CHAPTER 26
1326 Words
AS LUCIEN woke up the next morning, he felt the warmth beside him. He smiled and slowly opened his eyes. For the first time in years, he woke up without the weight of nightmares pressing against his chest.
Nakatulog naman si Neriah sa tabi niya habang nakasandal ang ulo nito sa balikat niya.
A small smile escaped his lips.
Last night was amazing. Kagabi na yata ang pinakamasayang gabi sa buong buhay niya.
He looked at Neriah. He carefully brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
She stirred anyway.
“Morning,” nakangiting bati ni Lucien nang magmulat ito ng mga mata.
“Morning.” Her eyes blinked before she realized what they had done last night.
A shy smile appeared on Neriah’s lips. Dahan-dahan siyang tumalikod kay Lucien sa kabila ng sakit na nararamdaman niya sa katawan niya. She felt sore all over her body, especially down there. Para siyang binugbog dahil masakit ang katawan niya.
Binugbog nga siya pero hindi literal na sinaktan kundi binugbog siya sa kama.
“Neriah…”
Lucien’s breath fanned against her nape. And his fingertips trailed on her stomach. “Lucien…”
Lucien shifted and placed a small kiss on Neriah’s nape… on her neck… going up to her cheek, and his lips reached hers.
Humarap si Neriah saka bahagyang itinulak ang binata. “No…”
Lucien smiled knowingly. “No?”
“My body was sore, especially down there.” Sabi ni Neriah, kahit pa gusto niyang gawin pa sana ulit. Pero sa kalagayan ng katawan niya, kailangan niyang magpahinga.
Lucien was gentle last night. Pero sa unang round lang 'yon. The next round, he became fierce. Gusto naman niya, kaya wala siyang reklamo. She happily accepted Lucien’s fierceness last night.
Agad namang gumuhit ang pag-aalala sa mukha ni Lucien.
“Should I take you to the hospital?”
Lumaki ang mata ni Neriah. “What? No!” she protested. “Nakakahiya kaya. Anong sasabihin ko sa doktor? Na pumunta ako sa hospital para magpa-checkup dahil nakipag-s*x ako.”
Lucien chuckled. “Pwede naman.”
“Shameless…” Neriah muttered. “I’m maybe bold but not that shameless.”
Napailing na lamang si Lucien saka hinapit si Neriah sa baywang. “Then… let’s do it again after you recover.”
Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Neriah. “So, what’s our relationship now?” tanong niya.
Lucien looked at Neriah as though the answer were obvious. “Boyfriend and girlfriend. What else would we be?”
Napakurap si Neriah. “Oh.”
Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Lucien. “Oh?” he mimicked Neriah.
“I thought…” Neriah scratched the back of her neck sheepishly. “…it was just a s*x relationship.”
“I love you.” Neriah was surprised at the sudden confession. Hindi siya agad sumagot nang marinig niya ang tatlong katagang ‘yon mula kay Lucien kahit pa ilang beses na niya itong sinabi sa kaniya. She admitted she wanted to hear those words. But— I don’t want to answer it yet because I want you to cherish me.
“Neriah, put in your mind that I don’t casually touch women unless I like—”
“So, you like someone before?” Umasim ang mukha ni Neriah.
Lucien chuckled. Pinisil niya ang tungki ng ilong ni Neriah. “Only you. You are the first woman I like.”
“Your mother?”
“She’s gone.”
“I’m sorry.”
Ngumiti si Lucien. “It’s okay. Gusto ko rin naman siyang ikuwento sa ‘yo. But not now.”
Tumango si Neriah. “I’ll wait.”
Lucien slipped his arm around Neriah’s waist. “Instead of waiting, how about another round?” biro niya sa dalaga.
Neriah pouted. “I’m sore.”
“Uncomfortable?” Tumango si Neriah.
Mabilis na bumangon si Lucien. “I’ll give you a bath.”
Her eyes brightened. “I like that.”
And the first thing that Lucien did that morning was to bathe her before he went to the kitchen to make breakfast.
