Wildest Dreams (Tagalog. SPG)

Chapter Seven

Kulang na lamang ay ilagay ni Katya si Janelle sa hotseat at ikut-ikutan ang kaibigan habang nakababad sa dilaw na bumbilya.

"Janelle, bakit nasa bahay mo si Flare McQueen?" namamanghang usisa ni Katya. Muli siyang sumilip sa sala at ang nanlalaki niyang mga mata ay kumislap na parang bituin. "Totoo ba 'to? Grabe, nananaginip lang yata ako."

Mula sa main door na kanilang kinatatayuan, hinila ni Janelle ang kaibigan papuntang garahe. "Look Katya, nakiusap siya sa 'kin na mag-stay dito nang ilang days. Sorry kung hindi ko sinabi agad sa'yo. But I'm begging you, 'wag mong sabihin kahit kanino... kahit sa classmates at boyfriend mo, okay?"

"She's right."

Sabay na ipinihit ng magkaibigan ang kanilang mga mukha sa main door. Bagaman parehong nagulat, mas malaki ang awang ng bibig ni Katya.

"Wag mong sisihin si Janelle, Miss. But for the sake of your friend, you won't expose where I hide," ani Flare sabay tingin sa namumutlang si Janelle.

"O-oo naman." Tumango-tango si Katya at tumawa nang sapilitan. "N-nagulat lang naman ako, F-Flare. Syempre hindi ko sasabihin kahit kanino. Madaldal lang talaga ako pero hindi ko ilalaglag si Janelle."

Flare gulped down huge swigs from his red wine glass. "Good."

"S-salamat pala kanina, binuhat mo ako n'ong nahimatay ako. Hayaan mo, next time hindi na ako mahihimatay 'pag nakita kita," Katya smiled widely, pero ang mga mata niya ay tulala pa rin.

Tinapik ni Flare sa balikat si Katya. "No problem. Sige, maiwan ko na muna kayo. I'll go in." Flare gave them a civil smile and turned his back on them.

Nang sigurado na si Katya na wala nang ibang nakikinig sa kanila, nagtatatalon siya habang hawak-hawak ang mga kamay ni Janelle. "Girl! Ang suwerte-swerte-swerte mo! Kasama mo si Adonis sa bahay mo! Teka, wala ka bang balak?"

Hinatak ni Janelle ang mga kamay mula sa kaibigan at pinandilatan ito ng mga mata. "What are you talking about, Katya? Anong balak ang pinagsasasabi mo!"

"Wala! Pero masaya ako para sa 'yo! Mukhang magkaka-love life ka na! At kay Flare Mc--"

Agad na tinakpan ni Janelle ang bibig ni Katya saka sumilip sa sala. Naroon pa rin ang aktor at umiinom ng wine. "Ano bang iniisip mo? He's just boarding in here! Aalis din siya after one week!"

"Ah basta! You're both under the same roof, maraming pwedeng mangyari. Pustahan pa tayo!"

"That won't happen, okay?" He doesn't even like me.

"That-won't happen- my ass!" Inilapit ni Katya ang bibig sa tenga ng kaibigan at nakangising bumulong. "Tingnan ko lang."

Janelle gave her friend a get-the-hell-out-of-here glare. Hindi na nga niya hinatid si Katya sa gate dahil ayaw niyang marinig ang huling panunukso nito bago tuluyang magpaalam. Getting back inside the house, she kept on walking straight, makaiwas lamang na mahagip ng kanyang paningin ang aktor. Ngunit nang paakyat na siya sa kwarto'y awtomatiko siyang napahinto nang marinig ang boses nito.

"Janelle! Halika, samahan mo akong manuod," ani Flare at inilipat ang channel sa HBO.

"S-sure," she muttered shyly. But when she glanced at Flare's body lying on the couch, her heart began to pumped hard again. His head was resting on his sculpted arms and it made Janelle bit her lower lip. What if I touch him... Ano kayang gagawin niya?

"You okay?"

Janelle gasped as she heard his deep voice. He was looking at her in a confused handsome face. "Are you gonna say something? What's wrong?"

"Oh... Uhm... I just wanna say sorry because of Katya. Hindi ko alam na--"

"I know," natatawang bumangon si Flare. "Halika nga rito." aniya sabay hila sa braso ng dalaga. Inakbayan pa niya ito.

