Watch your thoughts, they become your words: 12 | Aphrodisiac

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
"Okay—" I paused as I caught something that reflected on Cross' eyes.

Bigla nalang lumatay sa sikmura ko ang kaba kaya agad akong lumingon sa aking likuran pero kahit anong pilit kong tumingin sa kadiliman ay wala akong makita.

Mas lalo lang atang dumoble ang kabang pilit akong nilalamon, imposibleng wala akong makita. My eyes are trained to see and adjust into the darkness.

As I looked into his eyes bago siya lumihis ng tingin, I noticed a glimmer of light, na para bang galing sa isang bagay na nag reflect ng ilaw at tumama sa mga mata ni Cross.

It couldn't have been the light from the bulbs on the courtyard because the reflection of the light passed directly in front of him, not from the side.

He was staring directly at me at that moment, so whatever reflected the light from the bulbs must have come from behind me. 

It left me feeling suspicious, wondering what caused that strange reflection. And  Cross was taking too long getting down, so I couldn't wait any longer. I made my way out to the yard, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness as I searched and stayed alert.

As I took a few more steps, I heard a rustling behind me. I spun around, but before I could react, another person was already in front of me. He moved so fast that I couldn't get away when its arms gripped my neck then pressing a cloth over my mouth.

Panic set in as I struggled, unable to breathe or make a sound for help. Abot-
abot ang kabang nagpapanginig sa bawat sulok ng aking katawan dahil huli na ng mapagtanto kong may kemikal na nilagay sa panyo.

Hindi nanga ako nakagalaw pa at nakasigaw gaya sa planong binubuo kong pag takas sa aking isipan dahil agad na bumigat ang mga talukap ng aking mga mata.

"Is that dead?" huling narinig kong sabi ng kung sino mula sa'king likuran bago ako nawalan ng malay.

"What do you think you're doing? We need to go!"

"How about this, girl?"

"What, are you planning to snatch her as well? We robbed everything we need from the hill, let's go!"

"Isn't that aphrodisiac on your hands, you fucktard?"
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
Cargael's POV

Rubianna seemed detached, preferring to maintain her distance from others. Her manner conveyed a weight in her heart, as if she bore a burden that kept her apart from others around her. 

Her personality might have been inconsistent at times, but certain traits remained steady. One of those was her rude habit of openly staring at people, na para bang ikaw ang pinaka walang kwentang tao sa mundo.

Kung maka titig siya ay makukuwestyon mo nalang ang sarili mong bakit kapa niluwal ng iyong ina. Her habit made others uneasy, as if they were constantly being watched. Even Chanel and Aoike couldn't tell if she did it on purpose or if it was just part of her unpredictable nature.

There was a mystery to her, hidden behind her appearance, but her eyes told another story. Looking into those icy dark eyes, I almost forgot about how much she could change in split seconds.

Those obsidian orbs hinted that she wasn't quite who she appeared to be.
At first, I didn't care who she really was, because I find her annoying.

But what bothered me was her silence after she cried on my chest. The way she stayed quiet through everything happening around her, that silence only added to my annoyance.

Lalo na at malakas ang aking kutob na kung sino man ang may pakana ng phone call na iyon ay plano atang saktan siya.

Doon ata nagsimula ang hindi ko maintindihang galit na nararamdaman ko dahil imposibleng wala siyang alam at kung meron man, hindi niya sana hinahayaan lang ang bagay na iyon na para bang ano mang oras ay handa na siyang mamatay.

Pangalawa ay ang footage. The fucking footage that made my guilt eat me. Hindi ko alam pero dahil doon, pakiramdam ko ako ang may kasalanan sa lahat ng nangyari sa kanya.

At kanina sa office ni Mr
Head, malalaman kong wala siyang magagawa laban kay sir Pedran tapos makikita ko lang si Rubianna na parang wala namang pakialam sa nambastos sa kaniya? Sinong hindi magagalit?

Pangit at payatot nanga, may mga sugat pa sa mukha at mukha nang bangkay ay siya pang walang pakialam sa buhay.

Even thinking of it is giving me headache. Pinag tatakahan ko pa nang makita siyang parang baliw na kinaka usap ang sarili habang pasimpleng ngumingiti nung kumakain kami sa cafeteria.

