Deucalion

Chapter 18

Tell me the story

About how the sun

Loved the moon so much

He died every night

To let her breathe.

- Anonymous

Chapter Eighteen

There's more to him than meets the eye

As I said, I don't really know what Lyon meant to me back then. He didn't court me at huli ko na ng malaman kung ano ang totoo nyang nararamdaman at hindi ko alam kung totoo ba iyon. I don't know if what I felt for him is just attraction or plain lust. Ang sigurado lang ako, he makes me happy. He makes me forget everything.

"Gail, where are you going? It's weekend."

Gulat ako ng makita sya sa hapag at maganang kumakain. Bagong ligo, wearing a pink hoodie, leggings and her boots. Tulad ko noong bata, mahirap syang gisingin sa umaga lalo na at malamig kaya nagtataka ako kung bakit maaga sya ngayon samantalang sabado naman.

"Ma'am, gusto nya raw hong makita iyong crush nya. Maaga pa lang, kinulit na ho si Sir Tyrrell." Si Gina na tinimplahan ako ng kape.

"Ate Gina." Gail whined and eyed her unbelievably, namula ang pisngi.

Umikot ang mata ko, I know that's part of growing up kaya hindi ko na lang sya pipigilan. It's just a crush anyway, magbabago rin iyon pagkalipas ng panahon. I know too that her crush is maybe way older than her or me. Someday, she will meet lot of guys and fall in love, I want her to experience that. She'll get hurt but I know, she can surpass it.

"You're going with us too, ate?" Pinasadahan nya ako ng tingin habang pababa ako ng hagdan. Bahagyang tumaas ang kilay. I'm wearing crew neck, capri pants and ugg boots.

Ngumisi ako. "I want to meet your crush."

Ngumisi din sya. "Once you see him, always remember that he's mine so you don't have the right to have a crush on him."

Pinandilatan ko sya, gustong-gustong sambunutan. Nakakagigil. Noong nagka-crush ako, masaya na ako na nakikita sya. Hindi ako iyong tipong kailangan pang ipalandakan at lumandi.

"Let's go, Kuya Tyrrell." Aya nya kay Tyrrell ng makalabas kami at makita ito sa labas ng mansyon.

Nagkamot ng ulo si Tyrrell. "Sorry, Gail, hindi ako makakapunta. I'm going to have an important meeting with my ninong."

"It's okay, ako na lang ang sasama sa kanya." Tumatangong sabi ko.

He's not wearing his typical farming outfit, he's wearing a leather jacket, blue shirt, jeans and sneakers.

"Sorry talaga, Gail." He really looks apologetic. Para talagang gusto nyang samahan si Gail.

Gail nodded. "It's okay, Kuya Tyrrell. I understand ho, take care."

"I'm going then. Promise, babawi ako next time."

Nakangiting tumango ako, sumakay naman na sya sa kanyang kotse. Sabay kami ni Gail na kumaway dito hanggang sa makaalis ito.

"Let's go, ate." Gail held my hand and pulled me.

Mataas na ang araw ng makarating kami sa farm pero hindi naman iyong tipong masakit sa balat. Kalat ang mga trabahador at abala sa kani-kanilang ginagawa. Sa pagtingin ko sa bandang kanan, may mga dalagang nakatambay sa lilim ng puno habang nakatingin sa sakahan. Tumatawa sila at parang kinikilig pa ata, mabilis kong sinundan ang tinitingnan nila at agad na nakita si Lyon habang nagbubungkal ng lupa.

I can't hide my smile while looking at him, enthralled and annoyed. Halatang nahihirapan sya pero sinusubukan pa rin, hindi ko alam kung sya ba ang pinagtatawanan ng mga kasamahan nya sa sakahan o nagbibiruan ang mga ito.

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa mga babae at parang gusto kong tanggalin ang mga ito sa trabaho. Tumaas ang kilay ng magtilian sila at magtatalon. Napabaling ako kay Lyon, napanganga ng maghubad ito ng pang-itaas. The way he undress seems like in slow motion, like everything stopped. Disappeared.

Namilog ang mata ko ng bigla syang lumingon sa'kin na para bang alam nyang nandon ako. Namumula ang pisnging nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Muntikan ko ng makalimutang may kasama nga pala ako kung hindi ko pa narinig ang pagtili ni Gail. I quickly covered her eyes with my hand then glared at Lyon, cheeks flushing.

"Ate," Gail growled and removed my hand.

Napakurap-kurap ako, unti-unting may natanto. Pinandilatan ang kapatid. Hindi naman siguro, umiling ako. Tama, hindi naman siguro---

"Hello, Kuya Lyon!" Gail waved at him and smiled sweetly.

Nasapo ko na lang ang noo. Sa gilid ng mata ko ay nakita kong naghugas sya ng kamay bago naglakad palapit sa'min, ang damit ay nakasampay sa balikat.

