Chapter 4
Chapter 4
"What is it you're doing in here this time?"
A whisper in my ear made me jump. Immediately, I took a step forward, tilting my head, only to see a familiar pair of eyes looking at me.
"North ko..." I said, almost in a whisper. Napalunok ako nang marahas habang pinagmamasdan siya at doon din natantong magkalapit ang mukha naming dalawa.
"Kuya North," he corrected. Napapikit ako nang pitikin niya ang noo ko at lumayo.
"No, North lang!" I stomped my feet, glancing up at him while watching him with his brows furrowed.
"I'm older than you, Rylee—"
"Age doesn't matter in love," I explained, raising my finger as if I were lecturing him.
He just shook his head, brushed his black hair with his fingers, and licked his lower lip kaya mas namula iyon. "How can you say that? You're too young to even think that way." He shook his head again. "You still don't know a thing about love."
I stared at him standing in front of me. He looked athletic—hapit sa kanyang katawan ang suot na puting uniporme, malinis ang gupit ng buhok, at seryoso ang mga mata.
"What? Sige nga, what's love for you?" I challenged him at nakita ko ang pagkunot ng noo niya.
"What?"
"I said, what is love for you?" I repeated at biglang tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya.
"What is this, huh? A slambook? Bata ka pa talaga, tanungan mo pang-elementary."
"Excuse me? Do I look like a kid to you?!" Hinawi ko ang buhok at humalukipkip. "Look at me, do I look like a kid? I'm a grownup, you see. I was asking you about love kasi 'di ba adult ka na? Mukhang maalam ka na sa love, sige nga, what is love—"
"Love is blind," aniyang seryoso kaya bigla akong natawa.
"Love is like a rosary full of mysteries?" ngisi ko. "Ikaw nga itong pang-elementary ang sagot! Feeling ko talaga mahilig ka sumagot ng slambook—"
"You should go, may klase pa ako," he said dismissively. Mabilis siyang tumalikod pero nahila ko siya.
"Wait lang kasi!" I pouted, softly pulling his arm kaya napaharap siya sa akin.
"What do you need?" aniyang seryoso.
"Usap muna tayo, break mo ngayon, 'di ba?" I smiled while saying that at mas kumunot ang noo niya at umawang ang labi. "And yes, I have kuya's schedule, 'di ba same kayo?"
"You..." His mouth parted unbelievably. Halos mapangiwi na ako nang pitikin niya ang noo ko. "Are you a creep? Anong ginagawa mo rito sa college department?"
"I am not a creep, ah!" I pouted. "Atsaka naligaw nga kasi ako—"
"Yeah? It's your fourth time getting lost here. Naligaw, my ass. Wala kang maloloko rito, Rylee." Halos itaboy na niya ako. "Go back to your department, the guard will take you to the guidance if he sees you."
"Hindi naman niya ako makikita, e." I smiled.
"Hindi?" He scoffed. "Then I should call your brother—"
"No!" I exclaimed, pouting. "Please don't! Come on, gusto ko lang naman makipagkwentuhan sa 'yo, bawal ba?"
"Wala ka bang kaibigan?" aniyang mukhang naiirita na. "You have that girl. What's her name?"
"Andrea," I answered. "Kaso busy siya, may ginagawa siyang activity kasi absent siya yesterday kaya 'yon, alone ako. Hindi ka ba naaawa? Nag-ikot nga lang ako kasi wala akong kasama, malay ko bang maliligaw ako rito."
He eyed me like I was a kid joking. "Wow, should I believe that?"
"Oo!" I smiled widely. "Come on, 'di ka ba naaawa sa akin? I just want to be with someone during lunch. Alam mo namang mas gusto kong may kasama 'di ba?"
"Then you should call your brother." I saw him take his phone kaya suminghap na ako at ibinaba ang kamay niya.
"Huwag!" I gasped. "Please don't, papagalitan lang ako ni kuya. Please? Ikaw na lang!"
He stared at me seriously. I saw the hesitation in his eyes kaya mas ngumiti ako at ikinurap ang mata.
"Please? Please?" I said, pinagsasaklop ang kamay. "I promise I'll be a good girl! Tahimik lang ako, promise."
Mariin ang kanyang naging titig sa akin, tila pinag-iisipan pa ang desisyon. Kaya nang bumuntonghininga siya at napahawak sa batok ay halos mapatili ako sa kilig.
"Alright." Mukha pa siyang napipilitan.
"Yes!" I said happily.
"Okay!" I smiled widely at naiiling na ipinasok niya lang ang kamay sa kanyang bulsa at naglakad.
