Imprint Keeper

Chapter 6

"I took this job because I needed money, wala ng iba pang dahilan." He stared talking as I look on his warm chest.

"I knew you before I met you. Ang sabi ko, madali lang ang trabahong pinasok ko. I just needed details and extra information from you then my job is done. But then, I was wrong."

Tuloy-tuloy ang pagsasalita niya na tila ba mauubos na kanyang hininga. So I grab his torso to calm him down. He then took a deep breath and calmed himself. His voice was like music to me, for I know his words are the words I was longing to hear.

"You do this things to me. ." He moved his feet closer to mine then leans his head onto my shoulders.

". .which drives me crazy." His voice weakened.

My tremble came close to weakness. Bawat salita niya tumatagos sa puso ko. I moved to lock my hands so that I could embrace his shaky body. His heat beats swiftly that I could listen to it right from my ear. I was too enaged in listening to his heart. Hindi ko na napansin na tumigil na pala siyang magsalita.

"Say something." Untag niya sa 'kin.

Sandali kong inalis ang pagkakasandal ko sa dibdib niya to look at him. His teary eyes filled with sincerity came across mine.

"I don't think may pantapat ako sa ginawa mo." I said.

He moved his hand to gently touch my face. "Meron." Maiksi niyang sagot.

"Hmm?"

It was as though I was seing another side of him. Someone I did'nt know existed.

"Three words." He then said. Staring at my gaze wanting to hear the words he was asking.

I smiled at that thought.

Lumayo ako ng kaunti sa kanya at naghanda para sa sasabihin ko.

"I.." His eyes glittered as he waited for my answer. Sandali akong pumikit to listen to what my heart really would want to say.

"..admire what you just did." I continued. I look into his eyes and smiled.

"Never ko naisip na kaya mong magsalita ng ganu'n. But I believe that three words should be earned."

Nilakasan ko ang loob ko para sabihin ang nasa puso ko. I know this might dissapoint him, he might take this as a no. Pero gusto kong maging totoo sa sarili ko. I should'nt rush things. For sudden decision causes heart aches and dissapointments.

It took a while for him to show his reaction. Parang minuto ang segundo habang hindi siya nagsasalita. But then his eyes met mine. I saw him biting a little of his lips trying to hide a smile.

"That's my girl." He said appreciating what I just did.

We smiled at each other acknowledging what just happened. The air felt light again, making me feel warmer than before.

Our attention from each other was interrupted when the door bell rang. Cason took out his phone to see who it was.

"Your dress is here." He gladly said.

Dinatnan namin si Sayer na katatanggap lang ng malaking kahon kung saan naroon ang damit na susuotin ko sa dadaluhan naming party.

"Althea!" Galak niyang bati niya sa 'kin. "Saan kayo galing?" He asked. Minataan niya si Cason at hindi naman nagpatalo ang lalake sa tabi ko.

"I interrogated her." Cason grinned at me na para bang may ginawa kaming labag sa batas. I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling at his suave grin.

"What! Tinanong mo siya nang wala ako?" Galit na bulalas ni Sayer habang ibinababa sa sofa ang kahon na hawak niya.

Nag-iba ang timpla ni Sayer at maging ni Cason tila nag-init na rin ang ulo dala ng pagka-inis. Cason approached me.

"It's almost time for the party. Mabuti pa maghanda ka na." He said in a low tone.

"Okay lang ba kayong dalawa?" Pag-aalala ko.

Sayer and Cason both looked and smiled at me. "Yeah, tungkol lang ito sa trabaho." Matipid na ngumiti si Sayer.

Hindi na ako nagreklamo pa, I took the box and went for my room. Kahit pa nag-aalala ako ay mas pinili ko ng huwag nalang makialam sa kanilang dalawa lalo pa't tungkol sa trabaho ang pinag-uusapan nila. And besides, hindi pa nawawala ang kabog sa dibdib ko sa pangyayari sa secret room.

Nilapag ko ang mahabang kahon sa kama. Hindi na ako nag aksaya pa ng oras at binuksan ko iyon. It was like I saw my soul.

The dress was plum purple velvet off-shoulder dress. It forms a sweeAltheart neckline perfect for my short frame body and even perfect to show off my legs with its lightly flared flow skater skirt.

