Strawberries and Cigarettes

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Naalimpungatan si Catalina dahil sa kausap ni Hugo sa telepono. He was gently taking like he doesn't want to wake her up. Huminga ng malalim si Hugo.

"Yeah, I'm coming... No, you take care of it... I'll tell my wife... I'll call you later..."

Marahang gumalaw si Catalina sa kunwaring pagtulog. She felt Hugo walking towards her. Maingat na nagmulat ng mata ang dalaga at unti-unting tumingin sa binata. He was standing beside the bed where she was sleeping, half naked.

"Good morning, Sienna," Hugo said and the blinds opened.

Agad kumunot ang noo ni Catalina. Hugo bent down to kiss her forehead and smiled.

"Good morning, babe."

"Good morning..." She answered. "Since when did you change my system's name?"

"Oh, four months ago when you'd suddenly throw a dagger at me," kibit balikat ni Hugo.

Napairap si Catalina. "I'm washing up."

Tango lang ang itinugon ni Hugo. He handed her her black satin robe as she went inside the bathroom to wash up. The bathroom was spacious, it had a sofa and a modern vanity mirror. The tub could be filled up by 2 people. Catalina went inside the shower and turned the water on.

Maingat na binuksan ni Hugo ang pintuan ng banyo at naghubad ng saplot sa katawan. Tahimik na naglakad ang binata papunta sa asawa. Catalina felt his presence when he entered the shower room. Mabilis na dumapo sa balakang ni Catalina ang mga kamay ni Hugo.

"Sebastian Hugo..." Suway ni Catalina.

He kissed her nape. "No fcking, babe... I know you're tired."

Napapikit si Catalina sa ginawa ni Hugo. Yes, the shower was cold but his touch and hus kisses were hot. Bumaba ang halik ni Hugo sa likod ni Catalina. Natigilan si Catalina nang hawakan ni Hugo ang mga peklat niya. She gasped quietly when he kissed each one of it.

"Sebastian," she called.

"What... happened?" He asked, now slowly wrapping his hands around her.

Patuloy na dumaloy ang tubig mula sa shower. Yakap-yakap siya ng binata mula sa likod, kumalma si Catalina nang maramdaman niya ang tibok ng puso ni Hugo. It was fast, not like he was scared or he ran a mile, it was as if he was angry, or is he?

"To what?" She answered.

"To these bruises and wounds... How long?"

Mahinang tumawa si Catalina. "I used to ask you to turn the lights off when we have s*x right?"

"Back in New York? You were hiding these scars?" Hugo asked, a little shock.

Naptango si Catalina, she couldn't see his face but she could sense his anger and shock. She doesn't know how to tell him. After all, what she've been through was a lot than what others expected.

"When our parents died, I was turning 8. Sabrina was 5 then Gabrielle was 3..." She sighed. "I used to join criminal organization to fund for my studies... I spent a decade in what they called 'underworld'. When I learned enough, earned enough, lumapit na ako sa kamag-anak ni mommy."

Catalina felt Hugo tightened his grip around her waist. Huminga ng malalim si Catalina nang halikan ni Hugo ang balikat ni at ang leeg niya matapos nitong magkwento.

"You were... lashed... This hard?" Hugo couldn't ask straight.

"Yeah..." She answered.

"I knew you were lashed but not... not like this..." Kumuyom ang kamao ng binata sa tiyan ng dalaga. "Why?"