The Mafia King's Beautiful Desire

7. Should have not look

Gabriel's POV

.

I couldn't be more stupid of what has come to my mind. I get it. I got her. I have my plans and will ensure I finish this before the end of the year.

May tatlong buwan pa ako, at maraming pang pagkakataon na makuha ko ang buong tiwala niya sa akin.

I stood still a few meters from her. I thought we would go somewhere, and that includes her job. But no, we are not because here we are at this lonely, sad place where dead people lay at rest.

I felt the pang inside my chest, and it still hurts. . . that childhood memory I have hidden for years still haunts me.

"I'm sorry, Siobeh. . . muntik ko ng makalimutan." Tingala niya sa langit at alam ko na pinipigilan niya ang sariling maiyak.

She placed the chocolate cake she picked from the cake shop on her grave. A name was written in golden letters. . . Cariena Siobeh Costellos.

My jaw clenched and my hand fisted behind me. Hindi ko man lang nakuhang makita si Diego sa huling pagkakataon noon dahil sa trabaho ko.

That bloody idiot lunatic mafia.

He knew his life would turn upside down if he went against the rules. But still, he chose it, because according to him it was more exciting.

"Happy birthday to you. . . h-happy b-birthday to you. . . happy birthday, malditang Siobeh, happy birthday to you."

She clapped without making a noise and just clasped both hands. Her voice sounded raspy as she tried to control her emotions.

Keep going, sweetheart. You are strong. . . my mind speaks in silence while staring at her behind.

"Hay naku! Magandang araw na sana ito dahil okay na. Approved na ang kontrata ko sa pinakamalaking proyekto na hahawakan ko kasama ang mga Mondragon, cuz. Kaya lang, nakakalungkot pa din pala. May kulang eh. . . wala ka. Kainis ka talaga." Ulit na tingala niya at namaywang na siya sa sarili.

I cleared my throat and took a few steps closer to her.

"Do you want me to lit the candle?" I said, offering my lighter. Hindi pa kasi niya sinindihan ang kandila na ibabaw ng cake at kumanta na siya kanina lang.

"Hindi na. Ayaw ko. You can do it if you like. Tutal hindi naman kayo magkakilala. Ikaw na." Tigas sa boses niya at senyas lang ng kamay ang ginawa nito. Bahagya ang ngiti ko dahil mataray pa rin siya kahit na sa ganitong eksena.

"Okay, I will do the honour." Sabay luhod ko at sinindihan na ang kandila.

Tumayo agad ako at tiim-bagang na binasa ang nakasulat na mensahi sa ibabaw ng cake. Sulat kamay niya ito. Nasulyapan ko ito kanina dahil ako na ang nagmaneho pagkatapos niyang bumili ng cake.

Ito pala ang sinulat niya sa maliit na post-it.

Cariena,

Happy birthday my sweet cousin! Magpaparty ka naman. Masaya ka ba riyan? May anak na ba kayo ni Diego?

I am sending my heavens regards.

Feleona

I offered a silent prayer and looked around. Wala rito ang puntod ni Diego. Hindi katabi ito sa puntod ni Cariena.

"Don't you know that she's the most foolish person I have in my life?" She started, and we stared.

"Maniwala ka man o hindi ay walang kinatatakutan ang pinsan kong ito," bahagyang ngisi niya. Umiwas na siya sa titig ko at binalik ang tingin sa litrato ni Cariena.

"Astig na astig. Maganda at matalino. Siya nga nagturo sa akin kung paano mag-ano -- " Agad na titig niya sa akin pero nahinto siya sa sasabihin nang magtitigan kaming dalawa.

"Oh, nothing. She cut off and looked away.

"She's a one hell cool, that's it," she continued.

"I know. . ." I said in an almost whisper and nodded.

"You know?"

Uminit ang tainga ko at nagtitigan na kaming dalawa. Her brows crossed a little bit and I smiled.

"I-I mean, I know. . . coming out from you. I may not know her, but I believe she's got the same personality as yours. She's your cousin, and most cousins act the same. You are cool too." Tumikhim na ako at umiwas sa titig.

"Ah, ganoon ba. . . cool ba ako sa tingin mo, Gabriel? E, hindi ko nga makuhang ipagtangol ang sarili ko. Iba ako sa Siobeh ko, Gabriel. Magaling si Siobeh humawak ng baril at eksperto siya sa martial arts. Siguro kung nakilala mo siya, tiyak maiinlove ka sa kanya."

"Magaling ka rin naman sa ibang bagay, Fel. . . Hindi sukatan ang pagiging matigas at magaling sa larangan ng labanan. Minsan utak din naman ang kailangan. You may not know how to defend yourself but you have a broader understanding to every plan. You are a talented gem, Fel. Trust me." I said with a winked.

She laughed a little bit and shook her head.

"Ang galing mo rin ano? Ilang babae na ba ang pinaikot mo sa matatamis mong salita?" Naghahamon ang titig niya sa akin.

"A few. . . Why? Are you interested?" I bit my lower lip while we stared.

For so long, I haven't seen a spark from her eyes like how I look at her now. Iba na ang Feleona na nakilala ko noon, noong kabataan ko.

She probably forgot about me, for she was only primary then. And worst, she got the most painful memory from that past.

