Dangerous Solace

CHAPTER 6

THE NEXT MORNING, Neriah went to Lucien’s room to talk to him. Kasi gusto niyang isama ito sa auction na pupuntahan niya. Pagpasok niya sa kwarto ni Lucien, nakita niya itong nakaupo sa living room at nagbabasa ng libro. Or he was pretending to read it.

Neriah still wasn’t entirely convinced he enjoyed business documents as much as he claimed. Pero para sa kaniya, talagang wala siyang hilig sa pagnenegosyo. She just wants to be free—free from headaches, free from the bombardment of the boards and she was just too lazy to explain when there was something amiss on the paper… that’s why she chose to travel across the world.

Without invitation, she dropped into the seat across from him.

Nag-angat naman ng tingin si Lucien.

Matamis na ngumiti si Neriah.

Lucien immediately became suspicious. Sa pagkakakilala niya kay Neriah, alam niya ang klase ng ngiting ‘yon.

But still, he asked. “What?”

Hindi nawala ang matamis na ngiti sa labi ni Neriah. “Sumama ka sa akin.”

“No.” Agad na sabi ni Lucien, hindi pa man niya naririnig ang sasabihin ng dalaga. He could feel it… Trouble was coming.

Napakurap si Neriah. “You don’t even know where,” she said.

Umiling si Lucien. “The answers remain no.”

Neriah pouted. “Lucien.”

“No.”

Tumawa si Neriah. Then she leaned forward. “Underground auction.”

Natahimik si Lucien at napatitig kay Neriah. Then he blinked once. “Underground auction?”

Neriah smiled and shrugged. “Yes.”

Lucien knew that Neriah was not ordinary, but not to this point. “That’s illegal, right?”

The question was so sincere that Neriah nearly laughed again. “Technically.”

“Technically?”

“Depends who’s asking.”

“Neriah.”

Neriah chuckled.

Inobserbahan niya si Lucien.

And the other day, she followed him secretly. Lucien was attacked in the alley, and to her surprise, he dismantled the armed attacker in seconds. He could read danger before it happened and navigate international negotiations, yet somehow, a certain part of the world still shocked him.

It was adorable, though.

Napangiti na lamang si Neriah sa isiping ‘yon.

Lucien appeared innocent and mysterious to her. Maliban sa mga basic information tungkol rito, hindi na niya pinilit na alamin ang tungkol sa iba pang personal na impormasyon tungkol sa lalaki.

She wanted it to be thrilling.

Gusto niyang siya na ang umalam. Not because she investigates, but because she wanted Lucien to tell it to her. Pero sa ngayon, alam niyang hindi mangyayari ‘yon.

But that was okay; she’s interested to Lucien, and she won’t give up.

Lumaki siyang nakukuha niya ang gusto niya—through her efforts—and she wants Lucien Hale Verdan.

“Alam mo,” tumayo si Neriah. “You’re three years older than me.”

Lucien immediately sensed an insult approaching. “And?”

“It seems like I’ve seen the world more than you.” Sabi ni Neriah, hindi na niya inisip kung maiinsulto si Lucien sa sinabi niya. Well, she’s just straightforward.

Naningkit ang mata ni Lucien, pero hindi siya nagsalita dahil totoo naman ang sinabi ni Neriah. All his life, he spent on education, business, and protecting himself from those people who wanted to harm him.

“I’ve traveled to over twenty countries.” Lucien tried to argue.

“On business.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Lucien. “So?”

“That doesn’t count.”

“It absolutely counts.”

“Hindi.” Sabi ni Neriah.

“Bakit naman hindi?”

“Because you don’t actually explore,” Neriah reasoned.

Wealthy heirs—billionaires—can have access to an underground auction, but it seems that Lucien hasn’t seen one. Since that was the case, she would let Lucien see what was inside the underground and the feeling of being carefree.

Dahil sa nakikita niya sa likod ng inosenteng mukha ng isang Lucien Hale Verdan—there was something hiding in there. Though Neriah couldn’t pinpoint it, she could tell that Lucien was hiding something, maybe a shadow of his past. Or struggles that bind him, so he won’t feel the real freedom.

Mahinang bumuntong-hininga si Neriah saka napailing na lamang.

Itiniklop ni Lucien ang binabasang aklat dahil wala na ring saysay ang pagbabasa niya. Not when Neriah had clearly decided to become a menace.

“Let me understand this correctly,” Lucien said.

“Okay.” Neriah will listen.

“You’re inviting me to an illegal auction.”

“Hmm…” Napahawak si Neriah sa sariling baba. “Allegedly illegal… or legal. Whichever you think.”

“And your argument is that I need more life experience.”

Tumango si Neriah. “Exactly.”

Napatitig si Lucien kay Neriah. Nakikita niya ang kumpiyansa, kasiguruhan at walang pag-aalala sa mukha ng dalaga. Neriah genuinely believed that this was a convincing argument. Which somehow made it more convincing.

Lucien was not interested in any underground auction, but seeing Neriah’s hopeful and expectant expression, he didn’t have the heart to say no to her.

Napabuntong-hininga si Lucien. “Kailan tayo pupunta?”

Lumiwanag ang mukha ni Neriah.

And seeing Neriah’s bright face, Lucien’s choice was worth it.

“Tonight.”

Tumango si Lucien. “Of course.”

Neriah beamed. Then pointed at him. “See? You’re learning.”

“I’m making a mistake.”

“Same thing.” Parang wala lang na sabi ni Neriah. And as she walked away laughing, Lucien found himself watching her again.

Neriah was a trouble.

He knew it.

And probably, Neriah knew it herself.

But Lucien found himself looking forward to the trouble.

Napailing na lamang si Lucien. Hindi niya maintindihan ang kaniyang sarili.

Hindi man matagal na panahon na nakilala niya si Neriah, nararamdaman niyang totoo ang mga ipinapakita nito sa kaniya.

Neriah was genuine, and that made him drawn to her in a short span of time they were together. Unlike his family, he prefers being with Neriah­. The woman whom he had only met a few weeks ago, a stranger, and yet, he admits it, he was looking forward to seeing her every day.

“Lucien… Lucien…” he sighed.

Napahawak si Lucien sa tapat ng kaniyang puso. Malakas ang kabog nito na para bang pagod na pagod siya.

He shook his head. “What was happening to me?”

But somehow, this feeling made him feel comfortable.

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Lucien.

For the first time in long years, someone had made him comfortable.

And that was Neriah­—isang hindi ordinaryong babae — at hindi niya inaasahan na makakalagayan niya ng loob.