His Arms

Chapter Seven

07

A BLACK and red suitcase were standing near the doorstep and the mighty Isaiah was busy watching me dress up. His black orb eyes were roaming up and down at my body wrapped only in a white towel. My hair was in a messy bun.

I dried my hair first using the hair blower he gave me earlier. I rolled my eyes at him and pushed the black thick jacket sitting in my bed.

"What will I'm going to do with this jacket?" I asked while having second thoughts on how can I get rid of this man who's busy ogling me.

"Susuotin malamang. Aren't you taught on how to use jacket?" Said he and again, moved his playful eyes over my body like a madman.

"I know how to use this! But please, can you get out for a while? I'll get dressed first!" Mainit ang ulong sagot ko at naiinis na hinawi ang mahabang damit na balak ata niyang ipasuot sa akin.

"Oh, 'yun naman pala. I thought you lost your brain while blowing your hair!" Pabalang din niyang sagot na lalong nagpa-inis sa akin.

"Uh! Stop pissing me off, kamahalan. My body still hurts."

Inabot ko ang mamahaling lingerie na kasama ng mahabang damit at makapal na jacket. Anong gagawin ko dito? Have he lost his brain too? Lingerie is worn only in bed. Ha! Such a crazy man!

I turned my head to face the madman but to my surprise, he's now few inches away from me.

"Gosh! Are you crazy? Nakakagulat ka. At teka, ipapasuot mo sa akin ang mga 'to?" Tanong ko at ikinumpas ang kaliwang kamay para ituro ang mga damit na nagkalat sa ibabaw ng kama.

"Yeah." Tipid nitong sagot habang nakatitig sa labi ko. Ah. He's really getting crazy.

"Please lang, lumabas ka po muna kamahalan. Pa'no ako makapagbi-bihis?" Bumaba ang tingin ko sa katawan kong nakabalot lang sa towel.

"Hmm. No." He shook his head with his eyes looking darkly at me.

I sighed heavily.

"Okay." I shrugged my shoulders and took the lingerie and removed the towel covering my body. I did not look at him.

"What the f*ck!" Gulat ang boses nito. He continued to curse and as a good woman I am, I changed in front of him.

Nang maisuot ko na ang lingerie, a mascular, soft and big hands covered my stomach in an instant. I was surprised and my hand slipped through his exposed chest to prevent myself from getting my face hit with his hard and chiseled chest.

I smelled his scent, a combination of an attar and a musk lingering over him. I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes.

"Hmm. Are you seducing me, lady?" He asked as his big and soft palms traveled up to my nape.

"W-what are you doing?" Wika ko, mahinang-mahina na parang ako lang ang makakarinig.

I heard him grunted and let go of my body.

"Next time, don't go naked in front of me." Matigas nitong wika.

I opened my eyes and met his dark eyes dancing with immense lust.

Silently, I walked barefooted through the suitcase near the doorstep and picked the red one, which was mine.

"I-I'm not coming with you." I said avoiding his piercing gazes to me.

Inayos niya kanina ang mga gamit ko habang naliligo at nagpapatuyo ng buhok. Hindi na ako nagtaka, mga bago ang nilagay niya na binili pa ata nila ng mga kaibigan niya. It was embarrassing because they also bought my personal needs.

"Says who?" Sagot nito habang nakasunod sa akin. I put the suitcase in my bed and sat with it.

Pinaglaruan ko ang dulo ng mahaba kong buhok at yumuko. This is totally embarrassing knowing I'm going with him and his friends. I don't know what's gotten in his mind, basta isasama na lang niya ako. If I'm going with them, it will be the first time I'll see the outside world again.

"Continue dressing. Or else, ako ang magdadamit sa'yo." Napasimangot ako at hindi alintana kung halos nakahubad na ako sa harapan niya.

"Nanay kita? Nanay kita?" Irap ko at binalingan siya ng masamang tingin.

"Okay, hindi mo ako Nanay. But, I'm your baby, right?" He answered with a wide grin plastered on his face.

"Baby?" Ulit ko sa sinabi niya.

"Yah. Dahil nahalikan ko na iyan." Showing his wide grin and looking at my breasts. Bastos.

