. Harmino, Kabanata 7

"Miraya will get all of the inheritance," Mason announced.

Malax sighed in relief and leaned on the couch. "Where'd you get that from, Mason?" 

We're in the house of the family, who took Mason. They're not here so my sister called all of us to discuss this. Miraya isn't here yet, that's why that's the first thing she said when we're all finally gathered in the living room. Miraya's house is quite far from here.

"I'm glad and mad to hear that," Maxea commented. "That saved us from the inconveniences but Miraya. . ."

"Right," itinukod ko ang aking dalawang siko sa aking magkabilang hita tsaka ko hinilot ang aking sintido. "I wonder how Miraya would react after finding out about this."

"And that's not the only reason why I wanted to see you guys," Mason said. "One of us is keeping a secret."

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya dahil doon. 

Tumingin siya sa akin, tsaka lang ako natauhan na may tinatago nga ako sa kanila. Nalaman na ba niya na pasikreto akong nagpapa-imbistega sa aksidenteng nangyari kay mama?

"Ba't 'di mo sinabi sa 'min, Syne?" Mason questioned, confirming my guess that it's me.

"Bakit? Anong meron?" Malax confusedly looked at me and Mason. "Alam mo, Maxea?"

"Girl, I have no idea what's going on here." lumapit sa tabi ko si Maxea. 

"You secretly hired a private investigator for the car accident that caused mom's death, Mnemosyne?" seryosong tanong sa akin ni Mason. Dumi-quatro siya at tinaasan ako ng kilay. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"It's because I didn't want to bother you--" sinubukan kong magsinungaling pero roon pa lang ay hindi na sila naniwala. "Fine. I just thought you guys no longer care about mom that time so. . ."

Napasapo ng kanyang noo si Maxea. "Are you serious?"

"That's not it, Mnemosyne," says Malax. "We just don't want to see mom suffering in the Hospital that time. But we would check on her everyday. I'm surprised you don't know about that. Mag-isa kang pumupunta sa Hospital, ah?"

"W-Well. . ." I tried to explain myself but in the end I just sighed in defeat. "You already know now, so, what's next?"

"What's next? Tell us about the updates." Mason leaned back on the sofa.

"What updates?" Miraya suddenly entered the room. "What did I miss? Sorry I'm late. It was hell of a traffic out there." inilagay niya ang sapatos sa shoe shelf na nasa tabi na ng pintuan.

She confusedly looked at everyone when she noticed our unfamiliar gaze. Her smile disappeared and her brows furrowed.

"Is there something wrong?" She looked worried when she sat next to Mason. "Is it a serious matter? Tell me about it. Didn't expect it would be a serious meeting."

Poor Miraya doesn't even know that when she finds out, she will feel the pressure. The company needs a new boss and in a month she will be on mom's position as the CEO of the biggest cosmetic and skincare company in the Philippines.

It took us a while before Maxea spoke. "Mnemosyne secretly hired an investigator for mom's car accident."

"Really?" She looked at me. "Why so?"

"We already discussed it, she just thought we don't care about mom, that's why she did it secretly." Malax crossed her arms and looked at me seriously. 

I nodded. "I'm sorry, for not trusting you guys,"

"No. That's not a big deal for me, actually." She looked at everyone. "I thought it would be a more serious matter."

"Well actually, there's another news for you," Malax sighed and looked at everyone.

-

"You bought a lot," 

I stared at the sex toys on the ground Nirca bought.

"I-I'm not sure what kind of toy you like so I bought everything." nagkamot siya ng kilay at awkward na tumingin sa akin. "What? Don't you like it? What do you want then?"

Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. I crossed my arms and smiled. "Seriously, Nirca, magkano ang allowance mo?'

"I don't have an allowance, I worked hard for all of this," sumeryoso ang mukha niya. "I haven't told you about it yet so I'm telling you now. I was working at a fast-food chain my uncle owns. I was fifteen when I started saving and haven't spent a single penny until college."

"That's it. You worked hard for that money, Nirca. So you better spend it on better things."

"You are the better thing, tangi. If it's for you then I will spend every single penny that I have." she looked at me like I was saying a thing that's obviously not to her liking. "I would rather spend my money for you and our future than those better things you're talking about, Syne,"

I sighed and nodded.

We entered the red room. I couldn't even see my natural skin color because of the red lights. There's a leather floor and small leather couch where you can do the deed with your partner. 

"Why is the floor leather now?" I questioned her without looking.

"So you can kneel there without hurting your knees." she simply answered. In my peripheral vision she looked at me and smiled. "Only I can hurt you in this red room. Not the abusive type of hurt though. What do you say? I made a little makeover for you. Do you like it?"

