Kabanata 6

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ENEMY'S PROPERTY
Kabanata 6
''Sin''

I know how to swim a bit, kaya nakaahon naman ako agad sa tubig. But before I could even wiggle my body more upwards, a hand tightly wrapped around my stomach, pulling me a bit higher. Napatili ako nang umahon sa mismong harap ko si Carlos Lorenzo!

Magsasalita sana ako pero halos naituptop ko agad ang labi nang makita ang galit na galit niyang mga mata. He was completely drenched in water. Naging mas mahaba tingnan ang kanyang buhok dahil basa iyon. He hurriedly uses his free hand to wipe some water droplets from his eyes up to his hair.

''I already told you this is a deep area!'' sigaw niya.

My lips parted in total shock. ''Bakit ka ba sumisigaw... magkaharap naman tayo?''

His eyes widened a bit before it softened. I even saw how he licked his lower lip before uttering an apology.

''Sorry,'' he said softly this time. ''Nabigla lang ako. You could've drowned!''

Umirap ako. Hindi naman na sigaw iyong huling sabi niya ngunit mariin pa rin. But what is this? The arrogant Montecarlo is uttering an apology... is this for real? Because he looks like he's the type who will never even bend a knee, not or never to anyone.

''I didn't, alright? Maybe, you are way overreacting-''

He cut me off. ''What do you want me to do, just watch you pull yourself up when I know you aren't a good swimmer? Are you kidding me?''

Tila ba iniinsulto niya ako roon. Muli ko siyang tinapunan ng masamang tingin. Yet, he did not even flinch.

I suddenly noticed our distance and realized that he was way too close. Halos dikit na dikit ang aming mga katawan. His hand on my bare waist gripped me even tighter. Ngayon ko lang rin napansin na parehong kamay ko ay nasa magkabila niyang balikat. I feel like I was burned, kaya agad kong binitawan iyon. Although his eyes followed my hand, he did not comment anything about it.

''Tayo na,'' aniya sa mababang boses. ''Umahon na tayo.''

''Anong tayo? Umahon ka!''

His jaw moved. ''I will not leave the water without you. If you want to stay, fine then, I'll hold you while you swim.''

What? Seriously! What is wrong with this man?! Napahilamos ako sa aking mukha.

''Lorenzo,'' tawag ko. I saw how amused he was when I called him. Nagtaka ako pero hindi na pinansin. ''Gusto ko lang ipaalala sayo, lupa ang mga pag-aari niyo, hindi tao.''

''Hmm. And what do you mean by that?'' he drawled lazily that it sounded like a bedroom voice.

''You act like I'm one of your properties!''

His amusement only intensified. May multo rin ng ngiti sa kanyang labi habang maigi akong pinagmamasdan. I got nervous again. I can feel my heart racing as if I was answering an examination I did not study about.

I accidentally bit my lower lip and because of that, his eyes immediately flickered to it. Kinailangan ko pang ihawi nang marahan ang ulo niya patungo sa gilid para lang mawala ang kanyang tingin sa labi ko. He chuckled when I did that.

''Aahon na ako!'' sabi ko at pinilit na alisin ang hawak niya.

I rolled my eyes when he only pulled me closer. Pero maya-maya rin ay iginaya na niya ako sa mababang parte. And his hand did not leave me. Siya pa mismo ang nag-angat sa'kin sa lupa. Heaven, this man carries me like I didn't weigh anything! But right, he's massive compared to me.

Aalis na sana ako para makatayo ngunit pinigilan niya. Nasa lupa na ako nakapuo habang nanatili siya sa tubig, sa harap ko. Mababaw naman na at halos magkapantay na lamang ang aming mga mata ngayon.

My eyes roamed to take his wholeness. Basang basa siya. All of his clothes are still intact. Even the watch on his wrist, it seems like he wasn't able to remove it. Mukhang basta na lamang tumalon sa tubig nang makita ang mangyari sa'kin. Nasulyapan ko pa ang pagbunot niya ng cellphone at wallet, sa likod ng pantalon. Ipinatong niya iyon sa may gilid ko. Basa rin.

