Fortress Island Series 3 Matteo: The Bastard's Sweetest Downfall

TWO

Feisty

"Are you just going to stand there? I bet those long legs of yours are already shaking. Uhmm..." He propped his left elbow on the table and rested his chin on his hand. "Now that I mentioned it, I remember one steamy night with this chick who smelled as sweet as candy. Her legs were securely wrapped around my waist while I—"

"Is this what you want, Mr. Salvatore? Pinapunta mo ba ako dito para pahiyain? I did not know you are this rude." Nagtagis ang aking bagang. Kung nakakamatay lang ang titig, tiyak akong kanina pa ito nalagutan ng hininga.

Alam kong hindi maganda ang humiling ng isang trahedya pero sa oras na ito, hiniling kong lumindol ng malakas at mabagsakan ang lalake ng mga naglalakihang prenteng nakaupo na animo'y isang prinsepe.

"My attitude depends on the person I'm dealing with." Naka-angat ang kilay nito.

Huh? Ano ang kanyang ibig sabihin? Gusto ko sanang magsalita para alamin kung ano ang kanyang tinutukoy pero bigla itong tumayo. Namulsa ito habang naglakad palapit sa akin.

His strides were big that in just a blink of an eye, he was now standing a few inches from me. Humakbang ako paatras pero huli na nang ma-realize kong pintuan pala ang nasa sa aking likod.

I was trapped in between when he stretched out his arms and pressed his palms against the hard surface of the door. I instantly forgot how to breathe. With this proximity, he could hear the loud beating of my heart.

Naningkit ang kanyang mga mata habang tinatanaw ako. Kung noong gabing iyon ay nabighani ako sa paraan ng kanyang mga titig, ngayon ay parang gusto kong kabahan. May sumbat kasi sa paraan ng pagkakatingin niya sa akin. Para bang galit ito dahil may ginawa akong kasalanan sa kanya.

Suminghap ako. "Anong problema mo sa akin? Dalawang linggo na rin ang lumipas buhat nung gabing yun Mr. Salvatore. At kung tama ang pagkakaalala ko'y nagustuhan mo ang pangyayaring iyon. Ano ang iyong kinakagalit ngayon? Wala naman akong balak gumawa ng ingay o di kaya ay mag-eskandalo. It was a mutual understanding between us, even though both of us were under the influence of alcohol."

Mas lalong naningkit ang mga mata nito. With his height, I looked so small. At kung gusto niya akong saktan, tiyak akong sa isang pisil lang ng kanyang palad ay kaya niyang baliin ang aking buto.

Mas bumaba pa lalo ang kanyang mukha sa akin at halos isang pulgada na lang ang pagitan at magbabanggaan na ang aming mga ilong.

"You almost did not believe me when I told you I am single. Sa paraan ng tingin mo sa akin nung gabing yun, you thought I was lying through my teeth. And I believed you when you said you're not married. But look who's lying now, huh."

"I—I wasn't lying." Ani ko sa nanginginig na boses.

"Really, huh?"

Nilapat ko ang aking mga palad sa kanyang dibdib. "You're too close, Mr. Salvatore. Hindi kaaya-ayang tignan."

"I don't give a shit."

"But I do." Tinulak ko ito. Ako na mismo ang humakbang palayo sa kanya. "At oo, hindi ako nagsisinungaling. I mean—" Did I lie? Mali baa ko?

"Don't lie to me."

"I did not lie to you." The audacity of this man for accusing me."

"I was informed that you're married."

"Yes, I was!" I yelled.

He crossed his arms over his broad chest. "You were? What's that supposed to mean?" He asked while leaning against the door.