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NAPAGDESISYUNAN nina Eiffel at Alice na manatili na lamang sa bahay. It has been a week since Alice met Antoine and Rance. Iyon ang una't huling pagkita niya sa mga lalaki.

It has also been a week since he last spoke to Gi about her uncle and the gang. Wala pa rin siyang balita kina Rosh.

Nanonood sila ng pelikula at prenteng nakaupo si Eiffel sa couch at yakap niya mula sa likod ang dalaga. Her back was resting on his naked chest and his arms were lightly drawing circles on hers. Ramdam din ni Alice ang pagdampi ng magagaang halik ni Eiffel sa kanyang ulo at sa balikat.

This became a normal routine for them. Gigising sila na magkatabi sa kama, sabay mag-eensayo at kakain, at magpapalipas ng oras.

Alice found out that Eiffel was taking a break from work for her. He would attend urgent conferences and meetings remotely even if he was free to leave her.

Alice felt safe being wrapped around his masculine arms. It was pure bliss and heaven that she did not want to let go. Pakiramdam niya ay handa siyang sumugal sa unang pagkakataon.

"I love you," he whispered for the nth time to her ears.

Akmang kakalas si Alice sa kanilang puwesto para bigyan ito ng isang makahulugang tingin ngunit pinigilan siya ni Eiffel. Ilang beses na itong sinasabi ni Eiffel sa kaniya at parating nagwawala ang kaniyang puso. He was driving her nuts!

"Eiffel..."

"I can wait till you give me an answer," dagdag pa nito na halos kagatin ang punong tainga niya.

"You don't even know me that much."

"But I already love you. Ano man ang nakaraan mo, nahulog na 'ko sa 'yo at hindi na magbabago 'yon," he confidently whispered.

"Bitawan mo muna ako."

"Why would I do that?" He sulked.

"Basta! May kukuhanin lang ako."

Matalim ang tingin ni Eiffel sa kaniya at hindi naman nagpatinag ang dalaga.

"Ayoko."

"Bilis na kasi." Ngunit mahigpit pa rin ang yakap ng binata sa kaniya.

It was childish yet she felt treasured. That simple gesture made her feel loved genuinely.

"Eiffel, isa..." she grunted and soon heard his low chuckle. Bumitaw na si Eiffel mula sa mahigpit na pagkakayakap at agad na tumayo si Alice bago pa magbago ang isip ng kasama.

Nagtungo si Alice sa kabilang couch at kinuha ang papel at bolpen na ginagamit nila kaninang listahan para sa pamimilhin nila sa grocery. Pagkakuha ay kaagad bumalik sa kaniyang puwesto si Alice—sa pagitan ng mga hita at maiinit na yakap ng binata. Even without the exchange of words, Eiffel wrapped her again in his hug. She would be a hypocrite if she lied that she didn't like it.

"What are you writing?" Bulong ni Eiffel sabay halik sa kanyang tainga.

Napakagat-labi si Alice bago inabot ang papel na may pigil na ngiti. Heat rose up to her cheeks and she felt butterflies swarming inside her. Kinakabahan siya sa gagawin. But at the end of the day, she won't be able to hide her growing fondness for the man currently sheltering and accommodating her.

Agad namang kinuha ni Eiffel ang papel at sinuri. Pulos malalaking titik ang nakasulat sa papel at may espasyo sa bawat letra.

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"I like your hugs?" Pagbasa ni Eiffel ng malakas.

"Yeah. I do, actually," pag-ngiti ni Alice. Nahihiya siya pero nasasabik rin sa magiging reaksyon ng binata.

"Well, I'm glad you do. Akala ko naman kung ano," simple nitong sagot sabay patong ng baba sa balikat ng dalaga. He likes their position because he can safeguard her and express his genuine feelings and interests to her. Ikinawit muli ang mga kamay sa baywang ni Alice. Bumaling muli ang tingin nito sa pelikula at hinalik-halikan ang balikat niya.

Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Alice. "But there's something else in there."

Binalik ni Eiffel ang tingin sa papel at sinuri ang nakasulat. Maging ang likod ng papel na wala namang laman. Lalong naguluhan ang binata.

"What? I don't see it."

Alice rolled her eyes and stood up, breaking away from his cozy hug again without waiting for his complaints. Kinuha niya ang papel mula sa kamay ng binata at ang bolpen na nasa mesa.

Mabilis niyang ginuhitan ang papel at iniabit muling sa kasama.

"Here."

He took the paper again and she stood still with her hands on her waist.

Now, it was different. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Eiffel sa nabasa.

I   L  I  K  E   Y  O  U, R   H  U  G  S

"Can you see it now?" May pagkasarkastikong tanong ng dalaga.

Bumalik ang tingin ni Eiffel sa dalaga. His grin turns into a low chuckle. Lita ni Alice ang pamumula ng punong tainga ni Eiffel. He was suppressing the blush.

"Damn, sweetheart. Saan mo naman natutunan ang ganyan?"

"Who knows," pagkikibit balikat nito.

Tumayo si Eiffel at inabot ang pulsuhan ng dalaga. Bumalik siya sa pagkaka-upo at hindi pa rin bumibitaw. Kaniyang pina-upo ang dalaga sa kaniyang mga hita na paharap at wala namang naging pag-angal.

She was straddling him and she didn't mind it. Hindi na bago iyon sa kanila sa nakalipas na nga linggo. Pareho silang adventurous at kung saan-saang parte na ng bahay nagawang magtalik.

"So, you're mine now."

Hindi iyon tanong ngunit isang pahayag. She was his and she doesn't have any complaints about it.

"Good luck with that."

"I love you, Ms. Alice Vale Brixton." He wraps her arm around his neck.

