Cure in His Soul

Chapter 9

"Thank you, for bringing me here," he said while looking in my eyes." You like it?"

"Of course, duh," he stated with amusement.

We are soaking our feet in the river while letting the wind pass each corner. "So, you were always here? Or ngayon lang?"

"I can say always, kahit kasi sa city na kami tumitira, pabalik-balik parin kami rito, kala mo naman malapit," I joked, and he laughed. "Silly,"

"Let's continue?'' He rose from the water and offered his hand to me to stand up. I accepted it and prepared myself for the next shot.

"I'm sorry," He gazed at me still setting his camera due to confusion. "For?" His forehead is clueless.

"Nabigyan pa kita ng responsibilidad kahit gusto mo lang naman ay magrelax," tumawa siya sa sinabi ko.

"Hush with that, it's a tie, you bring me here for peace, I am capturing you in exchange, ang daya nga sa part mo, kasi pwede ko itong ifeature sa page ko, to attract customers. Kaya don't feel bad d'yan," he thumbs up.

"You can, para aware silang deserving ka..." Wala na akong sinabi pa kasi he signed me to pose.

We did it quickly and returned to our house, to eat. Mamaya babalik kami roon para magenjoy, almost 12pm pa naman, at mas maganda roon kapag hapon.

"Kain kana iho," my lola offered him rice, I also gave him some soup since the sense of him being shy is acting up. "Don't be shy, free is better than paying," I whispered to him, magkatabi lang ang aming upuan.

"Kailan mo balak ligawan ang anak ko?" Everyone in the table suddenly stop, eyes where roaming around as if there is something they need to catch. I am ashamed.

"Dad!" I warned. It's so embarrassing!

"Chill," he shrugged, feeling it funny. "I'm sorry," I talked to Sylvan.

"No, worries," he reassured.

"Anong name ng page mo Syl?" Ate Malia asked, I am preparing.

"Hmm. I'll contact you in case my maghanap ng photographer," she added while watching me holding my breathe.

"I'll send that to your socials, ate," he said. "Pati 'yung ultrasound, please,"

"Ate!" Lahat sila ay tumawa nung tumayo na ako.

Damn! I don't care anymore. It's so nakakahiya! Bakit ba sila ganito? Para nila akong pinagkakaisahan!

"Chill, baby," pagpapakalma ni ate.

My mother laughed and whispered something to Slyvan while I felt so awkward and hopeless.

"Ayos lang, huwag kana ma stress d'yan," bungad ni Slyvan sa akin nang maupo ako. "Sorry," 'yun na lang ang tanging salitang nasabi ko.

He smiled, to assure me again na okay lang. Binilisan ko nalang ang pagkain para makaalis na kami ulit.

"Alis po muna kami," paalam ko sa kanila pagkatapos ko iligpit ang ibang mga gamit.

I start walking while Slyvan is at the back of me, ate Malia didn't come with us, she has something to deal, what an excuse.

"Are you okay? You look pale," pagbasak niya sa katahimikan. "I'm fine," I respond blandly.

"Stop feeling bad about it, sanay na ako sa gano'n," tumigil ako sa paglalakad, nilingon ko siya at agad siyang tinaasan ng kilay sa narinig.

"It's normal for you? You were always shipped with different women?" I asked with evident curiosity.

"Yeah. Some parents shipped me with their daughters, which for me are just my clients," he answered simply, while playing the stone in front of him.

Tinignan ko ang nilalaro niya patungo sa kaniyang katawan, hanggang sa mukha, hindi pa rin siya tumitingin sa direksyon ko. "You like it?" Inangat niya ang tingin niya at nagtaka. ''Like what?"

What? What did I just ask?

"I mean. You like it? I mean... someone from those women," bawi ko. "No," agarang sagot nito.

Tumango-tango ako at naglakad ulit. "Pst," he called me from behind and I looked for him.

"Gago!'' Sagad kong mura, he throwed a freaking artificial snake at me! "Are you at of your mind!"

He shrugged, teasing me. Tumakbo ako papunta sa kaniya, kaya siya naman ay tumakbo papalayo sa akin. We laughed when I hit him from behind.

He took my arm when he turned around, facing me directly, he put it upward and spin me with it.

My dress dances with the motion of his hand, and the rhythm of my steps in circle. It stopped after minutes.

"You're so beautiful, woman," he then kissed my hand while he's hugging me from my back. "Hmm?"

"I like you," he cleared. I smiled. "I don't," I teased. "I didn't ask tho, and you don't need too," he mumbled.

"You will not force me?" I asked. "No. We don't need that. I want to dance with you," he requested.

I faced him, smiling widely. He stared at my eyes, I noticed different emotions in it, and I can't emphasize it, it's too deep to be explained.

He guided my arms on his shoulders, and marked his hands in my waist, he lowered his face as well to meet mine. "Thank you," he said.

"For?" I asked. "I had chance to meet you again,"

"Huh?" I feel something down me, and it pain the hell out of me. What?

I looked down, and a knife with blood welcomed my sight. He... stabbed me. Slyvan stabbed me... for what?

"I do love you," I heard it, but my mind can't process, as my knees lowering down to the ground, my arm tried to reach him. "The blood of chances, take it all," the last words my ears absorbed.