REASON 7: To be An Inspiration of Femininity
3784 Words
"OH? May lakad ka? Nakapang-bihis ka 'ata." Tanong ni Aling Aurora nang makapasok nang tuluyan sa bahay matapos mag-dinner sa labas kasama ang dalawang anak at si Rose.
"H-Huh? W-Wala po." Pilit na ngiti ni Avery sabay pasimpleng tiningnan ang mahinang pagsara ng pinto sa kwarto niya.
"Wow! Ganda damit natin ngayon 'ah!" Umikot si Rose sa kaniya sabay puna at dama sa damit. "Ganda ng tela..." Napalula ito sa tag na nakita sa may zipper. "C-Chanel?! Authentic Chanel to?!"
"Mahal 'yan 'ah." Komento ng ate niya na naglapag ng plastic bag sa mesa na lama'y mga sobrang pagkain. "I saw that in a magazine." As a former beauty queen, Avery's sister is fan of the up-to-date with fashion trends. "Nirampa 'yan sa isang fashion show."
Nagulat si Avery. 'ANAK NG--- Totoo?!' "O-Oh? T-Talaga?"
"Binili mo?" Tanong ng ina niya na umupo sa sofa at hinihilot ang paa.
"M-May nagbigay." Pilit na ngiti niya.
"Ate? May bisita ka?" Nakatingin sa labas ng bintana si Andro.
"H-Huh? Wa-Wala." Pinagpapawisan siya ng todo kaya kinuha niya ang twalya na nakasampay sa upuan at nagpunas sa leeg at noo.
"Eh, kaninong mamahaling sasakyan 'tong nakaparada sa may gate natin? Audi 'to." Puna ni Andro.
"A-Ano... s-sa kapitbahay siguro?" Panay niyang tingin sa kwarto niya sa second floor.
"Okay ka lang, Ava?" Tanong ni Andrea na kanina pa nahahalatang balisa ang kapatid.
"Uh-huh." Parang asong tango niya. "'D-Di pa ba kayo matutulog, Ma?"
"Busog pa kami, bes." Hinimas pa ng maskuladong bakla ang tiyan nito.
"I-I see." Ngumiti siya at umakyat sa hagdan. "M-Matutulog na po ako! G-Good night!"
Salubong ang kilay ni Andrea na nilingon si Rose na halata ring naguguluhan sa inasal ni Ava.
MAINGAT na sinara ni Avery ang pinto nang makapasok sa kwarto at dinikit ang noo doon sabay hinga ng malalim. "Hoo... okay--- " Paglingon niya'y sakto namang pinulot ni Isaac ang isang underwear niya na may Spongebob Squarepants print sa sahig. "Ano ba?!" Hablot niya sa damit-panloob mula sa daliri ni Isaac. "P-puwede ba?" Mahinang boses niyang itong pinandilatan.
Nilibot ng paningin ni Isaac ang paligid. "Your room is small."
"Pasensiya na po, mahal na hari. 'Di kami mayaman." Dinikit niya ang tainga sa pintuan baka may papa-akyat. Dadaan pa naman sa harapan ng kwarto niya si Andrea at ang ina niya para makapunta sa kani-kanilang kwarto.
"What now?" Tanong ni Isaac na hinubad ang coat at sinampay sa upuan ni Avery,
"Shhh!" Babala niya rito. "Y-You stay here until they go to sleep."
"I don't have a choice." Umupo ito sa kama at sinimulang hubarin ang sapatos.
"W-What are you doing?"
"Taking my clothes off? Chances are, dito ako matutulog or aakyatin ko ang puno sa labas ng bintana mo pababa. Which I think will be dangerous given that someone might see me -- especially those drink outside. I have no plans on experiencing sleeping on a jail. If you could convince your family to sleep early, I might have a good chance escaping." Sunod nitong hinubad ang kabilang sapatos at medyas. "Tsaka... nakakatulog ka talaga rito? Ang init." Sira ang mukha nitong lumingon sa bintana.
"Mahal na hari, tumalon ka nalang kaya sa labas ng bintana para pag namatay ka... mapunta ka sa langit. Doon maginaw---" Natigilan siya nang may biglang kumatok. Agad niya hinila si Isaac at pinatayo sa gilid ng pintuan para pagbukas ay makubli ito sa paningin. "Y-Yes?" tanong niya nang pagbuksan ang kumatok.
