I'm in the veranda of a room Emmanuel's set for me. Sinabi niya sa akin na hindi kami magtatabi hanggat hindi ko sinasabi. Iniisip ko pa rin ang pakikitungo ng Lolo niya sa akin. I don't know but I knew when someone don't like me without them saying it in front of my face. And i feel it kanina sa Lolo niya. It seems like he doesn't want my presence dahil nakikita ko sa body language niya at panaka-nakang pagbuntong hininga at tunog na "tsk" sa bibig.
Ilang beses ako bumuntong hininga at bumusangot bago napagpasiyahan na pumasok dahil baka makita pa ako ni Manuel dito. Nagulat ako ng mabungaran siya sa pinto ng veranda at nakatingin lamang sa akin, lumapit ako sa kanya
"Kanina kapa ba diyan?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"Enough to see your sighs and frowns" he uttered without removing his eyes on me.
Hindi ko siya pinansin at lumapit sa higaan upang umupo kaharap niya.
"You seems off, What's bothering you?" he said worriedly.
"Wala naman" ani ko.
Tumingin siya sakin at lumapit habang ngumingisi.
"Tell me, baby. I hate seeing you sad," he said and caress my cheeks. "It's about your grandfather." ani ko sa kanya. Tumingin naman siya ng naguguluhan. "He doesn't like me here, in your hometown, and maybe hate my presence," I told him and break our eye contact. Inayos ko ang gulo sa unan na hinigaan ko kanina.
"When I told him about the necklace, he got upset because he knows it's on the vault and he thinks that someone steals it from my grandmother," he said that caught my attention.
"Pero hindi namin ninakaw yon, binigay samin yon ng Lola mo, you know the story how it happens. She gave it to my parents willingly." I explained.
"I know. I told him about that but he's just too upset because he's the one who designs it.
It's so sentimental for him." he reached my hand and placed it to his face, kinuskos niya ang mukha sa aking kamay na parang pusa.
"He did?" gulat kong tanong sa kanya, tumango naman ito at ngumuso.
"Did you tell him that I give the necklace to you?"
"I haven't, yet. We can tell him later. Just pardon his attitude towards you. He's too old and grumpy but I know he will love you." he said, assuring me.
"I just hope he will not be upset anymore. I don't want him to think that we stole it. we will never do that horrible thing."
Tinanguan niya naman ako kaya ngumiti ako sa kanya. lumapit ang mukha niya sakin kaya napapikit ako, naramdaman ko ang paglapat ng labi niya sa labi ko, naramdaman kong tinanggal niya ang hawak sa pareho kong kamay at nilagay niya iyon sa bewang ko at hinila ako upang mas lumapit sa kanya.
Nilipat ko naman ang pareho kong kamay sa batok niya kaya binuhat niya ako at inupo sa kandungan niya. Umatras ako dahil sa kinukulang ako sa hangin, napadilat ako kaya nakikita ko ang mata niyang namumungay, isa isa naman niyang tinanggal ang butones ng polo niya.
"Aren't you tired?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"Nope, that's why I sleep in the car." he kissed me again until I felt the mattress in my skin.
"Wait..." I stopped him from kissing me, he raised his brow to me
"Do you have protection? I'm not ready for a child... you know our state." I explained.
"I never used one. If you don't one as of now, we will consult a doctor later on," he whispered.
"Now... I want to feel you, Don't stop me. goddamnit!"
Napatawa ako ng mahina sa sinabi niya at tumango sabay hinila siya para mahalikan.
Binaba niya ang zipper ng dress ko at tuluyan na niyang hinubad iyon at malayang pinaglaruan ang aking dibdib.
Inilapit niya ang labi niya sa tenga ko at sinambit ang pangalan ko sa paraan na halos manindig ang balahibo ko. Ang isang kamay niya ay naglalakbay sa buong katawan ko hanggang papunta iyon sa pagkababae ko.
"Please.."I moaned,
Napaungol ako ng ipinasok niya ang dalawang daliri niya ng sabay sa akin, naglikha iyon ng kakaibang tunog na kami lang ang maaaring makaalam
I was naked in front of him, while he's still wearing his unbuttoned polo and pants.
He explored my mouth like it is his. He groaned when I feel my private area clenched on his two fingers.
Nang pakawalan niya ang labi ko ay pareho kaming hinihingal. hindi ko rin mapigilan hindi sambitin ang pangalan niya nang nararamdaman ko na ding malapit na ako kaya napapakapit ako sa braso niya ng mahigpit.
"You are still tight for me, baby."
My heart was thumping fastly, I felt giddy inside. kinikilig ba ako sa sinasabi niya o sa ginagawa niya? Ilang beses ko binaling baling ang ulo ko dahil sa nararamdaman na sensyason.
