TAHANAN: Jian Kipper Cardejas & Gavin Client Villareal

xv- night outs

Chapter 15

"So kailan balik niyo sa Batanes ulit?" Tanong ko kay Kipper. 

Nakatitig lang siya sa akin habang naglalagay ako ng pagkain sa plato niya. Para siyang tanga na nakatitig. Ni hindi man lang sumasagot.

"Tomorrow ulit," sagot niya.

I smirked. Hindi ko na kailangan lumingon pa sa kaniya dahil alam ko na nakangiti na naman siya habang kumakain ng inihanda kung carbonara. 

Tanging tunog lang ng kubyertos ang maririnig sa paligid dahil pareho kaming gutom na talaga. Nang nilingon ko siya ay nagtama ang mata namin at nakangisi siyang parang tanga.

"Para kang tanga," utas ko.

"G'wapo mo," sagot niya na kinakunot ng noo ko.

"Fuck ka!'" I hissed. Hindi ako sanay. "Stop it, Kipp."

"No, not that one, Ga."

"Stop it already, Adi." Nilingon ko ulit siya and he smirked. "Kung tusukin ko kaya yang mata mo!" 

"Oo na. Kakain na po ng behave.  Parang tanga gusto ko lang naman hingiin kiss ko ayaw mo naman ibigay."

"Ito gusto mo?" tanong ko habang nakaturo sa nakakuyom kong kamao.

2 weeks na rin siyang wala rito. We secretly talk over the phone and chat with each other if we have the same time while resting. Firm at modeling lang naman ang pinagkakaabalahan ko. Wala ako masyado oras at naiintindihan niya rin naman.

Matapos kumain ay naghugas na ako. Since bakante ako ngayonay hindi ko na siya hinayaan na maghugas. Naliligo siya habang naghuhugas naman ako rito.

I am here sa penthouse niya since this is the safest place na meron siya and this is not public. Nauwi siya sa condo niya using his car and kapag papunta naman dito he's using his motor. The media doesn't know he's riding a motor.

Matapos niyang maligo ay ako naman na ang sumunod. I also have spare clothes here already. Matapos ko maligo ay pinatuyo ko na kaagad ang buhok ko bago ako tuluyang lumabas. I saw him sitting on the bed like he had something on his mind.

"Hey," I said before sitting on the edge of his bed. "Are you fine?" I asked.

Halata kasi na parang hindi siya ayos. Na para bang may bumabagabab sa kaniya.

"Are you okay, Ga? May problema ka ba? May iniisip?" Nalito ako sa tanong niya. "I'm just asking."

"I'm fine. Ikaw itong mukhang hindi ayos. Why?" malumanay kong tanong.

"Are you really fine?" Tumango ako habang nakangiti. "Can I rant? Ayoko dumadag kung may iniisip ka eh." I smiled when I understood what he was up to. 

Lumapit ako sa kaniya. Nasa edge pa rin ako ng kama habang nasa gitna siya nito. He just asked if I am mentally okay because he needs someone who will listen to him. He's thinking about me again before making a move.

"I'll listen," I said while holding his hand.

"They are pressuring me to take the business industry." Panimula niya. "I just can't, ayoko pa. Masaya pa ako sa ginagawa ko acting, music, modeling, everything here. It's fine with my dad but it's not for mom. She wants me to take my dad's position."

"What did your dad say? That's what you really want?" 

"He's not pressuring me. He told me he can still handle it. It's just my mom and my family, I think because they want to take it if they don't handle it. I still don't want to handle it. Ayoko pa."

I smiled. "Then don't. Your Dad has your support. Well… I am too. If this is the thing that makes you happy then do it. Why do you really have a plan to take it?" He nodded.

"Yes. I graduated from a business course. I'm also being practical. I promise to myself that if one time I'll handle it just not now. Kapag hindi na ako masaya sa industriya na ito alam ko na doon papunta sadyang alam ko na hindi pa ngayon. Ayoko ko pa." 

Napangiti ako ng umusog siya at nahiga sa binti ko. I am still holding his hand while the other one is gently caressing his hair.

He knows what he wants. His smile hides all the pressure he gets. I know it's nor just the pressure of his family, the people around him, it is also the pressure from himself. He just wants to be happy because of his passion. 

"I'm just here. I will support you," I whispered. 

"Wanna ride?" he asked.

"Where to?" I asked when I knew what he wanted.

"Just somewhere." 

Binigyan niya ako ng hoodie niya. I'm wearing jogger pants so it's not a problem anymore. I put my facemask on and he brought our helmet. Isinuot niya iyon sa akin bago kami pumunta sa parking lot.

An hour riding his motor is fun. The wind is so relaxing. The lights and sky are beautiful. This one is my favourite, riding his motor in the middle of the night and middle of the road while hugging him on his waist and hearing his small chuckles. 

"I love this," I said while opening my arms to feel the cold breeze of air. 

"The heck, Gav! Mahulog ka, baby. Just hug me will you?!" he almost shouted so I could hear him. 

"It's fine naman. Sarap lang talaga maging free like this," I said before hugging him from his back. I lean my face on his back and that time mas binilisan niya pa ang takbo ng motor. "I love you, Kipp."

"I love you too, baby. I love you the most."

Sana ganito na lang parati. Walang kahit sinong huhusga. Malaya lang. Hindi katulad ng buhay namin tuwing umaga. Sabak sa trabaho, at napakarami pang mapanghusgang tao. I can't even walk freely without almost being chased. Alam ko na mas mahirap pa ang kina Kipper at Andy. Kaya minsan uwing-uwi rin ako sa probinsya kasi hindi iyon katulad dito.

****

Mamaya ay alis na ulit ni Kipper para sa shoot nila sa Batanes. Andy stayed there so she can also consider it as her vacation. 

And now para sirang sira ni Maisei habang kavideo call. I'm still here in his penthouse. Mamaya ako babalik sa condo ko.

"Baby you have talent. May pafree concert ka parati kay Tito." 

They are singing like crazy. I don't know why they are like this. Sinabihan niya kasi si Maisei na may pafree concert just her and Kipper. Kaya ito sila ngayon, Kipper are singing and dancing while Maisei are watching and clapping her hands. 

"Tito, I want a VIP free concert not just in virtual. Kapag po nagkita na tayo ulit." 

"Of course naman, baby Maisei. Tito Kipper is always free for you. No need for an appointment nor tickets."

Nagulat ako sa text ni Mommy. Dumiretso ako sa kitchen at saka siya tinawagan.

"Mom, may problema ba?" tanong ko kaagad.

[Your daughter is very fond of Kipper.] Panimula niya. [Ang saya niya. Kipper really loves kids ah?]

Napangiti ako nang maalala ko ang mga bata noon na pinuntahan namin sa orphanage.

"Yes, mom. Para na nga silang baliw kapag magkasama. Hindi ko sila kinakaya," I said while smiling.

[Ingatan mo ang puso mo, Gavin Client. Wala kang maitatago sa akin kahit wala kang sabihin. Mahal na mahal ko kayo and ano man gusto mo nakasuporta lang ako okay?]

She's indeed my mother.

"I love you, Mom. Thank you so much."

"Of course for my big baby."

My mother is always supporting me on what things I want. Kahit hindi ako magsabi alam na alam niya kung malungkot ako, masaya, at kung ano ako. She's indeed the best mother. I want the best for both of them.