Chapter 17: Fire
Nakatitig ako sa labas ng tinted na sasakyan ni Landon. He was beside me, driving. Tahimik sa loob ng sasakyan. Walang sino man ang umiimik. Panay ang hila ko sa kanyang jacket upang matakpan ang aking binti. It was a failed attempt. But I was not worried about Landon saying a sordid remark. I would probably prefer it that way than what he was doing. His mouth usually doesn't have a filter. What he thinks, he has all the guts to say. I don't like when he's being too silent.
Naging familiar ang daan na tinatahak namin. Ilang minuto pa ay nakarating na kami sa tapat ng apartment. Huminto ang sasakyan. Hindi ko tinanong kay Landon kung paano niya nalaman kung saan ako nakatira. He has his ways. Binuksan ko ang pintuan ng sasakyan at lumabas. Inalis ko ang jacket ni Landon. The chilly early morning breeze sent shivers down my body.
"Keep it."
Yon lamang ang kanyang sinabi bago muling humarurot paalis ang kanyang sasakyan. Nanatili ako sa tapat ng apartment habang pinagmamasdan ang kanyang paglayo. Lumipas ang ilang minuto bago ako pumasok sa apartment. Mula sa orasan sa hallway nasilayan ko ang oras. Mag-aalas kwatro na ng madaling araw.
The apartment remained silent. Naglinis ako ng katawan saka nagbihis. Pinatong ko ang black mini dress at jacket sa upuan. I've never felt so warm and cozy on my oversize shirt and pajama. Pabagsak akong humiga sa kama.
Alam kong mas malaki ang problema na kakaharapin ko bukas. But right now I just wanted to rest. Bago tuluyang pumikit ang aking mga mata napatitig ako sa itim na jacket na nakapatong sa silya. I saw a different side of Landon in the midst of a catastrophic night.
--
Mataas na ang sikat ng araw noong maalimpungatan ako. Bahagya kong tinakpan ang mukha ko mula sa liwanag ng araw na tumatama sa aking mukha. Bumangon ako. The room was flooded by light, but silent.
A sudden buzz caught my attention. I stared at the phone on the table. It must be Georgina. Hindi na ako nakapag paalam sa kanya kagabi. Napahawak ako sa aking sintido. I made a mess last night. Kinuha ko ang phone ko at sinagot ang tawag. I stared absentmindedly at the clock on my bedside table. Ten o'clock ng umaga.
"Hello?"
"Good morning, Miss Limerick," greeted a familiar cheerful voice.
Muli kong tiningnan ang screen ng phone ko. The call was from Saint Jude's. I cleared my throat before answering.
"Yes?"
"I just want to inform you that we already received the deposit. Thank you for trusting Saint Jude..."
The voice of the woman on the other side of the line faded as I processed what I just heard. Deposit?
"Miss Limerick?"
The same cheerful voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"Oh, thanks." Tanging nasabi ko. "Thank you."
Binaba ko ang phone matapos ang tawag. Nanatili akong nakaupo sa kama. Ako lang ang nakakaalam ng account ni Mama sa Saint Jude's. It was saved on my phone.
Humigpit ang hawak ko sa phone ko nang maalala ang isang bagay. Dumako ang tingin ko sa ilang damit na nakapatanong sa mesa. It was the clothes I wore before I entered the bar. Kasama ito ng phone ko na naiwan sa dressing room. I didn't get the chance to retrieve it last night because of how messed up the situation was.
Nagmadali akong umalis sa kama at tiningnan ang aking damit. Nalaglag mula doon ang original na susi ng apartment. I used the spare key last night. He was indeed inside this room! I dialed a number on my phone.
"Ano?" Sagot ng isang garagal na boses ng babae.
"Georgina, si Denise ito."
Isang mura ang aking narinig bago siya muling nagsalita. "Ano pa ba ang kailangan mo? Naayos na ang lahat, hindi ba?"
Naayos?
"Pasalamat ka mapera yang boyfriend mo, kung hindi pareho tayong malalagot sa Manager ko. Sa susunod hwag ka ng magpapahanap sa akin ng raket. Pinapahamak mo ako."
Binabaan niya ako ng telepono. Napakurap ako. Isang tanong ang namayani sa aking isip. What exactly did he do?
--
Bumaba ako sa kusina matapos magbihis. I opened the fridge to prepare something before I go but I remember I don't have any money left for me to buy proper food. Kaya uminom nalang ako ng kape saka dumerecho sa labas.
It was Saturday noon. The neighborhood was peaceful. Karamihan sa mga nakatira sa mga paupahang bahay sa kalyeng ito umuuwi tuwing weekend. Wala akong ibang mauuwian. Habang nasa loob ng taxi hindi ko mapigilan na bumuntong hininga.
Kung ordinaryong tao lamang siya ay baka nagpasalamat pa ako sa kanyang ginawa. But this is Landon Monaghan we are talking about. His every move is calculated, with a purpose. Walang nakakaalam ng mga bagay na naglalaro sa kanyang isip.
Lumipas ang oras at naging familiar ang daan. Bumaba ako sa tapat ng secluded property na pagmamay ari ni Landon Monaghan. Hindi ko akalain na kusa akong babalik sa lugar na ito matapos ang mga nangyari. Bumalot sa akin ang tahimik na paligid. The punishment Yllona was talking about was still effective.
Bahagyang nakabukas ang front door ng kanyang mansion. I didn't bother to knock. Alam ko wala ding sasagot. Pumasok ako sa loob. Akmang dederecho ako sa kanyang kwarto sa second floor nang makarinig ako ng ingay sa unang palapag. A distinct pleasant smell circulated inside the mansion. Umatras ako at humarap sa direction ng kusina.
