Club: Universe
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Natatameme na pinapanood ko ang grupo ng mga bandilang nag-uusap sa harapan ko. They were all huge and diverse. Not to mention how loud and boisterous they were, which made me grateful to God for sparing me from having any friends. Dahil sa totoo lang, sa buong buhay ko ay ngayon lang ako nakasaksi ng ganito kaingay na mga tao.

We were just checking on the horses around the property when they burst in loudly, startling several of horses. Agad nilang tinanong kay Jigo kung nasaan si Ysmael. At first, I was so confused about why they had to look for him when Jigo and I were here, but I, later on, understood why.

It was because they were Ysmael Jaime's group! No wonder they were all distinct.

Panay kuwentuhan pa rin nila sa may ilalim ng punong mangga, kung nasaan mayroong pabilog na mauupuan. Dahil sa laki ng mga ito ay hindi sila nagkasya at may nag-aagawan pa nga ng puwesto para makaupo. Jigo had to lend them some chairs so that they could all seat. Akala ko pa naman ay tatahimik na ang mga ito pero ang iingay pa rin.

Nahihiyang napatingin sa'kin si Jigo sabay ngiti, "Pasensya na, ha? Nakalimutan kong sabihin sa'yo na bibisita rito ang mga kaibigan ni Yael."

"It's okay." I assured him.

Napakamot lang ito ng batok, "Gagawan ko lang po sila ng maiinom, Señorita. Babalik lang ho ako kaagad."

Bago pa man ako makaangal ay naroon na ito sa pintuan papasok ng house ranch. Napakurap ako at dahan-dahan na kinabahan. I really can't be around guys whom I barely know. Lalo na kapag ganito ka rami. I confess that they were all quite attractive, especially because they were of different ethnicities, but now is not the time to swoon. Kung wala lang sigurong babae sa grupo nila, kanina pa siguro ako inatake.

I scratched the tip of my nose and attempted to walk away without attracting their attention. Hindi ko naman trabaho ang gumabay sa mga turista kaya hindi naman siguro sila magagalit kung aalis ako.

I hadn't even moved an inch when my name was abruptly called. Hindi na ako nagtaka kung bakit kilala nito ako, at dahil ayaw ko namang sirain ang reputasyon ko ay napipilitang nginitian ko nalang sila habang pinipigilan ang panginginig.

An American guy walked towards me, "Hi! I'm Corbin Claire. I'm not sure if you remembered me but we had actually worked together before." huminto ito sa harapan ko sabay lahad ng kamay niya.

Kinakabahang kinuha ko naman 'yon atsaka ngumiti ulit, "Really? I'm sorry, I couldn't really recall it." sambit ko kahit hindi ko namang sinubukang tandaan. I just can't do it since my mind was already occupied with my anxiety.

Pasimpleng palingon-lingon ako para hanapin si Jigo o di kaya ay si Ysmael na papunta na raw. My fingers had already begun to tremble. I tried so hard for him not to notice it but even if I try any harder, it wouldn't be enough especially when an Indian guy stood before him.

Both of them were pretty tall like Ysmael that's why I had to lift my head even with a meter apart. "Diba ikaw yung supermodel? Tangina! Ganda mo! Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit minsan nalang nagpapakita ang tutanginang Yael."

He was quite noisy and cussed a lot. But I don't think it sounds awful; in fact, I think it sounds amusing, especially when his voice is the polar opposite of masculine and husky. He's undeniably loud.

Napangiti nalang ako at kinamayan siya, "Chandran Khan nga pala. Ang Indian mango ng grupo."

I don't know what happened but when he shoots up a smile, his sunny smile suddenly melts away the anxiety that was hovering inside me.

"Crisceana Silverio. Just call me Crisceana." nakangiti kong sambit.

Nakita kong nagsisunuran naman ang walong bandila na naiwan. Napatingin ako sa kanila na nakangiti lang akong tiningnan. Bumalik ulit ang kaba ng dibdib ko lalo na nang makita dalawang malalaking lalaki na nakatabi sa isang maliit na hapon at babaeng pamilyar ang mukha.

They stopped just a meter away from me, enough to make me step back. May napapaangat ng kilay at mayroon ring nagkunot noo nang masaksihan 'yon. Napaawang labi nalang ako at napakurap.

I really don't want to make a noise on social media again but if they're this close, I feel suffocated and attacked.

"Are you okay?" ani ng isang may lahing babae.

Hindi ko iyon magawang sagutin dahil tila ba'y bumara sa lalamunan ko ang kaba at pagkabahala. Kung hindi lang talaga dumating si Ysmael at tinago ako sa likuran niya, hindi na siguro ako makakahinga pa.

"Anong ginagawa niyo dito?" seryoso at may halong pagkainis na boses nito.

