Dangerous Solace

CHAPTER 12

AS THE CITY lights shimmered beyond the hotel windows, another quiet evening slipped by, and Lucien and Neriah both dropped themselves on the long sofa.

“Nakakapagod…” mahinang sabi ni Neriah.

Tumawa nang mahina si Lucien. “Paanong hindi ka mapapagod? Maghapon kang kuha nang kuha ng mga larawan. Pati mga puno hindi mo pinatawad.”

Neriah laughed heartily. She curled up on the sofa with her legs tucked beneath her, while Lucien sat beside her, one arm resting comfortably along the backrest.

Neriah tilted her head toward him.

“Alam mo…” panimula ni Neriah. “We know how we feel about each other.”

Ngumiti si Lucien. “Yeah. We do.”

“But we’re still calling ourselves friends.”

“We’re taking our time,” sabi ni Lucien at hinalikan ang gilid ng nuo ni Neriah.

“Friends.”

Tumango si Lucien. “Friends.”

Hindi napigilan ni Neriah ang matawa. “We’re friends…” She gently nudged his shoulder. “…but we keep stealing kisses.”

Lucien chuckled. “When you put it that way…”

“Ano ‘to?” Neriah teased. “Friends with benefits?”

He laughed softly. “Sa tingin ko, hindi ‘yun ang tamang description.”

“Eh, ano?”

Lucien reached over and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering for just a second before pulling away.

Lumabot ang mukha niya. “This is different.”

Neriah looked at him expectantly. “How?”

Lucien held her gaze. “Because I’m not here for convenience.” Tumingin siya nang diretso kay Neriah. “I’m here because it’s you.”

Nawala ang nanunudyong ngiti sa kaniyang mukha. It was replaced by something gentler…more vulnerable.

Lucien leaned a little closer. “Talagang kakaiba ka sa lahat ng mga nakita kong babae.” Then his voice became a whisper. “Good thing it was you.”

“Ano?”

He rested his forehead lightly against hers. “I’ve spent most of my life avoiding people.” Ngumiti siya. “Pero ayaw kong iwasan ka.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Neriah. “Pero ginawa mo.”

Mahinang bumuntong-hininga si Lucien. “You know the reason why.”

Bumalik ang nanunudyong ngiti sa labi ni Neriah. She moved and straddled Lucien’s lap.

“Neriah…”

Sinapo ni Neriah ang mukha ni Lucien, then she knelt on the sofa to support herself, and kissed Lucien on the lips.

Napahawak si Lucien sa baywang ng dalaga. He kissed her back—this time, their kiss was no longer gentle, but hungry. As if seeking something…something they both needed.

Lucien slid his hand inside Neriah’s shirt, caressing her skin, earning a soft moan from her… then three knocks were heard from the door.

Neriah froze and stopped kissing Lucien.

While Lucien placed small kisses on her face.

Lumaki ang mata ni Neriah nang isa pang pamilyar na katok ang narinig niya mula sa pinto. She knew that knock. Three knocks and there was a firm knock to be followed.

“Oh, no.”

Natigilan si Lucien. “Bakit?”

Neriah looked at Lucien. “My parents.”

“…What?”

“My parents!”

She jumped to her feet so quickly that the blanket fell onto the floor.

“Nandito sila!”

Tumayo na rin si Lucien. “Here?”

Tumango si Neriah. “They travel all the time. They must’ve decided to surprise me.”

Muling may kumatok.

“Neriah?” a woman’s voice called from outside.

“Princess, are you inside?” another deeper voice followed.

Nawalan ng kulay ang mukha ni Neriah. “Oh, we’re dead.”

Tumingin si Lucien sa may pintuan, saka siya tumingin kay Neriah. Pero imbes na pangunahan siya ng kaba, gusto niyang matawa sa hitsura ni Neriah.

Neriah is a bold woman. She was bold in her actions. But looking at her right now, para itong may ginagawang masama na nahuli ng magulang.

Hinawakan ni Neriah ang pulsuhan ni Lucien. “Kailangan mong magtago.”

“What?”

“Now!”

Bago pa man siya makapagprotesta, hinatak siya ni Neriah patungo sa may kwarto nito.

“Neriah, we don’t have to hide. We’re both adults—”

“My father won’t care!”

Binuksan ni Neriah ang closet. “Inside.”

Tumitig si Lucien sa closet. “You can’t be serious.”

“Seryoso ako.”

“Neriah.”

Bumaba ang boses ni Neriah. “Hindi mo kilala ang daddy ko.”

Another knock was heard from the door. “Neriah?”

“I’m coming!” she shouted before turning back to Lucien.

Her expression became unexpectedly earnest. “My mom will probably understand,” sabi niya. Then she sighed. “And I’m worried because my dad will probably skin you alive.”

Napakurap si Lucien. “…Literally?”

“No,” Neriah answered and added, “probably.”

Lucien let out a small sigh. With no better options available, he stepped inside the spacious wardrobe.

