Cupidity [Love Beyond Boundaries #1]

Simula

Gabi na nang matapos ang gig namin sa araw na ito kaya ginabi na rin ako. Tita Amara wouldn't get mad kaya panatag ako kahit na ganitong oras na maka uwi. She knew about my gigs and she allowed me.

I'm lucky that I have the Saavedras as my guardian. They never made me feel out of the frame. If they didn't took me in ay baka nasa squatter na ako namumuhay ngayun.

Tita Amara, my mother's best friend was the only person my mother could entrust me with. And, she also volunteered to take care of me.

According to tita my mother was physically weak since she was child kaya hindi kinaya ng katawan niya ang pagbubuntis şa akin. Hindi ko manlang siya nakita, o nayakap.

At kung tatay ko naman ang pag-uusapan, they don't know who he is. My mother was wasted when someone approach her at the bar. In short, I'm a product of a hook up.

Samantalang ang magulang naman ni mama ay hindi siya kinikilala dahil anak siya sa labas. Her father's wife doesn't want to keep her kaya simula ng umapak si mama sa tamamng edad ay pinaalis na siya nito. I feel sorry for my mother, masyadong malungkot ang mga pinagdaanan niya. But she's in a better place now. She won't experience another heartache of being rejected and the pain that a life could give. She doesn't have to worry about me because Saavedras are treating me well.

Kinuha ko ang sarili kong susi ng main door para makapasok na at makapagpahinga. I still have class tomorrow.

Nang mabuksan ko ang pinto ay madilim na sa loob ng bahay. Tulog na ang mga tao sa ganitong oras kaya dahan dahan akong umakyat sa hagdan. I didn't mind to open the lights dahil diritso naman na ako sa kwarto.

Umaakyat na ako habang kumakapa sa hagdan ng may biglang tumikhim sa likod ko. "Saan ka galing?"

My body went still when I recognized that deep and husky voice. I only know one person who sounds like that. Nanginig ang mga kamay kong nakahawak sa hawakan ng hagdan. My heart beat faster than it should.

Nilingon ko ang sala at may nakita akong nakaupo sa couch. Kahit na silhouette niya lang ang nakikita ko ay hindi ako magkakamaling makilala siya dahil sa boses niya. The person stood up to walk up to the switch to turn on the light.

Napapikit ako dahil sa biglang pagliwanag. When I opened my eyes one by one, they landed on the person now standing at the end of the staircase, looking up at me with a serious face. When I said the Saavedras were treating me well, there was someone who clearly wasn't. Fuck.

"K-kuya." Nauutal na sabi ko. Nothing in the world prepared me for this moment. I think I was hallucinating.

All right, I actually forgot about him dahil wala naman kaming koneksyon sa isa't isa simula noong umalis siya para i-manage ang branch nila sa states. And I also don't want to involve myself with him.

He doesn't like me to be a part of his family. Lagi niyang pinaparamdam iyon sa akin simula pa ng bata. He might sometime be good at me but that was forced too. I just know it was forced.

Sinubokan ko mang kunin ang loob niya ay sumuko rin ako. I can't force someone who doesn't want me to be his brother.

Nang makabalik ako sa reyalidad ay nagulat akong nasa harap ko na siya. Just two steps below me in the stairs.

"Kailan k-a po nakarating?" I asked to ease my nervousness. His serious eyes is intimidating the shit out of me. Tita Amara didn't inform me that his son is coming home!

"Kanikanina lang. Saan ka ba galing at gabi na ay nasa labas ka parin." Rinig na rinig ko ang pintas sa boses niya.

"May g-gig lang po ako."

He sighed heavily before taking another step, a scowl evident on his face. "Hindi parin pala nawawala yang utal mo kapag kausap ako?" He point out making me blushed hard as I remember what was the reason why I am stuttering in front of him.

Hindi ako sumagot at yumuko lang. Ayaw kong halungkatin ang ala alang iyon.

"Now you're ignoring me."

Hindi parin ako sumagot. Bumuntong hininga siya at ginulo ang magulo ng buhok.

"Matulog ka na, gabi na at may pasok ka pa bukas." He said while giving me a pat on the head before walking pass me.

Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Wow! He sounded like a real brother on that. Anong nakain nun at naging maamo?

Matagal nang naka alis si Zhared pero nakatayo parin ako sa hagdan. Hindi parin ako makapaniwala na ang binatang kaharap ko kani-kanina lang ay walang iba kundi ang masungit na anak nina Tita Amara. Kung di ko pa naisip na may pasok ako bukas ay hindi ko pa maiisipang umakyat sa sarili kong kwarto.

Damn. He looks bigger than life. Lutang ako habang nagpre-prepare para matulog hanggang sa nakahiga na ako. Napatulala ako sa kisame. Ayaw ko mang aminin ay di talaga makakaila ang pinagbago niya.

Ang mature niyang tignan, nadidipina na ang age gap namin ngayun, he's 7 years older that me. He is more handsome than ever. His clean cut hair made his jawline more define. Sinabayan pa ng tangkad niya. He's probably 6'1 or more. He looks like a person who knows what he wants and knows how to get it. Nakakakilabot.

Tapabuntong hininga ako. Bakit ko pa siya pinupori eh alam ko namang kalbaryo na naman buhay ko at nandiyan siya. Pero baka nagbakasyon lang, matagal narin ng huli niyang uwi rito.

I turned to my side in the bed and hugged my pillow. Bahala na nga, matanda naman na siya para awayin ako. Pinikit ko na ang mga mata para matulog.