Deception's Kiss: Trust No One (Tagalog-SPG)

CHAPTER NINE

Nilaro ko ang pinong puting buhangin sa aking paa at ninamnam ang preskong hangin. Wala masyadong guest sa part na 'to kaya naman mas damang-damang ko ang dagat. Na’ndito kami sa isang cottage habang inihahanda na ni Renz ang aming tanghalian.

Maayos ko namang itinusok ang marinated na karne sa stick at inilagay sa tupperware. Bigla ko namang naaninag si Pablo na biglang lumusong sa dagat at pumunta sa slide.

“Gurang! Huwag ka ngang malikot, baba d’yan! Mabalian ka pa, sinasabi ko sa’yo!”

Hindi ko na napigil mapatawa nang pumalakat si Renz na abalang-abala sa pagpapalingas ng apoy para sa iihawin naming bbq mamaya.

Hindi inintindi ‘yon ni Pablo at nagpatuloy pa rin sa pagpapadulas sa slide.

“Anak ng teteng talaga! Parang sinapian ng grade two!” Hindi mapakali si Renz dahil alalang-alala sa kaibigang matanda.

“Mabingutan ka! Mayayari ako kay Inang Rosa!” Binitawan n’ya ang hawak na pamaypay at itinapon sa akin at pinuntahan sa dagat si Pablo. Tarantado talaga, e.

Tatayo na sana ako para maghugas ng kamay nang may naglagay ng isang bottled water sa harap ko.

“Continue what you are doing and use that bottle when you are done.”

Kinuha n’ya ang pamaypay sa akin at s’ya naman ang nagpaypay.

He’s wearing a plain polo habang ang dalawang butones sa taas ay malayang nakabukas and a fitted plain gray short. Simple yet so attractive. Dang! His whole body is screaming of hotness.

Napailing ako at tinuloy na ang pagtutusok sa karne. I’m not supposed to be sexually attractive to him, he’s an enemy.

Ipinatong ko sa tapat n’ya ang natapos kong bbq at naghugas na ng kamay gamit ‘yong dala n’ya. Naramdaman ko namang pabalik na sina Pablo at Renz.

“Boss, sawayin mo nga ‘to! Gutom na gutom na ako tapos may gan’to pang alagain. Parang ngangayon nakatala ng tubig dagat, e!”

Napatawa na naman ako sa sumbong ni Renz. Tatawa-tawa naman si Pablo. “Sino bang nagsabing bantayan mo ako?”

Kinuha ni Renz ang pamaypay kay Luxx. “Sino kasing matanda ang nag-i-islide pa? Alam namang malutong na ang buto, pandaleng-pandale pa.”

Do’n ko lang nagets na overprotective s’ya. He cares about the safety of Pablo in a funny way. Renz has this kalog and nakakaasar na side but is true to his intentions while Pablo seems so strict and quiet but he has this unpredictable hobby or likings that no one can explain. Like being so random and childish. Maybe because of his age? I don’t know.

“Stop that. Pablo, change your clothes because we are having our lunch now, and Renz, just leave that."

Halos mamula na kakapaypay si Renz sa uling.

“Mamaya na Boss, nanggigigil ako rito e. Ayaw umapoy.”

I hear Luxx soft chuckle. “Basa ‘yong uling, hindi talaga aapoy ‘yan.”

Napahagalpak naman ako ng tawa. Napunta sa akin ang tingin ni Luxx.

There he is. The man in the dark. His personality is like a German shepherd dog. He is bossy, fierce, and cold, but I can feel that he has this good side. His voice is like a mint in my ear, and that gives me a refreshing feeling. He is not showy about his expression, and he always has this straight face, but it suits him well. With that French crop haircut, defined jaw, and thin, juicy lips, he looks like a prince looking for his soulmate.

“Alam kong pogi ako, Quinn.”

Pota—

Napaiwas ako ng tingin at nadapo ang atensyon kay Renz at Pablo na tatawa-tawa.

“Wala kang pinagkaiba do’n sa receptionist.”

Bigla ko namang nilapitan si Renz at binagyan ng kaltok. Pilit naman n’ya akong iniwasan.

F*ck, Carol! What was that?! Nakakahiya kay Luxx. Mamaya ano na ang isipin n’ya. Hindi ko naman namalayan na napatitig na ako e.

Luxx's baritone voice said, “Enough, gutom na ako. Let’s eat.”

Dinilaan ako ni Renz pero inirapan ko s’ya. Huwag lang ulit s’ya papahabol sa akin.

We have a round table that suits the four of us. Nasa kanan ko si Renz while Pablo is on my left side and now I am facing Luxx.

