NATALIE TRILOGY Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 5: Caught Up Pt.1

KUNG ang mga kasama niya sa mesa ay nakikitawa sa dalaga, siya ay hindi. Nakatulala lamang siya bagaman ay nakangiti. Bradley was astonished when he got to know that the woman who was playing the piano he saw last night and Natalie was the same person.

But he was way more astonished when Natalie suddenly laughed. Hindi lang basta tawa; halakhak. Maluha-luha pa ito habang nakahawak ang isang kamay sa tiyan.

Ngayon lang siya nakakita ng babaeng natural na natural ang pagtawa. 'Yong walang halong pagkukunwari.

Damn it! Even if she was laughing, her voice was still fragile. 

Somehow, and apparently, he seemed satisfied . . . or pacified. Sa tinagal-tagal na ikinulong ni Brandley ang sarili sa iisang babae, he always thought he was okay. Contented. Happy. Yet as he was looking at Natalie, he realized that the world was big; may mga bagay pa siyang hindi nakikita . . . na sa palagay niya, nakita na niya.

That moment earlier at the pool. The first time he laid his gaze on her visage, he was captivated or maybe he should say, he was hypnotized. Her catlike eyes were surrounded by thick and long lashes. Her heart-shaped face was small and perfectly matched with her elegant nose. Isama pa ang perpektong linya ng panga nito at ang makinis na leeg.

Every time she spoke, her pink lips moved in serene motion, the same as the movement of her shiny and bouncy black hair every time the wind blows on it. She also had this fair and glowing skin that gave more details on her firm shoulder and slinky arms. Heck, she even had baby skin.

Everything about her spoke perfection.

And his mind indeed had been blown away since last night.

O baka naman kaya ganoon ang nadarama niya sa kasalukuyan ay dahil hindi niya akalaing sa tinagal ng panahon, sa wakas ay nagkita na silang muli ni Natalie?

"Damn this girl! That's the loudest and the longest belly laugh I've heard!" bulalas ni Zeke.

"I'm sorry. I just can't... " Nag-umpisa na naman itong tumawa.

May sinabi si Jas na ginatungan pa ni Zeke kaya lalong humagalpak ito sa kakatawa.

Hindi naintindihan ni Bradley kung ano ang pinag-uusapan ng mga ito. Nakabaling kasi ang buong atensyon niya sa paghalakhak ng babae. Pulang-pula na ang mukha nito, hinahampas ang ibabaw ng mesa. Maging ang braso ni Paige ay hindi nakaligtas sa panghahampas ng dalaga.

Ilang minuto pa muna ang dumaan bago ito tuluyang nahimasmasan. "You guys are crazy." Gamit ang daliri, naiiling na pinunasan nito ang sulok ng mga mata.

"So, what's the plan for today?" tanong nito mayamaya

"Sleep?" ani Eiden, abala sa kung anong tinitipa nito sa phone.

"Eat?" sina Zeke at Jas.

Natalie took a glance at him before looking at everybody. "But, Bradley said I'll take you all for a tour around the hacienda."

"Really? B? We'd been to a concert 'tour' for about two years and a half... just to remind you." Sarkastiko ang tono ni Paige, binigyang diin ang salitang 'tour'.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know," aniya, nakatuon pa rin ang atensyon sa babae. "But this place is too beautiful for us not to appreciate." Hindi ang lugar na iyon ang sinasabihan niya ng "maganda" kung hindi ang babaeng kaharap niya sa mesa.

"Aren't you tired, B? It'll wait tomorrow. Besides, we have six days left to stay here. Loosen up, bro!" his older brother Eiden butted in, still typing on his phone.

***

NAGPAIWAN sila Paige sa garden. He and Natalie were walking slowly, Geronima was following them towards the Villa Natalia. And none of them talked since they left, seconds ago. After a while, Bradley almost cursed himself.

Titigil sana siya sa paglalakad pero nang lingunin siya ng dalaga, nagpatuloy na lang siya.

Ganoon ba katindi ang pagkamangha niya sa pisikal na presensiya ng babae at ngayon lamang niya napagtanto ang lahat? Ngayon lang bumaon sa isip niya ang malulutong na ingay ng dahon sanhi ng pagtapak niya sa mga iyon. He was with Natalie. And it snapped him back to reality . . . that she didn't seem to remember him.

