Sunod-sunod na katok sa pinto ang nagpagising kay Jannaya.
"Jannaya ano ba gumising ka nga!" bulyaw ng tiyahin.
Halos hindi siya makatayo sa sakit ng kanyang balikat at mukha. Nakita niya ang orasan. Alas-sinko pa lamang ng umaga.
Mabilis niyang pinagbuksan ang tiyahin.
"Kala ko patay kana, ni hindi ka man lang sumasagot!"
"Bakit po?" papungas-pungas pa niyang tanong.
"Nandiyan ang boss mo sa labas! Kailangan ka raw makausap."
"Boss?" nagtataka niyang tanong.
"Oo, 'yung jowa ng kaibigan mo."
Bigla nagising ang kanyang kaluluwa ng marinig ang sinabi ng tiyahin. Ano na naman ang kailangan nito?
Magsasalita pa sana ang tiyahin ng maramdaman nila ang prisensya ng lalaki.
"Let's talk!" Magsalita pa lamang ito ay kumakabog na ang kanyang dibdib sa takot.
"S- sige po paki hintay nalang ako sa la-labas mag-aayos lamang po ako," she replied to him. She's stuttering and nervous.
Nakatingin ito sa kanya ng deretso kahit nasa pagitan nila ang tiyahin.
"I mean... NOW!"
Mahina ngunit madiin ang pagkakasabi nito. Just enough to make her understand that he couldn't wait much longer.
"Sige boss, diyan nalang kayo sa kwarto niya mag-usap, maghahanda ako ng pagkain niyo," mahinahong sambit ng kanyang tiyahin.
Nakita ni Jannaya ang mata ng tiyahin na 'wag na siyang mag-inarte pa.
Nilagpasan Ni Rayden ang matanda at dire- diretsong pumasok sa loob ng silid ni Jannaya.
Sinundan ni Jannaya ang boss at iniwang bukas ang pinto. Para kung sakaling mayroon itong gawin ulit ay makakatakbo siya agad. Ngunit nang makita ng lalaki ay agad nitong isinara ang pinto at nilock pa.
Lalo siyang kinabahan!
Humarap si Rayden sa kanya at siya'y pinagmasdan mula ulo hanggang paa, tumagal ang tingin nito sa kanyang balikat. Nakasuot lamang siya ng maikling short at sleeveless na pang-itaas. Naiilang man, ay wala na siyang magagawa kung hindi ang harapin ang Boss.
Nakita niya ang parang paglambot ng emosyon nito ng mapansin ang kanyang mga pasa sa balikat, o maaaring guni-guni niya lang. Hindi ba't halos patayin na nga siya nito noong araw na 'yon.
Agad ding bumalik ang blankong emosyon ng kanyang boss.
"Do you have passport?"
"Yes s-sir," she replied.
"Give it to me. Kukuha ako ng visa. We'll go to Colorado to get married."
Inikot nito ang tingin sa buong kuwarto.
"Ma-married, sir?"
Lumapit si Rayden sa tukador kung nasaan ang larawan ni Jannaya at Eunice. Pinagmasdan ito nang sandali. He put his both hand in his pocket bago muling lumingon kay Jannaya.
"Yes! Magpapakasal tayo..."
"...At lahat ng responsibilidad mo bilang asawa ay kailangan mong gampanan."
"If I told you to get naked, you will undress yourself. If I told you to f*ck me, you will f*ck me."
Naingat ni Jannaya ang tingin sa kanyang Boss. She couldn’t believe that he can be like this. All she knew was, he is sweet and gentle to Eunice, but now, he is a monster.
"I cannot marry you, sir," buong tapang niyang pagtanggi.
Rayden laugh with sarcasm. Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad palapit kay Jannaya.
"I'm not even asking you! I am just telling you. Whether you like it or not, you will marry me."
Tuluyan na siyang nakalapit kay Jannaya. Hindi man lang umabot sa kanyang balikat ang height nito.
"I'll make your life a living hell, as long as you don't tell me where Eunice is!" he said it with enigmatic smile.
.
.
HINDI ALAM ni Jannaya kung paanong narito na siya ngayon sa Colorado at pumipirma ng marriange contract. Alam naman niyang pahihirapan lamang siya ng lalaking ito ngunit siya ay pumayag pa rin. Ngunit naisip niya na ito rin ang magandang paraan upang malaman nito na siya’y inosente.
She will prove him wrong!
Kanina pa siyang naghihintay sa hotel nang kanilang tinuluyan ngunit hindi pa rin dumarating ang asawa. Oo ASAWA! No ceremonies, no vows at all. All they did was to sign some papers and that's it. May asawa na siya.
Oo, pangarap niyang makasama ang lalaking ito habang buhay, ngunit hindi sa ganitong paraan.
Napagdesisyunan niyang maligo na lamang upang makatulog na. It's past midnight na rin naman. Matapos ang kanilang pirmahan ay hinatid lamang siya ni Rayden sa Hotel at agad ding umalis.
She puts the rose scent in the water and lights all the scented candles. It's so relaxing. Then she took off her clothes and dipped herself in the tub. She saw the wine with glass beside the bathtub, she took it, put some in her glass. She sipped from time to time.
Then, she realized something, she's already married. She's already a CABALLES! It's clear to her mind what Rayden told her when he's driving her to the hotel.
"I'll divorce you right after we found Eunice. I'll kill you if I find out that you’re behind this."
It's echoing on her mind.
Why all of a sudden, she got involved in this? Why all of a sudden, he turned into a monster?
She remembers every time he visits Eunice at the coffee shop, he never forgot to bring food for his girlfriend and for her. He used to give him her favorite donut. He used to give her gifts on her birthdays. Then, she remembered her necklace that she is wearing right now. It's from him on her 22nd birthday.
Natigil ang kanyang pagninilay nang makarinig ng kalabog mula sa labas. Mabilis niyang sinuot ang roba at lumabas ng banyo. Nakita niya ang kanyang asawa na nagsasalin ng alak.Tumingin ito sa kanyang gawi at naiwan sa ere ang pagsasalin.
Rayden looked at Jannaya from head to toe. Binaba ang hawak na alak.
"Are you trying to seduce me?" he asked this with his deep raspy voice.
"N-no, sir. I--I was taking a bath, but I heard something, so... I rushed to check it. I forgot to pat myself dry." She looked down and saw that there's water on the floor dripping from her body. "I'm sorry," she said and about to go back to the bathroom
"Wait up!" pigil ni Rayden.
"S-sir?" She turned back and look at him.
Rayden is now holding the glass with brandy in it, and he drink it straight.
"Satisfy me."
"P-po?"
"Take off your robe and I want you to satisfy me in bed," he said it with no remorse.