"Hello, Gail." He slightly bow down to greet my sister.

I saw how Gail blushed, her hands is at her back, playing with her fingers. And I know she's nervous and uncomfortable, she's just looking at him with fascination and admiration while lips parted.

Hindi ko alam kung matatawa o ano, I can't believe I'm witnessing this. My sister and all the girls there going crazy over him.

His boots are muddy. He's profusely sweating, his smell is mixed of sweat and his natural scent. Namigat ang mata ko, napakadumi nya malayo sa Lyon na nakilala ko noon pero bakit ganito pa rin ang nararamdaman ko? Bakit mabilis at napakalakas ng t***k ng puso ko? I should feel disgusted, but no, just like the girls there. Just like my sister, I'm amazed and crazy over him too.

When he stand straight, I immediately gazed at his body, his muscles, his abs. My face heats up while my heart hammering inside my chest when I remembered the nights with him. How he praised my body. How those arms hug me. How he owned me.

I tilted my head and obviated that thought. When our eyes met, I caught him staring at me like he knew what I'm thinking and my heart almost stopped from beating.

Bumaba sa leeg nya ang tingin ko at kumunot ang noo ng makita ang suot nyang kwintas na may pendant na maliit na susi. His necklace is like a chain like my bracelet pero mas malaki lang.

"Ma-Magdamit ka nga." Sita ko, mabilis na iniwas sa kanya ang tingin.

"Ate Jane," Gail grumbled then she leaned closer to whisper to me. "He's my crush, be nice to him. And it's okay if he didn't put on his shirt, look at his abs---"

Tinakpan ko na ang bibig nya bago pa kung anu-ano ang masabi nya. Lyon chuckled beside me. Tiningnan ko sya ng masama, he pressed his lips together to suppressed his smile then tilted his head.

Pinandilatan ko sya. "I can't believed you are actually doing those stuff, Lyon."

He shrugged his shoulder. "I have lots of talents, Jane. I told you, I want you back."

"Oh! My God! What?" Gail snarled shockingly.

Namilog ang mata ko at mabilis na tinakpan ang tenga ng kapatid, nag-iinit ang pisngi.

Lyon smirked, naughtiness and amusement is apparent in his slate blue dull eyes like he's enjoying my reaction. Like he's pleased that I'm nervous and uncomfortable to whatever he's saying and the way he stared at me.

"I asked the people here on how to court a girl. Kailangan ko na palang simulang mag-sibak ng kahoy, mag-igib ng tubig at haranahin ka."

Tinatambol ang puso ko at naliliyo sa mga sinasabi nya. Pinaningkitan ko sya ng mata, pilit kinakalma ang sarili. Lumabi ako, tinatancha kung hanggang saan at kailan sya tatagal.

"You're not funny, Lyon." I smiled sarcastically.

He just smirked and shrugged his shoulder.

Umikot ang mata ko.

"First of all, hindi mo kailangan magsibak ng kahoy dahil may kuryente at gas stove na. Hindi mo rin kailangan mag-igib dahil may gripo at shower na. At lalong-lalo na, hindi mo kailangan pang magharana kasi una sa lahat, hindi ka naman marunong kumanta."

He groaned but the playfulness in his eyes never fades, tila ba mas nadagdagan pa ang pagkaaliw nya sa'kin. Umikot ulit ang mga mata ko at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Put on your s-shirt." Ulit ko, halos hangin na lang na lumabas sa bibig ko.

"Hmm, my baby is territorial." Isinuot naman nya ang damit pagkatapos ay lumapit sa'kin para bumulong. "Don't worry my body is all yours."

Kumindat pa sya bago tumingin kay Gail at niyaya ito sa taniman ng mga strawberries. Ito namang kapatid ko, payag agad. Malayo na sila, nakatayo pa rin ako doon. Tulala, dinig ang bawat t***k ng puso.

Ito ang unang beses na ginugol ko ang buong araw sa farm. People there are obviously fond of Lyon, especially the girls. Their energy tripled, they all looked stimulated.

Sa kinatatayuan ko, tanaw ko ang pangungulit ni Gail sa kanya. Sinusubuan sya ng strawberries, nagpapa-picture at minsan ay nakikipaghabulan pa. Ang ibang kababaihan naman ay nakikipagusap din sa kanya. Umirap ako sa hangin, naglatag ng sapin sa damuhan saka humiga at ipinikit ang mata, mukhang kakaribalin pa ata ako ng kapatid ko at ng mga babae doon.

Ilang minutong ganon ang ayos ko ng may biglang dumantay na bagay sa tyan ko, mabilis na nagmulat at namilog ang mga mata ng makita si Lyon na nakaunan don.