Nang makita siyang gano'n, parang gusto ko nalang isampal sa kanya ang  tray ng pagkain na gawa sa metal pero meron din sa'king naiintriga sa kung anong meron sa kanya kaya hindi ko ginawa.

Ngunit lalo ko lang ata siyang hindi maintindihan. Siguro ay dahil ayaw ko ring unawain ang mga dinadahilan niya sa mga pinupuna ko. At ngayong nagsasalita na siya, ay siya namang ikinatigil ng bibig ko. 

"Let me make this clear once and for all, I don't want to feel like I have to beg to be understood or cared about." she shortly said that left my own thoughts unattended.

"Kaya, 'wag mo pilitin ang sarili mong maging mabait sa akin dahil nagi-guilty ka."

I sat and listened to her explanations, each word heavy with meaning. As I took in her reasoning, emotions rushed over me, and my anger grew when I realized Ruby's reasons for staying silent mirrored my mother's.

Part of me wanted to dismiss her words as excuses or ways to avoid conflict. In my mind, her pain should have been enough to make her speak up. But deep down, I knew it wasn't that simple. I saw there were deeper reasons holding her back, a realization that made me pause and rethink my judgment.

Ruby's silence was a sign of something deeper, something I hadn't truly understood until now. It wasn't just about her being hurt; it was about her need to protect herself, to shield her emotions from more pain. In my ignorance, I hadn't recognized the weight of that burden.

"You don't know me, Cargael Cross." she continued. "And if you're worrying about me, my silence isn't my weakness." she clearly said.

Tama siya, hindi ko naman talaga siya kilala. Tuloy ay napapa isip ako kung bakit ko ba pinipilit ang sarili kong kulitin siya na magsalita. Gusto ko lang siguro na makita siyang ipagtanggol ang sarili niya laban sa mga nanakit sa kaniya.

Simula noong napagtripan siya ng gagong si Doug, napagsamantalahan pa ni sir Pedran at nadamay pa sa phone call na iyon.

Iyon lang talaga ang nais kong gusto niyang gawin pero habang kausap siya, mukang wala pa sa lugar ang intensyon kong matulungan siya.

O siguro sabihin na nating guilty ako sa mga nangyayari lalo na't galit padin sa akin si Aoike. Meron sa'king ginagawa ko rin 'to para makita niyang hindi na ako tulad ng dati.

Hindi na nga ako nakapag salita pa dahil wala akong mahitang tamang masasabi sa kaniya o mas tama na hindi nalang ako magsalita at makinig nalamang, tutal nakakuha naman na ako ng sagot sa pagdala ko sa kaniya dito sa abandonadong park.

Aaminin ko ring dinala ko siya rito hindi lang para kulitin siya, kundi dahil naiinis ako sa inasal nina Aoike at Chad kanina kaya sinama ko siya bilang excuse sa nararamdaman kong inis.

Pero hindi ko naman akalain na ganito ang kakalabasan ng trip ko...naka kuha pa ako ng mga pagbabanta galing kay Ruby na hindi ko mawari kong trip niya lang ding sabihin o ganoon lang talaga kasama ang ugali niya.

Pareha kami ngayong nakatulala sa papalubog na araw at hindi rin nag tagal ay umilaw nadin ang park dahil sa pinalagay kong mga ilaw.

This park was abandoned by the Igarashi's real state, and once I found out, I purchased it and turned it into a private space.

I transformed it into a cozy place that suits my preferences. Nag pagawa rin ako ng villa sa tuktok nito dahil trip ko lang din.

Sinisimot ko pa ang magandang tanawin nang makita nalang si Ruby na walang kahirap-hirap na tinalon ang lupa galing sa kina-upuan namin.

I thought this wall was 6 feet tall? Doesn't it strain her legs? "Where are you going?" I asked while trying to leap pero talagang nalulula ako sa taas.

"Uuwi? Gabi na..." nangungunot ang noong aniya.

"What? It's still six in the evening... bakit, may curfew kaba?"

Saglit pa itong nag-isip ng sasabihin bago bumontong hinga, "I'm tired."

Of course she felt that way. I had pulled her into my own mess, invading her personal space along the way. No wonder she was exhausted and worn out. I felt another pang of guilt for putting her through this and disturbing her peace.

"Wait for me, let me drive you home."

