Kabanata 3—Being Seduced
2259 Words
“MY God, Maldrid! You really made me worried. I was calling you for how many times now but you won't pick up. Mabuti na lang talaga at nakita ka ng Tito Juddah mo sa club!” Napa-sentido si Marhianna habang sinesermonan ako.
I was sitting at the couch while listening at her preach. Si Juddah naman ay tahimik lamang sa isang. His arm were crossed above his chest.
I leered when his brown eyes bore at me. He's such a kill joy. Masaya siguro siya at hindi na ako nakatakas sa kan’ya kanina. I was about to run pero hinigit niya ako at dinala sa luxury car niya and he drove off to our house.
“Kaylan ka pa natutong mag-clubbing ha? I told you that you are not allowed di 'ba na pumasok sa mga ganun? Pa’no kung pagsamantalahan ka doon?” Marhianna added.
I yawn. It's already three am but here's my mother, scolding me for what I did. Hindi pa matapos-tapos ang panenermon niya.
“Answer me, Maldrid!”
I shook my head. Ayaw kong sumagot sa sarili kong ina lalo na't nakikita ng manliligaw niya. Baka isipin niyang bastos ako.
“Maldrid—”
“That's enough, Mahrianna. Let your daughter rest… and you as well. You still have a flight tomorrow.”
My brow arched with what Juddah said. I stood up and interrupted them. “What? What flight, Marhianna? You’re leaving again?” I don't know but I kind of feel excited with that thought. It just mean that I have a lot of time to party.
Kapwa sila napalingon sa ‘kin. Marhianna pointed the couch. “Sit there, Maldrid. We are going to talk.”
I sweetly smiled and nodded. “Hmm. Okay.” Hindi ko pinahalata sa kanila na masaya ako sa narinig. Hindi naman kasi ako 'yung tipo na mag-iiyak dahil aalis ang magulang. I used of Marhianna leaving me for her work because that made me independent.
Marhianna sat on my front while Juddah stand beside her. Katulad kanina, he's arm were still crossed above his chest.
“I am leaving tomorrow morning with my Boss. We're flying to Davao. Tatagal ako doon ng one week and that made you alone here.”
“Oh! It's okay with me, Marhianna. I used to it already, right? Just bring me ‘pasalubong if you go back. Okay? Good night.” I stood up and kissed her cheek. I was about to turn my back but she held my arm.
“Go back to your sit. I am not finished talking yet.”
I yawn for the second time and nodded. I shrugged my shoulder and sat on the couch again. “So, what is it really? You will tell something pa ba? I'm already sleepy.”
She nodded and look up on Juddah before facing me. “You know na hinahayaan lang kita na mag-isa dito kapag may out of town work ako di 'ba?”
I nodded. I am being bored with what's happening now. My bed is really inviting me to sleep. “Yeah. And what about that?”
“I really don't have a plan to do this. Pero dahil sa ginawa mo...” she heaved a sigh and looked up again on her suitor. “We've decided na iiwan kita sa kanya. He will be your temporary guardian while I am away.”
“What?!” I stood up. I didn't expect it. “What the hell, Marhianna? I can manage myself kahit wala kayo. Bakit kaylangan pang bantayan niya ako?” I am being hysterical. I did not see that coming.
“Your mouth, Maldrid. You don't want it? It's your fault. Kung hindi ka tumakas ngayong gabi para mag-clubbing, I won't do this.”
“No f*cking way!” My gaze averted to Juddah when he cleared his throat. “You're a busy man, right? You can't do that,” ani ko sa kanya pero hindi niya ako pinansin at nag-iwas lang ng tingin. Damn it!
“I said your mouth, Maldrid! Hindi kita pinalaking ganyan!” Napatayo na si Marhianna dahil sa galit. Naging maagap naman si Juddah at dinaluhan ito saka pinakalma. I almost leered at the sight. He's over reacting. It's not that Marhianna's going to faint or what.
“Look Marhianna, kaya kong mag-isa. I am an independent woman now!”
She shook her head. “You don't get it, Maddi. Iyon na nga ang punto dito. You are independent now. Marunong ka nang mag-clubbing. I am just afraid na baka kung mapano ka sa pag-party mong 'yan. What if you get pregnant? You're too young! Madami pa akong pangarap para sa ‘yo!”
