The Magnate's Holiest Sin (Cavanaugh #2)

Kabanata 21

Kabanata 21

Discovered

"Cherub? Open the door."

Mas diniin ko lamang ang aking mukha sa mga malalambot na unan. Iniiyak ko ang mga kaguluhan sa buhay ko na siyang mas nakakapagpalabo sa totoo'ng pagkatao ko.

"U-Umalis ka muna, Laki," nanghihinang tugon ko. Hindi ako sigurado kung malinaw n'ya pa ba'ng naririnig ang boses ko.

The continuous impact of a fist banging against the door from the outside, that manly and loud way of knocking stopped in that instant. "But this is my room, baby. Ayaw mo'kong papasukin sa sarili kong kuwarto?" Laki's baritone voice behind the door was so gentle and was like baby-talking to a child.

Ayaw kong masabihan ng masasakit na salita si Laki upang umalis lang ito. Pero makulit s'ya, alam kong hindi n'ya ako titigilan.

How many hours did it take him to finally try his luck on speaking to me? Guiltily, I did not mean to raise my voice at the maid that he asked to deliver me breakfast and lunch. The door remained tightly closed and securely locked from the morning I came rushing back in here. Would they say I was a disrespectful guest, impolite visitor, and what? I just didn't care at all. They were forcing me to eat, open the door and something I didn't like when all I have hungered for was to be alone.

To be alone, was all that I simply wished for. Yet they didn't try to understand that. Accompanying me would just be a waste of time and effort.

"I-I'm borrowing your room for the meantime," I declared. Motionlessly dropped on my stomach against the bedcover, I tried to comfort myself in this position.

"Gumagabi na. Sisindihan ko lang 'yong mga kandila, cherub. Mag-off na rin ako ng aircon diyan." Dinig kong sobra'ng maingat na matigas na boses ni Laki mula sa labas ng kuwarto. "You need to eat," pahabol nito.

Hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili ko. Bakit nakakagalit isipin na kaninang umaga lang ako rito umiiyak, natutulala, malalim ang iniisip at parang wala sa sarili. Tapos ngayon lang s'ya dumating? Na gumagabi na?

Dapat ay hindi ako magalit, 'di ba? Ano itong nararadaman ko?

Frustrated with my feelings, I cried. "Just go away, Laki!"

"Cherub, don't make this hard for me."

"I'm not! Now, leave!"

May tumutulak sa'kin na singhalan at sigawan ko si Laki. Tanungin kung bakit ngayon lang s'ya? Ano'ng ginawa n'ya buong araw? Umalis ba s'ya ng mansyon at may emergency o urgent na pinuntahan? Sino naman ang kasama n'ya?

Ang daming tanong na bumubuo sa isip ko pero mas pinili ko pa talagang sabihin na umalis ito.

Kasi bakit ko naman itatanong iyon? Who am I to him anyway? Someone who he had given a scholarship? A twenty-one year old woman who was temporarily staying in his property? His best friend's younger sister? Did he even consider me as his friend?

Last night, when 'that' happened on his car's hood, it was nothing special to him perhaps. His absence the whole day had also kept me in question about him.

Expecting? I was expecting when I should not.

"I don't like your tone much, Holy." Laki's thick voice from outside changed into something sounded so strict and staid. I could picture out the sobersided expression on his charismatic face. "Hindi dahil sa hindi ko kayang magalit sa'yo ay aabushin mo na 'yon. Kailangan mo'ng kumain. Makinig ka sa'kin."

"Hindi mo ba ako naiintindihan, Laki? I don't need you! And I want you to leave!" I could not stop my voice from raising its tone. Digging my face deeper against the soft pillows, I hissed.