MONTE COSTA SERIES 3: INNOCENT TIDES

Kabanata 4

Sandaling pinuno ni Evangeline ng hangin ang dibdib niya bago lumapit sa kanyang ama. Abala itong magbasa ng newspaper habang nagkakape. Her mom, on the other hand, was in their garden.

It's always been a mundane thing to see. Her parents seemed to have separate lives, living in two different worlds while she's stuck in the middle, unseen.

She knows how busy they are. Her mom is an accountant to a high-profile businessman while her father works as a senior manager in a corporation. Both are earning pretty decent amounts of money and are great at their chosen careers. But the conversations seemed dull during dinners. Kung minsan ay mag-isa lang siyang kumakain sa mesa dahil parehong abala ang mga magulang niya.

Ae took in one final breath before she approached her father. "D-Daddy?"

"Yes, bunny?" tanong ng daddy niya habang inililipat ang pahina ng newspaper. Malambing naman ang boses ngunit hindi siya tinapunan ng tingin.

"Uhm . . ." She put her hands behind her. Ayaw na ayaw niyang nagsisinungaling sa parents niya kaya halos doble ang t***k ng kanyang puso ngayon. "D-Daddy, can I . . . go out later?"

"Saan ka pupunta?" Malumanay pa rin ang boses.

"I'm . . . gonna do some school project with my friends," she lied.

Lalabas sila ni Linel dahil usapan nilang ngayon ang first date nila. As much as she wants to ditch him, she's scared that Linel wouldn't really take his studies seriously.

"If it's for a school project then you can go," sagot nito. Hindi pa rin siya nililingon.

Ae swallowed the lump forming in her throat before she nodded. "T-Thank you, Daddy."

Tumalikod na siya't naglakad patungo sa may hagdan. Habang paakyat sa second floor ay nakita niya ang mommy niya na pumasok kung nasaan ang daddy niya. Her dad immediately stood up. Lumipat ito sa sala na tila ba hindi nito kayang manatili sa iisang lugar kasama ang mommy niya.

It was one of the many circumstances that make her wonder. Ganoon ba talaga kapag matagal nang mag-asawa? Nagkakaroon na ng kanya-kanyang mundo? Nagsasawa na sa isa't isa? Parang bumabalik sa pagiging mga estranghero?

Those questions bugged her even until she finally met up with Linel. Kinukulit siya nito ngunit talagang bagsak ang mga balikat niya dahil sa mga tumatakbo sa kanyang isipan.

Akala niya ay roon sila sa mall magdi-date ngunit matapos nilang kumain sa isang fastfood chain ay idinala siya nito sa parking lot.

Ae's forehead creased when Linel took a helmet from a motorbike. "Anong gagawin ko diyan?"

"You're gonna wear it." Itinuro nito ang motorsiklo. "We're going somewhere."

Nayayamot niya itong tinitigan. "And you expect me to come with you, hmm? If you plan to traumatize me, or worse, get me killed on our first date, you're doing a great job, Linel."

"Oh, come on." Inakbayan siya nito saka nito kinurot ang kanyang pisngi. "Hindi kita hahayaang mamatay o ma-trauma. How am I gonna marry a corpse then?"

Tumaas ang kanyang kilay. Mayamaya ay pinatunog nito ang sariling dila saka ito ngumisi.

"But don't worry, baby. If you die? I'll still kiss your corpse."

She hit him but the motherfucker stepped away immediately while grinning. Bwisit!

Bumuntonghininga na lamang siya't inilabas ang kanyangng phone para i-chat ang mga kaibigan. Titimbrehan na niya ang mga ito kung sakali mang may masamang mangyari sa kanya.

Future Nurses (Kapag Di Pumasa, mag-aasawa na lang ng dakter)

Evangeline:

Who changed the GC's name?

Raiah:

I did

Evangeline:

As if you'd really marry someone other than your medical books?

Vina:

Shrueee!

How's your date in hell?

Raiah:

Ae rolled her eyes and chatted them again.

Evangeline:

Magkano kaya St. Peter? Pwede ba g-cash don?

Raiah:

Gaga, hindi pa verified g-cash mo.

"Who are you chatting?" Linel asked before he took a look at her phone. Nang mabasa ang huli niyang chat ay ngumisi ito. "Why are you asking about St. Peter? Patay na patay ka na rin ba sa'kin?"

Inirapan niya ito. "Of course not. Gusto ko lang masigurong may mag-aasikaso ng bangkay ko pagkatapos ng date na 'to."

Linel smirked before he pinched her cheek. "You are so cute when you assume things in a bad way. Alright, let's go."

Isinuot nito sa kanya ang helmet. Pinatingala pa siya nito nang maikabit nito nang maayos ang strap. His forehead creased as if he's so focused on securing her helmet. Para tuloy siyang ginayuma dahil napatitig siya sa asul na mga mata nito.

"There." He patted her shoulder. "Let's go."

