The Sun The Moon and The Stars

9.finally

ADRIANA

Before my mother could breath her last, she asked me- "Is there anything else that you want?"

I was silent for a while.

"What more do you want?" She asked me. 

"I want Sebastian gone." These were the last words she heard from me before she could close her eyes and a  trickle of tear fell down silently on the side of her face. 

I wanted to see Sebastian's dead body. What a relief to have said this!

I tried to focus on the words she said before- "you already have everything."

This was a lie. The moment she died, Sebastian the only remaining male child of the first family and therefore, considered heir to the family estate would be getting everything. So before this could happen I had to get rid of my little brother.  Only after this already happen could I say that I own everything and my mother's wish for me to be content with what I have would come to its fulfillment. 

"Only after Seb leave this world", I reminded myself.

SAVANNAH

Sebastian told me what happened to Summer.

"I wish it is just a dream-like story but she did die. And I hate myself for leaving her body inside my room. I hate myself", he whispered. "Kailangan kitang ilayo agad mula sa kanilang dalawa. I am sure the moment they see you they will not hesitate to kill you."

"Us", I tried to correct him. 

He stared at me. "Bakit ka binubugbog ng kuya mo nung mga oras na yun?"

I stared back at him. I couldn't say. I couldn't say that I killed his brother. I didn't know if I could ever say it.

"I heard them plotting against you. They want you dead. And I discovered their real relationship with each other."

"Relationship?"

"I learned what they truly are, they are lovers."

I half-lied but he said "I believe you."

"I want to sleep", he said.

"okay" was my only response. 

Then the unexpected thing happened. He pulled me in both of his arms down the bed, entangled in his grip. We never shared the single bed inside our hotel room before. There were days that I decided to sleep on it and some days I chose to sleep on the floor instead. I was just a simple girl with a cotton candy pink hair. Dyed by Adriana herself.

"Bagay ang pink sa'yo." Sebastian caressed my locks with his fingers.

"Bagay din sa'yo", I told him. Wala akong ibang maisip sabihin. 

He moved his face close to mine. Nagalit yata sa sinabi ko sa kanya.  I immediately panicked. 

May nagsisiga ba sa paanan ko? Para kasing may nagliliyab na apy na umaakyat mula sa talampakan ko pataas sa dalawang hita ko. 

He glared at me. 

"Rapist!" I screamed.

"sshhh, Don't let others know. Secret lang natin itong dalawa."

His lips were approaching mine and I could imagine the angels singing around the two of us when all of a sudden he back-pedaled.  Why did he retreat? 

Tinadyakan ko siya sa sikmura dahilan para mahulog siya sa kama.

"Sorry", he said. 

Wala akong imik. I felt downcast. 

"Hindi ako laruan",  bulong ko sa sarili. Pero naiboses ko ata dahil nagreak siya. Inikot niya ang isa kong tenga. "Anong ginagawa?"

"Tinitingnan ko lang kung de-susi ka."

Sinuntok ko siya sa baba. 

Bigla niya akong sinunggaban ng halik.

Finally.

After 11 years of knowing each other.

Nakadilat ako. Sa sobrang bilis ng pangyayari at sa sobrang pagkabigla hindi ko na nagawang ipikit pa ang mga mata ko.  Tinitigan ko ang kanyang ilong na manipis at napakatangos. At ang kanyang buong mukha na tila ba ay nililok ng isang bihasang iskultor.

Inalis ko ang labi ko mula sa kanya at pimagmasdan ang kanyang  mga labi na kulay rosas at ang biloy sa magkabila niyang pisngi na nagpapalabas pa lalo sa kanyang kagwapuhan.  Tiningnan ko rin ng mabuti ang kanyang mapupungay at nangungusap na mga kulay-kapeng mata na nakatitig lamang sa akin. 

Para siyang isang tala sa umaga. His appearance was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. Radiant and magnificent. Marvelous and glorious. 

"Sabi ko sa'yo e . Hindi kita pinaglalaruan. Naalala ko lang na hindi pa pala ako nagsisipilyo."

Hindi ko napansin yun a. "Mabaho nga", I lied.

"Oo nga 'e. Toothbrush muna ako. 'kaw rin, siguradong nahawahan na yang bibig mo ng baho."

Tumayo siya sabay hila ko sa kanya pababa. I did not care at all if he brushed his teeth or not.

"What are you doing?", he asked, surprised at my action. He pulled his lips away.

Sumagot ako,"Pinaglalaruan ka."

"Pinaglalaruan? Hindi ako pwedeng hindi gumanti. edi paglalaruan rin kita."

"edi paglaruan mo."

"Paglaruan natin ang isa't isa."

What? Ano? Payag siya?

I changed what he said, "Paglaruan natin ang katawan ng isa't isa."

"Paglaruan natin?"

I kissed him to shut him up. 

At ganun nga ang nangyari sa loob ng lumang hotel na tinuluyan namin sa loob ng ilang araw.  Ilang araw rin naming pinaglaruan ang isa't isa. 

Hindi ako kasing husay ni  Sebastian magkuwento ng mga detalye dahil hindi naman ako isang professional writer katulad niya. Pero isa lang ang masasabi ko. Pakiramdam ko I was already dead at nakalutang na ang katawan ko sa langit as one of the heavenly bodies.  And if death really felt like this I would be glad to die.

[CHAPTER CONCLUDED]

©2017 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF  YUSEF RAMIREZ

 STRICTLY NO PLAGIARISM