Tainted Melodies (Ciudad de Escalante #5)

Phase 19

"What is it? Are your parents asking your whereabouts?" Alexius asked.

Sumulyap siya sa akin at susubukan pa sanang tingnan ang pinagkakaabalahan ko sa cellphone nang punahin kong dapat ibigay lahat ang atensyon sa pagmamaneho.


"Wala, 'yung full coverage lang namin sa musical. It was posted on Facebook, and of course, people will talk shit about me." I sighed and leaned on the seat.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa aking cellphone at hindi maiwasan ang manlumo sa mga nabasa sa internet. May parte naman na kasalanan ko pero bakit sinasabihan pa akong maarte kung si Denver naman ang nakahalik sa akin.


Is being handsome and hot will already give a permission to kiss me? Kapag gwapo, lovelife ang tawag doon tapos kapag hindi kagwapuhan, manyak na at walang respeto. I can't understand how their mind works. Damn it!


"Stop browsing the internet, it's not good for you," paalala ni Alexius kaya napalingon ako sa kaseryosohan ng kanyang boses.


I licked my lowerlip when my eyes darted on his lips. Nag-init ang buong mukha ko nang maalala ang nangyari kaninang madaling-araw. Dumapo naman ang mata ko sa kanyang kamay. We made out and his fingerprints were surely imprinted against my skin.


"Hmm, Alexius..." I called softly.


"Yeah?" namamaos niyang tugon habang nakatitig pa rin sa kalsada.


"The kiss earlier... what does it mean?" panimula ko dahil kanina ko pa gustong pag-usapan ang ginawa namin kanina. I don't want to expect anything because I know, he'll not take that seriously. Pero may parte sa akin na may gustong marinig mula sa kanya.


"Kiss?" he asked back.


I slowly nodded.


Tumawa siya ng mahina kaya napatingin ako sa ibaba. I don't want to see any playful reactions of him. Alam kong wala lang sa kanya at siguro sanay na sanay na siya pero iba ang hatid sa akin ng mga halik na iyon. I'll bring those memories until I got old.


"It means you're growing up. Your emotions became stronger and more intense. Dealing with newly minted sexual desires is normal. It can be simultaneously overwhelming, confusing, and exciting at the same time..."


I blinked. That was an odd explanation I never imagined to hear. Coming from a playboy like him, huh? Huminga ako nang malalim at tumango na lamang. I'll just enjoy then. Iwas sakit.


I glared at him when he chuckled naughtily. Ano na naman ngayon ang tinatawa-tawa niya?


"Then how about you? What does it means to you?" tanong kong muli.


I bit my lip when he didn't answer and he just pulled the car over. Tumingin ako sa labas at nasa tapat na kami ng aming gate. Tumango siya na tila senyales na nandito na kami. I remained looking at him for a few seconds to wait for his answer but he didn't speak.


I sighed.


"I'll get going," sambit ko at malamig na tumalikod at binuksan ang pinto.


I guess that kiss really means nothing to him. What do I expect anyway? Na espesyal ako?


Dream on, Solaire!


Pagkababa, tumingin muli ako sa sasakyan. Hinayaan niya ako at walang namutawi ni isang salita sa kanya hanggang sa maisara ang pinto. I thought he'll come out too but he didn't. Napairap na lamang ako ng tuluyan nang marinig ang makina.


Wow. Aalis na talaga siya?


Hindi ba dapat lalabas siya para magpaliwanag dahil sinadya kong ipakita na nagalit ako sa pananahimik niya? I even slammed his car's door for a better acting execution.


Damn it. You're watching too many romantic movies, Solaire. He will not do what ideal fictional characters do. He'll not say he truly likes me, and he'll not take responsibility for kissing me.


Tsk. Okay, fine, then! Let's go inside, all right.


Mabigat ang hakbang ko papasok ng bahay. Hindi ko talaga maitago ang irita sa kanya. Ganoon ba talaga siya? How about the girls he fucked then? Ginagawa niya lang talaga dahil horny siya? Gladly, we only did kissing.


Aish!


"Devan? What are you doing here?!" pagalit kong tanong nang may maabutan na lalaking nakaupo sa aming living room ng second floor.


