THE MAN WHO TEMPT ME (Taglish)

Chapter 11 (Warning)

"IRINA IS WAITING FOR YOU, BRIX... Don't disappoint her."

Irina. Irina Belsky. Again...

Natigilan siya. Ilang saglit na walang nagsasalita sa kanilang dalawa ng ina. His mother always mention Irina sa tuwing nag-uusap sila. Matanda lamang siya ng apat na taon dito. Lagi ito kasama ng mga magulang nito noon kapag namamasyal sa kanila. Her mother is Filipina. Actually, her mother and his mother are best friends. Mother ni Irina ang dahilan kaya nakilala ng mama niya ang papa niya.

"Tell her to please Hail... They are match made in heaven actually," he sarcastically said dahil magkaibang-magkaiba ang personalidad ng mga iyon. Alam na rin niya kung saan ang pupuntahan ng usapan nila ng ina, paulit-ulit na lang kaya mas mabuti iparamdam niya rito na hindi na siya natutuwa marinig ang pangalan ni Irina.

"She's missing you and she said she wants to see you again. How long have you don't seen her?"

"The hell I care, Mama." He faked his yawn.

"What happened to you, Brix? You used to be her protector. Why are you doing this to her?"

"I am not interested in her as a woman, Mama. I protect her before because I treated her as my sister," naiinis niyang sabi. Ilang ulit ba niya kailangan sabihin na parang kapatid niya lang si Irina.

"She is always asking about you..."

"So what? Does she even say that she likes me to be her husband? I don't think so, it was just you who kept on planning this marriage all along."

Narinig niya ang pagbuntong-hininga ng ina sa kabilang linya, "you need to marry her, Benedikt Rurik! You need to help her. You are the only one she could rely on. "

He sighed.. Inis na inis lalo na sa pagbanggit sa first at second name niya ng ina. He was always his mother's Benedikt Rurik, very Russian. His father was the one who nicknamed him Brix and he preferred to be called by his nickname more than those two names of his.

"That f*ck*ng will of her father!" nasabi niya sa sobrang inis. Wala siya plano magsalita ng hindi maganda lalo sa taong matagal ng namayapa pero hindi niya na napigilan ang sarili.

Svetlana Petrov cleared her throat then said, "remember that you are part of this family and Irina had been in the family since she became an orphan."

"Hail is the heir of the Petrov's empire. Why keeps on bothering me, mama? Hail could do more for her."

"Hail is promised to marry someone else, you know it! He was supposed to marry the only daughter of the Chernoff."

Napabuga siya ng hangin sa sobrang inis. Kung hindi lang sa papa niya ay hindi talaga siya a-attend ng birthday party ng ina at baka makaisip pa ito gumawa ng kalokohan. Simula nang maging twenty-four si Irina ay pinipilit na ni Svetlana na ipakasal sila and that happen two years ago at kakabalik lang din ni Irina sa Russia mula sa New Zealand dahil doon ito nag-aral ng college.

"Why are you doing this to me?" may sama ng loob na sabi niya sa ina. Naalala kung bakit mas pinili niya sumama sa ama. Naalala kung bakit ayaw niya sa Russia manirahan.

"Please, Brix. You need to help me. I promised Yolanda in her deathbed that I will protect Irina, that no one could cause her ha–"

"Do I really have no rights to decline now?" putol niya sa sinasabi ng ina. Alam na niya ang sasabihin nitong dahilan. Na kawawa si Irina at kailangan nila protektahan mula sa pamilya ng ama nito. Na kailangan ni Irina ng lalaking mula sa angkan ng mga Petrov para hindi na ito apihin ng mga Belsky.

He knows the story kung bakit pinipilit siya ng ina. It was all because Irina's mother was only the second wife of Dmitry Belsky. They got married in the Philippines but the Belsky's clan never acknowledged Yolanda as the wife of the head of the family. The first wife that was divorced by Dmitry months ago before he met Yolanda was the only one recognized by the Belskys because she was the one that Dmitry married in their church.

Yolanda, although a legal wife, was treated like a mistress by the Belskys. Dmitry truly loves Yolanda and when Irina was born, he made a last will that all his wealth will be inherited by his only child, by Irina.

