#LGS1SetUp #LGS1chapter1 #LaGrilla1

Warning: 🚫
Manipulation

***

NAGKALAT ang mga papel sa desk. Nagmamadaling sinamsam at sinuksok ni Leo ang mga ito sa nararapat na folder para sa mga ito na nagkalat din sa mesa. Pagkatuktok sa mga folder na hawak sa ibabaw ng mesa, nakarinig siya ng malakas na katok sa pinto.

His downturned, ebony eyes shot a glare at the door. His flat, thin eyebrows slightly furrowed. Sinabihan na kasi niya kanina ang katulong na gusto niyang mapag-isa; iyong walang iistorbo sa kaniya dahil marami pa siyang mga kasong pag-aaralan.

Dinedma ni Leo ang mga katok. Maybe, Yaya Lumeng would get a hint that he still didn’t want to be interrupted from what he was doing. Posible kasing nakalimot ito sa habilin niya. Matanda na rin kasi ang katulong kaya sanay na siya tuwing nakalilimot ito. He didn’t have the heart to fire the old  maid too, so he was being patient with her small mistakes.

Leo resumed what he was doing. May hahanapin pa siyang file dahil wala iyon sa mga folder na nagkalat sa desk . . .

Kumatok na naman ang katulong.

‘Hay.’ Leo left the folders on one side of the sole desk in his office room and marched straight to the door. He tried to stay calm. ‘Baka naman dinalhan ka lang ni Yaya Lumeng ng kape, Leo.’

Pagkabukas ng pinto, bumungad si Yaya Lumeng, ang matandang katulong na nasa sitenta anyos na. Alon-alon ang puting buhok nitong sumasayad sa mga balikat. Malapad ang katawan nito na komportable sa suot na maluwag na maid uniform na puting pants at puting round neck shirt na may maikling mga manggas.

“Sir Leo,” nagsimula na itong magpaliwanag, “sinabi ko naman po na ayaw n’yo muna maistorbo sa trabaho pero—”

Sa totoo lang, hindi na kailangan ni Leo ng paliwanag mula sa katulong. Nakita na niya kasi sa likuran nito ang dahilan ng pag-abala nito sa kaniya—isang bisita.

Kilala ni Leo ang ugali ng kaniyang bisita. Wala itong pakialam sa priorities ng ibang tao. She’s the type of person who puts so much importance on herself, on nothing but her own wants and needs, which made him consider her to be insensitive toward other people; a very self-entitled person.

Maputi ang babae. Maarteng nakahalang ang isang braso sa ilalim ng dibdib nito habang nakapatong dito ang siko ng kabilang braso na pinagmulan ng nakaangat nitong kamay na nagsilbing patungan ng baba nito.

His guest was Melissa Milano.

The woman didn’t seem to age that much. She looked glamorous at 57—as she should after spending thousands of pesos on beauty products, skin care, and cosmetic sessions just to maintain a youthful glow. Nakasuot ang ginang ng puting button-down blouse at puting pencil skirt. Both clothings tightly hugged her body, accentuating her slender shape. May nakapulupot na puting kuwintas ng perlas sa leeg nito at maging ang mga hikaw sa magkabila nitong tainga ay gawa sa perlas. Her short black hair hung over her shoulders in loose curls.

Tumaas ang sulok ng mapupula nitong mga labi. Judging by his stunned silence, she instantly knew she will be accommodated. “Let me in.”

Dahil nagsalita ito, tumabi na si Yaya Lumeng para bigyan ito ng daan.

Leo seemed composed, but deep inside, he cowered in her presence. The mere sight of her already made him feel clutched tightly around the throat like a snake’s body coiled around the body of a helpless rabbit.

Humakbang si Leo para bigyang-daan ang babae. “Please, come in.”

Pagkapasok ng babae sa office room, tinanguan ni Leo si Yaya Lumeng, hudyat na puwede na itong umalis. Ngunit katulad ng nakaugalian nito, hindi umalis ang matandang katulong hangga’t hindi nakasisiguro na hindi na ito kailangan.

“Pasensiya na ho,” ngiti ni Leo sa matanda. “Ako na po ang bahala sa kaniya.”

