Chapter Five

Umagang-umaga palang ay pagod na pagod na si Sierra, dahil ang una nilang ginawa sa umaga ni Yuto ay maghabulan sa hardin. Pagod na pagod siya kakahabol sa bata, sobrang bilis nito tumakbo parang may lahi itong kabayo sa bilis.

“Mama! Let’s run more!” masiglang wika ni Yuto.

Nasa pangalawang araw palang siya sa pagiging nanay ng bata pero dinaig niya pa ang nag-alaga ng sampung bata dahil sa sobrang taas ng energy ng bata. Hindi mapirmi si Yuto at kung nasaan si Yuto ay naroon  dapat siya.

Hinahabol ni Sierra ang hininga niya, hingal na hingal siya sa kakatakbo. “Baby, let Mama relax for a bit. I think I’m about to die.”

Dahan na dahan na humiga si Sierra sa damuhan at napapikit inaantok  talaa siya dahil sa kakatakbo.

“Mama no!” sigaw ni Yuto. “Mama don’t die!” at pulahaw na ito ng iyak.

Napamulat ng mata si Sierra at natatrantang dinaluhan ang bata, “I’m alive baby! Mama’s just tired, pagod na pagod ako kakatakbo. Huy, Beh! H’wag kang umiyak.”

“What happened here? Why is my son crying?” sumulpot bigla si Cohen, kasunod nito ang mga tauhan nito na masama ang tingin kay Sierra.

“Wala ngang! He just cried,” napairap pa si Sierra sa inis saka niyakap ang bata.

“Mama don’t die!” wika ni Yuto saka yumakap pabalik kay Sierra.

His brows furrowed in confusion, “What is he talking about? Did you say something to him?!”

Dumagundong ang malakas na boses ni Cohen, napakurap si Sierra.

“Anong pinagsasabi mo? I didn’t tell anything!” giit pa ng dalaga.

“Then why the heck is he crying?!”

Napakurap si Sierra nang tumaas ang boses ni Cohen, “I didn’t tell him anything. Do you think I am crazy enough to threaten a child?”

“Then why the heck is my son crying?!” pag-uulit pa ni Cohen.

Napakagat labi si Sierra, “I-I didn’t tell him anything.”

“Damn it!”

“Papa bad!” sigaw ni Yuto at magnagsumiksik pa kay Sierra. “Why are you shouting at my Mama?!”

Cohen sighed, “I am not angry Yuto. Papa is just worried.”

Sinamaan ni Yuto ng tingin ang ama, “But you don’t need to shout at my Mama!”

Napanguso na lang Sierra sa pagtatalo ng mag-ama, “Mag-ama nga kayo. Parehong OA.” Parang bubuyog na bulong ni Sierra.

“You’re saying something?” matalim na wika ni Cohen.

Umiling si Sierra, “Nothing. Anyway, I didn’t threaten Yuto or anything. I-I just got tired from running around and I almost fell asleep on the grass and Yuto thought, I was dying. Now can you stop glaring at me? nag-iwas ng tingin si Sierra. “And I will never harm Yuto. So rest assured, you don’t need to threaten me with those daggers eyes.”

Cohen pinched the bridge of his nose, “Hah. Anyway, I’ll be leaving today. You and Yuto will stay here along with the security team.” Binaling ni Cohen ang tingin sa mga tauhan niya, “You need to keep an eye with these two. You better stop my wife from doing crazy stuff and make sure the two of them will not get hurt. And if they get hurt while I am away, you know the consequences, right?”

Napairap si Sierra, “Mukha ba ‘kong siraulo para ipamahak ang sarili ko at si Yuto? Whatever.”

Lumapit ang isang guard at tinulungan si Sierra na makatayo.

“Thank you,” wika ni Sierra.

Tumango lang ang lalaki at bumalik sa pwesto nito. Patuloy pa rin si Cohen sa pagbibilin sa mga tauhan nito.

“Kieffer,” Cohen said. Lumapit ang lalaking tumulong kay Sierra na makatayo kay Cohen.

“Yes, Boss?”

“You will be in charge of Yuto and Sierra’s safety,” he quickly said. This time, bumaling naman si Cohen kay Sierra. “Yuto’s asleep. You should put him to bed.”

Doon lang napansin ni Sierra na nakatulog na pala ang bata sa bisig niya.

Cohen sighed, “Give him to me.”

Maingat naman na ibinigay ni Sierra ang bata kay Cohen, nag umpisang maglakad si COhen kaya tahimik na sumunod siya sa lalaki. Hanggang sa nakarating sila sa kwarto ng bata. He gently placed Yuto on his bed.

Sierra cleared her throat, lumingon si Cohen sa kanya.

“Yes?”

She licked her lower lip to moisten her lips, “Can I have a phone?”

Nagsalubong agad ang kilay ni Cohen sa tinuran ni Sierra, “Why do you need to have one?”

Hindi makapaniwalang tinignan ni Sierra ang asawa, “I just need to have a phone to contact my friends that I am alright and doing well. I promise I will not do anything--”

“No,” he firmly said.

“But why? I told you I won’t tell them about the deal or Yuto. I just need to tell them that I am fine and I will not be seeing them for a while!”

“I said no,” he quickly replied. “Let’s get out of here. You might wake up Yuto.”

Sumunod naman agad siya sa sinabi ni Cohen, pero hindi pa rin siya papayag na hindi makuha ang gusto niya. As they walked in down the hallway, hindi mapakali si Sierra.

“Cohen,” she muttered.

“I already said no,” he then replied.

She rolled her eyes, “Please? I told you I wouldn’t dare to do something stupid. And also, I am bored. Whenever Yuto’s asleep I don’t have something to do. Nakakabaliw! Buti sana kung may cellphone, ako at tamang share lang ng memes--”

Bago pa matapos ni Sierra ang sasabihin ay bigla siyang hinila ni Cohen. At pumasok sila sa isang bakanteng silid, sa dami ba naman ng kwarto sa bahay ni cohen, para pinamumugaran na ng mga multo.

“Hey!” inis na wika ni Sierra.

“I already said no,” tinitigan ni Cohen si Sierra.

“I told you I would just call my friends! And play some games on the phone--”

Cohen bent down and crashed her lips against her, this time it was just a little rougher. His kiss means punishment. He bit Sierra’s lower lip making her groan and part her lips. He slid his tongue inside her mouth. Cohen is crazy, but Seirra is much crazier because she kissed him back… They kissed until Sierra’s lips were swollen.