Kismet Three: Accept My Love

Chapter 10

“SIR?” Namilog ang mga mata ko nang mapatitig sa malapitan ang hitsura ng lalaki na muntik ko ng sapakin ng espada. Hinubad nito ang suto na sutana at naka-insert ang plain white T-shirt sa kaniyang faded jeans na hapit sa kaniyang hita. Nakita ko na siyang hubo’t-hubad noon kaya alam kong maskulado si Sir kahit na halos sa loob lang ng bahay ‘to at nakatutok palagi sa laptop nito. Pero hindi ko alam kung bakit mas umiinit ang pisngi ko sa kaniyang simpleng pananamit – iba ang dating niya ngayong walang maskara o costume ang nakaharang sa kaniyang pagkatao. “Ikaw ba talaga ‘yan?”

May haka-haka sa Namerna na matatagpuan ang mga may hitsura sa rehiyon ng Ornuv. Minsan nababasa ko sa magazines or sa social media na laging kasali ang mga Vornians kung beauty ang pag-uusapan.  Beauty is in the eyes of beholder nga talaga kasi plain looking lang sa akin ang mga Vornians. Pero inaamin kong muntik kong mabitawan ulit ang espadang hawak nang masilayan ko ang totoong anyo ng aking amo.  Maaliwalas ang mukha ni Sir Anthony. He had a wide forehead, prominent chin, deep set eyes, bushy eye-brows, lush lips and slightly crooked nose.

Connecting the jigsaw puzzles of his features made me concluded that he was indeed one of the most handsome men that I had seen in my entire life, Vornian or not.

“Does my beauty take your breath away?” His left brow rose and gave me a lopsided grin.

My heart went backflips at his action. “We-welcome back.”

Tumingin siya sa dala kong espada at kinuha ito mula sa’kin. “Tatagain mo ba ang mga humihingi ng blessings, Virtue? Not a Christian thing to do plus hindi masarap ang mga cookies mo.”

“Eh kasi…” Biglang uminit ang mga pisngi ko.

He snorted. “Gumamit ka ng baril sa susunod.”

“Father, stop teasing her.” Lumapit ang isang lalaki at hinawakan si Sir Anthony sa balikat. “You don’t treat women like that.” Lumingon siya sa’kin at ngumiti. “Nice meeting you, Virtue.”

“You know my name?” Napasinghap ako.

He was a taller than Sir Anthony – and my employer was a really tall person. His hip-long hair was silver white, his skin was so light and his electric blue eyes were piercing that it made me tingly. I imagined him to be one of those vampire heroes that I read secretly in my teens.

He bowed, making the strands of his hair fell forward. “Hugo at your service. Anthony spoke a lot of you.”

Napatingin ako kay Anthony at nakangiti lang siya. Napakaguwapo talaga ng amo ko lalo na’t kitang-kita ko ang kaniyang pantay na mga ngipin. I looked back at Hugo and placed my two hands over my shoulders and bowed in Vornian greeting.

“Oh, she’s so beautiful!” Malakas na bigkas ng isang babae.

Napatingin ako sa bandang likuran ng dalawang lalaki sa aking harapan at nakita ang dalawang couple na lumabas mula sa kani-kanilang mga sasakyan. Busy lang talaga ako kanina sa paglilinis at sa sarili kong mundo kaya hindi ko nahalatang may mga sasakyang dumating sa harapan ng bahay.

Snow White ang unang pumasok sa isipan ko nang tingnan ang papalapit na babae. Maliit siya, payat at napakaputi pero hindi kasing puti ni Hugo. Ito ang klaseng kutis na bihira kong makita rito sa Ornuv. Masyadong maitim ang kaniyang hanggang babang buhok na nagpapatingkad lalo sa kaniyang kaputian. Walang bahid ng make up ang kaniyang mukha pero namumula ang kaniyang mga pisngi at mga labi.

Hinila niya ang aking mga kamay at nakatitig ang kaniyang mga itim na mga mata. “I’m Clio Vivocente Nils, asawa ng kaibigan ni Father Anthony. You’re so pretty and you look like a Barbie doll.”

Nakakarinig ako non na isa ang mga Diem girls sa mga pinakamagandang babae sa aming rehiyon pero hindi ako naniniwala. Kaya naman namumula pa rin ang mga pisngi ko kapag nakakarinig ako ng papuri sa iba. “Sa-salamat…”

She gripped my hand firmly and glanced at the man beside her. “And this is my husband Tygo.”

Yumuko ako at nagbigay-galang.

Lumapit din ang isang couple at nakangiti ang lalaking nakatingin sa akin. “Hello, I’m Daren and this is my wife, Amanda.”

She wrote something on her writing board and showed it to me. ‘Nice meeting you.’

“Hello,” tanging sambit ko nang makita ang magandang mukha ng redhead. I was fascinated by the color of her hair that I almost forgot to invite them inside until Sir Anthony touched my shoulders.

