Chapter 18
"Are you gonna let me in or not?" tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Sage. Nanatili pa rin akong tulala sa kaniya, still not believing my eyes that he's actually here.
"P-Pero—"
"Your mother is in the next room. She might see us." Kinindatan pa niya ako at himala nalang na hindi ako nabuwal sa kinatatayuan ko dahil sa ginawa niya. A naughty smile played on his lips.
With trembling hands, I opened the window wider for him and stepped back to give some space. He effortlessly climbed my window unlike my clumsy way of sneaking to his room. Sage didn't make any sound at all.
Nang tuluyan na siyang makapasok sa aking kwarto ay kaagad kong isinara ang bintana at tumakbo sa pintuan upang i-lock ito. My mother doesn't check on me during the night, but who knows what she's up to? Baka mahuli pa kaming dalawa ni Sage.
Nilingon ko siya. He scanned the surroundings. Bigla tuloy akong nahiya. Walang-wala ang kwarto ko sa magara niyang silid. He shoved one hand to his pocket and casually strode towards my tiny bookshelf. My father built it for me when I was a kid, seeing how I loved books more than dolls. Punong-puno na ito ng mga libro ngayon at ang iba'y nakapatong nalang sa taas.
He lingered around the bookshelf for a while. I shifted my weight from one foot to another, feeling entirely uncomfortable. Sage walks like he owns this place and I couldn't blame him, isang marangyang buhay talaga ang kaniyang kinagisnan tapos mapapadpad lang siya dito sa bahay namin.
"You read a lot of books," komento niya.
Tumango-tango ako. "Bata pa ako noon nung nakahiligan ko yan eh..."
He glanced at me. Pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin saka naningkit ang mga mata niya as if he saw me for the first time.
"Dress properly, Mallory." Umigting ang kaniyang panga kasabay ng marahas niyang pagpilig ng kaniyang ulo sa kabilang dako. "Or are you trying to seduce me with that satin fabric?"
Pulang-pula ang buong mukha ko sa kaniyang sinabi. I was too engrossed by the fact that Sage is here in my room that I've completely forgotten I'm only wearing a nightgown and a pair of panties. He must've seen my nipples, for God's sake!
Dali-dali kong binuksan ang aking closet at naghanap ng matinong maisusuot. "H-Hindi ko naman kasi alam n-na pupunta ka pala..." nauutal kong sagot sa kaniya.
I glanced at him and saw that he's clenching and unclenching his fists, as if he's trying to control something. "Kahit na." matigas niyang wika. "Don't wear that shit again. Kahit pa ikaw lang mag-isa sa kwarto mo." Tuluyan na siyang tumalikod sa akin para bigyan ako ng privacy at makapagbihis.
I quickly slip into a pair of oversized sweatpants and loose shirt. Nag-suot na din ako ng bra at itinago ang aking nightgown pabalik sa aking closet.
"A-Ayos na..." I said, still embarrassed.
Mukhang nabunutan ng tinik si Sage nang humarap na ito sa akin. His eyes are darker this time. Lumunok ako. He approached my direction and pinned me against the hardwood closet. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa kaniyang ginawa.
"Don't do that again, Mal..." he whispered on my ears. Gusto ko sanang sumagot pero tinakasan na talaga ako ng hininga at hindi ko na alam kung anong matinong dapat sabihin sa sinabi niya. "Next time around, baka hindi ko na mapigilan ang sarili ko."
"Anong—"
"Ssh." He placed a finger on my lips gently, sending thousands of jolts to my body. His intense eyes blared in my poorly-lit room as he cleaned closer. Umangat ang isang gilid ng kaniyang labi. "Just listen to me, little girl." Pagkatapos ay lumayo na siya nang kaunti at doon pa ako nakahinga nang maayos.
Nagtungo naman si Sage sa aking maliit na kama at nahiga. He used his other hand as a pillow and his long legs are dangling out of my tiny bed. Siguro ay hindi siya komportable dahil hindi naman gaanong kakapal ang foam na gamit ko kumpara sa kaniyang king-sized bed sa mansion pero wala naman siyang sinabi.
"Nangliligaw ba talaga ang Leon sa iyon sa iyo?" tanong niya sa akin. He's not doing anything but damn, he looks so good! Para lang siyang nahiga para kunan ng litrato at ipaskil sa billboard o di kaya'y magazine. Maling venue nga lang ang kaniyang napuntahan.
"Yes." I swallowed again, trying not to stammer. Masyado nang nakakahiya sa kaniya.
