Chapter 14
Zardriel:
She's wondering why all my shirt's buttons were scattered over the floor. Should I tell her that I'm too horny last night to even remove it properly?
Sunod-sunod ang naging pagbungisngis ko habang binabasa ang text na 'yon ni Zadriel. We've been texting for quite a couple of minutes now and all I did here was to laugh at his shitty tactics.
Lying flatly on my stomach, I wiggled my feet against the air and typed a response for my german size man.
Ako:
Haha! What did you tell her?
Kinagat ko ang aking labi bago nakangising itinuon ang cellphone rito. The scenes last night played in my head like a raging fire ready to burn all the innocent thoughs in my head. That was honestly the first time I experienced Zadriel that aggressive and dominant. Para bang galit na galit at akala mo sinagad ang pasensya niya. He talked last night as if he's jealous about his cousin. Maging ang pakikipaglaro ko sa iba ay akala mong big deal sa kanya. If I know, he's just making excuses to score.
Muling tumunog ang cellphone ko. Wala pa man ay may ngisi sa labi kong tiningnan iyon. Hindi ko alam pero nagagawa akong pasabikin ng mga kalokohan nitong si Zadriel. Maybe it's because we have the same trip.
Zadriel:
Told her that I didn't notice it.
I laughed and tapped my fingers on the screen.
Ako:
Liar. :p
Umikot ako patihaya, ang mga mata ay nakapako sa kisame. Hindi ko alam kung bakit alam ng mali ang ginagawa ay hindi pa rin ako nakakaramdam ng kunsensya. I should be feeling guilty now for cheating on Cade but I don't. Satisfaction and happiness are the emotions that's unbelievably sitting above anything else. Even Zadriel, hindi ko siya makitaan ng pagsisisi sa ginagawang pangloloko kay Diara. Hayun nga at dinala pa ako sa mismong penthouse niya, itinago sa ilalim ng kama at nagkunwaring inosente.
Wala akong ideya kung hanggang kailan namin gagawin ang bagay na ito. Siguro hangga't masaya kami? Hangga't hindi pa kami nahuhuli? Hangga't nararamdaman namin ang pagkasabik sa isa't-isa?
Hindi ko alam.
Tumunog ulit ang cellphone ko. Iniangat ko ito at tinapat sa aking mukha. So much for expecting that it's a message from Zadriel, my lips protruded when I saw that it's from Mommy.
Mommy Witch:
Where have you been last night, Tatiana Faith? Napuyat ang Daddy mo kakahintay sayo pero madaling araw ka na umuwi! What is wrong with you, lady? I didn't raise you to act that way!
My eyes rolled at my mother's dramatic lines. Pasado ala-una na ata ako nakauwi kagabi at hindi ko naman na nakita si Daddy na gising. Kung tyempong naabutan ako no'n, siguradong pagagalitan niya at ako at sesermunan ng kaunti.
Ganoon naman si Daddy, hindi ako matitiis. Si Mommy lang talaga ang minsang epal.
Humagikhik ako sa naisip bago nagtipa ng isasagot sa kanya. Itong si Mommy, nasa kwarto lang naman niya pero nagtetext pa. Puwede namang puntahan na lang ako.
Ako:
You'll just know my name and not my personality.
Ps: You all yan, ha? Hindi you will.
Humagalpak ako nang tawa matapos gayahin iyong babaeng viral sa social media ngayon. Paniguradong bobonggahin na naman ako ni Mommy nito.
Mommy Witch:
What the hell are you talking about? Go out of your room and we'll be having breakfast in a few! Don't test my patience, Tatiana. I'm warning you.
Napapanguso man ay hindi ko mapigilan ang matawa sa text na iyon ni Mommy. Imbey na naman sa akin si Dragona.
Initsa ko ang cellphone sa tabi at bumangon na. Since it's Sunday and I have no work to do, I decided to just spend my whole day here at home. We're supposed to be in church now. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi natuloy at ipinagpaliban muna. Instead, we will have our usual family day and I'm sure that my brother is already on his way now.