Ano nanamang kalokohan ang pumasok sa kukote ng kamahalan dahil bigla ba namang umalis habang sabay-sabay kaming kumakain. It was a super late dinner.

A beef steak with a typical Filipino dishes, chicken adobo and a pork menudo cooked by him also. I don't really know what's circulating over his mind dahil kanina pa siya badtrip nang iniwan ako sa kwarto habang nagbibihis.

I looked at his friends happily eating and chit chatting. I almost growl at Wayne when he suddenly snatched the remaining chicken in my plate and ate it all leaving me with no food.

"What the heck, Wayne?" Galit kong inagaw ang plato niyang puno ng pork menudo at isinalin sa plato ko na kanin na lang ang natira.

He suddenly pouted and looked at me like a lost puppy.

"Caldereta is my favorite, inagawan mo ako kanina eh." He said. Napakahina ng boses niya na akala mo hindi ko maririnig eh katabi ko lang naman siya.

They are already wearing comfy clothes that I know are all branded.

I tugged the hem of his shirt and pulled his soft hair.

"What did you just said?" I said through gritted teeth.

Para naman siyang maamong tupa na tumingin sa akin.

I saw in my peripheral vision that his friends stopped eating and watched us argue over a simple problem. Him, snatching my food.

"Go Wayne boy. Kaya mo iyan. Idaan mo lang sa pagpapa-beautiful eyes mo, diyan nabibihag ang mga babae mo." Cheered by Klade and Kaustle. Brothers tandem.

"Yeah. You can do it. Fighting." Sabat ng lalaking pinagpatuloy na ang pagkain. The headband boy, Sun.

Walang imik naman si Max habang matamang nakatingin sa akin papunta sa kamay kong nakahawak sa buhok ni Wayne.

"Um...I'm sorry, Michaella. Hehe. Gutom lang." Mababaw na palusot ni Wayne habang dahan-dahang inaalis ang kamay ko sa buhok niya.

I didn't loosen my grip in his hair, instead I gripped it harder making him groan. Annoyance really makes me a sadistic girl.

"Ano, uulit ka pa?" I asked while looking at him fiercely.

He shooked his head many times and pouted his pinkish lips again.

"Don't make that face on me." I said in annoyance and totally loosened my grip on his hair.

I heard him sighed in relief and took his plates with nothing but rice dahil nga kinuha ko na ang ulam niya.

I suddenly felt guilty. Kakikilala ko palang sa kanila pero ipinakita ko na ang ugali ko. What if they distance themselves to me? I don't like that. Ayaw kong mag-isa ulit. Nakahanap na ako ng kaibigan sa kanila.

I glanced at Wayne and touched his soft hair that was messed because of my grip. Nagulat pa siya kaya naman bigla niyang inilayo ang ulo niya sa akin.

I was filled with sadness suddenly. Ayaw na ba niya sa akin?

I looked at Klade and Kaustle who's now back eating while Sun was already done and now drinking his water. Max was looking at me with an immense gentleness. Siya na lang ba ulit ang kakampi ko?

"I'm sorry, hindi ko naman sinasadyang saktan ka Wayne, sorry Klade and Kaustle, lalo ka na Sun, galit ba kayo sa akin?" Mahina kong bulong na alam kong narinig nila.

Sabay-sabay silang nabilaukan at nanlalaki ang mga mata sa akin.

"What?" Malungkot kong tanong at ibinababa ang tingin ko sa aking plato. Hinawakan ko ang kutsara at tinidor at sabay itong pinaglaruan.

"No! O-ofcourse not, were not mad. It's just that..." Hindi na itinuloy ni Klade at nagtataka akong tumingin sa kaniya.

"Then, why are you all silent?"

"W-wala." Sabay-sabay nilang sagot at nag-iwas sa akin ng tingin. Masyado na ba akong sadista?

I looked at Wayne and he's still silently looking at his plate.

I moved my chair beside him. Marahan kong hinawakan ang buhok niya at ginulo. This time he didn't moved.

Then a long silence.

Lahat sila tahimik na nakatuon ang atensiyon sa kani-kanilang ginagawa.

