Montepalma Series 2: Trapped by His Game

Kabanata 20

“Will you stop pacing back and forth?!” Gwen snapped.

Kinakabahan kasi si Maih dahil dadating ang Kuya niya rito sa mansyon. Actually, dumating na nga at kasama niya pa lang si Valdus at Hansen.

Nakita ko lang na may pumarada na sasakyan sa harapan. Mabilis na lang kami hinatak ni Maih patungo sa taas. Nandito kami ngayon sa kwarto niya.

"He is so strict and… uptight," Maih said nervously. "Actually, he is acting like Daddy but Daddy is not that strict. He wants me to enjoy my youth but my brother gets angry when I drink or party. And even when there is a man who wants to court me."

"Sounds like Ajax," Gwen responded. Humiga siya sa kama at pinatong ang kamay sa noo. "I really have a feeling that he—"

Maih cut her off. "Stop right there! No! He is my brother, Gwen!"

Parang nandidiri si Maih sa paratang ni Gwen sa pakikitungo ni Ajax kay Maih. Nakanguso lang ako habang pinapanood sila.

"Gosh… bakit ayaw mo maniwala?"

I cleared my throat. "What does she mean? Maybe he is being protective as your brother."

Narinig ko na humalakhak si Gwen. Mas lalo kumunot ang noo ko. Bakit? Tama naman ako ah? Gano'n naman halos karamihan na mga matatandang lalaki sa kanilang kapatid lalo na kung babae. I don't get her point.

"Mommy adopted me when I was a baby. Technically I am not really a Montepalma," Maih explained.

My eyes blinked. Napauwang ang labi ko habang sinipat ko si Gwen na nakangisi sa akin. Now it makes sense. Parang may namumuo na ideya sa utak ko.

"Yeah, I know what you're thinking about, Sianna. But still… it's incest!" Maih continued. Sumalpak siya sa kama at tinabunan niya iyong mukha niya ng unan. "Hays. Sana hindi ko siya makasama mamaya. Papagalitan niya lang ako."

"Pero ipapaakyat ni Ajax iyong gamit niya rito sa kwarto. Ayaw niyang hindi nawawalay sa'yo…" ani Gwen.

"For heaven's sake! Ang tanda ko na para bantayan niya. Nasasakal ako!"

Natigilan kaming lahat nang bigla bumukas iyong pintuan. Bumungad sa amin si Ajax na nakasuot na baby blue dress shirt with button-down and black trousers. He had a blank expression when he watched us.

Parang nanlumo si Maih at mas lalo niya tinago iyong mukha niya ng unan. Bumangon si Gwen habang bumubungisngis.

"How was your trip?" Gwen asked.

"It's fine," Ajax replied. He tilted his head while his dark eyes bore on Maih's direction. "And I really want to talk to her. Pwede ba?"

Humalakhak si Gwen. "Pwede. Pero huwag mo naman siya pagalitan."

"I'm her brother, Gwen." I can sense the exasperated tone through his baritone voice. "As a matter of fact, she is only eighteen years old."

"So? She is already in her legal age, Ajax!"

Ajax scoffed. "I have no time for this bullshit. I don't f*****g care."

Lumapit sa kaniya si Gwen habang nakataas ang nuo. Nakangisi ito habang ang dalawang kamay ay nasa bewang.

"If that's what you want… go. Always remember that the more you pull the leash on her, she will bite you."

"Bad influence ka lang sa kaniya, Gwen."

Inirapan na lang siya ni Gwen at hinala na patayo si Maih. She was pouting cutely. Nakaangat na ang kilay ni Ajax habang tinitingnan siya.

"I-I'm sorry…" Maih muttered.

Ajax clenched his jaw. "Later. We will talk alone."

Nilingon ako ni Maih at hinatak niya ako palapit kay Ajax. Kumabog naman ang puso ko sa sobrang kaba. Sobrang seryoso kasi ni Ajax, parang hindi mo magawang mabiro siya sa oras na ito.

"She is Sianna. Our new friend," Maih introduced. Pinulupot niya ang kamay sa braso ko. "Girlfriend siya ni Damon."

Kumunot noo ni Ajax. "Huh? Damon?"

"Oo nga! Si Damon!" Nilalakihan siya ng mata ni Gwen na parang may sinasabi siya sa pamamagitan ng tingin niya. "Huwag ka na magtanong. Basta siya iyong girlfriend ni Damon."

