The Alluring Scent

XI

Markings

Naalimpungatan si Luna nang may maramdamang may mahigpit na humahawak sa kamay niya. She slowly opened her eyes then blinked a couple of times to adjust from her surroundings. Nasa ibang lugar na naman siya, fortunately it was a normal room.

At natagpuan ang sariling nakahiga sa isang queen size bed, tucked in the corner of the room. The place was spacious and grand.

Her eyes drifted to the person holding her hand. It was the man from the shop and the man from her dreams. Itinaas niya ang isa niyang kamay para maabot ang kamay nito na naka-patong sa kanya.

The guy raised his free hand and brushed it along his face. Nang mapansin niyang may naka-patong sa kamay niya ay napatingin agad siya roon. His eyes immediately went to her face, relief washed on his face. Walang pag-aalinlangang dinala nito ang kamay ni Luna, na mayroon pa lang IV, sa kanyang mga labi.

“Thank goodness you’re awake.”

Nagulat naman si Luna sa inakto ng lalaki. Yes, it seemed like she knows him and that she knew that there was something going on between them pero hindi niya pa rin maiwasang mabigla.

She let him gold her hand. Dahan dahan siyang umupo na dinaluhan naman agad ng lalaki.

“Easy,” ani nito.

Umupo siya ng maayos. “I-I remember you.”

The man stiffened he stared at her his eyes full of anticipation, “you do?”

Tumango siya.

“Habang kinukuhanan nila ako ng dugo at pinatulog… napanaginipan kita. I died. You were there. Everything seemed so unreal.”

She remember everything that happened. Galing sa perya hanggang sa napunta siya sa laboratoryo. Then she remembered what happened there. She gasped, she looked at her hands. Refusing to believe na nagawa niya nga iyon.

Nakapatay siya.

The next she knew she was heaving. Nag-pa-panic attack siya.

“Alexei, hey. Alexie, look at me. Alexie, please.”

The man reached for her now shaking hands at marahan itong hinawakan. She turned to look at his worried face. Those gray eyes looking at her intensely.

“Relax, it’s okay. Everything is fine.”

“Isaac. Ice…” Hindi niya napigilang tawagin ito sa pangalan.

Mariin niyang pinikit ang mga mata at dumilat, kasabay ang paghugot niya ng malalim na hinga. She peeked through her lashes to see him still looking at her. Hindi niya maitanggi na gwapo at makisig ito. To think that they have a past, an intimate one, she blushed.

“Are you okay? Namumula ka. You don’t seem to have a fever.” Ani nito na dinampi ang isang kamay sa kanyang noo. Then he cupped her face.

Umiling-iling siya.

Then the door opened revealing her aunt and best friend.

"Luna?! Ayos ka lang?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Cecilia, mabilis itong lumapit, dahilan kung bakit umatras ang lalaki.

Tiningnan niya ang tiyahin at kaibigan, na kulang nalang ay umiyak.

Umayos siya ng upo. Nakuha niya pang sumulyap sa lalaking naka-tayo na ngayon.

“Opo, tita. Medyo masakit lang ang katawan pero ayos naman po.”

“Mabuti naman kung ganoon.” Ngumiti si Cecilia pero may bahid pa rin ng pag-aalala ang mukha.