14
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Faith Serenity
“Teather Faith!!!”
Gulat ako nang biglang may yumakap sa akin sa likuran.
I could feel little arms looped around my hips that’s why I refrained from talking.
“Oh my gosh! What are you doing here? Did your Papa Paul bring you?” nangiti ako sa kambal na nina Zayn at Paige.
Tumango sila at gigil na yumakap ulit kaya binalikan ko si Dick sa telepono.
“Dick, I’m sorry. I was interrupted by these cute little kids.”
“Uhm, I understand. You really love kids. Whose kids anyway?”
“Isa sa parents ko sa school. Their uncle brought them.”
“At this hour?” he sounded confused.
I giggled. “I don’t know what this man is up to. It’s late and I have to check what’s happening downstairs.”
Saglit na nawala sa linya si Dickson.
He’s a schoolmate since high school, schoolmate as in, estudyante ako at practice teaching siya as requirement for his subject. Pinsan niya ang kaklase ko na si Jamaica. Dick is already thirty-one by now. He’s a doctor; a good one.
“Okay. When can I see you then? I’ll talk to you tomorrow for my contract. You will never drop me as the resident doctor of your school, right? I am hired, right?”
Natawa ako sa kanya. Is he kidding me? Kaya nga tinanong ko si Jamaica kung anong trabaho niya kasi siya ang naiisip kong pumalit sa duktor na umalis sa Angels.
“Huwag mo nga akong patawanin. Baka in the end ikaw ang mag-drop sa akin. I couldn’t pay you equally like what your salary in Canada was.”
“I’ll never drop you, ever though I think you already did.” Makahulugan na pasaring niya sa akin kaya napasimangot ako.
“Ay, walang ganyan. You’re still my friend.”
“So, that means meron na talaga. Am I already late? Sayang, dapat pala hindi ko na pinag-prioritized ang studies mo.” Dick’s voice sounds sad.
He seems regretting for that something he had missed.
“Meron na rin. I don’t want you to wait for nothing. Actually, ikakasal na ako, Dick.”
“Fuck.” He cursed that’s why I shut my eyes. “Sorry but…don’t mind me.”
“Magiging duktor ka pa rin ba ng mga angels ko?”
“I’ll wait for annulment or divorce.” He chuckled and I giggled, too.
“Silly. I’m not starting yet, divorce na kaagad ang hinihintay mo. I’ll hang up now, Dickie. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll prepare you, brunch, lunch or snack?”
“Brunch.” He chuckled again.
“See you.”
“I’ll see you, Faith. I miss you so much.”
“I miss your face, too. I’ll have the best brunch for you. Bye.”
“Bye.”
I smiled as I cut the line and smile at Zayn and Paige, too.
“Who’s Dick, teacher?” Zayn asked, blinking his little eyes.
“Well—”
“Well, that mothersucker is not going to taste the best brunch ever.” Ani Paul nang bigla na lang siyang sumulpot sa may kung saan kaya naputol ang dapat na sasabihin ko.
“Paul.” I beamed, not paying attention to his sarcasm.
“That stupid dumbass is waiting for divorce, right? Tell him to prepare his death certificate first.” Inis na sabi pa niya kaya napahagikhik ako.
I can’t say he’s jealous, of course he’s not. Baka naman intimidated lang siya kay Dickson.
Hmn, nahagod ko ng tingin si Paul. Hindi siya ang tipo ng lalaki na mukhang nai-intimidate.
“So grumpy, Mister Grande. Why are you here…with these cute little kids?” hinaplos ko ang mga ulo nina Zayn at Paige pero hindi ako nilulubayan ng tingin ni Paul.
“Don’t change the topic.” He demanded but I rolled my eyes.
Nakapameywang siya sa harap ko at salubong ang mga kilay.
Wow! Playing possessive.
“I’m not changing the topic. There’s no topic anyway. Dickson is not a topic. Well, if he is, he’s going to be my school’s resident doctor. He’s thirty-one, PH.D, currently studying to become a Pediatrician, too. High school ako, practice teacher naman siya for two months sa subject na Biology. He had been in Canada after passing the Board exam. Pinsan siya ng kaibigan kong si Jamaica Romualdez who’s in Singapore. May gusto ka pa po bang malaman?” pinalamlam ko ang mga mata sa kanya nang ngitian ko siya.
I also arched my brow and looked at his eyes.
“Anything more, my Crush?” I grinned cheeky and he blinked.
“Anong oras ang brunch?” lukot pa rin ang noo niya.
“Mga 10:00 of course.”
“Okay.” He bulged out his chest.
“Expect me to be here.”
Nalaglag ang mga panga ko. Bakit naman pupunta pa siya rito? He should be working tomorrow. Lunes na bukas at may pasok na. Ako naman ay ipakikisuyo na muna kay Joy ang mga bata.
“But I don’t need you here.”
“What?” nagtagis ang mga bagang niya. “Bakit hindi? I want to be here and I’ll be here whether you like it or not. Are you pushing me away, Serenity?”
naipilig niya ang ulo kaya naman natawa ako.
Anong klaseng tanong naman ‘yon?
“They’re fightin’. Let’s do. We shouldn’t be here, twinnie.” Zayn said, loosening his embrace around my hip.
