GAME OF FATE: love 'n tears

CHAPTER THREE

Palihim na pinagmasdan ni Mika ang mukha ng binata habang seryoso nitong nililinis ang sugat niya sa pisngi. Gusto niya sana itong pigilan but the view she's facing right now is too perfect.

Ngayon lang niya napansin, ang haba ng pilik-mata ng binata, ang kapal din ng kilay. Bagay na bagay sa kulay brown nitong mata. Even his nose is more pointed than hers.

Can't believe this man has a perfect face, she can't even spot a single pores or pimples. She wonders what kind product he use? Sayang, he's too dull. Or else she would have asked him to be her boyfriend next week.

''Keep it dry for three days. Make sure to change the dressing.''

Tumango lang siya at sumandal sa sofa.

Pinanood lang niya ang binata habang ibinalik nito sa first-aid kit box ang mga ginamit nito. He even wiped the blood in the glass table at tinapon sa trash can ang mga cotton na napuno ng dugo.

His hands moves too gentle. Talagang sinigurado nito na walang matitirang mantsa ng dugo sa mesa. Clean freak.

''Hey, is he always like that?'' tanong niya sa kasama nito sabay turo kay Cassidy using her chin.

Hindi ito sumagot. Nanatili lang itong nakayuko. Ni-hindi man lang nito tinanggal ang suot nitong facemask. Para tuloy siyang may nakakahawang sakit.

''Okay. That's enough. You don't have to clean my house just to persuade me,'' saway niya dito.

Mukha kasi itong walang balak tumigil. Baka pati ang mga damit niya na nagkalat sa sahig ay labhan na 'rin ng binata. Well, hindi naman ganito palagi kakalat ang bahay niya. Sadyang wala pa lang siya sa mood maglinis.

''You're Jia's cousin. So, are you also a doctor?''

Nagsalin siya ng tubig sa baso at uminom.

''No, I ran a shop,'' tipid nitong sagot at umupo sa tabi ng kasama nitong lalaki.

''Shop? What shop?''

''Violin.'' Muntik na niyang maibuga ang ininom niyang tubig sa gulat dahil sa sinabi nito.

''Violin? You're a violin maker?'' Pinasadahan niya ito ng tingin.

She thought, he's a doctor or a teacher. She didn't expect, he's a violin maker. Sabagay, he look just like a wood. Boring. Lifeless. But he's kinda interesting.

''I'm sure your shop can makes a lot of money. Why do you need to live with me?''

''It does pero hindi ako ang nangangailangan ng matutuluyan. It's him,'' sabay turo nito sa katabi'ng lalaki na nanatili pa 'ring walang-kibo.

''Anong ibig mong sabihin? It's not you, but him?'' pasigaw niyang tanong.

''Then, since you have a house why don't you just let him live with you? Why do you still need to..''

''It's inconvenient.''

''Inconvenient?'' Hindi maiwasang mapatawa ni Mika ng pagak.

''And you think it's convenient for me?'' bakas ang sarcastic sa boses niya.

''That's not what i mean. Ang ibig kong sabihin--''

''Okay. I get it. So, who is he? Your secret lover?'' pabiro niyang tanong. Bigla naman nagbago ang expression ni Cassidy.

''He's a friend. Overall, he just need to live here. Ako ng bahala sa mga pagkain niya at gastusin. You don't need to worry.''

Hindi alam ni Mika kung matatawa ba siya o hindi. The looks on his face is too serious. It feels like he's handing his wife to her.

''Okay.''

''Okay? You mean you agree? Akala ko hindi ka papayag-'' she smirked.

''In one condition, you'll need to clean this house every week.''

''Huh?''

''Nakita ko kasi kanina na mukhang sanay kang maglinis. Kaya, I'll assign this task to you. If you think it's too much then-''

''I'll do it. Ayoko 'ring mamatay ang kaibigan ko dahil sa baho at dumi ng bahay na 'to,'' may diin nitong sagot. She rolled her eyes.

Kung makapagsalita ang lalaking 'to para namang ang dumi-dumi ng bahay niya. Isang buwan lang naman siyang hindi nakapaglinis.

''May sakit ka ba? Bakit hindi mo tanggalin 'yang maskara mo?'' baling niya sa kasama nito.

Tumingin ito sa kanya, sunod kay Cassidy. Tila ba nagtatanong ang mga mata nito kung makapagtiwalaan ba siya o hindi.

Anong akala ng batang 'to, isa siyang masamang tao? She's so pretty and her body is in a perfect curve. Ang daming lalaking naghahangad sa kanya. Anong karapatan nitong pagdudahan siya?

Magpasalamat nga ito at pumayag siyang tumira ito sa bahay niya. Kahit na para din ito sa kanya. Takot niya lang kay Jia, tiyak hindi 'yon titigil kakahanap ng mapapangasawa niya. She's only 27, what's the rush?

''He's Haru Nagare, he'll be staying here for 2 months,'' pakilala ni Cassidy.

''Nagare? He's a japanese?''

''Half-japanese.'' Tinanggal nito ang suot nitong face mask. Her jaw almost dropped. Not because of his looks but because of disappointment.

