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KABANATA 39
NAPANGITI si Magenta nang may yumakap sa kanya mula sa likuran at hinalikan ang kanyang pisngi. Kahit na hindi niya tingnan ay alam niya kung sino iyon.
"What are you cooking?"
Napangiti siya at hindi sumagot. Nang makita nito kung ano ang kanyang niluluto ay napaungol. "Menudo. It's the best when you cook it."
"Chicken menudo, the Fajardos favorite," nakangiting sagot niya. "Seb, ano ba, nagluluto ako," aniya habang nakatawa at napakislot nang kilitiin nito ang kanyang bewang. "Hahampasin kita nitong sandok talaga."
He chuckled and kissed her shoulder before letting her go. Hindi naman ito tuluyang lumayo at sumandig sa lamesa habang nakahalukipkip na nakatingin sa kanyang ginagawa.
"My gift is in your room."
Pinatay niya ang kalan nang matapos sa ginagawa at humarap kay Sebastian na bahagyang namumula ang mukha at makatingin ng diretso sa kanya na tila nahihiya. Her lips stretched in a smile seeing how adorable he was.
Kaugnay na kabanata
Contract With The Devil KABANATA 40
"WALA KAMING naging problema ng dating may-ari sa pangungupahan ko. You can call Mrs. Gavino, she can vouch for me," she said and raised her chin defiantly.Magenta was nervous sitting in front of him but she doesn't let him see it. Ang mga mata nito ay nakatutok sa kanya na para tatagos hanggang sa kanyang buto, tila pinag-aaralan nito ang kanyang buong pagkatao.Kilala niya si Malcolm at alam niya kung anong kaya nitong gawin, perhaps that was the reason why the fast beating of her heart. Malcolm emitted power, authority, as if the devil himself was the king of the world. These were the reason why the people who crossed him trembled in fear when apprehended."How are you, Jen?"She was taken aback when his tone changed and his face soften. Good thing was, she was able to gather her wits back immediately. "Great," she answered uncommitingly. "I'd like to renew my lease as soon as possible, I know you're a
Contract With The Devil KABANATA 41
"Tigilan mo ako, Malcolm!""I see, hindi ka pa nakakahanap ng malilipatan.""Ano bang problema mo, ha! Kung wala kang magawa sa buhay mo, na napakaimposible dahil alam kung busy ka sa paninindak ng ibang tao, makipaglaro ka sa demonyo. Letche ka!"Nakagat ni Magenta ang mga labi dahil sa ginawang pagmumura. Mula pagkabata ay hindi siya palamura dahil tinuruan siya ng ina na hindi iyon maganda. But Malcolm can bring out the worst in her.Lihim niyang nahigit ang hininga nang marinig ang marahang pagtawa ng nasa kabilang linya. Tiningnan pa niya ang screen ng cellphone dahil hindi makapaniwala na si Malcolm iyon. No! It was not him! Perhaps it was voice phishing? Or was Malcolm completely possess by demons?"I want to see you, Jen.""The feeling is not mutual," she uttered with the utmost sarcasm."You have no choice, I'm already here.""What?" Napatayo si Magenta at inilibot ang mga mata sa paligid, nang mapatingin s
Contract With The Devil KABANATA 42
Sebastian had a faraway look in his eyes as he fell into deep thinking. She also didn't fail to notice the melancholy in his face, it was very unusual of him. "Seb..." she called in a hoarse voice. Tumikhim siya nang maramdaman ang pananakit ng lalamunan at tila may nakabara. Sebastian glanced at her an his eyes were now back to the present. Dinama nito ang noo ni Magenta at pinigilan sa balikat ang dalaga na akmang uupo. "Stay on the bed, may sinat ka." Napapikit siya ng makaramdam ng pagkahilo sa tangkang pag-upo. Pinakiramdaman niya ang katawan at nakumpirma ang sinabi nito. Mabigat ang kanyang pakiramdam, nananakit ang lalamunan at bahagyang mainit ang katawan. Nang tingnan niya ang orasan ay alas-kuwatro na ng hapon. Mahigit apat na oras din siyang nakatulog. Tumunog ang kanyang tiyan kaya napahawak siya roon kasabay nang lalong pamumula ng mapulang ng pisngi. She was hungry, she hadn't eat lunch.
