Master of my Inferno

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

We only have three (or 4) more chapters left before the Epilogue. Leave a comment if you want a special chapter (Leandro's POV) Ehem. ;)

-*-*-*-

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

I DON'T KNOW WHAT time it is. I could barely hear Leandro's voice, he's talking to someone over the phone. I'm still sleepy, and all I could do was reach out my hand to hold Leandro's.

"Go back to your sleep, dolce mia." He said,  brushing my hair with his hand, stroking it gently.

"Who are you talking to?" Pilit akong nagmulat. Tinignan ko rin ang orasan sa side table, alas tres pa lang ng madaling araw.

"It's not important, Veronica. Go back to sleep." He wasn't looking at me but still brushing my hair, "You still need to rest."

Nakapikit akong tumango. Dinadama ang bawat banayad na paglandas ng kamay niya sa buhok ko. Pilit natulog kahit sa tingin ko ay nawala na ang antok ko.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas nang matapos si Leandro sa kausap sa cell phone niya. Muling bumalik sa pagkakahiga, hinalikan niya ang buhok ko at saka inihilig ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya. Sa pwesto kong ito ay rinig na rinig ko ang malakas na pagtibok ng puso niya. "Why are you still awake, dolce mia?"

"Hinihintay kita." Muli ay pinaglaruan niya ang buhok ko, marahang hinihimas iyon.

"Then, you should sleep now." Sa pwesto ko ay nakikita ko ang screen ng phone niya nang buksan niya iyon. Mabilis siyang pumunta sa chat group nila na hindi ko pa ring mapigilang tumawa sa tuwing mababasa ko iyon.

"What are they saying?"

"The usual. Hawk and Ja are fighting—a friendly fight. Matti are preparing for a car show, Trent's busy with his Pledge drive, Kian's busy. As usual. And Atlas is looking for a date for a family event."

Nakangiti lang ako habang pinapakinggan ang bawat kwento niya. Leandro's different from before. Dati ay hindi man lang siya nagkukwento ng kahit ano, hindi rin nangiti. Samantalang ngayon ay madalas na siyang ngumiti, at nagkukwento na rin siya tungkol sa mga kaybigan niya kahit kadalasan ay hindi ko tinatanong. And I love him more for doing that. I want to learn more of him.

"I can't go back to sleep." I pouted, running my hand across his bare chest. Still in awe of his tattoos.

"What do you want to do?" Then he moved, leaning on the headboard. "Do you want to watch a movie? A romantic one?" He faked gag that made me laugh.

"Why are you yucking my yum?" Kinurot ko ang braso niya. Natatawa siyang hinuli ang kamay ko.

"I am not. I'm just teasing you." Then Leandro kissed the back of my hand. Alam kong nakita niyang namumula ang mukha ko dahil mas natawa siya. "We can watch a movie. We can rewatch Pride and Prejudice, that's one of your favorites."

"Are you okay with that?" Seriously, I can't count how many times I've watched that movie, and Leandro hasn't said a word about me rewatching it.

"Of course." Kinuha niya ang remote sa bedside table at saka binuksan ang TV. "It's your favorite and I always want to watch it with you."

Hindi naman niya sinabing mahal niya 'ko pero pakiramdam ko ay sinabi na niya. Fine. I'm being delusional. But what can I do? I have fallen for him. Real hard. And it's not just a simple love, he's become my life and my home. He's been the Master of my life since the first day I laid my eyes on him.