Dancing with Fire

CHAPTER 20 - A Not-So-Bad Start

CHAPTER 20

Her phone was ringing nonstop and this woke her up.

Still groggy, kinuha ni Sandra ang kanyang cellphone sa bedside table at sinagot ito.

"Yeah?"

"Where are you?!!" Pag-aalalang tanong ni Trenton sa kabilang linya.

"Eto, nasa-" Sasabihin na sana niyang nasa kanya siyang kwarto nang mapansin niyang hindi yun ang kwarto niya, neither Trenton's nor any other rooms in the house.

Shit. Where am I?

Sa lakas ng kabog ng kanyang dibdib ay napahinga siya ng malalim.

"Nasa... Ahm..." Making herself buy time to think of a good alibi. "Bahay ni Wesley."

"Then why haven't you told me earlier?! I was calling you many times for the last two hours!"

"Sorry. I was-"

"Did you drink??"

"I did not!" She said, almost defensive. She cleared her throat discreetly. "We were not drinking, we're making a book report."

"You could have at least called or texted. I got home last night and you weren't here, alam mo naman ang sitwasyon diba." He said, sounding very worried.

Damn it. He's home.

Nasa business trip si Trenton, but she expected that he'll be home the day after tomorrow.

"Sorry." She said, almost a whisper.

Ilang segundo ng katahimikan ang bumukadkad sa magkabilang linya.

"Anong oras ka uuwi?" Tanong nito.

"Ngayon na. Nag-overnight lang ako dito kasi-" And trailed off nang makita niyang pumasok ang isang lalake sa kwarto na walang suot na pang-itaas, wearing only his black shorts.

Having a superman physique with strong arms and sinewy legs, she knew immediately who he was. The body of a health buff.

Hindi niya napigilan ang sarili na mapatalon sa kanyang kinauupuan at buti nalang ay hindi siya napasigaw. On the other hand, he didn't mind looking at her and just went straight to the comfort room without saying a word like she wasn't there at all.

"Kasi?"

"Ha?" Pulling her thoughts back to their conversation. She is totally blank with the situation she is in.

Did we... Did we...

Fuck.

Agad niyang sinilip ang suot sa ilalim ng kumot at laking pasasalamat niya na intact pa rin ang kanyang damit. Sunod niyang ginawa ay pinakiramdaman niya kung may masakit ba sa kanyang katawan, most especially down there.

Wala naman.

"Kasi ano?" Pagtataka ni Trenton sa kabilang linya.

"Kasi ano? Ha? Di kita maintindihan." Clearly distracted in their conversation.

"Ok ka lang ba?" Tanong nito.

Don't lose it Sands.

"Hindi kita masyadong marinig. Nawawala ata ang signal ko." Palusot niya sa binata.

"Gusto mo bang sunduin kita diyan?"

Her heart skipped a beat. "No!!! I'm totally fine, I can go home by myself." She stuttered.

Narinig niyang bumuntong-hininga si Trenton. "You sound troubled."

"Ha? Baka sa signal lang yan." Ramdam ni Sandra na hindi ito kumbinsido sa palusot niya. She knows that Trenton can be very discerning at times kaya bihira lang siya makapagtago ng sikreto dito.

Umaasa nalang siyang makakalusot siya sa pagkakataong ito.

"I'll see you in an hour." And he hung up.

Nagsinungaling na naman ako.

She went out of the room and smelled pancakes, bacon and eggs kaya bigla siyang nagutom. Nakahain na ang almusal sa mesa. She sat on the sofa and waited patiently for him para magpaalam ng maayos bago umalis. He heard the bathroom door open drom his room at maya-maya ay lumabas ito sa kwarto with a towel on his shoulder, drying his tousled, raven hair.

Alcide.

Pero hindi katulad kanina, naka-t-shirt na ito.

"Sabayan mo na akong kumain."

She was surprised of what she heard.

"Marunong kang... Magtagalog?" She asked, astonished.

"Obviously."

How impertinent.

He turned his back and strided to the square table. "Sabayan mo na ako."

Tumayo si Sandra at pumunta sa dulo ng mesa. She chose to sit on his left side rather than in front so she won't face him entirely. She was shocked by his suave of speaking her native tongue and mostly embarrassed of the current situation she is in. She felt like a cold, helpless, stray dog.

"Pilipino rin ako tulad mo, it's just that my American blood showed stronger traces." Getting a pitcher of water inside the fridge. "Alam mo ba kung anong nangyari sayo kagabi?" He asked.

"Simula nang mawalan ako ng malay, hindi na." She timidly answered.

"Precisely."

Why does he always have to be that rude?

"And in your state of unconsciousness, taking advantage of you is easy. Are you aware of that?" He asked uncomically.

"Are you saying," She exclaimed, outraged. "Did you..." Sa pagkabigla niya ay napatayo siya sa kanyang upuan at tinakpan ang dibdib gamit ang kanyang mga palad.

He violated me??!!

He just continued eating na para bang hindi niya narinig ang pagsusumamo ni Sandra.

"Don't flatter yourself, I am just giving you the benefit-of-the-doubt." And gave her a head-to-foot glance with an arched brow, almost skeptical, "Forget it."

Nahilaw naman si Sandra gawa nang pagmata ng binata sa kanya.

Insolent asshole.

"What happened then??!" She demanded.

"You didn't even notice that he drugged you."

"Drugged?" Pagtataka niya.

"The guy who gave you that shot. Sit down, you can't eat standing like that."

Umupo naman si Sandra, feeling stupid. "You mean Edward? Why would he do that to me?"

"Simple, cause he's a well-known pervert in that pub."

"What?"

"Edward Bradshaw. A several number of sexual harassment complaints filed before him. Try to look at the local paper." Patuloy naman ito sa pagsubo ng kanyang pancake.

He cooks, not like Trenton who just knew how to make a scrambled egg, but cannot do a simple sunny side up.

But I was almost raped??!!

Hindi naman alam ni Sandra kung ano ang sasabihin, another speechless moment. "Danger is your bestfriend." Alcide muttered, gazing at her intently.

She was instantly mesmerized by his raven-colored irises.

I never pupils that black in my entire life.

When she completely restrained herself from staring more at it, she stood up and went to the sofa to get her bag and phone. "I have to go, hinahanap na kasi ako sa amin." And walked down the living room, but stopped on her tracks. She almost forgot something.

"Thank you pala... Kagabi." Kinilabutan siya sa kanyang huling sinabi na para bang may ibig sabihin kung medyo marumi ang isip ng makakarinig nito. "I believe I owe you my life... again."

"A lot." Sagot nito. "But we're even." He finished without looking at her.

Alam niya na ang tinutukoy nito ay ang pangyayari sa classroom noong isang araw. She just half-smiled at him.

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