"Uh, hello. Nice to meet you." Nilahad ko iyong kamay ko at tinanggap niya naman iyon. He looks so confused.

"Likewise…" Binaling niya ang tingin sa dalawa. Parang ang dami niya gusto tanungin pero hindi niya magawa sa harapan ko. "Anyway… I want to talk to her now. Kung pwede ba sa inyo."

"A-Ah sige! Tara na nga, Sianna!" si Gwen na namumutla ngayon parang natauhan siya sa sinabi ni Ajax. Kinuha niya iyong kamay ko at hinatak na ako palabas ng kwarto nila.

Lumingon pa ako kasi parang may kakaiba sa kinikilos nila. Lalo na parang nalito pa si Ajax sa sinabi nila. Sinarado na ni Ajax iyong pintuan kaya bumuntong-hininga na lang ako.

What the hell was that?

It's already five-thirty o'clock. Kanina ko pa hinahanap si Nik pero wala siya sa kwarto. Siguro nasa dagat lang iyon para mag relax.

Hindi nga ako nagkamali na makita ko siya roon. He was not wearing any shirts, he was just wearing a beige board short. Nakaupo siya sa buhangin habang may hawak siyang henessy sa kaniyang kamay.

Nakatayo lang ako sa malayo parang nag aalinlangan kung gagambalain ko ba siya. Para kasing may malalim siyang iniisip habang nakatingin sa sunset. The sky is already colored pink and orange.

Kalaunan ay napagdesisyon ko na lumapit sa kaniya. Sobrang lakas ng hangin habang pinapakinggan ang dagat na humahampas sa baybayin.

"Nik," I called.

Dahan-dahan siya lumingon sa akin. His dark messy hair is dancing because of the wind. His jaw was clenching and his eyes were dark and mysterious.

Naglakad na ako palapit sa kaniya at umupo ako sa tabi niya. Nag indian sit ako at hinilig ko iyong ulo ko sa braso niya. Grabe… I feel I'm at peace.

"What are you doing here? Alone?" I asked, curiously. "May problema ka ba?".

"Mmm. Wala naman. Marami lang iniisip," he responded. Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na hininga. "There are a lot of battles happening inside of my head. It is a disaster."

Napanguso ako. "We may not be a real couple, but I could be your friend if you want to get something off your chest. It's hard to sleep when you are carrying something heavy in your chest. Just spill it out. I will listen."

Ininom niya iyong henessy at tumingala habang nakapikit. Pinapanood ko lang siya hanggang sa tiningnan niya ako sa mata.

"Everyone was so jealous that I was born as a Montepalma. I mean… masaya naman maging parte ng pamilya ng Montepalma dahil mayaman ang pamilya namin sa Pinas at sa buong asya. People always see the rainbows in the picture, but once they take a peek through the curtains, they will realize that they are so lucky…

"My parents are divorced. My mother is a French citizen and my father is a pure Filipino. My father was kind of violent towards my mother but he loves her. I really don't understand the concept of love from him. If he really loves my mother, he will not beat her like a punching bag. Every night… I always go to their room to check out my Mom.

Napapikit siya ng mariin habang inaalala niya ang nangyayari sa nakaraan niya. Hinaplos ko iyong braso niya para kumalma siya.

"I saw how my father choked her. That's the reason why she often has bruises on her arms and legs. Pero ang masakit ay ayaw niya iwan si Dad kasi gusto niya kami bigyan ng buong pamilya. She is so selfless, thus I really adore her as a mother and as a woman. For me, she is so brave. But my grandmother wants to take us from our violent father. Ayaw ng Lolo ko sa France na tumira pa rito si Mom. Kaya nag divorced na talaga siya. I stayed with my mother, that is why I studied in France.

"It was not easy, though. The past is always hunting me. It was like… pinaparusahan ako sa ginawa ni Dad kay Mom. He is like a dangerous beast and an untouchable business man. And now… my mother is suffering from heart disease. They still have communication because my father wants to see me. But he admitted that he still loves her and he regrets everything."

Mapait siya ngumiti at napansin ko na namumula iyong mata niya. Pinahid niya iyong mata niya kasi naluluha na siya. Ngayon ko lang siya nakita na naging mahina.

Family can break our hearts.

"I'm sorry you have a rough past. Tulad ng Mom mo, you are also brave for conquering all the obstacles in your life. I'm glad you opened up to me. I will always be here for you," I cooed.

He huffed. "That's why I always respect women. I don't want to be like my father who is an asshole and has a lot of money. f**k him."