"Thank you, Mr. Eiffel Rhugs Hatcham." She gave him a quick peck on his lips.

Ngunit ramdam na ramdam ni Alice ang pagkarera ng kanyang puso. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang kaba sa kaniyang dibdib.

Sana tama ang kanyang desisyon.

Alice could've easily told him the truth—that she was also in love with him. Pero mas nangibabaw ang takot sa kaniya. Hindi pa siya lubos na kilala ni Eiffel at ayaw niyang isugal ng buo ang puso sa kasalukuyan nilang sitwasyon. She may have surrendered her chastity to the man, which she doesn't regret, but giving him full access to her heart was a different story.

Ibinaba niya ang mga labi at tinagpo ang kay Eiffel. Their kiss was deep and torrid. Mas lalo niyang idinikit ang katawan kay Eiffel at kahit karayom ay hindi makakalusot sa pagitan nilang dalawa.

Bumaba ang mga labi ni Eiffel sa leeg ni Alice na nagpaungol sa dalaga. Matagal na tumigil doon si Eiffel at ramdam ng dalaga na may ginagawa doon ang binata. At habang pinapapak ni Eiffel ang kaniyang leeg, hinayaan niya ang sariling mga kamay na maglakbay sa matipuno nitong katawan.

"Beautiful," bulong niya matapos maglagay ng distansya sa kaniyang labi at sa leeg ng dalaga.

"You left a mark, didn't you?" Mapanuring ani Alice at hindi ikinukubli ang pamumula ng pisngi.

"Yes. It suits you. If I can mark it permanently, I would," he winked.

"Baliw." Bumaba naman ang mukha ni Alice sa leeg ni Eiffel. She blew air on his neck making him stiff. Both of them knew each other's bodies pretty well. "My turn," she whispered under her breath before adding a mark on his neck and feeling his soft touches against her skin.

Laughing and being yourself in the arms of that special person, was love. Alice was sure of it. At hindi niya ipagpapalit sa kahit anong yaman ang mga sandaling kasama niya si Eiffel.

Pero hanggang kailan siya maaaring maging masaya? Gaano kahaba ang oras na maaari silang magkasama?

***

NAPAMULAT si Alice nang marinig ang pag-ugong ng kaniyang cellphone sa patungang katabi ng kama. Mataas na ang sikat ng araw mula sa bintana. Kinuha niya ang cellphone at napansin kaagad ang pangalan ng kaniyang tito. Napabalikwas siya ng bangon at saka umupo ng maayos.

Lumingon siya sa paligid at nakita ang maliit na note ni Eiffel sa mesa. Ayon sa sulat, may emergency meeting sa kumpanya at pinakiusapan si Eiffel na dumalo at wala na itong nagawang pagtanggi.

Walang kaso iyon kay Alice. Alam niyang sobrang busy ni Eiffel pero inililihim lamang sa kaniya para masamahan siya sa bahay. Marahil ay hindi rin mawala sa binata na baka may magtangka na naman sa kaniyang buhay kung hindi siya mababantayan. But even if he was there, would the Hatcham be able to protect her?

Bumalik ang muwang ni Alice sa tumutunog na cellphone at sinagot na iyon. "Uncle..."

"The plan starts now," biglang sambit ni Salvador sa kabilang linya.

"What plan?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Alice. Sa huling pag-uusap nila ni Salvador ay wala pang konkretong planong nabuo lalo na at inililihim pa ng matanda ang kalagayan ng mga tauhan nila. Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin siyang balita tungkol kina Rosh maliban sa nakalap ni Gi na balita.

"We are taking that woman into custody."

Kinabahan at kinutuban si Alice. Pilit hinihiling na sana hindi maging tama ang kaniyang iniisip. She was still waiting for the right time to continue with her plans but she needed her trusted brothers from the Brixton gang. Was she already a checkmate?

"W-who are you referring to?"

"The woman you should have killed sooner. The Fuentes' queen—Ysabelle."

Napapikit si Alice.

"You will go to H.L. Pierre in the next three hours. Everything is ready."

"And what if I say no?" Lakas-loob niyang tanong.

"Oh, you don't want to go there, Alice. You don't want your little boy toy getting hurt, right?" His voice was sinister as ever.

"B-boy toy?"

"I know where you are right now, Alice. I told you, I've got eyes everywhere." Alice could imagine her uncle's grin. "No matter how much you try and put up a cover, it would never be enough."

Nanikip ang dibdib ni Alice at ilang mabibigat na paglunok ang pinakawalan.

Of course, he knows. She couldn't think straight. Gusto niyang matawa kung bakit hindi niya naisip iyon. Kahit anong software pa ang gamitin niya upang itago ang kinaroroonan niya, hindi pa rin siya makakatakas kay Salvador.

Can she risk Eiffel's safety when he has done nothing but keeps her safe in his fort? Will she risk it?

"Leave him alone. He has nothing to do with this."

"Then leave that place and follow my orders. You know I don't play a clean game, Alice. You know I can just press this button and your insides will be a nice decoration," ani Salvador. "Don't try me, Alice. We both know how this story will end."

Narinig na lamang ni Alice ang pagputol ng linya. Hindi niya mapigilang pagsaklupin ang mga kamay habang hawak ang cellphone. She seemed like praying... No. She had to pray.

She touched her nape and it felt like nothing was in there except for a very faint scar of her childhood. But it was the scar that will cost her life. She was a ticking timebomb and her time was almost up.

Gano'n ba talaga kabilis ang pagdaan ng kaligayahan para sa kanya? Was she not suppose to taste happiness? Was everything just going to be temporary?

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PrincessThirteen00 © 12 08 2020