CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

Wala nang kadugtong iyon at umalis na ako sa kuwarto niya.

Nakakainis! Pero okay lang! First time ko 'yon gawin sa kaniya!

"Nakaramdam kaya siya na nabitin siya? Pero nakasuot na siya ng condom eh, siguro, oo rin? Kahit kaunti?" malalim kong sambit habang naglalakad ako papunta sa kuwarto, nang n*******d.

I was in deep thought when I entered my room. Nakita ko ang aking cellphone na umiilaw kaya kinuha ko iyon at agad na tiningnan ang isang unknown number na tumatawag sa akin.

Agad na may dumaga sa aking dibdib.

With my shaky hands... I answered it.

"Hello," a deep modified and familiar voice came out again. "Ang tagal mo namang sumagot?"

Hindi ako nagsalita muna at sinarado nang mabuti ang pintuan. I roamed the room and sat at the edge of the bed, still naked.

"Ano? Nakipaghiwalay ka na sa kaniya?"

"Sa tingin mo talaga magagawa ko 'yon sa loob ng isang gabi? I... I'm not stupid enough to rush straight to the finish line. The plan has to be deliberate. It has to be slow," I said, not bothering to soften my tone.

"Ano'ng plano mo ngayon?"

Napabuntong hininga ako nang malakas. "Babayaran kita, kahit ilan ang gusto mo. Hanapan mo ako ng lalaki." sambit ko sa kaniya.

This isn't going on well if I am just f*cking my own uncle. Hindi ikakasira ng relasyon 'yon. Kahit maputikan ang pangalan ko, gagawin ko.

"You have connections right? Publishing it, made the headline so outstanding. May kaibigan din akong puwedeng tumulong sa pagpapalaganap n'on."

"Bakit ako ang hahanap? Marami kang kilalang artista hindi ba? bakit hindi sila at--"

"All I needed was someone who flies under the radar. Their legal councils and management would take down the rumors about it. Hanapan mo ako ng lalaki na hindi kilala ng lahat. At least, it won't take me down."

Matagal na katahimikan at malalim na hininga niya lang ang namutawi sa aming dalawa. It happens in a single night! Na-kidnapped ako. May nangyari sa amin ni Roxo. At ngayon, katawagan ko ang nangkidnapped sa akin na parang hindi niya ako binalak na patayin kanina!

Am I too desperate? Kahit kasi gusto kong tumakas na lang at huwag kitain ang asawa, hindi pa rin makatulog ang kaluluwa ko kung hindi pa talaga mapuputol ang tali namin!

"Fine. Fine. I'll send you a location," aniya sa pagod na boses.

The next day I was at an art gallery holding an exhibit featuring several well-known artists. I was a painter, a well known one, I have so many paintings and it bids so high. Some values are just out of reach of common people.

My works sold at figures most people never got to see outside of photographs. Magaling ang kamay ko kaya kilalang-kilala ako halos.

May panayam ako ngayon tungkol sa isang pinta na ibibid ko sa susunod na linggo. I was with my management, and as usual, there were reporters clustered at the entrance.

Nakita ko si Roxo na papalapit sa akin. Nangunot ang noo ko dahil hindi siya pumupunta rito nang basta-basta. Well, maybe, sometimes it is now.

Hindi ko hilig ang kumausap ng media pero tuloy-tuloy ang lakad ko hanggang sa huminto ako sa mga reporters at interviewees. Ganoon din si Roxo, minata niya ako gamit ng kaniyang malalamig na mga tingin.

"Where are you going?" he said emotionless.

"Oh, Tito Roxo. How are you?" I smiled the way I smiled for the cameras. "Long time no see," dugtong ko pa sabay beso sa kaniya.

nahirapan pa nga akong magbeso dahil hindi man lang bumaba ang katawan niya para salubungin ako!

"Naku, Ma'am Snow! Hindi talaga kayo napaghahalataan na mag-tito. Masyadong bata at flawless itong si Mr. Del Villarda para maging uncle mo!" sambit ng isang reporter.

I chuckled. The cameras clicked and the flashes surrounded us. Roxo still had not moved from behind me and I had not figured out why.

"Thank you. Pero totoo pong Tito ko siya. At totoo po sa dugo namin na pabata kami nang pabata," sambit ko nang may katamisan sa tono.

"Maybe you can endorse whatever product keeps you this flawless? There are contracts waiting," Ate Emy said beside me. My Manager.

"I'll think of that but I have a date right now, eh." I said audibly and intentionally.

Napasinghap ang mga tao, siguro dahil alam nila na wala pang nababalita na may dine-date ako.

"What date?" Roxo whispered behind me.

"With a guy. Obviously." I pulled out my lipstick and touched up my lips right there in front of the cameras.

Dahil sa masyadong maarte ang hawak ko sa lipstick, nahulog iyon. We both reached for it at the same time. And crouched low together, beneath the eyes and the lenses and the flashing lights, he said something that was only for me.

"We just orally f*cked last night... And you're going to have a date? What's going on, Snow?"

"What did he say?" Ate Emy asked me when she dropped on the floor to keep up some of her documents that fall out too.

"He's just being so strict, Ate. Hindi na ako bata para hindi lumandi, diba?" nasambit ko sa kaniya.

Ate Emy shrugged her shoulder and pouted. Tumayo na siya at bago magpantay ang tuhod din namin ni Roxo, may sinabi pa ako sa kaniya.

"Roxo... May mga camera," sambit ko sa kaniya at humarap na ako sa camera.

I smiled at them... again.

"May date ka, Ma'am Snow? How come? Do you have a boyfriend right now?"

"Is that a celebrity? Are you having a collaboration in acting?"

"Hindi naman ho ako actress... And no, he's a non showbiz guy. Not entirely a boyfriend pero malay natin diba?" I chucked sweetly.

"But we saw you in an endorsement of some products. May potential ka rin sa pag-aarte!"

"That guy was so lucky to have you, Ma'am Snow!"

"Natitibo ako sa ganda mo, Snow!"

Kahit ano-ano pa ang naririnig ko ngayon! At pinagsisihan ko na tuloy kung bakit pa ako humarap sa kanila!

"Mukhang ayaw kang paalisin ni Mr. Del Villarda, Ma'am!" narinig kong sigaw ng isa. "Mukhang istrikto talaga kayo sa pagkakaroon ng kasintahan!"

Naagaw ng pansin ko iyong komento. Natawa ako nang bahagya dahil nakahawak din pala sa balikat ko si Roxo!

"He's so strict! Our family is well composed and just being careful. But to answer your questions, maybe, I will have right now. I mean, there's nothing wrong right? I am not married to restrict myself to dating a guy."

Behind me, I felt Roxo go very, very still.

Kinalas na niya ang pagkakahawak sa aking balikat.

Good.