I averted my gaze on the floor. And now, she's crying. Ayokong nakikita siyang umiiyak. I love Marhianna so much and I don't want her hurting just because of me. But it's my freedom we are talking about here. I have my own independence day if she's away for days.
“Marhianna—”
“I’m sorry, Maddi, but you have to deal with it. While I am away, si Tito Juddah mo ang titingin-tingin sa ‘yo. He will occupy the guestroom starting tomorrow until I come back."
Damn it!
***
“YOU really have to say good bye to your freedom now, Maddi.”
I heaved a sighed while staring at my two gals sipping on their drinks. Pinaglaruan ko naman ang iniinom ko saka sumubsob sa mesa. “I don't know, Gia. I don't want Juddah in our house. I just feel so awkward. It's okay with me not to party. But Juddah's around? Oh please. It's suffocating me.” I rolled my eyes.
Adrianna cleared her throat and leaned on her chair. “It's because you really have a thing with him. You wouldn't feel it if he's not your type.”
I groaned. Heto na naman siya! Pinaglaruan ko ang cupcake na kinakain ko saka inirapan siya. "Oh please, Adrianna. We talked about it already, right? He's not my type anymore. Kilabutan nga kayo.”
She shrugged her shoulder. “We’ll see.”
I leered again at matagal na tinitigan ang pagkain ko. I don't have appetite eating since this morning. I wasn't expecting na makakasama na namin si Juddah sa pag-kain ng breakfast kanina sa bahay. It's no big deal for me. But before Marhianna leave, she told me many things, like I should follow what her suitor's going to say. Ugh! She's treating me like a child. For pete sake! I'm already twenty. I can do whatever I want to do.
“Tigilan mo nga si Maddi sa mga paganyan mo, Adrianna. Even me, kinikilabutan ako sa sinasabi mo. It's just yuck na magka-gusto si Maddi sa suitor ni Marhianna. I can't imagine that thing,” ani Gia, kinokontra si Adrianna.
“I'm just saying what I'm seeing. What's wrong with that?" Adrianna nonchalantly asked. Gia and I both leered at her.
“By the way, have any plan tonight? I received an invitation from Jessa. She's throwing a party at her condo. You go, girls?" pag-iiba sa usapan ni Gia.
Adrianna immediately nodded her head.
“How about you, Maddi?”
I smirked. “I’ll try to escape.”
***
NANG gabing ‘yon ay binantayan ko si Juddah hanggang sa makatulog siya. Pasimple pa akong dumaan sa hallway sa may guestroom just to make sure na tulog na talaga siya. Dahan-dahan kong pinihit ang seradura ng pinto ng guestroom, and I was glad that it wasn’t lock. But I groaned silently when I saw him, reading book while he’s leaning at the head rest of the bed. Damn it! It's already twelve midnight.
“What now, Maddi? You’re still going? Aidon's already here at kanina ka pa hinahanap," asked by Gia at the other line.
I leaned on the wall besides Juddah's room and smirked. I really need to go there. My new apple of the eye, came from the college of Architecture, is already there. I need to see, Aidon.
“Give me an hour.” I ended the call and was about to go back in my room when I heard a baritone voice speak at my back.
“Where are you going, Maldrid? Trying to escape just to party again?”
Sh*t! I closed my eyes! You stupid, Maddi! What a wrong move you did!
“What are you talking about, Juddah?” I asked, trying to sounds innocent. Hindi niya ako pwedeng mahuli sa gagawin ko.
“Go back to your room. I know what you are planning. You think, I will sleep early? For what? For you to drink and party?”
My hand form into fist. Sino ba siya sa inaakala niya? Kung mapagsabihan niya ako ay akala niya may karapatan siyang gawin ‘yon.
“Now, Maldrid,” utos niya.
“Fine!” I turn my back on him and stormed off to my room.
***
HALOS kalahating oras na akong naka-upo sa kama, pinapakiramdaman kung gising pa ba o baka tulog na si Juddah. Naghintay pa ako ng kalahating oras hanggang sa humiga ako at hindi ko namalayang dinalaw na ako ng antok.
For the past few days, naging ganun halos ang routine ko. Masyadong mahigpit si Juddah at hindi talaga ako makatakas sa kanya. He even hired a driver para hatid- sundo ako sa university para lang masigurong naka-uwi ako sa oras.
