Unexpected Desires

CHAPTER 13: Guarding Hearts in the Shadows

Chapter 13: Guarding Hearts in the Shadows

Mayari Calleope's Point of View

"What?!" Iyan ang reaksiyon na nakuha ko ng kausapin ako ni Amara about what happened last night.

Yes, last night, Amara had caught Riley and me in the midst of our clandestine rendezvous, and believe me, it was the most mortifying moment of my life.

"So, you and Riley were bed friends?" Her question carried disbelief, and I could only nod, frantically gesturing for her to lower her voice.

"Ssh, keep your voice down, Amara," I hissed, casting a worried glance towards the room where our other friends still slept soundly.

We all went out last night at anong oras na rin kami nakauwi kagabi kaya alam namin ni Amara na mamaya pa ang gising ng tatlo naming kaibigan. Kami lang ni Amara ang maagang nagising ngayon dahil parehas kaming hindi makapaniwala sa mga nangyari kagabi. Like parehas kaming gulat.

Actually, hindi dapat ako uuwi ngayon dito sa condo dahil alam niyo naman. May plano kami ni Riley pero hindi na natuloy dahil nga nahuli na kami ni Amara.

"So, my hunch was accurate," Amara mumbled, making me focus back on her.

"What?" I inquired, meeting her penetrating gaze.

"My suspicions were right; what you and Riley were doing was far from a casual hangout. You engaged in activities that people who barely know each other shouldn't be engaging in," she stated, and I bit my lower lip.

Hindi ko naman maitatanggi iyon dahil talaga namang hindi naman talaga dapat namin ito ginagawa ni Riley. What Riley and I were indulging in should never have taken place. But what could I do? I was equally clueless about how to put a halt to it. Hindi ko rin alam kung papaano ko pipigilan ang sarili kong ma-attract sa kaniya.

Kumbaga si Riley ay parang isang magnet na kahit anong pilit kong gawing paglayo ay pilit din ako nitong hinihila pabalik sa kaniya.

"Beyond these desires and temptations, do you have any deeper feelings for Riley?" She suddenly posed this query, catching me off guard.

I paused, reflecting on her question and attempting to unravel my own emotions. I'm attracted to him, yes, hindi ko iyon ikakaila. But aside from that? Hindi ko alam. This is all new to me at nasa phase pa ako kung saan pinagaaralan ko pa ang lahat.

"I don't know." Sagot ko kay Amara. Narinig ko naman itong bumuntong-hininga. Hinawakan nito ang kamay ko atsaka ako diretsong tinignan sa aking mga mata.

"What you're embarking on is perilous, Mayari. There's a risk that you'll fall for Riley unintentionally, and he may not be inclined to catch you. You might become overly attached to him, to the point where you're unsure how to extricate yourself. And I'm telling you this, Mayari, as a friend, na please guard your heart." she urged. I swallowed hard at her words, feeling suddenly anxious. Kasi totoo naman, there's a chance na mahulog ako kay Riley at what if wala naman palang balak si Riley na saluhin ako? What if talagang pang-kama lang ang relasyon namin? No more no less. "Guard your heart and don't let Riley penetrate too deeply. You understand why I'm being so protective, right? Because I don't want you to endure the same pain I did. Ayoko naman utusan kang tigilan 'yang kung ano man ang mayroon kayo ni Riley because I know you also wanted it. But please don't let your guard down, honey." But please, stay vigilant," Amara advised, her words resonating deeply with me.

I blinked back tears, embracing her tightly and nodding. I know where Amara was coming from at naiintindihan ko siya.

Atsaka ginusto ko rin naman ang bagay na ito. Ano man ang nangyayari sa amin ni Riley ngayon ay aminado akong ginusto ko rin. And if, down the road, I fell for him and he had no intention of catching me, there would be no one to blame but myself.

But nah, ayoko muna isipin ang bagay na iyon. Masyado pang maaga para isipin 'yun. I intended to savor this setup with Riley. I'd worry about it later once I had everything figured out.

I might say enjoy now, cry later ang peg natin. Lmao.

"Should we tell them?" Tukoy ni Amara sa mga kaibigan namin. Umiling naman ako at sasagot na sana ng bigla kong marinig ang boses ni Alex.

"Tell what?" she asked, taking me by surprise. Nervously, I glanced at her. Her serious demeanor was unexpected.

"What?" I stammered, feeling an unease settle over me. Her gaze remained unwavering, fixed upon us.

"Tell what?" she repeated, his tone weighty.

Third Person's Point of View

"How's our daughter?" Iyon agad ang bumungad na tanong sa lalaking nakaupo ngayon sa isang swivel chair. Sumandal ito at bumuntong-hininga bago sumagot.

"She's fine, Tito," his response reached Henry on the other end of the line. He heard Henry exhale deeply, as if relieved of a heavy burden.

Marahil siguro nakahinga ito ng maluwag ng malaman na maayos ang lagay ng kanilang anak.

"Are you keeping a close watch on her?" Agatha, on the other end of the line, had her turn now. He nodded, even though he couldn't see the people he was talking to.

"Yes, Tita. She's never leaving my sight," he replied, his eyes locked onto a photograph of Mayari resting on his office desk. It was a candid picture of her, joyfully conversing with her friends.

"Good. Thank you for looking after our daughter, hijo," Agatha expressed her gratitude with affection. Hindi naman agad siya nakasagot.

Dahil sa loob-loob niya ay nakokonsensiya siya dahil ibang klaseng pagbabantay ang ginagawa niya kay Mayari.

"It's no trouble, Tita. I'd do anything for you and for my wife. Besides, I'm doing this because I don't want anything bad to happen to her," he asserted.

"Thank you so much, hijo. Sige na, ibababa na namin ng tito mo ang tawag. May pupuntahan pa kasi kami ng tito mo. Maraming salamat ulit, hijo." Agatha replied, sounding relieved. He just nodded and then hung up the call.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang siya pagkababa ng tawag.

With the phone conversation concluded, he leaned back in his chair, his thoughts consumed by the woman depicted in the photograph on his desk. A twinge of guilt tugged at his conscience. He knew that what he was doing was far from ideal, but he believed it was the only way to keep her close to him. Hindi naman niya akalain na aabot sa ganito ang lahat.

Huminga siya ng malalim habang may lungkot sa kaniyang mga mata habang nakatingin siya sa larawan ng mapapangasawa.

"I'm sorry, Mayari. I'm truly sorry."