"Ako lang ang nagtatago, Janelle. Not you. Hindi naman pwedeng huminto ang buhay mo dahil sa 'kin. If you want to send your friend here like before, it's fine with me. I know she can be trusted and I trust you more, so no need to explain, alright?"

"O-okay," Janelle squeeked in shivering voice.

"By the way, thank you for the shirts... and for bringing grilled tuna," ani Flare.

"Y-you're welcome. It just happened that I know your favorites." Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Janelle sa huling tinuran. Oh,s**t!

"Really?" Flare tilted his head and grinned widely. "You know my favorites? Why?"

"H-huh?" Janelle felt she betrayed her own self. She was trying hard to be oblivious about him, but now here she was- proudly spilling the beans of cognizance.

What now? Anong sasabihin ko sa kanya? Janelle thought while panicking internally.

Nasa gitna sila ng nakabibinging katahimikan nang biglang umalingawngaw ang matining na tunog ng cellphone.

"I... I think it's my phone. Naiwanan ko 'yon sa kitchen."

"Go ahead. It must be important," Flare responded while nodding. But his eyes were still planted at Janelle's flushed face.

"E-excuse me." Tumayo si Janelle at nakayukong naglakad palayo, ngunit ramdam ng mga balahibo niya sa batok na sumusunod sa kanya ang paningin ng aktor.

Muling ipinihit ni Flare mukha sa pinapanood. His lips bent upward to a sweet smile as he recalled Janelle's reaction. "I think she's into something."

Ang isip niya ay nasa kasagsagan ng paglalakbay ngunit ito'y pinutol ng pag-ring ng kanyang cellphone.

Oh, it's Raffy. "Yes, Pare. What's up?"

"Insan! Kung hindi pa ako pumunta sa taping mo, hindi ko malalaman na wala ka. So ano? Saan ka ngayon? Tell me at magdadala ako ng girls d'yan pati isang case ng beer," anang masiglang boses sa kabilang linya.

"No, Raff. Hindi ko puwedeng sabihin. Besides, nasa matinong bahay ako. Hindi uubra rito ang mga kalokohan mo."

"Matinong bahay? Sounds interesting! Bakit? May kasama ka bang babae? Sino siya?Maganda ba? Sexy? Is she hot? Game ba siya?"

Flare turned off the TV and hurriedly went upstairs. He locked his room and let himself fall in bed. "Okay, she's not what you think. She's a very decent woman. Hindi siya katulad ng mga babaeng tini-take out mo every week," depensa niya habang nakakunot ang noo.

Napahalakhak si Raffy. Bukod sa malakas niyang boses, nakabibingi rin ang masiglang musika sa kinalalagyan nito.

"Wow, mukhang seryoso na talaga 'yan, ah! Well, I'm just checking on you. Take time with your girl at balitaan mo na lang ako soon."

Nagpakawala nang malalim na buntong hininga si Flare. "She's not my girlfriend." ...Yet.

"What! Ang hina mo naman, Insan! Kasama mo na, wala pa ring nangyayari? Ikaw ba talaga 'yan? Kelan ka pa nagtimpi sa babae? Kung ako nand'yan, ilang segundo lang umuungol na 'yan."

"Gago nito," saway ni Flare na nakakunot ang noo. In his mind, he's already  murdering his slut cousin.

"IKaw naman kasi, ang bagal mo! Palibhasa sanay kang ikaw ang nililigawan ng babae. Teka, do you like her?"

Flare paused for a moment and smiled sweetly as he took a quick glance at Janelle's image on his cellphone. Yes, he had her image and it was a stolen shot.

Dumaan ang ilan pang araw. Janelle continued her routines as normal as before. Madali lang sana 'yon, pero tuwing makikita si Flare, nasisira ang konsentrasyon niya.

One evening, while everyone were falling into their deep slumber, Janelle was still wide-awake, fueling herself with determination in order to finish her work.

"I've been doing this for hours pero hindi pa rin tally!" she hissed, gulping another quantity of coffee.

"Just deal with that tomorrow."

