VERONICA (Montero Series # 4)

Chapter 24: Game

Chapter 24

Veronica

Napahinga ako ng malalim inayos ang hoddie jacket lumabas sa smoking area at nagtutuloy tuloy na pamunta sa elevator. When I was already on my floor hindi na ako tumuloy sa unit ko, I went to Elijah's. It's about 2am a safe hour para tumakas because I wasn't allowed to go out yet. I was in complete bedrest with bathroom privileges.

I was supposed to stay at home dahil iyon ang gusto ni daddy para mabantayan ako but I chose to be stubborn, I pleaded mom na nadaan sa pakiusap niya kay Dad. I couldn't stay at home dahil hindi ko magagawa ang plano ko at least here I can kahit naka bed rest ako.

Elijah called that he can't come home. He had a project inspection at Batangas and he'll stay there overnight. Susurpresahin ko nalang siya mamaya. He said he'll come home before breakfast.

Since it was still early nahiga ako sa couch ni Elijah, pinatugtog ang kanta ng One OK rock. Sadly, I wasn't allowed to attend their concert this month dahil sa kondisyon ko. Elijah too even insisted to not go , there will be time for it daw but not now. I didn't argue kasi mas may kailangan akong i-priority ngayon.

I closed my eyes, at inenjoy ang kanta. It was until the fifth song from my playlist nang marinig kong biglang nag click ang pintuan. How long was it? Twenty five to thirty minutes? It was still too early, right? Was it Elijah?

Nagkunwari akong tulog. I didn't plan on him catching me sleeping in his couch this early.

I heard subtle strides, a dim light switched on from the floor lamp I guess dahil hindi iyon ganoon kaliwanag kahit naka pikit ako. I was mentally counting and trying to calm down my heart that was beating wild when later I heard a heavy breath above my face. By its soft woodsy scent I knew it was him.

Naramdaman kong maingat niyang tinanggal ang cellphone kong bahagya ko palang hinawakan. Naramdaman ko siyang nawala, I heard his strides again then after a few minutes I heard his breath fanning against my face, I hope I was doing good with my acting. He slowly and carefully slid his hands under my back and my legs.

I was so tempted to pull him close at ang magsumiksik sa kanya pero baka pagalitan lang niya ako. The next thing I knew I was softly laid on top of a very comfy bed, his bed. He fixed the pillow under my head, banayad na inayos pa ang buhok ko, tapos nawala na naman siya. I thought he was gone to bath, muntik pa akong mapakislot ng may maaligamgam na telang lumapat sa paa ko. He wiped and cleaned my feet, at sigurado akong nakita niya ang pasa malapit sa left big toe ko, natalisod kasi ako kaninang umaga. He examined my poor toe, may nilagay doon, he even put petroleum at my soles bago yun nilagyan ng medyas. Sobrang arte talaga! Maarte pa sa'kin.

He then fixed my comforter then he was gone again. That's when I heard a gush of water from the bathroom.

After about a while, siguro mga thirty minutes I felt the door from the bathroom opened.

I counted for about three hundred before I tried to move to my side to peek. Kasi after the bathroom door opening wala na akong naririnig.

I was greeted by his figure against me, looking with such dominance and sophistication even when it's only his back that I could see. He had his pajama bottoms on but he was still about to put on his shirt. I bit my bottom lip and closed my eyes again, wishing that he'd sleep beside me so that I can hug him.

Ilang sandali lang bahagyang gumumalaw ang kama, and then his breath was fanning my face again. Pakiramdam ko hindi na ako humihinga. Ang bango bango! What was he going to do? I wanted to move pero baka mahalata niya ako. Gumalaw ulit ako at nawala na ang init ng hininga niya. It was when I decided to peek only to see his face just above my face. Mariing nakatitig ang mga mata niya sa mga mata ko.