02 – Forget About It
Arabella's Point of View
I took a deep breath and faced my full-length mirror. Nakasuot na ako ng loose shirt and sweat pants. I held both of my cheeks and pressed them. “Okay, Ara, remember your promise to yourself. Forget about your stupid feelings for your Uncle,” sabi ko sa sarili ko at tinitigan ang sariling mga mata. “He’s your family. Only family,” dagdag ko pa para mas kumbinsihin ang sarili ko. “Okay?”
But you’re not blood related, so you’re still free to want him.
Napapikit ako nang marinig ko ang alter ego ko. Napamura na lang ako sa hangin bago muling huminga nang malalim. Hindi ito ang dapat iniisip ko sa ngayon. I should think of a way on how to get away with what happened last night. I am pretty sure he’s gonna ask me about it.
I gently slapped both of my cheeks before I went downstairs.
Pagkababa ko ay agad akong sinalubong ng isang kasambahay. She sweetly smiled at me and guided me to where Uncle Damian is. Akala ko sa dining area niya ako dadalhin, pero lumabas kami ng mansyon at dinala niya ako sa garden. And there, in the middle of blooming red roses, sits Uncle Damian—his leg over the other, his right hand holding a cup of coffee and his left holding a tabloid.
Hindi ko mapigilang mapatingin sa kanya. He looks like a prince straight from a fairy tale book. Ang amo talaga ng mukha niya. His deep obsidian eyes looked so gentle, while his nose stood regal with a defined tip, complementing his naturally kissable, crimson lips. But what really caught my attention was his defined jaw that seems to mirror his strong and sharp character.
Shít. I’m fantasizing over him again. Kaka-remind ko lang sa sarili ko na titigil na ako, eh.
“Oh, you’re here,” aniya nang mapansin ako. He pointed the seat in front of him. “Sit down.”
Tumango ako at nahihiyang umupo. I pressed my legs against each other and kept my eyes down. Ayoko siyang tingnan. I want to avoid eye contact as possible.
“Aren’t you gonna eat? I made sure to let the cooks prepare an American breakfast for you,” sambit niya sa malalim niyang boses. Even his voice sounds so masculine—deep, full, and with a little rasp that gives me little tingles between my legs.
“Y-Yeah,” sabi ko na lang at kumuha ng toasted bread at ‘yon lang ang kinain.
“Aalis ako maya-maya, kaya habang nandito pa ako ay sabihin mo na sa akin kung ano ang gusto mo for lunch,” aniya sabay baba ng binabasang tabloid at tiningnan ako nang diretso sa aking mga mata.
“C-Can I have adobo, uncle?” nahihiyang tanong ko sa kanya.
“Sure. What else?”
“That’s all,” tugon ko at pilit na ngumiti sa kanya. Hindi pa rin kasi nawawala ang kabang nararamdaman ko. What I saw last night is still fresh in my head.
What if he confronts me about what happened last night?
Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa toasted bread.
“Hindi mo ba gusto ang tinapay?” tanong niya sa akin. “It’s been minutes yet hindi mo pa nauubos,” aniya at pinasadahan ako ng tingin.
“N-Nag-a-adjust pa lang po sa lasa,” pagsisinungaling ko sa kanya bago pilit na ngumiti. “And I feel like I need more rest since pagod na pagod pa rin ang katawan ko.”
“I thought you had enough sleep already,” aniya bago umayos ng upo.
“Y-Yes po.” Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Pakiramdam ko’y mapupunta talaga sa nakita ko kagabi ang magiging usapan namin.
“Leave us alone. We need some privacy,” matigas na utos niya sa mga kasambahay na nakapaligid sa amin. And in just a few seconds, kami na lang ang natira sa hardin. And then the air suddenly felt stiff and hard to breath.
Nang tingnan ko si Uncle ay doon ko nalaman kung bakit—he’s staring at me with his piercing raven eyes. Titig na titig siya sa akin. Pakiramdam ko’y nanuot sa aking balat ang mga titig niya. And that somehow made me a little tensed and uncomfortable.
“Wala ka bang gustong sabihin sa akin, Arabella?” kaswal niyang tanong, pero dama kong may gusto siyang ipunto. “Now that we’re alone, you can be honest with me and tell me what you saw.”
I knew it
.
Naikuyom ko ang kamay ko bago ko mas iniyuko ang ulo ko. “I...I’m sorry, Uncle...” mahinang sabi ko at huminga nang malalim. “I...I accidentally saw something I shouldn’t last night.”
“And what is it?” aniya bago sumandal sa upuan at sumimsim ng kape.
Napakagat ako ng labi bago lumunok at nag-iwas ng tingin. “I...I saw you making out with someone last night,” pag-amin ko. “But I didn’t mean to peak!” mabilis kong bawi at umiling-iling pa. “I was just...curious.”
“Hmmm...” His deep, raspy voice ran through my spine and gave me chills. May kung anong bumara sa lalamunan ko kaya napalunok ako ng laway sabay hinga nang malalim. I can feel his eyes on me, kaya nag-angat ako ng tingin para sumilip.
And there, I was welcomed by his amused expression. Nakaangat ang isang sulok ng labi niya habang matamang nakatingin sa akin ang kanyang itim na itim na mga mata. “And? Anong masasabi mo sa nakita mo?” mapaglarong tanong niya bago niya bahagyang inilapit ang mukha sa akin nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa mga mata ko.
“P-Po?”
“Did it satisfy your curiosity?” he sexily asked, gently grinning at me.
I felt something tickle the spot between my legs. “W-What kind of question is that, Uncle? He he,” kabadong tugon ko at hilaw na tumawa.
“Just answer me, Ara. Did it satisfy your curiosity?” pabulong niyang tanong .
“I...I don’t know, Uncle. I don’t know,” tugon ko bago lumayo sa kanya dahil hindi ako makahinga nang maayos. “But I won’t do it again, promise. I’ll even forget about it about what I saw. Promise!” sabi ko at itinaas pa ang isang kamay ko.
Tumingin lang siya sa akin bago tumayo. “Well, let’s just see if you can really forget about it,” makahulugag sabi niya bago siya naglakad palayo sa akin. “Eat your fill. I have to get ready at may trabaho pa ako,” dagdag niya bago tuluyang umalis.
Napatingin na lang ako sa malawak niyang balikat habang nakakunot ang noo.
Anong ibig sabihin ng sinabi niya?