Lies Written In Silk

Hindi ako makahinga. Kanina lang ay may selosan scene na parang teleserye sa hallway. Tapos ngayon naman ay papunta nako sa piano room with my heart sprinting like mall sale day. Hawak ko pa rin yung dusting cloth ko. Tanga levels. Sino ba namang magpupunta sa piano room na may dalang basahan? Sino paba? Ako lang talaga. Habang naglalakad ako, hindi ko mapigilang tumingin sa mga painting sa dingding. Lahat mukhang mamahalin at vintage na parang pamilya ni Sabine ay hindi lang old-money kundi ancient-money. Pero kahit sobrang yaman ng paligid, ang utak ko stuck sa isang sentence.. She’s mine. Kumikislot stomach ko just remembering it. Hindi ko alam kung matatakot ba ako o matutuwa. Or baka pareho. Pagdating ko sa piano room ay huminga muna ako nang malalim bago pumasok. Tahimik at malamlam ang ilaw. Yung windows nakabukas ng konti kaya may hangin na malamig. Amoy libro, polish at mamahaling perfume. yung tipo ng amoy na hindi mo mabibili sa department store. Yung amoy ni Sabine. Umupo ako sa piano bench, habang ang mga kamay ko ay nanginginig kaya pinatong ko na lang sa lap ko. I should not be nervous. Piano lesson lang naman ito at tuturuan lang niya naman ako. Mansion owner lang naman siya and Governor’s daughter lang naman. Beautiful as sin lang naman. Wala yun. Easy. "You're early." Para akong nalunod sa hangin. Paglingon ko ay nandoon siya habang nakasandal sa doorframe, arms crossed pero yung ngiti niya? hindi iritado kagaya kanina. Dangerous in a different way. Parang hunter na may nakita nang target. “Akala ko po late ako.” sabi ko while trying not to sound like kinakabahan ako sa loob ko. She walked towards me slowly and steady na parang bawat yapak may sinasabi na.. I want you. I see you. I will take my time. Umupo siya sa tabi ko. not even giving me one seat space. Sumiksik siya sa akin habang Nakahawak siya sa edge ng piano bench at sobrang lapit ng tuhod niya sa tuhod ko. “Relax, I’m not going to eat you.”she murmured. Weh? Sigurado ka? Kasi mukha kang gutom. “O-okay lang naman po ako.” bulong ko. She chuckled. yung low laugh niya na parang whiskey sa boses. “You’re shaking.” Hindi ako sumagot. Bakit? kailangan ko pa bang i-announce ang kaba ko sa mundo? Pwede bang i-cancel na yung nararamdaman ko? She touched my wrist lightly. “Slow. Breathe.” Hawak niya pulse ko literal na skin to skin. Ang init. Literal nanlamig kamay ko pero buong katawan ko nag-warm. “Sabine.. bakit po ninyo ako pina-punta dito?” She tilted her head and studying me. Then gently guided my hands sa piano keys. Fingers on top of mine. Like she was shaping me. “You want to learn, and I want to teach you.” she whispered. Her voice dropped even lower, breath brushing my cheek. “And I like watching you concentrate.” she added. W H A T. “Ha?” I croaked. She smirked softly. “You get this look. Innocent. Too pure.” her fingers slid over mine and slow. “Dangerous, really.” Ako? Dangerous? Girl please, kanin ang almusal ko. Tumawa siya nang mahina na parang nabasa niya iniisip ko. “Don’t underestimate yourself, Isabella.” Nag start siya mag-play. hindi fast piece pero soft melody. Yung tipong heartbreak song na pang finale ng isang tragic romance na hindi mo makalimutan sa buong buhay mo. She guided my fingers, body close as in too close. I could feel her shoulder and her hair brushing my cheek whenever she leaned in. Then, napansin ko. She wasn’t looking at the keys. She was looking.. at me. Like I was the music. “Ma’am bakit po—” “You have a distracting lips.” Nanigas ako. “A-ano po?!” She let out a low laugh. “You heard me.” I touched my lips unconsciously. then, she raised an eyebrow. “Don’t do that, you’ll make it worse.” she murmured. I swear tumigil ang t***k puso ko. Make what worse?! “S-sabine..” whisper ko kasi wala nang dignity. She looked straight at me, calm pero may apoy sa mga mata niya. “One day..” she breathed out, voice sinful silk. “You’ll sit on top of this piano while I worship you.” Halos malaglag ang kaluluwa ko. Tumulog ang piano sa utak ko. REWIND??? WHAT KIND OF LINE— “Pero hindi ngayon. you’re not ready.”she added, calm again, too calm. Hindi ko alam kung insulto ba yun or compliment or prophecy. “But you will be.” Habang pina-process ko pa sa utak ko ang lahat ay narinig namin biglang may kumatok. “Sabine? Dinner.” Celeste. Shet. Parang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig ang buong room. Sabine straightened while her expression switching like she flipped a switch from intimate to ice queen in one second. “Later." she whispered, voice so soft ako lang nakarinig. Then louder, cold. “Come in.” Pumasok si Celeste while arms crossed and smug expression. “Dinner. Tito's waiting.” Sabine didn’t stand. Hindi rin siya tumingin kay Celeste agad. Eyes still on me. Then, to Celeste. “She’s eating with me.” Napapitlag ako. “M-ma’am hindi na po—” Sabine cut me off without looking away. “No arguments.” Celeste's brows arched. “You’re getting bold.” “No, I’m claiming what’s mine.” Sabine replied quietly. Hindi ako makahinga. Hindi ako makagalaw. Para akong nanigas pero nag-lalagablab sa loob. Celeste rolled her eyes and smirking. “We’ll see who ends up with her.” Sabine’s voice turned lethal. “She already chose.” Tang ina sino ba pinipili ko? what is happening to my life— Celeste left, door closing sharply. Silence. Then slowly, Sabine turned to me. That softness again, the kind that kills you sweetly. “You don’t have to be scared of wanting something.” she murmured. “I didn’t say I—” “I can see it.” She leaned in. Closer. Close enough that I felt her breath. Hand cupping my jaw while her thumb brushing my lower lip. “Can I kiss you?” My whole body trembled. “I- I don’t—” She smiled but sad and dangerous, gentle all at once. “I’ll wait.” She uttered. “But don’t run from me.” She added. I nodded, barely breathing. “Hindi po ako tatakbo.” She stared at my lips once more. Then whispered. “Good girl.” And she kissed my cheek. Soft. Slow. Intentional. Pero yung impact? Parang bomba. She stood up while fixing her hair. “Come. I don’t like eating alone.” I followed her not because she ordered but because part of me already belonged to her.