Kaori

LAST balloting na! At medyo nakakaramdam ako ng kaba kasi hindi ako magbibigay ng malaking pera. Kung anong nakuha ko sa solicitation-na si Kady lang din naman ang hiningian ko- ay 'yon na ang ibibigay ko. I'm pretty sure I'll be the last one. But it's alright, money contest naman ito.

"Handa ka na ba, Kaori?" tanong ng partner ko.

"Ano pa nga ba?" huminga ako ng malalim.

Magkatabi kami ngayon sa gilid. Present lahat ng candidates. Kumakain lang ako sa tabi kasama ang handler ko. Dalawang counting ang magaganap. Sa unang counting ay nangunguna iyong sa kabilang department tapos ako ang nasa huli. Medyo nakakahiya pero keri naman.

I focused on my phone when the second counting occur. Wala naman akong ilalagay.

"Lagyan ko ng pera?" tanong ng katabi ko.

"Shut it. Huwag mo ng lagyan," irap ko.

Nilalagay ang pera sa box sa loob ng five minutes. Ako naman ine-enjoy lang ang chocolate na pinapapak ko. Akala ko ay magiging matiwasay ang second counting. Akala ko lang pala 'yon.

Paano ba naman eh pumasok si Mr. De Russo at nakasunod sa likod niya ang mga men in black na palagi niyang kasama. Nang magtama ang mata namin ay tumaas ang kabilang gilid ng labi nito. He marched his way to me and sat next to me. I stiffened when his huge hand rested on my thighs. He looked so comfortable by doing so. May ngisi pa ang labi nito at tinanguan ang bodyguard na may hawak na case. I was confused. But when his bodyguard opened the case, I lost my breathe.

"Sorry for being late, this school does not accept cards. So I went to the bank for cash. I miss you," he whispered in my ears.

It brought chills to my whole being. Napatanga ako nang makita ng klaro ang itim na case. It was full of fucking cash!

"P-pwede bang huwag nalang? Ayokong bayaran ang pagiging panalo ko, okay? Ayos lang na nasa huli, ako nga hindi naglabas ng pera eh," naiinis kong turan.

He cupped my face. His stare made me swallow hard.

"Arthur," he called.

"Yes, Mr. De Russo?"

"Sweetheart, I hate to see your name at the last number of that fucking paper. But if you'll still get mad if I'd drop huge amount of money, then I won't." His gripped tightened around my waist. "Do you want to be the second? or third? We can do that. Just... not the last. You're too pretty to be in the last."

Pinamulahan ako ng mukha dahil sa uri ng titig nito.

"Jiro jiro minaideyo." Don't stare at me.

He flashed a smirk. "Damn. That was hot. Say that again."

"Damatteyou!" I hissed. Shut up!

He chuckled and back to staring at me again. Napatingin ako sa unahan. They were busy counting the money. Hindi nila kami napapansin dahil nagbubulungan lang din naman kami.

"You sound so hot in Japanese language," he hoarsely remarked. His huge arms is making its way around my waist again.

Napatanga ako ng hapitin nito ako palapit. Parang ang dali-dali lang nitong gawin ang bagay na 'yon.

"Third," bulong ko. "Sa pangatlo lang, okay? Bawasan mo nga iyang pera mo. Nagsasayang ka ng pera. Paano nalang kung maubusan ka niyan sa future? Saan ka pupulutin, ha? Sa kangkungan?" Irap ko.

"I won't be. I'm striving hard each day because I have you. My heir will be inside you so I have to work and work... and work."

Natuod ako sa kinauupuan ko. Anong inside me? Ako? Anak? Tangina! Hindi pa ako nakaka-graduate! Wala pa sa plano ko ang bagay na 'yan. Ni-hindi nga pumasok sa isip ko 'yan. What the hell.

"How sure are you though? Malay mo, 'di ba? May... may ibang babae nakalaan sa 'yo."