Ae felt hesitant at first. Ewan ba niya kung paano siya nakumbinsi ni Linel na sumakay sa motorsiklo. Her heart was pounding loudly inside her chest while getting on the motorbike. Lalo pang bumilis ang t***k nang kunin ni Linel ang kanyang mga kamay upang payakapin sa baywang nito.

"I don't wanna hug you!" she hissed.

"It's for your safety," sagot nito bago ibinalik ang mga kamay niya sa baywang nito.

"Do you have a license?!"

"Of course," he answered before he finally drove the motorbike.

She was so scared at first, until the adrenaline rush she was feeling finally made her appreciate the ride.

Hindi niya namalayang napapangiti na siya habang panay ang tingin sa paligid. Mabilis ang kanilang takbo ngunit tila excitement na lamang ang nararamdaman niya habang nakaangkas kay Linel.

They took the route leading to the Manila Ocean park. Ipinarada ni Linel ang motorsiklo sa parking lot. Tinulungan din siya nitong hubarin ang helmet.

"I got us tickets already," he said while fixing her hair that's a bit ruined by her helmet.

Nilunok ni Ae ang sarili niyang laway habang sinusuway niya ang sariling makaramdam ng espesyal sa ginagawa ni Linel. That shouldn't affect her at all, right? His gestures will never erase the fact that she's making her high school life a living hell.

"Tara," aya nito nang ma-secure ang mga helmet nila.

Tumango na lamang siya't sumama na kay Linel. He showed the confirmation of their tickets via email. Pinapasok din naman sila kaagad sa may Oceanarium. Walang gaanong tao kahit na weekends. Siguro ay dahil malayo pa ang sahod.

Ae tried to focus on the marine animals they were seeing. Hindi na nga niya pinapansin ang pagnakaw ni Linel ng mga larawan sa kanya.

They stopped at the tunnel and watched the large aquarium. Maya-maya ay naisip niya ang mga magulang niya. She doesn't have any memory of her going to places like this with her parents. Palagi kasing busy ang mga ito. In fact, she doesn't really have that much memory about them being sweet in front of her. Tila ba sa trabaho na umikot ang buhay ng dalawa.

Inakbayan siya ni Linel kaya napabalik siya sa sarili. "What are you thinking, hmm?"

Inirapan niya ito't inalis ang pagkakaakbay sa kanya. "Wala."

Linel sighed. "Come on. You can always tell me what's going on in that pretty mind. Your secrets will always be safe with me."

"I don't trust you."

Nagkibit-balikat ito. "Kung may lalabas, then let's break up."

Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. "Hindi pa tayo, Linel."

"Hindi pa?" He laughed softly. "So we're gonna be together soon, hmm?"

"Hindi, 'no!" Pinaningkitan niya ito ng mga mata. "Humanap ka na lang nga ng ibang pagkaka-obsess-an mo?"

"Can't do that, baby. Ayokong tumandang binata. That's boring. Kawawa lang ako kung sakali."

"At igi-guilt trip mo pa ako?"

The corners of his lips rose. "I'm saying you're the reason why I don't see myself living a bachelor life in the future. . . "

Her heart pounced, and she hates how he managed to make the butterflies in her belly join his side. Ni hindi noya rin naiwasang pagmasdan ang gwapo nitong mukha. Yes. Linel and Linus are identical twins, but Linel's aura screams dominance. Like a wolf who will either rip someone apart or tear everything down for the one he loves.

Humugot siya ng hininga saka niya iniwas ang tingin kay Linel. "Bata pa tayo para sabihin mo 'yan. Sooner or later, o baka kung nasa kolehiyo na't hindi mo na ako nakikita palagi, maghanap ka rin ng iba."

He scoffed. "You're underestimating my feelings for you, Evangeline." He moistened his lower lip then stared at her as if she's the ocean that both drowns and fascinates him. "You held my heart a hostage since I met you. . . and I don't think adulthood will make this thing inside my chest would ever crave to be freed from your hold. That's how whipped I am. . . "

Ae chewed her bottom lip, trying her best not to blush because of what he said. No, she's not going to let him see how his words affected her. Linel is a walking danger sign, and she can't let him drag her into a hellhole with him.

"Marami pa akong pangarap. I am too young to entertain boys like you," she said firmly while avoiding his mesmerizing ocean blue eyes.

He scoffed. Tila wala talagang pakialam kahit ano pa ang sabihin niya.

"Chase your dreams if you want. Baka ako pa nga magpaaral sayo," he said with so much confidence.

She sighed and narrowed her eyes at him. "Will you stop treating me as a joke?"

Umismid si Linel saka nito tinawid ang natitira nilang espasyo. She gasped when he held her by her lower back before he lowered his head to whisper on her ear. Naipikit niya pa ang kanyang mga mata't ang mga tuhod ay nanlambot nang madama niya ang mabango nitong hiningang humahaplos sa kanyang balat.

"I f*****g want you for life, Evangeline, and I will do everything for you to take my words seriously someday. That's a goddamn promise. . . " Pinatakan nito ng halik ang kanyang sintido. "Sa akin ang magiging bagsak mo ano man ang nangyari. You heard me? Sa akin lang. . . "