Yohan could not sleep. It has been like that for several nights already. He kept on convincing himself that it was because of his fever, but then he got better yet his eyes still won't shut themselves at night. Ayaw man niyang aminin ngunit alam niya sa kaniyang sarili na ang dahilan ng kaniyang di pagkatulog ay dahil sa babaeng iyon.
He annoyingly glanced at his empty bedside and he could taste the disdain for himself because he knew that he wanted her there. Alam niya sa sarili niya na nais niya itong makatabi.
Hindi naman siya ganuon noon, nang dumating lamang ito ay tila napukaw ang mga alaala niya noon kung saan palagi silang magkayakap sa higaan. Maybe his system was just used to the idea of her beside him that was why his body has this automatic response of looking for her.
Gusto niyang kumbinsihin ang sarili ngunit hindi naman niya maipaliwanag kung bakit takot na takot siyang hindi ito umuwi dito sa bahay niya. When he heard that Xav was gonna ask her out for a little shopping expedition, he tried convincing himself that he doesn't care, that he would be more than glad if she won't come back. Wala ng pasaway at sakit ng ulo sa kaniyang pamamahay ngunit pagkalabas na pagkalabas ng dalawa sa kaniyang mansyon ay mabilis naman niyang inutusan si Luisito na ihanda ang kaniyang kalesa at susundan nila ang mga ito. He looked like a fool sneaking behind them, making sure that his little brother would take her home and when he meant home, he was talking about his house.
She would go home to my house only.
Ang sa isip-isip niya ay sisiguraduhin niya lamang na ibabalik pauwi ni Xav si Apple Pie at titiyakin na lamang niya na hindi siya makikita ng mga ito. He was so certain of his decision, not until he noticed Xav's kalesa going the other way. Alam niya na ang daang tinahak ng mga ito ay papunta sa bahay ni Xav at hindi sa bahay niya. Hindi niya alam kung bakit pero agad siyang nag-panic.
He growled orders at the kutchero and made him block Xav's way. Nanggagalaiti siyang bumaba at sinabihang uuwi na sila ni Apple Pie. Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang kapatid at nagpipigil pa nga siya na ipakita ang middle finger niya dito. Kumalma lamang siya nang bumaba si Apple Pie at lumapit sa kaniya. They went home after they transfered all of Apple Pie's trinkets from her shopping expedition to his kalesa. Hindi niya ito pinansin pagkauwi nila ngunit ngayon nga'y gabi na at hindi pa rin siya makatulog.
His body was looking for her presence beside him.
He tried fighting it but when midnight came, he could resist no longer. He threw back the bedcovers, hoisted himself up, and then walked slowly towards the door, not minding if he was still shirtless. Hindi na siya nagsindi ng kandila sapagkat ilang gabi na rin naman siyang pumupuslit sa kwarto ni Apple Pie upang kunin at ilipat ito. Kung hindi pa siya nito nabisto ay palagi niya sanang gagawin iyon.
Maingat at tahimik siyang naglakad sa silid ng babae hanggang sa makarating siya doon. He stopped at the front of her door, took a deep breath before knocking softly.
Apple Pie could not sleep. Ang rami niyang iniisip ngayon.
Noong nasa pamilihan pa sila ni Xav ay may narinig siyang mga nag-uusap, mukhang mga respetadong ginoo. Hindi na sana niya papansinin ngunit nahagip niya ang topic ng mga ito at tiyak siyang si Christina ang pinag-uusapan ng mga lalake.
"Sa tingin mo . . . bakit kaya katagal nilang nahuli ang babaeng iyon?" Rinig niyang sabi ng isa.
"Paano ba naman hindi tatagal ang kanilang paghahanap kung hindi naman sila naglalabas ng impormasyon patungkol sa mamamatay taong iyon!" malakas na sagot ng kausap nito.
BINABASA MO ANG
My Everything In His Past (2nd Book of 'In His Past' Series)
Historical Fiction"I wish I realized much sooner how important you are, my wife, my president, my everything."