Akala niya isa itong artista o kaya may nakakasilaw na kagwapuhan pero ngayong nakita na niya ito. Nevermind. It's better for him to wear the mask.

Biro lang.

He's also handsome; big eyes, pointed nose, pale skin, and a thin red lips, but she already saw too many handsome faces, kaya medyo ordinary na ang mukha nito para sa kanya. If she were to give a rate, it would be 8/10.

''You don't have a scar. You don't look ugly either, why do always wear a mask?''

She noticed that he also looks younger than her. Maybe four years or five?

''I'm too handsome. I'm afraid, you'll fall in love with me.''

Napatawa siya nang malakas sa sinabi nito. Pakiramdam niya biglang lumakas ang hangin. This guy has too much confidence on his self.

''Then, you must cover yourself well. You're just my type. Young and fresh. If I lost my control, I might eat you,'' aniya at ngumiti rito nang nakakaloko. Sinabayan niya pa ito ng kindat. Napaatras si Haru, mukhang natakot yata sa sinabi niya.

''Just kidding. I don't want to be imprisoned because of child abuse.''

Tumayo siya at kinuha ang jacket.

''Okay. Your room is upstairs, left side. I'm quite tired. I'm going to take a rest. Oo nga pala. I hate music. Kung gusto mong makinig ng kanta, use your headphone. Or else...I'll kick you out,'' paalala niya rito na may halong pagbabanta.

''Teka, how about the payment? How much should I pay-''

''I don't know. It's up to you.'' Kumaway lang siya rito at pumasok na sa kwarto.

Nang makaalis na ang dalaga ay kaagad lumapit si Haru sa tabi ni Cassidy.

''Are you sure, we can trust her? She looks sick. And her wounds-''

''Do we have a choice? This is the safest place for you.''

Pinalibot ni Cassidy ang paningin sa kabuuan ng bahay. Wala itong gaanong gamit, simple lang ang disenyo. May nakalagay na malaking painting ng dalaga sa gilid ng hagdan at 'di kalakihang chandelier sa itaas.

Kulay-puti at itim 'din ang kulay ng pader at dingding. Kung malinis lang ito at walang masyadong nagkalat na gamit, okay na sana ito para sa kanya.

''Cass, nakikinig ka ba sa akin? She doesn't look normal, she didn't even recognize me,'' nakapout na reklamo ni Haru.

''Hindi ba 'yan ang gusto mo? Walang makakilala sayo? Isa pa, that's Mikaela, she's famous for being rebellious. Do you expect her to welcome you with a warm hug?''

''But, can't we rent another house? I don't trust her.''

''This is already our third try. Just bear with it. Maybe she can help you to get rid of your fans.''

Haru is a japanese singer/idol. Lage itong kinukulit ng mga tagahanga nito sa dati nitong tinitirhan kaya tinulungan niya itong humanap ng ibang bahay na matutuluyan.

But what surprised him is Mika, she's too unpredictable. Kahit na pangalawang beses na niya itong nakita at sinabihan na 'rin siya ni Jia tungkol sa ugali nito, hindi niya pa 'rin ito mabasa.

Hindi siya makapaniwalang hindi nito kilala si Haru. Gayong ang ibang mga babae ay baliw na baliw rito. She's really living in her own world.

''Okay. Pumunta ka na sa kwarto mo. Babalik na lang ako bukas.''

Nagpaalam na si Cassidy kay Haru at lumabas na nang bahay.

Huminto siya sa paglalakad nang may matanggap siyang text galing kay Jia. Agad niyang pinaandar ang sasakyan at pinaharurot ito papuntang hospital.

TANGHALI na nang magising si Mika kinabukasan. Naabutan niya si Cassidy na nagluluto ng almusal. Hinanap ng mata niya si Haru, hindi niya ito makita. Mukhang tulog pa yata. It's already 9 AM. Ten minutes na lang, mag-a-alas-diyes na. Anong oras ba natulog ang batang 'yon?

''You really care about him. You even came here to cook.''

Sinulyapan lang siya nito at bumalik sa pagluluto.

Kumuha siya ng fresh milk sa ref at nagsalin sa baso. Tumabi siya rito habang umiinom. Pinagmasdan niya si Cassidy na nanatiling seryoso sa pagluluto.

How come, this man is so perfect? In every angle, she can't even find a single flaws. If only-

She took a deep sigh.

''Jia, that woman, may sinabi ba siya sayo?''

''About what?''

''Inutusan ka ba niyang bantayan ako? Monitor my movements?'' Sumulyap ito sa kanya pero bumalik 'rin sa pagluluto.

''N-no.''

''Then, that's better. Your little wife can live here and do whatever he wants, but he should never interfere in my business. Because if he do, then,''

Lumapit siya rito. Hinawakan niya ang kamay nito dahilan para mabitawan nito ang panipit . Umatras ito hanggang sa mapasandal sa pader. Her face is only one inch farther from him. She can clearly hear his heartbeat.

''I'll snatch you away from him.'' He gulped.