Dulling Glisters of the Diamond (Casa Fuego Series #5)

Chapter 9

Bull's Eye

Since their mansion here in Casa Fuego is just a drive away, Julius stayed for another hour. Si Conor ang kausap niya sa drawing room habang ako naman ay umakyat para makapagbihis na ng pantulog.

Nakatulala ako sa aking sariling repleksyon, pinagiisipan kung bababa pa ba o hindi na. I have already thanked him but why do I feel like it is not enough? Why am I so bothered that he will go home and it does not feel enough? What is not enough? Parang bitin na bitin ako na hindi ko maintindihan! Bakit nabibitin ako gayung wala naman na kaming dapat pag-usapan?

Ilang oras kong nilalabanan ang sarili ko na huwag nang bumaba. Ni hindi ko alam kung bakit gustong-gusto kong bumaba kahit hindi naman ako ganoon. More importantly, I didn't know I had this connection with Julius. Kaya naman nang may kumatok sa aking pintuan, napasinghap na lamang ako.

"Senyorita, pinapasabi ho ni Senyorito na pauwi na raw po si Sir Julio," Lourdes said.

I pursed my lips and nodded. She nodded too and immediately left. See? Even Lourdes knows that I am not the type who overly entertains guests. But then something about him going home is bothering me. Something about his presence awaken disturbing feelings in me. The emotions feel so familiar. Like it was within me all this time but only one person has awaken them. And even though it feels familiar, I still couldn't name all of them.

Tumayo ako at unti-unting lumapit sa aking bintana para dumungaw. I am only wearing my rose gold lacey peignoir as I watch Julius drive off the pathway in his motorbike. Mabagal ang takbo niya, halos iisipin mong nag-aalinlangan din umalis.

My lips parted when I saw him stopped his motorbike. Kumalabog ang puso ko sa kaba lalo pa nang iangkla niya ang kanyang binti para mabalase ang motor, pagkatapos ay lumingon sa mansion, partikular na sa may banda ng bintana ko.

I gasped and jumped out of shock before I hurriedly closed the curtains. Hinahabol ko ang paghinga ko habang iniisip kung nakita niya ba akong nakadungaw sa bintana at pinapanuod ang pag-alis niya.

More importantly, he was already beyond the lawn. Why did he stop and turn to the mansion like he forgot something? I could tell that he was hesitant to leave the way he manuevered his car. Hinto, takbo. Hinto, lingon.

Para akong nilagnat sa sobrang kaba at init ng aking mukha. Hinahabol ko pa ang aking paghinga nang pinatay ang ilaw at binuksan ang lampshade. I went up to my queen sized four poster bed and covered my body with the comforter. I don't know why my heart is running so fast and loud. Maybe because I got so nervous that he caught me watching him leave?

Maybe our relationship is ruled by banters and pride that it's just too much for me to show any affection for him. It really feels like I surrendered to an enemy.

Nahahapo akong nagpumilit na makatulog sa gabing iyon. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit parang bitin na bitin ako gayung wala naman na kaming dapat pag-usapan. To think that we even almost treated each other before like passing air albeit our families were close friends, and now I feel like I'm hanging on a cliff or something.

"What the hell, Grace?" I groaned.

Tumihaya akong muli pagkatapos ng halos isang oras na pagsubok makatulog. Nakailang posisyon na ako at nakasuot na rin ng eye mask pero hindi tumatalab.

Ano bang problema, Grace? Why can't you calm down? Why am I still so energetic? Why is my mind still so awake? And more importantly, why do I feel so thrilled?

"That's too much caffeine for you, Grecianna," bulong ko.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras pa bago ako nakatulog. The next day, I still woke up very early. Para bang may kung ano akong aabangan sa araw na ito kahit paniguradong pareho lang naman ang araw na ito sa kadalasan.