Pagkasara ni Leo ng pinto, nakaupo na sa isang puting leather visitor’s chair sa tapat ng kaniyang office desk si Melissa. Nakapatong ang mga kamay ng ginang sa puting pouch na nasa kandungan nito. Laging tuwid ang likuran ng babae kapag nakaupo, halos hindi ito sumayad sa sandalan ng upuan. As she waited for him, her eyes travelled the whole room. The pale brown wood works and white painted nomadic interior always impressed her. Her reaction was obvious because she could not help that mannerism of nodding her head in approval everytime she checks his office room.

Melissa’s fierce, narrow-irised eyes thinly outlined by dark eyeliner gazed at Leo. “So, Leo darling, how are you?”

Umupo na si Leo sa swivel chair at nag-de-kuwatro bago tumitig sa bisita.

She called him that disgusting ‘darling’ again. Ayaw na niyang punain pa dahil baka kung saan pa mapunta ang usapan nila ni Melissa. As much as possible, he didn’t want this woman to remind him of how shitty his past had been. It was something she liked mentioning again and again to retort against any protest he would do against her. This discomfort when he was being called ‘Leo Darling’ was brought up to her many times before, pero talagang ginagawa pa rin ng babae kung ano ang magustuhan nito.

“I’m good, tita. Sorry kung ayaw kayo papasukin dito ni Yaya Lumeng. Sinabihan ko kasi siyang ayokong maistorbo ngayon sa trabaho,” he answered, mustering all the strength to keep a straight face. Her surprise visits used to catch him off-guard, but getting used to it had trained him to keep up an unfazed appearance. Because the only way for him to coddle his remaining pride and dignity was by acting unaffected by her presence.

“I know, you’re a busy guy now.” She pulled a sly smile on her face. It was so wicked it could pass as a strong contender against the notorious Cheshire cat grin. “But I hope hindi ka masyadong busy para gawin ang ipinapagawa ko sa ’yo.”

Leo slightly shook his head. Heto na naman kasi sila sa paulit-ulit na pagpapaalala nito tungkol sa ipinapagawa nito. Naiirita talaga siya sa kakulangan ng ginang sa pasensiya pero sinarili na lang niya ang tumatakbo sa kaniyang isipan.

“Look, tita, I already did what you want me to do. Magkasama na sina Jamer at Ava sa Batangas.”

“How long am I supposed to wait, Leo? In the next three years, magte-trenta anyos na si Ava. Alam mo naman siguro ang mangyayari sa amin kapag sa edad na iyon e, hindi pa ikinasal ang anak ko.”

Of course, he knew. Sa kauulit-ulit ng babae, kabisadong-kabisado na niya iyon . . .

“There’s nothing to worry about, okay?” Tumayo si Leo at umikot para pumuwesto sa likuran ng ginang.

Leo needed to do something to make her leave immediately. So, he placed his hands on her shoulders and massaged them. He knew from experience that she loved this kind of relaxing gesture. It made her feel reassured quicker than verbal promises could.

“Jamer knows how to accomplish his mission,” paninigurado ni Leo sa babae.

“For being an ex-military, he should really know how to accomplish his missions.” Melissa rolled back her shoulders, shrugging Leo off, then stood up to face him. “Remember,” taas-noo nito, “I am sacrificing my own daughter here for our sake. Hindi ako makapapayag na pinahawakan ko ang anak ko sa lalaking iyon kung sa kahirapan lang din naman kami babagsak. Naiintindihan mo ba ako, Leo?”

He nodded and placed his hands on her shoulders to put her back on her seat. “Yes, tita.”

“Good.” Melissa turned her head to throw an intimidating glare at him. “Siguraduhin mo lang na hindi papalya ang Jamer na ’yan. Dahil kung hindi, ikaw ang magpapakasal sa anak ko.”

“Tita!” he protested.

It was Leo’s greatest fear—to be tied, to be married. He felt undeserving of being in such a commitment. At kahit na best friend pa ni Leo si Ava, hindi naman niya lubos na ma-imagine na hinahawakan niya ito sa gabi ng magiging honeymoon nila. It would be awkward. Improper. Disrespectful.

