Chapter 5

“Where the freakin’ hell are we?”

Kitana said almost shouting as the man started stepping on the car’s break.

He waited until the car has finally stopped before he faced her.

“Alright first of, I would rather take you to a place opposite from hell. Second, lower down your voice I am not deaf. Third and to answer your query, we are in my beautiful penthouse, welcome to La Ville Lumiere princess.”

He said smiling from ear to ear which instantly made Kitana’s eyeball roll.

Mayabang, hambog, bastos.

Those were the words that can describe Luis Harrington.

Those words fit him perfectly, no doubt.

Luis Harrington didn’t gave Kitana the chance to speak as he opened the door and slid out from behind the wheel.

Kitana copied his actions, and stood glaring at him across the roof of the Mercedes Benz then she turned and walked to face him.

Sandali siyang nag isip kung bakit nga ba pumayag siyang sumama sa lalaking ito at hinayaan niyang dalhin siya nito sa kung saan para lamang mag usap.

Luis didn’t gave him a clear answer after she asked who he was at dinner a little while ago and just told her that his knowledge about her identity was way too confidential and he preferred to talk about it more private.

Alam niyang may mabigat na dahilan ang pag lapit sa kanya ng hambog na lalaking ito, and Kitana’s eagerness to know what might be his reason is driving her insane.

“Listen to me you arrogant piece of all the cursive words I know, I don’t care if this penthouse of yours is the most beautiful place I have ever seen I still love to call this hell!

And I don’t want you take me to heaven or wherever that is, I want to know why you have taken me here!”

Inis na sabi ni Kitana nang makalapit siya dito, lalo lamang nag pa init ng kanyang ulo ang ngiting aso ng hambog na lalaking ito.

“I didn’t say I will take you to heaven, princess.”

Makahulugan ang ngiting sabi nito saka mataman siyang tinitigan much to her annoyance. “Whatever! I don’t have time to play your game so will you just answer my question Harrington, why on earth did you take me here?”

Halos mamula na sa galit na sigaw ni Kitana rito.

Why does she feel so stupid letting this kind of thing to happen?

“The security gate is activated by a personally coded remote.”

Sabi nito na sa halip na sagutin ang tanong niya ay ibang impormasyon ang isinisiksik sa ulo niya.

At ano daw?

“The entrance to the house is also security coded.” Kitana walked even closer to where he was standing, anger etched on every line of her body.

Sinamaan niya ito ng tingin at kinailangan niya pang

Tumingala para lamang salubungin ang matalim kung tumingin ngunit may halong kapilyuhan nitong mga mata.

Kitana have secretly calculated his height at kung ikukumpara sa sarili niyang taas na 5’6 ay umabot lamang siya sa balikat nito.

“Kidnapping is a criminal offence Harrington, if you don’t want me to lay charges I suggest you allow me free passage out of here. Now.”

Kitana said letting out the dangerous glare she’d master.

Luis Harrington only let out a tiny laugh and moved a little far from her, it irked Kitana even more and if he’d standing close enough just like he was a while ago, she’d have lashed out and hit him.

“I said let me out or I will phone the police!”

Puno ng kaseryosohan ang mukhang utos niya rito na ginantihan pa nito ng isang matamis na ngiti saka umiling.

“Relax princess, wala akong gagawing masama sayo, I only want to have a word with you. I only want fifteen or maybe twenty minutes of your time.”

Sabi nito na sa wakas ay nag seryoso na rin ang ekspresyon ng mukha.

“Besides, there is no need to alert the police, you are already talking to one.”

Kitana’s eyebrow creased, it took a while for her to process what he just said.

Her heart thudded painfully against her rib, unable to say a word, Kitana just stood there and looked at him.

“Y-you are not new money as Adira told me, you are not a strategist either, did you lie just so you can gain access to that event? Para… para makalapit sakin?”

Matapang na tanong ni Kitana, kinakabahan man sa mga bagay na maaring mangyari ay pilit kinalma ni Kitana ang sarili, she knew for a fact na hindi siya kayang ipagtangol ng takot na nararamdaman niya ngayon.

She forced herself to look at him, nagawa niya pang mag pilit ng nakaka lokong ngiti saka ito inismiran.

“I was going to ask for a valid reason as to why a law enforcer like yourself would come to play pretend just to be one of the guests in that socialites event but I figured that it will just bore me so I will ask, anong kailangan mo saakin?”

