Beyond Her Abstraction

Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23
Insecurity

Alizarin

"Baka may tao diyan," I whispered nervously before we can totally step inside the steel gates. My heart thumped further when my eyes caught a sky-scraping acacia tree on the right side of the lawn, thinking that lighting could strike on it anytime soon.

"Wala. Ako lang mag-isa rito ngayon."

Nahagilap din ng mga mata ko ang outdoor bistro set sa kabila na ngayon ay babad na babad sa tubig ulan. Basa rin ang nakatambay na motorsiklo sa labas ng garahe sa gilid ng mansion. Hindi magkamayaw sa paghampas ang mga dahon ng iilang mga halaman sa tabi ng garahe, ang iba ay natumba na dahil sa malakas na ulan at hangin.

I curiously peeked at the guy's face. "Bahay n'yo ba talaga 'to?"

I am not really sure of what's happening but I keep on running with him anyway.

"Trust me..." he turned an eye at me, "okay?"

I wanted to protest and throw more questions as we crash inside their home but I was completely dumbfounded by the size and elegance of this mansion. Hindi pa man tuluyang napoproseso ng mga mata ko ang isang feature o gamit sa gilid ay naaagaw na naman ng isang bagay ang atensyon ko. There's a cylindrical chandelier above and nordic sofa and chairs on the sala. The overall theme of the mansion is minimalist but every freaking thing looks luxurious.

Phthalo didn't unshackle his grip on my hand until we reached a big room in the second floor of the mansion.

Kulay puti ang pinta ng pader, may isang stripe-printed na kulay abo at puting king-sized bed, at sa dulo nito ay may itim na headboard na umiilaw ang mga gilid. Mayroong drawing table malapit sa malaking bintana kung saan organisadong nakapatong ang mga lapis at paintbrush. Sa itaas ay may isang double door cabinet na nag-iilaw din ang ilalim na siyang nagbibigay liwanag sa mesang nasa ilalim nito. Beside it, there's another table kung saan nananalagi ang desktop, isang laptop, at mga libro.

I watched the guy's back as he closed the door of the room. After a while, he turned his head at me. For a second, he couldn't speak and so am I.

I tried to calm myself down to grasp every single thing that happened and every single view that I have seen.

The guy in front of me sighed and brushed his hair down. We are both dripping wet pero mas grabe 'yong sa kaniya.

"I'll get a towel." Hindi man maipinta ang mukha ay tumungo siya sa isang kuwarto sa bandang gilid ng kama niya. Mabilisan ko iyong sinilip. It must be his walk-in closet.

He came out with a towel wrapped on his shoulders. Ang isa naman ay dala-dala niya at inabot sa'kin. Suot-suot niya pa rin ang nakakainis na masikip at basa niyang t-shirt. My eyes landed on his neck... on his wet chest... then on his abdomen...

"You take a shower first," he spoke but I didn't speak a word nor take a move. "Baka magkasakit ka na sa katititig diyan unless... the sight makes you feel hot," he casually said but I can sense the tone of pride in his voice.

I slowly lifted my eyes at him. "Wala namang abs," I jested and grabbed the towel from his grip and immediately went to his shower room without seeing his reaction.

I shake my head as I try to resist a wicked smile to form on my lips. Teasing him has always been fun. Ewan ko ba kung bakit sayang-saya ako kapag napipikon o natatameme ko siya.

Parang ang sama ko naman yata? Ang hangin din naman kasi niya minsan. Ang sungit pa.

I laughingly hanged the towel on the rack. Mabuti na lang at dinala ko ang damit kong sinuot ko sa ospital sa loob nang tatlong araw na pagbabantay ko kay uncle. But the laugh on my lips subsequently faded when I realized that my clothes must have been wet 'cause I covered my head with my bag.