VIII

Chapter Eight

For sure, whatever Cali put on my face, it had smudged dirty already around my face because of my tears that were unstoppable as I had my head down while following Kuya Yoongi who silently yet furiously crossed people by people.

A lot of people were trying to have a conversation with him but he was too mad and cold to stop and entertain them. Napapahiya ang bawat mga babaeng walanghiyang itinatapon ang sarili sa kaniya na agad naman niyang itinutulak palayo, ang mga mata tuloy ng mga babaeng iyon ay napapadpad sa akin. They all threw me confused look when I met their eyes only to have my head duck down again when I couldn’t take in their stares.

Kung puwede lang akong umatras at tumakbo palayo kay Kuya Yoongi ngayon ay ginawa ko na, pero bukod sa hindi ko alam ang daan palabas ay hindi ko rin maitatangging tila mas safe ako sa mga kamay ni Kuya Yoongi kaysa sa lahat ng mga taong narito ngayon. That I would prefer to have his palms on the skin of my bottom again than be alone in this crowded place with sea of strangers.

I would also admit that even though his sudden appearance earlier brought me fear and had my world quake, I couldn’t deny that I strangely found solace and safety in his presence. For the first since we met.

Just because he was the only person I knew in this crowded and very unfamiliar place.

“Omg, Yoongi! You’re he—“ Muling naitulak palayo ang isa pang babaeng nagtangkang lumapit kay Kuya Yoongi. For some unknown reason, we had been walking, passing every people, we even entered the dance floor but it was taking us long to arrive to where he desired to go.

Ipagpapasalamat ko kung sa exit niya ako dadalhin. Sana lang…

Nawala na rin nang tuluyan sa isip ko si Cali dahil sa takot ko kay Kuya Yoongi. His face earlier when he recognized me, it was scarier than ever. It was that moment where I really wanted to run, to save my life but I couldn't move my feet because I knew deep within me, it was dead-end.

There was no escape for me anymore. Not when his kitten eyes once again got my whole being wrap in the grip of his domination.

“Oh, hey! You’re the pretty girl at the line outside earlier!”

Halos mapasigaw ako sa sobrang gulat nang may humila ng kamay ko sa gitna ng dance floor hanggang sa natagpuan ko na lang ang sarili kong nakadikit sa isang katawan. Lamely raising my head, my shocked eyes meeting familiar ones, it almost made me puke seeing the guy at the line earlier.

The guy who was maliciously staring at me.

I swore, hairs all around my body stood up when his arms that was around my waist just pressed me against his body even closer. Suminghap ako nang maramdaman ko na ang mga palad niya sa balat ng likod ng mga hita ko, sa ibaba lang ng puwet ko since hindi naman ganoon kahabaan ang dress na suot ko.

People were too crazy and occupied dancing that no one had really paid attention to us.

I suddenly wanted to look for the sweet strawberry scent of Kuya Yoongi when the strong manly scent of the guy instantly invaded my nose.

“D-Don’t touch m-me…” Mas naluha lang ako dahil sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon.

I had never, in a million years, been molested this way in my life. Si Kuya Yoongi lang talaga ang taong nagagawa akong hawakan ng ganito kaya pakiramdam ko, pinagbagsakan ako ng langit at lupa. Nanlamig ang buong kalamnan ko.

I was already crying but the guy just held me closer to his body, his hands on the back of my thighs started caressing. Ni wala siyang paki-alam kahit na umiiyak na ako.

“I s-said don’t…" Humikbi ako habang pinipilit pa ring kumawala sa pangahas na lalaki. "D-Don't touch—“

“What? You came here to have fun, righ—“

“You’ll take your filthy hands off her or I’ll have those rip away from your wrist. At the count of, three… one.”

Pinanlambutan ako ng mga tuhod nang mabilis na nawala sa akin ang mga braso ng lalaki kaya walang lakas akong bumagsak sa sahig. My cries just got overpowered by the blaring music and loud murmurs from the people, who suddenly and finally paid attention to me.

“M-Min!” The guy’s frightened voice barely reached my ears as I could only hear were my pathetic sobs.

Ni hindi ko magawang mag-angat ng tingin kay Kuya Yoongi dahil masyado akong na-fru-frustrate sa ginawa sa akin ng lalaki. Kahit siguro magbabad ako sa tub ko buong araw, hindi mabubura sa isipan ko kung paano niya ako hinawakan. I would have to endure it for the rest of my life and it wasn’t good, just thinking of it was making my internal organs pushed up my throat all that I had eaten this morning.

Gusto kong magsuka!

