16 Sixteen

HINDI makatulog si Ralph dahil sa kwenento ni Aira kanina. He felt horrified. And furious. He didn't expect that at all. Alam niyang grabe ang pinagdaanan ng dalaga but that's...that's just too much.

Pagtapos nitong magkwento, walang nagsalita sa kanilang dalawa. She's obviously crying and trembling while Ralph is stunned. Hindi niya magawang magsalita o patahanin ang dalaga dahil sa kwenento nito. Ang akala niya'y ang ama lang nito ang gumawa nito sa rito but he's wrong.

Ikinadena at sinaktan ng ganon si Aira? What kind of monster are they to do that to an innocent woman like Aira?

Bumangon siya mula sa pagkakahiga at tahimik na lumabas ng kaniyang kwarto. It's already past midnight and there he is, still awake.

Naglakad siya papuntang kusina at naglagay ng tubig sa baso. He immediately drank it all. He wants to calm himself, for Pete's sake, may trabaho pa siya bukas.

Ng matapos siyang uminom, hindi niya alam kung bat siya dinala ng kaniyang mga paa sa kwarto ni Aira. Mabagal at maingat niyang binuksan ang pinto para hindi magising ang dalaga.

When he completely opened the door, he saw her sleeping soundly and peacefully. Kaagad na gumaan ang kaniyang pakiramdam ng makita ang mahimbing na tulog ng dalaga.

Tinawid niya ang pagitan nilang dalawa. Umupo siya sa kama at sa tabi nito.

He gently removed the hair that is covering Aira's face. "I'm glad that you're peacefully sleeping." he softly whispered.

Masuyo niyang hinaplos ang buhok ni Aira. "I'll make them pay. I promise, I will."

Matapos ang ilang saglit na pagtitig niya rito, tumayo siya at tumungo sa may pinto. He sat on while his back is leaning at the door. Mula sa kaniyang kinaroroonan, nakikita niya ang magandang mukha ni Aira.

And her face is making him calm.

He didn't stop the smile that wants to get out. Nakangiti niyang ipinikit ang mata at hindi niya namalayan nakatulog na pala siya.

------

RALPH'S presence woke up when he felt like someone's staring at him. He groaned before opening his eyes. He saw a translucent image in from of him and after blinking twice, his sight becomes clearer.

And what he saw made his heart pounded inside his chest. He saw Aira, who is looking at him innocently but intently.

Hindi niya nagawang magsalita o batiin man lang ito dahil sa sobrang lapit nito. Halos isang dangkal na lang ang layo ng mukha ni Aira sa kaniya.

He can't help but to look at her lips. Her lips were reddish and he knows that it will surely worth kissing.

Napakurap na lang si Ralph sa naisip. His mind's betraying him right now. Sobrang lakas na ng tibok ng kaniyang puso at ang naiisip niya'y hindi nakakatulong para pakalmahin ito.

Pinilit niya ang sariling wag tumingin sa labi ni Aira. "Ahm…" he whispered as he shyly scratches his nape "good morning."

Aira stands up and sat on the bed. "G-Good morning."

Itinulak ni Ralph ang sarili patayo at naglakad palapit kay Aira. He sat next to her. "Why…Why are you staring at me?"

Mabagal na umiling si Aira. "I-I just had a nightmare. It made me panicked so I thought about going to your room. But then, I saw y-you sleeping while leaning on the door."

"H-Hindi na ako nakatulog kaya binantayan na lang kita." she added.

Tinignan niyang mabuti si Aira na nakayuko ngayon. Inabot niya ang kamay nito at hinawakan ng mahigpit. "Are you scared? You should have waken me up." mahinang saad niya na inilingan ni Aira.

Nagtaas ito ng tingin sa kaniya. "I was scared but look at this…" tsaka nito pinakita kay Ralph ang kaniyang kamay "It's not trembling. I…I managed to calm myself down."

Tinignan niya ito ng mariin. He saw the glint of happiness in her eyes and heard the excitement in her voice.

His heart melted and he smiles at her. "I'm proud of you, Aira. You did great." papuri niya rito.

Aira let out the little smile on her face. She did it. She overcomes her nightmare. But still, "I can't do it without you." she said. "Your presence is the reason why I did actually calm myself down."

Aira saw the shock in her face. She can't help but think that he's cute. "W-What?"

'This past few days, palagi na lang siyang nauutal pag kausap ako.' saad ni Aira sa sarili.

