Solace and Sparkles (HHHL)

Chapter Eighteen

Kalisto cleared his throat and sat up straight. His gaze not leaving mine. He smiled and tapped his fingers.

"A dangerous plan, just this time
A stranger's hand clutched in mine
I'll take this chance, so call me blind
I've been waiting all my life
Please don't scar this young heart
Just take my hand."

Chills crept down my spine when he sang the first part of the song. His eyes was still fixed to where I am. Pakiramdam ko ay kahit anong oras ay maaari akong matunaw.

"I was made for loving you
Even though we may be hopeless hearts just passing through
Every bone screaming I don't know what we should do
All I know is, darling, I was made for loving you."

Alam kong kahit kailan ay taksil ang puso pero hindi ko maintindihan bakit ngayon? Bakit sa ganitong panahon? Bakit ngayon pa niya naisipan na magtaksil?

Nararamdaman ko ang malakas na kabog ng puso ko at para bang nawawala ang lahat ng nakapaligid sa akin at tanging kami na lang ang natira sa paligid.

The fire separating us but the heat in his eyes are undeniable, his baritone voice caressing my heart and the stars are our audience. Hindi ko alam pero sa panahon na ito ayokong matapos siya, ayokong ituring na laro lang ang kanta na ito.

Nang matapos niya ang kanta hanggang sa chorus ay tipid siyang ngumiti sa akin.  Sa panahon na 'yon gusto kong magpatuloy lang siya sa pagkanta. Gusto ko lang marinig ang boses niya.

Muling pinaikot nila Hansel ang bote at tumapat naman ito kay Hansel. Hansel took a shot. Nang paikutin ito ay tumapat naman kay Alois. Alois took a shot.

Ilang oras ang lumipas and I can already feel my head spinning. Sinapo ko ito at halos hindi ko na maituwid ang tingin ko. I want to go back to the room already but they were still going on with the game.

Muling tumapat sa akin ang bote at alam kong another truth ito. "Nezha, are you ready to love again?" Tanya asked. Sa amin si Tanya na lang ang nasa tamang pag-iisip.

Tumingin ako sa kanya kahit pa ang paningin ko ay nagdodoble na. "I was shattered whole by your husband's cousin. I love him so much he was my life, so I think you can answer that question."

Tumayo ako matapos kong sabihin ang sagot ko pero agad din akong nagsisi sa biglaang pagtayo ko dahil mas lalo kong naramdaman ang hilo.

I tried to walk pero sumuray-suray ako at nadapa sa buhanginan. Naramdaman ko ang mahapding parte ng tuhod ko pero 'di ko ito pinansin. Pinagpag ko ang kamay ko at ang tuhod ko tsaka sumusuray na nagpatuloy maglakad.

Nang kamuntikan akong madapa muli ay nakaramdam ako ng mga bisig na sumapo sa akin. When I looked towards Kalisto his jaws were clenched and his eyes with all seriousness.

"You know you can't drink too much why didn't you ask my help?" He asked. I struggled to get out of his arms and when he let go of me I smiled at him. "I don't need your help."

I pushed him aside and walked past him. Kahit pa hilong-hilo na ako at sobrang sakit ng ulo ko ay patuloy akong naglakad palayo sa kanya but I was such a klutz I tripped at myself.

When I was on the sand for another fall I can really feel the pain not just from the wound that I got earlier but with the wound inside my heart.

Doon nag-umpisang tumulo ang mga luha ko at nang makita ko sa harapan ko si Kalisto ay lalong lumakas ang paghikbi ko. I can see worry in his eyes but I just cried my eyes out.

"Baby, what's wrong? Where do it hurts?" He asked me. Umiling ako at nagulat na lamang ako nang buhatin niya ako.

I know I'm a mess right now but I can't think straight. I think it's because of the alcohol in my system or because of the warmth this man is giving me. Whatever it is I want to cry it out loud.

Nang makapasok kami sa kwarto ay agad niya akong ibinaba sa kama. "Wait here. I'll get a clean towel to clean up your wounds." Tumango ako at agad naman siyang pumasok sa banyo, when he got out of the bathroom he brought back a wet towel.

Tumalungko siya sa harapan ko at pinunasan ang sugat sa tuhod ko. I felt the sharp pain from the wounds. When I winced in pain he then tapped it lightly then blew it just like how a mother tend to a child's wounds.

Nang malinis niya iyon ay agad siyang pumasok sa banyo. I stood up and walked to the bathroom too. When he saw me at the mirror he was taken aback.

"You want to shower?" He asked. Tumango ako habang hawak-hawak ang pintuan. My head is spinning and splitting, I need to take a shower. Pakiramdam ko ay sobrang init ng katawan ko.

He was about to step out when I stopped him by getting on his way.

"Stay with me."