Cradle Snatcher

CS 5

CS 4

Born to rule

Nang makauwi kame ni Dash sa bahay ay dumiretso ako sa kwarto para makaligo at makapag palit. I change into my black racerback and white cotton shorts tapos ay nag lagay ako ng skin care.

Bumaba ako at naabutan si Dash sa kusina. Nakapag palit na rin ito at medyo mamasa masa pa ang buhok. Nakatalikod ito sa akin at tinitignan ang niluluto nya. Umupo ako sa high chair saka pumangalumbaba.

"Dash..." tawag ko rito.

Nanigas ito sa kinatatayuan nya na para bang nagulat sa presensya ko. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko sa pag tawa. Kunot noo itong bumaling sa akin.

"Okay... okay. I'm sorry..." natatawa ko pa ring sabi. "Anyway, as I was saying, I want to join the cheering squad in Xavier and Alona said that there's an audition tomorrow."

Tila nahihirapang tumango si Dash. "That's a great idea... I can go with you,"

Ngumuso ako. "But Alona and Lilac said that they'll come with me."

Pinatay ni Dash ang kalan saka inilagay ang niluto nya sa plato. "I'd still go with you. Don't worry, I'll just watch,"

Napatingin ako sa niluto nito. I was thankful that what he cooked was good for my diet. Kapag kase hindi kasama sa diet ko ang pagkain ay hindi talaga ako kumakain. It took me years to finally get over my eating disorder and I don't wanna go back.

Nilagyan ako nito ng salad at salmon sa plato ko. "Thank you," sabi ko rito. "Umm... Dash?"

Uminom ito sa banana juice nya saka tumingin sa akin. "Hmm?"

Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko. "Pwede bang itago muna natin yung tungkol sa kasal? I mean, I'm still in my last year in college. Alam naman na ng family natin but can we keep it a secret at school? And to non-relatives? I-"

"Okay," putol nito sa akin. "If that's what you want." madiin ang boses nito. I don't know if it's my imagination but I think his eyes turned darker and he seemed angry?

After dinner I offered to do the dishes but he insisted and he pushed me to go upstairs and take a rest. Nag sipilyo muna ako at inayos ang sarili ko.

Nang makahiga ako sa kama ko ay napabuntong hininga ako. I wonder how Leanne, Rose and Jessie are doing. Also Mommy and Daddy? Sana ay hindi na ganoon kabigat ang nararamdaman nila ngayon dahil sa nagawa ko. And I hope Kuya Cage won't go mad ape on me once he finds out.

I woke up early the next day. After I took a bath I blow dried my hair and put it in two tight braids. I wore black leggings and white nike shirt and my running shoes. Inabot ko lamang ang duffel bag ko at bumaba na.

Dash seems casual today. Naka suot ito ng itim na board shorts at puting polo shirt with his topsider. I bit my lips when I noticed that he was wearing his glasses. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko nang maramdaman ang mabilis na pag t***k nito. Napailing ako. Okay! Dash is undeniably attractive. I won't deny that. He was preparing our breakfast in the veranda.

Napatingin ito sa akin saka ngumiti. "You're ready? Let's eat breakfast then I'll drive you to school,"

Napaawang ang labi ko. He's not mad anymore? Kagabi kase pagkatapos naming mag usap ay parang galit ito sa akin. I sighed at lumapit na sa mini table. Meron nakahandang toast, bacon and eggs. Sa gilid ay may gatas at banana juice.

Umupo kame pareho at nag simula nang kumain. The morning todays seems light and good. Hindi ganoon kataas ang araw at hindi ganoon kalilim. Sakto at tama lang.

"Tallulah!" tili ni Lilac.

Natawa ako at naiiling na ngumiti dito. "Hey Lilac, Alona, thanks for coming with me today." sabi ko sa kanila.

Ngumiti si Lilac. "No worries, wala din naman kameng gagawin sa bahay. Besides we really want to hang out with you," siniko nito si Alona na naka headphones habang naka tingin sa field. Andun yung mga football players at cheering squad na mukhang nagte training. "Diba?" tanong nito kay Alona.

