Elysian Secrets

Kabanata 22

Raphael waited for Lia's reply with abated breath.

He would have thought she was already sleeping if her fingers hadn't been subconsciously twisting and untwisting the covers she had dragged up to her chest. He could also practically hear her thoughts churning over his question.

He doubts he could get an honest answer out of the woman tonight. She's been lying her little ass for more than half a decade; why would she stop now? Nonetheless, he asked.

Tired of waiting,he curled strands of her hair around his finger and pulled.

"Aray," angil ng babae na ikinangiti niya sa dilim. Pinalo pa nito ang kamay niyang humila sa buhok nito.

"Shhh," saway niya. "Magigising ang bata."

Minasahe niya na lang ulit ang nasaktan nitong anit. Umani ng kurot ang daliri niyang pinaikutan ng buhok nito.

"Bakit kasi nananakit?" nagmamaktol nitong binulong-bulong na ikinaikot niya naman ng mga mata.

"I'm trying to catch your attention, sugar. Tutulugan mo yata ako bago sagutin, eh."

"Paano kita masasagot kung tulog na ako?" sarkastiko nitong tanong. "Malamang kung tulog na ako, wala ka nang sagot na mapapala."

Tinitigan niya ang babaeng nakaunan sa bisig niya. The room is drenched in shadows, but he could still make out her form. Sinapo niya ang pisngi nito at iginiya patingala sa kanya. Sumunod naman ito.

Natatawa siya sa sambakol nitong mukha pero nagpigil siya at mas lalong malulukot ang mukha nito. Nang magsabog nang kasungitan at kasupladahan ang Diyos, sinalo yata iyon lahat ni Lia.

"Smarty mouth," tudyo niya rito, habang mabining hinihimas ang pisngi nito. Sumama lang lalo ang tingin nito sa kanya. "O, bakit ganyan ka na makatingin? I'm your boss, remember? You're supposed to look at me with stars in your eyes."

"Baka ikaw ang makakakita ng stars kapag sinabunutan din kita. Makaganti sa pananakit mo sa akin," patuloy nitong paghihimutok.

"Hun," umpisa niya habang napapangisi, "when I want it to hurt for real, you'll know and you'll like it."

Her long lashes flicked as she rolled her eyes at him. "Why would I like it, eh, masakit nga?"

Naiinis itong bumubulong-bulong bago natigilan at napaisip. Lalo namang lumapad ang pagkakangisi ni Raphael habang hinihintay na makahabol ang utak ng babae sa pinupunto niya. He knew she got it when her eyes rounded then narrowed at him.

"Bastos," asik nito na tuluyan na niyang ikinatawa nang mahina.

Yumugyog ang kama at gumalaw si Niccolo sa gilid ng babae. Sabay pa silang napatingin sa bata para tingnan kung gugulong na naman ba ito malapit sa dulo ng kama. Padapa lang nitong niyakap ang stuffed toy na si Toothless habang ang isang paa ay malapit nang masipa ang ina.

Umusog si Raphael paatras at hinila si Lia payakap sa kanya. She tensed for a few moments before giving in and letting him snuggle her at his side. He cupped the back of her head with his hand and pulled her closer so he could drop a butterfly-soft kiss on her hair and put his chin on top of her head.

"Ikaw na siguro ang pinaka-weird na boss sa history ng mundo."

"Bakit naman?"

Her fingers tapped a rhythm on his chest. "Do you have to ask? Is this not weird?"

"No," simple naman niyang sagot.

"No?"

"No," ulit niya. "This is us. What we do privately and with each other is nobody's business but ours."