"What do you think you're doing," sita ko sa kanya, napaupo at inilibot ang tingin sa paligid. Malayo sa'min ang mga tao pero hindi ibig sabihin non na wala ng makakakita sa'min.

His eyes are closed while his arms were crossed over his chest. He looks so calm and peaceful, there's no trace of tiredness or weariness on his face. I heaved a sigh and stared at him. It's so unfair. Mukhang sa loob ng tatlong taon ay namuhay sya ng masaya at walang prinoproblema. Ginawa na ang matagal ko ng gustong gawin, I comb his hair with my hand. Kahit nabilad sa araw, mabango pa rin sya. I traced his eyebrows, his eyes, his nose, lips. Nahuhulog na sa kakatitig sa kanya ng bigla na lang syang magsalita.

"I like Gail."

Terror overtook my face as acid immediately spread through my system.

"What?"

I know its too exaggerated but the idea of him and my sister. Oh! God, no! But it's still possible. Ako nga na napakalaki ng agwat sa kanya... Si Gail pa kaya.

Nakakunot ang noong nag-angat sya ng tingin sa'kin.

"What are you thinking, Jane?"

His lips protruded.

"Don't tell me," He paused and eyed me dangerously.

Umirap ako, naninikip ang dibdib.

He groaned. "It's not what you think."

"Malay ko. Ako nga..." I trailed off.

Akala ko kaya ko ng pigilan ang nararamdaman pero ganito lang kami kalapit, hindi ko na naman kilala ang sarili. I don't know if this is the monster me, the darkness or my heart. Because the truth is, hindi ko naramdaman ang halimaw o kadiliman sa nakalipas na taon. Or maybe I'm the monster and the darkness all along and I just don't want to admit it.

Kumabog ang dibdib ko ng bumangon sya at umusod palapit sa'kin. Nakatalikod syang umupo sa gilid ko at nakaharap sa kanang direksyon ko. Nang itiniklop ko ang paa ay nasagi ng tuhod ko ang likod nya pero hindi naman sya umimik. Suminghap ako ng sumandal sya sa binti ko kaya mas pinatatag ko na lang ang paa.

"I shouldn't lied to you,"

He's staring at Gail who is playing and laughing with the other farmers there.

"If I'm just a little more persistent."

Napayuko sya at kusang kumawala ang luha sa mata ko sa nakikitang pagsisisi nya at paghihirap.

"If I'm just honest and tell you the truth." He gritted his teeth, his voice is full of regret and misery.

Nanginig ang labi ko, mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin. I feel like my heart is slowly sliced into pieces. Nalulunod ako sa mga ipinahayag nya, sa ipinapakita nyang kahinaan at paghihirap.

"Maybe it's better that way, Lyon. " I whispered, staring at my fingers. "I'm the darkness, you'll just suffer."

I saw at the corners of my eyes that he gave me a sideway glance, hinawakan ang braso ko at bahagyang lumapit sa'kin kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. His expression was intense, almost threatening. His bloodshot eyes flickered with pain and rage. Bumaba sa labi nya ang tingin ko ng mas lumapit pa sya sa'kin. I'm not thinking properly anymore and everything just disappeared when he yanked me to him and covered my mouth with his but before our kiss deepened, I heard Gail's voice somewhere and he immediately pulled away.

"Then I'm willing to suffer if it's the only way to be with you," He whispered softly.

Napatitig na lang ako sa labi nya, sabik at lutang pa rin sa kanyang halik.

"At hinding-hindi ko na ulit hahayaang malayo ka sa'kin, Jane." He kissed my forehead before standing and headed to Gail.

Hindi na sa kanya humilay si Gail pagkatapos non. I know she's clingy, even with Wyler, Tyrrell and Daniel. Maybe because she's looking for a father figure. Pero itong kay Lyon, parang ayaw na nyang mawala ito sa paningin nya.

We ended our day watching the daylight fades and Gail fall asleep in the middle of the sundown. Binuhat sya ni Lyon hanggang sa makarating kami ng mansyon. He just stared at me intently before we parted without saying any words.

Sa gitna ng pagbuhos ng tubig sa shower, nakisabay din ang mga nasa isipan ko. Ang mga nangyari ng araw na iyon, ang mga sinabi nya. At habang nagbibihis, dinama ko ang puso ko habang nakatitig sa sariling sepleksyon sa salamin. Kitang-kita ko sa mukha ko ang paghihirap at kalituhan.

Lyon and Siege has a resemblance, the color of their eyes, the way they look. Their voices, the way they talk. They're both intimidating, mysterious and powerful. What if this heart still beats for Siege? What if this heart thinks Lyon as Siege because they have a lots of similarities? And the fact that Frances had a crush on Lyon.

Napabuga ako. Hindi sana ako mahihirapan ng ganito kung nasa akin pa rin ang totoo kong puso.