Lullaby For The Ashes (Del Gallego Series #3)

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Kindred

I was lost for words.

Hanggang sa narinig ko ang tawanan at yabag na papalapit sa aming direksyon. I tried to glance at it out of curiosity but Cael cursed. Hindi pa man nakakalingon, hinigit niya na ako pagilid dahilan nang pagsinghap ko.

My sun hat fell in the ground. Hindi ko na iyon sinabi pa dahil pinangunahan na ako ng nagwawalang sistema. I found myself later that moment overshadowed by his large and hard frame. Isinandal niya ako sa malaking puno at itinago sa mga kasamahan niya.

Nakahawak ang kamay ko sa kanyang maskuladong braso. Hirap akong lunukin ang bara sa lalamunan. All my thoughts were haywire. We were too close. Our body was almost entangled. I could even hear his deep and hoarse breathing from our current position.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa.

Kung hindi lang sana nakatago ang labi ko sa suot na scarf, he would see for sure how my lips parted in so much surprise. His gaze was so intense that I could feel my cheeks burning under it. Pabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa mga mata ko habang naririnig namin ang usapan sa may tent na nasa likod.

"Sobrang tanga talaga nitong si Jacob! Lagot tayo niyan kay Captain mamaya!"

"Kaya nga! Siya pa naman ang pinagkatiwalaan ni Captain, tapos nangyari pa 'to!"

"Late pa ni-report na tumakas si Ma'am! Naku!"

Tumakas?

Si Ma'am?

Napakurapkurap ako dahil doon.

Are they... talking about me?

I stared at Cael and swallowed hard. Marami akong tanong na gustong isatinig, pero naagaw ng atensyon ko ang paraan ng paninitig niya sa akin ngayon. I don't understand why there's something unusual with him today after getting this chance of being close to him and watch him this clearer.

He looked... tired... and uneasy.

Binasa niya ang kanyang labi at supladong nag-iwas ng tingin.

"May lagnat pa naman si Captain tapos dumagdag pa 'tong problema!"

My eyes widened a fraction. I saw how his jaw clenched when he heard that too. Napahigpit ako ng kapit sa braso niya.

"Tapos rason pa ni Jacob, eh hindi niya raw napansin si Ma'am na tumakas sa CCTV kasi naninigarilyo siya sa labas! Tanga-tanga ang gago!" nagpatuloy ang usapan sa likod namin, pero parang napako ang buong atensyon ko sa isang bagay.

My hands slowly flew to his forehead.

His eyes widened a bit but I just disregarded his reaction to my touch. I could not hide my worry especially when I confirmed it right thereon. I felt his forehead burning and when I looked at his eyes, I eventually realized why he looked that way today, weak and... exhausted.

"You have a fever," I said in a control voice.

I saw him glanced at my parted lips before swallowing hard. Instead of answering me, he just takes a look passed me to watch his comrades from behind. Napatiim bagang ako. Nakuha ko lang ang gold niyang atensyon nang kurutin ko na siya sa kanyang braso!

His lips thinned.

Hindi ko na mapigilan kaya pinandilatan ko na rin siya.

"I said, you have a fever!"

He carefully stared at me now before letting out a defeated sigh. Akala ko seseryosohin niya na ang sinabi ko, pero ginawaran niya lang ako ng isang balewalang pagtango. It was as if his fever is no big deal!