Mental Disorder Series 3: Sinful Touch

Chapter 4

Chapter 04 | ST

It was 8PM when we arrived at the five star restaurant with Zora. It was a cold dark night in Florida. I could feel the near Christmas because it is November 10. I gripped my purse as we pulled a chair and I saw Zora grinning at me. She looks very happy because she is having a conversation with Tito Cadence.

"What is your order, ladies?" Cadence asked. Tumingin siya sa akin habang hawak niya ang menu.

Zora licked her lips. "I want only medium rare steak with mashed potato. Of course, a bottle of wine."

I glanced at the waiter who was taking note of our order. I saw how Tito Cadence drummed his fingers on the table. That's how he makes a decision because I really know him very well.

"Mushroom roasted beef will be mine," I said.

"Same as hers," si Cadence.

Binigay na namin 'yung menu at ngayon ay naiwan ulit kaming tatlo. Nilabas ko 'yung phone ko mula sa purse at lalo ako nalungkot dahil wala pa rin text si Bj mula pa kanina. I tried to leave him a message on f*******: but still no reply.

To: Babe

I'm with my best friend in a five star restaurant. Where are you? Please reply back.

I am worried and sad at the same time. This is very unusual for Bj because he likes to update me on things he does whenever he visits the Philippines. Napanguso ako na mapansin ko na nag-uusap na sila Zora at Tito Cadence sa harapan ko.

"How many is your ex?" Zora inquired. "I was just curious because you are freaking hot, Mr. Hamilton."

Bigla ako natawa habang napapailing. Masyado siyang bulgar sa kung ano ang sinasabi niya kay Cadence. Habang si Cadence naman ay napangisi lang sa sinabi ni Zora at dinapuan ako ng tingin. I only rolled my eyes at him.

"None. I only do flings," Tito Cadence replied. "Does Kyla have a boyfriend or suitors?"

Zora chuckled. "You don't know? She has a boyfriend."

Nakita ko kung paano nagsalubong ang kilay ni Tito Cadence. Napalunok ako. Actually, wala isa sa parte ng pamilya ko na nakakaalam na may boyfriend na ako. Umalon 'yung adams apple niya sa lalamunan at dinapuan ako ng saglit na tingin.

"I don't know that," si Cadence. "I think we are going to discuss that later."

"Okay... oh, the food is here."

Tikom lang ang bibig ko habang nagsisimula na kami kumain. Every chew he did on the food, his jaw was clenching. And his eyes darted on me, as if he was trying to talk with me through the stares.

"I am curious... same age lang ba kayo ni Kyla?" Zora exclaimed. Napatingin kaming dalawa sa kaniya. Then she sipped her red wine.

"No, she's 20 while I'm 25 years old," ani Cadence.

"Not bad! I am 21."

Zora giggled as she downed a glass of red wine. Sana naman makuha na agad ni Tito Cadence na gusto niya ni Zora. Medyo tahimik lang ngayon si Cadence after sabihin ni Zora na may boyfriend ako.

"Did you enjoy the food, Tito Cadence?" I asked in a monotone voice.

"Yes..." he answered. He chewed his bottom lips as his hawk eyes never left mine.

"You can have dinner with my best friend if you want."

"Yeah... pwede naman. Just the two of us," si Zora.

"Sure. Same time?" nilingon ni Tito Cadence si Zora. Nakita ko kung paano namula 'yung pisnge ni Zora. Damn, ang obvious niya masyado.

"Oo naman. Para makilala pa natin ang isa't-isa ng husto."

Our dinner went fantastic because they resumed getting to know each other. I was just a third wheel on this dinner date though. As usual, naihatid na namin si Zora sa tinitirhan niya at kami nalang natira ni Tito Cadence. It was just quiet while the stereo was our music inside his car.

"Tell me about your boyfriend," he snapped. His eyes focused on the road while maneuvering the steering wheel. "You didn't mention your boyfriend to me, Kyla."

"I have nothing to tell you."

Hindi siya umimik sa sinabi ko. Naiitindihan ko kung bakit ganiyan ang reaksyon niya, Si Kuya Kyle at Tito Cadence ay masyadong higpit talaga sa akin pagdating sa nobyo at relasyon. Tsaka hindi naman na ako bata para lagi nilang bantayan or pagbawalan kasi 20 years old na ako. Nasa legal age naman na ako pero ang higpit din nila sa akin. Pinark niya na 'yung 812 GTS sa basement parking lot.

