Chain of Restrictions

Kabanata 15

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6:10 pm, Tahimik lang ako habang papunta kami sa bahay nina Jane. I've been so quiet to the point Mom and Dad are worried about me. Naawa naman ako sa kanila, I also hate it when I'm like this.

Naramdaman kong hinawakan ni Hugh ang kaliwa kong kamay habang nasa byahe. Pagod ko naman siyang nilingon.

What do you need, Hugh?

He didn't say anything but he just stared at my eyes, gray orbs filled with concerned. Umiwas ako ng tingin at mahinahong kinuha ang kamay ko mula sa kanyang pagkakahawak.

Again. If you want to say something, say it. 'Wag yung hahawakan mo lang ang kamay ko.

Dumating din kami sa bahay nina Jane. She also lived in a subdivision, where one looked at the houses ay malalaman mo na ang estado ng mga taong nakatira dito. The door opened and a woman on her 30's walked out, followed by the smiling Jane.

"Hello sa inyo! Thanks for coming to my house, to celebrate my birthday. I'm Jane's mom, Maribeth. You can call me Tita." She introduced with a big smile on her face. Bigla niyang hinawakan ang kaliwang kamay ni Hugh at masayang nginitian ito. Agad akong napatingin kay Jane as she happily looks at her Mom interacting with Hugh. Para talagang 'meet the parents'.

"Hijo, ikaw ba si Vaughn?" Tumango si Hugh but his face is emotionless. Malaki naman ang ngiti ni Tita at mahina niyang hinila si Hugh papasok ng bahay. Habang ako kay nanatili sa pwesto ko na nanunuod lamang sa nangyayari.

So, am I not welcome here?

With that thought ay tatalikod na sana ako ng may humatak sa kanang kamay ko, paharap sa kung sino. Nagitla naman ako nang makita ko ang mga mata ni Hugh na puno ng iba't-ibang klaseng emosyon.

What the f**k is that look for? Ano, takot siya na baka umayaw si Tita sa kanya? Ano naman ang kinalaman ko?

"Leigh, where are you going?" Saad niya habang malalim ang pagkakakunot ng kanyang nuo. Patago akong umirap and set aside my feelings for now. Birthday ng mama ng Jane niya. Dapat pa pogi points. Let's not be a f*****g hindrance.

Di ko siya sinagot at dire-diretsong naglakad sa kung nasaan si Tita. Jane and Tita smiled at me. Pero ang ngiti ni Tita ay nakita kong nauwi iyon sa ngiwi.

I knew it, I'm not welcome here. Ba't pa kasi ako sinama?

Tita then guided us where their living room is and made us sit. My phone made a sound, I checked, and it's the 'League of Bitches' group chat.

Katalina the sexy b***h: Si Vaughn lang ang ininvite ni Jane? How about Mika and I? Na kamember niya sa volleyball?

Dahlia the flirty b***h: @Katalina b***h it's freaking obvious that she only wants ma babe to come. She didn't even invite Dana. I think Hugh only insisted kaya kasama siya.

He insisted?

Napatingin naman ako kay Hugh, na nakatitig sa akin. Ang kanyang mga tingin ay mapanuri. Nahagip ng tingin ko ang kanyang labi as he sexily licked his bottom lip. Di ko napansin na napakagat labi na pala ako. When I looked back at his eyes, may iba siyang tingin habang nakatitig sa kagat-kagat kong labi.

My eyes widened when he slowly moved closer to me as his right thumb touched the bottom of my lips and undone it from my bite.

"Don't bite your lips, Leigh." He said in his deep voice as his hands moved on my lips, feeling it. My lips slightly parted as I felt how warm his thumb was. While his eyes are staring deep on my lips, napansin ko ang unti-unti niyang paglapit, and when I was about to close my eyes. Agad akong na pabalik sa aking huwisyo when I heard steps approaching. I immediately moved away from him and acted like nothing happened.

What the heck almost happened?

"Vaughn!" For the first time, I thanked her presence. Inangat ko ang tingin ko kay Jane as she happily sat beside Hugh. Napairap naman ako when she's smiling widely, kitang kita ang buong ngipin nito.