After doing my morning rituals, I went out of my room and climbed down the stairs. Bukas ang TV sa sala pero wala namang tao. Nagpalinga-linga ako. The only people I can are our maids. Nasaan sila Mommy at Daddy?
"Manang! Sila Mommy po?" tanong ko nang dumaan ang may katandaan naming katulong sa harapan ko.
Ngumiti siya sa akin. "Hindi pa bumababa ang Mommy at Daddy mo. Nasa kwarto pa nila."
Lihim akong napangiwi.
"Sige, Manang. Salamat!"
Tumango ito. "Sige. Tatawagin ko na lang kayo kapag luto na ang almusal."
Isang tango lang rin ang isinagot ko bago siya tuluyang umalis pabalik sa kusina. Isinalampak ko ang sarili sa couch at itinaas ang mga paa sa center table. Unconsciously, I anchored my eyes upstair.
Wala sa sariling napangisi ako. Ano kayang ginagawa nila Mommy ngayon at hindi pa sila nababa? Don't tell me they're still trying to make another one? Alam kong mukha pa rin bata si Mommy kahit may edad na pero hindi pa ba siya nakatali?
That's totally out of your concern now, Tatiana.
Shaking my head slowly, I anchored my eyes on the screen and mindlessly watched the news break there. Nang hindi maintindihan ang pinapanood ay pinagtuunan ko ng pansin ang cellphone. I found out that there's a message from Mica.
Mica:
Where did you go last night? Sino yung lalaking humila sayo? He's not the victim!
I chuckled. It's been sent just awhile ago, marahil ay nasa opisina na rin siya.
Ako:
Aga-aga tsismis inaatupag mo! Hahahaha. He's just a friend. ;)
Mabilis kong natanggap ang sagot niya. Mukhang wala pang ginagawa ang isang ito.
Mica:
Friend your face! You're too close last night. Is he the reason why you're being cold to Cade?
My eyes rolled skyward. I've been cold to Cade even before I met Zadriel. At kahit pa hindi ko siya nakilala, alam kong mananatili pa rin akong ganoon sa kanya.
Ako:
Inaalmusal mo na naman ang tsismis, Micaella!
Naudlot ang pagtawa ko nang matanaw ko ang paparating na si Kuya Tobias. Wearing a dark blue denim jeans and black fitter shirt, he shot me a seruous glsre. His face holds coldness and cruelty.
As usual.
"Hi, Kuya!" ligalig na bati ko.
Nagtaas siya ng kilay bago ibinagsak ang sarili sa tabi ko. He leaned his masculine back against the back rest, spread his thighs apart and rested his arm around my shoulders. Kusa kong inihilig ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya, ang mga mata ay nasa TV.
"Where's Mom and Dad?" he asked.
"Don't ask me that. Our youngest is probably on the way now."
He groaned. "Jesus."
Natawa ako. "You know how naughty our parents are. Diyan ka nagmana, e."
Mula sa gilid ng paningin ko ay nakita ko siyang lumingon sa akin.
"Are you referring to yourself, woman? I know something crazy you did last night."
Kumunot ang noo ko at maang siyang tinitigan. Agad pumasok sa isip ko si Zadriel dahil siya lang naman ang nagiging dahilan ng kalokohan ko nitong mga nakakaraang araw.
"What do you mean?"
His pinkish lips twitched up. "A friend saw you flirting with Azriel Saavedra and then got pulled by the asshole Zadriel Monasterio. You're really doing something behind your boyfriend's back, huh?"
Kumurap-kurap ako. Who the the hell is Azriel Saavedra?
"Sinong Azriel?"
"The man with an eyeglass. He's the owner of Hilton Hotel."
"Oh! You mean the nerdy but hot guy?"
He scowled. "He's not a nerd, Tate."
"For sure he isn't..." I said and leaned my head back to his chest. "Sinong nagsabi sa'yo ng tungkol sa bagay na 'yan? Sabihin mo ang tsismoso niya. Siya na kamo pumalit kay Boy Abunda."
He chuckled. "Still playing with him, Tate?"
"With whom?"
"You know who I am talking about."
