Kabanata 3

Tanghali na nang unti-unti akong mamulat. Mabigat ang talukap ng mga mata ko, para bang may buhangin na naiwan sa gilid ng pilik ko. Sobrang hapdi. Sobrang sakit. Para akong umiyak buong gabi—well, oo nga pala. I did.

Sumandal ako sa headboard habang hinahagod ang sentido ko. Nasa guest room pa rin ako ng bahay ni Killian. Everything looked too pristine, too expensive, too far from my chaotic world. The linen smelled like fresh cotton and something subtle—lavender, maybe? O baka amoy lang talaga ni Killian na na-absorb ng buong paligid.

Napatingin ako sa paanan ng kama, at doon ko lang napansin ang neatly folded clothes na nakalapag sa maliit na bench. May kasama pang robe at towel. May label pa sa ibabaw.

“For Claudette.”

Parang may kuryenteng dumaloy sa batok ko.

Naglakad ako papunta roon, at hinaplos ang tela. Hindi ito ‘yung karaniwang cotton shirt na binibili ko sa mall. This was soft, imported. Obvious na hindi lang ito basta pinili—pinag-isipan. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako o lalo akong mahihiya.

Napabalikwas ako ng upo nang biglang tumunog ang phone ko. Agad kong dinampot sa bedside table.

Killian.

Napalunok ako bago sinagot ang tawag.

“Hello?” mahina kong sabi, halos pabulong.

“Did you sleep well?” tanong niya, at kahit sa boses lang niya, ramdam kong kalmado siya.

“Yeah… I guess,” mahina kong sagot. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to oversleep. Tanghali na pala.”

“You needed the rest. Your body went through a lot last night,” sagot niya, calm but firm. “I had your clothes prepared. Take a shower, eat something. You’re safe here.”

Napapikit ako sandali. Safe. Ilang beses ko na ba ‘yang narinig, pero ni minsan, hindi ko ‘yon naramdaman mula sa taong dapat sana ay nagpoprotekta sa akin—si Larkin.

“Killian…” mahina kong tawag sa pangalan niya. “Thank you, ha. Pero hindi na ako magtatagal dito. I can’t be a burden.”

There was a short silence on the other end before he replied, “You’re not a burden, Claudette. Don’t ever think that way.”

“I need to go back sa bahay ng parents ko… or maybe I’ll stay with Ate Caleigh. I can’t stay here. What if—what if Larkin finds out?” Nagsimula nang bumilis ang tibok ng dibdib ko. “This could get messy. I don’t want to involve you sa gulo ko. Baka bumalik ulit siya rito sa bahay mo. Madadamay ka pa.”

“Too late for that,” he cut in, but his tone remained composed. “You’re already involved with me the moment I saw you crying in my car, shaking like a child who had no one.”

Hindi ako agad nakasagot. Parang sinuntok ako sa puso ng sinabi niya. Totoo naman. Ang hina ko kagabi. Ang duwag. Ang basag.

“I don’t want you to go back to that house or anywhere na maaring sundan ka ni Larkin. What he did was unacceptable, and I won’t let it happen again,” tuluy-tuloy niyang sabi, authoritative. “Instead, stay in one of my condos. It’s secure, and it’s yours for as long as you need it. Itapon mo rin ang phone mo para hindi ka ma-track ng asawa mo.”

“Wait… condo?” nagulantang kong tanong.

“Yes. It’s already ready. My driver can take you there once you're done resting. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

Napakagat ako sa labi. Why is he doing all this for me? Hindi kami close. Oo, boss ko siya, pero hindi kami… ganito. Hindi siya kailangang magmalasakit ng ganito.

“Mr. Nicolaj, this is too much,” mahina kong bulong. “I can’t accept this. You’ve already done enough.”

“No, Claudette. Not even close to enough,” seryoso niyang sagot. “You’re under my care now. I take responsibility for the people I value.”

Parang may kung anong kumislot sa puso ko sa sinabi niyang ‘people I value.’ Hindi ko alam kung anong ibig sabihin niyon, pero para bang may ibang tono.

“Besides,” dagdag pa niya. “I already had security protocols in place. If he tries anything again, we’ll know.”

Napakagat ako sa labi. I should feel safer. I should feel grateful. Pero bakit parang may bahagi ng sarili kong gustong tumakbo palayo? Baka kasi kapag masyado akong nagpaalaga, masyado akong umasa… masasaktan lang ulit ako.

Pero wala na akong ibang pupuntahan. Sa ngayon, kailangan kong magpakatatag. Para sa sarili ko. Para sa dignidad ko.

“Okay…” mahinang sagot ko. “Just for a few days.”

“I’ll have someone deliver some groceries too. You don’t have to lift a finger.”

Napangiti ako kahit papaano. “You’re starting to sound like my fairy godfather.”

“Hmm. I prefer ‘guardian billionaire,’ if we’re choosing titles.”

Napatawa ako nang mahina. That was the first time I laughed genuinely in days. And it felt… light.

Pagkababa ng tawag, agad akong naligo at nagbihis gamit ang mga damit na iniwan niya. Fit sila sa akin, parang alam ni Killian ang sukat ko. Or maybe he just had someone pick out sizes close enough. Either way, it felt thoughtful.

I went downstairs and found a note on the kitchen counter.

“Help yourself. I had breakfast delivered from Le Jardin. P.S. There’s fresh orange juice in the fridge. – K.”

Napailing ako. Le Jardin? ‘Yung French café na hindi ko man lang kayang tingnan ‘pag dumadaan ako sa Greenbelt? Killian, what are you doing to me?

Tinungo ko ang dining area at doon ko nakita ang basket ng croissants, isang container ng scrambled eggs na may truffle oil, at fresh fruits. Gano’n ba talaga siya ka-extravagant? Or… gusto niya lang talaga akong i-spoil?

Habang kumakain ako, napatingin ako sa mga painting na naka-display sa hallway. Lahat museum-worthy. May isang abstract na parang sigaw—pula, itim, puti. Parang naramdaman ko ang sarili ko roon. Basag. Magulo. But still hanging on the wall… existing.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapaisip. Anong klaseng lalaki si Killian? Bakit parang hindi siya totoo? Hindi siya mukhang may sabit, pero imposibleng single pa siya, ‘di ba? At his age? At his looks? At his power?

Napailing ako. Don’t overthink, Claudette. This is temporary. Don’t get used to the kindness. Or worse, don’t fall.