The Mafia Boss' Heart

CHAPTER 25

“WHY are you smiling?” tanong ni Nicolo kay Haze nang makita niyang nakangiti ito. They were eating in a restaurant and he noticed that Haze was smiling happily.

Umiling si Haze. “Nothing.”

Tinaasan ni Nicolo ng kilay si Haze. “Nothing? Then why are you smiling happily?” he asked.

Haze smiled sweetly. “I’m just happy because you like me.”

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Nicolo. “So, you’re happy because of that?”

Haze eagerly nodded. “Look. Though I don’t know your family background, I can tell you have a good family. You are raised well by your parents. You’re a gentleman and nice to me. Who wouldn’t be happy? You like me?” she pointed herself. “An ordinary woman?”

Nicolo smiled. “So?”

“So, so…” Haze chuckled. She stretched her hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Parisi.”

Nagtaka si Nicolo sa ginawa ni Haze pero tinanggap niya ang pakikipagkamay nito. “Nice to meet you too, Ms. Manzano.” Then he kissed Haze’s hand. “Then do I have a chance?” he asked while still holding Haze’s hand.

“What do you think?” pabalik na tanong ni Haze.

Bumilis ang pagtibok ng puso ni Nicolo. He always felt this whenever he was with Haze. His heart was beating so fast. “Haze, you know that I like and was sensitive when it comes about my feelings to you. So, can you give me a straight answer?”

Binawi ni Haze ang kamay niyang hawak ni Nicolo. Uminom siya ng tubig. “Let’s eat.”

“Haze, please…”

Haze looked at Nicolo. Natawa siya ng mahina nang makita hitsura ni Nicolo. Nicolo looked pitiful and was about to cry. “I already told you last night.”

“Last night? But you only told me that you are comfortable with me—” napatigil si Nicolo sa pagsasalita nang marealized niya ang ibig sabihin ni Haze. “You will give me a chance?”

Haze rolled her eyes. “What do you think? You’re the only man who I am comfortable with.”

“Oh.” Nicolo tried to suppress his smile.

Napailing na lang si Haze. “Just smile. Huwag mo ng pigilan pa.” Aniya.

Nicolo bit his lower lip and looked away. And he was blushing.

Natawa si Haze. “You looked cute, Nic.” Aniya habang natatawa pa rin. This is her first time being amazed by a man who looks cute because he is suppressing his smile. Para itong kinikilig na ewan. At ngayon lamang siya nakakita ng lalaking kinikilig.

“Damn. This is embarrassing.” Sabi ni Nicolo at tinakpan ang mukha. Hindi na tuloy siya makakain.

Napailing na lamang si Haze saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain. “Kumain ka na.”

Nakayukong nagpatuloy sa pagkain si Nicolo. Hindi siya makatingin ng deretso kay Haze.

Nang matapos silang kumain, they paid their bill and took a walk on the road. Pumunta sila sa lugar kung saan nakikita nila ang view ng Taal Volcano. Haze was looking around, taking pictures and smiling brightly. Nicolo took a picture of Haze secretly and sent it to his family. Pero ang sinend niyang picture ay ang picture ni Haze na nakatalikod.

Then his mother texted him. ‘You don’t even know how to take pictures. I want to see my daughter-in-law’s face.’

Napailing na lamang si Nicolo saka ibinulsa ang cellphone. Then he looked at Haze. He saw a man trying to talk to Haze but Haze was backing away. Mabilis siyang lumapit kay Haze. Ipinalibot niya ang braso sa beywang ng dalaga.

Haze gasped and immediately looked at him.

Nicolo smiled. “I’m here.”

Tumango si Haze.

Tinignan ni Nicolo ang lalaki. “What do you need from my wife?” he asked in a cold voice.

Haze’s eyes widened and she looked at Nicolo.

Nicolo just winked.

“Wala. Wala.” Sabi naman ng lalaki at nagmamadaling umalis at mukhang natakot.

Nang makaalis ang lalaki, bahagyang siniko at itinulak ni Haze si Nicolo. “Who’s your wife?”

“You.” Deretsong tugon ni Nicolo.

Haze rolled her eyes and walked away from Nicolo. Mabilis naman siyang sinundan ng binata at sinabayan sa paglalakad.

“Haze, I’m curious about one thing. I wonder if I would ask you or…” Nicolo looked at Haze. What if I angered her?

“Ask me.”

Nicolo took a deep breath. “I have already noticed it before but I stopped myself from asking for the fear that I might anger you.”

Haze frowned. “Now, I’m curious what your question will be.” Tumigil siya sa paglalakad saka hinarap si Nicolo.

Napabuntong hininga si Nicolo. “It’s better not to ask. It might make you uncomfortable.” Aniya. Then he put his hands in his pocket.

