NS 06: KISSED BY THE FIRE ✅ (To Be Published)

Chapter 12

It's a cold daybreak. Barely three in the morning and the wind is chilling. With his heavy jackets on, Ramses went out of the house and disappeared through the shadows of giant trees. Memorizing the trail, he walks without the usual solar lamp. Beneath his gentle footsteps, cracking noise of the dried leaves make a bed of aisle in the ground.

Bitbit ng binata ang bungkos ng puting mga rosas at tatlong scented candles. He promised that he would never forget. Though he knew Valeen will understand. Because she would never want to see him digging his own grave.

He was so broken when he lost her. And now he is trying to get on his feet up and move on. Babangon siyang muli at hindi niya gagamitin si Melanie para magawa iyon. That woman deserves a genuine love, greater than the love he used to have for Valeen. Iyon ang ibibigay niya kapag buo na muli ang kanyang puso.

"I know you're always with me, Val. Be happy for me. Turuan mo akong bumitaw sa mga alaala natin nang hindi kailangang kalimutan ang bahagi mo sa buhay ko." Umuklo siya sa harap ng lapida at hinaplos ang pangalan ng yumaong dalaga. "Val, I am breaking up with you today. Thank you for everything." Tinangay ng hangin ang kanyang bulong patungo sa kawalan.

Magaan ang pakiramdam niya habang pauwi ng mansion. It was as if some important pieces are returning back, filling the hole in his heart. Nagtatago pa rin ang araw kaya naisip niyang magbabad muna sa swimming pool. He crawled out of his clothes leaving only his boxers and plunged into the water.

Namataan niya pag-angat ang aninong papalapit. It must be Melanie. Sumisid siyang muli at itinago ang sarili sa ilalim ng tubig. Two small feet dropped into the water from the other side. Wagging like mermaid's tail. Lumapit siya. Hinawakan sa binti ang dalaga at hinatak pabagsak sa tubig.

He caught her in his arms, screaming. "You are stalking me," pabiro niyang paratang at pumasada ang mga mata sa malulusog nitong dibdib na bumakat sa manipis nitong pantulog na nabasa. His temperature elevated fast.

Sisinghap-singhap siyang pinapalo nito at pinagkrus ang mga braso sa tapat ng dibdib. "Nambubuso pa. Walang hiya ka! Papatayin mo ako sa takot."

"Patay agad?" Umangat ang kilay ni Ramses sa tuwa. "Hindi ba pwedeng mawalan lang ng malay? Paano ako kung pati ikaw gagaya kay Valeen?"

Ikinahinto nito ang sinabi niyang iyon. "Ramses," lumambot ang mukha nito at sinakop ng lambong ang mga mata. "You visited her?"

Tumango siya at muling napatitig sa dibdib nito. "I need to tell her something."

"Pinagnanasaan mo ang dibdib ko," kastigo nitong sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"Babe, wala akong delikadesa, alam mo iyan. Kapag may nilatag kang masarap sa paningin hindi ako pipikit at magpapakabanal." Binitawan niya ito pero kumapit ito sa kanyang balikat. "Yeah, starting today official ko nang sisimulan ang panliligaw ko sa iyo."

"Ram, huwag mong pilitin ang sarili mong kalimutan siya. Get time to heal you or else you're going to relapse," malambing nitong mungkahi na kinapa ang kanyang panga.

"I knew. Forcing it isn't going to be healthy for both of us. But I want to show you that I am capable of moving on." He gave a lazy smile. "At least I thought so." He grabbed her waist and they withdrew towards the other side of the pool.

He needs to keep this girl by his side for her to see that he is not an invincible man. He is flawed and imperfect. Marami siyang kahinaan na kailangang makita ng dalaga para alam nito kung anong buhay ang nakatakda nitong pasukin sa piling niya. Once she became his wife, there's no stepping back or getting out of it.

"See that star?" Itinuro niya ang makinang na northern star sa mabituing langit.

"Polaris?" Humawak ito sa gilid ng pool habang ikinatang niya roon ang mga siko.