Chapter 7

His eyes now can't stay on just one place. Napansin kong nagsimula na rin siyang manginig. But I didn't care about his reaction. Nangunguna pa rin sa 'kin ang inis sa nangyari kanina.

Bahagya pa akong lumapit pa sa kanya, at tuluyan na nga niyang siniksik ang sarili niya sa pader sa kanyang likuran, takot na takot, kapansin-pansin ang bawat paglunok dahil sa kaba.

At gaya ng mga nangyayari sa mga libro, o sa mga pelikula, I went even closer to him, and put my hands on the wall behind him, locking him from going anywhere.

Oo, sadyang mas matangkad nga siya sa 'kin. But because his knees were slightly bent because of he's obviously scared of me, naging maayos lang din naman ang posisyon namin. Naaayon lang sa gusto ko.

Napangisi ako. Na-corner ko siya.

"What did you just do, big boy?" I whispered to him, leaning even closer so our faces will be just inches away, turning him into a deep red frustrated mess.

"I... I..." he tried to say something, but probably can't find the right words to say.

I smirked even wider, amusement evident in my face while he's probably in a battle on his head.

"What did you saw?" I asked again.

Malakas naman siyang umiling. "N-Nothing! Just how you are dressed right now! I didn't saw anything more!"

Sarkastiko naman akong napangiti sa pag-deny niya pa. Napansin kong napalunok siya ulit.

"Talaga?" Mapanuya kong tanong.

Now he nodded like a scared child. "Promise! Promise! I saw nothing!"

"You saw me with nothing? Is that what you are saying?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya, saka malakas ulit na umiling.

"No! No! Not like that! I didn't say anything like that!"

"Talaga ba?!" I began to raise my voice now.

I saw how his eyes got even more scared when I did that. Umikot na naman sa kung saan ang mga mata niya at parang takot na takot na na tumingin pa ulit sa 'kin.

"Ano? Sinong nagturo sa 'yong mamboso, ha?!"

Nagbalik ang mga mata niya sa 'kin, at gaya kanina ay takot na takot pa rin ang mga ito.

Hindi ko rin naman alam kung bakit nagagalit na ako ngayon. Totoong naiinis ako dahil hindi pa 'yon nangyari sa buong buhay ko, pero hindi naman yata ako gano'n kainis sa kanya para paglakasan siya ng boses. That tone just slipped out of my senses.

Bahagya na akong lumayo sa kanya. But that didn't give him enough reason to straighten his posture. Talagang nanatili siya sa posisyon niya kanina no'ng kinorner ko siya. Hindi man lang gumalaw ng kahit konti.

"Sorry," I whispered just loud enough for him to hear. "I shouldn't have raised my voice. But... that doesn't make me not annoyed with you anymore. You still shouldn't have peeped-"

"I said I didn't peep!" Singit niya.

"Sigurado ka?"

"Oo!" Ngayon umahon na siya sa posisyon niya kanina. "I didn't saw anything! I didn't... intended to..."

Nanlaki muli ang mga mata ko at naghari na naman ang inis sa kaluluwa ko.

"Ano?!"

His eyes widened too when he realized what just slipped from his mouth. At nang tignan niyang muli ako, at nakitang nagbabaga na naman ang galit sa mga mata ko, nakita ko na naman ang kapansin-pansin na paglunok niya.

Hindi talaga maiiwasang mapansin 'yon, dahil kapansin-pansin talaga ang Adam's apple niya.

Tss. Binatang-binata na nga ang katawan pero tignan mo siya ngayon sa harap ko, parang basang sisiw.

Siniksik niya ulit ang sarili niya sa pader, and it took me a lot of effort to not do the same thing I just did again. Parang mas lalo ko lang yata siyang matatakot kapag kinorner ko 'to ulit.

"So may nakita ka nga?!" Singhal ko na naman. "Nakita mo nga akong nagbihis?!"

Hindi siya naglakas-loob na magsalita. Mas lalo lang na nagbaga ang galit ko.

"Anong nakita mo?!" Napasigaw na ako. "Nevermind. 'Wag mo nang banggitin. Pero sa tingin mo, maganda 'yong ginawa mo?!"

Yumuko siya at nakita kong sinimulan na niyang paglaruin ang mga daliri niya.

"I... I'm s-sorry, o-okay? I didn't m-mean it," mahina niyang usal.

Nailagay ko ang kaliwang kamay ko sa bewang ko.

