Sinful Touch ✓

Special Chapter

HINDI na naman maipinta ang mukha ni Everest habang pinapanood ang batang babae na pilit inaabot ang kaniyang pisngi dahil tuwang tuwa sa kaniyang mga asul na mata. He wanted to hissed at her and shoo her away but something inside him was stopping him from doing it. Napahinga siya ng malalim.

Yumuko siya at bumigay na sa gusto ng bata. Her cheeks turn red and her lips protrude. His eyes glimmer with amusement because of how adorable she look. His eyes met her coffee-like eyes. It was so innocent and alive.

"You really have a beautiful eyes, kuya."

Napasimangot si Everest nang marinig ang tinawag nito sa kaniya. Is she young to call him that?

"How old are you?" He asked. Hinawakan ng maliit na kamay ng batang babae ang kaliwa niyang pisngi. He stilled as he felt her soft and cold palm against his cheek. Hindi niya alam kung sino ang kasama nitong bata na ito at natagpuan niya sa bookstore na nag iisa. Mukhang nawawala pa.

"I'm eight, how about you, kuya?" Her other hand touch his right cheek too, slightly squeezing his face. Hindi niya magawang pigilan ang batang babae.

"I'm sixteen, why are you here? Who are you with?"

"With my yaya, but she's busy with her boyfriend so I leave them alone but now I couldn't find them." Mas humaba ang mapulang nguso ng bata.

Everest scoffed and look at the aisle. He saw Grant eyeing him. Tinaasan niya ng kilay ang kapatid kaya umiwas ito ng tingin.

"You shouldn't do that, kid. What if bad guys caught you and held you hostage?" Kalmado niyang tanong sa bata na halatang walang naiintindihan sa sinasabi niya. She just tilted her head to side. She have small face, curled brown hair, her small pointed nose suit her circle coffee eyes and her cupid bow's lip.

"Bad guys? I know bad guys! They're always with my dad because he's also a bad guy."

Kumunot ang noo ni Everest. "Your dad is a bad guy?"

Her head nod. "He have guns and samurai, he said he will taught me and my brothers how to fight when we're big." She clap her hands as if it was something she should celebrate. Siguradong kung ano-ano lang kwento ang pinaparinig rito ng mga kasama sa bahay kaya akala ay totoo. Kids and fairytales.

Napahilot sa noo si Everest bago lumabas bahagya sa aisle at sumilip sa paligid. He was asking himself if her nanny haven't realized the kid was gone. Gano'n ba ito ka- busy sa boyfriend?

"Look, kid, you should find your nanny now because it's getting dark."

"My dad will find me." The kid spoke. Napabuga ng hangin si Everest at tumango. Hindi na niya dapat isipin ito, hahanapin naman pala ng ama.

"Kuya, nakabili ka na?" Lumapit si Grant sa kanila. "Kilala mo 'to?"

"Nawawala raw," he answered shortly. Namimili sila ni Grant ng mga gamit dahil malapit na ang pasukan. "Let's go before it gets dark." Akit niya kay Grant. Nilingon niya ang bata na nakatingin lang sa kanila. She doesn't looked bothered and scared. Parang sanay na ito sa ginagawang pagtakas sa yaya.

Napailing na lang si Everest at iniwan na doon ang batang babae. He didn't even asked her name. Hindi niya alam kung bakit hindi siya mapakali. Parang hindi niya gustong maiwan lang doon basta ang bata. For goodness’ sake he have a sister too. At hindi kaya ng konsensya niya kapag kay Raven, kapatid nilang babae, iyon mangyayari. Iiwan na lang basta.

Pero mukha naman hindi takot ang bata. Baka nga alam na nito ang gagawin. She look organized and unbothered.

Paglabas nila sa parking lot ay nag hihintay na ro'n ang kanilang driver. Kusang humagod ang mga mata niya sa paligid nang marinig ang tili ng bata. He arched his eyebrows when he spot a black van near the highway with three men-in-black outside. Mas sumingkit ang mata niya nang maaninag ang dress na hawak ng isang lalaki. Hindi niya na nakita ang mukha ng may suot pero sigurado siyang 'yun 'yung batang babae. His feet move on its own. Hindi niya namalayan na tumatakbo na siya.