One Last Time (R18)

Kabanata II: HER COLDNESS, HIS HEARTBREAK

Her Coldness, His Heartbreak.

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I ARCHED MY BACK as the nerve-chilling water cascaded down my face and over my bare body.

The bathroom smelled faintly sweet from my cucumber-melon soap as I lathered it onto my smooth skin. From my neck, I let my hand-thick with foam-trail down every curve of my body until it reached my feet.

Pumikit ako, paulit-ulit ang ginawang paghimas sa sariling katawan, until memories of what happened between me and Levi began replaying in my head.

Just a few hours ago, I was beside him-we were both naked. Thousands of volts of electricity ran through me as our skin pressed together. His tanned skin made me even more aroused as we lay in his cozy bed, under the warmth of his thick, fluffy blanket.

That was the most intimate moment I had ever shared with Levi.

Nilakasan ko ang shower para palisin ang kakaibang init na muling bumabalot sa katawan ko.

Nakaroba akong lumabas ng banyo. Water droplets trickled down my forehead and cheeks from my damp hair wrapped in a towel.

Nag-isang linya ang kilay ko nang makita si Tita Norin na nakaupo sa gilid ng kama ko. She was quietly looking at the framed photos on my bedside table, kaya hindi niya agad ako napansin.

Mahigpit kong itinali ang roba ko at lumapit sa kanya. "May kailangan kayo?"

She turned to me with a gentle smile. "Wala naman. I just wanted to check on you."

"Check on me? Ano ako, may sakit?"

"No, dear. I just wanted to make sure you're okay after what Krauss did earlier."

"I'm obviously okay," I replied coldly.

Tumayo siya nang lumapit ako sa kama para kunin ang mga damit kong nakalatag doon.

"Tungkol kanina... ako na ang humihingi ng pasensya sa ginawa ng daddy mo. He's just worried about you."

My lips twitched faintly. "Bakit kayo ang nagsasabi niyan? Shouldn't he be the one apologizing? Hmm...Tita Norin?"

"Intindihin mo na lang sana ang daddy mo. Alam mo naman ang isang 'yon...madaling magalit," tipid siyang ngumiti.

Madaling magalit sa'kin. Pero kay Annika hindi!

"Iyon lang ba ang sasabihin n'yo? Kung wala na, makakaalis na kayo. Magbibihis na ako." Tinanggal ko ang tuwalya sa buhok ko at itinapon iyon sa kama.

"Wala na, dear. Nagpahanda nga pala ako ng breakfast mo. Bumaba ka na lang kapag tapos ka nang magbihis."

"Okay," I replied coldly to her.

Ngumiti pa siya sa'kin bago niya tinungo ang pinto. Naiiling na tinungo ko naman ang walk-in closet ko nang tuluyan nang makalabas ang stepmother ko.

Tita Norin has never treated me badly in the past ten years. Mabait siya sa'kin. Pero kahit anong gawin niya, mabigat pa rin ang loob ko sa kanya.

Like Dad ordered, maghapon akong hindi lumabas ng mansyon. I stayed in my room, binge-watching movies. If he hadn't called me down for dinner, I wouldn't have left my room.

"I'm not giving you the car keys back yet."

Naibagsak ko ang hawak kong kubyertos at mabilis na hinarap si Dad na nakaupo sa dulo ng mesa. "But Dad-"

"No buts, Keira! Ibabalik ko ang susi ng sasakyan mo pagkalipas ng tatlong araw."

Padabog akong napatayo. "But Dad, wala akong gagamitin pagpasok sa school!" I protested.