"Pero ngayon, alam mo nang masama ang ginawa mo?"

He didn't answer, but just simply nodded at me, now fiddling with his fingers. Napabuntonghininga na lang ako bago naisipang wala naman yata nang saysay kung ipipilit ko pa ang inis ko kasi nangyari naman na ang nangyari.

Napasinghap na lang ako bago naisipang umalis sa kwarto niya. Hindi ko na inabala pa ang sarili kong isara ang pintuan. Bahala siya kung mamaya siya na naman ang mabosohan ko. Didn't mean it pala, ah. Bahala siya d'yan.

Nagbihis na nga ako at saka nagtungo sa kusina para makapaghanda na ng agahan. Hanggang sa pagbiyak ko ng itlog ay ramdam ko pa rin ang inis sa sistema ko. Hanggang sa binaliktad ko na ang spam na piniprito ko ay naiisip ko talagang baka pwedeng si Sid na lang 'tong tinutusta ko ngayon sa mantika.

Of course, spam is a lot better when it's slightly burnt.

Pero dahil si Sid nga ang naisip ko sa niluluto ko ngayon, talagang natusta at muntik nang masunog ang mga iyon. I sighed. Bahala na nga. Wala rin naman ako sa mood kumain. Siya lang magtitiis na kainin 'to mamaya.

"Delgado! Kain na!" Tawag ko sa kanya.

At hindi gaya kagabi, agad siyang napunta sa harap ng lamesa sa balcony ng bahay. Hindi pa ako nakakaupo, nando'n na siya. Buti naman.

Mataray ang mukha ko nang naupo na ako sa tapat niya. Nakayuko naman siya, tila ayaw na tignan ako ulit at baka masigawan ko na naman siya.

I let out a heavy sigh as I start to gather the utensils on my sides.

"Wala muna tayong gagawin ngayon dahil na-badtrip ako sa 'yo kanina," nagsalita na ako nang magsimula ko nang hiwain ang kinuha kong spam sa maliliit na square para makain ko na.

With my posture straight, and brow raised, I will look like I am a very formal duchess in front of another kingdom's duke, if only I'm not wearing a pastel-colored long-sleeved polo, that is way larger than my size, and another pastel-colored knee-length skirt.

Ang liwanag ng suot ko, to be honest. Kung nasa labas lang ako at gumagala, talagang imposible akong masagasaan sa daan.

Wala na akong magawa, eh. Wala na ako sa mood na pumili pa ng ibang damit kaya kung ano iyong nakuha ko kanina matapos ko makalimutan na wala pala akong dalang panty pabalik sa banyo, 'yon na lang din ang sinuot ko.

"Huh?" He looked up to me, with a mouthful of rice on his mouth.

I raised my brow even more. "We won't be having any fun affair in the present period of time due to a lingering feeling of hostility against you, my... acquaintance."

He looked at me warily and innocently for a few moments, before returning his gaze to the food in front of him. Gano'n na rin ako. Hindi kami umimik ng ilan pang sandali.

I was already close to finishing my meal when I caught him staring blankly outside the house, down our yard full with green grass.

I mean, hindi na nga pala 'yon full. Hindi pa rin pala tumutubo 'yong mga damo na binunot ko n'ong naglaro kami ng patintero. Naka-form pa rin 'yon ng isang square, at pati ang mga kahon sa loob n'on ay nandoon pa rin.

Napangiwi ako nang makitang kanina pa pala yata siya tapos sa pagkain, at parang hinihintay na lang akong matapos.

Hindi na rin naman gan'on karami ang pagkain sa plato ko kaya mabilis ko na lang din na inubos 'yon saka umupo nang maayos at uminom ng tubig, nakataas ang kilay habang mataray na nakatingin sa banda ng alaga ko.

"You can just watch movies here if you want. I have cd's but you can just watch some good shows on N*****x, too."

Nilingon na niya ako. "Huh?"

My supposedly raised brow creased. "Huh?" Tanong ko rin sa kanya.

"What was that term that you just said? N*****x?"

"Yeah. What about it? Never heard of that before?"

Hindi niya ako sinagot. Mas lalo lang kumunot ang noo ko.

"You haven't heard of N*****x before?" Tanong ko ulit sa kanya.

He just shook his head. And now, I am beyond amazed that this boy has lived a life even longer than mine with such a limited liberty about anything. 'Wag niyang sabihin na pati wifi, hindi niya rin alam?

I crossed my legs and my arms, leaning myself even more comfortably on my chair.

