The Jerk's Property

Chapter 25

Everything was flawed from the outset, I should not be surprised. We are cursed, that's for sure. Hindi na mahalaga kung paano. What's important is we should be able to put this curse to an end. But I have no idea what would be my first step.

"Ano na? Kala ko ba tatawagan mo si Asher?" bagot na tanong ni Camilla na ngayo'y may laman pang malaking kagat ng pizza ang bibig.

Hindi ako umimik. Nakatitig lang ako sa keyboard ko hanggang sa napag-pasyahan kong isauli ang phone ko sa aking bulsa.

"Hindi niya rin naman mababasa, o hindi niya rin sasagutin."

Her nostrils moved."Fortune teller ka, sis?"

"I just know," blangko kong tugon.

"Okay, then. Bahala ka." Itinulak niya ang in-order niyang pizza na ngayo'y nakain na niya ang kalahati. "Help yourself, natatae ako."

Wow, she's shameless.

Pinanood ko siyang tumayo at maglakad paalis. Hindi kita rito ang toilet na pupuntahan niya kaya minabuti kong lantakan na lang ang pizza sa harapan ko at ibuhos dito ang frustrations ko.

Ganito pala ang pakiramdam ng stress eating. Madalas naman akong ma-stress, wala nga lang akong perang pambili ng maraming pagkain. Nice.

Kumain na lang ako nang kumain. Minsan lang ang mga pagkakataong ganito. Sana pala isinama ko si Kimmy. But for second thought, huwag na pala. Baka magpatayan pa silang dalawa ni Camilla.

I ate too fast. Saka lang ako natigil nang napansing iisa na pala ang natira sa apat na slice. And Camilla-

"Grabe, I feel dehydrated." She suddenly appeared without making a sound. "May diatabs ka ba riyan?"

I mentally snapped.

Oh my God.

* * *

"Hintayin na kita sa gate. Gusto kong maglakad dito sa gitna ng malawak n'yong bakuran. Grabe, kulang na lang ng carpet para na akong mag-de-debut, or prinsesa na naglalakad para sa coronation."

"First time mo?" tanong niya habang binubusisi yata ang kanyang mga susi. Hindi ko siya nilingon pero na-i-imagine ko na ang nangangasim niyang reaksiyon.

"Mukha bang may ganito kami sa bahay?" pabalang kong tugon at hindi na siya hinintay na sumagot.

I enjoyed the scenery of their wide yard. Medyo binilisan ko ang lakad dahil baka sagasaan ako ni Camilla kapag nakaharang ako sa daan.

As I reached the gate that was opened by the same maid who welcomed us earlier, I reached for my phone to check the time. Pero pagbukas ko nito ay agad na nanlaki ang mata ko sa nakita. I blinked . . . and blinked.

Asher has a message!

Kusang nag-init ang gilid ng mga mata ko habang nanginginig ang kamay kong ni-swipe ang screen ko para makita ang mensahe.

"How are you, Felicity? Can we talk? I'm sorry for the absence. I'll explain when we meet. Please reply."

I was about to create a response when I heard a car's door being closed, and when I raised my head to see it, I saw a familiar car in front of me and a more than familiar man running towards me.

Parang kidlat na yumakap siya sa akin. Hindi ko nagawang yumakap pabalik sa sobrang gulat. My mind took too long to process what's happening.

Asher. Asher is here? For real?!

Lumayo siya sa akin at hinawakan ako sa magkabilang pisngi. Ang makita ang guwapo niyang mukha sa malapitan ang mas lalong nagparamdam sa'kin kung gaano ko siya na-miss.

His absence . . . it felt like forever. Now, it feels like a millisecond.

Hindi ko na nga napigilang maluha at ibaon ang mukha sa dibdib niya. At first, I was just silent, until I broke into a cry.

I heard Asher sighed. "I'm sorry, I was away. I wasn't able to tell you because chance did not permit me to do so. I was forced to go with Dad in a business trip, my mom secretly took my phone. I only noticed it when we're already far from home, so I spent the days without anything to use to contact you," he explained in a gentle voice, caressing the my hair down to the circle of my back.

