Filling The Gentleman's Thirst (Filipino)

Chapter 8

Bakit dito? Nandito na ba si papa?"

Pagkababa ko ng sasakyan ay agad kong tinignan ang kabuuan ng malaking bahay na napipinturahan ng puti at asul. Sobrang laki rin talaga ng bahay ni papa, pwede na yatang tawagin na mansion. Malawak ang front yard at may fine trees na nakatayo sa paligid ng malaking gate.

May malaking fountain sa gitna ng daan papunta sa main door at garage ng bahay at agaw pansin na pavilion. Of course let's not forget the flowers. Mayaman talaga ang mommy ni Tristan at nadagdagan pa ng yaman ni papa. And honestly, their wealth is intimidating. Not to mention that Tristan Xander is the only legitimate heir of the family. Nandito lang ako para makihati.

"What do you mean why here? Don't you want to see dad?" Tristan questioned, closing the car's door and giving the car keys to their own valet.

"Hindi naman, akala ko kasi iuuwi mo ako sa apartment ko. Hapon na kasi, sa weekend ko pa balak bisitahin si papa."

"Pwede pa rin naman, sandali lang din naman tayo rito. Magpapaalam lang ako kay mommy."

"Magpapaalam?"

"Na sa apartment mo muna ako, 'di ba sinabi ko na kanina? Tulog pa yata kaluluwa mo nang sinabi ko 'yon."

"That's not it, I thought you were just kidding!"

"Well, I wasn't."

Sinalubong kami ng maid pagpasok sa bahay, unang bungad pa lang ay ang malaking family portrait na agad ang nakita ko. Nakakabit ito sa pinakagitna ng pader at napapagitnaan ng dalawang engrandeng hagdan. Sa itaas ay ang malaki at mamahaling chandelier. Hindi pa ako namangha ng ganito sa buong buhay ko.

Kahit nang naupo na kaming dalawa sa sofa, ang paningin ko ay kung saan-saan na nakakaabot. Ilang beses na rin naman akong pumunta rito pero hindi pa rin ako nagsasawang mamangha sa kabuuan ng bahay. Sa tanggapan pa lang nga kami.

"Are you hungry? Ipinaghanda nila tayo ng meryenda. Hindi pa dumarating sina mommy at daddy galing work, maybe an hour from now."

"Sure, nagugutom na rin talaga ako."

"I knew it," he said while chuckling.

Tumayo siya at inakbayan ako, iniyakap ko rin ang isang kamay sa likuran ng bewang niya. Ganun kaming dalawa papunta sa kusina pero nang nakita namin ang magandang babae na pababa ng hagdan ay bahagyang bumagal ang lakad niya.

If that's the girl Tristan was talking about back in my apartment, then now I know why he's so bothered that she wasn't charmed by him. The girl's beauty is divinely, I mean, I'm beautiful but she's just on a different level. She's very elegant and sophisticated, lean, tall, curvy, angelic face, looking very expensive, fashionable, and the air of sarcasm and mockery is with her as she descend in the red carpeted stairs.

Her long and wavy blond hair makes her look like a doll, her red shoes with cute laces shout for wealth and her pink dress make her appear quite powerful. Full of authority. Perhaps this is why he's saying she's stern.

Parang anghel nga ang mukha niya pero kung magtaas ng kilay sobrang taray rin. Ilang beses lumunok si Trist bago suminghap at tinignan ako.

"See? I told you, she's unfriendly. Inside and out."

"But she's beautiful, isn't she, brother?" I whispered, grinning.

"Hmm, sure she is but, I don't like spoiled brat. And she's still young for my likings."

"Choosy ka pa."

Nang tuluyang makababa ang babaeng hinihintay namin ay agad dumapo sa'kin ang namumungay na mata nito. Mas maganda rin talaga siya sa malapitan, para akong may kaharap na beauty queen or super model. Mas matangkad din siya sa'kin ng ilang inches.

Her skin is crystal clear, just really clear, snow white and her face is small. Heart shaped. She's an epitome of beauty and there's no doubt about it.

"Hey there, Selene. What's up?" Swear, I never heard Tristan this nervous. It's obvious on the way he spoke, he's calculating himself!

The girl named Selene arched her brows at him, averting her gaze to me, to my face and to where Tristan's hand is; in my shoulder. Then she rolled her eyes as she let go of an insulting smirk.

"Unfaithful brat, you bring another girl, huh? I see," sabi nito at mataray na binalingan ang kapatid ko habang nakakrus ang mga braso. "Nothing's up, anyway. How about you? Enjoying?"

I pressed my lips when her hostile gaze averted back at me. She scanned me from head to toe and heaved heavily, as if she noticed something in me that she didn't like. Tristan composed himself and confidently smiled at her, showing his pair of white teeth.