See, she was like a sister to him. Also, Ava should not settle for less, for someone like him. His best friend didn’t deserve to be married to someone like him—a very dirty man. In fact, any woman shouldn’t fall for him. He was only good for one night stands or shallow flings. For that, pure friendship or just the bare minimum was all that any woman should give him in return.

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt Melissa move. Tumayo ito kaya kusang natanggal sa mga balikat ng babae ang nakapatong niyang mga kamay.

Melissa gracefully walked toward the door. Napahinto ito nang mahawakan ang seradura ng pinto at napalingon kay Leo. “I almost forgot, kumusta na ang anak ko?”

Kabadong ngumiti si Leo. “S-She’s good! She’s good, tita. Jamer is taking good care of her!”

She raised an eyebrow. “May nangyari na ba?”

Mukhang handa na si Melissa na madismaya sa isasagot niya. It was all over her face that carried a bored look.

“W-Wala pa . . . Noong huling tawag ni Jamer, wala pa raw nangyayari.”

Melissa rolled her eyes. “Tell that man that he’s too slow for an ex-military. Bilisan niya ang kilos!”

Binuksan na nito ang pinto at pabalibag itong isinara.

“That bitch,” Leo muttered, pertaining to Melissa.

Araw-araw siyang nginangatngat ng guilt. Ipinagkakanulo kasi niya sa setup na ito ang malapit na kaibigan na si Ava sa kaniyang kababata na si Jamer.

To elaborate, Ava was going through a problem with these death threats related to her family’s business, and Melissa—with his help—took advantage of it. Kung alam lang ni Ava ang mga plano nila ni Melissa, magiging labag sa kalooban ng dalaga ang paninirahan sa hacienda ni Jamer para pagtaguan ang mga nagbabanta sa buhay nito . . .

“Sa iyo na nakasalalay ang lahat, Jamer,” bulong ni Leo nang alisin ang tingin sa pinto.

He rushed to the adjacent bathroom of the office room. He washed his hands . . . his arms. It took him a minute, oe two, or three. He could not be satisfied with how he scrubbed off the filth that he could feel on them. His breathing staggered, dueting with the sharp splashing of the water from the faucet.

Nang makontento, bumalik siya sa opisina. Nanghihinang napaupo siya sa itim na swivel chair sa likod ng desk at minasahe ang sentido.

Inalala niya kung ano nga ba ang usapan nila ni Melissa tungkol sa anak nitong si Ava.

Malinaw pa rin para kay Leo ang plano. He just needed to setup Ava and Jamer to live under one roof. It would be Jamer’s role to seduce her, take her to bed, and do miracles with her. It would also be Jamer’s role to make sure that Ava will get pregnant before she turns thirty years old. That pregnancy would be used as a reason to convince Ava to get married already. They needed to come up with this dick move because Ava didn’t want to get into relationships. The poor woman was already scarred from what she witnessed from her parents’ failed marriage.

Kaya kung ayaw ng babae ng boyfriend, by hook or by crook, Melissa would find ways for her daughter to get married before she turns thirty. Before thirty because, it was the requirement stated in her late father’s last will and testament.

Kapag hindi nakapag-asawa si Ava sa edad na trenta, lahat ng kayamanan na ipamamana sa dalaga ay idadagdag sa mamanahin ng ikalawa nitong asawa. The bad blood between Ava’s parents was so thick that her late father could not risk giving her the inheritance when there was no one, like a partner, to interfere between Ava and her mother. It must be one of her late father’s ways of monitoring Ava’s finances in case Melissa starts asking her for money . . .

Meanwhile, Melissa was not yet ready to be poor. She grew up with a lavish lifestyle, and she would rather die rich than taste poverty even with the tip of her tongue. Naniniwala ang ginang na ang mamanahin ng anak nitong si Ava ang sasalba rito at sa negosyo nilang palugi na, kaya nauwi sa isang desperadong setup ang lahat.

