006

Juliana

—

Iritado kong tiningnan ang buong listahan. All the things written there were absolutely ridiculous!

“Seryoso ba siya rito?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko kay Fabro, na nanatiling tikom ang bibig.

I crumpled the paper in my hand, just like I did with my mother’s will.

So much for trying to make peace with that bastard. Hindi talaga ako magkakaroon ng kapayapaan kung titira ako rito kasama ang gagaong ‘yon!

Damn him! I really need to find a way to get out of this house after the burial! Mababaliw na lang ako kapag nagtagal pa ako rito lalo!

“Where is he?” nagtitimpi kong tanong ulit.

Fabro stood there like he didn’t hear a thing.

Kinuha ko ang remote control para patayin ang TV, bago tumayo mula sa sofa at hinarap siya. I barely reached his shoulder, at sa laki ng kanyang pangangatawan, kahit sino at ay matatakot na harapin siya. But with Raegan nowhere in sight, hindi ko maiwasang ipukol ang galit sa mga tauhan niya.

“I’m asking you where he is, damn it!”

Yumuko si Fabro.

Even though I knew why he couldn’t answer me, hindi pa rin no’n nabawasan ang frustration na nararamdaman ko para sa sitwasyon.

“Kapag hindi mo sinabi, aakyat ako ngayon para hanapin siya sa itaas,” I threatened him.

Bumuntong-hininga ang lalaki. “Nasa pool area po, Miss Juliana.”

Patalikod na sana ako para puntahan iyon nang biglang hinatak ni Fabro ang braso ko. Iritado ko siyang tinapunan ng tingin.

“What now?”

Kinuha niya ang lukot na papel sa aking kabilang kamay at may hinala na akong ituturo niya ulit ang isa sa mga patakaran ng walang hiyang lalaking ‘yon, kaya naman hinablot ko iyon pabalik.

“These are his rules! Wala pa ang akin, kaya hindi pa start!”

He sighed again at umatras na lang para manahimik muli.

I rolled my eyes at him, mentally swapping his face with my stepbrother’s.

Tutuloy na sana ako nang matigilan dahil may naisip. Nilingon ko sila at nakitang nakasunod sila sa akin.

“Wait, is he swimming?” tanong ko.

Tumango si Fabro sa akin nang may pag-aalangan. Dahan-dahan akong ngumisi at imbes na sa pool area agad ang tungo, I went straight back to the basement.

“Now, dear brother… two can play at this game,” I smiled wickedly as I dug through my luggage, searching for a swimsuit.

Nang makapili, agad ko na iyong isinuot at nagtapis lang ng roba.

When I went back upstairs, naroon pa rin ang tatlong lalaki na nag-aabang. I caught Fabro sighing again, as if he already knew exactly what I was planning to do.

Umismid ako sa kanila at tuloy-tuloy na ang lakad ko papunta sa may likuran, tungo sa sliding door na papunta sa pool area.

And there, I saw Raegan doing some laps in the pool. Naka-topless siya at swimming trunks lang ang suot. His back muscles flexed with every stroke he made.

I noticed that he’s built like Fabro, only that his is somewhere between toned and muscular. At sa tingin ko, mas matangkad din siya sa kanyang mga tauhan.

His long arms and legs tread the water effortlessly.

Noong huli ko siyang nakita, hindi pa naman ganito ang pangangatawan niya. It’s much more toned down before. But now, it’s like he’s gained every perfect muscle in all the right places.

What kind of workout has he been doing these past four years to end up with a body like that?

Napangiwi ako dahil parang hindi ko matanggap na siya pa ang may pinaka-magandang katawan sa lahat ng lalaking nakilala ko.

He’s got the perfect face and to-die-for body. It’s just a shame his attitude is the complete opposite. Nasisira no’n lahat ng kagandahan sa kanyang panglabas na anyo.

Nakatalikod pa ito sa akin kaya inilibot ko na lang muna ang tingin sa buong paligid.

This lap pool was built for him by his father. Dahil noong bata pa siya, kinahiligan niya ang paglangoy. If I remember correctly, he was even part of the varsity team for this sport during his high school years.

I gritted my teeth at the memory that he was the one who taught me how to swim back then.