"I enjoy every day of my life, I have no time to be a sad boy and waste my time. Life's worth it."

"Okay, in short nothing's new. You've been telling me the same exact thing since last week and I'm tired of hearing it. Excuse me, Mr Immerson."

Selene waved her hands uninterestedly and turned her back on us, leaving me and Tristan in shocked. When she completely disappeared in thin air, my brother's frustrated sigh resurfaced. Napabitaw siya sa'kin at nasapo ang ulo.

"Did you see that? She's so rude. She asked and then showed me she's uninterested. She dared call me brat without realizing that, that's actually her."

I laughed at his misery and just pulled him to the dining. The long and well-decorated dining table fits perfectly in the center of the area with its twelve chairs and a bright chandelier above it. The wide window stayed open with the blue curtains tied aesthetically in each corner. The wind blew in, dancing the flowers in small pots near the windows.

Nakaramdam ako ng gutom nang makita inihandang meryenda ng maids. Tumakbo ako papunta sa mesa at pinaghahampas si Tristan sa excitement. Naupo kaming dalawa at masayang kumain, kinalimutan ko na ang hiya at kumain ng mabilis. Habang si Tristan ay walang reklamo at mabilis ring nilalantakan ang bawat dessert na makita.

"Ang kalat mo naman kumain, may mga icing ka pa ng cake sa labi," puna ko at inabot ang tissue sa gilid para bigyan siya.

"Wipe it for me," he ordered, prodding his lips.

Without further ado, I wiped his lips and face clean. But the jerk rubbed his fingers coated in icing in my face. Nauwi sa pisil ang pagpunas ko sa pisngi niya, pinandilatan ko siya ng mata pero tatawa-tawa lang siya. Inabot niya rin ang tissue'ng nasa gilid niya at pinunasan ang mukha ko habang ako ay kumain na ulit.

"Feed me that cake, that's my favorite," he said and opened his mouth.

Nangingiti ko siyang sinubuan ng maingat, sakto namang pumasok si Selene sa kusina at naabutan kaming gano'n. Dahil napalingon ako sa kaniya ay natapunan si Trist ng icing sa pisngi.

"Why so clumsy, hmm? Wipe it, wipe my face," my brother commanded, oblivious of Selene's presence.

Pero sinunod ko siya at hindi na pinansin ang malamig at matalim na titig ni Selene sa'min. Nang malinis ang pisngi ay uminom si Trist ng juice, hindi niya pa rin alam na papalapit si Selene sa'min. Saktong nakalapit na sa'min ang babae nang lumingon si Tristan sa kaniya kaya muntik ng mabilaukan ang kapatid ko.

His eyes slowly grew bigger when Selene passed by us, at dumiritso ito sa fridge saka kumuha ng maiinom. Nakasunod naman ang tingin ko kay Tristan na nakasunod sa bawat galaw ng babae. Pagkatapos uminom ni Selene ng malamig na tubig ay walang kurap kami nitong iniwan, hindi man lang tinapunan ng tingin ang katabi ko.

"Ibang klase, muntik ko ng maibuga ang iniinom ko sa gulat. Bakit naman biglang sumusulpot ang isang 'yon?" Saad niya at huminto na sa pagkain.

"I don't know, why don't you ask her later?"

"What for? There's no need for that. She will just be sarcastic on me and say what's wrong in going in the kitchen to drink water?"

"Alam mo na pala."

"Of course, ilang beses na ako niyan nabiktima."

Umalis na kami sa kusina at nanuod ng television sa sala, naabutan din namin si Selene na nanunuod ng TV mag-isa. Saglit lang kami nito tinapunan ng tingin bago walang emosyon na ibinalik sa harapan ang panginin. Hanggang dumating sina papa at asawa niya ay ganun kami. Tuwang-tuwa si papa nang makita ako, ang dami niya agad sinabi sa'kin. Ilang beses din akong kinamusta.

"Dito ka na matulog, Jedah. Pagabi na rin at mag-isa ka lang sa apartment mo."

"Palagi naman po akong mag-isa papa, saka sanay na po ako. Mababait naman po mga kapitbahay ko."

"Kahit na, we don't know your neighbors that well. I've been telling you this, move in here so I could love in peace without thinking of your safety."

He gently caressed my hair and sighed, he looks really bothered. His gray hairs lessened, maybe he dyed. He's got another layer of belly, thou. Tristan's mom also greeted me. She asked me random things. Mabait naman talaga si tita Tria, ayaw ko lang naman tumira rito sa bahay dahil nahihiya ako at pakiramdam ko, hindi talaga ako nababagay rito.

I am the reminder of my father's past love story, the reminder to tita Tria that dad loved another woman before her. Their love story was quite complicated and that's what I'm thinking. I'm just being considerate, it may be not a big deal anymore but this is how I treasure my late mother's undying and unrequited love for my father.

