4 - Miss Red

AZRAEL NIKOLAI MORDECAI

I brought her to my hotel and called a doctor. Mukhang may pinagtataguan siya, kaya hindi ko siya pwedeng dalhin sa ospital. It’s too risky.

My secretary, John, bought new clothes for her. And I let the nurse do her thing to change Red’s blood-coated clothes.

The doctor scrutinized her, his expression grim. “She’s lost a lot of blood. She needs an immediate transfusion.”

Good thing my blood type is O—the universal donor. And luckily, so is she.

“I’m clean,” I assured him, rolling up my sleeve as I settled into the chair beside the bed. The doctor nodded, preparing the transfusion.

Habang dahan-dahang dumadaloy ang dugo ko papunta sa kanya, hindi ko maiwasang pagmasdan siya. Even in her weakened state, she looked fierce, untamed, and dangerous.

Who the hell are you, Miss Red?

I don’t know her. I just called her red because of the color of her hair and I bet she loves red. Not just a normal red. But a red that looks like blood.

“Who’s that woman? Another toy to play, Niko?” My brother Koen asked the moment he entered the room where the lady was lying.

Pinatong niya sa lamesa ang bitbit nitong mga paper bags because I asked him to bring me some of his cosmetics products for her.

“No. She’s off limits,” matigas kong tugon sa kanya.

Napahinto si Koen dahil sa sinabi ko at ilang minuto lang napabuhakhak siya ng tawa.

“The hell? You mean you haven’t touched that woman?” Taas kilay niyang tanong.

My throat tightened. Gumalaw ang panga ko para pigilan ang sariling magalit.

D*mn. I really wish I couh her right now. But she looks so divine. How could a devil touch an angel like her?

Kanina pa ako nagpipigil na hawakan siya, halikan o galawin siya. I am a womanizer, but I am not a rapist.

How could I touch her when she’s unconscious? And isa pa, I think that she’s not an easy person.

Her face looks like an angel, yet there’s something in her aura that speaks of anything more than just an angel. A danger?

She’s a walking danger that brings chaos in me. Ganitong kalaki ang epektong dinala niya sa’kin.

And I don’t know. I’m just seeing myself loving this kind of danger.

“Seryoso?” Gulat na tanong ni Koen nang hindi ako makasagot. “That’s the first time, Niko.”

“Back-off,” usal ko na lang sa iritableng boses.

Natawa siya at ilang beses na napailing. “You’re in danger, Niko. Baka siya na nga talaga ang taong magpapatino sa’yo.” 

Nilingon ko ang kapatid kong busy na ngayon sa kanyang selpon.

Magpapatino? That’s impossible. 

How about the cure for my apathy? 

I never felt this way before. The urge to have her on my bed every single night as my desire for her grows. Kissing, touching, playing with her firm yet soft breasts—

Bigla akong napatingil sa pag-iisip nang naramdaman ko ang paninigas ng alaga ko. Dmn. Just thinking of us having sex makes me aroused. 

Is she the only way to cure my apathy? Why the hell is this happening? damn.

Koen left as he still needs to be early for his business launch in Paris tomorrow in the afternoon. Balak ko sanang pumunta para maghanap ng mga babaeng pwedeng ikama. 

Hindi ko naman inaasahan na ang lalaspag na ng mga babae dito sa Italy. They’re fucking hot, but not enough to satisfy me.

I found myself staring at the glass wall while drinking my Tennessee. It’s already four in the morning, yet I can’t sleep. 

How can I sleep if someone is sleeping in my bed? Ano ‘yon? Matutulog ako sa couch? Sa sahig? No freaking way. 

I may have been born illegitimate, but my parents didn’t let me suffer. I was born and raised as equal to Fabian. I have it all like him.

So I never thought of sleeping on the couch or the floor.

And this lady is the first one who did that to me. Dang.

Wala akong nagawa kun’di ang matulog sa couch na nasa tapat ng kama. I was too tired, especially since I donated blood to her.

Nagising na lang ako bandang magta-tanghali na at nakita kong mahimbing pa rin ang tulog niya. 

Tinignan mo ang damit niya at sa banda kung nasaan ang sugat niya. So far, wala namang dugo na makikita sa kanya.

She’s so beautiful. Especially in her white long dress. Para talaga siyang anghel na bumaba sa langit.

Nagpa-home service ako para sa pagkain naming dalawa. At saktong pagkarating ng pagkain ay siyang paggising niya.

“Hey! You shouldn’t move!” 

Pero huli na dahil nakaupo na ito habang napalakas ang hinaing hawak ang kanyang gilid ng tagiliran.

The doctor said it was a cut from a knife. Paano ba siya nasugatan ng gano’n? 