Sinubukan kong tumahan. Umangat ang kamay ko sa dibdib niya, pero agad akong napalayo nang maramdamang basa na ito sa luha.

I looked at him in the eye. After how many days, we've seen each other, yet my face is a mess.

I felt his thumb wiping my tears as his face holds both longing ang sadness.

"I've done nothing but to make you cry, huh?" Bitterness is overpowering his tone. "I miss you."

"Heh!" Umirap ako at pilit pina-urong ang nagbabadyang luha sa'king mga mata. "Marami akong sasabi- uhm!"

Napakapit ako sa mga braso niya nang maramdaman ang kanyang labing sabik na sabik na humahalik sa akin. Hindi pa man ako nakakatugon ay nakarinig na kami ng pagkalakas-lakas na busina. Pareho kaming halos mapatalon sa kinatatayuan.

My face heated for the realization. That's Camilla's, and she saw us! Itinago ko ang mukha ko sa dibdib ni Asher na mukhang wala man lang naramdamang hiya habang ang isa niyang braso ay nakayakap sa akin.

"What a view! Sa harap pa talaga ng gate ko kayo naglandian," matinis na saad ni Camilla mula sa likuran, lasang-lasa doon ang iritasyon. "Hoy, Felicity! May masasakyan ka naman na pala, umalis na kayo!"

Pinilit ko ang sarili kong humarap at nakitang naka-halukipkip siya't nakataas na naman ang isang kilay.

"T-thanks," tanging naisatinig ko.

Her eyes glued at Asher. "At bakit ka naman narito?"

"I went to their house, her aunt told me." Naramdaman kong tiningnan niya ako. "What about you two, why are you here?"

"Hay nako." Nag-martsa si Camilla pabalik sa sasakyan niya, dinig na dinig ang paghakbang dahil sa takong ng suot niyang sandal. "Si Felicity na ang magpapaliwanag. Umalis na kayo at nakakairita."

"Bitter ka lang, e." Natutop ko ang bibig ko nang biglang lumabas sa bibig ko ang mga salita. "Sige, aalis na kami. Salamat!"

Halos hilain ko na si Asher papunta sa sasakyan niya sa takot na baka bigla akong bugahan ng apoy ni Camilla.

Nang tumulak na kami paalis at napansing ibang daan ang tinatahak namin, tinanong ko kay Asher kung saan kami pututungo.

"We're heading somewhere peaceful. I wanna have you alone for a while."

I settled my sight outside the window to hide my excitement. Mabuti na rin iyon, marami akong gustong sabihin sa kanya.

A couple of minutes have passed and we're already going to a seemingly deserted place of Geneva. Hindi ako pala-gala kaya sanay akong mga kalye at matataas na gusali sa sentro ang nakikita ko.

But here, as we move closer to the vastness of the place, all I can see is a tall mango tree in the middle of a wide field. Walang mga bahay, walang tao. Kami lang ni Asher, ang berdeng paligid, at ang malamig na simoy ng hangin.

As he parked under the tree, he immediately went out of the car to open the door for me. Paanong hindi ko ma-mi-miss ang lalaking ito?

Pagkaibis na pagkaibis ko pa lang ng sasakyan ay humampas na sa aking balat ang malamig at medyo malakas na hangin na buhat ng malaking puno ng mangga na kinaroroonan namin.

"Saan mo nalaman ang lugar na 'to?"

Namaywang siya at pinasadahan ng tingin ang paligid. "I usually go to places alone. Lalo na noong bagong-bago ang sasakyan ko, kung saan-saan ako pumupuntang mag-isa."

"Joy ride alone?"

Nilingon niya ako at lumabi. "Uh-huh. It's my hobby."

"Can I join next time?" mahina kong tanong habang pinagdidikit ang tuktok ng dalawa kong hintuturo.

He slowly approached me and touched my cheek. Inipit niya ang buhok kong bahagyang nililipad ng hangin sa aking tainga at muli na namang pinanggigilan ang pisngi ko.