Itinutulak siya ng dibdib na magtanong, pero nag-stay lamang sa dulo ng dila niya ang itatanong.

"So, how did you know about this place?" tanong ng babae mayamaya. Narating na nila ang veranda ng Villa Natalia. She laid her shoulder against a post, crossing her arms across her chest

Umupo muna si Bradley sa isa sa mga upuan. "I've met your sisters at Adriana's birthday. They'd invited me here."

"You mean your girlfriend — Adriana Ria?"

"You knew her?" kaswal na tanong niya.

"She's an actress s***h model. Of course, I know her. Plus... she's the girlfriend of Bradley Cayne, everyone knows that." Kapagkuwan ay umupo ito sa gutter ng terrace, tumingin sa malayo, sa gawi ng dagat. As the gust of frigid air rushed upon them, Natalie caressed her arm. Bahagyang nasinagan din ng araw ang mga mata nito.

Bradley froze. He just anticipated her eyes weren't light browns; it was hazel eyes in shades of green and gray and gold.

"You know what?" anito, nakatingin pa rin sa kawalan. "I just now realized that this place is so beautiful. I grew up here, but it seems like this is the first time I appreciated that view."

The pain was in her voice. He wanted to react. Gayunman, hindi rin niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin. But he was glad she seemed to be comfortable hanging around with him.

Kapagkuwan ay tumayo itong bigla.

"Aren't you sleepy? You woke up so early."

Hindi siya nakasagot nang humiga sa paanan niya si Geronima. Tumingkayad siya ng upo, hinimas ang pisngi ng aso. Imbes na sagutin ang tanong nito, siya ang nagtanong. "You didn't answer my question earlier."

"About what?"

"Her name."

"How persistent you are." Ngumiti ito, umiling. Sumandal sa poste nang nakaharap sa kanya. Makalipas ang ilang sandali, bumuntong-hininga itong tila pinipigilan ang pagngiti. "Geronima."

"No kidding?"

"Try to call her."

Natawa siya. "You're messing with me, Natalie."

"What? No, I'm not."

Tumayo siya, naglakad ng ilang hakbang. "Geronima, come here, girl."

Mabagal na iwinagayway ng aso ang buntot saka tumayo at naglakad papunta sa kanya. Lumuhod naman siya, hinimas muli ang pisngi nito.

"She's my best bud. Simula pagkabata, kami lang laging magkasama."

Bradley was amazed and puzzled at the same time. Bukod sa sigurado na siyang komportable na ito sa kanya dahil naging makuwento na, mayroong hindi tama sa tinuran nito.

"How about your sisters?" Tumayo siya, bahagyang nilapitan ito. He smelled of strawberries. "I thought na dito rin sila lumaki?" He tried not to put an accent as he spoke. Pero nabigo lang siya.

Natigilan naman ang babae. Kung dahil ba sa nagsalita rin siya ng Tagalog, o dahil sa tanong niya ay hindi niya alam. "We're not that close."

Sa pagkunot niya ng noo, umiwas ito ng tingin. Natalie's tone became cold, which was strange. Sa mga kuwento ni Narea at Nadine, parang wala namang problema sa pagitan ng mga ito.

"Don't ask." Mapaklang ngiti ang bumakas sa mga labi ng dalaga. "It's a long story."

"I-I'm sorry if—"

"No i-it's okay. Nagta-Tagalog ka pala?"

"A little, kasi Mama ko is Pinay and my uncles used to talk to me in Tagalog. Kaya natuto ako."

Natalie was great at hiding her emotion. Bigla ay naging kaswal na ang inaakto nito. "Oh. Right. Your mom grew up in Manila, right?"

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay niya sa pagkabigla. "You knew that too?"

"Well, guess what, Mr. Cayne," sabay silang natawa, "I consider myself as a fan."

Sa puntong iyon ay napangiti siya. Her sisters told him Natalie liked his music. Pero higit na hindi niya inaasahan ang sinabi ng dalaga. It was his pleasure to have a fan as beautiful as Natalie was. "Well, thank you."

