Fatal Attraction

Chapter 8

Muted daylight filtered through the bathroom shutters, and Savina didn't bother to switch on the light. She didn't have the nerve to examine herself in the mirror, and brightness would sharpen her pain. She had 'censored sensitive intel" when she'd told Brady she was fine. Pero ang totoo para talagang binabarina ang ulo niya sa sakit.

When the water streamed down from the shower, she stripped off her shoes and scrub pants. She slowly removed Brady's shirt and then hugged it to herself. Sininghot-singhot muna niya ang t-shirt nito ng ilang beses. Finally she resolutely dropped it to the floor, stripped off her undergarments and stepped under the shower.

Gusto sanang maiyak ni Savina sa pagkakataong iyon, subalit madali lang kasing mamumula ang ilong niya sa tuwing umiiyak siya. Baka mahalata pa tuloy ni Brady ang pag-iyak niya. She'd already behaved like an idiot in front of him today. Muntik na nga rin niyang isiwalat rito ang totoong nararamdaman niya para sa binata, at kung gaano siya nasasaktan tuwing umaalis ito na walang paalam.

She now pick up the body wash and shampoo she'd brought. The nurse had said she could shower if she didn't drench her wound, sealed with bandages. After scrubbing her blood-matted hair and sore body with fragrant honeysuckle body wash, she finally felt clean.

Bago lumabas ng banyo ay tinuyo muna niya ang kanyang buhok gamit ang dryer. Nakasuot naman siya ngayon ng kulay rosas na ternong pajama habang nakapaa siyang tumungo sa kusina. At nadatnan niya roon si Brady na nagluluto ng makakain nila.

"Just in time. Food's almost done." Anang binata nang agad siyang mapansin nito.

Napatango na lamang siya sa kanyang ulo. Hindi niya kasi akalain na mapapansin siya nito kahit pa nakatalikod ito sa kanya. Mahina rin naman ang mga yabag niya upang hindi siya mapansin nito.

Umupo na siya sa hapag at pinagmamasdan na lamang niya si Brady na nagluluto. She studied him, mouth watering. Hindi siya sa niluluto nitong ulam naglalaway ha, kundi sa mismong nagluluto nito. Aish, Savina. Ang halay na tuloy ng utak mo.

Brady's shoulders stretched his black T-shirt, his agile movements making toned muscles ripple beneath the fabric. His strong neck and biceps were deeply tanned. Cammo pants covered his long, lean legs and a primo male butt that was as gorgeous and hard-muscled as the rest of him. The pants fit just snugly enough to reveal that he'd followed his usual habit of going workout. Ibang-ibang na talaga si Brady sa batang kalaro niya noon. He really grew a strong and solid man.

Napalingon naman bigla sa kanya si Brady at nakasilay ang ngiti sa mga labi nito dahilan sa paglitaw ng magkabilang dimples nito sa pisngi. "Hungry?"

Napakurat-kurat tuloy siya sa pagkabigla. Thank goodness he couldn't read her mind. "Um..yes, I'm starving." Why couldn't she control her reaction to him? Masyado ba talaga siyang halata rito?

She just followed him to the table beside the windows, admiring his self-assured stride. The man was a walking lethal weapon, all smooth grace and dangerous competence. He put her plate on the table, seated her and went to the kitchen counter for the toast and juice.

She really couldn't afford to fall under his charismatic spell again. Twelve years ago, a few weeks after his father's murder, Brady had shattered her heart by leaving, unannounced to join the Army, and he only returned when he was twenty. The day after she declared her feelings towards him. But then he'd just turned his back and walked away. Marami talaga siyang naiyak sa mga panahong iyon, halos gabi-gabi sa kanyang pagtulog dahil palagi niya kasi itong maalala. But eventually, she'd pulled herself together, and tried to be enthusiastic about starting college.

