WICKED KISSES: Madness of Wanting Her

PICTURES

Malcom Vargaz

SANTIAGO’s houses are like a home, we hang out and go there anytime we want. We are always welcome like family. My family are not blood related to them, but for all of us, we are all family. We treat each other as family. But there is one unwritten rule that I know they are secretly talking to my parents. At sa iba pang pamilya katulad ng Ramirez at Vergano.

Nilapitan kami ni Stanley at niyakap, he looks youthful with even skin tone. Hair is a bit untidy, but it suits him well. Silang dalawang kambal ay parehong may karisma ang dating, the intimidating look and movements that show natural confidence.

“How is our London Boy?” Rive casually greeted.

Nakikita ko na ang court pero walang naglalaro. We are in their backyard and I didn’t expect that Stanley would bring alcohol right away. Nakaupo man ako ay panay ang baling ko sa loob ng bahay.

“Mom and Dad are touring in Europe. They are comfortable leaving us here, bumibisita naman sina Lola at Lolo.”

Sanay naman na kaming uminom, pero mas bata sa amin itong si Stanley. But I guess studying abroad also affected his lifestyle and brought significant change to it. Liberated and open. Which I guess he adapted over time.

“Si Garreth?” hindi ko na napigilang magtanong.

Napabaling sa akin si Stanley at napakunot ng nuo.

“Hindi pa ba yun tapos? He was taking a shower, got sweaty from our game.”

“Nasaan siya?” kunwaring sumilip ako sa loob ng bahay.

“Mei’s room, nandun daw yung damit at mga gamit niya.”

Mabilis bumalik ang atensyon niya sa dalawa matapos kong manahimik. Stanley started talking about women in London, which he openly talks about it which quiet stunned me on his age. High school pa lang ito, younger. We are also in high school, but at a senior level.

“Ang tagal naman?” puna ko na kaya napatayo na ako. Sinulyapan lang ako ni Stanley nung umalis ako at pumasok sa bahay nila. Like I have said, this is not unusual anymore. We go in and out of this house. Like real family.

Umakyat ako ng malaki at mahabang hagdan nila hanggang sa makita ang pintuan ng kuwarto nito. Nakaawang ng kaunti at naririnig ko na ang halakhak niya sa loob.

One f*****g rule that is not explicitly tackled, but we are all well warned and aware of it. Tito Stanfield is very protective when it comes to Meira. She is surrounded by boys as she grows up. Walang magawa roon si Tito Stanfield dahil magkakaibigan ang mga magulang namin. The only thing he can do to prevent something from happening is to ensure that Mei is treated like a sister by the boys.

No one will touch her. In this so-called family that we grew up in, she is prohibited. A strong warning sign. Hindi ito napag-uusapan pero lahat yata kami ay alam yan. I have a sister, Prima, and we are not worried about her being surrounded by boys, with our friends. Because she is different, she is calm, she has boundaries, and she is a feminist who only likes to be with girls.

Unlike Meira, who also adapted to the behaviour of the boys. Dating here, dating there. Boys here, boys there. She is… she is difficult. She has intense curiosity and emotion towards men. She clung to every fleeting brush of romance and touch, as if those small moments were the only things keeping her heart from unraveling.

“Let me see,” malambing bulong ni Garreth. They are alike, so alike that I already think of dirty things about them. Kaya minsan ay gusto ko na rin higpitan si Garreth sa pagiging madikit niya kay Meira. “Maganda. Patingin pa nga.”

“No, it’s not!” her voice raised, halos mabulabog ang bahay sa taas ng boses niya. It sounded sweet despite its high pitch tone. “I should look seductive para ma-turn on siya.”

Para akong nabingi sa dinagdag nito. Mabilis na lumapit ako sa kuwarto niya at mas nilakihan ang awang ng pintuan. My heart was pounding fast because of annoyance. Tanginang Garreth kung anu-ano ang tinuturo.

“Oh s**t!” gulat na sambit ni Garreth, pareho silang nakadapa sa kama at magkatabi. Looking at the cellphone that Meira’s holding. “You shocked me!”

Si Meira ay inangat lang ang tingin sa akin at napawi ang ngiti. Napatikom siya ng labi at bumalik ang tingin sa cellphone.

“Sinong kasama mo? Sumunod ka pala, sana sumabay na tayo.”

My jaw tightened, and I intently looked at them. How their arms are softly touching, and how Meira is lying there comfortably with my brother.

“Kasama ko sina Conrad at Rive, nasa baba. Umiinom kami kasama si Stanley.”

“Oh yes! May babae?” agad na tumayo si Garreth at nagmamadali na itong umalis ng kama. I glanced at Meira, who was very busy on her cellphone. Wala man lang hi o hello sa akin. She didn’t even say anything to me that I was here.

“Wala,” tipid kong sagot.

He scoffed and took his cellphone to the bed. Before Garreth left, he poked Meira’s waist. Mei shrieked and threw the pillow on his head, matalim niyang tinignan ang kapatid ko pero nakangisi.

