Aphrodisia | 18+ (Written In Filipino) ✔️

ika-28

Ikadalawampu't-walo

What if

-

"Yeah?" ang magaspang na boses ni Duke mula sa kabilang linya. 

   Humugot ako ng hininga bago sumagot. "Yeah." 

   Nagkakagat-labi, kinuha ko ang unan sa tabi ko dito sa sofa at ipinatong iyon sa hita ko. Ilang sandali pa ay narinig ko muli ang boses niya. "Alright?"

   "Yeah," sagot ko. 

   Few seconds passed. "Ehieguelo?"

   "Davanzato."

   Another stretch of silence. 

   "Bruna?"

   Sumulyap ako sa kusina bago nagmadaling sumagot. "Uno."

   "Bruna," may diin niyang sabi. 

   Heat flamed my cheeks. "Duke."

   "Hmm." He let out a sound of satisfaction. 

   This was crazy. Ang mahina na pag-andar lang ng gripo sa kusina dahil sa ginagawang paghugas ng natatanging katulong ni Duke ang naririnig ko sa kabila ng usapan naming walang importansya. This was his idea. Because I'm alone in his house, technically still because the person I'm with is a woman going in and out of the house only for chores. Pagkatapos naming mag-almusal ay dumiretso na si Duke upang bilhan ako ng mga necessities at pati damit at gamot na ini-utos ko sa kanya. 

   To be honest, I don't peg him as a man that could do things such as buying stuff himself. He said he has men he can rely on, subalit ang nakikita ko tuwing gabi ay siya mismo ang nagluluto. Ang nakikita ko ay ang kalahating oras na pag-tingin niya sa isang lumang sasakyan sa garahe upang pagmabutihin. 

   That's why it's both funny and impressive when he said he would have me on the phone all throughout his errand just to be sure that no one's sneaking inside the house to come and get me. We still had to look out for Anselm. At kung sakali man na may mangyari, hindi ako matatarantang tawagan pa siya dahil nasa phone na siya mismo. 

   Namatay ang tawag sa kahabaan nito and I almost did not want to call him anymore. This was our fifth. Kahit na hininaan ko na ng sobra ang boses ko ay hindi ko pa rin matakasan ang hiya habang iniisip ang matandang katulong na kasama ko sa kabahayan. 

   The phone flashed almost instantly with his name on it. Hiding my embarrassment and standing up, I took the call and noticed the maid's eyes on me as I passed the hexagon landing that was in between the stairs and the kitchen. 

   I smiled sheepishly and turned away. "Yeah?" sabi ko sa phone. 

   I almost swore I saw her smile before I passed. 

   "I'm on my way."

   Halos hindi ko iyon inasahan habang papa-akyat ako sa stairs. "Tapos na?"

   "I humored you, but I was in the cashier by then. The woman looked at me and almost was in panic thinking I had urgency written all over my face."

   I snorted. I bet it was just because you're handsome. 

   Napahinto ako sa barandilla nang namalayan ang inisip ko. Duke? Handsome? The hell am I into? 

   "Pati ba sizes ng damit ko nakuha mo ng sakto?" tanong ko at binuksan ang pinto ng cuarto niya. I wanted to stay in his balcony. "I'm tall, but I'm still normal standard."

   "Pretty much," Duke replied with more confidence. "You have the same size as a mannequin, though it's probably prettier because your imprinted scowl is a disadvantage. Nasaulo ko ang lahat ng sukat ng klarong-klaro."