"WHERE HAVE YOU been?" taas-kilay na tanong niya sa babaeng kararating lang at pinagkrus ang mga braso sa ibaba ng dibdib.
Elisheva looked at him, tilting her head to the other side, at dahil nakahubad na ang baseball cap nito, he could see her eyes clearly. Inosente itong nakatitig sa kanya na para bang hindi siya nito tinakbuhan kani-kanina lang.
Fuck. He was overthinking! Gustong-gusto niya nang pasundan ito, but he stopped himself. He needs to respect her privacy, and he's stepping the boundary kapag ginagawa niya iyon.
"Sa kaibigan ko nga," mahinang saad nito at naglakad papalapit sa kanya.
"A guy?" Hindi niya sinadya, but his voice came out as somehow sarcastic. Kita niyang napanguso ang babae, nahihimigan ang tono ng kanyang boses, at dahan-dahang tumango.
She tiptoed and suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, planting a light kiss on his lips. And that caught him by surprise.
Napakurap siya, at ramdam niyang may kung anong kiliti na gumapang sa puso niya dahil sa ginawa nitong paghalik sa kanya. The air left his chest, at nabura lahat ng agam-agam na tumatakbo sa isip niya. It was an innocent and chaste kiss. . . but fuck. It affected him so damn much.
Muli nitong pinatakan ng halik ang kanyang mga labi na ikinahigit niya ng hininga. "Huwag ka nang magalit," parang batang saad nito at muli siyang hinalikan nang matunog. Fuck. Damn this woman!
Tangina. Nawiwindang na siya.
"S-Stop." Sunod-sunod siyang napalunok nang akma na sana nitong papatakan ulit ng halik ang kanyang mga labi. Tumikhim siya at bumuga ng hangin. His heart is racing so goddamn fast, all because of an innocent kiss!
"Let me breathe," he muttered in a low voice and held her shoulders.
She was stunned, looking at him with slightly wide eyes. Her lips parted, and her surprise-stricken eyes blinked. Nakatitig lang siya sa pagbabago ng reaksyon nito. It feels like seeing neon lights slowly changing colors.
Nakakaaliw.
Slowly and slowly, her eyes turned playful. Nabuo ang malawak na ngiti nito sa mga labi at lumabas ang dimple nito.
"I made you breathless," she stated as a matter of fact at may aliw pa na sumasayaw sa mga mata nito.
"And you're using it to tease me, I see." Pinaningkitan niya ito ng mga mata at saka hinapit ito sa bewang. Humagikhik naman itong lumayo sa kanya at tiningnan siya sa mga mata.
"I still have to cook food for Jayden, Detective. Don't flirt with me."
Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. "You're the one who flirted with me first."
Suminghap ito at hinampas ang kanyang braso. "Uy, hindi kaya panlalandi 'yon! Kini-kiss lang, panlalandi agad? Malandi ka kasi, kaya akala mo nilalandi kita!" Natatawa nitong kinurot ang bewang niya, and her laugh alone caused the corner of his lips to curl upwards.
This woman can really bring a smile to his face effortlessly. Fuck.
"Oo na!" He wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Let's go to the kitchen. I want to see you cook food for Jayden."
"Ayoko. You will just flirt with me!"
"Yakap nga lang, nilalandi agad?" balik niya sa itinukso nito sa kanya kanina. Malakas itong napasinghap at muli siyang kinurot sa bewang, but she just grunted. Nagkasalubong pa ang kilay nito at humaba ang nguso.
"Ano ba 'yan, 'di ko talaga makurot-kurot. Ang tigas," mahinang bulong nito na narinig niya naman kaya malakas siyang natawa. Damn. So cute.
He pinched her nose and ruffled her hair. "Sabihin mo lang na gusto mong maka-chansing sa akin, eh. Kunyari ka pa." Pinisil niya ang pisngi nito pero mabilis nitong tinapik nang malakas ang kamay niya at sinamaan siya ng tingin.
Tangina. Bakit mas lalo itong gumaganda kapag salubong ang kilay at nakanguso? Fuck.
"Ang feeling naman nito! Stop teasing me. Baka gutom na si Jayden!"
"Yes po. I'm hungry." Jayden emerged from the living room, bringing his toy car.
Binalingan naman siya ng babae. "See?" Inikutan siya nito ng mga mata at yumuko, spreading her arms. "Hug nga Jayden!"
Jayden ran towards the lady, and Elisheva carried his nephew effortlessly. Maingat na maingat pa ito habang karga ang pamangkin niya at tuwang-tuwa naman ang huli. Fuck.
Nagkasalubong ang kanyang kilay sa nakita lalo na nang makita ang sigla sa mata ng pamangkin. Bakit si Jayden, may mahigpit na yakap tapos siya wala? Ang unfair naman!
Elisheva glanced at him, and she rolled her eyes as if reading what was on his mind.
"Hindi pa ba sapat ang kiss?" she mouthed. Napangusong napailing-iling siya at niyakap ito kasama si Jayden. He planted a kiss at the top of her head before crouching to reach her earlobe.
"Mamaya ka talaga sa akin."
KUMUNOT ANG KANYANG noo nang may mapansin sa ibaba ng likod ng babae. Maliit lamang na galos iyon, but because it's still red, kitang-kita niya iyon. The scar is still fresh. Nakita niya dahil umangat nang bahagya ang sinusuot nito habang nag-iinat sa kanyang harap.
Worry rose in his heart, and he felt it clench. What the fuck happened to that?!
"Did something happen yesterday while you were out, Ellie?" Pinagmasdan niya ito.
