A Love Like This

Chapter 02

Tinitigan ko ang sarili sa salamin, a small, satisfied smile tugged at my lips. I brushed my long natural wavy hair and I applied a glossy coat of lip gloss, just enough to give my lips that subtle shine. Perfect.

Habang inaayos ko ang sarili, napatingin ko sa kaliwang binti ko. The faint scratch from earlier was still visible, I bent down and slightly ran my fingers over it. I did not bother treating it when I got home, nawala rin naman agad ang kirot kaya hinayaan ko na lang.

The cold wind blew my hair. Hinayaan ko itong madala ng hangin habang masayang tinatahak ang tamang lugar. I was utterly fascinated by the view, kahit na maraming malalaking bato sa bandang ito ay maganda parin, pwede rin naman na dito ako mag swimming pero mas gusto ko doon sa kabila. Pumunta ako sa mababaw ang tubig at batuhan, may nakita akong iilang sea glass kaya naman na-engganyo ako na mag hanap pa, I also kept an eye out for interesting shells, oddly shaped stones, anything that sparked my curiosity.

Maingat kong nilakad ang malalaking bato, nakikita ko na ang malaking mansyon sa hindi kalayuan hudyat na malapit na ako but no matter how slowly I walked, no matter how carefully I placed each foot, I still slipped. Halos mapamura ako nang makitang nadagdagan ang kanina kong mga gasgas, mas malala pa ngayon dahil ramdam ko ang hapdi. My back hurts, tumama din sa bato. Nakakainis naman!

I blew on my sore palm and stood up, naiiyak na. Nabitawan ko ang mga nakuha kong sea glass kaya hinayaan ko na, parang ayaw ko na tumuloy! Maybe it was because of my sandals or maybe it was just me who had the problem.

I took a deep breath as I made it past the large rocks. I sat down, took off my offending sandal, and buried my toes in the sand. The salty air filled my lungs, and the endless blue of the sea calmed my spirit.

"What happened?" I was startled by the sudden voice behind me. His voice was deep and warm, even his voice was hot! Pansamantala ko tuloy nakalimutan ang mga hapding natamo dahil sa pag punta ko dito. I looked up, my vision still swimming slightly from the impact. A figure stood silhouetted against the dappled sunlight filtering through the palm tree. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and radiated an almost tangible energy. My breath hitched in my throat.

He looked like the man of my dream!

Sinundan ko ng tingin ang pag lakad niya sa harap ko. He knelt down, and gently grabbed my hand. Not abruptly, not possessively, but with a careful tenderness that somehow made my heart pound even harder. His gaze followed my arm, tracing the red lines of scratches, then down to my leg.

"I do," kunot ang noo niya akong tiningnan. What the hell am I thinking! Umiling ako at awkward na ngumiti.

Nakakabigla naman ang guwapo na 'to!

I like him! Unang tingin ko pa lang sa kanya ay alam kong gusto ko siya and I want him to want me!

My heart was beating fast, a hummingbird trapped in my chest. It was good that I was able to stop my hand from shaking from his sudden hold. His hand was warm and gentle. Para akong nakuryente!

Dumako ang tingin niya sa mukha ko. I cleared my throat, nakalimutan kong tinatanong niya nga pala ako. "I slipped on the rocks," I mumbled, avoiding his gaze. The waves crashed against the jagged coastline, a symphony of nature that usually calmed me, but now only amplified the awkwardness of the situation. "D-Do you have anything for my scratch? It's slightly bleeding."

He didn't reply immediately, his eyes scanning from my scrapped knee to the distant, treacherous rocks. Mukhang nag aalinlangan pa but then, with a sudden movement, he straightened up. "Come with me."

He turned and strode towards the sprawling mansion that dominated the clifftop. I hesitated, mesmerized by its imposing beauty. Grey stone walls rose high, softened by creeping ivy and the gentle caress of sea air. Through the tall, arched windows, I glimpsed antique furniture shrouded in a soft, golden light.

