MATAMAN pa rin akong nakatitig kay Rufo habang nakaupo na siya sa sofa. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang pangungunot ng kaniyang noo. Halata pa ring nanggagalaiti siya kay Kash at sa nangyari kanina sa sala.
“Babe!” Naglakad ako palapit sa kaniya. I sat next to him and I wrapped my arms around his right arm and also held his chin to make him looked at me. “I’m sorry,” sabi ko habang malamlam ang mga matang nakatitig sa kaniya.
Isang malalim na paghinga ang pinakawalan niya sa ere.
“Please huwag ka nang magalit.”
“How can I not be angry, Solana? Kash is my friend, but he did this to me. Damn him. If you hadn’t stopped me earlier, I’m sure I wouldn’t have been able to give him just one punch. I might have crushed his face.”
“At hindi ko naman hahayaan na may magawa kang hindi maganda kay Kash, I mean—”
“Are you on his side?” tanong niya na mas lalo pang nagsalubong ang mga kilay.
“No. My point is, I don’t want you to harm Kash because I don’t want you to be imprisoned because of him,” pagpapaliwanag ko. “Hayaan na lang natin siya, babe. At least, alam na natin ngayon na nagsinungaling pala siya sa atin. We’ve sorted everything out. That’s what matters, isn’t it? Maayos na tayo at kasama mo na kami ng anak mo.”
Tiim bagang na muli siyang nagbuntong hininga, saka niya tinanggal ang kamay kong nakahawak sa baba niya. “He really likes you, Solana.”
Wala sa sariling nakagat ko ang pang-ilalim kong labi dahil sa sinabi niya. And when he looked at me again, I could clearly see the jealousy in his eyes.
“He told me he likes me, babe, but . . . I made it clear to him na walang chance na maging kami because I still love you and we have reconciled. Kaya nagalit siya kanina dahil siguro hindi niya matanggap ’yon,” pagpapaliwanag ko sa kaniya habang masuyo kong hinahaplos ang braso niya.
“Just don’t let him show up in front of me again because I might not be able to control myself and kill that man—”
“Babe, don’t say that.” Pinutol ko ang pagsasalita niya. Ipinagsalikop ko ang mga palad namin, saka ipinilig ko sa balikat niya ang aking ulo. “Hayaan na natin siya. I know naman na hindi siya manggugulo sa atin. I mean, mabait si Kash. Hindi niya lang siguro napigilan ang sarili niya kanina, so calm down. Hindi mo na kailangang magalit, okay?” Masuyo kong pinisil-pisil ang palad niya para pakalmahin siya. Gosh! Simula noong maging magkarelasiyon kami ni Rufo, ngayon ko lamang siya nakitang ganito kagalit at selos na selos. Hindi ko tuloy malaman kung ano ang dapat kong maramdaman sa mga sandaling ito. Matutuwa ba ako o mag-aalala para kay Kash?
He heaved again and let go of my hand, then hugs me and pulls me to his chest. He kisses me on the forehead.
“I love you, wife.”
“I know, and I love you too, babe,” nakangiting tugon ko. Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata at gumanti rin ng yakap sa kaniya.
THIRD PERSON POV
TIIM ANG BAGANG at nakatitig sa kawalan habang hawak-hawak ang rock glass na may laman na whiskey habang nakaupo naman sa gilid ng bar counter si Kash. After what happened earlier at Solana’s house, Kash went to the resort owned by his family to soothe the resentment he was feeling. Damn. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi niya pa rin matanggap ang katotohanang nagkabalikan na pala sina Rufo at Solana. Ang buong akala niya talaga ay wala nang pag-asa ang dalawa na maging okay ulit. He really likes Solana kahit noong bago pa lamang silang magkaibigan. Sa loob ng mga taong lagi silang magkasama, he tried to keep his feelings for Solana a secret because he was just waiting for the right time to confess to her and for her to confess that she has a love for him, but what he doesn’t know is that Solana hasn’t moved on with her ex-boyfriend yet. He knew about Rufo Montague. They have been friends and have known each other for almost five years. Alam niyang mabuting tao si Rufo, but when he found out before that he was the father of Solana’s child, he didn’t tell him anything about Solana and Croia. He didn’t want to lose Solana forever, so he lied to Rufo about Croia. He said the child was his daughter.
BINABASA MO ANG
PAID BY MY PROFESSOR (R18+) Book 1 & 2
Romansa"Since the night I saw you in that place, I know you are the one for me. So since then, I promised myself to love and protect you. I will cherish you for the rest of our lives. Thank you so much for coming into my life, Solana." Breadwinner, tumayon...
