MONTE COSTA SERIES 3: INNOCENT TIDES

Kabanata 18

EVANGELINE remained silent for the rest of the car ride. Pagkarating sa tahanan nina Linel ay sinalubong kaagad sila nina Linus.

There was a welcoming smile written on Linus' lips the moment she went out of the car. Yumakap pa ito sa kanya na tila natutuwa itong makita siyang muli.

"It's been a while, Eline," said Linus.

She smiled back. "Kaya nga, eh. You look great, Linus."

"And you're still as gorgeous as I remembered," puri nito sa kanya.

She took her gift from her bag and handed it to Linel. "Happy birthday. Sorry, 'yan lang ang nakayanan."

Linus smiled. "Thanks. Nag-abala ka pa."

Sa gilid ng mata ni Ae ay napansin niya ang pag-igting ng panga ni Linel. Matutuwa na sana siya na parang nagseselos ito sa kapatid dahil sa pagdilim ng ekspresyon nito. Ngunit kaagad napawi ang kanyang delusyon nang tumakbo ang pamilyar na bata patungo kina Linel at Fina.

"Mama! Papa!"

Linel lifted the kid who's being followed by Fine. Lihim namang pinagmasdan ni Ae sina Linel at Fina. Hinawakan ni Fina ang kamay ng bata at pinatakan ng halik habang karga ito ni Linel. Para siyang sinusuntok sa dibdib habang tumatagal na pinanonood niya ang mga ito. Napansin tuloy ni Linus ang lungkot na dumaan sa kanyang mga mata habang nakatitig siya sa mga ito.

"You already met Fine's younger sister, Fina."

Napabaling siya kay Linus nang marinig ang sinabi nito. "Younger sister? Kapatid siya ni Fine?"

Tumango si Linus. "Hindi natin siya ka-schoolmate noon. She didn't want to go to the same school with Fine because she didn't want to be stressed out about her brother." Mahinang natawa si Linus. "I guess I can relate somehow."

Fine walked towards her. "Hey, Ae. Good to see you again."

Nginitian niya ito pabalik. "Tumangkad ka lalo. Halos mabali na ang leeg ko."

Natawa ito nang mahina. "Yeah. Turns out adulting suited me well. Anyway, pasok muna kami. I'll see you at the party."

Pasimpleng pinanood ni Ae na pumasok ng bahay sina Fine. Nang naiwan sila ni Linus sa labas ay pinakawalan niya ang mabigat na hangin sa kanyang dibdib.

"N-Nag-asawa na pala siya ano? May anak na rin?"

Nilingon ni Linus ang mga ito. "Uh, yeah. He got married before Fil was born. Nagulat nga rin ako dahil biglaan. Hindi ko rin alam na may girlfriend pala. I thought he's busy with his career."

Those words felt like knives that pierced right through her heart. Alanganin pa siyang ngumiti kay Linus bago siya sumama rito papasok.

There were some familiar faces in the crowd. Nagkaroon ng kaunting kumustahan bago siya sinamahan ni Linus sa buffet table.

"Umiinom ka na rin ba ngayon?" Linus asked.

"Uhm, a little. Sometimes I go out with my friends to destress. You know, college is hellish."

Ngumisi lamang si Linus bago siya ipinagbukas ng beer. Tinanggap niya naman iyon saka niya pinasadahan ng tingin ang crowd. "Wala si Micah?"

Napansin niyang lumamlam ang mga mata nito bago pilit na ngumiti. "I invited her but I don't think she'd come."

Tila may nais pa itong sabihin nang tumakbo palapit dito ang pamilyar na bata. The kid hugged Linus on his leg while Linel was following the kid.

"Papa, up-up!" said Fil.

Napangisi si Ae. "Ang cute. Papa rin ang tawag niya sa'yo?"

Linus nodded after he lifted Fil. "Yeah. Papa at Mama tawag nito sa lahat ng ninong at ninang niya."

Napakurap si Ae. "N-Ninong at . . . ninang?" Wala sa sarili siyang napabaling kay Linel. "N-Ninong ka lang?"

Linel's forehead creased. "Why? Do we look alike?"

Biglang natauhan si Ae. Imbes na sagutin si Linel ay ibinaling niya ang kanyang tingin kay Linus. "B-But you said earlier that he got married before Fil was born."

Sandaling nalukot ang noo ni Linus. Maya-maya ay tila mayroon itong napagtanto kaya ngumisi.

"Oh, God. Were we talking about Linel earlier? I thought you were referring to Fine since Fine talked to you before you shoot me your questions. Si Fine ang tinutukoy kong nag-asawa na at tatay ni Fil."

Uminit nang husto ang magkabilang pisngi ni Ae dala ng hiya. Nalaman pa tuloy ni Linel na nakikiusyoso siya tungkol sa buhay nito!

