DUCANI LEGACY SERIES 8: Khalid

Kabanata 4

Anie

Asar na asar akong lumabas ng clubhouse suot ang jogger na si Khalid mismo ang pumili. It feels so uncomfortable dahil mainit, ngunit baka magtalo lamang kami kung makikita na naman niya akong naka-cotton shorts.

I tied my hair into a messy bun when I got to the ranch. May iba nang nagtuturo kay Rory kung papaano mangabayo kaya naman pansin ko ang pagkayamot niya.

Khalid watched me march towards him with pouting lips. Nagpigil naman siya ng ngisi saka ako inakbayan nang marating ko siya.

"See? You look good in your jogger," aniya. Piniga pa ang aking balikat.

Inirapan ko't siniko ngunit ngumisi lamang siya bago na ako iginiya papasok ng kwadra. He guided the horse out and helped me get on top of it. I saw how Rory narrowed her eyes on me but I just lifted a brow. Nang makitang nagtaray ako ay peke siyang ngumisi bago nag-peace sign. I rolled my eyes and just let her be.

Khalid pulled the rope to guide the horse. Dahil iisa na lamang ang natirang kabayo sa rancho, akmang maglalakad na lamang si Khalid upang igiya ang kabayo. Nakunsensya naman ako kaya nang hindi ko na natiis ay nilunok ko ang inhibisyon ko't lakas-loob siyang inalok.

"Daddy, you can get up here. I want to take a run."

I thought he's going to refuse. Kaya nang tumango siya saka siya sumampa ay halos pigilan ko ang aking pagngiti. Nahigit ko pa ang aking hininga nang magdikit nang husto ang aming mga katawan. I could feel his sculpted chest against my back, and God knows how hard it is for me to keep myself from leaning against him.

"Comfy?" he asked. Hawak na niya ang tali kaya nakakulong na ako sa kanyang mga braso.

I swallowed. "Y-Yes."

"Let me know if you're not."

Tumango na lamang ako. I know I'm not supposed to feel such tingling feeling in my stomach when I felt his minty breath against the side of my face but I couldn't help it. Tila may epekto sa akin ang lahat ng ginagawa niya kahit wala namang kahulugan ang mga iyon sa kanya.

The horse started walking. Nang mailabas iyon ni Khalid sa rancho, imbes na patungo sa beach side ng Raja Amor ay inagaw ko ang tali at kinontrol ang kabayo patungo sa main gate.

"What are you doing, mi flor?" he asked, his warm minty breath fanned the side of my head.

"Gusto kong mangabayo sa mismong daanan papasok ng Monte Costa, daddy. Mapuno at hindi gaanong mainit," dahilan ko kahit ang totoo ay gusto ko lamang siyang solohin.

Baka kung makita kami ng mga kaibigan niya ay kausapin siya't agawin ang atensyon niya. I want him for myself as much as possible, no matter how stupid and selfish that may sound.

Tumango na lamang siya saka siya sumenyas sa gwardyang pagbuksan kami. Pinatakbo ko nang mas mabilis ang kabayo. Nang makalabas at bahagyang nakalayo sa main gate ay roon lamang unti-unting bumagal ang takbo ng kabayo.

"Thought you wanna take a run, hmm?" may lambing niyang tanong.

Dapat ay sanay na ako dahil talaga namang malambing siyang makipag-usap sa akin magmula pa noon, ngunit ewan ko ba kung bakit iba ang naging epekto sa akin ng himig ng boses niya. God, I'm so f****d up. . .

I gulped. "I changed my mind, daddy. I... wanna talk to you instead."

"About what?"

Nilingon ko siya, pero dahil masyadong malapit ang aming mga mukha ay hindi ko na naman napigilan ang malakas na pagpintig ng aking puso. I was lost in his wild eyes like a willing sinner who's ready to spend an eternity in hell just to feel every inch of him. Kung bakit ganoon ang naisip ko ay hindi ko na alam. As a matter of fact, I don't even have the right words to explain how I'm feeling towards him, but I know it's one thing.

Wrong.

Umiwas akong muli ng tingin at pilit na kinalma ang dibdib ko. "S--Si... Rory? Did you... offer to teach her--"

"No," he cut me off firmly. "She insisted, and because you're friends, I didn't wanna be rude to her."

Muli akong napalunok. "Don't entertain her, please?"

Khalid smirked. "If you worry I'll end up with someone again who will stop me from spending time with you, wala kang dapat ipag-alala. I got no plans to date someone like my ex again nor get into a relationship. Maybe I'll just spend my time torturing your suitors with your Dad."

