DUCANI LEGACY SERIES 8: Khalid

Kabanata 3

Anie

Pababa ako ng hagdan nang marinig ko si tita Evangeline na kausap ang pamangkin niyang si Oceana. Looks like Oceana is seeking help about her love life, at dahil pare-pareho naming alam na iba mag-react ang parents niya pagdating sa mga ganoong bagay ay kay tita Evangeline siya madalas tumakbo.

"That's what I've been saying to your cousins, Cia. Establish yourself so a man's social status will never be enough to impress you," dinig kong sabi ni tita Evangeline.

"Is it true, Tita? You never fell for tito just because he's part of the secret service?" tanong ni Oceana.

"Of course not. In fact, he's a major red flag back then kaya kahit na naging bahagi siya ng secret service, kung hindi ko siya nakitaan ng pwede kong mahalin sa kanya, baka hindi naman siya ang napangasawa ko."

I saw how Oceana tucked her hair behind her ear. "So what did you like most about tito, tita?"

Tita Evangeline smiled. Maging ang mga mata ay kumislap na para bang hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring kapantay ang kilig na nararamdaman niya kapag naiisip si tito Linel. I want that, too. I grew up seeing that kind of sparkle in my mom, my aunt, and my ninangs' eyes. They made me have faith that true love exists, but every time I'm imagining the man I'd walk down the aisle for, the same man appears in my head.

Si Khalid. Kung kailan iyon nagsimula ay hindi ko na maalala. All I know is that I cannot see him the same way anymore, ever since my heart realized the kind of love it craves to feel.

"Your tito Linel is a man of his words. When he said he'd come home safe for me, he really did. When he said he'd never stop me from chasing my dreams kahit maging mag-asawa na kami, he quit his job, stayed at home to take care of our kids, and supported me when I went to med school. When he said my money is all mine, he tripled his investments so he'll have more than enough to sustain our family's needs so I will never have to touch my salary. He loves me so he kept showing me reasons to keep choosing him every single time. Kaya lahat ng pangako niya, Cia, tinutupad niya."

Pati ako ay napangiti. Daddy Khalid, or Khalid as I like to call him in my diaries and in my head, is a man of his words, too. He stopped drinking and didn't entertain girls while I was at the booth camp because he promised me that. Madalas ko lamang asarin dahil gustong-gusto ko kapag napipikon ko siya. Nakakahanap ako ng dahilan para maglambing.

Tuluyan akong bumaba ng hagdan. "Hi, tita. Hi, Cia."

"Hi, Anie! Sorry, ha na-late kami ng dating dito sa Monte Costa. Alam mo naman ang schedule ni Liah ko," paliwanag ni tita Evangeline nang matapos akong bumeso sa kanila.

"It's okay, tita. By the way, have you seen Atreus? I've been looking for him. Nag-inom daw po kagabi."

"Nasa harap ng Raja. Tulog yata?" sagot ni Cia.

I sighed. Nagpaalam na ako sa kanila bago ako nagmartsa palabas ng clubhouse. Nang mahanap ko si Atreus ay naupo ako sa edge ng sunlounger kung saan siya nakahiga. He's wearing his sunglasses and his upper body was shirtless. Nakaunan ang magaling kong kapatid sa dalawang palad at tila natutulog.

I removed his sunglasses, making him groan in an irritated way. "Nag-inom ka raw nang marami kagabi?" nakataas ang kilay kong tanong.

Atrues sneered. Inagaw niya ang salamin at muling isinuot. "Bakit ako lang ang pinapagalitan mo? Si Areisso rin naman uminom."

Napairap ako. "Sinabi ko na sa inyo na huwag kayong mag-iinom kagabi!"

"Umiinom ka rin naman, 'di ba?"

"Yes, but I know my limits. You guys don't!"

Atreus groaned. "Tigilan mo nga ako, ate."