I walked toward the kitchen. The silence and emptiness of the place didn't rob off even a percent of its grandness. Kahit ilang beses akong tumapak sa lugar na ito ay hindi na ako masasanay. Nakatalikod si Landon Monaghan sa akin paglapit ko. He was wearing nothing but a towel on his torso. His damp dark hair glistened beneath the minimum light of the Victorian inspired kitchen interior. Beads of water trickled down his toned back. Mukhang katatapos niya lamang maligo noong mapagdesisyonan niyang magluto.
"Don't you think it's too early for you to visit?"
Natigilan ako. Ni hindi siya lumingon sa akin habang nagsasalita. Patuloy siya sa pagluluto. I think he's sautéing something.
I wonder where is everyone. Ang mga maids niya, ang butler. It seemed like a lot of the privileges of being a Monaghan was taken away from him. Nanatili ako sa tapat ng pintuan. A lot of woman would kill to see this scene in front of me. The way his muscles flexed while stiring the food, the bareness of the planes of his shoulder, and the depths of his chiselled back, all shadowed by the smoke from the food he's cooking.
"Are you gonna watch me all morning?" He asked. There was playfulness on his voice, as if he was grinning as he said it. "Why don't you sit down and join me?"
The offer was too inviting. But I knew he was up to something. No matter how normal he may looked right now, I know something was lurking behind his smiles.
"Why did you do it?" I asked. "I didn't ask you to do it."
I heard a light chuckle. Natapos siya sa pagluluto. Pinatay niya ang burner saka sinalin sa plato ang pagkain na kanyang niluto. Nakahain na din sa mesa ang iba pa. Fried rice. Orange juice. A piece of steak and some fruits. I know they are bound to eat normal food like regular people. But I didn't know he could actually cook.
Hindi niya sinagot ang alin man sa aking tanong. Nagpatuloy siya sa paghanda ng pagkain. Maya maya pa humarap siya sa akin. Halos mapaatras ako. Having his eyes on me made me aware how uncomfortable my situation is. Napansin kong napangiti siya nang makita ang aking reaction.
"Are you referring to the sluts you're with last night, or the fucktard in the hospital, or was it about cheap machine?"
"Georgina is not a slut."
Lumapit siya sa akin.
"So you're taking her side now?" He said. "Did you enjoy it that much? Seducing assholes with that seductive lips of yours?"
He jerked his head as he stared at me. Examining me. I remained calm. Last night he was different. Last night it was as if a different, more gentle Landon was with me.
"God, how I hate to share my things. I hate to see other kids playing with my toys. I'm pretty selfish."
Toys.
"Ibabalik ko ang mga binigay mong-"
My breathe was caught on my throat when I felt his hand cupped my neck. Nanlamig ang aking katawan. Landon's hand made me stare upward directly at him. He was staring down at my lips.
"Let me clean you up a little bit. I don't play with dirty lips."
Sumayad ang kanyang labi sa akin. The skin to skin touch was electrifying. My lower lips trembled but Landon enveloped it with his. I placed my hand on his chest to push him. Subalit mas hinila niya lamang ako palapit. His kisses was feathery, tempting, like playing with fire. One second we're touching and the next it was his warm minty breath assaulting my soar lips. Disgust. That was what I felt last night with another man. But how... how could he do the same thing and made me burn in this scorching fire for him?
Napadaing ako. Mas lumalim ang kanyang halik. I heard him cursed. I pushed. I was dizzy, breathless. Touching him was like setting a time bomb. Was he always this dangerous? He placed one of his slender hand under my shirt and pulled me from my waist. I gasped for air.
"As your owner I'm responsible for the mess you did, as well as the ways to punish you."
Naikuyom ko ng tuluyan ang aking palad nang maramdaman ang pagdampi ng matulis na bagay sa aking leeg. I tried to shove him due to the sudden pain but he grabbed both of my hands. Pinaglayo niya ang mga ito. I was open and defenseless. My breathing became erratic.
"Landon..."
Blood was being sucked out of my body. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang pumikit. Tiniis ko ang sakit nito. I clenched my fist that was still being held by Landon. Hangang sa ang marahas na pagsipsip nito sa aking dugo ay naging banayad at mabagal na halik. I slowly unclenched my fist. The sensation of his lips on my skin flooded me, sending shivers down my whole body. Nang humiwalay siya tinitigan niya ako.
"Your blood is too pale."
Napahawak ako sa mesang nasa aking harapan. I was breathless. My knees were weak.
"Do you even give a shit about the life I gave you? I didn't let you out of all the mess to drink sub-par blood."
Bumalik siya sa paghahanda ng pagkain sa mesa na parang walang nangyari. Like he didn't just brought me to the brink. Kaya niya ba ako tinulungan? To preserve his toy so no one could play it but him?
Hindi na dapat ako nagtaka. He's Landon Monaghan. Everything he does is for his own favor. I don't want to be indebted to him. The contract is enough.
"I will repay you." Mariin kong sinabi. "Hindi ko kailangan ng tulong mo."
Tila natawa siya sa aking sinabi.
"Ibabalik ko sayo ang binayad mo. Just... give me time."
"You amused me."
Tumalikod ako upang umalis. It was as if the Landon I was with last night, the one who drove me home safely without asking anything was the Landon no one ever saw but I.
Silence greeted me once again as I stepped out of the property. Pinagmasdan ko ang kabuuan ng abandunadong mansion sa aking harapan.
Landon has almost everything. But even prestige couldn't fill the emptiness surrounding the place. An angel ripped off of his wings, with blood dripping from his smirking lips, he created his own hell.
***