CHAPTER 5

HOMBRES ROMANTICOS SERIES 3:

UNINTENTIONAL

Matthieus Morris Monférrer

Kabanata 5

DID THE ALOOF AND GRUMPY ranchero really dragged her? Inside his cabin? Let her feet set inside his off-limit house? Permitted her invade his what-so-called little dungeon?

She must be wildly dreaming! Seryosohan ba ito?

"Sit down!" He ordered in low, rough voice. It seemed to come from his deep in his throat, yet dominance was still latched in it.

That was her cue to gather her wits back. Huminga ng malalim si Anne. She faked a dauntless facade. "And what are you up to, Mr. Monférrer? Basta ka na lang nanghihila, ha! I really hate you!" She barked acidly.

May alam man lang ba ito kung paano ang proper na trato sa isang dalagang Pilipina? She bet he doesn't!

"It's reciprocated! 'Cause I happen to hate you more. Keep quiet and sit down, I said!"

Hate her more? That was a little bit... Ouchie! 

Ngayon ay naunawaan niya na kaya hybrid ang accent nito kasi laki ito sa Amerika. Atsaka kapuri-puri rin ang pagiging matatas nito sa Tagalog. Para itong laki sa pook sa Luzon kung saan naroon ang mga indigenous Filipino.

Wala siyang nagawa kundi ang tumalima at ibagsak ang pang-upo sa ibinigay nitong wooden chair. Hindi niya matukoy kung saan nito iyon hinugot.

She wasn't surprised at all how empty and spooky his cabin looks. Walang appliances, dining table, walang kahit anong palamuti. Just the blinds and his night lamps and a cheap-looking area rug, then two creepy wooden chests na mukhang tinirahan na ng ghost. Masikip na dirty kitchen kaagad ang makikita. Wala ring espesyal doon at tanging tiled counter, lababo, a small pantry, a wooden dish rack, wastebin and...

"Wait, what's that thing ba? I never seen like that before." She couldn't suppress her curiosity. Never in her entire life that she saw a cylindrical shape thing which is made of clay or something. And it has an ember in its hole. 

"Oh, I guess that's your own version of little fireplace. Looks cute though."

Nang lingunin niya si Matthieus ay kakalabas lang nito mula sa maliit na pinto na hula niya'y bedroom nito at may dala na itong first aid kit. At least he has that essential thing in his home. O kung home nga ba na matatawag iyon.

He was staring downward at her with a clenched jaw. "Atat kang mag-asawa pero kalan de uling lang hindi mo alam?!"

He opened the blinds to let the sunlight in. Hindi pa ito nakuntento at sinipa pa ang kawawang pinto pabukas para lalong pumasok ang liwanag. 

"Why so? Is it essential to a marriage life?" She pouted.

"No one's appreciating your sarcasm. Shut up!" 

Lumapit ito sa likuran niya. "Place your elbow here!" He instructed a little too harsh, pointing the top of the chair's backrest with a deep scowl.

"Gagamutin mo 'ko?" Naroon ang magaan na confusion sa himig ni Anne. She lifted her head and looked up at him. Kapuna-puna ang pagpipigil nito ng hininga.

At ang isipin na malapit na naman ito sa kanya, sa katawan niya ay nagdudulot ng wala sa matwid na sensasyon. She couldn't recall if it was as same as what she felt when her first love, Primus touched her hand. Or it might be identical to what she felt whenever that North tries to be intimate with her. 

Sadyang mahirap ihambing sapagkat batid niyang may natatanging kakaiba sa dulot na sensasyon ni Matthieus sa katawan niya. She had to admit how afraid she is to name it. Tila katumbas ng sakaling pag-amin na iyon ay lethal injection.

"It's not that I'm going to perform a major surgery here. Lilinisan ko lang 'tong resulta ng clumsiness mo at baka ako pa ang masisi ni Nicklaus." 

"Oh, how thoughtful of you naman." Nang-uuyam niyang usal.

"Eyes forward, woman! Don't fucking look back."

"Okay, master." Umirap siya.

Pasalamat na lamang siya at magaan ang kamay nito at hindi gaanong mahapdi ang paglilinis. Na-distract lang siya nang maramdamang hinihipan ni Matthieus ang bruised elbow niya.

