Long Lusting Love

Chapter 3: Brat Sister

Brat Sister

I can't sleep. Hindi dahil sa kagigising ko lamang kung hindi dahil hindi talaga ako makakatulog sa lugar na ito. Hindi dahil hindi ito komportable kung hindi dahil hindi ako pwedeng manatili rito. I need to get back home now! Surely, my parents are looking for me. Not because they care for my sudden missing but because of the investors and clients!

Ilang buwan kong pinaghandaan ang araw na ito! This is the only way I can make my own name in the industry without having the name of my dear sister beside me. Pinaghandaan ko ang lahat para sa wala? Si Cassy ang dapat na nandito at hindi ako!

I knew it! Sinasabi ko na nga bang hindi dapat ako nagtiwala sa taong sinabi ni Ysabel! That stupid Rael! How dare he sabotage my plan? Makikita n'ya kapag nakaalis ako rito. He shouldn't making stupid things with me! Lalo na ngayon na higit pa sa buhay n'ya ang nawala sa akin!

"You need to bring me back home." I demanded sternly looking down to Rael's employer who is seating at the end of the long table of his dining room.

Isang beses lang s'yang sumulyap sa akin bago pinagpatuloy ang pagsalin ng alak sa baso. He lazily sipped on it, looking straight on the wall.

Excuse me? I deserve more attention than that stupid wall!

"I said bring me back or just let me go!" I slammed my hand on the table and winced in pain. I tried my best not to show him the pain I felt, though.

The front door is locked from the outside. Hindi ko alam kung paano kami makakalabas na dalawa rito pero alam kong alam ng lalaking ito kung paano.

Still, no response. Kung hindi ako persuasive na kausap o na-iintimadate lamang ako sa kanya kaya hindi s'ya natatakot sa akin katulad ng iba, ay hindi ko alam. I'm used to it. Kahit saan. Kahit nga tingnan ko lamang ay nababahag na ang buntot ng sinumang sinusubukan ang pasens'ya ko. Pero ang lalaking ito? It's either he's playing deaf here and muted or he's just really a moron!

"Look," I hissed. "If you didn't let me go until tomorrow, I'm gonna make sure myself you're gonna rot in jail for kidnapping me. This is purely a kidnapping!"

"Then do it." and he has the guts to answer me in that way. "File a case and I'll make mine. What you did is more than a criminal would do. Who would want to hire a man to r**e her own--"

"Well, it's obvious that that stupid Rael did not make his job well. Kaya kung anuman iyang binibintang mo ay balewala na rin--"

"And you're not a kid, Miss Ventura. I could tell them you came here yourself."

Umawang ang bibig ko sa sinabi n'ya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla akong kinabahan doon. That's a stupid threat he has there! That's really so stupid pero bakit pakiramdam ko ay paniniwalaan s'ya ng kahit na sino sa anumang sabihin n'ya?

"You can't lie in the court, Sir..." I calmly said, pulling the chair in front of me that adjacent to him and seating on it. Halata naman sa sinabi ko that I'm asking for his name pero hindi n'ya sinagot.

I absent-mindey put icecubes to his glass. He just watched me until I poured wine on it. I watched him too. Pinanood namin ang isa't isa habang dahan-dahan kong inilalapit sa bibig ko ang baso. I waited for him to stop me and grab the glass from me but he didn't. I sipped on the glass and slightly winced at the strong taste.

"Should I call you Mr. My-Sister's-Hero, then?" nagtaas ako ng kilay at ibinalik ang baso sa table. I don't feel like drinking pala ngayon. All I want and all I need to do is to think of a plan to get out of here.

"You still haven't thinking what you did is wrong." he stated what he has noticed.

Nagkibit-balikat ako at muling sinubukang tumikhim ng alak. Hindi ko naman masyadong pinag-iispan ang mga pinaggagawa ko sa buhay. Lalo na kung may maganda naman iyong naidudulot sa akin.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Wala iyong naidulot na maganda sa akin ngayon dahil sa pakikialam ng lalaking ito.