“H-Hindi ko alam na kasama m-mo—“

“You better be out of my sight this instance.” Kuya Yoongi’s dangerous low voice just made me cry even more. His voice made me want to curse myself for even agreeing to all this, I wanted to find Cali and get mad at her for leaving me here!

I just seriously wanted to be home and cry my heart out! I wanted to be out of here, away from this crowded place, from these people!

“You…” Sunod kong narinig ang galit at tila frustrated niyang boses, hindi ako sigurado kung sino ang kinakausap niya. “You bad girl, stand up and follow me again.”

Nanginig ang mga labi ko, iyong kaligatasang sandali niyang ipinaramdam sa akin ay agad niyang binawi. Nang matagal bago ako makatayo ay naramdaman ko ang presensiya niya sa harap ko. His crouching form was blurry in my vision, he was sit-squatting in front of me, his handsome face was dangerously near from mine before he carefully brought his hand to softly tuck strands of my hair behind my ear.

Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na buntong-hininga saka niya dahan-dahan nilipat ang kamay niya sa pisngi ko. He lamely wiped my face with his cold pianist fingers, it was so soft it made me whimper and cry harder.

In fear, I wanted to arch my back away from his touch but something within me was liking the softness and calmness I was seeing from his. It was new and very sudden… but surprisingly comforting.

“Don’t cry. No one has told you to come here. You should actually be home now, this is what you would get when you’re being stubborn.” Sobrang lambot nang boses niya, iisipin ng iba nakikipag-usap lang siya sa akin pero iyong totoo, pinapagalitan na niya ako.

“He… you s-saw what he did to m-me… I h-hate it,” mahina kong sabi, tonong nagsusumbong dahil ayaw ko talaga iyong ginawa sa akin.

“See? You shouldn’t be in a place like this. Hindi mo puwedeng sisihin iyong lalaking iyon dahil lahat ng babae rito, if you can see, game sa mga ganoon. Now, stand up before I have that man blacklisted from coming here. I want to stay reasonable and fair for all but if you keep on crying there, I'll seriously cut the bullshit.” Inilahad niya sa akin ang kamay niya para tulungan akong tumayo. Nakakapagtaka ang pagiging kalmado niya gayong sa mga normal na sitwasyon ay galit na galit na dapat siya.

“You’re not m-mad?” I asked him, sobs were still resounding from my throat as my eyes blinking new set of tears.

Sighing again, his jaw clenched that showed bones. Dumilim ang mga malapusang mata niya pero agad din iyon nawala dahil sa pagpapakawala niya ng malalim na buntong-hininga. Clearly, he was just trying to calm himself, and I knew how hard it was since he was a natural hot-tempered person.

“You don’t want to know. I was actually thinking of dragging you into a private room and show you how of a bad girl you’re but you see, you can’t keep showing me your tear-stained face.” Siya na ang nag-abot ng kamay ko saka ako marahang hinila patayo. Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang damit ko at sa gitna ng dance floor, pinasinghap niya lang naman ang lahat nang hubarin niya ang itim na zip-up hoodie na suot niya saka niya itinali ang mga manggas palibot sa baywang ko.

His face was dangerously near my stomach since he was crouching, it made my heart drum loudly. Hindi pa nakatulong na singhot na singhot ko kanina pa ang mabango niyang amoy. His strawberry scent was what only mattered, and what I only wanted to smell in this place. His strawberry scent was making it all up for the bad smoke scent, for the other scents that were mixing badly in the air, his strawberry scent was making it all up for those.

“Who made you wear such an ugly dress? Nasaan si Mang Estacio?” Now, anger came again dripping within his voice, I was afraid the anger that was supposed to be vent on me, would be vent on an innocent person.

“I… I c-came here alone after Mang E-Estacio brought me home. N-No one knows that I’m here!” Tunog defensive ang huling sinabi ko pero sana hindi niya iyon mahalata.

“And how did you get in? Don’t lie to me Julie, I can fire Mang Estacio, change the Min Agents guards of your family and even kick those bouncers outside if I’ll know that you’re lying.” Nauna na siyang maglakad, tinatahak na ngayon ang ibang daang tinatahak niya kanina.

He was really serious when he said he planned to drag me into a room.

“I… I c-came with a friend. Please, don’t have those people fire. I promise t-to never come back here. Kuya Yoongi…” Halos magmaka-awa na ako sa kaniya habang naglalakad ako kasunod niya, ang mga tao ay nakatitig pa rin sa amin.

They somehow looked surprised or not, bewildered but paying attention to them was in the least of my priority as I was afraid he would seriously do what he said he would do.

