Bay of Strangers (Manila Girls #2)

Kabanata 42

Kabanata 42

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I think the moon is silently weeping tonight, however its effect can be as loud as the petrichor around us. It's like hiding in shame. It couldn't even show itself—she wanted to be hidden, the clouds laced her with their darkness and soothing calmness.

I hope I can be calmer. Ayaw kong matulog ng masama at mabigat ang loob. I wasn't really good with prayers, but somehow, every night—I found myself praying to any god there is to never let me go back to the phase where I'm drowning so hard, I can't breathe. I don't want to go back to the nights where I would just stare at my ceiling, asking questions and doubting myself, and feeling everything all at once.

"Do you want me to stay tonight?" Marahang tanong ni Joko, pasakay kami sa elevator paakyat sa penthouse ni Rush.

Umiling ako. Hindi pa rin ako ayos, lalo pa't sa naramdaman ko kanina. Sa alaala ko, naroon si Maven... Paulit-ulit kong nakikita ang mukha niya at naririnig ang nga sinabi niya.

I broke him, but I can't fix him. I'm afraid I can't do that even though I wanted to.

"Joko, thank you so much."

Tipid siyang tumango at ngumiti. He swiftly snaked his arm on my waist. I didn't protest as we went inside. Tahimik kami sa loob ng elevator. Parehas pagod at siguro'y inaantok na. I've had a few glass of champagne but it's not enough to get me drunk.

"Ang dami ko palang kaagaw sa'yo..." He said after awhile.

Sinulyapan ko siya. Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa.

"Maven cried, right?"

"Yeah... He did. Kaya huwag mo na lang din akong magustuhan."

"Noon ko pa sinabi sa sarili ko 'yan kasi alam ko namang wala akong pag-asa."

"Alam mo pala..." I chuckled a little just to lighten the atmosphere.

"Yeah, pero sinusubukan ko pa rin, Lei."

"Joko,"

He sighed. Hinarap ko siya ngunit nananatili pa rin ang kamay niya sa baywang ko, hindi naman ako umangal.

"Just let me, okay? You really can't control what I feel for you... I can't even control it so..."

Ngumuso ako.

The elevator door opened, a sign that we're on the right floor. I quickly gasped as I saw who was standing across the hall.

"River?"

His eyes went straight to Joko's grip on my waist. Halos manlamig ako sa tingin niya roon. Napalunok ako't hindi makatingin sa kanya.

His scorned look made my stomach do some weird summersaults. I almost stiffened as Joko gently dragged me out of the elevator to face the slightly angry man in front of us.

With a guilty facade, I looked up to see him. He's peering at us, like a King lion, and we are just his mere subjects. His police uniform is quite intimidating.

"Lieutenant," Si Joko, nakahawak pa rin sa akin.

"I need to talk to Kamalei, is that alright?" Seryoso at malamig na tanong ni River.

"Sure."

Hinarap ako ni Joko. He let go of his arm on my waist and smiled at me. I heard River's harsh breathing. Even though I'm tempted to look at him, I stopped myself.

"Itetext na lang kita, okay?" Ani Joko.

"Okay..."

Pinatakan niya ako ng halik sa noo bago nagpaalam na aalis. Rinig ko ang marahas na pag tikhim ni River, halos marinig ko na ang nasa isipan niya.