UNMASKED

Chapter 13- Leave Now, Elora

Chapter 13

"Are you okay?" mabilis kong inalis ang mask na suot ko at isinabit sa ulo ko, at nilapitan ang boss ko na ngayon ay pagewang gewang maglakad habang nakahawak sa ulo nito, buti nalang yung SmartMask nito ay hindi naman natamaan.  Hinawakan ko agad siya sa siko, ngunit mabilis pa sa alas kwatro na inalis nito ang pagkakadikit ng kamay ko sakanya.

"When I tell you to shoot, just shoot" hindi ko masabi kung galit ba ito or what kasi mas naka focus pa rin yung tenga ko sa way ng pagkakasalita niya.  Her voice is so damn sexy, nakakainggit.  I wish I have that tone of voice.

"B-but I don't know how to shoot"

"You are a registered Criminologist, I believe you had practical training in shooting" malamig ang boses nito habang pinagmamasdan ako, ngunit dahil naka SmartMask ito, ay hindi ko malaman kung naiinis ba siya dahil hindi ko siya sinunod.

"Yes, pero I almost failed our training course." I lied.  Kaya ko naman, pero hindi naman kasi yun ang goal ko.  Gusto kong maging lawyer in the future.  Gusto ko pa rin makapagtapos. 

Hedera is just standing beside me, nakita kong malayang nililipad ang mahaba nitong buhok pero hindi ito nag aksaya ng oras na tanggalin ang ilang hibla ng buhok na tumatakip sa may maskara niya.

It's like she's flexing her hair na napakabango at napaka healthy tignan.  Habang minamasdan ko siya naiimagine ko yung nakita kong babae na nagligtas sa akin.  Her sleepy grayish eyes and beautiful long lashes.  It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.  I know I am straight, pero hindi ko maiwasang magandahan sakanya.

Sobrang ganda niya nung nakita ko siya, at alam kong hindi ako nag hahallucinate lang.  Nakakainggit yung ganda niya.  Ano kayang kinakain niya? 

Maya maya pa ay nakita ko itong tumalikod na sa akin, I watched her walking away, my eyes tracing the curve of her spine, the way her shoulders move while she walk.

She shifted her weight slightly, and I saw it—a momentary lapse, her foot slipping on the uneven rooftop. Bigla akong kinabahan dahil napansin kong tila matutumba ito.  Wala ng time para mag-isip pa, wala ng time para pag-isipan kung susundan ko siya, dahil walang pagdadalawang isip na humakbang ako. Instinct took over, and I closed the distance between us in a heartbeat.

My hand found her waist, fingers curling around the fabric of her jacket, and I pulled her back, kaya naman naramdaman ko rin ang pagkagulat nito. Iniharap ko siya sa akin.

"Nahihilo ka"

Pero hindi ito sumagot at nagpumiglas ito, kahit halata naman ang pagkahilo niya.  My right hand still gripping her waist, dahil any moment ay baka matumba ito, pero pilit nito iyong inaalis.

"Stop moving!" I snapped, my voice harsher than I intended. My other hand joined the first, gripping her waist firmly as I tried to steady her. But my boss wasn't one to submit easily. She fought against me, twisting her torso, trying to break free from my hold. The sudden shift in her weight nearly sent us both tumbling, and I had to tighten my grip, anchoring her to me to keep us from losing our balance.

"Let go of me." she said, her voice sharp, cutting through the cool night air. Pero hindi ako nakinig.  Ayaw kong making. Dahil alam kong may mali.  Sa laki ba naman ng lalaking yun na nag untog ng sarili nitong ulo sa ulo ng boss ko, malamang talaga kahit sino naman ay mahihilo. 

I know she was dizzy, disoriented, and if I let go, she'd fall.

"Be still," I ordered, trying to keep my voice steady, pero sinigurado ko na seryoso ang pagkakasabi ko at hindi ako papatinag sa pagsusutil niya. My hands tightened around her waist, pulling her closer until our bodies were pressed together. I could feel the rapid rise and fall of my chest for some reason, parang mas kinabahan pa kasi ako sakanya.