The pain he never knew (Book 1)

15

Chapter 15

In a cold rainy day, wherein the winds were howling loudly and harshly. Whenever it touches my skin, it would send terrible good bumps to me. I curled into a ball at mas lalong kong siniksik ang dalawang paa sa suot na large-sized jacket.

I was in my room balcony, sipping my cup of coffee while watching the rain pour persistently. I gripped on the cup tightly like it was my only source of heat.

"Hindi ka papasok sa office dad?" I asked casually nang mapag desisyunan nang bumaba.

He was in his corporate attire na parang may balak nga siyang pumasok pero naantala dahil sa malakas na ulan.

"I was going to. Mamaya na siguro. Kapag tumila na"

"Pano pala kung hindi na tumila? Edi hindi ka na papasok?" He chuckled at my statement.

"I don't know, let's see"

Tumingin ako sa glass window na kung saan ay kitang-kita ang labas. The grasses were so wet and are starting to get drowned by rainwaters.

"Sobrang lakas ng ulan." I stated whispering. I heard a hum from my dad that indicates his agreement.

I wonder what kage is doing. Is he on their house?...Or in his condo? Is he having breakfast or is he still asleep? Is he wearing a sweatshirt like he usually does? And why am i even thinking about him?! Gosh! Not everything is about him zeph!

"Oh? Saan ka pupunta?" Tanong ni dad nang magsimula na akong maglakad patungong pintuan.

"Outside"

"Umuulan!"

Umirap ako. As if I don't know that dad.

Nang tuluyan nang makalabas sa aming hardin ay bahagya kong nilahad ang aking kamay para iksaminin ang lamig ng tubig ulan bago tuluyang lumabas sa silong. I flinched when the first raindrop touched my skin. I heard my dad's voice, disapproving.

"Maliligo ako. It's been too long since i bathed in rain!" Sigaw ko dahil halos hindi na kami magkarinigan sa lakas ng ulan.

"Ano bang pumasok sa isip mo? Magkakasakit ka zephyrine! Lalagnatin ka!"

"I won't be long, i promise!"

He shook his head pero wala din namang nagawa at hinayaan na ako.

I hugged myself and burred because of the cold breeze. Nagsimula na din akong manginig pero okay lang. Me bathing in rain brings back old memories. I smiled sadly.

Luminga-linga ako at may nakita akong sun lounger sa gilid ng pool kaya pumunta ako doon at humiga. Pero bago iyon ay tinawag ko ang kasambahay para dalhan ako ng aviators. Sinuot ko iyon at nahiga sa lounger. I don't know what came up to me. Maybe I'm just in the mood.

I lay there for a couple of minutes bago narinig na may dumating. It was dad's voice that welcomed the visitor from inside.

"Good morning tito eduardo"

"Oh! Hijo? Anong ginagawa mo dito? Napapadalas ata ang pagpunta mo dito ah?" Dad chuckled, the visitor did the same.

I immediately recognized that chuckle. But still, I didn't move at nanatiling nakahiga doon.

"Wala din naman akong ginagawa kaya i decided na bisitahin na lang si zy." Ilang segundong tumahimik, "where is she by the way? Is she in her room?"

Wala na akong narinig na nagsalita pagkatapos nun. The only sound that i heard ay ang paparating na mga yabag.

"Ayun siya."

"What the—anong ginagawa niya diyan?" Nahihiwagaang tanong ni kage. Tumawa si dad.

"Ask her" at narinig kong umalis na siya.

"Baby! What are you doing there?! You're soaking wet! Magkakasakit ka niyan!" He shouted from afar. Pero hindi ko siya pinakinggan. I still remained unmoved and just stared at the dark skies underneath my glasses.

"Why don't you join me? The rain feels so good!" I shouted back.

"Hell no! I have a damn meeting after this" he said in a serious tone. Tumayo ako at Napataas ng glasses. I saw him near our sliding door. Leaning on it with arms crossed. He looked formal.

Lumapit ako sa kaniya.

"You're so wet. What has been running on that little head of yours? Bakit ka nagpapabasa?"

I just smiled at inilahad ang kamay ko sa kaniya. He just stared at it at umiling. It made my smile turn upside down.

