THE MAYOR'S VIRGIN MISTRESS

CHAPTER 5

“ALSTROEMERIA BOUQUET for you, your grace from your wild secret admirer.”

Naudlot ang paglalagak ni Freya sa succulent plant sa backseat ng kanyang Bentayga dahil sa biglaang pagsulpot ni Annaliese sa likuran niya.

Inihanda niya ang crown-of-thorns na halamang iyon upang regalo para kay Archimedes. Matatawag na ring suhol sapagkat pinaunalakan nga siya nitong samahan siya sa recital concert sa gabing iyon.

Ngunit ano raw? Bouquet?

Aksidente pang tumama ang ulo niya sa upper structure ng Bentayga niya sa sobrang pagmamadali na masulyapan ang bouquet.

She held the beautiful bouquet with a vibrant smile. Kinarga niya ang may kalakihang bouquet na para bang isang sanggol. Maingat at binuhusan ng pagmamahal. Maya’t maya niya sininghot ang bulaklak, contemplating that it was Archi she's smelling.

“My dearest Archi is so damn sweet.” Sino pa ba ang aasahan niyang magpapadala ng bulaklak sa kanya? Si Archimedes lang ang inaakala at inaasam niyang magpapadala ng bouquet sa kaniya.

Her heart’s so crazy about Archimedes Heredia. She's nuts about him.

And after that sinful and shameful night with that brazen Mayor of Nuevo Laredo, mas naging masidhi ang handulong ni Freya na mas buyuhin si Archimedes. He'll be the best distraction for her messy mind—her mind that was being distracted with, again, the brazen Mayor Alder Kalantri Evora.

“Archi? H–hindi ba’t allergic si Archimedes sa pollen, sis?” Annaliese stated, shocked a little with what she had announced impromptu. Tila hindi nito sinasadya na banggitin ang piece of fact na iyon tungkol kay Archimedes.

Annaliese blinked and stared at Freya apologizedly when she couldn't show any reaction. “Oh so stupid of me. I am sure Archimedes made an effort to send these beautiful flowers to a beautiful woman like you, sis.”

Freya smiled brightly. Totally ignoring the disappointment that desired to conquer her system. Negativity wouldn't do good on her.

“Sure he is, sis.” Her eyes were closed as she smelled the beautiful flowers once more.

It's from Archi, giit ng puso ni Freya. A wishful thinking.

“Alstroemeria flowers?” Osiris’ dubious tone made Freya’s eyes open. He was descending to the blue stone steps from their black stained door.

Nasa driveway na kasi ang Bentayga ni Freya. She already prepared her car for her trip to Metro Manila while Osiris’ decade old Sedan was already outside the gate.

“Oh yep! From my sweet Archimedes, Kuya.” Pagbibida niya sa natanggap na bulaklak. “Wala kang work today?”

Usually ay walang day off si Osiris sa trabaho nito. Wherever he is, loads of works were chasing him. Kahit nasa bahay ito ay subsob pa rin ito sa pag–aaral ng kaliwa’t kanang kaso na hinahawakan nito.

Freya avoided to ask her brother about the Evoras’ couple annulment though her tongue is itching to do so. Oh no. Not the annulment alone but the stolen picture of her and the brazen wedded man both naked in bed, doon siya may pakialam at hindi sa annulment ni Mayor Alder at ng asawa nito.

Nasa kamay na kaya iyon ni Osiris?

Iisipin pa lamang iyon ni Freya Grace ay tila magkakandagutay-gutay na ang mga balitok niya sa katawan.

But come to think of it! Kung nai–submit na iyon ni Archi kay Osiris to serve as an evidences in the trial court, a certain ground for the annulment, dapat ay pinagalitan na siya ni Osiris o mas malala pa roon.

She calmed herself a bit. Mas lalong gusto niyang makita si Archimedes. Surely he still has the evidences in him. Kailangan niya iyong makuha at mabura.

“We forgot to tell it to you. Papasyal kami sa Virac ni Annaliese at baka sa Lunes pa kami makauwi.” Anunsiyo ng kaniyang kapatid at kapagkuwa’y humalik sa sentido ng kasintahan bago ipinulupot ang isang kamay sa bewang ni Annaliese.

Kaya pala hindi ito naka–business casual outfit.

Virac, Catanduanes is Annaliese’ hometown. Buong pamilya ni Annaliese ay naroon sa Virac.

“Oh? Well, that's rare and I think it's about time for you to ask for Annaliese’ hands for marriage, Kuya.” Kung ano ang rarest topic na nauungkat sa bahay na iyon, iyon ay walang iba kung hindi ang kasal ni Osiris at ni Annaliese.

They were in an open relationship since their college days and lived under the same roof for almost seven years pero hiwaga pa rin sa lahat kung bakit hindi pa rin nagpapakasal ang dalawa.

