LAW OF EFFECT written by hannanusman
PH SUMMER PACKAGE IMAGINES
[A Park Jimin One-shot]
© 2017 CT All Rights Reserved
Fan Fiction / Teen fiction

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Do not distribute, publish, transmit, modify, display or create derivative works from or exploit the contents of this story in any way. Please obtain permission.

Finished: September 2, 2017
Published: September 6, 2017

The first installment of PH Summer Package Imagines.

*

You gave me the effect no one had ever inflicted me before.

Sumipol ako para tawagin siya dahil sa ganoong paraan ko siya madalas tawagin. Ilang araw ko na siyang hindi nakikita. I didn't know if I was just too busy the past few days that I didn't really give much attention to her.

Baka nagtatampo na iyon kaya hindi na siya nagpapakita sa akin.

"Brandley?"

Lumuhod ako sa carpeted floor para silipin ang ilalim ng coffee table dito sa living room ng bahay. I sighed when I didn't see her when she would usually sleep under the table. Tumayo ako at pinagpag ang mga tuhod kong naalikabukan dahil tanging dress nightie lang ang suot ko na hindi umabot ang haba sa mga tuhod ko, ganito ang mga pantulog ko dahil mas komportable ako.

Muli akong sumipol. "Brandley baby, where are you?" I then roamed my eyes around the living room while thinking of possible places she could hide into around the house.

Wala siya sa second floor, wala siya sa kuwarto ko kaya huli na itong living room na puwede kong maisip na puntahan niya, well, except of course the kitchen.

Nagtungo ako sa kitchen na katapat lang ng living room at nasa likod lang ng grand staircase, madadaanan ko muna ang dining table na nakapuwesto sa may gilid bago tuluyang makapasok sa hallway patungong kitchen.

"Good morning, Daddy," bati ko kay Daddy na naka-upo sa kabisera ng mesa at tahimik na nagkakape habang seryosong pinagkakaabalahan ang iPad niya.

When he was like that, he was surely working.

Lalagpasan ko na sana siya kung hindi niya lang ako tinawag.

"Hannan."

I stopped abruptly and turned to him.

I was still too preoccupied with my beloved cat's absence. Ilang araw kasi akong nasa downtown Coron dahil may ilang mga bagay akong kinailangang gawin. I had to leave her here with the care of the maids though I couldn't really trust them with her 'cause they were all busy as they were.

"Maupo ka rito at mag-almusal na," he softly yet sternly told me as he shortly glanced at his gadget before looking at me again.

Umiling ako. "I have to find Brandley first, Daddy," sagot ko at muling ibinalik ang atensyon sa pasilyo patungong kitchen.

"Brandley? Didn't you leave her at the resort house in South Cay?" ani Daddy habang ibinababa niya ang hawak niyang iPad sa mesa at ibinibigay sa akin ang buong atensyon niya.

I stayed still, trying to remember what he said. "I… I did?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sa kaniya ngunit agad rin naman akong napahampas sa noo ko nang maalalang sa caretaker ng resort house sa South Cay ko nga pala pina-iwan si Brandley.

How stupid could I get?! Talagang hindi ko siya makikita rito sa bahay dahil nasa kabilang isla siya!

"Shoot, I remember! Sorry, Daddy!" I apologetically told my father.

"It's fine, Hannan. You must be very busy with your work that you've forgotten about her," naiiling na sabi ni Daddy, he then signaled me to occupy the seat beside him. "Sumabay ka na sa akin kumain."

Tumatangong naglakad ako palapit sa dining table na puno ng mga pagkain at inokupa ang upuang nasa tabi niya. We started digging our breakfast while still talking.

"You can't get Brandley until three days, Hannan. There are Koreans at the resort who rented the island for three days. They want it private," ani Daddy sa gitna ng pagkain namin.

"I'm not going to disturb them, I'm just going to get my cat," sagot ko dahil gusto ko nang makita si Brandley. Tatlong araw na nga kaming hindi nagkikita dahil sa dami ng mga pinagka-abalahan ko nitong mga huling araw tapos kailangan ko ulit maghintay ng tatlong araw bago siya makita.

