Satisfying Needs 2 (Finished)

Chapter 13

MASAYANG NAKATINGIN si Knud sa mga inihandang pagkain. Simple lang ang niluto niya para sa dinner nila ni Denise... which is his way of making up for her. Ngayon, hinihintay niya na lang si Denise at kumpleto na ang lahat.

Mula nang magkaayos sila nito, he did his best para pasayahin ito... so that she wouldn't have any thoughts on leaving him.

Kung may kinakatakutan man siya, iyon ay ang tuluyan na siyang iwan nito. Isang linggo pa nga lang na hindi siya nito kinakausap at pinapansin, hindi niya na kaya, paano pa kaya kapag hiwalay na sila?

Hindi na siya papayag na mangyari pa ang nangyari noong nakaraan.

Nang marinig ang kumakatok sa pinto ay nagmadaling siyang kunin ang bouquet or red roses na binili niya at naglakad para buksan ang pinto. Kahit na nagtataka siya kung bakit hindi na lang kusang pumasok si Denise dahil may susi naman ito, hinayaan niya na lang.

Laking gulat niya nang pagbukas ng pinto ay iba ang nakita...

"Gayle?" nagtatakang tanong niya. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang ginagawa nito sa tinitirhan niya.

The first thing that came into his mind nang makita si Gayle doon ay ang paalisin ito dahil baka maabutan ito ni Denise doon. He cannot let that happen.

Not now... not until he can finally admit to Denise na matagal niya nang kilala ang tinuturing nitong kaibigan. Ang balak niya pa naman, sasabihin niya iyon kay Denise sa dinner nila dahil nagiging matanong na ito and he doesn't want to keep secrets from her anymore.

"Waiting for someone? Why do you look disappointed?" nakangiting tanong nito sa kanya. Kahit na nakaharang ang kamay sa pinto ay lumusot lang ito at pumasok sa loob ng pinto.

He's dumbfounded. Hindi niya alam kung paano ito itataboy.

"Why don't you close the door and lock it? Someone might see us. I'm sure you wouldn't want that," suhestiyon nito na agad niyang ginawa.

"What are you doing here? Akala ko ba tapos na tayo?" Salubong na ang mga kilay niya. "Wala na tayong kailangan pang pag-usapan. I don't have any business left with you!"

"But I still do have some things to say and I still have business with you," agad na pagkontra nito. Komportable pa itong umupo sa sofa. "Why do you keep on asking questions na alam mo na ang kasagutan?"

He knows what exactly she is talking about. Tungkol na naman iyon sa pagkagusto at pagbawi nito sa kanya mula kay Denise.

Lumapit siya rito at tiningnan na ito ng masama. "Will you please, leave? You shouldn't be here right now," matalim na wika niya. "If you really wanted to talk, mag-usap tayo sa labas at h'wag dito."

Sumimangot ito. "But why? It's comfortable here," anito saka ngumisi nang malawak. "Are you scared na maabutan niya ako rito? She's coming for dinner, right? Kinuwento niya sa'kin earlier kasi and it seems like an invitation for me to join you, guys."

"Alam mo naman pala, eh! Ba't hindi ka pa umalis?"

Tumayo ito at kumapit ito sa balikat niya.

"So you still want to keep it a secret, huh? In that case, you will still need me in order to do that. Ang kaso... you're hurting my feelings. It makes me want to tell her everything," pabulong na sinabi nito emphasizing the word "everything".

He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself. He's restraining himself na saktan ito at puwersahan na ilabas doon. Ayaw niya na makasakit ng babae no matter how mad he is.

She ran her index finger behind his ear. "Nagseselos na rin kasi ako, eh. And I don't think I can wait for you any longer. I need to do something at this rate. The wedding proposal is a warning to me, right?" halos pabulong at nang-aakit na sabi nito. "You're saying that you will protect your relationship and I can't do anything to stop you... but it's a fail. You know what, Knud? She's becoming suspicious of us now."