Oo, siya ang nagturo. Pero only because this bastard left me here to drown, and my innocent self had no choice but to learn how to pull myself out of the water.

Mas lalo tuloy akong nainis sa naalalang iyon.

With the paper in my hand, I strutted toward the sun lounger where his towel was neatly laid out. I also noticed his silver watch there, along with a pair of sunglasses.

Bago ako umupo, tinanggal ko muna ang robe na suot at itinabi iyon malapit sa kanyang tuwalya. Dumampi sa aking balat ang panghapon na araw. I’m wearing a simple red string bikini. Iyon ang pinili ko dahil mas lalong nadi-depina no’n ang maputi kong balat.

I caught Fabro scratching the side of his eye. At nang mapansin akong nakamasid, bumuntong-hininga siyang muli at tumayo nang maayos.

The three men stood there, staring straight ahead. Tila ba naroon sila pero walang nakikita na kahit ano o sino. They were still by the glass door.

Ngumisi ako habang hinihintay na umahon si Raegan, na ngayon ay lumalangoy na papunta sa banda ko.

And when he finally did, natigilan pa siya sandali na para banag hindi agad makapaniwala na narito ako. I even saw him do a double take just to be sure.

Beads of water dripped from his hair, down his face, all the way to his body. At gusto ko na namang mapangiwi. The heavens really gave the devil a dangerously gorgeous face to tempt people, huh?

Sinipat niya ang tatlong lalaki ‘di kalayuan sa amin bago niya ibinalik ang tingin sa akin.

I sweetly smiled at him habang paakyat siya sa hagdan, papalabas ng pool.

Mainit na agad ang tingin niya bago pa man siya makarating sa kinauupuan ko. His clenched jaw tells me that I’m really getting on his nerves.

Good to know then.

“Hi, Kuya!” maligayang bati ko nang tuluyan na siyang makalapit.

Iniiwas niya muna ang tingin sa akin, at muli niyang binalingan ang tatlong lalaki sa gilid. Pinanood ko siyang senyasan ang mga ito kaya pumasok sila sa loob ng mansyon.

Ngayon, siya at ako na lang ang nandito.

There’s no denying his fury. It was so evident in his eyes. He’s like a dragon waiting for the perfect timing to breathe out all his rage. Kaya bago niya pa ako mabugahan ng apoy, inunahan ko na siya.

“Malamig ba?” I playfully asked, jerking my chin towards the water. “I want to take a dip, kaso nalaman ko na nandito ka pala. Aalis na nga sana ako, kaso naisip ko… we could have a brother-and-sister moment. Isn’t it great?”

Mariin niya akong tinitigan. “Are you really trying to get yourself locked up down in the basement?”

I chuckled lightly, acting as if I didn’t intentionally come here. Hindi naman niya malalaman!

“No, of course not! Grabe ka naman!” I said with an innocent smile. “It’s just… what… years since we last bonded together. And I missed you, Kuya.”

Hindi siya sumagot.

“You know, we could swim together… just like the old times?” dagdag ko.

His eyebrows were pinched together like he could totally see right through my bullshits.

My smile wavered when his lips suddenly curled into a smirk.

“Is that so?”

Napalunok ako. Hala? Baka sa dagat ako nito palanguyin?

“Oo!” I confidently answered. “Why? Don’t you miss me?” tanong ko at tunog nagtatampo.

I want to puke at myself for even pouting my lips for an added effect.

Hindi siya ulit sumagot at nag-angat lang ng kilay.

“I… uh… also wanted to ask about the… uhm, rules… you wrote.” Humalakhak ako para ipakitang wala lang ‘yon sa akin. “Some of them are a bit extreme, don’t you think?”

“Which one?”

Binuksan ko ang papel na hawak at nagsimula.

“Rule numbers one and two… those I can live with,” patinuna ko at tumango-tango pa para maipakitang talagang sang-ayon ako.

Nanatili siyang nakatayo roon at sinusukat ako ng tingin habang nakaupo ako sa may lounger.

Tiningnan ko ulit ang listahan para sa kasunod.

3. You are forbidden from going anywhere near the second or third floor.

“The number three also… since dati mo pa naman talaga ako pinagbabawalang umakyat do’n.”