Ako nauna na bumaba at naglakad patungko sa elevator. Medyo naiirita lang ako kay Tito Cadence kasi ang tanda ko na. Alam ko na nagtataka si Zora sa reaksyon kanina ni Tito Cadence. I sighed. Nakahabol naman si Tito Cadence sa elevator at siya na nagpindot ng button.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked, in a soft tone. May halong pagsusuyo sa kaniyang tono. Napanguso ako at iniwas ko 'yung tingin ko sa kaniya. "I was just shocked and worried. What if he hurt you?"

"He is a good man," I responded.

We heard the elevator dinged and we both went out of the elevator. Kinuha ko na agad 'yung susi sa purse ko at pumasok na ako. Bakit naman siya nag-aalala na sasaktan ako ni Bj? Eh, hindi nga kami masyado nag-aaway ni Bj at hindi naman siya marunong mambabae. We are in a healthy relationship, he has nothing to worry about.

Then a notification suddenly popped out. Akala ko si Bj na 'yun kasi kanina pa ako nag-aalala kung ano na nangyari sa kaniya. Pero si Zora lang pala 'yun.

From: Zora

OMG! I cannot wait to have dinner with him!

To: Zora

Goodluck with that though.

From: Zora

Ano nga pala nangyari sa'yo? You seemed upset a while ago.

To: Zora

Wala pa ako update kay Bj kanina pa. I was sad and worried about him.

Bumuga ako nang hangin at humiga na ako sa higaan. Nakakalungkot kasi tuwing umuuwi naman ako galing trabaho ay nakakatanggap ako ng messages mula sa sa kaniya at magf-facetime kaming dalawa. Hanggang sa napagdesisyon ko na maligo nalang bago matulog. Nakapikit lang ako habang dinadama 'yung mainit na tubig sa balat ko.

Sana naman may acceptable reason si Bj. Alam kong masyado siyang busy sa Manila pero noon naman kapag umuuwi siya sa Pilipinas ay palagi kami nagv-videocall. Ang hirap talaga kapag LDR kami. Kasi nagkikita lang kami through call at 'yun lang at hindi naman sapat sa akin.

A couple of minutes later, I'm already wearing PJ's at midnight. At naisip ko bigla si Tito Cadence kasi nainis ako. Ngayon ay nag-guilty ako kasi concerned lang naman siya sa akin. Nag-aalangan pa ako kung pupuntahan ko siya sa unit niya o hindi. Kalaunan ay naghanda ako ng sandwich para sa kaniya.

Kagat-kagat ko 'yung labi ko nung kumatok ako sa pintuan niya. Tulog na ba siya? Alam ko maaga siya natutulog e. Sana naman hindi para mag-sorry ako sa kaniya. Kasi ang suplada ko sa kaniya tapos pinuntahan niya ako rito para makasama niya ako. Hays.

I felt my heartbeat racing inside my chest when he opened the door. He doesn't have any clothes in his upper body. He was clenching his jaw as his dark menacing eyes darted on me. I brought up the plate that had a sandwich for him. I made him his midnight snack.

"Can I come in?" I began. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit kinakabahan ako. Patuloy pa rin ang pagtibok ng puso ko. "Or... I'll sleep nalang?"

"Come in," he said in a baritone voice. Niluwagan niya 'yung pintuan para makapasok ako.

Pinagmasdan ko 'yung kabuuan ng pad niya. Kaparehas lang naman sa akin pero 'yung interior design niya ay more on modern and dim light 'yung kulay. May lampshade na nakabukas sa kwarto niya at nandoon 'yung gitara sa higaan.

"Is that for me?" he added.

I nodded. "I made a midnight snack for you. I want to apologize for being an attitude woman."

He smirked. "Apology accepted, brat."

Tumikhim ako. Umupo ako sa gilid ng kama niya. Bahagyang lumubog 'yung sa inuupuan ko at nakita ko siya na umupo sa sahig habang nasa binti niya 'yung gitara niya. Si Tito Cadence pa naman ay mahilig magpatugtog ng gitara tiyak ikakatuwa ni Zora kapag nalaman ito.

