"Are you home, hija? How's the conference?" tanong ni mommy sa kabilang linya. I sat on a wooden chair on my room's veranda. Halos isang oras na rin mula ng dumating ako sa mansyon.
"Yes, kakauwi ko lang po. And regarding with the conference, everything went smoothly just like what you expected."
"Well, that's good to hear." I sighed when the call ended. Yes, everything went smoothly except one thing. Isang bagay na hindi ko inaasahang mangyayari. But I can't do anything about it right now. Isa pa, that time ginusto ko rin yung mangyari. Reilan even gave me a choice to stop. Kaya wala akong ibang dapat sisihin sa katangahan kundi ang sarili.
I just stayed in my room for the whole morning. I texted my friends that I just got home. Hindi sila nagreply. Siguro'y busy sa klase. So, I just browsed my social media accounts. Nang mabored sa ginagawa ay napagpasyahang matulog na lang.
I woke up at one in the afternoon. Nabanggit ni mom kanina na wala munang tutor
"Why did you went out on your own? Sana nagpasama ka," he said, as if concerned."Napahatid naman ako sa driver. Isa pa, malapit lang ito sa amin. And I want to be alone. Kaso, umepal ka."He smirked. "Why so harsh on me, Desire? I'm not doing anything to you."I stayed silent. Matalim ang tingin sa kanya. Napansin ko naman ang mga sulyap ng mga babaeng dumadaan sa amin. Kay Reilan, specifically. Hanggang dito ba naman? Napairap ako. Meanwhile, he just stared at me like I am some sort of puzzle he wants to solve.Napadako ang tingin ko sa daan. May isang batang lalaking naglalakad sa gilid. Umiiyak siya, nag-iisa at tila ba nawawala. Some people glanced at him, but no one cared to ask him what's wrong. Hindi naman siya mukhang batang-kalye. In fact, maayos ang kanyang postura at mukhang anak-mayaman."Mongreco," He looked at me. Tinuro ko ang batang lalaki. His forehead creased."What?""Lapitan mo. Palapitin mo dito. Mukhang nawawala
"Hija, naghihintay ang mommy mo sa ibaba. Sabay daw kayong mag-almusal," bungad sa akin ni manang paglabas ng kuwarto. Inayos ko ang uniform na suot at sinuklay-suklay ang buhok habang naglalakad sa hagdan."Morning, Mom." I kissed her cheek before settling down. My eyes observed her face. She looks sleepless and tired. Ngunit hindi niya iyon pinapahalata sa postura."Good morning. By the way, how's school? Are you working good with Mr. Mongreco?"Nilagyan ko ng pagkain ang sariling pinggan."I'm doing good, po. Actually, I've already got some improvements. Maayos na rin ang pagsosolve ko. He's a good teacher.""That's good to hear, Desire. Akala ko talaga wala ng tutor na makakapagpatino sa 'yo. But looking at your state right now, I feel relieved. Ipagpatuloy mo 'yan."For the next days, I realized that I'm slowly building connection with Reilan. We share kisses and make out when we have time during tutoring sessions. And my problem
"You missed me that much, huh? Isang araw lang naman tayong di nagkita." He chuckled.Nabalik ako sa katinuan at lumayo ng bahagya. I sighed as he turned around to face me. May ngiti sa kanyang labi."H-Hindi kaya..."Naglakad ako pabalik sa high chair at muling umupo doon. Gusto kong huminga muna dahil pakiramdam ko may kung anong nag-iiba sa nararamdaman ko. And I'm afraid to name it. Dahil alam kong hindi ako dapat magkaroon ng malalim na koneksyon sa kanya. It's too risky and dangerous.I looked ar him as he turned off the electric stove and walked towards me."O, ba't ka sumunod? Tapusin mo yung ginagawa mo, Mongreco. Sinabi ko sa 'yo di ba, gutom na ako."Imbes na makinig ay mas lumapit siya at pumwesto sa likuran ko. Itinukod ang dalawang kamay sa magkabilang panig ng counter top habang nasa gitna ako ng mga braso niya. He planted a soft kiss on my cheek and buried his face on my neck. Enough for me to feel his rough
