FORBIDDEN SERIES 2: THE PRESIDENT'S SECRET

Kabanata 6

ILANG araw nang napapansin ni Rafaela na hindi binabasag ni Belen ang eardrums niya dahil sa kumakalat na balita tungkol sa pagala-galang serial killer. Belen had been so worried about the news that every time Rafaela will leave to shop, Belen will insist to come with her.

May mga dala pa itong pepper spray, utility knife, at taser na pamprotekta umano sa kanya. Napapairap na lang din si Rafaela dahil kahit na nasa pampubliko silang lugar ay nakaamba palagi ang pepper spray nito.

But Belen started becoming silent a few days ago. Madalas niya ring maabutang tulala sa kusina na tila malalim ang iniisip. Rafaela doesn't like minding that are not her business but Belen's behavior somehow bothered her. Kaya naman nang hindi na siya nakatiis ay tuluyan niya itong nilapitan.

"You're gonna tell me why you're acting weirdly theses past few days or I'm gonna make you jug your goddamn pepper spray," asik niya. Paano ay hindi naman talaga siya marunong sumimpatya kaya ngayon ay hindi niya alam ang approach na gagawin.

Suminghot ang kunwaring nagpupunas ng island counter na si Belen. "Wala, Ma'am. Brokenhearted lang ako, Ma'am."

Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. "Why? Anong ginawa sa'yo ng lintik na kano na 'yon?"

Nagpunas ito ng luha gamit ang kwelyo ng uniporme nito. "Hendi pala kano ang kausap ko, Ma'am. 'Yong komare ko, Ma'am sa amen, naggawa lang ng pikeng profile para makakoha ng pira sa akin, Ma'am."

Napakurap si Rafaela. "What?" Nai-stress yata siya bigla! "Let me get this straight. Binigyan mo ng pera 'yong akala mong kano? Hindi ka man lang nakahalata?"

Humikbi ito. "Kase, Ma'am 'yong komare ko ba ang naging tolay naman ng akala kong boypren ko, Ma'am. Sabe ng pike kong boypren, oowi siya ng Pelipenas at may package daw, Ma'am na ibigay sa aken na epinaona na, Ma'am. Hendi raw mailabas ng airport sa Butuan kong hendi raw mabayaran 'yong one hundred thousand. Napeletan na lang ako magbayad kase sabe ni komare bayaran naman daw ni kano pagkarateng sa Pelipenas. Naloko man pala ako, Ma'am. Nagtago na ang komare ko."

Pakiramdam ni Rafaela ay umakyat lahat ng dugo sa kanyang ulo. Alam niya kung gaano katipid si Belen sa sarili. Pinag-iipunan nito ang pampagawa sa bahay ng mga magulang nito sa probinsya kaya kahit ayos naman ang sahod nito ay hindi maluho.

She knows Belen had saved up for that money for so long. Hindi siya makapaniwalang mismong kumare pa nito ang gagawa rito ng ganoon.

Rafaela massaged her temple when Belen started crying. Nafu-frustrate siya dahil hindi niya alam kung hihimasin ba niya ang likod nito, aabutan ng tissue, o sisigawan nang hindi na umiyak. God, she's so bad at this!

"Stop crying," she hissed but Belen cried even more. Napairap tuloy siya sa kawalan saka stress na stress na bumuntonghininga. "I said stop crying!" Hinawakan niya ito sa magkabilang braso at pinakatitigan sa mga mata. "You're gonna stop, you know why? Because you are better than them. Those . . . those pea-brained, probably jologs people who tricked you are nothing but a . . . a damn worm while you, you're a caterpillar."

Oh, God she's really bad at comforting people. Ano ba iyong mga pinagsasabi niya para lang mapatahan ito?

Suminghot si Belen. "Parihas man 'yon, Ma'am?"

"Of course, not! Have you seen an eewie worm transform into a butterfly? Na, uh. You? You are working so hard to change your life and the lives of the people you care about. You are far better than them so stop crying and let karma take care of those stupid worms, you got me?"

Nanginig ang ibaba nitong labi. "Piro 'yong pira ko, Ma'am. Malapet na mag-olan-olan sa amin."

"Then I'll give you a hundred k, gosh!" Binitiwan niya ito saka siya humugot ng matalim na hininga. "Now wipe your tears, okay because I am so bad at comforting people and comforting people is making me uncomfortable!" frustrated niyang sabi na nakapagpatawa kay Belen.

"Salamat, Ma'am. Ekaw talaga ang penakamabaet na amo sa mondo."

Inirapan niya ito. "Mabait, mabait. I'm not mabait? Bilisan mo na diyan at tulungan mo kong pumili ng isusuot ko para sa auction."

Pakunwari na lang niya itong sinungitan saka siya nagmartsa palabas ng kusina, ngunit nang masilip niyang hindi na ito umiiyak at umaliwalas na ang mukha ay tila may mainit na palad na humaplos sa puso ni Rafaela.

