Luna Ville Series 2: Mystical Blue Cat (COMPLETE)

17th Chapter: Patience

SLEY HAD a long, tiring day. Pinroblema niya ngayong araw ang pananamlay ng mga hayop sa zoo. But he had taken care of it. Everything was okay now; it just seemed to drain all of his energy though. And he was really hungry, too. He could have just eaten at Alaude's restaurant, but he wanted to eat Monina's cooking. Gustong-gusto kasi niya ang luto nito sa kaldereta.

He got off his car while loosening his necktie. Inaasahan niyang sasalubungin siya ni Monina ng malakas at masiglang "welcome back" pagpasok pa lang niya sa bahay. Kaya nagtaka siya nang katahimikan at kadiliman ang sumalubong sa kanya.

"Monina?" Kinapa ni Sley ang switch ng ilaw. When he turned on the lights, nagulat siya sa nakitang estado ng bahay.

His house was a mess! Iisipin na sana niyang may nanloob sa bahay pero nakita niyang natutulog sa sofa si Monina. He let out a sigh of relief. Nag-squat siya paupo sa harap ng babae. She was sleeping like an angel, as if she had not done anything evil.

Hinilot niya ang kanyang sentido nang maramdaman niyang may pumitik na kung ano roon. Nandidiri siya sa hitsura ng bahay. To be honest, he was really angry at Monina for messing his house up like this. He could not think of any valid reason as to why she did this.

Bumuga siya ng hangin, saka tumayo. Hinubad niya ang jacket at maingat na ipinatong kay Monina dahil mukhang nilalamig ang babae. Mamaya na niya ito dadalhin sa kuwarto.

Nagtungo muna si Sley sa kusina upang kalmahin ang sarili. Pero imbes na kumalma ay lalo yatang uminit ang ulo niya nang makitang patong-patong at lumagpas na sa lababo ang maruruming plato at kawali. And worst of all, walang pagkain. Lalong hindi niya matanggap na nagkalat ang pagkain sa paligid. Ayaw niya na may nasasayang na pagkain.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga para kalmahin ang sarili. He did not know what Monina was up to, but he was not happy with it. Napapansin naman niyang sinasadya nitong asarin siya minsan. Pero pinagpapasensiyahan niya. Ang akala niya ay nagbago na si Monina dahil noong nasa zoo sila, she behaved well. Nagkamali pala siya. She went overboard.

Nagmartsa si Sley pabalik sa sala at nakapamaywang na tumayo sa harap ng natutulog na si Monina. "Monina, wake up." She just groaned. "Monina." Tinapik-tapik niya ang babae sa braso pero hindi pa rin gumising. It only made him more frustrated. "Monina, I'm really mad at the moment. Puwede bang ipaliwanag mo ang ginawa mong 'to? Pinagpasensiyahan kita noon, but you've gone overboard now. So, wake up!"

Biglang humikbi si Monina.

Nataranta naman siya. He can handle anything but crying women. Agad siyang nakonsiyensiya. "I'm not mad, Monina—I mean, I'm mad. Pero kaunti lang," biglang bawi niya. Nag-squat siya paupo sa harap ng babae. "Moni—" Natigilan siya nang mapansing tulog pa rin ito, pero may pumatak na luha mula sa mga mata.

Something hit his chest hard when he saw tears fall from her closed eyes. Had she been crying till she fell asleep? Ayaw man niyang aminin pero alam niyang nang mga sandaling iyon ay tunaw na ang galit na nararamdaman niya kanina. He did not have the heart to get angry at this cute little devil.

He gently brushed away her tears using his thumb. "'Ayan, gagawa-gawa ka ng kasalanan, 'tapos ngayon, iiyak-iyak ka diyan," pabulong na sermon niya. "Bakit mo ba 'ko pinahihirapan nang ganito, ha, Monina?"

Humikbi lang uli ang babae.

His anger was totally washed away. Bumuga siya ng hangin. "What am I going to do with you, Monina?" He gently carried her in his arms. Ipinasok niya ang babae sa guest room na ginagamit nito pansamantala, pagkatapos ay maingat na ibinaba sa kama at binalot ng comforter. "Goodnight, Monina." Paalis na sana siya nang magsalita ang babae.

"Sley..."

Hearing her call out his name sweetly in her sleep made him feel warm inside. How could she do it? How could Monina make him angry one minute, and so calm the next? Umupo siya sa gilid ng kama at pinagmasdan ang maganda nitong mukha. He poked her cheek with his finger. "What?"

"I love... fried... chicken..."

Natawa siya. This woman was annoyingly cute. "I know."

"And Sley, too..."

Natigilan siya sa ginagawang pangingialam sa mukha ni Monina. Nagulat siya sa sinabi ng babae. And dang, his heart suddenly went wild!

"Sley's fried chicken... yum... yum..."

Hindi niya alam kung maaasar siya o maiinis. Ang akala niya ay kung ano na, iyon lang naman pala ang ibig nitong sabihin.

Disappointed?

Of course not!

Dumako ang mga mata ni Sley sa bahagyang nakaawang na mga labi ni Monina. He swallowed hard when he felt the urge to taste the sweetness of her lips again. Naalala niya nang halikan niya si Monina sa LV Mini-Forest. He kissed her because he wanted to make sure she was real, and she was not just a beautiful illusion that would hurt him again. Gusto uli niyang makasigurong totoo ang babaeng ito, na kahit ano ang gawin ay hindi niya magawang kamuhian...

Nagmartsa siya papunta sa sariling kuwarto bago pa siya may magawang maaaring pagsisihan. Like kiss her just because she was damn irritating and damn cute at the same time.

What the hell, Sley?

Napamura siya nang mahina nang makita ang estado ng kuwarto niya. Gayumpaman, hindi na siya gaanong galit. He was concentrating more on controlling the erratic beating of his heart. He did not want to admit it, but he was really disappointed that Monina did not mean she loved him. She friggin' loved his fried chicken instead!

Pasalampak siyang umupo sa magulong kama, saka ginulo ang kanyang buhok. "Damn, Sley! It's just Monina and her naughty games!" Nahagip ng kanyang mga mata ang foreign object sa night table. There were three bars of chocolate and spicy cup noodles on it.

Napangiti siya habang iiling-iling. "Gagawa-gawa ka ng kalokohan, makokonsiyensiya ka rin pala sa huli." Inihilamos niya ang mga kamay sa mukha. "How can you be so cute, Monina?"