Burning Attraction

Kabanata 6

NANG makapagpalit ng damit ay bumalik ako sa sala. Kumpleto na sila ngayon doon. The girls were sitting on the long sofa while facing Priston when I came back. The jerk, on the other hand looked like he was about to s**t his pants.

"Marshall, wala naman sa tanong namin ang nasasagot nang diretso ni Priston." Nagtaas ng kilay si Bleu, parang naiinis na.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Knock it off. Help me pack my things."

Naunang tumayo si Calithea upang daluhan ako. She clung her arms around mine. "Does this mean you're back together now?"

Back together? Ew.

Napairap ako sa hangin. Naglakad ako patungo sa dressing room. Tanging si Nioeni at Calithea lamang ang sumunod sa akin. Iyong dalawa, hindi nagpatinag.

Nauna kong kinuha ang mga sapatos ko, and then my accessories. Nakahiwalay iyon sa ibang lalagyan, ang mga damit naman ay sa isang maliit na maleta. Kung titignan tuloy ay parang napakalayo ng pupuntahan ko.

"So.. where is he taking you? Are you two going to live like.. you know."

Napatigil ako sa paglalagay ng damit. I raised a brow and turned sideways. "I'm going to live with him because that's what my parents want."

Nieoni's lips formed an o shape. She's still got the malicious look on her face and she definitely don't believe in me. Hindi ko nalang iyon pinansin at nagpatuloy sa ginagawa.

I zipped the zipper of my bag when I finished packing my things. Nagdadalawang isip pa rin ako kung dadalhin ko ang gitara ko. I mean, I won't be sleeping here for a while pero dito pa rin naman ako madalas na pupunta. Baka mamisplaced ko lang kung dadalhin ko pa.

But on the second thought, it might be boring there. Napahimas ako sa tungki ng ilong ko habang pinagmamasdan ang gitara kong nakasandal sa maleta.

Speak up, are you coming with me or not?

Napatigil lamang ako sa pag-iisip nang bumukas ang pinto. Iniluwa noon si Xash. She was widely grinning at me and I can only imagine how things are going in her dirty mind.

"You're taking him back." That sounds like an opening of an argument.

"I am not," matigas kong sagot at hinila ang hawakan ng maleta.

Humalaklak ito. "Oh, don't f**k with me."

Nilakihan ko ang awang ng pinto bago siya nilingon nang ilang segundo. "I'm not planning to."

Narinig ko parin ang mga yabag ng sapatos nito kahit nang makalabas ako. Pigil ko ang paghinga ko. Bakit ba lahat sila iniisip na magkakabalikan kami? Ano ako, tanga?

Priston stood up as soon as he saw me. Mabilis itong lumapit sa akin sabay agaw sa mga dala ko na para bang nagmamadali. Si Bleu naman ay nakasunod sa amin ng tingin. Hindi pa ba siya tapos sa pagtatanong?

"Your friends are scary." Priston whispered in my ear.

Nilingon ko siya para pagtaasan ng kilay. I didn't say bye and walked straight out of the studio. Narinig ko pang may sinabi si Xash pero malaki na ang distansya namin kaya't hindi na naging malinaw sa pandinig ko iyon.

Sinabayan ako ni Priston sa paglakad. "Are you always like that?"

"What?"

"Leaving without saying goodbye?"

Oh. You're the one to talk. Gusto ko iyong isantinig pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Nang makalapit sa kotse ay pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto. Sa tabi na naman niya ako pinaupo, ang mga gamit ay sa likod. Wala naman akong problema doon, as long as we wouldn't have to talk.

He started the engine and took a glance at the rear view mirror. He was wearing his natural serious face while holding the steering wheel. Bumalik ang mga mata ko sa mukha nito at pinagtuunan ng pansin ang maliliit na buhok na nagsisimula nang tumubo sa baba nito. I didn't realize I was already holding my breath while I scrutinize his face.

I don't understand why a mustache looks good on him, but looks dirty on others.