Tila nagulat si Alona at natatarantang tinanggal ang headphones nya. "What?" tanong nito.

Napailing si Lilac. "Sabi ko we really want to hang out with, Tal! Diba?"

Napabuntong hininga si Alona at tumango tango. "Ah! Yes, of course."

Bumaling muli sakin si Lilac at tinitigan ako. "Looking good, huh? Ang ganda ng katawan mo girl!" maarte nitong sabi. Natawa ako. "Asan pala si Kuya Dash?"

Kinagat ko ang ibaba kong labi. "Ah, he said there's an emergency at the office kaya..." nagkibit balikat ako.

Napatingin kame sa field nang mapansin naming magkumpulan ang mga tao rito at mag ingay. Hinawakan ni Lilac ang kamay naming dalawa ni Alona.

"Let's go, Tal, Alona! Baka start na ng audition!" excited na sabi ni Lilac.

Akay akay kame nitong nag lakad papunta sa field. Mayroon duon isang malaking lamesa na may nakaupong mga cheerleader. I guess they are the seniors. May mga hawak silang papel at sa harap nila ay mayroong mga forms. I submitted my form last night through mail.

"Okay! So first things first, the audition will only be held today and the results cannot be questioned and is final. Do take note that we have our criteria for judging and we've been doing this for years. The results will be posted at the bulletin board and at the website two to three days after the audition." sabi ng lalakeng coach. "All of you auditionees are thirty four but we only need ten for the squad. So no hard feelings for those who won't make it. Better luck next year."

Umatras ito sa mahabang lamesa at dumantay dito. The coach actually looks young and he's handsome. I think he's in his late 20's. He looked cute with his brown curly hair, hazel eyes and dimples. Matangos ang ilong, malalim ang mga mata at mapupula ang labi. He's fit and well toned. A complete charmer for a coach.

"So once we call your name step up in front and show us what you've got," sabi nito saka ngumiti.

I heard Lilac's dreamily sigh. "Ang gwapo talaga ni Coach Calister." she said while looking with heart eyes at Coach Calister.

Natawa ako. I think this is also one of the reasons why she wanted to go with me today. To see this charmer coach Calister. Habang nanonood kame at lalo lamang dumadami ang nanonood. Even the football players stopped training to watch. Some of them were cheering for the auditionees that I think were okay but not good enough.

I smirked playfully. Lumalabas na naman ang pagka palaban mo, Tallulah Desiree. Well, I'm not a Nepumoceno for nothing.

"Tallulah Desiree Nepumoceno," tawag sa akin ni Coach Calister.

Napatalon si Lilac. "That's you!" tili nito at agad naming naagaw ang pansin ng lahat. I saw one cute football player checking me out.

Naglakad ako papunta sa gitna at hinarap ang cheering squad at ang Coach. Sa gilid nun ay ang mga football player. Some of them were shamelessly gawking at me from head to toe!

I know, I'm gorgoeus.

"So you're a former cheerleader in Manila? And actually one of the best cheering squads in the city. You're a former bulldog, huh?" tanong ni Coach Calister.

I smiled confidently. "Yes, Coach."

Ngumiti ito at tumango tango. "Wag na natin itong patagalin. Show us what you've got,"

Nagsimulang tumogtog ang music at lalo lamang akong napa ngiti. I started doing our stunts and steps that I personally made. Habang sumasayaw ako ay napa tingin ako sa football player na nakita ko kanina. He was playing his lips with his knuckles while carefully watching me dance.

Nang matapos ang sayaw ay lahat nang nanonood ay napa palakpak sa akin. Some of them were cheering for me but of course, Lilac's voice stand out. The coach even clapped for me which he have not done for the other auditionees.

"Impressive," kumento nito sa akin.

I smiled. "Thank you, Coach."

Bumalik na ako sa tinatayuan ko kanina at kaagad naman akong niyugyog ni Lilac. "What the hell! I didn't know that you were that awesome!" nanlalaki ang mata nitong sabi. "Oh my cheese balls! Kuya Dash will surely pee his pants once he sees you dance!"

