After I closed the zipper of my pants there's also someone knocking on the door.
"Come in!" I respond. Agad namang iniluwal si Ms. Canlee.
"Pinapatawag kayo ni Mayor Zandro para sabayan siya sa almusal ngayong umaga," ngiti niyang sabi.
"Okay, salamat." Tumango siya at lumabas ulit.
I turned to the large mirror and stared at myself. Honestly, I still did not want to leave here, not because of what happened to me last night with Wayne that we kissed on the playground. Gusto ko pang manatili dahil sa lugar nila, nakakagaan ng kalooban kapag na nasisilayan ko ang napaka-ganda nilang lugar buong araw.
Pagdating ko sa silid ng Mayor, nadatnan ko siya na nakaupo sa swivel chair habang seryosong nagbabasa ng diyaryo. Kahit nakabukas na ang pintuan ay kumatok pa rin ako para ibaling niya ang kanyang atensyon sa akin.
"Good morning, Lolo," bati ko.
"Magandang araw rin sa iyo, hija." Nginitian niya ako. "Halika't maupo." Nagsimula akong maglakad palapit sa kanya at umupo sa kaharap niyang couch.
Napatingin ako sa mesa at may nakahanda ng dalawang tray na may lamang pagkaing kakainin namin sa almusal.
"Saluhan mo ako sa pagkain," alok niya.
"Ughmm, may nais ba kayong sabihin sa akin kaya pinatawag niyo ako?" Tumaas ang dalawa kong kilay. At huminga siya ng malalim.
"Ngayon ang araw nang pag-alis mo 'di ba? Hindi pa kita lubos na nakilala ngunit napaka-gaan na ng kalooban ko sa iyo." Ngumiti ako.
"Maraming salamat, Lolo. Sobrang swerte ko rin na nakasama ko kayo sa araw ng pasko." Ngumiti siya.
"Ngayon... pwede ba akong humingi ng malaking pabor bago ka umalis?" Hindi ako nag-aalinlangang tumango.
"Go ahead." He took a deep breath.
"Pwede bang... manatili ka rito ng dalawang linggo?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.
"P-po? A-anong gagawin ko rito sa dalawang linggo?" tanong ko.
"Gusto ko na bago ka umalis ay matutunan mo ang tradisyon at kultura namin. I want you to discover the hidden beauty of the Asynithis island so you can learn something before you return to your normal place where you came from." Napanganga ako.
"T-talaga?" Tumango siya.
"You have two weeks left before your return to school begins next year, right? Kaya hihingin ko itong pabor sa iyo." I swallowed.
I have no intention of rejecting Lolo Zandro in his favor because he wholeheartedly accepted me as a guest in his mansion. Pero hindi ko rin maiiwasan na mag-aalala dahil mahaba-haba ang panahon na hiningi niyang pabor sa akin.
"S-sige po..." Ngumiti siya.
"If you agree, my secretary will give you your schedule of where you are going." Ms. Canlee approached me and handed me a notepad.
Nakasulat sa schedule ko ang iba't-ibang lugar kong pupuntahan at mga activities na kailangan kong gawin. Not totally weird but still amazing.
"Enjoy your trip, Erizzabeth!" he said.
"Ughmm, can you give me a map of the island? I'm not really familiar with your place yet." Umiling si Lolo.
"You don't need a map. Wayne will be the one to accompany you where you'll go." My world stop turning for a while.
"W-what? So, you say I am not alone where I am going?" He nodded.
"Of course, it's not good for you to be alone." I averted my eyes on him and thinking if I can afford to be with Wayne. I am still a little ashamed of him after what happened last night.
I went back to my room and put on other clothes. Boots, black shorts, and sleeveless that I just covered with a denim jacket. I just wore what I used to wear every time I traveled.
Paglabas ko ng mansion, doble ang kaba na naramdaman ko nang makita si Wayne sa tapat habang hinihimas-himas ang buhok ng kabayo. Ibinaling niya ang kanyang tingin nang maramdaman niyang nakalabas na ako.
"What the fuck are you wearing?" I bent down and looked at what I was wearing.
"Why? What's wrong?" I looked at him.
"You are not in your normal place. You are on our island and you act like an unworthy person because of what you are wearing." I stunned.
"Then, sorry. Hindi naman sila nagreklamo sa suot ko, maliban sa'yo." Umiwas siya ng tingin sa akin at ginulo ang buhok niya.