"Even without your father… you have your cousin who will be there for you, Nik."

"I know, baby…" Napalunok siya at nilingon niya ako. Umiigting ang panga niya. "And it sucks to be someone's shadow. It sucks… always."

Biglang kumunot iyong noo ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya. Mabilis siya umiwas ng tingin sa akin parang natauhan siya sa kaniyang sinabi.

What does he mean? To be someone's shadow?

He licked his lips. "Enough about my life. I wanna hear yours."

"Mine?" Tinuro ko pa iyong sarili ko. Niyakap ko iyong tuhod ko at pinatong ko iyong baba sa tuhod. "Wala naman maayos nangyari sa buhay ko nang mawala si Mom sa amin ni Dad."

"Maybe I was lucky that my parents are still alive."

"Nah…" I shook my head in disapproval. "Your parents might be alive but the fact that your father is being an asshole to your mother is not lucky, Nik."

He stifled his smile. "How do I deserve a woman like you?"

Iniwas ko iyong tingin ko. Kahit nagsasabihan kami ng nararamdaman namin at ang nakaraan namin ay kinilig ako sa kaniyang sinabi. Damn it.

"Shut up…" I rolled my eyes. Siniko ko siya sa tagiliran dahil nakangisi na siya at wala na iyong lungkot sa mukha niya.

"But, seriously… thank you for listening to my f*****g rants. Grabe, bawas pagiging cool nito kasi umiyak ako," he chortled.

I snorted. "Hindi nababawasan ang pagiging cool o p*********i niyo kung umiyak kayo. You are also a human being. Even though society stated you, as a man, to have a steel heart in order to be strong to everyone because you are a man. A real man also cries, okay? Shut up…"

Umuwang ang labi niya. Pero nakikita pa rin iyong tuwa at paghanga sa kaniyang mata. s**t. Am I being nosy?

"I don't know what to say…"

Napapikit ako. "I'm sorry. Dami kong sinabi."

"No, no, no, no… you were right. And it's alright. I'm your friend and your…" he paused. Binasa niya iyong labi niya. "Boyfriend…"

Nanahimik kami bigla habang nakatingin sa isa't-isa. Hanggang sa bigla kaming nagtawanan at pinanood na lang iyong sunset nang magkasama.

Is it okay to feel home to a person?

Ilang araw na lumipas at may tatlong araw na lang kami natitira. Hindi na nga namin namamalayan sa sobrang bilis ng oras.

Sa bakasyon na ito ay mas lalo kami naging close ni Nik. Mas lalo ko siya nakilala at paano ko na appreciate iyong flaws niya. He is just a human being after all.

Kaming dalawa lang ni Nik na nandito sa swimming pool. Nakasuot akong oversized white t-shirt at black two piece underneath.

Tumitili ako nang magpanggap si Nik bilang pating. Sinusubukan ko lumangoy palayo sa kaniya pero hinuli niya iyong binti ko.

Hinila niya ako sa ilalim ng swimming pool. Pero nauubusan na ako ng hininga dahil hindi ako ka agad naka hinga ng maayos. He pulled my nape and we kissed underneath the pool.

My eyes widened when I felt him giving me his oxygen through his mouth. Pinulupot niya iyong kamay sa bewang ko at mas lalo niya ako nilapit sa kaniya.

Nakakahinga na ako ngayon sa ilalim ng tubig na matagal. We share our breath. We embrace each other.

Kapagkuwan ay umahon na rin kaming dalawa. Halos habulin ko iyong hininga ko. Lumangoy siya papunta sa gilid at pinunasan niya ang mukha ng towel.

The hell. He was kissing me in the water!

"I thought I was gonna lose my breath!" I hissed.

He laughed. "But it was hell of an experience. Alam kong masaya ka naman."

I rolled my eyes. Pero sa loob-loob ko ay natutuwa ako sa nangyari sa amin. I never experienced kissing someone in the water. And he gave me unforgettable memories.

"Come here, you sneaky shark!"

Lumangoy ako papunta sa kaniya at siya naman ngayon ang nagpapahabol. Halatang sanay siya lumangoy kaya hindi ko siya mahabol kasi ang bilis niya lumayo sa akin. Ang daya!

Nang maka ahon siya ay nasa kabilang dulo. He wiggled his eyebrows at me. Napanguso ako kasi hindi ko siya mahabol.

"Come and get me!" he snickered.