In The Darkness (Lacson Series #3)

Kabanata 25

Pagkatapos namin uminom ng kape na merong asaran na galing sa dalawang lalaki, nagpaalam na si Matthan.

"I'm going now. I'll call you later after your work," he whispered to me. Nasa pintuan na ito at lalabas na sana pero tumigil ito sa paglalakad.

Tumango ako. "Mag-ingat ka."

"You too."

Naghintay ako. Naghintay ako na aalis na ito pero hindi siya umalis sa puwesto. Mabigat ang titig at para bang may naiwan kaya hindi maka-alis alis.

"May naiwan ka?" I asked him.

The sound of my voice almost came out as a whisper. Mismo ako ayaw lumikha ng ingay dahil alam kong nandito pa sa loob ng bahay si Floyd. He wants to stay kahit na konti na lamang ang oras namin para sa trabaho.

Matthan slowly nodded his head. "Oo e."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Tumalikod ako mula sa kanya at linibot ng tingin ang buong bahay. Wala naman akong nakitang hindi pamilyar na naiwan. Bumaling ako kay Matthan at parang ginawa rin nito ang ginawa kong paglibot ng tingin.

"Ano'ng naiwan mo?" tanong ko. "Hahanapin ko."

A small smiled appeared in his face. Ha? May naiwan ito pero nakangiti siya ngayon?

"Hug. I can't drive when I can't get a hug from you."

Floyd whistled but I didn't look at him.

Pilit na lumabas ang ngiti sa labi ko. Kaharap ko si Matthan kaya hindi ko na 'yon pinigilan. I want him to see my smile. To see the things I barely do. I want him to be proud of what he made me do.

Binuka ko ang kamay at ako na mismo ang lumapit kay Matthan. I locked my hands on his back as I felt him stiffened.

"God, Inez," he whispered again on top of my head.

Slowly, I let my head rest on his chest. I felt the way his heart pumped, the way his body vibrated, and his hands enveloped my back too.

Our hug was tight. Tight that we are both afraid to let go of one another. Afraid of what comes next.

Ako ang dahan-dahan na kumalas mula sa pagkakayakap namin ni Matthan. He groaned. I just smiled at him and made a step backward.

"Alis ka na. May pinabaon na ako sa'yo," sabi ko.

"Can I have one more? Nakakabitin," daing nito.

"Sa susunod na lang. Nandito si Floyd," sabi ko.

Parang puputok na sa pagka-init ang pisngi ko. Sa sobrang unit puwede ka na sigurong makapagprito ng itlog.

"Okay." He sighed. He raised his hand and gently messed my hair. "I'm going to see you this Christmas," he said.

"See you on Christmas, Matteo Hamlin!" I said full of adoration and excitement laced my voice.

"Yeah, see you, Evangelina Inez," he said in his deep raspy voice and left my house.

I waved my hand goodbye to his departing car. As he took his turn, I was still at the doorstep, waving my hand like an idiot.

"Maligo ka na, Eva. Ligtas na makakarating si Matthan sa kanila," Floyd interrupted.

Nahihiya akong tumalikod at sinara ang pinto. Tinungo ko ang orocan at naligo na.

Nakarating kami sa bahay ni Ma'am Theora matapos ang isang oras na pag-aayos sa bahay. Binilin na rin ni Floyd si Faye sa kapitbahay dahil wala itong kasama ngayon.