I found myself smiling. Naisandal ko na nang tuluyan ang likod ko sa dibdib niya, at nang patakan niya ng halik ang tuktok ng aking ulo ay sandali kong naisara ang aking mga mata. "I don't want to date anyone either."

"You can't say that. You're young and gorgeous. Mabunganga ka lang but you're a decent woman, mi flor. Baka sa susunod na buwan, mabalitaan ko nang may umaaligid sa'yong lalake."

"Is that you finally letting me date someone?" I asked. Hindi ko napansing may himig ng pagkainis pala ang aking tono dahilan upang tumaas ang kilay ni Khalid.

"I never stopped you. I just simply didn't like seeing you cry over guys who aren't even worthy of your time."

"Parte naman 'yon ng relasyon, daddy," gatong ko, tinitingnan ang magiging reaksyon niya.

"You're too precious to cry, mi flor. I cannot stand seeing you getting hurt."

My heart throbbed as I felt a different kind of warmth filling my chest. "Next week magsisimula na ang duty ko sa Manila, daddy. Can I stay at Hotel Khallisa?"

"You can stay at my house instead so I can drive for you. Wala pa naman akong regular trainings so I am mostly free."

"Really?" I smiled widely. "I want that."

Sinipit niya ang ilong ko saka niya iniyapos ang isang braso sa akin. "Kaysa sumakit ang ulo ko dahil sigurado akong oras-oras kang tatawag kasi naliligaw ka. Sigurado namang sa gano'n lang din mauuwi 'yon. Besides, we don't have a room in Hotel Khallisa that has a kitchen. Kilala kita. You'd rather make your own meal. Masyado nang huli para magpagawa pa ako ng kwarto sa Hotel Khallisa na may kusina para sayo."

Napalo ko siya sa kanyang hita. "Daddy."

Khalid chuckled softly before he pecked a gentle kiss on my temple. "Well, I'll get nice meals once you're at my place. It's a win-win."

I smiled. "You better ready your stocks then."

"Yes, ma'am."

Umikot na kami at bumalik sa Monte Costa. Nang pabalik na kami sa clubhouse ay tinawag ni ninong Jael si Khalid kaya naman nagpaalam na rin akong pupunta na sa aking kwarto para makapagbabad sa bath tub.

I took a nice bubble bath for an hour. Nang matapos ay nakaidlip pa ako. Nang magising ay bumaba na ang araw.

I pulled myself up after hearing a couple of knocks. Bumungad sa akin ang kapatid kong si Ashanti. "Ate, tara na raw sa Raja. Sa beach side tayo magdi-dinner. Nagsimula na ang acoustic jam."

Humikab ako sandali saka ko sinuklay ang aking buhok gamit ang aking mga daliri. "Sige, susunod na ako doon. I'll just change and fix myself."

Tumango si Ashanti bago umalis na. Isinara ko naman ang pinto saka inasikaso ang aking sarili. I wore my off-shoulder maxi dress and put some light make up on my face before I left to go to Raja Amor's beach front.

Naabutan kong nasa mini stage si Khalid na tila napilitan lamang maki-jamming matapos kaladkarin nina tito Clode. Palibhasa ay maganda raw ang tinig ng mga Ducani, mukhang pakakantahin yata ng mga ito si Khalid. I'm not sure about that. I haven't heard him sing anyway, though sabi ni Mommy noon ay nakalatulog lang ako dati kapag si Khalid ang naghehele sa akin.

I don't know what to feel about that thought. To imagine the man I am secretly admiring saw me grow up seems. . . odd. He was basically the first man who ever held me when I was born, but maybe the human heart doesn't really care about everything. It just wants to beat for someone.

I sat on the bean bag next to Laarni ang Rory who didn't seem to notice me because they were busy filming Khalid. Napabuntonghininga tuloy ako, at nang tuluyang nagsimulang tumugtog ng gitara si tito Clode, muling nabaling sa stage ang atensyon ko.

I found myself staring at Khalid while everything starts to fade in the background. Napakagwapo niya sa puting tee shirt at board shorts. His hair was a little messy as if he's ran his fingers onto it a couple times already, and when Khalid moistened his lower lip, my eyes unconsciously focused on his thin and rosy lips.

I swallowed. He was my first kiss. . . and I didn't regret the night I stole a kiss from him.

Natulala ako nang tuluyan kay Khalid, at nang sambitin niya ang mga katagang, 'And I'd give up forever to touch you, 'cause I know that you feel me somehow', pakiramdam ko ay may kumurot sa aking puso. He kept his eyes on me for a moment before he looked away, but when he gazed at my direction again, I found myself smiling at him.

Khalid smiled back, and as we locked eyes while he sings the song, 'Iris', my heart screamed the words I know I will never be permitted to say loudly.

'I am in love with you. . . Daddy.'