"He's an illegitimate of Governor Armendanez. His mother died because of tuberculosis and his father didn't even bother to help them when they needed him the most." Tumaas ang kaniyang isang kilay. "Are you sure you want to have a father-in-law like that?"
Naningkit ang mga mata ko sa kaniyang sinabi. "Paano mo nalaman ito?"
"Oh," he shrugged. "I have Zero." Tapos binalewala na niya iyon. "So, back to my question, do you want to have a father like that? We also found out that he's using the funds of the government for his campaign. Two major cases of corruption and bribery among other sexual harassments in female government employees under his wing."
Lumunok ako. "Si Leon naman ang nanliligaw sa akin, hindi ang ama niya."
Umigting ang panga niya sa aking sinabi. "Eh paano kung magkatuluyan kayo? What would his father do to you?"
I licked my lower lips. Hindi ko na alam ang isasagot sa kaniyang sinabi. Nag-iwas na lamang ako ng tingin.
"My father is way better than that old hag..." he muttered under his breath pero hindi iyon nakaligtas sa pandinig ko. Nag-init lalo ang aking mga pisngi sa kaniyang sinabi. What does he mean by that?
"Anyway," he got up from the bed and glanced at me once again. Napaigtad ulit ako. "Can I sleep here tonight?"
Kung mas may ipupula na siguro ang aking mukha ay ganun na ang nangyari nang banggitin ni Sage ang mga salitang iyon.
"Nababaliw ka na ba?" nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "My mother will find out about you in the morning!" I half-whispered, half-yelled.
He shrugged. "She won't find out about me. I'll sneak before the sun rises. And besides, Aaric's covering for me. I am free until the morning. So..." nagtaas ulit siya ng kilay, isang mapaglarong ngiti ang sumilay sa kaniyang mga labi.
Hinimas-himas ko ang aking dibdib. "Pakiramdam ko'y aatakihin ako sa puso sa mga ginagawa mo."
He scoffed. "Just think those times when you were crazy enough to jump from the falls, I almost died in heart attack as well. Isn't this fair enough?" he gave me a lazy crooked smile.
Umikot ang mga mata ko.
"You're starting to roll your eyes at me." Komento niya bago pa man ako makapagsalita.
Ngumuso ako. "Bakit? Bawal ba, Prince Sage?" I mocked.
He chuckled and my smile melted. There is something in his voice vibrating from his chest that's making my heart pound wildly inside of my chest.
"I like it when you're being a little... rebellious to me." He finally got up from my bed and snatched a pillow. Kinuha niya din ang kumot at inilatag ito sa baba, tabi mismo ng aking kama. Inilagay niya din ang unan at prente siyang nahiga. He even faked a yawn. "I'm sleepy..."
"Hoy Sage, umayos ka nga!" hinampas ko ang kaniyang paa. "Ako ang kinakabahan sa iyo eh! Paano kung biglang pumasok si Mama?"
"She won't," he mumbled, already closing his eyes.
Nalaglag ang panga ko at napatitig sa kaniya. Is this guy for real? Goodness! Baka mapatay talaga kaming dalawa ni Mama sa kalokohan niya!
Ilang beses ko pa siyang kinulit but I only got one-word reply from him. Napagod na din ako kaya bumalik ako sa aking kama. I tried to sleep but the fact that Sage is sleeping in the same room with me is bugging my mind. I tossed and turned in my bed, failing to doze off to sleep even when I needed to. May klase pa naman kami bukas.
"Sleep, Mallory." Sage's deep voice sounded out of nowhere. Patay na kasi ang ilaw at hindi ko na siya nakikita. Nanigas ang buong katawan ko nang bigla kong maramdaman ang kamay niya sa akin. "Sleep." He demanded again.
I blinked and tried to focus on breathing properly. I really did. Hindi ko pinansin ang kamay ni Sage sa akin. I counted backwards from 100 to help me fall asleep and before I even reached sixty, nakatulog na ako.
I wasn't sure what happened the following hours, but I thought there was a time when Sage stood up, wrapped me in blanket and planted a kiss on my forehead before he left my room. Wala na siya sa aking kwarto pagkagising ko kinabukasan.
---
While I was eating lunch with my mother later on that day inside the faculty room, hindi mawala sa isipan ko si Sage at ang pagtulog niya sa aking kwarto. I've never done it even to his room before. Noon namang nagpunta kami sa Davao ay dalawang kwarto ang kaniyang kinuha para hindi kami magtabi matulog.
