The Captain's Only Sea (Cavanaugh #4)

Kabanata 17

Kabanata 17

Distraction

"Bakit? Gusto mo'ng makatabi ako sa pagtulog, Kapitan?" I gibed and smirked coyly that did not reach the boredom in my eyes.

Titig na pinanliitan niya ako ng mga mata. "There's an at-sea cabin near the bridge, I'll be sleeping there to be convenient for me in times of emergencies."

My smirk faded immediately. I felt like all the blood from my face went down and dried up.

What the hell did I assume? No. I was just teasing him.

"Ah," umakto akong parang wala lang iyon kahit na sa kaloob-looban ko ay nabawasan na ang kaangasan ko.

"Bakit? Gusto mo akong makatabi?" he rested one large veiny hand on the table beside us where there was a large map of the world, compass and whatnot.

Iniwas ko ang tingin sa kaniya. "Psh."

"Kaleidoscope," masuyong sambit nito.

"What would your crew think? My diving team think? If they'll know that we're sharing one cabin? We're adults. So unbecoming of you, Captain Cavanaugh," umismid ako. Naiirita na sa kung ano ano'ng pinagsasasabi at pinagdedesisyon niya.

How did he become this professional? Siguro pati iyong mga babae'ng crew niya ay pinapatulog niya rin dito sa loob ng private cabin niya? Ano namang pakialam ko?

Okay. I will not judge him. Sige. Sa loob ng labinlimang taon na iyon ay isang beses lang kaming nagkita. We were friends before, at least that was how I see things, but only for a few months.

We did not really know each other. Hindi ko muna siya huhusgahan kung gano'n. Samantalang siya sa akin noon ay grabe kung makabintang.

"It doesn't matter what they think. What matters is what 'you' think of it," his sharp jaw clenched at the words. "Ano ba'ng iniisip mo?"

The scenario in his room way back ni Dad's large house that was located lnear the seashore popped out at the back of my mind.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya, at imbes na magalit ay idinaan ko na lang sa nanunuyong ngiti.

"Oo nga naman. You still think that I'm a man. We're both men. Men sharing the same room is normal," I raised my chin. Taunting him with my look of detachment. "Let's share this cabin then," wika ko at sinuyod pa ng tingin ang kaniyang maluwag na private cabin.

It has its own bathroom. One standard size of bed. Cabinet and closet. Study table and a chair. Four walls that were painted white with one silver framed porthole window. The space was enough for at least three people to walk around without touching each other's shoulders.

Peaceful and quiet. Somehow, it became a temptation. I wanted this kind of space here. Where I will not be sharing with anyone. I wanted to be alone in times after excavation. Isolation is my comfort.

Samantalang iyong pinagsaluhan naming cabin ni Savi ay medyo masikip na may double deck bed. Maliit pa iyong aparador. May sariling banyo naman. Hindi naman talaga mahirap doon dahil iyong mga gamit namin na dadalhin sa pagsisid, kagaya na lang ng air tank diving cylinder, ay sa main laboratory ng barko naman inilagay.

Maybe he knew that privacy and seclusion is all I ached for.

Naibalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya pagkatapos inilibot ang tingin sa paligid.

"Kaleidoscope. . ." he let out a low chuckle. "Your profession really suits you. A marine archeologist that can't stop diving the past."

Umawang ang mga labi ko.