Marked by Salvatore

Chapter 10

"Manang, I have to go! hindi na po ako kakain medyo tinanghali ako ng gising kaya baka sa school na." Nagmamadali kong paalam sa aming kasambahay.

"Ay nako ganoon ba? Sana pala ipinack ko nalang ito ng sa gayon ay makain mo sa school." Nag aalalang sagot nito.

"Don't worry about that Manang sa school nalang ako kakain."

Nalate ako ng gising dahilan ng pagliban ko sa breakfast, ng dahil sa lakad ko kagabi. I was so tired that I over slept.

"Si dad po manang?" I ask.

Nilingon ako ni manang hindi pa din tinitigil ang pagliligpit sa dining table.

"Nako maagang umalis ang daddy mo nag mamadali din."

"Ganon po ba?" Sanay naman na ako kay daddy. Minsan naabutan ko siya dahil maaga din naman ako nagigising, ngayon lang talaga dahil tinanghali ako.

"Tapos ka na ba jan? ipahahanda ko na kay Pedring ang sasakyan."

"Mabuti pa nga po." Kinuha ko nalang ang aking bag at muling tinignan ang sarili sa salamin bago tuluyang lumabas.

Nang makasakay ako sa sasakyan ay dumiretso na ito palabas ng gate ng mansyon.

Kumalam na agad ang tiyan ko sa sobrang gutom. Kaunti lang ako kumain pero sanay ako kumakain ng agahan.

Hindi pa nakakabukas ng tuluyan ang gate namin ay agad ko nang kinausap si Mang Pedring, our driver.

"Manong, there's a cafe or panaderya jan lang halos sa may tapat ng mansion right?"

Tiningnan ako nito sa rare view bago nag salita.

"Opo, Ma'am. Gusto nyo po bang dumaan?"

Agad akong napatango sa tanong niya.

Sumang ayon naman ito at ng tuluyan nang mag bukas ang gate namin ay agad agad itong nag parking sa tapat ng panaderya.

It was an old panaderya here na maganda ang design. It looks so classy din naman at may kamahalan din ang benta. Napaka instagramable din ng place na ito.

Napabaling ako sa gilid ng cafe. In the shadows, hidden in a dark alley across the street from our house, a figure lurks. Wearing a plain hoodie and dark sunglasses, hood pulled low over his face.

It's Salvatore. Smoking quietly. Ang aga aga at naninigarilyo na agad siya. Well, late na ako pero maaga pa din no!

He was standing there as if he was waiting for something or maybe Someone.

Anong ginagawa nito dito?

Maybe coincidence baka madalas na iyan dito.

Napahawak ako sa aking tiyan ng muli nanaman itong kumalam. Balak ko pa sana itong kausapin perk dahil nga sa sobrang gutom na ay Nagmadali na akong pumasok sa loob para makabili ng tinapay.

I should have eat what manang is offering awhile ago. Titigil din lang naman pala ako dito.

"Good morning! welcome to Cafè Noir, what's your order?" An old woman asks me. She looks so foreign, muka siyang french. Siguro ay may lahi ito.

"Can I have two of this and one of this." Tinuro ko ang mga pastry na nagustuhan ko.

"Anything else?"

"That's all thank you." Agad akong nagbayad at nagmamadaling lumabas ng cafe.

"Good morning!" A familiar voice greeted me.

Bahagya akong napatigil sa gulat bago ito balingan.

"Go-good morning."

Akala ko ay nakaalis na ito. Tinitigan ako nito sa seryosong mga mata bago bahagyang binalingan ang hawak kong paper bag.

" Didn't think I'd find you here, did you?"

"Huh?"

Salvatore flicks the cigarette aside and pushes off the wall, towering over me even in broad daylight. His voice is low, rough—like he belongs to the night but refuses to let it go.

"Not exactly my scene... bakeries." He said. "But I do like watching people who steal from me." A slow smirk creeps across his face.

Bahagya pa itong lumapit muli sakin. Halos mapaatras ako sa ginawa nitong paglapit.

"You forgot something last night."

How did you know this place and why is he here? Hindi ko na iyon isinatinig pa. I looked at him and looked at our house in front of the cafe. The bakery is in the front of the mansion. Halos ang high way lang ang naglalayo sa mansion at sa cafe na ito. This might be a coincidence yeah right.

"I'm a pretty observant guy, doll."

Sagot nito na para bang nababasa niya kung ano ang nasa utak ko. His smirk deepens, his dark gaze drifting lazily from the bakery... to your mansion, and back to you.

"What did I forget huh?" Tanong ko sa nagtatakang tono.

He steps closer, closing the distance between me in two strides. He towers over me, and his voice is low, quiet but with an undercurrent of danger.

"And as for what you left... You really should be more careful with your belongings"

He holds up his hand, and in it, is a black silk scarf.

Agad namilog ang aking mga mata. This was mine.

"Oh my.. I didn't even know it was gone in my pocket." Sagot ko at agad na kinuha ang gamt.

"How did you get this? and what brings you here? how did you know this place."

Sunod sunod kong tanong hindi na mapigilan ang aking bibig.

"You left it at my place, remember? Nakalimutan mo yan nung pumasok ka sa mansion ko para gawin ang bagay na gagawin mo."

Mutikan na mawala sa isip ko ang pag pasok sa mansion nito. Gosh baka kaya siya nandito dahil galit baka nagalit ko siya.

"For safety purposes." Ayon ang sagot niya nung tinanong ko siya kung bakit kailanganin niya nang kilalanin si Hailey.

"Ha? bakit naman?"

" Your friend is crazy." maikli nitong sagot.

Ang sama.

"Hindi naman ang sama mo!"