“Otay, kuya.” Tango naman ni Paige at agad na tumakbo ang dalawa papaalis.
“Be careful, babies! The floor is slippery!” paalala ko sa kanila pero tawa sila nang tawa at parang hindi nila ako narinig.
“Now where are we, boyfie?” lambing ko kay Paul Shalem.
Humawak ako sa damit niya at kusa kong idinikit ang sarili ko.
I looked up at him because he’s really towering, gigantic.
“I am not pushing you away. Iniisip ko lang, isa kang Grande at baka kailangan ka naman ng Daddy mo sa kumpanya niyo.”
Paul stared at my lips. “Parehas din ‘yon.” Lukot ang ilong na sagot niya kaya natawa ako.
Ang tanga niya pala talaga.
“Why are you here nga pala with the kids?” pag-iiba ko na sa usapan.
“Pamanhikan.” Maikli at bugnot na sagot niya pero totoong natilihan ako.
Anong pamanhikan?
Kanina lang ay magkasama kami tapos nandito na naman siya para mamanhikan?
“Really?” hindi ko mapigilan ang mangiti pero tumiim ang titig niya sa akin.
I slid my arm around his waist and bit my lip.
“God demit! Stop doing that. You’re making me hard.” Humabol si Paul ng hininga kaya nawala ang ngiti ko.
Hard?
He seems in pain. Is he okay?
“W-What hard?” Tiningnan ko siya sa leeg, sa dibdib, sa braso, sa tyan, sa…umbok.
“Fuck!” bigla niyang itinaas ang baba ko para hindi ako tumingin sa ibaba.
“Ang laki ng bukol, namamaga. ‘Yan ba ang masakit?” inosenteng tanong ko sa kanya sabay kurap ko pa.
Gigil niyang kinagat ang labi niya at parang nagtitimpi, kinokontrol ang sarili. “So, this is a new hidden side of you. You’re naughty huh. You’re mentioning this ‘bukol’. Damn.” Bigla niyang kinuha ang kamay ko at ipinatong niya sa namamaga niyang pagkalalaki.
“Yayk!” hagikhik ko pero pinisil ko na rin.
Sayang naman ang moment. Minsan na lang akong makahawak ng ganoon, susulitin ko na rin.
“Hell, Serenity. You’re so…so” halos magtagis ang mga bagang ni Paul. “So innocently seductive.”
“I know.” Ngiti ko sa kanya saka ko siya kinintalan ng halik sa labi.
Ang kapal ko.
I left him when I found him unable to speak. Para siyang naestatwa na at hindi niya siguro alam na may tago rin akong kalokohan.
“Come on. Don’t keep our parents waiting. Baka mapanis ang laway nila sa paghihintay sa atin.” Yakag ko pa sa kanya kasi nakapameywang pa rin siya pero nakahabol ng tingin sa akin.
Bahala siya sa buhay niya. Maduling siya sa pagtitig.
Maya-maya pa ay naramdaman ko na ang paghabol niya sa akin.
“Parehas pala tayong wala ng Mommy. Daddies na lang natin ang mag-uusap for us.” I smiled at him, a bit sad.
Tuwid siyang naglalakad sa tabi ko, nakapamulsa lang kaya niyakap ko ang isa niyang braso.
“It doesn’t matter as long as we understand each other.”
“Yes,” I nodded. “And as long as you will me own you—only me.”
Napatingin sa akin si Paul at nangiti siya nang kaunti. “Possessive?”
“It’s because I know na maraming babae ang nagmay-ari sa’yo noon. Alam mo kung saan kita unang nakita? Sa debut ko sa England. You were at the parking lot, kissing my friend, Samantha Collins. She owned you by then but ayoko na malalaman-laman ko na ibang babae pa rin ang mag-aari sa’yo kahit kasal na tayo. Tita Fath told me that many women owned you that’s why she never liked you for me.”
“She said that?” tumaas ang gilid ng labi niya.
“Yeah.” Tango ko. “Pero sabi ko naman, I wasn’t in your past. I am in the present and will be in the future. Tama naman ako di ba?” yugyog ko sa braso niya.
Paul gazed at my face for a while then gently nodded. “Of course.”
“And how do we seal that?” I blinked and he also blinked.
“The what?” para siyang tanga.
“That I own you and will only own you?”
“For devil’s sake.” Nahilot niya ang sentido. “You don’t wanna get yourself in trouble, young lady. Do you? Pilay ka pa. Kapag lumapat ang labi ko sa’yo, baka naman hindi na tayo makaharap sa mga magulang natin. I will push you inside the closest room and fuck you there.
I bit my lip and felt my blood running all over my cheeks. “Unti lang.”
“Na ano?” tumaas ang kilay niya at sumulyap siya sa labi ko.
“Na seal.”
“Fuck. You’re stubborn.” Inis na sabi niya pero naman yumukod siya kaagad saka hinalikan ako sa noo.
Ngi. Bakit sa noo?
“There. Safe.” Paul smiled on my forehead. Naisahan niya ako roon pero okay na rin ‘yon. Kahit saan, kiss pa rin naman ‘yon.
Kontessa