MONTE COSTA SERIES #1: Shore Of Hearts [Published Under PSICOM Publishing Inc.]

Kabanata 15

Kabanata 15

MAKULIMLIM ang langit habang namamasyal sina Armani at Teissa sa hacienda. Pinasakay siya nito sa kabayong si Andres habang naglalakad ito at iginigiya ang kabayo upang hindi magwala o tumakbo.

Armani insisted on guiding the horse to keep her safe. Ngunit kahit na hindi naman maaraw ay naaawa pa rin si Teissa kay Armani dahil nakikita niyang basa na ng pawis ang likod nito.

Teissa tightened her grip on the rope supporting her as she rides the horse. Inipon niya ang lakas ng loob na tawagin si Armani upang sabihin dito ang nasa isip niya.

"P--Pwede kang . . . sumakay din." Her cheeks felt hot when Armani looked at her. Napaiwas siya ng tingin at kinakabahang itinuloy ang nais sabihin. "Huwag . . . huwag ka nang maglakad. Pagod ka na . . ."

Armani didn't answer. Tila ba nag-iisip ito kung tatanggapin ang alok niya o hindi. Maya-maya ay bumuntonghininga ito saka siya tiningnan. Her cheeks felt hot even more, and the longer their eyes remained staring at each other, the more she's losing her grip into reality. 

She pursed her lips as she waited for his response. She could see the hesitation in his eyes as if something's going on in his mind. 

Halatang ayaw sana nitong tanggapin ang alok niya kaya humugot siya ng hininga't lakas-loob na nagsalita.

"P-Please? Hindi ko . . . mae-enjoy ang pagsakay sa kabayo kung . . . inaalala kita."

Armani heaved a sigh before he finally accepted her offer. Umusog siya paharap nang makasampa ito nang maayos sa kabayo, ngunit dahil limitado lamang ang espasyong pagsasaluhan nila ay hindi rin naiwasang magdikit ang kanilang mga katawan.

"Teissa inhaled a sharp breath and held it as the horse started moving again. Pilit niyang pinipigil ang pagsandal ng kanyang likod sa hulmadong dibdib ni Armani ngunit nang marating nila ang paahong bahagi ng hacienda ay tuluyang lumapat ang likod niya sa katawan nito.

"Sorry," she heard Armani apologized. "Is it my sweat?"

Napakurap siya nang lingunin ito. "Huh?"

"You seem like you're too afraid to rest your back on my chest. Is it because of my sweat?" he asked.

Napaawang ang mga labi ni Teissa. "Oh, no no no I uhm." Nalunok niya ang sarili niyang laway. "I just . . . thought it wouldn't be appropriate."

His brow slightly lifted. "Because your husband would mind?"

Teissa pursed her lips as she gently nodded. "I just . . . don't want to give him reasons to think I'm cheating on him." Uminit ang pisngi niya. "With you . . ."

Hindi alam ni Teissa kung bakit tila umaliwalas ang mukha ni Armani. There was a ghost of a smile on his handsome face when he looked up in the sky. 

"He wouldn't mind. I'm sure about it," he said then met her eyes again. "Trust me."

Teissa looked away, hesitating at first. Ayaw niya sana kaya lang ay hirap na siya sa pataas na bahagi ng nilalakaran ng kabayo. 

Bumuntonghininga siya bago dahan-dahang hinayaan ang sariling sumandal sa dibdib ni Armani. She was anxious at first. Scared that people will judge her once someone sees them.

Nadama niya ang paghugot ni Armani ng malalim na hininga. "What's your shampoo?" he suddenly asked, breaking the silence between them.

Nilingon niya ito. "Hmm?"

Armani's mesmerizing brown eyes stared at her. "Your shampoo. What is it?"

"Oh, uhm shea butter with aloe vera," sagot niya. Sinabi rin niya ang brand.