Kaori

MASAMANG-MASAMA ang timpla ng mukha ko habang nakatingin sa mga tarpaulin na nasa gate ng school gymnasium. Naka-display doon ang mukha ng mga candidates at kasali na ako doon. Maganda naman talaga ako pero kailangan pa ba talaga ipa-tarpaulin? Sabi ko kay Lord pangarap kong malagay ang mukha ko sa billboard, hindi sa tarpaulin.

"Halos lahat ng estudyante na dinadaanan tayo ay nakatingin sa 'tin. Lakas ng sex appeal mo," pansin ko.

"I don't care," he answered with a straight face.

"You should be. You're a business man with a big name in business industry. One of the most sought business man."

Akala niya siguro hindi ko malalaman. Nag-research kaya ako kagabi. I got curious to who he really is. Alam ko naman na big shot siya at business man, ang ikinagulat ko lang ay 'known' pala ang pangalan nito at habulin ng mga babae. Nasaktan ako sa part na 'yon ah. Nakita ko kasi mga past girlfriends niya, 'yong iba modelo, ang iba naman ay sikat rin sa larangan ng pangangalakal. Eh ako? Ano ba ako? E di good student.

"Kaori."

Napalingon ako sa kaniya. Nakakunot ang noo at salubong ang kilay. Animo'y galit pero kung tititigan sa mata ay parang may halong takot.

"Ano? I was just stating facts."

"Where did you learn that?" kumalma ang boses nito at lumamlam ang mga mata.

He looked innocnet in an instant. Sobrang gwapo. Nakakapanindig balahibo.

"You're quite famous. I also saw your past girlfriends. Grabe, ang gaganda nila. Lalo na 'yong huli. Taylor Meyers? Dude, she's one of the highest paid models of Victorina Clothing Line. International modeling agency 'yon at sikat pa. Bakit mo pinakawalan?" litanya ko. Wala akong mabasang reaksyon sa mukha nito. He's just staring at me like I am talking nonsense, it doesn't even bother him. "You'll make great babies, you know? Panigurado ay gwapo at magaganda."

"Are you jealous, Kaori Hijazi Norhaya?" he started making his way to me. Dahan-dahan lang ang paglalakad nito na parang dinadama ang nilalakaran.

"Ang kapal mo. Sinasabi ko lang kung anong nasa isip ko, okay?" irap ko at dahan-dahang naglakad palayo.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ng maramdaman kung gaano kabilis ang tibok nito. Bakit ba pagdating sa kaniya ay ang harot mo? Wala ka pang maipagmamalaki, Kaori, huwag ka munang manlandi. Damn. I've neve felt so insecure like this. Oo nga't maganda ako, pero iba naman ang gandang taglay ng isang Taylor Meyers kung ikukumpara sa 'kin. Lamang siya ng sampung paligo.

"Don't turn your back on me. We're not yet done talking."

Napahiyaw ako sa pagkabigla nang hilahin ako nito at napasandal ako sa matigas at malaki niyang katawan. Hala ka, para akong mapipisa.

"Why did you do that?! Paano nalang kung natumba ako, ha?! O 'di kaya ay natapilok?! Sa tingin mo makaka-lakad pa ako ng maayos?" naiinis na naiiyak kong tanong sa kaniya.

Nakakainis siya masyado. Tuluyan na talagang tumulo ang luha ko ng yapusin ako nito at bumaon sa leeg ko ang mukha nito.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. Stop crying."

"Nakakainis ka!" sigaw ko.

Nakaka-frustrate siya at nakaka-stress. Eh bakit ba ako umiiyak? Am I crying because of that damn petty thing? Nakakainis talaga. Ang arte-arte ko, akala mo naman ay matatapilok nga kung sakali.

Pero hindi niya pa rin dapat ginawa 'yon. Bigay ng bigay ng mixed signals. Masakit kaya umasa.

"You don't have to be jealous, Kaori. You're the only woman I adore."

"Sinungaling," umiiyak kong tugon.

"A crying Kaori will be always be Hussein's weakness. Hush now, love. That woman  was involved in my past, and it'll stay that way. It's been what? Three years?"

