Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

‘Prevent yourself from expecting too much to avoid huge disappointment.’

Tila nakalimutan ni Eleanor ang batas nyang iyon sa sarili ng makarating sa pribadong building ng condo units na kanyang tinutuluyan.

Her bubble of expectation popped the second she found no one in front of her condo’s door. 

Hindi naman ganoon kalaki ang ekspektasyon nya. But the fact that she expected Fourth Ycarius to be waiting in front of her condo’s door like what he said, and saw no one, created a slight pang in her chest. She was taken aback and the small smile she unconsciously had on her face faded. 

She walked towards the direction of her place – acting normal. Pero hindi ma-deny ang matamlay na ekspresyon sa mukha ni Eleanor. She didn’t realize that her lips are pouting while looking at her message box. Nagsimula syang tumipa sa kaniyang cellphone. 

‘I’m just gonna notify him that I’m here.’ Aniya sa isip. ‘We agreed to meet here, so texting him is normal.’ Dagdag pa nya, kinukumbinsi ang sarili. 

Pagkatapos maitype ang nais nyang iparating dito ay kaagad nya itong senend. Not giving herself a chance to change her mind.

Eleanor was halfway from opening her door when she heard a door’s sound, opening behind her. Natigilan sya, dahil alam nya kung sino ang naroroon.

“Healia Eleanor.”

The call of her name from his deep, yet gentle voice, gave her an unfamiliar tingling feeling in the unusual part of her stomach. Hindi sya kaagad nakatugon sa pagtawag nito dahil sa sensasyong iyon. He used to call her name like that many times before. Ngunit normal naman ang pakiramdam nya kapag tinatawag sya nito sa buong pangalan nya noon. What’s the difference this time?

“Fourth Ycarius.” She responded after turning around.

Her lips slightly parted as she looked down on what Fourth Ycarius is wearing. His hair was brushed back, obviously done by his fingers. And to Eleanor’s amusement, he’s wearing an apron- a dark blue apron. She would be more amused if he’s wearing a pink one. 

But Eleanor is not amused because he looked funny, but rather, he looked sexy. Lalo na't hindi sakto sa pangangatawan nito ang size ng apron, hindi man ganoon ka liit, but it's still smaller for his size. More importantly, the tight apron is emphasizing his well-built body.

She shook her head. Eleanor felt like a criminal thinking that way. She never thought that the day would come that she’ll describe a man as ‘sexy’.

Kaagad nyang inilihis ang kaniyang paningin.

Ng mapansin iyon ni Fourth ay madali nitong hinubad ang suot na apron. 

Patagong napangiwi ang labi ni Eleanor ng makaramdam ng pagkadismaya sa ikinilos nito.

"I was just reheating the foods." Turo ni Fourth Ycarius sa loob ng kanyang condo. "Lumabas kaagad ako ng makita ang text mo." He added.

Nakalimutan nyang magkatapat lang pala ang condo nilang dalawa. At wala pang isang minuto ng masend ang text nya ay lumabas kaagad ito. 

'Why did I thought that he left?' 

"Do you… need help?" Wala sa planong tanong nya. 

He smiled, and the tingling feeling in her gut came back in a snap. Tila ngayon nya lamang napansin kung gaano ka ganda ang mga mata Fourth kapag ngumingiti ito. His full lower lip became thinner after a full smile. 

Wala namang nakakangiti sa itinuran nya, pero bakit ang laki ng ngiti nito? 

"There's no need." Iling nito, "Do you still want to have dinner with me?" Pagkukumperma nito. 

His smiling eyes became doe, and it made Eleanor secretly laugh in her mind.

'He looked like a dog.' Naisip nya habang nakatingin dito. 'A handsome one.'

"Of course!" Napangiwi sya sa kaniyang tono. She sounded so excited. "M-magbibihis lang ko."

Madali syang tumalikod habang kagat ang pang-ibabang labi. 

Eleanor failed to take a step inside her condo as a familiar warmth creped to her skin and made her stop from walking away. Dumapo ang tingin nya sa kamay ni Fourth na pumigil sa kanyang pumasok sa kanyang condo unit. Their hands are perfectly intertwined. At kung paano nangyari iyo  sa loob ng mumunting segundo ay wala syang ideya.

She's only focused on their intertwined hands, his warmth, and his brown orbs that seemed like, they have something to say. 

"I missed you." Simpleng saad nito. Na para bang wala syang kahit ano mang hiyang naramdaman ng sabihin nya iyon.

"I-i." Eleanor stuttered.

They were together the whole night yesterday. Magkasama din sila noong umaga, kaya bakit naman sya namimiss nito? She's feeling flustered. Alam nya kung ano ang mga tamang salita na isasagot - dahil ramdam nya rin ito. 

But why would she say it?

They had this connection with each other because of a marriage - na nabuo dahil sa isang kasunduan. It's supposed to be, just purely business. Is it alright for them to act this way?

Na para bang totoo silang magkasintahan? 

Sa mga inakto nila simula kahapon, at ang eksenang naudlot kaninang umaga. They acted like a real couple in love. Which seemed too fast for her, and too new. Para sa isang babaeng nakapalibot ang mundo sa pakikipaglaban at pagpirma ng mga papeles.