"You can calm me down, Ralph." bulong niya rito. "I don't know how you can do it but, yes, you can calm me down."

Ralph didn't say anything. Hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin niya!

"And…" muling pagsasalita ni Aira at itinaas ang kamay nito para hawakan ang kaniyang pisngi "why are you so handsome?" after Aira said that, she stands up and walk outside the room.

And he's left there, dumbfounded.

Aira's walking downstairs. Sobrang bilis kasi ng tibok ng kaniyang puso dahil sa nangyari kanina. She didn't know why she suddenly added that.

Alam niya namang gwapo talaga si Ralph, alam na alam niya yun. She's staring at him for almost two hours. Ng magising kasi siya, si Ralph agad yung hinanap niya at ng makita niya ito, she calmed down.

And she just saw him sleeping so she took the chance to stare at his handsome face. Gusto niya sanang matulog kanina kaso natatakot siyang baka managinip na naman siya ng masama pag pinikit niya ang mata.

So she just stared at him.

Ng makarating si Aira sa kusina, mabilis niyang inilagay ang kamay sa kaniyang dibdib at pinakinggan ang tibok ng kaniyang puso.

Rinig na rinig niya yun dahil sobrang lakas ng tibok nun. She never felt this way before. It feels new and…well.

But what does her feeling right now means? Does it mean the same as what Ralph told him before?

"Do…Do I like him?" tanong niya sa sarili at napahawak sa pisngi. "Do I?"

"Do you what, Mommy?"

Napaiglad si Aira at napalingon sa kaniyang gilid. Nakatayo roon si Ria at inosenteng nakatingin sa kaniya.

Umiling siya rito at nginitian ito. "Nothing, baby girl. You have school today, right?"

Ngumiti na rin si Ria at tumango. "Yes po. Mommy, pwede niyo ba akong ihatid ni Daddy ngayon sa school?" nagniningning ang mga mata ng bata habang nagsasalita.

Natigilan naman si Aira sa sinabi nito. Lalabas siya sa bahay ni Ralph? Ibig sabihin ba nun…makakasama niya ang ibang tao? At hindi posibleng may makasalamuha siyang lalaki.

'Just thinking about it makes me terrified.'

She looks at Ria, sorry. "Uhm Ria…"

Mukhang napansin na ng bata na tatanggi siya kaya agad itong yumuko. Aira stilled at what she saw. She just saw the sadness in Ria's eyes and that's the last thing Aira wants Ria to feel.

She immediately kneeled at the floor at raised Ria's head. Hindi siya papayag na maging malungkot ito. She doesn't want this precious child to feel what she felt before.

"S-Sure, baby. Sasama ako sa paghatid sayo." she made her voice joyful as she can.

Ria's face lightens up. The twinkle in her eyes came back. Mabilis siyang niyakap nito. "Thank you, Mommy."

Kaagad niya naman itong niyakap pabalik. "Just be happy, baby girl."

Ng kumalas sa yakap si Ria, malaki ang ngiti at tuwa sa mukha nito. "I'm happy po. Really." mababakas ang kasiyahan sa boses nito.

Aira just laughed slightly before standing up. She holds Ria's hand. "Then let's go. You need to take a bath. It's not good to be late."

Ilang beses na tumango si Ria bago ito mismo ang humila sa kaniya paakyat.

Hindi niya maiwasang mapangiti dahil sa nangyari. She's satisfied to see Ria being happy and excited.

Alam niyang biglaan at halos hindi niya pinag-isipan ang pagpayag niya sa sinabi nito but seeing her right now, giggling and grinning…sa tingin niya ay Aira tama ang naging desisyon niya.

Habang paakyat sila ni Ria, nakita ni Aira si Manang Josie. "Manang, pwede po bang magluto kayo ng breakfast para kay Ria?" saad niya rito at agad itong pumayag.

Hindi niya na magawang magpasalamat dahil nahila na siya ni Ria.

Bago pa sila makarating sa kwarto nito, nakasalubong nila si Ralph na palabas ng kwarto. Aria's heart immediately pounded when she saw him. Parang gusto nitong lumabas sa kaniyang katawan.

"Daddy!" napalingon kay Ria si Ralph tsaka nalipat at tingin nito sa kaniya.

