13 Her Malik

"Alam kong hindi ikaw si Winona. Sino ka?"

Umuwang ang mga labi ni Jyra habang namimilog ang mga mata. Her instant reaction was to face him but she failed when he pulled her to an embrace from the back. His warm body cribbing her feels like home. Kusang dumaloy ang malusog na luha sa kanyang mga mata habang tulala.

Could it be possible that he recognized her? Did he know her real identity? Since when? And how?

She bit her lower lip to stop herself from crying but she can't help it. She missed him so badly because of the anticipation that he knew her. Gusto niya itong yakapin ng sobrang higpit at sabihin ang totoong pagkatao pero takot ang humaharang sa kanyang magkamali at magpadalos-dalos. If she let him know, Winona will be ruin. He might think she's a gold digger and skulduggery. He was a precious friend for Shawn. If he knew her secret, surely he will tell him. And if that happens, she will be vanished by the family that she already treasured.

"Who are you?" he drawled.

Gumuhit ang kirot sa kanyang dibdib kaya't naikuyom niya ang parehas na kamay. Mariing ipinikit ang mga mata upang pigilan ang sariling umamin. Pinaghalong kunsensiya at pangungulila ang nararamdaman niya, pero hindi ngayon ang tamang oras. Not now and not here.

"My name is Winona," she bravely whispered.

"You, liar." He growled before turning her to face him.

Her breathing hitched when she met his bloodshot eyes. They were no more menacing, he looks frail and weak that if she confessed he will be broken into pieces.

"I am not, Malik," she probe controlling herself to quiver.

"Just tell me... who you are." His eyes come back into its dangerous form. Even his lips were pressed hard into a thin line.

Naguguluhan niyang ipinikit ang mga mata ng mariin bago dumilat. Taas noo niyang pinalis ang mga luha sa mga mata bago nagsalita, "I am tired. Good night, Malik." Agad niya itong tinalikuran at hindi na pumunta kila Shawn.

How can she face them in her state? It was not Malik, after all, she's afraid to face them. She felt like she's a dark image inserting herself from a white family frame. She filled in the empty slot that supposed not for her.

Habang tumatakbo'y walang patid ang daloy ng luha sa kanyang mata. She missed him... Her long lost Malik.