III.

Ashton stared at the sleeping lady on his bed. It's almost evening and Mallory was still asleep. Wala rin siyang balak na gisingin ito dahil tiyak siyang pagod ito sa pinaggagagawa nito kanina. Who would have thought that cheerful Mallory running around the amusement park was sick?

"Sorry talaga Ashton hindi ako makakapunta diyan. May flight ako ngayon para sa trabaho ko. Mal knows. Kahit gusto kong pumunta diyan pagagalitan lang ako niyan. Kung sana hindi ko lang sinabi na may lakad ako ngayong gabi eh."

"I understand." He called Natasha so she could fetch Mallory but in the end, he's stuck with her. "I'll update you later."

He wasn't sure what to feel seeing Mallory on his clothes. As if there's something burning in his skin especially when he could feel Mallory's skin touching his. H thought that maybe why men shouldn't get too close with a woman.

He lightly patted Mallory's head before he stormed out of his bedroom. It would only make his mind a mess if he'll stare at her a bit longer.

Downstairs, he sat in front of the tv holding a can of beer.

"Oh shit."

Nagmamadali niyang ibinalik sa ref ang nabuksan ng beer. He shouldn't be drinking, not with Mallory around. He often gets drunk alone and if he gets drunk with someone on the house, who knows what will happen. Dati na niyang nakita ang sarili sa porch ng bahay niya nang minsan ay malasing siya. He doesn't want Mallory know that it usually happens.

"Anong nangyari sa'yo?"

It was clear to Mallory that Ashton was somehow panicking. His wild eyes were almost hesitant to look at her. She might have an idea why but she shrugged those dirty thoughts away. All she knew was that she was hungry and she needs to go home. 

"Nothing." Umalis si Ashton sa harapan ng ref at nagtungo sa mesa. "Dinner?"

"Pwede?" Lumapit si Mallory sa mesa at agad umupo sa harapan nito. "Sorry."

Ashton's brows knitted in confusion. Bakit naman magso-sorry sa kaniya si Mallory? Wala naman itong ginawang masama sa kaniya. 

"Bakit? Is there something wrong?" Umupo rin si Ashton sa katapat nitong upuan. Mallory didn't answer why she is sorry. Good thing Ashton didn't force her to answer. She just continued eating the food on the table. 

"Mal, if this doesn't offend you can I ask?"

"Ask what?"

"Are you... perhaps color-blind?"

Bahagyang napatigil sa paglunok si Mallory sa tanong ni Ashton. She's been very careful about him not finding that out. After all, when she was young she once saw colors, vivid and bright. Not until all of a sudden five years ago everything just become black and white. No doctor could even tell her what happened to her eyes.

"Total-color blind."

"Oh."

Mas naging awkward ang hapagkainan lalo na't nakatingin lamang sa kaniya si Ashton as if he's observing her inside out. 

"Yang mata mo. Kung saan-saan nakatingin."

"Ah sorry. You're just quite pretty—ehem. Do you want some coffee?"

Mallory chuckled when he stood up from his seat and went to the refrigerator. As soon as he opened it, colors flashed in Mallory's eyes. As if her ability to see colors depends on him. 

"You can't make any coffee from the ref," usal ni Mallory bago tumayo at lumapit sa hugasan upang ilagay roon ang pinagkainan niya. Nasa gilid niya nakatayo si Ashton at sinasarado ang ref.

"Right." Lumingon ito sa kaniya at ngumiti na para bang wala siyang ginawang katangahan. "So what do you want missy?"

"Beer? Can I have a taste?"

"You've just passed out earlie—" 

Agad na inilapit ni Mallory ang sarili kay Ashton na agad rin namang napaatras. She was able to see colors a bit longer as she saw how flustered Ashton become. His cheeks burning red, his big round eyes wide opened. It's fun teasing him.

Dumiretso ang kamay ni Mallory sa likuran nito patungo sa handle ng ref at kinuha ang nakabukas ng beer. She immediately drank it and her face tells how she somehow didn't like the drink. There's a first time in everything, but for her, it is her first and most probably her last so she had to make it memorable.

"How many cans will it take to make me drunk?"

"Mallory, you're in my house. Paano kung malasing ka at magising na nasa labas ka na ng bahay?"