Dmitry was assassinated when Irina was just thirteen years old and the last will had been known but there was an addendum. Nasa addendum nakasaad na mamanahin ni Irina ang lahat ng nasa last will ng ama pero kailangan na maikasal muna siya sa kahit sino sa mga anak ni Svetlana Petrov, she needs to marry Hail or Brix if she wants to be the head of the Belsky.

Irina, although not an illegitimate grew up been bullied by Belsky's clan. She was young, naive and fragile. Her mother asked Svetlana to take care of Irina before she died and made Svetlana a promise that Irina will be marry to any of her son. Hindi nanaisin ni Yolanda na matulad ang anak sa kaniya. Sinigurado nito at ni Svetlana na magiging maayos ang buhay ni Irina. Yolanda left Irina eight months after her husband's assassination.

"I need your help to help Irina. Just help her, Brix." Svetlana said on the other line na nagpabalik sa isipan niya sa kasalukuyan. Kausap pa pala niya ang kaniyang ina. Nakikiusap ang boses nito.

"I have someone special, mama. I don't want to end up like y–"

"Like me?" agad na putol nito sa sasabihin niya, "I did what I needed to do. I just secure you and your brother's future."

"Alright, mama. I will come and stay there for a month. I don't want to make any promises in terms of Irina but I will give a thought about her concern."

DON'T DATE ANYONE.

She pouted para mapigilan ang pinong ngiti after mabasa ang text message. Nakagat niya pa ang ibabang labi at nakangiti na ninanamnam ang mango shortcake na isinubo. The text message was from Brix. Hindi maintindihan kung bakit tuwang-tuwa sa nabasang message.

Siguro dahil sweet ang cake... Depensa niya agad sa kilig na nararamdaman.

"Uy si, Ma'am Ali. Napapangiti sa cake. Iniisip si Sir Brix."

Napatingin siya kay Lucy at napairap sa pang-aasar nito, "tumigil ka nga d'yan!"

"Ma'am, ang sweet naman po sa inyo ni Sir Brix. May pa-cake pa. Kainggit!" kinikilig nitong sabi.

Napailing naman siya habang tinitingnan ang kasambahay, iniisip kung bakit kinikilig pa rin ito after nito maloko. Why she's still not bitter?

"Natulala na po kayo, ma'am..." dagdag biro pa nito.

"Lucy, tigilan mo na 'yan," pinilit niya maging seryoso ang boses, "kumain ka na lang d'yan at matulog na tayo. Masama sa baby mo ang pagpupuyat."

"Kakilig po kasi mga tinginan niyo kanina. Sana lahat ng lalaki gaya ni Sir Brix."

She gave Lucy a look, her dreamy eyes were twinkling. Nangiti siya, natuwa sa pagiging positibo nito. Kahit may problema ito na kinakaharap at umiiyak kapag naaalala ang lalaking nanloko rito ay hindi pa rin ito nagiging bitter. Unlike her.

She thought of herself, natawa isipin na mas bitter pa siya kaysa kay Lucy. Siya na ni minsan hindi naloko ay hindi magawang magtiwala. Samantalang ito na nagdadalang-tao at hindi pa sigurado sa bukas na kakaharapin ay nakakangiti pa rin dahil sa inaakala na love story na mayroon siya.

"Hindi ko boyfriend si Brix, Lucy."

Natigilan naman ito na nakatingin sa kaniya. Parang may gusto sabihin pero nag-aalangan at baka mapagalitan niya.

"May gusto ka itanong? Go on... It's okay," nakangiti niya pang sabi.

"Eh kasi po... nakita ko po na... kanina po 'di ba, may ki–... Si sir po at kayo."

"Nag-kiss? 'Yon ba?"

Tumango naman ito.

"Ewan ko ba sa lalaking 'yon... Unang kita ko pa lang sa kaniya ay gan'yan na siya. Nakakainis."

"Lagi po niya kayo hinahalikan?"

"Lucy!"

"Sorry po, ma'am. Pasensya na po," napayuko ito, bumulong "pero sabi niyo po kasi na unang kita pa lang gano'n na si Sir Brix..."

