CHAPTER 24
1690 Words
HINDI napigilan ni Nicolo ang kaniyang tawa dahil kay Haze. Hindi kasi ito makatingin sa kaniya ng deretso at parang ayaw pa siya nitong harapin.
“Why are you embarrassed? Don’t you like it? We’re even now. I’ve seen you in a towel and you’ve seen me in a towel.” Kibit ng balikat na saad ni Nicolo. He was enjoying teasing Haze.
Natakapan ni Haze ang mukha. Ramdam na naman niyang nag-iinit ang kaniyang mukha dahil sa kahihiyan. “That was different!” Aniya saka binato si Nicolo nang hawakan niyang pot holder.
Sinalo ni Nicolo ang ibinato ni Haze. “How was it different?” he asked and placed the pot holder on the table.
Haze sighed. Hindi na niya tinapos ang pagkain. Pumunta siya sa kwarto at ini-lock ito. Humiga siya sa kama saka nagkumot.
Natawa na lamang ng mahina si Nicolo saka napailing. Haze was really embarrassed. He could see it but he can’t help himself teasing her. Haze was adorable when she is being teased. Tinapos niya ang pagkain saka inayos ang hapagkainan.
Then he knocked in Haze’s room. “If you need something, just come to me or call me. I’ll leave my room’s door unlocked.”
Hindi narinig ni Nicolo na tumugon si Haze pero tumunog ang phone niya kaya tinignan niya ito. A smile appeared in his lips when he saw Haze’s message. ‘Thanks.’
Pumunta si Nicolo sa sariling kwarto. Kapagkuwan napatingin siya sa labas ng bintana. Malakas pa rin ang ulan at may kasama pa itong pagkulog at pagkidlat. He took his laptop and sat on the bed. Sumandal siya sa headboard ng kama saka tnignan ang mga email na naipadala sa kaniya.
Most of the emails he received were from Italy. He replied to the important emails and forwarded some business emails to Alessio since he managed the Parisi Family businesses.
Nicolo frowned when he encountered an anonymous email. The email contained threats, but those threats were nothing to him. He called Alonzo to look for the sender.
“Young Master.”
“I forwarded an email to you. Look for the sender.” He ordered.
“Yes, Young Master.”
Nicolo ended the call and closed his laptop. Kapagkuwan biglang bumukas ng pinto ng kwarto.
“Nic!”
“Haze?” Mabilis na napatayo si Nicolo nang makita niya ang hitsura ni Haze na takot na takot. Tinahak niya ang distansiya nilang dalawa at nang makalapit siya kay Haze, nabigla siya nang yakapin siya ng dalaga.
“I’m scared.” Kasabay ng pagkasabi ‘yon ni Haze ay kumulog ng malakas.
“You’re scared of thunder?” Nicolo asked the obvious and he wanted to smack himself because of his foolish question.
Haze nodded. Her embrace of Nicolo tightened. Being in Nicolo’s arms made her feel safe.
Nicolo caressed Haze’s hair. “I’m here.”
“C-can I stay here?” Nahihiyang tanong ni Haze. “I feel safe with you.”
Ngumiti si Nicolo. “Of course, you can stay here.” Pinangko niya si Haze at dinala sa kama. He put the quilt on Haze. Then he sat on the edge of the bed and leaned on the headboard.
Haze leaned to Nicolo.
Inakbayan naman ni Nicolo ang dalaga. Ramdam niya ang panginginig ni Haze. At sa tuwing kukulog sa labas, napapaigtad ito.
“Why are you afraid of thunder?” Nicolo asked.
Haze encircled her arms around Nicolo’s waist. She was afraid that he would leave her at any moment.
“Because it reminds me of my mother’s funeral.” Sabi ni Haze na ikinatigil ni Nicolo. “It was raining heavily that day, and thunder and lightning were clamoring in the sky. Everyone left and I was the one left alone, crying in front of my mother’s grave.”
Hindi alam ni Nicolo kung ano ang dapat niyang maramdaman habang pinapakinggan ni Haze. How he wished that he was with her at that time to comfort her.
“My mother died from blood cancer. I had no sibling which I was thankful for. After that, I was taken in by my mother’s sister but they treated me like a servant. Nagtiis ako hanggang sa nakaalis rin ako sa poder nila. Living alone, I felt sad because I felt I had no one to rely on. At parang walang silbi na nabubuhay pa ako sa mundong ‘to.”
“Don’t worry, from now on, you have me. You will never feel alone again.” Sabi ni Nicolo saka hinalikan ang nuo ni Haze.
Haze was stunned. “You… you kissed my forehead.” Nag-angat siya ng tingin.
Nicolo smiled. “Yeah. What’s the matter?” he asked.
Bumuka ang bibig ni Haze pero walang lumabas na salita sa bibig niya. Gusto niyang magtanong kay Nicolo. Ayaw niyang mag-assume pero baka masaktan lang siya kapag ang inaasahan niyang marinig mula kay Nicolo ay hindi niya marinig.
“You want to say something?”
Umiling si Haze at ipinikit ang mata.