I couldn't wait to see her again!

"Hannan, let's respect our client's decision," seryosong sabi ni Daddy na tipong binabalaan akong huwag gawin ang kung anumang binabalak ko ngunit umirap lang ako.

It was as if I was going to really disturb them. Kukunin ko lang si Brandley at aalis rin agad.

During the meal we were just talking about some matters. Nabanggit sa akin ni Daddy na darating ngayong araw ang pinsan kong si Sophia from Manila. Madalas itong magtungo rito para magbakasyon. Daddy just reminded me that I needed to look out for Sophia 'cause the troublemaker of town wouldn't just stay idle here and do nothing.

She would surely break rules. And that wouldn't be good.

Nang matapos kumain ay agad na nagpaalam si Daddy para sa trabaho at hinayaan ko na ang mga maids na iligpit ang mesa.

Mabilis akong umakyat sa kuwarto para maligo at magbihis. I chose a knee-length orange Bohemian dress that was halter top and just ponied my long wavy black hair in a half loose bun. I only wore flip-flops dahil mabuhangin sa South Cay. Dahil summer ngayon at mainit ay nag-powder lang ako at nude lipstick.

Dinampot ko ang summer hat na nasa kama ko na may pulang bulaklak sa gilid saka sinuot. Nagtungo ako sa vanity mirror ko at namili ng sunnies na isusuot. Isang orange shaded and red framed sunnies ang napili ko.

Pinanood ko nang hilahin ni Manong Selo, one of our boats operator, ang two-seater speedboat patungong dalampasigan habang nakatayo ako sa porch ng bahay para hindi maarawan.

When the boat went in the water, Manang Selo then signaled at me.

Hudyat iyon na sasakay na kami.

Isinuot ko sa ulo ko ang summer hat na dala ko, maging ang sunnies ko at naglakad na patungong dalampasigan, ang mga buhangin ay unti-unting uma-angat sa paa ko pero hindi ko iyon pinansin.

I just hoped I wouldd get home before Daddy. Magagalit iyon kapag nalaman niyang sinuway ko siya. But I couldn't really just let Brandley stay there when I was here and I could ake care of her.

Mahalaga sa akin si Brandley dahil pasalubong ito sa akin ni Mommy noong huling bisita niya rito, and that was years ago.

My parents were annulled. Si Daddy ang kumuha sa akin noong mga panahong wala pa akong kakayahang magdesisyon dahil sa murang edad at siya rin ang pinaboran ng korte dahil mas kaya akong alagaan ni Daddy noon.

My mother had her own family now and was residing around Europe with her family. I had a younger half-sister from her. I was still so close with her in spite of. Nag-ba-bonding pa rin kami kapag may time. Tuwing birthday ko ay hindi siya nawawala siyempre. Though it still saddened me that my parents relationship didn't work.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang mamataan ko ang islang pupuntahan ko. Tama nga si Daddy, may mga tao nga roon ngayon. They were quite a lot actually. At nang bumagal na ang takbo ng bangka ay hudyat iyon na malapit na kami sa isla.

Mas luminaw ang mga taong nakikita ko dahil inangat ko sa summer hat ang sunnies na suot ko.

I often saw white people, but not if they were this many. Pakiramdam ko, sinasakop ang isla naming ito ng mapuputi at singkit na matang mga tao. I could even see the familiar Nipa houses that served as the cottages for the clients fill with people, white people. Gawa ang mga iyon sa apat na mahahabang kahoy bilang haligi at mga natuyong dahon ng niyog para gawing bubong.

Sa gitna ay isang mesa para sa mga pagkain. May mga sun loungers din sa bawat mga cottages na may malalaking umbrellas.

"Miss Hannan, hindi po tayo puwedeng magtagal. Magagalit po si Sir Noriel," ani Manong Selo nang tuluyan nang huminto sa pag-iingay ang bangka.

The boat then stopped just near the shore. Ang kalahati ng bangka ay nasa buhangin na samantalang ang kalahati pa hanggang dulo ay nasa tubig pa.

