DASHER: THE DASHING DEVIL

CHAPTER 14

HINDI MAPAKALI si Dasher habang palakad-lakad siya sa loob ng kanyang opisina. Nanliliit ang mga matang lumipad ang tingin niya suot niyang relo. Alas-nueve na ng umaga ngunit wala pa rin si Donnie Marie. He stared at his office's door like an idiot.

He'd been like that since he came to his office this morning. Ano'ng karapatan nitong paghintayin siya nang ganoon katagal? Mariin siyang napapikit para lamang muling mapamulat ng mata. Then he cursed under his breath. Whenever he closed his eyes, all he could imagine was Donnie Marie—her eyes shut, moaning and writhing underneath him.

Nanggagalaiting naikuyom niya ang kanyang mga palad. Bakit hindi mawaglit sa isip niya ang ang halik na pinagsaluhan nila kahapon? That kiss has been haunting him like a creep ever since she went home and left him having a hard time—really really hard—time.

Sa tuwing naaalala niya kung gaano kalambot at katamis ang mga labi ni Donnie Marie ay awtomatikong bumibilis ang tibok ng puso niya. It felt weird but not creepy as he'd imagined it would be. And it was something that has never happened to him before. Marahan niyang nahaplos ang kanyang mga labi. He groaned. That kiss' effect was driving him crazy.

Subalit hindi lang ang halik nito ang nagpapasira sa utak niya. He's been calling her since he woke up that morning but she never answered his calls. Kung tutuusin ay kagabi pa niya ito dapat nakausap. He specifically told her that she must call him the moment she got home.

Ngunit matigas talaga ang ulo nito. She never called. Buong gabi siyang naghintay ng tawag o kahit man lang sana text mula rito na nakauwi nga ito ng maayos ngunit ni isa man sa mga iyon ay wala siyang natanggap. Hinugot niya ang kanyang cellphone mula sa kanyang bulsa at muling idinayal ang numero ni Donnie Marie. Malutong siyang napamura nang operator ang sumagot sa tawag niya. He still couldn't reach her damned phone!

Inaasar ba siya nito? He clenched his fists. Nagtatalo ang isip niya kung dapat ba niya itong puntahan sa bahay nito o hindi. He knew her address. Hindi siya nagbibiro nang sabihin niya dati rito na ipapa-imbestiga niya ito malaman lang niya kung nagsisinungaling ito sa kanya o hindi. Fortunately, hindi naman ito nagsinungaling sa kanya.

Napailing siya. He opted not to go to her. Hindi niya gustong isipin nitong naghahabol siya. He was Dasher Claus. Women always knocked on his door, not the other way around. Hindi niya rin gustong isipin na iba ang ikinikilos niya pagdating kay Donnie Marie. He must not treat her in a very special way. Hindi niya maintindihan ang kanyang sarili.

He's only known her for such a short time. Kelan pa siya nag-alala sa isang taong hindi naman parte ng pamilya niya? Did he really treat her as his friend now? He smirked. He's never had real friends before. Kung may pinakaayaw man siyang ginagawa, iyon ay ang pakikipaglapit sa ibang tao maliban sa mga kapatid niya. He's never trusted anyone but his family.

Pero bakit kay Donnie Marie ay nagawa niyang sabihin ang mga bagay na dati-rati ay hindi naman niya sinasabi sa iba? What's with her that it made him bare his soul to her? His eyes flew to his cellphone that he was holding. He was tempted to call her again. Damn! That was another first for him—ang tumawag ng paulit ulit sa isang babae.

Napatigil siya sa pag-iisip kay Donnie Marie nang may biglang kumatok. His heart suddenly beat faster. Seriously, kelan pa siya na-excite nang ganon nang dahil lang sa isang katok sa pinto? He cleared his throat. He composed himself before walking towards the door.

"Bakit ngayon ka lang?" asik niya matapos niyang buksan ang pinto.

"W-were you expecting me?" gulat na tanong ni Krisstine.

"I-I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else," nahihiyang paumanhin niya. "Come in," yakag niya rito.

"S-so, you were expecting someone else?" namumulang usisa nito. "I'm sorry kung nagpunta ako rito nang walang pasabi."