Villaverde Brothers Series 1: Taming the Ruthless✓

Chapter Seventeen

I slowly opened the door as I was very exhausted from work. I stayed three hours longer than usual. Mas naging busy ako kasi papalapit na ang soft opening ng La Gráce. I don't want to disappoint the people who believe in me. That's why even if I am tired, I will still continue because I know it will be worth it.

Nagitla ako nang makita si Cairus na prenteng nakaupo sa sofa habang nakasandang ang ulo roon. Umayos siya ng upo nang mapansin ako.

I smiled a little at him and nodded. "Good evening," I greeted, almost like a whisper.

"You're home late," he then said and stood up to draw near me.

"I finished some stuff for work."

Nang tuluyan na siyang nasa harapan ko ay hinila niya ako para sa isang yakap. Sinandal niya ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya saka niya hinaplos ang buhok ko na para bang inaalo niya ako.

"Tired?" he asked.

Mabagal na pagtango lang ang naging sagot ko. This isn't what I thought when I think of rest but then this is actually a kind of rest for me. His embrace is like a soft bed that comforts me.

"Have you eaten?"

This time, I shook my head. Hindi ko na maharap pati ang pagkain. Kumalas siya sa pagyakap sa akin saka bumuntonghininga.

"You should eat," he uttered. "Change your clothes and I'll cook. I'll wait for you here."

Dahan-dahang sumilay ang ngiti sa labi ko saka ako tumango. "Okay."

Nauna na siyang tumalikod saka pumunta sa kusina. Ako naman ay umakyat para maglinis kasi ang lagkit na ng pakiramdam ko.

I took a half bath and wore pajamas before I went downstairs. Naamoy ko na ang mabango niyang niluluto. Like his usual clothes, he wears white shirt and gray sweat shorts. Kaunti na lang ay iisip ko nang wala siyang ibang damit kundi 'yan lang.

Umupo ako saka siya pinanood maghalo ng sauce ng pasta. Simple lang ginagawa niya pero ang hot niya talagang tingnan. He turned to me and smiled a bit.

His acts are already confusing me but I'll lie if I say that I am not affected. Simpleng ngiti niya nga lang ay grabe na ang dulot sa sistema ko. Ano pa kaya ang paghawak sa bewang at pagyakap? Ikamamatay ko na. I've been waiting for this day to come. 'Yong si Cairus naman ang maghahabol habang ako ang nagmamatigas. He also did this to me, gumaganti lang naman ako.

I'm doing this on purpose, of course. I want to make him feel what I felt for six years that I ran after him.

Hinain niya na ang pasta sa harap ko. Naglagay na rin siya ng baso saka kumuha ng tubig sa ref.

"You're not going to eat?" I asked when I noticed that he only prepared for one.

"I'm full," he answered. "Nagluto lang ako para kumain ka."

I sighed. I'm suddenly overwhelmed because of his sweet gesture and to think—not that I am assuming things—that he waited for me to come home.

"Kumain ka ulit," aya ko saka inusog papalit sa kaniya ang plato nang bahagya. "Share tayo."

Umiling lang siya kaya hinila ko na lang ulit pabalik saka kumain. Maya-maya ay pinunasan niya ang gilid ng labi ko gamit ang kaniyang hinlalaki.

"There's sauce," he informed me.

"Why didn't you use your lips to wipe it?" I joked.

"You want me to?"

Tumawa ako saka umiling. "I'm just joking."

"When is your soft opening?" he then asked.

"Ten days from now."

"Am I invited?"