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Zed keeps on eyeing his wife as she talks to her friends, saying goodbye maybe. The only best friend that Nissy had was Pinky. She’s the girl who lives next door, adopted of the Vice-governor of Makati. Parang kambal tuko ang dalawa na hindi mapaghiwalay na minsan ay nakikitulog pa at nakikikain sa bahay nila si Pinky. Syempre mas okay iyon para sa ama niya dahil hindi si Nissy ang lalabas ng bahay at ito ang dinadayo ng kaibigan.
Male friends aren’t supposed to come for a visit and she was forbidden to have some, too in school.
All her freedom was taken away from her and his Dad may have had forgotten that she’s a human, too and she needs to make decisions for her own to help her grow. From failures comes great success, and from mistakes comes great learning. Iisang tao lang ang hindi matuto sa buhay kahit na parati na lang mali ang kinahahantungan ng mga padalus-dalos na kilos at si Paul iyon.
Nina Scarlet… He mumbled against the rim of the wine glass.
Just like the old days, the girl never failed to capture his attention. Every time that his father was tossing a party for her, she always catches his interest.
“Son,” isang tapik sa balikat ang nagpalingon sa kanya at Daddy niya ang naroon.
“Did your brother give you a ring?” usisa nito sa kanya kaya tumango siya.
Nakatanggap siya ng tawag kaninang alas singko ng hapon at alas singko naman ng madaling araw sa lugar ng kakambal niya.
He mentioned the wedding but it seems like Paul doesn’t care. He doesn’t care being tied and he doesn’t care if his signature was to be falsified. Iisa ang nasa isip ng kapatid niya at masunod ang kagustuhan ng ama niya pero ang kapalit niyon ay gagawin pa rin ni Paul ang mga hilig lalo na ang hilig sa babae.
They’re both horndogs and they f**k women’s brains out of their heads, but he is not like his twin who doesn’t have the heart when it comes to cheating on an innocent girl like Nissy. She loves Paul so much but she’s being cheated without her notice—ever since.
“He called and I heard that he’s with a woman, f*****g their brains off their heads.” Aniya saka sumimsim ng alak.
Parang umawang pa ang labi ng ama niya sa sinabi niya pero ano bang bago?
Kung madalas siyang mahuli ng ama niya na pinatatayo lang ang makursunadahan niyang bisita sa puno at nililisan ng bestida, hinahawi ang underwear, ganoon din karami ang beses na nahuli nito si Paul na gumagawa ng ganoon. Wala silang pinipiling lugar at kahit na bar counter ay gumagalaw sila ng babae o sa billiard’s table man. Wala namang nakakapagtaka roon.
“Come on Dad. Don’t give me that s**t look. You know that your eldest is no Saint.” Aniya sa ama na inilingan pa.
“I know. It’s just that I am not expecting it because he’s aware that today is his supposed to be wedding.” Sagot naman ni Damien na kaswal na tumingin kay Nissy na nasa kalayuan.
“Is it new? Nothing’s new, Dad. You’re the only one who doesn’t get tired of waiting for Kuya to finally change.”
“Well at least I have a reason because he’s already tied up to his long term girlfriend.”
Napangisi siya at nakakainsulto iyon. “Girlfriend is just a tag. It vanishes when Kuya sees a p***y in his bed.”
Tumingin kay Zed ang Daddy niya at umawang na naman ang mga labi. “And you’re not?”
“I am, too.” He replied right away which made Damien heave a sigh as the old man looks at Nissy.
But I don’t cheat.
“Then, none of you can love her and keep her as his wife. Nakakatakot na baka isang gabi ay bumangon na lang si Nick sa nitso at sakalin ako kapag nahirapan si Nissy sa buhay may asawa. Hindi pa rin ako nawawalan ng pag-asa na si Nissy ang makapagpapabago sa kapatid mo. Malakas ang pananampalataya ko kasi malambing at sobrang bait ng kinakapatid niyo.”
I doubt it.
Kung magbabago ang kakambal niya, dapat hindi iyon tumakas sa kasal tapos tatawag at bibilinan siya na huwag pakikialaman si Nissy dahil kapag sawa ng magliwaliw sa Vegas ay babalik na at si Nina Scarlet na naman ang pagsasawaan.
Kung magbabago ‘yon dapat ay hindi niyon pinaaasa ang dalaga sa wala. Though maybe Paul loves Nissy, it not that strong perhaps. His brother loves himself more than his girlfriend.
“It’s getting late, Dad. We better leave now.” Sumulyap siya sa suot na relo pero ramdam niya na napatitig ang Daddy niya sa kanya.
“Don’t give me that s**t look, Dad. I would keep my hands off her as much as I could. As for you can see or maybe your blind, she’s so damn hard to ignore and my d**k is throttling inside my pants when she’s improperly dressed—and she’s always improperly dressed, never midning if I see her panty or so.” He declared boldly.