"Yes!" Humarap ako sa kanya at ngumiti. "I like it!" I hugged her happily.

We ended up doing it there. She cuffed both of my hands and feet so I couldn't move and pleasured me non-stop even if I begged her to stop. She's that merciless during the intimate deed. But well, who am I to complain? The one and only Nirca Elaine Harmino, my first ever girlfriend is the one fucking me.

"Ano 'yan, Nirca?" My eyes widened when I saw a big pink sex toy.

"Vibrator?" her brows furrowed. "You haven't tried a vibrator yet?" her lips curved a bit, teasing me.

"What's that?!" gulat pa rin ako dahil tumutunog iyon na para bang drill. "Ilayo mo sa akin iyan, Nirca! Baka mahati ang katawan ko riyan!" dahil wala akong galaw na pwedeng gawin dahil nakatali ako ay sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

Her naked body crawled to reach my ears. "So do you want me to use my fingers instead?"

"Nirca!"

"I get it." hinagis niya ang laruan papunta sa likuran. "My fingers are long and you prefer my speed and performance, is that right, tangi?"

"Y-You!"

She played with my clit using her fingers while licking my breasts and looking at me so she can see if I'm satisfied with what she's doing. "Do you like this, Zcimin?"

We ended up playing with the toy, too. It was an unfamiliar feeling but it felt so good, like I was sent to a paradise and came back after. Nirca and I switched places because I asked her to. I cuffed her and pleasured her with all of me.

Tired and satisfied, she looked at me and smiled. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes," I laughed then kissed her forehead. "Let's rest first." tinanggal ko ang cuff at niyakap siya. She rested her head on my shoulder.

Inalalayan namin ang isa't isa para makahiga kami sa kama niya. Wala kaming oras para makapagdamit dahil sa pagod. 

Lagapak kaming dalawa roon. Tawang-tawa pa siya dahil nadaganan ng ulo niya ang braso ko kaya mahina ko siyang sinampal. 

"I want to marry you in the future," she says with a spark in her eyes and a wide smile on her face. 

"Let's do that. Pwede ba iyon dito sa Pilipinas?"

She caressed my cheek. "That's not a problem, we can marry overseas. I'll invite my friends."

"What about your parents? I haven't seen your dad, Nirca."

"He divorced my mom before she even gave birth to me. They got married in Spain that's why. I used to wonder why but as I grew up I slowly understood why he did that. I feel bad for mom though, she barely speaks. When she does, it's when I do something that is against her liking."

"She knows you're a lesbian, right?"

"Yeah," she stopped caressing my cheek and stared directly into my eyes. "That's why I can't hate her. Even if she's the most misunderstood mother in the world I would stay with her. Because my mom accepted me. Wherever I am now, it's because she helped me get here. She helped me get to you. I owe her that." She kissed my forehead.

"Matatanggap kaya ako ng mommy mo, Nirca?"

"Sa ayaw at sa gusto niya, kailangan ka niyang tanggapin dahil ikaw ang mahal ko. You are an amazing person." aniya. "After we finish school, what should we do next?"

"Hmm. . . Get a job of course." napaisip ako. "When I'm finally financially stable on my own, gagawa ako ng orphanage. So abandoned children like us would find at least a temporary home. . ."

Tumango siya. "What else?"

"I will create an anti-bullying program too! Then I will finally marry you and we will travel around the world together!"

"What do you think about Dubai?" her eyes sparkled with joy.

I looked at her with disbelief. "Are you kidding? I will surely love Dubai!"

Nakakamangha, ilang linggo pa lang naming kilala ang isa't isa pero naging kami agad. Nagp-plano pa kami sa future! Pero ang connection kasi namin ni Nirca, hindi na kailangan pa ng matagal na walang label. It feels like we've known each other for years.

"Mom brought me there when I was twelve. I'm sure you would love it there." sabi niya. "I will create and buy our house, then a car--"

"Ang dami!" I giggled. "Matutupad kaya natin lahat ng iyon, tangi?"

Her smile widened and held my hands then kissed it. "Hanggat kasama kita, tangi. Sigurado ako, matutupad natin ang lahat ng iyon."

"Paano pag nawala ako?" biro ko.

She pouted and hugged me tight with her thighs. "That would never happen."

I laughed and hugged her back. 

"Should we keep our relationship a secret to everyone til we finish school?"

"No need for that. I want to brag about our relationship to my friends, cousins, acquaintances--- everyone!" she pushed me slightly just to pull me again for a kiss.

