CHAPTER 4
1820 Words
"I'm sorry hun, kung na late ako. Sobrang busy lang talaga nsmin sa office kanina."
Oscar kissed Angelique on the forehead and sat down facing her.
Angelique invited Oscar for a dinner. She thought about this many times, and she made up her mind. It was two days ago when Felix talked to her about her Dad's business.
"That's fine." She smiled.
They were in a fancy restaurant. That's their favorite place to eat steak. She looked around. It's a weekday. Walang masyadong tao.
Dumating ang waitress na madalas sa kanilang mag-serve.Ito ang laging humaharap sa kanila and she is very beautiful.
Inorder nila ang menu na dati na rin nilang kinakain. Umalis din naman agad ang waitress matapos nilang maibigay ang order.
"We used to go here on our anniversaries and birthdays, " Angelique started talking.
"Yeah. This place is memorable, " Oscar answered.
Angelique doesn't know if she can do this.
Ilang beses siyang napapalunok.
Oscar noticed the sadness in Angelique's voice. Oscar noticed her tense movement.
Then he started to think. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng kaba.
Angelique looked at Oscar. She can see pain in his eyes. It seems like he already knew what's going on.
She is about to talk....
"--Don't. Please, hun. Don't say any words!" putol ni Oscar sa sasabihin sana ni Angelique.
Namumuo na ang luha sa mga mata ni Angelique. Ang sakit-sakit na makitang nasasaktan ang lalaking laging nariyan sa kanyang tabi.
"I'm sorry. I-i need to do this. For my family, for you and for everybody." Tuluyan nang tumulo ang mga luha ni Angelique.
Umiling si Oscar.
"No! i--I can't just let you go. I love you so much, Angelique. Please! Don't do this to me. Please!" Hindi na mapigilan ni Oscar ang mga luha. Kusa na itong tumulo dahil sa sakit na kanyang nararamdaman.
Mabilis na lumuhod di Oscar sa harapan ng nobya at hinawakan ang mga kamay.
"Sorry, sa mga pagkukulang ko. Sorry, kung may mga nagawa akong mali! Pangako magbabago ako. Gagawin ko ang lahat upang maging mabuti kasintahan sayo.Tell me, hun! Tell me what do I need to do for you to stay!" Walang tigil ang kanyang pag-iyak. Hindi niya kayang mawala si Angelique. Hindi niya kaya!
"Please, hindi mo kailangan lumuhod, Oscar. Nahihirapan din ako, kung alam mo lang. Hindi madali 'tong desisyon ko. Pero sana maintindihan mo na kailangan ko rin isipin ang parents ko."
Pinilit niyang itinayo si Oscar sa pag ka-kaluhod.
"Ibabalik niya ang lahat ng negosyo ni daddy na nawala. Nakita ko kung gaano kahirap para kay daddy ang nangyari. Araw-araw siyang umiinom at halos araw-araw din silang nagtatalo ni mommy. Pero kahit nagkaroon sila ng problema, ay hindi nila ako pinabayaan noong araw na ako ay maaksidente, and it's time for me to pay them back. Sa lahat ng sacrifices nila for me."
"Paano ako? Paano tayo? Inalis mo na ba ako sa mga plano mo sa buhay?"
"Hindi Oscar. Mahal kita sa paraang alam ko. Pero sa sitwasyon natin ngayon ay wala na tayong magagawa. Kung magiging makasarili lang ako ay hindi ko susukuan ang relasyon natin. But, I love my parents more than anyone else." Angelique hugged Oscar so tight. Yakap na kung maaari lang ay hindi na matapos.
"I am very sorry. I hope someday you will forgive me." Angelique kissed Oscar on the check. She tasted his tears. She took a deep breathe and looked him in his eyes, titig na kung maaari lang ay hindi matapos. Then she walked and left the restaurant.
Waitress came with their food. Napansin nito na umiiyak ang lalaki at nakita rin niya ang pag-alis ni Angelique. Nag-alinlangan siyang ilapag ang pagkain. Ngunit sa huli ay ginawa pa rin niya.
