Entangled

14

Arkel took her on the grand tour. The fully equipped kitchen boasted a gleaming center of stainless steel and chrome, but Nhe had made sure the room retained the warmth an Italian grandmother would be proud of. A heavily cut wooden island held baskets filled with fresh fruit and cloves of garlic, herbs sunk in bottles brimmed with olive oil, dry pastas, and red, ripe tomatoes. The table was thick oak with sturdy, comfortable chairs. An array of wines peeked out from an extensive wrought iron rack. Glass doors led from the kitchen to the sunroom, complete with wicker furniture, bookcases, and vases of daisies spilling through the room. Instead of colorful paintings, black and white photographs took up wall space, and displayed an array of architecture from around the world. Nick enjoyed her expressions as she took in every inch of his space. He led her up the staircase to the bedrooms.

"Nasa dulo ng hallway ang kwarto ko. May private ako dito pero may computer na hindi na gagamit sa library. Pwede mong gamitin yon. Kung may mga kailangan ka pa sabihin mo lang, I can order it for you." Binuksan niya ang isa sa mga pintuan, "here's your room. May private bathroom ito, hindi ko alam kung anong taste mo pero feel free to redecorate."

He watched her take in the neutral, pale tones of the king-sized poster bed and matching furniture.

"Okay na ito. Salamat."

He stared at her for a moment as the formality pulsed between them. "Kailangan mananatili dito ng dalawang araw, aware ka ba? Sinabi natin na dina kailangan ng honeymoon sa ibang bansa kasi parehas tayong busy sa trabaho. So, hindi tayo pwedeng lumabas hanggang Monday, baka maging topic pa tayo ng mga tao."

Tumango ito, "gagamitin ko iyong computer sa library para sa trabaho. Sabi naman ni Alana tutulungan niya ako."

"Okay then. Get comfortable and meet me down in the kitchen. Magluluto ako ng dinner natin."

"Alam mo magluto?"

"Grabe ka naman sa akin, Deniah. Ayoko kasing may ibang tao sa kusina na magluto para sa akin- I had enough of that growing up. Kaya nag- aral ako magluto."

"Masarap ba luto mo?"

He snorted. "Of course. I'm the best." Tumalikod na siya at sinara ang pinto.

.......

Arrogant man.

Umikot si Deniah at inobserbahan ang magiging kwarto niya ng isang taon. Alam niyang marangya ang buhay ng lalaki bata pa lang, pero habang tino- tour siya nito para siyang si Audrey Hepburn sa My Fair Lady- hopelessly common beside the sophistication of her tutor.

The heck with it. Sa kabila ng karangyaan na maranasan niya sa piling ng lalaki kailangan niya paring gawing normal ang buhay niya as possible. Hindi niya tunay na asawa si Dark, kaya dapat wala lang sa kanya na mayaman ito. Dahil sa huli, siya lang ang masasaktan.

Sigurado din siyang hindi sila magkikita ng madalas dahil magiging busy ito sa trabaho. Magkikita na lamang sila kung kailangan nilang umattend ng party as husband and wife.

Pagkatapos ng mental pep talk niya sa sarili hinubad niya ang wedding gown at nagbabad ng ilang oras sa bubble bath sa magarang spa bathtub sa kwarto niya. Nagdalawang isip kung susuotin ba niya ang sheer black nightie na isinama ng kanyang mga kapatid sa gamit niya, sa huli ay nilagay niya ito sa pinakailalim na drawer sa walk-in closet at nagsuot ng leggings at cropped sweatshirt, clipped her hair, at nagmartsa pababa sa hagdan at dumeretso sa kusina.

Umupo siya sa isa sa mga upuan sa kusina. She drew her bare feet up to the edge of her seat, wrapped her arms around her knees, and watched her new husband.

He hadn't changed out of his tuxedo. He'd taken off his jacket, and rolled crisp white shirt sleeves up past his elbows. The onyx pearl buttons had been undone to mid-chest, and revealed a mat of golden hair sprinkled across carved muscles. His shoulders were broad, and demanded the fabric stretch to accommodate. His black pants covered him like a lover and emphasized the long lean length of his legs and hips. Deniah had a hell of a time ignoring the hard curve of his butt. The man had a great ass. Too bad she'd never see it naked. She didn't think seeing his bathing suit pulled down as a teenager counted. Besides, she'd been too busy staring at his front.

"Gusto mo tumulong?" Tanong ng lalaki sa kanya.

Kinurot niya ang sarili para mawala sa isip niya ang mga pumapasok na di magandang ideya. "Sure. Ano bang niluluto mo?"

"Fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp, garlic bread, and a salad."

Napa- ungol siya sa narinig. "Oh God, you're mean."

"You don't like the menu?"

"I like it too much. But I'll just have the salad."

Pinukol siya nito ng masamang tingin. "Pagod na ako sa mga babaeng salad lang ang kinakain, proud pa sila. A good meal is a gift."

"Well, thanks so much for that smug viewpoint of the female population. For your information, baka mas matakaw ako sa iyo. Nakita mo ba ang mga pagkain na pinili ko sa kasal natin? Di mo ba nakita na andami kong kinain kanina? Dammit, it's just like a man to put a rich, fattening meal in front of a woman and get offended when she won't eat. Then you seem shocked in the bedroom when you're looking at her hips and wondering how she put on ten extra pounds!"

"Nothings wrong with curves on a woman."

Tumayo siya mula sa kinauupuan at kinuha ang mga ingredients ng salad. "Weh, din nga. Narinig ko na yan dati. Tingnan nga natin. Ano sa tingin mo ang kilo ni Sabrina?"

Hindi ito sumagot.

Ngalagay siya ng red pepper sa tabi ng Romaine lettuce. "Oh, are we tongue-tied now? Is she one hundred pounds or is that considered fat nowadays?"

Sa huli ay nahsalita ang lalaki. "Isa siyang model. Kailangan niya imaintain ang kanyang timbang."

"At nag- oorder ba siya ng salad tuwing lalabas para mag-dinner?"

More silence.

A cucumber rolled over the counter and stopped at the edge. "Ah, I guess that means yes. But I'm sure you appreciate her discipline when you rip her clothes off."

Nanatiling nakatuon ang atensyon ng lalaki sa nilulutong shrimp. "Sabrina is a bad example." Ika nito na halatang hindi na komportable sa pinag- uusapan nila.

"Sabi sakin ni Alana niya nagde- date ka lang daw ng mga model. Seems that you like skinny woman and accept them eating salad." Hinugasan niya ang mga gulaw, kumuha ng kutsilyo at nagsimulang mag- gayat. "But if it'd someone you're not thinking of sleeping with, I guess you don't care how fat she gets as long as she keeps you company at meals."

"I happen to detest going out to dinner with most of my dates. I understand they're in the business, but I enjoy a woman who likes good food and isn't afraid to eat it. You're not fat. You never were fat so I don't know where this obsession comes from.”

"Tinawag mo na akong mataba minsan."

"I did not."

"Yes, you did. When I was fourteen, you told me I was filling out in all the wrong places."

"Hell, woman, I meant your breasts. I was a snotty teenager who wanted to torture you. You were always beautiful."