The Charmed Thief

EPILOGUE

KULANG ang salitang pagkamangha para ilarawan ang nararamdaman ni Leyneri nang ihinto ni Sasha ang sasakyan sa tapat ng bahay na binili nito.  It was located near a cliff overlooking the ocean.  It almost looked like a small castle dahil na rin sa Victorian age style na disenyo nito. 
"Did you like it?" tanong ni Sasha.
Bumaling siya dito at napangiti nang makita na parang kinakabahan ito sa magiging sagot niya.  "Are you kidding me?  I absolutely love it."  Ipinulupot niya ang mga braso sa leeg nito.  "You have good taste, Mr. Ivankov."
"There's no doubt in that.  I fell in love with you, right?"
Lalo lamang lumawak ang pagkakangiti niya.  Ilalapit na sana niya ang mukha dito para bigyan ito ng halik nang makita niya sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata ang pagtigil ng kotse na nakasunod sa kanila.  Napailing siya at humiwalay na lamang sa binata.  Bago kasi siya payagan ng ama na umalis kasama si Sasha, kinailangan muna niyang pumayag na may nakasunod sa kanilang mga bodyguard.  Pero hindi naman niya masisisi ito, after all, Sasha still needs to ear his trust.
"Show me inside?" wika na lamang niya.
"My pleasure."
Iginiya siya ni Sasha papasok sa loob ng bahay.  If the outside was amazing then the inside was even more majestic.  And to think na wala pa 'yong gamit sa loob.  Sasabihin na sana niya kay Sasha ang opinyon niya nang mahagip ng kanyang mga mata ang babae na nakaupo sa magsisilbing living room.  She immediately recognized her as Cameo.
Agad itong tumayo at lumapit sa kanila.  "You're late!  Kagabi pa kami naghihintay sa 'yo dito."
"Sorry, sorry.  Pero sabi ko naman sa inyo hindi niyo na ako kailangang hintayin."
"Are you kidding me?  Baka matagal pa bago ka namin makita ulit, so of course we'll wait for you."
"Aww... Cam, I'm really touched."  Umingos lamang si Cameo sa sinabi ni Sasha.  "Cam, I'd like you to meet Ley.  My girlfriend and future wife.  Ley, this girl here is Cameo, one of my apprentice."
Inilahad niya ang kamay sa tapat ni Cameo.  "NIce to meet you, Cameo."
Tiningnan nito ang kamay niya bago ibinalik ang tingin sa mukha niya.  Then she smirked.  "You looked even more like a burnt twig up close.  And your face, it's really a pain to look at."
Tumaas ang isang kilay niya.  Muntikan na niyang makalimutan that this particular apprentice of Sasha doesn't really like her.  "Well, then we all should be thankful that we don't need to see each other that much since you're going to leave now, right?"
Halata namang nainis ito sa sinabi niya.  "I can't believe you really retired for this," wika nito kay Sasha.  Nilampasan na sila nito.  "You have to tour us around this island.  And I won't take no for an answer," muli nitong wika kay Sasha bago tuluyang lumabas.
"Now I know how you felt while facing my brothers," wika niya sa binata.
"Don't worry, she'll come around.  Just like how your brothers will come to accept me.  Although I think it would really take years since all of them have serious sister complex."
Napatawa na lamang siya.  Mula sa isa sa mga silid ay lumabas ang isang babae na may magulong pulang buhok at makapal na salamin. 
"I already set up the security system and the Wi-Fi network," wika nito.
Hindi niya napigilan ang sarili na lumapit dito at hawakan ang kamay nito.  "You must be, Intel.  Thank you so much for all your help in my friend's case.  Kung hindi siguro dahil sa expertise mo, hindi namin ma-so-solve ng gano'n kabilis ang kaso ni Shane.  I'm Ley, by the way.  I'm so happy to finally meet you."
"Ah, yeah, sure."  Binawi nito ang kamay na hawak niya at dali-daling lumabas.
"May nasabi ba akong masama?" tanong niya kay Sasha.
"No, Intel's just naturally shy around strangers.  She's fine if there's a computer monitor in between, but she can't handle it if it's in person."
Napatango-tango na lang siya.  "By the way, where's Parker?  I kind of missed her."
"She's probably sleeping somewhere upstairs.  Hayaan mo, gigising din 'yon mamaya.  So, what do you think of the house's interior?"
"It's even more beautiful than the outside.  I'm sure you'll have fun decorating this."
"No, we will have fun.  Hindi ako papayag na hindi mo ako tutulungan since dito ka na rin titira in the near future."
Lomobo naman ang puso niya sa sinabi nito.  "Ikaw, hindi ka pa nga nag-po-propose may future bahay na agad tayo?"
Hinapit nito ang beywang niya.  "Doon din naman hahantong 'yon di ba?  After all, you love me so much you just can't get enough of me."
Pabiro niyang tinampal ang braso nito.  "I think it's the other way around.  You're the one who can't get enough of me."
"Yeah, I really can't get enough of you," wika nito bago ibinaba ang mukha sa kanya at hinalikan ang kanyang labi.  "Ya lyublu tebya vsey dushoy.  Ya ne mogu zhit' bez tebya."
"I don't know what that means, but you sounded so sexy so I'll just assume that it's something good."
Natawa ito.  "Its means, I love with all my soul and that I can't live without you."
Tumingkayad siya at kinintalan ng halik ang tungki ng ilong nito.  "You should speak Russian more often.  You sounded so hot it brings shivers down my spine."
"As you wish, malysh."

At muli na naman nitong sinakop ang labi niya.

- - - WAKAS - - -