Lake party

Just like Creed, Kyo also summoned his friends for his own little party as a celebration of his come back. Ever since he's young, he was used to travelling from Manila to La Granja and he's as active as Tito Sandro in the hacienda that he'd made many friends with the other powerful families. And some of the workers.

He's also fiends with the Guadarramas, even to the Claveria, Echeverria and other powerful families in La Granja and the whole city. Ilang beses ko na ring nakaharap ang iilan sa mga kaibigan niya, at minsan sa parties din.

"Sandra, tara sa sapa. Dumating na silang lahat."

Mula sa pinapanuod na movie ay napatingin ako kay Kyo, kapapasok lang niya sa sala at agad nabuhay ang paligid. He's all smiles while waving his hand to me. He looked so tall in his gray pants and black shirt, his long legs were exposed. He was as lively as the day, he must be so happy to reconcile with his friends, huh.

"I'm fine here, Kyo. Pupunta na lang ako mamaya kapag naboryo na rito."

"Ugh, no. Come on."

He chuckled and sat beside me, his arm immediately glided smoothly to the backrest behind me.

"Hindi pwede 'yan, don't ditch me, baby."

I chuckled at his persistence, but he made a cute face. He successfully distracted me from watching my favorite movie series.

"Nando'n nga si Sera, hindi pwedeng wala ka. Ayokong mag-isa ka lang dito, makisaya ka lang kahit saglit. Just try it, have fun a bit. Or if you want, you can stay at the corner, eat, drink, watch. Basta hindi ka lang mag-isa rito."

Ngumuso siya nang tinignan ko, namumungay ang itim niyang mata at kahit alam kong natutuwa naman ay bahagya pa ring nakakunot ang noo niya. He looks calm and pretty handsome, his dark eyebrows in curves and the sides of his lips curled up.

Ultimately, he's really good-looking. And if you'll look straight in his dark eyes, you'll feel suffocated, drowned, or hypnotized, the feeling of being pulled into deep black holes. Even we're cousins, I sometimes blush at the way he looks at me, the way he treats me because he's really sweet.

"Akong bahala sa'yo, we'll separate your table. You want that?"

I groaned, sobrang nag-aalala siya sa'kin, ah?

Pero pumayag din ako, I abandoned the movie and go with him to the lake. Naabutan naming nagtatawanan ang mga kaibigan niya at naluka ako sa rami nila. Hindi lang basta marami, dahil talagang marami! Parang parties talaga, tipong invited lahat ng mayayaman sa'min.

Nanlaki ang mata ko at natigil ako sa paglapit, hanggang mesa na lang kung saan ang mga nakahandang pagkain. Habang sina kuya at mga kaibigan nila ay nagtatawanan habang naliligo sa sapa at nag-iihaw ng kung ano. Sobrang saya nila.

They occupied the whole lake, the white tiny stones near the water were stepped by many feet. The then tranquil water was disturbed by the swimmers.

"Anong pinagtatawanan niyo? Umalis lang ako saglit ang kalat niyo na," natatawang anas ni Kyo at hinila pa ako palapit.

Napatingin sa'kin ang ilang kaibigan nilang babae, may nakilala akong dumalo rin sa party ni kuya noon at kahit ang babaeng sa pool noon. Few more familiar faces from the boys and I gasped in shock, I recognized the Echeverrias and two of the Claveria.

"Ito kasing si Gaspar, sabi may nagkagusto raw sa kaniyang babae na medyo obsessive," a slender girl answered.

"And what's funny?"

"Nakipagkasundo raw sa kaniya," si Rebecca at tumawa ulit. "Isang date para sa isang gabi. Nang hindi siya pumayag, nagtangka raw magpakamay."

"Then that's not really funny." Kyo chuckled. "Gaspar, ginamitan mo ba ng gayuma? Baka magpatiwakal nga at multuhin ka."

"Oh please!" Gaspar Castillo laughed hard. "I don't believe in ghosts, and I hate obsessive girls. They're clingy and sometimes controlling."

"Kung maganda naman, bakit hindi?" Another guy replied, making the girls frown. He's a Guadarrama.