Three white guys near the shore stopped on their tracks and stared confusedly at us. They all shared those brown coconut hairs, that I would be laughing of only if they didn't look good on it. They were all wearing summer shirts and summer shorts with a scarf tied around their neck.

What the hell? Were they wearing that as a choker?!

Gusto kong matawa sa ideya ng mga lalaking nag-cho-choker gamit ang scarf pero hindi ko rin mapigilang humanga dahil bumagay sa kanila iyon.

What were these people? Why were they just all good looking to be true?!

One of them was holding a monopad while there was an another man filming them with a lot bigger camera, that one using when filming a show.

What? Were they filming something here? Were they singers? Actors?

"Miss Hannan."

Narinig ko ang boses ni Manong Selo at nakita ko siyang naglalahad ng kamay sa akin. Nakababa na siya ng bangka at nakalubog siya sa hanggang binting tubig dagat.

Tumayo ako at inabot ang kamay niya para bumaba na. Hindi ko na ibinalik pang muli ang atensyon ko sa mga lalaki ngunit nakikita ko mula sa gilid ng mga mata kong bumalik na sila sa ginagawa nila kanina.

Pinangunahan ko si Manong Selo sa paglalakad patungong rest house. I needed to see Aling Sara since it was her I had talked with about taking care of Brandley. Siya at ang asawa niya ang caretaker ng islang ito pero si Daddy pa rin ang namamahala.

Actually, hindi naman madalas napupuntahan ang islang ito, undiscovered pa kasi but this was just one of the many islands that my father owned.

We had a lot of more discovered and famous islands than this one.

Nakasunod lang sa akin si Manong Selo habang tinatahak ko ang sandbar, habang nilalagpasan ko ang mga mataong cottages, patungo sa rest house. Ilang metro lang naman ang layo ng sandbar sa kinatatayuan ng rest house. At nang marating namin ang rest house ay nagulat ako sa dami rin ng mga taong nasa loob.

Cameras stood in a corner of the living room, people busy with their own tracks but they didn't deprive us their attention. Ang lalaking naka-hawaiian polo ang lumapit sa akin, may suot siyang lapel at may hawak na megaphone.

He looked like someone who directs filming.

"Hi, Miss. This resort is rented privately. Do you have any business here?" the Chinese looking man that I thought in his mid-forties asked me with a different and weird accent.

I understood that he was somewhat Chinese… or Korean. Naalala kong sinabi ni Daddy na Koreans ang mga taong ito.

"Ah, I'm looking for the caretaker of this resort, I didn't mean to disturb what you're doing," I apologetically answered the guy. Nang ilibot ko ang paningin ko ay nalaman kong nasa amin na ang atensyon ng iba pang nasa living room.

I couldn't help but think how they all had the same faces and skin complexion.

Luminawag ang mukha ng lalaki at umiling-iling. "No, it's fine. We are still just preparing for the filming. I believe, the caretakers are inside. Would you need a guide?" the guy offered, he must be thinking that I didn't know this house when I had been here all my life.

Alam ko ang pasikot-sikot sa islang ito. I could even go to the forest part alone without getting lost.

"Ah no thanks, I can manage, but is it really okay to go in?" tanong ko pabalik dahil kahit papaano ay rented nila ito at dapat ay hindi sila naiistorbo.

"It's okay. Suit yourself," aniya at hinayaan na ako. He then went back to working, that was before he bowed to me that surprised me.

Hindi ko inaasahan iyon.

Bakit may bow?

Umiling na lang ako at magalang na nag-excuse para makadaan sa living room at makatawid patungo sa kitchen. At hindi nga ako nagkamali, naroon nga si Aling Sara at mukhang nagluluto, though maaga pa para sa lunch.

"Aling Sara," tawag ko sa pansin niya.

Mula sa kung anumang ginagawa niya ay nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin at agad na bumakas ang gulat sa mga mata niya nang makita ako.

"Hannan, anong ginagawa mo ritong bata ka?!" She immediately left her work and went to me. Hinawakan niya ang mga braso ko at agad na sumilip sa likod ko kung nasaan ang pasilyo palabas sa living room.

"Aling Sara, where's Brandley? I came here to get her," sabi ko.

"Yung pusa mo ba iyan?" she asked.

