CHAPTER 7

"Pinauna ako ni Tito Ephraim at may nagsabi roong pasunod na ang fiancee ng isang Ephraim Ivonis Yousef Zallega, that's why I was nearly bombarded," she said. 

Bumuntong hininga ako at hinilig ang batok sa back rest. Kinalas niya ang necktie ko at sinunod ang botones ng upper button. 

"Bakit kasi ayaw mo?" 

She breathed deeply smirked at me, "Inaamo pa natin ang sarili natin sa isa't-isa, Ephraim Junior..." 

I groaned, "Stop calling me by that." 

Maaga kong inayos ang mga problema sa warehouse, I was in the other building, in the main office where there are pile of documents to be done immediately, pinasa muna sa akin ni Daddy ito dahil may maaga siyang pinuntahan na lugar. 

I was wearing my boots, black jeans, white long sleeve and white hard hat when I checked the construction area for the renovation. 

Zuri was still sleeping when I left the mansion but I had to go home after I supervised the whole thing. Umikot ako sa daan dahil hindi ko kabisado ang shortcut sa farm. 

At halos alas onse na ako nakarating dahil nilakad ko, pinagtinginan pa ako ng mga tao sa daan. 

"Ivo!" 

Tumigil ako sa pamilyar na boses. I saw Vanessa with my squad there in their home. 

"Hi, kumusta naman kayo?!" I grinned and went there. 

"Ayos lang, nagtatrabaho na sa kumpanya ng Kuya mo, naroon ang branch namin," Jayden said lazily. 

"Bakit naglalakad ka? Wala kang guards?" Vanessa smirked.  

"Wala, sige, uwi na 'ko..." sabi ko. 

Logan laughed, "Ivo, Vanessa has a business,"

Vanessa glared at him. 

"Ano 'yon?" tanong ko. 

I might help something... 

"Dinala ang Batangas Lomi sa MZ Advocates and Developers, e." 

Suminghap ako at tumawa. 

"Tapos ang matindi pa, natusok ng ballpen ang supot, habang interview niya, tumutulo ang sabaw ng lomi, pagtayo niya, nawisik ang sabaw sa panel," Jayden slapped Vanessa's shoulders. 

I missed those moments, ang lahat. Nanghihinayang ako dahil hindi ko nasaksihan ang mga nakwento nila. They reminicse all the memories while I am away. 

"I feel like an unfair friend," sabi ko habang nakaupo sa bakal na upuan. 

Zuri was sitting in front of me quietly. Kinukwento ko ang mga bagay na nakwento ng mga kaibigan ko sa akin. Nasa hardin kami at may meryenda sa harap naming dalawa. 

"Bakit naman? You became successful in your own career, and they are also achieving their own." 

Bumaba ang tingin ko, I saw her looking at me, no, in my chest, I was toplessly in front of her with just my grey boxers. 

"I was forced to be successful to prove my capabilities." 

She stopped chewing the bread, "Bakit? I mean, yeah, five years ago, all over the news, you filled them, that you were removed from the largest real estate as the CEO." 

Hindi ko alam kung paniniwalaan ko ba or am I just the only one who was too modest what happened before. 

"Then I saw you... doing some malicious things in the beach tapos ang abnormal niyo ng mga kaibigan mo." 

I looked at her and chuckled, "You don't have friends?" 

"Meron, sa Maynila, kaya nga nakabili rin si Daddy ng bahay sa malapit niyo para kapag nagpatuloy ako sa La Salle, doon kami titira," aniya. 

I nodded, "But if you want to live on my condo, you can go there." 

"Sa BGC? Sa tower niyo?" 

"It was my Dad's penthouse before, I just renovated it, nabili ko ang katabi no'n at pinaluwang, just in front of my brothers'." 

"Ayoko namang magmukhang kabit na binabahay mo..." 

She was just in her word 'kabit' when I stood up. "I don't know with you." 

Tumawa siya nang malakas at sinimangutan ko siyang pumunta sa duyan sa hardin. 

I don't know but her small face was filled with sophistication like Ate Lava but Zuri's more funny among them. Ate Elijah's more crude dahil short at t-shirt lang, ayos na, Zuri and Ate Lava were more than a fashion presented. 

"Why don't you wanna talk about it?" she laughed and carried a plastic chair. 

"Kasal ba ako sa iba para tawagin mo ang sarili mong kabit na ibabahay ko sa condo ko?" napapaos kong sabi at tinaas ang kamay at pinatong sa noo para matakpan sa liwanag. 

Tinusok niya ang tagiliran ko at bigla akong nairita roon. 

"Bakit? You have enlisted every girls..." 

"Tss..." 

"May anak ka na ba sa iba't ibang panig ng mundo?"