"Okay—" she paused and stared before trailing away.

Saglit ko pa siyang tinitigan bago naghanap ng ibang paraan kung paano maka baba. Kung bakit naman kasi dito niya napiling umupo?

Nagtaka nga ako dahil hindi ko rin malaman kung papano niya na akyat ang tuktok ng pader nato. While I got my palms scraped as I climbed the circular wall surrounding the acacia tree.

I stood up and searched for stairs, almost cursing when I finally saw them leading down. Did she climb up these steep stairs while I struggled up the wall? Why didn't she tell me?

Damn that woman—how could she? Ni hindi niya rin ako sinubukang tulungan kanina kahit hirap na hirap akong i-angat ang sarili para lang maka akyat. Tinitigan niya lamang akong naghihirap habang naka upo. Ang sama niyang tao!

I was heading down, trying to calm myself. When I reached the ground, I planned to call her, but Rubianna was no longer by the tree. I looked around, but she was nowhere in sight.

My brow furrowed as I realized what she'd done, and her sudden disappearance only fueled my frustration.

What the hell? What's wrong with her? "Rubianna? Where are you? I thought you wanted to go home!" Could she have left? No, this park is huge, and she doesn't know the way to the exit.

Nalibot ko narin ng tingin ang malawak na lawn pero hindi ko parin siya nakikita... I should have hired guards for this land. Now I don't have anyone to call. Damn it.

I hadn't planned for this or thought I'd end up here with someone else. Now, I was tangled up in my own mess.

"Ruby—" I was about to shout her name when I stopped, my senses snapping to attention at a rustling among the trees near the courtyard entrance.

I took a sharp breath, moving cautiously closer, every nerve on edge. The silence pressed in, broken only by a faint whisper of leaves. Dim lights barely cut through the darkness, casting shadows that seemed to shift and hide movement.

Adrenaline surged, keeping me alert, as if someone really was lurking in the shadows.

"Ruby?" I called again, but instead of her, a deep male voice cursed in response.

My heart skipped, and a chill ran down my spine. Who was this—and where was Rubianna? My fist clenched tightly.

Oo, malalim ang boses ni Ruby na parang boses lalaki, ngunit hindi iyon gaya ng narinig ko ngayon.

As I wondered how anyone could even get into this park, my mind raced for answers. This was my property, with walls too high to climb.

An unsettling feeling crept over me as I tried to understand how someone had broken through even with its advanced security system.

At kahit na wala pa akong inilagay na mga guwardiya, sigurado akong hindi ito mapapasukan. Ano na namang klaseng pangyayaring 'to? Una, iyong phone call tapos ngayon trespassing at nawawala si Rubianna?

My head felt like it was on fire, my anger growing sharper with each passing second. I could hear the hurried, muffled footsteps of the intruders scattering into the trees, desperately trying to vanish from sight. There were three of them, and I knew they had Ruby.

She was a force of nature—untouchable, like a live wire. I should have sensed her danger long before this. The memory of her reaction to Doug, how she flared when he crossed the line with her, came rushing back to me.

Thinking about it now only stoked my anger, my pulse quickening. I needed to act before they slipped any further into the dark.

"C'mon, show your faces before I have the chance to grab each of you and break your bones!" I threatened.

I caught sight of one of them, crouching by the closest tree, barely illuminated by the faint glow of the courtyard lights. "What's that in your bag? Gold? Treasures?" I sneered, catching a glint of something tucked away.

Doon lang banda umaabot ang liwanag kaya agad ko siyang nakita habang dinadarag ang mabigat niyang dala.

I stood in disbelief, staring at the darkness. Someone had beaten me to the treasures I'd been searching for, the very ones rumored to be hidden here.

I'd been at this for months, digging through stone and dirt, pushing past doubts. And now, after all that, these thieves had snatched it right out from under me. How could they have gotten to it first? The bitter realization hit me hard.

Tsk.

"Oh," I hissed and clicked my tongue in annoyance, "'Wag kang gumalaw diyan. Tatakas ka pa talaga? Kung ako sa'yo, bibitawan mo 'yang dala mo bago ako makarating diyan," nangungunot ang noo kong pag pigil sa lalaki.

A smirk involuntarily escaped from me as he emerged from the darkness, our eyes locking in a tense gaze. The fear etched on his face was evident, causing him to drop what he was holding.