Marami ang halaman na madadaanan bago maka punta sa front door. Mabagal ang lakad ko dahil sa pagka mangha, ang ganda ng lugar na ito. Nakapunta na ako sa iba't ibang resort at masasabi ko talaga ang pagkakaiba ng bawat resort. Pero ang isang ito mukhang resort kahit hindi naman. In the foreground is a neatly manicured lawn, bordered by lush, green landscaping. Beyond the lawn, a low stone wall separates the garden from a raised terrace. On this terrace sits a white, classical-style structure with columns and large windows, which seems to be a gazebo or pavilion. The structure offers a view of the ocean.

He didn't wait for me, disappearing within the grand entrance. Feeling a flush of self-consciousness, I hobbled after him, umakyat siya sa grand staircase, I followed him through a labyrinth of hallways, each more opulent than the last, filled with portraits of stern-faced individuals.

Finally, he stopped before a heavy oak door. He pushed it open and gestured for me to enter.

"Kuwarto mo ba 'to?" I asked kahit na obvious naman ang sagot. This, it was clear, was his room. It was surprisingly spartan compared to the rest of the house. A hint of sandalwood hung in the air, a subtle and masculine scent.

He pointed at a leather armchair. "Sit." I obeyed, feeling like an intruder in his private sanctuary.

A beast in his paradise.

Nag bukas siya ng iilang cabinet at bumalik na may dala nang small first-aid kit. Hindi naman siguro masama na sumama ako sa lalaking ito kahit na hindi ko naman kilala, at dito pa sa loob ng kuwarto niya, ni hindi ako nag dalawang isip at ako pa talaga ang nag tanong kung mayroon siyang kahit ano! Guwapo naman siya at hindi ko maisip na may gagawin siyang kung ano sa akin, at kung may gawin man siya ay baka paluguran ko pa siya!

He knelt before me, his silence amplifying the intensity of his gaze. Ito nanaman ang pakiramdam, bumilis nanaman ang pintig ng puso ko pati bagang ko ay nanubig kaya naman napalunok ako.

"Ikaw lang mag-isa dito?"

Umiling siya.

"Nasaan sila kung gano'n?"

"Somewhere... Why?"

Umiling ako. "You look familiar, though? I don't know where I've seen you," ngayon ay tiningala niya ako at tinaasan ng kilay. "Do you perhaps know my brother?"

I think I've seen him before, sobrang pamilyar ng mukha niya pero hindi ko matandaan kung saan. Could he be... the man of my dreams? I chuckled quietly at the thought.

Kilala ko ang ilan sa mga kaibigan ni kuya, even though he lived alone in his condo in Manila, I sometimes go golfing with him when I'm bored at home. That's where I met some of his friends, ang iba naman ay matagal na niyang kaibigan kaya kilala ko na, but this man kneeling in front of me? I don't think I've seen him with my kuya kaya maaring hindi.

Tiningnan ko siya habang naka luhod sa harap ko. Suddenly, a silly image flashed through my mind, him kneeling like this, but instead of antiseptic, he's holding a ring, asking me to marry him. I giggle by myself. Seriously, brain?

He dabbed antiseptic on the scrape, and I winced. His touch was gentle, but firm. "Bakit doon ka dumadaan?" tanong niya. My god, his voice! Nababaliw na ata ako! My mind betrayed me again, imagining him calling me baby in that same voice, sobrang sarap siguro pakinggan!

I looked away, embarrassed. "U-Uh... I was looking for a sea glass, at iyon lang ang alam kong daan papunta dito." I confess, the words barely audible above the roar of the ocean.

He didn't say anything for a long moment, continuing to clean the scratch. Was he judging me? Did he think I was childish?

Finally, he straightened up, capping the antiseptic bottle. "Those rocks are dangerous," he said, his voice less sharp this time, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "You could have been seriously hurt."

He wrapped a bandage around my scratch, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary. "Next time," he said, his voice now soft, almost a whisper, "Tell your brother to take you here."

Tumango ako at pilyang ngumiti. "Thanks,"

He stood up, leaving me sitting in the armchair, my heart pounding in my chest. The scratch on my legs still stung, but it was nothing compared to the heat that was now radiating through me.

