Bewildering Flights with you, Captain

24

"I'm planning to have this house renovated. May caretaker akong hinire para sa bahay na 'to." Tumango-tango ako kay Markus habang pinagmamasdan ko ang pictures sa dingding.

"Hindi ka natutulog dito, kahit paminsan-minsan lang?" Lumingon sa akin si Markus at umiling. "Bakit? Natatakot ka, 'no? Baka multuhin ka."

"Ayoko lang maalala ang nangyari. Anyway, do you want to see the other rooms?" I nodded. Tita Mara has a big part in my heart and in my life. Being here, with his son, will probably put a smile on her face.

Nilibot namin ang kabahayan ng parents niya. Nagsimula kami sa baba papunta sa taas. The house was really clean, hindi mo aakalain na walang nakatira. Napakalinis din at sobrang organisado ng mga kagamitan.

We entered the last room. The walls were painted with blue and grey. It was Markus' room. I leaned against his study table while reading the notes that he wrote on his notebook. His handwriting was clean and readable. It looked like a girl's handwriting!

"Dear future wife-" Natawa ako nang agawin agad sa 'kin ni Markus ang notebook. But that laugh didn't last long when I realized our position! My legs were parted and he was standing in between my legs! "A-Ang lapit mo m-masyado!"

My cheeks heated up. I looked at his lips and I was tempted! I held his shirt like a kid. He chuckled when he noticed that.

"Do you wanna have a layover at my house, Miss flight attendant?" My brows shut up in amusement when he asked that.

"And after the layover, what would be next?" I smiled.

"I don't know... You tell me, Ava. If you want to kiss me, go on. Walang magagalit sa 'yo." I pulled him closer after that. His hands went up to may jaw as he let our lips touch.

He carried me as our kisses became aggressive. Pinaupo niya ako sa desk niya. I let him kiss my neck while he was removing his belt. He stopped for a minute to remove his shirt. Akala ko halikan lang! Oh my God!

I let my hands touch his abs. Nagwo-workout ba siya?! Grabe, those abs... Hindi ako umangal nang tanggalin niya ang pagkakabutones ng short-sleeved button down polo ko. He pressed our bodies together as he gave me slow but rough kisses.

"Oh Diyos ko!" Naitulak ko kaagad si Markus nang makarinig ng sigaw. Napalingon kami sa pintuan kung saan nakatayo ang isang matandang babae.

"Manang Remedios..." Napalingon ako kay Markus. Kilala niya?! Inayos ko ang damit ko at bababa na sana nang pigilan ako ni Markus. "Don't move. Manang, this is Sophia. Ava, that's Manang Remedios, the caretaker of this house."

"M-Magandang hapon po," naiilang na bati ko sa matanda. "Pasensya na po... Nakita n'yo pa po kami sa gano'ng ayos."

"Nagulat lang ako, ineng. Kasal na ba kayo?" Hindi kami nakaimik ni Markus. "Diyos ko, kasalanan iyan. Iba talaga ang henerasyon ninyo. Masyado kayong nagmamadali!"

Feeling guilty, I slightly pushed Markus and stood up straight. Markus wore his shirt and put his belt on. Ang mas malala pa, hindi naman kami! I mean, for other people it's okay. E, para sa akin? Hindi okay 'yon! Nadala lang ako ng init ng katawan.

Manang looked so disappointed as she left us there. I sighed and gave Markus a single glance. He kissed my forehead which stunned me. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at hinila na ako palabas ng k'warto.

"Markus, kailangan ko na palang umuwi-"

"Nahanap na ang suspek sa kaso ng mommy mo, Markus." Napalingon kami ni Markus kay Manang. "Gusto ka raw makausap ng mga pulis. Papasukin ko na ba sila?"

"Yes, Manang." Sumunod nalang ako kay Markus.

"Sir, magandang hapon po. Nahanap na po namin ang nasa likod ng aksidenteng nangyari kay Mrs. Mara D. Ford. Kasama po namin ang abogado ninyo."

Lumapit sa amin si Atty. Contrera. Isa siya sa magagaling na abogado sa Pilipinas. Lahat ng kasong nahawakan niya, naipanalo niya. He's that ruthless. Kahit iyong sa recent case niya laban sa isang doctor na malakas daw ang kapit sa gobyerno, nanalo siya. May sinabi siya kay Markus. Nilingon ako ni Markus at kumunot ang noo niya. Naramdaman ko ang paghigpit ng hawak sa akin ni Markus.

"Send her home first, Ford. She's not prepared for this. I'm telling you... You know that it would hurt her. At baka masaktan mo pa siya. She deserves to know but are you sure that you want her to hear it now?" Ano ang pinag-uusapan nila?

"May problema ba kayo sa 'kin?" pagtatanong ko. Nilingon nila ako. Atty. Contrera looked serious even with his smirk. Markus let go of my hand which confused me more. Atty. Contrera put his hands inside his pockets and took some steps towards me.

"Hi. I just want to know your relationship with this person." Pinakita niya sa akin ang isang papel na naglalaman ng impormasyon tungkol sa isang tao, may picture rin... I looked at Atty. Contrera.. He titled his head a bit to the side. "He's involved with the hit-and-run case... We finally found a reliable source. Nakakuha kami ng CCTV footage from a private establishment."

"You're joking, right?" My lips trembled.

"Ms. Sophia Ava P. Zendejas, are you related to Sergio Zendejas?" I swallowed hard as I tried to stop my tears from falling. "We need your cooperation. If you know where this person is, please tell us."

"H-Hindi... Hindi magagawa ni papa 'yan... Mabait siya. Hindi siya masamang tao, Xhaiven... Please tell me that this isn't true." I held onto his dress shirt, begging.. "P-Please.."

I looked at Markus who was just standing there. Nakayuko siya, walang imik. Xhaiven held my wrists and gently caressed them with his thumbs. He was trying to comfort me but it didn't work...

Lumayo ako sa kaniya upang lumapit kay Markus. Niyakap ko siya at umiyak sa dibdib niya. Niyakap niya ako pabalik at tinahan. Ako ang dapat na gumagawa n'on dahil... sa wakas, makakamit na nila ang hustisya.

"I'm s-sorry... You were in pain because of... I'm sorry, Markus."

"Shush, it wasn't your fault." Lumayo ako kay Markus at umiling nang umiling.

"H-Hindi kakayanin ng konsensya ko... Ang papa ko ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ni Tita Mara.. Sasabihin ko sa inyo kung nasa'n si papa tapos magpapakalayo-layo na ako-"

"Ava, calm down. Hindi ka lalayo.." Umiling ako kay Markus at pilit na pinigilan ang mga luha. "Wala kang kasalanan, hindi mo 'yon kasalanan. Naiintindihan mo ba?"

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