Crown 2 ♚ RUDE

3900 Words
OH. My. God. Did he just slam the door on my face? He did, didn't he? Well, now I know how that really felt like. And good doesn't even cover it. All my childhood up to my adult life, no one ever did that to me. Ako ang sumasara ng pintuan sa mukha ng tao—but only to those who deserve my wrath. Pero hindi ko iyon ginagawa just for the sake of pushing someone away, especially a guest. Did he think I deserve this uncivilized treatment? It's official. Draco DeVilla is an ass! He is an abominable, distasteful, stupid jerk who doesn't have a little bit of trace of nicety in his bone, even in his blood cells. He didn't even have the balls to talk to me like a perfect gentleman. Not even sure if he knows that word. I wanted to pound my fist heavily onto his grim dark door but I'm not an idiot. I know when I am not wanted. And his door is practically screaming 'Leave me alone!' at me. Damn! What do I do now? Should I leave? Or wait until he decides to grace me with his undivided attention? With one last stern look at the door, I turned around away from it and walked back downstairs. The whole house was so dark, gloomy and obsolete it gives me the creeps. Para bang anumang oras ay may susulpot na tao sa harap ko. Or maybe worse than human. I felt a sudden shiver. Goodness. To live in this house for ten years or even a couple of years is really beyond me. Hinawi ko kaagad ang napakakapal na kurtina pagkababa ko para silipin ang bintana at nakita kong napakalakas pa rin ng buhos ng ulan. I could see the lightening flashing above the clouds and even against the thick wall of this creepy castle, I could hear the muffled roll of thunder. Napanguso ako nang makita ko ang pulang Audi ko sa labas. Marshmallow. She looked so lonely and neglected out there in the middle of the storm. Hindi naman siguro liliparin ng hangin ang bubong niya, diba? "Sorry, Marshmallow. I can't save you there. Just hang on, okay. Mawawala din ang ulan," I mumbled to myself and to the window that was barring me from the raging storm outside. Napabuntong hininga ako. I should call kuya and tell him there's no use convincing DeVilla. Ni ayaw nga niyang makipag-usap sa'kin. And, didn't he say he knew me? Ganoon ba dapat tratuhin ang isang bisita? Maybe it's his style. Well, he definitely did a great job putting up a good first impression. Out of the blue, images of his ebony long hair, his half-shadowed face, his sternly shut lips, his smoldering eyes and unwelcoming gaze, broad wide shoulders, taut waist, muscular body and faded jeans tucked inside a cowboy boots flashed inside my head. I can grudgingly say he had a good-looking—bordering to dangerous—face. And if he could try to soften his features and smile, have his hair cut shorter, maybe I can find him more handsome and likable. But the fact that he owns a terrible attitude and he speaks ugly words still makes him the meanest man in the world aside from my brother Sage. At least, Sage is smiling and a lot more pleasant now that he's married. But this DeVilla man, he didn't look like his smiling and cheerful sister at all. I can't see any resemblance. Talaga bang kapatid ni Sorcha ang walang modong lalaking iyon? He's plain devil. How can he be so rude to people? At talagang papaalisin pa niya ako sa ganitong panahon! Did he really expect me to leave and walk out through that angry storm? He's social orientation is staggeringly unbelievable. I just met him today and five minutes of barely talking, he was shutting the door on my face already. Well, I don't really find him appealing in those five minutes. Not one bit. I grudgingly stepped away from the window and dropped the curtain when I realized the storm won't stop even if I watched it for hours. Hinanap ko na lang kung nasaan ang telepono para matawagan ko si kuya. My phone was stuck inside my car and I still have to charge it to call him. I dialed our home's telephone number when I found a wireless phone in one of the rooms and I groaned when a dead tone greeted me. The phone was cut! Seriously! Can this day be even more worse? Padarang na ibinaba ko ang telepono at luminga sa paligid. I need to find another phone. Pero nasuyod ko na ang bawat kuwarto