Chapter 11

Sirin

Nakatitig ako sa TV ngunit walang pumapasok sa aking isipan. Lumilipad ang utak ko sa pinag-usapan namin ni Dr. Hyde kanina.

I sighed.

Nababaliw na talaga ako.

What a crazy slut.

I closed my eyes and heaved a sigh. Bakit ba hindi ko siya makalimutan? I heard footsteps so I looked at the doorway of my room.

My brother emerged and gave me a smile. I happily smiled back and ran towards him. Binigyan ko ito ng mahigpit na yakap bago tiningala.

"Kuya Rhae-Rhae, kumusta si K-Kursk?"

He chuckled and combed my hair.

"I'm wounded, dear sister. Hindi mo man lang kukumustahin ang kuya mo?" maktol nito at ngumuso. "Mas mahal mo na yata 'yong gagong 'yon kaysa sa 'kin."

I reached up and pinched his cheeks. Natawa ako nang makitang stretched na stretched na ang kanyang bibig.

"You're so cute," I said with a laugh. Binitawan ko na ang kanyang mga pisngi at agad naman siyang sumimangot. "You look well naman."

He rolled his eyes and found his way to the couch. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita ang palabas.

"What the fuck are you watching?!" sabi nito at naiilang na tumingin sa akin. "Patayin mo 'yan! That's bad for you!" Natatawa ko na lang na pinatay ang TV at nakita si Kuya na nakahinga na ng maluwag. "Good. Muntik na akong atakihin sa puso. Ang bata-bata mo pa para gumawa ng ganyang kababalaghan."

"Anong kababalaghan?! I'm twenty-five!" sabi ko at nakabusangot na pumunta sa kanyang tabi. Sinapok ko ito sa balikat pero natawa lamang si Kuya. "Kuya, I'm serious. I wanna get laid already!"

Tila nasamid naman ito sa sariling laway matapos marinig iyon. I crossed my arms and glared at him.

"A-Are you fucking serious?!" sabi niya. Tinitigan ko lang ito nang masama kaya mas lalong nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata. I really thought his eyeballs are gonna jumo off. Pft. Hahaha. "Seryoso ka talaga?" Unti-unting sumeryoso ang kanyang mukha. "Tell me why. What made you think about that? May isa ba sa mga gago na kumausap sa'yo?"

"Nope." I popped the p and sighed. "I'm just curious. That's all, Kuya."

"Curious?" he asked, his face now grim. "Kaya ba sinabi mong may nangyari sa inyo ni Kursk para patirahin ko siya rito?! Tapos magpapatira ka sa kanya?!" bulyaw nito kaya napaatras ako sa gulat.

"K-Kuya," I mumbled and nervously laughed. "I-I was just joking," I lied. "I-I don't like him."

Naningkit ang mga mata niya habang tinitingnan ako nang maigi. Pagkatapos ay nagbuntong-hininga.

"I can't believe you just lied to me because of my friend." Tumayo ito at ginulo ang buhok ko. "You really like him?"

Yumuko ako. Namuo ang mga luhang ayaw kong pakawalan.

"I-I don't know, Kuya. I'm—I'm s-scared." I hugged him and started crying. "I-I don't understand w-what's happening to me. S-Since the first time I saw him, I-I can't get him out of my head."

He patted my head and whispered.

"Baka ginayuma ka lang, baby girl," biro nito kaya wala sa sarili ko itong nasapok sa dibdib. "Ouch!" daing nito. "Nagbibiro lang po!" Kinurot ko ito kaya gulat itong lumayo sa akin. "That hurts!"

"Seryoso ako Kuya," naiirita kong sabi at sinapo ang ulo ko. "I didn't feel anything like this since the first time I saw Humbert." I sighed. "I talked about this with Dr. Hyde."

His face became serious again.

"What did he say, Rini?"

"We kind of back tracked to see what I thought about since the first time I met Kursk. It's related to my promise to myself na kapag tapos na ako kay Humbert, kay Kursk na lang ako titingin." I stared at him and looked away, my tears now rolling wildly. "A promise, kuya. I-I hate promises. I-I rarely b-break them." Sumakit ang dibdib ko habang sinasabi 'yon kaya nasapo ko ito habang napakagat-labi. Humagulgol ako nang mas sumakit pa iyon. "I-It hurts!"

"Rini!" sigaw nito at nagmamadali akong niyakap nang mahigpit. "Tell yourself that you'll see Kursk! Come on!" Seryoso nitong sabi habang inaalo ako. "Y-You can do it, Rini.

I gripped my chest.

"I-I'll see Kursk again," I whispered and the pain began to subside. "I'll definitely see him." Biglaang nawala ang sakit kaya nanghihina akong napayakap kay Kuya. "K-Kuya, I'm so fucked up. I-I can't even control m-myself anymore. I hate my mind! I hate it! I hate it so much!" Sumakit ang dibdib ko pagkasabi niyon kaya nakagat ko nang pagkalakas-lakas ang aking labi.