"Yeah... Lagi ako ninanakawan ng halik no'n kaya nga naiinis ako," nasabi niya. Napatingin naman siya kay Lucy na nakangiti na naman sa harap niya. Kinikilig na naman.

"Kinikilig ka?" kunot-noong tanong niya.

"Opo. Gano'n na rin po kasi ka-gwapo magnanakaw ng halik sa inyo. Kung ako po siguro ay baka ako pa magnakaw ng halik."

"Yan! Kaya ka nagkaganyan kasi sa ugali mo na puro love ang iniisip. Hay naku, Lucy!"

"Kung magnanakaw po ng halik si Sir Brix eh dapat po ireklamo niyo para hindi na kayo inuulitan."

Oo nga 'no! Bakit ba hindi ko naisip magreklamo una pa lang?

"Pero kung nagustuhan niyo naman po eh 'wag na po kayo magreklamo. Kayo rin! Baka kapag inireklamo niyo eh iwasan na kayo no'ng tao at hindi na 'nakawan' ng halik."

"Sa palagay mo naman ay gusto ko nakawan ng halik?" pagtataray niya dahil nakita niya ang panunukso sa mga mata nito.

"Hindi po ba?" painosenteng tanong nito.

She closed her eyes sa inis at tumayo na at naghugas ng mga kamay, "Lucy, si Brix ay hindi basta dapat paniwalaan. Hindi ako dapat magtiwala kasi 'yong gano'n ka-gwapo na lalaki eh kahit gustuhin ko pa ay matatakot ako kasi baka maiwan akong luhaan."

"Si ma'am... Iniisip na agad na lolokohin siya. Ma'am, hindi mo po malalaman kung hindi mo susubukan."

"I believe in chances, Ali."

Ipinilig niya ang ulo dahil sa naisip na halos pareho ang sinabi ni Lucy at Brix. Should I really take a chance with him? Nah! Don't! Ni hindi pa nga ako sigurado na seryoso siya manligaw.

"Tama po ba ako, ma'am?"

"Ewan ko sa'yo, Lucy! Matutulog na ako. Bahala ka na d'yan!" at iniwan na niya ito sa kusina. Mabilis na umakyat sa hagdanan at dire-diretso na sa kwarto niya.

HE TEXTED HER AFTER HIS PHONE CONVERSATION WITH HIS MOTHER. He was hoping that Ali won't date anyone habang nasa Russia siya. He will do everything to fix what he needs to pagdating niya sa Russia at umaasang makagawa ng paraan para hindi matuloy ang plano ng mama niya na engagement nila ni Irina.

He couldn't let Ali down, lalo na ngayon na ramdam niya na may pag-asa na siya. Ali was smiling with him kanina at nabuwag na ang yelo na nasa pagitan nila. She became comfortable talking to him.

Nagtataray pa rin pero hindi na tulad ng dati na laging may galit at inis sa mga mata sa tuwing nakikita siya.

Ali... Irina...

He closed his eyes at hinilot ang sentido. Iniisip na sana ay magawaan niya ng paraan ang problema ni Irina.

Si Hail... Siya na lang pag-asa ko.

AGAD SIYANG HUMIGA SA KAMA PAGPASOK NIYA NG KWARTO AT INI-STALK ANG ACCOUNT NI BRIX SA ISANG SOCIAL MEDIA APP. She wants to read some flirty comments from his admirers.

She was smiling while looking at his handsome profile. Her thoughts went wild and she started imagining things with him, her fingers touched her lips and she bit her lower lip remembering how she reciprocated Brix'S mouthful kiss no'ng nasa Black Bricks sila. She still remembers the taste of his mouth, his tongue and lips.

Oh, Brix...

Natigilan siya sa pag-i-imagine when her phone rang. Brix is calling her.

Hindi niya sinagot dahil gusto niya isipin nito na tulog na siya. Ayaw niya mahalata na excited siya sa tawag nito. The call stopped at parang tanga na sumimangot siya, nanghihinayang at iniisip na sana sinagot na lang niya.

She dropped her phone beside her and closed her eyes. Pinipilit alisin ang init sa katawan na nararamdaman when her phone rang again. Si Brix na wala yata plano patulugin siya.

