To break her reality bound by rules, Letizia impulsively participates in a project communicating with a stranger and shares the life she desires behind the name "Juliette". Can she keep up with the lies about her perfect story and not fall for the m...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
***
"WHAT condition would that be?" tanong ni David habang nakatitig sa akin.
I inhaled deeply before releasing the air through my mouth. I could feel my heart beating loudly. Kinakabahan ako sa magiging reaksiyon ni David pero alam kong kailangan kong sabihin sa kaniya. Pareho namin na hindi mahaharap ang kinabukasan namin kung hindi ko 'to gagawin.
"Let me meet Rome," I sternly said.
I saw how his Adam's apple bobbed up and down as his forehead remained scrunched. "W-what?" Humigpit ang pagkahahawak niya sa aking kamay.
Nahiga si David na hindi binibitiwan ang aking kamay. Inangat niya ang kabilang braso at pinahinga sa ibabaw ng kaniyang nakapikit na mga mata. Napansin kong muli ang kaniyang paglunok at sumunod ang malalim na paghinga.
I squeezed his hand before lying down beside him.
"Dime qué tienes en mente," pabulong kong usal.
"No entiendo lo que estás pensando," aniya. "I'm trying to understand why you want to do that, mi princesa. I'm trying."
Huminga ako nang malalim at saka sumiksik patungo sa kaniyang kinahihigaan. Ang aming mga braso ay magkadampi na.
He lowered his arm and turned to his side to face me. I could see how tired his eyes were. It wasn't just the different time zones and piles of work affecting his sleep; I was giving him endless worries and headaches.
He suddenly got up, held my hands above my head and towered over me.
Nabigla ako sa kinilos niya ngunit hindi ako natakot. Hindi ko itatanggi ang dagundong ng aking puso, ngunit alam kong hindi magagawang saktan ni David—that was the proof on how much I trust him.
But if others would see us in such a provocative position, we would definitely be showered with malice and judged with indecency.
"You give me too much trust, mi princesa," he whispered. "You should fear this monster."
I gave him a serious look. Sa totoo lang, sa halip na matakot o masindak ako sa hitsura niya, nagmukha siyang malaking tuta. He actually looked too adorable for my taste!
"Because it's you, David," I responded without breaking our eye contact.
He chuckled before resting his head close to my neck. I could feel his shaking lips near my shoulder. But worse, he had rested his body on top of me.
Hindi naman ako naiilang sa puwesto namin. Pero . . . hindi ba niya alam na matangkad at mabigat siya? His working out had definitely paid off, but he shouldn't be resting under me, that's for sure.
"David, you're heavy!" halos magmaktol na ako dahil sa bigat niya.
"You smell like shampoo, mi princesa," dagdag niya. Mukhang wala talagang plano na dumistansiya sa akin.
"I took a bath, that's why," paliwanag ko. "So, will you get up, or shall I kick you in the balls?"
Natatawang bumangon si David at hawak pa rin ang aking mga braso. "Language!"
"What are you going to do about it, hmm?"
"Next time you say something naughty, shall I punish you?"
Napangisi ako. "Do you think that would scare me?"
Napabuntonghinga siya at saka tuluyang dimistansiya sa akin. Naupo siya at inalalayan akong maupo na rin sa kaniyang tabi. "I have no intention of scaring you, but I could break my word of taking things slow and kiss you, mi princesa," makahulugan niyang ani.
Bumangon ako at kinurot siya sa braso. "You and your words!" ani ko.
I still sounded like I was messing with him. But in truth, I might be digging for my own grave. His eyes were telling me that he was going to be sticking to his words. Sumandal ako sa kaniyang balikat at pumikit.
"So, will you let me meet Rome?" I whispered
There was this eerie silence before he responded, "Only if you let me stay by your side the whole time."
Nabigla ako sa sinabi niya kaya napatayo ako. He was staring at me emotionlessly.
"Is this how you're trying to strike a deal with me?" I crossed my arms at him.
Ngumisi si David sa akin at pinagkrus ang sariling mga braso. "So, mi princesa, what do you say?"
He proudly extended his right hand in my direction, and my eyes followed his every movement. I took a deep breath and exchanged my sight between his hand and his eyes. Mukhang wala akong magiging kawala sa kaniya. Hindi na rin naman nakagugulat na maisip niyang makipagnegosasyon sa akin. After all, he was a businessman and the sole heir to his family's wealth and corporation.
Humakbang ako palapit sa kaniya at halos magtama na ang aming mga tuhod. I reached for his hand to lock the deal.
"Fine. I agree."
***
Don't forget to read Sole Mate: Rome by Imcrazyyouknow for Rome's POV!