"Well, maybe there is a reason for that," I turned to him. "Your parents limit you even on the things you watch?"

His eyes wandered around for a while, probably finding the right words to answer my questions.

"Uhh, y-yeah. It could be like that." He said as he bowed his head.

"Oh well, that platform can also have so many disturbing or erotic stuffs. But you're not a kid anymore. They should've set you free once you turned eighteen."

He didn't reply and just remained bowing like a defeated idiot.

"Or maybe, they had a plan to held you captive- oh sorry, I mean, maybe isolate you forever, perhaps?"

"Maybe," he whispered just enough to reach my ears.

I pouted. "Oh well. Maybe I am better than them, then. At least, after I get what I want from you now, I will set your free."

Now he raised his head, and glared at me.

"My parents' way of parenting maybe weird to you, but they're still the best for me. No one can ever exceed their-"

"Oh that's such a bullshit, big boy. You just lived your whole life with almost no one talking to you, so how would you know such things as... the best? Or even just the comparisons of things?"

"I've only known you for days, but I already know that you are nowhere near the people who raised me." May paninindigan na sa tono niya.

Napairap lang ako. "Well, guess they've raised you weird, indeed, but hell, yeah. Pake ko ba kung sa'n patungo 'tong usapang 'to."

Umahon na ako sa pagkakaupo at agad na niligpit ang mga pinagkainan namin. Nakayuko ako habang kinukuha ang mga kubyertos nang mapansin ko na naman ang lintik na mga mata ng Delgado sa harap ko.

"Hoy!" I snapped at him. Agad naman siyang napatingin sa mukha ko, galing sa... dibdib ko.

Gosh! This boy! Naka-bra naman ako pero sadyang medyo malaki nga ang pang-itaas kong damit. Kaya no'ng yumuko ako, naka-full display nga yata sa harap ng batang 'to ang lace bra ko at ang beloved kong cup B boobs!

"Were you looking at my boobs?!"

Umahon ako sa pagkakayuko kanina pa lang at inayos ang damit ko, pero parang hanggang ngayon ay ramdam ko pa rin ang titig ng lintik na Delgadong 'to sa 'kin kanina.

Inilapag ko kaagad nang pabagsak ang mga nakuha ko na sanang plato at kubyertos. His eyes widened when I pointed my finger right straight to his face.

"N-No! I wasn't looking! I didn't saw anything!" He lifted his hands in front of him to act like he's stopping me from moving closer.

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mga mata. "Kapag nalaman ko talagang nagpapanggap ka lang all this time, Delgado, lagot ka talaga sa 'kin."

"Huh? Anong nagpapanggap? Bakit naman ako magpapa-"

"Para mabosohan ako!" Agad kong singit sa kanya.

Nagulat siya sa sigaw ko kaya hinintay ko muna siya makabawi bago narinig ang panibago na namang ka-ewan-an sa bibig niya.

"I don't even know what mabosohan means!"

Mariin kong pinikit ang mga mata ko nang marinig ko 'yon. Parang masasabunot ko na ang sarili ko sa impormasyong nalaman sa alaga kong Delgado.

I tried to crack my neck for some relaxant for the moment, at naglakad-lakad muna sa harap niya ng ilang sandali bago suminghap at tuluyan na siyang hinarap ulit.

I just stared at him straight in the eyes for a minute, like catching all the serious energy in his soul, so I will know if he really will need the information I will tell him after. While he was still looking like an innocent child in front of his strict teacher.

"'Yong ginawa mo kanina lang, pamboboso 'yon."

Napansin ko na naman ang bahagya niyang paglunok. He was just silently and attentively listening to me.

"At masama 'yon," I continued. "Of all the things your late parents had taught you, haven't they've ever told you that peeping is wrong?"

Hindi siya umimik. I crossed my arms around me again and started to pace around in front of him, looking like a strict and middle-aged landlady explaining her house deals with her new client.

"Have you ever seen a lady's body before?" I raised a brow at him again, but then shook my head and laughed sarcastically. "Of course, you haven't, I know. That's why I'm here to educate you that, women's bodies need to be respected. Because you're a guy, a man, even when your mind still has a bit of kirks and the like, you still have to be acquainted by the fact that you should always respect a woman."

Like what happened a while ago, he still didn't respond and just continued listening. So, I continued speaking, too.

"And by respect, I mean... not doing anything that can make a lady feel ashamed or be uncomfortable. And what you just did, made me feel both of those, my dear boy..."