It was Alexius' bandmate. He's wearing a formal attire. He looked really presentable with his long sleeves and properly done hair. Napatayo siya sa sofa na tila may ginawang pagkakamali. Huminga ako ng malalim nang mapagtanto ang bahagya niyang pagkataranta sa tanong ko.


I shouldn't asked using that tone. Naiinis ako kay Alexius pero hindi ko dapat siya kainisan din dahil magkaibigan silang dalawa.


"Uh, sorry. Napalakas lang ang boses ko..." I apologized and walked near him with confusion. Sa paglapit ko, naamoy ko kaagad ang hindi pamilyar na pabango. Did he change his perfume?


"Dei, how about this? I haven't wear this one. Bagay ko ba ang kulay —"


Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita si Ate Solene na kalalabas lang ng kanyang kwarto. Bumalot ang pagkataranta sa akin at mabilisang tumingkayad para maabot ang mata ni Devan. I covered both of his eyes with my small hands.


"Ate! Pwede bang magbihis ka nang maayos?!" singhal ko at pinasadahan ng tingin ang kapatid.


She's only wearing a fucking mustard two-piece bikini. Nakalugay din ang kanyang buhok na malayang umaalon. Sa tingin ko, nakapusod iyon kanina at natanggal lang kaya medyo kulot. What the hell she's doing? Yes, that figure of her is indeed astoundingly gorgeous. Her curves are all in a right places.


Pero hindi dapat siya lumalabas na ganyan lang ang ayos lalo na't may bisita! Seriously?


"Solaire, I'm just trying my new swimsuits. And why are you touching him, huh?" pagsusungit ni Ate at sinamaan ng tingin ang kamay kong nakatakip sa mata ni Devan.


"Why I wouldn't cover his eyes? You're wearing like that," madiin kong sabi at mas inayos ang pagtatakip ko sa mata ni Devan. Hinayaan lamang niya ako na takpan ang mata niya at hindi nagpumiglas. He's only standing silently.


"Solaire. What's wrong with this? Nagsusukat lang ako at kailangan ko ng opinyon niya," natatawang sabi ni Ate Solene at naglakad patungo sa amin.


What? Nagsusukat?


"No need to cover his eyes. He already saw everything," Ate Solene whispered and winked at me.


Humagikgik pa siya ng mapaglaro bago tanggalin ang kamay ko sa mukha ni Devan. What does she mean? Devan saw everything? Then, she slept with Alexius' friend?!


"Dei, what can you say about this? Mas bagay ko ba ito o 'yung kanina nalang?" tanong ni Ate Solene at umikot sa harap ng lalaki.


"Both... swimsuits look good on you..." Devan awkwardly whispered and scanned my sister's body. Mabilis lang ang iginawad niyang tingin at inalis din kaagad. Bumalik ang kanyang titig sa mukha ni Ate na tila sinsikap na sa mata lang tumingin.


"Really? But I think my boobs looked smaller in this top," pagrereklamo ng kapatid ko. Nagawa niya pang hawakan ang dibdib na parang sinusuri kung lumiit ba talaga.


I gasped at what she was doing.


Devan gulped and touched his nape before drifting his vision away from her chest. Palipat-lipat din ang tingin niya sa paligid at kay Ate na nang-aakit ng hindi sinasadya dahil sa suot. Namumula na rin ang kanyang tenga. Batid ko, nahihiya siya kapag nakikita ng iba na tumitingin siya sa katawan ng isang babae.


I sighed.


"Ate, you shouldn't do this in front of him. Devan has a girlfriend," paalala ko at hinila ang braso ni Ate palapit sa akin. She can flirt all she wants but not with those committed guys. He's taken. I already saw his girlfriend.


"Yup, Devan has a girlfriend but not Dei," Ate Solene affirmed and smiled at me.


Kumunot ang noo ko at pinasadahan ng tingin ang lalaki. He smiled when our eyes met. Mas lalo akong nagtaka sa pagngiti na ginawad niya. Devan never smile at me! Never, unless he's mocking or teasing me. This guy looked warm, gentle and it feels like you can be comfortable with him.


