DUCANI LEGACY SERIES #5: KREIGE (Exclusively Available In The VIP Group)

Kabanata 7

Kabanata 7

Bea

Napasarap ang kwentuhan namin ni Khalila Ducani tungkol sa kaso ng kapatid niya. Khalid, on the other hand, was busy running around talking to almost everyone before he'd go sit on Kreige's lap every once in a while.

"Matigas ang ulo ni kuya Kreige. He and kuya Keios compete for the most impatient child award. He's brutally honest and doesn't filter his words no matter whom he's talking to, but I hate it when people are throwing hurtful words to him." She sipped on her beer. "This is why I don't wanna come to his trials. Baka masapok ko lang ang nagsampa sa kanya ng kaso."

"Oh, tell me about it. Walang araw na hindi kami nagtalo ng kapatid mo dahil parang mas magaling pa siya sa akin, but he's still my client and I have to defend his name despite our differences."

Khalila scoffed and shook her head. "It's a good thing I never aspired to be a lawyer. Baka imbes na idaan sa salita, paliparin ko na lang ang kamao ko sa korte."

We both laughed, and when Kreige heard us, he accidentally caught my gaze. Tinaasan ko naman ng kilay ngunit nginisihan lamang niya ako kaya inirapan ko.

Nang magsimulang kumanta si Tito Khalil sa videoke para haranahin ang asawa niyang halatang kinikilig pa rin sa kanya, natutok ang mga mata namin sa kanila.

Tito Khalil then gave the microphone to Keios when the two did a slow dance, but since Keios was having soar throat, he ended up passing the mic to Kreige. At nang magsimulang kantahin ni Kreige ang chorus ng kantang "Moving Closer", hindi ko alam kung nahipnotismo ba ako't natulala na lamang bigla kay Kreige.

His voice. It's so. . . soothing. May kalamigan ngunit hindi matining. In fact it's a bit husky, like a rockstar serenading the crowd with a song no one expected that will match his voice.

Natauhan lamang ako nang agawin ng makulit kong anak ang mic saka ito kumanta ng nursery rhyme. Nagtawanan ang mga tao habang nakangisi namang ginulo ni Kreige ang buhok ng bata.

"Namana ni kuya boses ni Daddy. Halos lahat naman sila. Ako lang ang walang hilig kumanta," I heard Lila say. 

I was caught off guard. Hindi ko alam kung bakit niya sinabi iyon at kung bakit din makahulugan ang ngiting nakapinta sa kanyang mukha. Nang wala sa sarili akong napasulyap sa kapatid niya, siya namang iwas ni Kreige ng tingin bago ininom ang natitirang laman ng beer niya.

"Lil, Bea, come over here," tawag ni Keeno sa amin.

Ayaw ko sana dahil ibig sabihin ay makakasama ko na naman sa iisang mesa si Kreige, kaya lang ay tumayo na si Khalila kaya napilitan akong sumunod.

Lila occupied the seat next to her brother, Keios. Nang makitang iyong tabi na lamang ni Kreige ang bakante ay bumuntonghininga ako't doon na umupo.

"Kanta ka, Bea," alok ni Konnar Ducani sa akin.

"Oh, I don't sing. Wala akong talent sa ganyan."

Kreige opened the ice box next to him then brought out a couple of beers for me and Lila. Binuksan niya ang akin saka niya iniumpog nang mahina ang bote sa aking hita. Kinuha ko naman iyon saka ako sumimsim.

That's one thing I've noticed about the Ducanis. Although they have the means to have people serve them all the time, they'd rather do things on their own, gaya ng paglalagay na lamang ng ice box sa tabi nila para hindi na kailangang pagsilbihan ng mga katulong nila.

"Pwede kang mag-thank you," aniya.

I lifted a brow. "Should I?"

He smirked. "You're welcome, Attorney Ortega."

"I didn't say thank you, Mr. Ducani."

The corners of his lips curved upward, and when his gaze trailed down my lips, I suddenly felt a surge of sultry electric wave under my skin.

Napatagal ang titig namin sa isa't isa, ngunit nang madinig namin ang sigaw ng isa sa mga katulong ay sabay kaming napatayo. Nang makita namin si Khalid na nahulog sa pool dahil inaabot ang lobo, dali-dali kaming napatakbong pareho para sagipin si Khalid.

I removed my shoes and jumped to the water with Kreige. Pareho kaming lumangoy at iniahon si Khalid. Nang maisuka ng bata ang nainom na tubig ay kaagad kong niyakap.

"Diyos ko, anak. Sabi ko sayo mag-iingat ka palagi, eh," takot na takot kong sabi.

Kreige asked the maids to bring out towels. Nang malagyan niya ako ng tuwalya sa likod ay lumuhod siya't binalot si Khalid ng tuwalya.

Napatulala ako nang makita ang matinding pag-aalala sa mukha ni Kreige na tila kahit hindi niya alam na anak niya ang bata, nararamdaman ng kanyang puso ang takot ng isang ama.

"Don't ever do that again. You scared the hell out of us," he said with wrinkled forehead before he carried Khalid inside the house.

Sumunod ako para tingnan kung saan niya dadalhin si Khalid. I followed them until we reached his room where he grabbed some clothes for Khalid.

Nang mabihisan niya ang bata ng malalaking damit ay kinuhanan niya ako ng para sa akin.

"Lila doesn't keep her clothes here. Kung uuwi pa siya para ikuha ka ng damit, baka sipunin ka na." He handed me a pair of jogging pants and shirt. "Use this for now at magpapabili ako sa driver ng damit ninyo. Oh, kaya ikukuha kita kay Mama ng pwede mong maisuot at bibili na lang ng underwears."

I swallowed before I accepted the clothes. Pumunta ako ng banyo nang nakayuko. After taking a quick shower, I changed into his clothes that looked really baggy on me. Wala akong underwear kaya nakahalukipkip akong lumabas ng banyo ngunit wala na roon ang dalawa.

I sniffed myself. Damn, I smell like Kreige now. Not that I didn't like it. He smells really good but I don't like sniffing men on me. I get easily drawn to men who smell good, at wala akong balak ma-attract kay Kreige.

The door opened and Kreige went in. Dahil hindi ko inasahan ang pagpasok niya ay hindi ko kaagad natakpan ang dibdib ko ay aksidenteng napababa ang tingin niya roon.

My cheeks burned when I saw how Kreige gulped after seeing my poking nipples. Tumalikod ako kaagad at niyakap ang aking sarili habang tumikhim naman siya't tila tinamaan ng hiyang inilapag sa kama ang damit na galing sa madrasta niya.

"See if this will fit on you," he said before he left the room.

I sighed and grabbed the clothes he brought. Nang akmang papasok na akong muli sa banyo ay sandali akong napahinto matapos mahagip ng mga mata ko ang picture frame na nasa bedside table.

Out of curiosity, I walked towards it and looked at the photograph. It was a photo of him and the actress, Crystal that was taken somewhere in Bali.

I felt a pinch in my heart, not because I like him, but because I knew, this is one of the many reasons why I cannot introduce Khalid to him as a son.

As long as he's in love with someone else, my son will only be a threat to his future family.

I cannot let his relationship with another woman break my son's heart someday. . .