Mallory laughed in amusement. "Wait? What? It happened to you?"

Mallory was laughing when Ashton pulled a sulking face before snatching the beer out of her hand. He looked at her blankly making Mallory gulp and halt back. It was the first time she saw him like that. It was confusing and somehow scary.

"Don't do that again."

"Do what?"

"Flirt."

"Oh, straight to the point." Mas inilapit ni Mallory ang sarili kay Ashton at unti-unting inabot ang kamay nitong may hawak ng beer. "But it depends on me."

Ashton ends up crossing his arms while gazing at Mallory who already drank around 5 cans and is already talking nonsense. Probably drunk and losing herself. After all, Ashton realized it was Mallory's first time. 

"Matulog ka muna." Bahagyang hinila patayo ni Ashton si Mallory na nakadapa na ngayon sa malamig na sahig. It is his fault for letting her drink to her heart's content. Now, he's suffering with the consequences.

He just wanted the book and now why is he babysitting a grown woman?

"Can you pull my shirt up? It's freaking hot! Parang ako." Mallory laughed as she raises her arms while sitting on the floor. "Should I just strip—"

"Can you just shut up and move closer."

As if it knocks some senses to Mallory, she immediately move closer to Ashton who was leaning at her. Agad siya nitong binuhat kung kaya't agad niyang inilagay sa leeg niya ang isang kamay nito.

"I hate it when you flirt, Mallory."

"Oh yeah? Just like how the shogun hates Katakura Himari."

Ashton's attention shifted to her words. The only shogun he knew was the book Natasha's writing. Is she pertaining to it? Wala ng shogun sa panahon nila. Most likely it's from the book.

Katahura Himari. He hasn't heard that name before.

"Katakura Himari, the courtesan that seduces the shogun. I guess it is her. She was mentioned on Natasha's first draft of book one."

They immediately arrived in the bedroom they were in before. In an instant, Ashton felt different especially when he realizes he was touching Mallory's bare skin. Suot nito ang oversize niyang t shirt at pinakamaliit niyang boxers na hindi niya malaman kung paano nagkasiya kay Mallory.

Nagmamadali at maingat niyang inilapag si Mallory sa higaan. Habang iniaayos nito ang higaan ay narinig niya ang biglang sigaw ni Mallory.

"Huwag! Tumakbo ka! Tumakbo ka! Iwan mo ko. Pakiusap iwanan mo na ako."

A scene flashed before his eyes. It was a forest and he was wearing strange old clothing. Madilim ang paligid at may kasama siya habang nagtatakbo paloob ng gubat. Sagabal pa ang suot nilang damit na sumasabit sa mga sanga ng maliliit na halaman.

"Takbo!"

"Ano bang itinatakbo natin, Himari?" 

Himari just continued sprinting while holding his hands. 

"Kailangan muna nating makalayo. Mamamatay ka. Kailangan mong makalayo oyakata-sama!"

Muntik na siyang mapatigil kung hindi lang dahil sa sunod-sunod na pagtama ng mga palaso sa paligid nila.

"Kailangan na nating makalay—ah!"

Napabitaw sila sa isa't isa nang mahulog sa bangin ang babaeng kasama niyang tinatawag niyang Himari. Madilim ang paligid at medyo malalim ang pagkakahulog nito. Alam niyang matatagalan siyang mailigtas ito. Ang mas malala pa ay baka silang dalawa pa ang mahulog ng tuluyan sa malalim na bangin.

"Huwag! Tumakbo ka! Tumakbo ka! Iwan mo ko. Pakiusap iwanan mo na ako."

"Hindi kita maaaring iwan!" Sinubukan niyang abutin ang kamay ni Himari na nakakapit sa isang ugat. "I-angat mo ang isang kamay mo!"

Isang luha ang pumatak sa mata ni Himari. Napansin niya ito at nakita ang tama ng palaso nito sa balikat. 

"Umalis ka na! Bago ka nila maabutan."

Napakurap si Ashton ng ilang beses bago napatingin sa babaeng mahimbing ang tulog sa harapan niya. His brows furrowed. Why was he hearing her voice? Why does she sounds the same as the Himari from his memory?