Man at Arms

Chapter Seventeen: The Young Princesses

Naya: This flu held me back from updating 😔 I'm recovering now at sana maituloy-tuloy ko na rin ang pagsusulat. Hays.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
 

Hinilamos ko ang mga kamay sa mukha at muling tumingin kay Calix na nakalatay pa rin sa sahig sa kusina, tabi ng basurahan. Sinubukan kong hilain siya sa sala pero sapatos niya lang ang nagawa kong mahila sa bigat niya.

Hindi naman ganoon kalala ang sampal ko pero na-knock-out siya kaagad. Sino ba namang timang ang bigla nalang papasok sa bahay ko nang may nakatutok pang kutsilyo? I thought he was a robber. Idagdag mo pa na mukha siyang magnanakaw na dating supermodel na nawalan ng gig dahil bumagsak ang ekonomiya.

Huminga ako nang malalim at hinilot ang pagitan ng mga kilay. Here I was, after meeting him after five months, deciding to get drunk, hoping to forget the raging fantasies I thought I left in Italy with him. Wala na dapat akong nararamdaman, wala na dapat gugulo sa akin, pero bakit kailangan pa niyang magpakita sa bahay ko? At paano niya nalaman kung saan ako nakatira? Of course, he was Calix De Luca. Bakit pa ba ako nagtataka?

Naglakad pabalik-balik ako sa paanan ni Calix habang kagat ang isang kuko. But I was distracted by my heavy thoughts when I noticed him shift and rub his belly. The movement lifted his shirt, and his ripped stomach winked at me.

Napaupo ako sa stool at napasalin ng wine sa baso at inisang lagok iyon.

The man in my wild dreams is here, lying on my kitchen floor and teasing me with the skin I was lapping a night ago in my sleep. My house suddenly felt on fire, and my skin was burning. I decided to take a shower, hoping to calm this sinister diesel in my body.

Matapos kong magshower at magbihis, bumalik ako sa kusina at nadatnan na nandoon pa rin si Calix. Bumuga ako ng hangin at nilipitan siya at dinungaw.

Pero tinikom ko kaagad ang bibig nang makita ang itsura niya. The dark circles under his eyes were too prominent, and his cheeks were sunken. Although it made him look rough and beastly-like, my heart burned. It seemed like he had been sleepless too. Calix looked so weary that I felt guilty waking him up.

Wild, angry, and confusing feelings returned again. I pushed it away and sighed for the umpteenth time. I tested my core power and proved I did improve when I managed to get Calix in the living room. Makalipas ang halos isang oras na paikot-ikot ko at rolyo sakanya, nairating ko rin siya sa sala kung saan may carpet ang sahig. Kinuha ko ang isang throw pillow at inunan sakanya iyon at ang kumot ay maingat na binalot sakanya.

"Good night, Calix."

He snorted like a pig and chew as if relishing a savory flavor on his tongue. I chuckled, lost at watching his face.

Pero naputol ang pantasya ko nang umalingawngaw ang cellphone ko sa alarm na bihira lang tumunog. Hindi ko na kailangang silipin ito sa bulsa at nagmamadaling pumasok sa kwarto at hinugot ang baril sa pagitan ng mattress at bed spring. I checked its magazine and slipped the gun behind my pants. Lumabas ako muli at huminto nang marinig ang paghihilik ni Calix.

I didn't understand the sudden pull in my chest to stay and cuddle with him, the desire to stare at his ruggedly handsome face and bathe in his warmth. It was stupid, I realized immediately. Deciding to push the temptation, I walked past him to the door, closing it behind me with a gentle thud.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago nagmadaling magtungo sa sasakyan ko at binuhay iyon.

I kept my eyes firmly on the road, footing on the gas, and zigzagged through the traffic, cutting through vehicles like the exhaust pipe was on fire. Ilang minuto ay nakarating ako sa destinasyon at sinipa ang break. The tires skidded on the asphalt, screeching as I swayed to stop. Lumabas ako ng sasakyan, hinugot ang baril at umabante nang may misyon.