DUCANI LEGACY SERIES 10: Kahel

Eloisa "PARA sa simbahan, Pastor Eldan," nakangiting sabi ni Mrs. Fortez. Isa sa pinakamayamang myembro ng simbahang pinamumunuan ni Daddy. My Dad smiled at her as he accepted the white envelope. I'm sure their donation is pretty huge again because they believed that my friend, Jancy passed the licensure exam for nurses because of my father's prayers. "Maraming salamat. Malaking tulong ito para sa ating parokya," si Daddy. Matamis pa rin ang ngiti. Tumingin sa akin si Mrs. Fortez. "Sayang, ano? Hindi nagpatuloy si Eloisa sa pagiging nurse, Pastor. Sabay sana silang nag-take ni Jancy." Para akong nanliit lalo na noong pasimple akong binato ni Daddy ng matalim na titig. I know he's still disappointed in me. Mad perhaps. Noong graduation lang niya nalaman na hindi ako nagpatuloy bilang nursing student kaya galit na galit siya. After a semester in BS Nursing, I secretly shifted and took Business Administration. I falsified everything that needed his signature. I graduated with a latin honor. I thought that would be enough. Ngunit pagkauwi namin galing ng graduation ay isang malakas na sampal ang iginawad sa akin ni Daddy. "She will go back to school next semester. I will not let her chase something that God doesn't want us to run after," Daddy said that made my heart sink. Why can't he just respect my decision? I want to build empires. I have ideas. Ideas that can open jobs to other people but my Dad has this weird beef towards businessmen. He said he doesn't want to have a child who will end up a slave to money. I pursed my lips and stared at the envelope. Ayaw niyang maging negosyante ako dahil magiging alipin ako ng pera, pero bakit ginagamit niya ang pera ng simbahan para bumili ng sasakyang gusto ni kuya? Para ibili si Mommy ng mamahaling alahas? O para palagyan ng second floor ang aming bahay? "Pastor?" tawag ng isa sa mga myembro. Tuluyan akong naiwan sa aking pwesto. Nanliliit at halos hindi magawang humakbang. Kung hindi pa ako nilapitan ni Jancy at niyayang lumabas ay baka napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko. "Mag-diving tayo mamaya tapos attend tayo sa beach party ni Crista," yaya sa akin ni Jancy. I sighed. Nilaro ko ang dulo ng kulot kong buhok. "Alam mo naman ang Daddy." "Eh, magdi-dinner naman sila sa bahay nina brother Paeng, 'di ba? Siguradong gagabihin na iyon. Sige na. Masyado ka nang nagmumukmok sa bahay ninyo. You need to loosen up so you can get back on track," pangungumbinsi niya. "I don't know, Cy. Parang wala akong gana." Umangkla siya sa aking braso. "Sabi ni Crista may mga bisita sa resort nila. Mga gwapong Manileño!" Umirap ako. "Eh, 'yan naman yata ang dahilan bakit mo ko niyayaya, eh." Jancy giggled. "Hindi mo ba nami-miss mag-inom after mag-dive? Besides, they're strangers. We don't have to keep in touch after the party. Isa pa, hindi ba darating mamaya ang ate Elona mo? Siguradong maririndi ka na naman sa bunganga no'n. Saka, girl birthday mo ngayon hindi ka nga binati? They didn't even say they planned anything for your 21st birthday. Tayo na lang ang mag-celebrate. Isipin na lang natin birthday party mo rin 'yong pupuntahan natin kaysa magmukmok ka at marindi sa bunganga ng ate mo." Napalunok ako. Ate Elona and I were never close. Siya ang pangalawa sa aming tatlong magkakapatid. Mas malapit pa ako kay kuya Eldritch dahil tingin ni ate Elona ay masyadong matigas ang ulo ko. She's always been Daddy's pet. Kaya kapag napapasama ko ang loob ni Daddy ay hindi na rin niya ako pinapansin. I was about to tell Jancy that I'd rather lock myself in my room when my phone vibrated. Dinukot ko iyon sa bulsa at binasa ang chat ni ate. Elona: I'll bring home some new nursing books. Huwag mong sayangin