Jack Of All Trades | COMPLETED

Chapter 25

Parang nabunutan ako ng tinik nang biglang may naramdaman ko na humigit sa palapulsuhan ko. I broke my gaze with Pierre before my eyes landed on my wrist. Nang makita ko ang pamilyar na mga singsing, inangat ko ang tingin ko kay Loki.

I was taken aback when I saw his face. Mukha siyang nakakita ng multo. I tried to cup his cheek but he remained unmoving. Kumunot ang noo ko. Ano bang nangyari sa kaniya?

"Lo," tawag ko. "Anong nangyari?"

Napalunok siya, mistulang bumalik na sa sariling huwisyo. He glanced behind me where Pierre was. Marahan niya na kinagat ang ibabang labi niya bago unti-unting ngumisi. Tears were brimming on the corners of his eyes but his smile was so wide I was afraid his mouth might tear apart.

Bigla niya ako niyakap nang mahigpit. I was caught unguarded when he attacked my face with kisses. Hindi ko mapigilan na ngumisi dahil nakiliti ako pero naguguluhan pa rin ako sa inaasta niya.

I smiled before pulling away. Nang maaninag ko na ang mukha niya, parang may ano na kumirot sa puso ko nang makita ang pagpalis niya sa mga luha niya. I cupped his cheeks but the tears were still flowing down his face.

My forehead creased in worry as I wiped his lower eyes with my thumbs. "Hey," marahan ko na tawag sa kaniya. "Okay ka lang?"

Mabilis niya ako na tinanguan. He inhaled a sharp breath to calm him down when he looked down at me with evident relief and happiness in his eyes. Bago pa 'ko may masabi, he leaned down to me before claiming my lips. Napapikit ako sa marahan niyang pagkakahalik na parang inaalala niya ang hugis at lambot ng mga labi ko. When he pulled out, my eyes were still closed as he rested his lips on my cheekbone.

"We're free," bumuntong-hininga siya. "We can just buy an island in Malta and-"

"Wait," humakbang ako papalayo sa kaniya pero agad niyang hinawakan ang dalawa kong kamay upang hindi kami magkalayo. Kumunot ang noo ko. "What do you mean?"

"Dad told me. If we don't have much of a choice, let's abandon this stupid game because there's no way in hell I'm going to let you go back to that fucking agency."

The world stopped turning. Gulat ko siyang tiningnan at natantong sinabihan siya ng daddy niya. Sinubukan kong kumawala sa hawak niya pero mas hinigpitan lang niya ito. My gaze pierced into his eyes desperately. It's no use. One of us needs to sacrifice or else the agency won't stop until we eventually give in.

Kung pareho kami na magtatago, mas malala ang makukuha naming dalawa. They'll find us by hook or by crook. Malawak ang connections ng agency na pinagtratrabahuan ko. Even the Russian mafia didn't meddle with our business when I was still a trainee. What we're doing is just delaying the inevitable consequence, betting on nothing but time.

"He...he told you?" I croaked. I thought we made it clear that he wouldn't utter a single word about it to Loki!

Marahan niya na kinagat ang ibabang labi tapos tumango.

I didn't know what to say. Bakit ba laging nagigiba lahat ng plano ko tuwing nakaplantsa na lahat? I already accepted it. The world will be one less harmful soul once I'm done and gone. All I need to do is stay here. Stay until the agency themselves come to inspect. Stay until they try getting to Loki. Stay until I draw one last bullet against the people who trained me, for the person who loves me with every fiber of his being.

I will protect him at all costs. Pinangako ko 'yan sa sarili ko.

"Asti," hinawakan niya ang dalawang siko ko, puno ng pagsusumamo ang mga mata niya. "Run away with me?"

I stared at him with my mouth open in pure disbelief. It's so tempting. I want to give in so badly. Nai-imagine ko na nakaupo kami sa veranda ng isang mansyon na ipapatayo niya sa isla. We'll spend endless sunsets together without counting how many days we have left. It will be perfect.