Dangerous Love

CHAPTER 7

(FLASHBACK…)

EVRON placed the grocery bags in the backseat of his car. He closed the car door.

Then he felt something had changed.

Agad siyang gumalaw.

And a dagger sliced through the space where his neck had been a second ago.

Kalmadong umatras si Evron habang tinitignan ang umatake sa kaniya.

The same woman from the supermarket.

Wala ang ngiti nito kanina. She stood a few steps away like a weapon with a low stance, blade in hand, and cold eyes. An assassin’s appearance when they kill their target.

“Hindi mo na dapat pa akong sinundan,” kalmadong sabi ni Evron.

She tilted her head slightly. “You knew.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Evron. “I smelled the blood in you.”

That seemed to amuse her. “Well, that was already expected from the Chief of Black Lotus.”

Then she attacked.

Kumislap pa ang talim ng blade sa ilaw. She aimed for his torso, but Evron dodged.

He caught her wrist mid-strike, twisting just enough to redirect the force. His other hand struck her shoulder and pushed her back.

Agad namang nakarekober ang babae. She lunged again—this time, she aimed lower.

Evron sidestepped, grabbed the woman’s arms, and flipped her over his shoulder. Tumama ang babae sa semento, pero agad itong gumulong at sinusubukang makalayo, pero hindi ito hinayaan ni Evron.

In a single step, he closed the gap and pinned her wrist against the concrete, the dagger clattering out of her hand.

Sinubukan pa ng babae na kumawala, pero mas malakas si Evron.

Evron crouched slightly. “Didn’t your Master tell you how ruthless the Chief of the Black Lotus is?” Aniya.

Kinuha niya ang dagger na nabitawan ng babae. “Who sent you?”

The woman scoffed. “Do you think I will tell you? Even if you kill me—ahhh!” Napasigaw na lamang ito nang itinarak ni Evron ang dagger sa braso ng babae.

“Since you wish death, then I will grant it,” malamig na saad ni Evron.

His hand was already aiming to slit the woman’s throat when suddenly, Blythe’s face appeared in his mind.

Napatigil sa ere ang kamay ni Evron.

Blythe’s smiling lingered in his mind.

Evron let out a small sigh and let go of the woman. “You're lucky tonight,” he said and dropped the dagger.

The woman stared at him.

“Tell whoever sent you, they won’t succeed,” he said, and opened his car door and got inside.

Mabilis siyang kumuha ng wipes at pinunasan ang kaniyang kamay. Walang dugo ang kamay niya, pero ayaw lang niyang humawak ng ibang tao, lalo na kung babae at hindi pa niya kilala.

He started the engine and left the parking lot as if nothing had happened.

Nang makabalik siya sa apartment ni Blythe at makapagparada, hindi siya agad bumaba.

Evron called Julian.

“Find out who attacked me.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Nagkalat ang mga miyembro ng Black Lotus at kahit hindi na ipinaliwanag ni Evron ang nangyari, alam na ni Julian.

NAISIP ni Evron na baka natutulog si Blythe kaya hindi na siya kumatok. Ginamit na lamang niya ang susi na ibinigay nito kanina para buksan ang pinto.

As he stepped inside Blythe’s apartment, her scent that lingered in the air welcomed him.

Napangiti na lamang si Evron saka isinara ang pinto.

His eyes immediately looked around the apartment. Maayos ang mga gamit at malinis.

Then his eyes shifted toward the sofa.

And he stopped.

Naroon si Blythe at natutulog. She was curled slightly on her side and looked exhausted.

Lumambot ang mukha ni Evron. Blythe was wearing only an oversized white long-sleeve shirt, the fabric loose against her frame. It slipped just enough to reveal one of her shoulders and the collar slightly askew. Two buttons near the top were undone, and the neckline opened just enough to show the delicate line of her collarbone.

Napalunok si Evron.

“Nakalimutan niya ba na babalik ako…” he muttered under his breath.

The hem of the shirt had ridden up just a little, exposing part of her thigh as she moved unconsciously in her sleep.

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Evron.

Not out of discomfort but restraint.

For someone like him who had faced assassins without hesitation, it was strange how this moment required more control.

He crouched slightly beside the sofa.

