26

Tahimik lamang kami ni Trey habang nasa sasakyan niya ako papunta sa airport. Ngayon ang uwi nila Mama at Luke mula sa Greece. Ngayon lang din ulit kami nagkita ni Trey at hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin siyang sinasabi sa akin.

I just sighed while I was on his car. I am still scared of his reaction two days ago, lalo na noong sinapak niya si Tarrah. I never thought that he would actually hit her. Kilalala ko si Trey, he may be tough on the outside but he is very gentle on the inside. Ganoon talaga kalaki ang galit niya para magawa iyon sa kanyang kababata.

Nilingon ko siya habang nagmamaneho. His eyes were hidden behind a black wayfarer, masking his emotions from me. Sa bawat pagpihit niya ng manibela ay halos pumutok ang kanyang suot na abong v-neck shirt. His jaw moved endlessly while he tries his very best to conceal everything that he is feeling right now.

At ako naman, heto, natatakot siyang kausapin. Tanggap ko at alam kong ako ang may kasalanan. I ruined everything that he built for us. Siguro nga tama ang naisip ko dati, ako lang naman talaga ang nananakit sa aking sarili. The walls I built around me is useless because I am the damage itself.

Nilingon ko ang likod ng kanyang van para makita iyong pulang booster seat na binili niya kanina. He immediately went to the mall, cancelled his appointments for the whole day, para lamang makabili ng upuan at masundo si Luke mamaya.

I looked at him once again while he was too engrossed in his driving. Inipon ko ang hanging sa aking dibdib para maibsan ang kaba ko at subukang kausapin siya. Akmang magsasalita na sana ako noong biglang tumunog ang aking cellphone. Trey glanced at me before looking back at the street.

I sighed deep before putting the phone on my ear.

"Hello?"

"Illea, anak, we just landed," Mama informed. Trey looked at me, seeming so nervous at what he hears.

"Yes Ma, malapit na kami," sagot ko habang nakatingin sa kalsada. Napadaan kami ni Trey sa A La Creme at agad akong napukaw noon. Tinapik ko ang braso ni Trey bago ko pinatay ang tawag.

"Let's go there first," sabi ko sabay turo sa A La Creme. His brows furrowed devilishly making my heart skip a beat. Damn Illea! Wag na kasing masyadong tumitig eh!

"Why?" tanong niya pero ipinaparada na niya ang sasakyan sa tapat ng bakeshop. I took my purse from my bag before looking at him to answer.

"Let's buy a blueberry cheesecake. That's Luke's favorite," malambing kong sabi. He looked at me with so much adoration na sa tingin ko ay nakadirekta naman kay Luke. I won't even assume that the fondness in his eyes is for me. He's mad at me, right? Assumera ka talaga Illea!

"Sure," maikli niyang sabi. He opened his door while I fumbled with my coin purse and phone. Maya maya lang ay naramdaman ko ang pagbukas niya ng pinto para sa akin. He rested his arm on the car door's edge before sneaking a little bit of his head inside.

"Yturralde, let's go," aya niya. Napatango lamang ako bago niya ako inalalayang bumaba ng kanyang sasakyan.

We entered A La Crème and the staff greeted us immediately. I went to the counter to order when a male crew went to me. His hands were shaking while holding an empty tray.

"Goodafternoon po Miss, si Illea po k-kayo ng Legacy hindi ba?" magalang niyang tanong. The boy smiled nervously while scratching the back of his neck. Sumipol iyong isang lalaking barista pati na rin ang katulad niyang waiter.

"Bilis mo Roy!" they cheered. Pinamulahan iyong lalaki bago nag abot sa akin ng isang may kakapalang ballpen.

"P-Pwede po bang pa fansign Miss?" he asked. I smiled at him before nodding. Mabilis siyang lumapit at tinuro ang kanyang shirt. He pointed near his chest while his cheeks were already burning red.

"Anong pangalan mo?" I calmly said. Narinig ko ang pagtikhim ni Trey sa aking tabi kaya nilingon ko siya. Nakapamulsa lamang siya habang iyong tingin niya ay nakadirekta doon sa batang nagpapapirma. I saw his jaw moved in utter annoyance before looking at me.

"R-roy po Miss," sagot noong lalaki sa akin. Mabilis akong pumirma sa kanyang shirt bago ako naglagay ng isang puso. Malakas na tikhim ang narinig ko sa aking tabi kaya mabilis kong isinara ang ballpen bago iyon binalik kay Roy.

"Thank you po! Ang bait nyo talaga Miss Illea!" masayang sabi ni Roy bago tumakbo papasok sa employee's room. Napangiti na lamang ako pero agad nawala iyon noong maramdaman ko ang malaking palad ni Trey sa aking beywang. He immediately pulled me closer to his body while he was gritting his teeth so hard I could almost hear them slowly breaking.

"Trey?"

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa akin, iyong kamay niya ay humihigpit na.

