Prologue
#HeatedDeceptionsWP
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Prologue
"Rylee, hija, what is this I've been hearing from your brother?"
Mula sa pagkakadapa sa kama ay mabilis akong bumalikwas ng upo at tumingin sa pintuan. "P-Po?!" My eyes widened upon seeing my mother entering.
"Ang sabi ng Kuya Zoren mo'y naglalagi ka raw sa college department," aniya at napakurap-kurap ako.
Nang tuluyan na siyang makapasok at pinagmasdan ako ay kaagad akong nag-panic.
I saw her eyes roam around my bed and I gasped, immediately closing the open scrapbook on the mattress.
"What's that?" she asked. Dinungaw niya ako pero mabilis kong tinago iyon sa likod ko at umiling.
"N-Nothing!" I smiled at her, showing my braces.
Tumaas ang kilay niya, mabilis na naupo sa tabi ko at muling sumilip sa kamay ko.
"Ano 'yang hawak mo? Patingin nga—"
"It's just our portfolio for school, Mom!" paliwanag ko, nagsisimula nang kabahan na baka kunin niya mula sa akin ang nasa likod ko.
"Oh? What subject? Can I see?"
"No!" I exclaimed, at nang tumaas ang boses ay nakagat ang labi. "I mean, I'm sorry. I'm just shy, pangit ang designs, Mom. Huwag mo na tingnan." I gave her a cute smile.
She shot me a suspicious look, mukhang may gusto sabihin pero tumango lang at ngumiti sa akin.
"Alright but what is it your brother is saying, huh?" aniya.
"What?" I asked, may ideya na pero nagkukunwaring walang alam.
"Your brother said you're roaming around the college department, Rylee. What is it?" she asked and stared at me.
"Uh, naligaw lang po ako," I explained, showing her my innocence. "Kasi nasanay na ako ro'n sa dati kong school na malaki ang high school department."
"Naku, Rylee Addison, you've been in your school for three years now. Naliligaw pa rin?" ani mommy na nagtataka, kaya para maipakitang totoo ang sinasabi ko ay mabilis akong tumango.
"Opo!" I exclaimed. "'Tsaka medyo sumakit po ang tiyan ko, at sa dati kong school 'yong katabing building ay clinic...? Kaya pumunta po ako roon, 'di ko naman alam na college department na 'yon."
"Oh? Malayo kaunti ang college department, ah? Kaya nga sa kabilang gate natin hinahatid ang kuya mo?" she asked me back, stopping me.
"T-Talaga ba?" I gasped and covered my mouth. "I didn't notice, Mom."
"Oh, okay. Basta sa susunod ay mag-iingat ka, okay?" she reminded me and touched my hair. "Mga seniors ang naroon. Nasa kolehiyo na ang kuya mo at bata ka pa, baka anong mangyari sa 'yo ro'n."
"Okay po." I nodded obediently even if I knew for a fact na hindi ko masusunod 'yon.
Napatitig siya sa akin bago biglang umiling. "Naku naman, anak! Anong nangyari sa buhok mo? Bakit ganyan ang pagtali mo ng buhok? Paano kapag nabuhol 'yan? 'Di ka man lang ba nagsuklay?!" she scolded.
"Sa bahay lang naman—"
"Kahit na! Paano kapag nag-dry 'yang buhok mo? Akala ko ba gusto mong mag-model?!" she scolded me again and pulled my arm.
"Mom..." I whined.
"Tara, magsusuklay ka!" aniya pero ngumuso lang ako.
"May tinatapos akong portfolio—"
"Mamaya, mas importante ang buhok mo. Tingnan mo at mukha kang bruha!" she hissed, kaya tumango na ako at nakanguso pa.
I saw her go to my vanity mirror and take my hairbrush. Nang lumapit siya sa akin at naupo sa likod ko ay tumalima na ako.
I frowned when I felt her remove my ponytail. "Ayan, Rylee, tingnan mo at ikot na ikot ang buhok mo sa panali!"
"Hindi naman ganyan kanina, My."
"Hay naku, bata ka!"
Napaigtad ako nang maramdaman ko ang kurot niya sa tagiliran ko.
"Ow! Mom!" reklamo ko.
"Hindi ko na alam gagawin sa 'yong bata ka, Diyos ko!" She gasped. "Sabi mo gusto mo mag-model, pero ayan ka't walang pakialam sa buhok mo. Tingnan mo at may tigyawat ka na naman sa pisngi."
"Stress 'yan, My."