"Give me some brandy please. Thank you."
Hindi tiningnan ni Oscar ang waitress. Habang naglalagay ito ng pagkain.
"Ahm, Sir?"
Pinunasan muna ni Oscar ang luha bago lumingon sa waitress. Tinitigan niya ito.
"Sabi ng lola ko. Kapag daw may umalis ay mayroon din darating. Iyong mas mamahalin mo at mas mamahalin ka." She smiled so sweetly and genuine.
Napatitig lamang si Oscar sa waitress na ngayon ay naglalakad na palayo sa kanya.
"I ALREADY broke up with him. Sana tuparin mo ang 'yong pangako," Angelique called Felix right away when she got home.
Hinang-hina siya. Hindi niya akalain na sa ganito hahantong ang lahat. Sa almost three years nilang relasyon ay hindi sila nag aaway o kahit tampuhan man lang.
"You did the right thing, baby."
Napapikit ng mata si Angelique. His voice! Sounds like he is teasing her.
"Less than a week. All your dad's business will be back," he continued.
She opened her eyes.
"Hindi ko pa nasabi sa kanila ang sitwasyon ko ngayon. Gusto ko kasi na ma-enjoy muna nila ang isang buwan na bakasyon. Ayoko silang bigyan ng sama ng loob."
"I understand.”
Gosh! What's happening to her? His cracked voice is killing her. It gives her chills.
"Pack your things today. I'll pick you up later."
"Later? Pwede bang bukas na?"
"I can't wait any longer, baby..."
The way he called her, BABY. Gives her a different sensation.
"...dalhin mo ang kaya mong dalhin. Pwede naman natin balikan ang iba sa sunod na araw," pagpapatuloy nito.
Wala naman siyang magagawa. Sa ugali ng lalaki ay malabong manalo siya sa isang argumento.
"Okay," she agreed.
"I need to go now, I'll see you later. Okay?" His voice is gentle.
"Yeah," she simply answered him.
"I missed you!" At na putol na ang linya.
Felix missed her? Tama ba ang dinig ni Angelique?
DID he just say he missed her? Why not? He really missed her. He was tapping his wooden desk. Hindi na maka-paghintay si Felix na makasama ang asawa sa iisang bubong. Kung alam lang nito kung gaano siya katagal naghintay.
He heard some knocking, and his secretary opened the door.
"Sir. Mr. Rayden Caballes is already here."
"Let him in."
Just a second ay pumasok ang isa sa kanyang matalik na kaibigan. He stood up to welcome him.
"Naparito ka? Bihira 'to, uh! Parang gusto kong maiyak." Then they laughed together.
"Gago. May favor lang sana ako sa iyo."
"Sabi ko na nga ba, eh! Hindi ka makikipag appointment sa akin kung wala kang kailangan." He sat down on his chair.
Naupo na rin ang kanyang kaibigan.
"Tell me. Ano ang favor mo?"
"Remember when you told me that you owe me for helping you? Maniningil lang ako, wala na akong ibang pwedeng mapagkatiwalaan maliban sa'yo. It's about the cctv footage of Eunice’s kidnaper. Pati na rin ang cctv sa isang coffee shop na tanaw ang pag-uusap ni Jannaya at ng lalaking may parehong tattoo sa kidnaper.”
"Hindi ba't si Kit na ang nag-aasikaso?"
"And that's my last favor. Huwag mo sasabihin kahit kanino itong usapan natin. "
"Are you doubting him? Or you just don't want to believe him because you are falling in love with Jannaya?"
Rayden didn't answer.
"That's fine. I'll do it, and rest assured this is safe."
Tumango ito at mukhang naging panatag na ang aura.
"Ikaw ba? Napapayag mo na ba siyang tumira sa bahay mo?" Rayden asked him.
He nodded.
