Scandalous Affair (Tagalog/Filipino)

Crown 5 ♛ LOST

PAANO NANGYARI IYON? Why don't I have a ring if I am really married? Bakit hindi sinabi sa'kin ng mga kapatid ko? Did they know too?

Masyadong marami ang gumugulo sa isipan ni Kyra nang gabing iyon kaya hindi na niya napansin ang biglaang pagtayo ng isang costumer at nasagi ng balikat nito ang dala-dala niyang tray.

"Goddammit!" mura ng lalaki nang matapon rito ang laman ng tray. Kyra tried to stop the bottle from spilling over pero pati iyon ay nabuhos na sa pantalon nito. The man hissed.

"Sorry po!" natatarantang sabi ni Kyra at nagmamadaling kumuha ng tissue para punasan ang mga natapong pagkain sa damit nito. "Sorry po, sir. Sorry po talaga!"

"‘Tang'na naman o!" Galit na tinabig ng lalaki ang kamay niya. "Kita mo na'ng ginawa mo?! You ruined my shirt!"

Kyra flinched and almost cowered back. "Sorry po. Hindi ko po talaga sinasadya—"

"Hindi sinasadya?!" biglang sigaw ng costumer. Pinipigilan na ito ng mga kasamahan nito pero talagang galit na galit ito sa nangyari. Who wouldn't? Tapunan ka ba naman ng isang tray ng pagkain?

"Ano'ng problema dito?"

Lalong kinabahan si Kyra nang dumating ang nagmamay-ari ng bar. Lihim siyang napamura nang maisip niyang baka sesantihin siya ni Danrick dahil sa pagiging palpak niya. At hindi niya masisisi ang kaibigan niya kung sakaling magalit ito sa kanya. It's her fault, anyway. Wala siya sa tamang katinuan pero pumasok pa rin siya.

"Heto!" Bigla siyang tinuro ng lalaki. "Hetong waitress niyo, hindi magawa ng maayos ang trabaho niya!"

Tiningnan siya ni Danrick at napabuntong hininga. Dread clawed in her guts. "Pasensya na po—"

"Sige na, Kyra," putol ni Danrick sa kanya saka siya hinawakan sa balikat. "Ako na ang bahala dito."

Naguguluhang binalingan niya si Danrick. Kaibigan niya ito mula pa noong college sila at iyon ang dahilan kaya siya nito tinanggap sa trabaho. And she's very thankful for that, lalo na sa panahong gipit na gipit siya. Pero nag-aalala siya na baka paalisin din siya ni Danrick dahil sa pagiging pabaya niya at baka isipin nitong hindi niya kayang maging normal dahil sa amnesia niya.

"Danrick—" she started to explain pero sumenyas itong umalis na siya dahil galit pa ang costumer at hindi siya makakatulong kung tatayo pa rin siya roon.

"Sige na," he nodded encouragingly at her. Kahit papaano ay nakahinga si Kyra ng maayos dahil alam niyang hindi pa siya palalayasin ni Danrick.

Nakakuha pa siya ng matalim na tingin mula sa lalaking costumer bago siya tumalikod at iwan ito at si Danrick. Dumiretso siya sa quarter nila para doon muna magpahinga at mag-isip. Kailangan niyang ayusin ang sarili niya bago siya humawak ulit ng tray. Baka kasi sa susunod na may matapunan siya, hindi na siya palagpasin ni Danrick.

Someone opened the quarter's door at pumasok doon si Miley, ang kapatid ni Danrick na kasa-kasama nitong nagpapatakbo ng bar.

"Ayos ka lang ba?" she asked as she sat down beside her. Tumango lang si Kyra pero tiningnan lang siya nito na tila hindi kumbinsido. "Sigurado ka? Mukha kasing wala ka sa sarili simula pa kanina."

Isang malalim na hininga ang pinakawalan ni Kyra. "Hindi lang maganda ang pakiramdam ko," aniya saka bahagyang ngumiti. There was no need pouring her heart out to her, at lalong hindi na kailangang malaman ni Miley kung gaano siya nagulat at naguguluhan nang malaman niyang kasal siya.

Nope. Definitely no need.

"Kung gusto mo, umuwi ka na lang muna." Nag-aalalang tiningnan siya ni Miley. "Kesa naman sa nandito ka pero lumilipad naman ang utak mo. Mamaya magsi-alisan na ang lahat ng mga costumer natin."

Buntong hininga lang ulit ang isinagot niya rito. Tama si Miley. She could have just called in sick and then maybe she could have avoided incidents from happening. Pero hindi rin naman niya puwedeng gawin iyon lalo na ngayong gipit siya.