She smirked. Marunong naman pala siyang mag-comfort . . .

RAFAELA was starting to get bored at the auction where she was forced to attend because Geisler was somewhere busy f*****g God-knows-who. Pabor naman noong una sa kanya. She's getting showered by praises and attention until the auction began.

The spotlight was taken away from her beautiful dress and exquisite beauty, making her feel less interested with what's happening around her. Kaya naman nang hindi niya na talaga natagalan ang pagkabagot niya ay nagpasya siyang umalis muna sa hall at pumunta sa malawak na veranda kung saan pwede siyang magpahangin.

She held onto the railing and stared at the starry night sky. Hindi niya maalala ang huling beses na tiningala niya ang langit at pinagmasdan ang mga kumukuti-kutitap na bituin kaya naman tila masyado siyang na-focus sa pagmamasid sa kalangitan.

Hindi na niya tuloy namalayan ang paglapit ng pamilyar na bulto sa kanyang likuran. Napasinghap na lamang siya nang lumapat sa kanyang tagiliran ang mga palad ni Danrick habang ang mukha nito ay bumaba upang singhutin ang kanyang leeg.

"You smell so f*****g sweet, Ela," he said under his breath.

Nagwala ang dibdib ni Rafaela sa biglaang bugso ng mainit na pakiramdam sa kanyang sistema. She turned around and met Danrick's sleepy eyes that are staring back at her with so much admiration . . . and desire.

Lumunok siya habang nakasandal sa railing. "I told you, I don't wanna get into a controversy with you," pilit niyang sabi kahit tila nanlalambot ang mga tuhod niya dahil sa presensya ng presidente.

Danrick's lips curved for a meaningful smirk. "I know, but I also told you that you will never get into any scandal because when I move, I always . . . always move carefully."

She sighed. "If this is Geisler's way of getting rid of me--"

"Shh." He caressed her side with his thumb. "I don't wanna hear that name when I'm with you."

Lalo nitong pinaliit ang kanilang pagitan hanggang sa hinawakan na nito ang lower back niya para kabigin siya. Oh my goodness, she could feel the growing bulge inside his slacks right now, and Rafaela will lie if she's going to say that her throat didn't dry just by feeling how huge it is!

"R-Rick . . ." mahina niyang tawag habang nagsisimula nang mahirapang kontrolin ang umiinit niyang pakiramdam.

His eyes glistened with joy as if hearing her say his nickname makes his heart full. "When will you give me a chance, hmm? Sabi ko naman sa'yo, kahit gawin mo kong kabit ay hindi ako tatanggi."

"Knock it off--"

"I'm serious." He stared into her lips. "And I am getting more and more hungry for your lips each time you're pushing me away."

Bumigat ang mga talukap ni Rafaela nang gumapang ang nakatutupok na kiliti pababa ng kanyang katawan. It reached the part she knows should be forbidden for him to have access to, yet right now, it's throbbing like a cat in heat begging for a scratch from Danrick.

Sinubukan niyang umiwas ng tingin ngunit kinuha lamang ni Danrick ang pagkakataon upang ibaon ang mukha nito sa kanyang balikat. It was too late for Rafaela to push him away. His lips had already made contact with her heated skin, making her so weak and helpless as he kissed her on her neck.

"Let's get a room," he whispered against her ear before he suckled the soft part below her earlobe. "I'll give you the best f**k that'll make you ask for more . . ."

She wanted to say no and protest but her body had already betrayed her. Sumara ang kanyang mga mata at umalpas ang kanyang ungol nang madama niya ang palad nitong sumuot sa slit ng kanyang dress. His fingertips teased her throbbing flesh, making her lose her sanity with just a few stroke.

Para siyang biglang itinapon sa dagat-dagatang apoy dahil sa biglaang pagtindi ng init na tumutupok sa katinuan niya, kaya naman nang tuluyan siyang hinalikan ni Danrick sa mga labi ay wala na sa sarili siyang napakapit sa mga balikat ng binata.

"Ohh . . ." she moaned when Danrick tried to insert his finger inside her underwear.

She gasped when his fingertips made contact with her sensitive s*x. God, she's so wet for him and there's no more point in denying. Masyado nang huli para tumanggi dahil mismong katawan na niya ang nanghihingi na maibsan ang init na nararamdaman nito.

"R-Rick . . ." she called in a helpless tone while she struggles to keep her eyes from closing.

His lips curved for a meaningful smile. "Should we get a room now or I'm gonna have to f**k you right here?"

Nalunok na lamang ni Rafaela ang sarili niyang laway nang tuluyan siyang natalo ng init na ipinararamdam nito sa kanya. "L-Let's . . . get a room."

"Good girl." He pulled his hand out of her underwear then sucked his fingers while staring into her eyes. "I'm gonna rock you all night until you'll run out of strength to still mention your husband's name, baby. That's my damn oath to you . . ."