Crystal Snow (ELYU SERIES #1)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Keys

"Gawin mo na kasi, matalino ka naman. Kaya mo na yan or tawagan mo si kuya mo at magpatulong ka na lang. Pag-tapos mo na pakopya ako." kumbinsi sa akin ni Gia. Her suggestions are really not helping.

"Eh hindi nga ako nakikinig nung diniscuss to. Tsaka math kaya to. Kuya Ice is probably busy or sleeping already. Ayokong makaistorbo sa kanya." sagot ko naman. 

It's already past midnight and here we are, still talking about our Math assignment. Friday night kaya naman malaya kaming magpuyat ngayon.

"Duh girl, hindi naman iisa kuya mo. Pareho naman silang matalino." she said probably rolling her eyes too.

"Kuya Rain is, I don't know." sabi ko habang naglalakad papuntang kama.

"He's probably on his gig, dipa ba siya nagtext sayo?" tanong nito. I heard her munching something. Kumunoot ang noo ko dahil dito.

"Are you eating?" napa-upo pa ako sa kama dahil doon. Her, eating something way past midnight is not good for her health.

"Err, you heard that? I'm hungry kasi. Tsaka Nova lang naman." I sighed in defeat at her answer.

Moments after, we decided to end the call and probably sleep na. But knowing Gia, her bad habits tuwing weekends, hindi yun matutulog agad. She transform into vampire, gising sa gabi tulog sa umaga.

I was about to sleep when my throat feels dry. Inabot ko ang pitsel na nakapondo sa side table ko ng mapansing wala na itong laman.

I am lazy to go downstairs kaso naiinom na talaga ako, kaya no choice.

I am wearing dolphin shorts in creamy white and white sleeveless as my sleepwear today.

Malamig sa labas kaya I decided na patungan na lang ang suot ko ng white silk robe. I just let my long and wavy hair na nakalugay. When I pass the mirror, I look like a white lady.

I am humming River Flows in You habang binabagtas ang hallway patungo sa hagdanan.

My cellphone was charging kaya iniwan ko na lang muna ito, hindi naman masyadong madilim kaya okay lang. Bukas ang dimlights and the moonlight was enough already.

Malapit na ako sa kusina ng mapansin kong may may gumalaw. I stop humming and pinakiramdamang maiigi ang paligid. Someone is inside the kitchen and I don't know who! Panic consume my system because first, hindi maaring si Nanay Matilda ito, it's past midnight already and she is in her deep slumber.

Second, malayo ang sunod na bahay sa amin kaya naman wala akong pwedeng mahingan ng tulong, I left my phone upstairs. I approached the figure silently.

Nakakita ako ng walis tambo sa tabi ng vintage vase ni Nanay kaya naman ito na lang ang kinuha ko for self defense. Dahan-dahan akong lumpit dito ngunit wala akong nakitang tao.

The refrigerator was open but the person is gone. Dahan-dahan akong lumapit  para sana tignan nang impit akong napasigaw because someone grab my waist and pinned me facing the kitchen counter.

"Don't shout." said a deep raspy voice. His breath fan my face as he whispered those words to my ear.

Shock about what happened hindi na ako naka-alma nung kinuha niya ang aking mga kamay at mahigpit na hinawakan, both of them are behind.

"Who the hell are you? Paano ka nakapasok?" I asked instead. Pinilit kong makawala sa kanyang pagkakahawak pero no avail.

"I'll let you go, but promise me don't shout. I don't want to disturb the whole house," he said.

He move fluidly, lumipat siya sa aking harapan kung nasaan ang liwanag, he block it by his face and use his other hand to move my side hair that blocking my face.

"Keys." he sensually answered. I could feel that he was staring at me intently. I want to see his face too but too afraid to move an inch.

"Wha-at"? I stummered. Ilang pulgada na lamang ang pagitan ng aming mga mukha. He moved again.

Ngayon niluwagan na niya ang pagkakahawak sa akin pero lumapit uli ito, dahil dun mas lalo kong naamoy ang kanyang pabango.

He smelled nice, like a fresh wood with a hint of chocolate. At kung ibabaling ko ang aking mukha pakanan, what he said would probably happen. Pumikit ako dahil dito.

"The door was locked. And I used keys to open it." He explained.

Gaga.

Keys as in susi, hindi kiss na halik. The way he said kasi. Gosh.

Pumikit ako ng mariin ng mapagtanto kung anong ibig niyang sabihin.

Namula ako sa naisip ko. May papikit-pikit pa akong nalalaman. 

Thinking that my abductor or whatever this man is going to kiss me. I tried to peek at his face but he turned around and left me.

"You must be Nanay Mathilda's daughter." He said as he hide from the shadows. Humarap ako sa kanya at nakitang nakasandal na siya sa pader.

"You haven't answer my question. Sino ka?" tanong ko ulit sa kanya. Gulat man ako na kilala niya ako sa maling impormasyon ay di ako nagpa-apektado.

"You'll know tomorrow, your nanay will tell you," he answered. Pansin ko kanina pa ito salita ng salita ng ingles.

I ask him in Tagalog but he always answered in English with an accent pa. I eyed him suspiciously. He is tall, approximately 5'9. He is wearing black clothes kaya he is well hidden sa pwesto niya.

"Bakit hindi ngayon? Bakit si Nanay pa?" I crossed my arms and waited for his answer. He debated a bit and scratch the back of his head as if contemplating.

"Because your Nanay is better at explaining the situation than me. Sorry if I woke you up, I am just hungry and I haven't eaten all day because I can't eat flight meals," he explained.

Gone is the wild beast na ready to eat his victim kanina. He turned to something soft and kind-hearted goldfish. I am contemplating something nung nagsalita muli ito.

"I heated up a camomile tea, and drink that before going back to bed. That will help you calm down, I think you need it more than me." he pointed to the mug beside me. Tinitigan niya muna ako ng ilang minuto, pagkatapos nun ay umalis na ito.

He closed the refrigerator and then strode off to the shadows and left me dumbfounded. Tumingin ako sa mug na tinuro nito at kitang kita pa ang usok na umaangat dito.

Tinitigan ko muna ito at pinag-iisipan kung iinumin ba ito. Pagkaraan ng ilang minuto ay hinawakan ko ito at inangat para damhin ang init.

I didn't notice earlier that I'm trembling too much and my heart is beating so fast.

The warmth of the tea calmed me a bit and my dry throat feels dehydrated. Ngunit kahit ata nakainom na ako at guminhawa na ang pakiramdam, a strange feeling lingers.

Ang rupok ko naman para magpahalik sa kanya, bakit ang tanga ko sa part na yun. Is it because of his scent? His raspy voice? Or the way he whispered behind me? At bakit somewhat I trust him?

He's a stranger but I let him go. Huminga ako ng malalim at uminom muli. The tea is doing it's wonders, unti-unti na akong kumakalma. 

Inubos ko muna ang tsa-a bago napagdesisyonang umakyat. The lights on the left hallway is on and that's the way leading to the guestrooms and the library.

Nung bumaba ako ay nakapatay ang mga ito, the man is probably in the guestroom. Bisita ni Nanay? How did he knew me? So many questions but no one can answer me right now. Tinignan kong muli ang hallway. Oh well, let's see tomorrow.

Let's find out who you are, Mr. Stranger.

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