I was about to ask about it but then, he put his both hands on both of my sides, territorially, before leaning closer. Medyo napaatras ako dahil masyado na niyang kinain ang distansya namin. Sobrang lapit na halos ramdam ko na ang hininga niya.

He looked at me... no, stared at me intensely without words. His grey eyes pierced me to the point that I couldn't even breathe properly.

''W-what?''

''You really won't tell me the exact reason why you are living with the De Leons?''

''What is it with you?''

''I wanted to know because I don't want to commit a sin.'' he said seriously with a dangerous smirk on his lips.

''What sin?'' I asked curiously.

''Hmm,'' he drawled. Marahan niyang hinawi ang buhok ko patungo sa aking likod. I instantly feel my cheeks heating, kaya napaayos ako ng upo. ''Do you know the story of my great-grandfather?''

''I don't even know you. How would I know your ancestors?''

Muli siyang tumawa.

Technically, I know his name now. It's also already confirmed that he is indeed a Montecarlo. Pero hindi ko siya kilalang lubusan. I don't even know why he's acting like we're so close already. But what sin is he talking about? And what specific story is he pertaining to?

''Well, he coveted someone's wife from the De Leons. And I don't want to make such a sin.'' he said, looking at me intently almost sucking my soul out. ''So Anya, tell me, are you someone's wife?''

My lips parted, at things I heard and at his question. I feel like my mind was suddenly thrown elsewhere because I couldn't feel it functioning. Gulong-gulo ako. What's with this topic? And most importantly, why would he ask me such a question?

Ngumisi siya. ''Your reaction tells me the answer. I guess I'm safe, huh?''

Nanatili lamang ang gulat at lito kong tingin. A taunting smile played on his lips while watching me, but it faded when his eyes went down to my lips. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bumaba rin ang tingin ko sa kanyang mga labi. It's parted a bit, reddish, and seems... inviting.

''Your lips are trembling from the cold water.'' namamaos niyang sabi. ''Do you want me to help and do something about it?''

I was lost beyond words. His soulful eyes went back to meet mine. I bit my lower lip unconsciously, tsaka ko lamang napagtanto ang ginawa nang muli siyang tumitig sa labi ko. And before I could even realize what he would do, his lips had already crashed on mine.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ngunit tila ba nanlambot ang aking buong katawan sa haran ng kanyang halik at kusang naipikit rin ang mga mata.

I feel my heart racing even more. The way his lips move against mine, it's a wonder how his kisses are beyond mellow, despite him looking rough and vigorous. The kiss feels soft like when you lie your head on a feathery pillow, it's gentle and comforting.

Parehong malalim ang hininga namin nang unti-unti siyang lumayo. I wasn't even able to open my eyes, yet I felt another feathery kiss on my lips. Dinampian niya ang aking labi ng dalawa pang masuyong halik. Pakiramdam ko pinapatulog niya ako sa haran noon.

But no matter how drowning everything was, reality struck me hard for real. My eyes immediately flew open. At bago ko pa mapagisipan ang lahat, agad nang dumapo ang palad ko sa kanyang pisngi para sa isang sampal.

His face got tilted to the side. Nakita ko rin kung paano umawang ang labi niya at paano siya mariing napapikit. My whole body flinched when I realized what I had done. I bit my lip hard, when I felt a sudden guilt. I was about to touch his face and ask if he's okay, pero kinalaunan ay pinigilan na lamang ang sarili.

Mariin akong napapikit at malalim na napabuntong-hininga.

''If you think you can get any girl you want with that name and face, ibahin mo ako, Carlos Lorenzo. I did not come here to play with anyone, and definitely not with you.''

I pushed him hard. Nakawala ako kaya agad akong tumayo. I did not even give him any glance, not when I took my shirt and put it on, and not when I left him there.

He's so full of himself! Akala niya ba tulad ako ng mga babaeng may gusto sa kanya at kusang hahandusay sa harap niya?

I may not have had a boyfriend before but I ain't naive. That Lorenzo wants me. I saw how his eyes would flicker with fire whenever he would land his eyes on me. And that's probably the reason why he's been striking a conversation and been hovering around me. Does he want to play with me? And he thought just because he's handsome and a rich heir, I would be swayed? He thought wrong about that!

