O L I V I A   V A L E Z

I could feel my hands getting colder as minutes passed by, and my heart almost sinking to my stomach. I never thought that a single book can make me feel like I did the worst crime a person could ever commit. And that was all thanks to Prima Donovan. Why did I become friends with her again? At this very moment, I want to strangle her. Look at the trouble she created!

I gulped as I felt beads of sweat forming on my forehead. I chuckled nervously before I answered my dad.

"You know, dad, my usual books."

Oliver Valez—my dad, nodded and smile proudly at me, "I see, you bought a new academic book."

I heard Atlas Mate coughed at the back because of what dad said. "Academic book?" he whispered. Thank God! Dad didn't hear him. If he did, I don't know what I would do with this old man!

I wanted to turn my head to him and send him a dagger look, but dad is in front of me, and that would be too suspicious.  When dad's phone rang, he immediately excused himself to answer the call. He went to the main living room, leaving Atlas and me alone at the doorway. Nang makaalis na nang tuluyan si dad ay agad akong limingon sa kaniya. Atlas has this arrogant suspicious look, and the unlit cigarette was on his lips. He was playing with the cigarette by moving it up and down slowly as he looked at me.

He put away his cigarette, and now his fingers were the ones playing with it.  "So that kind of book is now an academic one? O, humor me."

"I didn't know that it's an erotic book, okay?"

"Really?" He walked towards me. "I never thought you have a kink."

My forehead knotted and what he said. A kink? What kink?! 

"What?!" 

"Youngsters are really wild with kinks now, huh." he looked at e darkly. His eyes traveled to my face down to the book I was holding. 

I gripped the book when his eyes stayed there. "I don't know what you are talking about." I said firmly.

Atlas Mate's blue eyes went back to my black ones. "Well, I guess that will educate you about whips and chains." he moved again—closer this time. His face inches away from mine, and then he leaned to my ears and whispered. "Don't let curiosity eat you, or you will be eaten, Little Girl."

I shuddered when his breath touched the skin under my ear that's connecting to my neck, and when he spoke those dark warnings, my whole body shivered. I shivered in a sensation I cannot name, and it felt good. Damn, good. I cannot take what I was feeling. My cheeks started heating up. I pushed his chest so he would move away from me. 

What does he mean that I'll be eaten? Eaten by what? By my curiosity? He meant curiosity, right?

I cannot take it! I cannot be here in front of him. Bago ako umalis ay hinampas ko sa braso niya ang librong hawak, at tuluyan nang umalis doon. I heard him said "Ouch." but I knew my blow isn't that hard. Itinakip ko sa aking mukha ang librong hawal, at dali-daling umakyat sa aking kwarto.

As soon as I entered my room, I closed the door slightly hard and leaned on it. I was pressing the book I was holding into my thumping wild heart. I breathed in and out slowly as I tried to calm down. nang mahimasmasan nang kaunti, ay inangat ko sa level ng akin mukha nag libro at tinignan ito nang masama.

"It's because of you!" sabi ko sa libro na akala mo ay sasagot ito sa akin.

Pero totoo naman kasi! nang dahil sa librong ito ay napahamak ako! I really don't know that it's an erotic book. If I only knew earlier, then baka naihagis ko na ito pabalik kay Prima. Kaya pala ngingisi-ngisi siya sa akin noong inabot niya ito. Dapat pala ay ch-in-eck ko muna ang binigay niya bago tinanggap. I'm so stupid.

Pabalang kong hinagis sa kama ang libro at ibinaon ang mukha sa unan. Isinigaw ko ang frustration at kahihiyang naramdaman habang naka baon ang ulo ko sa unan. When I finished shouting at the top of my lungs, I hurriedly fished out my cellphone and texted Prim.

To Prim:

What the hell, Prim? Get your sinful book here!

Wala pang sampung segundo ay agad siyang nag-reply sa akin.

From Prim:

Nope! That's yours. Don't you like it?

Umupo ako nang maayos at dali-daling nag-reply. Who would love that erotic book anyway? Of course, only Prima Donovan!

To Prim:

Ugh, no!

From Prim:

Just keep it, Honey. You know...for future reference.

My cheeks painted colors as I read Prima's reply. What does she mean for future reference? Maggamit ko ba ito sa future? It's not like my academic and philosophy books here. Ayon ang alam kong p'wede bilang future reference, pero eto? Anong matututunan ko rito? Biglang pumasok sa utak ko ang sinabi ni Atlas Mate kanina. Well, I guess that will educate you about whips and chains. How does an erotic book will educate me in that manner? Bakit ano bang involvement ng whip and chains sa ganito?

I wanted to call Liberty and ask her about this. Baka sakaling may alam siya, at sa ganitong bagya ay siya ang sasagot nang maayos. Kung uusisain ko kasi si Prim about dito, ay malamang sa malamang ay puro kalokohan lamang ang isasagot niya. But I can't call Liberty now, malamang ay natutulog pa siya ngayon. Bumuntong hininga na lamang ako at humiga sa kama.

Nakapa ko sa aking kanang kamay ang libro. I held it up, leveling my face as I lay down. I came face to face with its dark book cover. This doesn't look like an adult book at all. Akala ko ay isa itong business book dahil sa necktie na nakalagay. I guess my judgment is poor. Napatingin ako sa bookshelf ko na katabi ng aking study table, puro academic books ang nakalagay roon. Kung isasama ko ito roon ay ma-o-out of place ito. Hindi ko rin naman p'wede ilagay sa office ni dad dito sa bahay. Saan ko ba ito p'wede ilagay?

