Poisonous Love (Keanna & Gavin Story)

Chapter 18

"Ayos lang ba ang suot ko?" nahihiya kong tanong kay Gavin nang lumabas ako sa aking kuwarto.

I decided to wear the dress that I don't usually wear. It was a red halter dress which was slightly conservative as the neckline wasn't deep. I also wore a light make-up just to put some color on my face and dolled myself up.

Medyo nahirapan pa nga ako sa pagma-make up dahil ako ay may pagka-tan. Ito ang naging resulta sa pagbibilad ko noon sa araw at pati na rin ang laging pagligo sa dagat. Pero ayos lang ako sa aking kulay, pakiramdam ko'y kasi hindi bagay sa akin kapag masyado akong maputi. Besides, it toned my body even more that highlighted my curves.

Gavin's eye lingered on my body for a while before hw looked at my face. "Are you comfortable with that?" he asked me.

I slighly pursed my lips and nodded.

"If you're comfortable then, that's fine. That is what's important," he said and came up to me. His hands rested on my waist as he kept on staring at my face. "I'm just gonna guard you and keep you beside me all the time for wearing such a striking dress."

Ramdam ko ang pag-init ng aking pisngi dahil sa kanyang sinabi. Bigla tuloy akong hindi naging komportable sa aking suot. Bakit niya pa kasi kailangan sabihin 'yon?

He laughed when he saw my expression. Marahan niyang pinisil ang tungki ng aking ilong habang ang namamanghang mga mata ay nakatitig pa rin sa akin.

"You're so cute when you're looking so shy," he commented.

Pilit kong kinunot ang aking noo at mas lalo lang siyang humalakhak. Tinalikuran ko siya upang mauna nang lumabas at agad niya naman akong sinundan.

"'Wag mo naman po akong iwan," malambing at mapaglaro niyang sabi.

Muli niyang hinawakan ang aking baywang at sumabay sa aking paglalakad.

"Heh! Tara na nga!" naiinis kong sabi sa kanya kahit na pigil na pigil naman ako sa kagustuhan kong ngumiti.

"Masusunod po," magalang niyang sabi.

Pinatunog niya ang kanyang sasakyan at binuksan ang passenger's seat upang makapasok na ako sa loob, ngunit hindi siya kaagad umalis nang makaayos ako sa pagkakaupo. Ang isa niyang kamay humawak sa dashboard habang ang isa naman ay sa gilid ng aking inuupuan.

Nakakaliyo ang kanyang tingin sa akin. Pakiramdam ko ay nilalasing ako ng kanyang tingin. Gavin's eyes were that powerful. Once it stares at you, it can give you the emotion that it ought to make you feel. It was so expressive that you can't even resist it.

"I'm teasing you because you're looking

so beautiful and I might not be able to resist myself from kissing you," he admitted bluntly. "But in the mean time, I can settle for this..."

My eyes were wide open when he leaned in for a kiss on my cheek. The place where he planted his kiss was very near to my lips that I almost felt it. My body felt like it was being electrocuted because of the almost kiss on the lips. I couldn't collect my thoughts properly. I was stunned and couldn't even react to the quick kiss.

Hindi pa iyon sa labi pero halos magwala na ang buong katawan ko sa nabigay no'ng kakaibang sensasyon sa akin. Hindi rin nakakatulong ang pamumungay ng kanyang mga mata na panigurado akong sinasalamin din ng akin.

Gavin suddenly cleared his throat and looked away from me. "Well that's a bad idea..." he whispered to himself before he quickly closed the door and went to the driver's seat.

Walang imik niyang pinaandar ang makina ng sasakyan at saka ito pinaharurot. Sineryoso niya ang pagmamanaho habang ako'y hindi mapakali sa kanyang tabi at iniisip ang ginawa niya paghalik sa akin kanina. Kung napagalaw lang ako ng kaunti kanina ay paniguradong tatama na iyon sa aking labi. Naiinis ako sa sarili ko dahil may panghihinayang akong nararamdaman.

What the hell, Keanna?! Kailan ka pa naging ganyan mag-isip? Umayos ka, ah!

Napahawak ako sa seatbelt na yumayakap sa akin at saka kinagat ang aking pang-ibabang labi. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Ganito ba talaga kapag bago pa lang ang relasyon?

Noon ay naiwala ko na sa aking sarili ang nararamdamang hiya sa kanya dahil nga lagi kaming magkasama pero ngayon ay mukhang nagbabalik ito.

Mabuti na lang at napalitan din kaagad ng kaba ang aking hiyang nararamdaman nang lumiko si Gavin patungo sa parking ng isang high-end at kilalang condominium. Dapat ay sa isang restaurant kami magkikita-kita pero nagbago ang plano dahil sa kanyang isang pinsan. Nagsimula na lang akong magdasal na sana ay magustuhan ako ng kanyang mga pinsan.

"We have a unit here where we hang out whenever we want to chill," Gavin told me while we were already inside the elevator.

Tumango-tango naman ako. "Nadiyan na ba sila?"