"Stop staring at me. Baka isipin ko niyan gusto mo akong balikan." He chuckled roughly.

Otomatiko akong nag-iwas ng tingin. "Asa ka."

Pakiramdam ko umiinit ang pisngi ko. I let out an irritated face and focus my eyes outside the window. Hindi na siya muling nagsalita noon pero narinig ko ang pagkislot ng kamay nito. And then a music started to play.

"What music?" he asked.

"Kahit ano."

"Hmm, what songs do you listen the most?"

"Kung ano nalang ang meron ka." Sagot ko, hindi parin siya nililingon.

"I'm asking so you wouldn't have to put your earphones on."

Ano naman kung mag-earphones ako?

He played 'Why U Gotta Be Like That' by Audrey. Madalas iyong pinatutugtog ni Xash. It's her type of song. Sumandal ako sa headrest ng upuan at ibinaling ang atensyon sa harap.

Hindi ko pa pala siya natatanong kung saan ang punta namin, o kung saan ako titira. I yawned. Nalaglag ang mga balikat ko. My body was relaxing. Sa bawat pagpikit ko ay bumibigat na rin ang tuklap ng mga mata ko. Hanggang sa hindi ko na namalayan na hinila na pala ako ng kaantukan.

NAGISING ako sa isang hindi pamilyar na kwarto. Gray painted walls. Navy blue bean bag sofa. White pillow and black thick blanket. The room looks manly.. Priston!

Agad akong napabagon. I removed the blanket that was covering my body and use the house shoes that was placed beside the bed. Lumabas ako ng kwarto.

There was a white stair with a glass railing. A tear-shaped light. On my left was a plain white wall with two paintings. The house was huge..

Nang hagurin ko pa ng tingin ang paligid ay hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang malaking glass window. Nasa mataas na lugar ako!

A condo unit? Mas bumilis ang lakad ko. The living room was empty. Nasaan si Priston? Was I left alone? Nasaan ang mga gamit ko?

When I didn't find any trace of him even in the kitchen I went back to his room. Natagpuan ko sa sidetable ang cellphone ko roon. There was a small piece of paper underneath.

I'll go out for a bit. If you're hungry, check the fridge.

- Jax

It looks like his handwriting. Doon ako nakahinga nang maluwag. Lumabas ako ng kwarto at nag-ikot ikot pa sa bahay. I figured there's another room on the right. Nang buksan ko iyon ay nakita ko ang mga gamit ko sa ibabaw ng kama.

I didn't know he has a condo unit. Does he live here alone? Pero bakit may extra room? It looks clean. Dito ba niya dinadala ang mga babae niya? Masyadong magara ang lugar na 'to para gawin niyang tuluyan ng mga nakaka-s*x niya.

But that's not something I should be thinking about. Ang dapat na inaalala ko ay kung paano siya kakausapin. Kung paano ang magiging set-up namin.

Nagtungo ako ng kusina at kumuha ng tubig. Hindi ko alam kung hihintayin ko siya o sa labas na ako kakain. Ayaw ko namang pakielaman pa ang kusina niya.

I put the glass on the kitchen sink and sat on the stool. Dinukot ko ang cellphone ko at binukas iyon. It doesn't have any passcode. Pero wala namang kahit ano sa phone ko. It doesn't even have a picture of me. Puro litrato lang ng shop ang nandito. Mga numero nila Bleu at isang damakmak na music.

I scrolled down on my messages. There was a message from Bleu, Xash, Rylle.. wait, why do I have his number?

Sunod akong dumalaw sa mga contacts ko. I scrolled down until I reached the end. Naka-save nga ang number ni Rylle doon. May missed call noong nakaraang linggo. Did Bleu save his number?

Akala ko iyon lang pero mayroon pa akong isang nakita. A contact named Papa Bear. I cringed upon mentally reading it. Papa Bear? What the f**k is that?

Pinindot ko iyon at sinubukang tawagan para kumpirmahin. Was it Bleu's new number?

"Yes, baby?"

