Book2: A Night Darker

Chapter 4: Frost and Flame

Chapter 4: Frost and Flame

    "IN USING variable strategy, you should always rely to you're X, sino ba ang X mo? In determining you're X, you could easi----

"ANO BANG PAKIALAM NIYO KUNG SINO ANG EX KO? KINALIMUTAN KO NA SIYA TAPOS GUSTO NIYO ALALAHANIN KO PA?!"

Silence covered the whole class. Lahat sila ay nakatingin sa gwapong lalaki na ngayo'y nagwawala dahil sa salitang X. Kahit ang kanilang Math professor ay natigil sa pagle-lecture.

"Any problem Mr. Carrantes?" Tanong ng professor ng makabawi ito.

"H-huh?" Lumibot ang tingin nito sa mga kaklase niyang nakatingin sa kanya. Then he realized na napatayo na pala siya! "U-uh, w-wala po sir." Kamot ang batok na naupo ito.

"Okay then enough of the interruptions, now let's move on."

The professor saw how his student's brows twitched sa pagpipigil na sumabat.

"Moving on ... We

Will discuss about----

"So ganun-ganon na lang yun sir? Hindi pa tayo tapos, hindi pa tayo nagkakaintindihan, ni hindi ko pa alam yung problema, gusto niyo move on agad?Akala niyo ba ganon lang kadali yun? Yan ang hirap sa inyo eh, gusto niyo kayo na lang palagi ang iniintindi. Matapos niyo kaming, paasahin, iiwan niyo na lang kami sa ere, nagtataka kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari? You're so unfair!" Mahabang litanya ng estudyante.

If it's only possible, baka kanina pa pumutok ang angry veins ng kanilang professor sa pangungunsumisyon sa kanyang estudyante. Mas lalo pa siyang nanggalaiti when the rest of the class start buzzing and murmur, 'Tama, tama.'

"Mr. Carrantes ..." Mahina at may diing turan ng professor habang mahigpit ang pagkakahawak sa kanyang marker. "KASI NGA WALANG FOREVER! Hala labas! doon ka humugot!"

Halos mabilaukan na sa kakatawa si Sophia matapos magkwento ni Clarence. Well, she's wondering about that missing part of her. She lost some of her memory kaya sa tuwing may oras sila ni Clarence ay pinakukwento niya ito.

Nakaupo sila ngayon sa sofa sa sala ng bahay nila. Hindi sila pumasok ngayon sa hotel and decided to have some time together. Nandoon naman ang ilang pinagkakatiwalaang staff ni Sophia, and of course she has Lori, her very competitive manager.

Nasabi sa kanya ni Manang Rita, kanilang kasambahay na bata pa lang si Clarence ay doon na naninilbihan, that Clarence used to be a playboy, during his college years. Madalas daw itong napapagalitan dahil sa kalikutan sa babae. She should be jealous, but no, she found it cute and sweet instead. It took her curiousity, kung bakit sa kabila ng pagiging playboy nito, he still end up loving her. She feel special knowing na sa dinami-dami ng mga babaeng nag-aagawan dito noon, siya ang pinili nito.

Marami siyang tanong. Ano ba yung mga nangyari dati? Napaaway ba siya sa ibang mga babae? Did he stood up for her? Did she fought back? Paano sila nag-away at nagkabati. Sobrang dami. She want those memories back. Yung mga alaala niya sa kasama ang kanyang asawa.

Nagsimula siyang magpakwento dito sa kung ano nga ba ang dahilan kung bakit ito naging mapaglaro sa babae. Nalaman niya na tulad ng iba ay, napaglaruan din pala ito, naiwan and had lost his trust that true love do exist, not until she came. Gusto niyang magalit sa babaeng yun, for treating her husband that way, pero in the end, hindi niya mapigilang magpasalamat. Kung hindi kasi ito naging ambisyosa at naghanap ng iba, hindi sana nito iniwan si Clarence, hindi sana naging sila.

"Hahahahaha!" Hawak-hawak niya ang tiyan dahil sa kakatawa. "Pfft. Seriously? You did that? During your Math class? Ganon ka ba ka-broken? Hahahaha." Droplets of tears start twinkling at the sides of her eyes. "s**t!" Napahampas na siya sa upuan dahil sumasakit na ang tiyan niya ay hindi niya parin napipigilang tumawa. That's torture!