"You're crazy. May pupuntahan pa ako. I just came to check out on you and i also brought pot foods"

"Mmm..liar. You told dad na wala kang gagawin." I hugged him on the waist, i buried my face on his chest kaya napareklamo siya dahil nababasa na din siya.

"I do zy, i have a meeting" mahinahong sambit niya.

"Meeting?"

"Yes. A very important meeting." mataman niya ako tinitigan.

"Important than me?" Pagpapacute ko. "You're no fun. I hate you."

Nakita kong dumilim ang mukha niya.

"You don't mean that zy." he said in a low serious voice.

I just stared at him, funnily copying his face expression. Ngumuso ako para pigilan ang pagsupil na ngiti.

Napabuntong hininga siya as he took off his tux leaving only the plain white polo sleeves inside. He stepped out of the roof which made me smirk.

"Come on, there's something i wanted to try" akay ko sa kaniya papuntang gitna.

We stopped meters away from the big tree wherein ay naka on ang mga maliliit na fairy lights na nakasabit. Maybe they turned it on since medyo madilim. It matches the weather aesthetically and romantically.

"What now?"

He stared at me with his confused eyes nang igiya ko ang magkabilang kamay niya sa aking bewang at ikinawit ko ang akin sa kaniyang leeg.

"Let's dance"

"Dance?"

I rested my head on his chest, naglalambing na tumawa ng mahina. I can feel his body heat and his heart beat. Serving as our beat for this unmoved dance.

"When i was little, i used to see my mom and dad dance underneath the pouring rain. When i asked her what does it feel to dance romantically like that, she said i would find out in the future once i tried it with the man i like."

"Baby—"

"Ganito din ang posisyon nila noon. through this, i can remember her." Bulong ko. My cheeks were staring to heat up and from then on, i knew that i was being emotional again.

"These past few days, madalang ko na lang siya naiisip. I don't know if it's just pure bliss whenever I'm with you or sadyang busy lang talaga ako kay dad. if it's possible, I'm afraid na baka tuluyan ko na siyang makalimutan. And i don't want that. So as much as possible...gagawin ko ang lahat ng mga ginagawa niya noon na nagpapaalala sa kaniya sa akin." Binawi ko ang aking ulo sa kaniyang dibidib. I stared at his worried eyes. "Shall we?"

Wala siyang sinabi at hinawakan na lamang ang aking ulo para ilapit ulit sa kaniyang dibdib. Ako naman ay pinalibot ang aking mga kamay sa kaniyang beywang. My arms were so short for his body.

We started swaying and stepping sideways. At first, I didn't get the hang of it dahil hindi kami nagsasabay because of the lack of presence of music. But we still managed.

"Is this how they do it?" He whispered.

"Maybe. Mommy doesn't know much about dancing kaya she would just step on daddy's feet the whole time."

He stilled. "You're kidding"

"Totoo nga!" Tawa ko ng malakas. "Para mo namang sinabi na mabigat ako. Mabigat ba ako? Hindi naman ah?" I asked calmly, softly glaring.

He just stared at me for a pleasing moment before sighing in defeat.

"Okay, fine. Let's do it"

I squealed loudly. "Yey!" At tinapakan na nga ang kaniyang magkabilang paa. I was confident that I wasn't heavy kaya hindi ko siya kailangang aalahanin na masaktan.

He grunted jokingly kaya pabirong naihampas ko siya sa dibdib. "You're offending"

He just laughed at me at mariing hinalikan ako sa tuktok ng ulo. I pursed my lips to stop myself from smiling.

"Ilang minuto ka ng naliligo dito?"

"Maybe 20-30 minutes?"

Tumaas ang kilay niya.

"That explains why your lips are turning violet"

"Weh? Talaga?" I retrieved my hand from his neck at hinawakan ang aking labi. Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang hawakan niya ang aking baba. Unti-unti siyang lumapit sa akin at napapikit na lang ako nang magtama na ang aming mga labi. It was a slow and deep kiss. I tried to keep up with his pace and i can feel the warmth of each other's lips.

I cling my arms on his neck once more at hinila siya palapit sa akin, humigpit din ang kaniyang hawak sa aking beywang, lifting me up.At dahil masyadong siyang mataas ay tumingakayad ako earning a groan from him. Napatigil kami.

"f**k!"

"I'm sorry" natatawa kong sabi "sorry, nakalimutan ko" it was true, i did forgot na nakatapak pala ako sa paa niya.

