Kabanata 04:

KONSTANTIN GABRIEL MOROZOV

I wasn't particularly fond of shopping. In fact, I considered it one of the most unnecessary ways to waste an afternoon. If I needed something, I simply instructed my assistant to purchase it. There was no reason for me to spend hours walking around a crowded establishment when I could have someone do it for me.

"Do you like this place?" marahan kong tanong sabay binalingan si Evangeline na tahimik lang sa tabi ko.

She was looking through the large glass windows of one of the boutiques. Her eyes wandered over the dresses displayed inside, although she hadn't made any attempt to enter.

She looked at me.

"O-Oo. Pero sa tanang buhay ko ay ikatlong beses ko pa lang na makapasok sa ganito." Sagot niya.

We had been inside the mall for barely fifteen minutes, and she had already apologized twice for walking too slowly and once for supposedly making me wait.

I was beginning to wonder how many times a person could apologize in a single afternoon.

"Come here."

I extended my hand.

She looked at it before shifting her gaze toward me.

"Bakit?"

"Just give me your hand, Evangeline..." utos ko.

Without another question, she slowly placed her smaller hand in mine.

I wrapped my fingers around it and started walking.

She followed beside me.

I could feel the slight tension in her hand. Her fingers were stiff, and every now and then, she would unconsciously slow down whenever we passed a group of people.

I glanced at her. "Relax."

"R-Relax naman na ako," medyo naka-pout ang labi niyang sagot sa akin.

A faint smile almost appeared on my lips.

"Then loosen your grip."

She looked down at our joined hands before slowly relaxing her fingers.

Better.

I wasn't holding her hand because I was afraid she might get lost. There were at least six of my men scattered throughout the mall, and another two following us at a reasonable distance.

I simply wanted her to understand that she wasn't walking through this place alone. And judging by the way her shoulders gradually relaxed, it seemed to be working.

We were passing through the main shopping area when I noticed something. Na may mga taong nakatingin sa aming dalawa. Hindi ko naman iyon dapat ikagulat dahil hindi naman lihim sa lahat ang aking pagkakakilanlan.

I was Konstantin Morozov. Even outside Russia, my name carried enough weight to attract attention from people who knew who I was.

Ngunit, napansin ko na ang kanilang tingin ay hindi nakatutok sa akin...kundi kay Evangeline.

A couple walking in our direction glanced at her legs before whispering something to each other. Another woman standing near a cosmetics store followed her with her eyes, her expression changing into something I immediately disliked.

Then there was a group of men who openly stared at her as we passed.

Their gazes lingered a little too long.

Malalim akong bumuntong-hininga at hindi na napigilan ang pagkunot ng aking noo.

This piece of sh*ts!

I looked down at Evangeline. At kahit na hindi siya nagsasalita ay alam kong nararamdaman niya ang mga matang nakatingin sa kanya. Sinusubukan niya iyong ipagsawalang-bahala, pero alam ko na nasasaktan siya at naiilang.

I stopped walking.

She immediately turned toward me.

"Konstantin?"

I didn't answer.

Instead, I turned my head in the direction of the people who had been staring at her.

My expression hardened.

One of the men quickly looked away.

The woman near the cosmetics store suddenly became interested in the products displayed behind the glass. And the couple who had been whispering a moment earlier immediately found somewhere else to look.

I held their gazes for another second before turning away.

Wala akong sinabi na kahit ano dahil sapat na ang matalim kong tingin upang mapahinto sila.

"Let's go," I told my wife.

She nodded.

We continued walking, although I noticed she was now looking down more frequently.

I didn't like that.

Not one bit.

"Do you want to buy something?"

She looked at me.

"Me?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Do you see another woman holding my hand?"

Her cheeks turned slightly pink.

"I mean... I don't really need anything."

I stopped in front of a luxury department store.

"That wasn't what I asked."

She looked through the glass display. And there were several handbags and accessories arranged inside.

"Hindi ko kasi alam kung ano ang dapat kong bilhin," pag-amin niya gamit ang pabulong niyang tinig.