Let's just wait until he finally learns who I am. His anger on his enemy, the one I saw before he heard the name Anya Fuentes, will definitely be back as well.

Right, he'll eventually know I am not someone he can play and mess with.

Hindi na ako kailanman bumalik doon para hindi siya makita. I busied myself with other stuff.

Before school started, I processed my enrollment in the university. Sinamahan ako ni Kael dahil wala ang dalawa kong pinsan. I was in the registrar when a woman came behind me.

''Excuse me.'' I heard her say.

Dalawang beses ko siyang sinulyapan bago umusog sa gilid para makadaan siya. She only smiled a little before she gracefully entered the same room. Morena, with long black straight hair, siren eyes and sharp features. And the elegance wrapped around her shoulder even in simple clothing... this is definitely her, Vernaise Sven Sarmiento.

Jakob wasn't kidding when he told me I'd instantly recognized her. Even with a room full of people, she isn't someone you won't be able to notice.

Nawala lamang ang tingin ko sa kanya nang tawagin ang pangalan ko. I stood beside her as she waited for something, too. Pero tila may kausap rin siya sa cellphone niya.

''Carlos, are you in Santa Monica?'' I heard her say. ''Can you pick me up? I'm at school.''

My eyebrows twitched a bit at the name. But well, that's a common name.

''I don't know! I'm not hiding your cousin in my purse to know his whereabouts... just come here. Bring me something to drink, too, please. I'm so thirsty already.''

Nauna akong matapos kaya lumabas din agad. I did not see her anymore as I jumped to another office to process my enrollment. After almost half a day, I was done. Medyo mahaba ang proseso ng akin dahil transferee ako. May kailangan pa akong balikan sa susunod na araw. Pero para sa araw na ito ay tapos na.

I was already walking on the campus to find the cafeteria, because that's where Kael is to buy food, when I saw a familiar man in the hallway. Puting polong long sleeve na nakatupi hanggang siko, a black trousers, and sporting his usual dark menacing expression, Carlos Lorenzo Montecarlo walked around the school like a very important person with such high authority and position.

Nagkatinginan kami. Natigil siya sa paglalakad. Sa parehong hallway sana ako dadaan. Pero masyadong nakakahiya sa hari kaya sa field ako dumiretso kahit sobrang init. Sinulyapan ko lamang siya at inirapan bago tuluyan siyang ignorahin.

I sighed heavily. Sa bawat labas ko, nagtatagpo kami. I just really hope next time I won't see him around anymore.

Kaya lang pagkalipas ng ilang araw ay nakita ko na naman siya! Is fate playing with me? Why do I always see him... every time?

Jakob was with me when we went to the market. Kasama ko si Eli, hawak ko sa aking bisig dahil nagsisimula nang umiyak. May mga bibilhin sana kami ni Jakob, wala si Mama kaya sinama ko si Eli. But then he started crying kaya sabi ko kay Jakob siya na lang ang bumili at dito na lang ako sa sasakyan.

Hindi ata nakatulong na kulob ang sasakyan kaya lumabas ako. Hindi naman masyadong mainit dahil hapon na. And when I got out of the car, that was also the time I saw Carlos. Nasa kabilang kalsada siya malapit sa isang establishmento. Nakita niya rin ako kaya lang wala akong oras makipagtinginan dahil abala sa pag-alo sa umiiyak na kapatid.

''Eli, what's wrong, hmm?'' I asked my brother as I softly caressed his back.

''Is everything okay?''

The familiar low baritone made me swallow an invisible lump on my throat.

Nilingon ko ang likod at nakita si Carlos na nakalapit na sa'min, titig na titig sa kapatid ko. Ilang beses ring nagpabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa'kin at kay Eli.

''Mimi!'' My brother cried.

Medyo mabigat na si Eli kaya hindi na din talaga kinakarga masyado. May mga pagkakataon lang, if he's crying so bad and when he feels like he doesn't want to be away from me o kaya kay Mama. Kayang-kaya ng mga pinsan ko na buhatin, pero ako na medyo maliit ang katawan kumupara sa mga lalaking pinsan, nabibigatan kapag matagal na karga.

