Into You, Hero

Chapter 7

Trust

Tahimik kaming nakabalik sa suite matapos ang business party na 'yon. Ramdam ko ang pagod ng katawan at isipan ko. I don't even have the energy to talk. Para bang ayaw makisama ng bibig ko kahit na ba gustung-gusto kong magsalita. It's like my mouth and the silence itself has collided. Parang bulkan; tahimik, hanggang sa makahanap ng pagkakataon para sumabog.

The sound of a creaking door reminded me that I am not alone. That someone is with me, waiting for things to happen. Waiting for my silent mouth to explode.

Huminga ako nang malalim at naglakad palapit sa pinto ng kwarto ko. Binuksan ko iyon at dumiretso sa kama. Nanghihina kong tinapon sa kama ang dalang sling bag at naupo sa gilid no'n.

Naramdaman ko ang pagpasok niya sa kwarto. Walang lakas akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya. I inhaled sharply.

"Baby..."

"I saw that girl gawking at you the whole time..." panimula ko sa matabang na boses. "Where did she get the audacity to hold you like that? Close ba kayo?"

Naka-igting ang mga panga ni Hero nang hatakin niya pababa ang suot na necktie. He seemed to know that girl. Kung hindi niya kilala ay bakit naman lalapit ng gano'n na lang sa kanila kagaya ng kanina?

"Sino 'yon?" I asked.

Bumuntong hininga ito at saka lumapit sa akin. "She's our client."

Hindi ko napigilan ang pag-irap. Kapag ba client, gano'n na dapat agad ka-landi?

"She's part of the reasons why we're here. We're trying to close a deal with her, Kimberly." He added.

"Yeah, right. She's trying to get close to you, too..." saad ko at kinagat ang ibabang labi. "She's into you, Hero."

"But she's just a client to me," he said like it's a downplay, like he doesn't even care about her existence and she's only a business he needs to handle casually.

Pero hindi gano'n ang nararamdaman ko. Para akong tinataga sa selos kanina. Hanggang ngayon, kumukulo ang dugo ko sa babaeng hilaw na 'yon.

What if she tries to lure him? I fisted my hand. The thought of that girl seducing Hero makes me sick. I won't let her do that!

"Hey..."

Itinayo ako ni Hero at pinagmasdan akong mabuti. Ni hindi ko maituwid ang kunot kong noo habang nakatingin sa kanya. Wala naman akong dapat ikagalit sa kanya pero ewan ko ba at naiirita rin ako sa mga sagot niya sa akin.

"Baby..." He caressed my cheeks, with a small smile plastered on his lips. "Are you that jealous?"

My eyes are unwilling to look away. How could he even smile? Tuwang-tuwa pa siya na nararamdaman ko 'to?

"I don't want to see it happen again, Hero." galit kong usal sa kanya. "I can pretend that it never happened but one slutty move from that girl and I'll give you a war."

He chuckled but I don't see anything funny with my statement. Umirap ako at tumalikod sa kanya.

"Unzip." wika ko. I just want to have a good bath and call this a day. Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko at bumuntong hininga.

He unzipped the back of my jumpsuit slowly. Naramdaman ko ang labi niya sa balikat ko habang ginagawa niya 'yon. Sa bawat pag-baba ng zipper ay ramdam ko rin ang init ng mga munting halik niya sa balikat ko, pataas hanggang batok.

"Please don't be mad at me," he said huskily.

I opened my eyes and tilted my head. I felt the back of his hand travelling from the lowest part of my back, tracing my skin up to my shoulder. I inhaled heavily and faced him with the little strength I have.