Oh my God! That disturbing warm breath again. Oh, God!

"Stop that, moron! Baka 'di ka nag-toothbrush, no! Then you just recklessly blowing my skin. Magka-infection pa ang skin ko." Far from the hard truth. Alam niyang amoy mabango ito. 

"So, you are implying that I have a bad breath. Ayos ka ha." Maanghang na palag nito. "Kung hindi ka lang fiancée ni North ay iisipin ko na taktika mo lamang iyan para mahalikan kita."

Gosh! Hindi lang pala masungit, may kahambugan din palang taglay ang antipatiko.

"Oh, you're so full of yourself! Fiancée man ako ni North o hindi, nuncang magpapahalik ako sa suplado na katulad mo!"

"Arrogant, are we?"

Pathetically, she found herself gulping and blinking when she was caught off guard with his toasty topaz eyes, inscrutable emotions were dancing in them. Nang mga sandaling na-lock ang mga mata sa isa't isa na tila may notional na tanikala na gumapos sa mga iyon ay kumabog sa kaba ang puso n'ya. 

Lubhang nabagabag si Anne nang sa tuwina'y tila may kutitap na mabilis na lumagpos sa gitna ng nakakandado nilang mga mata. Halos sabay silang nasindak, babahagyang nagulantang at kagyat na inalis ang tingin sa bawat isa.

What the fuck was that? Where did that freaking spark came from? Tila siya nahapo kahit nakaupo lamang siya sa silya. Sure as hell he felt that, too, didn't he?

His dangerous silence, sudden outgo and obvious tensed body tells that he was disturbed by that unnamed spark, too.

Holy fuck!

Pilit niyang iwinaglit ang ligalig na iyon at itinuon sa paglilinis ng hardin ang buo niyang atensiyon. Linikom niya ang mga tuyong bushes sa ilalim ng Banaba tree na malapit sa hardin atsaka iyon sinunog. 

Winalis din niya ang nakakalat na tuyong dahon sa paligid ng cabin ni Matthieus atsaka isinali sa apoy. 

Wala pang tanghali ay maayos na sa mata ang hardin at bakuran ni Matthieus. Bukas ay babalik siya upang taniman ng bagong bushes ng sensation lilac ang mga puwang sa hardin.

Then, she wasn't sure what came into her mind that she invaded his bedroom and fell asleep on his bed.

Hindi na niya nagawang abalahin ang inaantok na diwa nang tila may naririnig siyang paglagutok ng tuyot na dahon sa likod-bahay. Baka ligaw na hayop lang.

ANNE WAS HARSHLY GROWLING while arching her aching back. Hindi siya lubos makapaniwala na hinayaan niya ang sarili na matulog sa matigas na papag na 'yon. Mistulang nabugbog ang likod niya sa kanyang sariling palagay. Pagkuwa'y bumalikwas siya.

"Is it gabi na ba, Vergue baby?" Medyo taranta niyang tanong sa alagang kuneho nang wala na siyang maulinagang sunlight sa labas ng bintana.

"How was your sleep, princess?" 

Napaigtad siya nang sa paglabas niya ng silid ni Matthieus ay natagpuan niya itong nakaupo at nakatunghay sa malamlam na night lamp malapit sa bintana. Wala roon ang isip nito, batid niya iyon. And was he drinking? Kanina pa ba ito? Kung gayun ay bakit hindi siya nito ginising para itaboy?

"Oh, that? I'm sorry, Mister Señorito. I was really puyat talaga kaya basta na lang ako nakatulog." Bukal naman sa loob niya ang paghingi ng dispensa kahit papaano. 

Anne noticed the heavy movements of his chest, as if he was trying to calm the destroying cyclone inside him. She nervously blinked her eyes.

"I really am sorry. Don't worry I didn't touch anything in here naman. 'Di mo lang natatanong pero hindi ko naman ugali ang mangialam sa-"

"Sinungaling!" 

Malakas na singhap ang kumawala sa bibig ni Anne at mahigpit na naiyakap sa dibdib ang bunny cage ni Verguenza nang bigla siyang sinigawan ni Matthieus kasabay nang pagbalibag nito sa kanina'y hawak nitong bottled rum.