Quietly, afraid he'd kick me out, I followed him. Nangingiti ako at malakas ang kalabog ng puso. He was just like that, tahimik at medyo masungit, kabaliktaran ng ugali ng kapatid ko, but he was a gentleman and a really good man! Kaya nga love na love ko 'yan!
Naglakad kami sa direksyong patungo sa may field ng university. I saw him looking around to see if someone would spot us here kaya todo tago naman ako sa kanyang likod.
"What are you doing?" he asked, dinudungaw ako sa kanyang balikat kaya kumapit ako sa kanyang uniporme.
"Wala bang...makakakita sa akin dito?" I asked. "Nagtatago lang naman ako, North ko."
"Then you shouldn't have come here, natatakot ka pala—"
"Sino nagsabing natatakot ako? Hindi, ah!" I said in a loud voice, lumayo sa kanya bago tumayo sa gilid niya para ilahad ang kamay. "Nandito ako! Guys—"
A large palm covered my mouth. Halos mahulog ang puso ko nang masalubong ang seryoso niyang mata nang humarang siya at dumukwang.
"The hell are you doing?!" he hissed in a low, annoyed voice.
Hindi naman ako makapagsalita dahil ang palad niya ay nasa labi ko.
"North? Sino 'yang kasama mo?" a soft voice asked, and I heard North cursing under his breath, pushing me towards a tree behind us. At nang tumama ang likuran ko roon ay inangat niya ang kamay mula sa pagkakatakip sa labi ko sa uluhan ko.
"North?" I heard the girls call again.
"North..." I whispered and he threw me a sharp glare.
"Don't talk," aniyang seryoso at suminghap lang ako nang idikit niya ang katawan sa akin, tila itinatago ako sa kung sinong mga babae roon kaya napahawak ako sa uniporme niya at dumikit sa kanyang dibdib.
"What is it?" his full and manly voice vibrated in my ear from his chest. He tilted his head to look behind him.
"Sino 'yang kasama mo?" the girl asked again at mas kinabahan lang ako.
"Baka...girlfriend?" another woman's voice spoke and I heard a bit of commotion.
"Mia?" tanong nila sa kung sino at akmang sisilip ako'y mas pinirmi lang ako ni North kaya hindi na ako nagsayang ng oras para dumungaw.
"Uh...North, g-girlfriend mo?" I think mga kaibigan ito nina kuya? 'Yong kasama niya. "North?"
"Yeah..." North's cold voice filled my ear, and the pace of my heart quickened hearing that.
"R-Really?" tanong ulit ng babae.
"Yes, Mia," aniyang seryoso. "Will you please give us some privacy? We'll just talk."
"O-Okay...we gotta go," sagot ng huli.
Ilang sandali ay nawala na ang komosyon. Nang lumayo sa akin si North ay napahawak ako sa dibdib ko at hinanap ang mata niya.
"What was that?" I asked in a low, amused voice.
"I was just saving you, kid," he answered, looking away from me but I caught how his cheeks flushed.
"Weh?" My smile widened. "Girlfriend mo ako? Talaga ba, North ko?!"
"No..." He looked at me, glaring.
"Ows?" I reached for his cheek, poking it. "Amin na, nagba-blush ka nga, e—"
"I said no," he said, his brows almost meeting each other. "May...may iba akong gusto."
"Sino? Ako?" tawa ko, at nang mag-iwas na siya ng tingin at alisan ako ay napasigaw na ako at hinabol siya.
"North ko, wait for me!" I exclaimed, clinging to his arms when I reached him kaya iritado niya akong nilingon.
"I said I like someone else," aniya at hindi ako naniniwala pero ngumisi ako.
"E 'di iba..." ngisi ko pa. "Kunwari naniniwala ako."
"Rylee Addison!" His irritated voice filled my ear pero sinuklian ko lang iyon ng matamis na ngiti at kindat.
Memories were sweet, lalo na kapag kasama rito ang mga taong may mahalagang parte sa buhay mo. It had been years since I met North and I might grow up, but some things didn't...just like my heart, my feelings for him.
It stayed. My feelings for him didn't fade, they just strengthened as time went by.
"Ma'am Rylee? Nasa meeting pa po si Sir Zoren, pasok na lang daw po kayo sa opisina," kuya's secretary told me kaya napatayo ako sa inuupuan ko.
"Matagal pa ba si kuya, Miss?" I asked.
"Siguro po mga thirty minutes pa, sa opisina po muna kayo maghintay, Ma'am. Ano pong gusto n'yo, tea or juice?"
