Once Upon A Twilight [ONGOING]

11. Fooled?

[MATTHEW]

I watched Erykka move with grace. Something was wrong. I sensed it nung bigla siyang bumangon. Was it guilt that crossed her face kani-kanina lang? Guilt for giving up something that she valued so much to someone like me? Pero binigyan ko sya ng pagkakataong pigilan ako kagabi. Hindi niya ginawa.

As if any female could resist your charms, parang naririnig ko sa isip ko ang boses ni Rasheed.

Damn! Perhaps I had been selfish. Wala pa siyang karanasan. I should have exercised self-control and stopped myself from taking advantage. Didn't I accuse her before of taking advantage? And now, here I am committing the very act I abhor. I took advantage of her vulnerability.

I got out of bed and dressed in haste. I saw blood on the sheets. Parang inuusig ang konsensya ko. What kind of a host was I?

First, I shoved her away. Second, I accused her of trespassing. And now I freaking took her--

Tumingin ako sa pintuan ng banyo kung saan siya kasalukuyang naliligo.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko siya haharapin. We shared something intimate last night. But the look in her eyes this morning was enough to pierce my soul. Sapat na para matauhan ako.

I jolted when I heard the phone ring. Si Rasheed lang ang may alam ng private line ng silid na ito. Biglang bumundol ang kaba sa dibdib ko when I answered the phone. 

"I found something," anunsiyo ni Rasheed sa kabilang linya.

"What is it?" I held my breath.

"About your girl. I have a bad feeling about this," sagot nito. Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa telepono.

"W-what is it?"

"Pumunta ka sa opisina ko. Ayokong pag-usapan natin ang bagay na ito over the phone." Iyon lang ang sabi niya. The call ended abruptly.

Kakatukin ko sana si Erykka sa banyo but I'm confused right now. Nag-iwan na lang ako ng note sa kama. Whatever I may discover from Rasheed, I still have to treat her right. Kailangan ko pa rin siyang bigyang ng assurance and show her how grateful I am for last night.

Halos liparin ko na ang papunta sa opisina ni Rasheed. I was greeted by his ever-so-serious face. Hindi sya nagsalita. Rashid just shoved an envelope on the table and left it to me to read the contents. I swear my hands were shaking as I read the files. 

"Are you sure about this?" Hindi ako makapaniwala sa nababasa. My gaze went back and forth to Rasheed and the papers I was holding. 

"Seventy percent sure. The rest thirty percent, ikaw na ang bahalang kumumpirma. I heard you were...close." There's a hint of teasin in his voice.

"This is not a joke, Rasheed! Paano kung totoo nga ang impormasyong ito? A-ano ang gagawin ko sa kanya? My God!" As head of security ng Safar Estate, hindi na nakakapagtatakang alam ni Rasheed lahat ng kilos ng bawat isa sa amin. Kahit pa magpinsan kami, seryoso sya sa ginagampanan niyang papel sa buong estate. Kaya buo ang tiwala namin sa kanya.

"That's why it's better if you discover the truth for yourself, Matt. I can easily meddle but I'm worried about how she might react knowing that she was somehow taken by your charms."

"Damn! How would you react if it was the other way around? That I'm the one affected by her charms?" I feel tormented. I grit my teeth. I can't believe what I just read. And if it's true? Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko kay Erykka. I was right all along. She was there to play games. I was a fool. 

"Is it true?" kunut-noong tanong ng pinsan ko. Sapo ko ang sariling noo. My head hurts. So this is what I get for spending a blissful night with her. Ito yung kapalit ng pagiging soft ko. 

"I was the first man who..." hindi ko na tinuloy. Makahulugan ako tumingin sa kanya. For sure, nakuha na niya ang ibig kong sabihin. 

Yes, I was the first man who ever touched her. Walang duda doon. Ang hindi ko maintindihan ay kung bakit kailangang isuko niya sa akin ang pagkababae niya. Kung tama nga ang impormasyon ni Rasheed, ano ang totoo niyang motibo ni Erykka?

I took a deep breath. Sana coincidence lang ang lahat.

"Then it's reasonable if you're the one observing her. Tutal nasa poder mo naman na sya," basag ni Rasheed sa katahimikan.

Malungkot akong tumango, devastated by what I learned. Seventy per cent true. The rest thirty per cent would be up to me to find out. Handa ba akong malaman ang totoo? Am I strong enough for it now that Erykka is involved? Kaya ko ba syang saktan? One look from those lonely eyes and I'm rushing in her arms. Was I such a fool?

"I...I have to go. Nangako ako sa kanyang sasabayan ko siya sa pagkain."

"Isn't it too soon? Kelan mo lang siya nakilala. Before you give your heart away again, kilalanin mo muna siyang mabuti, Matt."

Mapait akong ngumiti at humarap sa pinsan ko. "You seem to be forgetting something, Rasheed. I can't give away something I already lost a long time ago," sagot ko at tuluyan nang lumabas sa opisina niya.

*****

[A/N]

Sorry sa mga naghihintay ng kwentong ito at sobrang natagalan ang update. Will try to catch up as much as I can. For now, enjoy!

Also, I updated most of my book covers! Yey! If you browse my profile, you can see the updated covers of every book I posted here. :) Ongoing pa ang book covers ng ibang stories kaya abang-abang lang! 

BTW, let me know what you think of this chapter. Mahaba pa dapat ito but I'm running out of time haha. 

xoxo,

JNK