Chapter 33: Our house
"Get off your hands of her."
Jyra's back stiffened because of the familiar deep voice. Tinulak niya si Shawn at matagumpay na nakalayo rito. Nang harapin niya si Malik ay bigla siyang nahiya. The image of the night with him flashed on her mind. But she got distracted when he stepped forward and pass through her.
Lumapit ito kay Shawn at saglit na may sinabi. Shawn's face hardened but when their eyes met, his eyes become soft and delicate. Wala ito sa sariling tumango at umalis. Nagsunuran ang grupo nila Graciella rito, huminto pa saglit 'yung isang lalaki para tanungin siya.
"Hindi ikaw ang totoong si Winona?"
Nahihiya siyang tumango.
Nagkamot ng batok ang lalaki at napa-atras noong tumagos sa likuran niya ang tingin nito. "Kaya pala parang lalong naging masaya si Shawn. Nasaan pala ang totoo niyang kapatid?"
"Ashong, tara na!"
Lumingon sa bukas na pinto ang lalaki dahil sa sigaw mula roon. "Sige na, Win este Jyra. Alis na kami. Sir. Malik." Parang maamong tupa itong nagbigay galang bago umalis.
Someone cleared her throat. Her eyes landed to Lawrence who's blushing her cheek. Nakatingin ito sa likuran niya at nahihiyang tinusok ang tagiliran niya. "Girl, ang dami mong sikreto. Chikahan tayo next time. Basta sa audition sabay tayo, ha? Kunin ko nalang kay Mark ang number mo."
The bob cut lady was blushing too. Hindi na nito nagawang magsalita at nahihiyang kumindat sa kanya sabay sunod kay Lawrence.
"Your private matter will be kept secret, Jyra," Mark butted in. Nakahawak ang kamay nito kay Grace na hila-hila sa pag-alis. Nahuli niya rin ang babae na sumuyap sa likuran niya at gaya ng naunang dalawang babae ay namula rin ang pisngi nito.
Pagod siyang bumuntong hininga bago humarap sa taong nasa likuran niya.
Malik on his fresh and angelic white jacket welcomed her. Now she understands why they were blushing, he looks goddamn hot and his luscious and sweaty lips was an attention grabber.
Napakagat labi siya nang matuon doon ang kanyang atensyon.
"Bakit ka narito?" tanong niya sa mahinang boses. She even chewed her lower lip and drifted her eyes on his vicious eyes.
A man in his complete black suit appeared on the opened door. "Sir. Pilit pong hinahabol ni Mr. Aldrich si Bridgette."
Takot ang rumehistro sa isip niya kaya agad siyang tumalikod kay Malik upang dumiretso sa parking. She fears what can Frank do this time. He might be going to kill Shawn because of his strong feelings for Bridgette.
Wake up from darkness, Frank. She's not the right woman for you. Please! Biglang hinto siya nang makita sa unahang bahagi ang kapatid habang tulala sa kawalan.
Muli siyang tumakbo upang lapitan ito, ngunit nabigla siya sa nasaksihan – tulalang lumuluha.
"Frank," tawag niya rito na halos pabulong.
It breaks her heart seeing him broken just like that. He must be really in love with Bridgette to an extent he almost gave his all. All along, she thought that he was Casanova. He dated every girl and made them cry. She was wrong. She doesn't know what exactly happen, just a bit of it but she will not let his brother cry once more. This would be the last.
"Masakit pala talaga kapag napagtanto mong hindi na maibabalik ang dating sa'yo," wika nito bago siya nilingon.
Malungkot niya itong nilapitan, ngunit umatras naman ito sa kanya.
"You doesn't deserve her."
"You can say that." Pinalis nito ng braso ang mga luhang walang patid na rumaragasa sa kanyang pisngi. "Minahal ko kasi, kaya nagkakaganito ako. You will understand me once you bear this same feelings. It's hard to let go, really."
She let out a long sighed. Of all her obstacle, maybe the part of letting Malik was really hard too. If she reached the limit of letting him go because he says so, maybe that was the time to don't hold his hand anymore.
"I lied too," he mumbled.
"I can't understand you."
"Hindi si Tristan ang kinatagpo ko kung hindi siya talaga." Pag-amin nito sa kanya. Umiwas nang tingin ng may mapansin sa likuran niya.
"You mean... you didn't come back because of me."
"Isa iyan sa rason ko, pero mahalagang malaman ko rin ang totoo tungkol sa kanya."
"Then what did you discover? Do you still love her?"
"Hindi kita masasagot sa ngayon." Huminto ito para sumulyap sa relong suot. "I have to go."
"Makakaabot ka pa ba? Ang buong akala ko ay lumilipad ka na ngayon." Ngumisi siya. "For Bridgette you are willing to risk the special event of yours."
Pagak na tumawa ang binata. "Tatawanan ko nalang ang nangyari ngayon." Nilagpasan siya nito upang kausapin ang taong nasa likuran niya.
She got surprised when Malik and Frank do a fist bump.
"Thanks, man," Frank said afterwards.
Malik smirks. "You can always count on me."
Natatawang bumaling sa kanya ang dalawa. Siya naman ay palipat-lipat ang tingin sa dalawa. "Magkakilala kayo?"