Biglang nagtawanan sina Corbin at Chandran pati na rin ang Koreano at isang Multiracial American. I saw them smacked Ysmael and he couldn't even do anything but let them.

"Galit na galit, gustong manakit." ani Chandran.

"Ngayon na nga lang tayo nagkausap ulit, ganiyan ka pa sa'min? Saan na 'yong pinagsamahan natin?" the Multiracial American cupped his heart to act like he was hurt. Pero sinuntok lang ni Ysmael ang tiyan niya.

"Bakla ka ba?" wala pa ring bahid ng pagkatuwa na sabi ni Ysmael.

"Hindi mo ba kami na miss man lang?" ani ulit ni Chandran, "Pero sino ba naman tayo para ma-miss niya? Di hamak na mga kaibigan niya lang naman tayo na may labing-tatlong taon na pinagsamahan. Hindi naman 'yon ganoon ka halaga para matandaan. Sana hindi nalang tayo pinanganak. Sana hindi nalang tayo binuhay." sinuntok niya pa ang kanang braso ni Corbin at sabay silang nagtawanan.

Napailing na lamang si Ysmael, "Ang drama mo. Parang hindi tayo nagkita kahapon." at nagbuhakhakan silang lahat.

Mula sa likuran ni Ysmael ay dumungaw ako para makita sila. Kahit na nasa harapan ko na ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang lahat sila ay kaibigan ni Ysmael.

I'm not questioning how he got so many friends even if he's annoying, but why do they have to be born in different races? Para tuloy silang mga bandilang naglalakad. I really thought that unity in the world is unachievable but not until I saw these ten people together.

"Teka, why are you hiding your Señorita, ba? We were making kuwento with her kanina but you suddenly interrupted us. Aren't you a little possessive or just a weirdo?" the girl said. May ngiting kumakawala sa labi nito bago siniko si Ysmael paalis.

Lumiwanag naman ang mukha niya, "Hello, Señorita. I'm Indiana White and I'm not an Indian, I'm an Aussie. Can you hear me?" she said in a confident Aussie accent.

"Just call me Crisceana." tipid kong sambit habang nakangiti sa kaniya.

Biglang umangat ang mga kilay niya at mukha pang nagulat kaya ganoon rin ako, "Oh, not Señorita?" she glimpsed at Ysmael, "Only Yael can call you Señorita?"

Biglang nagtilian sila Chandran kaya hindi na napigilan ni Indiana ang ngiti niya. I instantly shook my head before they could even get the wrong idea, "No, that's not what I mean. It's just that it's kind of a little mean for you if you'll address me that name when you're not working for me." nahihiya kong sambit sa kaniya.

Tinawanan niya lang ito at pasimpleng binabato si Ysmael ng makahulugang ngiti. Hindi ko makita ang reaksyon ni Ysmael pero ramdam ko ang pagkainis niya.

Sumunod ang iba at nalaman kong Pilipina pala ang babaeng pamilyar kaya namangha ako. If it's not because of her tanned skin, she probably won't look like a Filipina. "Anna Cecilia." she only said while intently staring at me.

Bigla akong nailang pero natawa siya, "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable." paumanhin niya kaya inilingan ko lang siya. "It's okay."

Kanina ay natakot ako noong naglakad patungo sa akin ang dalawang malalaking lalaki pero ngayon na nasilayan ko ng matagal ang mukha nila ay napalitan ng kilig ang kanina'y kaba at takot na dibdib.

Napakagat labi ako habang nakaangat sa malaking Arabo. "I'm Noah. I'm Arabian so I might scare you with my size."

I couldn't help my smile to widen especially when he said that. I felt like my mind was raped even though he didn't mean what my mind was imagining. Madiin na napakagat labi nalang ako habang tinatago ang kilig. "I'm Crisceana. It's nice meeting you." wala nang hiya-hiya, ako na mismo ang naglahad ng kamay ko para mahawakan siya.

Nakita kong bigla itong napangise at napayuko ng tingin sa lupa bago lumipat kay Ysmael. Nagdadalawang-isip itong tanggapin pero sa huli ay bumigay naman siya.

"It's so nice to meet you too, Criscea—"

Halos napatili ako nang biglang may kamay na umagaw sa kamay ni Noah. Nagngingitngit na tiningnan ko si Ysmael. Purong inis lang ang nakaguhit sa mukha nito habang pinagtatawanan na siya ng mga kaibigan niya.

I couldn't help but pinch his side out of irritation. Minsan na nga lang akong kiligin ng ganito, may sisingit pa. Idadamay niya pa ako sa pagkabroken hearted niya. Nakakainis.

