Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2: Pilit na Pakikisama

Mom chuckled. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil doon.

"Mom! I can't believe you find this funny. Like, I don't even know him. How dare him suddenly come out and mess with my eating!" Reklamo ko. Mas lalo lang siyang natawa.

Kinuha niya ang flowerpot na katatapos lang niyang tamnan at tumayo mula sa pags-squat. She then walked and I followed her, waiting for her response.

"Latti... you're acting as if it's your first meeting him."

"Beacuse it is! Hindi ko nga alam ang pangalan niya. My Goodness!"

I let out a heavy breath after a series of complaints. Pinagpapawisan na ako sa sobrang init ng panahon at sa init ng ulo.

"Your cheeks are burning. Rest there in the lanai," Mom said. Napahawak ako sa mukha ko.

Kaagad rin akong sumunod at pumunta sa lanai.

The garden is giving a fresh vibe to the porch. I sat on the wooden swing and kept observing Mom who's busy with her garden.

In the center of the porch, there is a rectangular coffee table made with a solid slab of a particular tree. I just can't tell what kind since I know nothing about these stuffs. On the table holds a long oval-shaped thing made of wood. There are sixteen holes in it.

Kunot-noo akong tumayo at kinuha ito. I examined the object properly but cannot think of what the use of this would be.

Binalik ko nalang iyon.

"As I was saying, this is not your first-time meeting Cai. But many years ago."

I rolled my eyes.

"Ano 'yan, My? Once upon a time?"

She chuckled again and shook her head.

"Hi Tita!"

Sabay kaming napalingon ni Mommy sa dumating. It was him and his girlfriend. I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, Cai! Emy! We were just talking about you."

Napangiwi ako sa sinabi ni Mommy. The guy named Cai raised his brow and looked at me while wearing a smile.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko.

"You're talking about us, Tita?" The girl asked.

"Not you, idiot. Why would we talk about you?" I stood up and flipped my hair.

"Sorry for that, Emy. She's still growing up."

"C'mon, Mom. You know how I hate kinda people." I said and finally walked out. Nalito ako bigla kung saan dadaan papunta sa loob ng bahay.

"It's fine, Tita." I heard Cai said before I finally chose to take the door from the kitchen to enter the house. Hindi ko na napakinggan pa ang sumunod na pinag-usapan nila.

After entering the kitchen, I hurried to the fridge to get a cold water. I sighed upon drinking a glass. As I poured another from the container, the kitchen door opened.

"Are you following me?"

"Emerald felt bad."

"Wow. Ang OA naman ng girlfriend mo. So what? Do you expect me to say sorry?" Taas-kilay na tanong ko.

Hindi ko na siya muli pang tiningnan. I drink the water from my glass and breathed heavily afterwards.

That was good.

Naglakad siya patungo sa akin at walang sabi-sabing kinuha ang baso kong kakapatong ko lang. Kumunot ang noo ko nang sumunod niyang kunin ang container at naglagay ng tubig sa baso.

"You're disgusting..." komento ko.

"Sharing isn't disgusting," he winked and drank the water.

"You know what? I've had enough of you. Hindi ko alam kung saan mo nakuha ang guts mong makipagtungo sa akin nang ganito. I don't even know you. If you've conceived my brother, hindi ako. I hate social climbers and gold diggers."

He almost choked upon hearing my last words. Pinatong niya ang container at baso sa mesa. He took a huge step towards me who's already leaning on the kitchen cabinets. Napaatras ako but I'm already cornered. I don't feel nervous at all. Why would I? He looks like a jerk but he seemed harmless. Yet at the same time, why would he be stupid? We're in my house.

Pinatong niya ang dalawang palad sa ibabaw ng kitchen cabinet sa magkabilang gilid ko. We're fucking inches away from each other and he's towering above me.

"What? You gonna kiss me?" I challenged him, waiting for what he's going to do.

Offensive ba ang tawagin siyang gold digger? Social climber? Well, truth really hurts.

He stared at my eyes directly. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. His stares lowered on my lips. I smirked.

"Kissing me wouldn't reduce my offense... that's if I have offended you. I am not sorry, man," matapang na sabi ko, nilabanan ang titig niyang bumalik sa mga mata ko.

"You seemed used to kisses, huh?" Seryosong tanong niya.

"Try me," I teased as I bit my lip.

His defined jaw clenched. Tila nagpipigil ng sarili. Then, I saw his Adam's apple moved up and down. Got you!

From the top of the kitchen cabinets, his hands moved to my waists swiftly. Bahagya akong napaigtad sa kiliting naramdaman. Suddenly, my heart skipped a beat. Hindi ako nagpahalatang naapektuhan.

He moved his face closer to mine slowly that urged me to close my eyes and wait for him.

Ilang sandali pang paghintay, naramdaman kong may mainit na hininga sa tainga ko.

"I don't like kissing brats," he whispered and took a few steps backwards.

I gritted my teeth. Tiningnan ko siya nang masama, hindi alintana ang masama ring titig sa akin.

"I don't like to be kissed by an asshole, either."

"You're indeed a brat, Latisha. Is that what you've learned from where you came?" Aniya sa tonong pinagagalitan ako.

"You are not even answering my question. Sino ka ba sa akala mo, ha? Could you stop pestering me and focus on your girlfriend?"

"Sino ba may sabing may girlfriend ako?"

"See? You are avoiding my question because you know you are not in the place to sermon me!"

Napatungo siya bahagya, tila naubusan na ng pasensya. He placed his palm on his forehead and brushed his hair backwards. He sighed.