"Deion Osileanni Arandia. Nice to meet you, Solaire," aniya at naglahad ng kamay sa akin.


My lips parted.


Deion Osileanni?


"He has a twin. The one in a band," bulong ni Ate Solene sa akin at nginuso ang kamay ni Deion na naghihintay na tanggapin ko.


"Nice to mee you too..." I awkwardly stated and realized what I had just done a while ago.


I keep calling him Devan, gosh. So... they're twins. I didn't know that. Magkamukhang-magkamukha silang dalawa at magka-boses pa. Kung hindi lang niya ako nginitian, hindi ko mapapansin.


Deion smiled again which Devan doesn't usually do. That dude is cold and always serious. Ngumiti ako pabalik at tumingin sa kapatid ko. Hindi ako nagdalawang isip pa na magpaalam kay Deion na mag-uusap lang kami saglit ni Ate.


"Ate, what's that? Is he your new boyfriend?" agaran kong tanong nang makapasok kaming dalawa sa kanyang kwarto. Agad kong sinara ang pintuan at pinaningkitan ang mata si Ate Solene na prente lang umupo sa kanyang kama.


"Pinag-iisipan ko pa. I never dated a virgin. Ay, hindi na pala. I'm already his first," she giggled cutely and looked at her clothes scattering on her bed. May pang-alis at may naka-ready din siyang backpack at maleta sa gilid.


"Aalis ka?" nagtatakang tanong ko at pinasadahan ang mga damit na inaayos niya.


"Yup. Deion and I will go to Clouds Chaser today. His Dad is the owner if you'll ask. May pupuntahan din kami bukas at sa susunod na araw kaya hindi ako makakauwi agad," sagot niya at kinuha ang bag na nakahanda.


I scoffed.


"Clouds Chaser? A flying club? At madami pa kayong pupuntahan pagkatapos no'n?" tanong ko nang makita na medyo marami ang dadalhin niyang damit.


"Yup, madami pa pero uunahin muna naming maranasan maging piloto ng isang araw..."


My eyebrows furrowed. Binalutan ako ng kaba nang may sumagi sa isip ko. Naglakad ako palapit sa kama at umupo para makausap nang maayos si Ate Solene sa pinaplano niyang gawin.


"You have a traumatic experience with airplanes, Ate. Are you sure about that?" paninigurado ko nang maalala ang nangyari sa kanya noon.


She almost died in a plane crash. From that day, she's afraid of anything that involves floating in the air. As one of the 22 survivors among the 76 passengers, it is her second life already. Kaya ginagawa niya lahat ng kanyang gusto para sulitin ang pangalawang buhay na ipinagkaloob sa kanya. She may be tough like Ate Solana, but I know my sisters' weakest point.


"I'll try to overcome my fears, Solaire. We'll do paragliding, skydiving, and attend a hot air balloon festival too. Deion will take care of me," Ate Solene said softly.


Kahit punung-puno ng paninigurado ang tono niya na kaya niya, hindi niya maitatago sa akin ang pangamba at kaba na nararamdaman. I know she can do it but I'm just worried. She fainted before when we are at the top of the ferris wheel.


Ngumiti na lamang ako at pinasadahan ang mga damit niya sa kama.


"Para saan naman ang mga bikini kung ganoon?" pamimilosopo ko para maiba ang usapan. Masyado naman yatang madami na parang magbabakasyon na sa beach?


"Hmm, we'll visit El Costa Vivero to do some recreational water activities. I'll take care of him too," My sister uttered while fixing her clothes.


"I'm excited! He said I should visualize all my sexual experiences, and he'll make sure to be on top. Our first night is so awkward—babawi raw siya. Hmm, ano pa kayang magandang gawin bukod sa skinny dipping, pool sex —"


"Ate!" pagpapatigil ko sa kanyang kinekwento.


My sister laughed.


Umirap na lamang ako at tinulungan si Ate Solene sa pag-aayos ng mga kailangan dalhin at gamitin sa pag-alis niya. I hope she'll enjoy and finally overcome her fears. Deion seems nice and a good person. My sister trusts him so I'll trust him too.