Kahit ako ay naramdaman ang pait sa boses ko. Ano ba itong nangyayari sa 'kin? Brace yourself, Kaori Hijazi! Hindi ka pa nakaka-graduate! Hindi mo pa nalilibot ang mundo!

"Do you hate me that much?" nawalan ng emosyon ang mukha nito.

"I don't. Why? Do you want me to hate you?" balik tanong ko.

That was a move of manipulation. Iba talaga ang nagagawa ko kapag kasama ang lalaking 'to.

He didn't budge. He lowered his head and rested his face in my neck. Nakakakiliti ang dulot ng mainit na hininga nito. Hindi ito umimik at nanatili sa ganoong posisyon hanggang sa matapos ang final counting. I won the third place according to Arthur, his butler, as Arthur introduced himself.

Nang sumapit ang uwian ay tinapik ko ang mukha nito. He was snoring cutely. Mukhang pagod na pagod dahil nakatulog ito habang yakap ako at nakabaon lang ang mukha sa leeg ko. He looked cute, I must admit. But scary and intimidating when he's awake.

"Gising na, Hussein," ani ko sa malambot na boses.

"I want to sleep more," he groaned.

"Yes, kaya kailangan na nating umuwi dahil uwian na. Matulog ka nalang pag-uwi mo sa bahay mo."

Nagmulat ito ng mata at sa akin agad ang tingin.

"Ano?" nakanguso kong tanong.

Hala, acting cute! Kadiri ka, Kaori.

"Your beauty still amazes me. All the damn time."

"Okay, thank you nalang sa compliment. Hindi ka pa ba uuwi? Kasi ako uwing-uwi na ako."

"Can I sleep at your place tonight?"

"Bakit? Wala ka bang bahay?"

"Or we can sleep at mine. You choose. Anywhere is fine, as long as I'm with you," he nodded.

Napaisip ako saglit. Wala si Kady mamaya dahil may gig ang K+. Ibig sabihin, ako lang mag-isa. Kung doon ko naman papatulugin ang damuhong ito, panigurado ay pagt-tsismisan na naman kami ng mga kapitbahay ko. Niratratan kaya ako ni Kady last week dahil nahuli niya kaming magkatabi. Tuloy todo explain ako sa kaniya. May trust issues si Kady kaya ang hirap niyang kausapin minsan.

Hinila ko ito palabas at dumiretso kami sa kotse niya. Nagtatalo pa rin ang ulo ko kung saan siya patutulugin.

"Hindi ka ba nakakatulog ng maayos sa bahay mo?" tanong ko.

"I usually have two to three hours of sleep. My mind is always in chaos, it keeps me up all night."

"Oh, ano namang connect no'n sa 'kin? Bakit gusto mong matulog katabi ako?" nagmamaldita kong tanong.

Baka kasi kine-keme lang ako ng isang 'to.

"You bring peace in me. I had a good sleep when I was with you. That was the longest sleep I ever had."

"Baka binibiro mo lang ako, sis."

"No kidding, silly."

"Wala kang gagawing masama sa 'kin? Palagi akong may dalang blade sa bag, huwag mong susubukan."

He chuckled. Didn't seem afraid at all. I was just kidding, though. Bawal sa school 'yon. Palaging may inspection sa gate kaya walang lusot.

"Oh, I wish, sweetheart."

"Sa bahay mo ako matutulog ngayong gabi. Ngayong gabi lang, swerte mo naman kung every night."

"What do you want for dinner?"

"Chocolate! And ice cream! Yum!" I chirped.

"Nope. You'll have a decent dinner tonight."

"But I want chocolate and ice cream."

"You'll have it after."

"Wala akong maisip, ikaw nalang."

"Alright, sweetheart."

Dumating kami sa isang malaking bahay. It's not overly huge like a mansion, but it's still huge as heck. Dalawang floor lang ang bahay. Nang pumasok kami sa loob ay binati kami ng iilang kasambahay. Tumatango lang ito kapag binabati.