When they reached him, Ria stopped so she also stopped. "Good morning, Daddy! Sabi ni Mommy sasama raw po siya sa paghatid sa akin ngayon so get ready too, Dad! Kayo po ni Mommy ang maghahatid sakin ngayon." anito at muli siyang hinila papunta sa kawarto nito.

When they passed through Ralph, Aira looked back at him. Nakatingin rin ito sa kanila at mukhang nabigla ito sa sinabi ng anak. Aira can't help but to smile at his face.

'He's also really cute. Bakit parang mas naging cute at gwapo yata si Ralph ngayon?' tanong niya sa isip na agad niya ring iwinaksi dahil nakarating na sila ni Ria sa kwarto nito.

"Mommy, let's take a bubble bath together please." Ria said as she put her hands together and rub it. At dahil sa kakyutan nito, hindi niya magawang tumangi.

And they ended up taking a bath together.

------

WALA sa sariling naglakad pababa si Ralph. First, Aira made him dumbfounded then next is his precious daughter.

Really, what's happening to him?

"Iho, gising ka narin pala." natigil lang siya sa pag iisip ng marinig niya ang boses ni Manang Josie na kakalabas lang mula sa kusina.

"Maganda umaga ho, Manang." he greeted him. "Magandang umaga rin sayo." bati nito pabalik.

"Oh siya, umupo ka na diyan at ihahain ko na ang agahan niyo." dagdag nito at muling bumalik sa kusina.

Ralph sat at his chair and patiently wait for Aira and Ria.

Sa totoo lang, nagulat rin siya sa sinabi ng kaniyang anak. Ayos lang sa kaniya na ihatid ito. 'But what I'm thinking about is Aira…will she going to be okay?'

He knew that something about Aira changed pero hindi niya alam kung komportable na ba itong kasama ang ibang tao maliban sa kanila ni Ria.

He just doesn't want Aira to be scared again.

'And…why are you so handsome?'

Naipikit na lang ni Ralph ang mata ng maalala na naman ang sinabi ni Aira kanina. He knew that Aira becomes more comfortable around him but…

"Damn!" mahinang mura niya ng maramdaman ang malakas na tibok ng kaniyang dibdib. "Her innocence and cuteness will be the death of me."

Nagsalubong ang kaniyang mga kilay at napahawak sa dibdib. "Kinikilig ba ako?" tanong niya sa sarili.

Saglit siyang natahimik until he frustratingly shakes his head. "What was that, Ralph?" saad niya at ibinaba ang kamay. "That doesn't sound so manly at all! Dammit! Be manly." he said to himself.

Nalipat ang atensyon niya sa pintuan ng dining room ng makarinig siya ng mga yapak, senyales na may papasok rito. Mukhang tapos ng maligo ang kaniyang anak.

Ng tuluyang makapasok ang mga ito, kaagad na nabaling ang kaniyang tingin ng ulo ni Aira. May nakapulupot na towel sa buhok nito. Agad na nangunot ang noo ni Ralph. 'Did she also took a bath?'

Then his eyes lowered to her body. Kaagad siyang napalunok ng makita ang suot nito. Kaagad siyang napalunok sa suot nito. 'What…' She's wearing short shorts and spaghetti strap.

Bago pa makaupo si Aira, tinanong ito ni Ralph. "W-Why are you wearing that?"

Aira shyly looked away from him and her cheeks reddened. "I-It's not that I…I want to wear it. It's j-just…ito na kasi yung pinakamatinong damit na nakita ko sa c-cabinet."

'Matino? This clothes are far from being suitable!' pagsalungat ni Aira sa sarili. Dalawa lang kasing pares ang talagang matinong damit na nakikita niya cabinet ng kaniyang kwarto. Usually, she'll wash the other one while she wears the other one kaso biglaan siyang niyaya ni Ria na maligo and she can't say no. And the one pair of normal clothes is not yet dry kaya wala siyang choice kundi ang isuot ang nasa closet kahit ayaw niya pa.

It's not that hindi bagay sa kaniya, she's sexy and beautiful. Pero una, hindi naman siya sanay na magsuot ng ganitong kakaikling damit at pangalawa, ayaw niya itong isuot dahil makikita ang mga pasa niya sa paa at kamay.

Tahimik na umupo si Aira ng hindi na nagsalita si Ralph sa sinagot niya. Bigla tuloy pumasok sa isip niya na baka pangit tignan sa kaniya yung damit. Alam niyang maputi ang kaniyang katawan but it's not flawless.