Frank shrugged. "Ngayon lang. He said he is your friend. A close friend to one of our top investor. That's." Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin nito sa kanilang dalawa ni Malik. Tinging alam niyang nag-aakusa ng kung ano. Humarap ito kay Malik, "Anyway, I hope we can schedule a tour for the project railway. I haven't visited the North Gate, so."
"Will sort that next time." Malik gaze on his watch.
Nakuha naman ni Frank ang ibig sabihin noon kaya agad itong lumapit sa kanya para humalik sa pisngi. "I will give you a face time when I get to Madrid. One of the elders of Lazarde wants to see you."
Tumango siya. She even gave him a light tap on his cheek. "You've been an asshole a while back, but I still love you. You know that right?"
Nahihiyang dumistansiya sa kanya ang kapatid. Parang kinikilabutan at nandidiri, "Para kang si mommy. Puwede ba, nakakakilabot. Sige na lakad na ako."
She watched Frank ride his vintage Dodge. Kinawayan pa niya ito noong papaikot hanggang sa mawala sa kanyang paningin. Ang muling mawalay sa kapatid ay nag-iiwan ng kalungkutan sa puso niya. Dalawa na nga lang sila pero magkahiwalay pa. It was tough but she have to be strong.
Pagod niyang hinarap si Malik na kanina pa siya pinapanood. She weakly smiled at him. Hinawakan naman nito ang kanyang braso para hilain. "Let's go home," he suggested.
Lumingon muna siya sa ikatlong palapag kung saan dinig ang musika ng club. Kahit pa nagkaroon ng gulo ay patuloy pa rin ang ilan sa kasiyahan. Just like how the life goes on each time passes by. Kahit ano mang pagsubok ang dumaan kailangan niyang maging handa at matatag.
Nakangiti niyang hinarap si Malik. "You talk with the management?"
Piniga ni Malik ang kamay niya bilang tugon. His serious gaze remains doubted. Alam niya na ang ibig sabihin noon. Ang eksenang hawak siya ni Shawn ang marahil na gumugulo sa isipan nito.
A black luxury car stopped in front of them. Bumaba ang valet doon at umikot para ibigay ang susi kay Malik. Nagtataka niyang pinanood ang pagbukas nito sa passengers door. He didn't say anything but his eyes were telling her to hop in.
She slid in quickly. Habang inaayos ang laylayan ng suot niyang knee-length dress ay isinara nito ang pinto at umikot upang makasakay sa driver seat.
She can't believe it. Malik has different sets of expensive cars. He must be really high now compared before. He had modern condo unit, bigger than she has. He had a famous name that surely every woman would dare to get his attention, not only because of his name because he was single, rich and good looking.
I wonder if he has siblings. Cousins? Lahat kaya sila ay kasing kisig at bagsik ni Malik?
She cleared her throat when Malik caught her. Doon niya sa labas itinuon ang atensyon kaya napansin niya kung saan sila patungo. Dadalhin na naman siya nito sa mamahaling condo nito.
Muling sumagi sa isip niya ang nabiting pangyayari kagabi. Naiinitan niyang hinaplos ang leeg niya at huminga ng malalim.
"Gusto mong lakasan ko ang a.c?"
Napasulyap siya kay Malik dahil sa tanong nito. "H-huh? Yes, please."
The silent filled their air as she felt awkward on how she will approach him again. Umalis siyang walang sabi kaninang madaling araw. Binitin niya ang dapat ay love making nila. Sinabi nitong hindi na siya papawalan kailanman at naabutan nitong yakap siya ni Shawn.
Ipinikit niya ang mga mata ng mariin. Anong gagawin ko? Sabihin ko bang hindi ako sa condo niya matutulog? What if magtabi ulit kami sa higaan? Ngumiwi siya nang maalala kung ano ang nadatnan niya bago umalis sa tabi ni Malik. He was shirtless while hugging her from the back. Was is normal for him or he do it on purpose?
Nagitla siya sa biglang paghawak nito sa kaliwang kamay niya. "Where do you want to eat?"
Malapot niyang nilunok ang hiyang nadarama. "Let's go to Broccoli Avenue," she suggested.
Gumuhit ang tusong ngiti sa labi ni Malik bago dinampian ng halik ang kanyang kamay. "You've been scared to broccoli before. You said someone is living on it so why do we have to eat it."
Napangiti siya. Naalala nga niya iyong araw na nagluto si Alice noon. Hinihiwalay niya ang broccoli sa gilid at hindi kinakain. Nagtatampong pinuna ni Alice iyon at ang sinabi ni Malik ang eksaktong isinagot niya.
Sobra ang tawa nang mag-ina habang siya'y naguguluhan.
"Believe me. It is now my favorite vegetable." She said can't get enough of laughing because of her old hilarious days.
Malik added some speed and turn left on the crossing. Sakto malapit lang ang kanilang target place. He perfectly maneuvered the car on the side and parked it. They were silent when they enter. The ambiance of the place makes her feel comfortable, bukod kasi sa may pribado itong rooms nagustuhan niya talaga ang lasa ng luto.
"Do you missed our old house?"
"Our?"
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