Lies and Deception ✔ (Haciendero #4)

Ikalabing-apat na Kabanata

Kabanata 14

Hand Painting

Warning: R-18. Read at your own risk, or better skip.

The coast is clear.

Hindi na bumalik iyong Alice sa hacienda at mukhang hindi na babalik. Wala na rin akong pakialam kung ipagsiksikan man niya ang sarili niya, alam ko namang hindi papatol si Raius sa babae. He just proved himself to me.

Nitong mga nakaraang araw, isa lang ang bumabagabag sa isipan ko. Why does Raius have some DVDs with my movies? Namukhaan ba niya ako? Alam na ba niya ang totoo kong pagkatao?

"Rambo!" I was snapped back to reality when I heard Cleo --- Chantelle Cleopatra.

Hinanap siya ng paningin ko. It was morning, then. I just had my coffee in the mansion's kitchen. Sabay kaming nagkape ni Raius pero mas nauna siyang natapos at nagpaalam agad na tutungo ng sakahan.

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa babae. "Do you need help?" I asked.

"I don't need any help," mariin niyang wika.

"Okay." Nagkibit - balikat ako.

I only offer my help just one time, and I don't force people to accept it. Kung ayaw, edi 'wag. And I was anticipating it to happen. Hindi naman kami magkasundo ng kapatid ni Raius. She doesn't like me.

Tinalikuran ko ito, humakbang ako ng ilan pabalik ng kusina. I stopped midway when she spoke.

"Fine. I dropped my cane accidentally. Can you get it for me?" There was resignation on her voice.

She was probably locating it for some time. Medyo malayo sa tayo niya ang cane na agad ko namang kinuha at inabot sa babae. Cleo thanked me for helping her. Wala namang kaso sa akin.

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko. Truth to be told, I want to be on a good foot with Cleo. Matagal ko ng sinusubukang mapalapit sa babae. She's Rye's only sister... and it's a big deal to me to be liked by her.

"Nagsisimula pa lang akong mag-agahan, baka gusto mong sumabay," paanyaya ko.

"I still don't like you," deretsa niyang sinabi.

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "And who do you like? That Alice?" Kusang lumabas na lang iyon sa bibig ko.

"None. I don't like you both," she said scornfully. "You know what they say, when one of the senses was removed, the others heightened. Hindi man kita nakikita, tumalas naman ang pang-amoy at pandinig ko. I know you and I don't like you for my brother. You will only break his heart. I don't like many people, but when it comes to my brothers, cousins, nephews and nieces, it's personal."

I stared at her for a second. Huminga ako ng malalim. I felt everything about me was judged by Cleo, and I was affected by her words. Naiinis ako dahil nagpaapekto ako sa kanyang sinabi.

It shouldn't sting, but it did.

"How sure are you that I'm going to break his heart and not the other way around? Your senses might be heightened, but you're not a seer, Cleo. Hindi mo alam at hindi mo hawak ang hinaharap," matigas ang bawat bigkas ko sa mga salitang lumabas sa bibig ko.

"I hope you're right that I'm the heartbreaker, pero sa oras na magkamali ka at ako ang nasaktan, masasampal kita."

It wasn't even a threat. Totohanin ko iyon kapag nangyaring nasaktan ako dahil sa kapatid niya.

Iniwan ko siya sa living room, hindi na rin ako bumalik sa kusina upang tapusin ang pagkain ko. I walked out of the mansion. Masamang - masama ang aking loob.