My Lover is the Son of a Mafia Leader

.24

.24 

Ivo is silent as he drives. I wonder what is he thinking. I really hope that he isn't mad at me because I rejected his offer of staying with him, while I am thankful that he saved my life, I still have to be careful around the people I meet. Pero masaya ako ngayon at alam kong Ivo is there to protect me.

Marami akong mga tanong na gusto ng kasagutan pero sa tingin ko ay hindi ko mahahanap ang mga sagot kay Ivo. I have one person in my mind and I hope he will enlighten things to me.

"You are quiet," ani ni Ivo, bahagya syang tumitig sa akin bago nya ibalik ang kanyang tingin sa kalsada.

"Sorry, hindi ko kasi alam kung anong sasabihin."

"I understand. Anyone would feel the same."

I stared at his frame and I have to admit that Ivo is really an attractive man. Mula sa matangos nyang ilong, mapulang labi, at kanyang mga matang tila nang aakit. Once you stare at him, ang hirap tumingin sa iba pero sa hindi maunawaang dahilan my heart beats whenever he is near.

He looks so strangely familiar, but at the same time he doesn't. My heart aches for some unknown reason and I have to look away or else I might surrender to these unknown feelings and burst into tears.

Nanatili kaming tahimik sa buong biyahe pero ito ang katahimikang komportable ako. Katahimikang ngayon ko lang ata uli naranasan ngunit hindi ito nag tagal dahil sa tawag na natanggap ko mula kay Anthony.

Ivo glanced at me, "Anthony is calling me."

"Anthony?", he asked. His eyes are full of curiosity.

"Yeah, he's my brother. I mentioned him before." Did he forget?

"Must be a really worried brother to call you more than 30 times," walang ekspresyon nyang sabi.

"Yeah, he can be too protective at times, but I don't hate him for that." I smiled at the thought of Anthony. He and I may not be siblings by blood, but I believe that our bond is deeper than others.

"Should I start calling you too?" there's a mischievous dance in his eyes.

"Huh?" my dumb self repeated.

"Can I call you too?," I searched his eyes kung nagbibiro ba sya pero kitang-kita ko sa mga mata ni Ivo na walang halong biro ang kanyang tanong.

"Why,?" ani ko.

"I'm your friend, right?" tumango ako sa kanya. He smiled at me, one of those rare smiles that I am starting to like. "I'm your friend and I can call you whenever I'm worried about you. Tama ba ako?" tumango ulit ako sa kanya. "That settles it then." he smiled again at me and I can't help but gave an awkward one.

My heart is beating so fast kahit nakaupo lang naman ako. What the hell just happened?

"You should pick up your brother's call. He must be really worried." may halong pang-aasar ang tono ni Ivo and I glared at him. He only winked in return. Damn him!

I took a deep breath before answering Anthony's call, "Hello?"

"Skyla? Thank God, you finally answered. Where are you?" halata sa boses ni Anthony ang pag-aalala at lalo akong na guilty. Kahit na may mga hindi kami pagkakaunawaan ay sya pa rin ang isa sa mga taong malapit sa akin.

"Hi," I tried to sound cheerful, but instead I sounded so forced. Ivo is giving me glances pero pinili kong hindi sya tignan. "I'm on my way home," ani ko sa kanya.

"Where have you been? I've been trying to contact you, but you didn't answer any of my calls. Are you still mad at me?" aligagang tanong ni Anthony.

"I'm so sorry. I was just sad and I had to go somewhere else to cool off." I lied smoothly. I usually tell Anthony the truth pero after my last conversation with him, alam kong hindi maganda ang kahihinatnan kung malalaman nyang kasama ko si Ivo ngayon.

Anthony broke a huge sigh on the other line, "Alright, that's good to hear. Nasaan ka ba? Do you want me to pick you up?," napatingin ako kay Ivo at sya rin sa akin. He raised his right brow at me. Umiling lang ako sa kanya.

"Wag na, A. I promise I'll call you when I get back right away. Wag ka na mag-alala sa akin," pagkukumbinsi ko sa kanya.

"No, Skyla. I want to see you at least. I want to personally apologize. Please," his tone is almost begging. Isa si Anthony sa mga kahinaan ko. Isa sya sa mga taong hindi ko kayang tiisin. I looked at Ivo, and I can sense that he is tense for some unknown reason.

I nodded to no one, "Okay, sa Starbucks nalang malapit sa condo ko."