POSSESSIVE 20: Andrius Salazar

CHAPTER 33

CHAPTER 33

BAHAGYANG UMATRAS si Ivy at nilakihan ang pagkakabukas ng pinto para makapasok si Russo sa loob. Nilingon niya si Andrius pero wala na ito sa tabi niya, nang ipalibot niya ang tingin, nakita niya itong lumabas ng kuwarto nila.

She frowned. He was just beside me.

"Señorita." Pukaw ni Russo sa kaniya.

Napakurap-kurap siya bago iminuwestra ang kamay patungong salas. "Have a seat."

Pero hindi gumalaw si Russo. Nanatili ito sa kinatatayuan malapit sa pinto. Nang lingunin niya si Andrius nakita niyang naglalakad na ito palapit sa kaniya.

"Russo..." Andrius smiled at Russo who just nodded in return. "You're here. What can we do for you?"

Pinapakiramdaman niya si Russo, binanasa niya ang kislap ng mga mata nito at bawat paggalaw ng katawan. Hindi siya sigurado sa tumatakbo sa isip nito pero alam niyang may binabalak ito.

"I'm here to deliver a good news." Ngumiti si Russo sa kaniya. "The Salavaderás is now under control. Their execution is scheduled tomorrow morning. You can go home now, Señorita."

Inakbayan siya ni Andrius. "She's not going home, Russo. She's staying with me."

Kinunutan siya ng nuo ni Russo, halatang hindi nagustuhan ang sinabi ni Andrius. "But Señorita—"

"It's true." Sabi niya habang pinagmamasdan ang pag-iiba ng kislap ng mga mata ni Russo. "I'm staying with my corazoncito."

"Oh, yeah..." Andrius smiled happily, "I forgot, you're invited to our wedding next week." He kissed her on her lips, "we just can't wait to be husband and wife."

Tumalim ang mga mata ni Russo pero kaagad din iyong nawala. "But Señorita, there is no danger in Bogotá anymore. I helped your father clean up the mess you made. You belong in Bogotá. You don't belong in this place—"

"She belongs with me." May diing sabi ni Andrius saka bumaba ang kamay nitong naka-akbay sa kaniya. "Not in Bogotá, but with me."

She smiled at Russo. "Thank you for the help, Russo, I appreciate it but I'm not leaving Andrius' side."

Nagbaba ito ng tingin kapagkuwan ay malamig na tumawa. "You appreciate my help. That's it?" Nanunumbat ang mga mata nitong tumingin sa kaniya. "I was by your side since you were just a teen. We are partners in everything. I did everything you asked without question. We were okay, happy even, until you met him.

Ang matalim nitong mata ay tumuon kay Andrius. "You ruined everything. My señorita was happy in Bogotá. She doesn't need you. You're a nobody, you don't deserve her, yet you manage to soften the heart of my Señorita and you stole her from me. It is I whose gonna protect her. It is me, Russo, who protected her all these years and you took her away from me like my efforts are nothing!"

Hinugot nito ang baril na nakatago sa likod at galit ang matang itinutok iyon kay Andrius pero ang kasintahan ay kalmado lang na nakapamulsa.

"Russo!" Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa ginawa niya. "Drop the gun! Now!"

Bumaling ito sa kaniya at lumambot ang mukha. "I always listened to you, but not today." Umiling ito. "You hurt me, Señorita. And I'm sorry that I have to do this. He stole you from me, I have to take you back where you belong, with me...I can never forgive him—"

"Russo..." umiling siya, "I was never yours—"

"But I love you!" Russo hissed those words to her, stunning her. "All those things you told me to do, I did it because I love you! I killed for you! I did everything for you just to make you happy!"