With how Fourth Ycarius act and speak to her. Tila may gusto ito sakanya. But, is it real? O nag-a-assume lang sya? Parang imposible namang magustuhan sya nito sa loob lamang ng magtatatlong buwan nilang pagkakilala.

"It's fine." Matamlay itong ngumiti sakanya. "You don't need to force yourself to answer."

"I'm sorry." She uttered.

Fourth Ycarius shook his head, "Don't be, you didn't do anything wrong." Tila nang-aalo ang boses nito.

"Sa condo ko ba tayo mag-didiner?" Pang-iiba nya ng usapan, na sya namang ikinatigil ni Fourth. "O… sa condo mo?" 

It didn't sounded right!

The stunned Fourth Ycarius chuckled after seeing her winced with her own remark.

"Can I embrace you?" Diritso nitong saad na sya namang ikinagulat ni Eleanor.

Their intertwined hands clasped tightly as he pulled her towards his chest. Niyakap nya ito na para bang ilang taon silang hindi nagkita. 

Magulo man kay Eleanor kung bakit ganito ang kilos ng lalaki ay nanatili syang nakasandal sa dibdib nito. 

His warmth felt comforting. Eleanor feel embarrassed that she's not thinking of pushing him away or pulling herself back.

"I can still remember hugging you this morning." Bulong nito sa kanyang tenga.

His voice sounded deeper as he whispered to her ear.

She slightly shivered. Nakakakiliti ang hininga nitong tumatama sa kanyang balat. Something weird is surely happening with her body. Inaamin nyang kinikilig sya. But there's something more, and she doesn't want to fully entertain it. 

Ng umangat ang kanyang mga mata ay sinalubong ito nga mga mata ni Foyrth na kanina oang nakatingin sakanya. Bumaba ang tingin nya sa labi nito. And Fourth Ycarius followed,looking down at her lips intently.

Ng mapansin ni Eleanor ang uri ng pagtingin nito sa labi nya ay kaagad syang bumitaw sa pagkakayakap nito sakanya.

"Let's just have dinner in your place." Sagot nito habang turo ang condo ni Eleanor 

Tumango sya, "Mag-aayos lang ako sa loob." 

After he nodd3d, Eleanor immediately turned around and entered her place. Isinara nya ang kaniyang pinto at kaagad na sumandal doon.

She blew out some air, felling relieved. Madali syang pumunta sa kanyang silid at nag-ayos ng kaunti. She headed straight to her kitchen right after she finished fixing herself. Mabilis nyang inayos ang mga pagkakaininan nila sa dining table. 

Pagkatapos nyang maayos iyon ay kaagad syang naglakad upang makalabas sa kanyang condo at salabungin si Fourth Ycarius. A ring from her phone made her stop halfway.

"Cloud." Simpleng bati nya sa kabilang linya.

"I got all the info about the party, Empress." he informed, "Do you want me to send it to you now?"

"No need, we'll tackle it tomorrow in our meeting." Sagot nya, "Inform Sky." 

Inbinaba nya ang tawag pagkatapos nitong makasagot.

Ng makalabas sa kanyang condo ay sinalubong sya ng bukad na pintuan ng condo ni Fourth Ycarius.

Sumilop sya doon at na kita ang lalaking may bitbit na lalagyan ng mga pagkain habang naglalakad palabas. 

"Do you need help?" tanong nya ng makalabas ito.

"I think I forgot my phone in the living room." sagot nito, "Can you get it for me? Naiwan ko ata sa mesa."

Tumango sya. Since she got his permission to enter his place ay pumasok na lamang sya. Mabilis snyang nahanap ang tinutukoy nitong cellphone. But her attention was caught by something else.

Isang pamilyar na gintong envelope na nasa mesa rin ni Fourth Ycarius.

The same invitation woth the one she received earlier.

They invited the De Salvo's but not thw Scarletti? Maging ang mga Cristos ay hindi rin nakatanggap ng imbitasyon.

Her curiousity was triggered. At ninanais nya ng pumubta sa party na iyon.

Dinampot nya ang cellphone ni Fourht Ycarius at madaling lumbas doon. Ng makalabas ay sinalubong sya ng nakangiting lalaki. Biglang bumalik ang hiya nya ng maalala ang eksensa nila kanina.

Sandali nyang hinawkaan ang cellphone mg lalaki dahil okupado ang mga kamay nito sa dalang mga pagkain. She smiled and guided him inside her place.

Their dinner went quite well. She felt less awkward dahil sa mga mumunting usaoan nola. At the end of thwir dinner, Fourth ended up washing the dishes after Eleanor lost with his insistence.

"The foods were delicious. Thank you." Nakangiting aniya sa lalaki.

"Then… can we have dinner together again tomorrow?" 

She blushed. Makakatanggi ba sya? Her self is so willing. 

"S-sure." nahihiyang aniya at tumalikod.

Muli syang pinigil ng kamay ni Fourth Ycarius. She turned back and looked at him with a curious look. Kung ano ang sunod nitong sasabihin.

"Are you… going to sleep already?"