I swallowed a sigh. May biglang kumatok sa pintuan habang kumakain kami at bumukas ito ng kusa. Dahil nakatalikod ako ay hindi ko kaagad nakita kung sino ang bisita. But when my mother scowled at them, doon na ako napalingon.
My breath was caught in my throat when I saw Lysander together with his father, the mayor. Mataman silang nakatingin dalawa sa amin.
"Yes?" my mother's sharp voice came.
"Can we talk?" the mayor sounded so confident. Binalingan niya ang ibang professors na kumakain din ng lunch sa faculty. "In private, please."
My mother nodded and stood up. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanilang dalawa.
"And oh, I'd like to talk to your daughter as well."
"My daughter is not going to come a few meters close from your son." My mother gritted her teeth. "Sorry, but you can only talk to me." She said and walked past him. The mayor's intense stare lingered at me for a while before he shut the door and followed my mother outside.
---
Hindi ko na alam kung anong nangyari sa pag-uusap ni Mama at ng mayor dahil may klase pa ako nang hapong iyon. Leon agreed not to see me today. Medyo nakaka-guilty nga but I really want to be alone this day.
While walking down the rural roads of our small village, bigla nalang may umakbay sa akin. Napatalon ako sa gulat at nakita kaagad ang nakangising mukha ni Aaric.
"Hi, Mal!" he cheerfully greeted. Ang mga mata ko'y dumako kay Sage na tamad lamang na nakasunod kay Aaric at mukhang iritado ito dahil sa panghapong init. When our eyes met, a naughty glint shone in his eyes. Nag-iwas kaagad ako ng tingin kahit ramdam ko na ang labis na pamumula ng aking mga pisngi.
"Ikaw pala, Aaric..." tipid ko siyang nginitian.
"Sabay na tayo!" mas lalo pang humigpit ang hawak niya sa akin. Sage scowled at his cousin and mumbled something to himself na hindi ko na narinig pa.
"Yeah, sure." Tumango-tango ako at nagnakaw ulit ng tingin kay Sage. Habang naglalakad kaming tatlo ay napansin ko ang pulang Honda na nakaparada sa daan. Two guys are sitting on hood of the car, tiny smoke emitting out of their direction. Nakalabas din ang isang paa ng babae at nakasuot pa ng pulang heels mula sa backseat. Mukha itong natutulog. As we got closer, I realized that the car seemed so familiar to me dahil ito pala'y pagmamay-ari ni Leon.
His eyes widened when he saw me and immediately dropped the pack of cigarette he was holding.
"Mallory!" napatuwid siya ng tayo. I blinked. Natigil ang tawanan nilang magbabarkada. The girl on the back groaned and finally got up.
"You guys are so fucking noisy..." she cursed, rubbing her temples. When her angelic face came into view, I squinted my eyes and tried to remember where I first saw her face. Mukha kasi siyang pamilyar.
"Matulog ka na ulit, Isa..." tatawa-tawang sagot ng isang babae na lumabas mula sa passenger's seat.
Oh.
Recognition dawned on me. She's Isabella Avanzado, the muse of the mass communication department. Maraming naiintimidate sa kaniya at isa na ako doon. Kaya naman nang pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin at kumunot ang noo niya ay bumagsak kaagad ang mga balikat ko.
"Siya ba ang manliligaw mo?" Sage's voice sounded angry kaya napalingon ako sa kaniya. Matalim ang kaniyang tingin kay Leon. Tapos binalingan niya ako at nagtaas siya ng kilay. "Naninigarilyo?"
Leon scowled at his choice of words. "I don't usually smoke a lot, kapag may problema lang..." depensa niya sa kaniyang sarili. "Stop trying to jump into conclusions, man. Hindi nakakatuwa."
When I sensed a fight about to burst, pumagitna kaagad ako sa kanilang dalawa. I smiled apologetically at Leon. "P-Pasensiya ka na, Leon. Ayos lang sa akin kung ano man ang ginagawa mo..." I swallowed and glanced at his not-so-friendly group of friends. "S-Sige, mauuna na kami..."
Tipid niya akong tinanguan. Hinila ko na si Sage papalayo sa kanila. Isabella Avanzado's mouth twitched as she watched the three of us walk away from them. Nang makalayo na kami'y saka ko pa binitawan ang kamay ni Sage.
"Ano ka ba naman, Sage—"
"You shouldn't entertain him anymore." Matigas ang boses niyang sabi. Napaawang ulit ang bibig ko. His dark eyes lingered at me for a while. "I'm serious here, Mal. Stay away from that man."