"Am I that thirsty bachelor?" bwelta ko.

She laughed mockingly, "Look at your Lolo, he created the dignity wreckers."

Startled, I looked at her, "Zuri!" I reprimanded, but she's got the point. "Hindi ako gano'n." 

My parents are the real picture of good and strong relationship, they never rely on somebody else to fill up their loonging, they parted for too long but they never had anything would hold them back when they saw each other again.

"But cheating is a choice," she said like thinking something while looking at me, "It's your choice to hurt someone, it's your choice to replace someone." 

I beg to disagree.

"No... yes, cheating is a choice, but that doesn't mean you are replacing someone. You cheat, you'll go back home, 'cause it's home, someone you loved is your home." 

She looked at me with her intense disgust, "If you'd cheat, why would you choose to be committed? E, kung gano'n, gayahin mo na lang ang Kuya mo." 

Nagulat ako nang husto at parang umapoy ang pisngi ko sa init nang makita ang mga Kuya ko sa hardin at nakatakip ang mga kamay sa tenga ng mga anak. Nanlalaki rin ang mga mata ng mga asawa.

Tumawa ako nang husto at tumayo. I guided Zuri heading inside.

"May tao? Sino?" tanong niya.

"Baby, please, your mouth," I chuckled.

Hinatid ko siya sa kwarto niya bago pa ako atakihin sa kaba.

"Sinong mga tao roon?" tanong niya.

I laid down in her bed and laughed, "Mga Kuya ko."

Namumula siya at natataranta. 

"Lessen your vulgarity, ayos lang sa akin kung tayong dalawa lang-"

"Tayo lang naman talaga ang naroon," katuwiran niya.

Bumuntong hininga ako at dumapa sa kama niya. Hinayaan ko na lang.

"P-Pagod ka? Your brothers are wrong timing." 

Tumango ako, "They just missed me but I was just tired, ang dami ko ring ginawa sa warehouse, antok na ako." 

She moved and walked towards the cabinet, may kinuha siyang pain reliever sa taas nito. She tiptoed heading the bed.

"Mom was massaging Dad's back when he gets tired at nakakapagpahinga siya lagi..." she smiled.

I breathed deeply and nodded, baka nga maibsan ang pagod ko kung gano'n.

Sumumpa siya at lumuhod sa tabi ko. She massaged my back softly with the pain reliever. Nahiga ako kagaya ng utos niya at pinahiran ang dibdib ko.

"Ano 'to?" she traced the scar of mirror in my abdomen.

"Dad was drunk before, naglasing talaga siya para masaktan ako para mapaamin na bakla ako," I chuckled.

Natigilan siya sa paghaplos sa dibdib ko.

"Tapos tinulak niya ako, I accidentally fell into the center table at nabasag, natusok ako. And yes, when I felt how happy to be really a man."

She laughed and moved closer.

"At thank God, you became a man."

"For you..." I whispered and held her nape, I kissed her cheek softly.

Suminghap siya at tinulak ang mukha ko sa kama. "You're being an ass." 

I chuckled. "Just continue what you were doing, I feel so relaxed in it," I said hoarsely.

She dabbed her hands again in my chest and I felt so much better than what I feel. Hinila ko ang unan niya at inunan sa akin.

"I wanna sleep, my future wife," I smiled.

She laughed again. "I'm still thinking if I'll be marrying a gay."

Tinulak siya, sa pagkakatumba niya, napahawak siya sa kamay ko. I held it tightly and pulled her and her gaze remained on our hands. Babawiin sana niya iyon nang umiling ako. 

"Please?" I said pleadingly. 

I know her doubts, but how can we survive the hardest part of the fixed marriage if we can't beat the doubts deep inside us? 

"Let's not break the tradition, please, let's just try to work this out." 

She nodded.

I fell asleep while she's massaging me, may unan akong kayakap nang magising ako at nararamdaman ang hawak niya sa ilong ko. My eyes remained closed, I might broke her moment while watching me sleeping.

May katawagan siya, I am fucking a light sleeper, nagigising talaga kahit sa isang galaw lang.

"Oo nga, may fiancee na 'ko, I am watching him sleeping right now," aniya.

I could hear a light screams over the phone.

"Itsura niya? He's not handsome, he's not attractive man but I can say that being married with him is a life worth living," she chuckled.

She's now touching my lips and her thumb was on the stubble shrouding in my chin. 

"Why? Does looks matter, though? Cloe, his brows aren't that thick, his eyes are big circles, pango, makapal ang labi, pandak, mataba, sa madaling salita, pangit,"

The corner of my lips rose up at tumigil siya sa pakikinig ng mapanuyang salita sa mga kaibigan niyang maiingay.

