Her Knight Till Night

Chapter 14

C.S. Statue by Lil Eddie

__Quiceleth's POV__

NAPANGANGA ako sa ice cream sa harapan ko, hindi ito kasing-laki ng nakita ko na halos ka-size ko na. Nakalagay lamang iyon sa isang malaking babasagin na bowl, sa sobrang laki niyon ay samo't-saring scoop ng ice cream ang nakikita ko.

"Ano 'to?" Tanong ko kay Monster na nakaupo lang sa tabi ko. Maging siya ay hindi makapaniwala sa ice cream na nasa harpan ko. "Monster!"

Yugyog ko sa kanya kasi natulala na siya. He looked in daze when finally he realized that I was calling him. In raised eye brows, he asked, "What is it?"

Tinuro ko yung pahaba na bagay na may itim at puting kulay na pa-twirl na nakapalibot sa stick.

"What do you call them?"

"Stick-O," He replied, taking another thing on top of the ice cream, he showed it to me. "And this one is a cookies," He picked a square like bread. The ozzing chocolate of it made my stomach complain violently, "And this one is a brownies, and the rest is another chocolate called Kisses, the liquid chocolate is called chocolate fudge...any questions?"

Tumango ako saka tinuro ang isa pang parang maliit na basket na kasing-laki ng plato. May laman itong mga pahaba na bagay, at ang pabilog na pagkain na may tinapay sa baba at taas. May mga onion at kamatis din sa loob n'on, may isang maitim na bagay naman akong nakikita na hindi ko alam kung ano.

"Oh, this one is potato," He picked a piece of the potato "But we call them french fries, and the other one is burger, it's good, try them,"

I grimaced upon looking at the weird thing. It looked dangerous to eat.

"No thanks, that's yours," I said, backing away.

"Is the customer ready?"

Napatingin naman ako sa isang babae na nag-serve ng ice cream sa akin.

"Is she ready for the 'Eat If You Can' challenge?"

"Wait, I'll explain it to her first," Monster said and looked at me. "Look here Brat. You can eat this for free...IF, if you can finish this before ten minutes is over. And if you can't I guess I'll be needing someone to take care of it."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "What?"

"Sabi ko pag hindi mo naubos iyan then, ikaw nalang ang ibibigay pambayad, since wala akong nadala ditong malaking halaga," Nagkibit balikat pa ito na parang wala pa dito ang sinabi.

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya at napanganga. Iiwan niya ako dito? Okay lang kung magiging maganda amg trato nila sa akin!

"W-what are they g-going to do to me if you will give 'me' to them?"

Lumapit siya sa akin saka ngumisi na parang may masamang balak sa akin.

"They're gonna rip all your organs out and sell them," He said in a low tone that gave chills through my spine.

Narinig ko naman ang pagtawa ng babaeng kaharap namin. Bakit parang pakiramdam ko ay pinagkakaisahan nila ako sa hindi ko malaman na bagay?

"Now, Brat, do you want to finish this before ten minutes is over or you want your organs taken out?"

Napasimangot ako sa sinabi niya sa saka mabilis na umiling ako bilang tugon.

He smiled, "Now, enjoy," He waved his hands towards the big bowl of ice cream, telling me to finally eat.

"On three," Sabi nung babae saka ito may nilabas na bagay at may kung anong ginalaw doon. "One...two...three!"

At iyon na nga, mabilis pa sa kislap ng aking mata na na kinuha ang kutsara at kumain na. Napatirik ang aking mata nang malasahan ang ice cream. At parang nawala sa isip ko na kailangan ko itong maubos bago mag-ten minutes ay tumatawa ako sa bawat dumadaloy ang natunay na cream sa aking labi.

Kumuha ako ng Stick-O at kumagat doon. Para akong nabuhay nang malasahan ang tamis n'on. Isinawsaw ko iyon sa ice cream at tinikman ang pinaghalong lasa ng Stick-O at ice cream.

Tumayo ako dahil hindi ko masyado abo't ang taas ng bowl pag nakaupo ako.

"What are you doing?!" Monster hissed, ignoring him I scooped a spoonful of ice cream, hoverin it inside my mouth.

Napatili pa ako mg bahagya ng gumuhit ang lamig sa aking lalamunan.

"Five minutes!"

