Embers of Love (Isla de Vista Series #5)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Kind

"Pack only the necessary ones. We'll buy your other stuff there." malamig niyang sinabi.

Lumunok ako at nilagay sa loob ng maleta ang tatlong panlakad na dress, dalawang pantulog na dress, dalawang skirt, tatlong blouse, at mga undergarments. I tried to do it as fast as I could because Engineer Zechariah is at my door, watching me.

The facial care routine is in a pouch so I directly placed it in the luggage. Another pouch for the toothbrush, mouthwash, and toothpaste. The body soap and shampoos are in bug bottles so I did not pack them.

"Is that all?"

Tipid akong tumango sa kanya. Marahas siyang bumuntonghininga at mabilis na dumating sa aking gilid. Naudlot ang aking kamay na nais sanang isarado ang maleta. Ang tibok ng aking puso ay biglang nakakabingi.

Engineer Zechariah crouched over behind me and reached for the cover of my luggage. Pumasa-ere ang aking kamay habang dinaramdam ang katahimikan sa aksyon na ginawa niya. Nasa likod ko siya, nakayuko rin, at siya na mismo ang nag-lock ng luggage.

"Let's go, then." aniya.

Tulala at gulat, tahimik akong nanood. Kinuha niya ang aking maleta at naunang tumalikod dala iyon. He stormed out of the room with my luggage in his right hand, carrying it without breaking a sweat.

I couldn't find my parents or sisters in the living room, and I did not look for them since I had been trying to catch up with Engineer Zechariah's large steps.

Paglabas ko ng bahay, nasa tabi na siya ng sasakyan niya. Kusang napalunok ako at binaba ang tingin bago lumapit. Nasa shotgun seat siya nakatayo, binuksan ang pintuan para sa akin.

Tahimik akong pumasok at sinirado niya. Swiftly, he drove out of our house. Wala na akong nakitang reporter nang lumabas kami. O siguro nagtatago lang sila.

"Can I ask where we are going?" mahina kong tanong.

Diretsong nakatingin siya sa daan. Nasa gilid nakatuko ang kanang kamay niya at naka-depina sa kanyang panga ang kamay. Isang kamay lang ang nakahawak sa manibela.

"Somewhere safe." malamig at tipid niyang tugon.

I kept my hands on my lap. A wave of throbbing in the inside of my chest is just horrible. I attempted to ignore it during the journey to an area of safety. I have no idea where we are heading or just how many days I intend to spend there.

The ride wasn't bringing a deafening silence because of the soothing melody brought by the music from the stereo, it made the atmosphere around the both of us bearable. My attention got diverted to him when the car stopped by at a roadhouse bistro.

"Let's get something first." aniya. "It will be a long day on the road and there will be no more snack bars along the way."

Agad siyang lumabas ng sasakyan. Dahan dahan kong inabot ang pintuan ngunit hindi binuksan kasi nagdadalawang isip ako kung gusto niya ba akong lumabas o hindi. Nang nakita kong lumapit siya sa aking tabi para pagbuksan ako ng pinto, doon na ako nag kusang buksan ang pinto.

He looked down on me. Those icy, unforgiving, and hard stares of his depicted wariness of myself for the fear that my presence irks him.

"I could just wait here in the car." mataman kong sinabi.

Nag abot ang kilay niya. "Kakain tayo."

"I am not hungry."

He growled in a low tone.

"Mahaba pa ang byahe natin, kailangan mong kumain bago makatulog sa daan." mababa niyang sinabi.

I did not argue. I stepped down on the car. Sinirado niya iyon at tumabi ako para mauna siyang maglakad. Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang kumawala sa kanya.