sa buong baba ng bahay na ito at wala ni isang telepono. This house is... I groaned inwardly. I don't even know how to describe this place. Natutop ko ang ulo ko nang makaramdam ako ng pintig doon. Please. I don't need headaches right now. How can I possibly leave this place if my gas won't even carry me half a mile from here? Tapos bumabagyo pa sa labas. Bigla ay naramdaman ko ang pagkalam ng sikmura ko. I really wish I have my jellies and gummy bears with me. Nagpasya na lang akong umupo sa living area para doon maghintay, nagbabakasakali na lumabas si Draco aa lungga niya. If he thinks I'd throw myself in that storm, he's sorely mistaken. Hindi ako suicidal kagaya ng gusto niyang mangyari. But then, I'm not also the type who gives up easily. Napaisip tuloy ako. Wala na akong ibang ginawa kundi ang magreklamo kanina pa. I'm not aware of that. I just didn't expect this task would be this difficult—scratch that. It's the man who's being painfully difficult. Wala namang mahirap sa pagkukumbinsi kay Draco. I can convince him, alright. If he didn't shut his door on me and just give me an opportunity to talk. I was surprised. Well, more than surprised, actually. But this time, I won't let him step his cowboy boots all over me. Tiningnan ko ang relo ko. Fifteen minutes na ang lumilipas pero wala pa rin akong naririnig na galaw mula sa taas. Did he fall asleep? Mukhang wala talagang balak na lumabas ni Draco sa lungga niya. Well, if he's too insistent to ignore me, fine. Pero ako, hindi ko na kayang tiisin ang gutom ko. I am famished. Kaya tumayo ako at hinanap ang kusina ni Draco. I was praying that he, at least, have some friendly food inside his fridge. Surely, he eats something. Like food and animal meat... Napailing na lang ako sa iniidip ko. It's not like Draco is a living vampire or something. Gusto ko talagang matawa sa sarili ko. Pero hindi ko magawa dahil sa sobrang gutom. My wild imagination is running away with my sanity again. Inipon ko ang buhok ko at inipit iyon sa taas ng ulo ko habang inikot ko ang bahay hanggang sa mapasok ko ang pinakadulong kuwarto at parang sumikat ang araw nang makita ko ang napakalaking ref sa loob. Huh! What do you know? Akala ko, lahat ng appliances at furniture sa bahay ni Draco, antigo. But look at his fridge! It's huge! He even has a modern high-tech touch pad stove. I was honestly expecting a lesser luxurious than that. May coffee maker, toaster, at kung anu-ano pang kitchen appliances siya na hindi ko pa alam kung paano gamitin. Like that oven in the corner. Out of curiosity and this strong sense of hunger, I pulled open the left side of the fridge. At napangiwi agad ako nang makita ko ang naka-stock niyang pagkain. It was all beef. And chicken meat. Puro beer naman sa ilalim. God! Does he eat anything other than meat? My stomach growled louder. Hindi ko na mahihintay kung magluluto pa ako, and I don't even know how to cook a single meat. Binuksan ko ang isa pang pintuan at doon ko nakita ang nag-iisang loaf ng bread, galloon ng gatas, peanut butter, jam at at ilang itlog. I know it's bad to just rummage through someone's fridge and attack someone's food, but I am so hungry and my host is very unhospitable at the moment so... that's a pretty acceptable reason. Inabot ko ang bread at ang strawberry jam. I also checked the expiration date for good measures. Wow, two months na lang mag-eexpire na 'tong strawberry jam niya pero hindi pa iyon nabubuksan. "Hi there, baby. You've been waiting for me, didn't you?" Tinanggal ko ang seal ng jam at binuksan iyon. Apat na bread ang pinagpatong-patong ko at gumawa pa ako ng isa. I'm a girl with a hearty appetite and I'm not ashamed of it. Pinagbabayaran ko rin naman ang extra pounds na nadadagdag sa timbang ko kaya panay ang swimming ko. I don't do jogging and going to gyms. I don't know, it has never been my thing. I was enjoying my third sandwich when I heard that familiar growl behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw that beastly magnificent black dog standing at the door watching and gnarling his teeth at me. My back straightened and looked if he's master was with him, pero mag-isa lang ito. Nilapitan ko siya at umuklo sa harap niya. He's too