The Forbidden Temptation

7: Disgusting Sh*t

Nang makita ko sila Pythos, mabilis kong tinakbo ang rack ng mga roba at isinuot iyon, at dala ko rin sa loob ang baseball jacket na inabot niya sa akin.

I'm not embarrassed by him seeing me in my microkini... the shame is being caught like this in front of Papa's guests.

But... he is a guest too.

Napapailing ako, naguguluhan kung bakit nandito sa pribadong lugar namin ang lalaking ito.

"You know what, I'd like to believe we are destined to be," komento ko sa sarili, bahagyang nakangisi kay Hercules.

Pero kung makatingin siya sa akin ngayon, parang dapat na ikahiya ko iyon. "To see each other spontaneously? This is destiny," ulit ko, baka hindi niya narinig.

Hindi siya sumagot. Para bang balewalain niya ang sinabi ko. Iniwan niya ako sa kabilang gilid ng portico at dinaluhan ang mag-ama namin na kausap si Pythos.

Humalukipkip ako at tinignan sila.

The guy I met several times is Pythos' twin brother, Hercules. Just as their names suggest, they are fraternal... the only real resemblance they share are their eyes and nose. Pythos is a bit darker, but the body frame and height of the two are almost identical.

Hindi ko na kasi pinagkaabalahan tignan ang varsity jacket niya nung ipinahiram niya sakin noon. And speaking of jackets, actually, I have four of his jackets and coats now. Kanina pa, inabot ko sa kanya yung baseball jacket na binato niya, ayaw naman kunin.

Gusto pa ata niya na labhan ko kahit hindi naman dumikit sa balat ko.

Ang sungit niya sa akin. Sinundan ko ang bawat galaw ni Hercules.

All in all, Hercules looks and moves more composed, the complete opposite of Pythos, but I still prefer the latter. Hercules seems to calculate every word and gesture, stern, quiet, controlled. Pythos, on the other hand, doesn't care, his movements, his words, his laughter all loud and unrestrained. When he smiles, it's teasing, almost insulting, with a hint of mischief.

"Bakit nasa Bacolod ka at iyang kambal mo nandito nag-aaral?" Hindi ko napigilang tanungin si Pythos habang inihahatid namin sila sa sasakyan nila.

"Mas mabait kasi ako kaysa sa kanya," sabi ni Pythos, nakangisi.

Sa itsura niya, mukhang nakabuntis na ng ilang babae.

I don't want to be judgmental, but with that kind of looks, girls are definitely chasing them. Hercules has a different vibe: handsome, but unapproachable. Pythos looks menacing, yet he loves to grin... he likes teasing and looks mischievous. Hercules' smile is rare, serious, untouchable. Gentle, quiet, almost snobbish... the kind who simply ignores every girl who tries to get his attention.

"Bakit nga kayo magkahiwalay? Bakit 'yong isa nandito, ikaw nasa Bacolod, tapos ang isa..." Nakalimutan ko na kung nasaan inilagay, pero pinaghiwalay silang magkapatid.

"Ayan kasi, ang dami-daming kamalditahang naiisip kaya nakalimutan ang dahilan," napailing si Pythos. "Isipin mo na lang, kaya kami pinaghiwalay kasi mas mabait ako sa kanya." Tumatawa siya.

"Yeah. You are the demon while he's the angel," pagkontra ko.

"You like angels then?" tanong niya.

"No, I like demons, they're hotter." Pinasadahan ko siya ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. Alam kong lumandi iyon, majorship ko yan.

"You are a playgirl. How old are you?"

Why do they keep asking my age? I rolled my eyes.

"Why? Does it matter? How old are you?" binalik ko ang tanong niya, nakikita ko ang grin niya habang nakatawid ang mga braso.

"I don't like girls especially baby girls," sabi niya, may ngiti sa mata.

Nawala ang ngisi ko. Pareho sila ng kambal niya ng sagot.

Gosh! My vital statistics are apparently a ticket to be called a woman. Well, that's what I think. And hello, I'm approaching my eighteenth—humanda kayo, aariba ako!

I bet they noticed it. It's not that I like Pythos. I just find the twins good-looking. I share my fair judgments with those who deserve it, and yes, the twins are hot... but the "bad boys" vibe? Definitely hotter for me. Again, I might find him hot, but I don't actually like him. Duh!

"I'm not saying that the demon is you, boy. You and your twin don't appear hotter to me," I snorted, rolling my eyes.

"Napakabata mo pa, pero ang galing mong makipaglaro," a familiar voice said from behind me.

I hadn't even noticed, Hercules was standing right there behind me.

Pythos grinned at his twin, and I stole a glance at Hercules.

"I'm not even starting the game, Hercules," I laughed. "And I don't plan to. Weren't you used to girls who talked like this?"

Looking at them, I could see it: girls would flock just to get their attention.

