RAGE TOOK his helmet and straddle his motorbike with a deep frown on his face.
Damn it! He missed Auri so much but she's still outside the island, back to her condo to fix her transfer to the Crown.
But f-ck it. He's not going to wait another night without her beside him. He's not f-cking sleeping tonight without her.
Sighing, Rage drove off but slow down when he saw someone walking into his driveway.
"Are you lost, miss?" He asked, stopping his motorbike just beside the woman.
"Rage?"
Nang marinig ang boses nito ay tinanggal niya ang suot na helmet at nag-aalala na tinanong ang babae nang makilala ito. "F-ck! Kalisz, what are you doing here? It's already dark!" Isinabit niya sa handlebars ang helmet saka bumaba ng motorbike niya. "Are you okay? What happened? What are you doing here?" Sunod-sunod na usisa ni Rage sa babae kahit hindi pa ito nakakasagot.
"Okay lang ako," tumingin si Kalisz sa pinanggalingan niya. "I got lost."
"Where is Kronack?" Hanap niya sa kapatid.
"He doesn't know."
Napapalatak siya bago ilang beses na napamura. That arse! If something happened to Kalisz, Auri surely will worry.
"Come, follow me," aya niya dito at iniwan ang motorbike.
Tahimik itong sinundo pero napalingon si Rage sa dalaga nang hindi niya narinig ang pagsunod nito ng umakyat siya ng hagdan.
"Come, this is my house. I'll give you something to drink and food before we call Kronack," anya dito.
But Kalisz remained unmoving.
Tumiim ang titig ni Rage bago gumalaw ang panga niya at mahinang tumango. He could see that the woman doesn't trust him enough to follow him inside his house. Usually, such behavior has always dark reasons. Sana lang mali siya at ganoon lang talaga ang babae. Maingat.
"Wait here. I'll go take something to drink for you and a blanket," aniya saka ito iniwan ng tumango ito.
"Thanks," mahinang saad nito ng ibigay niya ang tubig at blanket nang makabalik siya sa tabi nito.
"Do you want food?" He asked.
Umiling ito.
Humugot si Rage ng malalim na hininga dahil sa nag-aalala siya para sa babae. Hindi niya maipaliwanag kung bakit kaya naman kinuha niya na lang ang cellphone niya at mabilis na tinawagan ang kapatid.
"Kalisz is here in my house," impora niya niya sa kapatid ng sagutin nito ang tawag.
"F-ck! Is she okay?!"
Base sa boses ng kapatid niya ay mukhang kanina pa ito nag-aalala kay Kalisz. He wonders what happened.
Sighing, Rage answered, "Her legs hurt I think and she has some mosquito bites but she's good, but..." He trailed and sighed again, "she looks different and... very quiet."
"I'm coming." Binaba nito ang tawag ng hindi man lang nagpapaalam. The typical Kronack he knew who does not know how to say hello or goodbye. Rage slyly shook his head.
"My brother is coming to fetch you," ani Rage.
Tumango lang ito saka yumuko.
Umupo sa tabi ng dalaga si Rage pero nagbigay siya ng kalahating metro na distansya sa pagitan nila. He just feels like giving one for he could feel Kalisz is not comfortable with contacts. Auri's friend is very grounded for some reason.
Rage didn't check more about the woman's identity because Kronack asked not to. But he knew that his brother is looking to get more information about Kalisz.
"Is that a contact lens you have in your right eye, Kalisz?" Ilang sandali ay tanong niya.
It struck him to see the color of her eyes in her right. It's not brown anymore like he saw some time ago. It's the same color as her sister Kale— gray almost silver. But it could be just a contact lens.
Umiling ito samantalang napatitig na lang siya sa madilim na parte ng kakahuyan na nasa harapan lang ng bahay niya.
"You know..." He trailed, "I have a sister that has the same eye color as your eye in your right," Rage couldn't help but share.
When the woman didn't respond, Rage didn't talk more. They silently waited for his brother to arrive. While he was pulled back to the memories he have with his sister.
