The Magnate's Holiest Sin (Cavanaugh #3)

Kabanata 41

Kabanata 41

Chase

Nakaawang ang mga labi ko habang hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin sa kaniya. I was shocked. More like surprised too. How could he talk to me so lightly? So casual? Did he forget what happened months ago? As far as I could remember, we were not in good terms. I had androphobia, I was avoiding him.

Does he know that I have no phobia now? If he does not, he would not approach me like this. Of course, he knew. With those magazines, online pages, catalogues, advertisements, billboards, commercials, brochures, all released internationally, everywhere and anything featuring my face, body wearing branded clothes to endorse? It's impossible that he would not get updated about me.

My eyes studied his appearance, down and up.

I could not differentiate his changes. It was like he did not change at all. Physically, yes. The only thing that felt new to him was his bright mood, his light presence, the comforting atmosphere that surrounded him.

Hot. He was just wearing a plain white sleeveless muscle tee. Exposing those sculpted and sexy triceps on his strong muscular arms. To his lower, it's just a plain black gym shorts for men.

Travelling my gaze to his knuckles, I spotted the compass and angel tattoos. Up on his neck, I found the crown of thorns tattoo. I could not see what was under his muscle tee, but I had a feeling that the full-chest tattoo on it was still there.

Why? He did not have a tattoo removal? Sinabihan niya pa ako noon na ipapabura niya na ang mga tattoo niya nang lubayan ko na siya. Ano ito ngayon?

Mula sa aking puso, umakyat ang inis ko sa aking isip. Sinimangutan ko siya na minsan kong nahuhuling napapatingin sa aking hita na may bakas pa ring tumutulo na preskong gatas ng baka.

Reading the expression on his handsome face, he was frowning at the sight. It was like he wanted to wipe the milk off my thighs, but he decided against it. He just stood there and did nothing but glance at it. He would not dare.

"Shut up! Ang landi mo talaga kahit kailan! 'Wag mo'kong landiin!" The bridge of my nose wrinkled, expressing my apparent disgust. Napadabog pa ako sa isang paa ko kaya ay nakuha ko agad ang kaniyang tingin.

"Hindi naman ako malandi sa iba," aniya, seryoso. Tila ay nasaktan pa sa paratang ko sa kaniya. Bumaling siya sa likuran ko. "Manong, may nilandi po ba ako rito? May balita po ba na may kalandian ako kahit sa Manila?"

"Wala po, senyorito. Wala po'ng ibang kalandian ang senyorito, senyorita. Maniwala po kayo," tugon ni Manong dahilan kung bakit nilingon ko ito sa likuran ko na ilang hakbang lang ang layo.

I could sense that Manong was telling the truth. His smile at me was pure.

Binalik ko rin agad ang tingin kay Laki.

My eyebrows almost met because of his behaviour. What is this? It reminded me of the man that took care of me under his roof because my brother left for Philadelphia to work.

Remember? He changed. Bettered and worsened. This man, in front of me, could hurt me whenever he would want to. I should not trust him.

Trusting him once was enough.

Oo, isang beses ko lang siyang pinagkatiwalaan. Pero sa isang beses na iyon ay sobra'ng tibay no'n na nagawa niya pa'ng ilang beses na sirain iyon. Ilang beses.

We would not know, until now, he could be lying to me because. . .

Once upon a time, I trusted him, and he lied to me ever after.

"Don't talk to me as if we're all good!" Tinalikuran ko siya at akmang aalis na.

Hindi ko natuloy ang binabalak nang hinuli niya ang braso ko at marahang pinaharap muli sa kaniya.