Dancing With Fire

Kabanata 20

Kabanata 20

"Ang ingay mo, Miranda." Ngiwi ko.

He chuckled a bit and glance at me.

"Why? I just miss talking to you and I bought you some dress...may bulaklak din sa likod."

"What?" My brow raised, mabilis na napatingin sa likuran at nasapo ang mukha nang makita ang paperbags at pumpon ng asul na rosas ang backseat.

"Akala ko ba naghihirap ka?" My brows raised, humalukipkip ako at tinitigan s'ya.

"Uh, I'm not the poor earlier but you have my wallet now, so...I'm kinda broke." He licked his lower lip.

"Oh, edi sa'yo na." Inilapag ko sa hita n'ya pabalik ang wallet. "I don't really need that."

"No," He put the wallet back on my leg. "Take it, that's yours now."

"Seriously," I sighed. "Pwede ba? I told you I don't want dealing with you again, bakit ba sunod ka ng sunod?"

He sighed, not answering me.

"Engineer..."

"Mahal kita, Serafine." He said, stopping me.

I cleared my throat, looking away. Kumuyom ang kamay ko at tumitig sa daan.

"Bakit mo ba ako pinapahirapan?" I sighed. "It's better to just leave, alam mo namang walang patutunguhan?"

"I won't leave without a fight, Sera." He said and sighed. "I love you...even if you don't like it, I will pursue you."

I shook my head and heave a deep sigh, laughing a bit.

"You're crazy," I puffed a breath. "Really, really crazy, Miranda."

"I may be...but I won't just stop here." He murmured.

"You are getting married, right? To Alice Tan? Bakit nandito ka pa? Why don't you just please her and just leave me?"

I was confused when he suddenly stopped the car, sinulyapan ko s'ya at nagtaka roon.

"Why did we stop?"

"I can't keep this from you anymore," He tilted his head. "Fuck, I don't want you involved here but..."

"But what?" I asked. "Tell me, hindi 'yong nagtatago ka. Tutal naman magkasama tayo ngayon, ano pa bang ine-expect mo? Kung sino man 'yang sinasabi mo paniguradong alam nang nandito ka kasama ako."

His jaw clenched, I saw how his hand tightened on the steering wheel.

Humalukipkip ako at hinarap na s'ya. "So?"

"We are suspecting Alice Tan for Akisha's murder," He muttered and I froze.

Halos manuyo ang lalamunan ko at gulat na napaharap sa kanya.

"W-What?"

"We still can't prove it but I know, I have men tailing her and her moves. We just lack evidences but I know she's involved."

"What...why? Kung ganoon, b-bakit nasa opisina n'yo s'ya? Bakit kayo magpapakasal? Bakit n'ya gagawin 'yon?"

"My Mom likes her family," Kumunot ang noo n'ya. "And I can't tell this to her either because she might slip, baka masira ang mga plano ko."

"Then...why? Why are you telling me this? H-Hindi ka ba natatakot na masira ang plano mo?" I asked and I saw how his weak smile plastered. His jaw clenched, lowering his head on the steering wheel.

"Kasi mahal na mahal kita," He whispered. "I will protect you...no matter what."

My heart pounded painfully, suminghap ako at humigpit ang pagkakakuyom sa mga kamay.