I flipped the book and started reading the blurb. So the protagonist's name was Anastasia, and she is a literature student. How did a literature student have a connection with whips and chains? Baka naman niloloko lang ako ni Atlas? Well, that old man likes to mess around anyway; the same goes with Prim.  My mouth slightly formed an 'O' when I read the last paragraph. Daring, passionately physical affair, and dark desires. This is definitely an adult novel!

"Should I read this?" bulong ko.

Honestly speaking, when Mr. Mate told me that it would educate me and When Prim it will be a future reference, it got my curiosity poking. How do those things will be my reference in the future right? O, my god! Hindi kaya... Hindi kaya may crime rito? Then...the male lead w-will you know? Holy Moly! I don't want to read this anymore. Agaran kong hinagis sa lapag ang libro, at dinuro-duro ito na akala mo may ginawa itong malaking kasalanan sa akin.

"Don't come near me! I shall never touch you again." I said to the book like a crazy person.

Who would talk to a book, right? Yeah, only a crazy person like me! Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang may kumatok sa aking pintuan. I put my hand into my heart.

"Yes?" I asked politely.

"Ma'am, dinner na raw po." I heard Tessa's feminine voice said.

"Comin' in a second, Tessa."

"Okay po."

I went straight to my comfort room and washed my face. I also change into something comfortable. When I finished refreshing up agad na akong pumunta sa dining area. Hindi kasi magsisimulang kumain si dad hangat hindi kompleto ang tao sa hapag. Nang makarating ako roon, ay nakaupo na si dad at si Mr. Mate. Nag-uusap ang dalawa, at hindi sapat ang distansiyang mayroon ang pagitan namin para marinig ko ang piang-uusapan nila.

Agad na lumingon sa gawi ko si Atlas nang makalapit na ako nang tuluyan. Tumayo siya sa kaniyang upuan, at umikot sa long table. Nagulat ako nang bahagya nang hilahin niya ang upuang para sa akin. My dad was looking at him as I said my thanks, and sit down.

"What?" Atlas said when he noticed dad's gaze.

"Nothing, I remembered way back then. Girls fall for you because of that."

Atlas smirked at my dad, and dad just shook his head and gestured us to start eating. I was not able to move my hand to reach for the food in front of me. I was a little bothered by what my dad said. So Atlas was this gentleman to all the girls? And they actually fall for him because of his gentlemanliness? Were they stupid? It's normal for a guy to be a gentleman! If your man isn't a gentleman, better ditch him. Well, that's according to Liberty.

I sighed and started getting my food. The dining was never silent with Atlas present. My dad and I engage in small talks only when we were eating. But things change a little when Atlas started staying with us. He and Dad always talked about random things, and they would laugh. That made me surprised because Oliver Valez doesn't laugh when he's eating. However, now I'm getting used to the changes atlas made for us. Honestly, those little changes aren't that bad. 

After talking about their high school days, which I enjoyed listening to. Dad suddenly turned his attention to me. The spoon with beef broccoli and mashed potato was stopped midway to the air. I raised my two brows when my gaze met my dad's gaze. 

"Darling, your birthday is coming up."

I put the spoon inside my mouth and chew the meal slowly. I nodded to what my dad said. Atlas's attention was now on me too. 

"Do you have any plans or anything you want for it?"

I looked up and started thinking. Ano nga ba ang gusto ko? Last year we celebrated my birthday abroad with the whole Valez clan. It was only inclusive for the family, so maybe I'll throw a formal party for this year. I want a beach party! Since I couldn't go to our province, this is the perfect opportunity to go to the sea! I'll invite all of my friends and my classmates. 

"I want a beach party, Dad."

Dad drank his juice as he thinks, "Sure, I'll contact Ms. Elibera's team to plan and coordinate your birthday later."

I smiled when Dad easily approve my idea for my birthday. Well, he never said no to my request anyway, but I know my limit. I'll start contacting my cousins and tell them my plan. I know they will like my idea too. Oh... Liberty won't be there. That's doleful! This is the first time she won't be at my birthday party, and my heart is breaking.

"How old are you turning?" Atlas suddenly asked.

"Uhm, seventeen."

"One more year until you become an adult, huh."

"Yes, and she'll be a noblewoman in time." My dad said.

Atlas shrugged and said, "Sasakit na ang ulo mo niyan."

Hinampas ni dad si Atlas sa braso dahil sa sinabi nito. "Why is that? Hindi mo naman katulad ang anak ko."

"Hindi mo naman katulad ang anak ko." Atlas mimicked my dad and his funny Tagalog accent. Dad rolled his eyes and threw him the table's napkin. It landed perfectly on Atlas's face. Agad naman niya itong inalis sa mukha niya, at tinignan.

"Yuck! May sauce pa ng beef broccoli!"

 "That's the purpose of a table napkin, dumbass."

Before Atlas can say something, his phone started ringing. He fished out his phone, then suddenly his smiling face turned into a dark, serious one. He excused himself and stood up, leaving me and dad confuse with his reaction. 

Who called him? Why did his face suddenly change from happy to dangerously serious?

~TBC~

Miss me? Ako na miss ko kayo! I wasn't feeling well for the past few days, kaya hindi ako nakapag-update. Starting next week, isang subject na lang i-ta-take ko kaya baka mas mapadali ang update natin.

Please, bear with all the errors. I haven't proofread this.

Feel free to share your thoughts, and keep safe, everyone!

Love lots. :>>