Saskia's heart was beating so fast as Reichen led her to the dance floor. Of course she knew how to dance. Kasama iyon sa pinag-aralan niya mula pagkabata. Pero bakit siya kinakabahan sa simpleng sayaw lang?
Di halos siya humihinga nang kumapit sa balikat nito. Di naman siya pasmado pero nagpapawis ang kamay niya. His hands on her waist were so warm. Kailangan niyang itaas ang depensa niya. Titiisin niya ang isang sayaw lang.
"Saskia, you are so stiff," Reichen whispered. "Relax!"
"Sumasayaw naman ako. Do I really have to relax?"
"Nagsasayaw nga tayo pero parang bibitayin ka naman."
Iyon mismo ang pakiramdam niya. Parang inilagay niya ang sarili sa lethal injection chamber. Dancing with him was definitely a bad idea.
"What do you want me to do?"
He pulled her closer. "Breathe deeply and enjoy the dance."
Dahan-dahan siyang huminga. Naramdaman niya ang paglapat ng katawan nito sa kanya. Nanlambot ang tuhod niya. That was her biggest mistake. To listen to his command. With a a breath, she lost her defenses.
Iniwas niya ang tingin at pilit na nilalabanan ang kahinaan. "Bakit hindi ka tumitingin sa akin?" tanong ni Reichen.
"Tinitingnan ko iyong sumasayaw kabila. Artista ba iyon?" tanong niya.
Hinaplos nito ang pisngi niya. "Please look at me, Saskia."
Humigpit ang kapit niya sa balikat nito. She was fighting the attraction she felt for him. Halos manigas na ang leeg niya huwag lang itong lingunin. "Sumasayaw na tayo. Kailangan ko pa bang tumingin sa iyo? Kanina ka pa."
"Yes. I want to see your eyes. I want to see what's inside your soul.
It was suppose to be a command but there was plea in his voice. She was enthralled by his voice. Animo'y nahipnotismo niyang inangat ang tingin niya at tumingin sa mga mata. Parang handa siyang sumunod sa anumang idikta nito. He was the puppet master and she was the puppet.
She was under his spell and she didn't know how to break it. She didn't want to. Parang malaya ang pakiramdam niya habang nasa bisig nito. Sumusunod ang katawan niya sa musika. And all she could do was look into his eyes.
"Let's go someplace else," he said in a soft voice.
Nang hilahin siya nito ay nagpatianod siya dito. The high heels were killing her feet and the cold air was constricting her lungs but she didn't care. Palayo na sila ng palayo sa party hanggang makarating sila sa wooden bridge na may stream sa ilalim. May Japanese lamps na nagsisilbing ilaw at may cherry tree din sa tabi ng tulay. Sila lang ang tao doon.
Tumigil ito sa gitna ng tulay at hinawakan ang kamay niya. His eyes were so emotional as he stared at her. "Saskia, I don't know what you are doing to me. I can't get you out of my head."
Me, too. Di rin ito maalis sa isip niya. She was having a hard time ignoring him. It wasn't an easy fight and she was losing it.
He gently kneaded her face. "Why do you keep on running away from me?"
She bravely met his eyes. "I am not running away from you now, Reichen. Nandito na ako. Kasama mo."
She should be somewhere safe, somewhere away from him. Bakit di na lang siya tumakbo? Di naman siya nito pinipilit na manatili sa tabi nito.
He smiled, a smile that was enough to make her bones melt. Hinaplos nito ang buhok niya. "Yes. I am glad that you are here with me."
Mariin siyang pumikit. He was so gentle at her. As if his simple touch was telling her that he would take care of her. She was used to taking care of her self. Bur he was making her feel so good. Nararamdaman niya na pagod na siyang mag-isa. She wanted to be with him and feel his touch.
"What else do you want from me, Reichen?"
Dahan-dahan nitong inilapit ang mukha sa kanya. "I want just one kiss from you, Saskia. Can I kiss you?"
Ang lakas ng loob mong humalik sa akin! Dapat sa iyo sampalin at gulpihin para magtanda. Akala mo naman basta-basta ako bibigay sa iyo, bulong ng isip niya. Walang lalaki na pwedeng humalik sa kanya. Kailangan muna siya nitong pilitin.
"Yes," sa halip ay awtomatikong lumabas sa bibig niya.
Before she could think and take back her word, his lips already claimed hers. He kissed her vehemently. Pakiramdam niya ay humiwalay ang kaluluwa niya sa katawan niya. Parang hindi siya ang babaeng pumapayag na magpahalik dito. But it was heavenly. Something she'd never experienced before.
"I can't get enough of you, Saskia," Reichen uttered when he set her lips free.
Saka lang siya natauhan. Bumalik na ang katinuan niya. Her body was pressed against him as if they were making love. She allowed him to kiss her freely. Bumagsak ang depensa niya. Kaaway niya ito.
"No!" sigaw niya at itinulak ito palayo.
"Saskia, what's wrong?" tanong nito at tangkang hahawakan siya.
"Stay away from me!"
Saka pa lang muling umangat ang depensa niya. She instinctively pushed the heel of her hand against his nose. Napasigaw ito sa sakit habang hawak ang nasaktang ilong. "Saskia, why did you do that?" pagalit nitong sigaw.
"H-Hinalikan mo ako," aniya sa nanginginig na boses.
"Natural. I asked you and you said yes."
Tama. Pumayag nga siya. "Oo nga. Pero di lang hanggang doon ang gusto mo." He said that he couldn't get enough of you. "Akala mo papayag ako?"
She was insane for a while. Pumayag siyang magpahalik dito. Thank God she was able to get her senses back on time. Kundi ay baka pumayag siya sa iba pang gusto nito. Malaki ang pagsisisihan niya kapag nagpadala siya sa kahinaan niya.
"Damn it!" singhal nito at kinuha ang panyo para ipampigil sa nagdudugong ilong. Gusto sana niyang itong daluhan subalit pinigilan niya ang sarili. She couldn't trust her self with him. Baka ano na namang kapalpakan ang gawin niya.
Di niya ugaling manakit ng tao. Yes, she knew self-defense. Pero di pa niya nagagamit iyon. Maliban na lang kanina. Di naman niya sinasadyang saktan si Reichen. Siya ang nawalan ng kontrol. She couldn't have handled it diplomatically. At kasalanan niya ngayon kung bakit di tumitigil sa pagdudugo ang ilong nito.
"S-Sandali. Dito ka lang, ha?" aniya at naglakad palayo ditto.
"Running away again, Saskia?" he asked angrily with his black eyes flashing. "You are heartless, Saskia Kristofides. Hindi pa tayo tapos. Akala ko matapang ka?"