Virgin Villain (The Villain Series 2)

Kabanata 11

IF only he could evaporate and disappear like a bubble, Xibel might already have said goodbye to the world. He didn't get any sleep because of panic attacks. The touch of that woman and the crowds of people staring at his eyes molded his fear into a knocking ghost. It was disgusting. Not to mention, when he got inside his house, he immediately vomited.

And just when he was about to fall asleep, Imris came knocking on his door. It was already dawn and she wanted to eat.

Wala siyang ibang nagawa kundi ang bumangon at lumabas ng kuwarto. Tinawag niya rin si Arator upang utusan itong magluto.

Ang akala niya'y makakatulog na siyang muli pagkatapos kumain ni Imris pero ginambala naman siya nito upang maglaro kasama si Elia. Isa sa paborito nito ay ang habulan na pinakaayaw naman niya sa lahat.

"Can I fly?" walang-lakas niyang sabi pagkatapos bumababa galing sa third floor. Napahawak siya sa magkabila niyang tuhod habang hinahabol ang paghinga. Wala pa ngang sampung minuto pero hinihingal na siya.

"No cheating, Papa!" sagot ni Imris sa kaniya habang nakasakay kay Elia.

Tinuro niya ang oso. "Aren't you cheating as well?"

"No one said I can't ride Elia!" She stuck her tongue out.

Sinamaan naman niya ito ng tingin. "That's unfair."

Why was he even fighting with a child? Why was he listening to her in the first place when he could've fly whenever he wanted to? Well, simply because he didn't want her to sulk. It was guaranteed Imris would not talk to him if he ever broke the no flying tuke she implemented.

Tumawa lang ito at nagsimula nang tumakbo si Elia papuntang kusina. Siya naman ay hinahabol pa ang sariling hininga.

Natapos ang buong araw na wala siyang ibang ginawa kundi ikutin ang bawat sulok ng bahay na animo'y isang inspektor. Bukod sa habulan, naglaro din sila ng tagu-taguan. Sino ang taya? Malamang ay siya.

"Enough, Imris. Let's take a break for a while," ani niya. Umupo siya sa mahabang upuan.

Kaagad namang tumabi sa Imris sa kaniya. "Papa, you look pale."

"And you look like a peasant." Marahan niyang pinitik ang noo nito. "Go inside your room and change."

"But I want to play more! Let's play, Papa!" Hinila nito ang kaniyang braso pero hindi siya gumalaw.

Pagod na pagod na siya. Wala nang natitirang katiting na enerhiya para makipaglaro pa ulit sa bata. If only he knew this was how tiring to raise a child, he would have ignored Imris on the first day he saw her.

"Papa, sige na!" pamimilit nito habang patuloy pa ring hinihila ang braso. Pilit siya nitong pinapatayo. "Imris wants to go outside."

His drained energy tripled when he heard the word "outside". Outside means encountering people. He had not yet recovered from the situation yesterday and now he would see the world again? No. Not a chance. He would not get out for the whole month!

"Stone will come with you. Let's wait for him to come back." He ordered Stone to find an orphanage near a sea cost. The images from the extent of his gift's showed a body of water, so Imris might have been from a family who lived beside the sea.

Gamit ang isang kamay, inabot niya ang maliit na pakete sa kaniyang sutana. Kumuha siya ng isang sigarilyo at sinindihan ito gamit ang kapangyarihan.

Ilang araw na ring hindi siya nakapagyosi dulot ng pagiging abala niya kay Imris.

Isang malalim na hininga ang binitiwan niya habang 'di pinapansin ang katabi na pilit pa ring hinihila ang kaniyang braso.

"Sige na, Papa. Lumabas tayo!"