Montreal

18

18: Chase

It was definitely impossible to convince Montreal to let me out on my first night in the Metro—especially that tomorrow would be his birthday.

Naging lamang pa niya na hindi namin makakasama si Ace dahil may gagawin daw ito. I knew it was because she wasn't feeling well, but I didn't comment anyway.

"Colden, it's alright," tulong pa ni Luna. "Kasama naman niya kaming tatlo at sisiguruduhin kong hinding-hindi siya mawawala sa paningin ko."

Luna was in her serious but calm voice when she said that. Pero ako pa ata ang mas naging problemado kaysa kay Colden.

What right did he have to cage me here in his pad?

Well... not that I was complaining. Colden and I in the same house...

Pinilig ko ang aking ulo.

"What are you doing? Col's not my dad," I said more to him than them.

Bakit ba kasi kailangang ipagpaalam? Alam ko namang sumobra sa kaartehan si Colden at kahit ako ay nag-iingat pagdating sa kanya pero akala ko ako lang 'yon dahil kasintahan niya 'ko. Ba't pati sila ay may takot kay Colden?

Was he our gang's boss? I failed to remember.

My left hand tugged my imaginary hair behind my ear. Duh! Amnesia!

"Besides," baling ko sa Mighty Montreal, "I need to buy you my gift."

I bit my lower lip at the familiar feeling of looking into my man's eyes. I automatically answered a query in my head: would there ever be a day that he wasn't absolutely stunning? Nope.

Perhaps he noticed--as always--that I was completely affected by his sinful charms, for he subtly smirked. My heart stung a little as it started to beat erratically. Damn!

Inalis niya ang paglalaro sa kanyang mga mata sa sumunod niyang sinambit, "Fine. But you only have till eleven."

Agaran akong napairap sa pinalidad sa kanyang tinig! What the hell? Bata ba?

Nagtikhiman sila Luna at nanahimik lalo.

"Fine. But that's only because it's your birthday. Next time I'll have the whole night to myself."

Parang koro pa na nagtaasan nang sabay ang mga kilay namin.

"'Next time'?" he bit the words like they were foreign to him.

Hindi ako sumuko. Nakipaglabanan ako ng titig sa kanya kahit na halos maliro na ako dahil ayan na naman at nanghihigop ang kanyang mga matang kayang makipagkumpetensya sa gabi sa dilim.

Gone were the days that I was full of insecurity. Hindi na ako ang batang nawawala. Hindi na ako si Yuki na kulang ng paninindigan.

Ako na ngayon muli si Snow. My lack of memory couldn't diminish that. I was a woman of prowess.

"RPS," banggit ni Luna sa kung ano. Napatingin kami sa kanya.

"Ano?" usisa ko.

"Rock, paper, scissors," simpleng paliwanag niya na nagpaangat ng isang kilay ko at nagpangisi sa akin sa parehong pagkakataon.

"Well then..." Ibinaling ko kay Colden ang nakataas kong kilay. "If I win, I'll have the whole night for myself. All other matters remain in the impasse zone."

Colden's answering smirk almost faded mine away. I flinched inwardly. "I win... and you won't even go out tonight. You'll have no say for all other matters."