The Fall of Alexander the Great (Monteverde Series 3)

21

Chapter Twenty-One

Tila ba sirang plaka na umikot-ikot sa utak ko ang mga katagang binitawan ni Alexander kanina pagkatapos naming tumalon. I fell for you, he had said. Nang tanungin ko siya kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin ay nginitian niya lang ako bago niyakap. I decided to shrug it off afterwards. Imposible namang may nararamdaman siya para sa 'kin. Paaasahin ko lang ang sarili ko sa wala.

I heard the water running from the bathroom. Hindi pa tapos maligo si Alexander. Muli ko na lang itinuon ang pansin ko sa phone na hawak ko pa rin. For the umpteenth time ay tinignan ko ang electronic ticket na sinend sa akin ni Terry through e-mail.

A one way ticket.

Away from the feelings I have no courage to face.

I love Alexander, but I don't want to get hurt.

Biglaang bumukas ang pinto ng banyo at lumabas siya na nakatapi lang ng tuwalya sa baywang. His hair is still dripping and I couldn't stop myself from scrutinizing his body. His muscles were set in all the right places.

He smirked at me when he caught me staring, ogling, rather.

"My body is a wonderland, Alice. Come and explore it."

Pinipigilan ko ang magpakita ng emosyon.

"Blythe, love, is there something wrong?" tanong ni Alexander. Nang magtaas ako ng tingin ay napansin kong nakasuot na siya ng boxers at isang itim na shirt. Hindi ko alam kung mabilis lang siyang magbihis o sadyang matagal lang akong wala sa sarili.

Umiling-iling ako bago ngumiti. "I'm okay. I just suddenly missed Mandy," I lied.

"Gusto mo na bang bumalik?" he questioned me with concern present in the kind of tone he used. I was quick to shake my head repeatedly. Yumakap ako sa kanya na medyo ikinagulat niya. Nonetheless, he hugged me back.

"I want to stay here longer. I want to be with you longer."

He caressed my hair. "I can have a use built for us here if you want."

Natawa ako. "Stop it, loko ka." Lalo ko siyang niyakap palapit sa akin. When I leave for France, I'll surely miss everything about him. His warmth, his rare smiles, his wicked grins, his frowns, his kisses and hugs, and the sweet words he whispers on my ears. In his arms, I am simultaneously rising and falling, sinking and floating.

"I know just the thing to cheer you up."

Nagtatakang tumingin ako sa kanya pero kinuha niya lang ang phone at nagdial. Nakatingin siya sa 'kin habang nakatapat ito sa tainga.

"Hello." His voice sounded intimidating. I know he probably doesn't mean it, but that's how it sounded like. It made me realize how impossible it is for the two of to be in a relationship. He is on top of a pedestal. The Chairman and CEO of Monteverde Group of Companies. The heir to his father's vast riches. A renowned businessman in the industry. And what about me? An adopted good-for-nothing photographer.

"Sino ba 'yang tinatawagan mo?" Hindi ko na natiis itanong.

Hindi siya sumagot. Mas nakapokus siya sa kausap. "Hi there, pumpkin. Yes, it's me. Paano mo nalaman? Ang galing mong manghula! I missed you, too. Tumawag ako kasi may gustong kumausap sa'yo. Ready? Yeah? Okay." He put the call on loudspeaker.

I heard a little girl's squeaky voice from the background. My heart instantly softened.

"Hello, Kyla. How's my baby?"

"Mama Blythe! Miss na kita agad," she said excitedly. Parang gumaan ang pakiramdam ko nang marinig ko ang sigla sa boses niya. Halata sa sigla niya na totoong namiss niya nga ako.