Watch my Step (Friend Series #4)

Chapter 10

After my brother's graduation, he flew to Maldives for his vacation, kasama si Mommy at Daddy. Kasama sana ako kung hindi ko lang ginalit ang ama.

Isang lagitik ng sampal ang pumailanlang sa study room ni Daddy. Lukot-lukot na ang card na hawak dahil sa mahigpit nitong hawak. He was shaking out of anger. I didn't know that he can be this furious because of my average grades.

"Your brother isn't telling me anything but I know what you're doing." nanggagaliiti nitong sabi habang ang isang kamay ay marahas na niluluwagan ang kanyang necktie.

He walked to his table and grabbed the bottle of rum. He sat on his leather chair and carelessly poured a drink into his glass. He slugged down his rum before he returned his sharp gaze on me.

"You can't make it to the dean's list because you're busy whoring around."

He crumpled my card and threw it onto the trash bin beside his table. How the sound of my crumpled card hit the metal trash bin made me feel trashy. My father never fails making me feel less.

I tried to mask my anger and annoyance with a stoic facade. His words may anger and annoy me but it didn't pain me anymore. Anger and annoyance are the limit. Kaya kahit gaano pa kasakit ang mga salitang ibato niya sa akin ngayon ay wala na ring epekto sa'kin. His constant sermon made me numb.

"Huwag kang magbabakasyon kasama ang mga kaibigan mo! At huwag kang manlalalaki, Estefania! Stop dragging yourself into disrepute and study instead!"

I even forbade myself making any reactions just so I could free myself from his cage immediately. Arguing with him will only prolong this and I don't think I could afford a minute standing here without releasing my anger at him.

"Make sure that your name will be on the top of dean's list next semester." banta nito saka ako hinayaang makawala.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapairap nang makatalikod ako sa ama. I don't want to disrespect him but my anger over him was uncontrollable.

I don't understand why most people aim to be on top when all I see of being there is another fucking burden. Sure, you get all the recognitions, attentions and all but in exchange of what? You have to maintain your rank so as to continuously please the people that believe in you.

Simula roon, pakiramdam mo hindi ka na puwedeng magkamali dahil may mga taong naniniwala na sa'yo. You start to push yourself to strive harder to meet their expectations.

There's nothing wrong with that. Nakakalungkot lang isipin na iyong bagay na sinimulan mong gawin para sa sarili mo ay tinatapos mo na para sa kaligayahan ng iba.

I never experienced it but I saw it with my own eyes. I saw how Luke struggled himself to maintain his good grades and became the best student in his class. Through that, he missed the fun that he will never have onwards. I just hope that all his sacrifices will all be worth it.

My father's words were like a curriculum that must be implemented. Kaya hindi na ako nagtaka nang makita ang sarili ko sa isang mesa, nag-aaral sa kalagitnaan ng bakasyon.

Hindi ko maintindihan.

I can up my grades and elevate my rank in class without spending my whole vacation studying. It is just that I don't want to. My grades are average by choice and I want my grades average as it is.

Aside from my laziness, which is successfully hampering me from upping my grades, I also do not want to give people the chance to create their own set of expectations for me.

I sighed and took a sip from my coffee.

"Bobo ka talaga. Ang sabi ko sa'yo lagyan mo ng tres sa dulo."

Tiningnan ko ang dalawa sa harap na nag-aaway dahil sa isang equation. Hindi pa man natatapos ang isang minuto ay sumuko na ang dalawa at tiningnan ako.

"Step, pakopya na lang kami." si Samuel sabay kuha sa tapos ko ng assignment.

"Isang linggo na lang at pasukan na. Tang ina, hindi ko man lang naramdaman ang bakasyon ngayon." iiling-iling na sabi ni Keith na kumukopya na rin sa sagot ko.

Tumingin ako sa aking katabi nang maramdaman ang pagdulas ng kamay niya sa kamay ko. He's busy answering the equation while holding my hand under the table. I smirked as I stared at him.