I sighed. "Nasaan ba ang Jacob na 'yon at nang mabatukan?" Siguradong iyon ang nagyaya ng inom kagabi sa mga kapatid ko palibhasa nag-fishing sina Daddy buong gabi kasama ang mga myembro ng MCB.

"Sinamahan niya si Liah na kumuha ng gamot ko."

Pinitik ko ang tainga ni Atreus. "Ayan! Ginawa mo pang alila si Liahona. Hindi ka na naawa doon sa tao. Girlfriend mo ba 'yon at kung utusan mo gano'n na lang?"

"Hindi ko siya inutusan at hindi ko siya girlfriend. Siya ang nagprisintang pumunta sa mommy niya para humingi ng gamot sa sakit ng ulo."

Napailing ako sa inis. "Isusumbong talaga kita kay mommy."

Ipinasak ni Atreus ang earphones sa tainga niya na tila ayaw na akong pakinggan. Tinalikuran pa nga ako!

I sighed before I went back to the clubhouse. Alam ko namang coping mechanism lang ng kapatid ko ang pagrerebelde niya ngayon. I know how heartbroken Atreus is, but I still don't like seeing him waste his life.

Ilang taon na, pero bakit parang hindi pa rin niya natatanggap ang kinahinatnan ng relasyon niya sa ex-girlfriend niya? Who knows? Maybe Claire is already living a better life tapos ang kapatid ko ay preso pa rin ng nakaraan? Ayaw kong mangialam pero kapatid ko pa rin si Atreus. I know his abilities. I know what he's capable of so it breaks my heart to see him act as if he has no plans to move on at all.

Binilisan ko na lamang ang lakad ko. Pagkarating sa extended cabin ng pamilya namin ay naabutan ko naman ang mommy kong hinahagod ang likod ni Areisso habang sumusuka ito sa bowl. Napaangil tuloy ako. "Ayan! Kasi puro na lang matitigas ang mga ulo! Naku, kukutusan ko kayong pareho ni Atreus!"

Mommy sighed. "Tawagan mo na nga lang si Lourdes at pasunurin mo rito."

I rolled my eyes and chatted Areisso's girlfriend. "Lagot ka kapag nandito na si Lourdes. Bahala kayo ni Atreus sa mga buhay ninyo."

Lumabas na lang ulit ako ng cabin at bumaba sa may main viewing deck ng clubhouse. Nakakainis naman! Imbes na mag-enjoy ako sa bakasyon ko ay nangungunsumi pa ako sa mga kapatid ko!

I sighed and pulled my phone from my pocket. Tinawagan ko si ate Tisha niya para isumbong ang pagpapakalasing ng dalawa ngunit tumawa lamang si ate Tisha nang mahimigan ang galit ko.

"Chill, Anie. Hayaan mo na at mga binata na."

"But, ate?"

"Hindi mo basta mapipigilan ang mga 'yan. Besides, it's better if they're drinking when you guys are around, kaysa naman tatakas pa at kung saan-saan mag-iinom. Huwag masyadong mahigpit, Anie lalo silang magrerebelde."

Napapikit ako sandali at humugot ng hininga. "Ayaw ko lang may mangyaring masama sa kanila."

"They know that, Anie. Alam nilang mahal mo sila kaya ka ganyan, but sometimes we have to loosen up a bit and let them experience life the way they wanted. Magsasawa rin naman ang mga 'yan. Si Amiro ngang saksakan ng lakas uminom, hindi na namin nababalitaang kilala pa ang alak kaya ang mabuti pa, Anie, mag-enjoy ka na lang at hayaan mo na sina tita mommy at tito daddy na magsaway. Hindi ba ay magsisimula na ang trabaho mo sa susunod na linggo?"

"Opo."

"Then let them be and have some fun, Anie."

I sighed. "Fine."

"Love you. I'll see you soon. Sorry hindi kami nakasama sa celebration mo. Alam mo naman ang sitwasyon."

