Entangled

12

Deniah choked her back emotion as they drove for a while in silence. Nasa labas ng kotse ang kanyang tingin. His offer suggested a real relationship between them, and made her long for more. Hindi na sana niya pinakilala sa pamilya ang pekeng relasyon. Mabigat ang pakiramdam niya sa ginawang kasinungalingan. She realized she'd made a bargain with the devil for cold hard cash. Cash to save her family. But cash nonetheless.

His gravelly voice broke the silence and her gloomy thoughts. "You seemed upset about our little ruse tonight."

"Ayaw ko kasing nagsisinungaling sa pamilya ko.

"Pero bakit mo ginawa?"

An uncomfortable silence settled between them.

"How badly do you want this money? Kasi halata namang hindi ka thrilled sa ideyang pakasalan ako. Nagsinungaling ka sa pamilya mo at peke ang mangyayaring kasli natin. All for a business expansion? You could get a loan from a bank like most businesses do. Something isn't adding up."

Nasa dulo na nang dila niya ang mga salita at muntik na niyang sabihin ang katotohanan. Ang pagkakasakit ng ama after nitong bumalik sa kanila. Mga patung- patong na medical bills na hindi kayang bayaran ng insurance. Gastusin ni Drew sa medical school habang sinusuportahan ang bagong pamilya. The endless calls from collectors, hangang wala nang magawa ang kanyang ina kundi ibenta ang bahay, already heavily mortgaged.

And the weight of responsibility and helplessness Deniah carried along the way.

"I need the money," ang maikling sagot niya sa tanong ng lalaki.

"Need? Or want?"

She closed her eyes at the taunt. He wanted to believe she was selfish and shallow. In that moment, she realized she needed every defense against this man. His kiss had shattered all illusions of neutrality between them. His lips over hers had rocked her to the bottom of her soul, just like the very first time in the woods. Nicholas Ryan tore through her walls and left her vulnerable. After a week living in close quarters, she'd be jumping his bones.

Wala ng ibang choice si Deniah.

She needed to cultivate his hatred for her. Kung naiisip na nitong hindi maganda ang ugali niya, lalayo ito sa kanya at iiwanan niya ang pekeng relasyon with her pride intact at buo parin ang pamilya. She refused to foster his pity or take his charity. Kapag sinabi niya ang totoong sitwasyon ngayon ng kanyang pamilya, the rest of her defenses would shatter. Baka pa ibigay nito ang pera ng walang kapalit, and then habang buhay siyang may utang dito.

The image of him casting her in a role of the martyr to save Daza choked her with humiliation. No, mas magandang paniwalaan nito na isa siyang cold hearted businesses woman. Sa paraang iyon, di- distansya ang lalaki. Just being near the man set her off like a firecracker, and she'd be damned if she took a backseat to his precious Sabrina.

Her deal with the devil would be on her own terms.

Hinugot ni Deniah ang huli niyang lakas at nagsimula na naman siya sa pagsisinungaling. "Gusto mo talagang malaman ang totoo?"

"Yeah. I want to know the truth."

"Lumaki ka sa pera, Pretty Boy. Sinasagot ng pera ang lahat ng problema, stress, unhappiness. Pagod na akong maghirap gaya ng aking ina. I don't want to wait another five years before expanding my bookstore. I don't want to deal with interest and banks and debt-to-income ratios. I'm going to use the money to build a cafe onto BookCafé and make it a success."

"Pano kung di ka maging successful? Babalik ka kung saan ka nagsimula."

"Naka handa ako kung sakali. Pwede ko parin ibenta ang building .I can buy a small house outright and be secure by the time our marriage dissolves."

"Why not ask for ten million? Or even more? Why not squeeze me dry?"

Nagkibit- balikat si Deniah. "Sapat na ang pitong milyon para maibigay ang lahat ng gusto ko. Kung naisip ko na bibigyan mo ako ng higit sa hinihingi, I would've asked. After all, other than dealing with my family, it's a pretty easy bargain. I just had to put up with you."

"I guess you're more logical than I thought." Compliment na sana ang mga binitawan nitong mga salita. Pero kahihiyan ang naramdaman niya, at least hindi na maganda ang iisipin ng lalaki tungkol sa kanya at didistansya na ito. Of course, the price was her character. But she reminded herself of the goal and remained silent.

Hindi niya namalayang nasa harap na sila ng kanyang apartment kung di niya lang napansin na dina umaandar ang sasakyan. Binuksan niya ang pinto at kinuha ang bag sa console. "I'd invite you up, but I think seeing each other in the next year is enough."

He nodded. "Good night. I'll be touch. I can have the movers help you whenever you're ready. Gawin mo kung anong gusto mo sa preparasyon ng kasal and let me know where and when to show up."

"Okay. See ya."

"Bye."

She let herself into her apartment, closed the door behind her, and slid her back down the frame until she hit the floor.

Then cried.

…

Arkel watched her safely enter her loft and waited for the light to click on. The low purr of the BMW was the only sound to break the silence.

His annoyance at her blunt admission bothered him. Why did he care if she wanted the money? Mas magandang nalaman niya una palang kung saan gagamitin ng babae ang pera. He needed to keep his distance. May mga emosyon siyang naramdaman habang pinapanuod ang magulang ng babae habang siya'y kumakain, at pilit niyang iwinaksi. But the idea that he still retained some sick ray of hope for a normal family pissed him off.

Maybe it was the way she looked tonight. She'd pinned her hair up, and stubborn black curls stabbed through the bobby pins to lay across her cheek and down her neck. Her skin looked warm to the touch, slightly flushed with pleasure from being around her family. She smiled so easily, her lips full and relaxed.

He'd wanted to dip his head and taste what lay beneath those ruby, bee-stung lips. Wanted to slip his tongue deep inside and tempt her to play. The snug material of her jeans showed off the curve of her buttocks and swing of her hips. A hot pink button-down shirt seemed conservative enough, until she leaned forward and Arkel caught a glimpse of pale rose lace cupping her full breasts. The image burned through his mind and wreaked havoc with his concentration. He'd spent most of the evening trying to get her to bend down to sneak a peek. Just like a horny teenager.