Isang mas magandang babae ang umiling at umupo sa tabi nito.

"Saber, you're a whore. Hindi porque maganda ay ayos lang, baka may sayad pala 'yon sa utak."

"Hindi, ah. Maganda kaya si Chelsea saka mukhang mabait naman. Ewan ko bakit ayaw sa kaniya ni Gaspar."

"Baka may nakaraan sila?" Si Rafa Claveria at tumawa. "Joke, baka nagagandahan talaga si Gaspar. Ayaw lang umamin."

"Oh my gosh! No way!" Eksaheradong anas ng babaeng may maiksing buhok at umirap. "H'wag sana, kadiri! Isang hampas lupang magnanakaw ang ama no'n. Don't ship Gaspar to her!"

I frowned inwardly but didn't say anything, some agreed to her and some didn't. Seraphine was caught rolling her eyes at the girl but didn't say anything as well.

"Camille naman," si Saber Guadarrama. "Haka-haka lang 'yon."

"Anong haka-haka? Nahuli nga minsan, e. Bakit mo ba pinagtatanggol?" Isa pang babae ang umirap bago uminom ng buko juice. "Baka ikaw talaga ang may gusto? Oh my gosh, you fancy a rat poor and weird girl, Saber?"

"Ano? Hindi gano'n, Astra," medyo iritadong sagot ni Saber at tumawa na lang. "Nevermind, I just want to be fair. Wala rito 'yon, hindi makasagot sa binabato niyo kaya tama na."

"Baka talagang type mo rin?" Another girl insisted and they bursted out laughing.

I sighed and noticed the annoyance at Saber's face. One of the reason why I don't like hanging out with my brother and cousin's friends is this. Some girls are just so judgemental and annoying. Especially the rich girls, I prefer the boys sometimes because they're not fake and not too judgemental as well.

"Okay, enough. Let's swim," si kuya at nauna ng tumalon sa malalim na parte ng sapa.

"Let's just swim, we're here to relax and have fun. Enough sa kalukuhan," si kuya Spiel at naghubad ng pang-itaas na damit.

Parang bulang naglaho ang topic na 'yon at sumunod lahat sa kanila. Maliban sa nag-iihaw sa gilid at iilang ayaw maligo. Umupo ako sa isang mono bloc chair at kumuha ng watermelon para kainin.

"Maliligo rin ako, Sandra."

I nodded at Kyo, bumaling siya sa tahimik na si Crius.

"Hindi ka maliligo? Malalim yata iniisip mo?"

Crius Claveria glanced at me first before turning to him.

"I'm tired, and I'm leaving after these drinks. Pumunta lang talaga ako para magpakita."

"Oh come on, trabaho pa rin? Linggo ah? Hard working ka naman masyado, C. Ang lungkot mo tuloy," my cousin remarked.

Tinitigan kong mabuti si Crius Claveria, pamilyar naman ako sa kanilang magpipinsan pero sa kanilang lahat, siya ang hindi ko pa nakakusap talaga. I have talked to Rafa before, or to Rendran. Crius smirked mysteriously.

"I'm quite busy this month, I'm trying to accomplish all my task so I'll be free next month. May klase na kasi."

"Alright, thanks for coming. Have fun, may isaw roon."

Tinuro ni Kyo ang mga isaw na naihaw na kaya napatingin ako ro'n. Unang nakita ko ay ang malapad na likuran ng lalaking nag-iihaw at ang mahabang buhok nito. Napatigil ako sa pagkain ng melon nang medyo napaisip kung sino 'yon, parang pamilyar.

"Okay, ligo ka na."

"Sandra, gusto mo ng isaw? Marami do'n, pili ka lang."

Hindi ko pinansin si Kyo, tumalon din siya sa tubig kaya naghiyawan ang mga kaibigan nila. Ang ingay nila lalo na marami, siguro nga abot pa sa kusina ng mansion ang boses nila.