"Seriously Illea, kailangan ba talagang may puso?" he hissed. Napanganga ako sa narinig mula sa kanya. Ano ngayon kung may puso? That was just a drawing! Kapag naglaba na iyong si Roy ay baka mawala na iyon!

"That's what you call fan service Trey."

"You never gave me that service Illea."

Napasinghap ako at agad siyang hinarap. His hand on my waist went to my lower back. Muli niya akong hinila palapit sa kanya at halos maputulan na ako ng hininga sa kakulangan ng distansya sa pagitan naming dalawa.

"But you're not my fan.." I said sweetly. Tumaas agad ang aking palad at hinaplos ang kanyang dibdib. Trey breathe hard before removing his wayfarers. Inilagay niya iyon sa kanyang bulsa bago ako tinitigan. His features remained rock solid hard but his eyes became soft as he looked at me.

"Damn right, I'm more than that," mayabang niyang sabi. Mabilis niya akong hinila bago ako muling ibinalik sa kanyang tabi. He then kissed the top of my hair and I stiffened on the spot. Pakiramdam ko lahat ng dugo na kayang ipump ng mga ugat ko ay umakyat sa aking pisngi sa simpleng halik na iyon.

"Let's buy that cake for our daughter now," he announced with such a loud voice that the people around us stopped with what they were doing. I looked at Trey who has that evil smile plastered on his lips.

Ano koya? Nanalo lang? Ngiting ngiti ha? Pasalamat ka ang gwapo mo pag ganyan ka...

Sabay kaming lumapit sa cake display at agad akong nakakita ng isang slice ng blueberry cheesecake. I pointed to it but Trey shook his head.

"I think it would be better to buy a whole cake instead of a slice."

Napailing ako. Anong whole cake? Si Luke lang ang kakain, whole cake agad?

"Trey, Luke will be the only one to eat that."

Inosente akong tiningnan ni Trey bago niya binalikan ang cake na nakadisplay.

"Well, you should eat too. I don't like my girl being too thin," anas niya, medyo mahina iyong panghuling sentence pero klarong klaro naman iyon sa pandinig ko. Patuloy pa rin siya sa pagtitig sa cake habang ako ay napayuko na lang. My feet fidgeted while I looked at the cake as well.

"But I don't want to get fat Terrence," I cutely said. Nilingon niya ako bago tumaas iyong sulok ng labi niya. Mabilis niya akong inakbayan bago niya idinikit ang labi sa aking tenga. His lips brushed the tip of my ear and I shivered from that.

"You won't, trust me baby," bulong niya. Kumunot ang aking noo dahil hindi ko nakuha ang sagot niya.

"What? How?" I asked. Pinakuha na niya iyong buong cake bago siya nagbayad. Habang binabox iyong cake ay pilyo siyang lumingon sa akin, may mapaglarong ngiti sa kanyang labi habang nakatitig sa akin.

"You seriously want me to answer that now?" he asked with that mischievous glint hidden under his eyes.

Paanong hindi ako tataba? Gusto nga niyang ipakain sa akin ang buong cake kung sakali---

Natigalan ako noong maintindihan ko iyong gusto niyang sabihin. I felt my cheeks heating a hundred percent more at his pervert message. Noong nakita niyang naintindihan ko na siya ay napailing na lamang siya habang tumatawa.

"Heto na po Sir," tawag noong cashier sa amin. Mabilis na kinuha ni Trey iyong cake bago kami lumabas. Hawak niya iyong cake sa isa niyang kamay habang iyong kabila ay nakaakbay sa aking braso. Noong makarating kami sa kanyang kotse ay agad niyang inilagay ang cake sa likuran. Mabilis naman akong sumakay at hinintay siyang makapasok.

Pinaandar niya ang sasakyan bago ako muling nilingon.

"Are they there now?" he asked. I checked my phone for a text message and saw one from my mother.

'We've landed. Hintayin ko na lang kayo sa entrance.'

Nilingon ko si Trey na nakatingin lamang sa akin at naghihintay ng sasabihin ko. I smiled at him before showing him my mother's message.

"They're waiting for us. Your daughter is waiting for you Fortalejo," anas ko. Napatango na lamang siya kahit halatang kabado.

"Do you think Luke would like me?" tanong niya. His eyes reflected fear and my heart just went out to him. Mabilis kong kinalas ang aking seatbelt bago umusog palapit sa kanya. Kinuha ko ang kanyang kamay bago iyon mariing hinawakan. I felt the coldness of his palm and I gently kissed them just to help ease whatever he is feeling.

"She would like you Trey. You're her father..."

Napapikit siya sa sinabi ko bago ako kinabig. He pulled me closer to his chest as he tries to calm himself. Sinagot ko naman iyong yakap niya at hinaplos ang kanyang likod.

Parang may kung anong bigat ang nawala sa dibdib ko habang yakap nya ako. It's been like this even years ago. I never thought that a simple hug could grant me the most blissful comfort. Sayo lang talaga Trey, sayo ko lang ito nararamdaman.

M.;]|