Chapter 21: Where did you go?
TULALA si Jyra sa malaking kamay ni Malik na mahigpit ang pagkakahawak sa payat niyang braso.
He was holding her when they leave the hall, and even when they entered the elevator. Papasara na sana ang pinto noon nang may humabol na matanda. The old man was obviously gawking at her. Titig na titig kasi ito sa likuran niya.
Bumaling ang atensyon niya sa kamay ni Malik na unti-unting pumapalupot sa maliit niyang baywang. He pulled her closer.
She felt stiffen because of that.
"She's your secretary?" Malik asked.
Marahang pagtango ang isinagot niya rito.
Hinabol kasi sila ni Roena noong kinuha niya ang coat. Takot na takot ang babae, lalo nang mapansin ang pamumula ng kanyang mata.
She understands her shoe. Roena must be really worried when she's nowhere to find. Kung siya man ang nasa kalagayan nito'y ganoon din ang gagawin niya. But, Malik professionally handled her secretary and Roena, got it right away.
Iginaya siya ni Malik palabas noong magbukas ang elevator. She felt ease when they headed on the parking and his car was waiting in front. Pinagbuksan agad siya nito ng pinto.
Kabado siya nang sundan ng tingin. She's thinking now about asking him what happen to Alice, but some part of her was saying she should take it slow.
Malik glanced at her before he starts the engine. "Are you still sick?"
She chewed her lower lip when she realized what the question means. Malik saw her reaction towards Andrei, though she's not sure if he knew him or maybe seeing Cielo was the reason. "I actually overcome it since then, but something triggered about my past that's why," she explained, still trying to hold on the real issue. Hindi pa siya handang aminin kay Malik ang totoong nangyari noon. It's too private and degrading to tackle.
Hindi tumingin si Malik sa kanya, pero ang paghigpit nito nang hawak sa manibela ay nagsasabing hindi nito gusto ang isinagot niya.
Malik stopped the car on the side. He loosens his bow tie with heavy breathing. His jaw was clenching hard as if he was facing a storm on his head.
They were silent for a couple of minutes until he finally faced her. "You're not. If something triggered on it then you're still sick. Your whole reaction a while back was dangerous. What if I'm not around?" He immediately removed his seatbelt. Lumapit agad sa kanya. "I am worried my baby," bulong nito, hinahaplos ang magkabila niyang pisngi.
His touches were sending bolts of electric shock. Hindi niya mapigilang pangilabutan at matuyuan ng lalamunan. Her heart pounded when he remove her seatbelt without tearing their sight. All the worries and anger in his eyes perish when he blinked it. It was now soft and full of concern.
Her heart jumped to the moon when he pulled her closer. His lips almost kissed her cheek while his minty breathing was whispering to her face. Both of his hands were securing that she cannot find any escape.
"B-bakit ka nga pala narito? I thought you're with-" She stopped, struggling if she will say Winona or simply Vika.
"My business is here... where else should I go?" he said, his voice sending different meaning.
Her forehead creased because of confusion but she got distracted when Malik reached for her left ear and bit it. Napasandal siya sa upuan upang itago ang kiliting dala noon. She even closed her eyes to fight the urge of hugging him back. "This is not right." She bravely pushed him.
Parehas silang nagulat ni Malik sa nangyari.
Ang punto niya lang naman ay hindi tama ang inaakto ni Malik. Hindi siya ang girlfriend nito. Si Winona iyon at hindi siya. Wala siyang label dito para anihin ang buong atensyon nito.
Gumuhit ang kirot sa kanyang puso nang maalala ang ningning sa mga mata nito sa tuwing titingin kay Winona. He must be really in love with her. At ngayon, dahil lang sa tukso kaya ito nagkakaganito. Babae siya at lalaki ito, may nakaraan sila ngunit hindi iyon kagaya ng kung anong mayroon sila ng kanyang bestfriend.
"We slept in one bed." Winona's word kept on playing on her head.
Bumaba ang tingin niya sa kanyang mga kamay habang nanatiling nakatingin sa kanya si Malik.
"Girlfriend mo ang bestfriend ko. Alam kong alam mo ang bagay na 'yan," she whispered.
"And she knows that I don't have a girlfriend."
Kumunot ang noo niya.
Paano nangyari iyon kung halos isigaw niya sa madla na girlfriend niya si Vika? She even kissed her and slept in one bed. Sharing a bed at their age was leveled intimate. Baka nga engaged na sila?
She bitterly closed her eyes. Liar!
Her heart raced when he lifted her chin to meet his demanding gaze. Malik sighed. "Both of you are tight-lipped. So I gamble and intrude your both, private life, though I almost believe that she's you because of the ring."
Ring? Namilog ang mata niya nang maalala ang araw nang pag-alis niya patungong Dubai. She gave the ring to Winona that day. "Then, how did you find the ring?" Tell me, Malik. Hindi ang sing-sing ang totoong dahilan. Because you like her, right?
"I'm on the airport when I saw a woman in a mysterious mask." He gently pinched her chin; later on, he's caressing it and sometimes stroking. He stopped when he looked at her luscious lips. Nagtaas-baba ang Adams apple nito. "It was you, right?"
Sumagi sa alaala niya ang photoshoot sa airport. Iyon ang huling pagtayo niya bilang si Vika. Nakita rin pala siya nito, pero bakit wala lang sa kanya kung ganoon?
Umiwas siya nang tingin.
Maliks eyes gleamed. He might understand why she's giving a cold shoulder. "I tried to chase you... but I can't." He took a deep sigh. "Flight ko 'yon patungong Dubai, and I don't have any more time so-"
Oh, so chasing a flight is more important than me? She remained sulky.
"Oh, please, look at me," he begged.
His baritone voice was very tempting, and God knows how she wants to throw herself at him and hug him hungrily. But she's firm with her stronghold feeling. She ended up biting her lower lip.
"B-" Malik sit back in his chair to check his mobile.
Napasilip siya dahil doon. Instantly, his calm mood changed into an irritation.
Lumingon sa kanya si Malik. "Ihahatid na kita," he declared.
"Hindi pa ako uuwi. I have to see the pre-exhibit," she frowned.
Malik's eyes soften as if he was saying he does understand that side. Bahagya itong umuklo para iipit ang kanyang nakawalang buhok sa tainga niya. He was just silent while doing that until he slowly caressed her chin.
She can feel how rough his skin but it was very gentle and heart melting at the same time.
"Roena can handle that, don't worry."
She nodded her head.
Hinatid siya ni Malik. Noong una ay gusto pang sumama nito sa loob, pero agad niyang hinadlangan. Hindi pa siya handang aminin kay Shawn ang tungkol sa totoong pagkatao niya, lalung-lalo na ang katotohanang siya si Vika.
Iiling-iling siyang pumasok dahil hindi pa rin umaalis si Malik. Nang masara niya ang gate saka lang siya nakahinga ng maluwag. Dire-diretso lang siya at hindi na lumingon pa. Habang paakyat ay natigilan siya nang makasalubong si Shawn.
He's in his complete uniform. Mukha itong pagod at puyat.
"Nag-dinner ka na?" Nangangapa niyang tanong.
Hindi ito nakasagot agad dahil sa gulat. His eyes were obviously scanning her from head to toe and when she caught him doing that, he fakes a scoffed.
"Saan ka nagpunta?"
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