Parting Her Petals (Monforte Series #2)

Kabanata 40

Masama

All of my worries were thrown under the bus. All I could see is him... in front of me. All of the people in the world didn't matter... because he's finally here.

At hindi pa nga siya lumalapit, pakiramdam ko ay ayos na ako. Pakiramdam ko, tumigil na ang lahat. Pakiramdam ko, lahat ng takot na naramdaman ko kanina ay tinangay ng malaking ibon... at hindi na ulit bumalik.

That's how I felt whenever he's around me. That's always his effect on me. And I always wonder why he's always there to save me. At minsan, hindi niya lang alam... pero ilang beses niya akong iniligtas.

My baby is now in front of me. Looking helpless and worried. Magulo ang buhok at tanggal ang unang tatlong butones ng kaniyang long sleeves. The tuck on his pants were also disheveled. It almost looked like he's been in so much stress... or chaos. Saan siya galing?

"Can you just let me finish washing up? Lalabas ak-ko agad." Suhestiyon ko.

Matalim niya akong tiningnan. "What happened? Tell me..." he demanded.

"What happened to you? Stressed ka ba sa work? Bakit parang malapit nang masira ang damit mo?-"

He looked at me deadly. He walked slowly that it made me scared to move. Pakiramdam ko may mali akong nasabi.

"Sinong huli mong nakausap?"

"What?"

"I checked the CCTVs and it showed that you ran because someone called you." He swallowed hard. "Baby, who was it?"

I breathe in slowly. The name is at the tip of my tongue. I wanna tell him so badly. I want to tell him the whole thing. But then this is not the right time!

My whole body is exposed! And fuck it! I know that I have a jaw-dropping one but... I cannot just talk to him while I'm just covered in bubbles. At lalong hindi nakakatulong na ang tanging boundary lang naming dalawa ay ang salamin sa pagitan ng shower at sink!

Napapikit ako at umiling. Bumababa na ang lahat ng bula sa katawan ko kaya kinakailangan ko pang pabulain ang shower gel na nasa loofa. Mabilis kong ginawa 'yon para lamang kahit papaano'y matakluban ang iniingatan kong perlas ng silangan. He looked at my hands lazily, where it is gliding. His lips hanged open.

"I will tell you! Leave!" I shouted.

Pumikit siya at marahang huminga. I saw how hard he swallowed. Tumalikod siya at itinuon ang dalawang palad sa counter.

"Pierce, I will tell you. Hindi ka ba makapag..."

Hindi ko na natapos ang sinasabi ko nang marinig ko ang hikbi sa kaniyang banda.

"I am... so fucking worried." His voice shook. "Tell me everything that happened."

His voice... were holding it in together. His voice... were begging.

"Yes, I will tell you. Let me finish! Hindi ako mawawala dito sa banyo." I reasoned because of panic!

Did he really think that I can explain myself covered in bubbles?!

Natigil ako sa pagiisip nang makita ko ang panginginig ng kaniyang balikat. It was just subtle but I can see it clearly. It seems like he's trying so hard not to cry but he did. Kaya kitang-kita ko kung paano niya pigilan ang sarili... ngunit hindi siya nagtagumpay rito.

I felt like even if he's not facing me... I can see right through him.

At parang sinaksak ng ilang libong beses ang puso ko nang makita ang pagpupunas niya ng kaniyang mata. And even though he tried so hard to mask his feelings, I can clearly hear his sobs. At kahit pa hindi siya humarap ngayon... alam ko.