As I tried it on, I feel like something was missing though it was a perfect fit. I searched for my back bag, baka may makita akong pwedeng gamitin sa mga gamit na dala ko. Pero ang tanging nahanap ko lang ay ibang damit na sinuot ko noong in-house judging at sapatos ko.

Nakita ko ang shoelace and I thought it might work. Kinuha ko ito at itinali sa leeg ko na tila ba isang kwintas. And it completed my outfit plus a little make up to brighten my pale face.

A few moments later, may kumatok sa pintuan. Mabuti nalang at tapos na akong maghanda sa para sa pag-alis namin. Tumayo na ako mula sa pagkakaharap sa vanity mirror nang maalala ko na masquerade party pala ang pupuntahan ko. Kaya naman kinuha ko muna ang glittery black mask na kasama ng dress ko at isinuot ko rin maging ang heels na binili para sa 'kin.

"Are you ready?" Bungad sa'kin ni Sayer pagbukas ko ng pinto. "Whoa!" He exclaimed.

Nagulat si Sayer nang makita ako, kunwari pa niyang nilinis ang salamin niya't muli akong tinignan.

"What a beauty." He exhaled joy.

I blushed a little with what he said. "Thank you. Alis na ba tayo?" I said excitedly. Tumango naman si Sayer bilang sagot.

I was excited not only because grande ang dadaluhan kong party but also because makakasama ko si Cason. I thought of it as a date actually.

Napansin ko tila hindi akma ang suot ni Sayer na casual clothing para sa event kaya naman tinanong ko siya. "Hindi ka ba sasama?"

"I'll be there, pero hindi sa event mismo." Sagot niya habang kinukuha ang kamay ko para alalayan ako sa paglalakad.

As I took few more steps away from the hallway going to the stairs, I saw Cason standing below. He was wearing a slim fitting suit jacket in a navy blue color paired with an inner white polo. His hair was neatly fixed and so was his eyes to mine.

He was suppose to wear his mask pero hindi na niya ito itinuloy nang makita ako. His eye were fixed at mine. I can see he was in awe. Sayer let go of me nang makababa na kami ng hagdan.

Bahagyang lumapit si Sayer kay Cason at minasamaan niya ito ng tingin.

"Take care of her Cason,"

Cason shifted his head towards Sayer eyeing him but not saying any word.

" 'Coz if you won't. . . I will."

I took a step in between them to stop another petty fight. Mabuti nalang at agad akong naintindihan ni Sayer at umalis na rin dahil kailangan daw niyang mauna sa venue.

"Althea, you look good." Bati niya sa 'kin nang makaharap ko na si Cason.

"Good lang?" Biro ko sa kanya.

Tinignan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa at matapos ay lumakad pa ito para makita ang likod ko.

"Ang sabi ko dress, bakit ang iksi ng kinuha niya? Halos balat mo nalang ata nakikita ko." Aniya na tila problemado sa suot ko.

"O.A nito. Dress naman ito ah. Gusto mo bang magpalit pa ako?" Reklamo ko.

Kahit pa halatang ayaw niya ay alam niyang wala na rin naman siyang magagawa. "Hayaan mo na. But let me remind you, I want you to stay close to me pagdating natin sa venue." He demanded.

He led me outside papunta sa garahe. Isang magarang itim na sasakyan ang ginamit namin para makapunta sa venue. Mahahabang highway ang dinaanan namin, and I know for sure na malayo na ako sa kinalakihan kong lugar. The venue is located in the middle of a man made lake inside an exclusive community. And they call it, Grand Contour Hotel.

Nagkalat ang mga staff at security crew sa bawat sulok ng komunidad. At lahat ng makasabay naming sasakayan ay halatang pang mayaman.

Grand Contour Hotel was so big that i could not even see where it ends. Magarbo ang desenyo na tila ba dinala ako nito sa Pransya. With its design I remembered an article I've read before, this is the same place where artist, politicians and other big personalities come to meet and expand their fields of businesses.

Hindi ako bagay sa lugar na ito. I'm just a simple commoner. Mabuti nalang at naka maskara ako dahil kung hindi baka pagkamalan nila akong serbedora.

We stopped at the grand entrance of the building. Itinigil ni Cason ang sasakyan sa gilid ng entrance at tinignan ako.

"Remember, stay close."