TInagilid niya ang ulo niya para lingunin ako, ang mga mata ay tamad na kumurap sa akin saka niya itinulak ang kaliwang pisngi niya gamit ang dila niya sa loob. He smirked at me, making me gasp.

No wonder why girls here tonight were willing to shamelessly throw themselves to him, he was a someone worth the night, I meant any sane girl who was only looking for that something tonight would seriously pick Kuya Yoongi.

Naisip kong baka iyon din ang hanap ni Kuya Yoongi, na baka kaya siya nandito ngayon ay para rin maghanap ng babaeng makakasama buong gabi at ang isiping sinisira ko ang gabi niya ang nagpakabang lalo sa akin.

I couldn't also help but feel my face heat up for that thought. Sure, Kuya Yoongi was a man, what else would he come here for other than that?

“And I’ll have you punish instead?” He looked amused, now having his tongue seductively run over his lower lip.

I suddenly felt bad for the lucky girl he was about to have the night with.

Natigilan ako sa paglalakad dahil sa takot na totohanin niya ang sinabi niya. Mas hindi ko naman gusto iyon. Mabilis akong umiling sa kaniya, nanunubig na naman ang mga mata at kagat-kagat ang pang-ibabang labi dahil sa nagbabadyang pag-iyak.

Nalukot ang mukha niya habang nakatitig sa akin. In frustration, he messed his black hair before he hastily turned around, dark eyes… I almost caught my breath when he quickly cut the distance between us as his palms were to quick to cradle my face.

Tears springing free, a faint whimper of sob escaped my mouth.

“Julie…” He softly called me, his cold fingers gently wiping at my cheeks. “How could I even punish you if your tears are suddenly making me feel so riled up? It’s not easy for me anymore to just hurt you…”

Truthfully, hindi ko na nga matandaan noong huli niya akong sinaktan. It was already months ago, though the memory was still very vivid in my mind, the time was already too blurry for me. His domination in my life had actually took a toll on me, all I could think of was all of his assaults to me, I never thought that behind his harshness… there was always softness like this.

Na sa tuwing pinapa-iyak niya ako… ang mga kamay niya rin ang nagpupunas ng mga luha ko at ang malambot din niyang boses ang nagpapagaan ng loob ko.

“I want t-to go home…” Iyak ko.

Dahan-dahan siyang tumango. “Of course, we’ll get you home. I need you out of this place as soon as possible…”

Holding my hand softly, sheltering me comfort and safety, he led us both to the exit— different from the entrance— to where his car awaited. I was too buys calming myself and wiping my face so he was the one who put the seatbelt on me.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya nandito sa Cypher Dos pero hindi na nakakagulat iyon. Narinig kong madalas sila ng mga kaibigan niya rito. The Min's resto-bar was the only easy access for me so I understood if he got furious upon seeing me here in Cypher Dos earlier. Kahit ako, hindi ko kailanman naisip na mapapadpad ako rito.

Sa daan, dahil umiiyak pa rin ako ay binuksan na lang niya ang stereo at nagpatugtog. From time to time, I was turning to stare at him. Seryoso ang hitsura niya habang nagmamaneho.

This wasn’t the first time that we were silent in his car, but this was the very first time I felt comfortable inside… for all the memory I had here was myself lying stomach down on the backseat while he spanked me. That wasn’t a very good memory. I was turning eighteen, I would turn legal already and it wouldn’t be good if he would continue punishing me that way. Pang-bata lang ang ganoong parusa at sana mapagtanto na niya iyon.

“How’s your day?”

And no, having talks like that wasn’t our thing. He always scolded me, he always got mad at me so hearing him softly ask about my day made my heart flutter.

Ngumuso ako saka yumuko, pinanood ko kung paanong nagkukurutan ang mga daliri ko sa ibabaw ng kandungan ko. May nakain ba si Kuya Yoongi para maging ganito siya kakalmado? He already turned twenty-three, tumatanda na kaya siya?

“It’s f-fine… I’m done with my ledger so I c-can already have my vacation,” mahinang sagot ko.

“Tell me, are you still afraid about what happened earlier? H-His touch… bullshit…” Narinig ko ang nahihirapan niyang boses kasunod ang malutong na mura kaya napa-angat ang tingin ko sakaniya. He was looking gravely at the road, his arms on the wheels cording and his lower lip was caught by his upper teeth.

He didn’t look amused. Not at all.

“Look, I’m sorry… I’ve been trying to calm down and not get riled up about it but bullshits… it’s hard.”

