Vixen 3: The Abused

Chapter 14 (Cont. 1)

(Noam's POV)

"What's your name again?"

There's a young boy wearing a servant's uniform while standing innocently in front of male teen sitting on a wheelchair. Nasa likuran nito ang may katandaan ng personal assistant na syang taga-tulak ng wheelchair.

The guy was beaming at the boy, giving the child a smile full of sunshine pero ni hindi man lang naapektuhan ang bata dahil hindi nagbago yung malungkot at walang emosyon nitong mukha.

"I don't have a name."

"What?!" Gulat na sigaw ng binata tsaka nagsimulang mag-histerikal. "But why?! You should have a name! Everybody has a name!"

"But I really don't have one." Kinamot nung bata yung sariling pisngi tsaka nag-iwas ng tingin. "Mommy always call me useless while daddy was always calling me 'hey'. They didn't give me a name because I'm unwanted."

Nagkatinginan ang binata at ang tagapagsilbi nito. Bakas sa mukha nila ang gulat at lungkot para sa bata pero hindi pinahalata ng binata yon.

Bagkus ay ngumiti sya tsaka umaktong nag-iisip.

"Hmn... You can borrow one of my names." Pumitik sya sa hangin tsaka nagyayabang na pinag-ekis ang mga braso sa dibdib. "I'm Nero Orazio Arsen Mikhail Rivera. Choose one from my handsome names so that you can have yours."

Kumunot yung noo nung bata. "I don't want your name."

"What?! Why not?!" Nahihintakutang sigaw nito.

"Because it's yours."

"It's fine!"

"No, it's not."

"I'm giving you my permission, you know?"

"I still don't want it."

"I'm offering my handsome names to you yet you're refusing?!" Lumingon sya sa matandang babaeng syang laging naka-alalay sa kanya. "Nenita! What kind of kid is this? He's refusing my offer! He's breaking my heart, Nenita! How dare he break a Rivera's heart?!" Naiiyak na ani nito.

Imbes na tulungan ay tumawa lamang ang matandang babae habang umiiling.

"The other servants of the household might be confuse if they are calling both of you with the same name, señorito." Anya na saglit na nagpatigil kay Nero mula sa pag-iinarte.

"Okay, you've got a good point right there." Sumimangot si Nero pero makalipas ang ilang minuto ay nagkibit ito ng balikat. "Well if that's the case then I'll give you a name—a name that is as handsome as mine!" Sabay halakhak ng malakas.

"What about the name 'Noam', señorito Nero?" Suhestyon ni Nenita na nakakuha sa atensyon pareho ni Nero at ng bata.

"Noam? I've never heard such name before, where did you get it from, Nenita?"

"From the initials of your name, señorito." Magalang nitong sagot tsaka nginitian ang amo tsaka ang bata. "Also, the name 'Noam' means pleasantness which is very accurate for him because this boy brings pleasantness in the Rivera household."

"Oh! Oh! I love that name, Nenita!" Pumapalakpak na turan ni Nero tsaka itinuro ang bata nang may nagniningning na mga mata. "From now on, you'll be Noam Rivera!"

"Noam... Rivera?" Nagugulat at naguguluhang anya ng bata pero bakas sa mukha ang saya.

"Yeah, yeah! Noam Rivera! I like it! Sounds handsome—like me!"

Masiglang kinuha ni Nero yung parehong kamay ng bata tsaka mahigpit iyong hinawakan. Pinisil-pisil ng binata yon bago ngumiti ng pagkaliwa-liwanag na kahit na sinong makakakita ay madadala sa sigla nito.

"Don't worry, Noam. I'll take good care of you!"

NAPADILAT ako at napatitig sa kisame.

"Nero..."

Napangiti ako habang inaalala yung saglit na panaginip na yon. Yung masayang mukha nya habang kausap ako, yung ngiting hindi matanggal sa labi nya na para bang hindi sya napapagod at nagsasawang gawin yon araw-araw.

Kahit sa panaginip na lang kami nagkikita, nagagawa nya pa rin akong pangitiin.

Napahikab ako ng wala sa oras kaya kinusot ko yung mata kong inaantok pa mula sa pagkakagising. Nanlalabo ang paningin na nilingon ko yung orasan na nakapatong sa bed table.

"Nakaidlip pala ako." Umayos ako ng upo tsaka hinanap yung katabi ko kanina bago ako makatulog. "Morgan?"

Bumangon ako mula sa kama tsaka pupungas-pungas na naglakad patungo sa pinto para hanapin sya.

