Dangerous Love

CHAPTER 9

(FLASHBACK…)

TAHIMIK ang mansion nang dumating si Evron. The light in the living room was still on; clearly, it was waiting for him, but there was no one there. Imbes na dumiretso siya agad sa kwarto niya, umupo na lamang siya sa pang-isahang sofa.

Evron leaned back with one arm resting on the backrest and his eyes fixed on nothing in particular.

Marami na siyang mga pinagdaanan at nakita bilang Chief ng Black Lotus. Named it—worse nights with bloodier and more dangerous ones.

And yet…

Iba ang nararamdaman niya ngayong gabi.

Umigting ang panga niya nang maalala niya kanina ang naganap sa apartment ni Blythe.

Kahit pauwi na siya, ang halikan nilang dalawa ng kasintahan ang nasa kaniyang isipan.

The scene was so clear in his mind—the way he felt her body, her scent, and especially, the kiss.

Ipinikit ni Evron ang mata, pero si Blythe pa rin ang kaniyang nakikita.

His finger curled slowly against the fabric of the sofa.

“Damn…” he muttered under his breath.

Mabuti na lamang at nakapagpigil siya kanina, dahil kung hindi, baka kung ano na ang nagawa niya.

He had control of himself. Iyon ang isa sa mga pinakamahalagang itinuro sa kaniya ng magulang. And he always had control of himself, but with Blythe… nawawalan siya ng kontrol sa sarili.

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Evron.

Alam niya ang sarili kung bakit nagkakaganito siya dahil sa isang babae­—Blythe.

“Love…” he muttered as a small smile appeared on his lips.

Evron knew to himself that he had fallen deep, and he couldn’t get out of his own anymore.

—

Blythe lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

Hindi siya makatulog kahit pa malalim na ang gabi.

Panay ang pabaling-baling niya sa kaniyang higaan. Her fingers unconsciously brushed against her lips.

And there it was again.

Muli niyang naalala ang nangyari kanina sa kusina.

The warmth of his arms around her.

The way his voice dropped near her ear and the feeling of his breath against her skin.

“Stop it, self…” bulong niya sa sarili at tumagilid ng higa.

Pero hindi tumigil ang kaniyang isipan.

Mas bumilis ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso. She even buried her face halfway into her pillow.

This was not the first time they kissed, but indeed, ito ang unang beses na naghalikan sila ng ganun ni Evron.

Noong una kasi ay smack lang at siya pa ang nag-initiate.

Blythe squeezed her eyes shut. Pero ang tanging nakikita niya lamang ay si Evron—his handsome face, calm expression, and the way he looked at her, like he saw more than she was showing… like he understood something she didn’t.

Napabuntong-hininga si Blythe saka pinilit ang sarili niyang matulog, pero kahit anong gawin niya, hindi talaga siya makatulog.

Back in the mansion, Evron stood and went to his own room. Pero imbes na humiga siya sa kama, naglakad siya patungo sa malaking bintana ng kaniyang kwarto.

Hinawi niya ang kurtina at bumungad sa kaniya ang mga ilaw sa garden na sinadyang ipinalagay ng kaniyang ina, pang-maliwanag daw doon.

He put his hands in his pockets.

And yet his mind—all he could think about was her.

While inside Blythe’s room, she couldn’t do anything but stare at the ceiling once more.

Pareho silang gising.

At parehong hindi makatulog.

Pareho nilang iniisip ang tungkol sa halik na naganap.

Nahilot ni Evron ang sentido.

“This can’t go on anymore.” Sabi ni Evron, saka naglakad papasok sa loob ng banyo.

In an instant, he was under a cold shower.

At kahit papaano, nabawasan ng malamig na tubig ang umuusbong na init sa kaniyang katawan dahil sa iniisip niya tungkol sa kasintahan.

KINABUKASAN, kahit na nahirapan si Blythe na nakatulog kagabi, maaga pa rin siyang nagising katulad ng kaniyang nakagawian.

Magluluto sana siya ng kaniyang agahan, pero nakita niyang wala nang laman ang cupboard niya.

Blythe shook her head with a small smile on her lips.

Evron discarded all her instant food in the cupboard.

Kaya naman naghanap na lamang siya sa fridge ng puwedeng mailuto. Mabuti na lang at pati ang mga frozen foods na nasa fridge ay hindi ginalaw ni Evron.

Blythe cooked for her breakfast.

After cooking, she ate, tidied the kitchen, took a bath, and got dressed.

Tiningnan niya ang sarili sa salamin bago siya lumabas ng kuwarto.

She locked her apartment, and the moment she stepped out of the gate, a black sleek car parked in front of her.

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Blythe nang makita si Evron.

“Get in, Love.”

Muntik pang matawa si Blythe sa endearment sa kaniya ni Evron.

Love…

They called each other with that endearment even though they hadn’t said those three words, eight letters.

Pero ayos lang ‘yon para kay Blythe.

Ang mahalaga ngayon ay siya ang nasa tabi ni Evron.

“How’s your sleep?” Evron asked as he put Blythe’s seatbelt.

Ngumiti si Blythe. “Ayos lang naman.” Then she yawned. I didn’t sleep well, though.

Evron chuckled. “Mukhang inaantok ka pa.”

Sumandal si Blythe sa kinauupuan. “Kasalanan mo…” mahina niyang saad.

“What did you say?” Evron asked as he started the engine.

Umiling si Blythe. “Nakatulog ka ba ng maayos?”

Tumikhim si Evron saka umiling. “No.”

“Bakit naman?”

Evron maneuvered the car to the right lane. “Iniisip kita.”

Natigilan si Blythe dahil pareho pala silang dalawa.

She smiled. “Do you want to kiss?” she asked.

The car swerved, but Evron had it under control.

“Bakit?” tanong ni Blythe.

“Nothing.” Umiling si Evron. “Don’t say that again, Love.”

“What?”

Evron let out a small sigh and stopped the car. Tinanggal niya ang suot na seatbelt saka hinarap ang kasintahan.

“…a-ano?”

Evron leaned to Blythe, grabbed her neck, and kissed her.

Agad namang tumugon si Blythe sa halik ng kasintahan.

Nagtagal ng ilang segundo ang halikan nilang dalawa bago ito pinutol ni Blythe.

“Baka may makakita sa atin.”

Evron smiled. “Don’t worry, no one can see us.”

“May lipstick ka.” Sabi ni Blythe, saka kinuha ang sariling panyo at pinunasan ang gilid ng labi ni Evron.

“Sweet.”

Blythe looked at Evron flatly and pushed his face away. “Let’s go.”

Evron chuckled. “Don’t use too much lipstick.”

Tumingin si Blythe sa kaniya. “What do you prefer? Light pink? Pink? Red? Or brown? Or simple, balm?”

“Kung saan ka komportable, Love. But don’t use dark.”

Natawa ng mahina si Blythe saka tumango. “I’ll use balm next time. Walang kulay ‘yon para hindi mamantsahan ang gilid ng labi mo kapag naghalikan tayo.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Evron. Tumango siya. He likes his girlfriend’s boldness, but sometimes, she is also shy.

Pagkahatid niya kay Blythe sa trabaho nito, dumiretso na siya sa café.

“Another day, another work…” he muttered as he entered the café.