CHAPTER 8

Sa taas ako at parang pinagkaisahan ako dahil sa sobrang sama na rin ng pakiramdam ko. She followed me as I was already doing what she commanded.

Nahiga ako at pinikit ang mga mata, the bed sank and I know that she is beside me. I heard how she squeezed the towel as the water's pouring out.

"Mainit ka," aniya, pinunas ang leeg ko.

"I'm aware of the fact that I am hot..." I chuckled weakly.

"Magpapahinga ka, o mang-iinis ka?"

"Pareho. Iinisin pa kita." 

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nararamdaman ko, in just a short time of being with her, I found myself getting near her as the air is blowing me near her more. It's already enough for me dahil ang ginagawa niya sa akin ngayon, lalo lang akong napapamahal sa kanya.

"N-Nilalamig ako," sabi ko nang matapos niyang punasan ang aking likod.

"Is it a flu, Tita?" she asked.

I opened my eyes and saw Mom doing some chores in my room.

"Tumaas po ang lagnat," Zuri added.

"Let's observe him so that we can call a doctor, then," Dad said teasingly.

Mom glared at him, "Hello, Ephraim, I'm a doctor." 

Natawa ako at bumangon, ang bigat ng mga mata ko at gusto ko nang matulog, ininom ko ang gamot at maraming tubig ang ininom.

Pagkahiga ko, may bimpo na lumapat sa aking noo. The last time I got sick was five months ago, but I had to take care of myself alone dahil hindi gano'n kadalas na makapunta ang mga magulang ko sa Espanya kung saan ako naroon noon.

Makapal na kumot ang nasa akin. There was also a comforter and a pillow beside me. Yumakap ako sa mainit na kung ano sa tabi ko.

"Sino ka?" bulong ko kahit na naamoy ko na ang amoy niya.

"It's me," Zuri whispered, "It's still midnight, matulog ka muna." 

I could feel her body against me, she was wiping the soft cloth in my nose and I knew how close we are. May basa ring bimpo na hinahagod niya sa aking leeg pababa sa aking dibdib. 

"Tubig," sabi ko at bumangon, I quickly removed the thick blanket and groaned a bit, I rested my elbow in my thigh and watched her went to the table and poured out a water.

"Sabi ni Tita inumin mo raw 'to," her palm has a medicine. 

Nahiga akong muli matapos uminom, dahil sa sakit ng ulo, hindi ko alam kung ilang oras akong nakatingin sa kisame at hinila ng antok matapos pahiran ng pampahid ang dibdib ko.

Next day was hell, I couldn't open my eyes and I know, Zuri's here, siya iyong nakahiga at hinahagod ang buhok kong nagpagising sa akin.

She did not uttered any words, she only hugged me as I felt the warmth of it. She touched my rough jaw and it was like a lullaby that tranquilizes the heavy feeling.

"Ayos na?"

Hapon nang magising akong medyo maayos na at nagulat ako nang husto pagkabangon ko, I was wearing different clothes. My pajamas and a red shirt.

"Pinalitan ka yata ng mga Kuya mo-" before she continued saying a word, I already wore my blue furry open slippers and went out.

My brothers smirked at me when I reached outside. Naunahan ako ng hiya pero buo na ang loob kong palayasin sila.

"May mga bahay naman kayo!"

Humalakhak si Daddy at binaba ang kape. "What is wrong with you, Ivo?" 

"Nabuo ba 'to kung hindi dahil sa akin? It was my modern design, Ivo," Kuya Rad laughed. 

"And this wasn't built if I wasn't the Engineer of it," Kuya Achilles smirked. 

I was damn defeated that I can't say anything. Naupo ako sa upuan at pinunas ang pawis sa noo ko. 

"Ivo, kain na," Zuri came with the tray of soup.

Niyabangan ko ng tingin ang dalawang Kuya ko. "Ganito ba ang mga babae niyo?"

Zuri smiled proudly.

"Hindi lang ganyan ang pinapakain, mas masarap pa diyan," Kuya Achilles sounds dirty.

Lumunok ako at tinantya nila ang reaksyon ko. Kung gaano karumi ang bunganga nila, gano'n din karumi ang utak ko.

"Anong nasa isip mo, Ivo?" Mom asked. 

I shook my head and chuckled, masarap iyong mushroom soup at mainit pa.

"Kailan babalik ang magulang mo?" tanong ko pagkatapos ko.

"Hindi ko alam kung kailan basta ang sinabi, babalik agad para ayusin ang negosyo sa Maynila," aniya.

