Mysterious Heart (Tagalog/Filipino)

Crown 4 ♚ EMPTY

NAALIMPUNGATAN ako dahil sa malakas na tunog na iyon. It was annoying the hell out of me. It's barely seven in the morning and I need sleep!

I ate too much last night, dahil doon kaya hindi agad ako dinalaw ng antok. And no. I refuse to think that it was because of the man on the other side of wall, who’s probably lying on a bed with his giant dog.

Hindi si Draco ang dahilan kaya ako napuyat. Kaya hindi magawang kumalma ng puso ko. It wasn't him.

Yeah... as if this denial can make this sleep-deprived headache go away.

Besides, I don't see why I had to think about him last night. What's there to think about him? Obvious na obvious sa akin ang pagkatao ni Draco DeVilla. He's nasty mean with capital M. And I loathe him.

"Damn this insufferable man," I muttered as I bolted upright. Hindi ko alam kung sinasadya ba talaga ng DeVilla na ito ang inisin ako o ano. If he's provoking me to scream this whole castle down, then I'll show him that he will regret doing that.

Seething in anger, I kicked the sheets down my feet and went to the window. Marahas kong hinawi ang kurtina at binuksan ang bintana. I almost thought it would break down from the way I forced it open. But miraculously, it held on.

At nakita ko si Draco sa labas. The freaking madman was working without a shirt on! There, in front of my window, in broad daylight.

Holy sh—! Napamura ako. It's a very unlady-like and Mom would berate me if she heard me just now. Pero hindi ko mapigilan dahil sa nakikita ko.

As much as I wanted to look away from Draco, I couldn't. His incredible body was gleaming like bronze under the heat of the sun and it was hypnotizing me to look and never take my eyes away from him, and watch how his biceps flexed every time he swings that heavy looking axe.

Oh my freaking God!

I watched in awe at the beauty in front of me—and I'm not talking about the vast land nor the sun-kissed hills I can see from my window—but at that scorching hot man.

Sweats like diamond rivulet down from his neck to his shoulders, touching those lean muscles at his back as he picked up another wood to chop. His working jeans slid down slightly when he stretched to bend, revealing his flanks and those twin dimple at the back of his hips.

I could almost hear myself groaning in my head. How can he have a perfect butt like that?

I thought Draco already looked massive, virile and masculine yesterday. But without his clothes on... this cowboy couldn't look more sinful like that, could he? And he even has his hair in a bun!

I resent the idea that he is the most perfectly built guy I have ever seen, considering that as a designer, I meet male models with picture perfect chiseled body in a regular bases and I have brothers who are arrogantly macho—too handsome for their own good.

But it is true. Draco is a Greek god. And my gay friends would surely go mad about this image I am painting inside my head right now.

I'm in that thought when Draco suddenly stopped chopping and turned his head towards my window, completely arresting my breath. His usual unfriendly glare poke me through my consciousness.

What I wanted to do was scream and spit fire on him. Pero habang nakaparada sa harap ko ang ganyang itsura at katawan, I don't think I'd get my words straight out. Kaya ibinalibag ko na lang pasara ang bintana at hindi pinansin ang pagkalabog ng salamin nito. I think I might've broken a few glasses. Pero imbis na tingnan iyon ay sinara ko na lang ang kurtina.

I walked back to the bed when I heard that annoying chopping sound again. Talaga bang hindi na-gets ng lalaking iyon ang dahilan kaya muntik nang mabasag ang salamin ng bintana ng bahay niya?

Ugh! How can I even possibly think that he's thoughtful? That's just believing that frog have wings!

Imbis na bumalik sa tulog ay dumiretso na lang ako sa banyo para maligo. I'm sure my clothes are dry by now. Pero pagpasok ko ng banyo, hindi ko makita ang nakasampay na mga damit ko.

Oh, no. He did not take my clothes. Draco did not touch my...

Naikuyom ko ang mga kamay ko. That jerk!

I was livid when I was retracing my footsteps back to the room. How can he take away my clothes like a thief last night? Can't he understand? May dahilan kaya nakasampay ang mga iyon doon. If I wanted him to wash them, I could've just done what he said and put them outside my door, pero hindi ko ginawa.