"Stress? Anong stress? E, mas marami ka ngang tulog kaysa aral!" aniya kaya bigla na akong natawa.
"Oh, ganyan daw, My, kapag teenager. 'Yong hormones nagloloko," I explained.
"Asus na bata ka, gawa-gawa ka na naman ng paraan para makaligtas sa pagalit sa 'yo, ano? Kanina stress, tapos biglang naglolokong hormones? Ano 'yan, may battery?" she scolded kaya napatawa na ako.
"Ganyan nga kasi, My, kapag nagdadalaga," I explained and I heard her sigh. She brushed my hair gently with the hairbrush.
"Ayusin mo ang sarili mo, ah? Pangarap mo mag-model pero kaunti na lang magiging batang hamog ka na," she said, kaya nanlaki ang mata ko.
"Mommy?!" I gasped and she laughed, untangling my hair.
"Kidding aside," she muttered, still chuckling. "Sinasabi ko sa 'yo na mag-ayos ka at hindi ka na bata."
"Okay," I uttered, sighing. "Nag-aayos naman ako, Mom, ah?"
"Talaga? Hindi ka mukhang nag-aayos sa akin," she pointed out. "Tingnan mo 'tong buhok mong walang suklay at mukhang may gagamba na. Mag-ayos ka rin ng tulog mo nang hindi pinuputakte ng tigyawat."
"Okay po," I said.
She combed my hair a little longer while giving me tips para mawala ang tigyawat ko sa pisngi. She even told me we'd go to her derma sa weekends para hindi na ako tubuan ng pimples or whatsoever na gusto niyang gawin.
"Si Kuya Zoren, My? Nand'yan na?" I asked nang tinatalian na niya ang buhok ko. She was braiding my hair beautifully this time.
"Well, maybe in thirty minutes," aniya nang bumaling sa watch niya. "Pinapahanda ko pa kina manang ang pagkain nila at dito sila—"
"They're coming here?!" I asked excitedly, and I saw her forehead crease sa repleksyon niya sa salamin.
"Yes...? He said they'll be doing an activity here. What's with the excited look, Ry?"
"Is North coming?!" I asked and she nodded at me.
"Oo, kasama niya 'yon sa grupo."
"Can you put lipstick on me too?" I asked her and she looked at me, confused.
"For what? Will you take a selfie or...?"
"Because I wanna start being a model wannabe today!" I told her instead and she nodded. Nakita ko ang ngiti niya sa akin bago lumabas ng kwarto at nagpaalam na kukunin niya ang iilang mga makeup niya.
I sat, comfortable yet nervous and excited at the same time, staring at the mirror in front of me to look at my face.
I was fair, inheriting my skin color from my mother. 'Yon nga lang ay minsan mukha na akong maputla dahil hindi ako marunong mag-ayos kagaya niya. My cheeks had a natural blush but hindi 'yon pansin dahil hindi ako nag-aayos.
My eyes were brownish-black and upturned, and my lips were curved in a natural pout that I got from my father.
"Rylee," ani Mom nang makapasok muli sa kwarto ko. Hawak na niya ang maliit na makeup kit niya bago ipatong sa may harapan ko.
"Take a picture, huh? Post it on your social media, yours is super boring, anak." She sighed. "Ang laman ay puro sceneries, your titos and titas abroad want to see you, so you should at least show your face. Sayang ang Pamasko sa mga ninong mo ro'n."
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Mom, I don't need Pamasko—"
"Oh, you do!" she countered. "Mga ninong mo tinakbuhan ka after ng binyag mo, hindi na nagpakita sa kahit anong birthday."
"Come on, My," I uttered, and she laughed and opened her kit, taking her brush so she could color my cheek.
"Maniningil tayo, anak," she teased while tilting my chin para malagyan ang pisngi ko.
I let my Mom color my face like I was her own mannequin. I saw her giggling every time she chose the appropriate color for my face, and I was glad seeing her doing that for fun. Medyo naninibago pa ako dahil ngayon lang ako nalagyan ng ganyan, pero hinayaan ko na at gusto ko rin naman.
I had to be pretty today! I didn't want to look like a kid because I was now a lady! A woman! Sabi nga ni mommy I could have a boyfriend na, pero wala akong gusto pang boys—well, no one was courting me, okay? But that didn't mean I was ugly, hindi lang ako nag-aayos! 'Tsaka kahit may nanligaw naman ay wala akong sasagutin kasi may mahal na ako.
"Ma'am?"
Natigil si mommy sa akmang paglalagay ng tint sa labi ko nang may kumatok. "Yes?" she asked.
