pito
Kuya
"Ang bigat mo!" I pushed her away, accidentally landing my hands on her boobs to which she laughs.
"Manyak!"
Tumawa ako at gumulong siya sa sahig. She lifts herself up with the help of the bed. Her hair cascading down her face, she resembled a white lady ghost. My stomach ached as we hollered together. I was certain that the handmaidens outside could hear us. 'Di soundproof itong kwarto ni Maeve pero medyo makapal naman ang mga pader.
Napagdesisyunan naming tatlo na dito muna kami ni Maeve sa bahay niya habang inaayos ni Helios ang mga pagkain at kung anu-ano pa para sa mga pupunta mamaya. Susunduin na lang daw niya kami. Niyakap ko ang malaking unicorn stuffed-toy ni Maeve.
She jabbed a finger on my arm, "So, Vortigern... pupunta ba 'yon dito? Inimbitahan mo naman, malay natin nagsu-sungit lang pala s'ya sa'yo—"
"He's a born snob, 'Em." I turn to my side, my waist sunk as my hip popped out. "Besides, kita mo naman kung pa'no niya 'ko paalisin. 'Di na 'ko aasa na darating 'yon."
"Pero ang sabi niya kapag pinagbutihan mo'y pupunta siya, you were outstanding!"
"Hay, hindi ko na rin alam."
"'Di mo alam o ayaw mo na siya pumunta?" ipinatong niya ang baba niya sa balikat ko.
Sa totoo lang, 'di ko rin alam ang sagot sa tanong ni Maeve. The idea of him coming excited me, but it also bloomed shyness in my heart. Nahihiya ako dahil baka magmukha akong desperada sa paningin niya. 'Yon din naman siguro ang tingin niya sa'kin. I sighed. 'Di na ako tinanong pa ni Maeve. Nagayos nalang siya ng kanyang gamit at nagbihis na rin. Nakasuot siya ng acid washed shorts at isang sleeveless top, tsinelas lang din ang gamit niya. Underneath her outer wear was a sexy red bikini.
Hawak-kamay kaming bumaba ni Maeve. Bumungad sa'min si Helios na nakahiga sa malaking sofa. Ang tsinelas na suot nito ay naka-kalat lang sa sahig pati na rin ang dala kanyang susi. His eyes were shut as he softly snored. I tapped his shoulder a few times once I got close to him. He peeked at me with one eye opened, stretching his body like a cat from a nap afterwards. Napahawak ito sa ulo niya nang marinig ang malakas na boses ni Maeve.
"Oh, ba't andiyan ka?" lumapit ito sa'min at inupuan ang tiyan ni Helios. "Hindi ka ba pina-akyat nina kuya? Sabi ko paakyatin ka, eh."
Nagdikit ang kanyang makapal na kilay bago umupo ng maayos dahilan ng pagka-hulog ni Maeve, sinuot na niya ang tsinelas niya bago kunin ang bitbit kong bag pati na rin ang bag ni Maeve. He bent down to get his keys. Umangat na rin si Maeve at pinagpagan ang sarili.
Mukhang wala sa mood si Helios. I held my tongue as we walk out the large house. Ano kaya ang nangyari sa kanya? Umiling ako at pumasok na sa harap, while Maeve sat herself comfortable in the backseats. She piled our bags together before leaning on them, using the hard material as her pillow.
"Helios, are you okay?" I asked in a hushed voice. Maeve's snores could be heard as he reved the engine.
He grasps on the leather seat where I sat. Turning his head back as he stirs the steering wheel. Muscles flexed and brows still furrowed, he never payed heed to my questions. Before I knew it, we're on the road. Tranquility wraps us in a box, the softs hums and taps of Helios and the snores of Maeve only heard.
"Hey," I attempt to catch his attention. "Next time, when I get my liscense... I'll be the one driving."
Unlike Maeve and Helios who are already eighteen, I've yet to reach the age of seventeen. I accelarated in my grade, 'di na 'ko nag-kinder at prep. I jumped straight to gradeschool. I caught a glimpse of his smirk as I talk more.
"I know what you're doing, Hekate." sumeryoso ang mukha nito habang nagyu-u-turn kami. "Don't mind me, I'm alright."
"I'm finding it hard to believe that."
He sighs. "It's only about kuya. He's home. With a daughter and a woman who's expecting another child on the way."
"Shouldn't you be happy about that?" I paused. Recollecting my thoughts before rephrasing my words. "I mean... You're now an uncle. That's supposed to be a good thing, right?" he larks darkly.
"It would be a good thing if he wasn't using it as an excuse to obtain my company."
Once again, I held my tongue as he rolled down his window to greet the guard at their mansion's gate. The pot-bellied man in uniform salutes at him, the gates languidly slide to the side. Nang makapasok ako sa loob kasama si Maeve na humihikab ay agad kaming binati ng mayordoma dito.
"Hate, hija! Maeve, ang tagal niyo ng 'di pumunta dito sa mansyon. Nakakatuwa ang makita kayo ulit!"
"Hay naku, Manang Luz. Kung alam mo lang ang katarantaduhang ginagawa ni Helios sa school. Halika, iku-kwento ko sa'yo..." sinabit ni Maeve ang kanyang braso sa forearm ni Manang Luzviminda.
Iniwan ako ng dalawang nakatayo sa gitna ng receiving area ng mansyon. Naramdaman ko ang presensya ni Helios, humawak ito sa ibaba ng likod ko at ginaya ako papasok sa loob. Tulad ng kanina, nakasabit ang duffle bags namin ni Maeve sa magkabila niyang balikat. 'Di naman siya mukhang nahihirapan, at alam ko rin na hindi siya mahihirapan.
Triple ang bigat ng weights na binubuhat niya sa gym kumpara sa mga gamit namin. Iginaya ako ni Helios papunta sa dining area nila, do'n kasi ang daan papasok sa pool aside from the living room. Ayon sa kaibigan, may ginagawa kasi ang mga katulong sa living room kaya bawal muna kami do'n.
My eyes caught a woman who sat on the large dining table, a bare masculine back shielded her face from prying eyes. Her legs wrapped around the man's waist while her hands roamed and tangled in his hair. Her moans made me squeamish.
"Kuya," matigas na sabi ni Helios dahilan ng pagka-tili ng babae at humiwalay sa halik ang lalaki bago humarap sa'min.