CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
NAPASINGHAP si Madeline sa gulat. "Akala ko'y... umuwi ka na."
Itinaas nito ang hawak. Ang kabilang pares ng sapatos ni Sherie. "Nahubad niya marahil kaninang pauwi."
Padabog at binilisan niya ang paglabas ng banyo patungo sa silid nilang mag-ina. "You just can't get in and out of my house as you please, Keith."
"I knocked," bale-walang tugon nito. "And you should make it a habit to bolt your door, Maddy. Hindi mo alam kung sino ang maaaring pumasok."
"Mommy, galit ka kay Papa?" Sherie murmured.
Napamaang si Madeline. Nilingon si Keith. Itinaas nito ang kamay. "Uh... uh. Wala akong kinalaman diyan." His eyes twinkling.
"He's not your papa, Sherie," aniya sa mahinang tinig at ipinasok sa silid ang anak at inihiga sa kama. Tumayo at kumuha ng damit nito at polbo.
"I want Keith... to be my... papa." She rolled her head sideways, tuluyang iginupo ng antok.
Pinunasan niya ang ilang basang bahagi ng katawan ng bata. Pagkatapos ay pinolbohan at sinuotan ng pajama at T-shirt.
"Magigising mo ang bata, Maddy. Huwag mong ibunton kay Sherie ang inis mo sa akin," amused na paalala ni Keith mula sa pinto.
She stilled. Binibihisan niya ang anak sa padabog na paraan at hindi siya aware doon. She sighed. Kissed her daughter's forehead. "'Night, honey," she whispered, kahit alam niyang hindi na iyon naririnig ng anak. Binuhay niya ang lampshade na nakapatong sa monoblock chair at pagkatapos ay pinatay ang main switch.
Lumakad siya palabas at nilampasan ito sa pinto. "This can't go on, Keith," aniya habang lumalakad sa pasilyo patungo sa hagdan.
"What is what can't go on, Maddy?"
"Huwag kang magmaang-maangan. Alam mo ang ibig kong sabihin?" Tuluy-tuloy siya sa hagdan at nagmamadaling bumaba. Ang nasa isip ay tuluyan itong itaboy. "Ayokong kuhanin mo ang anak ko rito bukas at sa iba pang araw."
"No problem," kaswal nitong sabi. "You didn't get the job?"
Nasa ibaba na siya nang matigilan. Of course, she had a job! Nang lingunin niya si Keith ay nakakalokong ikiniling nito ang ulo, questions and amusement were both in his eyes.
Napabuntong-hininga siya. Sa halip na sa pinto ay sa kusina siya nagtuloy. Sumunod si Keith. Nagtimpla siya ng kape para sa kanilang dalawa.
"Hindi mo na ako sinagot. Is the station still operational? I believe the building that housed the radio station is condemned."
Inabot niya ang isang mug dito at lumakad pabalik sa sala. Naupo siya sa sofa na kasama niyang binili kahapon. It wasn't the kind that she preferred but it was serviceable. Iyon din lang ang klaseng mabibili sa bayan.
"The building is old but stable, Keith. It is operational and I have a job. Station manager cum accountant cum etc... etc.," she said drily, dahan-dahang hinigop ang kape. She only had a can of Campbell's chicken soup this evening at biskwit. Goodness, pagkain ng maysakit. Pero hindi na niya gustong magluto pa para sa sarili.
Naupo sa tabi niya si Keith at ibinaba ang mug sa center table. Nawala ang amusement sa mukha. "Really? Inaasahan ko pa namang walang trabahong naghihintay sa iyo roon."
She frowned. "Why would you expect that?"
Nagkibit ito. "I prefer a nonworking mother. Mas naaasikaso ang bata."
Marahas niyang ibinaba ang mug niya sa tabi ng mug nito at muntik nang matapon ang kape. "Easy for you to say. May negosyo ka. Kaya mong umupa ng isang dosenang yaya, at—"
"Marry me, Maddy."
She gaped at him. Itinaas nito ang kamay sa likod niya at inakbayan siya pakabig. Tuluyan na niyang inihilig ang ulo sa balikat nito.
"Oh, Keith, don't do this. I am really so tired, mula pa kahapon sa pag-aayos dito sa bahay, at ngayon sa opisina. And I just want to burrow my face in your chest and sleep till kingdom come."
She felt his chest rumble as he chuckled softly. Hinaplus-haplos nito ang buhok niya. "Then sleep, baby." He kissed her crown. "I'll be right here. At least, hindi na baldosa ang hihigaan ko. Malambot na sofa na. I can manage till kingdom come."
She smiled inwardly as she was tempted to do exactly that. She felt so safe in his arms. His chest was warm and he smelled so good. He had always smelled so good. So male.
Inihilig ni Keith ang katawan sa armrest at napahiga siya sa dibdib nito. "So you have a job. A real job, eh."
"Yeah..." Now she really felt sleepy. Isiniksik niya ang kamay sa ilalim ng polo nito.
