Dancing with Fire

CHAPTER 10 - Confusion

CHAPTER 11

She was devastated, heartbroken, puzzled. Kahit niisang ideya ay wala siyang maisip na dahilan kung bakit nangyari ang lahat ng ito.

Is it because of the money? The business??!!!

She was crying silently, but the tears welling inside her eyes avoid her to see clearly.

Napansin naman ni Trenton ang paghikbi nito at hinawakan niya ang dalaga sa braso. "Stop the car there, I'll take the wheel." Utos niya sa dalaga.

"May sugat ka." She sobbed.

"Kailangan mo ring magpahinga... Tatlong oras ka na ring nagmamaneho."

"Sigurado ka?"

"Mas delikado kung wala ka sa sarili mo habang nagda-drive."

He has a point.

Wala na siyang lakas para makipagsagutan pa dito, she was so drained. Sandra halted on the roadside and they switched seats.

Bago nila narating ang resthouse na naka-indicate sa sulat ni Leo ay nagpasikot-sikot muna sila sa mga daang napapaligiran ng mga malalaking puno at talahib.

They parked the car at the front and went to the porch. Dahan-dahan nilang binuksan ang pinto at tinungo ang bahay. It has a magnificent architectural taste with sleek drama, but dusty carpets, an indication it hasn't been occupied for a long time.

She didn't know anything about this place. The fact that it's out of the main city's premises ay ito ang kauna-unahan niyang encounter sa lugar. Ang tanging naalala niya ay ang resthouse ng ama nila sa Baler.

Trenton scanned all the rooms and went at the backyard of the house. When they went out, Sandra was surprised to see the magnificent beach gaping in front of her.

I've never seen something this beautiful, very out of the mood I am in.

She can hear the waves surging under the bright moon. She looked at the clock and it was already 4:30 am.

They drove for about six hours.

All too far to be traced.

For now.

When he's contented of the resthouse's safety ay pumasok sila uli sa bahay. Trenton went into the kitchen at nagmasid lang si Sandra dito. Hinubad nito ang t-shirt at hinugasan ang kanyang braso sa kitchen sink. She saw his bleeding shoulders, but her attention was distracted by the sight of his lean and toned back. She saw his muscles flexing as he was washing the blood from his arms.

Really Sandra, at this point in time you get to be fascinated with his abs.

"Ito ang pinakaunang resthouse na pinatayo ng papa mo. Actually, sinubukan lang niya ito kung maganda ba ang set-up sa beach, okay naman... Kaso minsan nalang ito napaparentahan dahil malayo sa siyudad. Ginagamit rin ito ng mga honeymooners, a perfect getaway from civilization."

She shrugged off at the thought of his core muscles and looked at his shoulder again. "Are you okay?" she asked, shivering to the cold air coming from the sea.

Tumawa naman si Trenton sa kanyang pagtatanong. "Pangatlong beses mo nang tinatanong yan saken, wala ka bang bilib sa lakas ko?" Wiping his arms with a towel. Kahit papaano ay hindi pa rin nawawala ang pagkahangin nito. She rolled her eyes.

She searched for a first aid kit and miraculously found one inside the bedroom, in the bedside drawer. Bumalik siya sa kusina at inilapag ang kahon sa bar.

"Thanks." Trenton smiled. Bago pa niya mabuksan ang kahon ay inunahan na siya ni Sandra.

"Ako na."

Umupo silang dalawa at pinosisyon ni Trenton ang kanyang braso sa mesa. The cut is bleeding a little, but at least it's not that deep and the pressure did a great help. Kumuha siya ng cotton at nilagyan ito ng alcohol and patted the wound with it.

"Ah shit, dahan-dahan!" Sigaw nito, his head tilting upward in distress.

"Sorry."

Pagkatapos ay nilagyan na niya ito ng Betadine at tinakpan ng gauze.

She noticed that Trenton was looking at her which made her fluster a little. He is a little worried. "Okay ka lang ba? Sa tingin ko ako dapat ang magtanong niyan."

Bahagyang tumawa si Sandra sa tanong nito at tumalikod para ayusin ang mga ginamit na cotton at gauze.

Pero hindi siya bato. At that very moment ay hindi niya napigilan ang mapahagulgol sa iyak.

Lumapit si Trenton and brought Sandra to face him. He gently embraced her, caressing her hair gently.

Sandra hugged him in return, not minding his warm, bare chest clinging on her cheeks. It is a weirdly comforting embrace coming from a shirtless man that she hated ever since he became her father's closest.

I will never be okay.

Trenton leaned his chin on her head.

"Everything will be okay." He whispered to her.

Never.

*********************

"Sweep?"

She woke up to see herself sleeping beside him, her head lying on his shoulders. Nakakumot silang dalawa at hindi niya namalayang nakatulog siya sa pagod at buong gabing pag-iiyak niya. Napatalon siya sa kanyang pagkakahiga at tumayo bigla.

"Sorry." She said, blushing.

Agad naman siyang pumasok sa kwartong unang nahagilap ng kanyang mata at sinara ito, closing her eyes. She cursed at herself at sumalampak sa kama, face down.

Maya-maya ay kumatok naman ito. "Sweep?"

Sweep? Sino ba yun?

Hindi siya sigurado, pero kahit ano pa ito ay pinili niya pa ring hindi sumagot sa kanyang tawag.

"What do you wanna eat for brunch?"

(Author's note: i mislabeled it as chapter 11 recently. This is chapter 10. Sorry! C: