CHAPTER 3

MAGKASUNOD lang na bumaba si Demie at Sandro sa living room. It's already 9 pm, at hindi alam ni Demie kung tapos na ba silang magluto. She's some what ashamed kasi wala man siyang naitulong na kahit ano sa bahay.

"Oh dear, look at you iha! You're dazzlingly perfect! Am I right, Sandro?" Parehong nagulat si Demie at Alessandro sa biglaang pasaring ng ginang sa kanila. But Sandro just played along.

"Yes mom, you're right. She's really dazzling… and irresistible." Sandro said, the corner of his mouth turned up. His mom squealed na agad sinaway ni Alastair na di maitimpla ang mukha, pero agad ngumiti ng mapatingin sa kaniya si Demie. Kaya agad niya itong nilapitan para makuha ang atensiyon nito.

"You're more than perfect, Demie." Sambit naman ni Alastair sabay kuha nito sa kanang kamay ni Demie tsaka hinalikan. Agad namang napangiti si Demie, the Aly she knew— the wholesome one. Kaya nga may crush na siya dito dati pa.

"Thank you, Aly." Nakangiting tugon ni Demie that made someone hissed. Titingnan pa niya sana si Sandro nang hilain na siya ni Alastair papunta sa pool area na nasa gilid ng mansiyon. Nakasunod lang sa kanila sila Alessandro.

Demie was surprised to see the christmas lights and christmas decors in the pool area. The small palm trees in each corner are all decorated with christmas lights, and there's also christmas lights that are hanging above from the roof to the end of the wall, infront. At pagpasok mo rin ay makikita mo kaagad ang dalawang barbecue grill na inihanda at ang dining table. Demie checked the pool and there's two loungers placed on an elevated floor on the pool just right before the two step concrete stairs. 

"Di ko naman alam na may pool dito, tita. Sana nag bikini na ako agad," biro ni Demie sa ginang na agad namang pinaniwalaan nito.

"Oh you want to swim? You can iha but tomorrow nalang siguro, sayang ang outfit mo." Her tita Kareen responded, winked.

Pagkatapos ay agad na silang nag-umpisang mag-ihaw. Silang tatlo lang ang nag-uusap, Demie is quite bothered na nasa likod lang nila si Sandro mag-isa. Busy lang ito sa hawak na phone at panaka-nakang umiinom ng alak sa round table. Demie wants him to join their conversation, she wants to know him. And she doesn't know why she suddenly grow an interest on him.

Sa pagkakaalam ni Demie ay sampung taon ang agwat nila, she's going to be 25 so he's 35. Isa rin to sa dahilan kung bakit mas naging close siya kay Alastair na kaedad niya lang. Hanggang tingin lang dati si Demie kay Sandro na kadalasan ay nasa isang sulok lang at palaging seryoso ang mukha. Kabaliktaran kay Alastair na bibo at palabiro.

"Kuya, pakikuha naman nitong mga luto na oh."  Alastair said, inaabot ang isang tray na may lamang pork barbecue na luto na. Agad namang napatingin si Demie rito. Tahimik lang na kinuha nito ang tray kay Alastair, at bumalik sa dating pwesto na ikinanguso ni Demie na napansin ng ginang.

"What's the matter, iha?" Her tita Kareen asked, na nagpapaypay sa nagbabagang uling. Demie sighed, decided to gossip about Sandro.

"Ganyan po ba talaga si sweet- I m-mean si Sandro po? Tahimik?" Demie almost utter the endearment she heard from Alessandro. Buti nalang at silang dalawa lang ng ginang ang andoon.

"Oh, you're interested huh?" Kareen said, teasing Demie. Demie shaked her head, but her tita can see her cheeks turning red that made her delighted.

"Alright iha, to answer your question. You know naman diba that their father left us, he was just 11 years old that time. At halos isang taon pa lang kayo ni Aly. Since then, naging seryoso na si Sandro sa mga bagay. But, hindi naman naging masama ang tingin niya sa papa niya. Actually, ang papa niya ang nagpaaral sa kaniya kasi siya ang gusto nitong magmana sa restaurant business na nasimulan nito. At diyan nagsimula, masyadong nagfocus si Sandro sa pag-aaral at training sa kaniya ng tatay niya. And I'm happy naman that his hard work paid off." Napatango-tango naman si Demie at kahit papaano ay alam na niya ang dahilan kung bakit parang seryoso lagi ang lalaki.

"What about you, iha? What are your plans? Kaka-graduate mo pa lang, plano mo naba agad magtrabaho?" Tanong naman ng ginang kay Demie na siyang nagbabaliktad ng pork sa barbecue grill.

"Pahinga siguro muna ako, tita. I just realized na masyado kong nilunod ang sarili ko sa pag-aaral at side job. Atleast before I will start finding a job, I want to be stress free. And me, spending my Christmas and birthday here with your familty, tita, is a great start. Nakakapagod na mag-celebrate ng Christmas at birthday mag-isa." Natatawa pang ani ni Demie. Her friends can't come even though it's her birthday, kasi meron ding mga family ang mga ito. At wala ring kamag-anak na malalapitan si Demie. She was all alone when her parents left her.

"That's good, iha. I've been inviting you every year to spend Christmas with us, but you always declined kasi mas inuuna mo ang trabaho at pag-aaral mo. Kaya I've been wondering too, nagka-love life ka ba?" Tsismis pa ng ginang kay Demie na mahinang natawa at napailing.

"I've got dating life, pero hanggang doon lang. Wala akong nakarelasiyon talaga. Ewan ko ba, tita." Natatawang tugon naman ni Demie na narinig ni Alastair na nasa gilid lang nila at seryoso ring nag-iihaw ng marinig ang sinabi mi Demie.