"It hasn't happening yet."

Bago pa ako muling makatikim ng alak ay inagaw na n'ya iyon sa akin. Masama ko s'yang tiningnan ng marahas n'ya iyong ibinagsak sa mesa, causing some to sputter on the table.

"Yet," he gritted out and narrowed his eyes on me. "You're not thinking of doing it again, Miss Ventura."

Umirap ako sa kawalan at sinubukang kunin ulit ang baso ngunit agad din n'yang inilayo. "If you have just let me go, I should have presented my report and have settled the deal now. Besides, my sister is already safe with you. But since you jailed me in here and I didn't make it to the meeting--"

"Let go of your stupidity, Miss Ventura." he firmly said, firmly as how his grip on my forearm is.

Ngumiwi ako sa sakit ng mas lalong humihigpit n'yang hawak sa tuwing nagpupumiglas ako. "Stupidity?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

Stupidity? Miss Ventura? Me? Kahit kaylan ay hindi ko naisip na madidikit ang pangalan ko sa salitang iyon!

"Let go of me!" I shouted to his face at hindi ako nagsisisi kung halos mabulag s'ya dahil sa alak na ibinuhos ko sa kanya.

Dahil naman doon ay binitawan n'ya ako kaya ayos lang.

"f**k!" he cursed and stood up. Lumabas s'ya ng dining room at dumiretso sa kusina.

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders. Muli kong sinalinan ng alak ang baso at kalmadong uminom doon. It's not really my fault. He's being too agressive. Kilala naman n'ya ako kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit n'ya ito ginagawa sa akin o kung bakit s'ya nakikialam sa issue naming magkapatid. Maybe he's a secret admirer of that dear Princess?

I'm sipping on the glass ng lumabas s'ya. His face is wet, and his eyes were nothing but all in anger. Hindi ko na dapat nilulunod ang sarili ko sa alak pero ang kabang nararamdaman ko ay halos hindi ko kayanin.

And I would die first before he ever knew I'm scared of him.

"You brat!" he pointed at me.

Bumuntong hininga ako bago tumayo.

I know. Iyan naman ang madalas na sinasabi sa akin ng mga tao. Hindi nila iyon sinasabi sa akin but I'm not stupid not to notice how they are looking at me.

"I'm done with this. You've already wasted enough of my time and enough is enough. Give me back my bag, I'll call our driver. You tell me too where the hell I am."

He tilted his head on his side, tila hindi makapaniwala na hindi talaga ako magpapatalo sa kanya. "And you think I don't have precious time wasting here?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako at tinalikuran s'ya bago pa man s'ya makalapit. Diretso ang lakad ko hanggang sa makarating ako sa sala. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako kinakabahan ng ganito sa tuwing lumalapit s'ya!

"I'll bring you back tomorrow night. The exact time you met up with Rael. But not now!"

"And why?" I shouted back and faced him. "Why not now? Surely, Cassy is already home. I need to explain myself to my dad. I need to get that project and I'm not going to let Cassy have it alone!

Really! Hindi talaga pwede!

"That's exactly the reason why you have to stay here for a while." he calmly said but the firmness of his words were never gone.

Mataman ko s'yang tiningnan. Sigurado akong namumula na ang mukha ko ngayon sa galit. At hindi ko na matandaan kung kaylan ako huling sumigaw ng ganito! This man! He's already getting into my nerves! Just how dare he?

"Are you her secret admirer?" I bitterly asked, don't know why. If he is, then be it. I don't care at all. He's not my type. A clingy and desperate guy! Huh!

"Better be her admirer than be her sibling like you." And he didn't exactly answer my question.