"Sina Sir Zoren po nandito na, papasok na ang sasakyan," she answered, making my heart pound.
"Oh, I see." Mom glanced at me and ipinahawak sa akin ang tint. "Ikaw na rito, Rylee, anak. I have to help them prepare the food, pauwi na rin ang dad mo kaya..."
"I can do it," I said, mabilis na kinuha ang tint sa kamay niya.
Ngumiti siya at tinapik ang pisngi ko. "Alright, dito ka muna, baba ako," aniya at tinapik ang pisngi ko bago nagpaalam palabas.
I watched her walk out of the door, and the moment she vanished from my sight ay dali-dali kong tinakbo ang terrace at binuksan. The white curtains flew when the harsh wind blew on it, at mabilis ko iyong hinawi bago dumungaw sa terrace.
I saw my brother's vehicle approaching and my heart pounded loudly when the dark red car pulled up behind it.
After they parked, nakita ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan ng sasakyan ni Kuya Zoren at lumabas siya kasunod ang isang lalaki pa at dalawang babaeng kaklase. My eyes were fixed on the red car, and I felt like it was the first time getting excited again upon seeing him.
When the door opened, the anticipation almost killed me. I saw how he went out of his gracefully, brushing his hair upon tilting his head.
"Oh my..." I giggled. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa barricade at pinagmasdan siya.
North Dominic Alvarado looked dashing in his uniform. The black slacks hugged his legs mercilessly, at kahit sa pwesto ko ay kita ko ang pagkakahulma ng kanyang panga.
He walked towards the shotgun seat and my forehead creased when I saw him opening the door. A woman in a college uniform and skirt stepped out. Her hair was straight, at kaagad kong nakita ang pagkasopistikada roon. She looked mature; mapula ang labi dahil sa makapal na lipstick pero maganda pa rin tingnan.
I saw her say something to him, and North nodded and smiled—and my God, I'd trade everything so I could see him smile at me like that!
"Let's go, Mom cooked good food! Kain muna tayo bago gumawa para may energy," Kuya Zoren exclaimed, natatawang inakbayan ang dalawang babaeng kaklase roon na natatawa rin sa kanila.
"Tara na, p're!" I heard that boy na kasama nila na tinawag si North na nahuhuli. The girl North was with placed her hand on his arm kaya kumirot ang dibdib ko.
"Tss...ano ba 'yan, huli na ba ako?" I asked myself, nag-iisip at naiinis nang biglang mag-angat ng tingin si North sa terrace kung nasaan ako.
I was immediately frozen in place. His serious black eyes stared at me intently, parang kitang-kita ako sa kabila ng walang ilaw na terrace. That stare sent shivers over my whole body, and he licked his lower lip and I gasped. Dali-dali akong napaatras at sa panic ay natumba sa terrace.
"Ouch!" I gasped and touched my back. It hurt nang bumagsak ako sa lapag. "Did he see me? OMG, he saw me, right?!"
Masakit man ang balakang ay dali-dali akong dumungaw muli sa isipang wala na sila roon sa baba, pero kaagad na kumunot ang noo ko nang makitang naglalakad pabalik ang babaeng kasama niya sa sasakyan.
My eyes immediately found North and I was stunned when I saw him still standing where he was earlier, malamig ang tingin sa pwesto ko at nakapamulsa. Our eyes met again and I gasped and covered my mouth.
"H-Hi, North!" I exclaimed when I knew I couldn't hide anymore. Ngumisi ako at kumaway, pero nanatili lang siyang nakatingin sa akin.
"North, p're, tara na!" I stopped when I heard my brother's voice. Nakita kong naglakad siya pabalik kay North na tahimik na nakatingin sa pwesto ko. "Where's Mia? May kinuha?" he asked.
I saw North nod, still staring at me, looking like a fool.
"Anong tinitingnan mo?" he asked, and I got scared when I saw my brother lift his gaze at my terrace kaya dali-dali akong nagtago. "Sino—Rylee Addison!" he exclaimed.
"W-Wala ako rito, Kuya!" sigaw ko pabalik at narinig ko ang reklamo niya sa baba roon.
"Yari ka sa akin mamaya, you brat, pumunta ka raw kanina sa college dep—"
"Naligaw ako!" sigaw ko at mabilis na ngumuso.
"Anong naligaw? Ilang taon na naliligaw ka palagi?"
"E, sa naliligaw nga, e!" I shouted at sumilip, at nakita kong nakapamaywang si kuya sa baba habang nakamasid sa terrace.
