Wild Rage

Kabanata 5

What the hell was that?

Matapos dilaan ni Rage ang aking labi ay siya namang biglaang pagkatok ng kung sino sa pinto ng aking kwarto. Mabilis pa sa cheetah ang paglayo ko kay Rage nang mapagtanto ang nangyari.

Did he… did he just kissed me?

Rage looked at me as if nothing happened. Then, he stood up and walked towards the door. Nang buksan niya iyon ay siya namang pagsilip ni Jude.

“Oh, kuya Rage, nandito ka pala sa kwarto ni Ysa,” ani Jude. He doesn’t look very surprised because they knew Rage and I were close back then. “Catching up?” Jude added.

Hindi sumagot si Rage. “Are you looking for me?” he asked.

“Yeah. Balak mag-shot nina Elijah. You up for it?”

“Sure. Magpapalit lang ako,” ani Rage. He glanced at me before he went out of my room. Okay, what was that glance suppose to mean?

Bumaling si Jude sa akin. “Sumali ka na uminom, Ysa. Ngayon ka na lang nakauwi sa atin. You better join us or Caleb and Jacob will drag you out from your room just like before. Do you remember kapag tinatamad kang makipaglaro sa kanila noong mga bata pa tayo? They will drag your ass out from your cave. I was too young back then,” natatawang wika ni Jude habang inaalala ang aming kabataan.

I smiled at Jude. He looks just like his mother. Si tita Claudia. Hindi maikakailang isa siyang Fuentes.

“Alright. I’m coming. Mauna ka nang pumunta doon. Susunod na lang ako,” saad ko.

“Okay.” Isinara ni Jude ang pinto ng kwarto ko.

Naisipan kong magpalit na muna ng damit at maliligo na lang ako mamaya. I wore a black sando and gray jogging pants bago ako lumabas ng kwarto.

Habang naglalakad ako papunta sa living room ay nadidinig ko na ang tawanan at kwentuhan ng mga pinsan ko.

“…I tried blocking her number, though. But she’s really persistent,” dinig kong wika ni Rage.

“What a psycho. You shouldn’t have entertained that girl, bro,” natatawang wika ni Elijah. “But did you fvck her before blocking her number?”

Hindi ko alam kung bakit nanikip ang dibdib ko sa tanong ni Elijah kay Rage. Just by looking at Rage, no woman would hesitate to throw themselves at him. Rage is the definition of perfection. He has a toned body. Immaculate I must say. His aura is screaming hotness and sexiness. Likod pa lamang niya ay alam nang isa siyang matipunong lalaki na siguradong hahangaan at pagpapantasyahan.

Bago pa makasagot si Rage sa tanong ni Elijah ay napansin ako ni Jacob na nakatayo sa huling baitang ng hagdan kaya naman napatingin na rin si Leo sa akin.

“Ysa, come here and join us,” ani Leo.

As much as possible ay ayokong tumingin sa gawi ni Rage na katabi ni Elijah, but I failed. I glanced at him once. But I did my best to ignore him after that.

Ngunit bigla na lamang nag-flashback sa aking isipan ang paghalik niya sa akin kanina. Was he supposed to do that sa akin na kababata niya? Does a kuya kisses his princess?

I did my best to look normal dahil nagkakagulo na naman ang aking isipan at puso dahil sa paulit-ulit na nagpe-play ang malambot na labi ni Rage sa utak ko.

“The real princess of the Fuentes clan is back,” nakangiting wika ni Leo sa akin. “It’s been a while, Ysa.”

I decided to sit beside Jude bago ako nag-respond sa sinabi ni Leo. “I’m no princess, Leo. I’m just an ordinary person.”

I felt Rage’s stare after I said that, but I didn’t dare to look at him.

Katapat namin sina Rage at Elijah. Nakaupo naman si Leo sa single couch sa kanan namin at si Jacob naman ay sa kaliwa. I took a shot glass of vodka from the table and drank it.

“Whoa. Calm down, lady,” ani Caleb sa akin. “Kakaupo mo lang pero parang gusto mo nang malasing,” natatawa pa niyang sabi.

“Let me be, Caleb. Ngayon na lang ako nag-inom,” saad ko nang ipatong ko iyong shot glass sa glass na mesa.