"Bring me back home!" I shouted annoyed by his answer, and I don't know why again! Maiksi lamang talaga ang pasens'ya ko pero hindi naman ako magwawala ng ganito kung galit ako. Usually ay kaya kong ihandle ang emotions ko, kaya bakit ganito ngayon? "I won't let you all sabotage me!"

"Sabotage you?" his tone is now again deadly. "Aren't you turning tables here? Isn't you who's sabotaging your own sister? You're a sick brat sister of her! So pathetic."

I did it, with all force his face forced to look on the other side. My chest is heaving. I want more. Gusto ko pa ulit s'yang sampalin ngunit pinili kong ikuyom na lamang ang mga kamao ko. I don't know him yet. He's a stranger at wala akong ideya kung anong kaya n'yang gawin sa akin ngayon dito. But still! Hindi pa rin ako nagsisisi na sinaktan ko s'ya.

"That's too much!" I pointed to him accusingly. My chest is pounding fast. "Masyado ka ng nakikialam. I don't care if you're her admirer or what! But you should learn on how to stick your nose alone on yours. Hindi iyong nanghihimasok ka sa problema ng pamilya namin. And you don't f*****g care if I payed all the exotic addicts out there just to r**e my own sister! If that makes her out my way then be--"

"Stop it!" he shouted so loud and pushed me on the door so hard.

Ngumiwi ako sa sakit ng aking likod, nanghihina ang mga tuhod ngunit bago pa ako tuluyang mapaluhod ay mariin n'yang hinawakan ang mga balikat ko, forcing me to stand on my own feet.

"Why don't you get it? Don't you really have even a little conscience inside of you? Whether she's your sister or not, you shouldn't be doing that to her or to anyone!" his right hand let go of my shoulder and held my head. He grip my hair so hard I forcefully looked up at him more, almost on the ceiling. "Clear your mind of all the jealousy and insecurities. Use your mind wisely!"

Hindi ako nagsalita. His grip on me is slowly losing. Hindi ako nag-iwas ng tingin. I don't know what kind of look I have right now but he suddenly became calm because of it.

Mariin s'yang napamura sa sarili bago ako tinalikuran. I almost fell on my knees but I tried my best not to. Narinig ko ang isang hikbi. Hindi ko alam kung saan iyon nanggaling. I instantly covered my mouth with my hand. Dahil doon ay nawala ang paghikbi. It's now muffled. Nang maramdaman ko ang mga luha ko ay hinayaan ko na ang sarili kong mapaupo. The only support I have is the door behind me.

I'm not crying. I'm not sobbing. I just can't. I don't have to. Ngunit hindi ko mapigilan. Pilit kong inaalala kung kailan ako huling umiyak ng ganito ngunit dahil na rin siguro sa haba ng panahon ay hindi ko na maalala. I'm always the tough and strong Catalina Ventura. Kaya hindi ko mantindihan kung bakit ako umiiyak ngayon. This man is nothing, no one. Kung bakit nasaktan ako sa mga sinabi n'ya na nagtrigger ng mga luha ko ay hindi ko talaga maintindihan! This so impossible, ridiculously impossible!

"I'm sorry," he grunted and faced me. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"I'm not scared of you." my voice shook. I'm not really scared of him. The hell! "Just get me out of here." nanghihinang sinabi ko at tinulungan ang sarili na makatayo.

"I can't. You can't. Tomorrow I promise."

"I don't need your f*****g promise! Bring me home!" sigaw ko ng muling naramdaman ang mga luha. I'm just annoyed of him. Right, iyon lang iyon. Hindi ako tinamaan sa sinabi n'ya, lalong hindi ako nasaktan dahil doon. Naiinis lang ako dahil ayaw n'ya akong paalisin dito. Paano kung nakuha na ni Cassy ang project na para sa akin?

Hinarap ko ang pinto at sinubukan iyong buksan pero ayaw pa rin talaga. Weakly, nilapitan ko ang telepono at kahit alam kong wala akong mapapala tulad kanina, sinubukan ko pa rin. But the line is still f*****g off, f**k!