"Vaughn, Dana. Mom said that dinner's ready." Tumayo kami, nakaramdam ako ng sakit ng mahapdi na pumipintig ang aking puso. Jane happily held Hugh's left hand. They looked like a sweet couple. And I f*****g hate it.

Pero nakita ko ang pagbitiw ni Hugh sa kamay ni Jane as he saw me looking at their clasped hands. May kung ano sa kanyang tingin as he quickly went to me. I saw how he leaned, napatingin ako sa kanyang kanang kamay as I felt him held my left hand.

Nanlaki ang aking mata sa kanyang ginawa, but he only softly smiled at me. Hinila niya ako at nilagpasan namin si Jane, as we walked. Nakita ko naman ang pagkunot ng noo ni Jane habang nakatingin sa aming kamay na magkahawak. Sa ginawa ni Hugh ay may parte sa akin na masayang nagdiwang. I shouldn't be happy but damn, that felt great.

Tumigil si Hugh at kalmadong nilingon si Jane. Like he didn't just chose me instead of her. Umangat ang tingin ni Jane mula sa aming mga kamay papunta sa aking mga mata.

What are you looking at, b***h?

When she realized that we're waiting at her, ay mabilis siyang naglakad at kita ko na pilit ang kanyang mga ngiting ipinakita. As she guides us to their dining room, ay pigil na pigil kong kuhain ang aking kamay mula kay Hugh.

I'm happy that you somewhat chose me, but you just touched a filthy hand, Hugh. Tas hahawak ka sa akin? Wag ganyan.

Nang marating namin ang dining area ay nakita ko si Tita na masayang naghahanda sa lamesa kasama ang kanilang maid.

"Hija, Hijo. Take your seats." Saad ni Tita at bumalik sa kusina, upang kunin pa ang ibang putahe.

Nagulat naman ako when Hugh pulled a chair and suddenly looked at me. What is he doing? He waited until I got his message. Umupo ako sa upuan na kanyang hinila, he then pushed it. Nahagip ng tingin ko si Jane na blangkong nakatitig lang sa lamesa.

I felt Hugh sat on my left side. Napatingin ako sa kanya, he gently smiled at me when our eyes met. My eyes widened when he suddenly leaned, his right hand on the top rail of the chair.

Ano na namang paandar 'to? What's with him today?

"Are you hungry, Leigh?" Nanlaki ang aking mata at 'di sinasadyang napunta ang tingin ko kay Jane. I saw how Jane looked so shocked. Iniwas ko ang aking tingin when our eyes met, puno ng pagtatanong ang kanyang tingin. Gusto kong mapairap.

Ang panlalaki ng kanyang mga mata ang huli kong nakita, nang gamit ang kaliwang kamay ay ibinaling ni Hugh ang aking tingin sa kanya. His eyes are full of wonder as he waits for my answer. Di niya talaga alam ang salitang 'distance'.

"Hmm?" Before I can talked ay dumating si Tita. Mabilis naman akong lumayo mula sa kanyang hawak. He then properly sat down, but his eyes are still on me.

"Sorry for taking so long. Let's eat?" Bago kami kumain ay nagdasal muna kami. We then started eating.

"By the way, what's your name, Hija?" Napatigil ako sa pagkain, kinuha ko ang tissue na nasa gilid before answering her.

"Danaleigh Salvernon, po." Marespetong kong saad, I then continued eating. Nakita ko ang pagtaas ng kanang kilay ni Tita.

"Ka ano-ano mo si Vaughn, Hija?" Tanong ni Tita habang nagsisilid ng juice sa kanyang baso.

"We're siblings po." Napatigil naman si Tita, at puno ng interes akong tiningnan. She opened her mouth to say something but Hugh cut her off rudely.

"We're not related." Dinig na dinig ang pagkahulog ng kubyertos ni Jane sa sahig. Agad akong napatingin sa kanya, nagpupuyos ang kanyang matang nakatingin sa akin.

Di ka kasi nagtanong. Shookt ka tuloy.

"W-What? I don't understand." Nagtataka na saad ni Tita at buong atensyon kaming binalingan.

"It's a long story po." Naiilang kong saad. We don't really have the need to explain our story, because it's private.

"O-Okay." Awkward silence then filled the room. Except for Hugh na may gana pang lagyan ang plato ko ng ulam. What the heck?

