Alluring Temptation (Familiá Altamirano #1)

CHAPTER 20 🔞

His Military Duties

       ANOTHER day passed. I felt weird when I woke up without anyone beside me. I yawned before I slowly get off the bed, looking around.

My eyebrows creased when I saw the sliding door of the veranda opened. I marched there and saw the back of Reeve, who was talking to someone over the phone. He was leaning forward to the railing of the veranda, wearing only his black sweatpants. He was shirtless as usual.

I know it's inadequate to eavesdrop on someone's conversation, but I can't cease myself but listen to their conversation since I can sense a little tension.

"Que veux-tu dire? Je suis ici aux Philippines, capitaine."

"Je passe du temps avec ma femme. Oui, vous allez nous envoyer à la frontière?"

"6 mois? Je réserverai un vol cette semaine. Après cette mission, je prendrai ma retraite, capitaine."

Napasimangot ako nang wala akong maintindihan sa mga salitang lumalabas sa bibig ni Reeve. Ang hirap talaga kapag hindi ka maalam sa isang bagay. I marched to the bathroom to take a shower instead of eavesdropping on his phone call. It felt like I was listening to an alien talking since I didn't understand even a bit.

We're already having breakfast, and I can't control myself but to take a glance at him. He seems so edgy after the phone call he received this morning. I immediately stood up when he accidentally elbowed the glass, causing it to fall and break.

"Don't!" He hollered. "Fuck, I'm sorry. I'll clean this mess," he muttered apologetically.

I looked down and watched him clean the floor. "Are you okay? You seem edgy since this morning," hindi ko napigilan ang hindi punahin ang kinikilos niya.

He raised his head, and our eyes met. "I-I will. . ." He took a sharp-deep breath.

"It's fine. You don't have to tell me since it wasn't my business," I chirp, lightening the mood with a smile.

His eyes lingered on mine. Nabigla ako nang lapitan niya ako at yakapin, mahigpit at matagal na parang kapag bumitaw siya ay mawawala ako. I encircled my hands around his waist and locked it, hugging him back.

"Hmm? You okay?" I asked softly.

It took a moment before he spoke. "I-I have a mission to do in my country. . ." He emphasized the word 'mission' and 'country'.

Napakurap-kurap ako at tila may nabara sa aking lalamunan. I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked at him. Biglang bumigat ang dibdib ko habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"You're leaving me?" My voice broke.

He lowered his head so he can avoid my eyes. Then, he nodded. I gasped and pushed him gently. Napaupo ako at huminga ng malalim. This is what I want from the start to make him leave and not to bother me anymore. . . But that was before.

Alam ko sa sarili kong hindi ko pa siya mahal, pero masakit pa rin pala. It hurts to know that the person who loves you has to leave. I'm not a selfish bitch, so I understand him even though my chest felt a pang when I heard he was leaving. 

"Are you going to get deployed somewhere after you landed in France?" 

Hirap siyang tumango sa'kin.

I bit my lips harder. "Where?"

"U-Ukraine," I watched him stutter in front of me. "T-They need a military troupe because of the war between Russia," He never stuttered, but right now, he was.