Sa mga panahong nagpakitang muli si Brady ay tila ibang-iba na talaga ang pisikal na itsura nito. Maskulado na ang pangangatawan nito at mas lalo itong naging lalaki sa paningin niya. But he was like a different guy whom he used to knew before. Malaking-malaki na talaga ang ipinagbago nito. Nagkausap man sila nito pero tila iniiwasan naman siya nitong makausap. Hanggang sa muli na naman itong umalis na walang paalam.

Then, seven months ago, the man who'd murdered Brady's father all those years before had been found and finally brought to justice. The trial had visibly torn Brady apart. She had come to his house to comfort him. However, things got escalated, they nearly kissed and he'd rejected her, again. The next day he was gone, and her heart wounded, again and again.

Kahit pamilya nito sa mga panahong iyon ay hindi alam kung nasaan siya. Ang tangi nilang alam na naka indifinite leave ito sa SWAT. Nagpapatunay lang talaga iyon na ayaw ni Brady na pumasok sa isang relasyon.

Katulad nalang ngayon.

Ngunit nahuli niya ang lalaki na titig na titig sa mukha niya. Their glances locked, and heat ricocheted between them. Subalit ito rin naman ang unang nagbawi ng tingin at itinuon na nito ang atensyon sa plato nito.

Napabuga tuloy siya ng malakas na hangin kung kaya't natigilan si Brady sa pagkain. "Something wrong with the food?"

She stared, her fork suspended in midair. "It's great."

Tila tipid naman itong napangiti sa kanya at nagpatuloy na sa pagkain.

Mayleen Roque, mother of Brady, had made sure her boys wouldn't rely on women to cook, clean or do laundry. Brady's cooking reflected his personality, fearless and imaginative. He'd invented recipes more like biohazards than food. One had even exploded in the microwave. Bago kasi natuto si Brady na magluto ay marami muna itong sinunog sa bahay nila.

Lihim namang napatawa si Savina sa naiisip na parang sira, saka niya mabilis na tinapos ang pagkain.

Pinainom na rin siya ni Brady sa kanyang gamot at iginiya siya nito sa magiging silid niya raw.

"Wow!" She paused just inside the doorway. Ngayon palang kasi niya nakita ang kwarto ng bahay na iyon simula ng pagdating nila. Napahanga kasi siya sa disensyo ng kisame sa kwarto. It was floor-to-ceiling glass panels offered a 360-degree panorama of the river and woods. While an arched open doorway revealed an ensuite bathroom with decadent glass shower enclosure.

Brady flipped a switch and one glass wall opened to reveal the top deck, complete with whirlpool tub and high-powered telescope for star gazing. Mahilig kasi si Brady at ang ama nito sa astronomy. Sa katunayan nga, gabi-gabi niya itong nakikita noon mula sa terasa ng mga ito na nakatingin ito sa mahabang telescope na nakatuon sa kalangitan. Then Brady flipped another switch and a huge skylight in the roof opened.

"This is incredible!"

"Kami ni kuya Lance ang gumawa nito."

Hindi na siya dapat masurprisa pa. Brady had always been inventive and good with his hands.

"It's even better at night, when you're surrounded by stars." He said and stepped close behind her, supporting her with his big body.

She shivered under the erotic onslaught. His bed faced the river beckoned her in.

If only you were climbing into bed with me.

Hanggang sa bigla nalang dumilim ang paligid ng buong kwarto. Juicecolored! Malakas ba ang pagkakasabi niya no'n?

She half turned, then looked up at him. Brady's tender gaze met hers, his sensual mouth had a whisper. "Sweet dreams, Savina."

Nakaramdam tuloy siya bigla ng panghihinayang. Subalit mabilis niyang hinagip ang braso nito nang akma siyang tatalikuran nito. "Wag mo akong iwan na mag-isa dito, please!"

Ikinulong naman sa mga palad nito ang mukha niya. "Ligtas ka rito. Nasa labas lang naman ako." Anito at tuluyan na nga itong lumabas ng kwarto.

Yes, he's been near, but yet so far. That's the sad reality.

*****