Love and Desire(#5)

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Nadine

Natulog lang ako buong biyahe namin pabalik sa Manila. Si Kier na lang ang kasama ko dahil nagpaiwan si Apollo. I'm still wondering who's with him all the time. Hindi naman 'yung mga barkada niya dahil nasa Manila ang mga 'to base sa post nila sa social media.

"So how's your life there?" Pukaw ni Kier sa'akin habang nasa sasakyan kami pabalik na sa bahay. Nagkibit balikat lang ako at tumingin sa labas ng bintana.

"All good." I answered casually. "Mamita still used to spoil me." Tumawa ako, tukoy ko sa lola ko sa mommy's side. Doon kasi ako nakatira kasama ang Lolo ko.

"Brat." He commented. I rolled my eyes then faced him.

"Beautiful, forever gorgeous and smart brat." I pointed out but he just chuckled. Hindi ko naman idedeny 'yun. Bata pa lang ako noong sinabi na ng daddy ko na prinsesa ako---kami ni Ate Lily. He treated us like a real princesses and mommy like a queen. Kaya wala akong pakialam kung sinasabi nilang brat ako. Dad has the guts to give all what we wished to have.

Duh.

"Yeah. My forever gorgeous, Nadie baby." He corrected then pulled me closer to him. He kissed me on the cheeks and I slapped his arms.

"Don't you dare do that in front of my family if you want to live longer." I warned him then smiled. He rolled his eyes then put his hand on his chest like he's saying he's hurt. Tumawa lang ako at hinampas ulit ang braso niya.

"C'mon, I'm serious. What we had in there is a secret and we really have to keep it. Alright? We just can't broadcast it to anyone. I'm not yet ready for commitment as well as you're not yet ready to leave your work." I seriously explained. We talked about what we did before we decided to went home.

Sinabi kong dapat namin itong itago dahil tiyak na mabibigla ang pamilya ko kapag nalaman nilang may ginawa kami ni Kier. Dad and Kuya Nathan trusted him and I don't want to ruin everything. Besides, why should we tell them? Is it necessary? We don't love each other and we only did that because of desire.

Yup, desire. I sighed.

"Don't worry. I got it." I looked up to him then he smiled, like telling me he really understands me. I smiled back in relief.

"Are you dating someone there?" He asked after few minutes. Tumawa ulit ako at binalingan ulit siya. Sunod-sunod akong umiling bago ko binalik ang tingin ko sa labas. Nasa subdivision na pala kami.

"I love my job and I focused to it for years to the point that I already quit going to bars and socializing to everyone." I chuckled but I got sad after I realized what I've said. "I want to be the best and I want to prove it to my daddy. You know, priorities." I shrugged. Narinig ko lang ang paghinga niya ng malalim at tinapik ang balikat ko.

Hindi ko alam kung anong tinatawag kong priorities pero hindi ako pwedeng mabigo. Dad sees me as a tough and intelligent girl and I just feel like I needed to be one.

"You know Nadie, your dad's proud of you now. Very proud. You don't need to be on top of everything just because he's your dad." He told me. Huminga naman ako ng malalim at sumandal sa upuan. Magsasalita pa sana siya ng huminto na ang taxi. We're already in front of our home.

Kier gets off first and opens the door for me. Siya rin ang nagbayad ng taxi at nagbitbit ng bag ko. Agad lumapit sina Kuya Nathan at daddy nang makapasok ako. Sabado ngayon at nandito silang lahat.

"How's your trip? Sana ay hindi mo pinahirapan si Kier." Bungad sa'akin ni kuya bago ako yakapin. Sinimangutan ko siya.

"I'm the lady here." I sarcastically told him. He chuckled then played my hair. "Ate oh! Si Kuya Nathan! Huwag mo ngang papayagang makitabi sa'yo mamayang gabi." Pagsusumbong ko sa asawa niya pero agad akong tinawanan ni daddy.

Nakitawa rin si Kuya Austin at Ate Vea. Pati na rin si Kier at mommy. Ngumiti ako sa mga pamangkin ko at lumapit kay Vaughn.

"You better sleep with your mom and dad tonight. They will make a new baby. So you should stop them." I told him. Lumabi naman ito at tumingin kay kuya. Ayaw kasi ni Vaughn na may bagong baby si Ate Vea so I love to tease him. Pumula ang kilay nito. Lumapit naman si kuya at agad binuhat ang bunsong anak.

"Dad, I think Nadine's old enough now. You can start arranging her to someone else." Pikong sabi nito at tumingin kay daddy. Sinita naman siya ng kanyang asawa kaya bumelat ako rito.

"Ikaw naman sweetheart, masyadong pikon." Ate Vea told him. Nakita kong lumapit sina Crain, Shaine at Nathania kay daddy.

"I guess Auntie Nadie needs more time, Papa Pogi." Crain told dad. Pogi ang tawag nila dito. Ayaw patawag ng Lolo. Dad just looked at him with amusement. Ako naman ay na-touch. Kakampi ko talaga ang mga anak ng mga kapatid ko. Sinita ito ni Ate Lily pero agad nagsalita si Nathania.

"And she doesn't need someone else's." She giggled then looked up to me. My forehead creased. Ano namang sinasabi niya?

"Yeah. And they still need time to figure it out. Uncle Kier is single. And I want him to be Auntie's husband. They're so sweet. I like Auntie Yvette too but I already shifted to Team KenDi." Crishaine interrupted as my eyes widened.

What?

"Where did you get those Team KenDi?" Tanong ni Kuya Austin pero ngumingisi kay Kier. Ako naman ay namula ang mukha. Shaine just rolled her eyes.

"Duh, daddy. It's combination of their names." Maarteng paliwanag niya sa lahat. Everybody's mouth formed into an O. Pati si Kier ay wiling-wili na nakinig sa kanya.

Tumikhim si daddy kaya napaangat ang tingin ko rito pero nakatingin na pala ito kay Kier. Medyo kinabahan ako dahil parang sinusuri nito si Negro. Gumagana na naman ba ang sixth sense ng daddy ko?

Stop Nadie, you're insane.

"Kier hijo." He started. Our eyes automatically shifted to dad. God, he's very serious. What did those kids do?

"Binabalaan na kita. Matigas ang ulo ng prinsesa ko at hindi siya basta-basta sumusunod sa mga utos. Kung ako sa'yo ay iligtas mo na ang sarili mo bago ka maitali ng lubusan kay Nadine." He laughed wholeheartedly after he delivered his speech. Nakitawa rin ang iba at nakita ko ang paghinga ni Kier ng malalim na parang nakadaan sa butas ng karayom. Napasimangot na naman ako.

Akala ko naman ay seryoso na siya pero nanggo-good time lang pala.

"Dad naman e!" I hissed then walk towards him. He just opened his arms to give me a big hug. Tumatawa pa ito at hinalikan ang noo ko.

"Kung si Kier lang anak ay walang problema sa'amin ng mommy mo pero nasa inyo pa rin ang huling desisyon. Malaki ka na at alam kong matalino ka." He said sincerely. Tumango lang ako.

"Dad huwag niyo po muna akong ipamigay." Nakalabing biro ko at tumawa ulit ito. Pinakawalan niya ako at napatingin ulit sa lahat.

"Pero anak, kinakabahan na talaga ako kung sino man ang magiging asawa mo." Biro ulit niya. Napailing na lang ako sa kanila.

Pasimple kong tinignan si Kier.

Nakangiti ito sa'akin pero malungkot ang mga mata niya.

Bakit?