Agad akong dumungaw sa screen at iniwas niya iyon.

"Hoy, gising na ba? Patingin!" her friend said eagerly.

Tumawa ako nang malakas at sinubukang agawin ang phone.

"Ayaw niyang magpakita," kinurot niya ako sa tagiliran.

"Kasi pangit? You're rich, Zuri, tapos ang ibibigay lang ni Tito Eugene ang mapapangasawa mong pangit?" tanong ng lalaki roon.

Zuri's face reddened as she turned to the screen. "See you sa bar, Justin, Cloe," aniya.

Hindi ako nagsalita at nakatingin lang sa kanya. Ngumiti ako at napagtanto ang reaksyon ng lalaki na halos isigaw niya iyon.

"Boyfriend?"

"No," agap niya.

"Ex boyfriend?" ulit ko.

She bit her lips and nodded a bit.

I sighed, "If you love him, you can just marry me and file an annulment paper afterwards." 

Umiling siya at namumula ang mga mata. "I broke up with him 'cause he cheated on me, tapos noong iniwan siya ng bago niya, nakikipagbalikan siya sa akin," humikbi siya, she looked up and with bent fingers, she wiped her eyes.

"What can I do to make you feel better, then?" tanong ko at umusad at niyakap siya habang nakaupo.

"P-Pasyal tayo sa farm niyo..." ngumiti na siya.

Bumangon na ako at nagstreching. Tumayo na rin siya at sinabing magpapalit na.

I hugged her softly, ngayon, nagpaubaya siya. If she was fractured, I will mend her patiently. Her scars will slowly begin to fade dahil hindi na siya makakaranas ng sakit.

"You won't ever feel what you have felt anymore, Zuri, dito ka lang, sa tabi ko lagi, hmm?" I caressed her hair and she looked up to me.

"Thank you..." she whispered.

Tumingkayad siya at humalik sa akin. I smiled at her warmly.

Kahit hapon na, dinala ko siya sa malawak na lupain. She was wearing a blue dress with belt and her boots, nakabota rin ako at  nakasunod habang suot ang puting damit at itim na shorts. 

"From here, to there?" turo ko sa tanong niya kung hanggang saan. 

Her back was in the perfect curves, she's sexy and a bit intimidating.

"May farm naman kami sa Davao pero hindi ganito kalawak. The palace, it was massive, ang ganda." 

Tumango ako at naglakad. Pumitas ako ng grapes at binigay sa kanya.

"Heavily guarded. Hindi rin tayo basta-basta na papapasukin. Matamis na ang mga 'to, Kuya Rad's spraying a chemical for these all to stay healthy," sabi ko.

Sa isang kubo kami pumunta at may ilog doon. Umupo ako sa damuhan at patalikod siyang umupo sa aking harap. As she watched the stream's tranquility with the curve bridge heading to the path of palace, I parted my legs and pulled her.

"Bakit na naman?" she asked and sat down in the hollow space between my thighs.

I hugged her backwardly and rested my chin on her shoulders.

"Naglalambing lang naman ako," I placed my lips on her neck.

"Ivo..."

"Hmm?"

She didn't respond, she only caressed the hair on my thighs softly. Marahang marahan iyon.

"Ayaw mo bang naglalambing ako sa 'yo?" tanong ko.

She chuckled. "Gusto... at 'wag ka namang masyadong ganito..."

Tumawa ako habang humahalik pa rin. "Bakit? Is it hot and bothering? Nakakalimutan mo ba si Justin?"

"Yes," she laughed again, "It distracts me..."

I chuckled sexily and kissed her more, I held her chin forcefully and she's preventing herself not to laugh.

"Bakit ka natatawa?"

"You're so hot, handsome and beautiful man," she said desiringly.

"'Di ba pangit ako?"

"Oh damn, you don't know how my friends desires you..."

Nagtaas ako ng kilay at natawa. "Jealous?"

"A bit..."

"Anong nasa isip mo tuwing tinititigan mo 'ko?"

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. A very strong evidence. Natawa ako at hiniga ang ulo sa kandungan ko.

"Wala akong iniisip, Ephraim Junior."

Tumawa ako at dinama ang kanyang kamay sa pisngi ko.

"Talaga? Ano ang titig na 'yan?" hamon ko.

She smiled, "You are the rainbow that shine through my existence..."

And I will constantly rise on her blue eyes. I am the rainbow that's only shines on the blue skies and it's her eyes.

Pumatak ang ulan nang pauwi kami gabi na at agad na magmadali, I saw a familiar old jeep Rangler was coming, Kuya Probably saw us.

"Si Kuya Rad 'yan," sabi ko at hinawakan ang kamay niya.

"Maglalakad ako." 