"Ah, no, Miss," I answered. "Iikot na lang muna ako rito, pwede naman, 'di ba?"
"Opo," she answered me kaya tumango ako at inikot ang tingin nang biglang may naisip.
"You know...may pinapasabi kasi si kuya kay North, e. Saan nga ulit ang office niya?"
"Urgent po ba? Ako na lang ang magsasabi—"
"No!" I exclaimed and she looked confused kaya bumawi ako. "Uh...personally ko raw kasi dapat sabihin...? Hinihintay ko siya kaso may meeting kaya puntahan ko na lang...?"
Tinitigan niya ako at ipinakita ko naman sa kanyang seryoso ako kaya tumango siya. Pumunta siya sa computer para magtipa at napangisi ako nang ibigay niya sa akin ang maliit na papel, direction kung saan ko makikita si North.
Of course...I was so happy and excited, nagtungo pa akong banyo para suklayan ang buhok at maglagay ng kulay sa pisngi at labi para mukhang fresh at maganda. Inayos ko ang suot kong jumpsuit at nang makontento ay 'tsaka lang umalis.
Everyone I saw inside the company building greeted me upon recognizing me. Hindi na rin naman nakakagulat dahil si Kuya Zoren at North ay hindi lang basta mag-best friend simula noong high school, our families were friends with each other too, and their bond was strengthened because of our real estate business.
I fell for North when I was still in high school and he came to our house as my brother's friend. They had a strong bond together na halos magkapatid na ang dalawa dahil sa bahay na minsan natutulog si North kapag may tinatapos sila ni kuya at gano'n din ang huli.
Mabait siya, medyo may pagka-attitude nga lang at tahimik, pero ayon nga ang naka-attract sa akin sa kanya!
For years, I had a crush on him. Akala ko noon ay simpleng crush lang at gusto pero natanto kong iba na pala, mas malalim dahil wala akong interes sa kahit sinong lalaking nagtatangkang manligaw o magbigay sa akin ng interes.
If it wasn't North, then I didn't think there would be anyone else.
When I stepped into his new office, I was thrilled. Kaagad akong kinawayan ng kanyang secretary kaya matamis akong ngumiti.
"Hi, Minzy! Si North?" I asked.
"Hello, Ma'am Rylee. Nasa loob po," she answered me. "Napadaan kayo, Ma'am?"
"Ah, may sasabihin lang sana kay North, anong gawa niya? Can I come in?" tanong ko.
"Uh, kasi..." She awkwardly smiled. "Nand'yan po si Ma'am Mia."
"Mia?" I asked, but then I remembered who that was.
Mia Santiago, ang kaibigan ni kuya iyan noon pa. Ibang department naman 'tong babae pero palagi nilang kasama. Ang sabi ni kuya ay kasama nila ito sa ibang minor subjects but still...
"Why is that? Business?" I asked, nosy. "May meeting ba sila? Nagpa-schedule?" tuloy-tuloy kong tanong.
"Ay, hindi po. Bigla na lang dumating, ni hindi nga po nagsabi sa akin at diretso na sa loob. Pipigilan ko nga po sana kaso sabi ni Sir North na ayos lang."
I felt a weird bitterness inside when I heard that.
Until now?
"Girlfriend niya yata," sambit niya na parang biglang naisip.
"No!" I said in conviction kaya hinarap na niya ako.
"Ay, hindi ba, Ma'am?" she asked me curiously. "Kasi napapansin ko madalas siya rito..."
"Hindi 'yan," I insisted. "Matagal na niyang kaibigan si Mia, hindi niya 'yan magugustuhan. They're just good friends," I said at napatango siya.
"Baka nga..." sagot niya. "Hindi mo ba kilala ang girlfriend, Ma'am?"
"Kilala," I answered proudly with a smile.
"Sino po?" kuryoso niyang tanong.
"Ako," I said confidently, at nang namilog ang mata niya ay ngumisi ako. "Secret lang kasi, Minzy. Shy type kasi 'yang si North ko, 'tsaka magagalit si kuya kapag nalaman niya."
Natigilan lang kaming dalawa nang bumukas ang pinto. The familiar woman was stunned upon seeing me. She was wearing a floral short dress and pumps, looking professional and beautiful.
Sinulyapan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa kaya umayos ako ng tayo.
Aba't hindi naman tayo papakabog at model kaya ito!
"Good afternoon, Mia," I greeted her with a smile, and she frowned but slowly nodded, flipping her hair a bit.