Kanina pagkatapos kumain ay nagpresinta syang maghugas ng pinagkainan pero ang siste, hindi naman pala sya marunong maghugas kaya ayun, nabasag yung dalawang baso at isang pinggan kaya bandang huli ay ako rin ang gumawa. Sinubukan nya rin magwalis pero bumabalik lang yung alikabok na winalis nya, pinaglagay ko na lang sya ng tubig sa pitsel mula sa mineral water container bago ilagay sa ref kaso natapon pa nya.

Siguro, hindi sya kumikilos sa bahay nila. Hehe.

Kanina lang ay nanonood kami ng TV, sa totoo nga eh ako lang ang nanonood dahil busy sya kaka-tipa sa cellphone nya. Magkatabi kami sa kama pero hindi ko namalayang nakatulog pala ako.

Ngayong mag-a-alas dose na, saan naman kaya sya nagpunta?

Sumilip ako sa pinto, pero wala sya sa labas kaya pipihit na sana ako pabalik sa loob nang mahagip ng mata ko yung paparating na anino mula sa pag-akyat sa hagdan.

"Saan ka galing?" Tanong ko habang inaaninag sya, medyo madilim kasi dito sa pasilyo ng apartment namin tapos may kalabuan pa yung mata ko.

Pero sigurado akong sya yon, sa bulto pa lang ng katawan at paraan ng paglalakad ay alam kong sya yon. Isa pa ay suot na naman nya yung damit ko pero this time ay hindi lang sando.

Pati pajama ko suot na rin nya. Hmp.

"Why are you still awake?" Bungad nya nang makalapit sa akin. "I thought you're already in a deep sleep."

"Naalimpungatan ako." Sinilip ko yung hawak nya kabilang kamay, yung isa kasi na sa bulsa nya. "Ano yan? Saan ka nga galing?"

"Downstairs." Iniangat nya yung plastic bag na bitbit nya. "I got hungry so I bought some midnight snacks. Want some?"

Pinaningkitan ko sya ng mata, naghihinala sa sinabi nyang nagugutom sya dahil langhap na langhap ko mula sa kinatatayuan ko yung matapang na amoy ng pinaghalong menthol na candy, alak at sigarilyo sa kanya.

"Hating gabi na pero na sa labas ka pa?" Nameywang ako. "At sinong maniniwala sayong snacks lang ang binili mo? Amoy alak at sigarilyo ka, Morgan."

"Oh," Tumawa sya. "Are you nagging at me?"

"Medyo." Simangot ko pero nginisihan nya lang ako.

"You're so f*ckin cute whenever you're doing that angry face."

Pinisil-pisil nya yung pisngi ko pero inalis ko yon, ang kaso ay pasaway talaga sya at yung kabilang pisngi ko naman ang pinisil.

"Do it again."

Kinunotan ko sya ng noo. "Ang alin?"

"That face." Nguso nya. "Angry face."

"Hindi ako galit, nag-aalala lang ako sayo." Ako naman ang ngumuso tsaka hinila-hila yung laylayan ng sando nya. "Wag kang basta-bastang umaalis lalo na sa gabi, okay?"

"Yes, boss."

Nginiwian ko sya. Akala ko ay may sasabihin pa sya pero natigilan ako nang bigla syang ngumiti bago tumawa ng mahina.

"Bakit?" Hindi sya sumagot at mas lumakas pa yung pagtawa kaya hinatak ko sya. "Huy, gabi na ano ka ba? Tulog na yung mga tao sa kabilang unit."

"I don't care, actually." Sabay tawa na naman kaya hinila ko na sya ng tuluyan.

"Pasaway ka, hindi ka man lang ba concern sa mga kapitbahay natin?"

"Your neighbor, not mine."

"Pero kapitbahay mo na rin sila kasi dito ka na sa'kin titira."

Natigilan sya sa sinabi ko at umaktong nag-iisip. Maya-maya ay umiling-iling sya bago nagpatuloy sa pagtawa pero hindi tulad kanina ay mas mahinang tawa na iyon.

"I'm thinking about staying here for less than a month but..." Inilapit nya yung mukha nya sa'kin tsaka huminto ilang sentimetro ang layo ng mga labi nya sa labi ko. "...you just gave me an idea to stay here for good."

"A-ano?" Napapakurap-kurap kong ani.

Teka, wala naman akong binanggit na dito sya tumira panghabang-buhay ah.

Halos mapugto yung hininga ko sa sobrang lapit nya, samantalang sya ay hindi man lang natitinag.

