Ashes in the Dusk [CBS#4]

Chapter 21

🏇

Masigla akong bumangon sa kama at agad na binuksan ang bintana. I was never been this excited on my birthday! Sinuklay ko muna ang buhok at dumiretso sa kusina para makapag hilamos. I was still wearing my pair of pajamas. Busy drying my face with a soft towel, Rahma Hajid entered the kitchen with a mug on his right hand.

"Good morning!" I greeted him with a wide smile.

He knew that it was my birthday, right? I finally turned eighteen! Oh my gosh, I felt like I was already old. Kidding.

Muli kong naalala ang text ni Mr. Sagorio noong bagong lipat kami rito. He was apprehensive that Rahma might wrong me. Mas napatunayan ko lang ngayon na wala ngang balak na masama si Rajah sa akin.

We had been living together for how many months now and still, the king slept on the sofa every night. He had been always gentle at me. Hindi siya ang taong dapat na katakutan at pagdudahan ko.

"Morning," he said in his usual tone.

Excited na akong marinig ang pagbati niya sakin. Hindi pa ako naging ganito kababaw. In the past, luxurious presents and trips to fun places made me real happy. Today, though, I felt like I was on top of the world just by hearing a simple greeting from his luscious lips.

Lumapit siya sa akin. Napakurap-kurap lang ako nang yumuko siya para halikan lang ako sa noo.

"You're up so early." Nakasimangot kong sinipat ang wall clock. It was only six in the morning and yet, he was already fresh from bath.

His perfume was freely making its way into my nose and his dark hair was glazed with some gels, perhaps? Naka t-shirt na rin siya at jeans, wala pa nga lang tsinelas.

"Uh-hm, I have to. Marami na namang nakaabang na gawain sa opisina." paliwanag niya at ipinaghila ako ng silya.

He reached for my hand and led me to sit onto the chair.

"Anong gagawin nyo ngayon?" natatamad kong tanong at medyo natatanggap nang hindi na niya talaga ako masusundo kada lunchtime o uwian, di tulad noon.

Why was it like that? Daddy didn't give him loads of works to do in the farm! Tumutulong naman din kasi si Daddy noon kahit na siya pa ang may-ari. Siguro natutulog lang yung Maisy buong maghapon tapos iniaasa na lang kay Rajah ang mga gagawin niya dapat? But Lumina told me last night that she was an efficient worker! Or maybe... hmm. Sinasadya niya yatang tumamad-tamad ngayon sa trabaho para naroon palagi si Rahma, kasi nga may gusto siya sa lalaking 'to, di ba?

"Usual farm activities..." aniya at tumabi sa akin habang nilalagyan ng fried rice ang aking pinggan.

Bumuga na lang ako ng hangin at pinanood syang kumukuha ng isa pang mug para ipagtimpla ako ng gatas.

"Okay..." malungkot kong sagot at nagpatuloy na lang sa pagkain.

The jerk liked me but he didn't even know when my birthday was! Bakit ganun, yung mga lalaking nagkakagusto sakin sa school noon palaging alam ang birthday ko? Some even made an effort to greet me at twelve midnight, para sila raw ang pinakaunang bumati sakin. Tapos ang lalaking 'to, na unang-una kong nagustuhan, wala man lang kaalam-alam sa personal na impormasyon tungkol sakin? Fuck. Rajah was truly an ass!