The Fall of Alexander the Great (Monteverde Series 3)

14

Chapter Fourteen

"Can you fix my tie for me, love?" tanong ni Alexander bago niya ito iniabot sakin. Inirapan ko muna siya bago tumingkayad para iikot ito sa leeg niya. Kaninang umaga pa kami gising at nakapag-almusal na rin dahil nagluto ako ng agahan. Ipinagbalot ko rin siya nito para may baon siya sa office.

Seryoso ako sa pag-aayos ng kurbata habang siya naman ay seryosong nakatingin sa akin. Nang hindi na ako makatiis ay tinapik ko ang balikat niya. "I might melt."

"Can't help but stare at the beauty in front of me," he replied using a teasing tone.

"Malandi."

"Ikaw lang naman ang nilalandi ko," he shot back. "Sa'yo lang ako ganito."

Lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko kahit pinangaralan ko na ito kagabi pa lang na tumino. My stubborn heart does not know how to listen. Every damn time Alexander is near me, it goes berserk. Para bang nakakalimutan ng puso ko na no strings attached ang set up namin.

"There." I patted his chest and smiled. Umupo ako sa tokador at nagsimulang mag-ayos ng sarili. Tapos na akong maligo at magbihis, kaya light makeup na lang at kumpleto na ang ayos ko. Mula sa salamin ay nakita kong nakatingin siya sa akin. Pilit kong ipinagsasawalang bahala ang tinging 'yon, kahit na para bang nangungusap ang mga mata niya.

"Why won't you tell me where you're going?" tanong niya habang naglalagay ako ng blush on sa pisngi. Ginamit ko ang daliri para pantayan ito, bago ako sumagot.

"I don't want to."
"Are you going on a date with Jared?"

"No!" I rolled my eyes heavenwards. "I'm not going on a date with Jared. Or anyone."

"Bakit ayaw mong sabihin sa 'kin? Tapos ayaw mo pang ihatid kita."

"Alexander, hindi kita asawa. Nakiki-live in ka na nga sa condo ko, tapos pati ba naman personal life ko gusto mong ungkatin?" My temper skyrocketed. "I need privacy."

"Look, if it upsets you that much then I won't press you anymore for answers." He blew out a sigh of resignation before he straightened his suit. "I'm sorry." He sounded calm and sincere that I could not help but feel bad about the sudden outburst. His presence is all over the room and I somehow feel suffocated by it all of a sudden. This morning, I woke up feeling a weird sense of fear that he has successfully infiltrated my life.

I agreed to this set up thinking I won't be even the tiniest bit affected about him. But here we are, living under one roof, just because I didn't have the courage to say no when he said he wanted to live with me.

I have never liked anyone as much as I like him.

And that scares me.

And I hate him for it.

Even though I'm the one at fault.

"I'm sorry for being a bitch. " Napabuga ako ng hangin. "Maybe I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

He nodded. Lumapit siya sa akin at hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat ko. We were staring at each other's eyes in the mirror and I couldn't avert my gaze. When I could no longer keep up with the intensity of those eyes, I looked away.

"You'll be late for work, you should probably go."

"I don't want to go to work and leave you like this. I'd rather stay here and wait until you're back from where you're off to."

"Alexander!" sita ko. "The company needs their CEO today."

He gave me one of those rare smiles and I just wanted to touch his face and hug him. I held myself back. "Fine, love. You're the general." He made a mock salute. When I thought he's going to leave me alone, he surprised me by scooping me up from the bed and twirling me around.