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Chapter 54
Pinanood namin si Iesha na magtampisaw sa dalampasigan kung saan naaabot na siya nang marahang alon.
She kept on jumping everytime the salty water was hitting his toes.
"She'a really a water baby." I said without taking my eyes off her.
"She got it from me then. I love staying in places like this, taking a dip or just stare at the waves alone."
Nilingon ko si Duke. Bahagyang naniningkit ang mga mata niya habang nakatitig sa gawi ni Iesha. Namumula na ang mapusyaw niyang balat, bagay na mas gustong gusto ko.
Hindi katulad ng ilan sa mga pinsan niya na mestiso, nag-aagaw kay Duke ang pagiging maputi at moreno. His complexion was enough for him to look manly and rough — just how the way I like it.
Kaya unang kita ko pa lang sa kaniya, aaminin ko na kaagad na akong humahanga kahit pa sobra ang pagiging arogante niya noon.
"Kaya ang hilig mo rin tumambay noon sa talon. Naaalala mo noong nag-away tayo noon at iniwan mo ako pagkatapos? I had to walk far without any idea what direction to take."
Natawa siya. "Isinusumpa mo na ako ng mga sandaling 'yon. As you got home, you looked like you were ready to throw a war that time."
"Sinabi mo pa. I used to call you in my head as a heartless man. Sabi ko, ang gwapo nga pero sobrang sama naman ng ugali."
He chuckled. "While I always told myself to never get attracted to you even if you're beautiful."
"Becaused I'm a brat?"
He glanced at me. "Childish, too."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko bago natawa.
"I am?"
"Was," he replied with a proud smile on his lips. "But you were the only childish girl that knew how to make good decisions. A childish who can stand up on her feet and doesn't need anyone's help."
Gumuhit ang ngiti sa mga labi ko. I rested my head on his shoulder. Felt his on top of mine, too. It was as if I'm depending my life on him and so is he.
"Are you proud of me then?" I asked.
"You have no idea..." he sighed. "You are one in a million, Izz. Couldn't even get any more proud when you regret Spyral's offer to become my daughter's father."
Matunog akong ngumiti. "Hmm. He told you about that?"
"I knew everything. Hindi mo alam kung gaano ako humanga na sa kabila ng sakit na idinulot ko sa'yo, mas pinili mong gawin ang desisyon na alam mong tama."
"It just doesn't feel right to accept it, Duke. Your family knows that we had a relationship... that I'm in love with you. Why would I drag Spyral in that situation when he's not even involved in the first place? Bukod sa magugulo lang ang buhay niya, hindi ko rin makita si Iesha na lalaki na iba ang kikilalaning ama."
I felt him place a gentle kiss on top of my head.
"You have no idea how happy I was when I heard that my brat basted him..." he chuckled that made me smile. "Kahit na alam kong imposible, ginusto ko pa rin paniwalaan na ako ang unang dahilan mo kung bakit mo siya tinanggihan. Dahil hindi mo makita ang sarili mo na magmamahal ng ibang lalaki."
Inalis ko ang pagkakasandal ng ulo sa balikat niya at sinulyapan siya. He glanced at me, too. Ngumiti ako dahilan para mas lalong lumalim ang titig niya sa akin.