I can blame her. If she chooses to forget everything. . . and that includes me.

"Nope. I'm not. Hindi ko type ang mga tulad mo." Agad na iwas niya sa titig ko at bahagya ang ginawa niyang pag-distansya sa akin.

I laughed a little bit and felt reddish because of her expression.

Mukhang nandidiri siya sa akin at ayaw niya yatang mapalapit ako sa kanya.

"That's an ouch," I said, looking down at my feet.

"Ano? Excuse me, Gabriel. Huwag ako, okay? Hindi bagay sa' yo. Halata naman na ang galing mo sa usapang ito."

Humakbang na siya sa kabilang bahagi at bahagya ang ginawang pag-upo niya sa lupa. Nakasalampak siya at kinuha ang maliit na supot na bitbit niya kanina.

"Let's eat! Dessert!" Turo niya sa akin sa plastic na tinidor.

I shook my head again and smile while moving toward her. At kagaya niya ay naupo na rin ako sa lupa at sinadya kong magdikit ang braso namin dalawa.

Nahinto siyang saglit at ngumisi ako. I know she's feeling uncomfortable about me being this close to her.

Wala pa'ng isang linggo na magkakilala kami pero ang dami ng pagbabago na nararamdaman ko.

"Let me." I grabbed the knife she was holding and ended up slicing the cake. She gave me the plastic plates, and I filled hers first.

"Thank you," saad niyang nakangiti. Naging kalmado na siya sa tabi ko.

"Unang subo sa' yo, Siobeh." Taas niya sa tinidor na may cake at kinain ito.

I chuckle, slice a little cake, and place it on the dirt. "Dapat ganito."

"Maraming langgam, Gabriel. Lalanggamin tayo." Nguso nang bibig niya habang nakanguya.

Sandaling napatitig ako sa magagandang pilik-mata niya. . . Feleona's eyes and lashes were the same when we were young. Her full curly lashes and innocent deep brown almond eyes are beautiful. . . She can quickly melt a man's heart.

"Nasaan ba tayo nakaupo, Fel?" Kalmado ang tanong ko at tinikman ko na ang cake. Matamis nga, at hindi ko ito gusto.

"Sa lupa."

"Saan ba nakatira ang mga insekto at langgam?"

"Sa lupa."

"Tama, sa lupa. . . So, it's their territory and not ours. Tayo ang makikisama sa kanila at hindi sila sa atin. So, be transparent and consider their feelings." I responded with a cheeky smile.

I cut another little amount of cake from my plate and drop it to where the insects. Dumami ang mga insekto at mukhang nag-uunahan sila sa tamis ng cake. Natahimik siya at nakikita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ang lihim na pagtitig niya sa akin.

"What's wrong?" I cut how she looks at me and bows her head. I smirked and licked the tip of my finger. May konting icing ito.

"Nothing. . . I just remember something." Sabay iwas niya sa titig ko.

"Do you want more cake?" She offered, and I shook my head.

"No. Thank you. I don't have a sweet tooth. I can't even finish this." Lahad ko pabalik ng cake sa kanya.

"Okay. Akin na lang din. Kakainin ko ito lahat mamaya at may kasama ako sa bahay pansamantala. Matakaw iyon."

She cleaned up her plate and the rest of the cake. Binalik niya sa box ang cake at tumayo na agad siya.

"Thank you for coming here with me and being my driver too. Don't worry. It will never happen again."

"It's okay. I had fun too."

WE drove back to the firm, and I parked her car at its designated spot. Glenn called me, asking if everything was okay. I responded that everything was under control and that I was taking things easy for her.

She may not trust me nor open her heart to a stranger like me. I have to take it slowly.

Using my Harley Davidson, I got home on time and got a call from Lorenzo in Italy.

"Santino Lexus was looking for you. I have given him your details, bud," he sighed in the line.

"That idiot. At bakit mo naman binigay ang address ko rito. Alam mo naman na baliw ang gago." Humakbang na ako patungo sa balkonahe para sa sigarilyo.

I don't smoke much, but every time I ate something sweet like that cake earlier, I couldn't help it.

Sinindihan ko ang sigarilyo at mula rito ay kitang-kita ko ang bukas na malaking bintana ng kwarto niya. Maliwanag ang loob pera wala siya.

The puff of smoke formed a cloud in the air while I was listening to Lorenzo talking, and then suddenly, Feleona appeared in my vision wearing a piece of a towel wrapped against her body. I swallowed hard and blinked a lot.

Sandaling natulala ako sa sarili at hindi ko tuloy alam kong tatalikod ba ako o pagmamasdan ko siya ng lihim mula rito.

Imbes na gawin ang tama ay bahagya ang pag-ngisi ko nang matitigan ang buong katawan niya. Nakabalot sa maikling towel at ang gandang pagmasdan ng likod niya.

She got the body. There's no doubt about it. It's tempting and beautiful.

I swallow hard again and puff another smoke while secretly looking at her. I wasn't listening to Lorenzo anymore because I had an exciting subject a few meters away from me.

Dammit.

A cursed escape from me, and I turned around feeling like an idiot when I saw her naked body.

Such an asshole, Gabriel! I swore in silence and hurriedly took a step inside the room.

I should not have looked.

.

C.M. LOUDEN