"Ssh," he said and began combing my hair, a gesture I find sweet from him. "It's going to be alright, Rini. It's going to be fine."

Mas lalong sumakit ang dibdib ko nang maisip na magiging okay lang ang lahat. I screamed in agony when a deafening pain shot inside my chest.

I cried.

It's not going to be okay. It's not. I have to see him. I have to see Kursk! It's going to be okay once I see him!

Then, the pain immediately subsided as I thought about the guy.

Nanlulumo akong napabitaw kay Kuya habang unti-unting nanlalabo ang aking paningin.

"I-I have to see him, Kuya," I whispered. "H-He makes me feel in control of my life."

...

"What the fuck?! Akala ko ba isang buwan pa! Ba'd dinala mo 'yan dito?!"

"It's complicated."

"Fuck. You better have a good reason for this! At bakit tulog 'yan?!"

So noisy.

I slowly opened my eyes and closed again when a blinding light made my eyes sting. I slowly squinted my eyes to see where I was and was shocked to see myself on a bed.

Unti-unti kong minulat ulit ang mata ko at nariyalisang ospital pala ito. Tumingin ako sa bandang kanan nang makita ang dalawang pamilyar na pigura.

"She's awake," a familiar voice said from my left so I turned to confirm who it was. "Hi, baby girl."

I squealed in excitement and jumped out of the bed to hug him.

"I missed you, Ivo!" I said and stared at his bewildered eyes. They were almost gray. Nakakainggit. They're always so beautiful. "Sorry nga pala dahil ayaw ko kayong ma-meet the past months." I smiled and pressed a finger on his cheek. "I was trying to be better independently." I laughed. "But I guess I really want to see you guys! Ang hirap-hirap nang walang kausap!" I gave him a peck on the cheek. "I missed you so much!" bulalas ko at natawa na lang sa namumulang hitsura ni Ivo.

"I missed you too, baby girl," he said and smirked.

Narinig kong may tumikhim kaya napatingin ako ulit sa kanan at nakitang si Kuya pala iyon kasama si—

I paled.

Oh shit. It's really Kursk. Ang hot pa rin niya!

I internally face palmed. Bwisit. Baka tama ang sinabi ni Kuya! Baka ginayuma nga ako!

But hell... Of course that's impossible. May scientific explanation kaya kung bakit ganito. Hmpf. It was because of that promise I made with myself. You know, psychological chuchu and stuffs.

Ah, note to self. Huwag kasing mag-isip ng kung ano-ano. Ayan tuloy, mapapasubo na ako.

"How are you?" Kuya asked. "Wala na bang masakit sa'yo?"

I glanced at Kursk who's frowning before I looked at Kuya Rhae-Rhae and answered.

"I'm fine now, Kuya. Thanks for bringing me here!" sabi ko at tumingin muli kay Kursk. He looked at me and looked away. Galit yata sa akin pero bakit nga ba siya galit? Don't tell me it's because the night I walked out when he laughed at my food preference??

Umiling ako at napatingin kay Ivo nang kalabitin niya ang braso ko. Nginuso niya ang ibaba niya at ngayon ko lang napansin na nakaupo pala ako sa hita niya habang nakabukaka pa!

Oh man. I'm even encircling my arms around his neck.

"Get down, baby girl," bulong nito at tumingin kina Kuya. "Baka ako ang sunod maospital nito."

I laughed and playfully slapped his arm. Dahan-dahan akong bumaba sa pagkakapatong ko sa kanya at tinapik-tapik ang kanyang braso. Kumunot ang noo ko at hinawakan ito ulit. Pinisil-pisil ko ang isa niyang braso at namangha.

"Whoah! Did you work out? Ang tigas ah!" hindi makapaniwala kong bulalas at hinawakan ang kanyang balikat. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko while Ivo just smiled. "Wow! Ang tigas talaga! Ilang buwan lang tayong hindi nagkita, ang sexy mo na!"

Natawa lang si Ivo at natigilan nang tumunog ang kanyang phone. He picked it up and answered with his usually cool voice.

"Yeah? What kind of fracture? Hmm, 'kay. I'll be there," sabi ni Ivo at tumingin sa akin. "Duty calls," he said and stood up. Mas lalo akong namangha nang malamang mas tumangkad pa ito noong huli ko siyang kita. "Bye, baby girl," he said and hugged me for a while. He waved a hand at me and just nodded at Kuya and Kursk.

Naglakad ako papunta kay Kuya habang tumitingin pa rin sa pintong nilabasan ni Ivo.

"Kuya, did you see? Lalo yatang naging macho si Ivo," sabi ko at tumingin kay Kuya. Halatang nagpipigil itong tumawa pero hindi ko naman alam bakit. "What?" pagtataray ko.

"Wala," sabi nito at ngumisi. He leaned close to my ear and whispered, "My dear sister is such a playgirl. Break hearts if you will, Rini," sabi nito at kumindat.