He nodded as well and smiled at me.

Muling gumapang ang mas malakas na intensidad na kaba sa aking katawan, ngunit nang hawakan ni Gavin ang aking kamay ay naramdaman ko ang init galing dito ay unti-unti itong nawala. Napabuntong hininga ako upang pakawalan ang nerbiyos. Pinagsiklop ni Gavin ang aming mga daliri at saka ako iginaya palabas ng elevator.

We stopped by the unit numbered 1910. Binitawan ni Gavin ang aking kamay upang pindutin ang passcode at mabuksan ang pintuan. When he was already done, he held my hand once again and pulled me into the unit where I could already hear a guy chuckling which was overpowered by the girly whine.

"Ang daya-daya mo, Luhan!" dinig kong reklamo ng isang babae.

Nilingon ko naman si Gavin at kita kong nagpipigil siya ng tawa. Sa tingin ko ay naiimagine niya na ang kaganapan sa loob at kung bakit mukhang magulo ang kanyang mga pinsan.

"I'm not cheating! Talo ka lang talaga , Ate Ja," pagde-depensa naman ng lalaki.

"Luhan, stop it," a man with a baritone said.

"Oh, come on, Kuya! Wala talaga akong kakampi rito!" reklamo nito.

"I'm here."

Napalingon ako kay Gavin ng bigla siyang nagsalita. Lahat sila ay napalingon sa aming dalawa. The two girls already have a huge smile on their faces as their eyes focused on me.

"Finally! Gavin's here!" The guy with a playful look said and dropped the cards on the coffee table.

Hindi ko pa masyadong napo-proseso ang lahat nang lumapit sa akin ang mga babae. Hinatak nila ako papalayo kay Gavin. They both looked so excited, while I was sure that I looked so shock and constipated.

"Hi, I'm Janine!" pakilala sa akin no'ng babaeng medyo hyper na nagpakilala na noong nagvideocall kami ni Gavin.

"And I'm Hera, Gavin's cousin. You can call me Ate Hera," the other girl introduced herself to me as well. "You look so much prettier in person."

I smiled shyly. "Uhm... Thank you po."

Hera's lips parted as she shook her head. Janine was laughing to her heart's content.

"Oh my gosh! You can call me ate, but please, there's no need to say 'po'. I'm not that old from you," she told me.

I bit my lower lip in embarrassment. " Sorry, A-ate Hera."

Ate Hera looked at me like I was some kind of kid, while Janine came to my side and rested her arm on my shoulder. She was still chuckling, and I guessed she's just really optimistic.

"She looks so innocent and shy, Gavin. Paano mo siya napasagot?" natatawang inis nito kay Gavin. "Sigurado ka bang hindi mo siya blinackmail?"

"Kunwari ka pa, Ate Ja. Parang hindi ka nahiya sa amin noong unang beses kang pumunta sa bahay, ah," sabi ng kanina niya pang kainisan na sa palagay ko ay ang kakampi ni Gavin dito sa kanilang magpipinsan. "I can still remember how you looked so shy in front of our parents."

"Shut up, Luhan!" suway naman ni Ate Janine.

The unit was filled of laughter because of that. Pati ako ay hindi ko na mapigilan ang matawa sa kanyang kwinento. Naiimagine ko ang sarili ko sa kanya na nahihiya rin katulad ko. Kaso ay parang hindi bagay sa kanya ang mahiya. She looked socially active unlike her man who hadn't spoken a word ever since I showed up.

"Keanna, don't worry. Masasanay ka rin kapag sumama ka sa amin lagi," sabi sa akin nung Luhan na medyo kahawig no'ng tahimik na lalaki.

Lumapit sa akin si Gavin na kanina pang ngiting-ngiti. Hinapit niya ako sa papalapit sa kanya at saka ipinulupot ang braso sa aking baywang. Iniharap niya ako sa kanyang mga pinsan na ngayon ay umayos na.

The serious guy immediately did a possessive stance to his wife when she sat beside him. Ate Hera suddenly looked so prim and proper, while Luhan remained expressing his playful look.

"I'm gonna introduced you to them properly," Gavin told me before turning to his cousins. "Luhan is my cousin and also, my bestfriend. Kapatid niya sina Ate Hera at Kuya Lucas. Si Ate Janine naman ay ang asawa ni Kuya Lucas."

Tumango-tango ako at nginitian sila isa-isa. Mabuti na lang at madali lang tandaan ang kanilang mga pangalan.

"We still have other cousins, but they are not here now," Luhan said. "Our cousins from Tita Bria are currently in a vacation at France. They are Alexandra and Alexandrine. And also, Ate Hera here has a husband already, but he has a seminar in Chicago."

Hindi ko naiwasan ang aking pagkabigla. Nalipat ang tingin ko kay Ate Hera na ngayon ay pinapakita sa akin ang kanyang kaliwang kamay kung nasaan ang wedding ring. She looked like a happy and contented wife. I bet she has a wonderful husband to be that happy.

"You'll meet them soon, Kenna," sabi ni Ate Hera.