Tumango ako. "Aalis din agad ako pagkakuha ko sa kaniya." Itinaas ko ang isang kamay ko na tipong nangangako para ipakitang seryoso ako. Naisip kong baka nag-aalala lang siya dahil magagalit si Daddy kapag nalaman nitong nagpunta ako rito.

Ang pinaka-ayaw ni Daddy ay ang makakuha ng bad feedback from the clients. Lalo na at hindi masyadong napupuntahan ang South Cay dahil sa layo nito sa kabihasnan.

People even named it uninhabited island.

She sighed, maybe sensing that I was serious. Isa pa nandito na ako, hindi na niya ako ma-itataboy pa. Mabuti na lang pala at hindi ako tumawag dito para sabihing pupunta ako. Baka hindi pa ako nakakalabas ng bahay ay dinadakdakan na niya ako at tinatakot na isusumbong kay Daddy.

"Hannan, wala rito sa bahay iyong pusa…" Simula niya na nagpakunot ng noo ko ngunit nagpatuloy siya. "Iyong mga taong nandito ngayon nagsu-syuting ata sila. Hiniram muna nila saglit iyong pusa mo para gamitin daw." Pagtatapos niya.

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

Si Brandley? Gagamitin? For what? Props? My poor precious cat?! My Brandley?!

"Oo, Hannan. Isasama yata sa syuting. Halika, puntahan natin," ani Aling Sara, bumalik siya sa counter at kinuha ang isang bilao na may mga lamang pagkaing ginawa niya. Those were fresh fruits sliced in different plates. May nakita rin akong mga pineapples na hindi pa nababalatan.

Nang lumabas si Aling Sara ay sumunod ako. Napansin kong nasa likod pa rin pala si Manong Selo. Sinenyasan ko siya na sumunod na rin dahil pagkatapos kong makuha si Brandley ay uuwi na rin kami.

Muli kaming lumabas ng bahay. Binati pa kami ng mga taong nadaanan namin sa sala, at nang muli kong makita ang lalaking naka-usap ko kanina ay yumuko na naman siya. Sa lito ay napayuko rin tuloy ako. Muli naming tinahak ang sandbar at sa pagkakataong ito, nagtungo kami sa isa sa mga cottages.

The moment we reached it, people inside the cottage started greeting us, bowing too. Nanatili ako sa likod ni Aling Sara kahit nang inilapag niya ang bilao sa mesa.

"Eat. Fresh fruits," nakangiting sabi ni Aling Sara sa mga taong nasa loob habang paulit-ulit na nagba-bow.

I noticed the common denominator of these people, they were all white and they all had small eyes.

"Baegopa! [I'm hungry!]"

Just then, three familiar guys went in the cottage, directly attacking the table with foods. May isa pang lalaking nadagdag sa kanila. Sa kanilang lahat, mas nangingibabaw ang puti niya. They all dug into the foods served. Ni hindi man lang nila kami binigyan ng pansin dahil mas okupado sila noong mga prutas na dala ni Aling Sara.

There were still men with cameras tailing them.

Napansin ko kung paano nila pinaglalantakan iyong pinyang nandoon nang hindi gumagamit ng kutsilyo, hinati lang iyon ng isa sa kanila gamit ang mga kamay. I didn't expect that so I had to raise a brow. I believed that wasn't so easy.

Kahit nga gumamit ng kutsilyo ay hindi ko yata mababalatan iyong pinya tapos kinamay niya lang?

Good luck na lang sa mga kamay niya.

Hindi ko naman mapigilang ngumuso dahil ako ang naasiman sa ginagawa nila. Pakiramdam ko, naglalaway ako.

Nagpaalam si Aling Sara sa mga ito, constructing a very low maintenance English and the guys inside nodded at her, again, with a bow. Pero nanatiling occupied ang apat na lalaki sa pagkain na tipong mga walang pakialam.

I could even see their difference from the other guys. Masasabi kong kung nagshu-shooting man sila, iyong apat malamang ay mga actors at staffs lang iyong iba pa.