Napangiti si Haze. Alam niya kung ano ang itatanong ni Nicolo. Nababasa niya sa mata nito ang gusto nitong itanong pero nag-aalanganin ito dahil baka magalit siya. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Nicolo kaya napatingin sa kaniya ang binata.

“Do you want to ask me why I am distancing myself from men?”

Tumango si Nicolo. “But you don’t have to answer if you’re not comfortable…”

“Because I was nearly raped when I was in college.”

Nahigit ni Nicolo ang hininga at humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ni Haze. Napatitig siya sa dalaga. Hindi niya akalain na dumanas ng ganun ang dalaga. Tama pa lang ang hinala niya noong una. May karanasan si Haze na hindi nito malimutan at iyon ang dahil kung bakit dumidistansiya ito sa mga lalaki.

Haze smiled but her smile didn’t reach her eyes. The smile she always wore to hide what she really feels. “Since then, I was distancing myself from men. Natatakot kasi ako na baka may balak silang masama sa akin.” Nagbaba siya ng tingin.

“Who is it? Did that bastard was put behind bars?” Nicolo asked in a calm voice but his blood was boiling, wanting to kill the man who harassed the woman he loved.

Umiling si Haze. “Hindi ko alam. Bago pa man siya mahuli ng mga pulis ay tumakas na siya.” Napansin niyang umiigting ang panga ni Nicolo pero kalmado lang ito. “Nicolo…”

Nicolo squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath. “I want to kill him.” He said in a menacing voice.

Natigilan si Haze nang marinig ang mapanganib na boses ni Nicolo. Medyo napaatras siya dahil nakakatakot ang boses ni Nicolo. Simula ng makilala niya ang binata, ngayon lamang niya narinig ang ganoong boses ni Nicolo. Nicolo always speaks gently to her. And this is her first time hearing him in a menacing voice.

“Nicolo…”

Nagmulat ng mata si Nicolo. Hinila niya si Haze saka niyakap. “From now on, you have me. I will protect you.”

Ramdam nila pareho ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ng bawat isa. Napangiti na lamang sila pareho. Binigyan distansiya ni Nicolo ang katawan nilang dalawa ni Haze. Hinawi niya ang ilang hibla ng buhok na tumatabing sa mukha ni Haze.

“Thank you, Nic. Thank you for being with me, and accompanying me. After I met you, I don’t feel lonely anymore. Ramdam kong may kasama na ako.”

Ngumiti si Nicolo saka hinalikan ang nuo ni Haze.

Napahawak naman si Haze sa parte ng nuo na hinalikan ng binata.

“Go and sit over there.” Itinuro ni Nicolo ang isang bench na nakaharap sa taal volcano. Maraming mga turista sa lugar. At kaniya-kaniyang mundo ang lahat. May mga batang naglalaro at naghahabulan.

“Saan ka pupunta?” tanong ni Haze.

“I’ll buy something to eat. To cheer you up. Your bright mood had changed so I need to change it back.” Sabi ni Nicolo saka umalis saglit.

Eksakto namang tumawag si Janine kay Haze pagkaalis ni Nicolo.

“How’s your leisure time? Kung hindi pa ako tumawag, hindi pa kita makakausap. Sinolo mo naman na yata si Nicolo diyan.” Natatawang pambungad ni Janine sa kaibigan.

“Tumigil ka nga, Janine.” Napailing na lamang si Haze.

“Asus.” Pang-aasar ni Janine. “kunwari ka pa. Alam ko naman na gusto mo si Nicolo.”

“Janine…”

“Hay naku! Huwag ka ng mag-deny, ‘teh.” Sabi ni Janine. “Bakit sa tingin mo ba hindi ko nahahalata ang mga tingin mo sa kaniya minsan. Haze, hindi ako tanga para hindi ko mapansin na may gusto ka kay Mr. Parisi.”

Napatikhim si Haze. Kapagkuwan nakita niya si Nicolo na pabalik na. “Talk to you later.” Mabilis niyang pinatay ang tawag.

Pagbalik ni Nicolo ay may dala na itong ice cream.

“Bakit isa lang?” tanong ni Haze habang tinanggal ang takip ng ice cream.

“I’m not into sweets.”

Nagsubo si Haze ng ice cream. Then she scoops and feed it to Nicolo. “Say ‘ah’.”

Automatikong bumuka ang bibig ni Nicolo upang tanggapin ang isinusubo sa kaniya ni Haze.

Ngumiti naman si Haze saka napatingin sa Taal. “It’s beautiful.”

Nicolo agreed while looking at Haze. “Yeah. Indeed. It’s beautiful.” Not just the outside but also the soul.