Chapter10
1152 Words
Tinitigan ni Eloise si Estevan. Kita niya nang malinaw ang madilim nitong mga matang kay kayumanggi—mga matang halos lamunin siya.
Then suddenly, Lucien emerged from the indoor bar with two glasses of wine. Kaagad na lumayo siya ng k’unti kay Estevan dahil sa pagdating nito.
“For you, ma belle,” he said, offering one to Eloise, his gaze lingering far longer than necessary.
She forced a sweet smile. “Thanks.”
Lucien smiled charmingly. “I must say, Estevan, your companion is far more captivating than the pitch deck.”
Walang sinabi si Estevan no’ng una. Nakamasid lamang ito sa malawak at medyo may kadiliman na na karagatan. Then his jaw tightened as if holding something back. “She tends to have that effect.”
Tumawa si Lucien sa sinabi ng lalaki, tila hindi nararamdaman ang tensyon. He then turned to Eloise. “So, how did you two meet again?”
“Café,” Eloise said, shooting Estevan a glance. “Apparently, destiny brews good coffee.”
Lucien’s grin widened. “Then I must visit this café. If it serves espresso and women like you…”
“Lucien,” Estevan called, calmly but firmly. “You’re about to cross a line.”
Lucien lifted his hands in mock surrender. “Ah, forgive me. I forgot she’s not on the market.”
Naglipat-lipat ang tingin ni Eloise sa dalawang binata. The tension between the two men was palpable, humming like the soft drone of the yacht’s engine beneath them.
“Not everything is for sale,” Estevan muttered, his eyes were fixed on Lucien.
“Oh, mon frère, I was just teasing.” Pagkatapos ay tinapon ulit ni Lucien ang tingin kay Eloise. “But if he ever lets you go…”
“Then I won’t,” Estevan snapped before she could reply.
There was silence. Even the waves seemed to quiet.
Kapagkuwan ay humalakhak si Lucien at bahagyang napailing. “I never saw you this possessive, Estevan.” Then he raised his glass. “To sunset deals and dangerous men.”
Pagkatpos magpaalam ni Lucien na may tatawagan lamang sa loob ay napabuga ng hininga si Eloise. Maririnig ang kaba mula roon. Then she turned to Estevan.
“You didn’t have to go full boss mode back there.”
Umigting ang panga ng binata at marahas na nagpakawala ng hininga. “I didn’t like the way he looked at you.”
Her eyebrow raised. “So what? You’re gonna fight every man who flirts with me?”
Saglit na napatigil si Estevan. “Only the ones who think they can take you from me, Eloise.”
She snorted. “So, you think you can win me over?”
Umangat ang isang kilay ng lalaki na tila tinatanggap ang hamon niya. “I already have you.”
Umiling siya. “You had me for one night.”
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “That night wasn’t just s*x, Eloise. Don’t act like it didn’t change anything…like I wasn’t your first.”
Kumunot ang noo ni Eloise. “What?”
Estevan smirked. “You really think I didn’t know I was your first? Because I feel it the very first moment I kissed and touched you.”
Umawang ang bibig niya sa sinabi ng binata. Hindi siya makapaniwalang tinitigan ito.
Wala siyang masagot dito kaya nama’y umiwas na lamang siya ng tingin. “Get over yourself, Estevan.”
Humalakhak si Estevan sa sinagot niya, walang bahid na kahit anong pag-aalinlangan o pagpipigil, dahilan kaya bumalik ang tingin niya rito.
It was the first time she heard and saw Estevan laugh that way.
“Did you just—”
“Hmm?” he turned slightly, one brow raised.
“Oh my gosh.” Tumayo siya nang maayos. “Tumawa ka.”
His jaw twitched with restraint, like he wanted to take it back. “It was barely anything.”
“No, no, no.” Tiningnan niya ito na parang nakakita ng kababalaghan. “Estevan Alaric Foreman actually laughed. History was made tonight.” She giggled.
“Don’t make a big deal out of it,” anito nang malamig ang tinig, bagama’t may kung anong kumislap sa kanyang mga mata.
She stepped closer, studying him. “It’s just…I’ve never heard you laugh before.”
Pinagmasdan siya ng ilang segundo ng binata. “That’s because you don’t know me, Eloise.”
She didn’t flinch. “Maybe. But I want to.”
Hindi natinag ang tingin ng kaharap. “That’s dangerous.”
“Really?” Bahagya siyang ngumiti. “But I don’t scare easily.”
“Maybe you should,” he said softly, his voice dipping low.
Tila kumalabog naman ang puso niya. “Why?”
Dahan-dahan itong lumapit sa kan'ya, at lalo pang lumiit ang agwat sa pagitan nila. “Because I’m not the kind of man you fall in love with.”
“Who said anything about love?” she whispered, lips curling.
Bahagya siyang tumigil na par abang pinag-aaralan siya. “You didn’t have to.”
The air between them shifted. Hindi na ito simpleng biruan. There was weight in his words, in the way he said them without blinking.
Eloise swallowed hard, but refused to look away. “So... was that laugh a fluke? Or should I try again?” Sinubukan niyang ilihis ang usapan.
Hindi ito ngumiti. Pero sinundan ng mga mata nito ang hubog ng mga labi ni Eloise, and that made her skin shiver.
“I don’t laugh easily. You should know that by now.”
Bahagya siyang tumagilid ng tingin.. “But you did. With me.”
Tumahimik saglit si Estevan. “You caught me off guard,” he admitted, his voice low.
Umangat ang kilay ni Eloise. She stepped even closer, until her body grazed his suit, as if tempting him. “So what happens if I keep doing that?”
Eloise tried not to laugh when she saw his reaction.
Esetevan’s jaw tightened, his nostrils flaring slightly. “Then you better be ready for what comes with it, Eloise.”
Then there was a pause. Neither of them moved. The sea rocked beneath their feet, slow and steady.
Eloise’s lips curved into a small smile. “You scare me sometimes.”
“I should.”
“But I like it.”
May muling kumislot sa mga mata ng binata.
Ang presensya nito’y nanatiling matatag. 'Yong tipong imposibleng balewalain. ‘Yong klase ng presensyang hindi nanghahabol, pero hinahamon kang lumapit.
Ramdam ni Eloise ang tensyon sa bawat titig niya—parang ang mga mata nito’y humahaplos sa bawat pulgada ng balat niya.
“So, don’t stop,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “Laugh again sometime, Estevan. When no one else is looking.”
Tila nagliliyab ang mga mata ni Estevan sa sinabi niya, pero hindi sa paraang tila hindi nasisiyahan, kundi kabaliktaran doon.
Estevan snorted. “Only if you earn it.”
- Writer
