SEDUCTION SERIES 3: SINFUL HEARTBEATS

Kabanata 11

TAHIMIK na pinagmamasdan ni Roxie ang papalubog na araw habang nakaupo sa buhanginan nang madama niya ang pagpwesto ni Zeus sa kanyang likuran.

Her heart jerked when he slowly wrapped his arms around her shoulders to pull her close until she's already leaning her back on his toned chest. Wala namang pagtangging nakuha sa kanya ang lalake. She even ran her fingertips on his jaw as he pecked a kiss on her temple.

"Kanina pa kita hinahanap," he said.

Iniwanan kasi niya ito kanina nang makaidlip ito. Ayaw naman niyang istorbohin dahil mukhang puyat ito at pagod. Alam naman niyang gaya ni Jael ay may kumpanya rin itong pinatatakbo.

She tried to do some research about Zeus before but there are very little details about him. Ang alam lang niya ay ito ang kasalukuyang acting CEO ng kumpanya ng ama nitong si Kyro Alkaide.

No one knows where Zeus' father is. Basta na lamang daw ipinasa kay Zeus ang Alkaide Prime Holdings at ang iba pang negosyo ng mga ito. Their shopping malls were known for several years until his Dad suddenly decided to pass the position to Zeus.

"You were sleeping like a baby earlier. Medyo nabagot ako sa kwarto kaya nagmuni-muni muna rito." Tiningala niya ito. "Pwede ba akong magtanong?"

"About what?" malumanay nitong tanong.

"Is it true that your business almost filed for bankruptcy?"

Nadama ni Roxie ang paghugot nito ng malalim na hininga. "Yeah, pero nakakabangon na kahit paano."

"Is that why you looked really tired? Iyong iniwanan mo bang meeting para lang samahan ko ay . . . may kinalaman sa pagbangon ng negosyo ninyo?"

Pinatakan nito ng marahang halik ang kanyang ulo. "Don't worry about it. I really need this break, too."

Nalungkot bigla si Roxie. Nakunsensya siya dahil baka mamaya ay napakaimportante ng meetings na inabandona nito. Hindi man lamang muna niya iyon naisip bago siya gumawa ng paraan para takutin si Zeus.

"Sorry," she said.

"Why are you saying sorry, hmm?" he asked while guiding her to straddle him.

She rested her forearms on his broad shoulders as they locked eyes. In his obsidian eyes, she felt lost once again.

"Kasi hindi ko man lang inisip na may sarili ka pa ring buhay. Na wala naman tayong relasyon para i-trigger kita nang ganoon at agawin ang oras mo mula sa mas makahulugang bagay," paliwanag niya.

Zeus' lips slightly curved for a faint smile. His colossal hands locked her waist as his eyes flickered with admiration.

"Roxie . . ." His thumbs caressed her waist as he kept his gaze on her. "You're worth my time."

Her heart pounced. Bakit naman bumabanat ito nang ganoon? Imbes na nagi-guilty siya ay kinilig tuloy ang mga paru-paro sa kanyang tiyan!

"Nakakainis ka naman, Zeus eh," nakasimangot niyang sabi.

He chuckled softly. "Why? What did I say wrong, hmm?" may lambing sa tinig nitong tanong habang nakatitig pa rin sa kanya. That's what melts her the most. The way he stares at her. It was like she's an art worth staring at for hours.

Nilaro niya ang dulo ng ilang hibla ng buhok nitong bahagyang tumatabing sa noo. "Nakalimutan mo yata na habang ikaw nagpapatakbo ng kumpanya, ako ay . . . nasa front desk lang ng Hotel Khallisa."

He moistened his lower lip. "Did you know that my mother met my Dad at the coffee shop where she works as a waitress?"

Natigilan siya. "Seryoso?"

Tumango si Zeus. "My Dad ended up paying the owner secretly so my mom wouldn't have to work so hard. Binabayaran niya 'yong daily sales ng coffee shop para hindi na magpapasok ang boss ng mom ko ng customer. The place became exclusive to my Dad. Madalas doon siya nagtatrabaho kahit mas kumportable ang opisina niya. My mom would serve him coffee, chitchat with him, and then my Dad would offer a ride home."

"Ang cute. Nakakainis." She sighed. "Parang sina Ma'am Khallisa at Sir Khalil, cute din ang love story—"

Natigil ang sinasabi ni Roxie nang may natanaw sa hindi kalayuan. Her body froze as she recognized the family setting up a bonfire by the beach. Ni hindi niya nagawang kumurap habang pinanonood ang masayang pamilya. Hindi rin niya namalayang namumuo na ang mga luha niya kung hindi pa hinaplos ng nag-alalang si Zeus ang kanyang pisngi.

"Roxie, talk to me," ani Zeus.

Doon pa lamang natauhan si Roxie. She turned to him but wasn't able to speak. Tanging impit na hikbi ang kanyang nagawa bago ito niyakap para maitago niya ang kanyang mukha.

Nag-aalalang hinagod ni Zeus ng palad nito ang kanyang likod nang umalog ang kanyang mga balikat dala ng pag-iyak. Ayaw man niyang mag-breakdown sa harap nito ay hindi na niya napigilan pa.

"Zeus?" she called. "Can you . . . take me back to our room now, please?"

Kahit walang ideya kung bakit siya umiiyak ay binuhat siya nito na tila bagong kasal sila. He brought her back to their room then put her on the edge of the bed. Lumuhod din ito sa kanyang harap at inilapat ang isang palad sa kanyang basang pisngi.

"Tell me what's going on, Roxie," masuyo nitong sabi.

Roxie lifted her head to look at him despite her tears falling heavily down her cheeks. "N-Nakita mo ba 'yong pamilyang pumunta sa beach front at nag-set up ng bonfire?"

"Yes. Why?" he asked. Halatang naguguluhan.

Basag na ngumiti si Roxie. "P-Papa ko 'yong lalake." Nabasag ang kanyang tinig. "A-Anak kami ni ate Rita sa labas at . . . hindi kami pwedeng lumapit sa kanila k-kasi h-hindi kami tanggap ng p-pamilya niya." She sniffed and tried to wipe her cheeks. "Gosh, bakit parang nauungkat na masyado ang buhay ko?" She faked a laugh. "Ang problematic ng background ko, ano? Suko ka na ba?"

Zeus sighed. "Baby, I've got skeletons in my closet, too but we'll talk about it some other time. That's too much crying for you."

Naupo ito sa kanyang tabi saka siya kinabig upang kumandong. Roxie felt safe as Zeus locked her in his arms. Marahan din nitong pinapatakan ng halik ang kanyang noo. Hindi rin siya hinuhusgahan o binibigyan ng payo na hindi niya hiningi. It was as if he just wanted to be there for her until it hurts no more.

"Zeus?" she called after a few minutes of them being silent.

"Hmm?"

Nilunok niya ang namuong bara sa kanyang lalamunan. "K-Kapag . . . ipinagkatiwala ko na ng . . . ng buo ang sarili ko sa'yo, h-huwag mo sana akong s-sasaktan, k-kasi buong buhay ko, p-palagi na lang akong sinasaktan ng mga lalake sa buhay ko. I just . . . want at least one man in my life who will never hurt me . . ."

Natigilan ito ng ilang sandali. Maya-maya ay nagpakawala ito ng marahas na buntonghininga bago nito hinalikan ang sulok ng kanyang mga mata.

"I'll fix myself to deserve you, Roxie. I promise you that . . ." he said before he locked her in his arms and kissed her on her lips in a gentle way.

Roxie shut her eyes and answered his kisses while praying in her head that Zeus will never end up breaking her heart the way her dad did . .