Ngumiti si Nicolo. “I like you.”
Mabilis na napamulat ng mata si Haze saka napatitig kay Nicolo. “A-anong sinabi mo?”
Hinawakan ni Nicolo ang pisngi ni Haze. He gently caressed her cheek. “I said I like you.”
“Nic…”
They stared into each other.
“I don’t how but the first time I saw you, I already liked you.” Nicolo confesses while looking affectionately at Haze.
Haze was really stunned. “Italy?” tanong niya para makasiguro siya sa kaniyang iniisip.
Nicolo nodded. “Yeah, I was attracted to you when you were in Italy.”
“So…”
Ngumiti si Nicolo. “That’s why I am here. I followed you here. I really like you, Haze.” He confessed.
Mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin si Haze. Naalala niya ang mga bagay na ginawa para sa kaniya ni Nicolo. The care he showed to her. Everything…nakagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi.
“Haze, I noticed that Nicolo cared for you too much.”
“We’re just friends.”
“Haze, iba ang nakikita kong pag-aalala niya sa ‘yo. I can see that he was concern for every bit of your move. Open you eyes. Huwag kang maging manhid.”
Biglang naalala ni Haze ang laging sinasabi sa kaniya ni Janine. She wanted to think that way before. She wanted to think that Nicolo likes her but she stopped herself from assuming. Now, that Nicolo had confessed. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang itutugon niya rito.
“Nicolo…”
“Don’t worry, I won’t force you to like me. But I do hope that you will like me.”
Haze bit her lip again.
“Don’t bite your lip.” I am tempted to kiss you. He touched Haze’s lips. “It will bleed.”
Haze stopped biting her lips and looked down. “Actually… except from my mother and Janine. You’re the first person who showed care and kindness to me. You have never taken advantage of me. So, I became comfortable with you.”
“Am I the only man who could get close to you like this?” Nicolo asked.
Haze nodded. She closed her eyes. “I’m sleepy.”
“Then sleep. I’ll be with you.”
Ngumiti lang si Haze. Nicolo’s scent that was invading her nostrils made her sleepy.
Nang masiguro ni Nicolo na tulog na si Haze, maingat niyang inayos ang pagkakahiga nito sa kama saka kinumutan. He was tempted to lie down beside Haze but he already said that he won’t take advantage of her. Of course, he would value his words.
Nicolo took another quilt. At sa mahabang sofa siya humiga.
WHEN Haze woke up the next morning, she smiled seeing Nicolo asleep on the sofa. “He really kept his distance.” Aniya saka napatango. That’s why she was comfortable with him.
Then she remembered Nicolo’s confession last night. Hindi niya akalain na gusto siya ng binata.
Haze smiled and get up. Inayos niya ang hinigaan niya saka bumalik sa sariling kwarto. She took a bath and get dressed. Nagsuot siya ng puting t-shirt at pinatungan niya ito ng checkered. Then jeans and white shoes.
She was about to order breakfast when a message popped in.
‘Don’t order breakfast. Let’s go to the restaurant near the hotel later. Their food was delicious. Wait for me to get dressed.’
Haze smiled. ‘Okay.’ She replied.
She went to Nicolo’s room and sat in the living room. She played with her phone while waiting for Nicolo. Hindi naman naging matagal ang kaniyang paghihintay.
“You’re here.”
Tumango si Haze. “Waiting for you.”
Nicolo was stunned for a moment then he smiled. “Let’s go.”
Lumabas silang dalawa sa kwarto ni Nicolo. Magkasabay silang naglakad patungo sa elevator at may kasabay sila. Kumunot ang nuo ni Haze nang marinig niyang nagbubulungan ang dalawang babae sa kanilang likuran tungkol kay Nicolo.
“Ang gwapo niya.”
“Oo nga. Ang swerte naman ng girlfriend niya.”
“Pero gusto ko siya. Mukhang masarap rin—”
Tumikhim si Haze saka tinignan ang dalawang babae. Tinaasan niya ang mga ito ng kilay at agad namang tumahimik ang mga ito. Napailing siya saka tumingin kay Nicolo. Mukhang wala naman itong pakialam kaya natuwa siya. Nakasimpleng jeans, polo shirt na itim at white shoes lamang si Nicolo. Humakab ang katawan ni Nicolo sa suot nitong polo.
Nicolo was indeed handsome kaya hindi niya masisisi ang dalawang babae na kasabay nila sa elevator. Women would really drool over Nicolo because of his looks. Pero mukhang mas maswerte siya dahil nakita na niya ang abs nito.
Haze facepalmed and shook her head. Ano bang pinag-iisip niya?
“Do you want to walk or take the car?” Nicolo asked.
“Maglakad na lang tayo.” Tugon ni Haze.
Habang naglalakad sila, naramdaman ni Haze ang paghawak ni Nicolo sa kamay niya.
“Is this alright? Do you feel comfortable?”
Haze nodded. Pinagsiklop niya ang kamay nilang dalawa na ikinangiti ni Nicolo. I think my confession last night was a good thing.
- Writer
