Gray

Chapter XXXII

"Don't you have any idea where he is now, Kiel?" Mommy asked Kiel. Agad naman itong umiling.

"I tried searching for him after what happened to Liam. Pero hindi po siya ganoon kadali mahanap."

"Of course, he won't go to places he used to go. I bet he isn't dumb enough to stay here. Malamang ay magtatago iyon," kumento ni Stella habang nakakunot ang noo.

"How about Ralf?" Napa-palakpak ng isang beses si Stella sa suggestion ko. "He must've know something? Should we... give him a call too?"

Nilingon ko si Kiel sa aking tabi. Nakanguso itong pinag-iisipan ang lahat. He slowly nodded his head too, "I'll call him."

"When he showed up to Donya Lucilda's party, I managed to talk to him." Daddy shifted in his seat, mas naging atentibo dahil sa sinabi ni Kiel. Sabi na nga ba at kakausapin niya si Ralf noong gabing iyon, e! That was the night of Lola Lucilda's party na naisabay sa debut ko. "Anong napag-usapan niyo?" Tanong ko.

"I asked him why he was there. Nung una raw ay hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang magpakita sa mga Alcalde. But he wanted to talk to you two, Tito, Tita," he eyed my parents.

"Sa kaba niya ay binuhos niya iyon sa alak. That's why he got drunk at nakapanggulo pa sa party."

Tumango si Daddy. "Is it possible for us to meet him again? Tutal hindi namin siya nakausap nang gabing iyon."

"Yes, Tito. I can do something about it. Alam kong lalo siyang nahihiyang magpakita dahil nadagdagan ang kasalanan niya but I can summon him here, or wherever you want to meet him." Kiel firmly answered. He really is very reliable.

"That's good," tango ni Daddy.

I hope I can meet him too. Naaalala kong nakakausap ko rin siya noon kapag naglalaro sila ng basketball ni Liam. I remember him telling me it's okay not to call him kuya. And I remember Kiel being jealous when I told him that.

Pinatong ni Mommy ang kanang kamay sa binti ni Daddy para maagaw ang atensyon nito mula sa usapan. "We should go," daddy nodded at her. "We still have a meeting in an hour," sa amin naman niya iyon sinabi. I nodded at her too at tipid na ngumiti.

"Let's continue this next time. With Ralf, I guess?" Ani Stella at lumingon kay Kiel, naghihintay ng kompirmasyon. Kiel immediately nodded, mukhang confident na madadala si Ralf sa susunod na pag-uusap.

Mommy and Daddy kissed me goodbye. Nagpaalam na rin sila kay Stella at Kiel.

"Aalis na rin ako, Aris, Kiel. I have meetings too." I kissed her cheek, "okay. Ingat."

Kinuha ni Kiel ang kamay ko nang tuluyang makaalis si Stella. "You okay?" He tilted his head to see a better view of my face.

I know he's still worried about me talking about all of these. Kahit ako ay nag-aalala para sa sarili. I don't want to feel the same way again. Devastated, broken and empty.

But I'm sure I can do this with him and with my family. As long as they're here with me. Tumango ako sa kaniya.

"Oo nga pala! May ipapakita ako sa'yo." Hinila ko si Kiel paakyat ng hagdan, papuntang kwarto. He looks so cute noong nagpapatianod siya sa akin. His massive body being pulled by someone small and petite. 

"I used to come in here. I wonder how it looks like now." He said with a grin on his face nang nasa tapat na kami ng aking kwarto.

Nakapunta na siya rito? "Kailan?"

"When you were nine. You used to invite me in here when your parents weren't around."

Sumandal ito sa aking pinto at hinawakan ang aking baba, "you naughty girl."

My face heated. Hinampas ko ang braso niya sa kahihiyan. "My intentions were probably innocent, Kiel!" I debated.

He laughed, raising his eyebrows, "okay."

I just made a face and opened my bedroom door.