"It's okay. Damn your heavy! Hindi mo ba talaga ako pinagtitripan lang? Does your mom really steps on your dad?" Tanong niyan

"Hindi nga! Parang baliw to." Tawa ko.

"Damn baby, your innocent face screams scam" he lowly chuckled. Napanguso ako at sinamaan siya ng tingin. In the middle of laughter, i loudly sneezed.

"Oops! Excuse m—" Napatili ako nang bigla niya lang akong buhatin na parang isang sako ng bigas na walang kahirap-hirap.

"Anong—teka lang!" I squealed.

"Tama na yan. Sisipunin ka na." pagkatapos ay bahagya niyang hinampas ang aking puwet which i gasped in shock "stop squirming. You're going to fall''

"Kage hijo! Why are you wet? At bakit..buhat-buhat mo yang anak ko?" Si dad. We arrived at the living room and we kinda made a mess on the floor. Binaba niya na ako.

"Nilalamig na po siya" simpleng saad niya which made my dad glare at me.

"Naku zephyrine, yan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko eh! Maligo at magbihis ka na nga doon! At dinamay mo pa itong si kage sa kapilyahan mo! Hala sige! Akyat na!''

He called for a maid para dalhan si kage ng towel.

"Pano yan hijo? Basa ka. Hindi naman siguro kasya sayo ang mga pang opisina ko dito.''

I laughed which made them both look at me questioningly.

"Yeah right. Ang healthy mo na kasi dad"

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin.

"Umakyat ka na nga doon zephyrine!'' He jokingly shouted at me.

Tumawa ng mahina si kage.

"Uuwi na lang po ako tito. May pupuntahan pa kasi po talaga ako. I just came to bring the foods to your daughter"

"Oh sige. Mag-ingat ka. Madulas ang daan''

"Yes po tito'' at binalingan niya naman ako at walang atubling hinawakan ako sa baba at marahang hinalikan sa mga labi. Right in front of my freaking dad! Hindi makapaniwalang tinitigan ko siya pabalik.

"I gotta go." He whispered,cupping my cheeks.

"S-sige"

I just stared at him habang naglalakad siya palabas. I looked at my dad and he has this funny and teasing look on his face. Ngumuso ako at tumakbo na paakyat sa taas para makaiwas sa chismosong ama.

"Madulas ka zephyrine linett!'' Hindi ko siya pinakinggan.

Umupo ako sa aking kama kahit na alam kong mababasa iyon. I grabbed my phone underneath my sheets at agad nag type ng message.

:bakit mo naman ako hinalikan sa harap ni dad?! Now he's gonna think that something's going on between us"

And i sent it to kage. Ilang minuto na ang lumipas pero hindi pa din siya nagre reply. Mainly because he's driving zeph? My subconscious said. Half of it was telling me na walang kwenta naman pala ang sinabi ko. Of course something is on between us. We're engaged for goodness sake!

I sighed and constructed another text.

:Are you driving? The road is slippery. Please be careful

I immediately regretted it after i hit send. Sa pag-aakalang hindi naman siya magre reply agad ay maglalakad na sana ako papunta sa banyo pero naudlot dahil biglang nakatanggap ako ng mensahe. It was from kage.

: sure do, for my baby.

"So ano kayo?" Yassy asked after i showed her the text that kage replied last weekend.

"Ano sila? Edi tao. Ano pa ba?" Pagsingit ni tas habang kumakain na naman. Inirapan siya ni yassy at hindi pinagtuonan ng pansin.

She looked at me questioningly na tila naghihintay ng sagot sa akin. Hindi ako makasagot. I actually don't know. I can't seem to determine my feelings for him.

"Mag fiancé?"

Napasimangot silang dalawa sa sagot ko. Dumb zephy, of course they know that!

"You guys flirt with each other, you exchange sweet words, you date, you hug and you guys even kiss! Isn't it obvious? You like each other!"

Yas made a sarcastic sound at bahagyang lumapit sa kapatid niya at inakbayan niya ito.

"Little sis, kung makikipaghalikan sayo ang isang lalaki, that doesn't mean he automatically likes you. That doesn't work that way." She chuckled.

"So you mean it's all just flirt to him? Is that what you're implying?" Hindi ko alam pero may nararamdaman akong galit at..sakit?

