Demon's Obsession

Twenty-two

First Day

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NAALIMPUNGATAN ako sa pagyakap ng matigas na braso sa akin. Nilingon ko ang digital clock. It read 2 a.m. Humarap ako kay Dean. Napansin kong basa pa ang buhok niya.

"Kararating mo lang?" I asked in a whisper.

He just moaned in response. He must be really tired.

I sighed. "Good night, then." Then I snuggled closer to hug him. Now it's so much comfortable. I quickly drifted to sleep.

-♦-

MONDAY CAME briskly. For the past days, I've occupied myself preparing for this day. Fortunately, I've found books about the subjects I'm taking for this semester in the library.

"Lastly, don't—"

"Don't commute." I cut him off. Araw-araw niya akong ni-reremind ng walang katapusang listahan niya ng mga bawal. Nakabisado ko na nga. I've memorized it more than the hallways in this mansion.

"I will fetch you. In some occasions, it's Jang or the driver."

Tumango ako at lumapit sa kaniya para tulungan siyang ayusin ang necktie niya. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko nalaman. Siguro tinutulungan ko noon mag-ayos si Papa?

"Here." Inabot niya sa akin ang isang kahon. Nagtatakang kinuha ko iyon at nanlaki ang mata nang makita ang nasa loob. Tinignan ko siya na may pagtatanong sa mga mata. "So I can easily contact you. I've saved my number there."

"P-pero ang maha—"

"I don't want to see other men's number there," mariing paalala niya.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako. Napakaseloso talaga. Tumingin ako sa hawak na cell phone. Ang mahal nito. Okay na sa akin kahit iyong de pindot, hindi itong latest model na touch screen.

"Oo na." I just said instead. Alam kong hindi na mababago pa ang isip niya.

He raked his eyes on me from head to toe, checking my uniform— which turned out to be a pair of jeans and simple blouse. Just my style.

Pagbaba namin, naroon ang mga kasambahay upang ihatid kami palabas. Sabay kami ni Dean sa pagpasok. Siya, sa work at ako, sa university. And for some reason, I feel happy and contented.

Someday, sabay na kaming papasok sa trabaho— wait, what am I thinking?!

I shook the thought away. Pinagbuksan ako ni Dean ng pintuan sa passenger seat. I watched him walking to the driver seat. He revved the engine and we're off to go.

Nilingon ko ang mansion. Nakayuko ang mga kasambahay. Kaunti pa lang ang kakilala ko sa kanila kasi mahiyain sila. Feeling ko takot sila kay Dean. Kahit naman ako e. Lalo na kapag sobrang seryoso na niya. Whenever he's around, I barely see the maids so I never got the chance to have a chat with them. Kahit si Lena, bihira ko lamang makita. Di bale, I'll make it a goal to know them. After all, we're all in the same roof.

It took a few minutes before we reached the gate. Napakalayo pala ng mismong mansion sa gate.

Habang nasa biyahe, kinalikot ko muna ang bagong cell phone. Dean said it's half an hour drive to the university. Dalawa nga lang ang nasa contact list: Dean and Home.

Sa huli'y pinasok ko na lang ulit ito sa bag ko. Wala namang mapaglilibangan. Nilingon ko si Dean na seryosong nagmamaneho. Then the question I've been dying to ask popped in my head.

"Dean," I called.

Bahagya siyang lumingon bago mabilis na ibinalik ulit ang tingin sa daan.

"Do you..." I bit my lip, contemplating about the question I am about to ask. In the end, my curiosity is greater than my fear. "Do you usually carry a gun?"