POSSESSIVE 21: Knight Velasquez

CHAPTER 2

She can tell.

Maybe he's lying again.

SM took a deep breath before speaking, "ang dami mo palang trabaho. Nakakapagpahinga ka pa ba?"

"I'm okay." Awtomatiko ang sagot nito at walang emosyon.

He's not okay. She can tell. There's dark circle under his eyes and he looks weary. "Knight?"

"Hmm?"

"Kailan ka huling nagpahinga?"

Binagalan nito ang pagpapatakbo ng sasakyan habang pasulyap-sulyap sa kaniya. "Yesterday or was it two days ago... I'm not sure..."

What the... "Are you okay?"

Knight nodded. "Yeah. Don't worry. Sanay na ako sa ganito kaya ayos lang talaga ako. I can't sleep these past few days and I'm really having a hard time resting so... yeah... ayoko namang uminom ng sleeping pills para nakatulog. Mas napapagod ako."

SM couldn't move. She was just looking at Knight in shock. Her chest getting heavy at what he said.

This man... what kind of life is he living?

SM took a deep breath and smiled. She doesn't want to burden him with her worries about his health. "Kanina ka pa ba namamasada?"

Tumango si Knight. "When I left the Café."

"Kumain ka na ba?"

"Hindi pa. Wala akong gana. Mamaya na siguro pag-uwi ko."

She's getting more and more worried of Knight. "Ang likod mo, kumusta na?" Halos pabulong ang boses niyang tanong. Alam niyang paulit-ulit na lang siya sa pagtatanong pero hindi niya mapigilan ang sarili. "Is it healing okay?"

"It's fine." He sounded convincing.

Huminga siya ng malalim. "That's good. I'm glad you're fine."

What's the point of asking him when he's just going to lie? Bumuntong-hininga siya.

"You should stop that."

Napabaling siya sa katabi. "Stop what?"

"Stop worrying about me." Anito saka nakita niyang humigpit ang hawak nito sa manibela. "Baka anong isipin ko."

Napakurap-kurap siya rito. "Anong Ibig mong sabihin? Ganito naman talaga ako sa lahat—"

"I know and that pisses me off." Knight blows a loud breath. "Ang sinasabi ko lang naman ay huwag kang masyadong maging mabait sa 'kin."

SM stilled. This man is not used to niceness or kindness. "Sige. Hindi na."

Hindi na umimik si Knight at ganun din siya kaya nabalot ng katahimikan ang buong sasakyan hanggang sa ipinarada nito ang sasakyan sa labas ng bahay niya.

"We're here."

Tahimik siyang tumango saka nagbayad. Nang hindi iyon tinanggap ni Knight, inilagay niya Iyon sa dashboard.

"Salamat." Aniya bago lumabas ng Taxi at naglakad papasok sa bahay niya.

Knight doesn't want niceness or kindness from her... maybe it's making him uncomfortable. Sinasabi niya sa sarili niya na dapat sundin niya ang sinabi ni Knight na huwag nang maging mabait dito pero hindi niya napigilan ang sarili na lingunin ito.

Her eyes widen when she saw him leaning on the hood of the taxi while looking at her.

Then he smiled. "Puwede ba akong pumasok?"

"Akala ko ba ayaw mong maging mabait ako sa 'yo?" Balik niyang tanong dito.

Knight sighed loudly before walking towards her. "What can I say? I'm a sucker for you."