ang chance na binigay ni Daddy. Sinilip ni Jancy ang screen ng phone ko. "See? You're about to lose your freedom, Eloisa. Don't you wanna rebel for the last time before they box you again?" My lips shut tightly, forming a thin line. Naiisip ko pa lang na kakaladkarin ako ni Daddy sa pasukan para mag-take ng nursing, naiiyak na ako. Siguradong bantay-sarado na ako this time. Ihahatid-sundo at ikukulong sa kwarto para gabi-gabing magsunog ng kilay. "So what do you say?" tanong ni Jancy. Mukhang nahalatang malapit na akong pumayag. Hindi ko na alam. Namalayan ko na lang na bitbit ko na ang surf board ko at tumatakbo patungo sa pampang. Kulay kahel ang mga alon na tila nanghihipnotismong lapitan ko sa kabila ng panganib na maaari nitong dala. Despite the uncertainty and danger, I found myself embracing my fear and let myself be one with the ruthless ocean. Dumapa ako sa surf board at lumangoy upang salubungin ang may kalakihang alon. As soon as I got my chance, I pushed myself up and stood on my surf board. A carefree smile made its way to my lips as I controlled my surf board. My hand touched the waters that could either drown me or give me a heck of an experience. Humiyaw kami ni Jancy. Tuwang-tuwa habang sumasampa sa kanya-kanyang surf board. The setting sun doesn't hurt my skin anymore, while the salty breeze offered comfort as it continued to kiss my rosy cheeks. Gumuhit ang matamis na ngiti sa aking mga labi habang nakatitig ako sa kahel na dagat. I was lost in the moment as if the waves are washing away everything that's making my chest heavy. Ang sarap maging malaya kahit sandali . . . Jancy and I surfed until darkness finally conquered the sky. Buhat ang surf boards ay naglakad kami ni Jancy patungo sa El Molina. Ang resort ng pamilya ng kaibigan naming si Crista. "They're throwing a party para i-celebrate ang pagpasa ni Crista. Free drinks sa lahat!" excited na sabi ni Jancy. "Baka mag-isang bote lang ako," pauna ko na. She groaned. "Come on. Tig-tatlo tayo tapos uwi na. I swear, hindi tayo masyadong gagabihin. Makakauwi ka bago pa makabalik sa inyo ang parents mo. Sigurado naman late na rin ang kuya mong makakauwi dahil susunduin ang ate mo." "Kahit na. Baka mamaya tamaan ako ng alak. Maamoy pa ako." Jancy rolled her eyes. Ilang beses pa niya akong kinumbinsi hanggang sa sinalubong na kami ni Crista sa pampang. "Guys!" Malawak ang ngiti siyang kumaway. "Tara dito!" Itinusok namin ni Jancy ang surf boards sa buhangin bago sumama kay Crista. We occupied the bean bags and waited for her to bring us drinks. Nang makabalik siya ay ipinasa kaagad sa akin ni Jancy ang bucket para makakuha ako ng beer. I sighed. "Iisang bote lang talaga ako." "Oh, huwag ninyong lasingin 'yan. Baka bigla tayong hingian ng donasyon niyan pagkatapos niyan mag-preach." Napatingin kami sa bay area nang marinig ang grupo nina Beth Ann. She's clinging her arm on my ex-boyfriend's arm as if she's so proud that Hill is already with her. Inis na umismid si Jancy. "Mas matapang na talaga kapag galing sa agaw, ano? Insecurity is really loud!" asik niya. "Hayaan n'yo na lang. Hindi mo deserve ang cheater at lalakeng iiwan ka kasi hindi ka makuha sa santong paspasan." Hinawakan ni Crista ang kamay ko. "Nandito tayo para mag-enjoy. Pabayaan mo na." Natungga ko na lamang ang bote ko. I tried to drown my anger yet one bottle didn't seem enough. Nanginginig ako sa galit kaya nang tuluyan akong pinamunuan ng emosyon ko'y napalakas ang inom ko. Next thing I knew, I was already dancing wildly with my friends. Wala nang pakialam kung ano ang mangyayari oras na mawala ang tama ng alak. There's something within me that craves for my freedom to decide for my life, and the stronger that feeling roars inside me, the