Isla De Fuego Series 2: Perfection (EROTIC-ROMANCE)

Chapter Six: Talk

Chapter Six: Talk

NAKAUPO sila ni Niezel at Logan sa bahagdan ng patio bg HQ kung saan kaharap nila ang magandang hardin na facade ng bahay. Matapos ng iringan sa pagitan ng mag-amang Miller ay inaya siya ni Logan na maupo muna sa bahagdan para makapag-usap. Noong una ay tungkol lamang sa pang-iinsulto kay Hank Miller ang pinag-uusapan ng dalawa pero napadpad iyon sa malalim na parte ng pagkatao nito.

"I was a neurosurgeon. Well, until my dad paid some freak to beat me to a pulp, especially my hands. All that to force me to focus on our billion-dollar company."

Naawa si Niezel sa ikinuwento ni Logan na parte ng nakaraan nito. Kaya pala nakatambay na lamang ito sa HQ at walang ginagawa ay dahil hindi ito makabalik sa trabaho.

Logan showed her his right hand. Kitang-kita na inoperahan iyon. Hinawakan iyon ni Niezel at matamang tiningnan ang bawat peklat na dulot ng operasyon. Her fingertips traced the path of every scar which had Logan flinching. She has that effect on him everytime their skin touches, just like when he kissed her that night.

"Kaya pala naiinis ako sa pagmumukha ng tatay mo. Ang itim ng budhi."

Logan looked at Niezel's side profile. She looked so perfect with the twitching of her plump lips while looking at his scars. How come that he only noticed it now? He had known her for years.

"By the way, why are you here?" Tanong ng binata. Naka-focus pa rin ang mata ni Niezel sa kamao ni Logan at tila ginagaya pa ang pattern ng tahi sa kanyang kamay.

"Magpapasalamat lang sana ako sa ginawa mo para kay Ray. Hindi mo kami kaano-ano pero tinulungan mo kami. Salamat." Natigilan pa ito saglit bago sinabing, "Nakalimutan ko 'yung kakanin sa bahay. Ibibigay ko sana sa'yo."

"I am a doctor. I am tied to this hypocratic oath to not to deny someone who's in need."

"Ang sakit mo naman magsalita. Parang napilitan ka lang na tumulong, ah?" She pouted. Nangunot-noo si Logan nang makitang namula ang tenga nito— scratch that. He's amazed, to be honest. How come that a woman with a filthy mouth and probably with one of the most annoying anger issues he ever encountered could be this pretty? Sadyang basagulera nga lang kung umasta, but, other than that, she's agreeable.

"Niezel is smart. I rather define her as 'street smart'. She became the head of the family at a young age and managed all her savings. She has investments in the local CoOp nearby. That's why I never underestimated her. And I think you guys are a good match." Biglang naalala ni Logan ang sinabi ni Nick sa kanya nang minsang magtanong siya tungkol sa opinyon nito sa bagong 'kasintahan'.

"Niezel, have you ever thought about marrying?"

Napapitlag ang dalaga. "Kasal? Bakit ko naman iisipin 'yon? Eh, hindi pa nakakapagtapos mga kapatid ko." Busy pa rin ang dalaga sa panggagaya ng stitch sa kanyang kamao na para bang may hawak itong invisible na karayom. "Ikaw ba? Magpapakasal ka na? Malas naman ng mapapangasawa mo kung sakali."

"What do you think about marrying me?"

"Hindi tayo bagay. Masyado kang pikon kaya hindi ka makaka-survive sa mga atake ko—" Nanlaki ang nga mata ni Niezel sa gulat nang ma-realize ang tanong na iyon. "Gago ka ba?! Anong trip mo?"

"I am an practical when it comes to my choices and I don't want to waste my time dating women. Most of my relationships were scared to be involved with my family other than being my 'fling' because they're not perfect enough to pass the standards that my family requires. But you, on the other hand, roasted my father head-on and I admire that." Logan looked at the garden in front of them. "And I needed to settle down. Now that I am planning to do a big charity work, I needed an heir to continue that. A family would be nice to replace the career that was stolen from me."