big. I've never seen a dog this big. If he would stretch up, I think he'd be taller than me. Nag-alinlangan pa akong hawakan ang ulo niya dahil iniisip ko na baka katulad din siya ng amo niya. Magaspang ang ugali. Pero hindi ko pa nahahawakan ang balat niya ay bigla niyang inilabas ang dila niya. My ass fell from fright and I almost screamed out, but then I felt his wet tongue licking my sandwich. Oh, so he wanted my food, not me. Kaya ibinigay ko na lang iyon sa kanya. "Hey, big boy. What's your name?" I said as I petted his head and nose. He has a soft and thick midnight black hair and brown eyes. Para siyang wolf bred. "You're a good boy, aren't you? Hindi katulad ng amo mo." Hindi ako mahilig sa mga hayop, but I don't hate them too. Blue have an allergy to cats and dogs kaya hindi kami kumuha ng alagang hayop. Sage had been wanting one too, pati si Kuya Duke. Pero hindi pumayag si Ma na iuwi sa bahay kapag nakakahanap sila ng aso dahil kay Blue. "Gutom ka rin, katulad ko. Siguro hindi ka inaalagaan ng maayos ng amo mo. My brothers should see you. Alam kong magugustuhan ka nila. Mahilig sila sa aso na kasinggwapo mo." There's no sense talking to this one too, dahil hindi naman nagsasalita ang aso. But it's more understandable than talking to his owner. May bibig nga pero hindi naman marunong makipag-usap. "Nasaan na ba iyong amo mong pinaglihi kay Dracula? Tinulugan na niya ako no?" "Nandito ka pa rin?" Napatingala ako sa malalim at galit na boses na iyon. And there he is, the King of the Damn. So, he finally graced me with his presence after all. I gave one last pat on the dog's head before I stood up and a pair of glowering dark eyes meet mine. Pinasadhan ko siya ng tingin. He changed into a fresh clean clothe. But he still got that ripped faded jeans tucked inside his chocolate brown cowboy boots. Cowboys don't look that hot and good in my dictionary. His lips thinned and tore his eyes from me. "Zeus." His voice rippled at my spine as he frowned at his dog who was eating the last piece of my sandwich. Tumaas ang kilay ko. So Zeus pala ang pangalan ng aso niya. Draco and Zeus. What a fitting companion they make. The giant dog whipped his head up and ran to sit beside his feet, wagging his tail with the food between his sharp teeth. Ibinalik ni Draco sa akin ang mga mata niya. They were accusing, as though I did an unspeakable crime to him and his dog. Nagulat siguro siya na hindi ako kinakain ng aso niya. "Sinabi ko nang umalis ka, hindi ba?" aniya. Hello? Hindi niya ba nakikita ang bagyo sa labas? I smirked and flicked a hand at his ash-filled window. "In case you haven't noticed, there's a storm right outside your house." Tumalikod na ako at bumalik sa pagkakaupo ko. I can still see him glaring. Pagkatapos ay tiningnan niya ang nakabukas na pack ng bread at ang garapon ng jam sa mesa. His jaw started to move. "Puro beef at beer ang laman ng ref mo," sabi ko at ngumiti. "Ayaw ko namang abusuhin ang kabaitan mo kaya gumawa na lang ako ng sandwich ko. Gusto mong igawa din kita? Baka nagugutom ka na." He scowled. Boy, he sure doesn't know the word 'joke'. Besides, I make a good sandwich. Nagustuhan nga ng aso niya e. His gloved hand reached his hair and brushed the strands away from his face. "Hindi mo siguro naintindihan ang sinabi ko kanina," aniya sa malalim na boses. And I blinked, my eyes were staring unbelievingly at the man before me. "Which part?" I just said because this cowboy just owned a sculpture perfect face! Those chiseled jaw that was filled with dark whiskers, thick dark eyebrows... mas lalo kong nakita kong gaano katangos ang ilong niya. Shit! I can't have my heart beating like this right now. I can't possibly find him appealing! Ang sama ng ugali ng lalaking 'to. Look how he looks at me! He's not even friendly. At bakit ko ba siya pinupuri? I don't praise men so easily. Not like this. I scowled too to hide from my blushes. "You mean when you slammed the door on me?" I crossed my legs under the table and looked at him squarely, my chin tilted up high. "I drove a long way from here, Mr. DeVilla. A little courtesy would've been nice." "Sinabi ko na, hindi ako tumatanggap ng bisita. At hindi ko kasalanan na nasayang ang oras mo