"Then we'll look around. At kapag may nagugustuhan ka ay sabihin mo sa akin at bibilhin natin kaagad."

I guided her inside.

The moment we entered, a sales associate immediately approached us.

"Good afternoon, Sir. Welcome to our store."

"Good afternoon," Evangeline politely greeted.

The woman smiled at her. "Welcome, Ma'am. Is there anything you'd like to see?"

Evangeline looked around.

"Just looking, thank you."

I glanced at the display of handbags.

"Show her your latest collection."

"Of course, Sir..." sagot nito.

The sales associate immediately brought out several bags. Evangeline looked at them with visible curiosity, but she didn't reach for any of them.

"Which one do you like?" I asked.

She let out a small laugh. "I don't know. They're expensive."

I looked at the price tag of the first bag.

Then at her.

"And?"

Her lips parted.

"Konstantin, I don't think I need something this expensive."

I placed my hand against the back of her waist.

"You're allowed to own beautiful things, Evangeline."

She looked at me.

I continued. "Pick anything and I'll pay for it."

After a few moments, she carefully reached for a small cream-colored handbag.

"This one is pretty."

I nodded toward the sales associate.

"We'll take it."

Her head immediately turned toward me.

"You just said you liked it. That's why we're buying it," sabi ko agad bago pa man siya makapag-reklamo.

The sales associate smiled while preparing the purchase.

I noticed Evangeline looking at the handbag again.

She was smiling.

Not a particularly wide smile, but enough to soften the expression on her face.

For some reason, I found myself watching her instead of the expensive merchandise surrounding us.

~~~~~~*******~~~~~~~~

We visited several more stores.

I bought her a few dresses, a pair of comfortable shoes, and some accessories. She protested almost every time I instructed the staff to prepare something for her.

Maya-maya pa habang naglalakad kami ay napansin kong bumabagal na ang kanyang paglalakad. Kaya huminto ako at humarap sa kanya.

"Are you tired?"

She looked at me. "Medyo."

"Then let's sit."

I guided her toward a nearby lounge area. One of my men immediately approached with a bottle of water.

I accepted it and handed it to her.

"Drink."

"Thank you."

She took a few sips.

I sat beside her, loosening the cuff of my watch.

"How's your leg?"

Sandali siyang napatitig sa akin na para bang hindi niya inaasahan na iyon ang magiging tanong ko.

"It's o-okay."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Yes. I'm just not used to walking around for this long."

I studied her face.

"Does it hurt?"

She hesitated.

"A l-little."

I looked toward my assistant, who was standing a few feet away.

"Have the car brought closer to the entrance."

"Yes, Sir."

Then I turned back to her.

"We're going home."

"But we haven't finished—"

"We can come back another day."

She looked at me for a moment.

"You're not upset?"

I frowned. "Why would I be?"

"Kasi hindi pa tayo tapos sa pamimili tapos uuwi na tayo dahil lang sumasakit ang binti ko," napanguso siya.

I stared at her.

"I can buy everything in this building if I want to. You don't have to exhaust yourself just to make this trip worthwhile."

She lowered her gaze. "Okay."

Matapos niyon ay unti-unti siyang tumayo. Pinagmamasdan ko siya at nang mapagtanto kong masakit nga ang binti niya...at agad din akong tumayo at walang pagdadalawang-isip siyang binuhat sa bisig ko.

Gulat na gulat siya sa ginawa ko. Agad na pumulupot ang mga kamay niya sa aking leeg ay kumapit nang mahigpit.

"K-Konstantin---"

"It's okay. Mas mapapadali tayo kung bubuhatin kita. Baka mas sumakit pa kasi ang binti mo kapag hinayaan pa kitang maglalakad." Dipensa ko.

At mabuti na lamang ay hindi na siya nagsalita pa. Tahimik niyang idinikit ang mukha sa dibdib ko para itago ang pamumula ng kanyang mukha. Ang hindi niya alam ay nakikita ko pa rin iyon, kaya hindi ko na rin mapigilang mapangiti habang naglalakad palabas ng mall.