Chapter 6

Fenrir had a soft spot. Hindi ko inaasahan na ililigtas niya ko mula sa mga goons na nangharang sa ‘kin ilang metro sa mansyon. 

Kinatok niya ang bintana ng driver’s seat. Sa pagbaba ng bintana ay bumungad sa ‘kin ang isang matandang lalaki: puti ang napapanot na buhok at lukot na ang itsura. “Sir Fenrir,” sa matanda nitong boses.

“Kuya Cardo, pasensya na,” ani Fenrir. He bowed his head. “Mauna na po kayong bumalik sa mansyon.” I felt his arms wrapped on my back encircled to the side of my waist. “Maglalakad po kami ng…asawa ko.” He almost gawked at his own saliva when he said those words. 

Tumango lang si Kuya Cardo saka sinara ulit ang bintana. The next thing, the SUV just reversed then left us. My eyes glued on the vehicle as it slowly became slower in the road. 

A loud hack disturbed my silence. His grasp was firmly tightened on the side of my waist, giving me an uneven sensation. 

“F-Fenrir -”

“Your waist is too firm,” he chuckled. My face went red as I tried to go far from him, but his reflexes were impetuous to grab my waist. “Not bad for a party animal like you.”

“Fuck. You.” I uttered with full emphasis in every word, facing his gold plague mask. 

He coaxed his head on his side. My breath went hitched as his eyes darted on me. The coldness of the night is not enough to calm my system. “Is that the way of saying ‘thank you’?”

I pressed my tongue inside of my cheek. “Thanks, Blitz,” I replied weakly. 

I was polite whenever they showed good gestures. Kahit rebelde, marunong pa rin akong rumespeto sa deserved na tao. 

“Respect begets respect.”

Paano ko bang igagalang ang isang ‘to? Alam ko na may malalim siyang dahilan para iligtas ako. 

Isang malalim na pagtikhim ang aking narinig. “Roxie.”

Napatingin ako sa kanya. “Bakit, Fenrir? May problema ba?”

“Can I…”

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. 

“Can I hold your hand?”

Bumuga ako ng hangin saka natawa. “Seryoso ka? Bakit?”

Umiwas siya ng tingin. “You might…escape from me again.”

Napailing na lang ako habang nilahad ko ang kaliwang kamay sa espasyo naming dalawa. “Hawak na.” Hindi pa rin siya sumunod. “Lintik!” Hinablot ko ang kamay niyang nakabuka saka pinagsalikop ko pa. 

A strange sensation flowed like a jolt. Was his right hand calloused? But how come his palm is huge yet extremely soft to touch? 

“Your hand is small,” he muttered. 

Huminto ako sa paglalakad saka sinubukang kumawala pero hinigpitan niya ang pagkahawak sa ‘kin. 

“Let me –”

“Sorry, Roxie.” His thumb glided to the side of my hand. “This is mine.”

Pakshet na lalaking ‘to. May gusto na ba siya sa ‘kin? 

Nang narating namin ang slope ay umupo ito saka nilagay ang dalawang kamay sa likuran. 

“A-Ano ‘to?” pailang na tanong ko. 

Lumingon siya sa likuran saka sinabi, “Hop to my back.”

Lahat ng dugo ko sa katawan ay nagsiakyatan sa mukha ko. “A-Ano ako, bata?” singhap ko. 

Inalis niya ang tingin sa ‘kin saka yumuko dahil pinahiya ko siya. Kaming dalawa lang naman dito. Kahit na may liwanag sa lamppost na nadadaanan namin, nagmistula itong limelight sa aming dalawa. 

“I-I’ve heard you wanted a piggy back so…” Lalo pa itong yumuko. 

Ngumiwi ako sa narinig. “H-Hindi na. Hindi ako bata para – what the heck!”

His perfume exploded into my nostrils. As well his warm torso that made my system haywired. His clothes were neatly ironed but with a faint smell of a familiar…beef noodles. Noodles lang ang kinakain niya sa loob ng ilang buwan!?!?

He carried me as if I was her bride. Technically, his wife. 

“Did you lose weight?” he broke our silence with his question. 

I scoffed, “How’s noodles diet, Blitz?” asked sarcastically.

His gaze went to the downhill road. My hands gripped on his shirt - almost falling in every heavy step.

“FENRIR, MAHUHULOG AKO!” I shrieked, burying my face in his shirt. 

He tucked his arms on my body. An electric shock squirmed me more as his touch was hot like an iron rod. “Why don’t you wrap your arms to…” He coaxed his head, gave me an access to his neck. 

Gradually, my body stopped from jerking. I had no choice. “Fine…” I raised both arms encircling his neck. His veins were protruding as if he got tensed with me. “...walang sisihan, Blitz…” I muttered. 

I felt his muscles tensed. I wrapped him tightly until my lips barely touched the side of his neck. “Cute…” 

He uttered a small gasp. I parted my lips until I sucked it gently. I even glided my tongue - it didn’t taste salty. Instead, tasteless with a strange taste from the shower gel he used. 

“Hmmmm…” I pucked my lips. “...lasang shower gel.”

“S-Shut up…” He averted my gaze. I felt that he was all red behind that mask. “Let’s go,” he uttered with a stuttered voice. 

Hindi niya inalintana kahit pataas na ang dinadaanan namin. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang timbang ko. 

Alam ko, my muscles were firm yet soft. Medyo litaw na rin ang ribs sa balat ko but I didn’t care. 

Masasarap nga mga pagkain na pine-prepare ng mga helpers nito, pero may kaakibat na lungkot akong nararamdaman. 

But I was quite happy that he went out of his shell to save me.

I guess… I have to get used to this bare minimum treatment. 

“We’re here,” he whispered to my ear. 

Dahan-dahan niya kong binaba. 

Sa pagpasok ko ng gate, isang gwapong lalaki ang lumabas. Mestizo. Gulo ang buhok. May mga pulang marka pa sa gilid ng leeg at sa bandang dibdib mula sa v-neck collared shirt na suot. 

My body went into chaos. Tangis ng ngipin at litaw ang ugat sa magkabilang braso dahil matindi ang pagkakuyom. 

In a split second, Fenrir went to the ground. The side of his plague mask got some crack that exuded grievance. 

“How. Dare. You.” Fenrir scowled in a slow manner of speech.