Love and Desire(#5)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Nadine

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko kinayang makasama pa si Kier sa loob ng bahay hanggang sa makauwi sina daddy. Hindi kami nagkikibuan at ayoko ring ako ang magsimula ng usapan namin. May nagpunta lang na katulong sa kwarto ko kanina para asikasuhin ako dahil nagpaalam si Kier na magpapahangin lang sa labas.

Nasa hapag kami ngayong lahat at tahimik na kumakain. Nandito ngayon sina Ate Lily kasama ang tatlong anak nila dahil may pupuntahang business trip si Kuya Austin.

"Seems like something's bothering you, Auntie. Don't worry, we'll visit you in your place soon." Napaangat ako ng tingin nang marinig ko ang maarteng boses ni Crishaine. Ito ang katabi ni Kier pero inignora ko ang titig ni Negro at ngumiti sa pamangkin ko.

"She's not bothered by the fact that she'll go back to work soon. We have our gadgets now that's used for communication. I guess Auntie Nadie really have a problem." Kontra naman ni Crain sa sinabi ng kapatid kaya napasimangot lang si Crishaine at tumingin kay Ate Lily.

"Kuya Crain..." Ate sighed. Crain just shrugged then drifted his eyes on me.

I just smiled at him. Nathania's the responsible one but Crain is very observant. Crishaine is the spoiled brat but she has a sweet side. Hindi ko alam pero nakikita ko ang sarili ko kay Crishaine.

"Just observing." Crain told me then shrugged. I just nodded then cleared my throat. Mom smiled warmly.

"Sis, sorry sa dalawang 'to. Don't mind them. Ganyan lang talaga sila. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit palaging nagkakasagutan. Hindi naman kami ganito ni Kuya Nathan noon." Paumanhin ni Ate sa'kin pero umiling lang ako. I love kids. Hindi problema ang mga ginagawa ng dalawang pamangkin ko.

"It's okay." I assured her. Tumango lang ito at pinagpatuloy ang pagpapakain sa bunso nila na si Audrianna. Ngumiti ako sa bata at tumingin ulit ako sa mga magulang ko. Dad gestured me to speak up like he's really waiting for me to do so.

"Uh, I'm planning to go to Baguio for three days. Jenny asked me to buy her peanut butter and strawberry jams." I told him. Gusto kasi ni Jenny na fresh from Baguio ang ipapasalubong ko sa kanya. She really likes their peanut butter. Hindi ko alam kung anong diperensya sa mga mabibili dito sa Manila.

"Sure." Pagpayag agad ni daddy as I sighed in relief. "But bring Kier with you, he'll help you out." He added. Alinlangan akong ngumiti.

"But dad, he needs to go back to---"

"Your brother called early this morning. He said he'll let Kier stay here until you go back to America. So don't worry a lot." Mommy interrupted. I smiled uneasy. I can't even look at Kier for a second. It'll be awkward. "Besides, Apollo will tag along too." She smiled at my brother.

"Yup." Pagsang-ayon ni Apollo sa sinabi ni mommy. Ngumiti ito sa'akin at kay Kier. "I'll meet a friend there but I'll stay for five days. Sasama ako papunta pero mas mauuna kayong umuwi." Sabi nito sa'akin. Tumango-tango ako. Hindi ko na pala kailangang magpaalam dahil nakaplano na rin pala sila.

"So, is it okay with you, Kier? Kanina ka pa walang kibo diyan." Singit ni ate kaya hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong tignan ito. "Wait, may nangyari ba ng wala kami dito? Nag-away ba kayong dalawa?" Ate looked at me. My heart skipped a bit when I heard her first question. Uh, me and my green mind!

"Hindi 'noh!" Tanggi ko at nakita ko agad ang pag-ngisi ng palihim ni Kier. Now, he's smirking.

What the hell?

"Ah, before I forgot. Do you still remember Pauline? The one you helped at the bar? I saw her at the party." Napataas ang kilay ko sa babaeng sinabi ni ate. Bar? Kailan pa nahilig sa bar si Kier? Tumingin si ate kina dad. "Siya po 'yung magandang babaeng pinakilala ko sa inyo kanina. Doctor pala siya. Hi daw sabi niya kay Kier at tinanong kung bakit hindi mo na siya tinatawagan." Natatawang sabi ni ate. Nakitawa rin si daddy maging si Apollo. I continued eating.

