Chapter 2

A woman probably in her 40's has been talking nonstop yet I can't hear anything. I stared at her and noticed her deep blue eyes, it looks familiar I think I've seen it somewhere before. Even the shape of her face were similar to someone very close to me. I don't know why but it felt strange, she's glaring at me like I'm some kind of sickening creature. If looks could kill, I might be dead by now. Her stares are full of disgust and hatred. I tried to reached for her hand but then she quickly fade away and that's the last thing that happened before I got back to my senses.

As soon as I woke up, my eyes immediately roamed around the unfamiliar room. I exactly knew this isn't my place or any of my friends, then I remembered my life would have been taken away from me if it's not because of that guy. I examined my whole body and it's unbelievably fine, though my head stings a bit.

I'm about to stand up when the door slowly opened. Hindi ko maaninag ang kabuuan ng mukha ng taong pumasok dahil sa dilim, ngunit hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang panlalakeng amoy na tingin ko'y mamahalin. The brightness seem to blurry my vision because of its sudden appearance but it landed on that person right away.

Nakaharap siya sa ibang direksyon at ang tanging kita ko lang ay ang kabuuan ng kanyang malapad na likod, naglakbay ang paningin ko sa kanyang katawan. Sunod sunod ang nagawa kong paglunok dahil sa tindi ng panunuyo ng lalamunan. I'm not a sexual person, but this man's body is making me feel unexplainable sensations. Lethally and ruthlessly gorgeous, he could fck with or without clothes on and many women could reach multiple orgasm. The ones I have seen on magazines and movies are nothing compared to his, this is also the first time I've encountered a man almost naked. I mean, he's literally not wearing anything aside from that small piece of cloth that's covering his sacred parts.

What a bold surprise!

His broad shoulders are firm and all the muscles of his body are in their right places, not to mention his tattoos, tila ka iniimbita na titigan pa lalo ang bawat hugis at linis ng pagkakapinta. He's also a bit hairy but that made him more appealing and desirable.....wait that sounds so pervert and yet I can now fully understand Nicole's crude jokes, "Ang mga ganyang katawan ang palaban sa kama, siguradong ihi lang ang pahinga bakla!"

"So you're awake." Baritono at malamig na boses ang nagpabalik ng aking ulirat. Pinikit ko ang aking mata nang bigla siyang humarap sa akin. Just a glimpse of his huge thing is enough to make me question its existence. Damn! Hindi ako makapaniwala.

Jusko! Parang braso ng bata. Bakit ang taba!

Ramdam ko ang init sa kabilaan kong pisngi, at hindi ko mapigilang pagpawisan ng malamig dahil sa kaba at....excitement?

"Open your eyes." Maawtoridad niyang utos, ramdam ko dito ang matinding pagpipigil ng emosyon. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang manginig sa takot, he's a stranger and I definitely don't know what he's up to.

Dahan dahan kong iminulat ang aking mata at nagulat ako nang mabilis nitong itaas ang baba ko, pinigilan ko ang sariling mapasinghap nang makita ang kabuuan ng kanyang mukha. I assumed this is the reason I have sleepless nights, but then I don't want him to notice that he's familiar with me.

The other day he was just a thought savagely running on my mind now he's in front of me, fresh in flesh. Pero bakit ang dali sa kanyang hawakan ako? I can't imagine him being this close to me, the tiny space between us is making me anxious. I began to ask myself, how would it feel touching his skin? His clenched jaw roughened from a five o'clock shadow is aesthetically pleasing, no wonder why he really is the most good looking man I've ever met. His eyes are cold but very enticing, para nitong hinihigop ang kabuuan ng lakas ko. His perfectly shaped nose matches his rugged features and his lips, anyone would die for it just to have a taste.

"Satisfied?" I blinked many times when I heard how low and sensual his voice was. Oh shit! Ang bango ng hininga. Satisfied? Saan? And that's when I realized what he was talking about.

Agad akong umiwas ng tingin dahil sa takot na makita niya ang pagkamangha sa aking mga mata. Damn! Lagi nalang akong napapahiya sa harap nito. Bumitaw siya at nagtungo sa kung saan, huminga ako ng malalim at kinalma ang naghaharumentadong puso.