4. You are not allowed inside my room or my study. Don’t even try.

“Itong number four… okay. I totally get it. Wala rin naman akong kailangan sa mga lugar na ‘yon.” Pero hindi maipapangako kung patuloy mo akong kakantiin!

Though I didn’t voice the rest out loud. Mamaya niyan sa kung saang lumalop na ako pulutin!

Kumunot ang noo ko nang mapatingin sa susunod na bilang dahil hindi ko iyon nabasa agad kanina. Nag-angat ako ng tingin mula sa papel, patungo sa kanya.

“Why did you stop?” he smirked, tila ba alam niya kung ano ang kasunod at bakit ako natigilan.

I cleared my throat and continue anyway, pilit na winawaglit ang kabang nagsisimulang sumibol sa aking kaibuturan.

Relax, Juliana. Kaya mo ‘to! Huwag kang papatalo sa mga masasama ang ugali!

5. You are not permitted to access the pool area.

“Itong rule number five though… what if gusto ko ring mag-swimming? What if I want to take a dip to clear my head, like right now? Besides, wala naman akong nakikitang mali or masama kung pumunta ako rito.”

Hindi siya sumagot kaya kinuha ko iyon bilang malaking senyales para magpatuloy.

6. You are not allowed to leave the property without my permission.

“This… paano kapag kunwari may emergency? Or baka may kailangan akong bilhin sa karatig isla, o ‘di kaya sa siyudad?” tanong ko. “Baka pwedeng i-message na lang kita pagkatapos kung biglaan man akong umalis?”

Still, he didn’t answer.

7. You will not bring anyone here. No friends, no visitors, no exceptions.

“For this one, well… obviously I don’t have any friends here. Kaya talaga wala akong maidadala rito, and I don’t plan on inviting anyone. It’s just that… can I keep Cairo? Kahit siya lang?”

Nakatitig pa rin siya sa akin, at mukhang wala pa ring balak sumagot.

8. My men do not answer to you. Don’t ask them for favors or help.

Napaubo ako. “N-next o-one… uhm… of course your men should only answer to you. Tama ‘yon,” halakhak ko, na para bang hindi ko binulyawan si Fabro kani-kanina lang dahil ayaw nitong sagutin ang mga tanong ko.

Hindi naman siguro sumbungero ‘yon? Ang laki-laki ng katawan niya para magsumbong dito sa bwiset na amo niya ha!

Raegan still didn’t react. Ewan ko kung na-pipe na ba siya o ano. But I proceeded.

9. You will do household chores to earn your keep. This is not your vacation.

This. Ito ang dahilan ng iritasyon ko. Because seriously? Is he planning to make a goddamn slave here?

Pero imbes na sabihin iyon nang diretso, pinili kong maging kalmado, at panandaliang winawaglit ang inis na nararamdaman ko para sa kanya.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t get this one. Bakit? At paano ang pag-aaral ko? Cairo said I only have two weeks off until the burial. Anong mangyayari sa akin? Am I going to transfer here? If yes, then what school? Paano ako makakapag-aral nang maayos kung kailangan ko pa palang gumawa ng mga gawaing bahay dito?” sunod-sunod na litanya ko.

But instead of answering me, he finally sat down beside me.

His knee brushed with mine, and I had to fight the urge to pull away from the sudden spark I felt. I watched him as he grabbed his towel and began drying his hair.

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil wala pa rin siyang sinasagot sa mga tanong ko.

“You should read the last one,” sambit niya sa wakas pagkaraan ng ilang sandali. Nagpupunas pa rin siya ng kanyang basang buhok.

I looked back at the paper.

10. Break a rule, and you will understand why it exists. You don’t get to question any of them.

Napasinghap ako sa huling nabasa. Inulit ko pa ulit iyon nang ilang beses, because I couldn’t believe I didn’t actually notice the last sentence earlier!

Ngayon, ako naman ang natahimik.

Binitawan niya ang towel na hawak. Bumaling siya nang tuluyan, at ang kanyang mga mata ay puno ng pang-uuyam para sa akin.

“You just broke more than one, Juliana,” he said coldly, a gut-wrenching smile tugging at his lips.