MONTE COSTA SERIES 1: SHORE OF HEARTS

Kabanata 4

"Calm down. She's safe. Yeah, we're heading home now," dinig ni Teissa na sabi ni Armani sa phone.

Kausap nito ang ate Tammy niya. Mukhang nalaman na nito ang ginawa ni Dayne kaya ngayon ay galit na galit ito.

"Umuwi ka na rin. We'll file a case against him after letting your uncle know about this," dagdag pa ni Armani.

Teissa remained silent while sitting in the shotgun seat. Hinintay niyang matapos ang pag-uusap ng dalawa bago niya muling tiningnan si Armani.

Bumuntonghininga ito. "Your sister is so furious. Hindi naman natin masisisi. I'd throw that guy in jail the second I'd see him again."

Teissa swallowed the lump in her throat. "G-Gusto ko lang pong sabihin na . . . hindi ko ginusto ang nangyari."

Nilingon siya ni Armani habang nananatili ang isang palad nito sa manibela. "Of course. No one wants to be violated, Teissa."

She sighed. "S-Sinasabi ko lang kasi baka . . . baka iniisip mong ginusto kong s-sumama sa kanya roon sa madilim."

Armani touched his jaw. "I believe you, and I know you're not that kind of girl." He gave her a half smile. "I won't ever judge you."

Payak na ngumiti si Teissa. "P-Pasensya na talaga, ha? L-Lalo na sa nasabi ko kanina noong hinabol ka ni Islaw?"

Sinulyapan siya ni Armani habang may munting kurba sa mga labi nito. "I understand. Kahit sinong makakakita sa'kin kanina ay iba ang iisipin, but I promise you that Tammy and I didn't do the deed. We would never go that far as friends."

Sandaling humugot ng hininga si Teissa. "P-Pwede ko bang malaman kung . . . kung bakit may m-mantsa ng lipstick ang balat mo kanina?"

He gently nodded. "Your sister is trying to build her portfolio as a model. Argus refused to do the shoot because it was too sensual to him. Tammy promised that she'll treat you better if I'll do it instead so we setup the camera and all the lights inside the barn. If you wanna see the proofs, I had the entire shoot recorded in my phone."

Kinuha nito ang phone sa gear box at binuksan iyon. He accessed his gallery and then clicked on a video before he gave his phone to her. Teissa felt ashamed while watching it. Nahusgahan niya ito dahil lamang sa itsura nito kanina.

"Sorry," hiyang-hiya niyang sabi. Hindi na niya tinapos ang video dahil malinaw naman na ang lahat sa kanya ngayon.

Armani smiled. "What I have with your sister is just familial love, Teissa. No more, no less."

Nahihiya niya na lamang itong nginitian. "Naniniwala na po ako."

"Thank you," he said. His lips curved for a soft smile that Teissa could stare at forever. Baka kung hindi lamang sila nakarating kaagad sa hacienda ay tumagal pa ang titig niya sa munting ngiti ni Armani.

The car took a halt in front of their mansion. Tammy was outside with a furious expression on her pretty face.

"Get back in the car and tell me where the hell that motherfucker lives," asik ni Tammy.

Napalunok si Teissa. "Hindi na, ate. Sasabihin ko kina Tito Melchor para sila na lang--"

"I said get back in the car and tell me where he lives! Damn it!"

Napansin ni Teissa ang pagkislap ng mga luha sa mata nito. Tammy looks frustrated at the moment. Tila nanginginig sa sobrang galit habang nakatitig sa kanya.

No. Tammy wasn't angry at her. She's fuming mad at Dayne for what Dayne had done to her. Despite Tammy being harsh towards her, Tammy still cares, and that's what matters.

Teissa swallowed her fear and took a step forward. She hugged her sister and rested her chin on Tammy's shoulder. "Safe ako, ate. Kuya Armani got there on time."

Tammy's body froze. Hindi ito nakapagsalita o nakakilos ng ilang segundo. Kung hindi pa dumating sina Mang Ekong ay hindi pa ito matatauhan at kikilos.

Kumalas si Tammy sa pagkakayakap ni Teissa saka niya idinuro sina Mang Ekong pati na si Maia.

"Does Lolo pay you to let this happen?!"

"Ate, please--"

"Shut up, Teissa! Kargo ka nila! They should've looked after you. This wouldn't happen if they're doing their f*****g job!"

"Tammy!" Their uncle's voice thundered.

Galit itong nilingon ni Tammy. "Now, what tito? You want Teissa to go through what I've been through at the police station?"

Napakunot ng noo si Teissa. "Why? What happened?"

Tammy pursed her lips before she walked out. Binangga pa nito ang kanilang tiyuhin habang papasok sa loob ng mansyon.

Melchor sighed. "Teissa, get inside. Armani, follow me. Ikaw rin, Ekong."

Wala nang nagawa pa si Teissa kun'di ang sundin ang utos ng kanyang tiyuhin. She met Maia's puffy eyes while she's taking her steps towards the front door. Naawa tuloy siya rito. Siguradong sinisisi ngayon ni Maia ang sarili kung bakit iyon nangyari.

