One Last Crime

Kabanata 23

Care

"You cared for me so much more than you should have. Is this still part of your job Lendhel?"

Nanatili ang tingin ko sa mga mata niya. I can't believe he would go this far just to protect me. Just to save me. What will he get from saving me? Aside from recognition? That's just it, after days it'll fade and they won't even remember that he saved me but why do I feel like there's something more than the recognition?

I didn't expect him to go this far just to keep me safe. I get it that he's only doing his job but I feel something different and I can't be mistaken. Marami na akong kilala na tao at kahit saglit lang iyon ay alam ko kung ano nga ba ang dahilan bakit sila nakikipag usap at ang paraan ng pakikitungo nila dahil mababasa mo iyon sa actions at mga sinasabi nila sa'yo.

But with him it's something else.

Why do I feel like he wants to save me because he cared for me? Why am I feeling crazy because of him?

Ano ba ang nangyayari sa akin? I shouldn't trust him. I shouldn't care about him. I shouldn't be feeling this way towards him.

Ganoon din dapat ang ginagawa niya. Lalo na at laging nasa tabi niya si Mary na handang gawin ang lahat para sa kan'ya.

Mary looks more innocent and fragile, well atleast outside. Pero mas bagay siyang protektahan, kahit na alam kong may tinatago itong kasamaan katulad ng kapatid niya at nagkukunwari lamang na mahina, hindi katulad ni Mariyah ay mas lantaran ang pagiging makapit nito sa mga lalaki, katulad na lang ng ginawa niya noon kay Adrian. Si Mary naman ay hindi, pinapakita nitong mahiyain siya ngunit sigurado akong may nagkukubli ang kasamaan sa mala anghel niyang mukha dahil alam ko ito. Unang tingin ko pa lang sa babaeng iyon ay hindi na maganda ang pakiramdam ko. Kumulo agad ang dugo ko sa kan'ya. Kahit ba ako ang dahilan kung bakit nawala ang kapatid niya sa kan'ya. Kasalanan din naman iyon ng kapatid niya at kasalanan ko din dahil pinatulan ko ang pagiging maharot, hindi ko mapigilan ang nararamdaman dahil sa pag tuya niya sa akin.

Hindi ba dapat si Mary ang inaalagan nito?

He seems to know everything about Mary. Mukha rin namang awang awa ito sa sitwasyon ng babae.

I don't even know how they met and I don't care. I don't have a plan to know how.

Pero kung tutuusin, mas bagay sa kan'ya maging damsel in distress hindi sa katulad kong babae. Heck he doesn't even know what I've done but still here he is helping, saving and protecting me.

I'm just part of the case, he shouldn't be putting his life in danger just to keep me safe.

His eyes remained on me.

"I'm willing to resign from my job to protect you for the rest of my life, Chantrea."

What?

Mag resign siya para lang protektahan ako? Ano mag apply ba siya nilang bodyguard ko? Kaya ayaw niya na maging detective? Well, siguro Hindi gano'n kalaki ang sahod niya at mahirap Ang trabaho kaya mas gugustuhin na lang nito na mag focus sa isang trabaho at 'yon ay maging bodyguard ng isang magandang model. Pero hindi niya kailangan ng pera dahil mayaman naman sila. So probably it's just because of me. He wants to be near me.

But wait, is he serious? But why?

Bumilis ang kabog ng puso ko. Totoo ba ito? Umaasa lang ba ako na pareho kami ng nararamdaman?

I can't even name it myself but I know that I feel something deep for him. That's for sure, does he feel the same way?

"I guess it's really true."

"Ang ano?"

I stared into his eyes. The sincerity and concern is visible. I can't believe my eyes. He's telling the truth. He's willing to protect me at all costs.

"What's true?"

"Your umbok is huge."

His eyes widened. Something poked on my butt.

"What the heck are you talking about Chantrea? You just had an accident and you're talking about that while sitting on it?"

My eyebrows furrowed. "Why? It's true! Malaki ang umbok mo!"

He's cheeks reddened. Anong nangyari kay Lendhel? Hindi naman ganun kainit dito bakit siya namumula?