Mabilis namang isinara ni Neriah ang pinto ng closet saka nag-iwan lamang ng maliit na siwang para doon dumaan ang hangin. But then she opened it again and kissed Lucien before leaving.

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Lucien saka napahawak sa labi.

When it comes to Neriah, he easily loses control.

“Neriah, you’ll be the death of me,” he whispered.

Meanwhile, Neriah hurried to the door. Mabilis niyang binuksan ang pinto.

“Momma! Daddy!”

Binati niya ang kaniyang magulang ng may ngiti sa labi. She wrapped her arms around her mother first.

“Momma, I missed you.”

Her mother, Nylah Laurent Rios, laughed warmly as she embraced her daughter.

“We only left three weeks ago.”

“Ang haba po kaya nun.”

A deep chuckle echoed from beside them.

Pinapasok ni Neriah ang kaniyang magulang sa loob ng kaniyang hotel suite.

“Living comfortably?”

“Very.”

Tumango si Ashriel.

Sa mga oras na ‘yun, isa lamang ang pinagdarasal ni Neriah na sana umalis na agad ang kaniyang magulang. Only by leaving will she and Lucien be safe. Mabuti na lamang at wala silang kalat ni Lucien.

Walang ebidensiya na may kasama siya sa loob ng kaniyang suite.

“So…” komportableng umupo si Nylah sa sofa at tumabi naman sa kaniya si Ashriel. “How are your travels?”

Ngumiti si Neriah. “They’ve been fun.”

“Friends?” Her father asked.

Umiling si Neriah. “My camera.”

“Sigurado ka?” tanong pa ng kaniyang ama.

Tumango siya. “Yes, Dad.”

Nylah looked at her husband. “Stop it, Ashriel,” she said.

“What?”

Nylah gave her husband a knowing look. “Alam mo kung ano ang sinasabi ko.”

Napabuntong-hininga si Ashriel at nagtaas ng kamay. “Okay. Okay. Wala na akong sinabi.”

Napailing na lamang si Nylah. Pero nakahinga siya nang maluwang dahil hindi na nagtanong ang asawa niya. Her husband was being protective again.

But before Nylah could stop it—Ashriel had spoken.

“Neriah… my princess… kanino ang panyo na ‘to?” tanong ni Ashriel at itinaas ang kamay na may hawak na panyo.

Medyo lumaki ang mata ni Neriah dahil nakilala niya ang panyo. It was Lucien’s.

“Mine,” tugon ni Neriah nang walang pag-aalinlangan.

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Ashriel.

Neriah smiled innocently. “I bought it the other day.”

Ashriel looked at the handkerchief. “Other day?” he asked. “But this handkerchief doesn’t look new.”

Pasimpleng lumunok si Neriah at tumingin sa ina.

Nylah let out a small sigh, seeing her daughter’s pleading eyes. Tumingin siya kay Ashriel at kinuha ang panyo na hawak nito. Naamoy niya ang panlalaking amoy na nagmumula sa panyo, kaya alam niyang hindi ito ni Neriah. But she covered it up for her daughter.

“If our daughter said it was hers, then it was hers,” she said and gave the handkerchief to her daughter.

“Thank you, Momma,” Neriah mouthed.

Kumindat lang naman ang kaniyang ina.

“Princess, you’ve become a terrible liar,” biglang sabi ni Ashriel.

Napakurap si Neriah at napatingin sa ama.

Nylah remained quiet. Nothing can really escape her husband’s keen eyes.

“Dad?”

“Neriah, I wasn't born yesterday.” Seryosong sabi ni Ashriel. “You can’t fool me.”

Natahimik si Neriah dahil wala na siyang mailulusot. Nabisto na siya, kaya wala na siyang masabi. She can’t lie anymore.

Ashriel looked at his daughter for a long moment.

Finally, he sighed. “You think I don’t remember being young?”

Nanatiling nakayuko si Neriah.

“I wasn't born old, Neriah.”

Nag-angat ng tingin si Neriah. “You dated Mom?”

Natawa si Nylah.

Ashriel gave his daughter a deadpan look. “I married your mother.”

Napakamot na lamang si Neriah sa batok.

Ashriel stood and walked toward his daughter and gently flicked her forehead.

“If there’s someone special…” his voice softened. “…don’t hide because you’re afraid of me.”

Nagtaas ng tingin si Neriah.

“I’m strict, but I’m not unreasonable.”

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Ashriel. “I only have one condition.” Hinaplos niya ang ulo ni Neriah. “He’d better treat my daughter well.”

Inside Neriah’s room, Lucien closed his eyes. Wala na siya sa loob ng closet ni Neriah. If ever Neriah’s father sees him, he will face him.

He’s a man, and he should take responsibility.

But for some reason he couldn’t explain, hearing those words from Neriah’s father felt heavier than any threat.

Dahil sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, naramdaman na lamang niya na umaasam siya sa approval ng isang ama.

Even if it wasn’t his own.