Marked By The Beast (COMPLETED)

Chapter 12

             TODAY, we will go to the ilog daw. I silently waited for Ver on the wooden chair sa porch behind the cabin. Pumunta na sya doon sa ilog to bring our gamit. Mag-fifishing daw kami.

There he is! "Tara na!" He said while half-running towards me tapos he bended his knees now, his back is facing me.

"Kakargahin kita." He helped me hop on his back. I can feel his warmth through his back and I probably look like a kid na buhat ng daddy nya. He stood up with me clingling like a sloth on his back.

He walked like he's not bothered by my weight. Diret-diretso lang ang walk nya towards sa path sa likod ng cabin. I looked around, there are so daming trees. This place is so ganda talaga tapos there are birds everywhere. It looked so lively; I wish I could stay here forever. I don't know how long Ver had been walking na. I felt that may talukap is getting heavy, it feels so comfortable leaning on his wide back that's why I'm inaantok na. I nuzzled my face on his back and smelled him. He smells so bango but there's no hint of cologne or anything. It's just his natural scent, it smells so manly. I higpit the yakap on his leeg, let me sleep muna.

​"Hey, we're here." Untag ko kay Lissandra. Kanina ko pa ito kinakausap ngunit hindi naman ito nag-sasalita. Nilingon ko ang mukha nitong nasa gilid ko. My lips brushed on her cheek. Tulog na tulog ito. Natawa ako, ginawa na nyang kama ang likod ko. She fitted just fine on my back, sa liit ba naman neto. Mabuti na lang at nag-prepare na ako ng tent bago ko ito dinala dito sa tabing ilog. Inihiga ko sya sa tent. Nakanganga pa itong matulog, tulog mantika talaga.

Tahimik lang akong namimingwit sa ilog nang may maramdaman akong presensya sa likod ko. Mabilis akong lumingon. There she is, nakasayad ang mga binti sa palag at tila gumapang palapit sakin. Nakataas ang dalawa nitong braso na tila mangangalmot, balak ata akong gulatin. Natawa ako nang humaba ang nguso nito at nag-dugtong ang mga kilay.

"ANO BA YAN! I'M GONNA GULAT YOU NGA EH!" Nakangusong saad nito. Hinampas-hampas pa ang lapag na tila nag-mamaktol.

"Well you can't easily scare a former soldier." Nakangisi kong sabi. Tumayo ako at binuhat ito. Iniupo ko ito sa pwesto ko kanina.

"I'll get your fishing rod." Sabi ko dito at kinuha ang fishing rod sa lagayan tabi ng tent. Nang makuha ko ito ay agad kong inabot sa kanya.

"I don't know how to fish." Nakalabi nitong sabi.

Umisod pa ako palapit sa kanya. "Kaya nga nandito ako eh, para turuan ka sa lahat ng hindi mo alam." Hinawakan ko ang kamay nito at tinuruan kung paano ang pag-handle ng fishing rod.

There we sat by the lake, laughing and mocking each other for the fishes that we caught. I hope that Liss will stay with me for a long time but it hit me, one day she'll have to leave me behind. I'm no one, I don't have a stand in her life.

               ​I immediately pansin that Ver is feeling sad. I don't know how, but I just felt like he's sad. He is currently making ihaw of the fishes that we caught. Naka-make sya ng fire using stones, soldiers are really amazing, huh?

"Ver!" I called him, I'm nakaupo lang kasi on the side. I can't easily caught his attention if I wouldn't shout, pilay ako remember? He quickly lingon naman.

"Yeah?" He said.

"What's wrong?" I asked. Before he could answer, droplets of rainwater fell. Mabilis syang nag-run towards me and binuhat ako. Mabilis ang galaw nya, he doesn't want me to get wet. He's probably scared that I'll get sick na naman. He's holding me in a bridal style while he is running towards the cabin. I'm silently admiring his unmarred face, ang pogiiii!

When we're almost near the cabin ay mas lumakas ang tulo ng ulan. All of the running that he did was useless. Nilapag nya ako sa sofa nang makapasok na kami sa cabin. Umalis sya and he went back with a towel on his hand. He lakad towards me and made tuyo of my hair.

I touched his hand and grabbed the towel.

Tiningala ko sya. "Yuko ka." I said.

He looked like he's nag-tataka but he yuko naman. I punas his hair. When I'm almost done, he slightly raised his head. He's now looking directly into my eyes.

"Are you really not bothered by my face?" He asked. His breath that smelled like mint brushed my face. He's too lapit on my face.

Instead of answering, I raised my left hand and touched his scarred side of face. It felt rough on my hand.

He looked like he's waiting for an answer but I remained silent. It's better for me to show that it doesn't matter kesa sa ginawa ni Amanda, she told him that she loved him but what did she do? I want to show him actions instead of telling him flowery words. Hinaplos ko ang balat nito.

Nilayo nya ang mukha nya at tumayo sya nang straight. He turned his back at me.

"See? Wala kang masabi." Then he walked away, towards the door of the cabin.

"What?! Ver, that's not what I'm trying to say." What I was about to say was interrupted by the noise of the door that was slammed closed. Iniwan ako ni Ver sa cabin. He misunderstood my actions, I made higit of my hair. Was it my fault?! OMG!