"Bakit? May nararamdaman ka na ba? Mahal...mo na ba?"

Is it possible?

"No! Of course not! It can't be! It's just too early for that. We barely know each other! It's been like two months pa lang" i defended. "Maybe you're right. It's just plain flirting. I haven't flirt in a very long time kaya siguro naninibago lang ako"

"Does flirting involves going out on dates?" Tas teased.

"Everyone does that"

"How about dancing romantically beneath the pouring rain? Included din ba iyon?" Si yassy.

Napairap ako. Ngayon ay parang pinagsisihan ko na kung bakit ko pa kinwento iyon sa kanila.

"And paying for your shopping sprees? Damn! You are one high maintenance fling, aren't you?"

Tumawa silang dalawa ng malakas na nagpasama ng mukha ko. A fling? Who? Me? We don't even do s*x! We just kiss! At dahil sa naisip ay naalala ko ang nangyari nung gabing iyon, nung nasa loob kami ng sasakyan.

I felt my whole body heated as i remembered how his hand nearly slipped inside my chest. Wala sa sariling napababa ako ng tingin sa aking dibdib. Gosh! Kung malalaman lang ng mga kaibigan ko ang iniisip ko ngayon, tiyak na hindi nila ako titigilan ng tukso!

Our last subject ended and i was exhausted as hell. Sino ba naman ang hindi mapapagod sa p.e? We played volleyball kaya talagang napagid ako.

Nauna nang umuwi ang kambal kanina kaya ako na lang ang natira habang nagbibihis dito sa cr. Naka p.e uniform pa din kasi ako. At kahit naman pauwi na ay ayokong suot iyon dahil basa ng pawis.

Nang makalabas ay sinalubong ako kaagad ng isa sa mga bodyguards. He bowed to me formally which made me confuse. Akala ko ba hindi sila magpapakita sa akin?

He gestured his for me to follow him.

"Susunduin po ako ng driver ko kuya" i informed kasi baka isasakay nila ako sa kanilang sasakyan, Kasama nila.

Patuloy pa din siya ng lakas. Nakasunod lang ako.

"Nandito po si sir kage ma'am. Pinapasundo ka niya sa akin"

"Ano? Si kage nandito?" I suddenly got nervous and felt conscious of my haggard state. f**k! Amoy pawis ako!

"Opo ma'am. Actually kanina pa po siya naghihintay sa inyo." Huh? Wala ba siyang ginagawa? Dami niyang time huh?

"Gaano katagal? Bakit hindi niyo sinabi sa akin? Nasaan siya?"

"Nasa parking lot po ma'am"

Mabilis akong naglakad. Halos lakad takbo ang ginawa ko at nakasunod lamang siya sa likod ko. Pagkarating sa parking lot ay hingal na hingal na ako. Hinawakan ko ang dibdib para mahabol ang hininga.

"Ayun po si sir" turo ng guard sa may bandang sasakyan na kung saan ay maangas na nakasandal si kage. Tumaas ang kilay ko nang mapansin na halos lahat ng mga dumadaan doon ay tumitingin sa kaniya na tila nahihiwagaan. Yung iba naman ay talagang tumigil talaga at naghihikgikan.

"Diba siya yun? Yung pumunta dito last week. Siya yun eh! Di ko makakalimutan. Siya yung kumausap kina lizel." Ani ng isang babae. Napatingin ako sa kanila.

"Oo nga no? Ang gwapo niya no?"

"Oo nga! Sino kaya ang susunduin niya?"

"Lumapit kaya tayo? Tanungin natin pangalan niya" ani naman ng isa pang grupo ng kababaihan.

"I think i know him. He's very famous because of his family name"

"Talaga?"

"Yes. He's name is kage, short for kaden gage Arguelles. He's father is alfonso Arguelles"

"Arguelles as in Arguelles Security Agency? He's the heir?"

"Uhuh. At alam mo bang matinik daw yan sa mga babae. I think one of my friend told me once na naka one night stand niya na daw yang si kage"

"Gosh! Really? Is he good? I'm so naiinggit! Gusto ko din!"

"Me too!"

Naknang!— one night stand!? Bullshit! Si kage? My kage?—does a one night stand!?

Sumama ang mukha ko at padabog na naglakad papunta sa kaniya at tsaka naghalukipkip.