Janelle's fingers froze on the keyboard as she heard an almost whisper and husky voice. Lumingon siya sa likod at namataang nakatayo roon si Flare. He's now wearing a sleeping pants but his gym-molded torso was exposed. His dark brown hair was a mess, covering a portion of his forehead, but it made him looked more appealing, more sinful.

"F-Flare? G-gising ka pa?"

"Uminom lang ako ng tubig," ani Flare na napalingon sa laptop. "Need help?"

Janelle shook her head. "N-no. Matatapos ko na rin 'to. Ikaw, you should get back to sleep."

"You're right." Ngunit imbes na pumanhik sa kanyang kwarto, umikot si Flare sa sopa at umupo sa tabi ni Janelle. "That's why you should get back to sleep too."

"I really can't, Flare. I need--"

Hindi natapos ni Janelle ang katuwiran at nanlaki na lamang ang mga mata nang biglang itinupi ni Flare ang laptop. Pagkatapos nitong humiga siya sa sopa na ang kanyang ulo ay nakaunan sa mga hita ng dalaga.

"Anong ginagawa mo, Flare!" Janelle freaked out. Sa lahat pa naman ng ayaw niya'y ang pinapakialaman ang ginagawa sa laptop. Kaya si Katya na kaibigan niya'y hindi nangangahas na ito'y gawin. Ngunit si Flare ay hindi man lang nag-alinlangan na siya ay guluhin.

"Oh, come on Janelle. You wouldn't lose anything, alright? That could be restored," saad ni Flare na halatang komportable sa kanyang posisyon.

You really, really drive me nuts! Janelle thought while breathing heavily. She was staring at Flare's peaceful face but her hands were both on the side of her hips. Pero bakit hindi ko magawang magalit? Hinahayaan ko pa siyang gawin akong unan!

"Janelle?" Flare called, his eyes closed.

"Y-yeah?"

"Thank you."

"F-for what?"

"For letting me stay."

"Y-you're welcome. Lagi namang bukas ang bahay ko sa 'yo."

Umiling si Flare at bahagyang natawa. Gayumpaman, nananatiling sarado ang kanyang mga mata. "I'm not referring to your house, Janelle..."

"So what do you mean. Para saan ka ba nagpapasalamat?"

"I wanna thank you for letting me stay into your life."

"I... I don't understand you, Flare. Anong ibig mong sabi--"

"Could I ask you, Janelle?"

"W-what is it?"

Flare opened his eyes and flashed an amorous gaze at Janelle's confused and nervous face. "Bakit mo ako hinalikan noong unang beses na natulog ako rito?" His voice was almost a whispered but it sent butterflies inside Janelle's system.

"S-sinabi ko na sa'yo di 'ba? I was drunk that night. Hindi ko alam na nagawa ko 'yon."

Marahang bumangon si Flare, at sa muli niyang pagharap kay Janelle, nakahawak na ang mga palad niya sa nanginginit na pisngi ng dalaga.

"Really? Bakit hindi gan'on ang pinapakita mo?" kunot-noo na tanong ng aktor habang papalit-palit ang pagtitig sa mga mata ni Janelle. "Bakit hindi alak ang nalasahan ko sa mga labi mo noon? Bakit no'ng niyakap mo ako, iba ang naramdaman ko? Bakit masyado kang nag-aalala? Bakit--"

"S-stop it, Flare! I don't know what you're talking about!" Janelle took off Flare's hands on her cheeks and ran through the stairs.

Flare paused for some seconds. But this time he was really eager to squeeze the answers for the puzzles spinning madly into his mind. Kaya sinundan niya si Janelle at bago pa tuluyang mai-lock ng dalaga ang kwarto niya'y nakapasok na roon ang aktor.

"Ano ba talagang gusto mo, Flare?" Janelle asked, her voice was powerless.

"Stop avoiding me, Janelle! It kills me!" Flare closed the door rudely. He grabbed her body and pinned against the wall. "Now tell me. Do you like me, huh?"

Janelle's words turned into heavy gulps. She wanted to stooped down but she couldn't even move her face because Flare's forehead was touching hers. He was trapping her.

"Okay. You know what? I'm so into you. Gusto na kita kahit n'ong hindi pa tayo magkakilala, Janelle! Now, tell me you want me too!"