Mental Disorder Series 3: Sinful Touch

Chapter 6

Chapter 06 | ST

I am almost finished with my work. Until I heard a call from the telecom. Kinuha ko 'yun ang boss ko lang pala si Miss La Farell. Tinitingnan ko 'yung orasan kasi malapit na kami mag-uwian lahat e. Tapos magd-date pa sila Zora at Tito Cadence mamayang dinner. I cleared my throat when I heard Miss La Farell's voice.

"Hello, Miss Salvador," she greeted. "Are you supposed to go home right now?"

"Uhm not yet, Ma'am. I was just preparing first," I replied in a formal tone.

"Go to my office now, Miss Salvador."

"I'll come in 5 minutes, Ma'am."

"Thank you."

The line went down. I heaved a heavy sigh. Tumayo ako mula sa swivel chair ko at nakita ko si Zora mula sa kaniyang inuupuan na nag-aayos siya. Kinawayan niya ako at ngumiti ako sa kaniya.

"Where are you going?" she inquired.

"To boss," I mouthed.

Pumasok na ako sa elevator at pinindot ko na 'yung floor ng CEO. Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay napadpad agad ako sa floor niya at bawat pader ay kulay puti at ang lapag naman ay marble at naririnig 'yung bawat tungtong ko dahil sa takong. Nakita ko 'yung sekretarya niya na Filipina rin.

"She's expecting you."

I nodded. "Yes, I'll come in na."

Kumatok muna ako bago ko napagdesisyon na pumasok sa kaniyang opisina. Umangat ang tingin niya at nakita ko siya na tinanggal niya 'yung salamin niya at ningitian ako. Iginawad niya ang upuan sa harapan niya at tumango ako sa kaniya.

"Good evening, Ma'am." I smiled.

"Hi, Miss Salvador. Since you are an amazing marketing manager from my company, I would like you to join us tomorrow in an exclusive hotel with an important investor from the Philippines," she started. She placed her rimmed eyeglasses on the office desk. "We will have another branch from another country. And we will merge as one in the Philippines with a new project. We're going to meet her tomorrow."

I nodded. "May I know who the new investor is?"

"She is Melanie Hamilton. She is already here in our city, that's why we are going to an exclusive hotel where she is checking in."

"Okay, noted. I'll prepare some papers about our new branch in the Philippines."

"Yes, Miss Salvador. Meet me at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. 2PM sharp," she announced.

After that, I left her office. Tiningnan ko 'yung phone ko at ang natanggap ko lang na mensahe via message ay kay Tito Cadence lang. Napapaisip nanaman ako kung ano nanaman ang pinagkakaabalahan ni Bj sa Manila kung bakit hindi na naman siya nagm-message.

From: Cadence

Where are you? I'm waiting.

To: Cadence

Otw. Where is Zora?

From: Cadence

She's here beside me.

Mabilis ko kinuha 'yung mga gamit ko mula sa opisina ko at paulit-ulit ko tinitingnan ko kung may matatanggap ba ako na message kay Bj. Bumuga ako ng hangin at napailing nalang. Hindi naman talaga ugali ito ni Bj kahit ba busy siya noon nung huling uwi niya sa Pilipinas. Naiinis na naman ako sa kaniya.

Namataan ko na sila Zora at Tito Cadence na nasa harap lang ng 812 GTS niya at magkaharap. They were talking while the snow was falling onto their shoulders. I heard Zora giggled as Tito Cadence leaned on his car. They looked perfect together.

"Kyla!" Zora called. Kinawayan niya agad ako nang makita niya ako lumabas na. "Tara na! Bagal mo naman!"

"Sorry, may pinag-usapan lang kami ni Miss La Farell."

"Ano naman iyon?"

"New branch in the Philippines."

Binuksan na ni Tito Cadence 'yung pintuan sa shotgun seat, akmang papasok na si Zora na maramdaman ko 'yung tingin niya sa akin. At naalala ko 'yung usapan namin kapag ako ang nasa shotgun seat ay makikipagdate lang siya sa kaibigan ko. Wala ako nagawa kundi unahan na si Zora at sinuot ko mabilisan 'yung seatbelt.

Hindi ko tiningnan si Zora ngayon dahil alam kong nagulat siya sa aksyon na ginawa ko. Palagi ko kasi siya pinapaupo sa shotgun seat para tabi sila ni Tito Cadence. Napalunok ako na mapansin ko na malawak 'yung ngisi ni Tito Cadence habang naglalakad siya papunta sa driver side.

Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Zora mula sa rearview mirror. Nagkibit balikat lang ako sa kaniya at nagcheck ulit ako sa message kung may matatanggap pa ba ako kay Bj. Mas lalo humaba 'yung nguso ko na tinititigan ko lang 'yung huling reply ko sa kaniya ng limang minuto.

"Where do you want to eat, Zora?" Tito Cadence asked.

"Any place you want," Zora replied. "Hahatid mo ulit si Kyla sa condo niya?"

"I don't know. It's her choice if she wants to join us or not."

"May ibang plans naman 'yang si Kyla e. Siguro tayo lang dalawa."

Mabilisan ako tiningnan ni Tito Cadence. Tinatanong niya ako mula sa tingin niya kung sasama ba ako o hindi. Napalunok ako at dahan-dahan na umiling. Mas lalo umigting 'yung panga niya.

"Enjoy your date, Zora," I said nonchalantly.

"Thanks! Mag-eenjoy talaga kami ni Ryder!" Zora responded enthusiastically. "Am I right?"

"Yes..." si Tito Cadence.

Kinagat ko 'yung labi ko dahil narinig ko na tinawag niya sa pangalawang pangalan ni Tito Cadence. Ayaw na ayaw niya na tinatawagan ko siya na Ryder dahil gusto niya na tinatawag ko siyang Cadence. Bahala na siya, hindi naman ako 'yung magiging girlfriend ni Tito Cadence. Siguro naman masaya naman si Tito Cadence sa pinapagawa ko sa kaniya.

Nakarating na agad kami sa condo namin. Ngumiti ako sa kanila at nilapitan ko si Tito Cadence para halikan sa pisnge. Nagulat ako na nilapit niya 'yung labi niya sa tenga ko at bumulong na nagbigay ng kuryente sa buong sistema ko.

"Wait for me, Kyla. Hindi ako magtatagal, hmm..." he whispered.

Napalunok ako at bumaba na ako sa sasakyan niya at kumaway. Muli ko tiningnan 'yung messages ko pero wala pa rin ako natatanggap mula kay Bj. Nakakainis na talaga! Excited pa naman ako umuwi ay akala ko mag-uusap ulit kami ni Bj ngayong gabi.

I was sad in my condo during dinner time. I was like a sad kitten waiting for its master to come. I tried to call him through i********: but he wasn't answering it. I was overthinking the whole time. Ano ba kasi ang ginagawa niya? Uminom na naman ba?

I'm starting to get pissed at Bj because he always loves to update me on everything he does. Mula umaga hanggang gabi ay palagi siya tumatawag noong last year nandoon siya sa Pilipinas. Busy din naman siya noon kaya nagtataka ako bakit madalang nalang siya mag-update.

To: Babe

Babe, I hate it when you don't update me on what you're doing. Call me now.

Kanina ko pa siya tinatadtad ng messages. Tinamad ako maghanda ng dinner ko kasi malungkot lang ako at walang gana. Kinuha ko 'yung picture frame namin ni Kuya Kyle na magkasama. It was my 18th birthday and my debut was held in the resort. He has a huge smile plastered on his face as he holds my waist and I'm holding a sparkler in my hand.

"I miss you, Kuya Kyle..." I sobbed.

I feel like I'm alone in my lonely world. The darkness fills inside my room and the curtains are wavering as the wind plays with it. I felt the cold breeze kiss my skin and I almost trembled because of the cold.

Hinimas ko 'yung mukha ni Kuya Kyle mula sa litrato. Sobrang saya ko nung debut ko na ito kasi buo kaming pamilya at graduate na ako ng highschool and I'm valedictorian in my school. These were the good old days when he was still breathing. Hindi mo mahahalata na may sakit siyang pinagdadaanan dahil sa mga ngiti niya sa labi.

I want him to come back to our family. I want to see him one more time. I remember the last two years... I cried so hard when my Mother announced to me that Kuya Kyle came home. It is supposed to be a good year for all of us. He married Cherry and had Kylo at that time. It was almost perfect until the bad people began messing with his life. Unfortunately, they took our precious Kyle from all of us.

I felt my hot tears brimming from my eyes. I hugged the throw pillow tightly. I was thinking of a scenario of hugging for the last time. I hugged him during his wedding day, I told him how grateful I am to have him in my life. I grow to love his flaws, even his alters.