I held my chest and crumpled my face to make a seemingly crying face to create a thrill of drama.

"You just did something I never even imagined will happen to me," I let out a dramatic sob. "Oh, my dear innocent body! Has now been locked in a man's mind!"

I started to cry even more hysterically, obviously without tears in my eyes. Itinukon ko pa kunwari ang kamay ko sa upuan ko kanina, nakahawak pa rin sa dibdib, umaarteng nawawalan na ng hininga sa kunwari ko pa ring pag-iyak.

Even when I closed my eyes tight to look like I really am struggling to breath because of my dramatic sobbing, I peeked a little to my side to see if what the big boy was doing.

And heck, yeah. He has the face I can laugh at for the rest of my life. Kunot na kunot ang noo, nakaawang ang labi at nanginginig na naman, halatang hindi alam kung anong gagawin sa sitwasyon niya ngayon.

I smirked for a millisecond because of that, but returned to my dramatic acting.

"H-Hey! What's wrong? Are you okay? D-Do y-you need a-anything?" 

I put the back of my palms on my forehead, while my other hand is still holding tightly on the chair beside me.

"Well, yes, of course, muchacho! Apologies! Resentment! Regret! Your sorry! That's what I needed the most for this occurring moment! Oh gosh, I'll die if I won't hear any of that! Oh! Have you no sympathy for my crying soul? Oh!" I acted horribly, on my perspectives.

But because I saw how his eyes panicked even more, I knew I was doing a great job. I didn't even know this day can bring so much scene of amusement for me just on its first hours.

"O-Oh! I'm sorry! I already said that a while ago, when you were in my room! B-But I can say it again, all over, if that's what you want! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Lumapit siya sa 'kin pero halata sa mga kilos niya na hindi niya pa rin talaga alam ang gagawin. His eyes wandered to our surroundings, naghahanap na naman yata ng kung anong pwedeng magpapakalma sa 'kin.

That's when I let out a laugh already. A loud, and seemingly out of my mind laugh. Like the laugh a villain lets out after she says, "victory will be mine!"

"Ha! Gotcha!" I clapped my hands as I laughed even more. "You... you should've seen...your face!" I cried between my laughter.

I laughed, and laughed even more for more than five minutes, not even caring about the poor boy in front of me looking dumfounded.

Nang humupa na ang tawa ko ay napansin ko pang may mga luha pa talaga sa mga mata ko. Pinunasan ko ang mga 'yon habang pinapakalma ang sarili ko at nang makapagpaalam na rin ng maayos kay Sid.

"Okay, okay," pagpapakalma ko sa sarili ko. "Sorry for that. Nagdrama lang ako kasi... gusto ko lang. You didn't have to take that seriously. I mean, the drama... that I just made. But still, the lesson I told you was important to be kept in mind."

Inayos ko na ang tindig ko at kinuha na ang mga plato at kubyertos.

"I'll be going now. Manghuhugas pa ako," I raised a brow again. "And about the movies, hintayin mo na lang ako sa sala. I'll set it up after I finish washing the dishes."

Naglakad na ako paalis pagkatapos n'on, at hindi na siya muling nilingon pa, o inisip man lang kung ano na'ng naging reaksyon niya sa nangyari.

I was amazed and amused of the show that I just pulled off. I do that everytime there is a need to at work, in any of my missions. So I'm not so new about acting dramatic just for no specific reason at all. Many people have also said that I'm a great wit. But I have yet to find the Delgado's answer about that compliment I always get. Kasi base sa naging reaksyon niya kanina, parang nauto ko siya, pero hindi naman napatawa.

I bet he would laugh if he also saw his face.

I snorted as I thought about that whilst washing the dishes. With bubbles on my hands and the plates I am cleaning, while the cold running water now tries to get it all off, I heard something from the living room.

Parang may kumalabog na kung ano doon. And I think I only have one person to blame for that.

Dahil tamad na akong magpabalik-balik pa mamaya dahil sa mga plato, dali-dali ko na lang na tinapos ang mga iyon saka mabilis na naglakad papunta sa sala.

And yes, of course. There's no other sight that can be more annoying than the heir of a rich old family sitting on the tiled floor of my living room, and a mess of books scattered on his sides.

Ano na namang pinaggagawa nitong lalaking 'to?! Ang aga-aga pa, ah? At hindi pa ako tapos sa inis ko sa kanya kanina. Tapos ngayon, may bago na naman siyang ginagawa para inisin na naman ako?!

