4 - Whipped

Habang tahimik na umiinom ng kape sa balkonahe, nilapitan si Demetri ni Manang Lucelle.

"Hindi ka ba pupunta sa bayan?" tanong nito habang inaayos ang kurtina sa gilid.

Hindi siya agad sumagot, pinaparamdam muna ang init ng kape sa dibdib.

"Habilin pa naman sa’kin ng iyong ama na dumalo ka sa fiesta," dagdag pa ni Manang Lucelle.

"Marami siyang palaro sa mga kabataan doon, at may pa-raffle pa. Alam mo naman na muling tatakbo bilang Gobernador ang iyong ama. Gusto niya lang makasigurado kung may mga tao pang gustong sumuporta sa kanya sa susunod na eleksiyon."

Napatawa si Demetri nang mapakla. Politics. It’s always about power and control.

"Naroroon din ba si Marcus?" tanong niya habang nakatingin sa malayo.

"Palagi siyang kasama ng iyong ama sa mga lakad niya. May balak rin kasing tumakbo bilang Mayor si Marcus sa susunod na eleksiyon."

Napangisi si Demetri bago muling lumagok ng kape.

"Siguro naroroon rin ang fiancée niya."

"Syempre. Bayan ni Snow ang may fiesta kaya nararapat lang na naroon siya, lalo na’t Kapitan ang tiyuhin niya sa bayan na ’yon."

Ibinaba niya ang tasa at biglang tumayo. That was all he needed to hear. Nandoon si Snow.

Matapos ang panaginip niya kagabi tungkol kay Snow, gusto—hindi, kailangan niyang makita ito.

"Nariyan pa ba si Mang Sed?" tanong niya, at tumango si Manang Lucelle.

Agad siyang nag-ayos, nag-spray ng cologne sa kanyang shirt, sinuklay ang kanyang buhok, at bumaba na. Binuksan ni Sed ang pinto ng limousine, at pumasok siya nang walang imik.

Matagal ang biyahe patungong San Diego Paz. Buhay na buhay ang bayan sa kasiyahan, may makukulay na banderitas na sumasayaw sa hangin, at ang mga bata ay masayang nagtatakbuhan. Naamoy ang street food sa paligid, habang humahalo ito sa tunog ng tawanan at musika.

Pagdating sa open field kung saan ginaganap ang palaro, agad niyang nakita ama at si Marcus, napapaligiran ng mga tao. Lumakad siya papunta sa kanila habang nakasunod si Sed.

Nang marating niya ang lugar, agad silang lumingon sa kanyang direksyon.

Umupo siya sa tabi ng kanyang daddy at sumulyap kay Snow.

Si Snow ay nakaupo ilang upuan ang layo, halata ang saya sa mga mata habang pinapanood ang mga batang naglalaro. She was captivating in her simple white tank top and denim jeans. No effort, yet so stunning.

Napakunot ang noo ni Demetri nang makita niyang iniabot ni Marcus ang isang tumbler kay Snow.

Snow smiled and accepted it, drinking elegantly before returning the water bottle. Walang pag-aalinlangan, uminom rin si Marcus mula sa parehong water bottle.

Umigting naman ang panga ni Demetri.

Tch.

He secretly watched as Marcus’s hand rested on Snow’s smooth shoulder. His fucking hand was on her bare skin, his fingers lightly tracing the curve of her shoulder.

Lumapit pa si Marcus at may ibinulong sa dalaga at natawa naman ito nang mahina.

Fúck.

He wanted to lose his mind. Jealousy was consuming him again.

His frustration grew even more when Marcus planted a kiss on Snow’s shoulder.

Fúck! That should've been him—kissing her like that.

Umupo siya nang maayos, pilit na pinapanatili ang blankong ekspresyon habang pinagmamasdan ang mga laro. Pero kahit anong pilit niya, hindi niya makuhang makisaya sa kasalukuyang kaganapan.

Pagkalipas ng isang oras, tumingin si Snow kina Marcus at Demetri.

"Ba't hindi n’yo subukan ang sumali sa laro?" alok niya. Her voice seemed to tear through the silence in Demetri’s mind.

Lumingon siya rito, pero hindi naman siya nito tinitingnan. Nagsasalita ito para sa kanilang dalawa.

"Oo nga naman, Demetri at Marcus," sabat ng kanilang ama.

"Noong mga bata pa kayo, mahilig rin naman kayong maglaro nang magkasama."

Magkasama?

Isang alaala ang biglang pumasok sa isip ni Demetri—siya, na aksidenteng nasapok si Marcus gamit ang kahoy na pamalo noong mga bata pa sila. Matinding parusa ang inabot niya noon mula kay Mauie.

She wasn’t just cruel to him physically.

She was the first woman who ever violated him. Who sexually abused him.

Demetri clenched his jaw, forcing the thought away.

Marcus grinned.

"Subukan natin, bro."

Snow’s eyes silently encouraged him to agree.

Tch. Wala siyang magawa kundi pumayag.