sa pagpunta mo rito." His dog barked and trotted away from the kitchen, expecting his owner to follow him. Pero nanatili sa akin ang mabibigat na mata ni Draco. Gusto kong itanong sa kanya kung bakit niya ako kilala. Pero hindi iyon ang mahalaga sa ngayon. Maybe he knew me because of my brothers. Lalo na at pinag-iinteresan ni kuya ang lupa niya. I took a deep breath to stuff my growing irritation in and think that this was about business. Very important business. "Kaunting oras lang ang hinihingi ko sayo, Mr. DeVilla. We can talk about it while the storm is not yet calm." I was expecting a little bit of consideration. But his eyes narrowed instead and his lips twisted. "Kung nagpunta ka rito para kombinsihin ako tungkol sa lupa, 'wag mo nang ituloy. Nasabi ko na ang desisyon ko sa kapatid mo at wala akong interes na ipagbili ang lupa sa kanya o sa kahit na sino." "Don't you think you're deciding too fast?" Tumayo ako sa upuan at naglakad palapit sa kanya. But his presence was overwhelming me that I had to keep a few safe feet away from him. "Can you at least try to listen to what I have to say first?" "Ayoko. Kaya makakaalis ka na," aniya sabay talikod. Napaplatak ako sabay hilot sa aking noo. Damn his male stubbornness! Pero ayaw kong magpatalo. "It's very unfortunate, but I have no intention of leaving, Mr. DeVilla." I told him and that made him turn around with blazing eyes. Kumibot ang manipis niyang labi. "Don't test my patience, woman." It was bad getting him pissed, but I had to do what I have to do. "Or what? You want to use force to throw me out now? Nice way of showing your hospitability." "Hospitability?" Umikot siya at bumalik sa kusina na tiim na tiim ang panga. This time, he closed the safe distance I had from him. I had the urge to step back, pero baka isipin niyang natatakot ako sa kanya. Well, I'm not. Kahit na mas malaki ang katawan niya at mas matangkad siya sa akin ng ilang dangkal. I can kick him with my boots if he tried anything funny. His furious finger pointed at me, and with this distance, I can see very clearly how thick his eyebrows and how red his angry lips are. "You are trespassing my property and you just went through my fridge without my permission. Pwede kong tawagan ang mga pulis para hulihin ka ngayon na," he growled. Mas lalo akong nairita. "Hindi porket lalaki ka, pwede mo nang gamitin ang—" Buwist na katawan iyan! I huffed angrily and crossed my arms over my chest. I saw how his eyes followed my movement and how they darkened. My neck began to prickle when his eyes lingered on my chest. And then he looked at me with an unreadable hard expression on his face. I swallowed down my throat, my chest suddenly thundering. "I know how to defend myself, Mr. DeVilla. So don't threaten me." He tilted his head in a mocking gesture. "And how do you think would you do that? Bite my hand?" Nag-init ang pisngi ko dahil sa sobrang inis. Arrogant pig! I know he's too tall but I'm not short! Umiling siya at bumuntong hininga bigla. Pero iritado pa rin ang itsura niya. "Go home, Ms. Steele. I won't ask you nicely again next time I catch you here." I gawked. Nicely? Is he for real? "Zeus," matigas na tawag niya sa higanting aso niya at maya-maya ay sumulpot na rin ang aso niya para sundan siya sa taas. Damn him! Galit akong lumabas sa nabubulok na bahay niya. Wind gusted over me, blowing hard drops of rain on me but I ignored them. I don't want to stay another minute in that house with that horrible man. And damn it! He's really going to let me walk in this rain and drive in this storm! Basang basa ako nang marating ko ang koste ko. My car seat is all wet when I settled in. Pinaandar ko iyon at galit na inapakan ang gas. "I swear I'm gonna bite him!" I gritted as I drove away from that place. Rain pounded on my wind shield my wipers couldn't even compete. Bawat galaw niyon ay agad namang napupuno ng tubig ang salamin. It's stupid to drive into this storm, pero ayoko namang ipagsiksikan ko ang sarili ko sa lalaking iyon. He's so medieval, primitive, ill-mannered, impolite jerk. Lahat na siguro ng masasamang salita sa dictionary, tinawag ko na sa kanya. Tiningnan ko ang cellphone ko sa kabilang upuan. I reached it and tried