Habang nakahiga si Neriah sa kama at nagpapahinga dahil masakit ang p********e niya sa tuwing gagalaw siya, nakatanggap siya ng isang encrypted file galing sa kaniyang kapatid.
BLACK LOTUS — ENCRYPTED FILE RECEIVED
Sender: Evron Aiden Laurent Rios
Binuksan naman ito ni Neriah. And she saw only one line accompanied the attachment.
Read it when you’re alone.
Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ni Neriah bago binuksan ang encrypted file.
And the title read:
CONFIDENTIAL REPORT
Subject: Lucien Hale Verdan
Nawala ang ngiti ni Neriah saka tinawagan ang kaniyang nakatatandang kapatid.
“Kuya, ano ‘tong file na pinadala mo sa akin?” agad na tanong ni Neriah nang sagutin ng kaniyang kapatid ang tawag.
Narinig ni Neriah ang pagbuntong-hininga ng kaniyang Kuya Evron bago ito nagsalita.
“Since you have made up your mind about Lucien then I think I should tell you what I didn’t tell you before when I investigated him. His life is not my story to tell, but I think you should know it so that you will know what to do beforehand.”
“So?”
“The file I had sent you contains his personal life. Nasa iyo na kung bubuksan mo ‘yan o hindi.”
“So, you’re washing your hands now, Kuya?” Neriah asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Neriah…”
Agad na nagpaalam si Neriah saka binuksan ang file. She was tempted to read and she did.
The first page contained a family photography. A little boy—no older than six— stood beside a beautiful woman with gentle eyes.
The resemblance was unmistakable.
It was his mother.
Nagpatuloy si Neriah sa pagbabasa.
Lucien Hale Verdan
Legitimate heir of the Verdan Group.
Mother: Shane Hale Verdan (Deceased)
Cause of death: Car Accident
Ipinagpatuloy ni Neriah ang pagbabasa.
Following Shane Hale Verdan’s death, Lucien’s father devoted nearly all of his attention to expanding the Verdan Group.
Within two years, he remarried.
Kumunot ang noo ni Neriah. Because the next photograph was a younger version of Lucien, standing alone, several steps away from his father and his new wife.
Kahit sa larawan, mukhang hindi parte ng pamilya si Lucien.
Hindi na tinapos ni Neriah ang pagbabasa sa file na ipinadala sa kaniya ng kaniyang Kuya Evron. She closed the file without finishing it.
Agad na binura ito ni Neriah.
Kumuyom ang kaniyang kamay.
Lucien’s was guarded when the first time they met. Hindi man nito ipinakita, ramdam niyang wala itong tiwala sa mga taong lumalapit rito.
She finally built his trust with her and managed to destroy the wall he built for himself.
But her isn’t enough.
Lucien needs to face his past.
At hinihintayin niya hanggang si Lucien ang magkwento tungkol sa pamilya at buhay nito.
She was curious and wanted to get to know Lucien.
But she wouldn’t ask him about his childhood and wouldn’t force him to relive those memories.
Dahan-dahang bumaba si Neriah sa kama.
Mabuti na lamang at mula pa bata ay nagte-training na siya ng martial arts.
She has high pain tolerance.
Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad palabas ng kwarto at nagtungo sa kusina.
“Neriah, bakit ka bumangon?” May pag-aalalang wika ni Lucien. “You’re still in pain. You should have told me kung may kailangan ka.”
Ngumiti si Neriah habang nakatingin kay Lucien.
“What’s the matter?” Lucien asked. “Bakit ka ganyan sa akin makatingin?”
Umiling si Neriah. “Puwede ba kitang yakapin?”
Natawa nang mahina si Lucien. He gently wrapped his arms around Neriah. “There… Comfortable?”
Neriah closed her eyes as she leaned into Lucien’s chest.
“Lucien?”
“Hmm?”
“From now on, you are not alone.”
Hindi nagsalita si Lucien pero humigpit ang yakap nito kay Neriah.
Lucien kissed Neriah’s forehead.
He was lucky to meet her. Because he could feel the genuine kindness and warmth coming from Neriah.
- Writer
