya.
"He made sexual advances to me," sumbong pa niya.