Out of place na naman ako.

Wow ha. Tinatawagan talaga? Call mate? Ano kayang pinag-uusapan nila? Ah, bakit naman ako magiging interesado? Pakialam ko naman sa kanila?

"Ang daming babaeng naghahabol sa'yo Kier. Ni isa ay wala ka pang iniharap sa'min." Sabi ni mom rito.

Hiniharap? Like duh, my parents aren't his parents! Why would he do that?

"That's okay. Mas madami kang makakasalamuhang babae, mas makikita mo ang diperensya nila sa isa't isa. You're a good man and you deserve nothing but the best." Daddy nods his head. I silently cursed and rolled my eyes.

I am not against my dad. But seriously? He's just pushing Kier to be a playboy! Meet other girls? Like, going out and date some cheap girls? Like Yvette, Pauline and others? Eww. That's...eww.

Okay, enough Nadine. Wala kang pakialam 'dba? As in wala?

-----

Maaga kaming nakarating sa Baguio dahil maaga rin kaming bumiyahe. Kier parked our car at the hotel's parking lot where we planned to stay. It's Kuya Gelo's so we don't have any problem about it. Sinabi lang namin na magis-stay kami doon. Naunang lumabas si Apollo at dire-diretsong pumasok. He told them his name and one of the staffs assisted him.

"Third floor sir." I heard them kaya bigla akong sumingit. Akala ko ba sa fourth floor kami?

"Teka, nagkamali yata sila---"

"Hindi ate. Hindi naman ako sasama sa mga pupuntahan niyo. Something came up and I need to fix it." Pagputol ni Apollo sa'kin. Ngumiti ito at tinignan si Kier na nasa likuran ko. "Take care of my sister. You're years ahead but I won't care if something's bad happen to her." Banta nito kaya nanlaki ang mga mata ko! Tama bang pagbantaan niya si Kier? Nakakatouch si bunso pero nakakatakot pala siya. Namimiss ko tuloy ang baby Apollo ko.

"She's Nadine." I heard Kier mumbled. Tumawa lang naman si Apollo. Wala akong nagawa kundi magpalipat-lipat lang ng tingin sa kanilang dalawa.

"Of course. But she's still a girl." He retorted. "But anyway, I trust you." He chuckled. Kier just nodded then they do fist bump.

Okay, akala ko pa naman strikto talaga si Apollo. Mukhang close na rin sila ni Kier. Nakaka-OP.

Apollo walk towards me. Hinawakan nito ang siko ko at inilayo ng konti.

"Ate, you should put this in your mind. Not all the time, you have to be number one. Just call me when you need anything. I love you." Nganga ako sa sinabi niya pero tumango lang ako. Ano daw?

Hindi rin nagtagal ay pumunta na kami sa mga designated rooms namin. Kier's room is just next to mine. He helped me with my things but I told him just to put it in a corner. He's talking to me now but I can feel the coldness in his voice.

I don't understand. May kasalanan na naman ba ako? As far as I remember, ako dapat ang may galit. Pero bakit kung makaiwas ito ay wagas? At talagang pumayag pa siyang samahan ako dito pero ganito lang pala ang makukuha kong pagtrato nito. Nakakainis!

"You should rest now." He said, still sounds cold. "Magpahinga ka na at mamaya na lang tayo pumasyal. You can text me when you're ready. I'll be waiting. My room is just next to yours so you can knock too." He suggested. Hinuhuli ko ang tingin nito pero hindi siya pumayag na magtitigan kami. Sa halip ay tumalikod na siya at nagsimulang maglakad palayo.

What did I do? Nagpapakipot na naman ba si Kier?

"Uh, thank you." I absentmindedly said. He stopped but didn't look back.

"This is an order from your father." Napairap ako. Edi wow. Nag-effort pa akong mag-thank you! Nang makalabas ito ay agad kong tinakpan ang mukha ko ng unan at doon isinigaw ang inis ko kay Negro.

"Bwisit ka, Kier! Napakahirap mong pakisamahan! Painumin kita ng diyan ng gamot e!"