“I d-didn’t like what h-he did. I f-felt molested…” I honestly answered him, not wanting to tear my gaze off him. Nagugustuhan ng mga mata ko ang imahe niya, mukha siyang pigil na pigil, he was seriously trying his best not to vent on me but for some unknown reason, he was also holding himself back.

Kung sana noon pa kasi niya ginawa iyan, e ‘di sana noon pa lang nagkasundo na kami.

“Don’t remind me, please…”

Seeing how he was starting to lose his calm demeanor, I slowly nodded my head and just stayed silent all the time inside his car all the way home. Nang makarating kami sa De Asis manor ay kinabahan ako nang ilibot niya ang paningin niya at pinasahan ng tingin ang bawat Min Agents na nakakalat sa buong paligid.

“K-Kuya Yoongi, please, don’t fire them…”

Matapos niya akong ihatid sa main door ay nilingon ko siya at nagsusumamong tinitigan. His pair of small kitten eyes lazily stared down at my soft ones, I wanted to see from his eyes what his mind might be thinking but just as how cold his face was, it was also how cold his eyes were.

Ngumuso ako saka yumuko. “It’s my fault, they have no idea about my plans at all—“

“I hired them to watch after you. You got out of this manor without their knowledge, isn’t that negligence?” he asked, irritated.

“I went directly to Cypher Dos from school. Now, don’t take this on Mang Estacio, it was me who told him to drive us there. Please…” Pinagsalikop ko pa ang kamay ko habang nakayuko, umaasang makikinig siya sa akin dahil nagmamaka-awa ako.

“Where’s your parents?” he asked instead. Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay nakita kong sumilip siya sa loob ng manor kaya bumuntong-hininga ako. I would seriously come to whatever ordeal he wanted me to go through now just so he left those innocent people go.

Ako naman talaga ang may kasalanan e.

“They’re o-out of the country…” mahinang sagot ko.

Once again, he sighed deeply showing me how he didn’t want that. Sa normal na sitwasyon ay nagagalit na dapat siya sa akin ngayon pero nakakapagtaka talagang kalmado siya. Having a peaceful and proper talk with him was a shock to me itself! Hindi ako sanay pero sobrang gaan ng loob ko dahil hindi kami nag-aaway ngayon.

He must be growing… I meant, it was so immature of him to get mad at me every single second for whatever I did that didn’t deserve spanking.

“And you expect me to leave you here alone? Why your parents think you’re old enough to be left here alone, I don’t know. Dati naman iniiwan ka nila sa Min mansion…”

“Because I’m seventeen already—“

“Too young to leave by yourself. Dadalhin kita sa bahay.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa sinabi niya at saglit kong naalala ang mga hindi magandang ala-ala ko sa bahay na iyon. It was all about him! At marinig ko pa lang ang Min mansion ay natatakot na ako. Without thinking, I had taken a step backward, obvious that I didn’t want the idea.

“What?” he asked, brows arched.

Umiling ako. “I can manage h-here. It has been months already since my parents started leaving me here alone for business t-trips… I’ll be fine—“

“And I’m not. Don’t argue with me anymore, I don’t want to get mad and it’s hard controlling myself. Now, follow.” Hindi na niya ako hinayaang makasagot dahil tumalikod na siya at naglakad pabalik sa sasakyan niyang nakaparada sa harap ng manor.

Staring at the guard that I spotted near me, I tried seeking for help but he just bowed his head that made me sigh. Nang balingan ko si Kuya Yoongi ay nakapameywang na siya sa akin, kunot ang noong nagpapalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa akin at doon sa guard.

In his act of stepping, I immediately ran to him and held his arm. Napasinghap pa ako dahil sa bango niyang mabilis na sinakop ang hangin sa paligid ko dahil sa biglaang lapit naming dalawa. He darkly stared down at my hands on his arms before it went down the edges of my dress.

Feeling my face heat up, since I already took his hoodie from my waist, I quickly held the tail of my dress that already rid up my thighs and pulled it down to cover my upper thighs.

“Where the hell is my hoodie?”

I really had the tendency to anger him with whatever I did. He said it was hard for him to control himself so if I continued pushing his buttons, I might get the punishment I was trying to avoid and that wasn’t good.

“I… I left it inside your car. L-Let’s get in.” Nilampasan ko siya at pumasok na sa loob ng passenger’s seat kung saan ko rin nahanap ang hoodie niya. Dinampot ko iyon at ipinatong sa mga hita ko dahil gagahibla na lang at lilitaw na ang underwear ko.