“Father, ang ganda ng bahay mo!” manghang sabi ni Clio nang makapasok sa loob. “Tygo, ang gara ng chandelier oh. Bilhin kaya natin ‘to?”

“You like it?” tanong ni Sir Anthony at ngumit siya nang tumango ang babae. “It’s yours.”

“Father, you don’t have to do this.” Umiling si Tygo habang niyakap ang asawa.  

“I can.” Sir Anthony just shrugged. He strode towards the crib in the sala and took Zorina. “How’s my darling goddaughter? Wala bang umaway sa’yo rito?”

“Anak niyo ni Father?” Clio candidly asked.

Natameme ako sa tanong at muntik ko ng sinagot ang ‘Sana’ pero napigilan ko ang aking sarili. Tiningnan ko si Sir at si Zorina na tumatawa sa kanilang reunion. Sa ganitong picture, mukhang mag-ama talaga tingnan ang dalawa. At pinipiga ang puso ko dahil naisip ko si Andre bigla.

“Hindi,” tipid kong sagot, pilit na iwaglit ang lalaking umiwan sa’kin.

“Ah, but she looks like him.”

“Clio…” Hinila siya ni Tygo, niyakap at may binulong.

Dumiretso ako ng kusina at kinuha ang niluto kong cookies. Mabuti na rin at naisipan kong magpadeliver kanina ng cupcakes mula sa bagong bakeshoppe sa bayan. Kumuha ako ng iba’t-ibang uri ng tsaa at inilahad sa kanila ang options ng kanilang snacks.

Hawak pa rin ni Sir si Zorina habang pinapatulog ito at nakikpagkuwentuhan sa mga kasamahan. Kaya dumiretso na ako sa mga silid na tutuluyan ng mga ito. Duda ko sasali sila sa fiesta next week. Mabuti na ring may tao sa bahay lalo na’t hindi ko pa rin ako makapaniwala na nakita ko ang aking amo na walang costume at walang maskara.

“Hindi ko akalaing marami pala siyang kaibigan…” bulong ko habang inayos ang kobre kama sa isang guest room.  “Andami talagang sorpresa ang taong ‘yon.”

Lumabas ako at napahinto nang makita si Sir Anthony na pumasok sa kaniyang silid at hawak ang natutulog na Zorina. Sumunod ako sa kaniya at may tumusok na naman sa puso ko nang makita siyang inilagay ang aking anak sa crib at inayos niya ang princess style mosquito net.

It was unfair that this man who stood as a godfather to my daughter was doing this that my former lover should be doing. Gusto kong sugurin si Andre kung saang lupalop siya nakalukolok ngayon upang singilin ang pagkukulang niya bilang ama kay Zorina. Darating ang araw na makakaharap ko si Andre Turgen pero sa ngayon, itong Turgen muna ang aatupagin ko.

“Kamusta ka na, Virtue?” serysong tanong niya nang makita akong nakasandal sa may pintuan. “Okay lang ba kayo rito?”

Tumango ako. “Wala naman pong problema.”

“Walang umaaway sa’yo?”

Umiling ako. “Wala po maliban sa’yo.”

Tumaas ang kaniyang kilay. Pero imbes na magsalita siya, nilagay niya lang ang dalawang kamay sa bulsa ng kaniyang pantalon at nakatitig lang sa’kin ng mataimtim.

Noon, binabalewala ko ang mga titig ni Sir kasi alam ko namang nasa malayong mundo ang kaniyang isipan. He usually spaced out lalo na’t subsob ito sa trabaho. Pero ngayon, parang sinuntok ako ng hangin sa kaniyang mga tingin. Iba talaga siguro ang impact ng kaniyang presensya kapag nakasuot ng costume. Ngayon kasi para siyang normal na lalaki na may normal na hobbies at normal na routine sa buhay. I smirked at the thought that Anthony Turgen would belong in the ‘normal’ category.

I did not know why looking at him like this made me feel that he was more dangerous in this state. He was threatening my resolve to be in friendlier terms with him. God! It had been too long since I appreciate a man’s form and beauty. Andre was a very handsome man but seeing Anthony in front of me right now made realize that my former lover could not hold a candle in terms of the looks department compared to my employer.

Pinilit kong kontrolin ang aking sarili at tumingin sa kaniyang kulay brown na mga mata. “Ilang araw pong mananatili ang mga kaibigan niyo?”

“About five days.” His eyes wandered around the room. “Next week pa ang balik ni Hugo sa Velusca kaya sinusulit namin ang reunion.”

“He’s a Veluscan?” manghang tanong ko. “Hindi halata sa accent niya.”

“He’s a very good polyglot.”

Tumango ako at naging tahimik ulit ang paligid. Aalis na sana ako mula sa kaniyang silid nang maalalang hindi ko alam kung pano magluto ng pangmaramihan.

