The Mafia Boss' Heart

CHAPTER 16

NICOLO was about to enter his car when someone blocked him. He looked at the man who stopped him. Then he raised his eyebrows at him. “What do you want?” he asked Jade.

“Can we talk?”

“We’re already talking,” said Nicolo in a flat voice. He closed the door of his car and faced Jade.

“What is your relationship with Haze? Are you pursuing her?” Tanong ni Jade habang nakakuyom ang kamay.

“My relationship with her is none of your business,” tugon ni Nicolo saw walang emosyong boses. “You two are not in a relationship. There’s nothing wrong if I pursue her.”

Humigpit ang pagkakuyom ng kamao ni Jade. “Haze is mine. How dare you to snatch her away from me!”

Nicolo remained calm. “Haze is not yours. She only belongs to herself and not to anyone,” he said.

“I’m telling you, stay away from Haze.” Banta ni Jade.

Ngumiti ng malamig si Nicolo. It was a kind of menacing smile. “It’s you who should stay away from Haze.”

Bahagyang napataaras si Jade. Nawala ang sama ng tingin niya kay Nicolo nang makita niya kung paano ito ngumiti. Nicolo’s smile was different. It was menacing and he felt the cold feeling that run through his spine and make him shivered. Ito ang unang beses na nakita niya ang ganitong ngiti mula sa isang tao. And it was dangerous.

Tinapik ni Nicolo ang balikat ni Jade. Nawala ang mapanganib niyang ngiti. “Be careful on who you are threatening.” He smiled again and entered his car. He started the engine and left the parking lot.

Unbeknownst to the two of them, Haze was also in the parking lot and heard everything Nicolo and Jade had talked about. A small smile appeared on her lips hearing what Nicolo had said to Jade. Umalis na rin siya ng parking lot at umuwi.

Habang si Nicolo naman ay pumunta sa mansyon ng mga Romero. His cousin-in-law invited him to have dinner with them. Kinuha niya ang dala niyang alak na nasa passenger seat saka lumabas ng sasakyan. He was welcomed by his cousin’s husband, Liam Romero.

“Nicolo, mabuti at dumating ka na.” Masayang sabi ni Liam.

“You’re happy to see me?” Nicolo asked. He didn’t understand Liam’s language but he knew Liam used Tagalog.

Liam chuckled when he realized that Nicolo didn’t understand what he said. “Yeah, happy to see you,” he said. “Though we[NRR1] work in the same building, we seldom see each other. Come on in.”

Ibinigay ni Nicolo ang hawak na paper bag. “A gift.”

“Thanks.”

Pumasok silang dalawa sa loob ng mansyon.

Ngumiti si Grace nang makita ang pinsan. “Finally, you will now have dinner with us. This is great.” masayang sabi niya. Inaya niya si Liam at Nicolo sa kusina.

Nicolo joined dinner with Grace and Liam. But from time to time, he was looking at his phone. Waiting for something.

“Are you going somewhere? You’ve been looking at your phone since we started eating?” Grace asked.

“I’m just waiting for something.”

Nanunudyong ngumiti si Liam. “Waiting for her message?” he asked teasingly.

“I…” Nag-iwas ng tingin si Nicolo. “I’m waiting for my father’s message.”

Binato ni Grace si Nicolo ng kamatis. “Magpalusot ka pa.”

Tumawa lang naman si Nicolo kahit hindi niya naintindihan ang sinabi ng pinsan niya.

Napailing naman si Liam saka nagtanong. “So, how’s the progressed of your relationship?” Patukoy niya sa relasyon ni Nicolo at Haze.

“We’re friends now.”

“Slow,” said Liam.

Nicolo looked flatly at his cousin-in-law.

Piningot naman ni Grace ang asawa nito. “Kung makapagsabi ka naman ng slow diyan. Ang bagal mo nga rin noon kaya tumagal ng isang taon bago naging tayo.”

Liam just kissed his wife’s cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Malambing na tugon ni Grace.

Nicolo rolled his eyes and cleared his throat. “Excuse me, love birds. There was a single person here. Can you please be more sensitive to my feelings?” He asked.

Parehong tumawa ang mag-asawa.

Napailing na lamang si Nicolo at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Nang matapos siyang kumain, inaya siyang uminom ni Liam. Hindi naman siya makatanggi lalo na ng buksan nito ang alak na ibinigay niya.

“You know what, Nicolo? I’ll give you some advice. If you want to get the woman you want, just confess to her.” Medyo lasing na saad ni Liam. Naparami na rin kasi ito ng nainom.

“Confess? But… I think she’s afraid of getting into a relationship…” Nicolo said. Hindi pa naman siya lasing kaya alam pa niya ang mga pinagsasabi niya. Napatitig siya sa hawak na baso na may lamang alak. “But I think being friends with her is a good thing. I’m already contented with it.”

Napatango si Liam. “Yeah, being friends with the woman you like was a good thing. But you should take some action to make her notice that you have feelings for her. It’s a good thing if she knew about your feelings then she won’t be surprised if you confess.”

Natahimik si Nicolo saka napaisip dahil sa sinabi ni Liam. Ibinaba niya ang hawak na baso sa may center table saka kinuha ang cellphone sa bulsa. Napabuntong hininga siya nang makitang walang text galing kay Haze. Mukhang hindi pa ito nakapagdesisyon sa sinabi niya rito noong nakaraang araw. He’s been waiting for Haze’s message but until now, he received nothing.