May utak pa ba ang lalaking iyon? Baka siguro napuno na ng muscles kaya hindi na gumagana.

Bubuksan ko na sana ang bintana para kausapin si Draco nang makita ko ang mga damit kong malinis na nakatupi at maingat na nakalagay sa mesa. Kinuha ko iyon at ramdam na ramdam ko ang pag-akyat ng dugo sa mukha ko nang makita ko sa pinakailalim ang pinakaingat-ingatan ko. My black lacy brassiere and its matching silk underwear.

Draco touched them... With his hands.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga para hindi ako sumabog sa inis. I think I have to continue my yoga classes from now on. Dahil baka isang araw, pumutok na lang ako sa galit dahil sa lalaking iyon.

Hinablot ko ang mga iyon at pumasok na sa banyo. I know, maybe I'm overreacting a little bit, but I really don't like it when someone stranger touching my most private personal things, like these. I barely knew that man!

Now I don't want to wear them anymore. Pero hindi naman pwedeng maglakad-lakad ako rito na walang suot na pang-ilalim. Mom would be so scandalized!

Sa huli, wala akong nagawa. I wore the silk and lace underneath my freshly washed clothes and I've never felt so conscious about them until now.

Pagkatapos kong maligo at magbihis, lumabas na ako ng kuwarto at tumuloy sa kusina para maghanap ng pagkain.

Well, I don't expect Draco to prepare me a breakfast. Why would he? Ni hindi nga niya gustong nandito ako. So I thought, maybe, I could take a small piece of his bread and jam before I talk to him again.

Pero nagulat ako nang makita ko ang ilang sandwich sa dining table. At may kasama pa iyong tasa at mainit na kape.

Hmm... Is this some kind of a trap?

"Stealing food again?" came a deep husky voice.

Umikot ako sa likod at nakita ko si Draco na nagpupunas ng pawis gamit ang t-shirt niya.

Holy crap!

My eyes were some kind of magnetized looking and staring at all of his... God's gift that I couldn't even catch what everything what he said. It’s hard to concentrate when he's there. All alive and in flesh. Lalo na ngayong nasa harap ko na at halos abot-kamay ko na.

Pero sinubukan kong manatili sa mukha niya ang mga mata ko, so his irritating face would remind me his irritating attitude.

He smirked at me. "Wala nang natira sa pagkain kagabi kaya iyan na lang ang ginawa ko."

I looked at him with a dry humor all over my face. I don't get his sense of humor, kung iyon man ang tawag sa sinabi niya. Does he intend to make me feel good that he made me breakfast or did he want me to feel bad because I ate all of his beef last night?

Binale-wala ko na lang angs inabi niya at kumuha ng isang sandwich sa plato. Of course, he's laughing at me because I broke what I said. And he's teasing me. Hindi ko rin napigilang kumain kahit nagmatigas ako kagabi.

But it's not my fault I have a voracious appetite. And it's obviously not my fault I don't want to sit with him at dinner.

Tiningnan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. I tried not to squirm under his gaze, because it's really bothering to be looked at by a man wearing nothing but a pair of jeans and boots.

His eyes flashed disapprovingly at the showing midriff below my crop top and I silently curse when a blush crept into my cheeks. The last time someone subjected me to an appraisal like that was when I was scouted to be a model. That's ten years ago.

But this one I don't like. Sa paraan kasi ng pagkakatingin niya, parang ayaw niya ng ganitong damit na sinusuot ng isang babae. Maybe he prefers the Maria Clara type. Long sleeves, long skirt, high necked, and that sort.

I looked at myself and my black ripped skinny jeans. Well, he hadn't seen the worst kind. But who cares. It's not like I'm dressing up for him.

"I see you've changed," sabi niya maya-maya.

I scoffed. "Wala akong planong suotin ang damit mo sa buong magdamag," I said rolling my eyes. And then, I had to look at him again when I saw a hint of amusement shone in his eyes. It actually made his eyes looked chinky.

Stupid eyes!

"And if I may say, I don't appreciate you stealing my clothes last night and walking around my room while I'm sleeping."

That chinky eyes became a full blown smile, kahit na.bahagya lang na nakaangat ang gilid ng mga labi niya. And I was snatched, until he opened his filthy mouth again. "Don't worry, princess. I wasn't paying attention to your snoring."

