BOOK 1 | ESOTERIC

Chapter 32

| CHAPTER XXXII |

"The Powerful and the Powerless"

STELLAN

Wala ng araw. I cannot see the light from the windows kaya malamang ay lumubog na ang araw. Ngayong nakatulog na ako, I am expecting my mood would lighten up. However, for some reason, I still feel tired. Is this the kind of fatigue that cannot be fixed by countless of sleep?

Kahit mabigat ang pakiramdam, I went up, but still sitting on the bed. I wonder where Eris is? Naghapunan na kaya iyon? Anong oras na ba?

As I moved my eyes all over the room, I almost jumped from the surprise after seeing Eris laying right beside me. She is right here! What the—

"Nakakita ka ng multo?" I do know why she is frowning as if it is unusual to see such a reaction from me. What the hell is she doing here?

"Edi naramdaman mo ring haunted nga ang lugar na ito. Is it mom's soul? Dad's?"

I mean, no, sure this is her bed but—but she knows I am right here! "W—why are you sleeping beside me?" Napaiwas ako ng tingin. I have never felt this embarrassment in my entire life! What is this feeling? Tila magkakasakit ako dahil nakakaramdam ako ng init sa aking mukha. Hindi naman ako sakitin ah? Am I that tired? Was it because of what happened the other day and yesterday morning?

"I am not sleeping yet," she said, pushing herself upward, gusot pa rin ang noo. "At bakit bawal akong humiga sa kama na ito?"

Hindi ako makasagot. Dahil hindi ko rin naman talaga alam kung bakit bawal siya roon. Because I am uncomfortable? Bakit naman? Hindi ko rin maipaliwanag. Ah!

"Huh...?" her head tilted, observing me. "You never slept beside a woman before huh...nahihiya ka?"

At bakit naman hindi? "Bakit? May nakatabi ka na bang matulog noon sa kama?" Tinignan ko siya, pinapantayan ang kaniyang insulto. "You were hidden from everyone."

Her lips gaped a bit. Akala ko ay kakalmutin na niya ako but she only scoffed at it. Muling humiga. "Kung ayaw mo akong katabi pwede naman akong matulog sa kwarto ko. O hindi naman kaya ay lumipat ka."

Hindi siya pwedeng bumalik sa kwarto niya. Of course, it would be the latter—

"Kaso wala ng ibang kwarto rito kundi ang master's, ang kwarto ko, at mga guest room na lahat ay lock at hindi pa nalilinis maliban dito. If you are planning to stay sa maid quarters masyadong malayo iyon. Bodyguard kita hindi ba?"

Ang mga labi ko naman ang marahang napaawang. This woman! She is surely not giving me any options! "I'll sleep on the chaise then."

"Iwas na iwas ka sa akin," she abruptly said, stopping me from taking off this thick cloth above me. "May girlfriend ka ba na magseselos kung tabi man tayo matulog?"

I just stared at her. Hindi ko talaga mawari kung saan niya nakukuha ang mga susunod niyang sambit sa akin. It's just coming out of the blue! Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay, waiting for my answer.

"Type mo ba ako?" I asked teasingly. Ayaw ko lang talaga magpatalo sa binibigay niyang attitude sa akin. Iniinsulto niya ako and I shouldn't let her. I figured I should return the energy or else I'm gonna leave this bed bested.

Hindi siya sumagot. Nakatingin lang din siya sa akin. Nakatitig. I do not know if she is surprised or just simply thinking of an answer. Pero kung tutuusin, hindi naman dapat pagisipan ang sagot. The answer is obvious. She should answer 'no'—

"Yes."

I froze. What?

"I like you, Stellan," she added. "Alin pa ba roon ang hindi mo maintindihan?"