Alam ni Leo na hindi magandang pilitin ang isang tao na pumasok sa isang relasyon, mas higit pa na pilitin itong magkaroon ng anak at magpakasal, pero kailangan itong gawin ni Leo. It was the only way he knew he could do to help Ava regarding the financial crisis she and her mother were facing. Kung si Melissa lang ang magdurusa, wala siyang pakialam. But Ava was involved, so he had to do something. He believed that those billions Ava would inherit—if she would only settle down—should not go to someone else because Ava needed it the most.

Also, once Ava got her money she could annul her marriage with Jamer anytime, so either way, there was still a way out from the marriage for her and his childhood friend, Jamer.

All his life, all Leo wanted was to help Ava, to make sure that she would always be safe and she would live comfortably. Balewala sa kaniya kahit pa may mga sakripisyo na kailangang gawin. Sa ganitong paraan lang kasi siya makababawi mula sa naging atraso niya rito noon . . .

Nang bumalik si Leo sa reyalidad, tinawagan niya si Jamer para kumustahin dito si Ava. Once Jamer said she was fine, Leo was still feeling restless.

He needed an outlet.

***

Warning: 🚫
Sexual Content; Trauma

LEO was panting when his lips parted from the woman’s red lipsticked ones. Sinukat niya saglit ng tingin ang babae. Then, he lost the patience for making-out so they began to strip off each other’s clothes. He began fucking her senseless. Kasabay ng bawat pag-ulos niya sa babae ang pagsinghap nito.

“Oh, Leo . . .” the woman moaned as her body arched, her breasts pressing against his hard chest.

Napapikit si Leo sa sarap ng paglapat ng malabot at mayamang mga dibdib nito sa kaniya. He was planning to fondle her breasts again later. Mamaya pa dahil ang gusto lang niyang gawin ay bayuhin ito hanggang sa maubos ang natitira nilang lakas para sa gabing ito.

His thrusts accelerated. Leo made sure that his length would reach deeper in every penetration.

The woman clutched tightly on his shoulders, her fingers and nails almost sunk in his sweat-filmed skin. Moans escaped from her lips along with her shallow breathing. “Sige pa, Leo! Oh, ang sarap!”

Umusod ito pataas at pababa ng kama. Nagsabog ang itim at unat na hibla ng magulong buhok ng babae habang malapit nang bumangga sa headboard ang ulo nito. Para pumirmi ito sa puwesto at hindi umusod nang umusod pataas, iginapos nito ang mga hita sa kaniyang baywang.

Leo felt the chills on his spine when her legs wrapped around his waist.

‘Do you love this, sex bunny?’ singit ng isang pamilyar na boses na nagpatigil sa kaniya sa ginagawa. ‘Come on . . . Don’t be shy . . .’

Ang boses na iyon . . .

Parang babaligtad ang kaniyang sikmura!

He was not aware that he had already been stiff for a minute.

Kinikilabutan siya!

Nanlamig maging ang panibagong butil ng mga pawis na lumabas mula sa kaniyang namumutlang balat!

Napapikit si Leo nang mariin pero hindi iyon nakatulong. Mas lalo lang naging klaro sa kaniya ang imahe ng isang babaeng nakasuot ng bunny half-mask na itim. Isang nakalolokong ngisi ang nagpaunat sa mapupula nitong mga labi.

Kumiskis ang mga hita nito sa kaniyang baywang. ‘Come on, my sex bunny, make me come!’

Napamulagat si Leo at walang ano-anong binitiwan ang babaeng nakayakap sa kaniya. He immediately scampered to the other side of the bed, breathing heavily as his hands pressed flatly on the mattress.

‘Calm down, Leo, calm down . . . She’s not here . . . She’s not here . . .’ he thought.

His eyes were wide open, crazed with panic. His yellow blond-dyed, straight hair with wavy tips only got more tousled the more he ran his fingers through them to clear some stray strands away from his sweaty forehead.

Dahan-dahan niyang inangat ang tingin para lingunin ang babaeng walang saplot at kani-kanina lang ay kaniyang kaniig. Magulo ang itim nitong buhok at nagkalat na ang lipstick sa gilid ng mga labi nito.

