Ashes in the Dusk [CBS#4]

Chapter 10

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My mouth formed a big circle when Rahma and I slipped into the screen door. Pinaupo niya ako sa living room, tanaw ko ang kusina na itim na itim ang ceiling at ang dingding! Hindi ko na nakita ang frying pan, siguro'y inilubog niya sa sink. That part seriously needed a nice cleaning, pero mukhang hindi iyon ang priority ni Rajah ngayon.

Maingat ang pagpahid ni Rajah ng kung anong ointment sa bawat talsik ng mantika sa aking balat. His bushy brows were in deep frown, but his touches were all mellow. Nasa couch ako samantalang nasa harapan ko siya, nakaupo sa center table. Hindi pa rin sya nagbibihis. Wala rin muna yata 'tong pakialam sa sarili.

"Kailangang linisan yung dingding at ceiling sa kusina, Rahma!" sabi ko habang tinatanaw ang kusina, iniisip na kung paano tatanggalin ang mantsa roon.

I didn't receive an answer. He remained silent while treating the small wounds on my arms and hands.

"How do we remove those black stains? Kailangan ba ng brush? O..."

"Why did you do that? What were you doing?" mahina ngunit mariin ang kanyang boses.

Natigilan ako saglit. He wasn't looking at me and I sensed the frustration in him.

"I-I was cooking--"

"That was dangerous, Syntia! Paano na lang kung nasunog ang buong guesthouse? Wala ka talagang planong lumabas? You could've been suffocated by the heavy smoke!" Pumikit siya nang mariin, gumagalaw na naman ang panga.

Muli kong naalala ang itsura niya kanina. Hindi ako makapaniwala na marunong din naman pa lang mag-alala ang taong 'tong may pusong bato. His reaction was very epic, he was fumbling for words and he was undecided of what he was going to do to me.

Consumed by the memory, a chuckle glided out from my mouth.

"And you're just taking this all lightly, huh?" His stares were penetrating and dusky.

Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi nang mapansing hindi siya nagbibiro. Right, it was dangerous, but I was safe now! 'Tsaka mukhang hindi naman siya nahirapan sa pagpatay ng apoy? He didn't take long earlier.

Lalong nawala ang humor sa katawan ko nang lumipad ang mata niya sa may entrance ng guesthouse. The hardwood was still wet but not sloppy, it only darkened a little. Mukhang mas lalo pa siyang na-stress nang nakita ang mop doon kasama ang isang timba na may marumi nang tubig.

"You were cleaning?" He licked his lips as he cocked his head to one side, not even removing his dark gazes on me.

Nadepina ang dilim ng kanyang mukha sa makapal na kilay at mahabang pilik mata. His reddish lips turned glossy by the soft flick of his tongue on it. Ramdam ko ang init ng pisngi ko at ang panunuyo ng aking lalamunan.

"Uhm, yeah..." supposed to be!

"Mukhang hindi naman luminis ang paligid." suplado niyang turan sa kabila ng panunudyo sa boses.

Napasimangot kaagad ako. I was feeling proud of myself earlier because I thought that I did the chores properly. Tapos negatibo lang pala ang komento niya? Isa pa, sinadya ko naman talagang hindi tapusin kasi nga napagod ako sa kalagitnaan, 'di ba?

"Bakit nariyan ang mop?" kunot noo niyang tanong at tumayo. Nilapitan niya iyon.

Pakiramdam ko umuusok na ang pisngi ko. Mali ba? 'Yan ang ginagawa ng kasambahay sa amin! Inangat niya ang mop nang walang gamit na puwersa, mukhang magaan lang iyon sa kanya.

Tumayo ako, hawak ang mga daliri habang sinusundan ang reaksyon niya. He was like a strict professor, evaluating my project and searching for loopholes from it.