Hurricane (Disaster Series #1)

Kabanata 48

Punishment

Warmth spilled in my frantically beating heart. Wala sa hitsura niya ang kahinaan, but here he is, in front of me with his lips slightly parted and his brooding eyes hinting that he's afraid with what could have happened.

"I-I'm sorry... pero ayos lang naman ako," I beamed at him to at least lighten up the mood.

Umiling siya at gamit ang isang braso ay binuhat ako. I let out a scream with his sudden action. He's gently carrying me but I was just caught off guard, so I tried to wriggle out of his hold. I eventually stopped being difficult when we're finally at the shore, where the sea kisses the sands.

Nang marahan niya na akong pinaupo sa may buhangin ay 'saka niya sinuri at sinuyod ng tingin ang buong katawan ko. I suddenly got conscious with my body and the corners where I have insecurity.

"W-What are you doing?" I furrowed my brows and my cheeks flushed.

He's now caressing the side of my face, my temples... then his hands travelled down to my neck, shoulder blades, then arms.

"Shhh..." He slowly lifted my right elbow and softly carressed the fresh wound there.

Maliit lang naman 'yon. It's not even noticeable with one glance. Kung susuriin at titingnan lang ng mabuti ay 'saka mo mapapansin. 'Yon lang din naman ang tanging natamo ko sa aksidente. The bruise on my left temple already healed within my five days of rest.

I looked at him still watching my body when the breeze of wind passed by making me shiver.

He sighed and roughly wiped a hand over his face, looking so frustrated.

"I'm sorry. You should go and wash yourself off first," he said instead. Kahit pa ramdam kong marami siyang gustong sabihin.

"How about you?" I slightly caressed his jaw.

"I'll do the same too."

And with that, we both washed off the sea water from our body through a near shower room. Siya sa kabila at ako naman, sa kabilang dulo rin. Sabay kaming lumabas, suot pa rin ang mga damit na basa. Only this time, he handed me a big white towel.

Magtatanong na sana ako ng tungkol sa sariling towel niya nang marahan niya na akong hinila pabalik sa dalampasigan.

Binalikan niya ulit ang maliit na peklat sa siko ko habang pinapaupo ako roon sa buhangin. He caressed it ever so gently.

"I'm sorry," tila sising-sisi na sabi niya.

Ang mga salitang gusto niyang sabihin kanina pa, ay lumalabas na ngayon.

"And I didn't even get to visit you! Your Tita told me that you're fine and it's best for you to take a break from emotional conversations. That you're burned out. I badly wanted to see you. But I had to stop a bit and assess the situation." He sighed as he run his hands over his now almost ruined man bun.

Nagpakurap-kurap ko. That's why he didn't visit me... he was only thinking about my condition and the situation. And he's not even telling me the part where Tito Gilbert threw him out of my room in that hospital and threatened him with the bodyguards around.

"I'm sorry," ulit niya.

"You shouldn't be sorry! Kasalanan ko naman. It was because of my foolishness." My eyes fell on the sands when I felt a pang of guilt.

"No... kung sana no'ng una pa lang ay sinabihan na kita sa kung anong maaaring mangyari sa meeting. I was the one who's too fucking reckless."

"But I immediately left... so, I should be the one who's sorry. I doubted you right there and then, I thought you betrayed me. Ni hindi ko man lang hinintay ang magiging reaksyon mo sa inanunsyong engagement. I wasn't there when you solved the problem that's supposed to be mine alone. Kasi nauna na ang pagdududa ko sa 'yo."