"Bumaba ka raw sabi ni mommy at kakain na!" he said.
"Opo, opo. Bye!" I exclaimed and almost ran back to the room, closing the terrace so he couldn't say anything anymore.
That Zoren!
I almost stomped my feet. Napapahiya na naman ako kay North ko niyan!
Mabilis akong bumalik sa vanity mirror, I stared at my face and looked at my soft features—so unlike that girl he was with earlier. Sophisticated, mature, and bold siya, samantalang ako...
Kinuha ko ang lipstick sa halip na tint. I chose the dark red color even if mom told me I should only wear the tint since soft ang features ko.
Oh, it was a burning red now...? Mas kinapalan ko pa at hinawi-hawi ang naka-braid na buhok para masiguradong mukha na akong mature.
I check on my scrapbook on the bed and smiled upon seeing the school papers where North was featured. He excelled a lot in academics and sports kaya lagi siyang laman ng school paper, at ako naman ang tirador na sige, gupit ng articles at dikit sa scrapbook ko para sa memories!
I giggled when I saw the single photo in there with North and I. I was smiling widely and he was just staring at the camera coldly, halatang napilitan kasi makulit ako pero hinayaan na lang din ako.
"Ma'am Rylee? Kakain na raw po sabi ni Ma'am!" May katok sa pintuan ko kaya mabilis akong umayos ng upo at sumagot.
"Opo, palabas na, Ate! Pasabi po saglit lang!" I said.
Nang mawala siya ay dali-dali akong lumabas at inayos ang casual na damit kong suot. Noong lumabas ako ay medyo nangati ang labi ko kaya kinamot ko iyon. Pababa na sana ako ng hagdan nang makasalubong ko si Ate Lyn.
"Ate Lyn!" I called excitedly when I saw her holding a tray of food.
"O-oh, Ma'am Rylee! Santisima, anong...anong nangyari sa 'yo?" Nakita ko ang gulantang sa mukha niya nang makita ako.
"Saan ka, Ate? Sina Kuya? Nasa study? Doon sila kakain?" tuloy-tuloy kong tanong at napatango-tango siya, mukhang gulantang sa akin.
"Oo, Ma'am," aniya. "Anong nangyari...naka-makeup ka?"
"Opo, ganda ba, Ate?" I smirked and she just blinked.
Mukhang nagdadalawang-isip pa siya kaya nagtaka ako pero tumango sa akin. "O-Oo naman, Ma'am. Maganda," aniya kaya natuwa ako at kinuha sa kanya ang isa pang tray.
"Tara, 'Te, samahan na kita!" I exclaimed cheerfully at tumango siya at hinayaan akong sumama.
I was excited and giddy that I almost hummed while walking. Nang marating namin ang study ay kaagad na binuksan ni Ate Lyn ang pintuan para makapasok kami.
Nauna siya, and then my heart pounded loudly when I took a step inside and immediately saw the girls in there sitting on the sofa. Kaagad silang lumingon at nang makita ako ay nanlaki ang mata at biglang natawa.
What was funny?
I immediately saw North at the desk, seryosong inililipat ang page ng libro. Sa tabi niya ay 'yong babae kanina kaya tumikhim ako at mabilis na nagmartsa palapit.
"Hi, North! Kain muna!" I said happily before placing the tray on the desk where they were studying.
The girl lifted her eyes and I saw them widen. Si North ay gano'n din pero nakita ko ang pagkunot ng noo niya sa akin.
"Si kuya?" I asked, and his eyes landed on my lips before bringing them back up to my eyes again.
"Nasa kwarto pa si Zoren, nagbibihis yata," the girl answered me, at halos mapangiwi ako kasi 'di ko naman siya tinatanong pero anyway...bumaling ako kay North.
"Kain na kayo? Hahatid ko ulit naman mamaya rito ang dessert!" I said and North just stared at me with his forehead creased. "W-What?"
"What's with your lips?" malamig niyang tanong kaya ngumisi na ako.
"Napansin mo, ah!" I giggled. "Bagay ba, North?"
I heard laughter. Napalingon ako sa likod at natigilan nang makita ang dalawang babaeng natawa roon.
"A-Ah, Ma'am, una na ako, ah?" Ate Lyn said, at mabilis na siyang nag-evaporate kaya tinaasan ko ng kilay ang dalawa roon.
"What are you laughing at?" I asked at kaagad silang nagsikuhan habang natatawa ulit. "What?"
"Ang kapal kasi ng lipstick mo, Rylee. Lagpas pa, marunong ka ba?" the woman told me and gave me a mocking look.