"I'm actually driving recklessly. I can't do that if I'm with you," he mumbled, stroking my temple down to my jawline. "But because you're adorable, and it seems like I would enjoy more if you come along, that wouldn't make a difference."

Lumayo siya sa akin at pumunta sa trunk ng sasakyan. He took a little basket from it before climbing through the hood. Nagulat ako sa biglaan niyang pag-akyat sa tuktok ng sasakyan, pero mas lalo akong naguluhan nang tapikin niya ang natitirang eapasyo sa tabi niya.

"Come, let's eat."

Nakaramdam ako ng takot sa kanyang sinabi. No, I'm not afraid of heights. Takot akong magasgasan ko ang mamahalin niyang sasakyan. Mas mahal pa ito kaysa sa existence ko.

Tumalikod ako at sumandal. "Bumaba ka riyan, Asher. Hindi ako aakyat."

Naramdaman ko ang daliri niya sa aking ulo, pinaglalaruan ito sa pamamagitan ng pagguhit ng virtual circles.

"Bakit? Wala tayong upuan diyan."

"Puwede naman sa loob? We can open the doors."

"Ayaw," he disagreed. "Masikip diyan. Halika na kasi. You're afraid you're gonna fall?"

Hinarap ko siya't tiningala. "Baka magasgasan ko! Hindi ko kayang bayaran ang damage- aray ko!" Napasapo ako sa noo ko nang bigla niya itong pitikin. Hindi naman masyadong malakas pero masakit pa rin.

"Gasgasan mo na, okay lang sa 'kin," saka siya biglang ngumisi. "Halika na. I baked a cupcake for you."

Bigla akong natakam sa cupcake, and knowing that he baked it put my hesitation away.

Dahan-dahan akong umakyat hanggang sa magkatabi na kami sa hood ng sasakyan. Nang makita ko ang gawa niya ay napangiti ako. He even drew a tree above it using brown and green icing.

He's just watching me silently until I took a bite from it. Ilang segundo kong prinoseso ang lasa sa bibig ko at halos magka-buhol-buhol na ang sistema ko sa sobrang pangit nito.

Hayop, mala-imburnal!

"G-gawa sa ano ito?" nauutal kong tanong, pilit itinatago ang negatibong reaksiyon.

Napansin kong nangunot ang noo niya, bakas pa rin ang excitement sa kanyang mukha. "Why? Isn't it masarap?" conyo pa niyang tanong.

Pinilit kong ngumiti kasabay ng mala-impiyernong pakiramdam sa aking kalooban habang nilulunok ang isang kagat ng cupcake sa bibig ko.

"M-masharap. Masharap," pagsisinungaling ko. Halos magpasalamat ako sa lahat ng santo nang sa wakas ay napasok na ito sa aking lalamunan. "Bakit pala may puno?"

Nagkamot siya ng batok. "You said on the wall that you love forest. Next time, let's go to Tefalis where a famous rain forest is in. Have you heard of that place? It's near the boundary of Geneva and Alliora."

Umiling ako and at the same time ay natuwa. "Really? Na-vi-visualize ko na ang nagtataasang mga puno!" Nanliit ang mata ko nang maalala ang nabanggit na lugar. "Alliora, you say? So totoo nga pala siya?" pansin ko.

Tumango naman siya. "It's not just a myth. It exists, as well as Sahara. Kung titingnan ang mapa, makikita mong pinapagitnaan tayo ng Alliora at Sahara. It's just that, we cannot set a foot in these two cities, kaya ang labas, we are living as if Geneva is the only world in the universe. But as they have said as well, there are ways in order for a person to go to the neighboring cities, but it takes a big sacrifice."

I pouted while shrugging my shoulders. "Bakit pa? We are happy here. At hindi natin alam ang buhay sa ibang syudad."

"Hmm." Asher touches his chin. "I heard a news that the people from Alliora has supernatural powers. Time travelers, fortune tellers, witches, and the like. While in Sahara, they don't exactly have powers, but paranormal things do happen, based on what you really need and how good you are as a person. Example, if you are generous despite the poverty, one day, you're just gonna see a tree in your front yard bearing gold and diamonds."