"Don't worry, I still have the feeling of concern." Umayos na sya ng tayo tsaka tumabingi ang ulo. "Unfortunately, my concern is exclusively yours only."

"Morgan!" Saway ko pero pinitik nya lang yung tungki ng ilong ko bago ako tinalikuran.

Hinimas-himas ko yung ilong ko tsaka sya sinundan. Ang sakit nung pagkakapitik nya sa ilong ko, pakiramdam ko namumula iyon.

Tsaka bakit ba parang mas dumadaldal si Morgan habang tumatagal? Dati-rati naman parang napakatipid nya magsalita tapos walang emosyon tsaka iisa lang ang tono, parang laging inaantok. Samantalang ngayon para talagang yumayabang at mas nagiging confident.

Pinanood ko syang ilapag sa mesa yung binili nya, ako naman ang lumapit doon para i-check kung ano ba yung mga pinagbibibili nya.

"Noodles, icecream, chips, softdrinks, beer, chocolates." Umingos ako. "Puro junkfoods naman ito."

"It's not junkfoods," Sumilip sya sa balikat ko. "That's what I call midnight snack, you dummy."

"Junkfoods 'to, wag ka ngang ano."

Narinig ko na naman yung mahina nyang tawa habang nasa likuran ko habang ipinagpatuloy ko lang yung ginagawa kong pagkalkal  sa plastic bag nya.

Bukod pa sa mga junkfoods ay may nakita rin anong isang itim na kaha ng sigarilyo at bukas na supot  ng mga kendi. Sinulyapan ko sya ng may masamang tingin pero kinindatan nya lang ako, imbes tuloy na mainis ay pinamulahan pa ako ng pisngi.

Kainis. Ang ganda nya.

Bumalik ako sa ginagawa nang may mahawakan akong hindi pamilyar na box sa loob ng plastic, dahilan para mangunot yung noo ko. Maliit lang yon at manipis.

"Ano to?" Dinampot ko iyon at pinakatitigan. "Chocolate flavor?"

"It's a raincoat."

"Raincoat?" Tumango-tango sya. "Raincoat pero ganito kaliit?"

"Yup."

Kinamot ko yung ulo ko. "Eh ang liit nito ah, saan naman isinusuot to?"

Kinuha nya yon mula sa kamay ko tsaka nya ako hinawakan sa magkabilang balikat para ipaharap sa kanya.

Binuksan nya yon tsaka may hinugot na kung anong foil, itinapat nya sa'kin yon bago seryosong dahan-dahang ibinababa.

"This is for covering..."

Sumunod yung tingin ko sa pagbaba ng kamay nya hanggang sa huminto yon at pinaningkitan nya nga mata yung pinaghintuan non.

"...the eggplant."

Pakiramdam ko hihimatayin ako nang mapagtanto kung saan nakatutok yung kamay nya—sa gitna ng hita ko!

"E-eggplant ka dyan?! Bastos!"

"Dummy, what's pervert in this?" Inangat nya yon tsaka ininspeksyon. "It's just a raincoat."

"Condom yan!"

"Yeah, I know. It's a raincoat made for the eggplant."

Umakyat lahat ng dugo sa mukha ko dala ng kahihiyan lalo na noong inilalapit nya yon sa akin. Para bang isinusukat nya sa akin yon amamagitan lang ng tingin.

Ang bastos talaga! Eggplant-eggplant?! Saan ba nya pinagkukuha yung mga sinasabi nya?!

Umatras ako pero mas lumalapit pa sya. "Tigilan mo ko, Morgan ah!"

"I'm not sure about your size, so I just picked every sizes that I saw on the shelf." Dinampot nya yung plastic at inilabas yung iba pang maliliit na box ron na nagpanganga sa akin.

"Ewan ko sayo!"

"Hey! Why are you walking away?" Sita nya nang mapansing umaatras ako palayo sa kanya kaya mas binilisan ko yung hakbang pero humabol sya.

"Try this on. Let's see what size fits on you."

"Wag kang makulit!"

"C'mon, Noam? Why are you running away?"

"H-hindi ito eggplant!"

"If that's not an eggplant, then what is it? Is it a fruit instead? Like a banana?"

"Morgan!" Singhal kong sigaw pero bigla na lang syang tumakbo palapit sa'kin kaya tumakbo ako paikot sa sala.

Pasaway! Talagang hinahabol nya ako!

"Just try it!"

"No!"

"Noam?!"

"Ayaw!"

"Ah, ayaw mo?"

Bigla akong natigilan matapos nyang magtagalog pero mas natigilan ako nang matalisod yung paa ko, mabuti na lang at naabutan nya ako dahil agad na pumaikot sa bewang ko yung mga braso nya para yakapin ako mula sa likod.