"Bes, pahiram ng unan." Si Rose. "Dito muna ako matutulog ah ---"
Papasok na sana ito ng hinarang ni Avery ang katawan niya sa daan. "T-Teka?! A-Anong dito?" 'P-Please... wag sana kaming mabuking....'
"Uh... dito sa kwarto mo matutulog? Ayoko doon sa kwarto ni Andro, iba amoy."
"B-Bes naman... kahit bakla ka, lalake ka pa rin."
"Sampal gusto mo?"
"T-Tsaka... a-ano..." Nag-isip pa siya ng excuse. "Hubad ako k-kung matulog." Paghahabi niya ng kasinungalingan.
"Yuck!" Diring sabi ni Rose. Kita naman ni Avery ang pagawang ng bibig ni Isaac hudyat na nagulat ito sa sinabi niya. "Pahiram na nga lang ng unan! Kadiri ka bes, ah! 'Di tayo talo."
"K-Kaya nga... teka..." Inisang hakbang lang ni Avery ang pagitan ng pinto at kama niya para kumuha ng unan. "Heto. Good night, bes. Mwah mwah tsup tsup!" Mabilis niyang sabi at sinara uli ang pinto sabay lock sa doorknob. Dinikit niya uli ang tainga sa pinto baka nakatayo pa sa harapan si Rose.
"Really?" Tanong ni Isaac. "Kaya pala nakakatulog ka rito kahit mainit kasi hubad ka matulog---"
"Oo. Problema?" Sarkastiko niyang sabi.
Isaac who bought the excuse, shakes his head. "Boy, this is gonna be a long night." He started un-buttoning his black shirt then removes his eyeglass.
"O-Oy..." Lumayo si Avery rito. "B-B'at ka ba naghuhubad?"
Isaac slips off from his shirt, exposing sweaty torso — abs and muscles and all. "God, Avery. Can't you feel it? It's so hot here. Parang oven ang kwarto"
Si Avery na naman ang parang timang na nakatitig sa katawan ni Isaac. 'Hot nga! Dios mio! Ano bang ginawa nito sa loob ng isang taon? Puro lang gym?! Parang hubad nga talaga akong matulog nito.'
Isaac's muscles are more defined in compare to the last time she saw him working out in the mansion last year. Gumagalaw ang mga ito sa kaliit-liitang galaw ni Isaac. Napatanga si Avery na tumingin sa malalaking braso nito at malalapad na balikat. 'Ano kaya pakiramdam makulong sa mga braso ---"
Isaac grins. "Free touch, babe."
Natauhan si Avery at inis na tiningnan si Isaac. "Mukha bang nakakatawa ang sitwasyon natin?"
"Your face is." Isaac started unbuckling his belt.
"T-Teka!" Sabay hawak ni Avery sa dalawang kamay nito na nasa sinturon. "P-Pati ba 'to?"
"I also sleep naked in given situations, Avery. Mainit ang kwarto mo. So you pick, I strip or I walk past your family in the living room?"
Napapikit nalang si Ava. 'STRIP!' Sigaw ng utak niya. "B-Baka matutulog na sila Mama, hintayin nalang natin ---" Napatingala nalang siya nang pinagtuloy ni Isaac ang patanggal ng sinturon tapos ang pantalon nito.
"I'm tired. I don't have the time to wait." He walks towards her bed then slid inside her sheets. "Good night."
Sumimangot siya. "Wag kang lalabas sa kumot, ah! Sasapakin talaga kita!" Amba pa niya sa kamao. "Talikod ka! Magbibihis ako ng pantulog!"
"Thought you sleep naked---"
"Nagbibiro lang kasi ako!"
Isaac rolled his eyes then turns his back on Avery.
"ISAAC? Gising ka pa?" Tanong ni Avery sa katabi matapos dumaan ang ilang oras. Tanging ilaw nalang ng street light ang nagbibigay liwanag sa loob ng kwarto niya. Dinig na dinig pa niya ang tawanan ng Ate Andrea niya at ni Rose sa sala. "Isaac?"