"Hey" he greeted sabay halik sa pisngi ko. "Uh..did i do something wrong?" Taka niya nang makitang nakatingin ako sa kaniya ng masama.

I heard some girls gasped in disbelief.

"Is there any possibilities that zephyrine is that guy's little sister?"

Sister!? Ako? Kapatid ni kage!? Sister my ass! Mukha bang magkamukha kami ng lalaking 'to?!

"Wala! Pumasok na nga lang tayo" at naglibot na patungong passenger seat. Nagtatakang sinundan niya naman ako ng tingin.

"Galit ka na naman? May ginawa ba akong masama?"

Hindi ako nagsalita.

"Galit ka ba dahil sinundo kita ng walang pasabi?"

He sighed deeply when he figured out that i was just gonna give him the silent treatment.

"Hayaan mo. Hindi na kita susunduin next time. Kung yan ang kinakasama ng loob mo" aniya sa malalim na boses na tila nagagalit na din. Tinitigan ko siya habang pinapaandar ang sasakyan.

"Open the window."

"Ano?" Taka niya.

"Just open that goddamn window kage!" i shouted impatiently.

Nagtataka man ay ginawa niya pa din ang iniutos ko. The window lowered down slowly. And as i get a fuller view of the large group of girls na tila aalis na pero nang makitang nakabukas ang bintana ni kage ay tumigil sila sandali.

I made sure na nakuha ko ang attensyon nila bago yumukod at inabot ang panga ni kage. He was shocked at my sudden moves pero nang makabawi ay hinawakan niya ako sa beywang and he pulled me closer to him. I kissed him slowly and passionately. Minulat ko ang mga mata ko at dumako ang tingin ko sa mga babaeng nakanganga dahil sa gulat. It made me smirk in the middle of kissing.

Bumaba ang halik ni kage papunta sa aking leeg. Bahagyang umawang ang mga labi ko when i felt him slightly sucking my skin. I saw the mixture of shock and envy on their faces.

Girls, gusto ko pa kayo lalong mainggit but this is enough. I leaned over at bumulong sa tenga ni kage.

"Baby" i said making sure that they would hear it. "Baby, close the window now please" pinaamo ko ang boses ko.

He stilled and retrieved his face from my neck then stared at me questioningly.

"Now please"

Ginawa niya ang iniutos ko. When the window was in full close, agad akong bumalik sa aking upuan na tila walang nangyari.

"Sister my ass" bulong ko and crossed my arms on my chest. "Ano kayo ngayon?"

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"Ginawa mo yun para ipaalam sa kanila na hindi kita kapatid?"

Agad akong napatingin sa kaniya.

"Narinig mo ang mga sinabi nila?"

He looked at me with an obvious look on his face. Now it was his turn to lean over and start a quick kiss.

"How would i handle you? You act like a jealous kid sometimes." He whispered as he caressed my cheeks using his thumb.

Inirapan ko siya. "First, i am not jealous, ilang beses ko ba dapat sabihin yan sayo? I just gave them a quick demonstration na hindi mo ko kapatid." He chuckled at that and stole a quick peck for the second time. "Second, i act like a kid para naman may silbi yang pagtawag mo sa'kin ng baby, tama?"

"Clever" he smiled.

I stared at him for a couple of seconds. "I'm sorry"

"Sorry for what?"

"Sorry for being unreasonable sometimes—"

"Every time" pagtatama niya.

"Every time.. I don't know but maybe this is just me being comfortable with you. And not to mention ang mga tactics mo na nagpapainit ng ulo ko. Dagdagan mo pa ang mga babaeng lumalandi at tumitingin sayo. Nakakairita!"

He kissed me once more, but this time, it was deep at nakakawala ng ulirat. I just found myself na tumutugon na din sa nakakalasing niyang mga halik. After a few minutes, nahihingal kaming humiwalay.

"Don't pout"

I smiled at him unbelievably. Siya naman ay bumalik na sa kaniyang upuan at pinaandar na ulit ang sasakyan. But before he could further turn the wheel, i held his hand. Tightly and firmly, slightly squeezing it.

"Kage? You're right. I am jealous"

Nakaawang ang mga labing tumingin siya sa akin. "A-ano?"

"I like you. Do you like me too?"