I sighed. "Are you going to tell him?"
He let out an audible sigh and tugged me closer to him. I felt him kiss me on my temple that brought me back to the times we're just little kids.
My brother seems to be a cold hearted and ruthless man but he's not. Noong mga bata pa kami ay natatandaan kong iniiwan niya ang paglalaro ng kotse-kotsehan para lang makipaglaro sa akin ng barbie dahil palagi akong umiiyak kapag walang kalaro. I have always been bitchy and a pain in the ass eversince I was a little girl. Sa kabila noon ay naging pasensosyo siya pagdating sa akin.
Nga lang, nang magbinata na ay mas lalo siyang naging masungit. Pero caring pa rin naman at sweet paminsan-minsan, kagaya na lang ngayon.
"I won't say that you can keep doing that behind his back because we both know that it's not right and never it will be. You are already old, Tate. I know you can now handle decisions and direct your life to the right path. I won't meddle with your personal life..." he breathed deeply. "But promise me you won't get yourself hurt. You know how much I hate seeing you crying. My sister doesn't know that emotion."
Natawa ako. Ipinulupot ko ang kamay ko paikot sa bewang niya at humagikhik. I know that he's already aware of Cade's and I relationship status but he's just trying to be keep silent and be out of it. Hahayaan ko na lang din at hindi na muna sasabihin sa kanya. Hindi pa rin naman ako sigurado sa kahihinatnam ng relasyon namin ng kaibigan niya.
"Thanks for the concern, Kuya. But it doesn't mean that I will let you pass."
"What do you mean?" he questioned, confusion laced within his thick voice.
"You had a relationship with Alexi?"
I felt his body stiffen. Tumunghay ako at nilingon siya. His eyes are closed, jaw clenching a bit while having a deep breathing.
"He told you?"
Natawa ako. "Why did you hide it?"
"Let's not talk about it, Tate." he growled like a silent but dangerous lion. "And tell your boy toy to stop telling you stories."
"Eh, curious ako, kuya! Paanong naging kayo? Kailan at saka si Zadriel ba talaga ang dahilan bakit kayo naghiwalay?"
Nagmulat siya ng mga mata, bahagyang mapungay ang mga 'yon. Because of the huge chandelier above us that gives us light, I can see how his eyelashes casted some shadows on his cheekbone.
"You want a brand new car?" he asked.
My eyes glittered. "You'll buy me?"
"Only if you stop being so nosy."
My lips let out a gigantic smile and hugged him tightly. "Wala naman talaga akong pakielam sa past ninyo, kuya."
"Inuuto ka na naman ba niyang kapatid mo, Tobias?"
Sabay kaming napabaling ni Kuya sa may hagdanan. There's Mommy, elegantly climbing down with her white flowing dress. Sa likod niya ay si Daddy, nakangisi at nakatitig sa amin.
Bumusangot ako. "Malapit ko na talaga isipin na ampon ako!"
Tumaas ang kilay ni Mommy dahilan para lalo siyang magmukhang mataray. She's now already on her way towards me. Tumayo ako at mabilis na lumipat sa kabilang gilid ni Kuya Tobias. I anchored my arm on his and glanced at Mommy. Nanlilisik ang mga mata nito habang nakatitig sa akin.
"Trinity, that's enough." Dad chuckled.
"Hindi! Namimihasa na itong anak mo. Palagi na lang umuuwi ng hating gabi at akala mo hindi babae-"
"Mom, it's alright. My sister was with me last night. We're in the same club so she's safe."
Oh, damn! Thanks, Kuya, for saving my ass! Hindi ko na talaga alam ang magagawa ni Mommy sa akin sa mga oras na ito.
Umawang ang labi ni Mommy, ang mga mata ay palipat-lipat ng tingin sa amin ni Kuya.
"Is that so?" she asked, voice a bit doubtful.
Kuya Tobias nodded. "Yes. You can calm down now."
Nakalapit na si Daddy sa likod ni Mommy. Dumapo ang kamay niya sa bewang nito at marahan iyong hinaplos.
