BDSM SOCIETY: Convicted To You

CHAPTER 10

"Hi," I greeted him.

Hindi ko siya matanong kung kamusta siya rito dahil alam ko namang hindi siya okay. Why even bother asking people how were they when it was evident in their situation that they're not alright? No need to add more salt to the wound. It would only trigger and remind them how bitter the situation they're into.

He didn't say a word and simply stared at me with his unreadable eyes.

"Galit ka ba?" I worriedly queried. "Pasensya kana kung hindi ako nakabisita nitong mga nakaraang araw. May mga inasikaso kasi ako," pagpaumanhin ko. I knew I promised that I wouldn't spare vacant moments to visit him.

"Like what?" his voice seemed displeased, giving me chills down my spine as if it was winter, still coldly poring me while waiting for my answer.

"Pinagawa ko 'yong condo namin ni Duress since it has a major renovation," I answered shortly. Wala akong balak na sabihin sa kaniya ang iba pa. I didn't want him to feel like he burdened me.

"Why did you do that?"

"Huh?" My brows curled together. "Kasi luma na?" I winced. Hindi ko siya gets.

"Your sister visited me."

Shet!

I was about to ask if they're okay now but my halfway smile faded when I saw him looking away with sad-eyed. Kung nagpunta lang siya rito upang ipamukha kay Hash kung gaano niya ito kinamumuhian ay sana hindi na lang siya bumisita.

Where had all the love gone? Bakit ang bilis niyang waksiin ang pinagsaluhan nilang pag-ibig? Extreme love could really be replaced by wrath, that easy.

I tried to form a smile. "By the way, nagluto ako ng paborito mong ulam. Sinigang at beef steak. I also make baked mac." Inisa-isa kong nilabas ang mga tupperware na may lamang pagkain. Lahat ay mga paborito niya. Making up for my absence.

Tinikman niya ang sinigang na niluto ko pagkatapos ay iyong beef steak.

"I'm not impressed with what you did, Hari." Binaba niya ang plastic fork.

"Hala! Hindi masarap?" I reached for my fork and was about to taste my cooked beef steak but he stopped me by holding my hand. Mas lalo lang siyang nagalit.

"You're allergic to beef. How can you cook this?" I bit my lips and looked away. Kung paano niyang nalaman ang bagay na iyon ay hindi ko alam. Baka nabanggit ko iyon noong tumatambay ako sa compound dati.

I let out a great deal of air and stared at him with a smile. "Hindi na ako allergic d'yan. Nagpagamot ako sa Madrid." When I uttered the word 'Madrid', his jaw tightened and pulsated as though the word was a curse to his ears.

"Madrid," he reiterated, still not letting my hand go. Binaba ko nalang ang fork upang bitiwan niya ang kamay ko at makakain na siya. He indeed let go of my hand but didn't resume eating. But looked at me instead, trying to read my eyes with his annoyed one. Bumuga siya nang malalim na paghinga. "Why did you resign and reject your promotion?"

Hindi ako nakapagsalita agad. Ito ba ang dahilan kung bakit nagpunta si ate rito? Para sabihin kay Hashim ang nangyari.

"It was my decision. Plano ko naman talagang bumalik na rito... for good."

"Don't even try lying, Hari. I was there every time you and Hali talked on a screen. Hindi lang ako nagpapakita pero nakikita kita. I saw how busy you are with your take-home job while talking to your sister."

I looked down. "I always do my best to everything, Hash. Kahit labag sa loob ko minsan."

"And that included your goal to be a Senior Architect? You always reasoned out your goal to get promoted every time Hali griped about your labor-intensive job...that you even ditched our engagement day."