Bukod tanging hagulgol ko lamang ang naririnig sa kwarto ko. Sobrang tahimik at lamig ngayong gabi. Basang-basa na 'yung throw pillow ko dahil sa mga luha. I was praying silently that I hope he is hugging me right now. Not until I heard a buzzer from the door.

I checked my wall clock and it is already 10PM. Nagsalubong mata ko at tumayo ako mula sa kama ko. Sumilip ako sa pintuan at nakita ko si Tito Cadence na nakapamulsa. Napalunok ako at pinagbuksan ko na siya ng pintuan.

"Hmm?" I crooned. Hindi ko siya tinitingnan kasi namumugto 'yung mata ko. "I'm sorry but I am not in a mood right now."

Akmang isasara ko na 'yung pintuan nung hinarang niya 'yung paa niya. My eyes widened when he didn't even flinch. He was just staring at me. Kinabahan ako dahil mukhang napansin niya ata 'yung lungkot sa mata ko.

"Were you crying?" he asked, laced with concern.

Umiling ako at hindi ko alam kung sasagutin ko ba siya kahit halata naman sa mga mata ko na umiyak ako. My eyes were puffy and bloodshot.

"N-No... tutulog na ak—"

"Let me in, Kya," he interjected. Lumambot ang kaniyang ekspresyon. Halos sakop niya ang espasyo mula sa malaking puwang ng pintuan nang dahan-dahan niya tinulak 'yun para makapasok siya. "Why are you crying?"

I shook my head. "I-It was nothing."

He didn't respond to my remark. Wala na ako nagawa kundi hayaan nalang siya makapasok. Nahihiya ako harapin ngayon si Tito Cadence kasi pangit ko ngayon. Usually may confidence naman ako noon pa man pero nawawala na siya ngayon sa katawan ko. I miss the sassy and outgoing Kyla.

"Are you okay?" usal niya sa malambing na tono.

Umupo kaming dalawa sa gilid ng kama at tinabi ko 'yung picture namin ni Kuya Kyle. Napunta doon 'yung atensyon niya at matagal niya 'yun tinitigan bago niya ako tingnan ulit. Umalon 'yung adams apple niya habang paulit-ulit na umiigting ang kaniyang panga.

"I am not okay..." I admitted. "I don't know why but I suddenly remember Kuya Kyle again and I miss him so much."

"Come here," he urged.

Matagal ko siya tinititigan at inangat niya 'yung kaniyang kamay. Hinawakan ko 'yung kamay niya at hinatak niya ako para sa mahigpit na yakap. Paulit-ulit niya pinaulanan ng halik 'yung tuktok ng ulo. Suddenly I felt the warmth through his embrace. I shut my eyes and I heard his heartbeat pounding so loudly.

"I miss him, Tito Cadence..."

He kissed the top of my head. "I know, brat."

"I want to hear his voice. I want him back in our family."

I cried again between his embrace. I buried my face on his chiseled chest. And his heartbeat only makes me alive right now. I felt that I was home whenever I was with him. I hugged him tightly.

"That is why I am here. My job is to make you safe and to stay with you," he whispered. "I love you so much, Kyla."

I smiled. "Thank you for coming to me, Tito Cadence."

"You're always welcome."

Marahan ako pumikit at pakiramdam ko ay paunti-unti nawawala 'yung lungkot sa sistema ko. He hugged me tightly for 10 minutes. We just stayed like that. He finger-combed my hair as I felt the home between his embrace. His perfume resonated through my nostrils and I'm very thankful that I am calm already because of his presence.

"Do you like riddle?" he asked.

"No..." I replied. Umangat 'yung tingin ko at yumuko siya para magpantay 'yung mukha namin dalawa. Namumula ang kaniyang labi habang nakatingin ako sa mata niya ng diretsyo. "Why do you ask?"

"I want to share with you my riddle, Kyla. If you are able to reckon it you'll be happy."

My eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

"Every wall, every corner, there's a man listening and observing behind it. Every dark shadow, every midnight, he was walking around like a free man."

I don't understand. Nakatingin lang ako sa kaniya parang may sino-solve akong puzzle sa isipan ko. Ngumisi siya sa akin. Hinalikan niya 'yung pisnge ko at pinatulog niya na ako. He decided to sleep on the couch to stay with me para hindi na ako malungkot. But until now I was still thinking about his riddles.