Kronack Crown

Chapter 29

KANINA PA pabalik-balik ng langoy si Kalisz sa swimming pool. Nang mapagod ay nagpalutang siya.

Wala siyang masyadong ginawa ngayong araw. In fact, over the last few days, she had done very little. Hindi siya makapagfocus sa trabaho niya. Lagi niyang naiisip si Rage.

She knew she had to talk to him one of these days. Wala lang siyang ideya kung kailan at kung paano niya ito pakikitunguhan. Ang dami niyang tanong sa kapatid. Isa na doon kung paano ito naging ampon ng mag-asawang Crown. Kung nasaan ang ina nila? Bakit at ano ang nangyari? Diba masaya na ito ng makita niya ang mga ito sa restaurant noon? What happened?

All those questions, she wanted to ask her brother. But she wasn’t ready yet to hear his answers. Kalisz was afraid that his answers would hurt more than the pain of them leaving her.

Ipinikit niya ang mata nang tumulo ang luha niya.

Laging ganito pag-iniisip niya ang kapatid at ina. Lagi siya naiiyak, nalulungkot, at nanghihina. Mabuti na lang laging nasa tabi niya si Kronack na laging nagpapalakas ng loob niya.

Iminulat ni Kalisz ang mga mata matapos ang ilang sandali dahil sa pakiramdam na may nanonood sa kanya. Itinigil niya ang pagpapalutang at iniikot ang tingin para hanapin kung may tao ba.

And she was right.

Kronack watched her like a guard in his black suit, standing at the edge of the pool with his arms crossed. His face was serious and intimidating, his eyes dark and hungry. Again.

Despite his stern appearance, Kalisz couldn't help but think to herself, Very handsome.

Lumangoy siya patungo dito at tiningala ito.

Ilang sandali niya itong tinitigan, nagbabakasakali na magbago ang reaksyon sa mukha nito. Pero ganoon pa rin at tahimik lang din itong nakatingin sa kanya.

"Cuddlebear?" Malambing niyang tawag dito.

She saw emotions flash into his eyes but as fast as it appeared, it was gone. Nagtagpo lang ang kilay nito at hindi nagsalita. Napanguso siya bago lumangoy papunta sa hagdan ng pool para umahon.

Kronack was fast to take her towel and cover her after she got out of the pool.

"Are you okay, cuddlebear?" Tanong niya nang hindi parin ito nagsalita habang tinituyo nito ang buhok niya.

Kronack let out a loud breath before looking at her, frowning. Yet, traces of hunger and lust were still visible in his dark gray eyes.

"I just don't like to see you floating in the pool wearing a sexy swimsuit," he said, annoyed.

Napaawang ang labi niya sa sinabi nito.

"Should I have to wear your shirt and pants?" Kunot noong tanong niya.

Ewan niya pero nag-uumpisa siya mairita sa binata.

"No— I mean... Fuck!" Mura nito at tiningnan siya ng masama. "I don't like the idea of someone else seeing you in sexy clothes!"

"So?" Walang gana niyang tanong dito at pinagkrus ang braso niya.

"What so babe? It makes me mad!" Inis nitong sagot sa kanya.

"And?"

"It's fuck babe! I don't like it. I know I shouldn't say this but— Damn! I want to be the only one to see your body in—"

Natigilan ito, umiling, tapos ay bumunot ng malalim na hininga na para bang pinapakalma nito ang sarili.

"Fuck! I'm being an asshole." Nagtatagis ang panga na wika nito sa sarili.