Wild Deception

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

"YOU should have taken your breakfast, first. Magtatanghali na," mahinang wika na Liberty.

"Nah. I can't eat without you. Knowing you, you'll prefer skipping your meal just to do your stuff."

"Huh?"

"I... I mean, I just want to share breakfast with you."

Liberty stretched her arms upwards. She was watching over Theo's every move. Her eyes were locked at his biceps, how his arms flexed as he prepared the table for them.

Another dejavu. She shook her head as another vague memory flashed inside her imagination. Why does it seem to be happening to her more frequent, now?

"I thought we're here to meet your business partners? But look what had happened. Mas marami ka pang oras sa paglandi," Liberty blurted out unconsciously. That made Theo stop and stared at her. Nakangisi na ito sa kanya.

"What did you say?"

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin dito. Halos piktusan niya ang sarili dahil sa nasabi niya. Mukhang hindi lang si Theo ang nagbago, kahit itanggi pa ng isip niya, alam niya sa sarili niya na malaki ang ipinagbago niya simula nang pinagsaluhan nila ang gabing iyon.

"Nothing. Bilisan mo na po, gutom na ako," aniya. Right at this moment, bewildered is an understatement. Hindi na niya alam kung kaya pa niyang panindigan ang misyon niya, higit sa lahat, ang sarili niyang prinsipyo.

Falling in love is literally a process of opening up your heart and letting someone get inside and mess it up. Handa na ba siyang baliin ang prinsipyo niya sa buhay? Hindi niya masagot ang sariling mga tanong. The moment that he let Theo take her was the time that she let herself fall on the trap. She's unsure of what's coming next to all these things, but one thing's certain: she failed her mission.

Nakagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi. Hindi niya rin sigurado kung kaya niyang ipaglaban ang pagkakamaling nagawa niya.

"Breakfast is ready!" anunsyo ni Theo.

Noon lang bumalik sa kasalukuyan si Liberty. Ngumiti siya nang makita ang kakaibang kasiyahan sa mukha ng lalaki. Hindi niya inakalang mapupunta sila sa ganitong sitwasyon. Kahit na misteryo sa kanya ang bawat parte ng pagkatao ni Theo, alam ng puso niya na nahulog siya kaagad nang gano'n kabilis. Tila ngayon lang din nag-sink in sa utak niya ang lahat.

She shifted her attention to the food on the table. Even the set up made her feel special, poached eggs, sautéed spinach, hollandaise sauceVine ripened tomato and hash browns completed her breakfast meal. Mukhang balak din siyang busugin ng lalaki sa dami ng pagkaing nakahain.

"Dapat aralin mong magluto kasi ikaw ang gagawa no'n kapag mag-asawa na tayo."

She shook her head for the nth time. Was it just her imagination or she just heard a voice in her consciousness?

"You okay?" Theo asked her. Napatigil ito sa pagkain.

"Y--yeah." Dali-dali siyang tumango. Siguro isa iyon sa mga signs na in love na siya sa lalaking ito. She can hear his voice sometimes.

Inabala ni Liberty ang sarili sa pagkain para mawala ang pagkailang na nararamdaman niya. She's been reading Theo's gestures the whole time they're eating their breakfast. Wala naman siyang napapansing kakaiba. Parang natural ang lahat ng galaw nito. He's care about her seemed to be genuine.

She offered to fix the table after they eat, but Theo resisted.

"Nope, I can manage. Magpahinga ka na, baby."