Linus laughed softly while shaking his head. "God, my superior would beat me up if he finds out about this," he murmured to himself. Maya-maya ay nagpaalam ito na dadalhin muna si Fil sa loob matapos humikab ang bata habang nakasandal sa balikat nito.

Ae's heartbeat doubled as soon as Linus left her with Linel. Nagkatitigan pa silang dalawa kaya halos hindi niya alam ang gagawin niya.

She swallowed the pool of saliva in her mouth before she tried to glance at him. "Uh, k-kumusta ka na?"

"Single, unmarried, and childless," deretsahan nitong sagot.

Napabuntonghininga si Ae. "I'm sorry for assuming that Fil is your son, alright? Papa ang tawag sa'yo. I really thought . . ." Umiwas siya ng tingin. "I really thought you've already settled down."

Tumango lamang ito na tila wala nang gustong sabihin. It felt even more awkward no matter how much she wanted to chitchat with him. Hindi rin naman kasi niya mahanap ang mga tamang salita na dapat sabihin dahil nauuna ang kaba na nararamdaman niya. Nagpanggap na lamang tuloy siyang kumukuha pa ng pagkain sa buffet table dahil ramdam niyang nakatitig ito sa kanya.

They were silent for a few moment before Linel stood closer to her. He then cleared his throat before he held her beer that's on the table. Na-conscious tuloy si Ae. Mabango kaya siya? Does she look cute in her outfit? What about her boobs and her butt cheeks? Are they big enough?

She pursed her lips. Ano ba naman iyong mga naiisip niya? Kailan pa siya na-insecure sa katawan niya?

"Where's my gift?" Linel asked that made her heart nearly jump out of her chest. Napaangat siya ng tingin sa gwapo nitong mukha habang nagwawala nang husto ang mga paru-paro sa kanyang tiyan.

"H-Huh?" ang tangi niyang nasabi. Oh, God he smells really good she wonders what perfume he's wearing. Parang ang sarap singhutin ang buong katawan! And his stubbled beard? Bakit bumagay iyon kay Linel? Nagmukha tuloy itong modelo ng mamahaling underwear!

Linel jugged her beer, licked his lower lip in a sexy way, and then stared into her eyes again as if he wanted to hypnotize her. Goodness. His s*x appeal just went above the roof in just a span of six years!

Simpleng navy blue button down polo lang naman ang suot nito pero bumabakat ang hulmado nitong dibdib sa damit na suot. Even his biceps are effortlessly flexing each time he's moving his arms. God, he looks so hot. Hindi na siya magtataka kung mas dumami ang mga babaeng nagkakandarapa rito.

Tumaas ang kilay nito. "I said where's my gift? You gave Linus a gift earlier. Where's mine? It's my birthday, too."

"A-A-A."

She shut her lips after she stuttered. Damn it, she's embarrassing herself! Bakit naman hindi nakikisama ang utak niya ngayon? This is literally her chance!

Linel slightly narrowed his eyes on her as if he's asking for a response. Bumuntonghininga na lamang si Ae saka niya inilapag ang plato sa long table.

"Sorry, 'yong kay Linus lang kasi ang naihanda ko dahil nag-alala ako na magselos ang asawa mo o girlfriend mo kung pati ikaw bibigyan ko."

Natungga nitong muli ang bote ngunit tila may munting kurba ito sa mga labi habang iniinom ang beer.

"That's so unfair," he said while staring at the bottle. "I was looking forward to it. Umasa lang na naman pala ako," dagdag nito bago tumalikod at tila aalis na.

Nataranta siya nang akala niya ay na-badtrip ito sa kanya. "L-Linel!"

He stopped taking his steps and looked at her again. This time, there was an evident look of disappointment written on his handsome face. "What?"

Ae swallowed the lump in her throat while her heart was beating loudly inside her chest. Bahala na. She couldn't miss her chance again. Ilang taon na siyang nagdurusa. Kung kailangang siya naman ang maghabol ngayon kay Linel ay gagawin na niya huwag lamang niyang danasin ulit ang pinagdaanan niya sa nakalipas na apat na taon.

"Y-You can ask for a-a gift. Just . . . just tell me what you want," kabado niyang sabi habang nakatitig pabalik sa asul nitong mga mata.

Linel jugged the beer while his blue eyes were penetrating her. Maya-maya ay naglakad ito pabalik sa kanyang pwesto. Ae even had to hold her breath when Linel went too close. His hand held her on her lower back as he lowered his head to whisper on her ear.

"Any gift, hmm?" he asked in a teasing way.

Ae tried to inhale a sharp breath. "Y-Yes. A-Anything you want."

A meaningful smirk made its way to his lips.

"How about a nice f**k?"