Ilang beses akong napakurap. The voice was familiar, pero hindi iyon kay Bleu. Inalis ko sa tenga ko ang cellphone at tinitigan ang screen. My mouth hang open in realization.

"Jax Priston?!" I exclaimed. "Why is your number saved as Papa Bear?"

"You don't like it?"

He f*****g sounds like it wasn't natural for me to ask. Ano ba kami, close? And why did he touch my phone without my consent?

"Where are you?" Kumunot ang noo ko.

"On my way home," I heard him breath. "Hmm, have you eaten?"

I looked down. Embarrassment overtook my face. "Bakit mo tinatanong?"

"Is there something you wanna eat?"

Matagal bago ako nakasagot. "Wala, umuwi kana. We will talk." I dropped the call.

Huminga ako nang malalim at tumayo. Malamyos lamang ang bawat paghakbang ko. I crossed my arms and walked back and forth.

Tumingala ako at bumuga ng hangin. I went to the bathroom and washed myself. I soaked myself in the warm water. Masyadong aligaga ang isip ko sa pag-iisip na nakaligtaan ko na ang oras.

I was thinking about a lot of things. Ano pa kaya ang sinabi ni Priston kay Mama para mapapayag na bumalik ako ng Manila? I'm sure there were terms and conditions. Katulad nalang nang pagtira ko sa bahay ni Priston.

I closed my eyes for a bit. Ngayong nandito na ako, seeing Priston will be inevitable. Anong nangyari sa sinasabi kong hindi ko gugustuhing mapunta sa iisang lugar kasama siya?

Tumayo na ako at binanlawan ang sarili ko. There was a silky robe prepared on a wall mounted clothes rail. Mayroon pang isa na kulay navy blue. I'm sure that belongs to him.

Dinampot ko ang towel at ikinaskas iyon sa buhok ko upang patuyuin. Lumabas ako ng cr at pumuntang kama. Now that the lights are all on. I could clearly see the interior designs of this room.

Too girly. Pink wall. Pink closet. Pink bed and pink bean bag sofa. The make up dresser was pink, too.

Naupo ako at patuloy na pinatuyo ang buhok ko. On the left side of the room, there was a personal computer. A computer chair and a pair of speaker. Masyadong disente ang kwarto. Mas lalo pang lumaki ang kuryusidad ko.

I snapped out from my thoughts when I heard a knock. My head automatically turned at the door. Nagtungo ako roon para buksan iyon.

"The food wasn't touched. Hindi ka kumain—" He stopped talking when he realized I was only wearing a robe.

Lumunok ako at nagbaba ng tingin sa sarili. Malakas na isinarado ko ang pinto at bumalik sa kama para magpalit ng damit. Mabuti nalang at hindi ganoon kalaki ang awang, he didn't see much.. right?

Nang makatapos magbihis ay hindi ko rin agad binuksan ang pinto. I was hesitant. Nasa labas parin ba siya? Is he waiting?

"Marshall?"

Halos mapatalon pa ako nerbyos nang marinig ang boses nito. It sounds near! Huminga ako nang malalim bago abutin ang pinto. I slowly opened the door. The first thing I saw was his white polo.

Umiwas ako ng tingin at naunang maglakad. Narinig ko ang mga yabag nito sa likod ko. Malakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko habang bumababa ng hagdan. I

was anxious. Probably because I wasn't comfortable of being alone with him.

"Anong pag-uusapan natin?"

Naupo ako sa single sofa. I placed the white throwpillow on top of my legs. "About the set up." I was thankful I said that without stammering.

Tumayo ito sa gilid ko. When I glaced at him I saw him curling up his sleeves 'til his elbow.

"Hmm, If you think I'll cage you here. You're wrong. You'll only sleep here, but you can still do things as you please."

I averted his gaze. "What about my studies? Did she not told you anything about it?"

"Why are you so worried? Would you do it if she really said that you'd continue your course?"

I will not. Nanatili akong walang imik.

"Don't stress yourself. Let's just eat." Ipinasok nito ang kamay sa bulsa at tumalikod.