Is she a thief? Right, kasi ninakaw niya ang atensyon ko.

“Bakit ako nandito?” Her angelic voice sounded so sweet, yet it was laced with venom and danger.

“I brought you here to cure you?” 

WTF. Niko? You just answered her an uncertain question.

“I don’t need your help,” mahina ang boses niyang saad sa’kin habang namumutlang tinanggal ang karayum na nakadikit sa kanyang balat para sa IV fluid na kailangan niya because she’s too dehydrated.

I was stunned and stayed still in my place and watched her how she took it off effortlessly.

Napadaing pa siya ng kaunti nang sinubukan niyang bumaba ng kama kaya napatakbo ako papalapit sa kanya para alalayan siya nang bigla niyang iwakli ang kamay ko.

“I said I don’t need your help.” 

I pursed my lips as I watched her being stubborn. I crossed my arms and watched her taking small steps, pero hindi pa siya nakakalayo ay bigla na siyang natumba sa sahig.

Gumalaw ang panga ko dahil sa inis saka ko siya nilapitan at binuhat para ibalik sa kama. Hindi naman siya nakipag-away pa at halatang hinang-hina pa dahil sa daming nawalang dugo sa kanya kagabi.

“You don’t need my help, yet you asked me last night to take you out of that place?” I mocked, my frustration slowly boiling over. I couldn't help it—this woman was too much. “You’re such a real deal, Missy.”

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Did you touch me?”

Napailing ako, amused at her audacity. Of all the things she could ask, ito talaga? Instead of being offended, I found myself smirking. Damn, she’s something else.

I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms. “Define ‘touch,’ sweetheart. If you mean carrying your half-conscious, bleeding body to safety, then yes, I did. If you’re asking if I did something else, sorry to disappoint, but I don’t take advantage of weak women.”

She clicked her tongue, obviously displeased with my answer. “Good. Because if you did, I’d make sure you regret it.”

That made me chuckle. Is she still acting tough when she can barely stand? This woman was seriously testing my patience—and my interest.

Her piercing gaze remained locked onto me, and I swear, if looks could kill, I’d be long dead by now. My body stiffened involuntarily, a rare reaction for me. What the hell? Am I… nervous?

I gulped, trying to regain my composure. “Mukha lang ako hindi mapapagkatiwalaan, Miss Red, but I’m not a r*pist. I won’t do anything to someone while they’re unconscious. Sinong mapapaligaya kung tulog ang babaeng—”

I stopped mid-sentence when her eyes burned through me like a blade pressed against my throat. Sh*t.

I quickly raised my hands in surrender. “Hindi nga!” I blurted out, my voice louder than intended—and a little too defensive for my liking.

Niko, what the hell is wrong with you?

She didn’t waver. Instead, she crossed her arms, her expression filled with skepticism. “Then who changed me?”

I felt a drop of sweat roll down my temple. Bakit parang ako ang may kasalanan?

“T-the nurse. A lady nurse,” I managed to say.

A dangerous silence filled the room, her gaze never leaving me. My hands balled into fists. Why the f*ck am I stuttering?!

She took a step closer, and for the first time, I realized—this woman was terrifying.

“Y-You lost a lot of blood last night, so the doctor did a blood transfusion.” 

Tumaas ang kanyang kilay at tinignan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. “Don’t tell me, galing sa’yo?” 

Tinignan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa na may judgement sa kanyang mga mata. Anong akala niya sa dugo ko?! Marumi?! 

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Bakit ba galit na galit siya sa’kin? Ni wala nga akong ginawang kasalanan sa kanya ah!

She’s the one who kissed me first! Bakit parang kasalanan ko?

Hindi ko siya sinagot saka tumalikod sa kanya para ipaghanda siya ng makakain.

Dinala ko iyon sa kama at nakatingin lang siya sa’kin na para bang may gustong itanong.

“Nasaan ang suot ko kagabi?” tanong niya.

“Pinatapon ko na.” 

“What?!” 

Muli siyang tumayo para siguro hanapin ang damit na suot niya. 

Mabilis kong hinablot ang braso niya at buong lakas na hinila siya para mapaupo sa kama.

“I need my phone,” aniya. Natataranta.

“Phone? Wala kang phone na bitbit.”

“Anong wala? I have it. I always bring my phone! Give me back my phone!” 

SInubukan niya muling tumayo mabilis kong nahawakan ang kanyang braso ang mahigpit siyang pinigilan. Napansin ko ang pagkalat ng dugo sa kanyang tagiliran kaya alam kong bumuka ang tahi sa kanyang gilid.

Nagtama ang aming mga mata na parehong malamig at may galit.

“Move once again and I’ll kiss you.”