THE UNLOVED

CHAPTER THREE

“So, how’s the brat?” Bungad ni King sa akin ng pagbuksan ako ng pinto. Pagkatapos kung ihatid si Queen sa mansion ay dali-dali naman akong umuwi sa bahay para kunin ang aking motorsiklo para naman puntahan si King sa condo niya. Katabi ng condo ko. Yes, I have my own condo. Walang nakakaalam nito maliban sa aming dalawa ni King. We have a bro code to never tell anyone about this.

“She’s okay. Mukhang kalmado na.” Kibit balikat kong sagot rito at naupo sa kaharap nitong silya. Kasalukuyan itong nasa mini bar nito at umiinom ng mag-isa.

“Binugbog ka na naman?” Natatawang sabi nito sa akin sabay abot ng isang bote ng San Mig Light.

“Malamang...Punching bag na naman ako.” Sabay kapa sa bumbunan kong binato ni Queen kanina ng libro.

Humalakhak ang gago. “Ayaw mo niyan, sanay na sanay ka na sa pambubugbog niya kapag nagkatuluyan kayo in the future. Alam mo na kung paano umilag.”

“Tado!” Binato ko siya ng mani. “No way!”

“Seriously? Parang sinabi mo namang pangit ang kakambal ko?”

“Hep, stop right there! Beautiful as ever but she’s not my type.” Sagot ko kay King na ikinakunot naman ng nuo nito.

“Mas type mo yun kagaya ni Iwa? Iba ka talaga, bro! But mind you, I won’t allow you to court my sister. Thinking about it, it felt so i****t. Eww!” Umarte pa itong nandidiri na kung hindi ko siya lubusang kilala ay iisipin kung may gusto siya sa akin.

“Precisely. You don’t do your sister.” Halos maubos ko ang laman ng bote pagkatapos kung sabihin ang mga katagang iyon.

“I felt relieved then. I think Queen really likes you.” Seryosong sabi nito sa akin.

“Really? I don’t think so?!” Bumaling ako sa labas ng bintana.

“We are twins, remember? I can feel it.”

Natawa ako. “So, you mean to say, nababakla ka rin sakin? Gross, bro!”

“Tado you!”

“No worries, bro. It’ll never happen.” I smiled to King. 

“Good to hear. I don’t want my sister to get hurt. Kaya naman kung wala kang balak na saluhin ang kapatid ko. Don’t make her fall for you even more. Kung talagang ayaw mo, dumistansiya ka.”

Napatango ako sa sinabi ni King. I don’t have any intentions of making her fall for me. Just like King I am willing to do everything for Queen.

We are now on our last year in college. King and I are always together especially when it comes to our night escapades. But Queen remains the same—mabait, maalaga at ubod ng ganda pa rin. Maganda pero gullible pa din pag dating sa lalaki that’s why we are always at her side. Namamatyag at nagbabantay sa mga lalaking hind naman nakakasapat para sa isang reyna katulad ni Queen.

“Who’s that guy?” I asked King when I saw Queen walking towards us with some guy.

“Another suitor, I guess.” Simpleng sagot nito sa akin.

“Wala kang violent reaction man lang?”

“Nope. Queen deserves to be happy. It’s time for her to find a boyfriend.” Kibit-balikat nitong sagot sa akin.

“Paano kung lokohin lang siya?” Out of nowhere ay naitanong ko rito.

King chuckled. “Matanda na si Queen. She can handle it. Nasa safe grounds na siya, she will be graduating already.”

Hindi na ako sumagot pa sa sinabi ni King. Bagkus ay tiningnan ko ng masama ang lalaking kasama ni Queen na papalapit sa amin.

“I’m really sorry pero andito na ang mga sundo ko.  Maybe, some other time.” Parang nahihiyang sabi pa ni Queen sa lalaking kasabay nito.

Tumingin ang lalaki sa gawi ko. Yumuko ito. At parang nabahag ang buntot na umalis matapos magpaalam kay Queen.

“Tinakot mo na naman… You’re so mean, Dammy!” Kinurot niya ako sa tagiliran. Hindi naman masakit pero umaray ako.

“That hurts, Queenny, ouch!” Arte ko.

Kinuha ko ang librong hawak nito at iginaya sa kotseng nakaparada. Sa akin sasabay si Queen ngayon dahil may pupuntahan na naman si King. He’s been busy and pre-occupied these past few days. And I never ask the reason why.

“Dinner muna tayo bago umuwi.” I said while driving. Busy ito sa pagscroll ng kanta sa phone ko. She’s always like that, nagpapatugtog habang nasa biyahe kami.

