OFFSTAGE (Suspire Series #2)

Kabanata 11

Pagkatapos namin kumain ay inaya niya akong mamasyal. Maghuhugas pa sana ako ng mga pinagkainan namin but he told me to leave it there, kaya inayos ko nalang at binalik sa basket. Hawak kamay kaming naglakad sa masukal na gubat. May guide naman kami dahil may mga lampara na nakasabit sa mga puno.

"Bakit dito ka pa nagpatayo ng bahay? I mean, where did you even find this place?" tanong ko habang kumukuha ng litrato for remembrance.

"We went to our farm in La Union. I was frustrated at the time, and I needed to find a quiet space." He was smiling as he recalled the moments. Hindi siya nakatingin sa akin kaya palihim ko siyang pinipicturan.

From the side, he had a perfect profile. His jaw was prominent, as was his pointy nose. This man just... wow! Hindi ko na rin masyadong naintindihan ang mga kwento niya dahil masyadong akong na-distract kakatitig sa maamo niyang mukha.

All I heard was that he was frustrated at the time and ran into the woods, until he later found this place.

"Bakit ka frustrated?" tanong ko.

So he knew what it was like to be frustrated. Sobrang bait kasi niya at parang minsan aakalain mong hindi siya marunong magalit. Sa tagal naming magkasama. I'd never seen him distressed or furious. He was always relaxed and serene. Mahilig din siyang ngumiti at tumawa.

His lips were pressed together. "It's my cousin. Sometimes I hate his guts."

I was taken aback by what I had heard. Ito ang unang beses na narinig ko siyang gamitin ang salitang hate. Para kasing hindi siya iyong tipo ng tao na may kinaaayawan. Mason has always been pleasant towards me and everyone else. It gets me curious as to what his cousin done to make Mason hated him.

"Bakit? Ano bang ginawa niya?" I asked, curious.

"He burned my script."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "Grabe naman. Bakit daw?"

"He thought it was Claude's music book. They don't get along."

So Claude pala ang pangalan ng kapatid niya. Napailing nalang ako sa kwento ni Mason. Napansin niyang kanina pa ako ang kumukuha ng litrato kaya kinuha niya sa akin ang cellphone ko at pinicturan ako.

Nagalak ako nang makakita ng puno ng mangga. Ang daming bunga nito at ang lalaki pa. Pareho kami ni Mason na hindi marunong umakyat kaya naghanap kami ng malaking kawayan. Siya ang tagasibol ako naman ang tagapulot ng mga nasisibol niya.

Dahil wala kaming dalang lalagyanan. He stripped down to his shirt, exposing his stunning physique. Even though it isn't as bold and large as some other men's, you can still call him ripped. The abs were blatantly visible. His biceps and triceps are unquestionably strong. I've seen it before, but I can't help but wonder how it would feel if I slid my hands beneath his body.

The thought faded away when I noticed Mason smirking at me. Inirapan ko siya. Inaasar lang niya ako dahil ilang beses ba naman akong nagtangkang i-seduce siya but he still had the guts to refuse, ako na nga nag-offer.

"Easy with the stares," he teased.

I gave him a sidelong glance. "Arte mo kasi!" sumbat ko at hinagis sa kaniya iyong tatlong mangga na hawak ko bago tumalikod. I could hear him laughing as I continued walking. Sinundan ko lang iyong mga lampara pabalik sa tree house.

"Hello po," nahihiyang bati ko nang madatnan si Kuya Edgar na may dalang basket.

"Hello din po ma'am. Ito po pala iyong tanghalian ninyo, iaakyat ko nalang po sa taas," nakangiting sabi niya.

Araw-araw bang may dala si Kuya Edgar para kainin namin? Pwede namang magluto nalang kami, nakakahiya.

"Sige po. Pero okay lang naman pong huwag ni'yo na kaming dalhan ng pagkain," magalang na sabi ko.