Ilang segundo ring pumalibot sa kanila ang katahimikan. Bradley touched his nape, wondering what to say next. Nais niyang itanong ang isiping hindi siya naaalala nito. Bagaman sa mga tinuran ng babae kanina, inawat na niya ang sarili.

May mali, ramdam niya iyon. "So... uhm... where did you get her?" tinuro niya ang aso.

Ang tagal siyang tinitigan ni Natalie. Salubong ang kilay nito, parang may inaalala pero tila hirap. Sa huli, napailing ito at sinabi, "I-I honestly can't remember."

"Daddy?"

Sabay silang napapihit. Isang maliit na batang lalaki ang nakatayo di-kalayuan sa kanila. Mataba ang bata, may hawak na laruang kotse. Tantiya niya ay nasa tatlong taong gulang. Lumingon pa si Bradley sa likuran sa pagtataka kung sino ang tinawag ng bata gayong siya lang naman ang lalaki roon.

"Daddy!" Sukat na tumakbo ito palapit sa kanya saka siya niyakap sa binti na siya namang ikinagulat niya.

Nagtatanong na tingin ang ipinukol niya kay Natalie.

Piga ang labi, lumuhod ang babae at hinarap ang bata. "Uhm... sweetie, where's mommy?"

Ito naman ang niyakap ng paslit. "She's on hew way back. You bwing daddy Bwadley here?"

Hindi maipinta ang mukha ng babae, tila natatawa sa kung anong kapilyahang ginawa. "U-uhm... baby," haplos nito sa pisngi ng paslit, "there's something I want to tell you---u-uh---Bradley Cayne is not your daddy. I was just joking when I said that." Nakangiwi ang mukha nito habang sinasabi iyon. "I'm so sorry."

"Okay, but..." Halos mapaiyak ang batang tumingala sa kanya. "I can still call him daddy, wight?"

Natalie gave him a warning look as if she was telling him to ride with the kid.

Natural, tumalima siya, ngiting-ngiti."O-of course! Come here, big shot." Kinarga niya ito. "What's your name by the way?"

"My name is Khael Flowes. Will you sick fow us?"

Nangunot ang noo niya, nilingon si Natalie. "W-what did he say?"

"He said if it's okay for you to 'sing' for us,"

"Oh! Okay, Sure! What do you want me to sing then?"

"F*ck It Up! That's my favowit!"

Natutop ni Natalie ang bibig. Umawang ang labi ni Bradley, parang binuhusan siya ng malamig na tubig sa narinig. Kailanman sa dinadami-dami ng kanyang kanta ay wala siya ni isang pinagsisihang isulat. He was kind of a singer-songwriter that wrote any kind of music genre; ballad, pop, RnB, rock. You name it.

Gayunman, sa title lang talaga siya hirap kaya kadalasan, ang crew niya o kung sino man sa production team ang nag-iisip. He had given one of his songs a title once. At iyon ay ang kantang binanggit ng bata. It was an up-beat song, isa sa mga kanta sa pinakaunang album niya seven years ago — iyong album na naging tulay bakit siya sikat ngayon, iyong panahon na conservative pa ang mga lyrics na naiisip niya.

"Okay." Itiniim niya ang mga labi, mapigilan lang ang pagtawa, "I'm gonna sing, but first, when I say, Funk It Up, you'll follow me. Can you do that for me?" Binigyang diin niya ang salitang 'Funk'.

Lumawak ang ngiti ng paslit, tumango nang maraming beses.

"You ready?" Pinasigla niya ang tinig.

Muling tumango si Khael.

Sinulyapan muna ni Bradley si Natalie. Nakahalukipkip ito, seryosong nakamasid lang sa kanila. Ngumiti siya rito bago muling itinuon ang atensyon sa bata. "Funk—It—Up." Pinalaki pa niya ang buka ng bibig na siya namang ikinatawa ng bata. "C'mon, big shot, it's your turn."

"F*ck—It—Up." Tumawa nang malakas ang bata. Gayundin si Natalie. Bradley, however, blinked his eyes many times. Natatawa siya pero parang mas gusto niyang umiyak.

That song was kid-friendly!

"Sick fow us now, Daddy. Pwease."

Pilit ang ngiting sumakay na lang siya. "Okay. You know how to sing it?"