"A-Anyways, Vaughn what do you think of my daughter, Jane?" Biglang tanong ni Tita. I badly wanted to raise my eyebrow when I noticed what she's doing but nah, nevermind. I don't want to disrespect an elderly.

"I just want to thank you for supporting my daughter, somewhat, because of you she's inspired to play and win. She even became the MVP of the intramurals game! Isn't that great?" Malakas na tumawa si Tita na dinig na dinig sa buong sulok ng hapagkainan. Di ko maiwasang masaktan when I remembered what happened that day.

"Mom, ano ka ba. You're embarrassing me. It was just because I was better than someone." Napaangat ang kilay ko kasabay ng pagtingin ko sa kanya. She's smirking at me, with a smug look on her face.

Is this a competition? Naging MVP lang siya, kung maka asta parang nanalo ng lotto. She should definitely know where her place is at. Between her and Dahlia, Dahlia is a much more competent rival. What a wanna be.

"She's fine po." Magalang na saad ni Hugh as he sips with his drink, eyes are fixated on my hand. Napatingin naman ako nakakuyom kong kamay. Agad kong kinalma ang sarili. He just catched me being emotionally unstable.

"Of course! Anak ko pa? Hijo, you should visit us more often. You're very welcomed here." Tita as she takes a bite. It's very obvious that she likes Hugh for Jane. I felt my heart clenched where I felt this discomfort on my stomach.

"E-Excuse me. Tita can I ask where your comfort room is?" I asked as I stood up. I saw Hugh on my peripheral vision, looking at me. Tita instructed me where it is. I then thanked her, at naglakad palabas ng hapagkainan habang ramdam pa rin ang titig ni Hugh.

Pumasok ako sa cr, and locked it. I went to the sink at tinitigan ang aking mukha. My eyes are full of emotions. Mixed together. Tama nga si Mika, mahirap talaga ang magselos. I can now finally admit that I like Hugh. Pero sa totoo lang, ang komplikado naman nito.

I checked myself on the mirror and went out. When I was about to turn to the hallway papuntang living room ay may marahas na humila sa aking kanang kamay. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang matulis nitong kuko na dumiin sa balat ko. Iritadong inangat ko ang aking tingin sa tanginang yawa. I was shocked when it was a furious Jane.

"Dana, sinadya mo bang hindi sabihin sa akin na di pala kayo magkadugo ni Vaughn?" Napaigik naman ako ng mas diniin niya ang kanyang kuko sa aking balat. b***h!

"Why would I do that? For what reason exactly, Jane?" Kalmadong tanong ko pero inside I want to pull her hair so bad. But that's beyond me.

"I don't know. Pero now that I know now na hindi pala kayo magkadugo. Be a good friend and stay the f**k away from him." Natawa ako nang mahina. Nagulat naman siya as she watched me laughed. At a glimpse, my face became emotionless. I seriously looked into her eyes as I removed her hold from me, at ma-pwersang tinulak ang kanyang kamay. That hand almost turn me into a filth. Delikado.

"And why would 'I' do that, hm? You don't have the right to make me stay away from him, Jane. Hugh and I live in the same house, and we know every little thing about each other. You know that I know, na wala kang laban sa akin. Now. How about 'you'... f****d off?" Irritation is evident on my 'aussie' accent but my face remains stoic. And as I walked past her, mahina ko siyang binangga sa balikat. Mahina naman itong napataaras. Makuha ka sa englishan.

"Thank you, Tita for having us. Jane." My lips had a victory smile as I looked at Jane. Jane just rolled her eyes at me. Kapag mga talunan talaga, ang pikunin.

"Sige, Hija. Hijo. Take care." Tumango kami at agad na sumakay sa sasakyan. On the way to our house, we are both dead silent. Nagpaparamdaman sa isa't-isa.

Pagbaba sa sasakyan ay umakyat agad ako sa aking kwarto. I tiredly sat on my bed. Tumayo ako at pupunta na sana sa aking closet para magbihis, when someone knocked. I checked the wall clock. 8:37 pm. Who is it? I opened the door, bago ko pa matingnan kung sino 'yon when someone barge in and close the door.

"Hugh? Bakit? Anong meron?" Takang tanong ko as he looked at me intently on my eyes.

"Let's talk."

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sshandi

After pasakit there's always a kilig. Rawr!