"H-how did you know?" he stammered, his voice trembling with a mix of surprise and apprehension.

"Ugh, idiot! Why did you speak?!" suddenly shouted someone not far away, the voice echoing from the darkness to my left.

I couldn't help but chuckle at their foolishness, both of them getting caught for a simple theft. With a determined stride, I continued walking towards the man who held my treasures, all while pondering where she could be.

Saglit naman akong napaisip. Rubianna probably noticed them, explaining why she's gone while I tried to figure out how to get down from the wall. Minalas lang siya at hindi agad nakapanglaban dahil nga tatlo sila. Nag-iisa siya at babae pa, kaya't posible.

My heart clenched at the thought of her facing them alone, but I pushed aside my worry for now, focusing on the task at hand: confronting the thieves and retrieving what was mine.

"He's gone... Pedro, the guy disappeared!" alulong nung lalaki ng maka tyempo akong makapasok sa mga puno.

Ilang metro nalang ang layo ko sa kanya kaya maaari ko na siyang sugurin ngunit agad akong natigil sa akmang paglabas sa tinataguan kong puno ng magsalita ang tinawag nito. 

"Ha, anong sinasabi mo? How can he just vanish? Tangina, napakabobo mo kasi."  Agad akong napalingon sa aking kaliwa para maaninag ang mukha nito.

"Hoy, Danilo halika na. Ano pang ginagawa mo diyan, iwan na natin ang tukmol!" sigaw naman nito sa isa pang kasama. 

"Ano ba, Pedro... Sayang oh! Karne pre, ano palalagpasin pa natin? Ang lambot niya pre oh, masagana ang hinaharap. Sheesh!" impit ng isa pa na mas malayo sa kinaroroonan nung Pedro.

And that deep musty voice na puno ng kamanyakan ang paniguradong may hawak kay Rubianna. Siya iyong narinig kong nag mura.

He must be pertaining to Rubianna's body, fuck it. Ano ba kasing nangyari sa kanya at bakit wala man lang akong marinig na ingay mula sa kanya? Could she be knockout? O patay na?

"Don't make this long and tiring, guys. Give me back my gold and the woman," I demanded.

I squinted into the darkness, trying to make out the shapes of the three men in front of me. They stood still, shadows masking their faces, unfazed by my approach.

This wasn't good. I needed to move fast—before that idiot do something to her.

Handa naman ako sa kung ano mang mangyari dahil sanay naman ako sa basagulo, alam ko kung paano lumaban ngunit ngumingitngit sa aking kalooban ang kaba dahil hindi lang ang buhay ko ang dapat kong iisipin. I'm on my defensive stance when one of them laughed. "Ano sa tingin mo bata? Makakaya mo kami?!"

I clenched my fists, adrenaline surging. "Go ahead. Make your move," I said, keeping my voice steady while my heart pounded. The silence stretched, thick with tension, as we sized each other up, waiting to strike.

Then, a flicker of movement in the shadows caught my eye. The bushes shifted—was that Ruby? I tensed, hoping she was trying to break free or send a signal. If this was my chance to protect her, I was ready.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎  ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

░▒▓█▓▒░

‎

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
Ruby stirred, her head throbbing and her vision blurry. The darkness around her was oppressive, making it difficult to discern her surroundings. The cool night air sent shivers down her spine, but it was the muffled sounds of grunts and the dull thuds of fists meeting flesh that drew her attention.
   
She blinked, attempting to clear her vision. Through the shadows, she could just make out figures moving in a wild dance. Cross was fighting; she could tell by the way he moved, his form familiar even in the low light. He was fighting three assailants, each of whom was larger and more dangerous.

She had no idea there were three of them hiding in the darkness until one of them suffocated her with the handkerchief. Ruby can't figure out what happened, but one thing is certain in her mind. She felt horrible, just like when she was imprisoned up in the basement of the last man she killed. 

Ruby's heart pounded in her chest, a combination of terror and something more, something strange and frightening. Her body felt funny, her skin was extremely sensitive, and an unnatural heat began to spread through her. She tried to concentrate, but her thoughts was like a cloud.
  
"What... what's happening to me?" she asked, her voice barely audible over the noises of the battle. She tried to force herself up, but her limbs felt weak and leaden.