"Stop laughing!" Nagsisimula ng umasim ang mukha ni Clarence because of embarassment.

"But I can't! I-it's j-just ... Hahaha. ... Hooh! Epic!" Tumawa na naman siya. She just can't seem to erase the whining image of Clarence off her mind.

"Hindi ka talaga titigil?" May pagbabanta na sa boses nito.

"No." She said while trying to stifle her laughter, but it just came bursting out again.

"Talaga?" He raised both his hands and move his fingers in 'quoting in the air' motion. Agad siyang napatigil ng makita ang ginawa nito.

"No, no, don't do it." Banta niya dito as she tried to move away from him. Ngumisi ito.

"Too late bae ..." He move closer.

Agad niyang kinapa sa ibaba ng sofa ang pansapin ng kanyang paa para maghanda sa pagtakas, but he was fast. Tatakbo pa lang siya ay agad na siya nitong hinablot at kiniliti hanggang sa halos hindi na siya makahinga!

"T-tama na, tama na! Aaahhahahaha. Bae, stop it please!"

"Uulit ka pa?" He asked playfully as he once again tickle her neck and waist kung saan alam niyang malakas ang kiliti nito. He stared at her, loving the sight of her happy face.

"Am I interrupting something?" They heard a stern voice coming from the door which made them stop from their little 'play'. "I'm sorry for barging in, but the old lady told me na dumiretso na daw dito, so I did." His authorative voice prevailing.

"Mr. Sobremonte! No, no it's okay." Tawag ni Clarence, making her, almost drop her butt in shock. "Glad to have you here, I'm sorry kung imbes na sa hotel ay dito na kita pinatuloy. Well I just hate the formalities you know." Tumayo si Clarence mula sa pagkakaupo and walk towards Mr. Sobremonte while flashing one of his most adorable smiles. He extended his hands and the other shook it.

"Well, you should quit calling me Mr. Sobremonte if you really hate formalities." his lips were tug a little upward, and she doesn't know kung matatawag bang ngiti yun. But that little movement was enough to sent shivers down her spine. It makes her uncomfortable, and she doesn't like it. So her husband really expected him to come? Why didn't he tell her?

For what? Sabad ng konsensya niya. Para makapagtago ka?

Pakiramdam niya biglang nawala ang puting ulap sa bahay nila. It was now covered with poisonous mist, kaya kailangan niyang mag-ingat. Her haven, her refuge was now invaded with a presence na talaga namang nagpapakaba sa kanya. She feel unsafe.

"Have a seat." Iminuwestra nito sa lalaki ang katabing upuan kung saan mabilis itong umupo. "So should I call you Nickolas then?" Clarence stretched his hands hanggang sa likuran niya bago siya marahang kinabig para sumandal dito. More like a habit na nakasanayan niya sa tuwing ginagawa iyon ni Clarence, nagsumiksik siya dito. She felt him kissed the top of her head.

Hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha ni Nickolas, pero hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ni Sophia ang pagkuyom ng kamao nito. Marahil ay hindi iyon napapansin ni Clarence dahil hindi naman iyon kapansin pansin sa posisyon nito.

"Sure." Maikling tugon ni Nick.

"Okay then, you could call me Clarence, and this beautiful woman beside me, my wife, her name is Sophia."

Napalunok siya. Mula sa gilid ni Clarence ay bahagya siyang sumilip sa pwesto ni Nickolas, and when she saw his serious face, nahiling niya na sana ay hindi na nito maisipang makipagkamay. But then he extended his arms for a hand shake.

"Hi. Nice to meet you Sophia."

"Nice to meet you too."

They shook hands and she fought hard not to harshly pull her hand back ng bahagya nito iyong pinisil.

"I suppose na hindi kayo masiyadong nagkakilala kagabi, since there were alot of guest and my wife here, had her some time alone."

"I don't really think she was alone. Maybe she was somewhere, enjoying herself." Makahulugang turan ni Nickolas, dahilan para halos hindi makagalaw si Sophia.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Tanong ni Clarence. Sophia was almost out of breath when Nickolas showed a grin that seem wicked to her.