Umalpas sa katawan ni Anne ang bawat patak ng kanyang tapang nang lumapit sa kanya ang galit na galit na si Matthieus. He firmly and furiously shook her shoulders, his holds against her shoulders were bruising.

She was so scared stiff of the beast in front of her.

"Bakit ka nangialam? Why did you touch that chests? Who gave you the fucking rights to inter that room?" Puno ng kabangisan na singhal nito. His whole being seemed invaded with severe fury.

"God! Let me go! You're hurting me, Matthieus." Usal niya sa basag na tinig. "Believe me, I didn't touch anything in here. You can ask Vergue."

"Stupid!" He hissed under his breath. Pabalang siya nitong binitiwan. Tumalikod ito at naghabol ng hininga. Kumuyom-buka ang mga palad.

"Stupid? Ako ba 'yan? God, Monférrer. Yes, I'm may be an agonistic brat pero hindi ako stupid. Mukha lang akong doll but my heart is not made of plastic. Your words were piercing. Fuck you!" She shot back when she gained an ounce of courage. 

Sinipat niya ang pinag-ugatan ng pagpupuyos nito at nakitang bukas na ang dalawang lumang baul. Mga lumang compact disk ang laman niyon at mga papeles na ang karamiha'y nakakalat na. 

She gasped discreetly when a blur memory awhile ago, the cracking sounds of dry leaves at the backyard emerged in her head.

"I heard something suspicious sounds kanina from the backyard. Oh my God! Was it the ghost which came out from this vintage chest?" 

She heard him munching a countless cuss. If she heard it right, he was kind of murmuring and cursing the name Markovik. Who the fuck was that?

"Christ! Shut the fuck up! You shouldn't be here again. Naiintindihan mo? You shouldn't be here!" Mabigat itong umiling. 

She rolled her eyes childishly. "Pinapaalis mo 'ko sa cabin mo o dito sa rancho? Klaruhin mo, Señorito!" Kung itaboy siya nito ay para bang carrier siya ng malubhang lason na galing sa impeksyon. 

She's damn tired of feeling unwanted. Una iyong mga kapatid niya, then her own father na desididong ipaubaya siya kay North, and that moronic North, too. Nasaan ba ang magaling na lalaking 'yon! Lahat na lang ay hindi minimithing makasama siya. Ni hindi na rin siya makasabay sa aktibong nightlife na nakasanayan niya dahil sa may kanya-kanya nang pinagkakaabalahan ang mga kaibigan niya. She hates the feeling of being alone!

"Fine! Bukas na bukas din ay aalis na ako sa teritoryo mong 'to kung iyan ang makapagpapayapa sa isip mo, mahal na Señorito. At maniwala ka man sa hindi, hindi ko ginalaw ang chest na 'yan, okay! I know how to respect other's private stuffs, especially dead person's."

His body clearly stiffened. He tensed. Nang lingunin siya nito'y madilim ang anyo nitong muli. "Paano mo nalaman?" 

"Huh? Uhm, from your Mom."

"It sucked to deal with a fucking meddler!" He growled. 

"Hindi mo na kailangan na insultuhin pa ako, Matthieus. I know you don't want me here since the very beginning. In actuality, this isn't new naman. That people shown dislikes, disgust, even hate about me. I'm getting used to it, anyway. Masakit lang isipin na ang hirap pa lang makatagpo ng taong handa at kusa kang babahagian ng kahit katiting na space sa buhay nila at iparamdam saiyo na in some way, they will make you feel wanted, desirable. Pero lahat kayo hindi gano'n!"

Hindi na naghintay pa si Anne na itaboy na naman siya nito at singhalan. Kusa na siyang lumabas sa cabin dala si Verguenza atsaka tinungo ang bisikleta. 

Mabigat ang loob na binagtas ni Anne ang madilim na lupain ng rancho. Malayo pa iyon sa Villa. Ilang kilometro pa. Isabay pa ang madilim na kalangitan at napakalamig na ihip ng hangin. She could also smell the cold dew. Ni hindi pa siya nangangalahati nang unexpectedly ay nagsungit ang langit. Bumagsak ang ulan.

"Yucks! This is so dramatic, Lord!"