Tumango ako. They have a company. But not as big as we have, but they are partnering with the MZ Advocates and Developer.

The next day is our brunch before Kuya Achilles and his family were going to Manila, Ate Lava nedded to take care by the doctors for her pregnancy, even Ate Elijah, she's pregnant.

"I will be guiding them, Ivo, they are sensitive from getting pregnant, kaya kayong dalawa lang ang maninirahan muna rito," Mom said.

I nodded and ate the chicken.

"You're not going home here often? Like every afternoon?" tanong ko.

Tinitigan niya ako, she knows me well, kaya hindi niya ako minsan ako binisita sa US dahil alam niyang ganito ako tuwing aalis siya.

"Si Daddy, he'll be home after two weeks, he has to check the mining area some parts of Asia." 

"He doesn't need to work on that, he can send a team," I said stubbornly.

Dad shook his head, "You know that I can't pass our businesses to anyone." 

Tumango na lang ako at hindi na nagpumilit pa. Zuri's looking at me all the time. 

"Zuri's suggesting herself to do the landscaping on my garden, you can help her," Mommy smiled. 

Iyon ang narinig kong usapan nila kagabi sa kusina. Zuri's even showing something in her iPad. Magkasundo sila roon at narinig kong pumayag agad. 

"Pwede rin, pero hindi ako makapagbubuhat nang mabibigat."

"Ivo, lemme remind you that carrying a pot isn't that tiring," Zuri said in a girly way. 

"I have a heart problem..." I bit my lips. 

Mom got attentive, even my brothers and Dad same as with the ladies. 

"What kind of heart problem?" Zuri said seriously. 

"Being so in love with you," I said wearily. 

Their jaw dropped literally. 

Ate Lava laughed, "Ang baduy mo." 

Isang sampal ang natamo ko sa kanya at sumunod agad sa kanya habang humahalakhak ako nang husto. Masama ang tingin niya sa akin at hindi magkamayaw sa kakahalakhak na nakikipaglaro sa mga aso. 

Kinaumagahan nga, ang tahimik ng mansyon, all I could hear was her command outside, gising na siya at sa hardin pa ang deretso. Sinuot ko ang bota at lumabas. Magulo ang backyard area at nakatayo siya roon. 

"We'll get bored if we'll finish the activity," I said and squatted on lthe pots. 

"Then do your works at midday, and I will be having my siesta," umupo siya. 

"And have your constant video calls with your ex?" tanong ko, hindi pa ako makatingin sa kanya nang deretso. 

"They're my friends," she fired. 

"As you've said," I said defeatedly. 

Pinatong ko ang mga paso sa deck kung saan ipupuwesto at binungkal ang lupa sa gilid. 

"Baka may bulate rito, Mang Kanor, ha?" natawa ako. 

"Wala, pinatingnan na ni Miss Zuri kanina..." 

My face heated up as I remembered that she might heard my hystericals in the masters bedroom last night about this. 

"Ivo, iyong bolo," Zuri said while walking. 

Tinapos ko ang gawain at tumayo patungo sa kanya. 

"Matalim, baka masugatan ka, madadagdagan pa ang sugat na dala ng ex mong pangit." 

Natawa ang mga tauhan at nagmartsa siyang umalis, sinundan ko siya.

"May nakausap na raw si Tita na hihingan ng halaman, doon tayo pupunta." 

I groaned lazily and got the folded socks, inipit ko roon ang bolo sa sako at sumunod, they opened the grand gate of mansion after a long walk.

She was wearing a dark blue jeans and white shirt, makapusod ang buhok at nakita ko lalo ang tamang hugis ng katawan niya. She was tucked in with her belt on. I was also wearing a ripped jeans and grey shirt, may sumbrero ako pero pinasuot ko sa kanya.

"Saan daw ang pagkukunan?" tanong ko.

Naiirita rin ako sa mga titig at bulungan.

"Sa barangay daw, babayaran pa... ayun... Sheila, ang mga halaman, kukunin sana namin," she almost shouted in the road.

Sheila looked at us. "Uh, si Mama ang kinausap ni Ma'am Veronica, teka lang." 

Dumeretso ako sa tindahan nila Ate Maye at umupo. I was boredly sitting and saw her approached by a woman.

"Ang ganda ganda mo, hija," tumawa ang babae.

"Pangit nga niya, e, Auntie," sabi ko.

Natawa ang mga pinsan ko kila Kuya Jun.