Napaawang ang labi ko sa narinig. That's just a rumor, but if ever that's true, how lucky can they be?!

"Tapos dito sa Geneva, soul mate soul mate lang ang ganap?" wala sa sariling naisatinig ko. "Ang daya."

Now that I realized it, I didn't complain about Geneva until I finally had something to compare to. Indeed, comparing takes away the contentment.

Asher grinned as he moved closer. "Babe, Geneva is a great place. I couldn't ask for more. I have you, and that's more than enough for me. More than the supernatural powers, or extraordinary incidences. Just you."

And in that, my heart was taken to heaven.

"Ipinanganak ka bang sweet talker?" natatawa kong sambit habang iniiwas ang nag-iinit kong mukha.

I heard him chuckled softly. "I was born to be sweet exclusively for you, that's it."

Hindi ko na nga napigilan ang asim-kilig na ngiti na tumakas mula sa'king labi. And before I can even think of it, for the first time, I confessed.

"I love you."

My naked eyes clearly saw how his face turned into a total shock. He looked like someone who just saw a ghost, but in a good way of surprise.

"W-what . . . " He went speechless.

I can't take it back anymore, and I don't have any reason to hide it any longer. "I said, I love you. Mahal kita, Asher Sullivan."

Ah, how good it is to tell what I truly feel. And Asher deserves it, everything, even more than what I am capable of giving.

But still, his entire body is frozen like a statue, it made me worry. The only one that's moving are his blinking eyes and Adam's apple that goes up and down as he gulps.

"Asher?" I worriedly called. "Okay ka lang ba?"

"Y-you . . . " he finally spoke, "you have to say it again. I want to hear it again."

Natawa ako sa reaksiyon niya. Umangat ang mga kamay ko at pinisil ang magkabila niyang pisngi. Humarap ako sa malawak na bukid habang naka-unat ang dalawa kong kamay.

"Mahal ko si Asher! Naririnig n'yo ako?! Mahal ko itong lalaking nasa tabi ko! Akin lang siya! Itaga ninyo sa bato! Akin lang, okay?! Akin!" Medyo nahihingal akong bumaling sa kanya at nginitian. "Is that loud and clear enough, Mister?"

Surprisingly, he didn't smile. Parang nasa kawalan pa rin ang isip niya.

"S-so . . . you're my girlfriend now?"

Hindi ko na nga napigilang matawa nang malakas. "If it isn't yet obvious!" Pinunasan ko ang mga luhang nasa gilid ng mga mata ko buhat ng aking pagtawa. "Mukhang matagal na nga rin, e. Hindi nga lang official."

Again, Asher went silent, but a triumphant smile is already dancing in his lips. Nabigla ako nang hinawakan niya ang magkabilang gilid ng aking braso at dahan-dahang itinulak pahiga.

Hindi na ako nakapag-protesta nang bumaon ang mukha niya sa kaliwang gilid ng aking leeg at nagsimulang humalik dito.

"Mahal din kita, Misis ko," aniya sa napapaos na boses. Nagsitindigan ang mga balahibo ko sa katawan nang maramdaman ang mainit niyang hininga sa aking balat.

I awkwardly cleared my throat. "Girlfriend lang, hindi asawa. Excited ka?"

He slightly moved away from my neck as his lips got closer to my ear, slightly biting it.

"I'm just practicing. I'll be calling you that in the future, anyway."

"Hindi ka sure," biro ko.

Bigla siyang lumayo at tinitigan ako sa mata. "Oh yeah?"

I was about to tease him more when I suddenly felt his big and a little bit rough palm on my stomach. My eyes widened and I almost stood up as he slid his palm inside my brassiere and cupped my right breast.

Napasinghap ako kasabay ng pagtaas niya nang tuluyan sa aking damit dahilan para tumambad sa mga mata niya ang itaas kong katawan.

Kasalukuyan niya pa ring minamasahe ang kaliwa kong dibdib nang bumaba ang mukha niya rito at naramdaman ko na lang ang nanggigigil niyang halik sa umbok ng kabila kong dibdib.