"Your Dad asked me to look after you."

Natahimik ako. Pinagkatiwalaan siya ni Daddy?

Why should I believe him? Dad could really have someone to look after me but not someone whom I don't know. It could even be Kuya Nico!

"Yeah. Liar."

He shot a brow.

"How come? He can just ask for Kuya's help. Plus, I don't think Daddy thinks I need someone to look after me. I am not a baby anymore!"

He made a "tsk" and shook his head.

"So? What are you? A grown-up lady who knows nothing but to cause troubles?" Sarkastikong tanong niya na ikinasalubog ng kilay ko.

"How dare you! You know nothing!" Sigaw ko sa kanya.

I stopped for a second when I caught him stole a glance at my body. Napatingin din ako sa katawan ko.

I am still wearing my robe but lately, I already wore undergarments.

I was half-shocked to see my robe untied revealing my white undergarments. I crossed my arms to my chest, not bothering to tie it again. There's no bigdeal here.

"Conservative, eh?"

"That's a thin and 'pieces' of cloth you're wearing, Latti. Go upstairs and change."

"I am not going to." Pagmamaktol ko.

Umigting ang kanyang panga at tiningnan ako nang masama. Hindi rin ako nagpatinag. I stared at him back, fiercely.

We did a staring competition for a minute when someone entered.

"Cai—"

"Here the girlfriend comes..." nakangising sabi ko at mabilis na umalis.

"Bye!" I teased before finally walking away.

Nangangalaiti na ako sa galit. Brat? Knows nothing but cause troubles. Ha! Where the hell did, he get those stupid assumptions of me? Bakit? Alam ba niya ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito sa Pilipinas?

I ran to my room upstairs. I wanted to vent out my hatred. Frustrated, I sat on my bed and tapped my lips with my fingers, thinking of what to do.

Finally, I came up with the thought of calling Daddy. I immediately picked up my phone and called him using Mom's account. All of my accounts are deactivated before leaving USA, so I have to use Mom's.

"Hey, sweetheart. How are you?" Kaagad itong sinagot ni Daddy.

"Dad—it's Latti."

The other line went silent for a few moments.

"What's the complain?" Kalmadong aniya.

Hindi ko pa nga sinasabi ang gusto kong sabihin, alam na niyang reklamo kaagad.

"Dad...why would you ask for someone to look after me? He's being such a nuisance. He'll make my short stay here mise—"

"I'll cut you there, Latisha. You're not having a short stay, I've been repeating. And I am tryin' to find you a good companion that could keep up with your attitude!"

Natigilan ako at mariing napapikit.

"No, Dad! You told me you'll fix things!"

You don't know what trouble you've gotten yourself into, Latti. You're going to file a case without evidence?"

"Pero, Daddy! I am telling you the truth! You just don't believe me! I was drugged!" Nanginginig ang labing sabi ko.

"The test results say otherwise. It's not that I don't believe you but it's hard to find a hole and let you out if you will insist that Aldrake set you up," seryosong sagot ni Daddy. Halata sa boses niya ang pagiging problemado.

"I am sure the Desmunds have to do something with the results," I said.

Dad let out a heavy sigh on the other line.

Feeling weightless, I sat on my couch and closed my eyes.

"If we, someone who's not even a quarter of their success and popularity, would care about this reputation so much, how much more their reputation to them? They cannot let the world know that their heir is a drug addict."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Naisip ko rin ang bagay na ito ngunit umasa pa akong magagawan ito ni Daddy ng paraan. Hindi ko nga alam kung anong klaseng problema ang ibinigay ko kay Daddy. Pero, hindi ko ginusto ang pumasok sa gulong 'to!

I just wanted to celebrate my birthday unforgettably! He ruined it!

"He's been under the rehab. As much as I want to show your innocence, I don't want to ruin the partnership of the Desmunds and Fallarcos. Staying this way could save you, could save us and keep our name and company far from vain."

I smiled desperately. I bet, Aldrake is laughing his ass out when he finds out what happened to me.

He really won't let go of me that easy, huh? Patay na patay talaga? I wonder if he'll stop once he gets inside my pants.

"For now, I want you to stay out of this, far from here and cut any of your connections. I didn't know he has quite a lot of fans..."

I chuckled at Dad's last sentence.

"Fangirls from our university and other schools. Such naive kids."

"Okay then. I've been long from excusing myself from a meeting. I'll talk to your mom later. And Latti, keep up the good connection with Caio," Daddy said before hanging up the phone.

Hindi man lang nag "Bye." Wow. Good connection? Is Dad mocking me?

Ano ba talaga ang lalaking 'yon? Is he hired by Daddy to be my bodyguard? If yes, then why does her girlfriend have to tail him? Is she working the same too?

I put back the phone on the coffee table beside my bed. Napahiga ako sa kama at napatingin sa kisame. The only corner of this house that is filled with different shades of purple is my room. I stayed at that position for long.

After thinking of useless things, I got up and went to the bathroom. Hindi pa pala ako nakaligo.

After taking a bath, I fixed my self. I wore a gray spaghetti-strapped cropped top with a deep V-line on the front and paired it with black pants.

I don't want to die of boredom here. Gusto ko ring gumala at kalimutan ang katangahan ko. It would be good to ask for Nicolai's help. I don't want to disturb Mom seeing she's having a good time with her plants. Alam ko rin namang iyon ang ginagawa niya sa bakanteng oras niya. Like Dad, she too, is busy with work.

Maybe, I would take a walk at the shore and wait for the sunset...