Tumihaya si Isaac at inunan ang mga braso sa ilalim ng ulo nito. "What?"
"Usap muna tayo. 'Di ako makatulog eh." Tumagilid siya para harapin ito.
"it's because you are thinking a lot of things. Bukas mo na 'yan isipin."
"May girlfriend ka na ba?" Diretso niyang tanong.
Napalingon si Isaac sa babae na kulang limang sentimetro ang layo ng kanilang mukha sa isa't-isa. "Wala."
"Pero nagka-girlfriend ka na?"
"Anong klaseng tanong ba 'yan?" Tatalikod na sana ulit si Isaac ng pigilan siya ni Avery sa braso.
"Sagutin mo muna ako."
"Oo. Okay?" Nakatihaya uli siya at nakatingala sa kisame.
"Sino ang mas minahal mo sa kanila?"
"Why are we talking about my relationships again?"
"Seryoso ako." She pouts.
"My first girlfriend. She was my first love as well." And that ex-girlfriend was Zoey.
"Tapos? Ba't hindi nag-work out?"
"She decided to study in New York. I was not ready for a long-distance relationship back then."
"Does it hurt?"
"What do you mean?" Tumagilid na rin si Isaac paharap kay Avery.
"Breaking up with her? Moving on without her?"
"Yeah. No break-ups are easy." He mutters under his breath as his eyes falls on Avery's lips.
"Pag sinagot ko ba si Liam, tapos di nag-work out... magagawa pa rin ba namin maging kaibigan? Kasi sabi mo nga mahirap."
Ewan ba't biglang nainis si Isaac. "Why? Did he already expresses his intent to court you? Have you thought about your answer?"
"Oo."
Isaac alert heightens. "Ano sagot mo sa kaniya?" Anytime now, he's ready to leave -- with or without people on the living room.
"Uhhh... di ko pa siya sinagot. He gave me time to think."
At ewan rin ba't nakaramdam ng kaginhawaan si Isaac sa sinabing iyon ng babae. "Okay."
"Sa totoo lang, di ko alam ano isasagot ko." Pag-amin ni Ava.
"Why?"
"Kung noon pa niya sana ako tinanong, walang segundo ko siyang sasagutin. Pero ba't gano'n? Nag-da-dalawang isip ako ngayon?" She meets his dark, brown eyes.
"Why?" Tanong uli ni Isaac.
Sumimangot si Avery. "'Di ko alam. The thought of having Liam as my boyfriend is nice, it's been my dream ever sicnce... pero mas matimbang sa akin na panatilihin ang pagkakaibigan namin --- Ewan! Gulo ko kausap no?"
"Matulog nalang tayo---" Tatalikod na sana si Isaac nang biglang nagsalita ulit si Avery.
"Isaac, are you avoiding me?"
Despite the dim light coming from the window, Isaac can see Avery's face near him. "I'm not."
"You are."
Huminga ng malalim si Isaac. "Because I might not stop myself from touching you, Avery. It might not just end there. Gaya nga ng sabi ko, lalaki ako. This... this set-up, sleeping beside you, takes a lot of effort for me to normalize..." 'Fuck.' "To normalize... m-my hormones." Namumulang amin ni Isaac. Then suddenly, he felt Avery's soft hands on his face. "Avery... stop teasing me." Puno ng control ang boses na sabi niya.
"I'm not." Avery is not teasing Isaac. She is just confirming the feelings she had been keeping awhile. She can't answer Liam because she has been experiencing conflicting feelings deep inside. She feels Isaac's nose and lips with her fingertips then to his jaw and Adam's apple.
Isaac compresses a groan. "Uhn..."
Her hand stops where his heart is beating.
Yes, Avery is afraid. Afraid that she knew very well what her answer to Liam will be. Babawiin na sana ni Avery ang kamay niya nang hawakan ito ni Isaac at hinalikan.
"Don't stop." His voice hoarse with desire.
Napatingin si Avery sa umaalab nitong mga mata. "I-Isaac."
In one swift move, Isaac moves atop of Avery, hovering her with his huge body. Only a thin sheet separating them from feeling each other's body. "I told you it doesn't end in touching, Avery."
