Tempting Trigger

Chapter Thirty-Five

Kanina pa gustong gusto umuwi ni Trigger, pero ayoko naman maging bastos ang dating namin sa mga magulang niya kahit na ba alam kong hindi naman yun iisipin nila Tita George. Kaya sabi ko sakanya, tapusin na namin ang party.

Ipinatawag si Trigger ng Lolo Gael niya kaya naman mag-isa ako. Dinala ako ng aking mga paa palabas ng events hall.

Sa garden, doon ko nakita si Tita Mommy. She's smoking.

"Tita mommy?" I called her as I walked towards her direction. "Where's Haring Red?"

"Inside." Simpleng sagot nito bago ngumiti. "How are you, Thalili?"

"Mabuti naman po." I hugged her. "I missed you, tita mommy."

"I missed you, too." She threw the cigarette away.

"Why are you smoking? Is something bothering you?" I asked.

Umiling ito, but I can see how she lie through her eyes. "How are you and Trigger?"

"H-how did you know?" Takang tanong ko.

"I'm Chiara Paula DelaPaz-DeSalvo. I--"

"Santa de Leones." Dugtong ko. "Fan ako ng Lion Lynx tita mommy, so hindi pwedeng nawawala ang Santa de Leones sa pangalan mo."

"Alright." She rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I happen to know everything. So how is it going?"

"Smooth sailing." Napangiti ako. "Mahal ko siya tita mommy eh."

"At walang mali dun." Ngumiti rin ito.

"Pero natatakot akong masaktan."

"Which is normal. Wala naman sigurong tao ang hindi takot sa bagay na iyon." She shrugged. "You know Thalia, you can prove to yourself that you love someone if you already conquered all the pain and was more than willing to catch the rest. Love is selfless, you can be scared but never ever turn your back. Because if you did, then it's not love."

"Ganun ka rin po ba kay tito Red?" I asked.

"Believe me, Thalia... if it isn't because of so much love that I have for him, I'm not here." Mapait itong ngumiti. "Don't let the pain weakens you, make it your strength. If it's really hard to lift always remember who you are."

Sandali pa kaming nagkwentuhan ni Tita Mommy. She's like my second mom kaya naman marami kaming napaguusapan. Kung hindi lang dumating si Tito Red para sabihing uuwi na sila ay hindi kami matatapos sa pag-uusap.

"Uuwi na din tayo?" Tanong ko kay Trigger nang lapitan ako nito at halikan ang aking pisngi.

Tumango ito. "Sa pad ko, bukas na tayo babyahe pabalik sa rancho kasi gabi na masyado. Natawagan ko na si Mama Nae."

"Sus, sinosolo mo lang ako talaga eh!" Biro ko.

"Can't blame me, I missed you." He smiled and hugged me tight before he snuggled into my neck. "Let's go and drop your Armani on the floor..."

"Romanov!" Pinamulanan ako ng mukha. "Ikaw talaga!"

Tawa lamang ang isinagot nito sakin. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang kakaibang saya saking dibdib. Trigger is really my happiness. Forever will be.

Diretso ang tingin nito sa daan habang nag-mamaneho, pero nabobother ako sa nakakalokong ngiti na nakapaskil sa mga labi nito.

"Romanov, yang ngiti mo kanina ko pa napapansin ha. May mahalay kang balak noh?!" Pinanlakihan ko ito ng mga mata.

"Thank you for your harsh judgment, baby." He chuckled and turned a quick glance on me before focusing back on the road. "I was just thinking about my fantasy six years ago."