The view is giving.

I made all of this. Fried Bangus, Inalamangan, Calamares, Garlic Rice and of course the Afritada. I hate Afritada, I have a bad memory of that dish.

I’m hoping that everyone will love my effort. Matagal na akong marunong magluto since mag-isa lang naman ako sa states at walang magluluto para sa’kin.

“Not bad.”

Napatingala ako sa sinabi ni Luxx, napangiti naman ako.

“But not good.”

“What?” maang na sagot ko. Hindi ko ata kayang tanggapin ‘yan.

“Try to add more seasoning to your afritada. Tabang e.”

I’m in disbelief at napapalakpak pa sa inis. “Wow, sa’yo pa talaga nanggaling.”

Lihim akong napairap. Halos hindi kona nga maintindihan ang gagawin ko para lang maperfect ang lasa ng afritada na ‘yon. Sure akong may lasa ‘yon, anong dila ba meron s’ya?

“You failed, you disappointed me.”

Anong failed? E halos mabulunan na si Renz at Pablo dito sa tabi ko. Hindi ko na s’ya pinansin at kumain na lang. Makaraan ang ilang minuto ay muli akong napatingin sa kanya.

Napangisi ako. “Akala ko ba matabang?”

Pinunasan nito ang gilid ng labi n’ya at tumingin sa akin. “Sadya naman,” balewalang sagot nito at tumayo na.

“Finish your food and meet me at the souvenir shop, we need to talk.”

Napahampas ako sa kahoy na lamesa dahil sa katatawa. Tabang daw e ubos nga n’ya.

~*~

“Hey!”

I quickly got his attention. His two hands are peacefully placed in his pocket and his height amazes me. He is really tall, no different from his twin.

“Is there any problem?” I asked while an emerald green dress caught my attention in a boutique shop na nadaanan ko.

“We need to talk about my plan to get Bea back in our gang.” Napunta ang aking atensyon sa kanya.

“The time is running and I know Sid, he will use Bea against me.” He assisted me to a bench while two cups of coffee were waiting for us.

“He will just wait to heal Bea from the wounds and then he will report me to the authorities using his witness, Bea, and I don't want that to happen.”

Matiwasay s’yang umupo habang ako naman ay pinagkrus ko ang kamay habang nakatanaw sa asul na asul na dagat.

“Luxx,” mahina kong tawag sa pangalan n’ya.

“Sorry for my words but if you keep on telling me the truth about your past with Sid, I will be no use in your plan.”

He took a good sip in his cup and brushed his silky hair upwards.

“I know that I’m just your temporary member in your gang and my knowledge about your past should be limited pero para akong nangangapa sa dilim.” Pirmi ko s’yang tiningnan habang nakatanaw s’ya sa dagat.

“I want to help, okay? Please tell me why you’re so mad with your twin?”

Humarap s’ya sa akin with his cold stare. Nanlaban ako dahil gusto kong malaman ang nangyari sa kanila.

“If I tell you the truth, you will be accusing me again that I’m lying because in the eyes of everyone, I'm the devil and Sid is the saint. You are not different from them.”

Napahilot ako sa aking sintido. “No, Luxx. You can trust me. I want to help—“

“If you want to help, then, seduce Sid.”

Bumagsak ang panga ko.

“Make him special, drive him to heaven. That is every guy weaknesses. With that, makukuha mo ang tiwala n’ya at matutulungan mo kaming makuha si Bea.” Para akong naging bato sa kinauupuan ko.

“After that, you can have Sid and we will have Bea and the plan will succeed. Fair enough on both sides, right?”

“Is that your plan? That’s crazy.”

“Tss, but I know gusto mo rin. In the end of the day, babae ka pa rin n’ya, bibigay at bibigay s’ya sa’yo.”

Gusto ko s’yang sampalin. “Literal mo akong ibinugaw,” sumbat ko.

Tumaas ang isang kilay n’ya. “Why? Gusto mo s’yang makasama, hindi ba? It’s your time but with a purpose.”

Kinuha ko ang kape sa harap ko at humigop ng kape. Bigla ko naman itong naibuga. Bakit sobrang pait nito?!

Masama akong napatingin kay Luxx na takang nakatingin din sa akin. Kahit kailan palyado s’ya sa ganitong bagay.

“Do what I said, Quinn. Aside from keeping your family safe, I’m also willing to pay you.”

Damn that money. I have my own f*cking money. “I don’t need your

money, Luxx, and find someone willing to perform your shitty plan.”

Umalis na ako at pumunta na sa room namin. He’s out of his mind!