"Good afternoon," sagot niya at nag-iwas ng tingin, taas-noong nilagpasan ako kaya halos mapasinghap ako.
Maldita naman!
Anyway...it was okay. Gano'n naman talaga iyon, tahimik pero may pagka-intimidating kaya hinahayaan ko na.
"Minzy, how do I look?" I asked with a smile.
"Maganda, Ma'am!" She smiled. "Sobra! Bagay na bagay sa 'yo maging modelo!"
"Talaga?" I giggled. "Mai-in love kaya lalo nito sa akin si North?" I asked cheekily.
"Ay naku, baka pakasalan ka kaagad!" sabat niya kaya nanlaki ang mata ko.
"Talaga ba?!" I exclaimed excitedly, and when she nodded ay napatili na ako at tumalon. Naghawak kami ng kamay na parang sinilihan doon at tawang-tawa siya.
"Oo, Ma'am," she answered.
"Dahil d'yan, lilibre kita ng food, Minzy! Saan mo ba gusto—"
"What's with the noise?"
Sabay naming nilingon ang pintuan ng opisina at nakita ko si North na kumunot ang noo nang makita ako. "I knew it," aniya at akmang isasara ang pintuan nang humabol ako.
"North ko, baby! Hi!" I said, mabilis na iniharang ang kamay bago niya maisara pero naipit kaya dumaing ako.
"Ow..."
Nakita ko ang mabilis niyang paglingon. Isang tulak ng pinto at hila sa akin ay hawak-hawak na niya ang pulsuhan ko.
"I'm sorry, are you okay?" he asked, staring at my hand, at hindi naman talaga siya sobrang sakit pero nang nilingon niya ako at nabakas ko ang pag-aalala sa mata niya ay pumikit ako at ikinunot ang noo.
"O-Ow...sobrang sakit, naiiyak ako..." I said in the weakest voice I could muster, and he cursed under his breath, slowly pulling me closer until I was seated on the couch.
"Shit, I'm sorry," he said in a low voice. "Ikaw kasi, why did you reach out with your hands?"
"Kasi...sasarhan mo ako, e," sagot ko sa malambot na boses at napamura siya.
"Tss...you could've followed me instead, bakit kailangan pang humarang ka ro'n? Look at you now! Naipit ka pa!" he scolded. "You're so reckless, paano kung napalakas ang sara ko, e 'di putol 'yang kamay mo?!"
I stared at him, meeting dark, annoyed eyes. I didn't see him like this often, pwera na lang kung may ginagawa akong kalokohan kaya ngumuso na ako.
"Sorry..." I said. "Galit ka?"
He stared at me, and I saw how the annoyance on his eyes vanished as he shrugged, sighing.
"No. I'm sorry." Unti-unting umakyat ang kanyang daliri sa palad ko. "I was just worried, ang kulit mo kasi."
"Gusto ko lang naman kasing humabol, sasarhan mo ako, e."
"I wouldn't have locked the door, pwede mo namang buksan na lang ulit. Why did you have to run after it and slide your hand in that way? Ngayon, nasasaktan ka."
"Kasi nga sasarhan mo ako, 'tsaka paano ko masisiguradong hindi mo ako la-lock-an ng pinto?"
"I'd never lock the door for you, Rylee," seryoso niyang sagot kaya namilog ang mata ko.
He cleared his throat afterwards. Nakita ko ang pag-iwas niya bago ibinaba ang kamay ko sa hita ko at tumayo.
"North..."
"Stay there," aniya at pumasok sa banyo sa opisina niya.
I stared at my reddish fingers. Mahapdi iyon kanina no'ng unang tanggal ko sa pagkakaipit pero nawala ang sakit no'ng hawakan niya ang kamay ko.
I smiled, bumaling ako sa opisina niya at namangha sa ka-simplehan nito pero mukhang malinis at elegante.
Magkakahalo ang kulay ng itim, krema, at puti. May itim na bookshelf sa isang gilid at sa mahogany table niya ay ang umpukang mga papel at gamit. Sa likod ng swivel niya ay ang kulay itim na coat.
Sa likod nito ay ang salaming pader, at mula sa couch na kinauupuan ko ay kitang-kita ko ang matatayog na buildings na naroon sa ibaba, overlooking the city.
"Wow..." I said in amazement, imagining how hot he'd look reading his documents while seated on his chair, seryoso.
"Give me your fingers," aniya nang maupo sa tabi ko, at may inilapag sa lamesa kaya sinundan ko iyon ng tingin.
To my amazement, I saw a medicine kit on the table. May kinuha siya roon bago hulihin ang kamay ko at inilapit iyon sa bibig niya.