Masyadong na-baby si Nissy ng Daddy niya kaya burara iyon at isip-bata.
He doesn’t have to hide it. It’s so natural for a man like him to feel horny whenever he sees a beautiful woman. The first thing that comes in his mind is to lay that woman on the bed and do her. He’s been evading Nissy because she’s like his sister but who is he fooling? Since that four year old kid lived in their house in Ireland, they knew that one of them is going to be her husband.
“She’s your twin’s wife.” Ani Damien.
For hell’s sake, where is that asshole?
“My twin’s wife but shoving his d**k to some p***y in Vegas. Sa halip na sa asawa niya ibaon at isagad ang p*********i niya, ibang babae ang tinitikman niya sa mga oras na ito.” Pikon na sagot niya.
Kailan ba siya matatapos sa pagtatakip sa mga ginagawa ng kapatid niya?
Zed got a light tap on his shoulder as his father speaks. “He’ll change.”
“Well, pray to all the Saints that he’d get amnesia so he could forget his cheating habit. You think Nissy wouldn’t get mad about this if she’d learn to know the truth? Paul’s been cheating since she was a kid. You know it Daddy. Jesus Christ.” Daldal pa niya sa ama.
“I know, but when you become a father you will understand. I don’t want to stop believing and I still believe that Nissy is the best girl for him. I’ll go and call her.” Umalis na kaagad ito at hindi na siya hinayaan na makasagot pa.
That’s the worse case. His father never finds the right woman for him, only for Paul. Eversince it was Paul all the time. Though he knew that his Daddy loves them both, it’s still different when it comes to his elder sibling. And sometimes he thinks that it’s all about his mother’s demise which was his fault. Iniisip niya na baka sinisisi siya ng Daddy niya sa pagkawala ng ina niya.
They never tackled about the sudden death of his Mom and his Dad had been evading the topic since then and now.
Kung hindi lang niya mahal ang kuya niya ay matagal na sana niya iyong inilaglag pero may sarili siyang paraan ng paglaglag doon. Zed has the dirty image of a womanizer, the gambler, the prodigal, and Paul’s the responsible one, the successor, the one who will sit on their father’s throne but behind those lies is the truth. He stands on his twin’s behalf to save that untidy image of a successor.
Minsan tinatanong na rin niya ang kanyang sarili kung hanggang doon na lang ba talaga ang papel niya sa buhay at kung darating pa ba ang panahon na gugustuhin naman niya na tumayo pa para sa sarili niyang imahe na inagaw na ng kapatid niya at ang napunta na sa kanya ay ang mga masasagwang imahe niyon?
His duty doesn’t just stop there. He has plans, too and if his Dad can’t cut the horns, he’ll do it.
Napatigil siya sa pag-iisip nang matanaw si Nissy na kinuha ang alagang pusa na si Pie mula sa katulong nila at nagmartsa iyon papalapit.
“I want to bring my cat in M-Moson…M-Morcon…M—” napatirik ang mga mata nito at waring nag-iisip.
“Moasonon Island.” Zed corrected.
“Yes. That’s just the same.” Taas noong sagot ni Nissy sa kanya na ikinatulis lang naman ng kanyang labi at napainom na lang sa wine glass.
Anong parehas sa Morcon at Moasonon? Igigiit pang parehas samantalang mali naman.
“Who will babysit that cat?” He asked and took a glance at the fat furry black and white cat.
“Me. Surely I can’t go out and you will just tuck me inside my room just like the old days.” She sounded tired about her life but she already walked past him.
Bored na bored na siguro ito sa buhay sa loob ng mansyon na hindi nakakalabas ng bahay para mamasyal at sumama sa kaibigan. He doesn’t know why his Dad has been keeping her ever since. There’s no threat in her life but he couldn’t either blame his Dad. The only reason he sees is the truth that Nissy will catch a lot of guys who can possibly replace Paul’s position in her heart. Kulang sa atensyon si Paul sa girlfriend noon at paano kung may dumating na isa na hands-on sa pagiging boyfriend? Makakalamang ang lalaki at baka magkainteres ito na humanap ng iba. Mawawalan nga naman ng bisa ang kasunduan ng mga magulang nila at ang pinakahuling pangako ni Damien sa namatay na ninong Nick nila kapag hindi na minahal ni Nissy ang kuya niya. Dalawa lang naman ang pagpipilian na gustuhin, siya o iyon; at si Paul iyon kaya hindi na ito pwedeng hayaan ng Daddy niya na magkaroon ng social life at maligawan ng iba. Mali iyon dahil ang numero unong karibal ay nasa loob din mismo ng mansyon, naghihintay ng tamang panahon o naghihintay na pilitin ng panahon; siya iyon.
“Hoy!” Napapapiksing napakamot si Nissy nang lingunin siya. “I wish you’re moving and not just staring into nothing. My feet are tired and I want to remove these shoes.” Mataray na litanya nito na nagpagising sa natutulog niyang diwa.