I met these three at the study center. Katulad ko ay mga civil engineering student din na in-enroll ng magulang dahil sa mababang marka sa school. But Zack here is not that bad compared to the two. Kagaya ko ay tamad din lang kaya bagsak-bagsak ang grado.

Before vacation started, Fifth and I had broken up. Timing at ayaw ni Daddy na manlalake ako kaya may dahilan akong binigay sa kanya nang hingiin ko na maghiwalay na kami. Tutal ay ayaw ko na rin sa kanya. He's turning into the man I hate the most. Possessive.

Bumukas ang salaming pintuan ng coffee shop kung saan kami madalas mag-aral. Bukod sa malapit sa study center na pinapasukan namin ay kakaunti rin lang ang pumapasok kaya hindi ganoon kaingay.

My eyes landed on the new comers. I tried to silence my gasp as much as I can when I saw Kai. Kumunot ang noo ko habang sinusundan ko ito ng tingin. He's wearing a black and red racing suit. He race? What the hell? Hindi ko alam iyon a?

Nakayuko itong nagtatanggal ng gloves na suot na may ngiti sa labi habang nakikinig sa kuwento ng katabi. May kasama itong dalawang lalaki na katulad niya ay nakasuot din ng racing suit. Nang matanggal ang gloves ay ang top naman ng kanyang suit ang sunod na tinanggal. Itinali lang niya ang manggas nito sa kanyang baywang pagkatapos.

He's like doing a shampoo commercial when he ran his fingers through his hair. Habang ginagawa niya 'yon ay hindi nakatakas sa akin ang limang silver earcuffs sa kanyang tenga.

Naalis lang ang tingin ko sa kanya nang hilain ni Zack ang kamay ko. I turned my head to him. He raised his brow at me. I smirked and caressed his thigh against his pants with my fingers, my way of comforting him. When this study ends, whatever we have will surely end too. Kaya hindi ko na inisip pa ang pagiging seloso nito.

Nang bumaling ako sa counter ay nandoon na ang tatlo. I startled when I caught him staring at me. Then, his eyes slid down to my hand on Zack's thigh. Muli itong nag-angat ng tingin sa akin, nakasimangot na.

Napaangat ang kilay ko, namamangha sa kanyang reaksyon. Hindi ko mapigilan ang matawa sa naiisip.

What? Gusto niya rin?

Bumaba muli ang mga mata nito sa kamay ko na nasa hita ni Zack. Hindi ko alam kung bakit itinaas ko pa ang kamay. Pinigilan ko ang matawa nang mahuli ang pagsinghap niya at marahas na pagpikit ng mga mata niya.

"Step." I heard Zack's voice, pained.

Bumaling ang tingin ko sa katabi.

"What are you doing?" he whispered like what I'm doing pained him so much.

"Comforting you?" I teased.

"After this, baby." bulong niya saka inalis ang kamay ko sa hita niya at pinagsalikop ang aming mga daliri.

Dismaya akong umangat ng tingin. I just helped Zack rewriting his answers. Sa kabila noon ay nasusundan ko pa rin ang ginagawa ni Kai dahil sa panakaw-nakaw kong pagsulyap sa kanya.

They chose to sit in a table two tables away from ours. Kaagad na nagtama ang tingin namin dahil magkaharap kami at kitang-kita ko siya mula sa espasyo sa pagitan ni Samuel at Keith.

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi saka yumuko at ipinagpatuloy ang pagsusulat. Hindi pa man nagtatagal sa pagsusulat ay umangat din ang tingin ko, hindi mapirmi sa pagkakayuko sa isiping tinititigan niya ako. Hindi nga ako nagkamali nang magtama ang tingin naming dalawa.

Nakasandal ito sa upuan at ang mga braso ay naka-krus sa kanyang dibdib. He scratched the back of his ear with his forefinger. From my eyes, his eyes trailed down to my nose, lips, chin, neck and stopped on my chest. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa dibdib. I am wearing a cami crop top and my cleavage was a bit exposed.

I bit my lower lip as I lifted my eyes on him.

"Manyak." I mouthed.

He rolled his eyes. Tumingin muli siya sa dibdib ko kaya tumingin din ako roon. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mas nakakaengganyong tingnan doon kaysa sa mukha ko. Mas matagal niyang tingnan iyon kaysa sa'kin.