"Have we met before?" I can't seem to comprehend his words as I'm deeply distracted with his movements. He's slowly wearing his black long sleeves while looking at me intently. Marahan ang kanyang galaw na tila ninanamnam ang bawat segundo. Kung hindi lang ako nahihibang iisipin kong inaakit niya ako.

All my life, I have never dreamed of liking someone that's out of my league particularly someone like him, besides I'm used to being alone. I have planned my life loving no one but myself, doing everything for my sake, cause this is what the world has deprived me of. But then we cannot keep on holding on to that same thing we used to believe, unless it's immovable. Mayron at mayroong darating na magpapabago sa lahat ng pananaw natin sa buhay.

Umiling ako at sinubukang tumayo. Despite of my knees trembling and wasted strength, I was able to make steps towards the nearest door. It's suffocating being here, I wish I didn't preferred walking that day. I could've rode a cab or whatever to avoid being in my position right now. It's really hard not to be cautious, I should trust my instinct and I'm determined to stay away from him cause he is definitely a walking temptation I need to resist.

"Where do you think you're going?" Mapanganib na saad niya at halos matuod ako sa aking kinatatayuan ng maramdaman ang presensya niya sa aking likuran.

"I-I....I n-need to go to the...bathroom." Mahina at kabado ang aking boses, I just hope he noticed the uneasiness of my actions.

"Ask for permission. Remember, you're in my territory."

I can clearly hear the coldness dripping in his voice but then he pointed the door on the left side where the bathroom is. Patakbo akong pumunta doon at huminga ng malalim. Humarap ako sa salamin at kitang kita ko ang pamumula ng aking mukha, halos habulin ko rin ang paghinga sa bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Pwede na kaya akong umuwi? Hindi niya na rin siguro ako kailangan, tyaka may pasok pa ako, ayokong lumiban lalo na at may iniingatan akong scholarship.

Paglabas ko ay naabutan ko siyang nagbabasa ng mga papeles na nasa ibabaw ng lamesa.

"S-Sir....pwede...na po ba akong umuwi?" He looked at my direction as if telling me that I'm being ridiculous. Bakit ganyan siya makatingin? Para akong puzzle na hirap siyang buuin. May mali ba akong nasabi?

"No. We still need to talk." He firmly said without breaking our eye contact. He motioned me to come closer and sit beside him. Alanganin pa akong lumapit ngunit kalaunan ay sumunod rin.

"Do you remember what happened last night?" Walang emosyon niyang tanong sa akin. Tumango ako at agad ring yumuko subalit hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang pagigting ng kanyang panga. Batid kong natural na iyon na galaw ng kanyang mukha kahit pa hindi ko matukoy kung galit ba siya o ano.

"You're a minor and yet you have the guts to wander around at past midnight? And worst you're a fucking lady." Halos matumba ako sa aking narinig. Hindi dahil sa dagundong ng kanyang galit na boses, kundi dahil sa napagkamalan niya akong isang babae!

"A kid like you should be in her bed sleeping soundly and not sneaking off like a damn inmate." Dugtong pa niya na lalong nagpagulat sa akin. Sandali nga! Kailangan kong huminga. Ang kapal naman ng apog ng lalaking to para pagsabihan ako ng kung ano ano, samantalang hindi ko naman siya kilala.

"Kung hindi naman po bukal sa puso ang nagawang pagsagip sa akin, sana hindi niyo nalang ginawa..."

Mahina ngunit may diin kong saad. Handa naman akong magpasalamat at humingi ng tawad sa abala, pero hindi niya kailangang ipamukha na labag sa kalooban niya ang nagawang kabutihan.

"I'm not that heartless sweetie, besides you look like a damsel in distress longing for protection." Nanunuya niyang sagot, at kahit pa nakangisi siya ramdam ko parin ang panganib sa bawat salitang binibitawan niya.