Napabaling ako kay Alona nang ngumiti ito. "That was great, Tal. I'm sure you'll make it to the squad,"

Lalo lamang akong napa ngiti. "Thanks you two, let's go to A's Cafe. I'll treat you,"

Napa talon si Lilac. "Yay! Let's go! Let's go!" excited nitong sabi na parang bata na ikinailing ni Alona.

"She's always this hype but don't worry, she's harmless." sabi nito na ikinatawa ko.

Napasimangot si Lilac at masamang tinignan si Alona. "I heard that! Tara na nga," masungit nitong sabi.

Naglakad na kameng tatlo papunta sa Cafe. Lilac was clinging unto my arm and Alona's arm.

"Tallulah!" napahinto kame sa paglalakad at napalingon nang may tumawag sa akin.

I saw the cute football player half running towards us. Nang makarating ito sa tapat namin ay ginulo nya ang mahaba nyang buhok saka ngumiti. Siniko ako ni Lilac na mukhang kinikilig. Si Alona naman ay natigilan.

"Uh, do I know you?" tanong ko dito.

Lalong lumapad ang ngiti nito. "I guess not... I just wanted to say that you were splendid and you'll make it to the team. So congrats."

Napaawang ang labi ko ngunit agad ko ding isinara. "Thanks?" patanong kong sagot.

Napahalakhak ito sa sinabi ko at napakagat da ibabang labi nya. Mabilis itong pumula. "See you around..." sabi nito at nag half bow.

Nang maka alis ito ay lalo lamang naging maingay si Lilac. Dumiretso na kame sa Cafe at umorder ng makakain at iinomin namin.

"Oh my cheese balls! How can you not know, Moon Zion Pelayo?!" tanong sa akin ni Lilac nang makaupo kame.

Tinanggal ni Alona ang headphones nya at nakinig sa amin. "Umm, because I'm a transfery?"

Maarteng umirap si Lilac. "Girl, no! Even ladies from Manila knows Moon!" tumatango tangong sabi nito.

"He's that popular?" tanong ko.

Alona nodded. "Yup. He's the team captain of the football team, he ranks first in academics and he's the vocalist of the Born to Rule."

"What's Born to Rule?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

"A band, basically." Alona said with a matter of fact.

"The Born to Rule, Golden Alphas actually, consists of four members, Moon the band leader and vocalist, Spade the bassist, Damiań the bassist and guitarist and last but not the least, Uno our cousin, the drummer." dagdag ni Lilac.

"Alphas?" halos matawa ako. "Who gave their band that corny name?"

Ngumuso si Alona. "Well, that's actually a tradition of the school. Matagal na ang Golden Alphas, they just continue it generations to generation. It's a privilage to be a part of that band,"

"Oh..." iyon na lamang ang nasabi ko.

"But girl! Oh my cheese balls, why did he approach you kanina? He even praised you! I think he likes you!" sabi ni Lilac.

Natawa lamang ako sa sinabi nito. "I mean, Moon isn't the type of guy who approaches girls. Wala nga itong rumored girlfriend o kahit nililigawan man lang. He has a lot of fan girls pero suplado talaga kaya nagulat ako kanina. He smiled! The golden Moon smiled!" hysterical na sabi ni Lilac.

"Stop it, Lilac. Tallulah is already married to Kuya Dash, remember?" sabi ni Alona.

For a split second, I almost forgot about Dash and our marriage. Napapikit ako nang mariin saka umiling. I sighed. Tama nga naman si Alona. I can't just act like a free woman. I'm married now and I should stand to my limits.

"Wife..." lalo lamang akong nanigas sa kinauupuan ko nang marinig ang malalim at paos na boses ni Dash. I know it's him, sya lamang ang may ganoon boses at sya lamang ang tunatawag sa akin ng ganun.

I suddenly felt my heart hammering wild against my ribcage. I had to breathe deep to calm it down. Dinilat ko ang mga mata ko at nilingon si Dash na matamang nakatitig sa akin gamit ang malalalim nyang mga mata.

"Let's go home."

To be continued... ♡