Matagal kong tiningnan ang dibdib, hinahanap kung ano ang maganda roon. Nang wala akong mahanap ay binalik ko ang mga mata sa kanya. Nagulat ako sa pagiging iritado nito.

I coughed when he moved. Bumaling sa akin si Zack, nagtatanong ang mga mata. I shook my head and pretended that I was writing so he wouldn't ask.

Habang nakayuko't nagsusulat ay sinilip ko siyang muli. He's now pulling the back of his black shirt. He's clearly giving me the message to do the same. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero ginawa ko rin ang ginawa niya.

Nang ibaling ko ang tingin sa kanya ay mas dumoble ang iritasyon nito na nakatingin pa rin sa dibdib ko. I looked at my chest and pursed my lips when it didn't help.

He stood up. Umangat ang tingin ko sa ginawa niyang pagtayo. He cocked his head to the side. I don't know why but I took that as a message that I should follow him. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin hanggang makapasok siya sa restroom.

Kumalas ako sa pagkakahawak ni Zack sa kamay ko at mabilis na nagpaalam na pupunta akong restroom. Sa halip na tumuloy sa women restroom ay ang katabi nitong pinto ang binuksan ko.

There, I saw him, alone. Sumandal ako sa hamba ng pintuan at pinag-krus ang braso sa dibdib habang tinitingnan siya. I never left my eyes on his face as he did his thing.

"Hoy."

"What?" he spat as I heard the sound of zipper.

"Are you interested in my boobs?"

"Boobs." he murmured like it was a holy word. Tinapunan niya ako ng tingin.

"Boobs 'yan?" he asked looking at my chest.

I arched my brow when I caught him smirk.

"Akala ko pantal." he chuckled shaking his head.

"What?!" Kumalabog ang pinto sa pagtama nito sa pader. I have lost my balance with his words! Pantal?! Really?

Tuluyan na akong pumasok sa loob at lumapit sa sink kung saan siya nakatayo at naghuhugas ng kamay.

"Ang lakas mong tawaging pantal ang dibdib ko, kanina mo pa nga 'to tinitingnan. Pinagnanasaan mo pa nga." Paratang ko.

"Hindi porke't tinitingnan, pinagnanasaan ko na."

That's point taken. But still! What's with those irritated eyes? And damn! Buong buhay ko ay ngayon lang nainsulto ang dibdib ko! I know my breasts aren't the biggest but they aren't the smallest either! For him to call my boobs like that was an insult to me!

"You're letting men see your private parts. Wala ka man lang ginawa." dismayado nitong saad.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Ano? Anong private parts?"

"'Yan." sabi niya sabay turo sa dibdib ko.

"Ang sabi mo pantal 'to."

"Tss."

"Tss."

I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall. I heard him hiss again.

I leered at him. "The moment I decided to wear this, I am aware that I'll show some skin."

"And don't deny that you didn't stare at it for the whole time. You enjoyed staring at my pantal. Admit it!"

Sinundan ko ang bawat galaw niya. He's now washing his hands.

Nilingon niya ako. "I'm giving you the hint to fix your top."

"This is fixed." I said pertaining to my top.

"That's wardrobe malfunction for me."

"Did you see my nipple then?"

He snorted. I did too. Umalis ako sa pagkakasandal sa pader nang naglakad na siya palabas ng restroom.

"Aren't you gonna say sorry?"

Umangat ang kilay nito.

"You insulted my boobs!" I hissed.

Umubo ito, pilit na pinipigilan ang sariling ngumiti pero may mga nakakatakas pa rin. He then scratched his brows with his pinky finger. I rolled my eyes when he gave me his sweet smile.

"Okay,"

"Paumanhin," he paused and looked at my chest. "sa boobs mo."

I don't feel like that's an apology, parang panibagong insulto na naman iyon sa akin. Nakakainis ang ngiti niya at mas lalo lang akong nainis nang pumailanlang ang tawa niya sa buong restroom kaya sinapak ko nga.