"What is going on here? I just left, you're now flirting with my mother?" A baritone voice said and I was startled when Isaiah went beside me and patted my head.

"Mother?" Sabay-sabay na naman nilang tanong na akala mo nagdu-duet.

"Yeah. Right Mom?" He winked and I almost fainted when I realized that his pertaining from earlier.

A cold breeze from the midnight time touches my skin as I opened the main door. Napangiti ako ng malaki at itinaas ang mga kamay sa ere habang ninanamnam ang lamig ng pang-gabing hangin.

I smiled widely and removed my jacket na kani-kanina lang ay pinagaawayan namin ni kamahalan kung isusuot ko ba.

"Mica." Banta niya.

Nakasunod pala siya sa akin. Kasabay ko sa paglalakad ang magkapatid na Klade at Kaustle habang nasa likuran ko naman ang kanina pa tahimik na si Max. Sun and Wayne were already at the van. Nauna na sila kanina pa.

I looked around. This is exciting. We're going to Batangas and I'm super overwhelmed when Klade told me that we'll have our vacation there.

Vacation. A big word that was never crossed my mind since I was caged by Isaiah.

"Paumanhin, kamahalan." I answered and looked at the street lights. They were not just ordinary street lights. They were elegantly designed with a yellowish lights coming from every bulb with a very cute little bird statue on every post and a green vines crawling in it.

Nakaka-tuwa. First time ko 'tong makita.

A gentle hand crawled over my exposed shoulder brought me back to my reverie. I glanced at my back and saw Isaiah looking at me darkly.

"Wear the jacket, Mica." Matigas nitong utos at nilagpasan ako.

No. I will not wear this. Nasisiyahan pa ako sa malamig na hangin na dumadampi sa balat ko.

I am wearing a beiged designed long dress with a flat white shoes.

I shrugged my shoulders at nilagpasan ang magkapatid at si Max. Sinundan ko ang nagagalit na kamahalan habang sumasayaw sa ihip ng hangin ang suot kong damit.

It feels nostalgic. Para akong nakalabas ng kulungan. Muntik na akong madapa ng kumirot ang ibaba ko. I almost forget that I'm still sore down there.

Binagalan ko na lang ang paglalakad. Medyo malapit na kami sa naka-park na family van at wala akong ideya kung bakit sa malayo nila ito ipinark.

"Kamahalan? Bakit sa malayo niyo pinark ang sasakyan?" I curiously asked the mighty Isaiah walking with his cool outfit.

"Just walk." Maikli nitong sagot.

I smiled bitterly. Akala ko ba tuloy-tuloy na ang pangyayari kanina at sa mga nagdaang araw na mabait siya sa akin? Hindi pa pala. I thought wrong.

Binagalan ko ang paglalakad at yumuko nalang.

I knotted my forehead when a small shining thing caught my attention. It was laid in the cold cement over the street we're heading. Nilagpasan lang ito ng kamahalan. Nang makalapit ako dito ay pinulot ko ito.

It was a gold necklace with a flower serving as its pendant. Anong ginagawa nito dito? It looks elegant and expensive, who's the owner of this?

I held it in my hand and feel the coldness of it. It was as if I already saw this kind of style. Hindi ko lang maalala. Inayos ko ang jacket na nakasabit sa kaliwa kong braso at hinanap ang bulsa nito. I hid it there and looked at Isaiah. Hila-hila niya ang mga maleta naming dalawa.

He offered to carry it and who am I to decline?

Kinamot ko ang nangangati kong balikat at humikab. It's just 1 o'clock. Madaling-araw palang.

I looked back and saw the two brothers struggling to carry their suitcases. It was four at tigda-dalawa sila sa magkabilang kamay. What's with them? Dinala na ba nila ang lahat ng gamit nila sa closet? While Max is softly humming with a brown suitcase in his right hand.

I was startled when a cold hands touched me.

Napasigaw ako sa gulat. I thought it was a ghost like the one in a movie. Pagharap ko ay nakita ko ang kunot na kunot na noo ng kamahalan habang nakahalukipkip.

"We're here." He informed me and saw at his back a black long elegant SUV.

"I thought you're a ghost."