OWNED by a POSSESSIVE GREEK

Ika-Siyam- Cindy

“Hindi ka pa maliligo?” Ate Saf asked when she noticed that I am not standing yet, samantalang si Azalea ay mabilis na tumayo ng tumawag ang boys na lumusong na sa dagat.

Nalukot ang mukha ko nang mapatingin sa dagat, masyado pang maaraw, hindi naman sa nag iinarte ako pero madali akong magka sunburn dahil sa puti ko, and I don’t like the feeling..

“Later na ko ate, I might get burn sa sobrang init?” napangiwi kong sabi bago binalik ang shades sa mata ko. Napahagikgik si Ate Saf, sabay ayos sa swimsuit nya. Ate Saf is really a head turner, her body and face is to die for, kaya hindi na ko nag tataka kung bakit ang daming nakalingon sa gawi namin.

“Oh well, that’s the disadvantage ng pagkakaroon ng porselanang balat, mabilis mamula at ma-sunburn, buti nalang mestiza lang ako.” Proud nyang sabi.

“I know! I never wanted to be like snow white. Azalea has a Latina Beauty, while you have this Brazilian girl vibe..while me...I will always be the snow white. of the Carmichael Clan” Nakalabi kong sabi. I am happy with my looks and body but sometimes I envy my cousins for their Beauty.

“What are you talking about? You being so white as SNOW WHITE gives you your own version of Beauty, nagkataon lang na you think tan skin is hotter and more beautiful since you were raised at states, parang hindi ka naman aware na Filipinas will kill just to have your porcelain skin, halos sambahin ang gluta and other skin whitening products dito sa Pilipinas.” Naiiling na sabi ni Ate Saf.

“Well-”

“Ate Saf! Caleigh! Kayo nalang wala dito!” Sigaw ni Phoenix na pumutol sa sasabihin ko. Napailing nalang ako ng mahalata nag papakitang gilas lang ito sa mga babaeng nasa paligid.

“Go ate, susunod ako later.” Pagkukumbinsi ko sakanya bago humiga sa Beach Lounge Chair na natatabunan ng malaking bubong na umbrella style.

“Sure?” Nag aalangan na sabi nito na ikinatawa ko lang sabay tango.

"Okay.." alanganin nyang sabi.

Nang makaalis si Ate Saf ay inayos ko ang suot kong Robe at humiga ng maayos. Maybe I’ll just take a nap for an hour bago lumusong ng dagat. For sure hindi na ganun kaaraw by that time.

“Kuya, wala ka pa sa mood maligo?”

“Maybe later..”

“But you’ll miss the fun?! Ang daming chix doon sa banda doon!”

Nakarinig ako ng tawa.

"You go ahead.."

"Sure? tara na! Daming sexy ako nakita doon!"

I woke up because of the voices around me. Hindi ko napansin na nakaidlip ako, kanina lang binalak ko matulog pero hindi ako makatulog so sinubukan ko magbasa hangang sa nakaidlip na pala ako.

I almost jumped when I saw who’s sitting on the beach chair beside me. He is wearing a beach shorts and white sando which shows his muscular arm. I am so thankful that I am wearing a dark shades. He won't notice that I am checking him out.

“It’s okay, I’m not interested.” Sagot nya kay Phoenix na nakahubad na ng sando at nakasuot na ng basang beach shorts.

I almost snorted. Coming from a Playboy? Maniwala ako?!

“Woah? Where’s Kuya Silas? What have you done to him, stranger?” halata ang gulat sa mukha ni Phoenix. “Sure ka? Dito ka lang?”

Napakamot ng ulo nitong tanong. “Sige buti pa para may bantay si Caleigh dito.” Patuloy nito sabay tingin sakin. Mabilis kong pinikit ang mata ko, tho dark shades and suot ko, who know’s baka mapansin parin na gising na ako?!

Hinintay ko ang sagot ni Silas pero wala itong sinabi na kahit ako.

“Sige punta na ko doon!” paalam ni Phoenix.

