Of Love and Politics I: Juego Limpio - Completed

CHAPTER 40

Nakapangalumbaba si Lily habang nakatingin sa malayo. Its Saturday and she had nowhere to go. Simula kasi nang nakausap niya noon ang bestfriend niya ay hindi na din siya makatambay sa Saavedra residence. She felt so lost without Rory by her side. Lalo na ngayong naging busy din ang girlfriend niyang si Alana sa inaasikaso nito.

Kinagat niya ang labi niya. She wanted to ask Alana what she's doing at bakit hindi siya nito isinasama sa mga lakad nito. Pero ayaw niya namang maging possessive ang datingan niya. Alana had free reign where she wanted to go without her. Pero miss na miss na niya kasi ito.

She wanted to sit beside Alana and read books like they used to this past few days. Napabuntonghininga siya. She should just wait for Alana to come to her dahil kung mag hihigpit siya dito ay baka magaya siya kay Trish Wright. Ngayon pa nga lang nag o-open up si Alana sa ibang tao.

Humiga siya sa hammock sa ilalim ng puno. Then she flipped the book she was holding. Sleeping beauty. It's the book that binded them together noong mga bata sila.

"Sleeping?"

Lily giggled softly to herself nang maramdaman niya ang pag tabi sa kanya ni Alana sa ilalim ng punong kinahihigaan niya. She's actually awake but she pretended that she was sleeping.

She felt Alana took the book in her hands and chuckled to herself. "You really like this story huh, where the Prince kissed the Princess?"

Bahagya siyang nagmulat ng mga mata niya nang maramdaman ang paghawi nito ng ilang hibla ng buhok niya. Her heart beated fast against her chest. Lalo na nang dumukwang ang mukha nito papalapit ng papalapit sa mukha niya.

She closed her eyes firmly nang ilang pulgada na lang ang layo ng labi nito sa kanya.

"But what if it's another princess that kissed the princess? Would she wake up?"

Narinig niyang bulong nito at tumama ang mabangong hininga nito sa mukha niya. Lily's hands became still. Pinagpawisan din siya ng malapot. Her hands trembled on their own.

Should she open her eyes now----?

Bahagyang umawang ang bibig niya nang may maramdaman siyang malambot sa ibabaw ng labi niya. Her face suddenly felt hot. Al kissed her! So this is what it feels like to be kissed? Her heart races and her hands trembled and is wet with sweat? Ito din ba ang naramdaman ni Sleeping Beauty noon nang halikan ito ng prinsipe? But Alana is a girl? Should she be happy na babae ang nakakuha ng first kiss niya?

Unti unti lang niyang iminulat ang mga mata nang maramdaman ang pag layo nito.

Lily bit her lip hard habang nakatingin sa side profile nitong nakatingin sa gilid. Al's cheeks and ears are flushed red.

Lily shook her head smiling. She didn't tell Alana that she felt that kiss. Hindi niya din alam kung saan nanggagaling ang hiyang naramdaman niya noon. She doesn't know what to tell her friend na alam niya ang ginawa nito. She doesn't want anything to get awkward between them. Ano nga lang ba ang alam ng pitong taong gulang sa mga bagay na ganun? Maybe Alana was just experimenting on her before. But maybe it was the awakening that lead her to discover her sexuality. Pero in-denial pa siya noong unang bumalik siya sa Pilipinas hanggang sa naging mag kaibigan sila ni Rory.

What are you doing right now, Al?

"Mam?"

"Hmm?" Tiningnan niya si Kuya Guard na lumapit sa kanya. "Bakit po kuya?"

"Andiyan po si Mam Alana. Papapasukin ko po ba?"

Sumikdo ang dibdib niya sa narinig mula dito. She looked towards the side of the gate. Alana was there standing. Nakatalikod ito sa kanya.

She felt her cheeks stretch into a smile. "Sabihin mo kuya ay lumapit na sakin."

Kuya Guard nodded his head. Kinausap nito saglit si Alana nang makarating ito sa gate. Alana turned and Lily couldn't help but roam her eyes around Al's face. Kumunot ang noo niya nang mapansing putok ang labi nito. May pasa din ito sa bandang ibaba ng labi nito.

Her heart sinks to her stomach. Alam na ba ng Dad nito na may relasyon sila?

She stood up. Alana walked towards her. Nang makalapit ito ay bigla siya nitong niyakap. Lily stood there and let Alana held her.

"Al......What happened?"

Umiling ito sa balikat niya. "I just want to rest for a while Lily."

She bit her lip. Sumasakit ang dibdib niya. But if Alana doesn't want to discuss it. Hindi niya ito pipilitin.

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"Tama nga ang hinala ko. Alam na ng Dad mo?"

"Yes." Alana didn't look at her. Nakatingin lang ito sa mga kamay nito.

"I'm so sorry, Al." Niyakap niya ito. Alana took her hug and hugged back.

Alana chuckled. "You didn't have to say sorry. Hindi naman ikaw ang nanakit sakin."

There was a gentleness in Alana's voice. First time niyang marinig iyon dito. Lumalapit na ba ang loob nito sa kanya? Is Alana finally falling for her?

Inilayo niya nang bahagya ang mukha dito. Alana is smiling at her like she was smiling to Helen.

Her own lips tugged up in corners pero agad ding bumagsak ang mga ngiti niya dahil nakita niya ang pasa sa labi nito. She reached out and touched the corner of Alana's lips.

Alana flinched. Umalog ang balikat nito sa pag tawa at hinawakan ang kamay niya. "M-Masakit."

"Why would a father do this to his child?" Puno ng galit ang boses niya ng sabihin iyon. She also closed her fist tightly. Hindi man siya maka-relate sa pinag dadaanan ni Alana ay hindi ibig sabihin nun ay hindi na siya maiinis sa ama nito. Her Dad accepted her for who she is. Kaya hindi niya maintindihan ang Dad ni Alana.

Alana lowered her head down. "I-I don't know too."

Her breath caught in her throat. Rinig na rinig niya sa boses nito ang awa para sa sarili nito. But seeing that she couldn't do anything to help lessen Alana's burden is making her frustrated

She knew what the old man is capable of. Alam niyang makapangyarihan din ang Dad ni Alana kahit pa sabihin isa lamang itong ordinaryong doctor. She knew the man to be friends with so many politicians in town. Ang narinig niya ngang usapan ng mga ito with her Dad ay tatakbong Vice-Governor ang matanda katambal ng Dad niya.

She bit her lip hard. Pero alam niya ang pwede niyang maitulong ngayon dito. "Let's go inside. Let's treat that bago pa mag kulay talong."

Alana looked at her and for a moment ay tila natigilan ito. A sad expression crossed those brown eyes. Akala niya nga din ay iiyak ito. Nanubig din kasi ang mga mata nito. But Alana lowered her head down and nodded.

Kinuha niya ang kamay nito at hinila niya papasok sa bahay nila. She will make sure that she'll talk to the old man. Maybe her father can knock some sense in Doctor Alvidrez's head. It's modern times yet he was still stuck in his old ways.