Matapos nun ay hindi ko na siya pinapansin at panay pakikipag-usap lang kina Anna at Indiana. Minsan ay sumisingit sa amin sila Chandran but I later on found out that Indiana and Chandran were couples. Nakakatawa ngang isipin na ang kasintihan ni Indiana ay Indiano.

I batted my lashes after being startled when I caught Anna staring at me. Sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay nailang na naman ako. I couldn't get myself to be pissed off because there was no hint of anger or tease in her face but rather something unexplainable.

Nagulat ako na bigla siyang nagpatawad ulit at umiling, "I really don't know if he's still on his mind." she uttered full of concern and I somehow felt being warned.

After when she said that, I couldn't help to become curious about what she meant. Ni hindi ko alam kung sino ang tinutukoy niya. Pinilit ko nalang kalimutan ito sa pamamagitan ng paglaan ng atensyon kila Chandran.

"Crisceana, gusto mo bang makipag-karera?"

I immediately choked my own saliva when Corbin asked that. Mabilis siyang binatukan ni Anna at pinanlalakihan ng mata, "Naku Corbin bleu, nilalagay mo lang ang sarili mo sa kapahamakan. Alam mo naman sigurong bodyguard niya si Yael, hindi ba?"

Nakamusot itong napasapo sa leeg, "Eh, ano ngayon?"

Napailing-iling si Anna at binaling sa'kin ang tingin, "Pasensyahan mo nalang 'to, ha? Sadyang bobo lang talaga siya." umangal doon si Corbin at iyon ay simula sa pagbabangayan nila.

I got flustered at how different she was a while ago. Mukha pa ngang hindi niya natandaan ang sinabi niya. Maybe she wasn't supposed to say that to me and accidentally spill such a statement. I assumed it was a way to keep me from thinking about it again. And fortunately, I did.

Sa hindi kalayuang bahagi ng rancho ay nakita ko doon ang limang naglalakihang kalakihan, parehong walang saplot sa pang-itaas at nakasakay sa kaniya-kaniyang mga kabayo.

Seryoso lang ang mga ito na nag-uusap na tila ba'y may sariling mga mundo. They all look so gorgeous especially how their body muscles added to their attractive features.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti habang nakatitig sa kay Noah. Funny how worried I was these past few days when I thought that I had an infatuation in Ysmael, kulang nalang na hindi na ako magpapakita sa kaniya, eh. But here I am, drooling over someone whom I just met.

Is this what they called love at first sight? Because I was instantly smitten by his looks!

Wala sa sariling lumipad ang mga mata ko patungo kay Ysmael na nasa tabi lang nito. Halos mabilaukan ako nang magtama ang mga mata namin. He looked so pissed and angry beside Noah who was laughing. It was unusual to see that that's why I couldn't help but ask myself what he was so mad about.

It is either because of what Noah said or maybe because he doesn't like seeing me with his group. Teka, ganoon niya ba kaayaw na makilala ko ang mga kaibigan niya? My face crumpled. He's so selfish! It's not like I was planning to. I couldn't even stand being in the noise. Napaka-oa niya lang talaga.

Binalik ko sa kaniya ang masasamang tingin na binabato biya sa'kin at inirapan. I saw how his face softened and later on grinned. Nakaramdam tuloy ako ng pagkainis kaya hindi ko na ulit siya pinansin.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang mga hagikhik kumakawala sa bibig ko nang makita ang punong mukha nila Corbin at Chandran. They were playing a food race and it couldn't be any hilarious.

At first, it was all just for fun but it suddenly became a competition when Noah, the most gorgeous guy I had ever laid my eyes on, held out ten papers of one thousand pesos. "Whoever loses is gonna be the one to sleep with the horses tonight."

Iyon lang ang sinambit niya bago nagpaunahan ang mga lalaki, maliban kay Noah at Ysmael, na nakamusot pa rin.

The Korean guy was already out in the game. He was followed by Maddox, the Multiracial American and Chandran, who almost cried when he lost. Bumaon na lamang siya sa dibdib ng kasintahan niya kaya tumigil sa panlumo.

Namangha pa ako nang makitang si Corbin nalang at ang Hapones ay naglalaban. I mean, I won't doubt about Corbin since his body is really huge compared to the Japanese guy whose small, petite, and refined. He almost looked like a girl if it's not because of his short hair, not to mention how pretty he was too. Definitely, my cousin's type, only if he was a she.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapanganga nang makitang wala lang sa kaniya ang kinakain habang si Corbin ay halos hindi na makahinga sa bigat at sikip ng tiyan niya.

I was so worried but I still couldn't contain my laughter when he suddenly burst out everything inside his mouth. Napunta ito sa mga taong nasa tapat niya na nakaupo. And when I saw that one of them was Ysmael, I just couldn't hold it.