"Stupid." He approached me and handed the thick cape similar to what the king and queen wear.
"Bakit kailangan pa nating magsuot ng ganito?" tanong ko habang inalalayan niya akong suotin ang kapa.
"Don't be stupid if you still want come home alive." He pushed the cape hat over my head.
Nagtatanong lang naman ako pero nagsusungit agad ang matandang 'to. Do I not deserve to be treated as his visitor or tourist? My question was simple but he was stressed right away!
"Mauna kang sumakay sa kabayo," utos niya.
"B-bakit ako?"
"Gusto ka bang mapatid ng kabayo?!" inis niyang sabi.
"Ba't ka nagsusungit? Nagtatanong lang naman ako." Napahilamos siya sa kanyang mukha.
"Huwag ka ring bobo kung ayaw mong susungitan kita!" Huminga nalang ako ng malalim.
"Mukhang handa na kayo sa inyong paglalakbay?" Napatingin kami kay Lolo na kararating lamang.
"Lolo Dad, hindi na kami magtatagal. We had to get to the other side before the afternoon spot." Lolo Zandro nodded.
"Take care of her." Wayne looked at me for a while before nodded.
"Let's go," he said seriously. So I immediately approached towards him.
Inlalayan niya ako na makasakay sa kabayo. I also felt a little nervous because I was afraid to hold the horse, thinking that I might suddenly move and be out of balance.
"Just keep calm, hindi nananakit ang alaga ko," he said as he rode behind me.
Hindi ko maigalaw ang katawan ko dahil sobrang lapit niya sa akin, lalo na nang hinawakan niya ang reins.
"Hold the reins properly," utos niya. "Straighten your body so that you don't have difficulty riding and don't be nervous as well because I can lean on your back." I nodded.
"Okay."
I was surprised when he suddenly held my hand that was holding the reins. I was not assuming because I knew he really needed to do that because we both needed to hold the reins.
"Gee ah!" Iyon ang inutos ni Wayne para tumakbo ng mabilis ang kabayo.
Nakita ko sina Lolo at Ms. Canlee sa malayo habang kumakaway ito sa amin. Ibinaling ko rin ang tingin ko kay Wayne sa likuran pero deretso itong nakatitig sa harap.
"Stop staring at me, tumingin ka sa harapan!" I immediately averted my eyes on him and obeyed his command.
As the horse ran fast, we passed through so many ancestral houses as it surrounded the opposite side of a huge paddy field.
Hindi nagtagal, humina ang takbo ng kabayo nang makarating kami sa medyo madilim na lugar at nababalot ng hamog na ulap ang paligid. Nakakatakot din tingnan lalo na't tahimik. Awtomatiko ang kaba ng puso ko nang makarinig ako ng iba't-ibang hindi karaniwang na tunog ng mga hayop.
"Anong lugar 'to, Wayne?"
"Sshh... keep your mouth shut," he said softly.
Naramdaman kong kinuha niya ang dala niyang pana na nakasabit sa kanyang balikat. Pinahinto niya ang kabayo bago ipinuwesto ang palaso. Natatakot ako sa ginagawa niya dahil wala akong kaalam-alam kung saang direksyon niya itinuon ang palaso.
"A-anong ginagawa mo?" Hindi siya sumagot at nagpukos habang hinihintay na lumabas ang kanyang papanain.
Biglang may lumabas galing sa damuhan at agad na binitiwan ni Wayne ang palaso dahilan ng pagtama nito sa isang usa.
"Fuck," bulong niya. At kumuha ulit ng palaso.
"Wayne, what are you doing?"
"Just keep your mouth shut!" Naiinis na siya.
Hindi ko pa rin naiintindihan ang ginagawa niya. Akala ko mamasyal kami pero parang pangangaso na yata ang ginagawa niya. Kung alam ko lang na ganito lang pala ang gagawin namin, dapat hindi ko na pinagbigyan pa si Lolo Zandro sa pabor niya.
Hindi ako makagalaw nang namasdan ko ang paligid na parang may nagtatakbuhan. Hindi ko masyadong nakikita sila pero nagtatago lang sila sa damuhan.
May lumabas na isang taong nakabalot ang mukha ng itim at agad itong tinamaan ni Wayne ng palaso. Mukha siyang ninja.
"Fuck, we should go now!" Agad niyang pinatakbo ang kabayo.