Hindi ko na maalala kung bakit niya iyon sinabi, basta ang alamb ko ay naeenjoy ko ang pagkain ng ice cream.

"Slowly, eat slowly brat—" Natigilan siya sa pagsasalita nang mapatingin ako sa kanya.

Habang nakasubo sa bibig ko ang kutsara ay tinaasan ko siya ng magkabilang kilay, hinihintay na ituloy niya ang sinasabi niya kanina.

He didn't said anything as if he was struck for a moment, I saw his adam's apple moving up and down as he reached for something on the table. It's a tissue, his hands automatically moved to wipe the melted cream around the side of my lips and under my chin.

"Enjoy it, Brat," He said. His hands went under his chin as he just sat there just staring at me.

Nagkibit-balikat na lamang ako saka muling pinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

"Times up—"

"Not yet," I heard them talking.

"But sir—"

"I said not yet."

Tinignan ko naman si Monster na nakatingin lang sa akin. There were spark in his eyes that I can't understand. If eyes have meanings, why can't I determine one?

"I'll take care of it, just let her be," He tilted his head sideward, as if he is watching my every move.

Napaisip naman ako kung bakit niya ako tinititigan ng gano'n hanggang sa mapatingin nako sa ice cream. Hindi kaya...

Napasimangot ako saka kumuha ng isang Stick-O at nilahad sa kanya, bigla naman siya napatingin sa binigay ko.

"Why are you giving me that?"

"Just take it!" Sabi ko. "Did you know how much it took me just to give you one?"

Narinig ko naman ang mahina niyang tawa, "No, Brat, I'm fine with fries and burger."

Tinitigan ko siya na hindi man lang ginagalaw ang fries at burger na nasa tabi nito. Nagkibit-balikat na lamang ako saka kinagatan ang Stick-O na binibigay sa kanya.

PAGKATAPOS naming kumain ay naglakad-lakad muna kami. My stomach is stuffed, I need to push it down with a few walks.

Tulad ko ay tahimik lang siya, kanina pa kasi siya nawawalan ng imik after kong kumain. Speaking of that, he said that I won, and that it's a good thing that I they won't open me up and pull my organs out. Just the tought of it made me naseaus.

Napatigil ako bigla sa paglalakad nang may makita akong isang swing at ilang naglalakihang bagay doon na parang palaruan ng mga bata.

"I know, I know," Nagulat na na lamang ako nang biglang magsalita si Monster kahit hindi pa nga ako nakakalingon sa kanya.

Nakatingin na rin pala siya sa akin habang nakatigil na rin hindi kalayuan sa akin. Naglakad siya palapit sa akin at hinila na ako papunta gate kung saan ang etrance ng palaruan na iyon.

Kaunti na lamang ang mga naglalaro doon dahil alas-otso na ng gabi. Masaya kong nilapitan ang pakay kon kanina na pa. Ang swing.

Nagpa-swing swing ako ng marahan habang nakatingin ako sa ibaba. Si Monster naman ay nakaupo sa katabi kong swing at naka-steady lang siya.

"Hey, Brat," Napapitlag ako nang bigla na lamang niya akong tinawag.

Akala ko kasi na hindi na siya magsasalita pa. Nilingon ko yung kinaroroonan niya. Nakatingin lang siya sa ibaba, seryoso ang mukha nito at may gitla ang gitna ng mata nito.

"Am I hurting you?"

It's my turn nto get surprise. I stopped swaying the swim, gulping, I just continued without a word. I kinda hate that topic.

Narinig ko ang pagbuntung-hininga niya ng malalim. "Look, Brat, I know I am hurting you,"

Tumango na lamang ako saka kumapit sa chain na hinahawakan ko.

"You're a monster, since the day I met you, you never gave me the chance to be comfortable," I finally said.

"What?! Being around me disturbs you?"

Tumango ako muli. "You were something I haven't...seen," I slowly said, I don't know how to explain it since I can't pinpoint what it is.

He also looked confuse by what I said, it made me wonder how I could make him understand.

"Hindi ko maintindihan, talagang hindi mo pa ako nakikita kaya mukha akong kakaiba sa iyo, but that should be the same with Archiel and to other people you just met. Believe me, Brat, there are other people in this world that can make you feel like I made you feel...but I'm dangerous..."

