Chapter Three

"I should go and talk to the admin, I will not let it pass. Sumusobra na ang mga Azarcon, kung may problema sila sa pamilya natin ay dapat kami ng daddy niyo ang harapin nila!" Mommy stormed. She's walking back and forth in front of me and Ate while she's massaging the side of her head. Ate's hugging me while I'm crying on her arms.

Kauuwi lang namin at nabanggit ni Ate Vivian ang nangyari kanina. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang ihararap ko ngayon sa school, sigurado akong usap-usapan ngayon ang pangyayari sa cafeteria.

"At saka isa pa, bakit kailangan pa kayo idamay?" My mom added.

"Jameson likes Vaine, mom." Ate Vivian stated, gulat na tumingin sa'min si mommy.

"What?! That kid likes my Vaine? Then he shouldn't treat Vaine like that!" She hissed before she sat beside us. I sobbed when she cupped my face and wiped my tears away.

"What a douchebag," ate Vivian mumbled as she caressed my back.

"You don't deserve that kind of embarrassment, my Vaine. Mommy will handle all of that, okay?" She sweetly assured before pulling me for a hug, she kissed my forehead. Tumango na lang ako habang ang mga luha ko ay patuloy na nagsisipatakan sa aking pisngi.

Nalaman pati nila Kuya at Daddy ang nangyari, they're all mad, tinawagan pa ata ni Daddy ang ama ni Jameson. Next month pa ang uwi nila kaya mas lalo ko silang na-miss, gustong-gusto ko na ulit sila makasama.

"Umupo ka nga muna, Vaine. Nahihilo na ako kalalakad mo," Gianna complained as her eyebrows furrowed.

Nabalitaan ko kasi na pati ang magulang ni Dame ay pinatawag rin, nagkaroon sila ng gulo ni Jameson pagkatapos ng pangyayari sa cafeteria. Ang nasa loob ng admin's office ngayon ay si mommy, ang magulang ni Dame, at ang magulang ni Jameson.

I feel so unease, dahil sa akin ay pati siya nadamay. Alam kong kahit kailan ay hindi pa napapatawag ang mga magulang niya, ngayon lang. Sobrang linis ng record niya, nadumihan ko pa. He's not a troublemaker, ako lang ang nang damay sa kanya.

"It's all my fault, Gianna. Hindi dapat siya damay dito e," I even stomped my foot on the ground after I said that.

Gianna drop her pen on her arm chair before she closed her notebook, tumingin lang siya sa akin. She sighed.

"Vaine, look, he chose to help you, you didn't force him. And Jameson's the only one to blame here," she gritted her teeth.

"True," pagsang-ayon ni Kael na ngayon na naman ay naglalagay ng nail polish sa kuko niya, marahan niya pa itong inihipan para agad matuyo. I rolled my eyes when he showed us his nails na iba na naman ang kulay.

I immediately stood up when Ate Vivian texted me, tapos na raw ang pag-uusap nila mommy sa office. I hope it went well, at sana kahit papaano ay mabigyan ng kaparusahan si Jameson. Na-warning-an na kami nung una.

I'm running so fast all the way to the admin's office when I bumped into someone's chest. Agad ako napasapo sa noo ko at nag angat ng tingin sa nabunggo ko. Muntikan pa ako matumba dahil sa tigas ng dibdib niya, para akong nabunggo sa pader.

"I'm so—" I paused when I realized who he is.

Damen.

I gasped when I saw him, wala siyang kahit anong pasa o bakas ng pakikipag-away. He's wearing a wine red suit with a black button-up collared shirt inside of it na naka bukas pa ang unang dalawang butones. I feel so guilty, napaaway pa siya dahil sa akin.

"I'm sorry for the trouble," halos hindi ako makatingin sa kanya nang sabihin ko iyon. It is because I know that I put him in that kind of situation.

"You don't have to," He immediately responded.

"But it is because of me kaya napatawag parents mo," I mumbled in a shaky voice, saka lang ako tumingin sa kanya. I bit my lower lip as it began to tremble. I saw how his jaw clenched before he looked away.

He sighed.

"I only did that dahil ayaw ko ng may nababastos. I have a younger sister like you, and a mother, I know how to respect women." He stated.

Agad namula ang pisngi ko dahil sa hiya. Bakit ba kapag tungkol sa'kin ay dinadamay niya pati ang iba? Hindi ba pwedeng kapag ako lang, ako lang? Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay naapakan ang pride ko dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Okay, salamat.." I uttered, he raised his eyebrow. "—kuya." I added. He stifle a smile before he placed his hands in the side pocket of his slacks.

