How the Mighty Fall (The Sinner #1)

SIN 21

Viel

Having these complicated feelings, I decided it was better to distance myself from him. I busied myself by taking my cooking lessons seriously. Buong araw nga yata akong nagluluto kung hindi magkakaroon ng fight training.

Kairos made it easier for me to avoid him anyway. He was always out, searching for the syndicate and fighting off the Mancinis, meetings on the headquarters, and dealing with their debtors. And when he trains me, nothing is said except the necessary. Pagkatapos noon ay magiging abala na siyang muli. He makes sure I'm always beside him pero hindi niya ako kinakausap.

After whatever he wants to achieve by marrying me, he will dispose me. I shouldn't hurt myself further by being close to him. That's like having your chest already stabbed, then pushing the blade deeper, leading to more damage. Ang tanga lang kung ganoon diba?

Dapat ay ingatan ko na ang sarili hangga't hindi ko pa siya mahal. I can't consider myself in love with him. I've been here for almost two months. Medyo matagal man 'yon, Kairos and I spent those two months fighting each other. I didn't get to know him. So how can I love him?

"Dapat ay mas malambot pa ang baboy pero pwede na," tumango tango si Winona nang tikman ang sinubukan kong Kare-Kare.

"Luto naman po yung baboy?" I asked. Baka kase sa takot niya kay Kairos ay kakainin niya kahit hilaw ang niluto ko dahil mag asawa kami sa paningin niya.

Tumango siya. "Tikman mo."

Sumubok din ako ng niluto ko. I loved the pechay and the taste of peanut butter sauce. Pero tama nga siya, medyo hirap pa akong nguyain ang baboy. May ilalambot pa ito, pero ang mahalaga naman ay luto ito.

"Bakit hindi mo pasubukan sa asawa mo?"

My head shot up. She looked at me in question.

"Hindi ba asawa mo naman si sir Kairos? Dapat ay ipinaghahanda mo rin ng pagkain. At saka ma'am, mukhang magkaaway kayong dalawa. Sa ibang araw kase ay sinisilip silip niya tayo rito sa kusina habang tinuturuan kita, pero ngayon hindi."

He does?

I glanced at the empty kitchen entrance.

"H-hindi naman kami magkaaway," sabi ko. "Sadyang... abala lang din siguro siya.

"Ang mga asawa naman, ipagluto mo lang ay lalambot na ang puso," sabi ni Winona. Nagsasandok na siya ng kare kare sa isang mangkok kahit na hindi pa naman ako pumayag na magdala nga ng pagkain kay Kairos.

Kairos? Lalambot ang puso? Does he look like a man who possesses a heart?

Hindi pa ako nakakaprotesta ay pinahawakan niya na sa akin ang mangkok at pinalabas ako ng kusina. Di na ako nagmatigas. Ibibigay lang naman ang Kare-Kare. Whatever his verdict is, bahala na! Maayos naman na raw ayon kay Winona.

Humugot ako ng hininga bago kumatok sa home office ni Kairos.

"Enter, wife," he permitted in a deep baritone.

No doubt, he has cameras everywhere.

I pushed the door open. His home office is painted in dark colors. Almost as dark as the one in the Despiadados headquarters. Kung ako ang magtatrabaho rito ay hindi ko magagawa nang ayos dahil hindi maaliwalas sa mata ang paligid. I guess darkness works for him.

Nag iwas ako ng tingin nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin.

I could feel him watching me,or the bowl in my hand, rather. I could see nothing in his expression but a deadly one. No glimmer of amusement, curiosity, pride, or heat. The stony demeanor made me shiver.