"Tada!" Turo ko sa aking dingding. I showed him my artwork from London. Iyong painting na mula sa litrato sa unit ni Stella. It was Kiel when we were younger.

At pininta ko iyon nang hindi nalalaman na siya pala iyon. What are the odds.

I remember him asking to see my work pero hindi ko pinakita sa kanya dahil nag-aalala akong magalit siya o kung ano man. But little did I know, it was him all along.

The painting is hanging proudly on my wall.

"You painted this?" Tanong niya sa mababang boses. Mayabang akong tumango. His fingertips gently moved around his face on my painting. Para bang dinadama niya ang kanyang nakaraan gamit ang litratong iyon.

"This is what I painted on an art activity sa London. Remember? Noong nagi-intern ka pa lang." He nodded and licked his lower lip. Lalong pumula iyon. His warm and massive hand snaked around my waist. "It's beautiful," bulong niya sa nababasag niyang boses. Yumuko ito para sa aking labi.

Sinalubong ang kanyang mabilis na halik. "But where did you get this photo?"

"Nasa condo yan ni Stella. Bakit?" Bumitaw siya sa aking beywang at dinukot niya ang kanyang cellphone mula sa kanyang bulsa.

"I have that photo in my bedroom too." He said as he took a picture of my painting. Saglit niyang tinignan iyon at muling binalik sa kanyang bulsa. I feel proud, bahagyang tinatago ang nagbabadyang mga ngiti.

"Talaga?" He caressed my face as he nodded. "It's the only photo we had, so it's special to me."

"Espesyal din sakin ito. This photo triggered my sleeping memories. I started recovering memories through my sleep. This photo helped a lot."

"Do you remember the story behind this photo? Because I don't remember taking this picture. Bata pa kasi ako nyan." Umupo ako sa aking kama. Dahil nakahawak siya sa aking baywang, isasama ko sana siya para umupo pero bunmitaw siya sa akin at hinayaan akong umupo doon nang mag-isa.

He crossed his arms, giving my eyes full access of his well toned biceps. Ngumuso ako sa naiisip. "Are you saying I'm old?" Taas kilay niyang tanong.

The corner of my lip rose, "of course you are, Lolo!" Pang-aasar ko.

"You don't want to test me on that, Aristelle. Lalo na't narito tayo sa kwarto mo," he smirked. Tumaas pa ang isa niyang kilay. I don't believe him.

"Oh, yeah?" Hamon ko at tumayo sa kama. Pinadaan ko ang mga kamay sa kanyang dibdib patungo sa kanyang balikat. I heard his deep breath. Test what, Kiel? 

Matalim niya akong tinignan. "I said, don't test me," banta niya.

Umiling ako. "You're bluffing," hamon kong muli.

Ang mainit niyang mga kamay ay dumulas mula sa aking likod patungo sa baywang. Pero mas mababa ito kumpara sa dati nyang hawak.  He tilted his head and leaned closer. Ang maiinit niyang hininga ay nasa aking leeg. He showered it with kisses, "am I?" he said between his little kisses.

Napalunok ako at kumalas sa kanyang katawan. But he didn't let me go. Hinuli niya ang aking mga kamay at hinila pabalik sa kanya. "But you're right," wika niya habang nilalasing ako sa kanyang mga bulong at mga hawak.

"I am patient," his hand slides down on from my nape, bahagyang dumaan ito sa gilid ng aking dibdib. Lasing na ako pero bigla siyang humiwalay sa akin.

Bahagya akong nairita sa kanyang pambibitin. "You need to carry my name before anything happens. Sorry, baby," he chuckled at nanunuyang lumabas na ng aking kwarto. Napairap ako sa matinding iritasyon.

I muttered a curse.

Pabagsak akong humiga ng aking kama at pinaypayan ang sarili. Damn it, Kiel!

Naramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng cellphone sa aking bulsa. Binasa ko yon at ang init na nararamdaman ay dahan dahang napalitan ng panlalamig.

Unknown Number:

Meet me tomorrow. Alone. Or your brother's death will end up in vain.