"Yes. I'm not used to kids who flirt and pretend to be pros," Hercules said, making Pythos roll his eyes.

I didn't want to look insulted. This is really how I talk, well, not to the guys I'm actually attracted to.

I felt comfortable teasing them because honestly? I had no special feelings for them, and I wasn't flirting. Not even a little.

"If you think this is flirting, fine. But for me, this is just my way of making friends," I raised an eyebrow at Pythos.

"Yeah. Girls have their own ways," Pythos said with a grin. "I like you."

I scowled at him.

"We can be friends, you know, since we'll be seeing each other for a while now," Pythos added.

"Sure, Pythos. See Hercules? We can be friends too, you know," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

"Loosen up. Stop assuming I'm flirting. I don't fall for older, tall, 'kano' type guys. You should be glad I'm not the type to fall for good-looking guys like you two," I added, crossing my arms.

Pythos laughed and even clapped at my long-winded rant.

"I'm starting to like you more, baby girl," he said, and I raised my eyebrows at him.

"And me too, Pythos," I said, smiling wickedly, reaching for his hand to shake it. But Hercules moved fast, pushing Pythos's chest, making him stumble back.

"Let's go, Pythos. Stop flirting with kids, you disgusting s**t," Hercules snapped, his voice icy.

I raised an eyebrow. Sungit! Disgusting s**t? f**k him!

"And also, Hercules..." I added, leaning slightly closer. "You'd know if I were willing to flirt with you, I would've spread my legs for you this afternoon in my favorite bikini..." I crossed my arms, smiling wickedly.

"What the f**k?" Pythos exclaimed, glaring at his brother.

Hercules, on the other hand, just stared at me with that perfect, disgusted expression... his face screaming "I am utterly disgusted by you!"

I was small facing both of them, but I still reached their shoulders and tapped them.

"Friends now, okay? And you, Hercules, loosen up!" I said, brushing past them to wave goodbye to their father, who was deep in conversation with my own dad.

Tapping Hercules's shoulder felt warmer than I expected. I could still feel the faint heat of it on my palm, and my cheeks tingled.

Tinatahak ko ang hagdanang gawa sa pebbles, umupo sa pinakahuling baitang, at tinitigan ang malawak na taniman. May ilaw sa bawat poste, dilaw ang kulay, ngunit kahit gaano katingkad, hindi nito natatabunan ang dilim.

Darkness is powerful, but so is light.

Step into the realm of shadows, and even the brightest flame can be swallowed whole. Stand in the land of light, and the darkness loses its bite, powerless to touch you.

If I stay in the dark, it will consume me, slowly, surely, until nothing of me remains.

But can I choose? To dwell entirely in one territory, or to stand suspended between the two, where neither claim me fully?

I have decided. I will stand in between.

Here, in the fragile space where shadow meets light, I will face both, and learn what it truly means to survive.

"Hey, you wanna come with me?" paanyaya ko kay Hercules.

Magiliw akong pumunta rito sa pavilion para yayain siya nang inutusan ako ng aking ama. Dito siya nakatira pansamantala, isang linggo matapos siyang maabutan na naliligo sa pavilion habang kausap si Ygen. Sabi niya, baka rito muna siya tumira hanggang makagraduate sa master's.

Wala na akong ibang mayaya, Efa is palaging nakukulong sa kuwarto. Kapag tinatanong ko, lagi niyang sinasabi na maayos siya, pero hindi siya okay.

"Will you stop coming here? Give me peace, girl," sabi niya sa mahinang boses, nakayuko at nakatutok sa librong hawak.

Nakaupo siya sa sofa sa ilalim ng pergola canopy, naka-cross ang mahahabang binti. He never changed his style here.

Inirapan ko siya. Lagi akong pinapalayas sa bahay niya.

Wow! My parents asked me to entertain him. I'm too gorgeous to be his clown, but I always follow my parents because I love them!

"I'm bored," nakanguso kong sabi, umupo sa couch niya. Isang linggo na mula noong lumipat siya, hinatid pa ng ama at kambal niya. Sa linggong iyon, ang hirap hulihin siya rito.

"And? I don't have time to play with you. I need peace. Gawin mo ang madalas mong ginagawa noong wala pa ako rito," inilipat niya sa ibang pahina ang binabasang aklat.

"My cousin is losing her mind right now," ngumuso ako, bahagya story telling, baka sakaling maawa siya o magkaroon ng interes na pakinggan ako.

"Come on!" Hinawakan ko ang palapulsuhan niya.

Nanlaki ang mata niya, mukhang hindi siya makapaniwala na pinipilit ko siya at hinila ko pa ang kamay niya.

"Hey, hey, stop touching me!" Nagtaas siya ng mga palad, na para akong may nakakahawang sakit. Napanganga ako... hindi makapaniwala na may nagmamadaling nagpipilit hawakan siya.

Sa ganda kong ito!