He groaned, took his hand and kissed the inside of her palm. He wanted her so much but there were many things to clear between them. And he wanted to take advantage of this moment when Madeline was agreeable, soft, and pliant.
"And you want Sherie to come with you to the office everyday?"
It was her turn to groan.
"My father's enjoying the kids, Maddy. Hayaan mo si Sherie sa bahay. Hindi mo siya maaasikaso sa opisina mo. I have never seen my father this happy watching the kids. The last time my father laugh, really laugh, was when my mother was still alive."
"I remember they were so happy together. Tulad mo, nagtataka rin ako kung bakit pinakasalan niya si Leticia."
He let out a deep sigh. "Nalaman ko mula sa Papa kung paano nangyaring pinakasalan niya ito. Lagi na siyang nagtutungo sa bar na pag-aari ni Leticia sa tuwing manggagaling siya sa branch ng tindahan sa Esperanza. Umiinom ng dalawang bote ng beer at aalis na. Nakilala niya si Leticia sa pagpunta-punta niya roon. Karaniwan na'y nauupo ito sa mesa niya. My father said he admired
Leticia because, in fairness, she was beautiful.
"But she wasn't his type. He always preferred a serene beauty that was my mother. That night, he couldn't remember being so drunk that the next thing my father knew, he was in bed with Leticia. At hustong nagising siya ay iyon din mismo ang pagbukas ng pinto at pumasok si Dante..."
Napaangat ang ulo niya mula sa dibdib nito. "Kaya napilitang pakasalan ng papa mo si Leticia!"
Tumango ito. "Hindi mapaniwalaan ni Papa na pinatulan niya ang isang tulad ni Leticia. My father missed my mother so much. At naniniwala siyang baka nga sa kalasingan niya'y ganoon ang nangyari lalo na nang sabihin ni Leticia na inuusal niya ang pangalan ng mother ko habang nakikipagtalik dito. Plus the fact that Dante subtly threatened scandal. At hindi gusto ng Papa na dungisan ang pangalan niya bilang alkalde ng San Ignacio..."
She giggled. "Na siya mong ginawa nang mag-asawa siya."
He laughed with her. "I have long regretted those juveniles, Maddy."
"Ano ang ibig mong sabihin nang sabihin mong con artists ang dalawa?"
Nawala ang ngiti nito at sumeryoso. "Ang relasyon ni Leticia kay Papa ang pinakamatagal. Umabot ng tatlong taong mahigit. Iyon ay dahil hindi alam ni Leticia na ang lahat ng pag-aari ni Papa ay nasa pangalan ko. My father never had the need to tell Leticia that. At walang nalalaman si Leticia tungkol sa finances ni Papa ano man ang gawin nitong panghihikayat na bigyan siya ng detalye bilang asawa.
"Besides, ang pagiging asawa ng isang mayor ay malaking pabor kay Leticia at Dante. Pinag-iisipan na ni Leticia ang tumakbo bilang bise-mayor. Na hindi nangyari dahil nagdalang-tao si Lotti at iniuwi ko sa bahay—"
"Ano ang kinalaman ng pagdadalang-tao ni Lotti?"
"I'll come to that." Muli nitong hinagkan ang palad niya. "Nahuli ni Leticia si Dante at si Lotti sa aktong nagtatalik sa mismong silid ni Dante. Nahintakutang agad na nagtatakbo pabalik sa silid niya si Lotti." Niyuko siya nito. "Hindi kami magkasama sa iisang silid. My room had remained my room."
She made a face and he almost smiled at the obvious jealousy on her face.
"Nasalubong ni Papa si Lotti na tumatakbong hubo't hubad maliban sa kumot na pilit ipinulupot sa katawan. No one expected my father to come back to the house that day. May importanteng meeting ito sa munisipyo. Pero may mahalagang dokumentong naiwan si Papa at binalikan. At natural na nahulaan na ni Papa kung saang silid si Lotti galing."
"So?"
"Isinantabi na muna niya si Lotti hangga't hindi niya ako nakakausap. He went straight to Dante's bedroom to give him a piece of his mind. And there, sinlinaw ng tubig-ulan ay narinig niya ang usapan ng mag-ina raw. Leticia was red with anger and jealousy. Telling Dante that she had tolerated his affairs with other women dahil hindi niya gustong masira ang plano nila. Na tiniis niyang palihim silang nagtutungo sa ibang bayan para doon bigyang-laya ang damdamin nila sa isa't isa..."
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "What... are you trying to tell me?"
"They're lovers, Maddy. Hindi mag-ina."
"Oh, my!"
"Well, I believe Dante knew how to handle Leticia's hysterics. My father told me how Dante ripped Leticia's clothes and throw her to bed. She was shrieking first then perhaps in her lust remembered that the door was wide open. Nang tumayo si Dante upang isara ang pinto ay ni hindi nito nagawang makaalis mula sa kama. Both of them got the shock of their lives."