Puno ng katapangan ang awrang pilit niyang ipinapakita sa lalaking tulad niya ay mataman ring nakatitig sa kanya.

Tila ba sila parehong nasa dwelo na mayroong batas na ang kung sino man ang unang mag bawi ng tingin ang siyang talo.

“Don’t pretend as if you don’t know the reason why I am after you. I am Lieutenant Luis Harrington, ako rin ang inatasang mag bantay sa mga kilos mo mahal na prinsesa or should I call you, Catleya?”

Catleya…

Despite the undeniable fear she was feeling at that very moment, Kitana couldn’t stop the urge to smirk.

It was very rare to have someone calling her by her alias especially that she is dressed as her true self.

Catleya was her chosen alias, she thought it would suit her well as the most wanted burglar, for years she has been a cat burglar except that nobody would dare to have her mistaken as a cat, Kitana was a tiger and she would be very much willing to attack if her prey have ever gotten close.

Sa kasamaang palad ay si Luis Harrington iyon.

“You can call me baby, honey, sweetie or whatever name you want to call me Harrington.”

Kitana said playfully.

Lalo lamang lumaki ang ngising aso ni Kitana nang makita ang pag tangis ng bagang ni Luis na nag pakilalang isang pulis.

Alam niyang may kakayahan ang lalaki na hulihin siya at ikulong, hindi din naman maliit ang utak ni Kitana para hindi maintindihan na hindi mag lalakas ng loob ang alagad ng batas na ito na lapitan siya kung wala itong hawak na sapat na ibidensya.

Ngunit wala nang panahon si Kitana para mag isip tungkol doon, ang tanging tanong na dapat niyang pag tuonan ng pansin ngayon ay kung hahayaan niya ba ang Lieutenant Harrington na ito na gawin ang gusto sa kanya.

At isang malaking HINDI ang sagot niya roon.

“Don’t play with me Kitana, this isn’t your game, it’s mine. I hate to break it to you but my game, my rules.

And I would like to inform you that the name of the game we gonna play is hide and seek.”

Sabi nito saka ito naman ang ngumisi.

“You made it to pursuit princess, should I

congratulate you?”

May halong sarkasmo ang baritonong boses na dagdag pa nito, napangisi naman si Kitana bago sumagot.

“I don’t know Lieutenant, should you?”

She queried playfully.

Nagawa niya pang umayos ng tayo saka nag lakad pa ikot sa kinatatayuan ng lalaki.

“Cases like these are very confidential Lieutenant, hindi ba dapat… you are keeping this investigation a secret specially to your person of interest?” Mapaglaro niyang tanong dito saka niya ito matamang tinitigan, na siya naman niyang agad na pinagsisihan.

Hindi niya akalain na mas maayos pa pala ang itsura ng lalaking ito sa malapitan.

‘He’s handsome… Damn that he is!’

Distracted, Kitana said to herself as she instantly looked away.

But it was too late, mabilis ang naging kilos ni Luis at sa sobrang bilis ay halos mapatalon na lamang si Kitana sa gulat nang marahas siya nitong hilahin at hapitin sa baywang.

Sa hindi mabilang na pagkakataon ni Kitana sa gabing iyon ay muli nanamang nag tama ang mga mata nila ng lalaki.

Saglit pa siyang natigilan nang bumaba ang kanyang tingin sa mapupulang labi nito, ilang sandali rin ang ginugol niya bago maka balik sa sariling katinuan.

Ibinuhos niya ang buo niyang lakas para itulak ang lalaki ngunit wala man lang iyong naging epekto dito, muli pang sumilay ang mapang asar na ngisi nito na sa hindi malamang dahilan ni Kitana ay naging dahilan lamang ng pag wawala ng kanyang puso.

“You are right princess, cases like these are supposed to be confidential. But I find this case different especially that the suspect is… well I must say ‘she’ is a very well trained criminal.” Makahulugan nitong sabi habang hindi pa rin inaalis ang tingin sa kanya.

Ipinag diinan rin nito ang salitang she na alam niyang siya ang tinutukoy.

“You are way too beautiful to be in this kind of situation princess, but I am sorry to say that your beauty couldn’t be your ticket to get away with this.”

Seryosong sabi nito, naramdaman niya ang lalo lamang pag higpit ng hawak nito sa kanya saka dahan-dahang bumaba ang tingin nito sa malulusog niyang dibdib na natatakpan lamang ang halos kalahati ng suot niyang kulay pulang gown.