"I understand, ate. I love you. Papasyal na lang ako diyan."

Pinatay ko ang tawag at akmang aakyat na sa sarili kong kwarto nang matanaw ko si Daddy Khalid at Rory na naglalakad patungo sa kulungan ng mga kabayo. My irritation went sky high once again, and the next thing I knew, I was already charging towards the ranch like a wife ready to confront my husband's mistress. Nang makita nila ako ay ngumisi pa sa akin si Rory.

"Anie, your daddy said he's gonna help me ride a horse," Rory said flirtatiously that made my blood boil. My expression turned cold. I looked at Khalid but he tried to dodge my gaze as if he's ashamed or something.

Humugot ako ng hininga saka pekeng ngumiti kay Rory. "Sasama na ako nang makapagpalamig ng ulo."

"But--"

Hindi ko na hinayaan pang makapagprotesta si Rory. Nauna pa akong nagmartsa patungo sa kwadra saka ko kinuha ang isa sa mga kabayong kilala na ako. I hopped on Domino's back but Khalid cursed a crispy curse because my cotton shorts was way too short.

"God damn it, Aneisteissa!" He stopped the horse and looked at me in a furious way. "Get down from there and change."

Tiningnan ko si Rory na nakamaikling shorts din naman kaya tumaas ang kilay ko. "She's wearing short shorts, too."

His jaw moved. "Is she you, hmm?"

My heart went wild even when I knew his words shouldn't mean anything. Napaiwas ako ng tingin saka ko nilunok ang aking laway. "W-Well, what am I supposed to wear? Pajamas?"

"Exactly."

My eyes widened as I met his gaze. "Daddy!"

"I said what I said." Pinalo niya ang aking binti. "Get down from there before I pull you down myself."

"No," I said firmly that made his wild eyes turn intense.

Mayamaya ay napatili na ako nang tuluyan nang hawakan niya ang aking baywang saka niya ako pilit na ibinaba mula sa kabayo. I protested but Khalid just carried me like a bag of potato back inside the clubhouse.

Idinala niya ako sa sarili kong silid at ibinaba sa kama, ngunit dahil napakapit ako sa damit niya ay nahatak siya pabagsak sa akin nang tuluyan niya akong inilapag.

My heart banged wildly and my eyes widened when Khalid's lips almost pressed against mine. Naestatwa rin siya at tila hindi alam ang gagawin nang mapagtanto ang aming itsura.

Good lord, he's between my legs and his face is just an inch away from mine! I couldn't breathe at all! My skin felt so sensitive because of the sudden tension I'm feeling between us, and my stupid heart is even telling me to lift my head so I could press my lips on his!

Khalid swallowed before he pulled himself up. Tumalikod siya kaagad at hinagod ang palad sa buhok habang nananatili ako sa aking posisyon na namumula ang mukha.

I watched him let out a frustrated sigh while still turning his back on me. Mayamaya ay humugot siya ng malalim na hininga at nagsalita habang nakatalikod pa rin sa akin.

"Magbihis ka at tayo ang mangangabayo nang hindi ka nagkakaganyan. Stop acting like a brat when I'm around women who wanna flirt with me, dahil wala akong balak pumatol, Anie alam mo 'yan." He looked over his shoulder with clenching jaw as if warning me to behave. "Now fix your attitude, young lady dahil nagmamaldita ka para sa wala. . . "

I swallowed. "So. . . you don't like Rory?"

He sighed. "Do I look like I want your friend, hmm?"

Sumimangot ako. "Just answer me!"

"No, alright? Damn it."

I pulled myself up. "Good. I wanna be your only baby."

Tila nai-stress niya akong nilapitan saka niya sinipit ang tungki ng aking ilong. "You're my only baby, mi flor. How many times do I have to make that clear to you?"

I pursed my lips and lowered my head so he wouldn't see my blushing face. If only I could tell him how much he makes my heart pounce whenever he's calling me that way. . .