Tale as Old as Time (La Fortuna Series #1)

Kabanata 40

Kabanata 40

Deserve

Hindi ako makatingin ng tuwid sa mga mata ni Chamuel habang kumakain kami ng hapunan sa hapag. Kanina pa ako balisa at ligalig kaya naman hindi niya nalang din ako kinausap. He knew me that much, anyway.

After our heated moment at the Polo match earlier this morning, I acted like a broken robot throughout our stay at the ranch. Nauutal ako sa tuwing kinakausap niya at kahit ng mga kakilala namin doon. I saw Monty but we didn't talk that much. Bukod sa windang at lutang ako, ramdam ko rin ang nanunukat na titig sa 'min ni Chamuel.

I tore off my train of thoughts when Willa served our deserts on the table. Nang magtama ang mga mata namin, nakita ko ang pagnguso niya papunta kay Chamuel. It was as if she's signaling me to start a conversation with him. Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata. She coughed a little before turning away and walking toward the kitchen.

Kaming dalawa na lamang ni Chamuel ang natira roon. He was eating silently but he would give me a knowing glance from time to time. Nang hindi na makayanan ay umayos ako ng upo. I cleared my throat and glued my eyes on his.

"So..." I started.

Manghang namilog ang mga mata niya. He straightened his back and nibbled the corner of his mouth to stifle a naughty smile.

"You took so long to recover from our heated moment, huh?"

Ngumuso ako. "Please don't remind me of that."

"Sure. I don't need to, anyway. It's probably tattooed on your mind already."

I leered at him. Hindi siya nagpatinag at nilabanan pa ang titig ko. Masyado na yatang nagiging malakas ang loob niya!

"I miss the old you," sarcasm etched on my voice.

His eyes stroke me like a physical touch. Dinilaan niya muna ang ibaba niyang labi bago ako tinaasan ng kilay.

"You seem to love the new me better, though."

Padarag kong binagsak ang kubyertos na hawak ko. "One more of your stupid antics and you're not going to sleep in our room."

Namilog ang mga mata niya at parang batang ngumuso. "Fine, I'm sorry. Biro lang naman."

I scoffed. Kita mo ang maniyak na 'to? Gustong-gusto talagang magkatabi kaming matulog e ni hindi manlang nagdadampi ang balat namin sa sobrang laki ng kama niya! Not that I wanted us close to each other! My point is, he's obsessed with the idea of us sleeping side to side!

"I'm going somewhere tomorrow," he said after a while.

"Where?"

"It's a secret."

I remembered what he said at the barnyard earlier. Medyo nagtatampo akong umismid.

"Then what about our date night?" I sulked.

"Hmm. What about it?"

"Tuloy pa ba 'yun? Kasi kung hindi," umiwas ako ng tingin, "okay lang naman. It's not like I'm excited over it or something."

Naramdaman ko ang kamay niyang lumapat sa itaas ng palad ko. Binalingan ko siya ulit at nakitang mapupungay na ang mga mata niya. He raised a gentle smile as he squeezed my hand.

"I'm off to buy you a wedding ring tomorrow. Pagbalik ko, lalabas tayo. I'll have a date night with you, Tace. We'll do it every night for the rest of our lives if you want."

I froze for a moment. The faint fragrance of scented lavender candles in the living room and the jazz music from the gramophone filled the air. Tulala lang ako sa harap niya at nagha-hang na tinitignan ang guwapo niyang mukha. The contour of his face got highlighted due to the dim lighting. Ang init ng kamay niya ay umabot sa puso ko at unti-unting binalot ang buong pagkatao ko. It was the kind of warmth that seared deep within my bones.