Aira can't help but felt down and sad. Sigurado siyang pag ibang tao ang hindi sumagot sa sinabi niya, she won't feel anything. Sanay naman na siyang husgahan ng ibang tao.

But when it comes to Ralph, she feels different.

Tahimik silang nag agahan at ng matapos silang kumain ni Ria, tumayo siya at tinulungan itong bumaba sa upuan. Maglalakad na sana sila palabas but Aira paused when she felt something on her wrist.

Lumingon siya sa kaniyang likuran and she saw Ralph, holding her hand and stopping her from walking.

Dahil sa tumigil si Aira, napatigil din si Ria sa paglalakad. "What is it, Daddy?"

Bumaling naman si Ralph sa anak. "I'll just talk to Mommy for a second." ngumiti ito kay Ria. "Can you wait for us in the living room, princess?"

Ria grinned and nod. "Okay po. I'll just ready my bag first." sagot nito at umalis na kaagad.

Habang tahimik lang na nakatayo si Aira habang nakatingin sa kamay ni Ralph na nakahawak sa kaniyang pulsuhan.

Why did Ralph stop her? 'Did he stopped me to judge me?'

Agad na iwinaksi ni Aira ang naisip. No! Why would he judge her? Hindi tulad ng iba si Ralph na sasaktan siya. He cared about her, he makes her happy and…and he can make her heart flutter.

'Tama. Ralph will never do that to me. How can I think of something like that?'

"Come with me." Ralph's voice took her out of her thoughts. Naglakad ito paakyat sa taas tsaka pumasok sa kwarto nito. At dahil hawak siya nito, nasama siya.

"Ba-"

Natigil siya sa pagsasalita ng bitawan ni Ralph ang kamay niya at naglakad papalapit sa cabinet. He opened it and took some clothes out.

Inilagay ni Ralph ang damit na inilabas niya sa kama then he looked at Aira. "Wear this." he said.

But Aira stays still. She didn't move or follow what he said.

"Aira-"

"W-Why?"

Ralph paused at her voice. She's stammering. "Please. Just wear this."

Umiling lang ng mabagal si Aira. "I…I t-thought you're d-different." she lowly said. "K-Katulad ka lang r-rin pala nila. Kokontrolin m-mo rin p-pala ako."

Napakurap siya sa sinabi nito.

"Aira-"

"I k-know that I'm n-not really b-beautiful but I…I never e-expected that you'll a-also jud-"

"That's not what I meant!" hindi napigilan ni Ralph na lakasan ang boses. He's frustrated and baffled. Pero agad niyang pinagsisisihan yun ng makita niya ang pag iglad ni Aira at pag atras nito sa kaniya.

"Aira..." he tried to reach for her but she moved away."D-Don't t-touch me."

His heart fell. Parang winasak ang puso niya sa sinabi ng dalaga.

Ibinaba niya ang kamay at mabigat ang dibdib na napayuko. He shouldn't have done that. He should have known better than anyone.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to raise my voice."

He's disappointed at himself.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." nakayuko paring saad niya. Sa totoo lang, natatakot siyang magtaas ng tingin dito. He's scared to see her frightened face.

Nakakatakot siyang makita na baka…na baka kinakatakutan na siya ng dalaga.

"Please. Please, don't be scared of me. Don't…" saglit siyang natahimik at ipinikit ang mata. "Don't leave me."

Kahit kailan ay hindi niya ito naramdaman kay Angel, ang dati niyang asawa. Wala siyang pakialam rito kung umalis man ito at iwan siya pero iba si Aira. Dahil ngayon lang siya natakot ng ganito.

Just imagining about Aira leaving him makes him feel afraid. He doesn't want to be left alone. Not again.

"R-Ralph…" rinig niyang bulong ni Aira. May takot parin sa boses nito pero naririnig niya rin ang pag aalala doon. And somehow, his chest lightens a bit.

Nanatiling nakapikit ang kaniyang mga mata at napabuntong hininga siya. "Making you wear this doesn't mean that you're not beautiful or it's doesn't suit you."

Minulat niya ang mata at nagtaas ng tingin dito. "I just don't want other men to see you wearing that." nag iwas siya ng tingin. "I can't stand other men looking at you with lust in their eyes."

"Ralph…" this time, she's not stammering anymore. And he can't sense fear in her voice too.

