Children of Bridgetines II Raven

Chapter 1

Hunter | San Isidro Towers

We are having a pre-wedding party tonight with a few close friends, give or take 30 people.

Nikki was busy entertaining our guests. It's a good thing we have tonight's party catered and we also have a clean up crew. Our daughter – Lexi, is with my in laws and my parents. Mom and Dad are sleeping over at their place which they often do when they visit the country. They have been good friends for years.

"Who is that?" asked Richard who was sitting beside Hunter drinking beer when he saw this girl walked in and joined Nikki with the other girls.

Hunter smiled. "That's Raven. She's pretty isn't she?" He didn't get a reply from Richard so he threw him a glance. Rich was staring at someone intensely and when he followed where he was looking — his eyes are glued at Raven. I think Richard is smitten.

I cleared my throat to get his attention. "She's still in school." Napangiti ako.

He turned to look at me. "What did you say?" His eyes looked like they were in daze.

"She's still attending school." Inulit ko sa kanya.

"What course?" Mukhang interesado talaga sya.

"Curious are we? 5th year, Architecture I think." Iyon lang ang alam ko kay Raven.

"So she's what — 20, 21?" I nodded. "F*ck!" Narinig ko ang mahinang mura ni Richard. I know he doesn’t date schoolgirls. He prefers women the same age or just a tad younger than him.

I chuckled. "She's still a baby.. and you're 30." Tinukso ko sya

He threw pistachio shells at me. Tinama ako sa katawan pero tinawanan ko lang sya. "So are you! So shut up!" He looked irritated so I settled for a grin and made a peace sign with my two fingers. Umiling iling ako. Sa tingin ko ay malakas ang tama nya kay Raven sa mga nakikita ko sa mata at ginagawi nya.

Now he's looking frustrated. I haven't seen him like this before.

I cleared my throat. "Do you want me to introduce you? You've met the twins." Hailey and Heather are Tito Jerry & Tita Anne's children.

"Nah.. don't bother." He shook his head.

Hindi ko sya pipilitin. Kung gusto nya talaga si Raven ay gagawa sya ng paraan. That’s how he is. We’ve been best friends since high school. "All right, if that's what you want. I'll go check on Nikki, I'll see you in a bit okay?" He nodded. 

Richard

She's so f*****g beautiful to the point that I feel pain in my loins. I need go and get some fresh air. I headed to the balcony with my beer and stared at the city lights. Nicole was really lucky to have found this place.

The view here is truly spectacular. The city lights are blazing like little tiny fires.

Raven.. It’s such a beautiful name for a beautiful girl like her.

And she's still in school — double f*ck! I have never dated school girls. They're mostly my age or a tad younger.

I heard someone open the balcony door and when I looked — guess who it was? Her.

She smiled at me. "Hi! Sorry, I don't mean to ruin your moment, I just need a little bit of fresh air. I won't stay for too long."

"It's okay. I don't mind." I tried to act as normal as I could. God! She is even more beautiful this close.

I can’t be too close to her, I might not be able to stop myself and ravish her.

"I don't believe we've met, I'm Raven." She offered her hand for a handshake. O-oh I am in trouble. Should  I shake her hands? That would be danger. But I don’t want to be rude to her.. fine, I will shake her hand.

"Richard." I shook her hand and I feel like a thousand volts went through my veins. I knew it! Sh*t!

She tried to pull her hands and I didn't notice that I was still holding it until I heard her say "My hands."

"Sorry." F*ck! I feel like a schoolboy all of a sudden. That was embarrassing.

"It's okay. You seemed to be lost on your thoughts." Nangingiting sabi nya sa akin.

"Yeah, you could say that." If you only knew, I was thinking of you.

"I bet it's a woman." She chuckled.

She amuses me. "Why would you say that?"

She stared at my face. Waring pinagaaralan nya ang bawat parte ng mukha ko. "The likes of you can't stand not having or thinking about the opposite sex."

"The likes of me, huh?" I raised a brow

"With a face like that — women adore your kind." Nakangiting sabi nya.

"And.. are you one of them?" Nacurious ako bigla. Gusto kong malaman kung anong tingin nya sa akin.

She furrowed her brows "Are you hitting on me?"

I took one step closer to her. "What if I am?" This is it.

Nakita ko syang lumunok. "I'm no liar, I think you look.. hot." Pabulong na ang pagkakasabi nya ng hot.

Pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili ko at lalo akong nag iinit sa sinabi nya. I suddenly forgot I have a girlfriend in New York. Casual. If you know what I mean. Casual f*ck so not really a girlfriend.

"You think I look hot?" Tumango si Raven. "I think you are too." I gave her a complement.

"Thank you. Sabi nga nila." She laughed.

A girl who takes compliments very well, what a surprise! She didn't even bat an eye. She knows her worth.

"Nila??  That's plural. So does that mean you have a lot of suitors? A boyfriend, perhaps?" napakunot noo ako. I don’t like sharing.

"I think you're just fishing." She shook her head.

"Just asking a simple question."  I shrugged my should but in reality, I am jealous as f*ck.

"No boyfriend. I have no time for that." Umiling sya at mukhang nagsasabi naman ng totoo.

Napangiti ako. So honest. "How old are you, if you don't mind me asking."

"21. I only have one semester left then graduation."

"What do you take?" Tinanong ko pa rin kahit sinabi ni Hunter kanina ang kurso nya. He didn't look so sure earlier.

"Architecture."

"Impressive. So where do you plan to work?"

"In New York. Uncle Leo said he's got a job for me when I'm done school. He's such an amazing architect, I want to learn more from him."

Nasamid ako. New York. Odds are in my favor. "He's my uncle too."

Nanlaki ang mata nya. "You're Richard Sanz?!" Mahina syang napamura.