Kumain ako ng kakanin at lahat ng nasa mesa ay tinikman ko, tahimik lang si Crius habang mabagal na umiinom ng champagne at nagre-relax. Nakatanaw lang siya sa sapa, minsan napapatingin sa'kin pero mukhang wala namang pakialam. Kaya nagulat ako nang kausapin niya.

"You're the youngest, right?"

Seryuso ko siyang tinignan at tumango lang. He smirked, his eyes turning darker as well. He's also very good-looking and probably older than Creed. He's mysterious, quiet and very calculated. If I'm not mistaken, he's the eldest grandson of Don Luciano Claveria.

"You don't like hanging out with them?"

"I'm not friends with them."

"Hmm, your sister is pretty good at socializing. Hindi ka pala kasing lakas niya sa crowd."

"Ikaw rin naman, hindi ka nakikisali sa kanila," balik ko at ngumisi. "Tama si Kyo, malungkot ka."

"Paano mo nasabi? Did you see me crying?" He chuckled sexily and leaned on the table. I blinked at how bold he was. "Alam mo, may naalala ako sa'yo."

"Ha?"

"You're aloof, quiet, classy, just observing, crystal white, pretty."

Kumunot ang noo ko pero walang sinabi, napatingin ako sa nag-iihaw nang naramdamang nakatitig ito sa'kin. At mas nagulat ako nang makilala kung sino 'yon, kaso umiwas din agad ng tingin.

"You look so alike Madame Jianna, I bet you'll also be like her."

"Si mama?" Wala sa sarili kong saad at tinignan ulit si Crius.

Pero ngumiti lang siya at binaba na ang iniinom.

"Strategist. Mostly of people who behaves like you are geniuses, you can be a strategist of your company."

"Maybe."

Tumayo ako at tinuro ang mga isaw, agad niyang nakuha 'yon kaya tumango siya at kumain na lang ulit. Agad akong lumapit kay Howl at napatingin sa iniihaw niyang taba ng baboy, isaw, hot dogs, marami pa at ang iba'y hindi ko alam.

I cleared my throat before speaking.

"Nandito ka rin pala, hindi kita nakita agad."

His shoulders tensed a bit, I'm behind him so I can see how he heaves. I smiled and took note of his outfit today; white t-shirt, dark shorts and slippers. His legs are hairy and muscled, up his thighs. The veins in his arms protruded when he clenched his fists as he turned to me.

Brows arching, he eyed me intensely. My supposed smile ready for him was canceled when he instantly looked pissed. Hindi ko talaga gets bakit parang palagi siyang naiirita o naiinis kapag nagkikita kami. Pero nang titigan ko siyang mabuti, parang hindi naman siya naiinis. Sadyang sampok lang ang kilay niya, madilim ang mata at parang naninindak.

Kumalabog ang dibdib ko at napatingin na lang sa mga isaw kahit hindi naman talaga interesado ro'n. Sinubukan ko lang namang titigan siya, pero hindi ko kinaya kaya napaiwas din agad.

"H-Hihingi lang nito."

Kumuha ako ng isaw at agad tinikman 'yon. Napatango-tango ako nang masarapan, masarap naman pala.

"Taste good."

"May sauce pa rito, baka gusto mong lagyan pa."

"Hindi, ayos na 'to. Masarap naman."

Unang beses kong makatikim ng isaw at hindi ako nagsisinungaling ngayon. Talagang masarap, naubos ko agad ang isang stick kaya kumuha ulit ako. He shifted his weight so I looked at him, he's squinting his eye on me and he seemed suspicious. Maybe he don't believe me? I chuckled.

"Sa inyo 'to? Kinuha ka ni Kyo?"

"Oo, inimbita na rin ni sir," sagot niya. "Masarap talaga? Baka naman hindi mo talaga gusto ang lasa?"

Ngumiti ako lalo kaya lalong naningkit ang mata niya, kapag ginagawa niya 'yan pakiramdam ko pinag-aaralan niyang mabuti ang ekspresyon ko. Kaya ako naa-anxious at baka pa mukhang fake na ngayon ang ngiti ko.

"It's my first time eating this, and it's good. Hindi ako sinungaling, straight forward naman ako."

"Hmm."