"Yes. I know how to dance it too. Tita Nat-Nat taught me.''

Gulantang na napabaling siya sa babae. Agad itong umiling-iling, para bang alam na nito ang ibig niyang sabihin.

"You think Tita Nat-Nat will sing and dance with us?" ani Bradley sa bata, nakatuon pa rin sa mukha ng dalaga. Pigil na pigil nito ang tawa, pulado na rin ang mukha.

And damn! Kung bakit naaliw na naman si Bradley na panuorin ito ay hindi niya alam.

Watching every move she made was like an illicit drug that he couldn't get over with. Like he fell under her spell.

"Oh! No, no, no!" Hustong iling ang ginawa nito.

"Oh! C'mon Nat," aniya.

"Pwease, Tita Nat-Nat, pwease," gatong ni Khael, pinagdaop pa ang maliliit na mga kamay.

Bradley wanted to thank the kid. Natalie ended up saying okay.

Napipilitan ito, alam niya. And he sensed she was a musician too. Halata iyon sa mga kalyo ng mga daliri nito sa kanang kamay. If she nailed playing the piano and guitar, probably she can play drums too.

So he asked, "Give me some beats there, Nat."

Napa-rolyo ng mga mata ang babae. Gayunman, napataas ang dalawang kilay niya nang mag-beat nga ito — gamit ang bibig! She was snapping her fingers too.

She swept off his feet; he was dumbfounded. Hindi pa niya uumpisahan ang pagkanta kung hindi siya sinabihan ng babae. Kinalaunan ay sumabay itong nag-second voice sa kanya. She was adjusting her tone as to how he was rising his tone.

She blended her voice to his, flawlessly.

What amazed him more was, she was dancing along with him. And she was great as if she was a dancer.

Bradley tried hardly to oppose the fiery desire deep inside his core as he touched his nape and blinked for a moment. Mabuti na lang sumaktong tapos na ang kanta. Khael jumped in bliss.

"Khaeeeel!" malakas na boses ni Elise mula sa di-kalayuan ang pumukaw sa kanila.

"Mommy's looking for you, sweetie." Dinampian ni Natalie ng hintuturo ang tuktok ng ilong ng bata. Patakbong nagpaalam naman si Khael.

Nang pumihit paharap sa kanya si Natalie, alanganing ngumiti ito. " I'm sorry about that."

"About what?"

"For telling him that you were his daddy. Khael has been asking me who and where his daddy was. I don't know, but you were the first person who came into my mind, so—"

"It's okay. It's kinda cute, though. Is he the son of Elise?"

"Yup." Pumakla ang mukha nito, kapagkuwan ay ngumiwi. "Hindi halata, no?"

Umisang tawa lang siya. Saktong dating naman nila Paige. Ito, si Jas at si Zeke, may kanya-kanyang dala na stainless na lalagyanan ng pagkain. Isang case ng beer naman ang bitbit ni Eiden.

"What's that for?" tanong niya.

"We just planned to throw a party for Natalie. Elise told us that it's Natalie's birthday." Si Paige, agad na kumuha ng isang bote ng beer mula sa case nang maipatong iyon ni Eiden sa mesa.

Nagtama ang paningin nila ni Natalie. Hustong namula na naman ang mukha nito. "But my birthday is tomorrow?" she asked in a half statement.

"Well, it doesn't matter," anang best friend niya. Naging abala na ito sa pagbukas ng bote. "Let's just celebrate now, 'cause I have a flight tomorrow."

Napakunot ng noo ni Bradley. "What?"

"I'm going back to LA. Wife called earlier. You know, the daddy duties, husband stuff thing?"

Hindi pa man siya nakatutugon, isang kasambahay ang biglang lumitaw sa kung saan. "Señorita Natalie, pinapatawag kayo ni Elise sa opisina niya."

Ngiting tagumpay. Iyon ang rumehistro sa mga labi ng dalaga. "Well, I guess, I'll leave you all for a while." Tumalikod na itong naglakad palayo.

"You'll get back here soon, alright?" sigaw ni Paige.

"Yeah! Bradley will wait for ya," patutyada ni Zeke.

"You son of a b***h!" Tiim ang bagang, malakas niyang hinampas ang tiyan ng lalaki.

***