Elysian Secrets

Lia (36)

Nakasunod ako kay Renault na pumasok sa pintong akala ko kanina ay exit. Bahagya akong nagulat sa kung gaano ka-normal ang kuwartong pinasok namin. If I didn't know any better, iisipin kong kuwarto sa isang mamahaling hotel ang kinaroroonan namin.

Inihiga ni Renault si Raphael sa malapad na kama habang inaalalayan ko naman si Amber na maupo sa sofa.

Maingat kong inaalis ang ilang hibla ng buhok ni Amber a nakatabon sa kanyang mukha. Pilit kong inaayos ang buhok niya sa pagnanais na may isa man lang bahagi ng katawan ng kapatid ko ang maayos. Kahit man lang buhok sana.

It was difficult. Hindi siya mapakali at pabiling-biling ang ulo habang umuungol. She appears to be in a waking nightmare. I feel like I'm right there with her. Tahimik na lang akong napapahid ng mga luha. I don't know how long I could stand to see her like this.

Nagpaparoo't parito si Renault sa magkabilang dulo ng malapad na kuwarto. Hihinto siya sa tapat namin at sasama ang ekspresyon sa mukha habang tinititigan si Amber na nagdedeliryo at ako na tahimik na umiiyak sa tabi niya. He curses under his breath and resume his prolwing like a caged tiger.

Amber stilled and seems to have calmed down a bit. I took that opportunity to approach Raphael on the bed.

I ran my eyes over his face. I paid particular attention to his nose and mouth area. They appear to be clean.

Lumuhod ako sa gilid ng kama at inabot ang isa niyang braso. Maingat kong inalis ang cufflink doon at inangat ang sleeves ng dress shirt niya hanggang siko.

Nangingining ang mga kamay na hinimas ang bawat sentimetro ng braso niya mula pulsuhan hanggang siko looking for telltale signs of track marks. There was nothing. Maingat kong ibinaba ang brasong hawak ko at inabot ang kabila at iyon naman ang pinasadahan ng tingin. There's nothing there also.

Nanghihina akong tuluyang pasalampak na napaupo habang hindi binibitiwan ang braso ng amo ko. He's clean. I pressed a kiss on hid knuckles, and then another. And another. Hanggang tuluyan ko nang ibinaon ang mukha ko sa palad niya at impit na humikbi doon. I don't even care anymore if he suddenly wakes up to me acting like a creep. I don't care. I'm just so glad. So, so glad that he's clean.

When I got myself under control, nag-angat ako ng mukha at tinitigan si Renault.

"Thank you."

He glowered at me and walked towards Amber to hold the woman's head steady on the back of the sofa. Nagsisimula na namang maging balisa ang babae.

"Don't get too excited. I wouldn't do what you think I did to him, but that idiot was drinking with the old man. I bet you that demon spiked his drink with something."

Muli na naman akong kinabahan.

"Ren—" Umpisa ko pero naputol ang iba ko pa sanang sasabihin dahil napamura si Renault.

"Oh, for fuck's sake!"

Naiinis siyang naupo na sa tabi ni Amber. He slid his arm under the woman's head and cradled her head on his shoulder. Pinisil niya ang magkabilang pisngi ng babae at hinarap sa kanya. It would have hurt and Amber would have certainly complained about it if she was in her right mind.

"I should have just strangled you when I had the chance, bien-aimée." Asik niya. "So you wouldn't have to put in all this effort in trying to kill yourself."

Amber just giggled at that threat. Apparently, still unaware of her surroundings.

Dahan-dahang bumagsak ang kamay ni Renault mula sa mukha ni Amber and that gave my sister the opportunity to snuggle up closer to him. She butted her head playfully on his chin, parang tutang nanghihingi ng lambing mula sa amo.