She felt Miley's hand on her. "Huwag kang mag-alala," anito na para bang nababasa nito ang nasa utak niya. "Ako na ang bahala kay kuya. Papayag iyon at maiintindihan naman niya ang problema mo."

Kyra sighed for the third time and held Miley's hands. Alam ng magkapatid ang pangangailangan niya ngayon, lalo na ang pagdating sa problema niya sa banko. Pero iba ang gumugulo sa isipan niya ngayon.

She felt lost somewhere deep inside her. Hindi niya alam kung nakatulong ang mga nalaman niya. Sure, they did. Pero mas naging komplikado lang ang lahat. She couldn't fathom how could she marry someone so cruel and ruthless as Sage, when... why?

Did they fall in love like how every couple does and eventually marry?

Somehow, that thought made her sad for an unknown reason. Nagdulot iyon ng kirot sa puso niya at bago pa niya isipin kung bakit ay binalingan niya si Miley. She could not pass up on her offer of escape. Kailangan niya iyon.

"Salamat, Miley." Ginagap ulit niya ang kamay ni Miley, telling her how much she was grateful for the reprieve.

Ngumiti ito. "Ano ka ba, wala iyon. Kulang pa nga 'to no'ng tinulungan mo si tatay dati."

Yeah. She could still remember that. Mabuti na lang at nando'n siya no'ng gabing na-aksidente ang tatay nila at agad siyang nakahingi ng tulong. Kyra could just be grateful she had done good deeds in her past because surely they did come back to her.

Iniwan na siya ni Miley para makapagbihis siya pero hindi na siya nag-abala pang magbihis at kinuha na lang niya ang mga gamit niya sa locker niya para umuwi.

She just couldn't wait to get home and let her mind drill her head with questions that carried frightening answers. No doubt, tonight will be an excruciating and torturing long night for her.

Naisip niyag sa likod na lang siya dumaan para maiwasan niya ang customer na natapunan niya kanina. Pero hindi kinaya ng konsensya niyang umalis na hindi nakakapagpaalam kay Danrick, lalo na pagkatapos ng nangyari.

She just wished the costumer was gone. Dahil kung nandoon pa rin iyon doon sa labas ay baka isama na rin niya pauwi ang konsensya niya. But gratefully, she saw the table was empty. Umikot ang mga mata niya s amadilim na kabuuan ng bar at wala siyang nakitang kamukha ng lalaking natapunan niya.

She sighed in relief just before she walked out from behind the wall she was hiding. Hahanapin na sana niya kung nasaan si Danrick nang biglang may humarang na lalaki sa harap niya.

"Hey, babe," the man said with a wolfish smile and she tensed by the way he called her 'babe'.

He was big and tall. He had a body like a soldier. At gano'n din ang mukha nito. Kyra tried not to cringe from the harsh line slashing across his face, pero hindi niya pa rin napigilan ang sarili niya. So she ducked her head before she could offend him. And then she noticed how well he was blocking her way.

Wala siyang madaanan, unless she pushed him away. Or she could try to turn around and forget Danrick. But she forced her irrational fear away and told herself he was no threat, kahit na iyon mismo ang sinasabi ng ngiti ng lalaki.

"Excuse lang po, sir," magalang na sabi niya at sinubukan dumaan sa gilid nito. She managed to squeeze into it and passed away from him without rubbing her skin into his shirt, pero mabilis din siya nitong napigilan.

"Sandali, sandali." Hinablot nito ang braso niya. Her eyes flashed by his display of aggression. Yes. She saw it like that, especially when she’s obviously trying to walk away from him.

"Bakit ka ba nagmamadali?" Nakangiting sabi nito habang hawak pa rin ang braso niya. Kyra felt his fingers digging into her skin. "Halika, samahan mo muna kami sandali."

Alarm rang inside her head when his speech slurred. The man was drunk. Pinilit niyang huminahon. She could scream if he does something. May mga bouncers naman sa paligid, though hindi niya alam kung nasa malapit lang sila para mapansin siya ng mga ito.

She smiled tightly as she schooled her face in a calm look, pati ang boses niya nang lingunin niya ito. "I'm sorry, sir, pero off ko na po ngayon."

Lalong lumawak ang ngisi ng lalaki. "Mabuti kung ganoon."

A cold sweat broke over her palms and a chill of air whispered at the back of her neck, making her hair stand on end. This man was calling for trouble. And if she won't be careful, Danrick will really throw her out.

"Hali ka na. Kahit isang oras lang. ‘Wag kang mag-alala, ihahatid naman kita e," he whispered and Kyra could hear the innuendo of his invitation.

