Charm Me with Your Heart (published by PHR)

Chapter 8

"What?"

"Mapalad ka ngayon ay tatatlo nalang sila."

Kunot-noo siyang napatingin sa dalawa.

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa. Parehong lumapad ang ngiti. "All the single women in the family will seduce you."

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IPINIKIT ni Enzo ang kanyang mga mata and rested his mind. That was a tough day. Hinarap niya ang apat na tito ni Myeisha. They examined him from head-to-foot and asked about almost everything. Sa nakita ay hindi siya gusto nang mga ito nang sabihin niyang minsan siyang naging mapaglaro sa babae.

He could've laughed at their reaction. Pero hindi niya nagawa dahil isa iyong seryosong bagay. But he won't take it up seriously. He likes challenges anyway.

He imagined Myeisha's face that day. Ni minsan ay hindi niya ito nakitang ngumiti. She looked like she owned all the problems in the world. Parang si Hello Kitty na walang ekspresyon. He needed to see her smile. He needed to hear her voice. He needed her. Dahil alam niyang kapag nand'on ito ay kaya niyang lampasan ang lahat.

"Enzo..."

Was he hearing her voice o nananaginip na siya? Ganoon na ba siya ka-obssess dito na ultimo sa panaginip ay naririnig niya ang boses nito? Pero narinig niya ulit na tinatawag nito ang pangalan niya. Agad siyang napabangon. Only to find out that she was standing right in front of him.

"Hey," aniyang hinila ito papalapit sa kanya. He pulled her in between him and looked at her tenderly with the best smile he got. "What brought you in my room?"

Ipinatong nito ang dalawang kamay sa magkabila niyang balikat at pinaglaruan ang buhok niya. "I just wanted to check you out. Ayos ka lang ba?"

Ngumiti siya. "Oo naman. Bakit? May dapat ba akong ipag-alala?"

Napatirik ito ng mata. "Enzo, you know what I mean."

He held her face in his hands, settling her and making her look into his eyes. "Hey, hey, look at me. Alam ko kung ano ang ibig mong sabihin. I know that later these days, I'll be under observation, under training or whatsoever. Pero ayaw kong ganiyan ka, Myein. Can you trust me please?"

Her eyes sought his. "But...Paano kung pahirapan ka nila?"

He smiled and cupped her face. "Darling, wala nang mas hihirap pa sa pagpapaibig sa'yo."

Mahina itong natawa. He liked the way her eyes sparkle when she laughs. Pati ang tunog nito ay gustong-gusto niya. Damn he loved that woman. Hindi niya alam na kaya niyang magbigay ng gan'ong compliment sa isang babae.

"There you go," aniyang mas hinapit pa ito papalapit sa kanya.

"What?"

"You smiled and laughed. Iyan ang hinahanap ko sa buong araw."

She gave him a shy smile. "Bakit naman?"

"Just so you know, Miss Templonuevo, you haven't brighten up my day since we've reached here. Please don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Iyong hindi ka ngumingiti. Hindi ko alam kung malalampasan ko ang pagsubok ng mga Tito mo kapag hindi kita nakitang ngumiti. You're smile is like my daily Vitamin C."

Masuyo lang siya nitong tiningnan sa mata at hinaplos ang kanyang mukha. He felt himself shudder under her touch. Hindi naman iyon ang unang beses na hinawakan siya nito. But the feel of her skin against his face felt like the sweet breeze of morning dew.