Illicit Love

Kabanata 13

Linggo na, huling araw namin ngayon dito sa Baguio. Wala naman kaming masyadong ginawa. Kaming dalawa lang ni Rahim ang laging magkasama. Habang si Madam Claudiana, busy sa mga meeting niya.

Hindi rin naman kami nagpapansinan ni Ma'am Solanna. Hindi rin naman ako umaasang mapapansin niya ako dahil abala siya kasama si Niro. Swerteng kumag, e.

Habang nagliligpit ng mga gamit namin ni Rahim, may bigla akong narinig na katok sa labas ng pinto. Kumunot ang noo sa pagtataka. Wala naman akong inaasahang bisita ngayong araw.

"Sino 'yan? Sandali lang!"

Mabilis kong tinapos ang pagliligpit ng mga gamit namin ni Rahim sa bag bago naglakad palapit sa pinto. Pakiramdam ko umalis na siya sa tagal kong lumabas. Wala na akong naririnig na katok, pero para masiguro ay lumabas ako para tignan. Natigilan ako nang makita kung sino ang taong nakatayo sa labas ng pinto at mukhang naiinip na.

I looked up to find Ma'am Driana's eyes already on me. She was leaning nonchalantly against the wall, but her presence was anything but relaxed. What is she doing here? My brow knitted in confusion as she shot me a skeptical look, her eyebrow arched high. Despite the sudden jolt of anxiety that made my throat go dry, I refused to let it show. I took a breath and leaned into the act—I had to stay cool.

Tumikhim ako. "Ma'am Solanna, what are you doing here? Do you need something?"

"Where's Rahim?"

Syempre naman, si Rahim ang hinahanap niya kaya siya nandito. Sino pa ba? Alangan namang ako?

"Naliligo pa siya. Aalis na po ba? Sandali, tatawagin ko siya," sabi ko.

Tatalikod na sana ako sa kanya, pero umiling siya at umayos ng kanyang pagkakatayo. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa suot niya. Ngayon ko lang napansin ang suot niyang damit.

She wore a Prive plaid bodycon dress layered over a form-fitting black sweater. With her hair pulled back into a sleek, high ponytail and finished with classic black pumps, she radiated an aura of effortless elegance and class.

A wave of embarrassment washed over me the moment she caught me staring. I quickly averted my eyes, but my breath hitched as she took a deliberate step toward me. My heart began its familiar, frantic hammering against my ribs. Instinctively, I took a step back, retreating as the space between us continued to vanish.

Napansin ko ang pag-angat ng gilid ng labi niya. Kinakabahan na naman ako sa sobrang lapit niya sakin. Pakiramdam ko, lalabas na 'tong puso ko sa kaba ano mang oras ngayon.

As she closed the distance between us, I found myself trapped. The cold, hard surface of the wall pressed against my back, leaving me with no room to retreat. She held my gaze with a predatory intensity, a lingering smirk playing on her lips.

"M-Ma'am..."

When she began to lean in slowly, my eyes widened in sheer shock at her boldness. I was completely paralyzed as she drew near, and when she finally leaned in to whisper into my ear, I caught my breath sharply and instinctively squeezed my eyes shut.

"Why so stiff, Zariah? There's no need to be on edge, I'm not going to bite... I just came to tell you that you should head downstairs once you both are ready. We're leaving in thirty minutes," bulong niya.

That was all she said before the sound of her walking away reached my ears. I snapped my eyes open, my breath coming in ragged shallow lungps, as I watched her figure grow smaller in the distance. Fuck... she's a master at this. Does she have any idea how much her little stunts actually get under my skin?

Napailing na lang ako bago sinara ang pinto. Hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko dahil kanina pa nagwawala 'tong walang hiya kong puso. Nanghihina akong napaupo sa kama habang sapo ang mga pisngi kong sobrang init.