In The Arms Of An Angel (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 13

"Ano ba yan! Ang damot sa signal dito,ah! Paano na ang mga followers ko sa FB, IG, Twitter, at Snapchat kung di ako makaupdate? Kaloka!" Valerie wailed as she pranced around the clearing, her phone raised up in the air searching for network signal.

Dei is oblivious to her friend's plight. She remained seated on the huge rock, staring at nothing. Her mind filled with thoughts of him.

She has been in and out of that zombie-like state since she returned from their short tryst at the forest earlier.

Valerie waved a hand directly in front of her face to catch her attention.

"Huy! Okay ka lang ba, beshie? Kanina lang di ka mapakali kasi super excited ka pumunta dito tapos ngayon para kang namatanda dyan? Anong ganap?" Valerie said while staring at her face intently.

"A-ano...Nothing..." She answered distractedly before she abruptly stood up and turned to her team to avoid more questions from her "inquisitive" assistant.

"Are the models ready? I want to catch the sunset in the right angle for our last layout..." She suddenly asked, trying to change the topic.

"Oh..o-okay." Valerie said while still looking at her intently. Then her assistant turned to their group and shouted: "Guys! Back to work na daw sabi ni Dei! Double time!"

Everyone scrambled to their feet to return to their posts for the shoot.

Dei heaved a silent sigh.

The last thing she would need now is for any member of her team getting suspicious about her actions. Most specially Valerie.

No one should know about her secret rendevouz with Richard.

She better pull herself together and finish her work at hand first. She can worry about her other mission after.

                 ******************

Hours later.

Dei unzipped her sleeping bag with as much less sound as possible while intently watching her bestfriend to make sure she is still fast asleep beside her inside their tent. She then crawled on all fours to the door and peaked out to make sure the coast is clear before she stepped out and sprinted off to the direction of the forest.

Dei walked cautiously through the centuries old trees with only the light from the moon as her guide, careful not to trip on the protruding roots.

What's strange though is that it's as if her feet knew instinctively where to go and her whole body just follows.

Her heartbeat tripled in anticipation as she approached the clearing then suddenly stopped a second before resuming its frantic beating when she saw him standing by the stream staring straight at her. His piercing hazel eyes seemed to look straight to her soul. This made her stop in her track and just stared back at him.

They stayed like that for a few seconds just drinking in each other's presence from across the clearing, savoring the moment.

Dei was the first to break the eye contact by looking away. She could no longer keep up with the intensity of the young man's gaze.

She can literally feel herself turning red from the blush that started from her neck all the way up to the roots of her hair. She has never in her 22 years of existence been stared at by a member of the opposite sex with such reverence and longing as Richard is staring at her at that moment. It made her feel both shy and excited at the same time.

Then he was suddenly standing in front of her.

"T-teka, paano ka napunta...kanina ...nandun...."

She blurted out stammering as she stepped back and looked from where she first saw him to where he is now standing just inches in front of her. Richard just remained silently staring intently at her.

His voice when he finally spoke was like velvet caressing her skin.

"Dei, kanina pa kita hinihintay..."

His voice alone can cause her to feel weak in the knees. And his nearness is wrecking havor on her senses that she can barely move nor speak.

"Dei, hindi ko alam kung bakit pero hindi ko makuhang lumayo syo. Sinubukan ko pero hindi ko kaya. I'm not supposed to feel anything anymore. Natanggap ko na ang kapalaran ko. Maayos na ang lahat. Naiinip pa nga akong dumating ang araw ng pagtatalaga sa akin...pero bigla kang dumating...ngayon di ko na alam..."  He looked up helplessly before looking at her again and asked her:

"Nararamdaman mo rin ba ang kakaibang damdamin na ito?"  He asked her as he took her hands in his and gently placed them on top of his chest.

She was taken aback by his question.

She can't believe that he too felt the unexplainable force that is pulling them together since the moment he saved her life at the ledge.

"Sino ka ba talaga, Richard? Bakit parang napakamisteryoso ng pagkatao mo? T-teka...may balak ka bang masama sa'kin?" She suddenly blurted out, wide eyed.
"P-pero imposible...hindi kasi...sino ka ba talaga?" She asked again.

"Marami kang kailangang malaman tungkol sa akin, Dei. Halika, maupo muna tayo..."

And he gently pulled her towards the bank of the stream where there is an outcropping of rocks and helped her get comfortable in one of the bigger ones before he settled down as well beside her while never letting go of her hand.

He slowly pulled her hand up and rub the back of it against his cheek. His eyes are closed, as if savoring the feel of her skin on his.

"Richard..." She was not able to continue because the look he gave her as he opened his eyes was filled with conflicting emotions that words failed her yet again.

"Dei, di ko alam kung maniniwala ka sa sasabihin ko syo ngayon o baka nga matakot ka pa...pero di ko na rin kaya na patuloy na makipagkita sa iyo na hindi mo batid kung sino ako...kung ano talaga ako..."

She turned completely towards him suddenly so she can look at his face more closely before blurting out:

"Nakakakaba naman ang sinasabi mo. Bakit serial killer ka ba at balak mo akong gawing susunod mong biktima? O terrorista ka at balak mo akong iparansom? T-teka, di ka naman siguro rapist???! ...sa gwapo mong yan..." 

She blabbered on as she try to ease the tension building inside her. She slightly moved back but did not pull away from his touch. She was a bit nervous about what he is going to say but deep inside she knew he is never any of those things she mentioned.

Something inside her says so. And that voice inside has not failed her yet when it comes to judging people's character.

Richard just tightened his hold on her hand ang asked her to look him straight in the eyes as he speak.

"Dei, sana maniwala ka sa akin..." He sighed. "Hindi kita kailanman sasaktan. Ngunit hindi ko rin kayang ipagpatuloy ang pakikipagkita sa iyo na gaya nito dahil hindi fair sayo."

"Pero bakit...?" She asked, confusion written all over her face.

"Dahil hindi ako tao."