Napapikit si Avery nang maramdam ang paglapat ng labi ni Isaac sa leeg niya. One hand trailing the inside of her leg, she shudders when Isaac drew circles on her shoulder with his tongue. She moans. "I-Isaac..."
Then his hand slips under her satin night gown to the side of her breast. She spreads her hands on Isaac's chest and it somehow added fuel to the burning fire of lust between them.
"Love... you'll be the death of me." He painfully whispers as he nibbles a skin on her shoulder.
Parang mababaliw si Avery sa nararamdaman na init sa katawan. Involuntarily, she grabs Isaac's hair and pulled him towards her for a kiss.
Isaac responded by parting her lips with his tongue. While tasting her sweet tongue, he holds the hem of Avery's night gown and pulls it up halfway exposing her soft body. He licks her belly button and upward, leaving wet kisses.
He wants to be inside her. He was about to reach her chest when someone knocked.
"Bes?" Boses ni Rose. "Nakalimutan kong manghiram ng kumot. Tulog na kasi si Nay Aurora."
Suddenly, both of them came to their senses.
Isaac pushes up away from her body and stared at Avery's wet lips from their wild kiss.
Avery, breathing heavily, licks her lips and looks away, blushing.
Aware of their position, Isaac drops his body beside her. "Fuck."
Avery releases a heavy sigh and notices Rose' shadow underneath the door's c***k disappeared.
What happened next is a deafening silence with heartbeats drumming in synchronized rhythm.
"Isaac, about what happen ---"
"Sleep, Avery." He shut down any attempts of talking any further by turning on his side against Avery.
AVERY shielded her eyes with her hand from the sunlight basking her room. "Ughh..." Naalala niya si Isaac. Agad niya nilingon ang tabi niya.
It was empty.
Tumayo siya at sinuot ang bathrobe. "s**t!" At mabilis na lumabas.
She finds her family on the living room talking to a stranger. "Mama?" Pababa siya sa hagdan at pinaglilipat ang tingin sa mga nag-uusap.
"Oh, Ate Avery!" Tawag ng nakangiting si Andro. "Tamang-tama! May naghahanap sa'yo!"
Tumayo ang isang babae na naka-business suit para salubungin si Avery. "Good morning, Miss Avery Lora. I'm Loren."
Kiming ngumiti si Avery at napatingin sa folder na nasa mesa. Nakalatag sa nakabukas na folder ang mga litratong niya.
TUMINGIN si Chesca sa wall clock sa lobby mula sa counter niya. "9AM na 'ah. May Skype conference siya ngayong 9:15 ---" Napaigtad siya sa kinauupuan niya nang pumasok ang kanina pa niyang hinahanap. "Good morning---"
"Coffee. Make it strong." Tanging sabi ni Isaac at agad rin na pumasok sa opisina.
"Huh? Nakatulog ba 'yon ng mabuti?" Puna niya. Tumayo siya at lumapit sa coffee maker sabay silip sa nakabukas na opisina ng amo. Halatang nangingitim ang ilalim ng mga mata nito at 'di pa halos nakasuklay ang 'always perfect' nitong buhok.
LIAM is in a meeting with Vladimir, Prima Nova's VP of Marketing and Zoey, Prima Nova's Corporate Relations Officer. "You want me to pose alongside a new female model for the lingerie line?" Tanong niya habang binabasa ang printed presentation.
"Yes." Sagot ni Vladimir.
"But I'll be travelling again next week. Sa makalawa pa balik ko. I can't cancel the tour since it has been postponed a lot of times." Turan niya sa meet-and-greet tour niya sa mga bansa sa Asia na ilang beses nang na-postpone dahil sa hiling niyang manatili muna sa Pilipinas para makasama ng matagal ang nag-iisang ina niya at pati na rin si Avery.
Ngumiti si Zoey.
'So this is the rumored fiancee.' Liam silently thought as he eyed the woman sitting across him. She exudes an air of authority. Imagining her standing beside The Man of the World, Isaac... She and Ice would make a great pair.
"Come on, Liam." Pagpipilit ni Vlad. "Spare us three days. Total, sa Thailand naman ang first stop mo. We have private planes fast enough to take you there."