"Fuck Manuel! I'm near. please make it faster!" I begged,
He kisses me and I answered it with equal passion. We are also breathing in the same air, through our connected lips. I closed my eyes to feel when I felt my release but I opened them again because he slowly rubs my clitoris and put his two-finger in his lips. Napaawang ang bibig ko.
Manuel smirked because of my reaction.
"You don't have to do that," I whispered
"Yeah, but I wanted to. I wanted to make love with you." he said huskily and removed his pants quickly.
He places his shaft in my entrance and gives me one hard thrust.
I winced because it's too damn big. tangina 6'4 kaya ang isang 'to! 5'6 lang ako.
"You still feel uncomfortable? You should get used in how big I am, baby." he slowly grinds on top of me while I was moaning and enjoying him.
Until we both reached a place where the both of us can only go.
I feel the sunlight into my skin, I slowly pat the other side of my bed and opened my eyes slowly to adjust from the light. I'm all alone in our room, so, I get the robe and wear it.
Manuel and I are really tired of feeling each other last night. the bed is a mess, some pillows are on the floor, my clothes are in the chair, our room is just completely fucking messed up. I'm usually clean freak but this sight, this sight makes me fucking smile and grin widely.
Tumayo ako habang inaayos ang aking roba, Inayos ko rin muna ang kwarto maging mga damit namin na nakakalat dahil nakakahiya naman makita ng kasambahay nila na maglilinis. Matapos ko gawin iyon ay binuksan ko ang veranda, binati ako ng sinag ng araw at malamig na simoy ng hangin.
Napatingin ako sa buong tanawin hanggang sa narinig ko ang sasakyan na papasok sa mansion upang mag-park, lumabas doon si Don Marchero at napatingin sakin, tinaasan niya ako ng kilay at napailing.
Huminga naman ako ng malalim dahil sa pakikitungo niya, siguro ay mamaya kakausapin ko siya tungkol sa kwintas dahil ayoko din namang magkaalitan kami. After all, siya ang lolo ni Manuel at nakatulong sa pamilya ko nung halos walang wala kami.
Napag-isipan kong maligo muna bago bumaba dahil kumukulo na din ang tiyan ko, hindi na kami nagdinner ni Manuel dahil natulog kami pagkatapos naming mapagod.
Mabilisang pagligo lang ginawa ko at namili ng susuotin.
I wore a flared pastel blue jumpsuit and white d' orsay flats. I style my hair with high ponytail and no make up because I just doesn't feel like. Kinagat ko lamang ang labi ko para mamula iyon.
Hinahanap ko ang cellphone ko para tawagin si Manuel kung nasaan siya pero may iniwan pala siyang message sa akin na nagpunta sila sa ibang baranggay dahil ang pinsan niya ay naghahanda ng scholarship program para sa mga mahihirap.
Nagreply ako sa kanya kung nakauwi na ba siya, pero wala akong natanggap na reply kaya bumaba muna ako para hanapin siya. Habang pababa ako ay nakita ko si Leslie na kausap si Don Marchero sa dining area, pero luminga linga muna ako para hanapin si Manuel, lalabas sana ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Leslie na tinatawag ako para kumain ng umagahan.
Napatingin naman sakin si Don Marchero habang sumisimsim ng kape niya, umupo naman siya sa hapagkainan kaya pumunta ako doon, bukod sa kumukulo na rin ang tiyan ko kanina pa. Umupo ako sa pangatlong upuan kung saan ako laging umuupo, napatingin naman siya sakin pero binawi agad.
"Maganda araw po, Don Marchero." bati ko sa kanya at ngumiti, pero tinanguan niya lang ako at nagpatuloy sa pag-inom ng kape.
Kumuha naman ako ng makakain, pero nawala na nang tuluyan ang gana ko ng makailang ulit marinig ang pagtikhim niya at pagpaparamdam na ayaw niya ako kaharap.
"Can you please let me understand what is wrong with me and you are acting like that, Sir? I bet this is about the necklace." deretsahan kong sabi sa kanya at agad na tinitigan siya.
Siguro ang isang bagay na maipaglalaki ko na itinuro sakin ng magulang ko ay huwag akong magpapakababa lalo na kung nasa tama naman ako.
"A thief." he said and looks at me with disgust in his expression .
"Excuse me? Did I heard it, right?" I asked, did he just literally say I'm a thief?
"Your family stole my wife's necklace," he shamelessly stated and scoffed
"My parents did not steal your wife's necklace and will never steal anything from anyone," I said with a formal tone.
Hindi ko gustong makipag away sa kanya, lalo na matanda siya pero hindi ako makakapayag na nasisiraan ang pamilya ko sa mismong harap ko pa. Binalik ko iyon kay Manuel and we are planning to tell it to him pero wala pa siya.
