Monasterio Series #5: Risks and Chances

Kabanata 15

Kabanata 15

Fall

Sweats tickled my forehead as I stop in the wide Ayala Triangle Gardens while catching my rapid breath. Planning to do one more round, I looked down and set my smart watch to record the calories I will burn as I run again. Pang-apat na ikot ko na sa buong lugar at basang-basa na rin ang buong katawan ko ng pawis. Everytime the morning wind blows, I can't help but to shiver as the coldness embrace my skin.

Nagsimula akong tumakbo ngunit ilang hakbang pa lang ang nagagawa ko nang bigla akong mapahinto at mapaikot pabalik. My brows furrowed when I saw Alas scowling at me while holding me on my forearm.

"What?" I asked, brows knitted in slight irritation.

"I'm already hungry. Hindi ka pa ba napapagod? Nakakaapat na ikot na tayo."

"Sino ba kasi nagsabi sa'yong samahan mo akong tumakbo?"

He placed his hands against his hips and looked at me with boredom. Hindi ko talaga siya maintindhan kung bakit kailangan niya pa akong sundan dito. I never told him my schedule this morning. Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla siyang sumulpot sa tabi ko at nakitakbo na para bang may usapan kami. Kapag tinatanong ko kung paano niya nalamang narito ako ay ngingitian niya lang ako na para bang naisahan niya ako.

"When are you going to appreciate my presence?" he said, protuding his lips like a little boy asking for some toy car.

How ever, Alas honestly stands out in this place as most of the women jogging around are looking at him. I can't blame them. His sex appeal was oozing. Litaw na litaw ang kaputian niya sa suot na itim na dry fit shirt at at short. He's all black, even his shoes and that makes him damn attractive for me.

Namumula na rin ang kutis niya, maging ang leeg dahil kanina pa kami tumatakbo. I had to stop myself from biting my lower lip just by looking at the sweat crawling from the side of his cheek down his neck.

Damn it.

"Mabuti nga at kasama mo ako. You almost sprained your feet if I didn't catch you." he rolled his eyes like he just saved my life from a near-death experience.

"Men out there would surely help me just in case that happens." I smirked. "Magkukumahog pa sila."

He scoffed. "What a conceited woman you really are."

"I'm just telling the truth. Men kneel down and beg for my attention."

"Kasi maganda ka?"

"Because I'm simply Zephania Monasterio," I flipped my hair and turned around. I was about to run when he pulled me again - this time, I almost bumped myself against him. Mabuti na lang at naituon ko ang mga palad ko sa kaniyang dibdib. "Alas! Bakit ba hila ka ng hila sa akin?"

He stared at me in the eyes, the little rise of the corner of his lips makes me think that something is going on in his playful mind.

"Maganda ka nga. Amazona ka naman," he uttered. "Under ako sa'yo niyan kapag nagkataon."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Papa-under ka naman?"

Mas lalong lumalim ang ngisi sa labi niya. "Takot ko na lang sa'yo."

"Tss. As if!"

Inirapan ko siya at lumayo na sa kaniya. Narinig ko ang paghagalpak niya ng tawa, tila nangaasar. Nasasanay na ako sa ganitong ugali niya kaya baliwala lang sa akin. Isa pa, hindi rin naman ako tinatablan ng pagiging ganito niya. It's not that I like him for me to get affected.

"Under ka kay Trish noon?" bigla ay natanong ko saka umabante na sa paglalakad. I just chose to do some walking instead of running again.

Ganoon rin naman.