"Mapapangasawa mo? Naku, hindi dapat gano'n."

"Hindi ko po siya gusto, may boyfriend po ako," agap ni Zuri.

I smirked at the woman. Tumayo ako at pumunta roon para isako ang mga halaman.

"Sayang, bagay kayo, pero panigurado, marami ka sigurong asawa sa ibang bansa."

Tumawa ako, "Wala naman po."

"Kahit nagugustuhan, wala?"

Inabot ko ang sako sa isang tauhan. "Manhid po ang nagugustuhan ko. Wala siyang puso." 

Tumawa ang matanda, "Robot ba, kamo? Wala iyong asim, hijo."

Malakas akong tumawa at nasulyapang paalis na siya. Kaya nang makarating ako sa mansyon, umiirap siya.

"Was it bothering?" I teased.

Binaba niya ang paso at naghugas sa hose. 

"Ano ako kumpara sa mga babae mo?" tanong niya at nagpunas.

I was still in the tree, doing the stuffs while menacing at her.

"Ang layo ng tanong ko sa sagot mo," I smirked at removed the dust of the plant. 

She glared at me and didn't said anything. Kahit sa meryenda, hindi siya nagsasalita. Nakaupo ako sa lawn chair at nasa harapan ko siya. Maraming hinanda sa portico at iniisip ko tuloy kong paano makuha ang atensyon niya. 

What's on my mind made me smirk but when I was about to do, she stood and anounced that we have to continue our chores now. 

Nilipat ko ang kahoy at tinapon sa daraanan niya dahilan para matigil siya at tumawa ako. 

"Sorry..." 

I turned to where I was doing and squatted. Sinulyapan ko siya at nakatalikod siya. 

"Zuri..." 

"Ano?"

"What are we going to do here in this rose?" tanong ko.

Kahit alam ko naman. Just to get her attention.

"Pakitanim na lang..."

"Bakit ang sungit mo? Anong ginagawa mo riyan sa harap mo? Baka may tinutusok ka riyan, ha?"

Ayon, she turned and looked at me while my brows are raised.

"Bakit? Lahat ba ng nakatalikod sa 'yong babae, may tinutusok sa harap?"

Tumawa ako, "Bakit? Anong meron sa sinabi ko? May tinutusok ka ba?"

She rolled her eyes and turned to where she was doing. She's really determined to finish it.

Sa tanghalian naming dalawa, tahimik siya at pagod. Tinabnaw ko ang kamay ko sa lalagyan ng ulam at kumuha, then I got her attention. Nagulat siya roon lalo na nang hinalo ko sa kanin nang kinakamay.

"What are you doing?" hindi siya makapaniwala.

Kumain ako naa parang aso sa plato at natatawang inahon ang ulo. Iniwas ko ang mukha ko sa mga kasambahay at payukong nagpunas ng mukha.

"Abel, pakipalitan nga ang plato ni Ivo, please," Zuri said in a girly way.

"Sige po, Miss." 

"W-Wag na, Abel," sabi ko at tumawa.

Nakaalis nga sila na nagtataka sa kulay kahel na ano sa kamay ko pero agad na tinago sa ilalim ng mesa.

"Nilalagnat ka pa ba?"

Hindi ko pinansin ang tanong niya, tumawa ako nang tumawa.

She was busy at her room that day as I went inside, hindi siya nag-siesta, may katawagan na naman siya. I saw her hid her iPad.

"Who's that?" malakas kong tanong at umupo sa kama niya kahit pinanlalakihan ako ng mata.

"Bakit nag-english? Hoy! Zuri! Ano 'yon?!" 

"Saan ka ba talaga pinagkasundo-"

She ended the line. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan na isipin kung ako lang ba ang tinatanong ng mga kaibigan niya o ano.

Sanay naman akong mapag-usapan pero hindi sa ganitong mga bagay.

Wala akong ginagawa sa maghapon kung hindi asarin siya sa hardin at inisin. Everytime I did a disgusting thing, she's always glaring at me and doing things in her own as that moment I am catching her smiling.

"Kuya," bilang bati ko sa tawag ni Kuya Achilles.

Gabi na, nasa veranda ako at ginagawa ang trabaho. It's just foreign for me that he's not even calling me if it's not important.

"We're going back to Nasugbu, kaming tatlo nila Daddy, usap tayo." 

I can hear the low talks on his background.

"Bakit?" tanong ko at sinara ang laptop.

Iyon ang iniisip ko habang tinitignan ko si Zuri na nasa loob ng kwarto ko at tulog na. She chose to sleep beside me and I allowed her.

