Halik Book II

Chapter 3

"Ready ka na, Jade?" Lino asked as he stood there, leaning against the doorway, with his arms crossed and head tilted to the side.

I gasped then looked away. Another lesson learned: Lino in white shirt and distressed jeans could definitely send me back to prison. I dismissed the idea with a slight shake of my head and focused on my sleeping son. I hated leaving him without saying goodbye but there was nothing I could do. I kissed his forehead in haste, whispering i love you. I pulled his comforter over his torso and gently stepped away from his bed. I then gathered my bag that was lying on the couch at the foot of his bed and hopped towards the doorway. "Okay na ako."

Nodding, he led me out of the room and gently closed CJ's door behind him. He walked us into the hallway, down to the grand staircase, through the living room, and, finally, out of his house. He walked without saying anything and I followed him just as quietly, letting the evening breeze fill the silence. I hadn't checked my phone yet and I had no clue to how he responded to the hassle I made earlier at CJ's school...and to that little yet very embarassing scenario I made when I thought he was just a dream. His being quiet kind of made me nervous, but I tried to keep my shit together and just exhaled my frustations away. He didn't look angry anyway.

Lino wasn't smiling, but he wasn't scowling either. There was something in his eyes that I couldn't put together, though. Annoyed. Tired. Sad. I didn't know which, and it started to make me worry about him.

"Lino," I called as we walked side by side.

He turned to look at me, his eyes devoid of any emotion. "Oh?"

"Huwag mo nalang kaya akong ihatid? Pwede naman akong mag-taxi o kaya mag-grab eh," I said, scratching my temple. "Mukhang kailangan mo nang magpahinga, Lino. Galing ka pa ng out of town tsaka alas onse na ng gabi. Okay naman na ako," I added, glancing at my wrist watch.

Shaking his head, he said, "Hindi, Jade. Ihahatid kita. Gabi na kaya mas lalo kitang dapat ihatid. Maraming mga masasamang-loob diyan kung saan-saan."

"Eh si mang Raul? Pahatid nalang ako sa kanya..." I insisted despite the flutters I felt in my stomach.

"Umuwi na rin si mang Raul," he said with an air of finality, to which I responded with complete silence and obedience.

His black sedan was already parked near the opened gate, gleaming against the moonlight. He opened up the front passenger's door and ushered me to get inside. I hesitated for a while, thinking about Jacky and how she probably just vacated the seat, but I also didn't want to sit at the back and make Lino look like my driver, so I stepped inside and offered a small thank-you.

Lino closed the door and ran to his side of the car. He entered and settled in the driver's seat, his musky scent mixing with the smell of leather. He put on his belt and checked his gears, the veins on his arms protruding against his tanned skin.

I liked how manly he smelled and looked. And I couldn't help but remember how it used to feel when his fingers filled the gaps between mine. Instinctively, I entwined my hands together and kept them on my lap, my gaze shifting to the windshield.

"Tara na?" he asked, prompting me to turn and look at him.

"Sige," I answered and chose to turn my head away, keeping my concern for him to myself. If he were mad at me, he would say so. He'd usually speak his mind if I did something he didn't agree with.

Perhaps it wasn't about me.

It must probably about work. His meeting with the client probably didn't go well.