"Vaine, hija."

Sumilip ako sa likuran niya nang makitang magbukas ang head admin's office at niluwa nito si mommy at ate Vivian. I feel more intimidated when I saw Dame's parents came out. Hiwalay na sila pero napaka civil lang nila sa isa't isa, they're both wearing an office attire, mukhang kagagaling pa sa trabaho.

"Is she your youngest daughter, Vanessa?" Dame's mom asked as she stared at me, she's smiling pero pakiramdam ko gusto na kumawala ng puso ko sa sobrang kaba. They know each other?

"Yes, Danica." Mom responded before she grabbed my hand, mas lalong lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko nang maharap sa kanila.

"Vaine, sweetie. Meet your Tita Danica and Tito Ramon, we both know each other because of business. And bago pa magkilala ng Ate Vivian mo si Dame, magkaibigan na sila ni kuya mo."

Umawang ang bibig ko dahil do'n. What? Bakit hindi ko man lang alam na kaibigan pala ni kuya Vince si Dame? I feel so betrayed!

I saw on my peripheral vision that Dame just leaned on the wall while his hands were still in his pocket, pinapanood niya lang kami.

"Hi po!" I greeted, trying to be cool, I even waved my hands. I need to impress his parents 'no. I heard ate Vivian chuckled that's why I pouted my lips.

Mahinhin na tumawa ang mommy ni Dame.

"You look so cute, how old are you?" She asked.

Cute na naman.

Kita ko ang pag-ayos ng tayo ni Dame sa gilid namin.

"Seventeen po," nahihiya kong sagot. She nodded her head.

"Mas bata pa pala siya kay Eloisa 'no?" Her mom asked his dad.

I really admire them for being civil to each other, maybe they separated peacefully. Dapat nga ay magkabalikan na lang sila dahil sabi ni Ate ay wala pa naman daw silang ibang pamilya ngayon, at iisang kompanya pa rin ang pinapatakbo nila as a family.

"Yes, one year lang ang age gap nila." Tumango-tango ang daddy niya. Para akong nabunutan ng tinik sa lalamunan, they look nice naman pala.

Soon to be in-laws ko.

"Why are you staring at me, Ate?" I giggled when I ask her.

She's sitting in front of her laptop while staring at me, nakangiti lang siya sa'kin, andito kasi ako sa kwarto niya nag d--drawing. I bite the tip of my color pencil while building a scenario in my mind, nakakalat ang iba't ibang color pencil ko sa sahig habang nakapatong sa hita ko ang sketchbook ko.

"Your face needs a little bit color, now that you're seventeen." She stated before she smiled.

My forehead creased.

"Color, ate? You mean.." I stared at my color pencils that's why she burst out laughing.

"Of course not, babe. Something that you can really wear on your face,"

Umalis siya sa kinauupuan niya at binuksan ang bag niya for school, may nilabas siyang pouch doon bago lumapit sa'kin. Nailapag ko ang sketchbook ko at color pencil sa sahig nang umupo siya sa harap ko na naka indian sit din.

My lips parted when she showed me her different shades of lip tints. Iba-iba ang kulay non, merong dark at meron rin light lang. I tucked my hair on the back of my ear habang pinapanood siya ilabas ang mga make up niya.

"Para sayo, tint lang muna. I'm fifteen when I started to use tints, habang ikaw ay napakainosente pa rin sa mga ganitong bagay," she chuckled after she said that. Masyado na ba nahuli ang edad ko sa mga gantong bagay?

Pinakita niya sa'kin ang peach shade lip tint ng happy skin, and an eyelash curler?

"I suggest na gumamit ka na rin ng eyelash curler, you don't even need mascara dahil mahahaba at makapal na ang pilik mata mo. Para lang mas buhay tignan ang eyes mo. Ang ganda talaga ng bebe namin," she commented before she pinched my cheeks, I giggled.

Sinenyasan niya ako lumapit sa kanya, I leaned closer. She held my chin at hinayan ko lang siya lagyan ng tint ang labi ko.

I just stared on her face, she looks like mom, kaya pati ang kulay ni mommy ay nakuha niya, mestiza. Samantalang ako ay si Kuya at Daddy ang kamukha, kaya morena rin ang kutis ko. She have a long straight hair, samantalang ako ay may konting wave at hanggang balikat lang.

Muli niya akong sinenyasan na pagdikitin ang labi ko, so I did. I pursed my lips, ramdam ko ang pagkabasa ng labi ko dahil sa nilagay niya.