Kumusta ka na kaya Kale? I pray that wherever you are, you are safe and happy... I'm still looking for you and I will not stop until I find you...
Nang dumating ang kapatid niya ay mabilis nitong iniuwi si Kalisz at halata na kanina pa ito nag-aalala. That's understandable. He went through it when Auri was missing.
Rage stayed in front of his house for a while before he decided to follow his brother, Kronack. He want to ask something.
When he arrived at his brother's villa he went to Kronack's bar area and saw his brother sitting at the bar counter silently and alone.
"Hey," he greeted.
"Hey," Kronack greeted back half-heartedly.
Rage settled beside his brother and silently pour some liquor into his glass.
"You look bothered," Kronack commented.
Umiling siya at mapait na ngumiti.
"Auri?"
"No," Rage replied, shaking his head once again.
"Who then?"
"Kalisz."
"The f-ck?!" Naibaba nito ang baso ng alak at matalim siyang tinignan. "Come again?" May bahid na galit na tanong nito sa kanya.
"Calm down, bro," Rage tsked, almost rolling his eye. "I'm not thinking about Kalisz like how you think it is," he replied boredly.
"Then what?" Kronack kept his sharp eyes at him.
"Her eyes... Was that real?" Rage asked, eyes pinned on his glass.
"Yes."
"The both?" Rage asked again, now he's interested.
Umiling ang kapatid niya.
"Kalisz said, her gray eye is real while the brown, she had surgery. A surgery, she doesn't know the name."
Tumango-tango siya at nakatulalang tumingin sa kawalan. Nag-iisip siya kung paano niya makukunan ng DNA si Kalisz. But then, he doesn't want to go that far without the woman's consent after what she did for Auti. Maybe someday he'll ask her. Mahirap na sa ngayon at mukhang hindi pa ata nakakamove-on ang babae sa pagkamatay ng kapatid nito at mukhang may problema ito tapos makikigulo pa siya.
"Do you know... Her right eye reminds me of my sister. Kale, my sister, has gray eyes too. It's so unique 'cause it's almost silver. Cold but beautiful. Like how it is with Kalisz right eye," kuwento niya sa kapatid.
Kronack nodded then asked. "Ano nangyari 'don sa pakikipagkita mo sa ama ng kapatid mo?"
"Nothing. That crackhead told me, my sister run away a long time ago and that he doesn't know where she is. I tried to ask about where was the last time he saw Kale but that f-cker says he doesn't remember. He doesn't f-cking care about his own daughter," nagtatagis ang bagang na saad ni Rage sa kapatid.
Sa galit niya sa ama ng kapatid niyang si Kale ay binugbog niya ito bago iniwan. Tch. That father of his sister could par with his father. Same shit and bunch of sleazebag.
"Not all parents are like Mom and Dad," Kronack noted and sighed.
Rage didn't reply but he silently agreed.
They talk for another minute before Kronack went to sleep while Rage took her phone to check on Auri.
Napangiti siya ng makitang tulog na ito. He couldn't see her clearly because her room is already dark but the night vision of the camera still shows her sleeping.
"I love you, baby... sleep well," he whispered, smiling.
Then he went out of his brother's house and drove off. His destination is his baby's condo. It's already late but he can't get a good sleep without her beside him. Alam niyang umaga na siya makarating sa condo nito pero ayos lang basta makita at mahawakan niya na ito.
NAPANGITI SI Auri ng maamoy ang kape.
"Hmmmm ang sarap! Amoy pa lang," she smiled. "Thanks, nana!" Aniya kay nana Lourdes at dala ang mug ay nagtungo siya sa sala para samahan sina hulks na maaga niyang tinawagan.
"Sweetie, you look so vibrant. What have you been up to?" Shades was staring at her.
Frowning while she sipped her coffee, Auri shrugged then order, "Fifty, Grey— go and sit beside Shade."
"No, I'm comfortable here—"
"No! I want the three of you to sit together. Bilis!" Pinandilatan niya si Gray. "It should be Fifty, Shades, and Gray. Not mix okay? From right to left."
But the hulks didn't move and Auri felt like crying.
"Why are you not listening..." Naiiyak niyang saad na ikinatanga sa kanya ng tatlo.
Fifty sighed and transferred.
While Grey asked. "Have you turned to sniffing cracks because of frustration that no one wants to date you, sweetie?"
Kinuha ni Auri ang isang libro at ibinato kay Gray na mabilis na sinalo iyon. Hindi pa alam ng mga ito na maayos na sila ni Rage.
"Auri!"
"Sweetie!"
Magkasabay na sigaw ni Shades at Fifty sa kanya.
"That is not nice!" Fifty was looking at her with his reprimanding eyes.
"But it's not nice either to call me I'm a crackhead!" She shot back and put her coffee on the table then went to Grey to force him to transfer.
Thankfully he didn't fight back and just let her pull him.
Grey gave her a stern look when she settled in a single sofa smiling at three hulks.
"I did not call you a crackhead, Auri. And don't do that again!" Referring to how she threw the book at him.
Auri pouted. "But it sounds like it. And I'm sorry Grey..." She smiled sweetly then sipped her coffee, her eyes still staring at the triplets that for some reason look really cute together.
Hay...
"Sweetie, you staring at us is creepy. Please stop it," Shades rested his head against the sofa.
"You three look cute."
Fifty laughed, poker-faced. "So are your mood swings, sweetie."
"Oh, I don't have mood swings, Fifty. I just now realized that you three should always sit like how it is in the title of that movie because it is cuter," she said, then took her phone to snap a photo of them but the three fastly stood up and whoosh out of the room.
Auri rolled her eyes and throw her phone to the sofa with a frown. She must have the picture of that three or she'll go nuts without it, Auri huffed and stood up. The coffee does not taste good but it smells delicious so she walked to the balcony just smelling the coffee.
Then after a couple of minutes of sniffing she stilled. She just realized she looked like those teens sniffing something under the bridge.
Napanguso siya. Ilang araw na siyang ganon. Inilapag niya ang kape sa mesa na nasa tabi at kunot noo na tinignan ang katapat na apartment building. Her eyes looked directly at the closed sliding door where Olivia resided and died.
Sighing, she noted mentally to ask Rage where he buried Olivia's remains. Auri knew that at least, Olivia for the last time deserves a proper burial and prayers.
Kailangan niya rin ipabenta kay Rage ang condo na ito. This is not a good place to keep when just across this place is where bad memories happened.
Pumasok na siya sa loob matapos ang ilang sandali at siya namang pagbukas ng main door at pagbungad ni Rage na may dalang paper bag.
Auri's mouth opened and she excitedly run towards him.
"Uhg!" Umigik ito nang tumalon siya sa katawan nito at yumakap. Rage's arm fastly holds her waist securing her so she won't fall.
"My baby, I miss you so much!" Shea cupped his face and rain kisses to his face. "Do you have food for me?" She asked, excited.
"I do," he replied and carried her to the kitchen and settled her on the kitchen island. "I miss you too, baby," Rage kissed her torridly after and Auri was more than willing to respond.
"You okay, baby?" Rage asked after the kiss, looking at her with those gentle sleepy eyes, hooded with lust.
"Mm-hmm," tumango siya at tinignan kung ano ang meron sa dala nitong paper bag.
Burgers!
"Hulks! Come I have burgers for all of you!"
Auri without a warning called the hulks loudly. She knew are probably hiding inside the gym or entertainment room.
"But baby I bought that for you," Rage frowned with strong disapproval.
"And thank you very much, Rage. At dahil para sa akin naman ito pwede kong gawin ano gusto ko. And I want the hulks to eat these and watch them," tunulak niya ito at bumaba ng kitchen island at kumuha ng tatlong plato.
Then she took the three burgers and placed it on the plate but she clenched her jaw when the three hulks didn't showed up and she was already done preparing the food.
"Rage call them!" She glared at Rage who's watching her with creased brows.
Rage sighed and nodded.