“Too early for dinner, it’s only four in the afternoon. I will cook nalang for us.” Kapag magluluto siya ay dumederecho kami sa condo ko. Kaya palaging may stock sa ref ko dahil dito. She loves cooking. And she cooks pretty well.

“Okay, I want tinolang manok tonight.”

“Masusunod kamahalan! Tinolang manok will be served tonight.” She giggled. Umangkla ito sa braso ko.

We are already walking to my door when she noticed something.

“There’s someone inside, Dammy. The light inside is open.”

“Maybe, I left it open kanina…” I opened the door and to my surprised I saw Dancy wearing a lingerie, sitting on the sofa.

“Hi, loverboy!” She said seductively but froze for a moment when she looked at my back.

“What are doing here?” I asked Dancy.

“Silly, you’re forgetful… You told me to come here tonight, remember.  You gave me the spare key of your condo, didn’t you?” Itinaas pa nito ang spare key ng condo ko na ilang araw ng hinahanap ng cleaning lady ko.

“I didn’t say anything like that. And I am sure I didn’t give you that key. You can leave now, Dance and give me back the key.”

“Nope. We can have a threesome if you want? Game naman ako palagi e. Hey, girl, are you okey with that?” Bumaling ito kay Queen na ikinabigla naman nang huli.

“What are you talking about, Dance? Huwag mong igaya sayo si Queen, pwede ba! You leave now!” Nasindak ito sa sigaw ni Damien kaya dali-dali nitong kinuha ang coat na kasampay sa couch at lumabas.

“You b***h!” Binangga pa ng babae ang braso ni Queen na naestatwa na yata sa nasaksihan.

“I am sorry for that… I didn’t expect that.” Pagbubukas ko ng usapan matapos ang isang mahabang katahimikan.                          

“No. I should be the one to say sorry to you. I think I ruined your plan for tonight.” Mababa ang boses na sagot niya sa akin.

“I had no plans tonight aside from fetching you and having dinner together.”

“I better leave now, Damien…I’ll cook some other time.”

“No, no, no…It’s not what you think.” Agad akong tumayo at inagapan ang paglakad niya papunta sa pinto.

“I know, Damien. Please respect me, I am hurting inside but I don’t have the right to feel this.” Nababakas sa mukha nito ang sakit. She even pointed her chest while saying those words.

“Let me explain, please…” My voice sounds begging. I guess, I am but I don’t care anymore.

“It’s okay, just let me leave for now. I wanna go home.

“I’ll drive you home.”

“No. And that’s final. I’ll just take a cab.”

I let her go but followed her after. I saw her ride on a cab. I am tailing them right now. It seems that she’s going straight to their home. When she paid for the cab, I parked my car on the side of the road near their house. I know she saw me because she walks faster inside. But I continued following her until I reach for her in the front door.

“Queen, please… Let me explain.” But she continued walking through the stairs.

“O ano ang nangyari dun? LQ kayo, boy?” Pambungad na tanong ni King sa akin ng makasalubong ko siya sa sala.

“Shut it! There’s only a misunderstanding…”

“Ahhh, LQ nga…patay ka boy, one-week kana namang hangin ngayon kay Queen. Kunwari kapa kasing di mo type, mega-explain ka naman palagi kapag nakita kang nambabae.” It’s true, whenever Queen is angry with me, she treats me like an air --- parang di ako nakikita.

“Ayoko lang na mag-isip siya ng masama tungkol sa akin.”

“Sus! Kahit sa akin, bad-shot kana boy. Sumbong kita kay daddy e, sabihin kong pinaiyak mo si Queen. You like?” Pang-aalaska nitong muli sa akin.

“I didn’t make her cry…” That’s the least thing I will do to Queen, ang paiyakin ito.

“Sundan mo na sa kwarto niya baka nagbibigti na yun…Epal mo kasi ayaw pa umamin. She’s not my type pero deads na deads… Pag yan talaga nakahanap ng iba, who you ka, boy!”

“You’re not helping me, asshole!” Ngumisi lamang ito sa sinabi ko.

“I am putting you some sense, boy in denial.” Nakangisi pa nitong sabi. “You go and make peace with her but don’t s*x my sister in her room, okay?  Because that would be so gross.” Kunwari pa itong naduduwal habang nagsasalita.

“f**k you! I am not what you think.  I am not p*****t like you, asshole.”

“In your dreams! Wag ako, boy, this is the fourth scenario I saw from the two of you. Nahuli kang may babae nu?” Pambubuska pa nito sa akin.  “If I were you, huwag mong dinadala si Queen sa condo mo, ayan tuloy, huli ka pero not forgiven. Got to go, bro! Puntahan mo na sa kwarto niya but don’t do stupid things behind my back. I am telling you!” May himig na pagbabanta na sabi ni King.