TAMED SERIES 3: RAFAEL AVILA

Kabanata 22

Caya

"Did you see one of Azul's employees?" Ginny grinned while we're walking towards the beach. "God, he's so hot!"

Hindi ko na kailangan pang tanungin kung sino ang tinutukoy niya. It's obviously Rafael. Dinner pa lang ay talagang nakatutok na ang mga mata ni Ginny kay Rafael. She even invited him to join us eat. Tumanggi lamang si Rafael. Siguro ay nahiya sa mga kasamahan na hindi naman inimbita ni Ginny.

"Look! There he is!" Ginny pointed Rafael who's standing by the beach. He's wearing a lifeguard shirt now. Seryoso ring nakatanaw sa mga kasamahan naming nauna nang nag-swimming.

Dumapo ang tingin sa amin ni Rafael. Or should I say, sa akin. Kaagad naman akong umiwas ng tingin, sinusuway ang lintik na mga paru-parong bigla-bigla na lang nabubuhay sa isang sulyap lamang niya.

"Oh, he's so handsome. I wonder why he's working here? I swear he deserves to be on the spotlight!" dagdag ni Ginny na hindi na mapigilan ang mapatulala kay Rafael.

I sighed. Yes, I know he's so handsome. Mas gumwapo pa nga ngayon pero hindi ako sasali sa kanilang usapan.

Yen, our friend who Ginny was talking to, turned to me. "What do you think, Caya? Is he cute?"

Bigla akong kinabahan dahil sigurado akong narinig ni Rafael iyon! He even kept his gaze on us as if he's waiting for my response!

My lips pursed as I took a silent breath. "He's okay but I've got better preference now," I said with confidence . . . and a little bit of bitterness.

Ginny smirked. "Yeah, we know that. Kaya nga ang hirap mong ireto! Mabuti na lang talaga naging love team kayo ni David kun'di baka hanggang ngayon kinukulit niya kami para lang maipakilala siya sa'yo."

Pinilit ko na lamang ngumiti. Thank goodness Astrid came and grabbed me by my arm. "Take off your robe and let's go for a swim," aniya. Halatang nakainom na.

"Have you been drinking?" I asked.

She smirked. "Yeah. Nag-serve sila ng Margarita. Nandoon ang iyo." She pointed the table that was placed near the shore.

Margarita. Napasulyap ako kay Rafael. Oh, no thank you.

"I'll pass. Ayaw kong magka-hangover." I removed my robe. Kinuha naman iyon ni Astrid ngunit nang makita ang sunod niyang ginawa ay namula nang husto ang aking mukha.

"Rafael, can you hold this for Caya, please?" she asked.

Namula ang aking mukha sa hiya nang pinasadahan ni Rafael ng tingin ang aking suot. Umigting ang kanyang panga at tila nahirapan siyang iiwas ang tingin nang kunin niya ang aking roba mula kay Astrid.

"Okay lang ba? Kung hindi, pwede ko namang ipahawak na lang kay David," Astrid asked him.

Rafael shook his head. "Ako na," seryoso niyang sagot bago ako muling sinulyapan.

My cheeks turned tomato red. Jesus, I've never been this conscious when wearing a bikini!

Astrid smirked then winked as soon as she turned to me. Hinatak niya na ako upang lumusong. Malamig ang tubig kaya paniguradong sandali lamang kaming maglulublob pero kung hindi aalis si Rafael, baka kahit sipunin ako ay hindi ako basta aahon!

"Astrid naman, eh. Bakit sa kanya mo ibinigay?" I whispered.

"Why? Haven't moved on yet?" she teased.

"Of course, I did!"

She laughed softly. "Then I see no problem with that."

Umikot ang aking mga mata. "Hindi ba pwedeng ayaw ko nang ma-associate sa kanya?"

"He will just hold your robe, Caya. It doesn't mean he's gonna talk to you. Chill. Enjoy, alright?" She splashed some water on me. Umirap na lamang ako't sinimulan nang lumangoy.

David swam towards us. Pumwesto siya sa aking likuran na tila inaalalayan ako.

"Hey, David!" Crude shouted while carrying his girlfriend on his shoulders. "Wanna wrestle?"

David smirked. "Sure." Tumingin siya sa akin. "Sakay ka sa balikat ko."

I was about to say no when I spotted Ginny talking to Rafael. Parang nabuhay nang husto ang irrational part ng isip ko kaya nagulat na lamang ako na nakasakay na ako sa mga balikat ni David. He walked towards Crude and Mylene. Everyone cheered as Mylene and I tried to push each other but I got distracted when I heard Ginny's scream.

"It's a crab!" Ginny shouted. Ngayon ay halos lumingkis na nang husto kay Rafael.

Napasimangot ako nang makitang nakayakap din ang mga braso ni Rafael kay Ginny. I didn't realize that Mylene was still up for the game. She managed to push me so David and I fell on the water as a large wave hit us.

Nahatak ako ng alon at napalayo sa grupo. I even struggled to swim towards the surface, but before I lost oxygen in my lungs, someone's familiar toned arm wrapped around my waist and dragged me towards the surface.

"Okay ka lang?" a familiar baritone voice asked that sent chills down my spine, waking up the stupid butterflies in my stomach.

Hindi ko nagawang kumibo nang mapagtantong yakap ako ni Rafael. Nagkatitigan kami habang pumapatak ang tubig mula sa nabasa niyang buhok. The small amount of light that illuminated the side of his face made him look even more gorgeous, and I hate myself for realizing that he still has the same effect on me.

I felt . . . suffocated with his presence. Tila kahit hindi ako lunurin ay nauubusan ako ng hininga. My heart was in total chaos, like a feral beast that begs to be tamed by the same man that made me guard it better.

Natitigan ko ang lumamlam niyang mga mata. Unti-unti, bumalik sa alaala ko kung paano akong umiyak habang hinahanap siya sa port noong bigla na lamang niya akong iniwan nang hindi nagpapaalam.

Umiwas ako ng tingin nang manikip na ang aking dibdib. "Let go of me."

Bumuntonghininga siya. "Caya—"

"I said let go, Rafael." Itinulak ko na siya saka ako lumangoy patungo sa pampang. Kinumusta ako ng mga kasama ko ngunit hindi ko na sila nagawa pang pansinin. I grabbed my robe and wore it before I started walking away. Ngunit bago pa ako nakabalik sa beach house ay narinig ko na ang pagtawag ng pamilyar na tinig.

"Caya, I was just trying to help you back there. If you felt offended—"

"I don't need your help," I said with so much bitterness. I was just trying to help him before, too but what did he do?

"Caya—" He tried to grab my arm but I pulled away. Tila napitik ang pasensya ko dahil namayani na ang mapapait na alaala sa aking isip.

"Will you please leave me alone? I don't want to see you nor talk to you even just for a second! I don't want you near me! I don't wanna feel your presence nor feel your touch!" I shouted.

Gumuhit ang lungkot sa mga mata niya. Bigla naman akong natauhan at napagtanto ang nasabi ko.

Rafael inhaled a sharp breath then took a step backwards. "Right. I . . . forgot we're not okay. Sorry." He continued taking his steps backwards. "Goodnight. Sorry for disturbing you," he said before he finally turned his back on me and walked away.

I pursed my lips and watched him leave. Nang hindi ko na kinaya pa ay nagmamadali akong pumasok ng beach house at isinara ang pinto. I sat on the sofa while staring at nowhere, my heart was breaking as if everything just happened yesterday.

Suminghot ako't mabilis na pinunasan ang aking mga luha. "No, Caya. You won't cry for that man again." I rubbed my chest. "Never ever . . . cry for that man again . . ."