The Billionaire's Wife

Fourteen.

My body wanted to indulge at the food in front of me, but my mind’s too busy with wanting to be alert and ahead of the situation. Vaughn does all the talking. Nakikitawa ako. Nakikitango na lang rin ako whenever Mina’s asking about what I think about on things. I can see how Vaughn is trying to help me pero pakiramdam ko talaga ay hindi wise itong pumunta kami dito.

When I felt like Mina’s trying to really get me engaged in the conversation, I excused myself and asked where the ladies’ room is. She asked one of her staff to show me where. Mabilis akong nagkulong sa cubicle. I stayed for a minute before I got out and decided na mag retouch.

Parang nalaglag ang puso ko nang makita ko na pumasok si Mina. She smiled at me tapos tumabi sya sa akin. I swallowed hard when she’s already next to me pero itinuloy ko ang kunwaring paglalagay ko ng BB cream sa mukha ko.

“Ganoon ba talaga kadaldal si Vaughn? I mean, I remember when we used to talk about him. Inis na inis ka kasi mukha syang snob.” She giggled. “Tapos ngayon, naging asawa mo pa! I mean, everyone knows that he chose you over Debra. But still, ang cute isipin.”

I forced myself to laugh. Bahagya akong nanginginig. I am cornered! s**t.

Marahan nya akong siniko. “So, tell me the juicy details, girl! How was he as a husband? Hindi ako naka attend ng wedding nyo. I was supposed to be Kuya Melvin’s plus one but I was just so busy with this restaurant. Isa pa, I looked like a zombie before, ayoko rin makuhaan ng picture looking like that.”

I forced myself to smile. “He’s okay. M-mukha lang talaga syang snob. H-he has sharp features, you know? I wish you were there, though.”

Tumango tango si Mina. “Anyway, I don’t want you to think that I’m feeling close or whatever since we only got acquainted two years ago and once again a few months in Xylo, but I already told you naman, I really like to be your friend. And this is me, not drunk talking.” And then she giggled.

I secretly gasped. Finally! Nagka idea ako where and when we met. I smiled at her. “It’s okay, Mina.” Ang tanging sinabi ko.

“And I really appreciate this, you guys coming into my restaurant. I hope the foods are okay?”

Tumango ako. “Yeah, masasarap ang mga pagkain.”

Tumango rin sya. “Thank you. Let’s go?”

Pinauna ko sya lumabas then we both went back to the table. Vaughn’s standing with his one hand on his pocket while the other is holding his phone. He’s talking to someone but when he saw us arriving, mabilis syang nagpaalam sa kausap nya.

 “I’m sorry, Mina. But we need to go. The hotel called me; August is already waiting for us.” Agad na sabi ni Vaughn nang makalapit na kami.

“Oh, really? Sure, sure. Thank you so much for coming.”

We bid our goodbyes. Nang makapasok na kami sa sasakyan pabalik sa hotel ay tsaka ko tinanong si Vaughn.

“Bakit daw nandoon si August?”

“That was just an excuse. I was a little worried since sinundan ka nga ni Mina.”

Tumango ako. “It’s fine. She told me na we got acquainted first about two years ago and then we met again a few months ago in Xylo.” Paliwanag ko tapos bumuntong hininga ako. “Mabuti madaldal si Mina.”

Ginagap nya ang kamay ko at pinisil iyon. I was so aware of his gesture habang sya ay parang wala lang na binigyan ako ng reassuring smile.

“We better be more vigilant with situations like this in the future.”

Tumango lang ako at nag-iwas ng tingin.

I slapped my forehead when a friend forwarded me an email that Debra sent him. She’s using the ‘expansion’ card again para makapag loan sa bank na pag-aari ng pamilya nila Euan and Euan is suspiscious enough to send it to me as well.

Euan told me na naisip nyang kung kailangan talaga ng expansion ng MSGC, siguradong ako na ang magpoproduce noon, or ako na mismo ang lalapit sa kanya. He knows that Debra might have an underlying personal reason kaya nagpasalamat ako sa kanya and I told him to just tell Debra that he will need to see MSGC’s papers for approval, siguradong aatras na sya noon.

Hindi ko na sinabi kay Vaughn iyon dahil ayokong may isipin pa sya. Besides, he already told me na si Harvey na ang bahala kay Jao. Harvey is Vaughn’s cousin whom he trusts when it comes to things like this. He’s discreet and he does the job well.

I don’t think I ever seen Vaughn bond with his other cousins. Tanging si Harvey lang ang napapag-usapan namin minsan so I know how he trusts him. He does some ‘shady’ stuff for him, but in a good way.

I became busy with the launching of the new products of the distillery. I want to be involved somehow kahit alam kong hindi naman ako talaga ang mamamahala doon. I only have the diploma of finishing a business degree but that’s all there is. I was already involved with the brainstorming for the new ideas anyway, so tinuloy tuloy ko na.

I and Vaughn’s week became hectic. Minsan sya ang nauuna makauwi, minsan ako. Sa Sunday dinner lang kami talaga nagkasama. That will be the last dinner sa ngayon dahil pupunta ng Europe ang parents and grandparents ni Vaughn. They will be there for probably and month.

Si Tita Rosanna naman, well, she likes going around anyway so she will probably be gone on a vacation as well.

I was already on the bed when I realized na may kausap pa sa phone nya si Vaughn. Mukhang seryosong seryoso sya. Nakasandal sya sa barandilya ng terrace ng kwarto namin na tanaw na tanaw ko mula sa kama.

His one hand is on his phone while the other is on his waist. Nakakunot ang noo.

I want to be in on the tea, so I waited for him to finish.

“Something wrong? Parang bad news natanggap mo, ha.” I casually asked him.

Naupo sya sa gilid ng kama. “That was Harvey. He got all the evidence to put Jao away for long. They are now looking for him. Someone must have tipped Jao about the police coming.”

“Wow. Ang tindi din talaga nyang tao na ‘yan. He’s like a freaking cockroach.” Naiiling na sabi ko.

Seriously! Nainis rin ako sa balita.

“Nevermind, they’ll find him for sure. Let’s rest,” Kibit balikat na lang na sabi ni Vaugh. Parang walang gana ang boses nya pero hindi ko na lang pinansin.

“Ikaw kaya mas mukhang stressed,” Biro ko sa kanya to lighten up his mood.

He gave me a forced smile. Bigla ay nakita ko ang pagod sa mukha at mata nya.

“Do you want a massage?”

Bigla syang napatingin sa akin habang kunot ang noo. “What are we buying this time?”

I laughed out loud. “Nothing!” Natatawa pa rin na sagot ko.

Bahagya syang ngumiti. “You know you can tell me, and yes, I’d love a massage.”

I pouted. “Okay. You know the drill.”

Tumango sya bago nagsimulang hubarin ang t-shirt nya. Dumapa sya sa kamay sa side nya while I stood up and got the lotion, I usually uses on him when I massage him. I decided to light up two aromatherapy candles on our bedside table.

I started massaging him gently. Agad na napapikit si Vaugh. Siguradong bagsak na naman sya mamaya kahit hindi pa tapos ang pagmasahe ko.

Tuwing nakikita kong pagod si Vaugh, all I feel is that I want to somehow make him fell better. At sa ngayon ay tanging massage bago matulog ang kaya ko. I mean, at this point alam ko naman sa sarili ko na sexually attracted ako kay Vaughn but we are still not in that point of our marriage.

I don’t even know kung aabot pa kami doon.

Ayoko na lang isipin sa ngayon.