Forbidden Desire

Chapter 6

He groaned. “You shouldn't let yourself get hungry.”

He pulled himself away and sat back to his seat. He started the engine and maneuvered the car. Nagtaka akong napangitin dito. He looked so pissed.

“Ayos ka lang?” hindi ko mapigilang magtanong.

“You didn't eat lunch and you think I'm okay with that?” Parang galit itong nakatitig sa daan.

Nangunot ang noo ko. “Bakit ka galit?”

He glanced at me with his eyebrows that's almost in a straight line. “You didn't eat your lunch.”

“Anong pinuputok ng butsi mo? Ikaw ba ang nagutom? Ako naman, 'di ba?” Napakamot ako sa 'king leeg.

Inismiran lang ako nito at nagpatuloy sa pagmamaneho. Ako naman ay nakatitig lang sa gwapo niyang mukha kahit nakalukot at nagtataka kung bakit napakapikon kahit wala naman siyang dapat ikakagalit du'n.

“L-lace...” I called him but didn't respond.

Mas lalong nangunot ang noo ko sa inaakto niya. Akala ko ba intimidating ang isang 'to? Bakit napakaisip bata? Parang 'di lang ako kumain, e.

“Daddy,” I called him again.

Still no response.

Inis kong tinanggal ang aking seatbelt at hinarap siya. “Leslie!”

Tinignan lang ako nito. “What?”

“What's with you? You're acting mad all of a sudden just what the hell?!” Iritang tanong ko.

He didn't reply to my question, instead, he asked me back. “What do you want to eat?”

Sinimangutan ko ito. “Gusto ko ng milktea, at saka burger, at saka fries.”

I saw his forehead knotted. “What? Those were unhealthy.”

“Magtatanong-tanong ka kung ano gusto ko tapos aangal ka naman.” Napapantastikuhan ko itong tinignan. “Magtapat ka nga, Leslie. Humihithit ka ba?”

I heard him chuckled. Bipolar ba ang isang 'to? “You've been fond of calling me with my real name, huh.”

Pinanliitan ko ito ng mata. “Nagda-drugs ka, 'no?”

He suddenly burst out laughing while holding the steering wheel. He keeps glancing at me from time to time while suppressing a smile.

Mas lalong nanliit ang mga mata ko. Did he just laugh? Tumawa talaga? Seryoso? Hindi ako nagha-hallucinate?

“What makes you think I'm on drugs?” he asked and cleared his throat.

I pouted. “Kasi naman kanina horny ka, ta's bigla ka nalang nagalit, tapos ngayon tatawa-tawa ka. Kung hindi ka humihithit, may bipolar disorder ka?”

Muli na naman itong humalakhak at niliko ang sasakyang sa drive thru ng isang fast food restaurant. “You're really unbelievable.”

Inirapan ko lang ito. “Baka nga nakahithit ka, e. Kaya ka siguro laging may dalang baril.”

Ang masayang aura niya kanina ay biglang nagseryoso. Nakaramdam agad ako ng pagsisisi dahil sa biglaang pagbigat ng tensiyon sa loob ng sasakyan.

“I'm not bringing guns because I'm a drug addict. I'm bringing guns to protect myself and my loved ones. I don't want to happen the shit happened several years ago because of my carelessness.” He took a deep breath. “So please, don't be scared if I'm having guns around. I want to protect you and me.”

“M-may gusto bang pumatay sa 'yo?” I asked in confusion.

He smiled and glanced at me. His hands reached for mine and he intertwined our fingers together that made my heart skip a beat. “I'm a business man, Kitty. Many opponents wants my head. I need to hold my guard up all the time if I want to stay alive.”