Kitana knew that was a different game he’s trying to play, something which irked her unbearably, for

how could she be emotionally spellbound by this man who she knew matter of fact has all the right to capture her.

“Pretty…”

He whispered fixing his eyes still to the fullness of her breasts.

“One wrong move Lieutenant and I swear it’ll be a different ‘ball’ game and I’ll make sure that it’s gonna be my rule you’ll follow.”

Mariin niyang banta rito nang makita ang buong pag hanga sa mga mata nito, dapat ay sanay siya na may ibang taong nakakatita sa halos hubad na niyang katawan dahil sa pagiging isa niyang sikat na

modelo ngunit tila iba ang dating ng isiping iyon sa lalaking ito.

Nakuha marahil ni Luis ang ibig niyang sabihin dahil agad siya nitong binitawan, nagawa pa nitong mag taas ng kamay bilang pag suko.

“Condense whatever you have to say in five minutes Lieutenant.”

Inis na utos niya rito na siya naman nitong ikinatawa ng mapakla.

“Your time starts now.”

Dagdag niya pa saka sinulyapan ang suot na relo na tila ba binibilangan ng oras ang isang atleta.

She heard him sigh and his playful expression shifted in to a full seriousness.

“I have been following you for months Kitana, I have gathered some evidences that can put you behind bars.”

Sabi nito, sa halip na kabahan ay napangisi pa si Kitana.

‘Mukhang masyado yata akong nag pabaya.’

She whispered to herself.

“Some… “

Ulit ni Kitana na tila nagpalito sa kausap.

“Some evidences Lieutenant is never enough to capture someone like me. I have all the power to make things turn no more than you do. So why don’t you just cut to the chase.”

Nakangising sabi ni Kitana, alam niyang may ibang sadya ang lalaking ito sa kanya, at kung ano man iyon, iyon ang siyang dapat niyang alamin.

“One more move that will go against the law princess, I will be honour-bound to capture you.”

Seryoso ang mga tingin na sabi nito sa kanya, lalo lamang naman lumaki ang ngisi ni Kitana.

“And I will make sure that you will be honour-bound to spare…”

Tumigil sandali sa pag sasalita si Kitana para tawirin ang ilang hakbang na layo ng pagitan nila, pilit niyang hinanap ang mga mata nito saka buong tapang na tinitigan iyon.

“Me…”

Sa wakas ay sabi niya saka walang sabi at mapangahas niyang tinawid ang manipis na pagitan nila saka ito hinila at siniil ng halik sa labi.

Inaasahan na ni Kitana na tutugon agad si Luis Harrington sa mapangahas niyang kilos, iyon naman ang nangyari, ang pagka iba nga lang ay sa halip na ang lalaki ang maapektohan ay tila mas siya pa ang naging bihag sa sarili niyang bitag.

Kitana’s eyes closed shut as Luis pulled her even closer and devour her lips more than she ever anticipated.

She could taste a hint of mint as his tongue skilfully played with her own.

Hindi na napigil ni Kitana ang impit na pag ugol nang maramdaman ang isang kamay nito na nag lalaro at marahang humihila sa mahaba niyang buhok, sa halip na itulak ang lalaki ay tila may sariling utak ang kanyang mga kamay na kusang kumilos para kumawit sa matipunong balikat nito pa akyat sa leeg.

“You know your way around Kitana.”

Paos ang tinig na sabi nito sa kanya nang sa wakas ay mag hiwalay ang kanilang mga labi.

Nag pilit ng isang nakaka lokong ngiti si Kitana sa binata saka tila hindi pa nakontento sa malalim na halik na kanilang pinagsaluhan at nagawa niya pang titigan ito sa mga mata kasabay ng marahan niyang pag lalaro sa leeg nito.

“I am not called a cat burglar for nothing,

Harrington.”

Masuyo at puno ng pang-aakit niyang bulong sa puno ng tenga ng lalaki saka buong lakas niya itong hinila palapit at walang pag dadalawang isip niya itong tinuhod, hindi pa siya nakontento at isa pang malakas na pag apak sa paa ang ginawa niya at sinadya pang itama ang matulis niyang takong doon.

Napasigaw naman ito sa gulat at sakit at nagawa ring murahin siya.

Pilya naman ang naging ngiti ni Kitana saka ito tinawanan habang umaatras palayo.

“So what law did I break now, Harrington? Was it your ‘balls’?”

Malaki ang ngising sabi niya sa wala nang nagawang si Luis kundi ang samaan na lamang siya ng tingin.