Reckless Abandon

Chapter Seven

Enrico's POV

After a week, things went back to normal.

The carcass of cats stopped coming, no more death threats, hindi na pinagtitripan ang Bistro, hindi na binubutasan ang gulong ng kotse ko, at higit sa lahat nakakatulog na ako ng mahimbing.

Whatever Eureka did, I am grateful. But that will not stop me from trying to put her crazy cousin to jail.

"Sir Enrico, alis na po kami. Sigurado po bang we okay lang kayo dito? Kung gusto niyo po, mags-stay na lang muna kami dito hangga't matapos ho yang ginagawa niyo." Ann, my secretary, said.

"It's okay, Ann. Late na oh. Umuwi na kayo."

"Sige ho, sir. Ingat po kayo ah."

I waited for the loud beep of the microwave and took out the cake I was baking. Ah, it was perfect. I drove to her place, feeling safe for the first time since weeks. I was smiling while I went to the elevator. Ewan ko ba kung bakit, pero excited akong makita siya.

Wait, hold up. Hindi ako excited na makita siya. I'm just... happy.

Pagkalabas ko pa lang ng elevator, nakarinig ako ng sigaw. I saw Eureka's door half opened and my heart sank.

Agad akong napatakbo at hinanap siya. "Eureka?!" Wala siya sa salas at sa balcony.

Tumungo ako sa kanyang bathroom at nakita siya sa kanyang bath tub.

"Jesus, Eureka!"

She was crying, hysterical and her body temperature is raging--- para akong napaso sa init ng katawan niya. Her fever must be so high, looking like she's on the state of delirium.

"Eureka, it's me!" I tried to hold her face.

"How dare you! How dare you, Amadeus!" she yelled, flailing her arms onto me. Amadeus?

I gripped her arms tightly and carried her to bed.

"Eureka, ssh. It's okay. It's okay. It's me." malumanay kong sabi habang pinipwesto siya sa kanyang higaan. She was naked, and I tried not to think about anything and immediately wrapped her body with a thick blanket. "It's okay, Eureka. You're safe now."

Her forehead was bleeding. I searched her cabinets for a first aid kit and cleaned her wound. She kept staring at the roof and crying quietly.

"It's okay. I'm here. I'm here. No one's gonna hurt you." I whispered quietly to her ear.

I wrapped her damp hair into a messy bun, para hindi siya lamigin at baka lumala pa yung lagnat niya. After fifteen minutes, she fell asleep.

Tiningnan ko siya ng mabuti habang natutulog. She looked peaceful.

I took a deep breath and sighed. For a second there, natakot ako. Akala ko kasi may nakapasok na masasamang loob na dito at kung anong nagawa sa kanya. Geez, her boyfriend must suck. He can't even be here when Eureka needs him.

I took another good minute watching her body heave back and forth from breathing in her sleep, my subconscious forcing me to admit that I am utterly smitten by her.

I rubbed my eyes and realized I was feeling tired. No, I may be attracted to her but that's it. That's normal. For a twenty-six year old single guy, this is really really normal.

I left her room and put the cake inside her fridge. Akala ko pa naman kakain kami ng sabay nito ngayon and possibly get to know each other. I pouted to no one.

Wow, why am I acting like this?

I shoved the thought away and decided to stay in her living room. Baka kasi kung anong mangyari sa kanya ulit, at least nandito ako. Pinaandar ko ang kanyang TV. She was watching Frozen 2. I smiled. Ang cute naman. Pinanood ko iyon at di namalayang nakatulog na rin pala ako.