"Babe, look at you, you're so gorgeous. Mana ka talaga sa'kin," she giggled, pinagsalikop niya pa ang kamay niya at nilagay sa gilid ng kanyang mukha like she's really admiring me.

"I'll give you those lip tints and the eyelash curler," she added before she winked. My eyes widened.

"Talaga, Ate?" Masaya kong tugon bago kinuha iyon sa lapag.

"Of course, 'pag mas nag mature ka pa pati galaw mo, bibilihan na rin kita ng iba pa." She joked that's why I pouted my lips. She chuckled before she pat my head, umayos na rin siya ng upo.

She stood up when her phone vibrated, I saw that she smiled while reading a message kaya agad ako na-curious malaman kung sino 'yon. Si Dame ba? Bakit ba ang lapit nila sa isa't isa? Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay parang may pagkirot sa puso ko.

"Damen's already downstairs," she stated kaya kumunot ang noo ko.

"Why?" I asked.

"May biglang business meeting si mom sa company, and she wants me there. Hindi ka naman namin masama dahil mabo-bored ka lang do'n, lalo na dito. Do you want to go with Kuya Dame mo? Okay lang ba iwan ka namin sa kanya?" She asked.

I felt that my face lightened up because of what I heard, pinigilan ko agad ang pag ngiti ko.

"Ngayon na po?" I'm stuttering, oh my gosh, Vaine. Ate Vivian's eyebrows furrowed, pero agad rin siyang natawa.

"Yes, babe. Why? Ayaw mo ba? Pwede naman ako magpai—"

"Bibihis lang ako ate," I smiled awkwardly before I left her room, hanggang sa paglakad ko papunta ng kwarto ko ay nakangiti ako. Sayang rin 'tong chance na 'to, diba?

"Saan tayo pupunta?" I asked pagkapasok niya sa sasakyan niya, he brought his jeep wrangler today. "—kuya?"

"To the nearest shooting range," he simply answered before clearing his throat.

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling. Finally, makikita o mapapanood ko na rin ang hilig niya, gun firing. I stunned, he's just wearing a black jacket with a white shirt inside of it and a pants, pero bakit ang lakas agad ng dating?

Napakurap ako ng dalawang beses nang tumikhim siya. I gasped when he leaned closer, halos takasan na ako ng hininga nang gawin niya iyon.

"Seatbelt," he stated in a husky voice bago siya na mismo ang nagkabit sa'kin.

I gasped when he tightened it, I suddenly felt so hot, especially when I felt him closer to me. Ramdam ko ang pag dikit ng kamay niya sa'kin nang ayusin niya ang seatbealt ko. His manly scent filled the whole car, it's very addictive, parang gusto ko na lang dito lagi.

"Good morning, sir Dame." Bati nung kuya na mukhang guide dito sa shooting range na pinuntahan namin.

Sunod-sunod lang ako sa likuran niya habang naglalakad. I felt so uncertain when I saw them staring at me, lalo na nung mga babae na mukhang ka-edad ni Dame. I'm just wearing a loose denim jacket, a short, and my crocs. Sinuotan pa ako ng cap ni ate kanina bago sumakay sa sasakyan ni Dame, at hanggang ngayon ay suot ko pa rin.

I really look like a kid habang manghang-mangha sa mga nakikita ko. Sa mga action movies ko lang nakikita ang mga ito.

I yelled when I heard a loud gunshot, I jumped in panic while covering my ears. Damen immediately walks closer to me, checking what happened. Umalis kasi siya saglit para mag fill up ng mga forms daw.

"Damn, Zadkiel!" He groaned as he stared at the man who suddenly fired a gun on his lane.

"Woah, sorry. May kasama ka pala, pakilala mo naman kami." The guy winked when his gaze turned to me, binaba niya ang baril na hawak niya.

I saw Dame rolled his eyes. Bakit parang hawig sila? Nakasuot lang siya ng shirt at pants.

"Damot naman," he whispered bago tumingin ulit sa'kin. "Hi Miss, I'm Zadkiel. This asshole's younger brother," he added before he grabbed my hand. My lips parted when he kissed the back of it.

"Zadkiel," he called in a monotonous voice.

Kaya pala kamukha niya. Ang alam ko ay apat silang magkakapatid, at bunso yung babae. Parehas silang matnagkad, they even have almost the same features, mas seryoso lang talagang tignan 'tong si Dame, mas fair din ang balat niya samantalang itong si Zadkiel ay moreno rin at playful kung tignan dahil sa mga galawan pati na rin sa pananalita. 