The awareness hit her like a hard slap: she was under the effect of something, possibly an aphrodisiac, based on the strange feelings running through her body. Hindi na bago sa kanya ang pakiramdam na iyon ngunit nagdadala lang iyon ng ala-alang hindi kaaya-aya.
  
Fuck, that handkerchief .

She clenched her fists, fighting against the wave of helplessness. She couldn't let this overwhelm her, not now. Cross needed her for the man who drugged her had a knife. She knew there was a knife pointed at her side when she was strangled.
  
She forced herself to focus on the fight, searching for a way to help. One of the attackers charged at Cross, but he dodged and slammed a fist into the man's jaw.

The thug stumbled back, but another swung in from the side, aiming a kick. Cross blocked with his arm, gritting his teeth, then struck back with a sharp kick to the thug's knee, sending him reeling.

Ruby's breath seized as she saw Cross get a strike to the ribs, his grunt echoing through the night. She needed to act. Her legs wobbled as she forced herself to stand, but they held. She frantically scanned the ground, finding a broken branch within grasp. She stumbled toward it, curling her hands around the rough wood, and felt a surge of strength return. She was not helpless. She could fight.

With a steady breath, she headed toward the chaos, her heart hammering. Cross fought hard, but she could see the strain in his stance and the glitter of sweat on his forehead. She tightened her grip on the branch and closed in, ready to assist him.

The thief with a shaven head came at Cross, his knife flashing. Cross dodged the blade, but it cut his arm and drew blood. Ruby's gut wrenched at the sight, and her rage flared. She couldn't simply stand there.

She yelled and swung her branch, smashing it against the back of the robber's head. He moaned and stumbled forward, lost. Cross took the opportunity, landing a hard uppercut that knocked him to the ground.

Ngunit hindi pa roon natapos ang labanan dahil ang huling magnanakaw ay nakay Ruby nag atensyon. Ngumisi ito ng nakakaloko pero bgao paman ito makalapit kay Rubianna, agad na sinunggaban ni Cross ng tadyak sa sikmura ang lalaki.

Bumagsak ito sa lupa dahilan para hindi tumugil si Cross. Tinuluyan pa nitong pagsuntukin ito kahit na basag na ang mukha nito at naligo na sa dugo ang mukha at ang kanyang kamao.

Saka lang siya natigil ng makita ang huling magnanakaw na agad na tumakbo ng tignan niya ito. He cursed as he used his knees to stand up and use his remaining strength to catch him.

Pareha silang natumba sa lupa at hayon na naman ang walang awat na suntok ang binigay ni Cross. Wala pa sa kanyang isip ang tumigil ngunit agad din siyang napa lingon sa gawi ni Rubianna ng bumagsak ito sa lupa.

Cross was at her side in an instant, his hands gentle but firm on her shoulders. "Ruby, are you okay?" agad na napalitan ng pag-aalala ang kanyang boses.

"I think... they drugged me," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I'm hot..." bukambibig nito.

"Stop saying stubborn things, will you?" naniningis ang bagang nitong sabi. But as he looked at her, his gaze softened. 

Unknowingly, he pulled her into a tight embrace, his warmth comforting against the chill of the night. Ruby felt a surge of intense emotion, her heart pounding not just from the fight, but from being so close to him. The aphrodisiac's effects heightened her senses, making her acutely aware of every point of contact between them.

"You're safe now," Cross murmured, his voice gentle and steady. "I'm right here." Ruby's grip tightened on his shirt, fingers clinging as the adrenaline began to drain, leaving her with a raw, overpowering need that she couldn't push down.

She lifted her eyes to meet his, their faces close enough that she could feel his breath against her skin.

"Cross..." she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath, the warmth between them igniting a feeling she couldn't hold back.

Cross paused, his eyes searching hers, as though looking for an answer. The air between them grew heavy, charged with unspoken emotion. Then, he suddenly leaned in, his lips brushing hers in a kiss that was soft yet full of meaning. It grounded them, stealing their breath and making the world fade away.

"What the hell are you doing?" Ruby demanded urgently, shoving Gael away after what felt like an eternity. He let out a pained grunt as she gripped his arms tightly.
  
"Fuck,"
  
"You're bleeding..."

‎ ‎
‎ ‎ ‎
‎
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