Contract With The Devil KABANATA 43
Nagbihis siya at dinampot ang car key sa ibabaw ng bedside table bago lumabas ng bahay. He went to his other house, which was smaller and cozier. That was where he lived when he returned to the Philippines when he was twenty-four. And for the past three years, he often came there.Iyon din ang bahay na tinirhan ni Malcolm kasama si Tessa. They lived together for over a year and she had a lot of memories in that house, but it can't compare to Magenta's. Ni hindi niya gaanong naiisip ang dating fiancée, he had buried the memories he had with her.He first bumped into Tessa inside a restaurant. Unexpectedly, they met again inside a bar that night. Mag-isa siyang umiinom noon at nag-iisip kung ano ang gagawin niya ngayong nakabalik na sa bansang sinilangan nang lapitan siya ni Tessa nang makilala siya nito. Tessa was older than him but she was young despite her age, she was beautiful and he knew how to make a man wrapped around her fingers.
Contract With The Devil KABANATA 44
"MALCOLM, wake up...""M-Mom?" usal ni Malcolm na pupungas-pungas. "What's happening?" nagtatakang tanong ng bata nang makita ang bag na nakasampay sa balikat ng kanyang mommy. "Shh... Wear your shoes fast.""But why? Where are we going? Is it Christmas eve?" Naririnig niya ang tunog ng mga paputok sa labas ng kanilang bahay. Hinawakan ni Ruby ang pisngi ni Malcolm at nakikiusap ang mga mata. She was in haste too. "Don't ask, my child, I'll tell you later. Now wear your shoes and wait outside your room."Kahit na naguguluhan ay tumango ang bata at sinunod ang sinabi ng kanyang ina. Nauna itong lumabas sa kanyang silid na sinundan niya matapos maisuot ang kanyang sapatos. Nakita niya itong kinakatok ang pinto ng silid ng kanyang Ate Grace. Ilang sandali ay binuksan iyon ng ate niya na pilit pinipigilan ang panging
Contract With The Devil KABANATA 45
MULA SA pagkakaupo sa ibabaw ng kama ay mabilis siyang napatayo nang magulat nang marinig ang tunog ng sasakyan mula sa labas ng bahay. Nagmamadaling isinarado niya ang drawer ng side table at lumabas sa kinaroonang silid, pagkatapos ay isinarado ang pinto.She walked towards the front door while tucking her hairs behind her ears to look presentable. Her chest was thumping too fast, dahil iyon sa pinagsamang kaba at pagkasabik na makita ang taong sakay ng kotseng tumigil sa labas ng bahay at marahil ay maayos nang nakaparada sa bakuran.Bahagya siyang napaatras nang itulak nito pabukas ang pinto. Agad niyang nalanghap ang alak mula rito, namumula rin ang mukha't leeg nito at halatang nakainom.Sandali lang siya nitong tinapunan ng tingin at lumakad patungo sa direksiyon ng mahabang sofa. Isinarado niya ang pinto at nilapitan ito. Napalunok siya habang nakatingin sa mukha ni Malcolm. Nakaupo ito sa sofa habang nakalagay sa
Contract With The Devil KABANATA 46
"I don't approve of your scheme, Mr. Peters. But I can't never stop you, can I?" she asked as serious as it sound. "You always do want you want even if that means hurting other people. Can you see her?"Malcolm remained expressionless even when Suzette faced the child to his direction. Her big, innocent and misty eyes were staring at her as if any moment she would fell into tears."She's innocent about what's happening around her. Pero siya ang naiipit sa inyo ni Magenta, look at her and tell me you don't feel anything at all," Suzette demanded. Punong-puno na siya sa pinsan niya. Wala siyang pakialam ngayon kung nasasaktan ito sa mga pinagsasabi niya, he deserved to hear the truth from her. "Her mother's missing, and her father disowned her. Even after before she was born, her father wanted her gone—""Shut up!" he hissed. His teeth gnashing in anger. Nagagalit siya dahil naapektuhan siya ng sinasabi nito. The guilt was crepting inside him, but he w
Contract With The Devil KABANATA 47
"What happened to her?"He looked at her lazily, masking the emotions that his face emitted. "You already know. I never told you anytime about it, but you made me do it.""I wish I could remember."Marahas ang buntung-hininga ni Malcolm sa narinig. "You will hate me if you do.""I can't understand. Nag-away ba tayo? Naghiwalay? But should I hate you? Bakit hindi mo agad ipinaalam sa akin ang tungkol kay Rose? Did you... did you hurt me?"Bago nag-iwas ng tingin si Malcolm ay nakita ni Magenta ang guilt sa mga mata nito. Does that mean the answers to all her questions were yes? Kung naghiwalay nga sila at nagkasakitan, bakit naroon siya ngayon? Does that mean he wanted her back? At siya, anong nararamdaman niya?Mababaliw siya sa pag-iisip. Hindi rin niya mapagkakatiwalaan ang kasalukuyang damdamin para rito dahil wala siyang maalala sa nakaraan. Yes, she wanted to be with Malcolm, it felt good when she was with him like she was finally
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