"It will start on Wednesday, nakabili na ang ibang fans ng ticket sa event and you want me to move it on Sunday?" Angal niya.
Zoey reaches and re-assuringly holds Liam's hand. "As the Corporate Relations Officer, I'll handle the crowd management. That's my job."
Binawi ni Liam ang kamay niya. "What's this hype about the new female model, anyway?" Yesterday during a photo shoot, he heard two staffs talking about a new female model for their company and they were hoping that the candidate will accept the offer.
"Oh! You knew her very well." Tumayo si Zoey at umikot sa likod ni Liam. "And we need you to help us convincing her."
"What do you mean I know her --- " Gulat na nakatingin si Liam sa mga litrato na nilapag ni Vladimir sa harapan niya. "W-What's this, Vlad?"
"I need that girl for our new lingerie line." Tahasang sabi ni Vladimir.
Protective instincts aroused from Liam. "No."
"What?" Nabitin sa pag-upo si Vlad.
"Don't make me repeat myself, Vladimir." Delikado ang tono ni Liam na tiningnan ang lalake.
And in that instant, Vladimir saw a bit of Isaac on Liam's voice and face.
Napayuko rin si Zoey kay Liam. Tulad ni Vlad, nahalata rin iyon ni Zoey.
That commanding tone and vibe Liam just shown was definitely Isaac's.
NAPALINGON si Chesca sa gawi ng elevator nang tumunog ito hudyat na may paparating na tao. "Yes, may I help ---" Na-starstruck nalang siya nang lumapit si Liam sa counter niya. Kunot ang noo nito at nagsalubong ang mga kilay. "L-Liam. OMG... Ikaw nga! H-Hi!" She awkwardly waves her hand.
"Si Isaac?" Inis nitong tanong.
"I-Inside." Turo niya sa opisina ng amo. Natauhan siya nang mawala na sa harapan niya ang idol. "s**t! Harap-harapan ko siyang nakita! Wait, I-ma-My Day ko 'to sa f*******:!"
"ISAAC." Salubong ni Liam sa nakatayo at nakatalikod na CEO. May kausap ito sa cellphone.
Nilingon ni Isaac ito. "I'll call you back." Pamamaalam niya sa kausap sa kabilang linya. He then faces him. "Liam."
Liam slammed a folder on his glass table. "Tell those bastards to stay away from Avery!"
Isaac looked down on the photos being thrown outside the folder. He clenches his fist when he saw a photo of Avery smiling to little kids at the playschool she's been teaching. Also, there's a photo of her with a gay laughing while walking on a street.
A lot more candid photos taken. "When did they take these photos?" Kumuha siya ng isa at tiningnan.
"It doesn't matter!" Liam snaps. "Tell them to stop!"
Tiningnan ni Isaac ang pulang mukha ni Liam na halatang galit na galit. "I hate to break this to you, Liam. As much as I wanted to team up with you, it's gonna be our words against hers."
Natigilan si Liam. "What do you mean? You knew all along? Do you want to ruin ---"
"I just recently knew, okay? 'Yong kausap ko kanina ay ang secretary ni Vladimir na si Loren."
"And?"
Isaac removes his eyeglasses. "She just signed the contract."
"Holy shit." Liam curses.
"She called me to report the success proposal since she can't contact Zoey or Vladmir earlier."
"Because we're having a meeting..." Pikit-matang sambit ni Liam.
Napa-buntong hininga si Isaac. "She signed the contract, Liam. Voluntarily."
"Then do something about it!" Bulyaw ni Liam.
"It's a legally binding agreement!" Tumaas na rin ang boses ni Isaac. "Stipulated with her signature! I can't work around laws! Isa pa, walang ginawang masama sina Vladimir kasi ginawa lang nila ang trabaho nila. It just happens to be Avery!"
"Damn..." Tanging ungol ni Liam.
Nameywang si Isaac na tumingala sa kisame. "Plus, the contract is on its way to our Legal Department. She is compelled to do what's on the agreement."
"It's going to ruin Avery, Isaac! We both knew how messed up the entertainment world is! The scrutiny, the restless days and nights --- "
"Eh 'di sana naisip mo 'yon bago ka bumisita sa kaniya! You know you are prone to have paparazzi tailing you every where!"