"Papa-cute na nga lang, palpak pa," bulong n'ong isa pero narinig ko naman.
I froze at that. Mabilis kong nilingon sina North at ang babaeng katabi niya. The girl looked amused while he was just staring at me intently, walang reaksyon pero ang mata'y nasa labi ko. Mabilis akong tumingin sa salamin doon at nagulat nang makitang lagpas ang lipstick ko.
Bigla akong nahiya. My heart ached in humiliation but I managed to place the plates on the table and grab the tray.
"Ah, darating mamaya 'yong dessert. Kain na kayo," sabi ko at niyakap ang tray bago walang lingong lumabas.
My heart was heavy when I left the room. Bumagsak ang balikat ko at halos hilain na lang ang paa para makalakad paalis, hiyang-hiya na nasobrahan ang lipstick ko at lagpas pa.
I heard the door open pero diretso lang akong naglalakad.
"Let me," I heard a voice say, kaya dali-dali akong lumingon at halos lumuwa na ang mata nang makita kung sino ang kumuha sa akin ng tray.
"N-North?"
"You left this. Let me carry that," malamig niyang sabi bago inangat ang isa pang tray, pero natuwa lang ako kaya mas niyakap ko ang tray.
"A-Ako na!" I exclaimed.
"Ako na, it's quite heavy, let me," he said in finality at mas dumilim lang ang tingin nang hindi ko ibinigay, kaya dali-dali kong inabot.
"H-Here..." I gave it to him at kaagad niya iyong kinuha.
He smelled nice. Mula sa pwesto ko sa kanyang tabi ay kitang-kita ko ang hulma ng braso at muscles niya kaya nakagat ko ang labi ko. I kept looking at him habang mabagal kaming naglalakad pero naalala ko bigla ang kahihiyan ko kaya napabuntonghininga ako.
"Ah, sorry pala..." I started. "Nakakahiyang lumagpas 'yong lipstick ko, napahiya ka tuloy—"
"Tss, come here," he said, annoyed, kaya sinulyapan ko siya. Nakita kong inilapag niya sa sahig ang tray at may kinuha sa bulsa.
"H-Huh?"
"Come here," he repeated impatiently kaya nagtataka man ay marahang naglakad ako palapit.
To my shock, I saw him take his handkerchief. My heart danced erratically when he moved closer and tilted my chin up.
Para akong sasabog sa kaba at saya nang seryoso ang mga itim na mata'y inilapit niya ang panyo sa labi ko at pinunasan ang lipstick ko. Mukha siyang iritado pero malambot ang tingin.
"Ang bata-bata mo pa ang kapal mo na mag-lipstick," komento niya kaya mas napalunok ako at tinitigan ang matangos niyang ilong at ang pirming mapupulang labi.
"P-Pangit ba?" I asked, pero hindi siya umimik at mukhang dedicated sa pagtanggal ng kalat lipstick sa labi ko. "North?"
"I'm older than you, kid. Call me 'Kuya,'" aniyang malamig habang marahang tinatanggal pa rin ang kalat.
"Ayoko nga, hindi kita kuya, ah?" I muttered. "Si Kuya Zoren lang ang kuya ko."
"We're the same age," aniya at hinanap ang mata ko. "What made you think I'm not like him?"
"Kasi...kasi hindi ba awkward kapag tinawag kitang kuya tapos crush kita?" I asked straightforwardly. His mouth parted a bit pero kaagad na tumikom muli at tumikhim.
"Quit it," malamig niyang sabi.
"What? Matagal ko naman nang sinabi sa 'yo na crush kita, 'di ba—"
"Don't talk, I'm not yet done with your lips," istrikto niyang sabi kaya ngumuso ako at hinayaan siyang nakatungo nang bahagya para doon.
We were filled with silence kaya muli akong nagsalita, "North, I like you!"
"No, Rylee," aniyang seryoso at tila napapasong lumayo sa akin bago abutin ang tray sa lapag. "I don't like you."
"But...why?" I asked and pouted. "Pretty naman ako, I know I'm young pero I'm mature kaya! I can be a woman too—"
"You're just my little sister," aniyang seryoso kaya umawang na ang labi ko. "I'd never like you that way, kid."
"But North! I'm not a kid! Look, nag-ayos ako! I'm a lady—" he stopped me by wiping my lips more.
"And don't put this much lipstick on, you're beautiful even without it, anyway." Bulong niya, seryoso at tunog iritado pero nagawa niyang patalunin ang puso ko.
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