Kaagad ko namang naramdaman sa aking lalamunan pababa sa aking tiyan ang init ng vodka. It was good to have a drink tonight para makatulog ako kaagad at para matigil ang aking utak na isipin ang paghalik ni Rage sa akin.

“Hinay-hinay lang, Ysa,” ani Leo. “I’m glad you’re back. At last, matatahimik na ang isip ni tito Hermano kung paano ka niya mapapabalik dito sa atin.” Then, he looked at Rage. “Ikaw lang pala ang makakapagpauwi kay Ysa.”

Neither Rage nor I dared to speak.

“Oh, hindi pa ba kayo bati?” ani Elijah. “Come on, guys. Matatanda na tayo. That’s ten years ago already.”

“Let them be, Elijah,” saway ni Caleb.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit naluluha ako. Alam naman nilang close kami noon pero hindi nila alam ang nararamdaman ko. I took another shot glass of vodka from the table to stop myself from being hurt by Elijah’s words, but Rage suddenly spoke.

“Stop drinking that,” seryoso niyang wika. This time ay napatingin na ako sa kanya pati na rin sina Jude, Jacob, at Caleb, marahil ay hindi inasahan ang kanyang pagsasalita.

“Why? I’m not a child,” iritable kong saad.

“Okay, okay, stop it, guys,” sabat ni Jacob. “We are drinking to celebrate your homecoming at hindi para mag-away,” dagdag pa niya.

“It’s just a little banter huwag na nating palakihin,” komento ni Caleb. “Anyway, anong balak niyo bukas?”

“Nothing. Gusto ko munang magpahinga,” sagot ni Rage.

“Alright. Call us anytime na lang kapag may gusto kang gawin. I bet you’ll get busy here after a couple of days. For sure tito Hermano gave you some responsibilities to take care of here,” ani Leo.

“Yeah,” Rage agreed, then he looked at me.

What’s that look suppose to mean? Ako ang kanyang responsibility?

Nagkwentuhan pa sila habang ako naman ay nakikinig lang. Elijah kept asking Rage about his ‘fun’ time in London ngunit hindi naman siya sinasagot ni Rage. Bakit kaya? Ayaw ba niyang marinig ko? The hell I care?

Hindi ko alam kung ilang shot ng vodka ang nainom ko hanggang sa maging tipsy na ako.

“Hey, Ysa, tama na yan,” ani Leo. “I think you drank too much.”

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ngumiti ako kay Leo na walang dahilan at saka ko inihiga ang ulo ko sa sandalan ng sofa. Nahihilo ako at uminit lalo ang pakiramdam ko.

“Geez, she’s drunk,” umiiling na wika ni Caleb.

Then, one of them stood up and scooped me. Para tuloy akong isang bride habang buhat niya ako. I smelled his shirt and I realized it’s freaking Rage.

“Let’s call it a night. I’ll take her to her room. Good night,” wika ni Rage sa lahat at saka na siya nagsimulang lumakad papunta sa aking kwarto.

“Put me down…” I mumbled.

“No. You’re drunk,” seryosong wika ni Rage.

“I still… hate you,” lasing kong wika. I punched his chest but my hand was too weak to give him the punch of his life.

“I know,” he said.

Hindi ko alam kung dala lang ba ito ng alak dahil ngumiti ako sa kanyang sinabi habang nakapikit ang mga mata ko at nakasandal ang ulo ko sa kanyang dibdib.

“Good,” I responded sleepily. “I hate you… forever,” I added.

Nadinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto at pagsara nito. I smelled the air in the room and I realized it wasn’t my room.

That fresh ocean breeze scent of perfume lingering in the air come’s from Rage’s room. Damn! Why am I here?!

“Makalat ang kwarto mo. Hindi ka makakatulog sa kama mo ng maayos. Sleep here in my room,” ani Rage, pagkatapos ay ibinaba niya ako sa kanyang kama.

“No,” nanghihina kong wika dala ng pagkalasing. “Doon ako matutulog,” pagpupumilit ko pa. I was about to stand up when he put his palms on my shoulders and pinned me on the bed. “What are you doing? Let me go!” I tried to push him but to no avail. He’s too strong.