Tumango ako at napatawa ako ng may tunog.

"Why do you look so surprised?"

Namula ito. "I thought you were old you know." Ouch!

"Really? How old?"

"You know, big beer belly, thinning hair, big bags under the eyes kinda old?" She was giggling I couldn't tell if she was apologetic or being mean.

"And?" the anticipation is killing me

"Well, I already told you earlier you looked hot. And you don't look old." She grinned.

"Say hot one more time and I'll kiss you." I hope she says it. I crossed my fingers.

Raven

Shit! What did he just say?

He'll kiss me if I call him hot again.

Why do I feel like I want to taste his lips? I'd kill Ate Hailey for this. Those erotic novels she was sharing with me are the culprit!

Nanunuyo ang lalamunan ko. "You are hot."

Richard

I gave her a warning earlier and she didn't listen. Now she's going to get it.

I leaned closer to her and I can feel her fast heartbeat. The wall she was leaning at in the balcony is in the corner. Halos tago iyon at pribado. I put my hand against the wall and with the balcony railing, she's trapped. My other hand is still holding my almost empty bottle of beer.

"You didn't listen to me." Tinawid ko ang gahiblang pagitan ng mga labi namin at hinalikan sya. Her lips are not parted. I kissed her again. Banayad sa una at nananantya. Her lips are so soft. So warm. Pinaraanan ko ng dila ang ibabang labi nya at napasinghap sya.

I kissed her harder.

Deeper.

I'm not touching her. But her arms moved to rest on my shoulder, dumadama, pumipisil.

I groaned.

Narinig ko rin syang nagpakawala ng mahinang ungol.

This is madness.

I ended the kiss. Hanggat kaya ko pang kontrolin ang sarili ko.

Pinahid ko ng hinlalaki ko ang basang labi nya at inayos ang ilang hibla ng buhok nya para isabit sa tenga nya.

Her eyes looked dazed. And her face looked like she was thoroughly kissed.

I caressed her face. "We should go inside. Baka hinahanap na nila tayo."

She nodded and tried to put a smile on her face.

"Mauna na ako." Narinig kong sabi nya.

I let her. At pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay pumasok rin ako sa loob.

I saw Hunter looked at me. It seemed like he already knew what happened. Nagpatay malisya ako and he shook his head while smiling.

Raven

"Where have you been?" Hailey asked

"Nagpahangin."

"Hmm.. eh bakit ang tagal mo?"

Kung may reyna ng kakulitan si Ate Hailey iyon.

"May timer?"

She smirked and stared at me.. then her lips turned into a wide smile at tumili ng pigil at mahina. "You kissed someone!!!"

Tinakpan ko ang bibig nya gamit ang kamay ko. "Sshhh! Huwag ka ngang maingay." Nag iinit ang mukha ko.

"Tell me who it is and I'll zip my mouth."

Sinamaan ko sya ng tingin "Zipping your mouth is the last thing you'd do. So I am not telling." Halos mabali ang leeg ko sa pag iling.

"Raven Sawyer, if you don't tell me who it is I will tell your parents about this." She's pulling the I am older - I am telling the parents card on me.

I gritted my teeth and looked up like the ceiling can help me and the floor can swallow me whole. "Fine."

She's suddenly excited and even clapped her hands together. "Tell me.. tell me.. tell me.."

"Atat?"

"Sobra!" Her smile is so wide!

"Kainis ka talaga!" Pikon kong sabi sa kanya

"Oo na, kaya sabihin mo na. Bilis naaaaaa!"

"Richard."

Nagpalinga linga si Hailey at nagscan ng paligid. Namilog ang mata ni Hailey. "Richard Sanz?!" Bulalas nito

"Sshh!!" Napatakip ito sa bibig at ng kalmado na ay nagmustra ng zipper sa bibig nya. She also mouthed sorry.

"So tell me about the kiss. Wait, how did you.. what the hell happened? I've met him before. Have you?"

Umiling ako. "I've just met him tonight."

"Go on." Urging me to tell her more.

"As I was saying, I went to the balcony to get some fresh air. I didn't know he was there. We got into a conversation. I didn't know he was Richard Sanz. I told him he was hot, and he said if I say that one more time - he'd kiss me." I took a sip of my martini.

"And you being Raven Sawyer, could not resist the man. God! Isn't he a walking temptation?"

Aha! Gotcha! "I bet Kuya Dom would love to hear what you think about Richard." I chuckled.

Her eyes widened and rolled it. "That was a harmless comment. No big deal."

"So it's okay for me to tell on you?"

"Why do I have a feeling you're going to blackmail me?"

"Secret's safe with me but you need to get me a new soccer cleats."

"Cleats again?"

"I have a game next week." Noong isang linggo, ay cleats din ang inungot ko kay Ate Nikki.

"Psh, fine! Buy it and send me the receipt, I'll wire the money."

"Yey! Thank you!!" Nag flying kiss ako sa kanya. At parang tanga naman syang sinalo iyon sa hangin at ibinulsa. Nagkatawanan kami.

"Do you think he likes you?"

I cleared my throat. "I don't know. I enjoyed our little conversation."

"And the kiss" singit ni Ate Hailey

"Yes, and that." Pinamulahan ako ng mukha. "How old is he?"

"He's about 30."

Napalunok ako. That's a big age gap. Guys his age do not date school girls.

Ibig sabihin, I am not her type.

But why did he kiss me earlier?

I am way over my head.

"Big gap huh?"

Tumango ako. "I don't think I am his type. The kiss was just an impulse. Nadala ng tanawin sa labas haha!" Pinilit kong tumawa.

Hailey shook her head. "I think there's more to it and this not going to be your last encounter."

Hindi ako umimik. I silently hoped that she was right. I want to see him again.

And kiss him once more.