FORBIDDEN SERIES 1: THE GOVERNOR'S WH0RE

Kabanata 2

DEMILYN took one final look at herself before she went out of her car. Mula sa labas ng tahanan nina Sonja ay dinig na niya ang ingay ng mga bisita.

It was Sonja's thirtieth birthday, and it was the perfect alibi to start her plan to get close to Governor Rimael Santi Vlanco. Siniguro ni Demi na maayos ang kanyang itsura at umuumbok nang husto ang dibdib niya sa hapit na puting dress bago siya pumasok sa loob ng bahay.

Governor Rimael is a total head-turner. Kahit yata huminga lamang ito at tumayo sa isang sulok ay kaya nitong tawagin ang atensyon ng mga tao. Sigurado siyang maraming babae ang susubukang kunin ang atensyon nito kaya kailangan niyang siguruhing aangat ang alindog niya sa lahat.

Sonja immediately waved at her, and their college friends who turned their heads to look at her direction, walked the length to get to her, too.

"Doc Demi! Naks, ang sexy!" puri ni Tippy, ang isa sa mga ka-batch nila.

"Oo nga, oh! Parang hindi trenta!" biro naman ni Hazel habang buhat pa ang bunso nitong anak na dalawang taong gulang. "Naku, kung hindi sana ako nag-asawa kaagad, baka ganito rin ako ka-sexy!"

Demi flashed a demure smile as she pushed a few strands of her waved hair towards the back. Saktong hinahawi niya ang kanyang buhok nang mamataan niya ang pamilyar na lalakeng may mga kausap na may edad nang mag-asawa.

In his hand was a glass of champagne while he's wearing a white button-down polo with sleeves that were folded up to his elbow. Humahapit na ang tela sa katawan nitong tila nasasakal na sa suot na damit, dahilan upang mas lumakas ang s*x appeal nito.

Rimael . . .

Parang nanuyo yata ang lalamunan ni Demi, at kahit wala sa plano na tumagal ang titig niya sa bantog na gobernador ay hindi niya nagawang ilihis ang kanyang tingin. It was like Rimael effortlessly put her under a spell. His physique became more eye-catching compared to the version of him that she last saw. Mas gumwapo rin ito at . . . tila mas naging masungit.

The giggles coming from her friends caught Rimael's attention. His eyes drifted from the couple towards her, and the way they locked eyes almost made her hold her breath. Mayroon pa itong sinasabi sa mag-asawa nang maidapo ang tingin sa kanya, dahilan upang bahagyang umawang ang mamula-mula nitong mga labi.

Demi tried to ignore the sudden wildness of her heart when she saw the glint of interest in Rimael's eyes. She expected him to be surprised or angry to see her at the party, but looks like time had changed him a lot. Matalim pa rin ito kung tumitig, ngunit mayroon nang kakaiba sa paraan kung papaano siya nitong hinahagod ngayon ng tingin.

The sparkle of desire and longing in his eyes made her throat dry even more. Her knees even felt rubbery when she saw his defined jaw move in a dangerous manner until it finally locked. Tila ba nagpipigil ito ng sarili, at hindi niya iyon maintindihan. Isn't he the person who despised her the most when she was still dating Rancho?

"Tara na muna sa garden. Baka nagugutom na si Doc Demi," yaya ni Sonja.

She tore away from their gaze and looked at Sonja. "Mabuti pa nga. The atmosphere here is quite suffocating," bulong niya sa kaibigan na madali namang nakuha ang kanyang ibig sabihin.

They all went to the garden area where the buffet was set-up. Naupo sila sa isang round table at nagkumustahan tungkol sa kani-kanilang mga buhay habang kumakain.

"Balita ko ay bubuksan mo na ang clinic mo, Demi," usyoso ni Hazel. "Ililipat ko na ang mga anak ko sa clinic mo kung gano'n."

"I was about to tell you that," she said then lifted her glass of champagne to sip some.

Sa gilid ng kanyang mata ay nasulyapan niya ang pagpasok ni Rimael sa garden kasama ang parehong mag-asawa. They seemed to be discussing something, and to her surprise, Rimael licked his lower lip then glanced her way.

She sipped some more champagne to ease away the sudden pounding of her heart. Ngunit lalo lang yatang uminit ang pakiramdam niya nang pumwesto sina Rimael sa kabilang round table. He sat right where they could stare at each other properly as if he wanted to look at her, read her mind, and see what she's up to.

"Totoo bang magkasunod na namatay ang mga magulang mo, Demi?" tanong ni Tippy dahilan upang mapahinto siya sa pag-inom ng champagne. Sinipat naman ni Hazel ang braso nito na tila sinusuway.