Mainit ang hininga nito na nasa leeg ko. Why is he comfortable with this position?

"Bakit kayo naghiwalay?" mahinang tinulak ko si Hussein at lumayo sa kaniya.

My brows  moved up, demanding for an answer.

Napalunok ito habang nakatitig sa 'kin. I crossed my arms in front of him and the side of his lips curved up.

"Damn. You look hot."

"Huwag mong iniiba ang usapan. Wala kang masagot ano?"

"She was manipulative and bossy. Clingy and obsessed."

Napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko dahil sa sagot nito. Everything he said is also one of my thousand attitude. Manipulative, bossy, clingy, and obsessed. Maarte pa nga at kung makagastos ay akala mo top one sa richest person all over the world.

"You don't like that?" tanong ko.

He shook his head. "It's disgusting."

"Disgusting mo mukha mo! Tumabi ka nga!"

Nagmartsa ako paalis at kinuha ang bag ko. We only stayed here to see the tarpaulin my blockmates told me. Sila kasi ang nagsabi na naka-tarpaulin daw ang mukha ko.

Disgusting pala ha. Tangina niya kako.

"Kaori," he called.

Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad.

"Kaori."

Pansin kong wala na masyadong estudyante. Malamang, uwian na eh. Six PM na rin at madilim na.

"Damn it, Kaori! I was disgusted because it was her!" he shouted out of frustration. It made me stop on my tracks. "But if it's you, I'd be a good boy. I'd be a good boy for you, love. I'll follow your orders. Hell, it's the other way around! I am the clingy and obsessed one when it comes to you. I can't function properly without seeing and smelling you. I can't without your presence."

"Sinisigawan mo ako?!" namuo na naman ang luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko.

"No, love. If it's you, you don't have to force me, I'd fucking go everywhere willingly with you. That's how much you mean to me, Kaori."

Napayuko ako. "Bakit ako?"

My eyes caught his shoes. He's now standing in front of me. His huge hands lifted up my chin. His eyes were full of emotions I can't explain.

"I don't know, sweetheart. Only you can set my heart on fire. You are my top priority, Kaori. I wouldn't be here wasting my time stalking you," mariing sabi nito. "I'm a wealthy and powerful cold-hearted bastard. I can have whoever I want. I can buy whatever I want. But look at me, in just a span of time I'm already smitten and whipped over you." His face moved closer to mine. "As they said, the heart wants what it wants. My heart wants you."

"Cringe mo," natatawa kong sabi.

"You're ruining the moment."

"I know." I chuckled. "If we're going to date, I want to be your second priority. I want your first priority to be you, your dreams, your goals, your life. Let me be your motivation and let's grow together."

"But-"

"No more buts, love. Let's date. Let's give this a chance. And if we're not going to click, then-"

"Let's manipulate things, sweetheart. We will end up with each other, and that's that." May pinalidad sa boses nito.

"Let's just go with the flow, big boy. Let's go, gabi na at baka nagp-patrol na ngayon ang mga guards," mahinahong ani ko.

His arms immediately wrapped around my waste.

"Seriously, Kaori, I don't think it's possible for us to separate."

"How can you say so?"

"I'd get you pregnant before you could even think of it," he chuckled.

"Watch your mouth, hindi pa ako nakaka-graduate at may balak pa ako sa buhay ko after ko grumaduate."

"Okay, we'll plan about having little Kaori and little Hussein when you're ready."

"This brute. Why are you so advance?"

"It's normal. I'm spending my entire life with you."

"Hindi mo sure," I teased.

"Stop. You won't like it when I'm mad."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

Natahimik kami ng ilang sandali. As soon as we entered his car, he immediately took my hand and back to staring at me again.

"Sira ka ba?"

"Hm. Are we dating already?"

"Yes."

"Fuck, yeah!" he shouted.

"Gabi na, Hussein. Umuwi na tayo. Gusto ko matulo."

"Cuddles in bed... I want it," nguso nito.

Such a big baby.

"What makes you think I'll let you sleep beside me tonight?"

"That's unfair!"

"Drive, big boy."

*****