One Five Three

Chapter Fourteen

I woke up at 8 in the morning because it's a Saturday and wala kaming pasok. Nagising ako sa mga katok sa pintuan ng aking kwarto. Ano kayang kailangan ni Nanay? When I opened the door, hindi si Nanay ang bumungad sa'kin kundi ang pinakaayaw kong makitang tao ngayon. Ang sabi ng reflexes ko ay pagsaraduhan siya ng pinto, kaya dali dali kong sinara iyon at inilock. Kitang kita ko ang ngiting nabubuo sa labi niya pagkasara ng pinto. Agggh!

I was wearing nothing underneath my thin strap sando at ang ikli ikli pa ng suot ko. Bakit siya pinapasok ni Nanay. I grabbed my towel at damit pamalit, kasi nasa labas pa ang CR namin. Pagbukas ko ng pinto andun pa rin siya.

"Good morning" he greeted me with a smile.

"Morning. Ligo lang ako" I said hastily.

After ko makapagligo at makapagbihis, nasa sala na siya kausap si Nanay. Pero nang lumapit ako ay bigla silang tumigil sa pagkwentuhan. Weird.

Shortly after that we bid Nanay goodbye. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Ito ang unang beses na pupunta ako sa bahay nila Shaun. It was an hour long ride from my place. It dawned on me na ang layo pala ng tinatravel pa niya pag hinahatid ako tuwing may evening class.

We have arrived on his place, isang mataas na gate ang bumungad sa amin. His house maybe considered a mansion. We had to travel pa from the gate papunta sa mismong bahay nila. We were greeted by their maids pagpasok namin sa entrance.

"Where's Mom?", he asked Mr. Jose, their butler.

"May emergency meeting daw po Senyorito. Baka po next week na ang balik niya."

"Thank you, Jose. By the way, this is Austine. Austine, this is our butler, Jose."

"Pleasure to meet you, sir"

"The pleasure is mine, Senyorita."

I shook his offering hand. Jose is I guess in his mid fifties but his body appears younger. Maybe it is because of his job.

Shaun led me to the living room. The area is so large parang buong bahay namin ay katumbas lng ng living room nila. The interior of the house was filled with white and a touch of gold and wood. Ang mga mwebles ay halatang mamahalin.

Wala naman masyadong gagawin pa kasi after lunch pa dw dadating ang makeup artist kasabay ng mga outfit namin. Ewan ko ba dito kung bakit sinundo ako ng maaga. Half of the day ay itinour niya lang ako sa mansion nila. Napakalaki nito gayong dalawa lang sila ng ina niya ang nakatira dito bukod sa mga kasambahay. He is also from a broken family, just like me. Divorced ang parents niya at siya ay naiwan sa kanyang ina.

May sarili din silang cook kaya naman doon na rin kami kumain ng tanghalian. I wonder kung anong ugali meron ang Mom niya. From the looks in her portrait sa sala, mukha siyang unapproachable.

The makeup artist, Dave, has arrived with his assistant. Dala rin nila ang mga outfit galing sa buotique na pagmamay -ari ng ina ni Shaun.

“Your skin is so healthy. Anong sikreto mo, teh?”, tanong niya sa’kin ng mag start na siya sa’kn.

“Prayers lang”, I joked

“I like you already! Mas papagandahin ko ikaw lalo. You will be the fairest of them all!” Then we laughed. Magaan siyang kasama, at di ko iniiexpect ‘yon.

I had a full glam make-up kasi dw gabi ang event and it suits my dress. Ang aking buhok ay ginawang messy bun din ngunit mas maganda ‘yon kesa sa ginawa ko kahapon. May mga frills din sa harap, framing my small face. I had to wear contacts, too, in a light brown color.

Proud na proud ang tingin sa’kin ni Dave, gandang ganda sa gawa niya. Maging ako ay humanga sa kanya.

“You’re breathtaking”, Shaun wisphered from behind he looks like he is hugging me now which made me froze in my spot. Nasa parking lot na kami ng school ngayon, mabuti na lang at medyo may kadiliman sa part namin at wala ring tao.

“Thank you”, I faced him, I can’t clearly see his face dahil sa dilim but it didn’t change the fact na sobrang gwapo niya ngayon in his brushed up hair.

“Parang nagsisisi na ako na pinilit kitang isama dito”,

Bakit niya naisip ‘yon? Mukha ba akong katawa tawa sa suot ko. I know, it was revealing pero siya naman pumili nito.

“Bakit?” I asked but the sadness is noticeable from my voice.

He looked like he’s in pain right now.

“Baka maagaw ka nila sa’kin”,

He looked so vulnerable habang pinoprocess ng utak ko ang sinabi niya ay bigla niya akong kinulong sa yakap niya. He smelled like fresh rain. His hug is so warm I can’t help it but to hug him back. His hands were in the small of my back and the next thing i knew was there was a tingling sensation in my collarbone as he tightened the hug. He bit and lick it, which made my knees weaken. Buti na lang at yakap niya ako kung hindi ay baka ako ay nahulog na sa kinatatayuan ko. I grabbed his shoulders for support. Nakikiliti ako sa ginagawa niya but he isn’t stopping and when he did it left a mark. A grin escaped from his mouth, feeling proud of what he did. He just marked me with a hickey right before the ball. I slapped his arm a little.

“Why did you do that?”

“I just want them to know that you’re mine.”

“Do you want me to go there in this state? Hindi na lang ako aattend” I said and mag wawalk out na sana.

“I’m sorry. Uhm, Here. You can use my coat.” He was now wearing his undershirt which is white long sleeve.

I rolled my eyes. Pero ipinatong niya sa akin iyon, grabbed my hand at hinila ako papuntang hall.

Everyone, was in shock nang makita kaming nakaholding hands papasok. By everyone, I mean si Katrina, her sister at si Angel.