"What?! Now it's my fault?!"
"Alam mo na bantay-sarado ka ng mga paparazzi! Kahit magbihis ka pa ng matanda, makikilala at makikilala ka pa rin nila! Have you ever thought about that?!"
Natigilan si Liam.
Isaac looked away and inhaled sharply. "There's nothing we can do about it. Avery signed it on her own will. Hindi siya pinilit at mas lalong 'di labag sa loob niya maging parte ng Prima Nova."
The heated exchange between them caused a heavy atmosphere in the office -- two guys are in bad temper worrying the welfare of a single woman.
AVERY was told by Olive that Liam is waiting for her. Walking to a secluded old park near the school, she saw him leaning on a tree looking far away. "Liam." Tawag niya rito. Lumingon si Liam sa kaniya. Puno ng hinanakit ang mukha nito. "Hulaan ko... alam mo na?"
"Why?" Hinarap siya nito.
Huminga ng malalim si Avery. "Dahil... gusto ko."
"Avery, you don't know what you're up to." Hinawakan ni Liam ang mga kamay niya. Nag-aalala ito ng husto sa kaniya.
"From following you most of the time back then, I somehow had an idea how my life will be if I ever get popular." Tumawa siya ng pahapyaw. "The late-night taping? The noisy fans? The public status?"
"I don't want you to get hurt."
Ngumiti si Avery sa kababata. "I can handle it. You're underestimating me too much, Liam." Yumuko ito. "Tsaka... andyan ka naman. To guide me? Right?"
Mahina at malungkot na tumango si Liam. "Every step."
"I just want to be an inspiration to girls and women of all ages."
"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"
Tumingin sa malayo si Avery. "Sooner or later, malalaman ng mga tao na... ang babae na nasa tabloids ngayon at ang babaeng tinakwil mo sa presscon noong nakaraang taon ay iisa -- "
"Avery--" Putol sana nito.
"Patapusin mo muna ako." She tightly holds his hand to re-assure him. "I wanted to be an inspiration to those who think they are not worth to be accepted in our society because of those physical standards. To those who think they are too dark, too ugly, too short... too fat to be one of us."
"You're not signing to be an ambassadress, Avery but a model--"
"What is the easiest way to do it? To pose. Picture says a thousand words, Liam and I want to grab that opportunity to tell and empower women that they could work hard and change for them to love themselves. To respect and to accept that no one is superior just because they are fair-skinned, tall or pretty."
"How about your job?" He plays Avery's fingers with his.
"I also bargained and laid out my conditions." She winks. "May napupulot rin akong aral sa'yo dati kung paano makipag-usap at makipagtawaran sa mga kondisyon."
Nakuha nang ngumiti ni Liam. "What did you propose?"
"I'll only work three times a day at ako rin ang pipili ng oras ko. They should also secure the perimeter around the kindergarten school so that the kids won't be disturbed with those... cunning paparazzi. Same goes with our house. I don't need a bodyguard and a car like they initially offered. Ano pa ba 'yon---"
'Di na natapos ni Avery ang sasabihin ng hinablot siya ni Liam at mahigpit na niyakap. "I'm sorry I got you involved." He buries his face on her neck.
"Huh?"
"Kung di sana ako bumisita ---
Niyakap ni Avery si Liam. "Ayan ka na naman. You're blaming yourself. Liam, everything happens for a reason and I believe, being a role model and sending out positive message to women is what I am supposed to do. Andito na'to, eh."
"Protect Princess Avery." Pag-uulit ni Liam sa palaging sinasabi ng mga batang estudyante ng mga babae at tiningnan si Avery sa mata.
Ngumiti si Avery at pinisil ang pinsgi ni Liam. "Ang ganda ko raw kasi." Hagikhik niya.
Napatawa nalang si Liam at pinisil ang dalawang pinsgi ni Avery. "You are."
[NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:]
Sinagot ni Liam ang kanina pang tumatawag sa cellphone niya. "Hello."
Attorney: "Hi, Mr. Torres. This is Atty. Buencamino. Mr. Elijah Miller's lawyer."
A/N: ⚈ ̫ ⚈ OY! Mag-vote. ⭐
- Writer
