Chapter 7

Mabilis na bumangon siya at nagtago sa isang sulok dahil baka papasok sa silid ang grupong dumukot sa kanya at gawin siyang hostage.

Nanginginig na nakinig siya sa mga putok at tahimik na nagdasal na sana hindi siya kukunin ni Lord sa araw na 'yon.

Siguro mga twenty minutes pa ang lumipas nang marinig ni Misha na may kumalampag sa pintuan. Pero hindi siya umalis sa pinagtaguan.

"Zephyra, where are you? Rara?!"

Nagliwanag ang mukha niya nang marinig ang malakas na boses ni Lucien. Mabilis na lumabas siya at nagpakita.

She was honestly relieved even though she felt weird that she was called by Zephyra's name.

"You are fxcking late, you dummy," sabi niya sa garalgal na boses. May luha na naglandas sa pisngi niya na kanina niya pa pinipigilan.

Salamat naman at hindi pa doon magtatapos ang kuwento ng buhay niya.

Mabilis na tinakbo ni Lucien ang kinaroroonan niya at niyakap ang malamig niyang katawan.

"Thank god. I'm so sorry, I'm sorry it took long," he said anxiously while caressing her back and her arm to lessen the cold.

She cried silently in the tight embrace of the other while listening to his soft voice repeatedly asking for forgiveness. She didn't know what happened next because she felt drowsy.

She just let her consciousness fade away since she already felt safe.

***

Bumulaga sa paningin ni Misha ang puting kisame sa paggising niya. Ramdam niya na may nakahawak sa kamay niya kaya napatingin siya sa gilid niya.

Ang natutulog na mukha si Lucien ang nakita niya. Sinubukan niyang bawiin ang kamay pero mahigpit ang kapit ng lalaki sa palad niya.

She rolled her eyes. "You are awake, aren't you?"

Lucien let out a soft chuckle, his hand still holding her hand tightly. He lifted his head and stared directly into her eyes.

Napalunok si Misha sa paraan ng pagtingin nito. "Let go," mahinang sabi niya.

Parang walang narinig na pinaglaruan nito ang palad niya. "Don't want to, I want to hold my girlfriend's hand."

"God, are we still not over that nonsense?" naiinis na sabat niya.

"Please don't stress yourself."

"Then stop stressing me, let go of my hand."

"Do you hate me?" pag-iiba nito ng usapan na hindi pa rin binibitawan ang kamay niya.

Natigilan si Misha. Does she hate him? Honestly, no she doesn't. Annoyed maybe.

Umiling siya. "No, I don't but I might if you don't let me go."

Mahigpit pa rin ang kapit ng kumag. "So, does that mean you like me?"

"Kapag hindi mo pa ako bibitawan, sisipain na talaga kita."

"What?" natatawang tanong ng binata na may halong pagtataka.

"Let me go before I go berserk."

Pero nagtataka pa ring tumingin sa kanya ang binata. "Did you learn that language? What was that?"

Misha let out a sigh. "Don't wanna tell. Don't shift the topic. My hand, let it go."

"Let it go, turn my back and slam the door," he sang.

Her eyes glared at the man. She was about to get up when she heard his acquiescent voice.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Just stay still." He let go of her hand and stood up. "Also, I'd like to apologize about what happened in the car."

Pumikit siya at humarap sa kabila dahil naalala niya ang paghalik nito sa kanya at nag-init ang pisngi niya.

Narinig niya tawa ng binata. "I'll call the doctor. Eveline is also waiting outside."

Umalis ang lalaki. Hindi naman nagtagal at bumukas ulit ang pinto saka pumasok ang doctor kasunod si Eveline.

Nalaman ni Misha na pitong oras siyang nawala bago nahanap. Mas matagal pa sa inakala niya ang pananatili niya sa freezer room.

Iniwan sila ng doctor pagkatapos nitong magbilin ng mga instruction at sinabing magpahinga muna siya.

"This is why I still don't want you to go public. Maraming naghihintay sa pagbabalik ni Zephyra mula sa lahat ng sulok kaya hanggat maaari, I don't want you to be seen. At least not for now. You need a few weeks to recuperate and also for training," pahayag ni Eveline nang sila nalang dalawa ang naiwan sa silid.

Napatingin siya kay Eveline. Naalala niya ang sinabi ng leader ng grupo na si Brook.

"That guy is asking me for the vault and the—"

Nilagay ni Eveline ang daliri sa sariling bibig. "Shh, let's talk about that later. You rest for now. Don't think about anything else."

Inayos nito ang kumot at saka hinawakan ang kamay niya. "Your hand is still cold."

"It's okay. Anyway, about Lucien Clive. I think his suspicion will not go away anytime soon. Are we not going to do anything?"

Tumango lang si Eveline. "Hm, it's best not to do anything. Just don't tell him the truth. As long as we don't find the rat inside the organization, we can't tell anyone about your real identity. I trust that he is on our side but I can't risk telling him about the real situation. Can you handle him?"

"Tsk, kinda? He is really annoying but he's manageable."

Natawa si Eveline na parang may kalokohang naiisip. "Remember what I told you on the airplane?"

Her brows creased. "About what?"

"About how our organization has a lot of good-looking men. Echo is one of them and you can try him. I see that you piqued his interest and it looks like you are about to get tempted."

Misha whined in annoyance earning a low laugh from Eveline. Nagpaalam ito pagkatapos ng sandaling tuksuhan.

Nang gabing 'yon, pumasok si Lucien sa silid niya na ay dalang isang pumpon ng rosas.

Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay nang makitang nakangiti ang loko.

"Excuse me, I think you went to the wrong room," sabi niya sa binata.

"Hi." Hindi nito pinansin ang sinabi niya at nilagay ang bulaklak sa gilid niya. "100 red roses for you."

She took the flower and started to count mentally.

Lucien started rambling when she didn't say anything and just stared at the flowers. "Do you like it? I saw a flower shop on my way here and I suddenly remember you so I stopped by. I don't know what kind of flowers you like but roses reminded me of you. I was only going to buy a dozen but the florist said that they are on sale so I bought a hundred because the florist is good at talking..."

Walang naintindihan si Misha pagkatapos nun dahil nagfocus siya sa pagbibilang.

"—Zephyra? Are you listening? You don't like it?"

Seryosong tinignan niya ang binata at muntik ng matawa dahil sa parang constipated na mukha nito.

Why is he like that?

"99."

Nagtaka ang lalaki. "What?"

"It's only 99, I counted them."

For someone meticulous to details, he does have moments like this?

"What? Wait. They're supposed to be a hundred of them. It can't be—"

Hindi na mapigilan ni Misha ang matawa dahil sa mukha nitong nahihiya.

He does know how to be shy, huh?

"What are these for?" diretsahang tanong niya.