"Mahapdi?" he asked me seriously and I nodded nonchalantly kahit hindi na.
"Oo...ow..." ngiwi ko. "Super sakit, e."
He eyed me, as if observing my face, pero nagpaawa lang ako at mukha namang nakumbinse ko siya. He blew on my finger at halos kilabutan ako sa pag-ihip niya. Ang dibdib ko'y halos magwala na.
I got the chance to stare at his handsome face because of our closeness. I could smell a whiff of his cologne, and the way his red lips protruded as he blew on my fingers was tempting.
Our shoulders touched. Hinaplos niya ang daliri ko at napatikhim ako.
"I'm in love with you, North," I said again, like it was natural for me to say that and he shifted his gaze to me. Dahil nga sa magkalapit ang katawan naming dalawa ay halos magdikit na ang mukha namin.
I felt the warmth of his breath reaching the tip of my nose. My mouth parted when our eyes met, and the intensity and emotions were there...just that he was doing his best to hide it.
"Gusto kita, simula noon, hanggang ngayon," I told him.
His gaze dropped from my eyes to my lips. His Adam's apple moved harshly and I scooted my body closer to his. Our noses touched, humigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay ko, pero hindi naman inilayo ang katawan kaya nagkalakas ako ng loob na idampi ang labi ko sa kanya.
It was just a smack and I felt him freeze. Ni hindi niya ako itinulak kaya muli akong lumapit para magpatak ng mas malalim na halik at ramdam ko ang paglalim ng hinga niya.
He didn't kiss me back but it was okay. I moved my lips gently against his until we heard a knock on the door.
"Ma'am Rylee, tapos na raw po ang meeting ni Sir Zoren."
It was as if I woke up from a deep slumber. He pushed me, at tila napapasong lumayo at tumayo kaya napasinghap ako.
"North..."
"Get out," aniyang seryoso kaya umawang ang labi ko.
"You...you didn't push me, does that mean—"
"I said get out!" His voice thundered kaya kinabahan na ako. Pumikit siya nang mariin at sinuklay ang buhok ng daliri.
"But what about..."
"That didn't happen, forget about that," seryoso niyang tugon kaya napabuntonghininga ako at inabot ang bag ko na nasa sofa.
Tahimik ako sa biyahe namin ni kuya pauwi, hinahaplos ang labi, iniisip pa rin ang halik na iyon na pinagsaluhan namin kanina.
He did not stop me! He let me kiss him! Did that mean...
"Ano na namang ginawa mo sa loob ng opisina ni North, Rylee Addison?" seryosong tanong ni kuya kaya sinulyapan ko siya.
"Nothing, I just said hi," sagot ko.
"Huwag mo nang guluhin ang tao, Rylee," he muttered. "Abala 'yon at may deadline kami, sabi ko kasi sa 'yong maghintay na lang sa akin sa opisina."
"Kuya, North likes me," I said, and his grip on the steering wheel tightened, looking at me sideways.
"Come on, Ry, ito na naman ba tayo? Not North, please." He sighed. "There are a lot of boys around you, right? Go after them, mas babagay iyon sa 'yo."
"Why not North?" I asked. "And whatever you say won't work on me now, Kuya. It's too late, I like him a lot."
"Hindi ka gusto ng kaibigan ko," aniyang seryoso kaya iritado ko na siyang hinarap.
"Aray ko, Kuya, ah? Ano ba 'to? Parang 'di tayo magkapatid, ah?!"
He smirked, shaking his head. "I'm just waking you up from your childish dreams, Ry. Not North, I know him. He might just hurt you, huwag mong ipilit at iba ang gusto ng tao."
But he let me kiss him! Imposibleng 'di niya ako gusto.
"He likes me," I said with finality.
"No," he answered. "He's in a relationship with Mia, I think."
Doon na tumigil ang mundo ko, lumalim ang gatla sa noo ko habang nakikinig.
"W-What?"
"He likes Mia," aniyang seryoso, at nakita ko rin ang pagdidilim ng mata. "They're in a relationship, Rylee, so don't push your feelings. Ayokong masasaktan ka."
I noticed the bitter tone in his voice pero hindi ko na pinuna sa dami ng iniisip ko.
"But..." What about what happened earlier?
"Let it rest, little sis. Not North. Don't," aniya. "He...likes Mia and she probably likes him too."
No...I wanted North. I loved him!
I couldn't think straight. I felt so lost and I didn't know why but...a foolish thought clouded my mind, not even thinking that I might regret it in the end.
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