I swore, I would make Cali pay for all the troubles she made me go through tonight. Siya naman talaga ang nag-umpisa nito e! Ni hindi ko alam kung bakit ganitong dress ang ipinasuot niya sa akin. I must be very gullible for following her!

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makita kong pumasok na rin siya sa sasakyan, tila pigil na pigil na naman at kaunting pitik na lang ay sasabog na. I hardly pursed my lips so I wouldn’t say anything that might trigger his anger more. Ang pinakahuling gusto kong mangyari ngayon ay ang galitin siya at mahanap ko na naman ang sarili kong umiiyak dahil sa mga pinanggagawa niya sa akin.

I was seventeen already, it wouldn't be good if he would see my body again. It would be very humiliating already.

Once inside his car again, it was more silent than earlier. Tahimik ako dahil natatakot akong may masabing hindi maganda tapos hindi pa maganda ang pakiramdam ko tungkol sa ideyang papunta kami sa Min mansion. Siya, hindi pa rin maganda ang timpa ng mukha niya pero maayos naman ang pagmamaneho niya kaya na-assure akong hindi naman siguro siya galit.

I hoped so. I didn’t want to ruin this suddenly calm atmosphere in between us.

On the way, he asked me if I would like to eat but I shook my head no. Kahit na ganoon, tumigil pa rin kami sa harap ng isang dine-in restaurant.

“Stay here. I’ll just order a takeout for us.”

Hindi naman siya matagal nawala dahil ilang minuto lang ay bumalik na siya dala ang isang paper bag kung saan nagmumula ang mabango at masarap na amoy. Sandali noong pinalitan ang matamis na strawberry na siyang kanina pang naghahari sa buong sasakyan.

He always smelled like strawberry, it was breathtaking.

“It’s already eight, for sure, hindi ka pa nag-di-dinner…” aniya saka muling inumpisahang paandarin ang sasakyan matapos niyang ilapag sa kandungan ko ang paper bag.

Ngumuso ako at umiling, inabala na ang sarili sa mga pagkaing nasa loob ng paper bag. Hindi naman ako nagugutom kahit na hindi pa ako nag-di-dinner pero parang bigla akong naglaway dahil sa masarap na amoy ng barbeque.

"Thank you, Kuya…" I softly uttered, letting myself have a peak of the foods inside the paper bag. Hindi ako gutom pero mahirap tanggihan ang masarap na pagkaing nasa kandungan ko kaya sinimulan kong kumain.

He ordered foods for two people so I assumed, the other food was for him. Hindi naman ako malakas kumain kaya nakapagtira ako ng para sa kaniya. Habang kumakain ako ay napapansin ko ang panunulyap niya sa akin pero nanatili kami parehong tahimik.

I wanted to ask him why he was in Cypher Dos earlier but then I smartly understood that he had all the rights to be there, aside from he was the current owner, he was also in his right age to go to wherever he wanted, so I just kept my mouth shut and just watched the road on the way to The Park Villages. At kahit nagtataka pa rin talaga ako sa inaasal niya, sa pagiging kalmado niya ay nagpapasalamat pa rin akong hindi siya galit.

Just maybe, maybe he was in a good mood, maybe something had happened before he went to Cypher Dos that kept him in a good composure and saved me from his rage.

Whatever that was, I was thankful.

Ilang minuto bago kami tuluyang makarating sa village kung nasaan ang Min mansion ay tumunog ang phone niyang nakakabit sa dashboard. As if on cue, both of our heads turned to that direction.

Hardly bitting my lower lip, it was very clear in my sight the name that was ringing him at this time of the our. It was Ate Mira. Pinanood ko nang tamad niyang pinalandas sa screen ang isang daliri niya para sagutin ang tawag saka pinindot ang hands-free button.

["Yoo! Thanks for the night! My parents like you so much, they wish to see you again. And… well, I just wanna tell you g-good night."] Even in the other line of the phone, Ate Mira's voice sounded lulling and very comforting, she wasn't here but I could imagine her beautiful face smiling prettily at Kuya Yoongi.

If they would ever make a couple, they would be my second favourite next to Ate Hannan and Kuya Jimin's relationship.

"Good night, Mira. It was nice meeting your parents too," Kuya Yoongi lazily said just before their conversation got deeper, they talked about stuff only they knew as I just stayed silent until we reached the Min mansion. "Gotta hang up now, you should sleep, Mira."

Yes, Kuya Yoongi would only be forever soft to Ate Mira. And, it was her that only girl I could see who would match Kuya Yoongi.

Bagay na bagay sila.

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