to dial my brother's number, pero nakita kong no signal. I muttered a curse. Mabuti sana kung may dumadaang sasakyan rito, pero wala. No one in his right mind would try to travel in this kind of weather. Even animals have shelter to hide. Ako lang yata ang siraulong nasa daan at sinusuong ang bagyo. And maybe, I'd swim if things get messy around here. I sighed dejectedly. Ayokong bumalik sa ngayon. I don't want to go back as a failure. This deal is so important to me. If I fail my brother, I will fail myself too. Siguro hahayaan ko muna ang bakulaw na iyon sa ngayon. But I will be back and I will make sure he cannot push me around again. Dahil sisiguruhin ko na hindi na niya ako matatanggihan. As of now, tutuloy na lang muna ako sa Sierra Ravenna hanggang sa matapos ang bagyo. I just prayed so hard that I can find my way to there. The rain was getting heavier by each minute and I'm growing worried. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako dinadala ng navigation system ko at halos hindi ko na makita ang daan. My vision is obscured with this thick fog surrounding my car. Nanunuot na rin ang lamig sa balat ko at nagsisimula nang magmanhid ang mga daliri ko. It's too cold. Right when I was rounding to a bended road, my engine died and my car slowed and stopped. Oh God! Not now. Ayokong ma-stuck dito sa daan habang bumabagyo! Who would want to? Kasalanan 'to ng Draco na iyon. If he just gave me a small time to stay... Ang sama niya talaga. He probably wants me dead, that's why. Hindi na ako nag-aksayang lumabas. I can see the trees swaying from the strong wind, trying to hold on to their roots. The sky was getting darker and heavier as I stayed inside my car. Kinuha ko ang leather jacket ko at ibinuhol iyon sa katawan ko. My teeth started to chatter from the cold. Curling my body into a fetal position, I gripped my jacket tighter against my body and tried to breath with my mouth. I curse that I didn't bring anything warmer or bigger jacket. I curse that I didn't bring clothes. I curse that Marshmallow gave up on me. And I curse that man with every fiber of my body. Ayaw kong isipin kung anong mangyayari sa akin kapag tuluyan na akong binaha rito. I just hope that this storm will pass quickly and that someone will pass by. Pero manhid na ang buong katawan ko ay hindi pa rin tumitigil ang ulan. How long has it been raining already? I almost jerked out of my seat when someone knocked on my window. Hindi ko alam na nakatulog na ako sa sobrang lamig. The knock came again at hindi ko pa rin binuksan iyon. My hands and fingers were too stiff. Then I saw someone was wiping the fog and rain off the glass and I saw Draco and his irritating face. May dala itong flashlight habang nakasuot ng itim na raincoat. He knocked on my window again. "Go away," I said but it came out a weak grunt. Pero kumatok ulit siya. I glared at him, pero halos hindi ko maibua ang mga mata ko sa antok at lamig. Nakita ko siyang sumisenyas na ibaba ko ang bintana. Without letting go of my jacket, I reached for the button and pushed it to open my window. Isang pulang kumot ang ipinasok niya sa loob. "Isuot mo iyan tapos bumaba ka na diyan." I was shaking and my teeth were chattering I couldn't even try to argue with him. Kaya tinaggal ko ang jacket ko at inikot ang kumot sa katawan ko saka ako bumaba. Siya pa mismo ang nagbukas ng pintuan para makababa ako. Napansin kong kumunot ang noo niya nang mapansing hindi nakalock ang pintuan ako. He muttered something as he fixed me a scolding look, as though he didn't approve of it. "Sumakay ka na sa sasakyan ko." Padabog niyang isinara ang pintuan ng koste ko kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. No one treats Marshmallow like that. Pero kinuha lang niya ang braso ko at hinapit palapit sa kanya. I instantly felt his warmth and I could almost feel my body wanting to curl against it. The next thing I know, he was spreading his raincoat over my head. "Nanginginig ka. Kaya mo pa bang tumayo?" I wanted to scream it was his fault, pero biglang may kumiliti sa ilong ko. "Achoo!" I sneezed loudly and ungracefully against his chest. Oh God! I think I'm gonna be sick.
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