Yes, she loved him until her last breath. She was hopeless but she didn't stop loving him. That's the love I don't want to experience.

"Pwede naman po, kaso ngayong gabi lang dahil may gig ako bukas ng gabi. Kailangan kong sumipot kung hindi mamomoblema ang mga kasama ko."

"So you're still singing with that band?" Dad sighed, hindi naman siya against sa pagkanta ko pero wala siyang sinasabi tungkol dito. "Alright, but at least let your brother accompany you in that gig. Baka may mambastos sa'yo' ro'n."

"Then it's settled, Jedah will sleep here tonight. I'll ask the maids to ready your room," ani tita Tria at nakangiting tumayo para kausapin ang mga maid.

"Oh, anyway, nagkakilala na ba kayo ni Selene?" Pahabol ni papa at nilingon si Selene, na tahimik na kumakain ng hapunan.

Saglit tumigil si Selene sa pagkain at tinignan kami, matamis itong ngumiti at tumango kay papa. At least she's not rude to my father.

"I didn't know they're siblings, Tito. They were very sweet to each other, I thought they're best friends."

Best friends? For all I know, napagkamalan niya rin kaming mag-jowa ni Tristan kanina. Ngumiti na lang ako nang magtagpo ang panginin namin. Hindi ko inaasahang ngingiti rin siya kahit maliit lang. Mabait naman pala 'to.

Pagkatapos maghapunan ay saglit pa kaming nanuod ng television at nagkwentuhan, kahit antok na antok na ako sinubukan kong sumabay sa energy nila. Pero wala e, talo talaga ako kaya sa kalagitnaan ng tawanan nila ay pumuslit ako ng tulog. Patulog na ako nang naramdaman ko ang pagyugyog sa'kin ni Tristan kaya nagising ako.

And that's the thing I hate the most. Hindi ko sana papansinin si Trist pero narinig ko ang tawanan ni papa at tita Tria. Nakaramdam ako ng hiya kaya pinilit kong tumayo at pasuray-suray na umakyat sa hagdan.

"Ihahatid ko na dad, baka bumagsak. Sobrang napagod yata sa school kanina," that's Tristan's voice for sure. "Don't worry, she's doing good at school. No need to worry a bit, I'm here."

Nang makapasok sa kwarto ay diritso higa na agad ako, ilang minuto pa narinig kong bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto ko at naramdaman kong may nagkumot sa'kin. Nang bahagya kong imulat ang mata at nakita si Tristan na pinatay ang ilaw.

Nang sumunod na araw ay naging normal na sa'kin na iniiwasan ako ng mga kaklase ko. Bali-balita rin ang paglipat nina Rowen ng school, hindi na ako tinutukso ng mga kaklase ko at kahit sino. Naisip kong matagal na pala 'to nangyari, matagal na rin sanang natahimik ang buhay ko. Pero syempre hindi maiwasan ang tsismis. Alam kong may naiinis pa rin sa'kin, natatakot lang kay Tristan lalo pa't nalaman na ng iba na magkapatid kami.

But what's funny? Some girls say that our closeness is too much and that maybe, we've fallen into each other. And that's incest. I just wanna turn deaf in that issue, it's their opinion and they believe what they want to.

"Jedah, susunduin ka namin mamaya sa school mo para hindi ka na mahirapan mag-commute," Peter said on the other line of the call "Same resto-bar na kinantahan natin dati."

"We'll pick you up at four, for sure you have no class at that hour, right?" Ian seconded while slowly pressing the keyboard in front of him.

Habang ako ay kumakain ng snack at gumagawa ng assignment, tumatango lang ako sa kanila.

"Where are you? Rooftop? Look at the view, the blue sky looks magnificent," Ramz commented while lying on his stomach in his couch.

Tinignan ko ang likuran at doon lang napansin ang magandang asul na kalangitan. Kaya gustong-gusto ko rito sa rooftop dahil do'n.

"Yeah, it's magnificent."

"Take some photo, Jedah. Then send them to me, I'll post them on my IG. Matagal na akong walang maipost," saad ni Laurence na sinunod ko agad.

Nanghingi rin ang tatlo kaya binigyan ko sila lahat.

"Souvenir ba 'yan? Pakiramdam ko sikat ako at nanghihingi kayo ng private photos ko."

"Kapag naging sikat ka na, mas maganda sa pakiramdam, Jedah. Sisikat ka pa, sa galing mong 'yan? Ikaw ang aangat sa banda natin," nakangiting wika ni Peter.

"Hindi naman, syempre sama-sama tayo, ano ba kayo?"

