Heart of Darkness

Kabanata 24

Umawang ang labi ko, humagalpak s'ya nang abutin ko s'ya at pinaghahampas ng kamay ko.

"You jerk!" I exclaimed. "You stalker! Akala mo hindi ko maaalalang ikaw ang driver ko kanina?! You even put tissues on our table earlier!"

"I won't let you see me but of course, I woudn't go that far away from you." He said.

"Sus!" Sinubukan kong suntukin ang braso n'ya pero nahuli n'ya lang ito kaagad at pinagsaklop ang kamay naming dalawa at hinapit ako palapit sa kanya.

He kissed my head again, nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya at kinalabit ang ilong n'ya.

"Grabe ka, natiis mo ako?" I said. "May bago akong bodyguard, gwapo rin, hindi ka natakot na baka sa kanya nalang ako magkagusto?"

He froze, I saw how his lips thinned as he eyed me sharply. Tumaas ang kilay ko at pinagmasdan s'yang iritado na sa akin.

"Do you like him?" He asked me seriously.

I pouted and tilted my head.

"Well, Warren is a great for me. He took care of me well, medyo parehas lang naman kayo--"

"Parehas ba kami?" Kumunot ang noo n'ya at tumiim ang panga.

I blinked, sa intensidad ng titig n'ya ay sigurado akong iritado na s'ya.

"Parehas kayong bodyguard ko...kaya oo?" I smiled wickedly. "And he's fun to be with, masaya kasama."

"Mahal mo na s'ya?" He asked. Tinitigan ko lang s'ya, inaatay ang reaksyon n'ya at nang makita kong mukha na s'yang nasasaktan ay ngumuso ako.

"Babawi ako," He said and sighed, looking away. "Mas magaling naman ako mag-bodyguard roon."

"Wala naman akong sinabing mas magaling s'ya sa'yo, ah?" I said and smiled. "Sabi ko masaya s'yang kasama."

"Ako ba?" He shifted his gaze at me like a kid.

Natawa na ako, nang makita ang isang bench sa ilalim ng poste ng ilaw sa parke ay marahan ko s'yang hinila roon para maupo.

He sat beside me and lowered his head to glance at me.

"Am I failing to make you laugh while I am with you? Should I be funnier, then? Kuya taught me new jokes and thought it was cheesy but should I start using them? May listahan ako--"

I lifted my head, claiming his lips to shut him up.

Nang humiwalay ako ay nakita kong kumislap ang mata n'ya at umawang ang labi.

"You have your own wit and you...being serious, I love it, you weren't my Major without that cold eyes of yours and that attitude." I said softly.

He stopped, then suddenly said something weird.

"Isusumbong kita sa pulis," He said.

"Huh?"

"Kasi ninakaw mo ang puso ko." He caressed his chest and my cheeks flushed and looked away.

"Ano ba, Major!" I stomped my feet and hid my blushing face while he laughed beside me as he tried pulling my hand away from my face.

"I'm better than that asshole, right? S'ya, magaling magbantay tapos papatawanin ka lang tapos ako, babantayan ka na, pakikiligin ka pa!" He exclaimed like he is selling himself to me.

Natawa naman ako, sinipa ko s'ya at umiling.

"Tsaka gwapo ako, macho, magaling sa performance?" He said and I laughed more and shook my head.

"Pero mabagal ka," I pointed out, pointing him.

"Saan?"

"Mabagal kang magdilig," I said. "Dati, tuyot lang 'to, ngayon disyerto na, Warrion."