"You can tell me about your boyfriend now."

I sighed. "He is Brian Justin, Bj in short. Matagal na kami magkasintahan dito sa Florida. And he is a Filipino living here."

"Is he treating you right? If not, I'll punch his f*****g face until you cannot recognize him anymore."

My eyes widened. "Tito Cadence! Ang bad mo!"

"What? Parang hindi ko naman ginawa sa mga balak manligaw sa'yo noon."

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. Totoo 'yung sinasabi niya na binubugbog niya 'yung mga lalaki na nagbabalak na manligaw sa akin. Kaya 'yung iba natakot at hindi na tinuloy pa kasi takot sila kay Kuya Kyle at Tito Cadence.

"Are you playing a guitar a while ago? Pwede ka ba kumanta sa akin?" I suggested.

He licked his lips. "Namiss mo ako kumanta?"

"Oo naman. Maganda boses mo e."

"Thank you, my little brat," he muttered. He began to strum his guitar and looked at me intensely. "I want to dedicate this song to the woman I can't have."

There I was again tonight

Forcing laughter, faking smiles

Same old tired, lonely place

He closed his eyes as he began to fingerstyle the guitar. And his deep voice is very soothing and my ear is relaxing with his words coming inside my ear. He is feeling his song and I am beginning to enjoy watching and listening to him singing.

And it was enchanting to meet you

All I can say is, I was enchanted to meet you

Please don't be in love with someone else

Please don't have somebody waiting on you

Please don't be in love with someone else

Please don't have somebody waiting on you

Until the last word from the song, I felt the shivers down to my spine as our eyes met. My heart is wildly beating beneath the rib cage. He gritted his teeth as he dropped his guitar on the floor. Wala ako masabi kasi ang ganda kung paano niya kantahin ang Enchanted by Taylor Swift. Hindi ko aakalain na makakanta niya 'yun.

The way he sings that song, as if it came from his heart. Ramdam na ramdam ko na may pinanghuhugutan siya sa kanta na 'yun. Napangiti ako at pumalakpak ako sa harapan niya. I've known him good at playing the guitar. Besides, I have been his number one fan since day one.

"Ang ganda ng kanta lalo nung ikaw tumugtog," I said softly. "I'm curious... sino 'yung babae na 'yun? Wala naman akong alam about diyan."

"Katulad mo lang ako, hindi sinasabi tungkol sa mahal nila sa buhay."

I snorted. "I'm sorry, okay? Naiinis lang ako kasi masyado kayong mahigpit before until now. Mahal ko si Bj."

"I understand, Kyla." hindi niya ako tinitingnan. Tumayo siya mula sa sahig at tinabi 'yung gitara niya na. Tapos kumagat siya sa ginawa kong sandwich para sa kaniya. "Thank you for the sandwich."

"Mukhang maganda ang tulog ko kasi napakinggan ulit kita kumanta. I hope you sing again before I sleep," I requested.

"Anything you want. Your wish is my command, Kyla." he smiled.

"Before I go... pwede ko ba malaman sino 'yung babae?"

Matagal niya muna ako tinititigan. Nakita ko kung paano bumuka at sarado ang kaniyang labi tila nag-aalangan siya kung sasabihin niya ba o hindi. Tumikhim siya at iniwas niya 'yung tingin niya sa akin. Ang damot naman ni Tito Cadence!

"You don't know her..."

"Kaya nga tinatanong ko para malaman, diba?"

He looked at me and lifted his eyebrow. "S-She is no one."

"Impossible 'yun! Diba nga siya 'yung babae na you can't have? I'm curious!"

"Go to your pad and sleep. It is getting late," he declared.

Mabilis ako lumapit sa kaniya at hinawakan ko 'yung kamay niya. Ngumuso ako sa harapan niya. Ngayon ko lang talaga alam na may minamahal siyang babae. Dapat malaman ko 'yun para si Zora na 'yung nasa puso niya. I've never seen him with someone else in my entire life. Walang serious relationships, puro flings lang. Gusto ko na siya magseryoso na sa lovelife.

"Matutulog ako basta sabihin mo sa akin kung sino, please?" I pleaded.

He gazed at me. "I really love her. But I cannot have her. That's all."