SHE couldn’t take off her eyes from those photos Brianna had sent her. Napangiti siya ng binasang muli ang usapan nilang mag-tita. Malinaw at may halong kapilyahan ang paglalarawan ni Brianna sa lalaking nasa larawan.
Nakisang-ayon na rin ang utak niya sa sinabi nitong gwapo ang lalaki kahit stolen shots lamang ang mga larawang pinadala nito sa kanya. She’s not admiring the man but she likes his deeds by saving her son.
Alam niyang masyadong malikot ang anak niya at aktibo kaya’t hindi nito alintana ang anumang panganib na pwedeng nitong sapitin sa bawat maling galaw. She’s wondering if Andrei’s temperament was similar to that man who assaulted her. She somehow wished she knew a little about him, unfortunately, according to her brother, Reymond had died in that accident they encountered a few years ago.
DUMUKWANG naman si Reymond para tingnan ang driver at bakas sa gwapong mukha niya ang labis na pag-alala.“Are you---” His words stuck on his throat, color was draining on his face. He was looking at the beautiful amber eyes, drowning him gradually into a deep ocean.Napahigit siya ng malalim na hininga at tila tumigil sa pag-ikot ang mundo niya ng mga sandaling ito. Pigil ang nag-uumapaw na damdamin na hindi niya kayang pangalanan.It’s been like waking up from a long dream, and it was a sweet moment that he would cherish forever. She never changed, still possessing the cold-sweet temperament. The woman that took his pure and innocent heart since his first encounter with her. The woman that he longed for many years.Hindi niya n
HE wanted to say his real name to her, but he knew she might get mad and even slip away. He stopped his urge to talk more to prevent making a wrong move.Inangat naman ni Denise ang kamay niya at tinanggap ang pakikipagkamay ni Reymond ngunit sa pagdaiti ng kanilang mga palad muli na naman siyang parang napapaso sa init na hatid ng palad nito.“D- De- Denise Santillian, t- th- that’s my name,” She can’t stop stammering.“I know!” He hastily answered.Denise tried to pull her hand back, but Reymond held it tightly, with no plan of letting her go. Her eyebrows furrowed, “You know me?”Saka lamang napagtanto ni Reymond ang katangahang ginawa niya ng makita n
DENISE pulled away from him. She stared at him seriously, weighing her trance of thoughts at this moment. Nagpakawala muna siya ng mahabang buntong hininga bago muling nagsalita. Tutal, naman nasabi na niya rito ang mapait niyang karanasan at umiyak na rin siya ng walang pakundangan sa mga bisig nito, huli na para itago pa niya ang lahat.Hindi rin niya maipaliwanag ang biglang gaan ng damdamin niya sa taong ito, marahil nga nababaitan lamang siya rito dahil sa lumanay ng kilos at pananalita nito.“I was in a long coma for three straight years. After my brother took me back from that evil man, my family hid me from the public. According to them, the accident caused two lives, one is my fiance and that demon who took me away. Sadly, he assaulted me during the time I was with him, and my son Andrei was the result. At first, my brother opposed th
DENISE ended the call and handed back his phone. She was shocked when Reymond suddenly leaned towards her, their face was too near, and she could smell his mint breath. Her face was immediately dyed with pink.Hindi niya alam kung ano ang pumasok sa utak niya at mariin siyang pumikit. Reymond’s eyes fell on her beautiful face, and he swallowed hard as he stared at his luscious lips. At this moment, he wanted to devour her lips, but he suddenly stopped the urge to do it.Ayaw niyang magmukhang walang modo sa harapan nito. Minsan na niyang nilapastangan ang dalaga at hindi na niya pwedeng gawin pa ulit ang bagay na iyon kahit pa anong tindi ng pagnanais niyang angkinin ito ulit.“I just want to buckle your seatbelt,” He murmured near her ear.
BAGO ito bumalik sa upuan si Andrei tininagnan pang muli si Reymond. Seryoso ang anyo nito na para bang binabalaan ang ama na huwag magkamaling gawan ng masama ang ina nito. Kumindat lamang si Reymond sa anak niya at bahagya itong nginitian.“Mommy, take care!” Andrei’s small voice sounded a bit weird, but Denise had just ignored it.“I will. You go back to your seat now. Listen to your teacher, okay?”Andrei just nodded and sprinted to his seat.“Mrs. Ji, thank you po, hindi na kami magtatagal,”“Salamat din po, Ma’am Denise,”Tumalikod na rin ito at bumalik sa gitna ng classroom. Pumihit na
SA narinig mula kay Denise parang gustong pagsisihan ni Reymond kung bakit nagbukas pa siya ng usapan tungkol sa nakaraan. Parang tinusok ng milyong matalas na kutsilyo ang puso niya ng mga sandaling ito.“Ang swerte niya sa’yo dahil mahal na mahal mo nga siya. Kahit wala na siya, nariyan pa rin ang labis mong pagmamahal,” halos pabulong nalang ang mga katagang namutawi sa labi ni Reymond.Kinain rin siya ng labis na konsensya dahil siya ang naging dahilan kung nakit dumanas ito ng kalungkutan. Gusto na niyang magtapat dito ngunit nawalan na naman siya ng lakas ng loob. Marahil nga duwag siya at makasarili.Lumingon si Denise sa kanya, “Ikaw din naman swerte sa’yo ang babaeng nagustuhan mo noon kasi hanggang ngayon siya pa rin ang pinangarap mo.”
NAPAPANGITI at napapakamot ng ulo si Reymond. “Ang taray mo naman. Parang galit ka ata ah.”She just snorted and ignored him. Wala rin siyang balak makipag-usap dito dahil nakukulitan siya at hindi niya mawari kung bakit hindi niya matanggihan ang pagiging agresibo nito. Reymond noticed her silence so he stole glances at her.The traffic jam started to build and they were stuck on the road, bored he started to hum. Pakiramdam ni Denise lumulutang siya sa alapaap ng marinig ang malamyos nitong boses habang kinakanta ang sikat ng kantang All Of Me ni John Legend.She turned her head only to find him tapping his fingers on the steering wheel and pouring his soul into singing. She realized that he was looking too sincere while he sang. Lucky is the woman he is madly in love with - Denise thought.
REYMOND let out a long sigh after uttering those words. He couldn’t conceal his sadness, and it brought him pain.Nagkamali na naman siya ng hakbang at marahil nga ilang beses pa ulit siyang magkakamali hanggat lumalapit siya sa dalaga.“Reymond, paghingi ng tawad ang pakay ng pagbalik mo sa Beijing hindi ang takutin na naman siya,” mahinang kastigo niya sa sarili.Ilang beses na nga ba niyang nilapastangan ang dalaga? Hindi na niya mabilang at muli siyang pinanghinaan ng loob. Takot siyang mawala itong muli sa paningin niya ngunit hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman niyang buhay niya ang kapalit sa kahibangan niyang ito.Ah, kailangan na nga niyang ayusin ang sarili.