"Sino sila?" tanong ko.
"They are the people of the other island. They are ninjas and they are spying here as well." He took my hand and positioned it on the reins. "Hawakan mo ng maigi iyan. Kailangan ko lang 'tong tapusin."
Bumitaw siya at pabaling-baling ang tingin ko sa likuran at sa harapan. I watched him for a moment when he placed three arrows on his finger. He immediately released it and hit the ninjas who followed us.
Nang wala ng makasunod sa amin, umayos siya sa puwesto at binagalan ng kaunti ang takbo ng kabayo. Nakahinga na rin ako ng maluwag dahil nalampasan namin ang hindi ko inasahang pangyayari.
In Wayne's way now, he is not afraid that it will happen. Maybe because he is used to it and not like me that I thought it would only happen in shows but that event is also happening in this place.
"Are you okay?" he asked seriously.
"Y-yeah... I-I'm okay," I lied.
Bigla akong nanigas nang inilapat niya ang kanyang kanang palad sa dibdib ko. "You're not okay." I looked at him.
"H-how did you know?"
"You heart beats faster." I grabbed his hand and slowly pulled it away from my chest.
"I'm fine. Mawawala rin ang kaba ko ng ilang sandali." Narinig ko ang paghinga niya ng malalim.
Nakarating kami sa isang ilog. Tumigil ang paglakad ng kabayo dahil mukhang pagod na rin ito. Bumaba na rin si Wayne bago niya ako inalalayan sa pagbaba.
"Malayo pa ba tayo?" tanong ko habang naglakad siya palapit sa ilog.
"We have not reached the middle yet. Maybe we will spend the night here first."
"What?! Pero malaki pa ang oras na natira, pwede pa tayong magpatuloy." Umiling siya.
"Hindi safe sa atin na basta-basta nalang magpatuloy, Erizz. Napaka-delikado ng daan para makapunta tayo sa nayon." Napakibit-balikat ako.
"Eh, bakit pa tayo magpatuloy kung delikado naman?"
"That's what Lolo Dad's favor, kaya wala akong karapatan na suwayin iyon."
I just kept quiet and took off the cape I was wearing. I also took off the laces of my boots I was wearing so that my feet would not get too hot inside.
I want to swim in the river but I can't because I don't have any clothes. If I could just take off my underwear just so I can swim, I'll not hesitate to do it, but I'm not comfortable doing that because I'm with Wayne.
"Wanna swim with me?" alok niya.
"N-no... thanks," pagtanggi ko.
"Why? Are you afraid to be naked?" Ngumisi siya.
"You're crazy! If you wanna have some fun, don't include me to your antics!" He chuckled.
"Then, bahala ka."
He started to take off his top clothes. I looked away from him when he opened the zipper of his pants. I forced myself to turn my attention to something else, katulad nang pagbungkal ng lupa gamit ang maliit na stick para hindi lang matignan ang katawan niya.
"Can you put my clothes on the side so it don't get wet, Erizz?" I slowly turned my gaze on him. At biglang bumagsak ang panga ko nang makita siyang walang itinirang damit na suot niya. Just now i saw a naked man.
"Holy shit!" I immediately covered my eyes using my palm. "Pwede bang isuot mo ang damit mo?! Nakakadiri ka!"
"What's wrong?! Did my body seduce you?" I swallowed.
"No! You're really a pervert asshole!" I said with an irritated voice.
"Stop being innocent. You just making yourself rude!" I sighed.
"You're rude!" Umiling siya at tinalikuran ako. Lumangoy pa rin talaga siya sa ilog na nakahubad.
Imbis na paulit-ulit ko siyang sawayin, kinuha ko nalang ang mga damit niya at inihagis sa itaas ng puno kasama na ang underwear niya para isampay. Siya na rin ang may sabi na ilagay ko sa ligtas na lugar para hindi mabasa, so I guess, that's better to hang his clothes on top of the tree.
Ilang oras na siyang nasa ilog at hindi pa rin umaahon. It was noon and I was already feeling hungry, I wanted to eat and rummage through the food we were carrying but I felt guilty when I am not with Wayne, because I might suddenly run out of food and there was nothing left for him.
"Why did you do that?" Hindi ko namalayang nasa tapat ko na si Wayne na nakatayo.
"W-what do you mean?" I averted my eyes on him 'cause I don't really want to see him naked.