Payapa ang mukha ni Blythe habang natutulog, kahit pa halatang pagod ito.

She looked peaceful, and nothing could compare to it.

May ilang hibla ng buhok na tumatabing sa mukha ni Blythe. He reached out and gently brushed it aside.

She stirred slightly.

Akala niya, magigising na ito. But she only moved, curling slightly against the cushion.

His eyes darkened just a little. Even if he won’t look at himself in the mirror, he could tell that his eyes show desire.

Mabilis na tumayo si Evron. Kinuha niya ang manipis na kumot na nasa armrest ng sofa. Slowly, he placed it over Blythe, covering her. His hand lingered for a second on the edge of the blanket, then he pulled away before he lost his control.

“Love, you should be thankful that I can still control myself,” he whispered.

Pinulot niya ang cellophane na naglalaman ng pinamili niya saka naglakad patungo sa kusina.

He rolled up his sleeve.

The sound of chopping vegetables soon filled the quiet apartment.

Pagkatapos ng halos isang oras, natapos din sa pagluluto si Evron. It was already seven-thirty in the evening when he checked his watch.

Gusto niyang matawa sa sarili. He never cooked at their house because they had a chef. But for Blythe, he wanted to cook for her.

At mukhang masusundana pa ito, lalo na at nakita niyang halos instant noodles ang laman ng cupboard at frozen foods ang laman ng ref.

Napailing siya. He glanced toward the living room and saw Blythe already half-awake.

“Love, wake up now and let’s eat dinner.”

Blythe opened her eyes. She stretched slightly, wincing just a little from the awkward position she had slept in.

Agad siyang tumingin sa kusina nang maamoy niya ang amoy ng masarap na pagkain. “Evron?”

Ngumiti si Evron. “Come here.”

Umupo si Blythe at inayos ang bahagyang nagusot na buhok. Her oversized white long-sleeve was slipping slightly off one shoulder, and she pulled it back absentmindedly.

Habang si Evron naman ay napalunok na lamang, saka nag-iwas ng tingin. Inabala na lamang niya ang sarili sa paglalagay ng mga niluto sa lamesa.

He simply pulled out a chair for her.

“Sit.”

Blythe walked towards the kitchen and sat in the chair Evron pulled out for her.

Komportable silang kumain.

Blythe took a bite—and immediately looked at Evron. “This is really good,” she said. Kung puwede lang na si Evron na ang magluto ng pagkain niya ng breakfast, lunch at dinner.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Sabi naman ni Evron na may munting ngiti sa labi.

Nagpatuloy sila sa pagkain habang nag-uusap ng mga bagay-bagay sa kanilang paligid.

Then Evron’s phone rang.

Sinulyapan ni Evron ang screen.

It was his sister.

Evron swiped the screen to answer the call and tapped the loudspeaker icon.

“Yes?”

“Kuya, uuwi ka ba?” tanong ni Neriah.

Evron leaned back slightly in his chair. “Oo, bakit?”

“Hmm,” Neriah hummed teasingly. “Akala ko diyan ka na matutulog kung nasaang sulok ka man ng Pilipinas.”

Napatingin si Evron sa kasintahan na tahimik na kumakain pero halatang nakikinig.

“Shut it,” he replied flatly. “Just leave the light in the living room on.”

Neriah laughed softly on the other end. “Okay, Kuya. Bye. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

And the call ended.

Ibinaba ni Evron ang cellphone na parang walang nangyari, pero nang mag-angat siya ng tingin, nakatitig sa kaniya si Blythe.

“What?” he asked gently.

“So, you have a sister?”

Tumango si Evron. “I’m the eldest. Neriah was next. And then, there’s a pair of twins, Elliot and Ellis.”

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Blythe. “Mabuti ka pa. The sisters and brothers I only knew were the kids I grew up with at the orphanage.” Malungkot niyang saad.

Inabot ni Evron ang kamay ni Blythe na nakapatong sa lamesa. Hinawakan niya ang kamay nito para iparating na hindi ito nag-iisa.

“Love, you have me.”

Blythe looked directly into Evron’s eyes, then she smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

They stared at each other.

And they both feel that the apartment feels warmer than before.