My dear beloved babies are now scattered messily on the floor! I am such a bookworm that I own more than 7 large bookshelves full of books at home, pero malamang ay hindi lahat ng 'yon ang dinala ko rito. Hindi lang umaabot sa singkwenta ang mga iyon.

Not to mention that almost every book that I have here are all paperbacks! At ngayon, nakikita ko pa siyang binubuklat ang isang libro sa paraang parang magiging totoo ang mga hagulgol ko kanina.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?!"

Agad siyang napalingon sa 'kin nang marinig niya ang sigaw ko.

"I-I was-"

Hindi ko na siya hinintay pang matapos sa pagsasalita. Agad akong sumugod sa harap niya para kunin ang mga librong kinalat niya.

Pinulot ko iyon isa-isa, mabilis ang bawat hininga dahil sa namumuo na namang inis sa loob ko. I saw his hands on my side, trying to help me, but I just slapped his hands and continued on what I was doing.

Hindi ko na inabala pa ang sariling alamin kung ano ang reaksyon niya ngayon. Basta ang importante sa 'kin sa panahong ito ay, to put my dear books back to the comfort of their bookshelf.

Bakit ba kasi dito ko pa sa sala nilagay 'yong bookshelf? Napakialaman tuloy nitong batang 'to.

"I'm sorry," I heard him. "Again..."

Saka ko pa inangat ang tingin ko sa kanya no'n. He was looking at me straight in the eyes, even pouting at me, looking like a lost puppy.

At ang kanina kong kunot na kunot na noo sa inis, bigla ko na lang binago, at hinayaan ang sariling mamungay ang mga mata sa kanya.

"I've already done you a lot of trouble just for the morning of this day. I, just want you to know that, I really am sorry." Bahagya siyang napayuko pagkatapos no'n.

Napabuntonghininga na lang ako bago umahon na sa sahig at nilagay na ulit ang mga libro sa malapit na bookshelf. May iba pa ring nasa sahig, iyong mga makakapal na hindi ko na kayang buhatin kung idadagdag ko pa sa mga dinala ko ngayon lang.

Pero pagtalikod ko ay nasa kay Sid na pala lahat ng mga 'yon. He was just standing there, with all the books in his arms. Tinitigan ko muna siya sandali bago isa-isang kinuha ang mga mga libro sa bisig niya, at nilagay sa bookshelf na nasa likod ko na ngayon, dahil kaharap ko siya.

Nakuha nga lang ng huling libro na nasa kamay niya ang atensyon ko. Isang tingin lang, alam ko kaagad na ito 'yong librong binuklat niya kanina! Kasi ang cover n'on, parang higante ang nagbukas! Kawawang-kawawa na ang cover at gilid no'n!

Kinuha ko 'yon sa kamay niya at tinignan nang maigi, at parang maiiyak na sa pagmamasid lang sa kung ano nang nangyari sa libro.

"What did you do to her?" I said in a shaking voice.

An already dead piece of wood that was beautifully made into a masterpiece that can bring your imagination a lot more scenarios to imagine, just died again in my hands! Para na talaga akong maiiyak!

"You- you book killer! You just abused and killed my book!" Muntik ko nang matapon sa kanya ang libro.

"I-I didn't mean it! I swear! I'm sorry again! I really didn't-"

"Ewan ko na lang talaga sa 'yo!" Sigaw ko ulit sa kanya.

The book was After by Anna Todd, 'yong unang libro talaga sa series. It's not my most favorite but it's still one of the books that I love.

"Why did you open it so aggressively, anyway?" I asked him.

I saw him swallowed. "Uhh, I saw that it was... actually a good book. I-It has a nice blurb a-at the back..."

I licked my lips and just sighed again. Sinamaan ko na lang siya ng tingin bago inabot ulit sa kanya ang librong 'yon.

"Then read it, then. If you can read that for the whole day, then maybe we can watch the movie later on, at night."

His eyes widened in amusement. "It already has a movie adaptation?"

"Well, yeah, it has. Better read it before we watch it, though. I want to see what your reaction will be."

He just nodded excitedly as he held the book in his hand firmly now. I just rolled my eyes and finally made my exit.

Without thinking about anything, almost floating in the air mindlessly, I made my way to my room. But just when I was already lying on my bed again, only have I ever realized.

Was giving him that book and promising him that we'll watch the movie later a good idea? My doubts then started to surface.