"Bakit mo inilagay ang mga damit ko sa itaas ng puno?!" Ramdam kong naiinis na siya.
"You said that I could put your clothes to the place where it don't get wet. So I put it on the top on the tree." Ngumuso ako.
"You're really a stupid! Kunin mo iyan!" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"Ba't ako? Kunin mo kung gusto mo. Hindi naman ako ang magsusuot niyan, ikaw." Nginitian ko siya.
"Ayaw mo talagang kunin?" Tumango ako.
"Yup." Huminga siya ng malalim at nagulat nalang ako nang bigla niya akong kinarga. "What the hell are you doing?!" He ignored me and suddenly dropped me in the river.
"Ayaw mong kunin 'di ba? Then, maligo ka riyan. Let's see how are you naked now," he teased me.
"Argh! You're crazy!"
It's already night but I was still busy drying my clothes. Actually, I was forced to wear underwear and just covered it with a cape because my clothes had not dried yet. Wayne was also busy making fires so that we would not be too cold.
"Tigilan mo na iyan." Hindi ko siya pinakinggan. "Tigilan mo na iyan sabi!" Iniharap niya ako.
Bigla niyang hinubad ang pang-itaas niyang damit at ibinigay sa akin. "Wear it. I know you already feel cold there in your body. Sorry if I maked your clothes wet." Tinalikuran niya ako at bumalik ulit sa pag-upo sa nakahigang kahoy habang nakatapat siya sa apoy.
Pagkatapos kong magbihis, lumapit ako sa kanya at tinabihan siya sa pag-upo. Nawala na rin ang lamig na naramdaman ko.
"Thanks," I said while he was busy playing with the stick in the fire.
"I never asked you to acknowledge me. May kapalit ang pagtulong ko sa'yo."
"Kapalit? Ano iyon?" Ibinaba niya ang nilalaro niyang stick at tumingin sa akin.
"Kiss me." I stunned.
"What?"
"I said, kiss me!"
"But--" Naputol ang sasabihin ko nang bigla niya akong hinila at hinalikan. He was hungry to kiss me, I was shocked when his lips moved to my neck.
"W-wayne..." I held his hair. "P-please... stop." My voice broke.
Hinalikan niya ulit ako sa labi kasabay ng pagkarga niya sa akin para iupo ako sa hita niya. Iginapang niya ang mga kamay niya sa loob ng katawan ko. Bigla niya akong inihiga sa damuhan habang patuloy siya sa ginagawa niya. Humalik ulit siya sa leeg ko hanggang sa akmang huhubarin na niya ang suot kong damit pero pinigilan ko siya.
"Wayne, sabi mo halik lang 'di ba?" Napatigil siya saglit ngunit agad naman siyang bumalik sa paghalik sa leeg ko. "S-stop... please."
"Fuck!" Kumalas siya sa akin at ginulo ang buhok niya. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Erizz."
"I-its okay..." I swallowed.
"Hindi ko na iyon uulitin pero... give me another kiss before this night ends."
He kissed me again and bit my lip. I can't believe he's such a wild and jerk man but I really can't stop myself every time he seduces me. Sa lahat ng bagay na gustong-gusto ko... ngayon lang ako naging ganito kabaliw.