One time, I tried to make an alibi that I am making a group project so I need to leave, pero ang sabi niya’y pwede ko naman iyon gawin sa bahay. Nakakainis! Mayamaya din ang pagtawag ni Marhianna kay Juddah para kamustahin ako.
***
WEDNESDAY night, it's already nine in the evening pero wala pa rin si Juddah dito sa bahay. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan at anong ginagawa niya. Wala akong pakealam lalo na’t nagkataon tinawagan ako ni Gia. They are at the club at this moment and they saw Juddah there, drinking with Caleb and their friends.
“You want me to fetch you, Maddi? Then, lipat tayo ng ibang club?”
I grinned widely and went directly to my room. “Sure, Gia! I'm going to change my dress, first. Bye!”
I can't help but to grin widely while choosing for what I'm going to wear tonight. Finally! After so many days, I can party again. Oh, I've missed, Aidon. Sa school na lang kasi kami nagkikita. After choosing what I am going to wear, I immediately went to my bathroom. It took me an hour to finish my bath.
After wearing my outfit, I put a light make up on my face. When I'm already contented with my looks, I smiled at myself. Staring at my chinita eyes, kung sino man ang makakakita sa 'kin, they would say that I am a half chinese. According to Marhianna, my father is Half Brazilian and Half Chinese. She was sure of that because it's her first.
Sa totoo lang, wala na akong balak makilala pa ang tatay ko kasi kahit si Marhianna, hindi iyon kilala. After taking her virginity, he pays her a big amount and leave the hotel room just like that. They were both stranger with each other. Kaya malabong makilala ko pa ito.
“I’m off to go,” I said to myself in a sing-song tone.
I get my purse before looking at the mirror again for the last time. When I’m already contented with my looks tonight, that's when I decided to leave. And when I turned my back to the door, natigilan ako sa nakita ko. But instead of averting my gaze, I just smirked at Juddah.
“My instinct’s really telling me to go home already coz I know that you will do something that won't make Marhianna happy.” Umalis siya sa pagkaka-sandal sa pinto bago ako pinasadahan ng tingin.
Ganu’n din ang ginawa ko sa kan’ya. Juddah wearing a white sando paired with his black pajama. Halatang kanina pa siya nakauwi sa ayos niya.
“Party… again?”
“You don't care, Juddah," I said saka nilagpasan siya. Sinadya ko pang bungguin ang balikat niya. “Close the door when you leave. Okay…? Ciao, Tito.” I sarcastically laughed and went down stair.
I fished my phone then I composed a message for my gals saying I’m on my way already. Malawak pa ang pagkaka-ngiti ko, pero nang makarating sa gate ay agad na nabura ang ngiting 'yon dahil sa bumungad sa ‘kin.
Why the f*ck we have a guard here!? And they are not letting me to go through! Damn it!
“Pasensya na ho, Miss Maldrid. Pero sisisantehin naman kami ni Boss Juddah kapag pinalabas ka namin.”
Sa sobrang inis sa narinig ay bumalik ako sa loob ng bahay. I went up stair to Juddah's room to confront him why we have a guard here. Kaya pala ang lakas ng loob niyang hayaan lang ako. Iyon pala ay hindi naman ako makakaalis!
I knocked on his door three times but I didn't get a response from him. So, I checked the knob if it's lock. When I’ve found out that it isn't, I immediately twist it and went inside. I'm so ready to scold him.
“Juddah, what the hell—” My words were cut off when I saw him just coming out from the bathroom only a white towel wrapped on his waist.
I blinked for so how many times because of the sight in my front. Jesus! Why he has to be this sexy!? My breathing's hitched and I couldn't think straight. I just couldn't take my eyes off from his body.
“What are you doing here!? Out, Maldrid!” He shouted while pointing at the door. Mukha rin siyang nagulat na maabutan akong nasa loob ng room niya.
That's when I just came back from my senses. And without uttering a word, lumabas ako ng kwarto niya. What the hell?! I closed my eyes. Pakiramdam ko'y kakapusin ako ng hininga.
Just… Sh*t! Why does it felt like, I was being seduced by his sexy body?! Damn it!
- Writer