Matalim ko siyang tinitigan at hinilamos ang basa kong mukha.

"You're still thinking about your pride? Bakit ikaw rin naman ang dahilan kung bakit gumawa ka ng kahihiyan sa kanya, 'di ba?"

Bumuhos pa ang ulan at umihip ang hangin.

"Maglalakad ako."

"Sasakay ka roon, baka lagnatin tayong dalawa." 

"Ikaw nga raw 'tong sakitin e." 

I brushed my hair backwardly, "Magbabangayan ba tayo at magpapabasa sa ulan?"

Sa gulat niya sa sigaw ko, naglakad na siya, "I love your broad chest showing beneath your thin white shirt."

I groaned and followed her. Nakatigil na ang sasakyan ni Kuya at may payong siya.

"Hinahanap na kayo ni Daddy at Mommy, Tito Eugene and Tita Betty went to Davao for an urgent matter," Kuya said while going to the driver's seat.

Inalalayan ko si Zuri na sumampa sa center seat.

"Iniwanan kaya ako ng pera?" tanong ni Zuri kay Kuya.

Kuya stopped starting the car and turned. Natawa ako at sumakay.

"You don't have any cards, Zuri? I'm sure you have that, mayaman kayo," ani Kuya at nagmaneho.

Inikot niya ang sasakyan sa daanang papunta sa bayan dahil walang ilaw ang sasakyan niya kung sa gubat idadaan.

"I have."

"Since when did you dropped the word Kuya on my brothers?" mahina kong tanong.

Kasabay ng pag-irap niyang nakita ko sa rear view mirror ay ang pambabatok ng Kuya ko at tumingin sa daan at ngumisi. That's when I saw his medium stubbles on his face.

Hinagod ko ang binatukan niyang parte sa ulo ko at tumingin kay Zuri.

"Sanay kang wala sila Tita-" I was cut off when I sneezed thrice loudly.

She smirked.

"Team strong tayo, Zuri," masayang sabi ni Kuya at nag-fist bump sila.

Aapila sana ako humatsing ulit ako at may sipon pang tumalsik sa forearm ni Kuya at sumalat sa maitim na buhok doon.

Zuri laughed and Kuya glared at me, "Kadiri ka,"

"Sorry," I was about to wipe it when he stopped me.

May kalokohan na naman 'to...

Pagkarating namin, basang basa kami at tumutulo pa ang tubig sa puting sahig.

"Basang-basa kayo!" Mom commanded the maids to give us the towel but I was looking at my brother Rad.

"Kuya, may nakita ako sa gubat," he smirked at me.

Even Dad got attentive. Lumapit si Kuya Rad kay Kuya Achilles.

"Was there lewd things happened in the farm, Ivo?" inunahan ni Kuya Achilles si Daddy.

Kuya Rad went nearer and wiped the sticky phlegm. Pinahid niya iyon sa mukha ni Kuya Achilles at tumakbo.

Tumawa ako nang lumayo ang isang gago.

"Ano 'to?" his baritone voice echoed.

"Ivo snorted on Kuya Rad, Kuya, at sinabing pahiran ka raw," Zuri interrupted me as they high fived with Kuya Rad.

"Bakit ako-" humatsing ako sa tuwalya.

"Adriel!" umalingawngaw ang boses ni Daddy pero ang likod ni Kuya ay papunta na sa kusina.

Humalakhak ako at naglakad, "Naglalambing ka na naman, Kuya! It has been years when I last heard that name from Dad," ngumiti akong binigyan ng maligamgam na tubig si Zuri. 

"Naglalambing. Kahit may asawa na." Kuya Achilles punched Kuya Rad's shoulders. 

Nagpalit ako sa half bathroom sa baba at masakit na rin ang ulo. Zuri's already dressed well and she was with my sisters in law in the living room.

"Kayo na lang magdidiner mamaya," sabi ko, my voice was doubled hoarse.

"Hindi ka sasabay?" tanong ni Kuya Rad na nakaupo sa sahig at ang likod ay nakasandal sa couch.

"How mean, Adriel, sinabi na ngang hindi makasasabay, 'di ba?" Ate Elijah said meaningfully. 

Natawa ako at nakita ko na nakatitig si Zuri sa akin. Tumayo siya at dumapo ang palad sa aking noo.

"Ayos lang ako," agap ko.

Nag-aalala siya, I can see it in her eyes.  Ganito nga ba ang pakiramdam kung pumasok ka na sa isang bagay na alam mong pangmatagalan?

"Sa taas ka, magpalit ka ng sando at maluwang na shorts, magdadala ako ng maligamgam na tubig at pupunasan kita ulit, at tutuyin na rin ang buhok mo," aniya.

"Aalagaan mo 'ko?" I asked confusedly.