TRACE DIMAGIBA (Wild Men Series 1)

S3: INNOCENT

CHLOE

I worriedly glanced at Willow, sitting beside me, as we were waiting for someone. Rogelio was at the following table, and his eyes, though not noticeable, were still focusing on us.

Napahawak ako sa tiyan ko as my baby start moving. One week na lang at nasa bansa na si Trace at masaya ako na makakasama ko na siya. Iyon naman ang sabi ni Papa sa akin, na kapag dumating si Trace ay siya na ang makikipag-usap kay Trace para makasal na kami. But Papa wanted me to marry Trace after I gave birth, he told me na mas gusto niya akong naka-wedding gown at hindi malaki ang tiyan.

"Miss Chloe..."

Napalingon ako. Si Nite.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata kong nakatingin sa kaniya. After months I haven't seen him ay nasa harap ko na siya ulit. I can see him differently than before. He doesn't have any hatred in the way he is looking at me now. All there is peacefulness. But no... I can't trust my judgement, I am not good at it.

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kasama niya na hawak niya sa kamay. Napakunot-noo ako. A boy.

"Sit down..." I invited them at nakita kong napatingin si Nite kay Willow bago huminga ng malalim. "My cousin, Willow," pakilala ko sa kaniya ng kasama ko.

Tinanguan lang ni Nite si Willow. "Can I talk to you... alone?" he asked.

Napalunok ako. Though I still remember what he did to me and Trace very well, I want to give him a chance to talk to me as it matters.

Last night, I received a call from him. Nagulat pa ako paano niya nalaman ang numero ko but he said that he seek some help, and knowing him ay alam ko na marami pa rin siyang koneksyson. Alam kong magagalit si Trace sa akin kapag nalaman na nakipagkita ako kay Nite. But I wanna know the truth...

"Willow?" I asked my cousin, who simply smiled at me and lifted her left brow to say she would let me be alone with Nite for a while.

Lumipat na si Willow sa table kung nasaan naroroon si Rogelio. Nang tingnan ko muli si Nite ay mas ang batang kasama niya ang tinititigan ko. Kung hindi siguro sa batang ito ay hindi ako maniniwala na matino ang sadya Nite para pag-uusapan naming dalawa.

"Nilakasan ko lang ang loob ko na makaharap ka. I know everything, Miss Chloe. Isa kang Esposito at kung hindi lang talaga dahil sa batang ito ay hindi ko gugustuhing lumapit pa sa 'yo."

"You... are still part of Foedus, right?"

"Yes. But I know I can't provoke them anymore. Master Lev helped me to stay alive, and Doc Jake did his best to make me survive that near-death I had. I almost died fighting for someone I should not fight for."

"You just love her..." naawa kong sabi kay Nite. May nagawa man siyang mali ay dahil lang iyon sa mahal niya na nawala sa kaniya dahil kay Trace. "Trace told me that if he learned that Christine was pregnant then, it wouldn't happen to her. He won't allow Christine to be in danger."

"Christine loved me but she fell for Boss Trace. I should accept that. I should not been blinded that she supposed to marry me. Tama si Boss Trace na hindi naman niya rin alam ang relasyon namin ni Christine. Alam niyang may boyfriend si Christine pero hindi niya alam kung sino."

"So you believe what Trace said now? Thank you."

"No. Unfair man pero hindi ko pinaniwalaan ang sinabi ni Boss Trace. Kung hindi lang sa ina ng batang ito ay hindi ako maniniwala..."

Napatingin ako sa bata na nakayuko sa tabi ni Nite. Nang tumingin siya sa akin ay nginitian ko siya na ginantihan naman niya ng tipid na ngiti.

"How old is he?" I asked Nite.