Hindi ko ma narinig ang huli niyang sinabi dahil pabulong na lamang iyon. Ngunit hindi ko na lamang tatanogin iyon.

"I'm sorry by the way," He said, it sounded like he just pulled it out of his lungs. "for treating you like you're not a princess these past few days. And also for scolding at you, and making you cry, and...kissing you...and kissing you again."

Namula ako bigla sa huli niyang sinabi. Hindi na lamang ako nagsalita at muling tumango para sabihin sa kanya na okay lang iyon.

"But I just can't help it...you know...doing it to you, the last part," Ramdam ko na parang tumaas na hanggang sa ulo ko ang init, kung posible nga iyon.

"Y-you're rather frank," I observed.

He laughed softly, "At times, yes, especially with a moment like this."

Lumingon siya sa akin kaya nahuli niya akong nakatingin sa kanya. Nagtama ang mata naming dalawa.

Ngunit siya din ang unang umiwas na parang napaso sa ginawa naming pagtitigan.

"Those eyes...they made me loose myself, that's why I can't help but to act that way around you." Hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi niya. Hindi naman sa malabo iyon sa pandinig ko kasi mahina, malabo lang lasi ang ibig niyang sabihin. "Again, I'm sorry, I just have problem with my anger."

"So you're angry at me?" Nabiglang tanong ko sa kanya.

"Yeah, I know why...but I don't know the reason,"

"Is there a difference?" I asked, confused of the words he used, the 'why' and 'reason'.

"You have to look closely to realize that those two have differences. Confusing those two are, sometimes you switch their places, sometimes they are one, sometimes it's better to treat them differently..." He suddenly trailed off. "Wait are we suddenly discussing about a two different word in a playground?"

Natigilan ako bigla sa kanyang sinabi hanggang sa napangiti na rin ako at mahinang napatawa.

"You have a nice laugh," Nakita kong tumayo siya sa pagkakaupo niya sa swing at ang bigla niyang pagpunta sa harapan ko.

Tiningala ko siya na inaalis niya ang kanyang suot na may hood at maingat na pinatong iyon sa aking balikat. He was busy fixing the clothes on my shoulder while I can't take away my gaze at him when he is this close.

I didn't attempt to look away from him, even when his eyes finally settled to look at me, catching me gazing at him.

"You don't understand what is happening, right?" He said rather unconciously, as if he is lost, and stuck looking at me.

"Because they're new to me," I admitted.

His lips lit up on one side, giving me a slight smile. He breathed, I noticed that the pace were the same as mine. Whatever it is, it isn't normal.

"Can you do me a favour?" He suddenly asked. His eyes not leaving my lips. "Close your eyes."

I hesitated for a while if I should follow him. Hanggang sa pinikit ko na nga ito at hinintay ko ang gagawin niya. Naramdaman ko ang palad niya na dumantay sa aking pisngi. Napapitlag ako ngunit nanatiling nakapikit ang aking mata.

Maya-maya ay nakaramdam ako ng mainit na hangin na humihipo sa aking mukha. I realized, it was his breath.

Again, there was a familiar twist inside my stomach, the butterflies inside it made my knees tremble. My heart drumming inside in another tune. I waited, then I felt something touch my lips.

It was his lips.

Hindi katulad noong una na marahas at madiin. Ngayon ay banayad at magaan lamang. Parang takot ang mga labi nito na maging marahas sa paglapat sa aking labi.

The feeling was great, everything seem to melt away, and all I can focus is on him, his lips that is slowly making it's way through my solitude. It became my haven, and I just want to feel it's security.

Naramdaman ko ang paghiwalay niya sa aking labi. When he opened his eyes, I saw millions of meaningful sparks, the thing is I can't name them.

"Sweet..." He said, almost delirious. His thumb traces my lower lip gently.

Muli siyang lumapit sa akin, ngunit hindi niya nilapat ang labi niya sa akin. Tinitigan niya muna ako sa mga mata, nanghihina ako sa titig niya.

"Don't faint on me, Quiceleth,"

I don't know why but it felt good hearing him saying my name.

Kumapit ako sa kanyang balikat nang muli niyang sakupin ang aking labi. Ang magkabila niyang kamay ay nasa pisngi ko, marahan niyong pinapagapang ang daliri sa aking pisngi.

He seems okay...today.