Versailles Series: The Nun [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 24

"Sige na, ihatid mo na si Sister. Hindi naman pwedeng magpa-apekto kayong dalawa. Saka magkaibigan lang naman kayo. Close lang talaga si Sister sa lahat."

Malapit ng batukan ni Azrael si Calhoun sa pamimilit nito.

"I don't think she's comfortable to go with me."

Bumaling ito sa madre. "Talaga ba Sister?"

"Ah...pauwi naman na siya kaya pwede akong sumabay. Ayoko namang abalahin pa kayo."

"See? Ikaw ang maarte talaga." Habol ni Calhoun. Makakatikim talaga ito sa susunod.

As usual, he opened up the door for her before he went in on the driver's side.

The car was silent for the first parts of the ride.

"Nakita mo ba siya?" Tanong nito sa kanya. Her hands were on her lap and her eyes were on it. "Iyung nagsabi na...tayo...meron tayong...."

"Yeah I did. He's blacklisted from the club. The member is on probation. That should be enough. He deserved more though." Humigpit ang hawak niya sa manibela. His knuckles turned white.

"Sir Azrael...hayaan mo na."

Itinabi niya ang sasakyan. "Didn't you know how much photos he has of you? The guy was freaking obsessed with you! I was with you always and he was jealous of me. I could have strangled him to death with what he did with you."

"Huwag!" Her eyes widened. "Huwag mong...dudumihan ang kamay mo para sa akin."

He exhaled to calm himself. He knew he's starting to lose his temper. "I'm sorry. I'm just...mad. You don't deserve to be treated like that of all people."

"Sige na, umuwi na tayo."

He drove on a slower and calmer pace. Nang makarating sila sa simbahan ay itinigil na niya ang sasakyan sa gilid.

"Pasensiya na kung iniiwasan kita. Akala ko mas tamang gawin iyon habang hinahanap at inaayos pa ang problema na iyon."

He doesn't want to tell her how hard it was that she did. He never liked someone this much. He never missed anyone this much. Women in his life just come and go. How should he know how to handle the situation?

"Okay lang iyon. It is for your safety. You're a nun, Nyx. You have something to protect. Still, I have to be careful now."

Tumango na lang ito bago lumabas. He just watched her go. Ganito na lang ba talaga? Hindi ba talaga niya ito makukuha?

***

Azrael burned himself with work. He's been working in Manila for a week now. Yes, even if his mother was pestering him.

Abala siya sa pagbabasa ng mga papeles sa mesa niya nang pumasok ang nanay niya. Hindi na nga ito mapigilan ng sekretarya niya.

"How's my unico hijo?"

"I'm busy."

"Anak naman, sa lahat ng araw na nandito ako ni hindi mo man lang ako kibuin o kausapin."

"Wala namang nagsabi na pumunta ka rito. I thought I made it clear that I don't want to do anything with you."

"Azrael! I'm your mother! Hinahayaan lang kita nitong mga nakaraang araw na pagsalitaan ako ng ganyan pero respetuhin mo naman ako!"

He closed the folder and leaned back on his chair.

"My mother?" He scoffed. "She died years ago. When I was six I remember."

"You can't disown me! Kung wala ako, wala ka ngayon sa kinalalagyan mo."

"As far as I can remember, you never left a penny. Did you even know I worked as a bagger in supermarkets before?"

He saw her surprised look.

"I worked my way up without you or Dad." Tumayo siya at lumapit dito. "So the song is about loving someone you shouldn't. Iyung alam mo ng mali pero mamahalin mo pa rin. "Why are you here anyway? Oh, funny I asked. Naka-business trip nanaman ba ang asawa mo?"

Sinampal siya ng ina niya. Nobody has ever slapped him.

"Bastos! Wala kang utang na loob!"

"Sumagi man lang ba ako sa isip mo all these years while you slept with your husband? Do you even remember how I begged you not to go? Sa totoo lang, I'm shocked that you even talk to me now. Is it because all the responsibilities of a mother is not needed by me anymore?"

Natameme ang ina niya.

"You kept our family together. Then you realized you loved somebody and left your family just like that. Naisip mo ba na baka kailangan ko ng ina? I was six. I'm thirty-six now. Don't you think I needed a mother then?"

"Azrael...anak..."

"Stop this already. Wala ka ng anak at wala na akong ina. We're living happily without each other. Why bother me now?"

"Minahal ko si Richard. Alam mo ba kung gaano kahirap magmahal ng tao na alam mong hindi mo makukuha? Na alam mong bawal pero minamahal mo pa rin? I just had to let your father go."

"At the expense of your child, really? Nevertheless, it doesn't matter now. Why are you bothering me now anyway?"

She wiped her tears. "Azrael, anak. Pagbigyan mo naman ang Mama na makabawi sa iyo."

"I don't know what's left in me that will need you. Makakaalis ka na. I'm busy."

He got back to his desk while his mother walked away. Ito na nga ba ang ayaw niya. He always feels heavy after talking to her.

That evening, he already established that he can't be with other women. He just can't bed any women right now. Kung noon ay halos gabi gabi siyang may kasiping, ngayon ay ilang buwan na ngang wala.

He's tired and stressed out. Kaya lang naman siya narito ay dahil binibigyan niya ng espasyo si Nyx. But here he is en route to the club.

He just can't stay away. The club has been his haven for years and here comes Nyx shaking up his world.

Mula sa airstrip ay heto nanaman siya at papunta sa simbahan. He sat on the stairs while he waited. He has a box of her favorite donut flavor from a high end donut shop in the metro.

He was never like this. He doesn't remember a single thing about a woman but with Nyx, he remembers even the smallest of things.

"Sir Azrael?"

Nilingon niya ito at ngumiti. "Donuts?"

Tinignan nito ang dala niya. Her eyes glowed and she sat beside him.

"Tagal mong nawala ah." Sabi nito habang kumakin ng donut.

"Work."

She nodded. "Na-mi-miss ka na nila Thunder. Naririnig kong hinahanap ka nila."

He smirked. "They know where I am. And what's to miss?"

She chuckled. "Hinay-hinay ka rin sa trabaho. Dapat ine-enjoy mo rin ang mga pinaghihirapan mo."

"I am here. I invested in my membership here to relax."

Napatingin sila kay Rizky na palapit sa kanila.

"Pahingi naman, Sister!"

Napailing siya. Basta pagkain talaga nawawala pagka-prinsipe nito.

"You went all the way here for fucking free food?" Inis na tanong niya.

"Sister o, nagmumura siya."

Nyx laughed and he thought that that's the most beautiful scene he had seen that day. Or ever in his life.

CHAPTER 25 >>