"Kung ganoon, nagpapasalamat ako ng taos puso at dahil doon, utang ko po ang buhay ko sa inyo." Puno ng sarkasmo ko namang balik sa kanya. Hah! Akala mo ikaw lang ang magaling sa panunuya depungal ka. Tumalim naman lalo ang kanyang titig dahil sa narinig na naghatid sa akin ng takot at pagkamangha.

Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng lalaking lalong gumagwapo pag galit.

"Show me your deepest gratitude then..."

Tumayo ang balahibo ko at halos manginig sa kiliting hatid ng malalim at malambing na boses nito. Tumingin ako sa kanya at hindi ko alam kung bakit ganoon na lamang ang pamumula ng aking mukha sa kanyang itsura. Mapungay ang kanyang mga mata at nakakagat labing nakatitig sa akin.

This man is literally so vulgar and earthy, how can he joke around something like this to a stranger.

Ipinapahiwatig lamang nito na ang mga lalaking katulad niya ay nabubuhay sa kamunduhan. Nevertheless, it's never a failure to make me burn in desire. At kahit gaano ko pa itatak sa isip ko na mali to, mas matindi ang kagustuhan kong maibsan ang kuryosidad.

Napaigtad ako nang marinig ang malakas niyang pagtikhim. Bumalik ang lamig ng kanyang titig at kaseryosohan ng awra. Hindi ko mawari kung alin sa dalawang ekspresyon niya ang mas mapanganib.

"Stop staring or I'll make you." Marahas na sabi nito, hindi ko namalayang kanina pa pala ako nakatitig sa ibabang bahagi ng kanyang katawan. Ngali ngali kong suntukin ang sarili, kotang kota na ako sa kahihiyan ngayong araw.

Bobita ka Azi! Pahalata ka masyado!

"Answer me, what are you doing outside during that time?" Mahinahon ngunit malamig parin ang kanyang boses. He's throwing me questions that demands answers. Ano to? Tonight with boy abunda?

"Galing po akong trabaho, kadalasan madaling araw na ang uwian." Huminga ako ng malalim at pilit umiiwas sa kanyang mapanuring titig. Kim atienza naman ngayon?

"You better look for another job. This is dangerous, you know that right?" Mas mapanganib na ngayon ang tunog ng kanyang boses. Ano bang ikinagagalit nito? Ni hindi ako pinagbabawalan ng kapatid ko sa trabahong to, tapos heto siya at ang dami daming reklamo.

Sasagot pa sana ako nang bigla siyang tumayo at sumenyas na sumunod sa kanya. Mabibigat ang nagawa nitong paghakbang at halata mo ang galit sa bawat galaw ng kanyang katawan. Adik ba to? Walang nakakagalit sa sagot ko.

Namangha ako sa sobrang lawak at elegante ng loob ng kanyang bahay. Yet I wasn't able to describe it properly because of the owner. I mean, he interrupted the second I was admiring the house. 

"Faster kid, you wouldn't want to waste my time don't you?" His voice is etched with authority and danger. Sa takot na baka masigawan pa lalo ay binilisan ko ang paglalakad ngunit nagulat ako nang bigla siyang tumigil dahilan para mapasubsob ako sa kanyang malapad na likod. 

"S-Sorry...uh..." Magkahalo ang kaba at alinlangan sa aking boses.

Humarap siya sa akin at kitang kita ko ang malalim na pagkakunot ng kanyang noo. Blangko ang ekspresyong nakatitig sa akin.

"Listen carefully, I don't want to repeat my words. We'll have to go to the police station and you know the reason. They'll ask for your statement regarding this incident. You will only present nothing but the truth. Do you understand?"

Kahit sa huli alam kong wala akong pagpipilian, hindi ko maiwasang tanungin ang sarili kung bakit sa dinami dami ng taong pwedeng tumulong sa akin ng mga oras na iyon, bakit sa isang katulad pa nitong halatang ang tingin sa mga mas mababa ng katayuan ay alila o di kaya ay alipin. Sa paraan ng pagkakasabi niya ay para bang isa akong hayop na sunod sunuran.

At tulad ng inaasahan ko ay wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang tumango at marahang sumunod sa kanya. Matatapos na rin naman ito sana hindi na kami muling magkita pa.