"Gotcha." Sumilip sya sa balikat ko at dumukwang para magnakaw ng halik sa'king pisngi. "You're blushing again, Noam."

Paanong hindi ako mamumula? Yung dibdib nya nakadikit sa likuran ko, ramdam ko yung lambot non dahil mahigpit yung pagkakayakap nya sa'kin.

Tsaka kinilig ako don sa kiss sa pisngi tapos yung dating ng pagsasalita nya. Iba kasi yung dating.

"By the way, I'll replace the things that I broke tomorrow." Tukoy nya sa mga basong nabasag nya.

"Wag na, ayos lang."

"No, I'll replace it." Bumitaw sya sa akin kaya humarap ako sa kanya. Hinuli nya yung kanang kamay ko at mahigpit na hinawakan habang ang isa naman ay humahawi-hawi sa bangs ko. "I'll also change the design of your unit, if that's okay with you."

Ngumuso ako. "Wala ka bang ibang gagawin bukas?"

"I'm on a month leave, remember?"

"Kaya magpapaka-busy ka sa pag-aayos ng mga gamit ko rito?" Tumango sya kaya ngumiwi naman ako. "Oh sige, bahala ka."

"Thanks." Sabay ngisi. "Now, kiss me."

Pinandilatan ko sya at inignora sabay hila sa kanya patungo sa kama. Aba naman, makahingi ng kiss akala mo may utang ako sa kanya.

Inayos ko yung unan na ginagamit nya at pinagpagan yung kutson bago sya hinila pasampa doon. Hindi naman sya umangal, sya pa nga tong naunang humiga at yumakap sa'kin.

Dumukwang sya para humalik sa noo ko na nagpangiti sa akin. Parang tinatambol yung puso ko sa bilis ng t***k non.

Wala lang, nakakakilig lang.

"Good night, Noam."

"Good night rin, Morgan."

Pumikit na ako habang nakasiksik yung mukha ko sa leeg nya. Nakaunan yung ulo ko sa isang braso nya habang ang isa pa ay nakahawak sa kamay ko, kahit na amoy usok at alak sya ay tinatalo ng amoy ng pabango nya yung mga yon.

"Noam?"

"Hmn?"

"Are you sure that you don't really wanna try the eggplant raincoat—"

"MORGAN!"

(Morgan's POV)

"What are we going to do, Morgan?" Beau asked.

I took me a few seconds before I could finally utter an answer that shocked him.

"Noam is not like that."

"C'mon! He's a fake, patay na yung may-ari ng pangalan na ginagamit nya." He stood up and put his hands both on his own waist while looking at me frustratedly. "Hindi ka ba nagtataka? Nagkakilala kayo bigla nung Noam na yon, saktong-sakto bago mag-umpisa tong issue tungkol sa posibilidad na buhay pa ang mga Veratti. Wag mong sabihin na coincidence lang yon?"

"So what if it's just a coincidence?" I reasoned.

"Morgan naman, there's a high possibility na sinadya nyang magkakilala kayo. Pinatay ng mga Veratti ang pamilya Rivera, tapos ngayon nalaman natin na nagpapanggap lang yung dine-date mo—hindi mo pa ba nakukuha? Malamang planado nila to!"

He's now upset. Beau's tone is now rising and I know that he'll never lower his voice not until he could convince me.

"I don't like where this conversation goes." I said as I stood up.

I was about to walk towards the direction of the door when he held my wrist and pulled me to face him. Brows are furrowing and jaws are moving, I can read the frustration and bafflement that is written on his face.

"Don't you get it? Sinadya ng Noam na yon na mag-date kayo para kapag napalapit kayo sa isa't isa ay may makukuha syang impormasyon sayo! He's just using you!"

"He's not like that." I pulled my hand away from his grip and gave him a glare. "Noam is not a fake. He may not be the real Nero or whoever that person is but I know that he's not faking anything. He's always true to me."

"And how can you be so sure?"

"I felt it."

"That's not an excuse! I'm sorry, Morgan pero I really think na parte si Noam ng pamilya Veratti at plano nilang—" He stopped and looked at me in disbelief. "—wait, did you just say, you felt it?"

My eyes went down to the floor, trying to avoid his gaze but my hands clenched because of an unknown irritation because of what he have said about Noam. Confusing enough, his accusations towards Noam is pissing me off.

"My Noam is a person too. He has his own secrets to keep but I don't think that it is something that I need to be worried of."