Sa study ako dumeretso at nang dumating sila, agad akong bumati.

They sat down and Kuya locked the door as he opened the sound proof. Alam kong maselang bagay ang pag-uusapan.

"Si Zuri?" tanong ni Daddy.

"Nasa kwarto ko, tulog na."

Mom was anxious and sat again.

"Anak, the Lopezes heard the news that you were already here," aniya.

Nasapo ko ang noo ko dahil alam ko ang ibig nilang sabihin at iyon din ang isa kong dahilan kung bakit ako umalis noon. After our Iloilo trip before, we attended a party at nagbiro ang Daddy ko na ipagkakasundo kami pagkauwi ko.

"It was only a joke," mahina kong sabi.

"We know, pero pinanghahawakan nila ang pagtango ko," Mom said while looking at me, "Just an agree to conceal what happened between your eldest brother's conflict... uh... you know..."

Bumuntong hininga ako at napainom sa tubig.

"Paano naman siya, Ma?" napaos kong sabi.

Hindi ko siya gustong saktan, hindi ko siya gustong ipagpalit, I will choose her more than anything else, I will stand beside her no matter what.

From the very start, I don't like Beatrix Lopez kahit pa pinsan sila nila Ate Elijah.

Dad smirked, "Paano siya? Yu mean, you care for her, am I right? ?" 

I rested my elbows in the table and problematically staring at its surface. Napasabunot pa ako sa buhok.

"I like her," I blurted.

I have never been confessed to anyone but I had the urge. 

"Paano 'yan? The Lopezes claimed that Beatrix was the girl you with entering the Lincoln Navigator?" Kuya Achilles said and sat down. 

"What?" I almost whispered. 

This can't be. At hindi iyon nasabi sa akin ni Zuri at naalala ko na hindi siya gumamit ng socmed maghapon. I could die early because of this. 

"Pero pwede namang itanggi, ayon nga lang, there would be speculations grow if we'll deny it, si Daddy kasi at Lolo, e, their attitudes are too much when it comes to the fixed marriage, na iloloko ang ganito," he chuckled. 

Napaisip ako, "Paul Lopez told her sister before that don't assume, right." 

"Gano'n din iyon... Baxter told that to Lava before but we just liked each other so we worked... after years..." 

"Ang pag ki-claim nila, paano 'yon?" tanong ko.

It will affect everyone. Sila Tito Eugene, they will be disappointed if they will hear the news.

"Binayaran ko na ang media, there would be no more news about that..."

The conversation went on and on as they went back to Manila again. I went to my room and she's still sleeping. Naupo ako at humilig sa cushion headboard. Pinatong ko sa mga binti ko ang comforter at tumingin sa kanya.

I want to know her more, everything about her. Susundan lagi siya ng puso ko dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang kabog nito tuwing kasama ko siya at napamahal na rin siya sa akin. It may be a short time but I wanted to make it last. I want to see her always.

Nakatalikod siya sa akin at nakaunan sa aking bisig. Nakayakap ako sa kanya at naramdaman ko ang kamay niya sa forearm ko. Gising na ako pero gusto ko lang na ganito ang ayos naming dalawa.

Humarap siya at minulat ang mga mata, she hugged me again and I got her point that she wants to feel my hot body. I was topless as I felt her pointed nose digging my chest.

"The garden, we should get up now," she whispered but I embraced her more.

Natawa siyang inaantok pa.

"You're supposedly greeting me a good morning," I said hoarsely.

She caressed my jaw and moved up. "I just want you to know, Engineer Zallega that you are very, very handsome."

Parang pinaso ng nagbabagang apoy ang puso ko. Parang sasabog sa sakit at pinaghalong saya ang nararamdaman.

"Are you sure with that, though?" I teased. "'Di ba ang pangit ko?" tanong ko.

She chuckled and moved closer. Hinawi ko ang buhok niya sa mukha at hawak na rin ang likod bilang suporta.

"You don't know how damn dangerous if they'll see the very, very handsome man in the world, kung gaano ako kalandi, mas malandi sila."

I chuckled. She cupped my both cheeks as I closed my eyes softly. Dinampi niya ang noo sa akin. Her nose is now in the bridge of mine.

She kissed me softly as I opened my eyes. I reflected on hers.

From this day on, the destiny's already deciding. I will take her in my arms as I will have the strength to love her more. I won't ever walk away from her whatever happens. Loving someone means risksing it all.