DUCANI LEGACY SERIES 8: Khalid

Kabanata 16

Khalid

"Is there a chance that whoever sent me that photo is also the one behind the attack?" tanong ko kay Kaius sa phone habang nagmamaneho ako patungo sa condo ni Anie.

"Could be, and I'm still considering the fact that this might have something to do with Armani's huge potential to win the VP position in the upcoming election." He sighed. "Bakit naman kasi may halikang nangyari? I thought you consider her as your daughter?"

I pursed my lips when I felt his disappointment. Inasahan ko na 'to, pero kailangan kong ipaalam sa kanya para maresolba bago pa makarating kina Armani at Teissa.

I don't want them to think that I'm taking advantage of their daughter because God knows how much I would hate myself if I'll ever let myself fall for Anie.

Pinakawalan ko ang mabigat na hangin sa dibdib ko. "She kissed me when she was drunk. Wala kaming relasyon."

Si Kaius naman ang bumuntonghininga. "Honestly, kuya? Napapansin ko nang gusto ka talaga ni Anie in a romantic way and I'm terrified of what people might think. Maiintindihan kita. Gano'n din sina Khol at iba nating pinsan. Pero paano ang iba?"

"Kaius, I don't love her the same way," I said, but my voice came out sounding so defensive as if it's me whom I'm actually convincing.

"How sure are you that you will never see her as someone you wanna have a romantic connection with?"

Umigting ang aking panga at humigpit ang kapit ko sa manibela. "Kaius . . ."

"Fine, fine. But please understand that we're not kids anymore. Everything we do, we have to do it for a greater good. If keeping Anie near you will just make it hard for her to get rid of her feelings for you, then don't you think it's best to just stay away as much as you can?"

"Hindi ko kaya 'yan," sagot ko.

That's the f*****g truth. I could never stay away from Anie. Ngayon pa nga lang na lumalayo siya ay hindi na ako napapalagay. Paano pa kung ako mismo ang iiwas?

He sighed. "Then you're setting the kid up for a bigger heartbreak, kuya."

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "I'll establish the boundaries properly. I'll make sure she'll change her mind without me keeping my distance."

"I don't know, kuya. I think that's not really gonna work."

"Susubukan ko. Kung hindi gagana ay . . . saka ako lalayo," hirap kong sagot.

Out conversation went on with Kaius giving me warnings about the possible consequences of my plans. Naiintindihan ko naman. He's only looking after me and Anie, and I truly appreciate it. Sadyang . . . hindi ko pa lang talaga kayang tuluyang lumayo kay Anie.

I parked my car and went out. Hindi na sumama pa si Nowlan sa pagpanhik sa condo ni Anie dahil inutusan kong makipag-coordinate sa RSSA tungkol sa larawang natanggap ko.

I knocked on the door, only to be welcomed by Anie's sharp eyes. Muntik pa akong pagsarhan ng pinto kung hindi ko ikinalso ang palad ko.

"Mi flor, come on. Don't be like this," parang nagmamakaawa kong sabi.

Inirapan niya ako't tinalikuran. Napabuntonghininga tuloy ako nang maisara ko ang pinto.

I watched her went inside her room. Inilapag ko naman ang mga binili ko sa island counter saka ko siya pinuntahan. Thank God she didn't lock the door so I got in.

"How are you feeling?" I asked as I sat by the edge of her bed.

Umiwas siya ng tingin. "I'm fine, Sir."

I sighed. "Knock it off, Anie. You know you're hurting me every time you're calling me that way."

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "Why? Hindi ba ako nasasaktan kapag tinatawag akong anak-anakan mo?"

I groaned in frustration. "God, Anie. Ibang usapan 'yon."

I don't know if her fever is causing her to be very emotional. Naupo siya nang namumula ang mga mata saka ako tinitigan nang masama.

"I hate you," she said. Tumulo ang luha kaya parang sinuntok ang dibdib ko.

How ironic that I'm so scared that some asshole will someday make her cry. Turns out I'm gonna be the asshole.

Lumamlam ang mga mata ko nang magsunod-sunod ang pagpatak ng kanyang mga luha. Pati ang mga balikat ay umalog na.

"I hate you so much right now! You promised me that you will always take good care of my heart so why are you causing me this much pain?" she asked. Garalgal na ang boses dala ng labis na sakit na nararamdaman.

My chest tightened, making it hard for me to breathe. "Mi flor, we can't be together the way that you want."

"Dahil bata pa ako? Gano'n ba?"

"Because I'm too old for you—"

"I don't care!" She sobbed. "I don't care if you're much older! You set the bar so high and now I can't even look at another guy without thinking about you first!"

I lifted my hand to wipe her tears. Kaya lang ay lalo lang umiyak bago sumubsob sa dibdib ko. Para tuloy piniga ang aking puso nang tumindi ang pag-iyak niya na para bang hindi siya pamilyar sa sakit na nararamdaman niya kaya halos hindi niya alam kung paano niya kokontrolin ang sarili.

It hurts to think that it's me who caused her this much pain. God, I will never forgive myself for this. My Anie doesn't deserve to feel this way.

"Tahan na," namamaos kong sabi habang hinahaplos ang buhok niya.

Anie lifted her head to look at me with her wet eyes. "Can't you give me a chance? Please? Kahit subok lang naman? If you will not fall for me in a month then I'll leave you alone and pretend I never loved you this way."

"Mi flor, please—"

"Give me a chance or you will never see me again. I'll apply in the army! I'll request to be sent to Mindanao—"

"God, stop—"

"I'll go to war! Risk my life—"

"I said stop!" Napalakas na ang boses ko. "Why do you have to threaten me?!"

Basag siyang ngumiti. "So you'd know how desperate I can be just to have this one chance." She sobbed. "Please? Titigil naman ako kung sa loob ng isang buwan ay hindi mo talaga ako mahalin sa paraang gusto ko."

"Mi flor . . ." I sighed. "It's not that easy—"

"We'll hide it. No one will find out. Not even Nowlan." She cupped my cheeks. "Please?"

Pumikit ako't tinimbang ang sitwasyon. I know how stubborn she can really be, at natatakot akong totohanin niya ang sinabi niya. Mindanao is a crazy place. Maraming gulo ngayon doon at natatakot akong baka talagang doon niya naising madestino.

My silence probably made her think I didn't want to bite her bait so she leaned to kiss my lips, deeper this time. Desperate, perhaps . . . and I f*****g hate myself for losing control.

Sumabunot ang kamay ko sa kanyang buhok at ako na ang nanguna sa paghalik. I don't know what happened to me. Para akong nahipnotismo at ngayon ay ako na itong sinusundan niya sa paghalik.

My fingers clutched her silky hair tighter as she tried to answer my kisses. Tila nais talaga akong baliwin nang hindi na ako makapag-isip pa nang matino.

Nang maputol ang halik ay payak siyang ngumiti habang hinahaplos ang pisngi ko gamit ang hinlalaki.

"That's a yes." She smiled a little wider. "My one month starts now . . ."

Nalunok ko na lang ang sarili kong laway habang yumakap naman siya sa akin na parang tuwang-tuwa.

Looks like I'm officially f****d up . . .