Napaub-ob ako sa mesa habang ang mga tinatapik nila Anna ang likuran ko. My laughter was almost silent and I was choking my own saliva. I felt my whole face burning and I knew how red I already look. Pinipilit kong pahintuin ang pagtawa pero sa tuwing nasisilayan ko ang nakamusot at punong-puno ng pagkaing mukha nito ay may kung anong kiliti ang umaahon sa tiyan ko.

"Oh god, that face is nothing compared to anything. It's so hilarious, Ysmael...god." sambit ko habang nagpupunas ng mga luha.

Hindi niya napigilan ang mga pangkukutya ng mga kaibigan pero nagtagumpay naman siyang alisin ang ngiti ko sa labi.

He was just silently wiping his face with wet tissue and his gaze were still on me. It wasn't the same furry like earlier, but rather his usual mischievous smile. And I hate it.

"W-what? You look like a pervert." bulong ko pero narinig nila Anna 'yon.

Imbes na mairita siya ay nagpatuloy lang siya sa pagtitig. Hanggang sa matapos kami sa pagkain, at hanggang sa makauwi ang mga kaibigan niya ay ramdam na ramdam ko pa rin ang pang-aasar na titig nito. Kaya nang makapasok sa opisina ay agad ko siyang hinarap.

"Ano ba?! You're creeping me!" singhal ko ngunit tinawanan niya lang.

"You looked so happy a while ago..." bulong niya kaya napakurap ako.

"Of course! They're fun to be with!" I exclaimed trying hard not to stutter.

Umupo siya sa sofa na nasa harap ng desk ko at nagde-kwatro pa. He was all just staring at me and I couldn't help but grow consciousness. Pasimple ko ng inayos ang suot kong bestida. After learning that my work wouldn't be as hard as his, I went back in wearing sunday dresses.

"Gusto mong maging kaibigan sila?" seryoso niyang tanong ngunit nakangiti.

I raised a brow, what's his deal? "Kind of but they're too noisy and I can't stand it." tumango lamang siya.

"Pwede naman pero may girlfriend rin si Noah."

Mabilis akong napakurap at hindi makapaniwala siyang tiningnan. It was a compound sentence that he tried connecting even if it doesn't make any sense. And what does he mean by that? Of course, I know that Noah was taken, judging from his looks, it's more surprising if he's not.

Umuwang ang labi ko at pinagkruss ang braso sa dibdib, "And so? It's not like he'd like me back anyway." I bitterly flumped into my swivel chair and threw him glares.

Natutuwang tiningnan niya lang ako, "Kaya nga wala kang pag-asa." that offended me.

Napaingos ako at nakakuyom na hinawakan ang mouse. If it wasn't attached to the computer, he might be witnessing this flying to his face.

We went back to work since it was already 2 in the afternoon. Walang bagong records dahil hindi nakapag-ikot si Ysmael kanina. Trinabaho ko nalang ang pinabili ni Ysmael na mga gamit para sa clinic niya. After a while I found myself scrolling through my gallery to watch the stolen pictures of Noah I got a while ago.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapangiti sa tahimik. There were some blurry pictures but it was fine because I caught a clear image of Noah's half face. Sunod-sunod ko namang tiningnan ang iba pa hanggang sa maabot nalang ako sa pinakahuling kuha ko ay hindi ko mapigilang mapasuntok sa mesa.

Why the hell does Ysmael need to cover Noah in every picture I captured? Kung hindi malabo ay nasa malinaw naman siya, nakatabon sa kalahati o sa buong katawan ni Noah.

I know that Noah is tall and he could just peek over Ysmael's head but it doesn't apply with Ysmael. Napamura nalang ako habang inis na inis na tinitingnan ang blankong mukha ni Ysmael na nakatitig sa kamera.

I couldn't even feel any shame because of how pester I was.

Mariin kong kinagat ang labi at matalim na tiningnan si Ysmael mula sa harang ng opisina niya. I couldn't see his face but he was clearly busy working on what he failed to do this morning.

Kinumkom ko nalang ang galit at hindi na siya dinisturbo pa. Napanguso nalang sa harap ng cellphone habang nakatitig sa nakakaasar at blankong mukha ni Ysmael. Ibubulsa ko nalang sana ulit ito nang may biglang ideya na pumasok sa isipan ko.

Mabilis pa sa mga kamay ng orasan akong napatayo at tinungo ang opisina ni Ysmael.

"Ysmael..." I called out his name.

He was so surprised when he saw me smiling at him when I was supposed to be mad. Hindi niya napigilan ang mapangiti rin. Pero hindi rin iyon nagtagal nang marinig ang sinabi ko.

"Can I know Noah's instagram? I just want to see something."

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nyariina
1/26/'21
7/27/'21