Tiningnan lang ako nito na parang hindi sang ayon sa sinasabi ko.

" Fine she might be crazy sometimes pero minsan naman ay hindi and besides she's still my friend. I made that group also so napalapit na sila saakin. At important sila saakin and it was her dying wish. I can't neglect her."

"'Kawawa', sickly… You saying this friend of yours is sick?"

" Yes, but she didn't tell us what kind of sakit she has." I continue explaining "She even asked me if she can get the Queen B thing in our school noong simula palang bago niya ako utusan na sundan ka, like i didn't even call myself like that they call me that. I just don't want to lose our friendship."

"Queen B?" He repeats, leaning back against the counter with a scoff. He crosses his arms over his chest, eyeing me with something between disbelief and mild amusement.

"Sounds like some high school bullshit." He shakes his head, letting out a scoff.

"You're word!" I said.

Dahan dahan naman itong umayos at mukang narealized ang tinutukoy ko.

"But if she's got you running around doing crazy things? That's not friendship." His eyes lock on mine. "That's control."

"I don't know what it is anymore.. but since I explained it, Can I go home now my drivers are waiting for me outside. My dad would be mad."

He smirks, clearly not at all convinced by your 'title' nonsense. But as his gaze drifts out bahagyang nakipagusap sa mga taunan niya gamit ang mga mata. When I think he already got the answer he raises an eyebrow.

"Huh. The princess needs a driver. Must be nice living such a pampered life, huh?" His eyes flick back to my eyes.

"Ofcourse, Hindi ako marunong may drive!"

"Yeah. Go on then. Your carriage awaits."

Maglalakad na sana ako ng mapansin na ang dami na pala niyang mga tauha na naandoon.

Kinabahan tuly ako. Muka panaman silang mga creepy guys.

"Hey hindi mo ba ako ihahatid outside." Halos pabulong ko iyong sabihin para lang hindi madinig ng mga tauhan niya.

Tiningnan niya ako sa tamad na mga mata. As if he's so done with me.

"Ano?" Tanong nito.

"Your men are scary kaya, what do you want me to do walk alone? baka mamaya itapon nalang nila ako sa ilog gaya ng sabi mo kanina. At saka bisita mo ako. Dapat hinahatid palabas ang bisita dahil ayon ang tama."

He rolls his eyes—but there's a hint of amusement there, like he's finding this entire encounter increasingly entertaining.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, and for the record hindi kita inivite dito sa bahay kaya hindi kita bisita. Mas ma consider pa siguro kita as a trespasser."

Halos malaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi nito. He pushes off the counter, gesturing for me to lead the way toward the door. He follows behind me. Bahagya ko itong nililingon para masigurado kung nanjan pa siya baka mamaya iwan nalang ako dito.

"And for the record? I ain't doing this because I'm 'nice'."

"Yes, you are!" I said smiling at him.

"Damn it." He cursed.

"Hey your word!" suway ko dito.

He reaches the door before me, pulling it open with a bit more force than necessary.

"After you"

He smirks as I pass by, his eyes following me with a mix of dark amusement and curiosity. As I step outside and towards the waiting car, he leans casually against the door frame, lighting another cigarette. The smoke curls around him like a sinister haze, and he blows it out slowly, his gaze never leaving my form.

"Hey." He calls after me just before I reach the car, "One more thing."

"What?"

He takes another slow drag of his cigarette. His eyes are unreadable in the dim light, but there's a hint of challenge in his voice.

"If you're gonna be breaking into my place again—"

He pauses, his gaze locking onto mine.

"Next time? Leave the camera at home. I don't like being stalked. It's... distracting."

Sabi nio habang pinaglalaruan ang sigarilyo sa kamay. Bahagya akong nag pagpag ng kamay sa hangin dahil medyo naamoy ko na iyon. Nakita ko naman siyang inilayo saakin ang sigarilyo.

"If I break into your place again I don't want to see that cigarette." Sabi ko at itinuro ang sigarilyo na itinapon niya sa gilid kahit hindi pa ito ubos.

"And.. maybe have some water or food. But I think It might take long."

Dagdag ko. Habang inaayos ang sarili sa loob ng sasakyan.

Wow at mukang may plano pa akong bumalik ha.

Sinarado niya ang pintuan ng makasakay na ako sa sasakyan, dahan dahan umandar ang sasakyan at nagmamadali ko naman binuksan ang pinto ng may maalala.

I show him his underwear that I get from the laundry, It's clean I guess. Bago kasi ako dumiretso sa kwarto niya kanina ay nakita ko ang laundry basket nito at kinuha ang bagay na makukuha ko. Sa pagmamadali ay underwear pala niya ang nadukot ko. I even laughed and put the car widow up pero bago pa ito tuluyan masara ay hinarang niya ang kamay niya dito.

He stares in disbelief, eyes widening as I hold up his underwear. He stares for a split second, his jaw almost dropping, and then he's crossing the distance between me in two strides. He yanks his boxers from my hand, his eyes narrowing.

"Hey—where'd you get those?"

His voice is low, a growl rumbling through his chest. His eyes rake over my face, searching for any hint of a lie.

"In the laundry basket.Bago ako tuluyan pumasok sa kwarto mo" Inagaw ko muli ang boxers nito. It would be good if mabibigay ko ito kay Hailey. Baka tumigil na iyon.

Parang may bumbilya na nag pop up sa ulo ko dahil naisip koyon ang talino ko.

"You cannot get it bye...."

Paalam ko bago sumenyas na paandarin na ang sasakyan. He watches my car speed off, the city lights flickering across his face as the engine fades into the distance.

"As for how I found the place... let's just say I know people who know people. And they owed me a favor. It's not that hard to find someone when you have connections."