Mabilis ang tibok ng puso ni Niezel dahil sa biglaang tanong sa kanya ni Logan. Napatingin siya sa mga bulaklak na nasa garden kagaya ni Logan at nag-isip nang malalim.

"I envy the way you protect Ray and I never experienced that my whole life. I think you would be an amazing parent. That's what gave me the idea. And of course, I needed an heir."

Niezel laughed in an awkward manner, feeling uneasy. "Sasabihin mo sigurong, 'Just kidding!' no? Niloloko mo ata ako..." She realized that he's serious just by looking at his gaze and stance.

"Do I look like I like jokes?"

Her fake smile faded as she cleared her throat. "Bakit mo naman naisip na baka gusto kitang pakasalan? Na gusto kong magka-pamilya?"

"Because Ray told me you're planning on marrying your best friend after Ray and Emma's graduation. Ray told me that you don't have romantic feelings for Toto, and that you're an idealistic woman who's thinking with logic. You don't need romance, Niezel. You needed a reliable partner. At least that's what Ray said. I could be that man."

Ipinangako ni Niezel na ilalampaso niya si Ray kapag nakita umuwi ito galing sa eskwelahan. Masyadong madaldal. Isa iyong plano ni Niezel para sa hinaharap kaya sini-sikreto lang iyon ng dalaga at itinanggi kay Logan kanina.

"Pero kilala ko na si Toto. Matagal ko na siyang kaibigan kaya ko napagplanuhan iyon."

"Why? Who told you that you needed to be friends with someone just to know them better? We'll get to know each other more," Logan laughed and diverted his gaze at her. "Believe me, there's more to marriage than your so-called 'friendship', especially in bed."

"Paano naman kita makikilala kapag natutulog ka?" Nilingon at pinaningkitan ni Niezel ng mata ang binata. "Wala akong interes sa kung paano ka humilik."

"That's not what I meant."

"Ano bang ginagawa sa kama?" Lumapit siya ng kaunti kay Logan. "Gagawa ng baby sa kama? 'yun ba?"

Logan smirked. "I'm surprised you know."

"Nagtanong ako kay tatay. Ginagawa daw 'yung baby gamit ang instinct."

"No, Niezel. The baby's are the product of sex. When a man and woman engages in sexual intercourse. When a man's penis enters you and fills you up with his sperm and it will elope with your egg cell, thus creating a baby."

Logan could've sworn that her innocence shattered when his words strucked her. He saw terror in her eyes, like she just imagined what he said as a violent thing. Halata ring kinabahan ito at takot para sa sariling kaligtasan.

"Paano? Sasaksakin mo ako?"

Logan massaged his temples. He should enroll Niezel in a sex education course. Walang kaalam-alam ang dalaga sa simpleng bagay na iyon.

He heaved a sigh before saying, "There are other means to get pregnant with the help of science aside from intercourse. There's IVF and such so don't worry about me 'stabbing' you."

Nakita niyang kumalma ang anyo ni Niezel sa kanyang huling sinabi. Tila ba nakarinig ito ng magandang balita. "Mabuti naman pala."

"So? Will you marry me?"

Mabilis ang tibok ng puso ni Niezel sa katanungang iyon. Magbabago ang buhay niya kapag um-oo siya at pakiramdam naman niya ay aaksayahin niya ang pagkakataon kung tatanggihan niya si Logan.

"A—Ano, pag-iisipan ko pa. Pero kung sakali mang pumayag ako, gusto kong makapagtapos muna ng high school o kahit kolehiyo si Ray bago ako magkaroon ng anak. Iyon ang plano ko at ayaw kong mabago iyon."

"That's not a problem for me." He raised his hands. "I am not in a hurry."

Pinaningkitan niya ng mata si Logan. "Paano kung hindi ako pumayag?"

"No, I am confident you'll say yes. Because we think alike, Niezel. You are my reflection in the mirror. We share the same goals. And I know that you think of me as an agreable choice."

Sinimangutan niya ito bago tumingin ulit sa mga bulaklak sa garden. "Mayabang."