Napasabunot ako sa buhok niya at kagat-labing pinigilan sa pagtakas ng halinghing sa aking bibig.

Mariin akong napapikit nang maramdamang pinaglandas niya ang kanyang dila sa pagitan ng aking dibdib, at sa segundong itinaas na niya nang tuluyan ang suot kong bra ay naitulak ko na siya.

"Asher!" I exclaimed, my heart is beating rapidly. "H-huwag muna," I added while avoiding his gaze.

Narinig ko siyang bumuntonghininga at inayos ang damit ko. "Sorry, hindi ko napigilan." Nangisi itong bigla at muling dumukwang palapit sa akin.

"Anong ginagawa mo?" nanlalaki ang mata kong tanong nang tuluyan na siyang pumatong sa akin at pumirmi sa pagitan ng aking mga hita.

He held my legs and motioned me to wrap them around his waist.

Oh my God, this is so erotic! And . . . I can feel his hardness, Diyos ko Mahabanging Ama!

"Let's just kiss," bulong niya bago inilapat ang kanyang labi sa akin.

I automatically closed my eyes as his lips went deeper. At first, I felt that he stopped for a while as if something bothered him, but continued anyway.

He kissed me like there's no tomorrow, savoring every flesh of my lips. Our tongue played a certain rhythm as our hearts beat at the same time, creating a beautiful melody.

When our lips parted, we smiled at each other.

"Your lips are soft, I want to eat them. Every lip in your body."

Napahampas ako nang mahina sa dibdib niya sa malaswa niyang linya kasabay ng aking pagbangon.

"Mag-aral pa tayo."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," he mumbled. Mayamaya ay hinarap niya ang mukha ko sa kanya. "Nga pala, Felicity. Your lips tasted strange today. Nalasahan ko kanina."

Is that why he stopped for a moment?

"How was it?" I curiously asked.

"Erm, it's a bit . . . " mahina siyang napaubo at nag-iwas ng tingin, "it's a bit gross. I'm sure that's not what your lips taste like. Maybe you ate something bad, yeah? What is the last food you . . " Nanlalaki ang mga mata niyang bumaling sa'kin.

"Yes?" I grinned, waiting for him to realize it.

Bigla niyang kinuha sa kamay ko ang natitirang cupcake at kinagatan ito. As expected, agad siyang napadura habang nangangasim ang mukha.

"s**t! This is the worst cupcake I've ever tasted! Who made this freaking food? Just who the hell gave you something like this to eat?!"

I stupidly released a tired exhale, waiting for him to come back to his senses because it looks like the cupcake has taken away his sanity.

"R-right." He nodded his head. "I made it." He nodded once more before facing me. "I'm sorry for letting you eat it. Hindi ko kasi tinikman muna bago ibigay. I'm so sorry. Uh . . . " He took the basket where the rest of the cupcakes are. "I'll take these back. Gagawan kita ng iba next time. I'm really sorry."

Hinaplos ko ang likod niya at niyakap siya mula rito. "It's not the taste, but the intention. Thank you for baking those cupcakes for me, Asher. Because they're from you, they're the best cupcakes I've had."

Lumayo ako sa kanya at pinagmasdan siya. He's still looking down at his cupcakes while mumbling repeatedly, "I shouldn't have let you eat it. I'm so stupid. It tastes so bad. I shouldn't have brought it."

I was about to assure him again that it's really fine when I noticed that two of his fingers have band aids. Nakaramdam ako ng pait sa aking dila kasabay ng pag-abot ko sa mga ito.

"You injured your fingers." Shet, I feel like crying.

He immediately took them away from me, hiding them. Lalo ko tuloy nasiguro na dahil nga iyan sa ginawa niyang paggawa ng cupcakes na ibibigay sa akin.

I smiled in both guilt and happiness.

"Asher, while you're away, I found some rules about soul mates." It got his attention, he looked at me with his ever serious yet hopeful eyes. "Would you be happy if I tell you that there's a big possibility that . . . we are soul mates?"