Pagkalipas ng halos dalawang oras ay napaalis rin ni Reilan ang mga kaibigan. Mukhang tumalab na ang kanina pa niyang pangtataboy sa mga ito. Mas lalo kasing nagsungit si Hitler sa kadaldalan ng mga kasama kaya nauna na itong umalis. At doon na sila sunod-sunod na nagsialisan."Baby..." We're now sitting on the long sofa. Nasa gitnang bahagi siya habang ako'y nasa dulo at nakaharap sa kanya. My legs are on his lap while his hands are resting on my knees."It's already six in the evening, Reilan. Kailangan ko ng umuwi.""Just sleep here. Sabado naman bukas. You don't have classes.""Kahit na. I still need to go home. Ayokong pag-aalahin si mom."He sighed. "I'll just call her. Sasabihin kong dito ka matutulog, so she don't have to worry.""Pero Reilan--""We won't see each other for the next three days. That's why I want to spend a night with you because I know I'll miss you so damn much."My forehead creased."Wait, what
"Des!" Lili exlaimed as she ran towards me. Looking so excited of something I don't know. Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata."Shh! Ano ka ba, huwag ka ngang maingay. Nasa library tayo." Napatingin ang librarian sa amin kaya ako na ang humingi ng paumanhin. Kahit kailan talaga ay pahamak ang bibig ni Lili.Umupo siya sa harap ko. I closed the book I'm holding to pay attention to whatever she'll say."Ano ba ang sasabihin mo?""Si Rios nandito na ulit!" She giggled. Kumunot ang noo ko."Huh? What do you mean nandito na siya?""Bumalik na siya ng Pinas! And guess what, dito siya mag-aaral!""And then?" I asked boredly.As if I care about that man. Pero kung totoong bumalik na nga siya ay sana hindi na siya gumawa pa ng kalokohan. I hate his playful stunts. But who knows? Years passed, and maybe his feelings for me has changed. I even doubt if he really liked me or he just made me a subject to have fun with."Aren't you excit
Rinig ko ang mga bulungan ng mga estudyante paglabas ng classroom. It was my last class for the day, that's why I immediately packed my things. Susunduin kasi ako ni Reilan ngayon. And he said that he'll date me.Ngunit nang makita kung sino ang nahihintay sa corridor ay napasimangot ako. Bahagyang nadismaya."Hi Des!"Napatingin sa akin ang ibang mga estudyanteng naroon at nagbulungan. Siguro'y iniisip nilang may kung ano sa amin ni Rios dahil nandito siya at pinapansin ako. When the truth is, I don't even want his attention.I just glanced at him once before walking away. Ayaw kong ma-issue lalo na sa kanya. But like how persistent he was years ago, he followed me as I walked fastly on the stairs."What is it this time, Rios?" Patuloy siya sa paglalakad, coping up with my speed."Well, I just want to invite you for a snack. You know, a little chitchat. Hindi mo kasi piunlakan ang imbitasyon ko. I thought you will come last night, but
"Kayo na muna ang bahala sa mansiyon, manang. I'll just give you enough money for your needs here. But if someone ask anyone of you, wala kayong kahit anong sasabihin. Understood?"The maids nodded. I was silent the whole time. Too shock and weak to even talk. Tahimik lang akong nakasunod kay mommy hanggang sa makapasok kami sa loob ng kotse. The armed men followed us. Nakasakay sila sa dalawang puting van na parehong nasa unahan at likuran ng kotseng sinasakyan namin.I am bothered with the threat of our lives. Ngunit sa biglaang pangyayari at sa mga nakakagulat na nalaman ay hindi ko magawang makapag-isip ng maayos. I didn't say anything until we reached the airport. I was just in my mother's side, following everything that she says. Dahil alam kong mas nakakapag-isip siya ng matino kung anong dapat gawing aksiyon.Gulong-gulo ang utak ko. I can't think straight and I'm still on the process of absorbing everything on my mind. At hindi iyon ma
Nang muli kong imulat ang mga mata ay siya namang muling pagbukas ng pintuan. Akala ko'y si Rios muli ang pumasok ngunit nagkamali ako.It's a woman.Umangat ang aking mga mata sa kanyang mukha. And my eyes widened in shock.I blinked a few times to make sure that what I'm seeing is real and not just a hallucination. Ngunit nang mapagtantong hindi lang ilusyon ang nakikita ay umawang ang labi ko sa gulat.Elegante siyang naglakad patungo sa akin. The sound of her heels everytime she walks echoes in the whole room.Her black long sleeved dress matched perfectly on her cold pitch black eyes. Her hair is on a classy bun with crimson red lips that makes her look mature, sophisticated and dark. Her aura screams in cruelty and darkness. Making her look savage, almost evil.But what made me bother is her face. Naguguluhan ako at hindi makapagsalita. No... it can't be. Imposible. I don't want to conclude anything yet. Ngunit hindi