"Bakit na naman?" she said in a voice that she never intended to sound sexy pero iyon ang nangyari.

"Are you sleeping already?"

"Oo, at sa panaginip lang tayo nag-uusap."

He chuckled with her answer at nangiti naman siya na parang gaga. Kinikilig?

"Nabasa mo ba 'yong text ko?"

"Oo. Iniisip ko nga kung kailan ba kita binigyan ng karapatan na bawalan ako makipag-date..."

"Just don't go with anyone for a date... Sumunod ka na lang."

"What if ayoko? What if may makilala akong iba at magustuhan ko rin ang halik niya?"

"Rin?! So you are admitting you like my kisses?"

"Gaano ka ka-sure na ikaw lang nakahalik sa akin?"

"I'm your first kiss and I will make sure that I will be your first man, Ali. First of your everything.”

She went stunned with what he said. Natulala. Wala mahanap na sasabihin. Dapat magalit siya but this time ay kinabahan siya. Kaba hindi dahil sa takot kung hindi kaba dahil sa excitement. Why am I anticipating it? She asked herself.

"Subukan mo lang makipag-date sa iba... I am warning you, Ali!"

Iyon na lang ang huli niya naintindihan at pinutol na ni Brix ang usapan.

Inis na nagsimula siya mag-type ng message para dito...

Wag ka feeling boyfriend ko, hindi pa kita sinasagot!

Hindi pa for now but you're already mine. Reply nito sa kaniya.

Hindi na siya muli pang nag-reply. Napatulis ang nguso sa inis. Ayaw niya makipag-asaran pa. Nakaramdam ng takot para sa sarili. Naisip ang pangako na ibibigay ang sarili sa mapapangasawa lamang.

Masisira na ba ang pangako ko sa sarili ko? Should I take the chance? Pwede ko ba subukan makipag-relasyon with limitation? Pwede naman 'di ba? With Brix... Kaya ko ba humindi sa tukso?

WHEN ALI ANSWERED HIS CALL WITH HER BEDROOM VOICE, his thoughts went wild. He got hard just by imagining her in her pajamas.

He and Ali are getting closer at alam niyang hindi magtatagal at magiging girlfriend na niya ang dalaga but problems keep on arising.

He already stopped seeing any woman dahil ayaw niya may makasira ng relasyon niya kay Ali na gusto niyang simulan pero paano ang mama niya, ang pangako nito sa ina ni Irina. Si Irina na kahit gusto niya iwasan ay iniisip pa rin ang kapakanan nito.

He was only eight when he first saw Irina, she was only four and he really liked her. Kinakarga niya pa ito habang inaalalayan siya ng ina while Hail just looked at them with a frown on his forehead, he was eleven that time at feeling adult na kapag nagsasalita. Hail looks and talks like a king even at that age while he loves to play and is always cheerful.

He liked Irina and he still likes her now, he likes her as his younger sister. He protected her too from bullies but when he turned eighteen, everything changed that made him decide to live in the Philippines with his father. His mother, who kept on telling him that he would soon marry Irina made him furious. He doesn't want his life to be decided by anyone.

He checked the time on his wrist watch, it was already midnight. Gising pa kaya 'yon?

He decided to call her tomorrow, bukas na lang siguro but coincidentally he received a call... A call coming from her...

"Whom do I owe this call?"

"F*ck off! I just want to ask you some favor..." she said with her haughty voice on the other line.

"I want to call you too, alam ko na ikaw lang may kakayahang gawin ang ipapatrabaho ko."

"Ok. Deal."

"Without asking kung ano ipapagawa ko? What if I ask you to striptease in front of me?"

"You won't do that. I'm your friend and not your fubu."

Natawa siya dahil doon. Tama naman ito. She's one of the true friends he told Ali about. One day, she wants to introduce her to Ali.

"Sino tatrabahuin ko ngayon?"

"I will send you the details tomorrow, just look for anything that I could use bago ang flight ko pa-Russia."

"Okay but you need to hear me out for compensation."

"How much?"

"Not money but connections. I want to work under your brother's Hail company..."