No please, don't tell him. Piping pakiusap ni Sophia.

"I mean, you're wife was charming and approachable, siguradong maraming guest sa party ang kumausap sa kanya. I'm also sure na kinausap niya ang mga yun, she doesn't seem to be that person na basta na lang tumatakbo. Am I right Sophia?" His grin widened and Sophia has to swallow the lump in her throat para lang huwag pumiyok.

"Of course." She answered. Hindi niya alam kung makakahinga ba siya ng maluwag sa sinabi ni Nickolas o mas kakabahan.

He smiled, making her more nervous. Tila ba palagi itong may iniisip na di kaaya-aya. "And if you remember Clarence, we did dance."

"Oh yeah, I remember. I really thought that she was alone, since nagpaalam siya na aalis."

Nagpatuloy ang pag-uusap ng dalawa, and she was just glad na nawala sa usapan ang nangyari sa party. She's like a thief na takot mabuking. Nginangatngat na siya ng kanyang konsensya, and Nickolas being near them just make things worse for her. Pakiramdam niya, anumang oras ay may di kaaya-ayang bagay na lalabas sa bibig nito.

"I was thinking of having you're company as our major supplier, since we are planning of building branches on Batangas."

"Sure, that won't be a problem. Saan ba sa Batangas?" Nickolas asked as he sipped his coffee na siya mismo ang nagtimpla. Hindi niya mapigilang sundan ang galaw at ang pagdampi ng mga labi nito sa tasa, ang mga labing minsan ay nagpadama ng init sa kanyang balat--- What the hell is she thinking?!

Ipinilig niya ang ulo, habang sinusubukang alisin ang mga kasalanang nabubuo sa kanyang isipan. How could she think of those things gayong katabi niya ang kanyang asawa!

"You could go with us tomorrow and check the place." Clarence offered, while Nick took his cup and had another sip.

"Some things don't really change." Nabalik siya sa kanyang katinuan ng marinig niya ang sinabi ni Nickolas. Nakatingin ito sa tasang hawak. "It still tastes just the same." Nangunot ang noo niya.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin Nickolas?" Her husband asked.

Nag-angat ito ng tingin and met her gaze. "Nothing. By the way Clarence, have you ever lost something?" Pag-iiba nito sa usapan.

"Of course I did." He sipped on his juice. Hindi kasi ito mahilig magkape.

"So what if you lose something important, naiwala mo yung kaisa-isang bagay na halos maging buhay mo, then one day, nakita mong hawak yun ng iba? What will you do?"

"Fvck." Naibaba ni Clarence ang hawak na baso, umayos ito ng upo at hinarap ang halos walang emosyon na si Nickolas, but she knew better. She could clearly see it on her eyes. "Seriously? Tinatanong pa ba yan? Of course babawiin ko!"

"Really?" Nickolas smirked, tila ba nakuha nito ang inaasahang sagot.

"Of course! Damn, magkamatayan na, pero babawiin ko yung akin, at kong pwede lang, kapag nabawi ko na, ibabaul ko yun at ikakandado para wala ng iba pang makakuha. Man, what mine is mine, babawiin ko kung ano yung akin."

Tumangu-tango si Nickolas. "Yeah, what mine is mine, babawiin ko kung ano yung akin." he said as he twirled his fingers on the mug's handle, and looking directly at her na tila ba sa kanya iyon sinasabi.

Sophia was starting to get more uncomfortable with each minute kaya halos magtumalon siya ng makarinig ng doorbell sa pintuan ng bahay. Nag-excuse lang siya, then walk fast to the door, hindi niya na inisip kung sino iyon, basta ang mahalaga ay magkaroon siya ng dahilan para kahit sandali man lang ay makalayo kay Nickolas.

She opened the door and was more than surprised ng mabungaran ang mga nasa labas.

"Frost, Flame!" She shrieked in excitement, with the sight of the two, tuluyang nawala ang negatibong pakiramdam na kanina lang ay bumalot at halos kainin siya.

"Mmm-ma!"

Oh how she miss them!

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Gee❤️