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. "I don't snore! And don't call me that!" I hate it when he called me a princess. Parang bratinella ang dating sa akin.

"And can you please put on your shirt when you're talking to me." Goodness! My eyes are helpless to his hard seven pack abs and that sinful V of his lean hips.

He just chuckled and cut it off short before I could hear him clearly. Does it hurt him to smile and laugh more often?

I thought he was going to ignore me, pero inabot niya ang t-shirt niya na nakasuksok sa gilid ng pantalon niya at mabilis na sinuot iyon sa harap ko sa isang galaw lang.

"Decent enough?" he said smirking. "Believe me, if I'm stealing anything from you, it won't be your clothes and your..." he peeked at my chest and then with his darkening eyes, he traced my face and my lips. "Because I'll be stealing something that you're not willing to give to anyone."

Frisson of fear traveled along my spine from the dangerous note of his voice. He's five steps away from me but I feel like he could reach me so easily if he tried to grab me.

Parang sinipa ng kung ano ang dibdib ko nang bigla siyang maglakad palapit sa akin at kinailangan ko pang umatras at tumabi para lang makadaan siya.

But I wasn't fast enough. His bare arms grazed against my arms faintly yet it almost made me shudder right there and then if I hadn't moved away quickly. His sweaty musk drifted to my nose like an ambrosia when he reached for a piece of sandwich and for freaking goodness' sake! It's not fair that he has to smell this good too after sweating. And it's not fair that I complimented him after he threw me in the storm yesterday!

"Kumusta ang pakiramdam mo?"

Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang magsalita sa tabi ko. He didn't step away from me. Sumandal lang siya sa dingding sa tabi ko habang nakahalukipkip at kinagatan ang sandwich niya.

His large gloved hand was almost covering the entire sandwich I'm surprised he wasn’t crushing it. At kahit na natatakpan na ang katawan niya, the shirt still clung to his torso like a second skin.

I frowned, scolding my own head. Kung saan-saan na napapadpad ang iniisip ko.

"It's not hard is it? Being a gentleman, I mean," sarcastic kong sabi at hilaw na ngumiti habang pasimpleng lumalayo sa kanya. "Careful. Or I'll start thinking you're concerned."

He just tilted his head angling his strong jaw and munched on his food. "Hindi ako concern. Tinatanong lang kita para makaalis ka na. I don't have time to baby sit you."

My eyes squinted as I wondered if he really meant everything that his foul mouth says. Was he just saying that to get me angry so I can leave? Because he was really pushing the right buttons.

Tinitigan ko ang mukha niya na ngayon ay kitang kita ko na sa liwanag. With his hair pulled back and standing this close to him felt even more dangerous. Magulo ang pagkakatali niya sa buhok niya, pero kahit na ganoon, bumagay iyon sa kanya. He has the kind of face that easily pulls a woman close.

Somehow, he reminds me of Kuya Zeke. But he's rougher and... colder. At magkaiba sila ng mata ni Kuya Zeke. My brother's looked broken, while his looked empty.

Didn't they say that eye is the window of one's soul?

"What's your deal, DeVilla? You're not here to hide, are you?" bigla ay naitanong ko.

Tumiim bigla ang bagang niya at sandali siyang tumigil sa pagnguya. His stare became cold and unforgiving. All of his easy vibes were gone.

Did I strike a nerve there?

I certainly did.

Kumuha pa ako ng isa pang sandwich para umiwas ng tingin niya pero ramdam kong pinapanood niya ako.

Invisible tension seemed to envelope around us. I stepped away from him when I suddenly felt uneasy and decided to sit down instead. Hindi ko na dapat siguro sinabi iyon.

Tiningnan ko ulit siya habang kumakagat ng tinapay. The jam accidentally grazed the corner of my lips and I absent-mindedly ran my tongue over it as I gauged his face. He wouldn't throw me out of his house, would he?

His eyes narrowed on my mouth and his lips went tightly shut. Bigla siyang tumayo ng matuwid at naging marahas na ulit ang boses niya. "Pinalagyan ko na ng gas ang kotse mo. You can leave now while the sky is clear."

Lumabas na siya sa likod ng bahay at malakas na isinara niya ang pintuan.

Draco dismissed me just like that.