Heat Wave (Disaster Series #2)

Kabanata 8

Crime

"You don't need to have an answer or response to that, Gon. Just let me keep this feelings... for now. Hindi lang masyadong tumatatak pa sa isipan ko na may fiancee ka na, pero sigurado naman ako, na kalaunan, lilipas din 'to."

I stood up and turned my back from him. His stares lingered on the back of my head, on my nape, and shaken up my core.

The lines that came out of my lips are part of the plan but why does the curl of every word feels so foreign and unfamiliar on my tongue?

"You might not need it anymore but I'm sure I'll get to respond to you when the right time comes."

His husky voice and his same southern accent that never failed to make me stop, made me shut my eyes tightly. I did not expect any response from him. Akala ko hindi siya magsasalita at hahayaan na lang akong umalis agad pagkatapos ng sinabi ko.

"S-Sinabi mo 'yan, kaya maghihintay ako."

Mas lalo akong napapikit dahil sa mga salitang lumabas sa bibig ko. This is getting out of hand. This isn't what I expected. A part of me wanted the plan to go too smoothly. This is it. It's turning the right way for me.

Pero may parte rin sa aking gustong-gustong itanggi ang nangyayari ngayon. I hope he didn't say that. I hope he didn't promise me an answer. That way, I will fail. That way, I will just walk away.

"Good night, Gon." I mustered up all my courage and walked away from him.

Nang nakarating ako sa kuwarto ay nagpagulong-gulong na ako sa kama ko. Trying to jumble up even more my thoughts that are already a mess. I need to get away from this mansion even for a day or else I'll go insane.

But didn't he tell me he'll teach me horseback riding tomorrow? Dito na lang ako? 'Di muna ako uuwi sa amin kahit linggo naman? Mama will surely understand. Nakakalito, pati ako, hindi na maintindihan ang sariling gusto.

Useless rin naman ang pagkakalito ko kung sa tuwing nakikita ko siya ay hindi na rin ako makapag-isip ng maayos at pinapairal na lang ang kung ano mang maramdaman.

"It's your horse!" I exclaimed when his familiar black broncho is on stand by with a saddle on.

"Uhuh, I want you to get accustomed to each other."

I stifled a smile. Tatanggapin ko na sana ang horse riding helmet na nasa kamay niya nang inakala kong iaabot niya 'to sa akin pero halos matigil ang hininga ko nang siya mismo ang nagsuot nito sa akin.

He towered over me, held my ponytail in a way that it won't be ruined, and fastened the straps of the helmet under my chin.

"Want to feed him off from your hand first? So you can both start off establishing a connection and get comfortable with each other. He doesn't easily relax around people he's not familiar with. But don't worry, I'm here."

"Sure. But is it really okay if I ride your own horse? I can ride another," paninigurado ko dahil baka hindi ko ma-handle ng maayos ang kabayo niya.

And riding his own horse, seems like stepping beyond the boundaries.

"Uhuh, I trust that Theron will like you and will keep you safe."

Tumango ako at determinadong tiningnan ang kabayo niya kahit pa man medyo nakakatakot isiping sasakay ako dito. His horse is tall and huge, just imagining an unplanned dismount scares me. So it's good that he prepared a horse riding helmet for me.

Kinuha ko iyong damo na inihanda niya at marahang hinimas ang ulo ng kabayo bago iniangat ang kabilang kamay na may dayami sa harap nito.

The horse looked at my hand. It even patiently waited until my hand is close enough to his mouth for him to eat the hay.