ESTEFANO ESCARRA (The Black Sparrow Society)

After dinner, he invited Reina for a walk pero tumanggi ito. She had a long day at naiintindihan niya 'yon. Inihatid niya ito ng tingin hanggang makapasok sa silid nila at napangiti si Estefano nang hindi ito mag-attempt na magbukas ng ibang silid. He was tempted to follow her, but changed his mind the last minute when he received a call."Ale," bati niya sa kaibigan. They met when Ale visited Spain— Basque country to be exact. Nasa hilagang parte ito ng Espanya. It has an autonomous community with strong cultural traditions. Although the place is beautiful, bihira ang pumapasyal doon and Alessandro is not local. He's a half Italian, half Filipino born and raised in New York. He didn't know the man was a Chemical Engineer at the time. Mas mukha itong artista sa mga telenovala. Kaya pala nagpunta roon ay para sa tinetesting nitong antidote ng kung anong ahas. On instinct, Estefano shot the Seoane's viper who's about to attack Ale. Nainis pa ito sa kaniya dahil nakawala ang isang ahas

They felt like the time stopped. Saglit silang nagkatinginan pero kaagad na umiwas ang mga mata ni Reina. "Are you okay?" tanong ni Estefan kay Reina. She walks with high heels most of the time but she trips over a blanket with barefoot. "I'm fine." Reina tried to get up when she felt the little currents. "It's your fault," yamot na tugon ng babae kay Estefano.His brows furrowed. "How is it my fault? I don't remember tripping you." He got up and extended his hand to her pero hindi 'yon pinansin ng babae at nagpilit na tumayo mag-isa. Ngumiwi ito at hinilot ang kaliwang paa. "Tsk." In one swift move, Estefan picked her up and carried her to the kitchen. He sat Reina down on one of the bar stools. "I'll get you some ice for that." Dumating ang isang matandang babae na nasa edad sisenta at may kasama itong isang babae na hindi nalalayo sa edad ni Reina. Morena ito at nakasuot ng isang simpleng bestida. Maayos na naka-ponytail ang buhok at walang bahid na kolorete sa mukha. Sabagay, p

Hindi sila natuloy sa bayan pero sabi ni Manang Salud ay hindi naman grabe ang nangyari sa paa ni Reina. Kailangan lang raw na huwag munang gamitin at kung maaari ay sa kwarto na lang muna ang dalaga. “Paki-alalayan mo muna Sir kapag gusto niyang gumamit ng banyo.”“Kaya ko naman po, Manang. Kakapit na lang po ako sa—““Ako na po ang bahala, Manang. Pakidalhan na lang po kami ng tanghalian dito kapag luto na. Sa balkonahe po kami kakain.”Tumango ang matanda at nagpaalam na. Naiwan sila ni Reina sa silid.“Do you want anything?” “I want to go home,” sagot nito sa kaniya. “You can’t. At least not right now. Mainit pa.”Napasimangot si Reina. “Hindi naman ako kasali sa away n’yo. Leave me out of it, Estefan. This is ridiculous!” Hindi siya umimik. “Tingnan mo nga ang nangyari sa akin. Kung hindi mo ako dinala rito, hindi ako madidisgrasya.”“You have to stay here.”“Until when?!” Tumaas na ang boses ni Reina “Tomorrow? Next week? A month? Tell me.”“Until I say so.”She took the pillo

Reina wore Estefan's t-shirt over her swimsuit at bukod doon ay pinagsuot s'ya nito ng shorts. She took what he said to heart. Marupok din ang puso niya kaya kapag dinadaan s'ya ni Estefan sa mga ganoon banat ay nauumid s'ya. He carried her downstairs on a piggyback style. Nakayakap ang mga braso niya sa leeg nito. Their bodies are so close together and she couldn't help but rest her chin on the crook of his neck. She inhaled his natural scent. Maybe she's still in daze from what he said earlier, but she's beginning to think that she's addicted to him. Kailangan na talaga s'ya nitong iuwi sa kanila. At baka mamaya, s'ya na mismo ang ayaw umuwi. Disgrasya. “Am I swimming like this?” bulong niya kay Estefan. Naisip niya na baka pwede s’yang magbathing suit lang kapag nasa tubig na. Pangko s’ya ni Estefan hanggang binabaybay ang walkway patungo sa dalampasigan. “I’ll ask them to turn around while you swim.” His voice was different. It sounded soft and heavenly. Estefan wasn’t kiddin