Madalas ay nagi–guilty si Freya. Iniisip niya na baka ayaw pang mag–settle down ng dalawa dahil hanggang ngayon ay pasan pa rin siya ni Osiris. Nakaka–guilty. Dapat mauna na siyang mag–asawa baka nahiya lang sa kanya ang dalawa. Kailangan na siya na ang magparaya. Ganoon kabusilak ang kaniyang puso.

Osiris’ faced lightened up like as if he likes the idea with passion while Annaliese seemed uneasy and had a differ opinion in her mind.

Whatever her reason for not pursuing their wedding, Freya respected it from her heart. Bukod doon ay wala naman na siyang mapupunang hindi mabuti sa pagsasama ni Annaliese at ng Kuya Osiris niya. They are happy and devoted to one another.

“We’re both not in a hurry for that, sis. Right, babe?” Paglalambing ni Annaliese sa nobyo.

Nagkibit–balikat ang huli.

“Wala namang kaso basta masaya kayo, iyon ang importante, right, Kuya?”

Osiris shrugged her shoulders once more. “We’ll go ahead now, Grace. I already booked a hotel suite for you in Favian’s tower. Doon ka tumuloy after the recital concert tonight. Bukas ka na umuwi rito baka mapagod ka sa biyahe.”

Sandaling natigilan si Freya. “Favian’s tower, Kuya? You're not kidding me, are you? Ang mahal–mahal sa hotel na iyon kaya, Kuya.” Kunwari ay hindi siya sang–ayon sa kabutihang-loob ni Osiris. May plano na si Freya kung saan siya magpapalipas ng magdamag.

For her original plan, she'd like to stay the whole night after the concert with Archimedes. It would be in favor to her side kung aanyayahan siya ni Archimedes sa tinutuluyan nito. In that case ay may chance si Freya na isakatuparan ang binabalak niya sa ebidensiyang hawak ni Archimedes. Her certain goal is to get rid of those sinful photos. Kailangan niyang burahin sa mundo ang susi ng ikababagsak niya.

Hindi niya maisip kung ano ang magiging reaksiyon ni Osiris at Annaliese kung sakaling mailabas ang larawan na iyon.

“It is the only place in Metro that could assured me that you will be safe. I already asked Eszio Favian to monitor you if you really spend your night in there.”

Freya blinked unbelievably. “E–eszio Favian? You personally knew him? Kuya, ang yaman no’n ‘di ba and his name’s been so famous for being one of the richest hotel moguls in Asia?”

Osiris looked weirdly at her. “I have met him a year ago through Dozier Villarte when he contacted me to handle an annulment case. So yeah, I knew him. And how about you? Seems to me like you knew a lot about him?”

“Oy! Wala. Hindi ko sila kilala, Kuya. Familiar lang kasi,” she denied.

“Is that so?”

“Familiar lang talaga sila. Kasi ‘di ba iyong isang best friend ni Eszio Favian, si Tres Levintez, ‘di ba asawa niya si Ariadne Altavilla? The owner of Aria and Sapphire, right?”

“You are creepy. How in the hell you got to know those people?” He eyed her with those menacing, chestnut eyes that resembled to hers.

“Suki lang talaga ako sa Aria and Sapphire, siyempre. Kaya kilala ko sila.” Palusot niya pa ulit. She knew for a mere fact that Osiris has a mastery to read one's mind pero nakakalusot pa rin ang mga kabulaanan niya.

And she is not happy with her feeding her brother some lies. Her conscience was bugging her. Natututo siyang magsinungaling kay Osiris dahil lang sa mayabang na Alkalde na iyon.

She doesn't understand that brazen man. All she asked is to totally forget about their mistake and move forward. Bakit hindi iyon magawa ng Alkalde na iyon?

He was pestering her just like yesterday. Alam niyang hindi coincidence na naroon din ito Fleur Delacour Lake na paborito niyang pasyalan tuwing hapon. Nuevo Laredo is six hours away from their place and that brazen Mayor wanted her to believe him that it was a coincidence.

She is not a fool to believe him!

“So you already met Ariadne Altavilla, huh?” Osiris tilted his head and doubt crept on his face.

“Ahm yeah.”

“But you do not know that Ariadne Altavilla is Mayor Alder Kalantri Evora’s sister, do you?”

“Oh for real?” Bulalas niya. Freya perfectly sculpted a perfect shocked expression in her face. Kunwari ay wala siyang ideya sa koneksiyon ng mayabang na Alkalde kay Ariadne Altavilla.

Osiris gave her a lopsided smile and shot her an unconvincing look. “For real, yes. We get going already. You take good care of yourself, little one.”

“Ingat din kayo.”