Did I say something wrong? Is it offensive? Hindi niya ba nagustuhan ang sinabi ko? I'm just telling the truth! Anong mali doon? Bakit siya namula Ng sabihin ko 'yon?

Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kan'ya. Kahit naguguluhan ako sa sinasabi niya ay hindi ko maalis ang tingin sa pisngi niyang namumula na mas lalo pang nag pagwapo sa kan'ya. Some strands of his hair are falling on his forehead.

Gosh! Why does he need to look so beautiful?

"I know but why are you bringing that up now? We're on public Chantrea. Tapos yang titig mo..."

Why does it matter if we are in public? Masama na bang sabihin 'yon ng malakas? Dapat nga ay maging proud pa siya at thankful dahil pinuri ko siya!

I compliment him!

He gulped.

"Baka may makarinig--"

"And so? Totoo naman malaki ang umbok mo!"

"Uh... Dhel." Sumulpot si Daxon sa likuran nito.

"Oh here's Daxon!" I stood up and grabbed him in front of us.

Baka ang isang ito makatulong dahil Hindi ko malaman kung bakit bigla na lang namula si Lendhel.

I faced him.

"He's umbok is huge right?"

His widened eyes changed into a cheeky smile.

"Talaga? Malaki?"

Binalingan nito si Lendhel.

"Ilang inch?"

"What?" Anong ilang inch ang pinagsasabi nito? Are we doing math now with these inches?

"I thought, hindi nasusukat ang pagmamahal?"

"Teka nga." Nagkatinginan ang dalawa.

"Anong pagkakaalam mo sa ibig sabihin ng umbok Chantrea?"

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa bukol sa pantalon nito. Why does he have a bulge?

"Love," I said, full of uncertainty.

"Umbok means love."

"Oh damn!" Daxon grabbed his stomach while roaring in laughter.

Nangunot ang noo ko. Palipat lipat ang tingin ko sa dalawa. "What? What's funny?"

Anong nakakatawa doon? Tama naman ah!

Unless...

"Baby that's not it," Lendhel said smiling.

"What? But Emory told me--"

"Si Emory ang nagsabi sayo?" Mas lalo pa atang lumakas ang tawa nito. Napatingin na ang mga pulis na dumating.

"Man, I know she's pretty intelligent. Damn she's a lawyer but she's not a walking dictionary! Pinagtripan ka ng pinsan mo!"

Shit! Kaya ba tumatawa siya ng mga oras na iyon?

Fuck it! Ito talagang si Emory! I trusted her! Naniwala ako na iyon talaga ang menaing no'n. Pero hindi pala totoo! I'm sure she made sure that I get it wrong, she taught me the wrong thing to make me uncomfortable whenever I said it! That's why her smiled is devious that time!

"She said it's another dialect."

"That's not even a new dialect!"

I sighed heavily. Siraulo talaga si Emory! Kung ano ano ang pinagsasabi sa akin!

Nakakahiya!

I will make her pay for this! Even though she's my cousin! She shouldn't be tripping with me like this! Gosh this is so embarrassing! How come I didn't notice before? I even said it to Lendhel with full of confidence and I'm so genuine.

"Baliw na talaga si Emory." He laughed. Mukhang tuwang tuwa naman itong si Daxon. Kung alam ko lang ay maari Niya rin itong gawin kay Lendhel kaso nga lang ay marunong naman si Lendhel kaya hindi niya ito maloloko.

"Yeah I think she's crazy for you." aniya ni Lendhel.

Daxon shook his head.

"Teka, okay ka lang ba Ms. Callejo?"

I nodded.

"Mukhang hindi kapa maka move in sa ginawa ni Emory ah."

"Tsk. Malalagot sa akin si Emory sa oras na mag kita kami!"

"Wag ka mag alala ako na bahala don!" He laughed.

"Umbok means love daw!"

Tinalikuran kami nito at pinuntahan ang umuusok na kotse hindi kalayuan sa direksyon namin. Sumunod naman ang ibang mga pulis doon.