My arms feel numb already. Mukhang iyon ang napansin ni Carlos, dahilan kung bakit muli siyang nagsalita.

''Do you want me to carry him?''

''Hindi siya lumalapit kahit kanino kapag umiiyak.'' sabi ko na lamang.

Umangat ang ulo ni Eli nang mapansin atang may kausap ako. He turned his head to Carlos. Biglang natigil ang iyak niya, but he still has the tears on his cheek.

Napalabi ako nang makita ang kamay ni Carlos, may puting panyong hawak na. He is gently wiping Eli's tears. Titig na titig sa kanya ang kapatid ko na tila ba kinikilala ang estranghero.

''This is washed. I haven't used it yet.'' he informed, glancing at me a bit.

''Mama, who?''

My eyes widened in fraction. I feel like I was literally frozen on the spot. Ngayon pa namali si Eli sa pagtawag sa'kin!

Natigilan rin si Carlos sa ginagawa. Kitang-kita ko kung paano nabitin ang kanyang kamay sa ere. Muli kaming nagkatinginan. He looked just as shocked as me. And I'm not sure what emotion that was, that crossed his eyes for a moment, but it was the first time I saw him with that.

''I'm your Mama's friend.'' namamaos na bulong niya.

''Carry?'' Eli even extended his hand to Carlos!

Gulat na gulat ako sa lahat ng pangyayari. He doesn't act like this on normal days! At ngayon pa talaga, kay Carlos Lorenzo pa! Jusko, Eli. I'd die early with all of your actions today! Please, have mercy on me!

Carlos smiled at Eli. ''Alright, I'll carry you, big boy.''

Hindi niya ako tinapunan ng tingin. Hindi ko alam pero kahit nakangiti sa kapatid ko, tila ba ramdam ko ang galit niya sa kung ano.

When Eli extended his arms more to him, wala na akong nagawa. Nakuha na ni Carlos ang aking kapatid. Hindi ko din alam kung ipagpapasalamat ko iyon dahil sobrang namamanhid na ang kamay ko, kaya iyon muna ang inabala ko.

I heard my brother giggle when Carlos lifted him up high before settling him on his arms properly. I watched them as they exchange smiles and my brother's laughter were nonstop when Carlos tickled him a bit.

Both him and Javier looked very ruthless and menacing. Marahas at magaspang ang kanilang mga galaw pero tila ba tuwing bata ang kasama ay sobrang lambot nila.

''What's your name, hmm?'' he asked him softly.

''Me, Elis.'' My brother, who cannot pronounce his name properly yet.

''Elis?''

''Eli!''

''What's his full name, Anya?'' Carlos asked without looking at me.

I bit my lip. ''Elias Gregory.''

Nang marinig ng kapatid ko ang buong pangalan niya ay agad siyang lumingon sa'kin at humagikhik.

''Anya, Mama!'' turo niya sa'kin pagkatapos ay itinuro ang sariling dibdib ng ilang beses. ''Me, Eli!''

Napangiti ako. He looks so adorable. Nawala nga lang ang ngiti ko nang maalala kung sino ang humahawak sa'king kapatid.

My breathing hitched when Carlos' cold and dangerous eyes went back to me. Gone the gentleness in his eyes. His anger for something was seething through those stormy eyes of him.

''You told me you didn't have a husband.'' he said grimly.

Huminga ako ng malalim. ''I don't.''

''You dare lie to my face even when I'm already holding the spitting image of you?!''

I almost shivered at the coldness of his voice. Mahina naman ang boses niya pero bawat salita ay mariin at malamig. Eli was already resting on his chest and did not mind the exchange of conversation.

''Where is that bastard, then?'' He harshly asked this time. ''He left you? He left you and your child?''

Wait, what? What is he saying? Ano bang nangyayari? Why is he suddenly spouting these things? Where did he get his assumptions? Pero teka, ano bang pakialam niya sa mga bagay-bagay tungkol sa'kin? I already told him I don't want to play or do anything with him!

''Carlos-''

''Are you married?''

Kumunot ang noo ko. ''What? No-''

''Then I'll take you! I'll take you and Elias! I'll declare him my son. So be with me, Anya.''

Umawang lamang ang labi ko.

#ENEMYSPROPERTY