"ZD, alam kong masarap itong wine pero hindi puwedeng ubuson mo itong isang bote.” naiilaing na sabi ni Yani bago kinuha sa kanya ang kopita. Pinalitan nito iyon ng isang deep dish ng ice cream. “Strawberry caramel gelato. Ubusin mo iyan or kakaladkarin ka namin palabas. At ipapa-hold ko ang Schengen visa mo.”
ZD meekly followed, before his gaze went back to the low stage where the piano was. Nakasandal sa tabi niyon si Charlee at kausap ang dalawang matanda na marahil ay ang mag-asawang chef at tutor na tinutukoy nito sa ilang emails at posts sa private blog nila.
A total of four emails and three blog posts were sent by Charlee over the past year, and the last was two months ago.
Two years. Two fucking long years of not seeing her and he still wondered how he made it.
Their group were seated at a far corner, but still enough to have a good view of the lovely pianist.
Dalawang araw na mula nang dumating ang grupo nila sa munting bayan na iyon sa Tuscany. Kasama niya sina Yani at Laya, pati na ang fiancee ng mga ito na sina Rand at Evan, respectively.
May dalawang linggo na din simula nang mahuli sa isang private resort sa Cebu ang magkapatid na Dominguez. Puro nanlaban ang mga ito sa pulisya kaya naman ang isa ay kritikal pa ang kalagayan sa hospital habang ang isa ay nasa kulungan na.
It was the news they've all been waiting for. Kaya ganoon na lang ang saya nila nang sa pagtatapos ng balita ay iannunsiyo ng broadcaster: “Para po sa pamilya ng star witness na sina Ginoo at Ginang Angeles, maari na po kayong ligtas na makauwi. Maraming salamat po sa pagtulong na makamit ng ating mga kababayan ang hustisya.”
Tahimik na inubos niya ang ibinigay na ice cream ani Yani, habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa gawi ni Charlee. Maya-maya lang ay naupo na ito sa bench, iniangat ang lid ng baby grand, at binati ang lahat habang ang mga daliri ay nakapuwesto sa ibabaw ng piano keys. “Buonasera, come va?” she said in a lovely Italian accent. ZD felt his insides tighten.
He missed that low, husky voice, he missed all of her.
Gusto niyang tumayo, lapitan ang babae, hagkan at yakapin. His grip on his spoon tightened.
Then she began to play, and loose herself in her music.
Pinakatitigan lang ito ni ZD. Walang anumang nagbago. Charlee Angeles is still the most beautiful, amazing woman he's ever seen. And he will always love her.
And now he’s here. They’re here. He’s not going to let anybody or anything get in the way anymore.
As her fingers tackled the final chords of a lively tune from a famous musical, her last for the night, Charlee once more felt that familiar sense that she is being watched. Not by the crowd before her, but... something else.
Something that is beginning to unnerve her. Matagal na niyang hindi nararamdaman ang ganoon. There shouldn't be any reason for her to worry now, lalo pa at malaya at ligtas na sila.
Sa katunyan ay uuwi sa Pilipinas ang mga magulang nila sa susunod na linggo upang tapusin ang pagharap ng mga ito sa korte. At hindi na sila nag-aalala dahil ngayong nahuli na ang mga mastermind ay bumaligtad na rin ang mga naging tauhan ng mga ito.
But why does she feel like something she never quite expect will happen tonight? Tinapos niya ang tinutugtog, na agad sinundan ng palakpakan. Bumaba na siya ng stage dahil magse-set up pa ang kasunod niyang string quartet.
Pasado alas-nueve pa lang ng gabi, on a late summer night, but she already knows she'd be heading home. Habang kinukuha niya ang bag sa counter ay nahagip ng kanyang tingin ang isang pamilyar na bulto.
Napakaurap siya... No, it cant be. Baka nanlalabo na ang mata niya. Ngunit nang mahagip ng ilaw ang mukha nito ay tila may bumundol sa dibdib niya. The man looked at her for a few seconds, before he averted his gaze and started walking away, out into the crisp cold, Tuscan night.
Was that ZD? Ano ang ginagawa niya dito? Why is he running away?
Mabilis na nagpaalam siya sa mga kakilala bago dumirecho na sa labas. The restaurant had a long, winding footpath that leads to the main road. On either side are roman gardens, reminiscent of Midsummer Night's Dream. Iginala niya ang tingin. Where is ZD?
“It was too noisy inside. I thought I'd wait for you here.”
Muntik na siyang mapatalon. Pagharap sa nagsalita ay napasinghap siya dahil halos bumangga siya kay ZD. She closed her eyes, taking in his familiar clean, manly scent. “Tell me I am not dreaming.” bulong niya.
Ngunit wala siyang narinig na sagot, sa halip ay naramdamn niya ang mainit na labi nitong banayad na humahalik sa kanya. Slow and gentle at first, hot and passionate the next as he held her closer to his warm, solid body.
It has only bee two years, but it already felt like a lifetime has passed since they kissed like this. She wanted to protest when he pulled away, but still held her close.
“Two years, Charlee.” he whispered. “There's so much I need to say, and I want to do...” he kissed her lightly. “As soon as we are somewhere quiet and out of the way...”
Napangiti siya. “I am staying at the small cottage behind a villa. Piano ko lang ang kasama ko doon. There's a love---”
“Perfect.” hinawakan n ZD ang kamay niya. “At dadalhin mo ako doon. Si?”
“Si.” she said, before she lead the way to her car.
Now, she isn't just safe, and free. She is also finally home, with ZD.
The End
Thank you so much for takibg the time to read this one. I also posted the first two books in this trilogy (comoleted) so check them out if you want --
Uncovered (Yani)
https://my.w.tt/FrNrVSlcw7
Unraveled (Laya)
https://my.w.tt/SUH3Zmicw7
❤
Nat
BINABASA MO ANG
UNMASKED (Incognito Book 3- Completed)
RomanceStar witnesses ang mga magulang ni Charlee sa isang krimen laban sa malalaking tao sa lipunan. Dahil doon, kailangan nilang magtago sa iba't ibang katauhan at magpalipat-lipat ng tirahan upang hindi masundan ng mga kalaban. Hindi sila maaaring magin...