Binalik niya ang tingin rito. Her face softens. "Why would you think like t-that? Imposibleng may titingin sa akin sa paraan ng sinasab-"

"You can't say that, Aira." pagpuputol niya sa iba pa nitong sasabihin. "You're beautiful and…and alluring. At lalaki rin ako, Aira. I know how men think."

"W-What?"

"And I know that I won't like it."

Kitang kita niya ang ilang beses na pagkurap ni Aira. What he said are all true. Ayaw niya talagang may ibang lalaki na makakakita kay Aira ng ganiyan ang suot -fuck! Ayaw niya paring may tumitingin kay Aira na ibang lalaki, ganyan man ang suot nito o hindi.

"So please. Please, just wear this." huling saad niya bago lumabas para makapagbihis ito. He wishes that she'll really change.

Kung siya ang tatanungin, gustong gusto niya ang suot ni Aira. She looks so hot and daring. But her body is all for his eyes. He won't let other men see it. Not on his watch.

Ilang minuto siyang nakatayo sa labas ng kwarto ng bumukas ang pinto nun at lumabas si Aira na iba na ang suot.

Nakajogging pants ito na may kalakihan pero dahil may tali yun ay hindi ito nahuhulog sa beywang ni Aira. At gray na t-shirt niya ang pangtaas nito, and it's big for her dahil nasa tuhod na nito ang dulo nun.

Ralph can't help himself to chuckle. She looks so good on his clothes. 'She's so damn cute.'

"W-Why are you laughing?" hindi makatingin na tanong ni Aira. Mas lalo namang napangiti si Ralph ng makita niya ang namumulang pisngi ng dalaga.

"You look so good at it. Much better." ngiting ngiting sagot niya at kinuha ang kamay ni Aira tsaka hinawakan yun ng mahigpit. "Let's send Ria to school?"

Tumango ito pero hindi parin makatingin sa kaniya. She's shy, that's for sure.

They on their way downstairs when Ralph remembers something. "By the way, will you be fine?"

Aira raised her head to look at him. "I w-will. As long as you're on my side."

This time, si Ralph ang napaiwas ng tingin. He felt like his ears burned up. "I will always…be by your side."

She giggled. "Then let's go. I don't know why but I feel excited."

Naibalik ni Ralph ang tingin rito dahil sa sinabi nito. He saw the excitement and nervousness in her eyes. Pero nangingibabaw doon ang kagalakan. "Why do you look so excited?" nakangiting tanong ni Ralph.

Aira faced him with a smile on her face. "Actually, this is my first time to go to school. I was homeschooling because my father didn't let me go to school before. And when I was under my uncle's hand, he didn't let me study. So I'm really excited to go."

Itoa ng unang pagkakataon na nakita ni Ralph si Aira na nakangiti habang nagkwekwento sa kaniyang nakaraan. There's no fear nor nervousness in her voice.

She's happy.

"Smile more, okay?" malayo sa sinabi ni Aira na saad niya. Nagsalubong naman ang kilay ni Aira. "What?"

"You're prettier when you're smiling."

Aira firmed up. She didn't expect that all. Hindi niya na nagawang magsalita pa dahil hinila na siya ni Ralph pababa.

"Ria, let's go." ani Ralph ng makarating sila sa sala. Ria wore her bag and hold to Ralph's other hand.

"Let's go! Let's go!" excited na saad ni Ria at nagsimula na silang naglakad palabas.

Ralph opened the door for her daughter tsaka na sumakay sa back seat si Ria. After that, Ralph opened the door for Aira. Aira immediately goes inside the passenger seat at umikot naman si Ralph para sumakay sa driver seat.

They fasten their seatbelts then Ralph's started the engine. Saglit pa lang na nagmamaneho si Ralph pero naramdaman niya na ang pagka-tense up ni Aira.

He glanced at her. "Hey, it's alright."

Aira didn't look at him but she took his right hand. Nasa kambyo ang kamay niyang yun kaya naman saglit niyang binitawan ang kambyo at pinagpalit ang kamay nila ni Aira.

Now, Aira's the one who's holding the gearshift while Ralph's hand in on top of her.

Sa pagkakataong ito, nilingon na siya ni Aira. There's a nervousness in her face and a faint fear.

"Don't worry, I'm here. Everything's going to be okay." he comforts her. He tried to smile brightly as he can.

And as Aira smiles back, Ralph happily drove to Ria's school.