Cairo McLaury (completed)

Chapter 13

Ishmael's sapphire colored eyes stared at the glass walls of the coffee shop. He was seated on a stool in front of a round table for two. His back was leaning on the backrest while his arms were hanging on the armrest of the chair.

Though he was seated inside the coffee shop, his mind was travelling elsewhere.

Hindi pa rin niya makalimutan ang nangyari sa loob ng dressing room kanina sa may dress shop. Kanina...he was lost. Lost in Cairo's charms that has enveloped him.

Her image is still very vivid in his eyes and his mind. He could see her standing in front of the mirror while clad in that sapphire colored dress that hugged her body, so perfectly.

But that's not all. He knows that Cairo is and will always be beautiful no matter what dress she's wearing. But what was tatooed in his mind was her beautiful long wavy hair that was cascading from her head down to her shoulders and waist.

He wanted to run his fingers through her waves. He wanted to feel her in his hands.

"Ugh," ang kaniyang sambit. At saka niya pinisil ang buto ng kaniyang ilong.

This is getting out of hand, hindi dapat ito nangyayari. Nawawala siya sa kaniyang focus. He needed Cairo for her experience and knowledge. That's all. Ang sabi ng kaniyang isipan. At isang buntong-hininga ang kaniyang pinakawalan.

Cairo makes him forget his priorities. And that is... not himself.

But whenever he's with Cairo? Nakakalimutan niya ang kaniyang mga obligasyon. Nakakalimutan niya ang lahat ang sandali na iyun ay tila ba normalidad para sa kaniya.

He let out a sigh, and he reached for his cup. He was about to sip his freshly brewed black coffee when he saw Cairo emerged from the coffee shop's glass doors.

He saw her eyes scanned the faces inside the shop. And when he reyes met his, he saw daggers shooting from those round brown eyes of hers.

Her hair was tied into a tight bu non top of her while angrily she marched her way towards him wearing her usual attire of loose white shirt, faded black jeans, and dirty white sneakers.

Yup! Lulubus-lubosin ko na ang normalcy sa kaniyang buhay. He will let Cairo make him forget about things. Forget about his priorities for a while and just be Ishmael Malvar.

And he waited for Cairo to reached his table while he pasted a wide smile on his face to greet her.

"Oh Cairo? Did you...forget something?" ang kaniyang nakangiting tanong dito nang tumayo ito sa harapan ng kaniyang inokupahan na lamesa.

She loomed over him while her arms were on her waist. It was like she was contemplating wether she's going to strangle him or not. And that thought only widens his smile.

Hinila nito ang silyang nasa kaniyang harapan at saka ito mabilis na naupo. At siya naman ay sinundan lamang ito ng tingin.

"Ikaw ang may gawa ano? Kaya ako nandito?" ang sumbat na tanong nito sa kaniya.

Kumunot ang kaniyang noo at napaatras ang kaniyang mukha. Saka umiling ang kaniyang ulo.

"Anong sinasabi mo?"

"Ugh, don't deny it and...stop acting like an innocent lamb, dahil alam naman natin ang totoo," ang giit nito sa kaniya.

"Innocent?"

"Tinawagan mo si Harlow para sabihin na ayaw kitang samahan!" ang gigil at bulong na sigaw ni Cairo kay Ishmael. Inilapit pa nito ng bahagya ang mukha sa kaniya para marinig niya ang mahinang pagasalita nito.