Relief swept all over him. Her face was not familiar at all! She was just one of the ladies he got from Atlantis, a stripclub where he hangs out when he just wanted a good fuck.

“Aba’t—Ano’ng problema mo?” aburido nitong tanong. Oo, aburido dahil nabitin ito sa sesyon nila.

Napailing lang si Leo. “Nothing.”

Tapos na ang masamang karanasan, hindi na siya dapat minumulto niyon. Siya ang biktima. Siya ang inabuso. Pero bakit siya ang hindi makalimot? Bakit siya ang mas nagdurusa?

He managed to keep a straight face and act like nothing happened because he thought, showing that he was unaffected by the past would empower him and help him forget it faster. Kaya bakit ayaw pa rin siyang tantanan ng mga alaalang iyon?

Leo mustered all the courage to speak again. “Let’s continue. Just . . . Just don’t put your legs on my waist. Bend over.”

The woman sighed in frustration but obeyed. Pumagitna ito sa kama at tumuwad. Leo knelt behind her. This position was perfect because this would make her unable to wrap her legs or thighs around his waist.

Nang makaraos, walang-imik na nilisan ni Leo ang kama at nagbihis. Iniwan niya nang walang-paalam ang babae na nakatakip ng kumot ang katawan habang abala sa pagbibilang ng libo-libong pera na ibinayad niya rito. His professional image was also on the line here, so he had to pay her a pretty amount of money for the sex and for her silence.

Using sex as an outlet helped him cope, but the fleeting high was temporary it frustrated him to no end. Kaya kaysa sa pakikipag-sex sa kung sino-sino ang atupagin niya, bibisita na lang muna siguro siya sa Hacienda Hermano.

***

KINABUKASAN, inihinto ni Leo ang bughaw na mini cooper sa tapat ng isang malaking bakal na gate. Tinanaw muna niya ang loob at hinanap kung may tao mula sa loob na puwedeng pakiusapang pagbuksan siya ng gate.

Ilang minuto na ang nakalilipas ay wala pa rin siyang nakikitang parating man lang. Napilitan tuloy siyang bumaba mula sa sasakyan. Buhay pa rin ang makina ng kotse kaya mahina itong umuugong habang naglalakad siya palapit sa gate.

Leo shone beneath the harsh noon sun in his faded jeans, mustard yellow shirt, white sneakers, and yellow blond-dyed hair.

Lumagpas ang mga mata ni Leo sa awang ng bakal ng gate. Naabot ng kaniyang paningin ang tuyong mga damo na nakalatag sa daanan hanggang sa hanay ng mga nagtataasang puno ng niyog. Kapansin-pansing kulay maputlang kayumanggi ang masukal na lupa na may ilang ligaw na damo mula sa gate hanggang sa pagitan ng mga puno, daanan kasi ito ng mga tao at sasakyan. A desired path.

Napasuksok si Leo ng isang kamay sa back pocket ng kaniyang jeans. He pulled out his smart phone. Una niyang tinawagan si Jamer para ipaalam dito na nasa hacienda siya, na kailangan niya ng magbubukas ng gate. Nang hindi nito sagutin ang kaniyang tawag, sumilip-silip uli siya sa gate habang pabalik-balik ng lakad.

Hanggang sa napagpasyahan niyang ipagbubukas na lang niya ang sarili ng gate. Inabot niya ang handle sa gitna ng gate at hinila ito pakanan. Kailangan niyang itaas-baba ang hawakan habang hinihila ito dahil sa sobrang higpit ng kapit nito.

Nang nabuksan ang gate, pabalik na siya sa sasakyan nang may humintong jeep malapit dito. Napatigil siya sa balak na sumakay at inabangan kung sino ang bagong dating. Kung taga-hacienda kasi ito ng mga Hermano, makikisuyo siya rito na ito na lang ang magsara ng gate para sa kaniya, para hindi na siya mahirapang bumaba na naman mula sa kaniyang sasakyan kapag naipasok na ito sa bungad ng hacienda.

But all Leo could do was stare as he watched a woman walk to his direction.