“Isinama nila ang kanilang mga assistants.” His eyes twinkled. “Ayokong malason sila sa mga luto mo. By the way, walang lasa ang mga cookies mo.”

I gave him a cheeky grin. “Pero inubos mo.”

He moved towards his bed as his eyes centered on the cover. His hand moved and picked something and then he looked at me. “Humiga ka sa kama ko?” tanong niya habang hawak ang isang hibla ng napakahaba kong buhok.

Na stuck ang boses ko sa aking lalamunan dahil hindi ko akalaing naging palpak ako sa paglilinis ng kuwarto ni Sir. He was really particular with cleanliness pa naman lalo na sa mga sariling gamit niya.

“Sorry…” Nanginginig ang aking boses. “Aasikasuhin ko po muna ang isang guest room.” Dali-dali akong umalis at pumasok sa isang maliit na kuwarto kung saan nakalagay ang lahat ng mga kumot, punda at iba pa.

Nabunggo ako sa isang aparador at naipit ang headcover ko sa handle. Dahan-dahan kong kinuha ang asul na telang nakatakip sa aking ulo. Lumuwag ang aking chignon hairstyle at sinuklay ko gamit ng mga daliri ang aking buhok.

“Virtue why would…” Biglang bumukas ang pinto at napahinto si Sir. Namilog ang kaniyang mga mata. “Like a waterfall…” His hoarse voice was filled with longing that it pierced my heart.

Looking back, hindi ko maipaliwanag kung bakit nangyari o dapat bang mangyari ‘yon. Pero may enerhiyang tila humila sa aming dalawa sa isa’t-isa. Biglang bumigat ang hangin sa loob ng silid at unti-unti akong napapaso sa umiinit na temperatura.

There were so much that we wanted to say but it did not pass our lips. Instead, he moved forward and placed his hands on my hips. He then lifted me and made me sat on the table. His warmth made me shiver as we stared at each other.

Ramdam ko ang init ng kaniyang hininga sa lapit ng mga mukha namin. Kagaya nung gabing bago umalis si Sir, hindi takot ang naramdaman ko ngunit init. Isang klaseng hindi ko alam kung makakamtan ko pa ba pagkatapos kay Andre. Alam kong virgin si Sir Anthony at alam kong maliit ang kaniyang t**i pero hindi ko pa rin maipaliwanag kung bakit nahahatak niya ang desires ko as a woman. He won’t probably fulfill me sexually but I still could not decipher why would I feel this heat for him.

“Virtue…” he whispered and every syllable that he said made my womanly parts tingle in delight.

At that moment, I acknowledged one thing: I craved for s****l intimacy.

My hands slowly ran on his large muscled shoulders as our eyes seemed to communicate with each other. His lips hovered mine as I drew in his breath, as if it was the lost link that could make me feel alive. Anthony Turgen was north and I was south. He got everything and I was a Vornian outcast. Pero hindi ko maramdaman ang kaibahan naming dalawa nang maglapat ang aming mga labi.

His lips were so soft as we tried to introduce ourselves through the kiss. Malambot na tuka lang muna habang nagtitigan kaming dalawa. Napasinghap siya nang hawakan ang aking nakalugay na buhok at hindi ako nagpaligoy-ligoy ng ipasok ang aking dila sa loob ng kaniyang bibig.

 Then it became hotter from there.

Hands caressed each other, mouth nipping and licking and my legs wrapped around his waist. He grabbed my buttocks and lifted me as my hands gripped his hair. Somehow in our desperation to achieve something, his back bumped into the cabinet and we slipped gently on the floor and I was on top of him.

He grabbed my hair that made me arched away from him a little bit. He saw my exposed neck and leaned forward to lick.

Oh! How did this virgin man, who only made love with his s*x robots, know where my weak spot was?

I moved my hips over his jeans cladded thighs, trying to find some friction and my eyes rolled as my jewels hit the right spot. I leaned down and attacked his mouth, wanting to taste his sweet lips once again. He grabbed my buttocks and squeezed them hard which made me humped his thighs harder and faster.

“Sir…” I gasped during kisses as I pushed my lower area unto his. “This is so wrong…” And then I sat back and closed my eyes as the release came so quietly yet so fulfilling at that time. 

I stayed on top for a while before my hooded eyes looked at him and I saw Andre. I bolted from him and sat on the farthest corner of the room. It took me a few moments to register that the man in front of me was not my former lover.

Sir Anthony must have seen something in my expression because he stiffened. “Nakakadiri ba ako, Virtue?”

My mind wandered around the past that I was not able to reply.

Tumayo siya at inayos ang kaniyang puting T-shirt na hindi na nakatuck-in.

I wanted to reach out towards him but I did not know how so I just sat there silently looking at him staring at me.

We were like that for a couple of minutes before he sighed, “I’m sorry. Hindi na mauulit.” Then he stormed off the room.