"Stop it, she's just seventeen." Damen stated.

Shock was written on his face, nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa'ming dalawa para suriin ako nang maayos.

"No shit?"

"Yeah, she's a sister of my closest college friend. So pick up your shits and go back to your lane," he hissed, nag susungit na naman.

Should I call him 'kuya'? He scanned my looks, again, from head to toe, tumango-tango siya bago bumalik ang tingin sa amin.

"Mukha nga," he commented while staring at the baby blue ribbon on my hair, napanguso ako.

Mukha ba talaga akong bata dahil sa galaw, pananamit, at behavior ko?

"But you're cute. Enjoy with Dame, hindi nangangagat ng bata 'yan," he winked before he went back to his lane, nag-ayos na ulit siya ng baril doon.

I pouted my lips at napatingin na lang sa suot kong crocs. Ayos naman 'to ah, cute naman, e. I heard Dame groaned again kaya napaangat ang tingin ko sa kanya. He's now placing his hands on his waist. I can see his irritated look. Bakit ba napakasungit niya ngayon?

"Can you please.." mariin niyang pinikit ang kanyang mga mata bago hinilot ang tungki ng ilong niya saglit saka tumingin sa akin, halos kumalabog puso ko. His hazel deepset eyes makes everyone feel more intimidated lalo na kapag tinititigan ka talaga, bigla ka na lang pagpapawisan.

"—please stop pouting your lips," he sighed.

My eyebrows furrowed, ano na namang masama doon? Graben na silang magkapatid ha. Napansin niya kaya yung lip tint na nilagay ni Ate?

"Bakit naman?" I asked.

He massaged the bridge of his nose before he shook his head, nag iwas na siya ng tingin.

"Nothing," he responded before he left without saying any other words after that kaya hinintay ko na lang siya sa pinag-iwanan niya sa'kin habang simpleng pinapanood ang mga nasa lane, nasa labas na kami nung glass wall kanina kaya hindi na ganon kaingay.

Pagkabalik niya ay may hawak na siyang baril, halos malaglag ako sa kinauupuan ko. Nung una ay nagugulat pa ako sa mga putok ng mga baril na naririnig ko sa paligid, pero nasanay na rin ang tenga ko.

He handed me an earmuffs?

"Do you want to stay here or watch?" He asked.

Napalunok ako bago sumilip sa mga lane doon, hindi naman siguro delikado lumapit diba? Saka hindi niya naman siguro ako aalukin sumama doon kung hindi safe.

"I'll watch," I answered, almost stuttering. Inabot ko ang earmuffs at sumunod sa kanya.

I watch him assembled his gun, every move that he made, I can see the veins in his hands. Sobrang smooth lang sa kanya ng mga ginagawa niya, parang walang kahirap-hirap at sanay na. He's already twenty-one, I'm sure licensed na ang baril niya. Gusto ko sana mag tanong kung bakit ito ang nagustuhan nilang magkakapatid, pero nahihirapan ako sa timing. Ang sungit niya.

"Can I try?" I asked as my voice started to tremble. He immediately took a glance on me, he raised his eyebrow before he handed me his gun. My eyes widened in shock, hindi pa ako nakakahawak ng totoong barili kahit kailan.

"Do you know how?" He asked, agad ako umiling kaya binawi niya iyon.

My cheeks heated up when an idea of learning gun firing with him suddenly came into my mind. I breath heavily before I faced him.

"Can you teach me?" I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling dahil nararamdaman ko na naman ang pagpula ng pisngi ko.

He stiffened a bit but he immediately recovered. Halos mapatalon ako nang marinig ko ang pagkasa niya ng baril, I'm always amazed just by his moves.

"You're too young for this," he whispered before he started to aim the target in front of us, napatingin rin ako saglit doon pero binalik ko lang rin sa kanya.

"But I'm already seventeen, and I'm turning eighteen next year," pagdadahilan ko.

Kaka-seventeen ko lang last month, pero ang alam ko ay wala naman sa age kapag gusto mo talaga matuto. You just can't have your licensed gun until wala ka pa sa legal age.

His long finger pulled the trigger, halos lumundag ang puso ko. Ganito pala sa feeling, pakiramdam ko'y nasa action movie ako kapag andito sa loob ng shooting range. My lips parted when I saw his shot on the black template target, bullseye.

He licked his lower lip before he put down his gun, I saw the side of his lips curved when he saw the result. He took off his safety glasses before he faced me.

"Then let's wait until you turned eighteen."