Her short, pixie-cut, dark hair was neatly pushed back by her white cloth headband. Mabilis siyang natagpuan ng mga mata nito. The very sight of him made her almond eyes widen. Her eyes had a hue of dark brown paled by the sunlight. Her tanned skin glowed into yellow-gold beneath the broad daylight. Her lips slightly parted in surprise, those lips with a sharp thin bow on top that paralleled her full bottom lip.

Despite of her heart-shaped face and tapered brows that made her look soft, she had a powerful 5’8 feet height. Those long legs were covered by her fitting jeans. Her long torso and fine breasts were beneath a loose green shirt. She walked lightly, contradicting the hint of hesitation on her face.

“Hi,” bati agad ni Leo rito. Ginawaran niya rin ang dalaga ng maluwag na ngiti. “Tagarine ka ba sa Hacienda Hermano?”

Gumusot ang mukha nito. “Ano ga sa tingin mo?”

Leo could not understand it. Wala namang nakababastos sa mga sinabi niya. Bakit pagsusungit agad ang isinukli sa kaniya ng magandang babae?

He chose peace. He tried to assess her one more time. It was a shame that he noticed her beauty first before anything else—like the heavy bags she was carrying. Kapwa puno ang mga bayong ng mga pinamili nito mula sa palengke. Mukhang mabigat pa.

“Sorry,” balik ni Leo ng tingin sa nang-iilap nitong mga mata sa kaniya. “Makikiusap lang sana ako na pagkapasok ko nitong kotse, pasara sana ’yong gate. Pagkasara mo, hihintayin kita sa loob ng sasakyan. Ihahatid kita sa loob ng hacienda . . . o kung saan man doon ang bahay mo.”

Lalong nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito. “Tumuloy ka na sa hacienda,” sagot din agad ng babae. “Ako na ang bahala rine sa gate. Huwag mo na ako hintayin.”

Sasagot sana si Leo pero nilagpasan siya agad nito.

“Tirik na tirik ang araw!” pahabol ni Leo sa babae. “Isa pa, mukhang mabigat iyang mga dala mo!”

“Basta-basta ka na la’ang nagpapasakay sa kotse ng hindi mo kilala?” asik nito sa kaniya habang nakatanaw mula sa ibabaw ng balikat nito.

Leo smiled politely despite his disappointment. Wala naman siyang masamang intensiyon. Pero wala rin namang masama sa ipinapahiwatig ng babae. Kung hindi mapalagay ang loob nito sa isang tao, bakit papayag itong makisakay sa kotse ng taong iyon? Lalo na at hindi pa nito kakilala?

“I get it. You’re just being careful. I understand.”

Nag-iwas lang ito ng tingin sa kaniya at tuloy-tuloy na pumasok sa bukas na gate ng hacienda. Tumigil ang babae sa batong poste ng bakod na kinakabitan ng isa sa mga pinto ng gate. Nang makasilong sa anino niyon ang babae, ibinaba nito ang bitbit na mga bayong. Isinandal nito ang mga iyon sa batong poste bago siya tinanaw, hudyat na puwede na niyang ipasok ang kotse sa loob ng gate.

Nagmamadaling sumakay si Leo sa kaniyang mini cooper. Nagnakaw pa siya ng sulyap sa babae habang dumadaan sa gate ang sasakyan. She was frowning which bothered him a lot because he didn’t know what she was being so upset about. Malaking abala nga yata siguro para dito ang paghingi niya ng pabor. Nagtatalo tuloy ang kaniyang isip at damdamin. Nakokonsensiya siya. Gusto niyang tulungan ang babae, but he had to respect her boundaries.

He felt an indescribable pain as he glanced at her through the side mirror of his car for one last time. Ang huli niyang nagisnan ay ang pagtulak ng babae sa isa sa mga pinto ng gate pasara.

Maybe, he should have at least helped her close the gate. Kaya lang, malayo na siya mula rito nang mapagtanto iyon.

Itinuloy-tuloy na lang ni Leo ang pagmamaneho hanggang sa marating ang tapat ng mansiyon ni Jamer.

***
COME HERE
La Grilla Series #1
Copyright Registered: 2024
R-18, General Fiction, Sexy Romance, Drama
First publish on Wattpad: December 2016

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