Halos kinilabutan siya nang ma-realize niya ang iniisip nito. He’s actually thinking she was some hooker!

Never in her whole life did she think she would get this kind of treatment. Nakakabastos. It was very disrespectful, to think na hindi siya nagpapalipad ng 'come on' moves rito.

Her hands itch to slap the arrogant bastard's face pero pinigilan niya ang sarili niya. Baka tuluyan na siyang paalisin ni Danrick kapag hinayaan niya ang sarili niya. So she went with frost than bite.

Hinarap niya ito at matalim na tiningnan. "Hindi po ako entertainer, sir. Waitress po ako rito kaya pakitanggal po ang kamay ninyo."

"Palaban ka. Gusto ko iyan." Lalong lumapit sa kanya ang lalaki nang hindi binibitiwan ang braso niya. She could feel her heart shrinking away from fear as he leaned down on her. But she stood her ground, grinding her teeth. "Magkano ka sa isang gabi?"

Blood rushed up through her head but before she landed a stinging slap into his face, someone threw a hard punch knocking the bastard's jaw. Lumipad ang mata ni Kyra sa lalaking galit na galit na nakatayo sa tabi niya.

"Sage!"

Nanginginig ang buong katawan nito at nalilisik ang mga mata habang nakatingin sa lalaking pinatumba nito sa isang suntok lang.

"Don't you fvcking touch her again!" Dinuro pa ni Sage ang hindi makagalaw na lalaki sa sahig bago nito hinatak ang kamay niya. "Let's go!"

Nakita niya ang mga bouncer na nagsilapit sa kanila para pigilan ang mga kasamahan ng lalaking sinuntok ni Sage na makalapit sa kanila. Nagkakagulo na pero parang walang pakialam si Sage habang hinahatak siya nito palabas ng bar.

Kyra was still dumbfounded. Her heartbeat was racing she knew that has nothing to do with what just happened. It was all because of this man. And again, there it was again—the unexplainable feeling of sadness and loss inside her.

Refusing to feel vulnerable again, she flipped her anger on, letting her rationality come back. Sage just punched a customer. At sa kanya ang puntos na iyon. Danrick will be very pissed off and that means she has to come back and talk with him. Hindi pwedeng basta na lang siyang umalis.

"Sage, sandali." Sinubukan niyang huminto pero hinila lang siya ni Sage hanggang sa makarating sila sa kotse nito.

"Sage, ano ba!" Binawi ulit niya ang kamay niya at muntikan pa siyang matumba nang bigla siyang pakawalan ni Sage. "Bakit mo ba ginawa iyon?!" sigaw niya habang minamasahe ang nasaktang kamay niya.

Sage swore under his breath before he swung around to her with his eyes narrowing into slits. "And that's how you say thank you."

Bumuga siya ng hininga. "Salamat," aniya na halos labas sa ilong niya. "Pero hindi mo na dapat ginawa iyon. Hindi mo na dapat sinuntok iyong customer." She could have handled it herself without punching the bastard's face.

He suddenly banged a palm over the head of his car before he rubbed his face. "Binabastos ka niya, Kyra! Didn't you notice that?"

Hindi alam ni Kyra bakit galit na galit itio. Or was it because he still feels protective of her. They're married, right?

Kumunot ang noo niya. Hindi niya alam iyon. They could be divorced too, for all she knew. Kung kasal pa rin sila, hindi siya gigipitin ni Sage ng ganito. Maybe he was against the divorce kaya siya galit sa kanya..?

"Why are you in there in the first place?"

Nabali ang daloy ng pag-iisip niya nang marinig niya ang hindi makapaniwalang boses na iyon ni Sage, and that flicked a tiny sensitive nerve inside her.

"I need a job and you know exactly why," she bristled defensively. God! He really had the face to ask her that when he knew it was all his fault why she's in this deep s**t. At ngayon, mas lalo siyang mapapahamak dahil sa ginawa nito. "Hindi ka na dapat nakialam. Kaya ko ang sarili ko."

He dropped his eyes to her wrist that she was massaging, the one he grabbed none too gently, and frowned angrily. "Yeah. I figured," he said crisply, dropping the whole subject off, before opening the driver seat's door. Though he stopped before sliding in to look at her. "What? Are you waiting for me to open the damn door for you?"

Napatingin siya sa silver grey na Bugatti nito. Iniisip ba nitong sasakay siya sa loob kasama ito? She's a sucker for nice cars pero hindi siya mapapsakay ni Sage sa loob niyon sa mga oras na iyon.

He c****d his head and shot her a challenging look. "I thought you hate men being chivalrous."

