Enticing Series 2: Trouble (SPG)

Chapter 12

Clea Mair’s Pov

Nagpilit na si Seya na siya na lang ang bibili ng maiinom namin at pinaupo na lang niya muna ako sa bakanteng upuan na nasa tapat ng stall. Ganoon din ang ginawa ni Leon para sa kanila ni Andrel kaya naman pareho kaming naghihintay sa kanila.

“You are still calling me Mister Henan, huh?” putol ni Andrel sa katahimikan sa pagitan namin. Bumaling siya sa akin at tinaasan ako ng kilay. “Can you please call me by my first name?”

“Ahm…” Napakamot ako ng ulo. “I don’t think it is appropriate. Sa ngayon kasi ay nasa gitna pa din tayo ng formal meeting between your company and the company where I work.”

Mahirap na din na maging sobrang close sa kanya kaya kailangan kong dumistansya kahit kaunti. I am already attracted to him but I cannot just jump and let my emotions control me. Getting too close is not good and it might start when I start calling him by his first name.

“Oh.” Tumangu-tango siya. “It was actually shocking but I understand.” He leaned his back on his chair and smiled at me. “Ikaw pa lang ang nag-iisang babae na kahit attracted sa akin ay piniling mag-iwan ng distansya sa pagitan natin.”

“Sabihin na nating hindi ako maaaring basta na lang magpadala sa emosyon ko,” sabi ko. “I don’t want you to get involved in my messy life.”

If I ever let my emotions control me and the Azaria Clan learned about this, they would surely demand to take me back to the palace and immediately resume the marriage that they arranged for me two years ago.

And they will start going after Andrel for getting involved with me. They might do something to drive him out of this country because they will see him as a possible threat to their plans for me.

I didn't want that to happen so I had to make my brain overpower my heart.

Isa pa…

Itinuon ko ang tingin kay Seya.

Alam kong isa pang dahilan ni Miracle kung bakit niya pinasama ito sa akin ay upang siguruhin na mababantayan ako sa mga taong posible kong makasalamuha ngayon na nasa pampubliko akong lugar.

Gusto niyang siguruhin na pinakinggan ko ang bilin niya sa akin na huwag magkaroon ng malalim na relasyon sa isang Henan.

Alam kong maging siya ay gagawin ang lahat para iiwas ako sa isang sitwasyon na alam niyang hindi ko kakayanin. Well, not that I can blame her for that. She was just trying to protect me as much as she could.

“But I am also attracted to you.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at marahas na napatingin sa kanya.

Seryoso at diretso siyang nakatingin sa akin. Bakas ang sinseridad sa kanyang mga mata at walang halong pagpapanggap doon.

“Mister Henan…”

“I actually just realized that last night while talking to someone,” he said. “But like you, I also have a messy life and I don’t want you to get involved so I won’t pursue this attraction. I guess, this feeling of mine is one of the reasons why I am trying my best to keep you here by delaying the drafting of our contract.”

Muling nanlaki ang mga mata ko. “W-what?”

“It is not basically our job to draft the contract, Clea Mair,” natatawa niyang sabi. “And you don’t have to set another appointment just for us to sign the final contract. We will set it for you. After I approved your proposal, your job was already done.”

“Then…”

Tumango siya. “I am just using this opportunity to still see you while I am here and be with you even just for a while.”

Napatakip ako ng bibig dahil sa pagkabigla. Hindi ko naman inaasahan na maging siya ay maa-attract sa akin. There is nothing special about me.

“Anyway, this might be the last time we will see each other. Your boss will directly deal with this matter so you can go back to Teur City anytime you want,” Tumayo siya nang mapansin na pabalik na sa pwesto namin si Leon. “You just can inform Leon when you will go home so that we can immediately arrange the transportation that you will be using.”

Tumayo na din ako at diretso lang na nakatingin sa kanya.

Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako na tapos na ang meeting namin, dahil ibig sabihin lang noon ay hindi na lubusang lalamin ang atraksyon ko sa kanya, o malulungkot, dahil ibig sabihin noon ay hindi ko na siya muling makikita pa oras na bumalik ako ng Teur City.

He smiled at me. “It is nice to meet you, Clea Mair.” Bigla na lang niyang hinapit ang bewang ko palapit sa kanya at unti-unting inilapit ang mukha niya sa akin.

And I automatically closed my eyes, anticipating a kiss on the lips but I immediately opened my eyes when I felt his lips on my forehead.

That was only a quick kiss and to be honest, I am kind of disappointed because it is not what I expected.

“Sorry to disappoint you, Clea Mair,” sabi niya habang may ngisi sa kanyang labi. “Kissing you on the lips might bring us problems.” Binitiwan na niya ako. “I am not sure if we are going to see each other but I am glad to be with you. I will treasure the feelings that I have for you.”

“Masaya din akong makilala ka, Andrel Raven.” Huminga ako ng malalim at binigyan siya ng matamis na ngiti. Sinabi naman niya na ito na ang posibleng huling pagkikita namin kaya mas mabuting maging maganda ang paghihiwalay namin. “And I will also treasure these feelings that I have for you.”

Hinawakan niya ang dulo ng buhok ko at hinalikan iyon pagkuwa’y tumingin sa akin. “Goodbye, Clea Mair.”

Eksaktong nakalapit na sa amin si Leon nang bitiwan niya ang buhok ko at tuluyan na siyang tumalikod sa akin.

Leon just slightly bowed to me until they finally decided to leave.

Nanatili na lang ang tingin ko sa likod ni Andrel habang hawak ang buhok kong hinalikan niya. “Goodbye, Andrel.”

“You might regret it…” Bumaling ako kay Agares na nakatayo na sa likuran ko bitbit ang mga skewers na in-order ko kanina. “Hindi mo man lang ba susubukan? He seems sincere when he says he likes you too.”

I smiled and shook my head. “Hindi ako tulad ni Miracle na kayang lumaban sa mga elders ng angkan namin,” sabi ko. “Siguradong siya lang ang higit na masasaktan kapag sinubukan kong pasukin ang mas malalim na relasyon kasama siya.”

Mas mabuti na ito dahil wala akong karapatan na magkaroon ng malalim na relasyon sa kahit na sino sa buhay na kong ito dito sa labas ng palasyo.

In just a matter of time, the Azaria Clan will take me back home and it will be the time that I need to fulfill my duty as one of the princesses of this country.

“It is your decision, Clea,” sabi niya na mabilis kong inilingan.

“Making decisions is one of the rights that has been stripped from me by the Azaria Clan,” I said. “So, even if I regret not fighting for the feelings I have for him, I still think that it is the best choice I could make. Rather than put him into a situation that will only put him in trouble and destroy him.”