UNMASKED (Incognito Book 3- Completed)

Chapter Twenty-One

"Hey, stranger."

Ilang sandaling nanigas ang likod ni Charlee habang nakatayo sa harap ng counter sa faculty lounge at nagtitimpla ng kape.

Her heart automatically started beating fast as she heard that familiar voice -- the lazy, sexy way he would speak when talking to her. She closed her eyes briefly as she inhaled his clean, fresh manly scent.

"Kung sinusubukan mong iwasan ako, para eventually ay magsawa na sa kakahanap sa iyo at kalimutan kita, you should try harder. you're not doing a good job, you know."

She bit her lip as she lowered her head and resumed making her coffee. Tatlong araw na simula nang huli silang magkita at magkausap ni ZD. Ang huli ay noon pang araw na may lumapit sa kanyang tauhan ng mga Dominguez.

She felt guilty about the fact that he too was being followed by NBI men for the past couple of days and so she chose to just avoid seeing him at all costs, for awhile. Her paranoia and weirdness might just give her away and raise more questions, questions she can't even answer.

Kaya naman humiling siya ng isantambak na trabaho mula kay Dean. She even assisted in some of his classes just so she wouldn't have any free time.

Hindi rin muna siya pumunta sa PA room upang tumugtog. She needed a few days without ZD because after admitting that she loved him too, she felt like she just made a big leap.

A leap towards uncertainty. Dahil ni hindi na niya sigurado ang bawat bukas niya dito sa San Diego.

Ang tanging sigurado lang siya ay sa katotohanang mahal siya ni ZD Montecillo. She should be happy, jumping with joy and revelling in that knowledge. But she felt miserable.

Dahil labag man sa kanyang kagustuhan ay kakailanganin niya itong iwan pagdating ng panahon. And it could be anytime soon.

"Denise..." untag nito sabay tapik sa braso niya, tuloy ay muntik na siyang mapatalon.

She took a deep breath, glanced at him before she resumed what she was doing. "I'm sorry. Ang dami lang dapat gawin sa office dahil midterms at kailangan ko iyong tapusin para hindi ako magahol." muli niya itong tiningnan habang hinahalo ang kape. "I missed you, you know." matapat niyang sabi.

I missed you and I wish I can just tell you we should go somewhere, far away from here...

Bahagyang tumaas ang isang kilay nito. "I don't quite believe that."

Her eyes furtively scanned the room.

Pasado alas-siyete pa lang at wala pang ibang tao. Maaga siya dahil iniiwasan nga niyang magkasabay sila ni ZD sa parking area. Ang plano niya ay pumunta sa office pagkatimpla ng kape at hindi muna niya bubuksan ang ilaw sa reception area. Hindi naman niya akalaing maaga din ang isang ito. Napailing siya.

"What's up, Denise? Alam kong maraming dapat gawin ngayon but it's not like ---"

Hindi na natapos ni ZD ang sasabihin dahil nahila na ni Charlee ang lapel ng damit nito upang mailapit ang mukha nito sa kanya. Her lips met his in a kiss not just to silence him, but to stop him from asking any more questions.

Tumatahip ang dibdib niya dahil sa pinaghalong kaba at excitement. It felt illicit, kissing a respected faculty member in the faculty lounge, no less! His soft lips were deliciously warm and as he kissed her back, she soon forgot why she was doing this in the first place.

As the kiss deepened, her hand slid up to the back of his neck, pulling him even closer, making him sigh in pleasure. The kiss was sweet and intense and definitely demanded more, but then the piercing sound of a microphone feedback both jolted them from their kissing trance.