She glared. "Hindi ako sasakay sa kotse mo, Sage." Humakbang siya paatras.

"You're fvcking kidding me." She heard him mutter. "Gusto mong bumalik doon sa loob?" Hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan siya nito.

"Kailangan kong bumalik dahil sa ginawa mo." Natatakot siya na baka magalit sa kanya si Danrick at baka wala na siyang asahang trabaho.

"That fvcking asshole deserved my fist."

Deserved? Bakit? Asawa pa rin ba kita?

Gustong-gusto niyang itanong iyon, pero hindi niya kaya. Something was holding her back. Dahil iyon sa takot na nararamdaman niya. At sa maraming bagay na gumugulo sa isipan niya. At siguro, isa na rin doon ang kaalalamang iniisip nitong nagsisinungaling siya at gawa-gawa lang niya lahat, pati ang amnesia niya.

Her shoulder hunched, stress was knocking at her heels. "Pero hindi ang trabaho ko. And thanks to you I’ll lose my job again."

"For Pete's sake, Kyra!" Marahas na isinara nito ang pintuan ng koste. "You don't need that kind of job. Binabastos ka ng mga lalaking iyon!"

Hindi na lang siya nagsalita. She refused to tell him why she can't have a dream job or a decent job with good enough salary. Baka isipin na naman nitong nagpapaawa siya at sinusubukan niyang lokohin ito.

She's tired. She wanted to go home and just forget she ever found that certificate. Pero kailangan muna niyang kausapin si Danrick. Nilingon niya ang bar at biglang nakunot ang noo niya nang may mapagtanto siya.

She glanced back at Sage, who was still fuming mad, frustrated, and sexy as hell.

"Why are you here, Sage?" She saw his body tensed. "Hindi ang mga ganitong lugar ang pinupuntahan mo."

"Not your business," he coolly said, his raging eyes grew cold as his anger faded away. "Fine. Go ahead. Bumalik ka kung gusto mo. Just don't expect someone to help you the second time some asshole fvck around you." Binuksan ulit nito ang pintuan.

"Oh, right, I almost forgot." He stopped, his smile was chilling her spine. "You're not exactly the damsel in distress type."

He slipped in, slammed the door and drove off, and Kyra was left standing there replaying the same memory, only she watched Sage driving off with a black Shelby. And she knew... that day was the day everything ended.

That was the night Kyra broke her own heart.

PAGKATAPOS niyang makausap si Kylie ay agad niyang niligpit ang mga ibang gamit sa bahay na hindi puwedeng ipagbili.

Pagkatapos ng nangyari sa bar, bumalik si Kyra at nagpaalam na kay Danrick. Nahihiya siyana puro gulo ang nagawa niya sa iisang gabi lang at siya pa ang magiging dahilan ng pagkalugi ng bar. Pero tinawanan lang siya ni Danrick.

"It happens, Kyra." Iyon lang ang sinabi nito at pumasok daw siya sa susunod na araw, 'pag maayos na ang pakiramdam niya. He eve joked about Sage. At nagtaka siyang hindi alam ng kaibigan niyang asawa niya ang lalaking iyon.

Does anyone know?

Pagdating niya ng bahay ay may isang tawag ang naghihintay sa kanya. May gutsong bumuli ng bahay.

Bahagya mang kumirot ang puso niya, hindi pa rin niya mapigil na matuwa. Dahil isa pa rin iyong magandang balita. At least, hindi mapupunta sa kamay ng banko ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ng daddy niya, at mababayaran niya ang banko nang hindi naibebenta ang ibang ari-arian nila.

Ang sabi ng lawyer ng gustong bumili ay magkikita sila bukas para pag-usapan ang bahay, kaya wala ng sinayang na oras si Kyra. She has to look for a place to stay at kailangan din niyang bilisan ang paglilipit ng gamit.

Mabuti na lang at may bakante pang kuwarto sina Kylie sa apartment nila at puwede siyang makirenta doon.

A smile spread across Kyra's face. Sa wakas, okay na lahat.

Naudlot ang paghiga niya sa sofa nang marinig niyang tumunog ang doorbell nila. She mumbled a curse when she forgot to close the gate after throwing bags of garbage.

Sinilip muna niya ang peep hole nang makarating siya sa pinto. All she can see was fabric of a shirt. Nakatayo ito malapit sa peep hole kaya hindi niya makita ang mukha nito.

Grunting inwardly, she unlocked the bolt and opened the door—only to freeze.

"Hi," Sage greeted smoothly as if he was a welcome guest.