Natigil ito sa pag-iinat at saka siya tiningnan. Confusion clouded her eyes, and her head tilted to the other side.
"Wala naman. Why did you ask?" Hinila nito pababa ang t-shirt at umupo sa kanyang harap. Hindi pa rin maalis-alis sa kanyang isip ang galos nito. Fuck. He bets she didn't treat it. Baka nga hindi nito alam na may galos ito. Damn.
Sighing, he motioned for her to come closer to him. Kunot-noo naman itong tumayo at sinunod ang sinabi niya, and when she was in front of him, he gently held her arms at saka ito pinatalikod sa kanya. He raised her shirt, at mas lalong kumunot ang kanyang noo nang makita iyon nang malapitan.
"This. What happened to this? There's an abrasion at your lower back, and beside it was a bruise."
Malakas itong napasinghap sa narinig at saka siya nilingon. "Hala! Nagkagalos pala?" Salubong ang kilay nito habang nagtatanong sa kanya. "Nahulog ako sa hagdanan kahapon! Tatlong baitang lang naman! Kaya pala mahapdi." Ngumiwi pa ito. "Now that you said it, mas lalo ko tuloy naramdaman ang hapdi. I was too busy stretching."
He clicked his tongue and let out a sigh, shaking his head. "You should have been more careful, Ellie. Damn." Naiiling na tumayo siya at binuhat ito. The woman wrapped her arms around his neck, and he carefully laid her on the sofa.
He caressed her hair and planted a kiss on her forehead. Somehow, that act feels so natural already. Nasanay na siyang gawin iyon.
Tiningnan niya ito nang mataman. "Stay here. I'll get the medicine kit. Huwag makulit, okay? Baka magka-infection 'yan." Marahan niyang pinitik ang noo nito.
The lady chuckled and looked at him cutely behind her eyelashes. "Yes, Doc," pabiro nitong saad at humagikhik. Natawa na lang siya nang marinig ang tawa nito.
Nakakahawa.
So, he got the medicine box and started cleaning her wound. Kumunot pa ang noo niya nang mapansing ni isang beses hindi ito ngumingiwi o umiigik man lang.
"You must have a high tolerance when it comes to pain, huh? Ni hindi ka man lang umiigik," saad niya nang matapos at saka niligpit ang mga gamit.
"Yeah. Nasanay na siguro ako. I. . . I had a lot of wounds when I was still a child, kasi ang kulit-kulit ko, eh. Eh, 'di, ayon." She shrugged and slowly sat on the sofa. Halos mahigit niya pa ang hininga nang makita ang gulo-gulong buhok nito. The natural light passing through the window behind her gave her a golden outline. Muntik nang umawang ang kanyang mga labi.
How come she's still so beautiful even when her hair is a mess?
She gave him a smile before pulling her shirt down, pulling him away from the trance.
"Thank you, Detective," sinserong saad nito. Pansin niya pang medyo nanunubig ang mga mata nito, but his question was answered when she yawned.
"Inaantok tuloy ako dahil sa kakahiga." Umayos ito ng upo at kinusot ang mga mata.
His hand itched to reach for her messy hair and gently run his fingers through it to fix it, so he did. Pansin niya pang napatitig ito sa kanya, but his attention is on her messy brunette hair.
"Mag-ingat ka sa susunod. Baka ano pa ang mangyari," mahinahon niyang saad dito. Napatitig ito sa kanya na para bang inaalisa siya, but he didn't mind her.
Talagang nag-alala siya nang makita ang galos nito. Sighing, he cupped her cheeks and kissed her lips lightly.
"Magpahinga ka muna sa kwarto mo."
SHE BIT HER lower lip as tears welled up in the corner of her eyes. Hindi pa rin mawala-wala sa isip niya ang ginawang paggamot ng detective sa kanya. It made her heart warm. . . so fucking warm that she wanted to cry.
Kumawala ang hikbi sa kanyang mga labi habang nagtitipa ng numero sa kanyang cellphone, and when the caller picked up, kaagad siyang pumalahaw ng iyak. Sunod-sunod na kumawala ang kanyang mga luha mula sa mga mata, and her vision became blurry because of her tears.
"What the fuck?! Why the fuck are you crying?!"
"Hey. . ." Pinahirin niya ang kanyang mga luha. This is probably the first time that her brother has heard her cry. But damn, she can't help it. That detective. . . is too pure.
Too pure for her scarred soul.
"Did the detective do something to you?" Rinig niya ang galit sa boses nito, at sunod-sunod siyang umiling kahit hindi nito iyon nakikita. Napasinghap siya upang sumagap ng hangin.
"N-No. . . He treated my wound," mahinang saad niya rito at muling humikbi. "Akalain mo 'yon? Ngayon lang ako nagkagalos ulit matapos niyo akong masagip sa kumupkop sa akin noon. And this time," she swallowed the lump in her throat, "this might seem like nothing to you, but it means a lot to me already."
Muli niyang pinahirin ang kanyang mga luha at huminga nang malalim. "It's my first time to have someone treat my wound. First time. The detective did it, and it made me feel so many emotions that. . . that I cried."
And now she wonders. Does she deserve Shantrie?
Kinagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi at inalala ang mga pinanggagawa niya noong bata pa. She carries a lot of baggage, and all of it is dark, messy, and heavy. Hanggang ngayon, parati niya pa rin iyong bitbit at kahit gusto niyang iwan, nakatali ito sa kanya.
And with that, she found the answer to her question.
She doesn't deserve the detective.
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