"Then, why did you have it?" he asked to me while sipping his coffee.
"Mrs. Anastasia gave it to my parents, she saw my parents in front of the hospital and gave it so we can use it for money because I'm sick at that time. " I explained.
"Hindi lang kayo magnanakaw? sinungaling din at gawa-gawa ng kwento." he insulted at nginisian pa ako, oh gosh, he is really getting on my nerves.
"I already returned it to Emmanuel, Sir. Hindi rin ako nagsisinungaling o gumagawa ng kwento. I know that sounded cliche or what but it really happened!" I explained again ngunit bingi-bingihan ito sa akin.
"Hindi ako maniniwala sa iyo." he said with finality in his tone.
"I figured it out. You think too highly in yourself that it makes you have this stupid huge ego. Akala tama lagi." I said and smirk at him.
"How can Emmanuel marry a woman like you? You have no manners on the eldest!" he shouted.
I stood up and looked at him.
"How can I respect a person like you, if you don't do the same Mr. Marchero?" I said to him.
"I know respect is something to be earn and clearly, you don't deserve any ounce of my respect at this moment for saying insulting words not only in me but to my family as well."
"Bastos ka!" sigaw niya at tumayo rin,
"Put your shoe into mine then. Kung ikaw insultuhin ko at sabihan na magnanakaw ang pamilya mo kahit hindi naman. Would you like it?" I asked and raised his brow at him.
"I will never put my shoe to an insolent wench like you!" he shouted and point his finger at me.
"I fucking can't believe you!" I exclaimed and look at him with disbelief. Tanginang mindset 'yan.
I'm about to leave when Emmanuel arrives and ask us if what's wrong but I will never tell.
"What happen?" he asked me worriedly.
"Your so called decent girl talked back to me! She never respects elder, How I'll-mannered!" he said to Manuel while glaring at me.
"Learn to have a decent mindset first, Sir." I talked back again and glared at him too.
"Aba't talagang- Bastos na bata! Ilayo mo sa akin 'yan, Emmanuel. Lumayas ka rito!" sigaw niya sa akin.
"You don't have to do that, Aalis talaga ako rito. But before that, first and foremost, If we stole that necklace hindi na sana namin pinag aksayahan hanapin at kuhanin muli dahil pera lang mahalaga samin pero look, It returns from its original owner and that's your family, Sir. Kung sa tingin niyo everything doesn't make sense at all then I don't want to prove anything to you. I'm done." Tinaas ko pa ang kamay ko habang sinasabi iyon.
"Maybe you want my families credibility? Sluts are all around the world, honey," he said.
Napasigaw naman si Emmanuel sa Lolo niya at humugot ako ng lakas ng loob at tumakbo papuntang kwarto. Hindi ko pa naayos ang mga maleta ko sa damitan kaya hinila ko na lamang ito, sakto naman na dumating si Manuel sa kwarto at napatingin sakin.
"Baby, I'm sorry," he uttered.
Masaganang dumaloy ang luha sa aking mata at napahagulgol ako. I never felt this insult to anyone before. I always did my best. I always make everyone proud in me. I don't compete with anyone because I don't need to prove to anyone how capable I am. It really hurt to think that someone is looking down not only to me but to my family. I really loathe when people don't want to believe what is right and just believe in themselves kahit mali naman sila.
Dinaluhan niya naman ako at niyakap ng mahigpit. He keeps on saying apogizing at ako naman ay umiiyak lamang.
"On behalf of my grandfather, I'm sincerely apologizing for his attitude." he whispered while patting my back and kissing the top of my head.
"Ayos lang, Gusto ko na umuwi sa amin, Manuel." ani ko sa kanya.
Hinawakan niya ang pisngi ko at ginawaran ng halik sa labi.
"Let me fix this, okay? I don't want anyone thinking you that way kahit kamag-anak ko. Please? atleast let me make him apologize in you." he said firmly.
"I don't know what to do, Manuel. He hates me so much. I'm so sorry for talking back din kanina, I can't handle his atti— "
"It's okay. that's fine. i understand, okay?" he assured me and kiss my forehead.
"Let me do everything and settle it to its own places, okay?" he said and smiles.
Tumango na lamang ako at hahayaan muna siya. I do my part by proving myself kahit hindi ko naman ginagawa yun. Kapag hindi pa kami nakapag ayos ngayon araw, Uuwi na ako sa amin even if Manuel is against with it. I won't let anyone look at me with disgust in their eyes like I do something unacceptable in heaven above.
Hinayaan ko na lamang na yakapin niya ako at maramdam ang init ng kanyang braso na nakakulong sa akin. I feel really safe in his arms, No one can ever do this to me, to feel good, to feel at peace, it's him, only him.
Xoxo, Arabella