“Let you go?” he asked. “I didn’t,” aniya. I realized he was talking about the past.

“You freaking did! Iniwan mo ko!” Damn this alcohol. Hindi ko alam kung saan ko nakukuha ang lakas ng loob para sabihin iyon kay Rage.

“I didn’t leave you, princess.”

Bigla na lang uminit ang mga mata ko at nagsipatakan ang mga luha ko. I stopped struggling and cried like a kid. I feel so hurt.

“Shh… don’t cry,” Rage said softly. “I didn’t come back here just to see you cry like this,” aniya pa. Mas lalo lamang akong naiyak dahil ramdam ko ang sweetness niya sa akin. Ngumangawa na ako dahil sa pagka-overwhelm ko sa aking nararamdaman na sama ng loob at hinanakit sa kanya.

“Stop crying now, Mariya,” aniya pa. “Or I’ll make you stop.” There was a hint of threat and desire in his tone but I didn’t care.

I cried even more and the next thing that happened was not I expected. He crashed his lips on mine again and this time it was deep and needy. It felt so good and my body started to feel weak and hot.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ipinulupot ko ang aking mga kamay sa kanyang batok at tumugon sa kanyang mainit na halik. Maybe, it was the alcohol’s doing. Or not?

“Ahh..” I let out a soft moan when Rage sucked my lower lip. Then he groaned when he heard it.

“Dammit, Mariya. Don’t be like this or I will—,” Rage said but he stopped mid sentence.

“You will what?” hamon ko.

“Nothing,” aniya. “You’re too drunk.”

“So what if I’m drunk?”

Hindi sumagot si Rage. Instead, he stared at me as if he realized something. Was it regret? I don’t have any idea. After a few seconds he stood up making me feel confused.

“You will not remember this when you wake up tomorrow. Matulog ka na,” malamig na sambit ni Rage at pagkatapos ay lumabas siya ng kwarto.

So that’s it?

I never felt humiliated like this ever lalo na sa ganitong klase ng sitwasyon. And for the second time around, I felt abandoned again from the person who I wanted to stay.

My mind was too exhausted to think anymore and it started to throb until I fell asleep.

The next day, I called my dad right away. I wasn’t able to recall what happened last night but after realizing I was inside Rage’s room, I knew something happened pero hindi ko alam kung ano.

“Dad, I will not stay here for long,” pagpupumilit ko habang nakaupo sa edge ng aking kama na puno pa rin ng mga nakasambulat kong gamit at damit.

“Ysa, anak,” ani dad. I could tell he’s too tired of this conversation. “You are my only child. Ikaw ang magmamana ng mga ari-arian na nakapangalan sa akin. Hindi ka ba nahihiya kay Rage? He’s not a Fuentes but he’s there to help us. Please, stop being stubborn, anak. I’m old. Give me at least some peace of mind.”

Bigla akong nakonsensya sa sinabi ni daddy. I could tell he is so done with my stubbornness.

I sighed heavily. “Alright. I’m sorry, dad.”

“Apology accepted, anak. So, what’s your decision?”

“I’ll stay here for a while and learn how to manage our properties. Please, don’t pressure me on this. I’ll try my best until I decide for myself if I stay here or go back to my life in Manila.”

“I can’t promise you that, Ysabelle. Just try for a while at saka ka na mag-isip. I’ll hung up now.”

“Wait, dad. Dad!”

He really hung up on me. Sa frustration ko ay lumabas ako ng kwarto. Habang pababa ako sa hagdan ay unti-unting bumagal ang pagbaba ko nang mapansin si Rage sa living room na may kausap na dalawang foreigner na babae at isang lalaki, at dalawang asian na lalaki na mukhang lumaki sa ibang bansa na sa tingin ko ay sa London.

“…thank you for visiting,” ani Rage sa kanila.

Biglang kumulo ang dugo ko sa hindi malamang dahilan nang yakapin nung isang foreigner na babae si Rage at halikan pa ito sa pisngi na halos malapit na sa labi.

“I missed you!” she said, then giggled.

Parang gusto kong manabunot ng blonde sa hindi ko malamang dahilan.