DUCANI LEGACY SERIES 12: Keeyan

Kabanata 6

Rachel

I DIDN'T expect Keeyan to be true to his words when he said we'll attend the church together. Noong una akala ko ay isang beses lang niya akong sasamahang magsimba. Hanggang sa ang unang beses ay nasundan pa ng isa, at ng isa pa, hanggang sa namalayan ko na lang na parte na ng routine namin tuwing araw ng Linggo ang magsimba nang magkasama.

"Maganda kung makakasama ka sa young adult conference natin sa susunod na buwan. Marami tayong participant," anang lider ng young adult sa aming parokya na si Sister Juvie.

I was about to answer her when I felt Keeyan gently taking my bag from my shoulder. Dumulas ang straps ng bag ko kaya nagawa niya iyong agawin nang pasimple sa akin. Nang maisuot sa balikat niya ang bag ko ay dahan-dahan naman niyang kinuha ang hawak kong Bible.

"Ayos lang, Keeyan," mahina kong sabi.

Umiling siya. "I'll bring your stuff in the car. Go ahead and talk to them. Bibili lang ako sandali."

"O-Okay. Thank you."

He gently nodded. Magalang din siyang nagpaalam sa mga kasamahan ko bago siya nagtungo sa sasakyan niya.

"Hindi pa ba magpapabinyag sa ating simbahan ang kasama mo, Sister Rachel? Mukhang interesado sa iyo, eh kaya lang magkaiba kayo ng relihiyon."

Namula ang aking pisngi nang marinig ang sinabi ni Sister Juvie. "Naku, sumasama lang po siya sa akin kasi magkaibigan po kami. Saka mabait po talaga siya. Hindi niya po ako gusto."

Makahulugan siyang ngumisi. "Matanda na ako, Sister Rachel. Ilang beses ko nang narinig iyan."

I swear, I almost asked God to just let me be swallowed by the Earth when Sister Juvie insisted that Keeyan is interested in me. Ang awkward na rin ng nagiging usapan namin kaya noong bumalik si Keeyan ay nagpaalam na rin ako. Isa pa ay tanghali na. Ayaw kong maistorbo nang husto si Keeyan kahit na saksakan siya ng bait.

Although he isn't a member of my church, Keeyan respects the beliefs and teachings that we have. Wala akong pagtaliwas na naririnig mula sa kanya. It was as if he attends our church to praise God and to offer me the support I didn't think I needed.

"Sa susunod na Linggo po ulit," paalam ko sa mga kasamahan sa simbahan.

They waved goodbye while some of the single ladies glanced and smiled at Keeyan. Iyong ngiti na parang may gustong ipakahulugan. Hindi naman na bago sa akin iyon. Kahit naman noong unang beses niyang sumama sa akin ay marami na talagang nagkainteres sa kanya.

I couldn't blame them. This man is like a walking billboard. Nakababali ng leeg ang kagandahang lalake. Even the guys in our church threw him a glance the minute he walked in.

Napalingon ako kay Keeyan. Pasimpleng sinilip kung ngumiti ba siya pabalik sa mga ito ngunit hindi. In fact, he immediately turned away as if he isn't interested to give the girls some false hopes. Naiintindihan ko naman. Siya na ang nagsabi, hindi ba? Hindi naman siya straight.

"Ano ang binili mo?" tanong ko habang papalapit kami sa kanyang kotse.

He smiled. "Lechon. Sa unit mo na tayo mag-lunch."

Keeyan opened the door for me. He even placed his hand on my lower back as he assisted me in. Palagi niya iyong ginagawa tuwing inaalalayan niya akong sumakay. Sa katagalan ay nasanay na rin ako.

He shut the door as soon as I got in. Humalimuyak naman sa loob ng sasakyan ang amoy ng lechon na binili niya. It's placed in a takeout box. Naroon iyon sa backseat at may kasamang binalot na kanin.

Hindi na bago sa akin iyong pag-lunch namin nang sabay pagkatapos ng service. Minsan ay sa resto o fastfood kami, madalas naman ay sa tinutuluyan ko.

Keeyan went to the driver side. Nang makalabas sa property ng simbahan ang sasakyan ay sumulyap siya sa akin.

"I overheard you're getting invited to an event," he said.

"Ah, 'yong para sa mga single adult. Yearly naman iyon at nagaganap sa bawat distrito."

His thumb tapped on the steering wheel. "Uhm, what is it about? I mean, what do you guys do in the event?"