"I-I can imagine," she whispered, puno ng pagkamangha ang nakabalatay sa mukha.
"Unang umalis si Lotti. Nang gabing iyon ay pinaalis ko siya sa mansiyon. Binigyan ko siya ng sapat na halaga para legal na ipaampon sa akin si Bobby. Madaliang inasikaso ni Papa ang annulment nila ni Leticia, threatening to send them to jail if they won't cooperate. Leticia was the last one to leave, five or six months later, after all the documents were signed."
"N-nasaan na sila ngayon?"
"Hindi ko alam si Dante. But Leticia's in jail. Nahuli siya ng mga alagad ng batas two years ago in Quezon. She was a drug dealer. Na-raid ang bar niya sa Esperanza na front ng drugs exchange. Matagal na rin siyang pinaghahanap ng mga awtoridad. Nagawa niyang itago iyon sa isang tusong pamamaraan."
"Hindi pa rin nakaiwas sa iskandalo ang papa mo."
"Hindi gaano. Dahil may ibang pangalang ginamit si Leticia. Besides, dalawang taong mahigit na ang nakalipas magmula nang umalis sila rito."
"And I thought it was Dante who—"
"He was an accomplice. Pero hindi siya idinawit ni Leticia. So he was never apprehended. Walang nakakaalam kung nasaan siya." Then he raised her face with his forefinger. "Lumayo na tayo, Maddy. Nasa daliri mo pa rin ang engagement ring natin. And I am proposing for the second time around, will you marry me?"
Ang ipinagtapat ni Keith ay bumuo ng panibagong pasya sa isip ni Madeline. Lotti had cheated Keith countless of times. Ilang buwan lamang matapos nitong maipanganak si Bobby. She had forfeited every right she claimed to have with Keith. Kung may suliranin man itong idudulot sa kanila ni Keith at sa mga bata, magkatuwang nilang haharapin iyon.
She loved Keith. And she was foolish to deny herself of the second chance at love and happiness.
She raised her head and grinned wickedly at Keith.
"Kinakabahan ako sa ngiting iyan," Keith said.
"Make love to me, Keith," she said, "at saka ko tatanggapin ang proposal mo."
The smile that curved his mouth was pure sensual. Madeline took her clothes off hurriedly. Keith pulled her against him and crushed his mouth to hers while almost ripping his polo shirt.
Hinagkan ng malamig na hangin ang balat niya nang tuluyang mahubad ang kasuotan niya. From her lips, Keith moved his mouth down to the column of her throat, sucking and licking until she felt her skin would burst into flame.
Then Keith shifted his lips and sought her breasts.
A soft cry escaped her as the rug of his mouth grew insistent. The rough lap of his tongue against her nipple sent an exquisite bolt of pleasure shooting to the pit of her stomach. At nararamdaman niyang nauubusan siya ng lakas.
Then he slid his hand between her legs, squeezing his fingers between the moist of her feminine flesh. Hinahagkan at dinadama siya ni Keith sa paraang hindi niya kayang isipin. Madeline moaned softly, pressed herself against him.
She couldn't wait to feel him inside of her. It had been so long and she'd never thought she had wanted this so much. Kahit ang marahas at magaspang na paghinga ni Keith ay nakadaragdag sa matinding apoy na nararamdman niyang nagliliyab sa katawan niya.
His fingers stroked her, driving her towards some unknown destination. Ang kamay niya'y kusang gumagawa ng sariling paglalakbay, pagdama sa katawan nito mula sa matipunong dibdib hanggang sa may tiyan nito. Then her fingers closed around the smooth, hard length of his arousal and delight the way his velvety skin felt in her fingers.
Keith grunted. Kinuha nito ang mga kamay niya at itinaas. He poised against her, nudged her legs, and replaced her fingers with his steely hard sex.
"Maddy, sweetheart," he whispered, prodding gently at the portal of her femininity, "it's been so long and I want you so much."
She stared into his eyes. "I want you, too, Keith. Please..." she urged.
He sank himself fully in her welcoming warmth with a single long, hard thrust. Iglap lang ang discomfort at nahalinhan iyon ng walang katapusang luwalhati nang magsimulang gumalaw si Keith.
"You are so tight, sweetheart. It almost felt like the first time..." Keith murmured as he drove deeper.
She writhed beneath him, raising her pelvis to meet his every thrust, tila may inaabot na hindi niya kayang bigyan ng pangalan.
Her legs curled around his buttocks, urging him to go faster. Pataas nang pataas ang ginawa niyang pagpanhik. Nararamdaman niya ang tensiyon mula kay Keith habang tinutugon nito ang pangangailangan niya... nilang pareho.
No wonder they called it small death. Wala na siyang nauunawaan. Ang natitira na lamang sa buong diwa niya ay si Keith. His touch. His scent. The taste of his skin on her lips and tongue.
He gave one last deep and hard thrust. At may pakiramdam si Madeline na may sumabog na isang libo't isang laksang liwanag.