Teissa sighed as soon as she reached her room. Nahiga siya sa kama at tinitigan ang puting kisame. Ang bigat-bigat ng dibdib niya. Ang daming nadamay dahil lang hindi niya nagawang manlaban kay Dayne kanina. Kung sana kasi nakinig siya kina Clode at Armani, eh 'di hindi sana ito nangyari.

Ilang katok ang umagaw sa pansin ni Teissa makalipas ang halos kalahating oras. She stood up and went to the door to check who it was.

"Kuya Armani," tawag niya.

"Your uncle and I discussed about what happened. We have decided to take immediate actions already so we're gonna go to the police station now if you will agree."

"G-Gano'b ba?" She swallowed. "Uhm, s-sige."

"Sige, but . . ." Lumamlam ang mga mata nito kasabay ng pagbuntonghininga. "Teissa, the police officers might ask you questions that could offend you as a woman, but as much as you can, try not to let your emotions win."

She pursed her lips and gently nodded. "O-Okay po."

He sighed. Ilang sandali rin itong natahimik bago muling nagsalita. "Babalik na ako ng Manila bukas ng tanghali. We don't have any means of communication. Tammy said you don't like using gadgets but in case you will have your own phone soon, could you . . . give me updates about you? I just wanna make sure that you're always safe so I wouldn't worry that much when I'm in Manila."

Nagwala na naman ang mga paru-paro sa tiyan ni Teissa kahit na alam niya sa sariling hindi niya dapat lagyan ng kahulugan ang hiling nito. He sees her as a younger sister, right? Siguradong nag-aalala lamang ito sa kanya at natatakot na maulit ang nangyari kanina.

Humugot siya sandali ng hininga. "May ipon ako. Pwede akong . . . bumili ng phone at magpaturo kay Maia kung paano ba 'yon gamitin. Hindi ako bumibili kasi wala naman akong ibang kakausapin gamit 'yon pero kung . . ." Uminit ang pisngi niya. "Kung g-gusto mo akong makausap kapag . . . kapag nasa Manila ka na ay . . . bibili na ako."

Armani's eyes softened as his lips formed a gentle smile. "Thank you, Teissa. That would really mean a lot to me." He moistened his lower lip. "Tara. Baka hinihintay tayo ni Ninong."

Tumango na lamang siya bago tuluyang sumama kay Armani. Halatang gustong sumama ni Tammy ngunit pinigilan na ito ng kanilang tiyuhin. Baka raw kasi magwala ito sa police station oras na marinig ang mga tanong na ibabato kay Teissa.

"But, Tito--"

"Tammy, just listen to me," pasensyosong putol ng kanilang tiyuhin.

Halatang aangal pa si Tammy kaya hinawakan na ni Teissa ang kamay nito. "Kaya ko na, ate. Huwag ka nang mag-alala."

She saw Tammy pursed her lips as she looked away. Maya-maya ay tila peke itong nagtaray saka binawi ang kamay sa kanya. "Fine. Bahala kang magisa nang mag-isa kahit hindi mo naman ginusto 'yon," asik nito bago padabog na pumanhik ng hagdan.

Armani sighed. "Pabayaan mo na. Let's just go."

Tumango na lamang si Teissa saka na sumama kina Armani at Melchor. Sa sasakyan pa lang ay kabado na si Teissa ngunit paulit-ulit na sinabi ni Armani na wala siyang dapat ikatakot dahil wala siyang kasalanan.

They went to the police station and filed a case against Dayne. May mga tanong ang police officer na nakaka-offend naman talaga ngunit hindi nagpaapekto si Teissa. Pinanindigan niya ang sentimento niya at ipinakitang hindi niya ginusto ang nangyari.

Armani looked pissed. Nahalata na iyon ni Teissa habang tinatanong siya ng pulis sa loob ng istasyon. Mahigpit na nakaigting ang panga nito kaya nag-aalala tuloy si Teissa.

"Get in the car, sweetheart. I'll just talk to Officer Valdez," bilin ng kanyang tito Melchor.

Teissa nodded. Pinagbuksan naman siya ni Armani ng pinto sa backseat. Nang makasakay siya sa loob ay pumasok na rin ito sa shotgun seat.

Rinig ni Teissa ang bawat pagbuntonghininga ni Armani. Tila pilit nitong pinakakalma ang sarili dahil pinangungunahan ng galit.

Hindi na siya nakatiis. She moved a little and then gave Armani's shoulder a gentle squeeze. Nilingon naman siya nito. He gave her an assuring smile before he held her hand that's on his shoulder. Nagwala tuloy ang dibdib ni Teissa dahil sa simpleng pagpiga nito sa kanyang kamay.

"Hindi kita pwedeng maging kliyente sa korte, Teissa," biro nito.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "Bakit naman?"

Armani sighed. "Baka kung gano'n ka kausapin ng kalabang abogado, hamunin ko na lang ng suntukan dahil mapipikon ako. I didn't realize how thin my patience is until I saw you getting interrogated earlier. Muntik na kong magsabi ng objection kahit nasa police station palang tayo."

Natawa silang pareho ni Armani. Maya-maya ay nagtagpong muli ang kanilang tingin. Their laughter faded until Armani's lips formed a soft smile.

"I'll come back next week..." he said while staring into her eyes.

Sandaling lumunok si Teissa. "P-Promise?"

He offered his pinky to her. "I promise..."