"Yes! Mag-set tayo ulit ng gala! How about we go out of the country? That'll be fun!" na-eexite na sabi ni Ate Janine.

Napaisip naman ako bigla kung magkano ang ipon ko. Kahit na may naipon ako ay hindi naman ata kakasya 'yon para sumama sa kanila paalis ng bansa. May passport din ako, dahil kinuhanan ako ni Nanay no'ng mag-Disneyland kami bilang kasama sa birthday gift ni Tatay sa kanya nang magkaayos sila. Pero ngayon nagagamit ko na lang iyon kapag kailangan ko ng valid ID kaso ay wala pa rin akong pera pang-alis ng bansa.

Sino ba naman kasi ang makakaisip ng gala pero sa ibang bansa? Sila lang siguro dahil mayayaman sila at mayroong pera. Ang gala lang para sa akin ay iyong punta sa mall o kakain sa labas.

"Okay lang sa akin kung gusto ni Keanna," sabi naman ni Gavin.

Halos masamid ako. Parang nasa akin pa tuloy nakasalalay ang lahat.

Muling tumayo si Ate Janine at lumapit sa akin. Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay. Ang ngiti sa kanyang labi ay abot hanggang tainga.

"Please, Keanna! I promise you, it'll be fun. Right, Lucas?" She turned to look at her husband for support.

Kuya Lucas slightly shot his brows up, and I saw Ate Janine threw him a dagger look. Umayos sa pagkakaupo ni Kuya Lucas at saka lumingon sa akin. He smiled at me and nodded like a submissive husband.

"It'll be fun," he simply said in agreement to his wife. Sobrang tipid niyang magsalita.

Muling lumingon sa akin si At Janine na mas lalo pang lumawak ang ngiti. Pakiramdam ko ay gagawin niya ang lahat upang mapapayag ako. Ang kanyang ngiti ay napakahirap tanggihan.

"Don't pressure her too much, Ja. Matagal pa naman," sabi ni Ate Hera at nang dahil doon ay nakahinga ako ng maluwag ngunit hindi rin nagtagal nang sumabog ang pintuan.

I fell like I almost had a heart attack because of it. When I turned around, I saw Bryson Alcantara who was the cover of almost all business magazines in the country and even internationally as he got a lot of achievements while handling Qantara. He was with a beautiful woman which was the missing puzzle piece that I was trying to put together whenever I stared at Gavin and couldn't find the resemblance to his father's facial features. There's no doubt that she's his mother.

Kung kanina ay nasabayan ko na ang mga pinsan ni Gavin at nawala na ang kaba, muli itong gumapang sa aking katawan at mas lalo pang namayagpag. I wasn't prepared to meet his parents! I only prepared myself for meeting his cousins.

"Well, that's a surprise..." Luhan had the guts to voice out his reaction.

Gavin's mother immediately darted her eyes on me. Her lips slightly parted before she walked closer. The smile on her face slowly showed.

"You're Keanna, right?" she asked me with a very sweet voice.

Sinulyapan ko naman si Gavin at tinanguan niya lamang ako habang nakangiti. Binalik ko ang tingin ko sa kanyang ina at nahihiyang tumango.

She smiled widely before she turned to Gavin with a frown. She reached out for her son's arm and slightly pinched it. Gavin groaned while laughing because of his mother.

"Hindi mo man lang sinabi sa amin ng Daddy mo na ipapakilala mo si Keanna sa mga pinsan mo!" nagtatampong sabi niya sa anak. "You know how much I wanted to meet her. Kung hindi pa sinabi sa akin ng Ate mo ah hindi ko malalaman."

"I told you I'm gonna bring her to our house, Mom," Gavin reasoned out affectionately without respecting his mother. "I want to take it slowly so, I let her meet my cousins first, but you and Daddy are here now..."

"Of course! I didn't want to miss this oppurtunity to finally meet the girl who made my son fall in love." She looked at me again with that enticing smile and introduced herself right away. "Hi, Keanna! I'm Gavin's mother. You can call me Tita Gaile."

"And I'm Gavin's father, Bryson." Lumapit din sa amin ang kanyang ama.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko ngayong kaharap ko na sila. Parang gusto kong magtago pero alam kong hindi ko na 'yon magagawa.

Just like what I've thought, his parents were very kind. His mother looked so approachable and sweet, but his father somehow looked intimidating. It might be because I've known him for being on the top of the business chain where no one could defeat his throne.

Bago ko pa maipakilala ang aking sarili ay naramdaman kong hinawakan ni Gavin ang aking kamay. Nilingon ko siya at nakita kong diretso ang kanyang tingin sa kanyang mga magulang.

"Mom, Dad, this is Keanna Amelie Peredo, my beautiful girlfriend," Gavin formally introduced me to his parents.

I saw his father glanced on our intertwined hands before the corner of his lips rose, while her mother's eyes twinkled as she stared at me.

"Finally!" Tita Gaile exclaimed in relief and pulled me for a warm embrace. "I've been wanting to meet you, hija. Welcome to the family."