"Anong..." Tumigil siya at napatitig lang rito. No, it wasn't because of his gorgeous eyes, kissable pink lips, and soft hair. It wasn't because her heart was zapping and doing a weird dance against her ribs. It wasn't because of how he looked all fresh and neat and smelled so sinfully sexy.

Her mind just went blank. Like what happens most of the time since she woke up from the hospital and caught her unaware. It feels like someone was robbing her words even before she could say them. Like now. And all she could do was to stare dumbly and blankly at Sage, who was frowning curiously at her.

God! She could feel herself wanting to cry. Pero Pinigilan niya ang sarili. Ayaw niyang takutin si Sage. O baka sabihin nitong nagpapanggap na naman siya. Sinubukan niyang alalahanin ang mga turo sa kanya ng speech therapist niya noon. And then she tried again.

"Anong g-ginagawa mo dito?" she forced out.

Sage was still frowning pero hindi ito nagtanong. Instead, he c****d his head sideways and leaned a hand against the door. "Where's your manner, Kyra? Hindi mo ba ako papasukin muna?"

She didn't argue. Alam naman niyang hindi ito aalis kung paalisin niya ito. Magsasayang lang siya ng laway. Kaya binuksan na lang niya ang pintuan at pinapasok ito. She stepped farther to avoid brushing against him.

"What's with the boxes?" puna nito sa mga nagkalat na kahon sa sahig.

Nagkibit lang siya ng balikat, pero tiningnan siya ni Sage. He's waiting for an answer. "Mas mabuti na iyong handa," sagot lang niya, thankful that her speech was doing fine again.

He frowned stepping further inside. "You think you can't pay me?"

She almost rolled her eye. "I can't pay you on the dot," not think. Pero iba na ngayon. At sana, matuloy ang transaction nila ng buyer ng bahay bukas. Or else...

"I see." Tumatango-tango ito. Hinayaan niya itong maglibot-libot. "Where are you going?" biglang tawag nito nang mapnsing papasok siya sa kusina.

"Sa kusina. Ikukuha lang kita ng maiinom." Pumasok na siya at iniwan si Sage doon bago pa niya ito matanong ng ibang bagay.

Ano bang ginagawa nito sa bahay nila? Kukunin na ba nito ang bayad niya? But she still has no money. At hindi pa katapusan ng buwan.

She frowned when she was grabbing the cream. Hindi siya nagkakape na may krema. She liked her coffee black and sweet. No cream.

Instinct.

Siguro gusto ni Sage na may cream.

Pagbalik niya sa living area ay naabutan niya itong nakatayo sa malapit sa bintana. He was looking at their picture frames, particularly the one with her and her dad when she graduated.

"I'm sorry about your father," sabi nito nang hindi lumilingon sa kanya.

Tumango lang siya saka ibinaba ang tasa sa mesa. It was just a good thing he was not looking at her while he said that because she didn't want to argue about sincerity and genuine tears with him right now.

"What happened to him?"

She shrugged, even when her heart was clenching from her loss that she didn't even know. "Sabi nila, atake daw sa puso."

Sage turned to her with those probing eyes. "Sabi nila?"

That made her defensive. "You're not here to listen to my sentimental story, are you?"

His brow twitched. "You're right. I'm not." Saka muling ibinaba ang hawak nitong frame.

"So, bakit ka nandito?" Pinanood ni Kyra si Sage na maglakad papunta sa kanya at marahang umupo sa sofa. He sure knows how to walk gracefully with that masculine body.

Tumaas ang kilay nito. "No niceties and preamble?"

Humalukipkip siya at nanatiling nakatayo. "Alam kong busy kang tao, kaya sabihin mo na para makaalis ka na." Having Sage inside her house, sitting on her couch and drinking from her cup was altogether a bad idea.

"Okay." He sipped his coffee and fixed her a knowing look. "You surely can make the mix of my coffee for someone who can't remember. Very convincing."

Kyra bit back a retort. It was instinct. Maybe she used to make him a cup of coffee. Hindi niya alam. Sana hindi na lang siya nagpresentang itimpla itong kape.

"Well?" she probed impatiently and annoyingly.

Ibinaba ni Sage ang tasa sa mesa at umupo ng maayos saka tiningala siya. "I am here because we have an appointment."

Appointment?

Cold sweat broke on her forehead as she quickly jumbled her thoughts and she could find none. Wala silang appointment o napag-usapan ni Sage. Wala.

My god! Did he change his mind?

"Anong appointment? Hindi pa katapusan ng buwan a." Nagpa-panic na siya.

He started to shake his head before he stood up and faced her. "No, I'm not here as a banker. I'm here as your buyer."