The water is way too deep for her,
A place she can't escape, not even stir.
If not only for the drive for revenge,
She will not resurface again.
The forest is an endless maze for him,
A place he knows he must not miss.
He will hunt for as long as it...
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Chapter Nine
KILLIAN
The raindrops danced relentlessly on the windshield, casting shimmering patterns of lights across the night.
Hinawakan ko ng mahigpit yung manibela at kumambiyo para lampasan yung isang mabagal na Innova sa harapan ko. I could see Ilya's red bike behind me on the rearview mirror doing the same thing, as she swiftly went past it and moved behind me as we cruise the drizzling Makati.
She never ceases to amaze me in every way.
As much as how I want to gladly relish on the scent of her folded clothes beside me engulfing my car, hindi ko mapigilang mainis.
Not just at Darren dahil sa kinausap at pinilit niya si Ilya na sumama kanina, but also by myself dahil inaya ko siya ngayon kung kailan umuulan ng malakas. Hindi naman bumabagyo sa labas, but still--it's raining. I bet masakit sa balat yung bawat patak na nararamdaman niya ngayon, at dumadagdag pa yung pag-iingat sa pagmaneho dahil sa madulas na kalsada.
Kaya binagalan ko ng kaunti, dahil she shouldn't be riding this fast.
Nung tumigil kami sa isang stoplight, binuksan ko yung aking bintana at nag-signal ako sa kanya na kailangan namin kumaliwa pagkatapos, kasi hindi naman niya ako maririnig ng malinaw sa helmet. Umupo siya ng tuwid para bigyan ako ng thumbs up, bago nag-stretch ng likod at balikat.
She confuses me so much kanina sa car meet.
Nung una ang lakas ng loob niyang sumulpot roon at hablutin yung lighter na hiniram ni Cal, then the next, she's cowering behind me when my target approached us. As if para bang she repulses him. Hindi niya napansin na nahuli ko ang ekspresyon niya kaninang nakatitig ng masama kay Darren. Is he an ex-boyfriend? Is she an ex-victim like the other girls?
I have too many questions, but the light turned green at kumaliwa na kaming dalawa, pero pinauna niya muna ako. Nung makarating kami sa café na sinasabi ko, nag-park si Ilya sa aking tabi. She's busy trying to find the right spot to stand her bike, kaya kinuha ko yung payong sa backseat at lumabas. Nung pinatay na niya yung kanyang motor, I was already standing beside her with the open umbrella above us.
Nagulat siya nang bahagya nung nakita niya ako, at alam kong nanlaki yung mga mata niya kahit na madilim yung visor ng kanyang helmet. I could hear her say something loud inside of it, kaya nag-gesture ako na itaas niya yung kanyang helmet.
Instead, tinanggal nalang niya yun sa ulo niya. "Sabi ko 'di kita napansin."
"I just don't want you getting more wet."
She shook her head and laughed, a little blush blooming her cheeks. "I'm okay Killian. It is just a little rain."
"You know it's not. C'mon, we could take one of the tables here outside since there are some people inside. Ayaw mo may ibang makarinig sa usapan natin 'di ba?"