"Heard that? Your daughter was with Tobias. Let Tate breathe in peace now," Dad chuckled but Mommy remained staring bitchily at me. "Kumain na tayo."
"Didn't you had your breakfast awhile ago, Dad?" I butted in.
Dad's thick and bushy brow crumpled a bit. "What are you talking about, Tate?"
"Hindi ba at gumawa kayo ng bagong kapati-"
Bago ko pa natapos ang sinasabi ko ay tinakpan na ni Kuya ang bibig ko.
"I'm hungry. Kumain na po tayo." pagsalo niya sa akin na ikinalukot ng mukha ko.
Mommy's cat-like eyes bore into me. Inalis ko ang kamay ni Kuya sa bibig ko at nag peace sign. She rolled her eyes and turned her back against us.
"Halina kayo. Tatiana, I need you to meet my friend tomorrow. Magpaaayos iyon ng office niya." pahabol niya habang naglalakad na patungong dining area.
"Yes, mother earth!" I said back.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Daddy. He shrugged his shoulder back and followed Mommy right away. Nang lingunin ako ni Kuya ay agad siyang napailing.
"You and your mouth."
Humalakhak ako. "Tara na nga at lumafang na!"
Sabay kaming dumating ni Kuya sa dining area. Mommy and Daddy are already sitting. Nasa sentro si Daddy, sa kanan niya ay si Mommy. Pagkaupo namin ni Kuya sa tapat nila ay agad kaming pinagsilbihan ng mga kasambahay.
"How's the deal with Mrs. Miranda, Tatiana?" si Mommy.
Mula sa juice sa aking tabi nag angat ako ng tingin sa kanya. "It's already done, My. Nakapili na siya ng design na gusto-"
My phone vibrated beside my plate, snatching everyone's attention. Kinuha ko ito at ang text agad ni Zadriel ang nakita ko.
Zadriel:
It's sometimes good to be bad, huh? :)
Humagikhik ako. I lifted my eyes only to find out that everybody is looking at me.
"Is it Cade? Where is he by the way?" tanong ni Mommy.
Pasimple akong napatingin kay Kuya at seryoso lang itong nakatitig sa plato niya. I transferred my eyes back to Mommy and she's staring intensely at me.
"Nasa abroad po. Business matters."
"Himala, hindi ka sinama?"
Nagkabit balikat ako. "Your daughter is too busy, Mommy!"
"Busy with with? Parties and alcohol?"
Sumimangot ako. "Ang judger mo, My! Dapat kasi ay hinayaan mo na lang ako bumili ng sariling-"
Naputol ang pagsasalita ko nang mag ring ang cellphone ni Daddy. He glanced at it and suddenly wiped his lips with a table napkin.
"I have to take this call. It's Zion Monasterio." sabi ni Daddy bago dinampot ang cellphone at tumayo.
The very mention of that surname feels like someone have pointed a live electrical wire in my heart.
Hala! Bakit tumawag si Tito Zion kay Daddy? Hindi kaya sasabihin niyang magkasama kami ni Zadriel kahapon? Kapag nalaman nila Daddy at Mommy iyon ay paniguradong magtataka sila dahil si Cade ang alam nilang boyfriend ko! Masiyado pa namang malikot ang isip ni Mommy.
I was slicing my bacon mindlessly when Dad came back after a couple of minutes. Alerto akong nag angat ng tingin niya, naghahanap ng kakaiba sa ekpresyon niya.
"Why did Zion call?"
Bumalik sa pagkakaupo si Daddy, nilingon si Mommy at tipid na nginitian.
"It's about the furnitures I ordered for the new branch of our bank. They will send it the day after tomorrow."
"Oh, I see."
Nakahinga ako ng maluwag matapos marinig ang sagot na iyon ni Daddy. Mabuti na lang at hindi tungkol sa akin. Well, Zion doesn't look like a man who intervene in his children's lives. Hindi kagaya ng asawa niya na mahadera.
Mabilis na lumipas ang oras. I spent my whole day inside my room, drawing some designs and social medias. It's late eleven in the evening when my phone rang. Mula sa pagkakahiga ko sa gilid ay pumihit ako sa kabila at inabot ang aking cellphone.