Nang matapos ang klase ay saktong dumating sina Peter para sunduin ako, tinext ko na lang si Trist para malaman niyang aalis na ako. Pagdating sa resto-bar kung saan kami nag-perform last time ay saktong four-thirty. Matapos mag-set up ay nagsimula na kami, sa kalmadong tugtugin. Hindi pa tuluyang dumidilim pero iba na ang atmosphere sa loob. Madilim na at tanging mga ilaw lang ang nakatuon sa'min.

Kakasimula ko pa lang kumanta nang dumating si Tristan kasama si Ali, nakabihis na ang dalawa at parehong preskong-presko tignan. Agad silang nakuha ng atensyon lalo pa't nasa gitna ang mesa nila. Reserved table na pala 'yon.

I've never gone with the wind

Just let it flow

Let it take me where it wants to go

'til you opened the door

And there's so much more

I'd never seen it before

I was trying to fly

But I couldn't find wings

But you came along and you changed everything...

You lift my feet off the ground

Spin me around...

You make me crazier, crazier...

Feels like I'm falling and I

Am lost in your eyes

You make me crazier, crazier, crazier...

I smiled when my voice was soft enough to fit in the song, I got the attention of everyone. Especially Tristan...and Ali. His eyes are all on me, not minding the foods they ordered. I closed my eyes to have a quick break on seeing him, he looks ridiculously handsome when he's just sitting there. How could he be that attractive in white shirt, even without a smile on his lips and just so damn serious?

I watched from a distance as you

Made life your own,

Every sky was your own kind

Of blue and I wanted to know

How that would feel

And you made it so real

You showed me something

That I couldn't see

You opened my eyes and

You made me believe

You lift my feet off the ground

Spin me around...

You make me crazier, crazier...

Feels like I'm falling and I

Am lost in your eyes

You make me crazier, crazier, crazier...

Hindi ko matago ang ngiti nang habang kumakanta ako ay nakita ko siyang ngumiti sa'kin. Pumalakpak din siya bago uminom ng iced tea. Ilang minuto muna kaming hindi tumugmog para magpahinga, habang nasa itaas ng stage at nag-uusap sa sunod na gagawin ay may lalaking nagtaas ng kamay. Naagaw niya ang atensyon ng lahat kaya napatingin kami sa kaniya.

"Yes?" I asked politely.

The guy, maybe about as tall as Tristan smiled at me. Nakasuot ito ng blue faded jeans at black shirt, may hikaw sa kaliwang tainga at may kaunting tattoo sa braso.

"Can I sing with you? Just one song, you were just so good."

My smile widened, some customer cheers. Wala namang naging reklamo ang mga kasama ko kaya tumango na ako. Nakangiting umakyat sa stage ang lalaki, binigyan din siya ng sariling mic at upuan sa tabi ko.

"Thank you, I'm Blase by the way," pakilala niya at naglahad ng kamay.

"Hey, nice to meet you, Blase."

"My pleasure to sing with you, too. Jedah, right?"

"Yeah."

Pagtingin ko sa harapan, nakita ko agad ang magkasulubong na kilay mi Tristan habang nakatingin sa lalaki sa tabi ko. Hindi ko na lang pinansin, si Ali naman ay nasa katabi ko rin ang mga mata at seryusong-seryuso rin. Naiiling akong natawa sa reaksyon nila at ngingisi-ngising tinignan ang katabi ko.

"Alam mo ba 'tong kanta? Napagplanuhan na kasi namin," bulong ko sa katabi.

Nakangiti pa rin itong tumingin sa'kin at tumango. "Yeah, The Only One."

"Sige, mauna ka na."

"Sure. Kahit dapat ladies first."

Hindi ko inalis ang mata sa kaniya, may itsura siya kung titignan. Gwapo, sobra. Matangkad din at malakas ang dating. Kapag ito magaling din kumanta jojowain ko na 'to.

"If I'll like your performance, I'll invite you in our band," pahabol ko pero hindi na siya nakasagot dahil nagsimula na siyang kumanta.

Let me tell you now,

All that's on my mind.

Unang linya pa lang, napasigaw na ang manunuod sa ganda at lamig ng boses niya. Bumagay rin sa boses niya ang kanta lalo pa't version ni Reyne ang ginamit namin.

For a love like yours,

Is oh so very hard to find

I looked inside myself

Now I'm very sure

There can only be you for me

I need you more and more...

You, turned me inside out

And you showed me

What life was about

Only you

The only one that stole

My heart away

I wanna do all I can

Just to show you

Make you understand

Only you

The only one that stole

My heart away

Mas lalong lumakas ang tilian ng mga babaeng customer na kahit ako napangiti, sobrang ganda ng boses niya. I can imagine him singing with me in our gigs and the audience would like it more. I'm good but with him, we're better.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa, kinailangan ko pang humingang malalim para pakalmahin ang sarili sa sobrang pagkamangha. At pagharap ko, sa'kin na nakatingin sina Tristan at Ali na parehong seryuso.