“Anong pasalubong ang gusto mo, sis?” Annaliese asked in a jolly tone.

“Pasalubong? Well kahit pamangkin na lang. Ayos na sa akin,” she jested.

“Oh that's a bright idea, missy. Nephew it is then.” Gatong naman ni Osiris na lalong ikinapula ng pisngi ng nobya nito.

“Babe...”

“What?”

“Sige na! Sige na! Huwag na kayong magtalo. Willing naman ako na maunang mag-ambag ng pamangkin sa inyo,” aniya.

And Osiris shot her a deadly glare. Hindi naman ito against sa date nila ni Archimedes pero naroon sa mga mata nito ang pagkauhaw sa tiwala sa nakababatang kapatid. “You behave and act like a lady around Heredia, Freya Grace! Let me remind you that you are not an impulsive teenage girl.”

“Copy, Attorney.”

Hinatid ng tanaw ni Freya ang magkasintahan papunta sa gate pero may ipinahabol si Osiris na bahagyang nagpatigil sa paghinga ni Freya.

“And oh, by the way, do you know that you can only found and get an alstroemeria flowers in Altheda’s garden? A certain place owned by Mayor Evora.”

Pinigilan ni Freya ang kagustuhan na itirik ang mga mata sa opinyon na nabuo sa kaniyang isip.

Why does she think that the brazen Mayor Alder Kalantri Evora would send her a bouquet of flowers?

Malaking kalokohan ang naiisip niya. Her heart hardly believed that Archimedes is the sender of that flower.

“A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS? Are you sure it was from my name?” Was all Archimedes said when she thanked him for the beautiful present he sent into her house this morning.

Freya blinked but still managed to held her composure in place. Papasok pa lamang sila noon sa Teatrino Promenade kung saan ang venue ng recital concert. Archimedes was gentlemanly ushering her inside the hall.

“I am sorry. You mean to say, it wasn't from you?” Disappointment grew inside her chest.

“Pasensiya ka na, Frey pero wala akong matandaan na nagpa–deliver ako ng bouquet sa bahay mo.” Archimedes sincerely apologized. He looked guilty, too.

Sa totoo lang wala namang kinalaman si Archimedes kung bakit pumait ang nararamdaman ni Freya sa mga oras na iyon. Ipinahamak lamang siya ng kaniyang assumption. Na naman.

“O–oh no, no, no. Ano ka ba? You don't need to apologise, Archi. Baka iyong neighbor namin before na naging secret admirer ko marahil ang sender. I have a lot of wooer kasi kaya medyo nalilito ako kung sino ang nagpadala.”

Lied. Ego saved. She bit her bottom lip as Archimedes smiled at her, agreeing. They occupied the two designated VIP seats for them.

Ang ibig bang sabihin ay totoo ang haka–haka ni Freya na galing sa mayabang na Mayor na iyon ang bulaklak na iyon?

She immediately shook the thought off of her mind. Kinikilabutan siya sa naisip. Kinikilabutan siya sa ideyang tumanggap siya ng bulaklak galing sa taong may asawa.

God forgive her!

“Answer it first.” Untag ni Freya kay Archimedes dahil hindi man niya ipinapahalata ay kanina pa niya napapansin ang makulit na caller ni Archimedes.

Archimedes excused himself to lift the call and Freya left alone in their spot, getting uneasy and curious to why Archimedes took too long.

Pinalipas pa ni Freya ang limang minuto bago abandunahin ang kaniyang upuan atsaka hinanap si Archimedes.

Bago pa siya mahilo at maputol ang matulis na takong ng kaniyang stilettos sa kakahanap sa kaniyang date, sa wakas ay nakita niya ang bulto nito sa isang smoking area.

“But just at least a few minutes, please let me talk to you.”

Ang nagmamakaawang himig ni Archimedes ang nagpahinto sa hakbang ni Freya. His back was facing her kaya hindi nito napansin ang presensiya niya sa likod nito.

“I can make it to be there for a couple of hours or three. No. Believe me, I can make it basta para saiyo, walang imposible basta payagan mo lang ako na makausap ka. I will find a way. Yes, I am still crazy over you. Noon man at magpahanggang ngayon, ikaw pa rin ang kinababaliwan ko. Ikaw pa rin ang gustung–gusto ng puso ko.”

Napahakbang nang kusa ang mga paa ni Freya. Hindi paabante kundi patungo sa madilim na sulok para doon ikubli ang kaniyang sarili. Ilang segundong pinakalma ni Freya ang sarili. Her breath became heavier as seconds gone by. She forbid herself to blink, afraid that her pathetic tears will fall unstoppably.

“Please, Annaliese. Kahit ilang taon man ang igugol ko upang subukan na ikaw ay kalimutan, saiyo pa rin talaga ako. Saiyo lang, Annaliese.”