While she took the plates to the dining table and paciently waited for the men to come to her while looking at the clock.
"Ba't ang tagal niyo?" Inis niyang tanong sa apat.
The hulks looked at Rage, as if they were telling him silently we told you.
"They didn't want to eat burger, baby," Rage answered and went to her to hug her from behind.
"Come on hulks, burgers are good. Please be seated," she untangled herself from Rage embrace, earning a groan from him. But Auri couldn't care at all. She just went to guide the three to sit down.
Of course in order. From Fifty, Shades and Grey.
"Come on hulks... Smile, you sitting together is cute—"
"It isn't baby—"
"You shut up there." Sinamaan niya ng tingin si Rage na agad itinaas ang dalawang kamay na parang sumusuko.
"Okay... Okay... No need to give me a death glare baby," anito.
Auri ignores him and gave her attention back to the triplets that's looking so bored. "I only need one picture of the three of you and I will leave you alone."
Grey drawled a yeah, Shades shrugged and Fifty sighed. A sign that they gave in.
Auri smiled widely and slipped her hand into her pocket when she realized she doesn't have her phone.
"Baby gave me your phone," inilahad niya kay Rage ang kamay at mabilis naman nitong ibinigay sa kanya ang cellphone nito.
Smiling, Auri snapped three pictures of the cute triplets and fastly set it as a wallpaper in Rage's phone. Pinalitan niya ang picture niya na home at lock screen wallpaper nito.
"Oh no baby, they will not be my screen sav—"
"Oh yes, Rage," inilayo niya ang cellphone nito.
"See, we told you she's acting weirdly," Fifty quipped.
"Baby come on, they're ugly as f-ck—"
"F-ck is beautiful," Shades interjected.
Auri laughed. "That's true Shades, no one will ever want to try f-ck if it is not—"
"Auri!"
Natatawang niyakap niya si Rage na siyang sumigaw para sawayin siya ang tatlo naman ay napailing na lang.
"Let's go to my room. You have to sleep Rage." Naglalambing na wika niya dito habang ibinubulsa ang cellphone nito.
"Give me my phone," he demanded.
"Nope," she shook her head and jumped to wrap her legs around his torso. "Carry me to my room," utos niya dito matapos siya nitong yakapin para hindi siya mahulog.
Bumuntong-hininga ito saka naglakad matapos niyang magpaalam sa tatlo na kumakain na ng burger.
"You're acting weird, baby. I thought the three was jesting when they say you're not yourself and they are best to be not around you," anito.
Yawning, Auri didn't reply and just rested her head on his shoulder.
Maingat siyang ibinaba ni Rage sa kama ng makapasok ng silid niya at agad siyang nahiga. Blimmin' serviette... She's sleepy and she have works but fifteen minutes nap is not bad and she'll go to work. Yeah...
And she did but it wasn't just a nap but sleep.
Nagising siyang tanghali na at mahigpit na nakayakap sa kanya si Rage.
Auri groaned.
My works has been forgotten. Great!
Auri lazily reached for her phone that she saw in the bedside drawer and checked if someone from the restaurant called but no one. She sighed. Hope her secretary is not bombarded with workload. Geez... I'm such a bad boss.
Pumihit siya paharap kay Rage at yumakap dito. Nang makita niya ito kanina ay halatang wala na naman itong tulog. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Mukhang hindi na ito nakapag hintay pa na bumalik siya ng isla at pinuntahan na siya.
Kissing his chest, Auri whispered, "I love you Rage," niyakap niya ito at isniksik ang sarili sa katawan nito.
He groaned and tighten his embrace before she heard him speak in a gruff voice.
"I love you too, baby. Sleep again before I make you," anito na may bahid na ngiti.
"I'm tired, Rage. You should let me rest and I don't feel like doing it," she replied, closing her eyes once more to sleep again.
Damn... Why I am so sleepy?
Clfern
Excuse the wrong grammar. I kine there is —there should be— my head is foggy and I couldn't think clearly and correctly after a travel I had a day ago. I'll check and edit it some other time.