Ashes in the Dusk [CBS#4]

Chapter 9

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I was never this satisfied and giddy. The extent of my hatred for Sugriva wasn't definitely beyond me, but for a moment, I forgot about it. Bukod sa bundok na natanaw mula sa dining area ng guesthouse, napagtanto kong may isa pa palang nakakaaliw na tanawing pagmasdan sa lintik na probinsyang ito.

Rajah's azure eyes, mimicked the dangerous and mysterious color of the deep, blue sea. Despite the frightening landscape, I still wanted invading it... perhaps it was because of its risky look and I was the type of a girl who welcomed darkness by a warm embrace.

For some reason, I forgot the dirty plan I had in the mind.

The desire of escaping from this unreasonable exaltation no longer flared hot as before. There was something in his dusky disposition that pushed away the primary reason why I wanted to annoy him so bad until he reached the very last drop of his patience.

"I'm hungry," parinig ko sa kanya nang natanaw ang pamilyar na balkonaheng gawa sa kahoy.

Hindi siya sumagot, diretso pa rin ang titig sa daan na parang may atraso iyon sa kanya. Mahigpit ang hawak niya sa manibela at mukhang mas tumigas pa ang panga. He still seemed pissed. This wasn't the first time I frustrated him, but this was the first time I felt like I didn't want to take his frustration seriously.

"Rahma, you see, I know that we don't get along with each other very well. Alam ko ring napipilitan ka lang na dalhin ako rito."

Nilingon ko siya na mas naging delikado ang timpla ng mukha. Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi para pigilan ang ngiting gustong kumawala. I dramatically sighed and reclined my back on the seat.

"Maiintindihan ko kung ibabalik mo na lang ako sa site--"

"Hindi ka babalik." mariin at pinal niyang saad sabay parke ng truck sa gilid.

"But you look unhappy with my presence..." nakanguso kong saad, halata pa rin ang paglalaro sa buwas.

He hissed and leered at me. "Shut it, stop playing around you damned girl."

Kumawala na ang hagikhik ko nang buksan niya ang pintuan sabay padabog na lumabas. He was hot! Inilang hakbang niya lang ang hagdan ng guesthouse gamit ang mahahabang binti. Napasimangot ako nang hindi niya man lang ako pagbuksan ng pinto! This was always his hobby.

I understood that he was not my driver and opening the door for me was also mandatory. Nadidismaya lang ako na isa siya mga lalaking tuluyan nang nilukob ng modernisasyon, na simpleng pagbukas lang ng pinto para sa babae, kinalimutan na.

Lumabas ako bitbit ang sling bag at sinipa ang pinto ng front seat para maisara. I felt satisfied when I noticed the the trace of my boots' spike on the door. Isinabit ko ang sling bag sa aking leeg at umakyat sa hagdan. Bukas na rin ang pinto.

I looked around and I still couldn't believe the neatness of his place. Siya ba ang naglilinis dito? O baka naman may pumupunta parati rito para ipaglinis siya? His women, perhaps? Ang dami niya nun!

Dumiretso ako sa couch at hinagis ang aking sling bag sa isang upuan. Natanaw ko ang malapad niyang likod sa kusina, hula ko'y magluluto na. It was past eleven and my stomach was screaming for a food.

Hinubad ko ang aking sapatos at humiga sa couch, idenekwatro ko ang mga paa. Inunan ko rin ang aking mga braso.

"What are you cooking, Rahma? Puwedi ba kong mag-request ng ulam?" balewala kong saad habang nakatingin pa rin sa ceiling.

"What do you like to have?" malamig niyang sagot. Kahit hindi malakas, dinig ko pa rin.

"Fried chicken sana! Na-miss ko yung lutong bahay talaga na ulam." sabi ko nang naalalang may hilaw na manok siya sa refrigerator noong nakaraan.