Lumabas kami sa cottage na iyon at nagtungo sa isa pang cottage. At sa cottage na iyon, doon ko nahanap si Brandley, but she wasn't alone. She was sitting gorgeously on the lap of a gorgeous man, who was smiling sweetly at the camera in front of him.

Nakasuot ang lalaki ng asul na flannel polo, bukas ito at kitang-kita ang puting T-shirt niya sa loob, isang three-forth denim short ang pang-ibabang suot niya at nakasimpleng flip-flops lang din. Kita ko rin ang isang long necklace na nakasabit sa leeg niya.

He had the same brown hair with the other guys earlier, the same white skin and the same small eyes. But unlike those guys, that man who beautifully held my Brandley managed to make my heart beat erratically out of rhythm and control, in a most unexpected moment and most surprising way.

He wasn't even doing anything!

Naka-upo lang siya roon, kalong si Brandley habang ngumingiti sa camera. It was a good view since nasa likod niya ang malawak at asul na dagat. Plus, my Brandley looked too soft in his arm!

"Ayan pala sila oh!" ani Aling Sara at tuluyang nang tinawid ang distansya namin mula sa nagpo-photoshoot. Agad na nilapitan ni Aling Sara ang photographer na naging sanhi ng paghinto ng mga ito sa pagshu-shoot.

Hindi ko tuloy alam kung matatawa ako o maiinis kay Aling Sara.

Hindi ba siya marunong makaramdam? Puwede naman naming hintaying matapos ang photoshoot bago lumapit. Naka-istorbo tuloy kami.

I was about to walk towards the direction of the photographer when somewhat fluffy and furry thing gently touched my feet. Bumaba ang tingin ko para lang makita si Brandley na hinahaplos ang mga paa ko gamit ang puting balahibo sa noo niya.

She then stared up at me as I smiled at her.

"Brandley!" tuwang-tuwang sabi ko sabay abot sa kaniya para buhatin. Inalintana ko ang mga buhanging sumayad sa damit ko dahil sa mga buhanging nasa paws niya.

Brandley was a white cat with a little shades of yellow. She had pink paws and pink nose. Her ears had a yellow shade and she had gold eyes.

All in all, she was beautiful.

Hinalikan ko si Brandley dahil sa panggigigil at pagka-miss ko rito, malamang ay nakilala niya agad ako pagkakita sa akin kaya siya lumapit. Natigilan lang ako nang mamataan ko ang lalaking subject ng photoshoot kanina na mabagal na naglalakad palapit sa akin.

I noticed him walking on the sand, barefooted now. He left his slippers. I gulped seeing the muscles on his legs… they were tight and restrained.

He wasn't bulky, he wasn't even that taller, but damn, he was sexy! Lalo na at nakadagdag sa kaguwapuhan niya ang pares ng hoops niyang hikaw na hindi ko madalas makita sa mga kalalakihan!

He was a guy, at that!

My knees started weakening when my eyes went up to meet his small smiling one… even though he was not smiling anymore.

Nang makalapit siya sa akin ay naglahad siya ng kamay, ang mga mata ay matamang nakatitig sa akin at ang mapupulang mga labi ay bahagyang nakanguso.

Kunot ang noong tinitigan ko siya, nagtataka sa paglalahad niya ng kamay.

"The cat," he simply yet firmly said, sensing my confusion.

"This is my cat," sagot ko, matter-of-factly.

He gaped his mouth and just stared at the cat in my arms. Mayamaya ay ngumiti siya, revealing his perfect set of white teeth, making my jaw drop at his handsome smiling face.

How could someone be this handsome? He was not possible! He was not legal! He was not human!

"You just kissed the cat I kissed though," he said grinning, this time, locking my heart in a secluded emotion I couldn't put a name into.

Sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko na pakiramdam ko, bigla na lang itong tatalon palabas ng dibdib ko. He might not be possible, but his effect was so damn possible.

I'm affected.

He had this law of effect that could make, even the most aloof heart, get affected.

"JIMIN!"

Just then, someone called him from somewhere, from behind him.

I stared past his shoulder only to see six good looking guys running towards us.

The End.

I'll let your own imagination run from here.

*
Property of Hannan Usman
All Rights Reserved 2017.