L I B E R T Y K I N G S

I woke up from loud voices and laughters. Deja vu? Parang ganito rin ako nagising kaninang umaga. Those laughter were filled with happiness and their smiling voices made me smile. I know it's from Olivia and her cousins. They are a really good family, I never experienced that kind of moments. I can't even remember the last time I laughed with my family. My mom and dad have been cold towards each other ever since. They are not even friends, to begin with, all they have was a professional relationship. Of course, 'yong benefits lamang naman talaga ang habol nilang dalawa sa pagpapakasal. I hate how selfish they are, I hate how greediness ate them both, and how self-centered they are.

Sometimes thoughts like 'ampon ba ako?', 'anak ba talaga nila ako?' enters my mind. I'm thankful that they brought me here on Earth, but I sometimes wish that they didn't. I have a complete family, but it never felt like one. My mother sees me as an investment, while my father sees me as a sin. Bitterness and loneliness suddenly creeped inside my heart, breaking it into pieces.

I sighed, erasing all those unwanted thoughts. I checked my phone for any messages and time. it's already five-thirty in the afternoon and it's almost sunset, colors orange and red is blending beautifully with the sky. The clouds are almost dark but still illuminates warm colors. I can feel the gentle kiss of the sun on my skin, it's warm and comfortable, making my heart feel relax.

The golden rays of the sun laying on the darkness of the Earth made me remember that life has light and dark sides. That maybe I'm in the darkest part of my life right now, but someday, I'll be able to reach my light. This sight is so magnificent, how lightness kissed the darkness, and how it feels like an eternity of life. I raised my hands, trying to reach the sun. I know it's impossible, but one day I'll be able to reach my own sun, my own warmth, and my own sunshine. I smiled happily as hope made its way to my heart, pushing away all the bitterness and loneliness. My smile faded when I read my mother's message to me.

Daughter do you have any good news? Good news like your inheritance?

I rolled my eyes after reading it. Jeez, ang galing talagang manira ng moment nitong magaling kong ina. Wala ba talagang kumustahan muna? Talaga bang 'yong mamahanin ko ang pinakaimportante sa lahat? Oh, well, what's new nga ba? It's always been like this, kahit 'yong kinikita ko sa restaurant ay pinapakialamanan niya.

I typed my reply. Good news, Mom! I'm alive and breathing.

I smirked as I hit the send button. What? Good news naman 'yon, ah? I checked out my mom's Instagram account at nangunot agad ang aking noo sa nakitang latest post niya. The post is all about her OOTD, she's wearing a yellow mini dress from Yves Saint Laurent, pairing it with Jimmy Choo Bethen 115 suede platform mules in nude color. She's sitting in front of the mirror while holding a phone on her right hand while on her left is a cup of coffee. The coffee table beside her has a vase with yellow tulips on it and her Hermes Convoyeur mini bag.

I snorted as I stared at her post with thousand of likes. The post is aesthetically pleasing, marami ring nag-comment na mga plastic friends niya sa post na 'yon. Saying she looked good with her luxurious things. Well, she really look good, but probably magpo-post din ang mga ito ng mas mamahaling gamit nila. Knowing my mom na competitive sa pasosyalan ay hindi ito magpapatalo. What can I say? sa kaniya ko nakuha ang pagiging competitive ko.

So this is the reason why she kept on asking me about my inheritance. She probably spent all her allowance. I bet she will ask for her allowance later kahit hindi pa dapat. Yes, I gave her monthly allowance kahit may pera siyang natatanggap sa iba niyang investments dahil kulang daw iyon. Pinagbibigyan ko na lang siya dahil iyon lang naman ang kasiyahan niya. Saka kung hindi ko siya pagbibigyan ay iinisin at dadramahan lamang ako no'n.

I stood up, still feeling sore, but not that sore. Sabi ng mga friends ko sa New York kailangan, daw sundan ang una para hindi na ganoon kasakit and I didn't know na totoo pala ito. We just did it again kanina ni Oliver and all the pain I felt kaninang umaga ay nabawasan. Maybe nasanay na ang katawan ko Nakadalawa kami kanina ni Oliver, to sum it all up, nakatatlong beses na kami.