Bago pa ako makapagsalita, nagmamadali itong lumabas.

"What the fuck?!" rinig kong sabi ni Kursk kaya napatingin ako rito. He looked at me and frowned. "What?"

"How come you're still handsome while wearing that hospital gown?"

"Ano?"

I sighed.

"Sabi ko ang gwapo mo, bingi ka nga lang."

"I heard you," he said. Nagkasalubong ang mga kilay nito at parang may binubulong na kung ano. "What did you come here for? Mam-b-bwisit ka lang ba?" tanong niya sa wakas. I rolled my eyes and walked to his side before I sat on his bed. Tinitigan ko siya nang maigi. "Stop staring."

Tumawa lang ako.

"Let me just check my hot bodyguard," I mumbled and traced his jaw with my fingers. I felt him tensed so I leaned closer and licked at the side of his cheeks.

Narinig ko itong napasinghal kaya tumigil ako at tumingin dito.

"Don't fucking touch me," he said and gritted his teeth.

"But I want to," I retorted. Hinawakan ko ang kanyang matigas na dibdib at humimas nang dahan-dahan. Sinimulan kong halik-halikan ang kanyang leeg. Napaungol ito saglit pero agad din nito akong tinulak na para bang asiwang-asiwa ito sa presensya ko. "S-Sorry."

Matalim ang pagkakatitig niya sa akin kaya nakaramdam ako ng kaunting kirot sa aking dibdib.

"Wow, Ma'am. Hindi ko alam na kasama pala sa job description ko ang gawin mong parausahan." I bowed my head and looked at the floor in shame. "Tandaan mo 'to. Bodyguard mo ako at responsibilidad kong protektahan ka. If you die, I'll lose my job. I love my job so even though I loathe you, I have to suck it up. Kaya huwag kang umasa na may makukuha ka sa akin maliban sa proteksyon," he said while clearly suppressing his anger. "And if you need a good fuck, my friends are experts. Pumili ka lang. Tutulungan pa kita."

Nagpanting ang tenga ko sa sinabi niya. Nawala lahat ng hiya ko at nagtaka sa aking sarili kung bakit ako nakayuko sa kanya. Why would I do that? Why would I bow down to an asshole like him?

If he loathes me, then so be it. Tingnan natin kung saan ang kaya ng gagong 'to.

I lifted my head and captured his intense gaze. Then I saw it.

Pinigilan kong huwag bumungisngis.

In-denial pala ang gago pero kita kong galit talaga ito sa akin. Why? Well, the fuck I care.

I gave him a practiced smile.

"I was just testing you, Mr. Romanov," I said, his last name rolling out of my tongue like sin. I saw his lips twitch. "Alam mo na, baka katulad ka lang ng iba na mapagsamantala sa mga marurupok na babaeng katulad ko." He tsked so I grinned. "Alam mo naman siguro 'di ba na walang ibang pinto sa bahay ko maliban sa front door at back door," dahan-dahan kong sabi at kitang-kita ko kung paano umawang ang kanyang mapulang mga labi.

"What?!" Napabangon ito sa pagkakahiga at masama akong tinitigan. "Ginagago mo ba ako?"

"Of course not, Mr. Romanov," tila painosente ko pang sabi. "Didn't Kuya Rhae-Rhae tell you?"

He stared at me, obviously looking for a hint if I was lying.

"No," he said while looking horrified. "You really don't have doors other than the front and the back door?"

I laughed.

"Yep and you'll going to live in that house with me," sabi ko at pinag-aralan ang kanyang reaksyon. His adam's apple bobbed up and down deliciously. "No doors for bedrooms and even bathrooms," I purred.

Hindi na maipinta ang kanyang mukha kaya pinigilan kong bumunghalit ng tawa. Damn, he looks so cute.

"Can't we just put doors? For privacy?" he suggested, obviously trying to persuade me. "Kailangan naman natin ng kanya-kanyang privacy once in a while."

Tumawa ako nang peke.

"Why should we? It's not like you'll enter my bathroom while I'm showering, right?" I said with a small smile. "And it's not like I'll sneak inside your room unannounced while you're jacking off."

Sumama ang timpla ng mukha nito.

"Are you fucking messing with me?"

"No," I smirked. "I'm just mentioning one of the infinite possibilities living inside that kind of house." Naningkit ang mga mata nito sa galit. "So, are you up for it?"

"Of course," he said, unblinking. "Parang 'yon lang," sabi pa niya pero nahalata kong hindi siya sigurado sa sinabi.

"Wow, straightforward," I commented, trying to stop myself from laughing. "You must be very confident on you self-control, Mr. Romanov." He was about to say something when a hot nurse entered the room to check his condition. I thought he'll ogle the sexy lady but he just stared at me like some mindless fool. "You're so cute," I mouthed.

Natawa ako nang humiga ito ulit at nagtalukbong ng kumot.