Silence is around us..

So? What should I do? Dapat bang mag pangap na tulog ako? Or should I let him know na gising na ako? Bago pa ko makapagdecide ay nagsalita na sya.

“I know you’re now awake sleepy head” He said in an amused voice.

My eyes suddenly snapped open, at mabilis na napalingon ako sakanya, his handsome face is looking directly at me. He is wearing a wayfarer pero tinanggal nya iyon at humarap ng maayos saakin at pinagmasdan ako.

“So?” I said in an almost croaky voice.

I know my face is red sa pagkapahiya pero I can just tell him na dahil sa init ng araw yun, in case he decided to tease me about my tomato color face.

He just shrugged and gave me a boyish smile that can melt a heart.

Napailing ako, why am I even thinking of those things?

Dahan dahan akong umupo at sinuot ang slippers ko.

“I guess I’ll swim na, hindi na tirik ang araw..” sabi ko, kunwari ay kausap ang sarili.

Tumayo ako at inalis ang robe na suot ko pag tapos ay ang pagkakabun ng hair ko. Hinawi ko ang buhok ko para maging maayos, may hair is naturally straight but I had it perm months ago just to have the sexy hair wave effect.

Yumuko ako para ibaba ang robe na tinupi ko sa beach chair pero mabilis akong napatuwid ng tayo ng marinig ang galit nyang tinig.

“The f**k!” He said at bigla syang napatayo.

“Huh?” lito kong tanong nang mapansin ang matalim na titig nito sakin at matapos ay bumaba ang tingin sa dibdib ko at agad naman binalik uli sa mukha ko ang masamang titig.

“What the hell are you doing?” Magkasalubong ang kilay na tanong nito, halata sa boses nya ang pagkainis.

“Excuse me?”

“Dammit it! Cassiopeia Everleigh Carmichael!” Gigil nyang sabi. My lips parted, this is the first time I heard him mention my name, not just my name but my whole name!

And it sounds so good coming from his lips.

“A-ano?” Lito kong tanong.

Mabilis itong humakbang palapit sakin at laking gulat ko ng itaklob nya saakin ang towel na dinampot nya sa beach chair na nakatupi.

“A-ano ba?!” pilit kong inaalis ang towel na binalot nya saakin, kulang nalang maging turon ako sa pagkakabalot nya.

“Why are you wearing such disturbing clothes?” Halatang nagpipigil sya na lakasan ang boses! “And how dare you bend just like that?!” Marahas itong huminga matapos ay nilagay nya ang braso saakin at hinila ako palapit sakaya na halos payakap na.

I suddenly went still, what is he doing? Sinubukan kong magpipiglas ang luckily natulak ko sya at nakaatras ako palayo ng ilang hakbang sakanya. Mabilis kong inalis ang towel at hinagis sa upuan.

“What’s your problem? Bakit ba nagagalit ka dyan? First, there’s nothing disturbing on my swimsuit!” Gigil kong sabi sabay tingin sa swimsuit ko. I am wearing an emerald two-piece string bikini which i think hindi naman matatawag na skimpy, besides I love this swimwear because bagay na bagay sya sa kulay ng balat ko. “Second, nilagay ko lang yung robe ko sa chair kaya napayuko ako! And lastly, whatever I do is none of your business!” mariin kong sabi.

I saw how his jaw suddenly clenched and how he breathes deeply na para bang nagpipigil ng galit.

Humakbang sya palapit sakin, I wanted to step back pero I stayed rooted to where I am standing, my heart is beating so fast because of nervousness. This guy is making my knees weak, those gray eyes are now looking at me seriously.

Gray Eyes? Wait bakit ngayon ko lang napansin na Gray ang mata nya?

His eyes look familiar..

Agape Mou..

Those words.. I heard it before..

Nanlalaki ang mata kong tiningnan sya.

“ Wait.. were you.. were you the guy in the bar at NY?”nag dadalawang isip kong tanong.

“Took you so long to remember me Cindy..” his evil smile almost made me shiver.