My brow raised a bit when I read Zadriel's name. I lazily tapped the accept button and placed the speaker across my ear.
"Hmm?" I greeted, eyes shut s bit.
"Did I wake you up?" he asked, his voice husky and sensual.
"Not really, papatulog pa lang."
"Hmm. Let's video call."
Wala sa sariling kumunot ang noo ko. "For what?"
"Just wanna see you."
Tumawa ako. "Do I need to take my clothes off now?"
His sexy chuckle thundered across the line. "Silly. I'm gonna call now."
"Kay."
Wala pang isang minuto matapos maputol ang tawag ay nakita ko na ang video call ni Zadriel mula sa Facetime. Tapping the answer button, itinapat ko ang screen ng phone ilang sentimetro ang layo sa aking mukha at ngumisi.
"Why don't you want to see me naked?" I said right away.
Mula sa screen ay nakita ko si Zadriel na nakadapa sa kama niya. He's naked on top. The only clothes I can see in him are his denim jeans that's a bit low waist and the international brand etched on the waistband of his boxer. Bukas pa ang ilaw sa kinaroroonan niya dahilan para makita ko rin ang gold crucifix necklace sa leeg niya na palagi kong nakikita noon pa man.
He's leaning his chin against a white pillow before I saw him twitch his lips.
"Are you going to seduce me?" he asked sexily.
"You can say that. Don't you want to be seduced?"
"Your face is already seducing me, Tate. No need to show me your body. Baka hindi ako makapagpigil."
Humalakhak ako. "Wala ka namang magagawa. Nasa penthouse mo ikaw at narito ako."
He smirked. "Try me. I can easily go there and ask you to come down."
Tumaas ang kilay ko, nangingisi. "Tapos?"
"You know what to happen next." His voice was so raspy and sensual when he said those words. I never really appreciate men's voice but Zadriel's was an exemption.
Natawa ako, napapailing dahil sa kalokohan niya. "So what is this FaceTime all about?"
Nakita ko ang pagyos niya ng pagkakadapat at tinitigan ako mabuti sa screen. The way his dark eyes pierce into mine felt like I'm staring at him personally.
"Let's have an out of town."
My brows formed in a line. "What? Saan naman at anong meron?"
"Cebu. Just a three day vacation."
Ngumuso ako. "Bakit ako ang isasama mo? There's Dianara-"
"I want you. As simple as that."
Hindi ako nakasagot agad. Mariin kaming nagtitigan sa isa't-isa bago ako nagpakawala ng hagalpak na tawa.
"Gusto mo lang ng kajerjeran sa loob ng tatlong araw, e."
He let out a husky chuckle. "Tate, baby, this isn't always about sex. I want your company and I enjoyed each and every time we're together. I just thought that my vacation there will be so much fun and memorable when you're with me."
Asus. Kunwari pa ito! Binobola pa ako e, alam ko namang gusto niya lang ng sexy time. Iyong malaya sa nobya niya.
"Nangbola ka pa. Eh, kailan ba ang alis?"
Ano, Tate? Bibigay ka rin naman pala! Malandi ka.
"Tomorrow."
"Shocks! Cannot be. May meeting ako tomorrow."
"Till what time?"
Sandali akong napatingin sa kisame ngunit agad rin itong ibinalik sa kanya. He's gawking sharply at me.
"I may not be done until lunch."
He grazed his tongue over his lips, making it become moist.
"Just tell me when you're finished. I'll wait for you."
"Hmm, okay!"
Accepting his invitation only means that I have to make an excuse to my parents about being on leave for three days. Ano naman ang idadahilan ko? Kung sasabihin kong may outing ang company ay siguradong malalaman ni Mommy iyon.
Maybe I can use Mica and Amaris as an excuse?
Zadriel's playful smirk brought me out of my deep thoughts. Satisfaction was etched on his lips.
"It's a done deal, then?" he said. "You can't back out anymore."
I arched my brow up. "Makulit ka, eh."
He chuckled. "See you tomorrow, Tate."