more I wanted to drink. "Oops!" I giggled when I bumped onto someone's back. Naglaro sa aking ilong ang panlalakeng pabango. The guy wearing a printed orange polo turned to face me while he's holding a bottle of hard liquor. His obsidian eyes looked sleepy yet hypnotizing, his thin rosy lips seemed inviting. "Hey," he greeted in his baritone voice. Muntik pang matumba dahil halatang lasing na. Pati ako ay muntik mawalan ng balanse kaya napahawak kami sa kamay ng isa't isa. We both laughed. Tumabon pa ang ilang hibla ng buhok ko sa aking mukha. He lifted his hand to tuck my hair behind my ear, and while he's doing so, I saw his wild obsidian eyes focused on my lips as if he wanted to kiss me. Napasinghap ako nang hawakan niya ako sa aking lower back. Yumuko siya hanggang sa ang mga labi ay tumapat na sa aking tainga. "I heard there's a cave near this place." His thumb caressed my exposed skin. "Wanna show me that place?" Hindi ko alam kung anong mayroon sa lalakeng kaharap ko. It was like I was put under a spell that I ended up leaving the party to bring him to the cave. Gumigewang kaming pareho kaya panay ang tawa habang naglalakad. Hindi ko na rin alam kung napansin ba ng iba ang pag-alis namin. "Kahel," pakilala niya bago ako inakbayan at ipinasa sa akin ang bote ng vodka. I smirked. "Red," biro ko bago tinungga ang bote. My back rested on the cold stone building up the cave's wall while my eyes watched him gaze at me with amusement. He smirked. The kind of smirk that can make women drop their underwears to the floor in an instant. Kahel rested his palm on the stone, right next to my head. "You're cute." He licked his lower lip before he held me by my chin. "Wanna f**k?" Napahawak ako sa bote gamit ang dalawang kamay. "You're too fast. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay habang ang kanyang mga labi ay lalong kumurba. "I can go slow and gentle, too. Depends on what you want." He lowered his head until our lips are nearly brushing against each other. "All you gotta do is tell me how you want us to do it . . ." mapang-akit niyang dugtong. Hindi ko alam kung dala ba ng kalasingan o sadyang masyado lang malakas mang-akit ang lalakeng kasama ko. Maybe I wanted to feel more rebellious, too because deep down my heart, Hill's reason for cheating on me hurt me. Nilunok ko ang bara sa aking lalamunan saka ko hinawakan ang kwelyo ng lalake. As if he already knew my answer, a meaningful smirk made its way to his lips before he held me by my waist. Suminghap ako nang tuluyan niyang halikan. Malalim at tila nais burahin ang pag-aalinlangan sa aking puso. He even pulled my lower body so I could feel the huge bulge inside his board shorts. Gumapang ang kilit pababa ng aking talampakan nang napadpad sa aking panga at leeg ang kanyang mga halik. Para akong nanpalambot habang sinisilaban. Kung hindi ako kakapit sa kanyang mga braso ay baka tuluyan akong mabuwal. I felt his hand caressing mine until he finally reached the bottle I was holding. Ganoon na lang ang gulat ko nang agawin niya iyon at ibinuhos sa aking dibdib. A satisfied smile made its way to his lips before he held me by my waist and started licking off the liquor on my skin. "Oh God . . ." Nakagat ko ang ibaba kong labi. Hindi na rin maintindihan kung titirik ba ang aking mga mata o uungol ako dahil sa sensasyon. "Let's get rid of this. I don't want anything to hinder my lips from tasting every inch of you," he said hoarsely before he removed my bikini cover up. Next thing I knew, hindi na lamang bikini cover up ko ang nagkalat sa buhangin kun'di ang lahat ng saplot namin sa katawan. Little did I know that this one mistake was God's way of answering my prayers. My prayers for me to finally have my freedom . . .