Bewitching the Tempter

Chapter 6: Barely Breathing

I have a quite fucked up life.

My mother died when I was still a little kid and I was taken by my father to live with his family... Tita Racquel and Rachel. My father is a popular personality in the country. Isa siyang retired general and now a mayor of one the most famous cities in the Philippines.

Bata palang ay ipinasok na niya sa isip namin na kailangan naming magtagumpay sa buhay. We need to be great, we need to become a lawyer like him, regardless if we want it or not.

Rachel seems to like the idea already ever since we were kids and I grew up being compared to her. Among the two of us, she's always the standard kahit na wala namang isang taon ang agwat ng edad namin. It's because she's the smarter, the prettier, the fair-skinned, the skinny one, the nicer, the respectful, the approachable, the obedient, and the sweet one. While I am always the black sheep, dahil hindi ako gano'n ka-talino lalo na no'ng bata pa, I have tanned skin, a curvy body, aloof personality, and I'm the stubborn one.

Halos nga hindi ko na maramdaman na parte ako ng pamilya. No'ng highschool ay sa isang magarang pribadong ekswelahan pinag-aral si Rachel samantalang ako ay sa public school. Rachel was given everything that she wants while I always get leftovers. Lagi rin siyang may kasama chaperones kahit na saan magpunta, while I was always alone. Kapag may gatherings na dinadaluhan ang pamilya ay lagi siyang kasama, samantalang ako ay tinatago dahil sisirain ko lang ang reputasyon ni Papa. Afterall, I'm just a product of infidelity.

But it's okay dahil simula't sapul ay alam ko namang sampid lang ako sa kanila. Tanggap ko na iyon at nagpapasalamat nalang ako na binihisan nila ako, pinakain, binigyan ng matitirahan at pinag-aral. Years living with them was like hell dahil sa araw-araw na ginawa ng Diyos ay pinagmumukha nila sa akin kung gaano ako ka-baba at kung gaano ako ka-layo kay Rachel.

Marahil tama si Alaric, I'm full of insecurities.

Ang hirap na kahit anong gawin ko ay never pa rin akong napansin o naappreciate. It was so hard, that's why when I was given a chance to have my freedom, I immediately grabbed it.

Umalis ako sa mansyon and it's what I'm doing now, living my life away from them. Ngunit hindi pa rin nga talaga maiiwasang magkrus ang mga landas namin.

Katulad nalang ngayon, I just saw my sister again and my fiancé...ang lalaking ipinagkasundo ng pamilya ko sa akin no'ng 18th birthday ko. Kailangan daw kasi...dahil ang tanging makakapagpaangat lang sa akin ay ang makapag-asawa ng mayaman at matalinong lalaki.

So fucked up, right?

That's why I am doing my best to make him feel turned off. Halos every month ay paiba-iba ako ng boyfriend dahil ang tanging pinanghahawakan ko nalang na paraan para hindi matuloy ang kasal ay kapag umayaw na siya.

"I'm going home," mabilis kong sabi kay Alaric nang matauhan.

"What? It's still early. Don't tell me you have strict parents?" He laughed.

"I don't have..." parents, I wanted to add but I just let the idea fade.

"E bakit nagmamadali kang umuwi? Were you jealous seeing my brother with someone else?"

What? Napahinto ako dahil sa sinabi niya.

I'm not jealous...I'm just...insecure.

"I'm a busy person, if you don't know. I may love parties but my life doesn't only revolve on that. I have goals, Alaric." I answered.

His lips twisted.

"And to answer your question, I am not jealous."

His brow shot up. "You don't like him?"

Napatigil ako nang bahagya.

Hell yeah, I like AJ. But I'm not gonna say that to someone like him...baka mamaya siraan pa ako sa kapatid niya e.

"I don't." Mataray kong sagot. "Okay na? Pwede na akong umalis?"

"Hindi mo siya gusto?" He asked again and laughed. Tumango naman ako.

"Well, hop into my car and I'll drive you home. I think we'll get along well." He smirked and pulled me with him.

Naningkit naman ang mata ko.

He hates his brother. It was quite obvious.

Pero bakit? How could someone hate AJ? At kapatid pa niya?

"Kamahalan, pasok na po..." nakangiti niyang sabi at pinagbuksan ako ng sasakyan.

What? I didn't remember agreeing to him.

"Kulit mo," I muttered before getting inside.

"Your address?" Agad niyang tanong nang makapasok.

"Stop smiling, you're creeping me out." Saad ko habang tinatype ang address ko sa phone niya.

"What? You live there too?" He asked, his eyes widening.

"Bakit? May problema ka?"

"Wala naman, I just have a friend who lives in the same building. It's gonna be an easy access, I guess?"

Agad akong napasimangot.

"You're really creeping me out. Don't ever try visiting me because you're not welcome. Ipapadampot pa kita sa guards." Pagbabanta ko.

He chuckled. "Hey, 'di ko pa naiisip 'yon ah. My girl is an advanced thinker, huh?" He smiled. "Since you mentioned that already, I think I should try it sometimes, hmm..." he added and stared at me with a smirking face.

Napailing nalang ako't tumitig pabalik, showing him that I am not backing down. Aksidente naman akong napatitig sa mukha niya, noticing the pair of grayish deep eyes, long and curvy eyelashes, a pointy nose, and reddish lips.

Gwapo rin naman pala kahit papaano? I mean...he's gwapo nga.

I was startled when he suddenly leaned closer while staring at my face, ngunit hindi man lang ako nakagalaw, I remained staring at him at kinagat ko pa nang bahagya ang pang-ibabang labi.

Maybe it's because of the alcohol that's making me feel a bit tempted now that I'm looking at his lips? But I'm not sure.

His features are suddenly bewitching me. Gosh, what's happening to me?

"You got nice lips, huh." He uttered as he ran his fingers on my now kind of wet lips.

I shouldn't stay still and do something but his stares are tranquilizing me, kung kaya't nanatili akong nakatingin sa kanya, inaabangan ang susunod niyang gagawin.

"Can I have a taste, love?" He whispered as he tucked some hair strands behind my ear.

Parang gusto ko namang sampalin ang sarili ko nang tumango ako. And the next thing I knew, we were already kissing each other torridly, barely breathing under the heat of the moment.