DUCANI LEGACY SERIES #7: Khalila

Kabanata 2

Khalila

"Oh! Diyos ko! Ano ba naman ito! Pota bakit ang bilis naman ng lyrics!" Halley laughed, his voice echoed loudly because of the microphone he was holding.

Natatawa akong umiling-iling bago sumimsim sa bote ng alak. Agrain is already in the kitchen, flirting with one of Halley's friends. Halos wala na siyang pakialam sa mga tao sa paligid nila, pati sa amin ni Halley.

I took another sip on my beer. Pinatong naman Halley ang siko niya sa aking hita saka tila inaantok nang inilapit ang mukha sa aking tainga.

"Pahangin tayo sa veranda," he whispered.

Tumango ako at sumama sa kanya. Nang makasandal ako sa railing ay ikinalso ni Halley ang isa niyang palad sa bakal habang nasa harap ko siya.

I am already wearing heels but Halley is really tall. Halos hindi ako umabot sa kanyang balikat kaya kinailangan pa niyang yumuko nang bahagya.

A slight smirk made its way to his lips after glancing at Agrain. Nakipag-cheers siya sa akin saka namin ininom ang aming beers habang makahulugang nakatingin sa isa't isa.

After sipping our beers, Halley lowered his head until our faces are just an inch away from each other. His sleepy hazel brown eyes flickered with desire while his thin lips curved for a sweet smile.

"Wala bang pabaon diyan? Busy naman si Agrain. He's not gonna care anymore."

Pabiro ko siyang inirapan saka ko itinuro ang aking pisngi. Halley chuckled in a sexy way before he kissed my cheek.

"Damot naman natin ngayon. Dalawang taon akong mawawala," he teased.

I smirked. "Akala ko ba magmu-move on ka na?"

Ngumisi siya at sinasadyang idikit pa ang katawan sa akin. "How could I forget my first love, hmm? You are once in a lifetime, babe. Biro lang 'yon."

Itinago ko ang paglawak ng aking ngisi sa pag-inom ng alak.

Halley and I have been secretly intimate since I was twenty. We go on night drives and secret dates behind Agrain's back, because we knew Agrain would hate us both once we become honest. He was more aggressive and, well, immature anyway, kaya kahit gusto kong ipangalandakang gusto ko rin si Halley ay hindi ko magawa.

It may be unreasonable for us to do it on Agrain, but we knew him well. Saka na namin ipagtatapat ang tunay naming estado oras na mayroon na siyang nobya.

"He's looking at us," I whispered when I saw Agrain glancing our way.

"Matalim ba ang tingin?" Halley asked while combing his silky hair with his slim fingers.

I shook my head. "He's kissing your friend's neck. Maybe he's trying to get me jealous," I joked.

Halley scoffed. "Is it working, hmm?"

"Nope," I said, popping the p.

"Then let's send them all home so we can spend the rest of the night alone."

Umirap ako. "Hindi na." I ran my palm on his chiseled chest. "Why two years? Bakit ang tagal?"

"Preparation na for the exploration."

"Am I allowed to visit?"

"I think so."

"Good." I licked my lips. "I'll bring you the art piece I'm about to purchase."

"Sinong gumawa?"

"'Yong artist na nagbigay ng paintings ni Lolo."

Halley whistled. "Milyones 'yon." Kumurba ang mga labi niya. "Thank you in advance."

"Anong thank you? May bayad 'yon."

"Ay may bayad ba?" He laughed softly before he finally rested his palm on my waist. Tumitig sa aking mga labi ang kanyang mga mata. "I miss your lips. Halik ko na lang ang bayad."

"You're gonna miss me more if I'll kiss you," biro ko bago tumalikod. Yumakap naman ang braso niya sa aking mga balikat saka niya pinatakan ng halik ang tuktok ng aking ulo.

"No other guys while I'm away despite us being unofficial?" he asked. This time, with no hint of tease. He's always been serious about us, anyway. Kahit pa sabihing wala kaming label.

He doesn't flirt nor date other girls even when I already asked him and Agrain to stop courting me. Kahit na kaibigan lamang ang kaya kong i-offer, nanatiling ako lamang ang gusto niya. Siguro ay iyon din ang mas nagustuhan ko sa kanya. Unlike Agrain who dated other girls right after I asked them to stop courting me, Halley remained faithful.

I held onto his arm before I jugged my beer. Bumaba namang muli ang kanyang ulo para patakan ako ng halik sa sintido nang wala siyang nakuhang tugon sa akin.

"I need your assurance, Lil, so I won't lose my mind," may pagsamo niyang sabi sa mahinang tinig.

I angled my head, stared into his eyes, then pressed my lips on his. Humugot siya ng hininga habang magkalapat ang aming mga labi, at kasabay ng paghigpit ng kanyang yakap ay ang tuluyang paggalaw ng kanyang mga labi.

The moment our lips parted, Halley's eyes flickered with joy. Tila sapat na ang aking halik para makampante ang damdamin niya, ngunit sinambit ko pa rin ang mga salitang alam kong gusto niyang marinig mula sa akin.

"No other guys while I'm waiting for my space man."

"Well, how about that artist you've been liking since last year?"

Kumunot ang aking noo. "Kalyl Herrera? I don't even know him personally. I only said I like him because I'm a fan of his works."

"So even if I'd tell you I invited him tonight, you wouldn't suddenly forget what we have, hmm?"

Napakurap ako sa narinig. "You invited him?"

Halley jerked his head. "I accidentally met him a week ago when I attended a friend's party. I told him you're a fan."

I sighed. "Kilala mo naman pala, eh. Eh 'di wala ring silbi ang ibibigay kong art piece."

"Why? It's from you. Of course it's gonna be valuable, babe-"

Naputol ang kanyang sinasabi nang tawagin siya ng isa sa mga kaibigan niya.

"Hall, they're here."

Tumango si Halley. Mayamaya ay inakbayan niya ako't niyayang bumalik sa living room ng kanyang condo. Nang makalapit kami sa bagong dating ay hindi ko naiwasang pasadahan ng tingin ang apat na lalakeng dumating.

I recognize the tall one and the one with mid-length hair. They're well-known young entrepreneurs I once met at a gala. The other two were complete strangers to me, but the one who got most of my attention was the one who has sharp, brown eyes and a shaggy hairstyle that's on a messy man bun. He's wearing a baggy black shirt with a zipper from the neckline down to the bottom on a slanting position. Ang pantalon ay hapit at may punit-punit.

I never liked such fashion sense. Ang tingin ko ay ang dugyot ng dating dahil sa mga mayayabang at amoy pawis naming kapitbahay noong hindi pa alam ni daddy na buhay sina Mama at kuya. Pero bakit ang isang ito, bakit parang pinagmukha niyang milyon ang halaga ng damit na suot niya?

"This is Khalila Ducani," pakilala ni Halley sa akin.

The guy on a baggy shirt smirked as he scanned me from head to toe, and when I heard his baritone voice spoke, I swear all my blood suddenly went up in my head.

"Sad. I thought she's more than average..."