"Maliligo ka rin ba mamaya? Marami na 'tong inihaw, baka hindi na maubos."

"Hindi ako maliligo, mainit na ang kamay ko. At mauubos 'to."

"Siguro nga, masarap naman, e."

Tinignan niya ang kinakain ko, nakadalawang stick na ako kaya medyo nahiya na. Pero tinikman ko rin ang taba ng baboy at sausage.

"Baka hindi magustuhan ng sikmura mo at sumakit ang tiyan mo kaya dahan-dahan ka lang."

"Hindi naman siguro. Hindi ako mapili at kumakain ako ng kahit ano."

Naghanap ako ng mauupuan para umiwas sa usok, hinila niya ang mono bloc chair sa tapat lang at nilagay malayo sa kaniya para maiwas ako sa usok. I sat there and watched him do his work. From time to time, he would glance at me and he'd always caught me watching him.

Umigting ang panga niya bago umiwas ng tingin at nagsalang ng bagong inihaw. Tapos kumuha siya ng pinggan at nilagyan ng maraming inihaw saka inilagay sa tapat ko. I gulped.

"Hindi ka maliligo? Naliligo ang mga kapatid mo, hindi ka yata nakikisabay sa kanila?"

"I'm not fond of hanging out with other people, I prefer to be alone. Mas payapa 'yon at hindi maingay, relaxing din para sa'kin. Isa pa, hindi ako makasabay sa gimik nila kaya ayokong makipag-usap sa kanila."

The others are just so wild and adventurous, for a peace lover like me, it's a terrible disturbance to my serene thoughts.

Napatitig siya sa'kin at bahagyang umangat ang gilid ng labi niya. He licked the sides of his lips then and sighed. I averted my gaze when I feel dazzled of his stares.

"You want alone time with yourself, huh. You look sad in the corner."

"Hindi naman, masaya nga ako. I guess we all just have our own definition of fun, and mine is very different."

Umigting ang panga niya at dumiin ang titig sa'kin. Namaywang siya kaya mas napagmasdan ko siyang mabuti. Matangkad talaga siya at makurba ang kaniyang baywang, maganda ang katawan na tamang-tama at kayumanggi ang balat niya. Whenever he stands like that, he's like a god looking down to a sinful deity. With his eyes dark and deep, and brows furrowed.

"Wala ka masyadong kaibigan? At mas gusto mong nag-oobserba lang, madalas pinag-aaralan mo lang ang lahat at siguro rin jina-judge mo sa isipan mo."

"Hmm, isn't that better?" I chuckled. "It's better to judge people on our minds and keep it to ourselves afterwards than say it out loud when we know it'll only bring trouble. Hindi lahat kayang tumanggap ng kritiko, hindi lahat open-minded para i-deal ang opinion ng iba sa kanila."

His face turned darker and serious so I laughed, I can't understand why he suddenly looks so serious.

"All of us are judgemental, we're all hypocrite. We judge people base on what we see, sometimes base on what we feel towards them regardless of personal reasons or not. Maybe it's good to be a straight forward person, you're honest, you only want to tell the truth."

"Sandra," he called me in a hoarse voice.

And although my chest throbbed faster, I continued.

"But if it'll hurt people and cause trouble, better keep it. Silence is golden. I study those girls on my head, those boys, because I don't trust easily. Kaya ako tahimik lagi kasi gano'n, kaya ayoko sumali kasi hindi ko sila kilala."

"Okay, so you're the Einstein type."

Natawa ako.

"Hindi naman."

For the first time, he smiled genuinely at me. And I can't believe I feel glad about it.

"The detective type? Ang bata mo pa, lalim mo na mag-isip. Malawak yata talaga ang isipan kapag laging nagbabasa, ano?"

"Are you mocking me?"

"Hindi." He laughed and his voice was deep. "Sige, tatapusin ko lang 'to tapos usap ulit tayo."

Medyo nagulat ako na gusto niya pang mag-usap kami. Pero napangiti rin dahil hindi gaya ng laging nangyayari, ngayon may gustong makinig sa'kin. Siya pa talaga.