Rugged Men Series 6: Jackson Cruz (TAGALOG)

Chapter 4

“TWICE, isn’t it?” tanong ni Heather para mabasag ang katahimikan na namayani sa pagitan nila ni Jackson. Nang hindi sumagot si Jackson ay palihim na napabuntong-hininga na lamang siya. “You know what, forget it. You don’t have to answer it.”

Gaya ng kanyang sinabi ay hindi nga ito sumagot kundi sinalat lamang nito ang pisngi. Naramdaman na naman niya ang kagustuhan na hawakan ang pisngi nito kaya napapikit siya bago itinuon ang atensyon sa iba. Touching Jackson is not a good idea. Not when he's vulnerable because of his fight with his girlfriend.

“You know what, I’m not so good at talking so if you don't want to answer and just want an alone time, I respect that. I better go,” pagkuha niya ng atensyon kay Jackson ngunit nanatili pa rin itong nakatunganga marahil dahil sa nangyari.

“You don't even acknowledge me coming here to congratulate you. I literally chose you over Ivina,” bulong nito sa sobrang hina na paraan.

Sa sobrang hina ng boses nito ay wala siya narinig kahit isa sa mga kataga nito.

“It's final. I’m going now,” pagbibigay-alam ni Heather bago siya tumalima.

Nang muli siyang kumilos ay mas lalong hinigpitan ni Jackson ang pagkahawak sa kanyang sentido. “Heather, can I... can I sleep with you tonight?”

“What?!” palahaw ni Heather nang mawindang siya sa tinanong nito.

Minuto ang lumipas bago nito napagtanto ang tanong. Nahihiyang iwinasiwas nito ang mga kamay pagkatapos ay nagkamot sa batok. “That's not what I meant. s**t! I mean... I mean can I sleep over tonight? Ivina took my car keys and she probably locked my penthouse tonight just like she always do when we fight. Nasa Batangas pa ang bahay ko. I can't go home in this hour. It’s already late.”

She looked at Jackson for a minute before nodding. “Sure. Get inside the car.”

Nang lumiwanag ang mukha nito ay pinigilan niyang mapangiti matapos masaksihan ang naging reaksyon nito. Para itong bata na pinayagan na bilhan ng paborito nitong candy. Abot tainga ang ngiti nito kaya naman nag-iwas siya ng tingin para pigilan ang sarili sa kagustuhan na kurutin ito sa pisngi. Marahil naramdaman ni Jackson ang pagka-ilang kaya napakamot ito sa batok bago ito tumalima at pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan.

Jackson’s presence obviously affected her driving. Even though she tries so hard not to have a glimpse at Jackson, she ends up doing it again and again. Heck, she almost memorizes his perfect face. But the one that made her heart skip a beat was the relief in his eyes after flashing pain back in the parking lot. At least, this time he’s feeling a bit all right. Panay ang nakaw niya ng tingin dito ganggang sa nagtama na ang kanilang mata nang makalampas na sila sa tulay ng Quezon City.

“She did,” ani Jackson para mapatingin siya rito nang saglit bago ibinalik ang mga mata sa daan. “To answer your question, she did. I thought you didn't know.”

“I actually didn't see it. I heard it,” pagbibigay-alam ni Heather para makita niyang napatitig sa kanya si Jackson.

Nang hindi niya na mapagilan ang maiinit nitong pagtitig ay marahas siyang nagpakawala ng hangin. “Please, don’t. Don't look at me like that. You can't look at me like that.”

“Sorry, I can’t help it. This is the longer conversation we did after knowing each other for two years,” natatawang wika ni Jackson bago ibinaling ang atensyon sa kung saan. “I am lucky, I guess. My friends haven’t heard your voice even just for once.”

Hindi nakaimik agad si Heather. She was trying to build her response but she ends shutting her mouth. Hindi niya alam ang tamang kataga na itutugon dito. And that's her problem. She always have that intimidating aura, people around her always mistook her as snob, face resting b***h. Little did the others know that it she was just having a hard time building response on her mind, she always ends up choosing silence. Nakasanayan niya na ito hanggang sa hindi na siya naghanap ng paraan para sulusyunan ang problema. It was called anxiety. And she got that from her traumatic past.

“So, I guess your back to the silent and mysterious you, huh?” tanong ni Jackson matapos ang ilang minuto para makagat niya ang labi. “Oh, okay. Not going to pry though. But please know that you are safe with me. Your words are safe with me.”

“R-Really?” balik-tanong ni Heather para mapatingin ang binata sa kanya.

Sandaling tinitigan siya nito na tila ba sinuri ang bawat anggulo ng kanyang pagmumukha. Magmula sa kanyang noo pababa sa kanyang baba bago ito napangiti nang maluwag. “Yes, of course. I’m a lawyer, remember?”

Well, that wasn't the response she expected. How funny of her to expect that tension was finally rising between them. As a lawyer, Jackson knew those things. Maalam ito kung paano magsalita at kung paano nito nakukuha ang tiwala ng isang tao. And she got hers. Pero may katiting sa sarili niya na umaasa na hindi lamang iyon ang dahilan nito. Na mas may malaki itong dahilan kundi lamang sa pagiging abogado.

“Of course...” tugon niya sabay nag-iwas ng tingin. Hindi na siya umimik pa hanggang sa nakarating na siya sa kanyang bahay.

Lumabas siya sa sasakyan at tumayo sa harap ng bahay. The bar they just left was even bigger than her house. Ngayon niya pa lamang napagtanto na pang-isahang tao lamang ang kanyang tinitirhan at nakakahiya iyon kay Jackson na isang milyonaryong abogado. Nakangiwi na tiningala niya ang kabuuan ng bahay bago nakita ang pagtabi ni Jackson sa kanta. She looked at him and her tongue retreat, again.

“I guess you wanted to say that you wanted to apologize because your house isn't that big...” wika ni Jackson na tila ba nabasa nito ang kanyang isip. “You don't have to. This is cozier than any big mansion I ever saw. You know why? Because you are in it.”

Kumurap-kurap lamang si Heather sa harap nito bilang pagpapaalam na bumaliktad ang kanyang puso dahil sa masasamyong kataga na iyon bago siya nag-iwas ng tingin. She must be out of her mind. How can she feel giddy in front of a commited man?

Palihim na napapikit si Heather at inayos ang kanyang sarili. Dumire-diretso siya sa pagbukas sa pinto at hinintay na makapasok si Jackson sa loob. When she heard the shutting of the door, she turned to look back at Jackson. Hindi niya alam ang biglang nangyari sa kanya dahil bigla na lamang siyang napatingin sa mapupula nitong labi sa halip na dumiretso sa kuwarto at magtago.

When she couldn't contain herself anymore, she strode towards Jackson and gave him a kiss on the lips. Hindi niya alam ang pumasok sa kanyang isip kung bakit niya ginawa iyon ngunit isa lamang ang nasa isip niya habang dinampian ito nang magaan na halik.

She wanted to feel his lips on her.

Nang mahimasmasan sa kanyang ginawa ay napalayo siya mula rito na para bang napaso nang mainit na tubig. “Oh, my god, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Jackson, I didn't— I didn’t mean to—”

Hindi niya na naituloy ang sasabihin nang tuluyan na siyang hinapit ni Jackson at muling hinalikan. She knew she must push him away but she remain frozen. Until she surrender and kissed back instead of pushing him away.

Nang pinalalim nito ang halik ay mas lalong napaawang ang bibig ni Heather nang maramdaman ang paggalaw ng dila nito. “Jackson...”