Wayne Ozan's POVI smiled broadly as I walked here on the bright street as I holding a bouquet of sunflowers. Now is the day we will meet, new beginning meeting for a long time!"I'm close there, wait for me," sagot ko sa kabilang linya. "Dalian mo na, Kuya! Magsisimula na ang concert nila Erizz!" nasasabik na sambit ni Gael sa akin kaya mas lalo akong bumungisngis."Bakit ba mas nasasabik pa kayo kaysa sa akin? Dapat hindi niyo ako malalamangan ngayon, no!" Tumawa siya."Sino ba naman ang hindi masasabik kung ito ang pinaka-masayang araw sa buong buhay mo, ha!" Tumawa ako. "Ay teka, dala mo ba 'yung diamond ring?" "Yup! I will never forget that." Too loud to hear where they were Gael. Probably a lot of people at the John Anson Ford Amphitheater where Erizzabeth's concert venue is."Good luck to your proposal, Kuya-"
I have achieved the place I dreamed of then. Twenty years have passed and I thought then that I would be able to go with Wayne and finally migrate here to Los Angeles, California but he will still be left there to answer his case for the murder of Vench."ART. 248. Murder. Any person who, not falling within the provisions of Article 246, shall kill another, shall be guilty of murder and shall be punished by reclusion perpetual, to death if committed with any of the following attendant circumstances.""Twenty years, Wayne! I'll wait twenty years before I go there!" He shrugged.I visited him today in jail because his lawyer gave me a letter from a famous band in the states that allegedly hired me to be the band's vocalist."Pagkakataon mo na iyon para tuparin ang mga pangarap mo, Erizz." Bumuntong-hininga ako."Sabi ko naman sa'yo na hindi ko na kailangan na tuparin pa 'yun kung hindi man lang kita m
I can't imagine myself being seen in the mirror while staring at the bruises on my body that still do not heal. Bruises that are still visible to look at. The black bruise around my right eye still does not heal because of Vench's mistreatment of me. He hurt me so much!I did not expect the day to continue, the day Vench had been waiting for the most when he would see me walking to church to where he was standing. Ngunit bago pa man ito mangyari ay may iniwan na siyang mga pasa sa buong katawan ko."Ma'am, let's start?" the make-up artist approached me. Itinagilid ko lamang ang tingin ko ng kaunti para masilayan siya."Can you thicken the make-up so as not to notice my bruises?" Pinagmasdan niya ako sa harap ng salamin at inilibot ito ang paningin sa mga pasa ko sa katawan."Yes, Ma'am," she said softly.As I stared at her face, she seemed to feel sorry for me because I was probably the ugliest brid
It was midnight but I was still standing by the large window in my room. Hindi pa kasi ako makatulog dahil malalim pa rin ang iniisip ko tungkol kay Wayne. Halos mag-iisang buwan nang hindi kami nagkita pero may komunikasyon pa rin naman kami dahil madalas siyang nagpapadala ng email sa akin at sinekreto ko pa rin ito kay Vench. Binabasa ko lang naman ang sulat niya kahit hindi ko ito sinusuklian.Inaamin ko na isang kataksilan ang ginagawa ko sa fiance ko pero... mapipilit ko ba kung ito talaga ang magpapasaya sa sarili ko? So selfish to hear that I will marry the man I do not love. I will just take advantage of the times I was with Wayne. Titigil na rin naman ako kapag tuluyan na akong naikasal kay Vench.I heard the doorbell rang and I saw the mailer outside. So my smile widened as I went out of my room to go and pick up Wayne's letter.Paglabas ko, wala na ang mailer ngunit napawi ang ngiti ko nang makitang si Vench ang tumangga
The elevator rang and the door slowly opened for me to get out. I'm not in the mood to walk here on the way to my unit. I don't know if I can keep up with my life now that my situation is getting worse. I'm so tired for being selfish!When I arrived at my unit, I did not know that Wayne was waiting outside as he leaned against the door. Parang kanina pa talaga siya sa akin naghihintay at alam ko ang sadya niya kung bakit siya narito ngayon dahil hindi ako sumipot sa usapan namin na sabay kaming maglunch.Whether I want to hide or avoid him now, it's too late because he has already seen me. I thought the expression on his face would be angry but why does he just seem calm and just smile at me?"What are you doing here?" I asked with a coldly voice. Ngumuso lamang ito."It seems like you're not in the mood to see me." Humakbang siya papalapit sa akin. "What's wrong, baby girl?" Hinaplos niya ang pisngi ko pero agad ko
Hininto niya ang sasakyan sa tapat ng skwelahan nang mapagtanto kong nakarating na kami. Hinatid ako ni Wayne dahil hindi naman talaga ako umuwi sa condo ko at magkasama lamang kami buong gabi."I'll fetch you later? Lunch?" I gradually smiled."Okay, see you." I kissed him on his cheek."I love you," he whispered as he kissed me on the forehead. "Take care."Siniguro ko munang walang studyante sa labas bago ako lumabas dito sa loob ng sasakyan. Mahirap na, baka may makakita sa akin o mga kasamahan ni Vench na may kasama akong ibang lalaki.Dali-dali kong isinara ang pinto at lumayo ng kaunti sa sasakyan nang sa gano'y hindi mahahalata ng mga tao. Hihintayin ko sanang umalis si Wayne bago ako pumasok sa campus pero sumenyas na siya na ako ang mauuna kaya kumaway na lamang ako sa kanya at nagsimulang maglakad papasok."Erizzabeth." I stopped when someone calls my attentio