Napatingin naman ako sa aking ibaba na naka-undergarment. Okay ka pa ba? Kaya pa ba natin? Gusto kong batukan ang aking sarili dahil sa aking mga pinag-iisip. God, kamustahin ko ba naman ang ari ko kung kaya pa ba namin. Of course, kayang-kaya pa!

I looked at my wrist with red traces from my Chanel ribbon that Oliver used earlier. Umiiling akong naglakad papasok sa bathroom. I can walk normally now, but still with cautions. Hindi ko p'wedeng biglain ang katawan ko. Light reflected on my bathroom's mirror. I'm standing naked in front of it. The hickeys are still there with the bruises on my waist and my wrist with red traces.

God, I didn't know na ganito ang kalalabasan when I fucked Oliver Valez. Jeez, ang daming bakat! Masyado yatang gigil na gigil si Oliver? Well, I don't care. I love all of it and I don't have any regrets. I smelled myself and my skin smelled like sex blended with Oliver's scent. It's addicting, the scent on my skin is so addicting. I could feel myself getting wet by just smelling this. God, I'm really going insane. It's so intoxicating, parang ayaw ko na yatang maligo. Ayakong mawala sa'kin ang amoy ni Oliver. His scent on my skin is like a brand on me. It's like Oliver is owning me with his scent on mine. Hindi nga lang p'wedeng hindi ako maligo. Everyone who will see me in this state will know. I look like I was just fucked which is true. I cannot risk it. I should probably wash now.

I'm buttoning my Ralph Lauren silk charmeuse shirt after taking a bath when I heard a loud knock on my door. "Yes?"

"Libs! Come down, we're having a barbeque party!" masayang sabi sa'kin ni Olivia. Dali-dali kong tinapos ang pagbubutones ng aking damit at agad na pinagbukasan si Oly. Olivia's cheerful face with a smile greeted me when I opened the door. Her perfect set of white teeth is showing, and a happy glint on her eyes are visible.

"Ang aga niyo yatang nakabalik?" takhang tanong ko rito.

"Ugh, you know, boys." Umirap pa ito habang sinasabi iyon. Natawa naman ako sa reaction ng mukha niya habang sinasabi 'yon.

"Sinong unang nagyayang umuwi?" tanong ko sa kaniya habang naglalakad kami papuntang Garden nila.

"E 'di 'yong pinaka-KJ sa aming magpipinsan," nakabusangot na sabi ni Oly sa 'kin.

"Si Froy?" tanong ko naman dito. Agad naman itong tumango sa sinabi kong pangalan.

"Next time talaga, hindi na namin siya isasama!" Nagcross-arms pa ito habang nakasimangot. Umiling na lamang ako sa ginawa niya. Well, it's not surprising kung magyayayang umuwi agad ang mga lalaki kung si Oly ang kasama nila sa mall.

When we reached the entrance of the garden, I could smell the delicious pork being grilled. The smell is so mouth-watering, siguro talagang gutom ako. Ikaw kayang breakfast lang ang kainin tapos I did tiresome actions earlier. I'm probably tired and hungry kaya hindi ko na napigilan at agad na lumapit kay Greg at Froy na nag-gi-grigrill ng barbeque.

"Hmmm, smells good," nakangiti kong sabi habang inaamoy ang niluluto nila. Tiningnan ko ang sauce na kanilang ginamit para sa barbeque. Normal lang naman ito, siguro dahil gutom ako kaya napakabango nito sa'king pangamoy.

Lumapit din sa amin si Oly. "Naku, rito kayo magpatulong magluto kay Libs. May restaurant kaya 'yan," lagmamayabang na pahayag ni Oly. Ngumiti naman ako nang bumaling sa'king gawi sina Greg at Froy. Nakita kong ngumisi nang nakakaloko si Greg bago magsalita. Malamang ay pang-aasar na naman ang sasabihin ng isang 'to.

"Nice! Marunong ka palang magluto, napaka-wife material mo pala," sabi nito ngunit kay Froy nakabaling.

Sabi ko na nga ba at kalokohan ang sasabihin nito. "Hindi lang marunong, masarap pa!" panggagatong naman ni Oly rito. Nang marinig ang asaran na nagaganap dito sa aming pwesto ay lumapit sa amin ang mga pinsan ni Olivia.