"I gave her an offer that was impossible to refuse. I know how much she loves her parents. I didn't have a second thought that she would say yes."
"Did you already tell her?"
Felix looked at his friend. Wala pa sa kanyang isip na sabihin sa asawa ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit ganito ang kanilang sitwasyon.
"I don't need to know. You know what you are doing. Just make sure this time, hindi na ikaw ang talo."
Nagpatuloy pa ang kanilang pag kukwentuhan ng kaibigan.
ANGELIQUE heard some knocks to her room. She opened it.
"Ati, nandito na po ang sundo niyo. Grabe po ka guwapo, ati!"
It's her maid. Pinabalik na niya ito agad-agad upang may tumao sa kanilang bahay.
"Sabihin mo bababa na rin ako."
Inabot niya ang dalawang bag dito.
"Paki baba narin 'yan. Salamat Perla."
"Ate, baka may kapatid iyon, 'yung hindi naghahanap ng maganda. Pwedi ako." Pagbibiro ng kasambahay.
"Perla ano kaba! Para kang sira."
Lumabas na ito ng kanyang silid at bumaba.
Muli niyang pinagmasdan ang kabuuan ng silid. Hindi niya alam kung gaano siya katagal mapaninindigan ng lalaki bilang asawa. Maaaring isang araw ay magising na lang ito na nagbago na ang isip.
Lumabas na rin siya ng silid at bumaba ng hagdanan.
His stranger husband is waiting for her.
Kinuha nito ang dala niyang maleta, at mabilis siyang hinalikan sa labi.
She was shocked. Okay! So, talagang paninindigan nito ang pagiging-asawa.
"Let's go?"
She just nodded.
"Ati, nailagay ko na ang dalawang bag mo sa sasakyan ni kuyang pugi."
Napailing nalang siya sa tinuran ng kasamabahay. Kinikilig pa ito.
"Tawagan mo ako kapag tumawag dito sila mommy o kapag may problema, okay?Huwag kang magsasabi sa kanila ng kahit ano. Ako ang bahalang magpaliwanag sa kanila."
"Yes, ati. Ako na ang bahala. Umalis na po kayo. Humayo kayo at magpakarami."
Halos mabilaukan siya sa sariling laway dahil sa sinabi ng kasambahay.
"We will," Felix said and held her hips.
Napapitlag pa si Angelique ng madampi ang palad nito sa kanyang beywang. She is wearing crop top backless and high waist baggy pants. Kaya naman sumayad sa kanyang balat ang kamay nito.
Iginaya siya nito sa sasakyan. He opened the door for her.
She noticed a few men in uniform.
"Convoy. My body guards..." He read her mind.
"...have you forgotten? You are married to a billionaire. "
Felix puts her seat- belt.
"Yeah. You're my unknown husband. How would I know how rich you really are?"
Malapit ang kanilang mga mukha. He kissed her slowly and gentle. She responded. It took a minute then he stopped.
"Makilala mo rin ako, and everything I have is also yours, Mrs. Wilder." Then he smiled and closed her door. He walked towards the driver seat and drove.
Tahimik lamang sila sa loob ng sasakyan. She can't help but to think. Paanong ang isang lalaki na kakikilala pa lamang niya ay ganito ang epekto sa kanya. Ang mga halik nito na animo'y matagal na nilang ginagawa. It was a kind of kiss that she wanted to ask for more!
She looked at him while he was driving.
He is wearing a blue button up shirt, brown cargo shorts and grey sneakers.
He looks so expensive kahit sa simpleng suot nito.
"Baka matunaw ako." He looked at her and smiled.
"I- i'm sorry." Mabilis na binaling ang mata sa labas ng bintana. She saw the convoy at the back of their car.
"Hey, I'm just kidding." Kinuha nito ang kanyang kanang kamay at hinalikan.
"Kahit pa magdamag mo akong titigan. I don't mind."
This guy is so sweet. Why does she have this kind of vision that this scene is not new to her. It's like, she's used to this.
- Writer