"Si Miraya na pala ang magmamana ng kumpanya, Nirca," 

Her brows furrowed. "Don't tell mom about it yet. She might get mad. Alam mo naman iyon, mahilig sa pera. . ." napuno ng pag-aalala ang mukha niya.

Tumango naman ako. "Bihis na tayo. Gutom na ako."

Tumayo kami at sabay na nagbihis. Sabay din kaming bumaba ng hagdan. Papunta kami sa kusina para kumuha ng pagkain nang madaanan ko ang living room. Nakita ko ang likod ng isang babae roon na may kausap sa telepono.

"Nirca, your mom. . ." 

Kinabahan agad ako sa 'di ko malamang dahilan. Dahil ba nagsisikreto kami ni Nirca sa relasyon o dahil hindi ako ang inakala nilang magmamana ng kumpanya ni Mama Claire?

Nirca gave me a look and squeezed my hand.

"I'll handle it." She hugged me while her eyes were on her mom. Nanigas ang katawan ko nang humarap sa amin ang ina niya na seryoso ang ekspresyon sa mukha. "Please get us some food, love," she stopped embracing me, she was about to go when I held her hand.

"I'm scared," I whispered.

She gave me an assuring smile. "Don't worry, tangi. At least she knows about our relationship now. Go on. . ."

Pinakawalan ko siya. Tumalikod na ako pero hindi pa ako nagsisimulang maglakad kaya narinig ko ang usapan nila.

"What was that?" kalmadong tanong ng ina niya. "Are you flirting with that girl, Nirca?"

"She's my girlfriend, mom," 

"Girlfriend?" bahagyang tumaas ang boses nito kaya napapikit ako.

Ito na ba? Hindi na talaga ako matatanggap?

Tita, tanggapin mo naman ako oh.

"I have something to tell you, Nirca," dama ko ang frustration sa tono ng matandang babae. "That girl will not inherit the company! Didn't you tell me you don't want to live with her? What happened here that made you change your mind that fast, huh?!" galit na ito sa anak niya!

"Ano naman ang kimalaman ng kumpanyang iyon sa relasyon namin, ma?" kalmado pa rin ang boses ni Nirca. "Hindi naman natin kailangan ang perang iyon, ma. You're a doctor and Auntie Claire's friend! You should know better--"

Napaharap ako nang marinig ko ang malakas na sampal para kay Nirca.

"How dare you say that we don't need that money! You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth that's why you can say that! Your bastard father still gives you financial support but me! All my life I have to work for every penny!"

Napatakbo ako palapit kay Nirca para yakapin siya. Namumuo ang luha sa mata ni Nirca dahil na rin sa takot.

Her mom's angry eyes looked at me. "And you, get out of my house!" Utos niya sa akin habang dinuduro pa ako.

"O-Opo---"

"Pag pinalayas mo siya rito, mommy, lalayas din ako! Maiiwan ka ritong mag-isa kapag ginawa mo iyan dahil susunod at susunod ako sa kanya!" tumaas ang boses ni Nirca na siya ring naging dahilan para mas lalong magalit ang ina niya.

"You are so ungrateful, Nirca!" her mom's tears started falling because of anger. "You and your dad, you are the reason why I'm living a shitty life until now! Magsama kayong lahat!" 

"I don't want to leave you! I just want my girlfriend to stay here!"

"Bakit, Nirca, bakit siya mananatili rito? Anong maiaambag niyan dito bukod sa gawaing bahay na kaya naman ng kasambahay na pinalayas mo noong nakaraang buwan?" gigil na tanong nito sa anak. "Kaya mo ba siyang palamunin, Nirca!"

"Kaya ko, ma!" Nirca started crying. "Papakainin ko si Nirca, I will provide for her home! If you want money that bad, she and I can work together!"

"Nirca!" sigaw nito.

"Mommy! I will do everything you say, just please let her stay here with me. I've been a very bad daughter for you and I'll promise to be better! Just let Mnemosyne stay here with us! I will feed her with my own money and we will work together so she can pay the rent if you want! Hindi ako sasabit, mommy!" she kneeled with pleading hands.

"Get out of here!" sigaw sa akin nito, hindi pinapansin ang pagmamakaawa ni Nirca. "I really thought you'll inherit everything because you study a course related to business but I was wrong! Palamunin ka lang dito!"

"N-Nirca, tumayo ka ryan," imbes na pansinin siya ay sinubukan kong patayuin ang girlfriend ko.

"Mommy please. . . I will do everything." Nirca pleaded.

Her mom sighed like she already made a decision. 

"Don't make me repeat, Mnemosyne. Get out of here or I'll drag you out."