Deceret Series #1: His Lips On My Neck

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

My eyes burned as I slowly wrapped the gauze around Philodemus' wrist. Huminga ako nang malalim. I tapped his wrist gently and lifted my gaze at him. Binabalot pa rin ako ng hiya sa ginawa ko kanina.

"I'm sorry..." mahina kong wika.

Philodemus smirked and examined the gauze wrapped around his wrist. "It's not that deep..."

"Even so..." gumalaw ako nang konti. Pakiramdam ko ay wala na akong mukhang maihaharap sa kaniya. I felt ashamed of myself... of what I did to him and to me.

He sighed painfully and pulled me closer, pulling me into a hug. Lumambot kaagad ang puso ko sa kaniyang ginawa at niyakap siya pabalik. I bathed in his scent and let myself drown the spell that is Philodemus. Kanina pa ako kumalma pero ngayong yakap ko na siya ay pakiramdam ko ayos na talaga ako.

"Please don't do it again..." he whispered on my ears, before kissing my cheeks lightly. I shivered like a kitten at his touch. "You're going to kill me."

Lumunok ako at tumango, nangingilid na naman ang mga luha. My lips quivered violently. Madilim na sa labas at panigurado akong hinahanap na ako sa bahay but that is the last of my concerns. Ang gusto ko lang ay manatili sa tabi ni Philodemus.

Mother ignored me as usual. Mabagal na lumipas ang mga araw. The only highlight of my days were the times that I get to spend Philodemus, eating take-out fast food in his car at the parking lot or visiting his house during the weekends.

"Stormie..."

Napatuwid ako nang tayo nang marinig ang baritonong boses ni Dad sa aking likuran. I turned to him. He must be going to some sort of an important meeting, since he's wearing his expensive tux and a glasswine of imported champagne on his right hand.

"Dad..." yumuko ako, nahihiyang tumingin sa kaniya pagkatapos ng huling nangyari na naiwala ko ang kwintas na bigay niya.

"Did you really lost it?" he asked me again, searching for my eyes. "The necklace?"

Malakas ang pintig ng puso ko at nanlulumong tumango. I heard him sigh tiredly.

"Try to find it, anak..." he said. Nag-angat ako ng tingin, gulat na gulat sa kaniyang sinabi. He called me his daughter... after a long time. Humapdi ang dibdib ko sa sayang idinulot nito sa akin. He called me his daughter!

"Dad?"

"Try to find the necklace. It is very important that you are wearing it at all times." He stared seriously at me. "Especially at the annual family reunion this summer."

I bit my lower lips and nodded my head.

"I've ordered the housemaids to search for the necklace in your room. Huwag ka nang magulat kung makita mo man sila sa loob ng kwarto mo."

Tumango ulit ako. Not that I have something to hide inside of my room. I've long forgotten how to write. Wala na rin ang mga files ko doon. Tanging mga damit lang, libro, at iilang gamit. I did not even bother to buy some new things ever since I came back from Cremona.

Paminsan-minsan ay naririnig kong nag-aaway sina mommy at daddy. But unlike their usual arguments, this one sounds really serious. It gave birth to my curiousity about our heirloom necklace. Abuelita only said that the necklace has been passed from generation to generation of the Romans for 105 years now. The gold chain is worth a fortune, of course. This is why I wondered sometimes why Dad decided to give it to me. Ang ganung kahalagang heirloom necklace ay hindi dapat mapasa akin...