I looked at him but I can't figure out what kind of reaction he's giving me.

Is he worried? Confused? Dissapointed? Whatever he thinks of me, I don't care. Right from the start, I really don't care.

"I'm much more worried for him, he must be enduring something for so long that makes him take some sleeping pills just to have a proper sleep." I clenched my fist even tighter and I saw how he took a glance on my hands.

"Morgan..."

"Thank you for the information, Beau. It's very much helpful yet I don't have any single doubts for my Noam. I trust him not because I want to, but because that's just how I feel towards him."

I turned my back on him and continued walking towards the door. My hand already reached for the doorknob yet he's still not giving up.

"What if I'm correct, Morgan?"

"What if you're wrong?"

"Morgan naman."

I glanced at him one last time and let out a smile. "It's fine. Traitor or not, I'll take full responsibility for the consequences of my actions." Then I finally went off.

THE conversation between Beau and me suddenly played in my mind while staring blankly at Noam who's sleeping peacefully in my arm.

Actually, my arm where his head is resting really feels numb but I don't have the courage to wake him up. I don't want to disturb him, he looks so beautiful that I can't even take my eyes off from him. Waking up and seeing this kind of feminine beauty of a greek god first thing in the morning feels great.

Noam should be arrested for being seductive while sleeping, for f*ck's sake this is a crime—he's robbing my heart unconsciously.

"This man..." I traced the bridge of his small pointy nose down to his not so plumpy pinkish lips. "...is sinfully gorgeous."

My finger continues to slide down to his chin and held it, lifting it for me to see his whole face clearly.

"You're not just messing with my heart, but you're also meddling in my decisions. You're capable of holding me in the neck without using your bare hands and that's just unfair." My eyes went down to his parted lips, doing soft snore as if he's having a good sleep. "D*mn, I'm turning my back against my own organization just for you? Why do I have this feeling that you're really worth it, hmn?"

Noam is not the one who's dangerous, but the people that he knew from his past. I may not look like it, but the first time I asked him about his childhood he stilled and made an unusual frightened expression.

Beau is one of my childhood friends, we knew each other since we were kids and I know that what he said about Noam could actually be true but who am I to judge?

Like what I've said, I'm trusting Noam not because I want to, but because that's just how I feel towards him.

I was busy staring and touching his face when a knock from the door caught my attention. My forehead turned into a frown, it's just 7 am in the morning, Noam didn't even mentioned that he'll be having a visitor this early.

The knocks continued so I began moving Noam to wake him up.

"Hey, Noam." I'm shaking his shoulder but he didn't even budge. "Wake up."

He just moved and turned his back on me as he pulled the blanket, covering his body with it.

I just shook my head and stood up. I'm stretching my arms as I walk towards the door, mentally preparing myself for whoever the f*ck it is standing outside the door.

My hand reached for the doorknob and opened it just to be surprise.

"Buon mattino, mio caro—" Her words were cut off as her eyes widen in shock. "Morgan?!"

I frowned further. "What the f*ck are you doing here?"

"Hindi ba dapat ako ang nagtatanong nyan?" Charlotte shook her head and made her way in, both hands are holding plastic bags full of groceries and food. "Hey mio caro, you awake? Dinalhan kita ng paborito mo."

I don't know why but my hand automatically moved on it's own and took the gun I hid behind the TV. Both of us frozed while looking at each other, if she's shocked then I'm more than surprised.

"The f*ck, Verdan?" She exclaimed. "Why are you pointing your gun to me and just where the f*ck did you get that!?"

"I'm sorry, my hand suddenly moved on it's own." I apologize sincerely and put back the gun on it's place.

Charlotte sighed in relief. Her lips are also parted, still recovering from the shock.

"Muntik na 'kong atakihin sa puso! Akala ko papatayin mo ko!"

I shook my head and inserted my hands inside Noam's pajama that I'm wearing. "I hate to kill a friend."

"Loko ka ah." She chuckled.

"But I'm not sorry anymore if my finger will suddenly pull the trigger the next time you call my Noam 'mio caro'."

She stilled and looked at me unbelievably, trying to weight my words if it's a joke or not.

"Seryoso ka?" She scoffed before letting out an awkward laugh. "Ang pangit ng biro mo."

"Who says I'm kidding?"

She went silent. Charlotte squinted her chinky eyes, gone the playful expression and replaced by the serious one.

"Anong problema mo, Verdan?"

I crossed my arms under my breasts and tilted my head, staring at her blankly before letting out a smirk.

"I said 'I hate to kill a friend' but that doesn't mean I can't kill one."