Padabog itong naglakad ulit papalabas ng bulwagan kaya sumunod kaagad siya. This woman isn’t learning her damn lessons.
Kaagad niya itong hinaklit sa braso na halos ikatumba pa nito.
“The people around are looking at us. Do you really wanna know that your fiancé left before your wedding? My Dad’s been protecting you from shame and gossips yet you’re acting stubborn again, showing these people how off you are to me.” He casually said.
Saglit na lumingon si Nissy at tumingin sa paligid. Balewala itong yumakap sa braso niya at nginitian pa siya ng peke. “Is this better now, Hellboy?”
Hellboy?
Hindi na lang niya pinansin ang pambubuska nito sa kanya. Why is she even so irritated at him? Wala naman siyang kasalanan dito at hindi naman nga siya lumalapit kahit na noon pa tapos para siyang ketongin na ayaw nitong mahawakan at malapitan.
But it’s better that way because she learns how to forget his brother. Akala yata nito ay hindi niya alam na umiyak ito kanina nang mapagsalitaan niya tungkol kay Paul. She walked away and pretended that she went to the powder room but her foundation was a bit off when she darted out of the ladies room.
“How many days am I going to endure that fake honeymoon? Daddy Dammy never mentioned something about it. He just told me that we’re about to leave.”
“One week.”
“One week?!” literal na lumaki ang mga mata ni Nissy at ngumanga sa kanya. “That long?”
“Yes.”
Napanguso na lang ito saka sumimangot, at sa tingin niya ay wala itong kasing cute kapag ang tabas ng magandang mukha ay nauuwi sa ganoon.
She will never regret that moment because she will be free for a week.
“Separate rooms?” She asked again, blinking while he’s casually walking with hands inside his pockets.
Pinindot niya ang buton ng elevator saka siya umiling. “I personally designed my rest house for my future family. Why would you even think that I would put so many rooms? Leisure time must be spent happily and stressfree, with my family, my wife and my kids in the same room.”
“You talked too much. Why didn’t just say there is only one room in your rest house? I’ll sleep on the bed, you on the—”
“The bed, too.” Sambot niya. “I am no gentleman, Hellcat. I won’t tolerate this. My life’s been such a real mess portraying as your stupid groom, trying to spit those vows with full of sincerity. That’s stupidity, you know. I won’t ever play gentleman while only it’s the two us.” Tahasang sagot niya rito na nagpatalim sa mga mata nito.
Gentleman siya pero parang gusto na lang niya iyong itago sa baol. Maitatago ba niya kapag nag-umpisa itong maging makulit?
“You’re so mayabang talaga. I swear I’ll tell this to—” nanlaki ang mga mata ni Nissy nang kabigin niya bigla sa baywang.
“To Dad? To Paul? Go ahead. Where’s your Paul? Do I have to repeat it over and over again that your Paul is not here? Is he even calling you to say, hi baby, how are you?” he smirked scornfully and it made Nissy’s eyes weary and teary.
“Drop your stubbornness. I am not Dad.”
“Oh hell he’s better than you!” she fires right away and pushes him but he’s immovable.
“I swear I’ll curse this fake honeymoon ever! It will be like hell because you’re hellish and a demon and a bastard, a brute, egoistic scumbag! A devilish man hiding beneath that gorgeousness! Idiot!” gigil na gigil na singhal nito sa kanya pero lumabas siya sa lift nang bumukas iyon.
“Thanks, baby girl. That’s so really sweet.”
“Eeehhh! Bwisit ka!”
Zed looked back and he literally saw Nissy standing like she’s ready to stab his back using her stiletto.
His eyes traveled down to her left thigh which was so damn exposed over the slit of her reception gown.
If only Paul could see what he saw a while ago when she hopped out of the bridal car? That man is too selfish to take a certain possession over Nina Scarlet but then would womanize every single f*****g minute.
Hindi man sila nag-uusap kahit na magkasama sila nito sa iisang bubong, hindi rin naman lingid sa kaalaman niya ang pagiging malambing nito at mabait naman. May kapilyahan lang ito at medyo spoiled pero bukod doon ay maayos naman na babae.
He even often sees Nissy and Paul talking and the way how she deals with his twin is truly an exquisite way of showing affection towards somebody.
She’s sweet and that’s all.
Her lips taste the same.
“I’ll count three. If you won’t take any single step, I’ll f*****g leave.” He enunciated which made her turn madder.
“Three.” Zed pronounced.
“Yik!” tili ni Nissy na nagpailing sa kanya habang papasakay siya sa chopper.
“That’s supposed to be one.” Protesta nito habang lumalagatak ang takong sa helipad.
“I want to skip and you can do nothing about it.” He smirks on his own and noticed in his peripheral vision that she’s mimicking his words childishly.
- Writer
