Buy Me

CHAPTER 42

Was it her who didn't send her message across clearly? Or was it Constantine who intentionally deadpanned what she said?

Mahirap sabihin para kay Ella kung ano sa dalawa ang nangyari nang itikom muli ng kaniyang kaharap ang bibig nito. The silence that made its way between them felt horrible. And only God could tell how every second

Mas tumatagal na nakatitig sa kaniya ito, mas lumilinaw sa kaniyang paningin ang mga bagay na hindi nito sinasabi. It was like getting a peek at his soul. Iyong parte ni Constantine na hindi nakikita ng karamihan kapag nasa entrablado ito o harap ng camera. She could see more emotions than she could identify all at once in his eyes—pain, rage, agony, and that prominent emotion that surpassed everything else when he forced a smile for her again.

It was so quiet, yet it was puzzling how something muted turned into the loudest scream she had heard her entire life.

'Damn it. What made you like this--'

"Aren't you worrying too much?"

"H-Huh?" It was only when Constantine gently squeezed her hand that Ella seemed to wake up from her short trance. Ni-wala na siyang maalala kung gaano ba siya katagal nakatulala lang dito o kung ano ang itsura ng kaniyang mukha. She was certain that the brute said something, pero masyado na siyang na-focus sa mga mata nito, kaya hindi niya rin narinig. "May sinabi ka?"

The brute let out a low laugh, and she swore she felt her heart squeeze with every tone of it. Mayamaya pa ay patamad na hinilamos ng binata ang sariling mukha bago muling tumingin sa kaniya. His negative emotions were still all there, but then they were getting covered by something else now—amusement. "Epekto na ba 'to ni Baby? Your mother instinct is sipping out of your pores, Pea."

Ella furrowed her eyebrows. Naguguluhan siya sa sinabi nito, pero hindi naman siya makapagsalita. Ilang segundo pa ang lumipas na tila pinag-aaralan lang nito ang kaniyang ekspresyon at ganoon din siya rito.

"There it goes again." Pagkuwa'y sabi nito habang kumbinsidong tumatangango. Nang hindi pa rin siya magsalita ay mabagal na yumukod ito para mas tignan siya nang malapitan. His gray eyes were suddenly boring holes in her frazzled face, leaving her no choice but to bite her lips.

"You know how you look when you're staring at me like that?" He cocked his head, giving her whole a slow once-over before his hot gaze settled on her lips. Pagkatapos ay sandaling nagdilim ang mga mata nito na tila may naalalang ayaw na nitong isipin."Damn it, Pea. It looks almost real."

"Ano na naman 'yang pinagsasabi mo?"

"That you love me," he cut her off, brushing his lips on her. "Kapag ganyan ka... nai-imagine ko mahal mo ko... and I can't stop imagining what you'll look like once it isn't my hands you're holding anymore."

"Constantine..." She tried to make him stop and pushed him away a little. Hindi niya nagustuhan ang timbre ng sinabi nito. What did he exactly mean by saying that it wouldn't be his hands she was holding? Bakit tunog nagpapaalam na naman si Constantine? "Anong kalokohan na naman ang sumasapi sa'yo, Mr. Alandy--"

"Ganyan din ba ang makikitang mukha ni Baby araw-araw kapag siya na ang hawak mo?"His fingers made it through her hair, raking strands softly to push her away from her face. "Suwerte naman ng anak ko."

Ella's mouth quivered to deny what he said. Ni-hindi niya alam na ganoon na pala ang itsura niya habang nakatitig dito. She was certain that she was feeling something earlier, but never in her imagination that it was all showing on her face. Gusto niyang supalpalin si Constantine, pero wala na siyang nagawa nang malambing na idikit nito ang noo sa kaniya.

"Alam mo bakit hindi kita kayang iwan kahit ang hirap-hirap na ha?" Napapikit siya nang muling bumulong si Constantine. Nagmistula na lang siyang papel na hinihipan ng hangin nang marahang humaplos ang hinlalaki ni Constantine sa kaniyang pang-ibabang labi—tenderly tracing it and sending sweet electricity to her spine. "It's your unguarded moments. It is the way you look at me for a few seconds before you turn cold. The way you lose control over and over when we are kissing. The way your body responds to me even though your mouth is saying hurtful words."