Piniringan silang dalawa at pinaikot ng tatlong beses bago binigyan ng baseball bats. Ang goal ay basagin ang hanging clay pot habang sinusunod ang direksyong sinasabi ng audience.

He had just raised his bat, about to strike, when—

WHACK!

Pain exploded on the side of his head.

Nagulat ang lahat.

Snow immediately stood up, her face full of worry.

Marcus quickly removed his blindfold. "Kuya, sorry!" he blurted out.

Demetri exhaled sharply and removed his blindfold.

Snow hurried toward them.

"Ayos ka lang ba, Demetri?" she asked, looking up at him.

He rolled his shoulders back.

"Ayos lang."

He wasn’t lying. Compared to real fights, this was nothing.

"Siguradong ayos ka lang?" she pressed, worry evident in her eyes.

He nodded, and she finally relaxed.

Later, inside the bathroom, he examined his reflection. Nagsisimulang bumakat ang latay sa gilid ng ulo niya.

Tsk.

That bastard hit him harder than he thought. Parang sinadya talaga ng loko ang pagpalo sa kanya.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Demetri?" Snow’s voice came from outside.

He adjusted his shirt before opening the door.

She was holding a small towel with ice wrapped inside.

"Yelo para hindi mamaga masyado," she said, handing it to him.

He took it, slightly surprised.

So Manang Lucelle was right—Snow was genuinely kind.

She wasn’t just beautiful. She had a soft heart, too.

He smirked slightly.

"Salamat. Hindi naman na masakit."

She frowned.

"Pasensya ka na. Kasalanan ko."

He shook his head.

"Aksidente lang 'yon. Hindi mo kasalanan."

She hesitated, then nodded.

As she stood there, concern still written all over her face, he felt something shift inside him.

She's so cute when she's worried.

---

Habang nakahiga si Demetri sa kama, nakatitig lang siya sa kisame, nakatitig lamang sa kawalan. His mind kept going back to one image—Snow.

Fúck it!

The longer this went on, the crazier he felt. Instead of fading, she kept invading his thoughts, burning herself into his mind.

What was it about that woman?

Her soft voice, her delicate movements, things he never even liked before. He was never into women who acted so prim and proper.

But her? Pútangina.

She was like a drug, so ddictive.

He let out a frustrated sigh and sat up.

His pants were already feeling too tight again. Again, his bonér activated kahit mukha lamang nito ang nasa isip niya.

Ilang beses siyang napabuga ng hangin. He needed a bitch to bed tonight. He needed to release this libido, or he was going to lose his mind thinking about her.

Mabilis siyang nag-ayos, sinara ang butones ng dark shirt niya at isinuot ang slacks.

“ Sed, dalhin mo ako sa bar,” ani niya sa driver pagkababa ng grand stair.

No questions. His driver immediately obeyed.

The moment he stepped inside, his eyes scanned the bar. Music was blasting, bodies swayed against each other on the dance floor, and the scent of alcohol mixed with cheap perfume filled the air. He ignored all of it and walked straight to the front bar, taking a seat beside a woman drinking alone.

Binalingan niya ito at nagulat siya ng makilala ang babaeng katabi niya.

"Feurene?"

Saglit itong napakurap at obvious na medyo lasing na ito.

"Demetri! You're here."

"Why are you drinking so much?" he asked, swirling the whiskey in his glass.

Mapakla itong natawa sa tanong niya.

"Because I’m heartbroken."

He raised a brow.

"I thought you didn’t have a boyfriend?"

She smirked, her eyes dark with unshed tears.

"I don’t. But the man I want… he’s getting married next month."

Tch. He already knew who she was talking about.

"Marcus?"

Napatango siya at mapaklang natawa.

"Bingo, Demetri. Why couldn’t it be me?" she mumbled, shaking her head.

He stayed quiet at hinayaan itong magkwento.

"I’ve known Marcus since we were kids. Then Snow came into the picture, and suddenly, he forgot about me. It’s so frustrating. Why her? Why not me?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away.

He smirked, leaning slightly toward her. "Do you want them to break up?"

She scoffed.

"They’re already engaged. Do you think there’s a chance they won’t end up together?"

Inubos niya ang lamang alak sa baso niya and then he leaned closer, at bumulong sa dalaga.

"Ika nga, if there’s a will… there’s a way."

Her eyes twinkled with curiosity.

"How?" she asked, now looking genuinely interested.

"Mag-usap tayo bukas. Kapag hindi ka na nakainom," bulong niya bago tumayo at iniwan ito.

Napansin niya ang isang babae sa kabilang panig ng bar, nakatitig sa kanya. Maganda ito, nakasuot ng pulang damit na hapit sa kurbada ng katawan, sexy at mukhang madaling i-please.

Napangisi siya at lumapit. Ngumiti ito sa kanya, tila alam na kung anong gusto niya. Inabot niya ang kamay nito at lumapit hanggang ang mga labi niya ay halos dumikit sa tenga nito.

"Are you free to lose tonight?" bulong niya.

Napatawa ito.

"Of course."

At gaya ng inaasahan, nahanap niya ang panandaliang distraction para sa gabing ‘yon.