This man! Ano bang pinagkaiba n'ya sa iba riyan? He's still a man with bones! Kung paano n'ya ito nagagawa sa akin? Hell, ask him yourself! Pero sigurado ako na lalaki pa rin s'ya. Kung admirer man s'ya ni Cassy, dapat ay s'ya ang kasama n'ya ngayon at hindi ako. Dapat ay hindi n'ya ako kinukulong dito. If I know, ginagawa n'ya lamang iyong dahilan just to get into me.

Nang muli ko s'yang hinarap ay nanonood s'ya sa akin. His face is deadly serious. Marahas kong pinunasan ang mga luha ko at tumayo ng maayos, determine to do everything just to get out of here; just to make the project mine.

"You can wait till tomorrow." he calmly said, watching me approaching him. "You have my words. I'll bring you back. I also have a busy life outside to even stay here for long."

Huminto ako sa harapan n'ya. My heart is beating so fast. Ngayong ramdam ko ang hininga n'ya ay mas lalong nagwawala ang puso ko. Never pa akong kinabahan ng ganito sa buong buhay ko. I am always so proud of myself that I know I can do anything I want to do. Regardless the fact that my sister is a constant hindrance to that.

"A-Are you married?" my voice stuttered but remain calm. Parehas na nagsalubong ang mga kilay namin sa sarili kong tanong. Agad akong umiling at mas inayos ang sarili. "Do you have a girlfriend? A flings? Are you single or what?"

Mas lalong nagsalubong ang kilay n'ya sa seryoso kong tanong. "W-What do you mean?"

Muli kong pinunasan ang posibleng luha sa mukha ko upang ipakita sa kanya na seryoso ako. Call me stupid. Iyon ang sinabi n'ya sa akin. Iyon ang tingin n'ya sa akin. Then I'm a stupid, for now. I'm sick, for now. Pero totoong gagawin ko ang lahat upang makaalis dito.

"Yes or no."

Nagtataka s'yang umiling. And that's enough. Hindi ko rin naman alam kung bakit ko pa iyon tinanong. Whether he's taken or not, my mind is already fixed to ever change it. Immediately and without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled his head down. His lips landed on mine. I instantly kissed him, remembering how Brent and I kiss when I'm both not and in the mood. When I'm in the mood to make out with him and not in the mood to think of the world.

His hands held my waist, both pushing and pulling me. Mas lalo kong nilaliman ang paghalik. How his body remains this warm in this cold room is beyond me. At tingin ko ay isa iyon sa dahilan kung bakit mas inilalapit ko ang sarili sa kanya. Kung may kinalaman din dito ang alak na ininom ko ay hindi ko pa masasabi sa ngayon. My mind is too clouded thinking of the way of escape here.

"Miss Ventura," he breath after successfully pushing me but his hand still on my waist and my arms still around his nape.

We're both breathing hard. Umiling ako sa kanya at muli s'yang hinalikan. I shook my head both because I don't want this kiss to stop and I eagerly wanted to get out of here.

"Just kiss me, Mister." I tell him breathlessly.

Masyadong malakas ang restraint n'ya and I can't let that to happen. Hindi ako pwedeng mapahiya rito. Slowly, my hand travelled down. He is a man I know. And I know exactly what their weakness is.

He groaned against my ear. Mariin n'yang hinawakan ang kamay ko ngunit hindi iyon tuluyang inalis. He's giving into me. He needs to give into me. Damn it!

"Miss Ventura," he sighed heavily.

Ngumisi na lamang ako ng suklian n'ya ang mga halik ko sa kanya. Halos hindi ako makahinga. Napasinghap ako ng buhatin n'ya ako at dinala sa kwartong katabi ng silid kung saan ako nagising kanina.

This is it. I'll let myself become stupid now. There's no turning back but surely, there's now a way out and back home.