"Wow, masarap!" nakalolokong sabi naman ni Ely. Hindi ko alam kung may iba bang kahulugan 'yon o talagang iba ang takbo ng aking utak? Ngumiti lamang ako sa mga pang-aasar nila samantalang si Froy ay nakatingin sa 'kin nang matiim. Okay, kaninang umaga pa ito, ah? Tinignan ko naman siya nang may pagtatakha, iniwas nito ang paningin dahil sa'king ginawa at nagpatuloy sa pag-iihaw.

"Nakita namin 'yon, ah!" Lalo namang nagkantyawan ang mga magpipinsan sa nakita nila.

Pinatunog lamang ni Froy ang kanyang dila at hindi na pinansin ang mga pinsan niyang nang-aasar. Nagtawanan naman ang mga pinsan niya sa kaniyang ginawa. Kumuha ako ng bagong lutong barbeque dahil talagang gutom na ako. Binigyan naman ng ibang kahulugan iyon ni Closs.

"Aba, excited si Liberty kainin ang luto ni Froy!" Humalakhak ito nang malakas. Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi nito at kumagat na ng barbeque. Napa 'hmm' naman ako dahil sa wakas ay nalapatan na ng pagkain ang aking bibig.

Nagulat naman ako ng nakatingin pala sila sa'king lahat. Nakita ko pa ang paglunok nina Pete, Closs, at Greg habang nag-iwan naman ng tingin si Froy at kumamot sa kaniyang batok. Sila Elle at Ely naman ay humagikgik habang may mapang-asar na tingin sa mga pinsan nilang lalaki.

"Grabe ka talaga, Libs," nakangising sabi ni Oly sa 'kin na aking ipinagtakha.

"Gusto n'yo ba?" tanong ko naman sa kanila.

"Y...y-eah." Agad na nagsikuhaan ang mga magpipinsan. Nainis naman si Froy nang makitang walang natira sa lutong barbeque.

"Kayo kaya magluto?" nakasimangot nitong sabi. Tinawanan lamang ito ng kaniyang mga pinsan at bumalik sa puwesto nila kanina.

Inabutan kami ng beer ni Greg, nagpasalamat ako rito at ako na ang nagpatuloy ng kanilang niluluto pagkatapos kumain ng isang stick ng barbeque. "Ako na." Inaagaw pabalik sa 'kin ni Froy ang mini fan naginagamit panghipan sa grill.

"Ako na, kumain ka muna riyan." Hindi rin ako nagpaawat at sa huli ay sumuko ito at kumain na lamang. Masayang nagkwekwentuhan sina Olivia sa malapit na lamesa habang kumakain at umiinom ng beer.

Hindi naman umalis sa tabi ko si Froy dahil ayaw nitong iwan ang gawain sa 'kin. Hindi ko alam kung gentleman ba siya o talagang wala siyang tiwala sa 'kin. Inaalalayan ni Froy ang pagtututok ko ng fan sa grill dahil baka raw biglang sumilab ang apoy. Pinupunasan din nito ang pawis na namumuo sa'king noo dahil sa init.

Nagtakha naman kasi nang biglang tumahimik ang paligid kaya inilibot ko ang paningin ko. Nagulat ako ng nakatingin sa amin silang lahat habang may mga nakakalokong ngiti sa mga labi. Nabitawan ko bigla ang fan na hawak ko nang may malamig na boses akong narinig sa entrance ng garden.

"Enjoying the night?" nakatiim bagang nitong sabi habang ang kaniyang mata ay malalim na nakatingin sa 'kin.

Oliver's voice sent shivers to my whole being. The night breeze is cold and the stars are twinkling brightly on the dark night sky. I held my breath for a minute, not feeling anything only my beating heart. It's thumping hard and fast as the shiver I felt passed my body. I don't know why, but It feels like I got caught cheating. Fuck, I'm in deep shit!

~TBC~
Sorry for the late update, I've been busy this week fixing my credentials.

Wala po muna tayong action, maawa naman tayo kay mareng Liberty.

Feel free to share your thoughts and keep safe everyone.
Love lots :>

EDITED