The Ruler

Kabanata 10

Kabanata X

True fucking feelings.

Nakarating kami ni Reid sa bahay ng walang imikan. Inihinto nya ang kotse sa harap ng bahay. Tinitigan nya ako ng  mataman. Huminga sya ng malalim bago magsalita. I can sense he's mad. Or guilty? I ain't sure.

"Look. What you have saw earlier is-"  I cut him off nang bigla akong magsalita.

"I knew. She just did that on purpose. She knew that I'm....uh..." I said nervously.

"Peeking?" He said in humorous tone. Nakita ko ang pagkislap ng mga mata nya.  He looked satisfied with what I've said

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa pagkapahiya. " I wasn't peeking!" I said in full of defense. "I was just....uh... narinig ko kasi na....uh" di mapakali kong sabi. Nilingon ko sya. Amusement was evident into his eyes. As if he's making fun of my expenses.

"And look at you, woman! You have hurted yourself..." He said softly at hinaplos ang paa ko. Napakislot ako dahil doon.  Inirapan ko sya at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Why are you there anyway?" He asked. Nilingon ko sya.

"Governor Peralta requested, me to bring the documents that I made to the manager." Simple kong sagot. He nodded.

Lumabas sya ng kotse at binukasan ang pinto ng passenger seat para buhatin ako.

"R-reid I can manage...." Sabi ko at saka biglang tumayo. Dahilan upang muntik na akong tumumba. Mabuti na lamang ay maagap ako sinalo ni Reid.

"I don't think so sweetheart...." He said in a deep baritone voice. It was close to my right ear, dahilan para tumaas ang balahibo ko sa batok. Marahan nya akong binuhat kaya naman napasinghap ako. Unlike before, this one was closer.

Binuhat nya ako papasok ng bahay. Mabuti na lamang ay nakabukas ang gate. Natanaw ko si Papa na nag-aayos ng halaman sa garden. Nagulat sya ng makita kami ni Reid. He worriedly approach us.

"What happened?!" He said. Nahihiya akong tumingin kay Reid. I don't fucking know how to explain! Reid clear his throat and looked at me then to Papa.

"Sir, Lian broke her ankle...due to a...." Sabi nito. Halos mawalan ako ng hininga dahil roon. Is he gonna tell my father?!

"An accident Sir. Her heels are too high kaya naman hindi sinasadyang natapilok sya sa hagdanan.." he explained. Tinitigan kami ni Papa na parang nagtataka. Probably because he knows kung gaano ako kasanay magsuot ng stilletos or heels and stuff.

Tumango ito dahilan para dalhin na ako ni Reid sa loob. Nang makapasok kami sa loob ng bahay ay iniupo ako ni Reid sa sofa namin, na sya namang pagsalubong ni Mama.

"Diyos ko! A-anong nangyari??" Mama worriedly said at nilapitan kami. I shifted my position into a comfortable one. Hinarap ni Reid sina Mama at Papa.

"I'm sorry that this happened, Tita, Tito... It was an accident. Lian, got out of balance and broke her ankle. The doctor said that it will be alright...." He explained in front of my parents. Pumikit ako ng mariin. Tama naman ang sinabi ni Reid. Mabuti na lamang ay hindi nya sinabi ang kagagahang ginawa ko.

Akin ba? O Kay Laureen?

Umiling ako. "Hay nako kang Bata ka!" Sabi ni Mama sabay baling sa akin. "Di ka nag-iingat!" Sabi ni Mama sabay hampas sa braso ko. Bahagya akong tumawa dahil doon. When I turned to Reid, he's sternly looking at me. There are danger in his eyes. It's full of cautions. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin dahil doon. I can feel the heat coming up through my face.

Hinarap ni Mama si Reid at nagsalita. "Reid, salamat at inalagaan mo itong si Liana..." Sabi ni Mama at tumingin sa akin ng makahulugan.

"No problem, tita. I'm always willing to." Reid responded. "It's my duty anyways..." Dagdag nya pa na lalong nagpainit ng pisngi ko. This is so embarrassing!