"May mga certain activities like group games, scripture mastery, quiz bee, may pa-trainings din like baking, tapos may ball kung saan pwede kang makakilala ng maaari mong maging nobyo."

His brows furrowed. "Are you . . . going to join?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Baka hindi. Matatapat din na may pasok sa office, eh."

"Right." He smiled and his face relaxed. Hindi katulad kanina. "I'm excited for tomorrow."

Ako naman ang napakunot-noo. "Tomorrow?"

Tumango siya. "Bring your toddler to work day bukas." He smirked. "Maraming mapipisil na pisngi."

I laughed a bit. "Mahilig ka sa bata?"

"Sort of. I mean, what's not to like about them? Lalo kapag napipikon mo sila." He laughed. "Kidding. I mean they're like walking teddy bears."

"Huwag lang mag-tantrums, ano?" biro ko.

Nagkwentuhan pa kami hanggang sa makarating ng apartment ko. Pagkaparada ng sasakyan ay kinuha niya iyong binili niyang lechon at kanin. Isinama niya rin ang bag at scriptures ko.

"Ako na sa gamit ko, Keeyan," I insisted but he shook his head.

"Baka hindi ka na tumangkad. Malaki pa sa'yo 'tong bag mo," biro niya.

"Si Keeyan kamo," I said, pouting a little.

He just laughed and then told me to open the door. Pumasok kami sa loob. After putting everything down, Keeyan went to his car again and returned with two ecobags filled with groceries.

Napakunot ako ng noo nang dumiretso siya sa maliit kong kusina. He started replenishing my stocks as if he bought all of those groceries for me.

"Keeyan, anong ginagawa mo?" nagtataka kong tanong.

"Hmm?" Keeyan looked over his shoulder. "Just making sure you have enough food. May parating na bagyo. Mahihirapan kang mag-grocery so I went to the store yesterday for you."

"Naku, ikaw talaga! Palagi mo na nga akong nililibre ng pagkain. Pati ba naman groceries!" Kinuha ko ang wallet ko. "Magkano ba lahat 'yan at babayaran ko."

"Mukha ba kong bayaran, Rachel?" he asked.

Napaawang ang aking mga labi. Even my eyes blinked twice as I tried to process his question.

"Huh?"

"I said mukha ba kong bayaran? Oh, wait that sounds so wrong." He laughed. "Naging pokpok ako for a sec."

Natawa na rin ako. "Mag-English ka na lang nga. Minsan palpak din tagalog mo, eh."

He grinned. "Well, what I was trying to say is, I am not asking you to pay me back."

I sighed. "Sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, hindi po pwedeng ganyan. Saka . . ."

I pursed my lips, unable to continue what I wanted to say when my shame kicked in.

Keeyan lifted a brow. "Saka?"

I sighed. "Kalimutan mo na. Ang inappropriate din."

Binitiwan niya ang canned pork and beans na hawak niya. He then leaned on the sink and folded his toned arms in front of his chest while still lifting a brow at me. Tila sinasabing hindi siya titigil hangga't hindi ko itinutuloy ang gusto kong sabihin.

"Is it the part when I start reading your mind, love?" he asked.

I pursed my lips when my cheeks started to burn because of two reasons; out of shame and . . . because he called me love again.

Ssandali kong pinuno ng hangin ang aking dibdib. "A-Ano lang, baka kasi may makaalam na . . . nililibre mo ko palagi tapos . . . binilihan mo ko ng groceries."

He scoffed. "Let them know. I don't care. I'd even buy you a whole damn mall while they're watching."

Napakamot ako ng sentido. "Hindi naman 'yon. A-Ano kasi, baka . . . alam mo 'yon? Sabihin pa ay . . . ginagawa kitang . . ." I pursed my lips. Hindi magawang ituloy ang sinasabi dahil tinatamaan ng hiya.

Keeyan lifted his brow again. "You're making me your what, hmm?"

"B-Basta."

He smirked. "Your sugar daddy? Did I read your mind right?"

Lalong uminit ang aking pisngi. "O-Oo." Napaiwas ako ng tingin. "N-Nakakahiya para sa'yo."

Keeyan shook his head before he let out a sexy chuckle. "Don't worry, love. I don't mind. Nasa lahi naman namin 'yon."

I looked at him with a face as red as a freaking tomato. "Nasa lahi n'yo ang ano?"

His lips stretched for a flirty smile. "Ang pagiging sugar daddy . . ."