"There's only one room upstairs, and that's my room. I already have your clothes ready so you can change. Go, change. I'll call you once dinner is ready."

"Okay. Thank you."

Akala ko ay bibitawan na nito ang kamay ko. He took a few steps towards me and leaned in. Napapikit ako ng wala sa oras. I felt his lips brushed into mine and I swear, I felt the electricity from it.

Tumalikod ako at nagmartsa pataas. I found a door and opened it. Bumulaga sa 'kin ang malaking kulay itim at puting kama na may damit na nakapatong. I guess it's mine.

I went to the bathroom and cleaned my self. Matapos ay bumalik ako at sinukat iyong damit. It fits perfectly but felt uncomfortable. It's making my skin itch. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero kumakati ang balat ko. So I decided to change again using his boxers and shirt. Malaki ang tshirt nito at umabot hanggang hita ko iyon. Now I feel fresh and comfortable.

I opened the door and I cane face to face with Hussein. He looked surprise as I am. Mukhang kakatok na ito dahil nakataas na ang kamay.

"Why are you wearing that?" he asked.

"Why? Am I not allowed?" napalabi ako.

"No. You look hot with my shirt," he smiled devilishly.

"My skin is itching with that," turo ko sa damit na nasa kama niya. "So I wore these."

"Come on, let's eat."

"Okay."

He wrapped his arms around me and guided me downstairs. Walang tao sa kusina pagpasok namin.

"Nasaan 'yong mga kasama mo?"

Yep, I'm being nosy all the time.

"Outside."

Para akong prinsesa na pinagsisilbihan ng isang gwapong nilalang. His biceps is flexing everytime he moves. Parang ang laki ng suot nitong tshirt para sa kaniya. Hay, ang gwapo-gwapo talaga. Ang swerte ko naman. Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang sarili ko kung bakit ginagawa ko 'to where in fact wala naman akong mapapala dito. Pero may kung ano sa loob ko na umaasa sa walang kasiguraduhan na bagay.

"God! I'm so full!" I moaned after finishing my dinner.

"Don't do that again," he darkly said.

"Do what?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

"You, moaning."

"Huh? Why? Normal na bagay naman 'yon."

"Kaori, I'm a guy. Horniness is in my system everytime with you. You're always adding fuel to the fire."

"What the hell!"

Bumaba ako sa upuan at nagmartsa paalis doon. Pulang-pula ang mukha ko dahil sa sinabi niya. I have never met anyone who's as blunt as him. Napaka talaga!

"Kaori? Come on, sweetheart. Are you mad at me?"

"Hindi! Pero walang preno talaga ang bibig mo 'no?" tumikhim ako.

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang maghubad ito ng tshirt at umakyat sa kama. He definitely looked like a prey ready to eat me. Bahagyang napaatras ako nang lumapit siya sa 'kin.

"Stop moving. Let's rest, Kaori," he firmly said.

"Mabuti pa nga. Baka may gawin ka pang masama sa 'kin," irap ko.

Ang hilig-hilig kong umirap. Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses akong umirap ngayong araw.

"I would never do that to you. You're my top priority, sweetheart."

"Whatever."

He dropped himself on top of me. He buried his face in my stomach and encircled his arms around my waist.

"You smell so good," he groaned.

"Bakit ka ba nakahubad? Baka malamigan ka," kastigo ko.

"I'm comfortable this way."

Hindi ako umimik at sinuklay nalang ang buhok nito. A few minutes later, his breathing became even. Akala ko ay tulog na talaga ito kaya umayos ako ng higa galing sa pagkakasandal sa head board ng kama. I almost screamed when he moved and pulled me closer to him.

For the second time, he buried his face in my neck and cuddled me tightly. Padapa ang higa nito. Nakadantay na rin sa 'kin ang malaking binti nito.

"Goodnight, Hussein," I whispered.

"Goodnight, sweetheart."

He gently tapped my thighs and breathes heavily.

*****