"Tama ba ang narinig ko? Ang napakagandang si Demie ay nbsb? Ako na ata ang magiging gift para sayo, Demie." Sabat ni Alastair sabay kindat pa kay Demie na ikinatawa ng huli. Napataas naman ang kilay ng ina nito, mas gusto nito si Sandro kay Demie.

"Kahit kailan talaga, Aly. Don't tell me, crush mo pa rin ako hanggang ngayon?" Pabirong banat naman ni Demie na bahagyang napalakas kaya narinig din ito ni Sandro na naging interesado sa pinag-uusapan nila.

"Anong crush crush? Outdated kana uy, love na kaya kita boom!" Banat naman ni Alastair na ginawa nitong pabiro ang tono, kahit nama'y may katotohanan ang sinabi nito. Napakunot naman ang noo ni Sandro sa narinig, parang hindi niya nagugustuhan ang naririnig mula sa kapatid. He suddenly wants to mark Demie. He only want her for him. Only for him.

"Hindi pa ba kayo tapos diyan?" Sabat ni Alessandro na nasa likuran na ni Demie, kaya naman bahagyang napaigtad ang huli ng magsalita ito malapit sa kaniya. Nabangga pa ang likod niya sa dibdib ng lalaki, at napahawak naman si Sandro sa bewang niya.

The warmth of his hand suddenly travels to Demie's body. Ayan na naman ang pakiramdam na parang nag-iinit ang katawan niya. Kaya agad bumuwag si Demie kay Sandro, who's jaw's tightening at the moment. And also his jeans, just by touching her hips through the thin fabric, is enough for him to make him hard. 'This is really bad. This woman is mine. She's not going anywhere, nor to my brother. She's mine.' Sandro mentally said, after he got back to his seat.

While Demie at that moment, she can feel the stare of the man that driving her crazy. This is bad for her. The thought of giving her cherry to Alastair is fading. But, she won't change it. Hindi pa niya alam ang status ni Sandro. Sa edad nito ay imposibleng wala pa itong girlfriend. Kaya hindi magbabago ang isip niya.

Matapos ang lampas oras na pag-iihaw ay finally tapos na sila. They've got variety of meat that they grilled. Kumuha rin sila ng pagkain na niluto rin ni Sandro kanina para pulutan. Chicken wings with honey spicy bbq sauce and a variety of meat grilled bbq is on the table. Magkatabi si Sandro at Demie, katapat naman nila si Alastair at mama nito.

Inubos nila ang oras hanggang sa pagsapit ng alas dose sa pag-inom, kain at kwentuhan. Demie did all her best to stay sober para sa gagawin niyang plano mamaya. Paunti-unti lang naman ang pag-inom nila dahil sasalubong pa nga sila sa pasko at kaarawan ni Demie. But Demie, having a low alcohol tolerance ay natamaan na ito ng sumapit ang alas dose.

Naiwan si Demie at ang kaniyang tita Kareen sa pool area nang papasapit na ang alas dose. Sandro and Alastair went to kitchen to get the foods and gifts they have for Demie. Kahit medyo natatamaan na si Demie ay maayos pa rin naman ang pag-iisip niya.

Fireworks display and the sounds of torotot filled the subdivision, when the clock turns twelve. At kasabay non ang malakas na sigaw ni Alastair at mama nito.

"Happy birthday, Demie! And Merry Christmas!" Both said in unison. Kaya napatingin si Demie sa may pintuan kung saan andoon si Alastair who's holding 3 gift box, and Sandro who's holding the cake.

Demie couldn't stop her lips from smiling so wide, she was surprised. Napatayo si Demie nang lumapit na sila Alastair, kumakanta ito ng happy birthday, ganoon na rin ang mama nito. While Sandro is just standing on the side, just on his signature half smile.

"Oh my, thank you! I didn't expect this," Demie beamed, smiling from ear to ear. She then closed her eyes and thanked God for everything. "Merry Christmass everyone!" Demie greeted them, after she blew the candle. The look on Demie's face ia priceless. She never celebrated Christmas and her birthday like this before. This is truly the start of spicing up her life, just what she planned. And the first part will end later.

They continue the double celebration, pero nauna nang nagpaalam si Kareen sa kanila Demie. Being old is worry some. At naintindihan naman nila iyon. Kaya naman, naiwan ang tatlo na nag-iinuman— ah halos si Alastair at Demie lang pala. Naroon lang si Sandro sa gilid nagmamasid, para bang agilang nagbabantay sa magiging pagkain nito maya maya.

Pero napaalis si Sandro nang may tumawag sa kaniya, kaya naiwan si Demie at Alastair. Umeepekto na talaga ang alak kay Demie sa mga oras na 'yon, kaya kailangan na niyang magawa ang plano niya. Bago pa man siya tuluyang ma knock-out. Akmang tatayo na si Demie para lapitan na niya si Alastair ng bigla itong tumayo.

"Sandali lang Demie, cr lang ako saglit." Paalam nito sa kaniya kaya muling napaupo si Demie at sinundan ng tingin si Alastair. Huminga pa ng malalim si Demie bago tumayo at umpisahan na ang plano niya.

She made her way through the living room, then walk up the stairs. Mauuna siya sa kwarto ni Alastair. She will surprise him.

Naalala ni Demie na lumabas mula sa huling kwarto si Sandro kanina. Kaya naman naisip niya na ang katabi ng kwarto niya ay ang kwarto ni Alastair. While she's on her way, Demie can't help but giggles. She's thinking that Alastair would be really surprised. But as Demie open the door, she's the one who was surprised.

She found Sandro laying on the bed. Stroking his hard c*ck. And Demie was rooted on the floor, her mouth fell open. As her eyes glued to Sandro's pulsating c*ck.