"Do you do massage? My back hurts." I said joking. But I wouldn't really mind if he said yes. I tried to shake off the thoughts but my brain had already running wild, his hands, his touch... napalunok ako.

"Ang dumi ng isip mo," I muttered to myself under my breath, but I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks.

He raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"

"Nothing!" I replied quickly, too quickly. Peke akong tumawa at tumingin kung saan, bumukas ang pinto, parehas kaming napatingin doon. Kuya Yuan appeared there, his forehead furrowed.

"What are you doing here?" aniya

"Why are you here, kuya?" Gulantang kong tanong imbis na sagutin siya.

When he didn't get an answer from me, his gaze snapped to the man standing in front of me. "Nero?"

"Nero," I echoed. It suited him. Strong, mysterious, a little bit like a wave.

"Your little sister slipped on a rock on the way here," he said, gesturing vaguely to the makeshift bandage strapped to my legs. "I just treated her." he smirk, tumango si kuya at nanliliit ang matang tiningnan ako.

"Wait, what?" tanong ko. "You know each other?"

Umiling-iling siya as if I'm joking. "Nakausap mo na si Adler? Estella wants to come here too. Pag bigyan mo na." baling niya sa lalaki, nag lakad sila palabas ng kwarto kaya sumunod ako. Nakining lang ako sa pinag uusapan nila, sinamantala ko iyon para pasadahan ng tingin ang mga muwebles at ang mga portrait doon. Mga lalaking hindi pamilyar, I can see na nasa lahi nila ang pagiging magandang lalaki.

Umupo ako sa malalaking sofa sa ibaba habang iniintay silang matapos sa usapan. Mukhang close naman sila sa isa't isa so how come I didn't know that man. Itinagilid ko ang ulo ko nanliit ang mga mata habang pinagmamasdan ang lalaki, mas matangkad siya ng siguro ay two inches kay kuya, and my kuya has a slightly deeper complexion than Nero, not too dark, just warm natural tone that suits him well. Nero, on the other hand, is fair-skinned, though not pale like paper, just a soft, light shade that stands out beside my kuya's sun-kissed skin. Mas maputi pa rin ako sa kanya kung pag-kukumparahin.

"So, his name is Nero." Nangingiti kong pagkausap sa sarili ko nang maka-sakay sa wrangler ni kuya.

"You've forgotten him?" he laughed, may nakakatawa ba?

"I'm sure I've never met him before," I tap my lips, thinking. Pamilyar siya pero hindi pumapasok sa isip ko kung saan ko siya nakita. "And if I had met him before, I'm sure I wouldn't have forgotten him. Hindi maaalis sa isip ko ang mukhang iyon, kuya."

"Kilala mo siya, I'm telling you."

"No, bakit mo ba pinipilit eh hindi nga." I rolled my eyes, annoyed.

"Whatever, and he treated you? In his room?" he chuckled.

"Yeah...ang gwapo niya!"

"Mas gwapo ako. Don't get fooled on his handsome face."

"I won't." I smiled while looking at my newly done nails na sinadya ko pa na ipagawa bago kami pumunta dito. Nilingon ko si kuya na seryosong naka tingin lang sa daan nang may maisip. "How long have you been friends? I haven't seen him with you?"

"He hasn't been here in the Philippines for quite some time." Tumango ako. So, he's been abroad all this time?

"Paano kayo nagkakilala kung gano'n?" Itinigil niya ang makina at bumuntong hininga bago tumingin sa akin, he opened his door at bumaba na. I did the same, nakasunod ako sakanya habang papasok sa loob.

"Bakit ba ang dami mong tanong?"

"Masama ba? I'm just curious! Come on, just answer my question, kuya."

He paused for a half second, looked over his shoulder. "Go back to him at siya ang tanungin mo, okay?"

Bago pa ako maka sagot ay pumasok na siya sa kwarto niya. I heard the door shut, umirap ako. I stood at the bottom of the stairs for a few seconds. E 'di 'wag niya! I can dig deeper on my own!

#ALLTChapter2