Nangalumbaba si Nicolo saka ibinaba ang hawak na cellphone sa may center table. Humiga siya sa mahabang sofa saka napatitig sa kisame. What should I do? I don’t have her number. Sana na lang pala ang number na lang ng dalaga ng kinuha niya.

Nicolo sighed again and closed his eyes.

Napailing na lamang si Grace nang makapasok siya sa minibar ng mansyon at nakita niya si Nicolo at Liam na nakatulog sa mahabang sofa. Kumuha na lamang siya ng dalawang kumot saka kinumutan ang dalawa para hindi lamigin ang dalawa. Pinatay niya rin ang aircon saka umalis ng minibar.

THE NEXT DAY. Haze was surprised to see Nicolo outside the gate of her apartment and he looked like he was waiting for her while leaning on the hood of his car.

“Morning,” Nicolo greeted Haze. Umayos rin siya ng tayo.

“M-morning…” Bahagyang nautal si Haze.

Ngumiti si Nicolo at binuksan ang passenger seat. “Get in.”

“You’re here to pick me up?” Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Haze.

Tumango si Nicolo. “Yeah. Come on. Get in.”

Tahimik na sumakay si Haze saka kotse ni Nicolo. Nang makaupo siya, napaatras siya nang lumapit ito sa kaniya. Bumilis ang t***k ng kaniyang puso lalo na nang maamoy niya ang pabango ni Nicolo. Nicolo had a masculine scent and it was soothing to her feeling.

Nicolo put on Haze’s seatbelt before he closed the door.

Nakahinga ng maluwang si Haze nang sumara ang pinto ng kotse. Sinundan niya ng tingin si Nicolo na umikot patungo sa driver seat. Pasimple niyang sinapo ang tapat ng kaniyang puso.

“Let’s go,” said Nicolo, and started the car’s engine. He drove the car towards the Romero’s Company.

Haze looked at Nicolo. “You…”

“What?” Nicolo asked as he glanced at Haze. His eyes were focused on the road.

Inayos ni Haze ang salamin dahil bahagya itong bumaba sa itaas ng kaniyang ilong.

“You should try wearing contact lenses,” said Nicolo.

Umiling si Haze. “Ayaw ko. Hindi ako komportable.”

“What?” Nicolo asked. Hindi niya kasi naintindihan ang sinabi ni Haze.

Haze sighed. “You should try learning Tagalog. Mano-nosebleed ako kaka-english.” Sabi niya.

“Teach me.”

“I can do that. But you should help yourself too. Buy an English-Tagalog dictionary. That will help you a lot. Trust me.” Sabi ni Haze habang nakatingin sa mga nadadaanan nila.

“That would do. I’ll buy later.”

Nagtaka si Haze nang iliko ni Nicolo ang sasakyan. “Saan tayo… where are we going?” she asked.

“At the coffee shop. Let me have something to eat first before going to the company. It’s still early. We won’t be late.”

“You didn’t eat breakfast?” Haze asked.

Nicolo shook his head. “I told you, I don’t know how to cook. If I cook, I would just burn down the kitchen.”

Napangiwi na lamang si Haze. “That bad.” Aniya.

Ipinarada ni Nicolo ang kotse sa harapan ng isang coffee shop. “Wait for me.”

Haze nodded.

Tinanggal ni Nicolo ang seatbelt saka bumaba ng sasakyan.

Sinundan naman ni Haze ng tingin ang binata. She could say that Nicolo was a gentleman. Since they met, Nicolo didn’t do anything that would cross the line. And Nicolo was distancing himself from her which made her feel at ease. So, she was at ease whenever she was with Nicolo. Unlike any other men, they will try to hold or touch you. But Nicolo never did that to her. Kahit mga simple o hindi sinasadyang paghawak ay hindi ginawa ni Nicolo sa kaniya kaya naman nakaramdam siya ng kakomportablehan kapag kasama niya ito.

The last time they had talk when Nicolo was encouraging her to come out of her comfort zone, naisip niyang tama naman si Nicolo. Tama ang mga sinabi nito sa kaniya. She was a reserved person. That’s why she was always cautious. Pero sa tingin niya tama si Nicolo. Kailangan niyang lumabas sa comfort zone na mayroon siya. Pero papaano niya gagawin ‘yon ng wala siyang nararamdamang takot?

Pagkalipas ng sampung minuto, bumalik si Nicolo na may dalang kape at croissants.

“I bought coffee for you,” Nicolo handed Haze one of the paper bags he was holding.

“Thanks.” Kinuha ni Haze ang paper bag saka tinignan ang nasa loob. Gumuhit ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi nang makitang ang paborito niyang kape ang nabili ni Nicolo saka may kasama pa itong Cinnamon Roll.

Lihim namang sumaya si Nicolo nang makita niya ang pagngiti ni Haze.

“Let’s go.”

Agad rin silang nakarating sa kumpanya na pinagtatrabahuan nila. Nicolo dropped Haze first in the entrance before he drove the car towards the parking lot.

“Wait for me at the lobby,” said Nicolo.

Nagtaka naman si Haze. Bago pa man niya matanong kung bakit, nakaalis na si Nicolo. Pumasok na lamang siya sa loob ng gusali saka hinintay si Nicolo. Hindi pa man lumilipas ang dalawang minuto, mayroon na si Nicolo. Haze noticed that Nicolo’s footsteps really had no sound when he’s walking.

Something was off.