"It's okay." She faked a smile. "My parents died a year apart. Nasa US kami nang mangyari. Hindi kinaya ni Mama ang lungkot nang mamatay dahil sa atake si Papa. Bumagsak ang katawan niya hanggang sa hindi na rin nakayanan pa ang kumplikasyon niya sa puso."

"Condolence, friend," ani Hazel.

"Thank you." Tumikhim siya at pinili na lamang ibahin ang usapan, ngunit talagang bumabalik pa rin sa kanya ang takbo ng kwentuhan nila palibhasa ay siya ang ilang taon nang hindi nagpakita.

Demi grew more and more uncomfortable because of the questions being thrown at her . . . and because of the intense gaze Rimael was giving towards her direction. He looked feral but interested. Tila mabangis na hayop na hindi nais pakawalan ang balak gawing hapunan.

"Ayos lang ba sayo na dito ka na ulit sa San Marcelino titira? You know, ang past nandito pa," alanganing tanong ni Hazel.

She swallowed then flashed a small smile. "It's fine. It's not like I'll bump into the Santi Vlancos all the time, right? I'm here to practice my profession, that's all," she said. Medyo may kalakasan ang kanyang boses kaya sigurado siyang narinig iyon ni Rimael.

"Saan nga ulit ang clinic mo, Demi?" tanong ni Tippy.

"Sa bahay lang din. 'Yong dating garahe, ipina-convert ko bilang clinic para mas convenient. Ipina-renovate ko na rin ang bahay."

"Wala ka bang kasamang titira ro'n?" si Tippy.

She shook her head. "Sanay naman akong mag-isang mabuhay mula nang mawala ang parents ko. I'll be fine. Uh, excuse me. I'll just go to the wash room."

Tumango ang mga kaibigan niya. Nang masabi ni Sonja kung saan ang powder room ng bahay. She just had a difficulty looking for the powder room since it's her first time to be at Sonja's new home.

Good thing someone told her where the powder room is. Nagpasalamat siya rito at pinuntahan na ang direksyong sinabi nito, ngunit nang akmang liliko na papasok ng powder room ay nakabangga niya ang pamilyar na bulto. She almost tripped, but Rimael immediately held her by her lower back and saved her from falling.

Halos makalimutan niyang huminga nang makitang nakatitig ito sa kanyang mga labi. Bakit ba ganito? Bakit parang ang lakas ng epekto sa kanya ng binata kahit wala pa man itong ginagawa?

"It's been a while..." he said without taking his hand off of her lower back. The sensual tone in his voice even made the hairs on her nape stand to its ends, at hindi niya matukoy kung bakit.

Tumikhim siya saka pekeng ngumiti rito, ngunit kahit na anong gawin niya, hindi niya matagalan ang tila nanghihigop na mga mata ni Rimael.

"Well, I'm staying for good." She swallowed her pool of saliva then tried to meet his eyes again. "Guess you have your reason to be grumpy again now that I'm home," she teased.

The corner of his lips turned upwards for a ghost of a smile, and when Rimael caressed her exposed skin with his thumb, her heart almost jumped out of her ribs.

"Oh, I'm always grumpy in your eyes." He licked his lower lip as his expression darkened after his gaze drifted towards her lips. "Maybe because you never really took the time to get to know me."

Demi pursed her lips and looked away. "I don't think that was necessary back then--"

"Well, it might be necessary now, Doc." He lowered his head until his minty breath was already caressing her ear. "Can't let my brother go gaga over you again, can I?"

She drew in a sharp breath and reminded herself her plan. Nang magbalik sa sarili ay senswal siyang ngumiti saka niya ipinaraan ang kanyang palad sa dibdib ni Rimael paakyat sa balikat nito.

"Take the place then before he does." She held him by his nape, her lips almost touched the edge of his ear, making him grip on her waist lightly. "Go out with me so he won't, Governor..."

She saw how his jaw moved, and when she heard him speak, Demi's knees almost wobbled due to the sudden burst of electric waves in her system.

"I hope you know I don't just end the night with a dinner, Doc." The tip of his nose brushed against her neck, making her shut her eyes as liquid fires began to thrum under her skin. "And once I f*****g taste you, there's no goddamn way that another man will..." He pecked a gentle kiss on the side of her head before he took a couple steps backwards.

Nang akmang tatalikod na ito ay muling nagsalita si Demi. "When can we meet?"

Rimael paused and looked over his shoulder with a darkened expression. "I'll see you on Saturday, Demi. I suggest you wear something inexpensive." He turned his head and drew in a sharp breath. "I might end up ripping it anyway..."