“Sunod ka, ah.” Garreth cooly said and went to the door where I am standing. Nilampasan niya ako, akala ay susunod ako agad pero nagkibit balikat at nauna na sa pagbaba ng hagdan para iwan ako.

I glanced at Meira again, magulo ang kama niya dahil kay Garreth. She chuckled while scrolling on her cellphone. Naglakbay ang tingin ko sa katawan niya, she is wearing a cute pink shirt and black shorts. My eyes stopped on her butt and thighs, leaving no scars but an even skin tone.

“Hindi ka ba bababa?”

“What would I do there? It’s boring.” Hindi niya man lang ako sinulyapan.

Napalunok ako.

“Bumaba kana, you should enjoy the presence of your brother. Minsan lang yun umuwi rito.”

Napairap siya at nakita ko na naman ang mukha niya na irita sa akin. I don’t like it, when she gave me an annoyed face. Ganyan siya lagi sa akin, I am not doing anything and yet I feel like I always annoys her.

“You go spend time with him, magkasama naman kami sa bahay.” Umirap siya muli.

“And you trade that time to chit-chat with your boys? Sending sexy pictures to turn them on?” seryoso kong sambit. I crossed my arms and leaned on the door.

She was surprised when she looked at me. Uminit ang pisngi niya at pinamulahan.

“You are just in junior high school, Meira. At yan ang inaatupag mo?”

Agad siyang napaupo ng maayos at matalim akong tinignan. She sits properly, crossing her legs. Mas kumunot ang nuo ko nung mapatingin sa kanyang hita na nakaparte ng kaunti habang nakaupo.

“It’s not sexy.”

“Is seductive not sexy?” I raised my one eyebrow. Hindi siya nakaimik. Pinipigilan ang pagnguso, kaya naman bumaba saglit ang tingin ko sa labi niyang mapula. Waiting for her pout, I want to see her pout and look apologetic. “And what? If he is not turn on anong sunod mong ise-send sa kanya? Nude pictures?”

Napanganga siya at hindi makapaniwala.

“I’m not like that! I don’t do that!” mariin niyang tanggi, ang pagtaas ng boses niya ay nagpatindig ng balahibo ko. I suddenly wanted to wrap her of blanket. Her voice! There is something in her voice.

Mei is very attractive, physically speaking. But once she speak and do her usual gestures or movements, trust me… it is impossible not to have a second look at her. Mapapatitig ka talaga sa kanya habang nagsasalita siya. She is very seductive, convincing, and expressive when speaking. Filled with emotions. Hindi ko alam kung ako lang ba ito, pero may konting daing ang boses niya. Maski salita ay minsan nadudugtungan o nahahaluan ng daing. Dahilan para manindig ang balahibo ko, nahahaluan ng dumi ang isip ko.

“Talaga ba? What kind of pictures do you send to your boyfriend?”

“Manliligaw pa lang.”

I don’t care.

“What kind of pictures?” I urged her. Mas nilapitan ko siya sa kama para mas maayos na matignan ang mukha, nagbabakasali rin na ipakita ang larawang iyun sa akin. “Let me see if it is not really nude.”

“Hindi nga, Malcom!”

I licked my lower lip.

“Sending nudes to turn on her suitors,” parinig ko at ngumisi. “Tito Stanfield won’t definitely like it…” marahan ko pang dagdag.

“Ugh!” she reacted, annoyed, and went to scroll on her phone.

Bumigat ang paghinga ko roon at halos mapapikit. She was furious at me when she saw me the pictures in her gallery. It was her, wearing a shirt and… nothing sexy in the picture to trace. Napanguso ako dahil nakaawang ang labi niya at nang-aakit ang mga mata.

“See, I didn’t!”

Napahawak ako sa pader habang natayo sa gilid ng kama niya, I need something to lean on before I get weak. I memorized her pictures that she posts on her social media accounts. Hindi ito kasali at… ang ganda niya rito.

“How would I know? I didn’t see the message.” Tinulak ko ang cellphone na para bang hindi interesado. Okay na rin, nakita ko na naman.

Napaawang siya ng labi at iritang hinarap muli iyun sa akin. Tinignan ko muna siya ng malamig bago hinawakan ang cellphone niya, hindi niya magawang bitawan na akala mo may tinatago. Kaya naman hinawakan ko na lang din ang kamay niya. Now we are both holding her phone.

‘You are so pretty, Mei. I suddenly miss you.’

‘Can I save your picture?’

‘Your lips look delicate. Malambot siguro yan.’

I taped picture of the boy to know his name. Nasa iisang eskuwelahan lang kami kaya baka kilala ko ang kumag na ‘to. Ano? May balak siyang halikan? Ang babata pa, yan na ang iniisip.

“Hey!” kinuha niya ang cellphone nung mapansin na sunod-sunod ang paggalaw ko sa screen ng daliri ko. Hindi ko na tuloy nakita ang pangalan, but the face, I memorized it somehow. “Wala nga, okay? You are acting like a brother again, hindi ako ang kapatid mo, ah. Si Prima at Garreth ang kapatid mo!” paalala niya na nagpatahimik sa akin.