The Possessive CEO

CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3: Symphonies

Marsh Lahm's Point of View

Weird. Yan agad ang pumasok sa isip ko habang inaalala ko pa din ang nangyari kanina sa dalampasigan. Those eyes...it's predatory. This feeling is so foreign to me. Ngayon ko lang ito naramdaman. Pinaghalong takot, excitement, at saya? Hindi ko alam. I was back from reverie when I heard someone knocked at the door.

"Dinner is ready, cousin." Sabi ni Stacey at hinila ang kamay ko.

"Sandal—." Hindi ko na naituloy ang sasabihin ko ng pababa na kami ng hagdan. I never had been so conscious about myself. Pero ngayon, kung ikaw ba naman ang may kasamang parang mga God and Goddess mula sa Mt. Olympus baka kapag tumabi ako sa kanila mapagkamalan akong katulong. Gusto ko lang sanang tingnan ang sarili ko sa salamin. Pero hindi ko na nagawa. Stacey is pulling my right hand. Naka simpleng t-shirt lang ako at maong na shorts. Habang pababa napansin kong may nakalagay na piano sa may gilid ng staircase. It was a grand piano. Sino kaya ang gumagamit nun? I wondered.The piano is so elegant. I can feel the bitterness inside me and I hurriedly shrugged the thoughts away.

"Akala mo naman sobrang gwapo. Sino ba siya para habulin ko?" I heard Tori's voice and the chattering of the utensils.

"My Mom will be here tomorrow. Gusto ka niyang makita at makausap Marsh." Sabi sa akin ni Stacey. I just nodded my head at sumunod papuntang dining area. The dining area is composed of long table with twelve seats. May chandelier na nakasabit sa taas. At may mga katulong nakatayo sa gilid.

"Marsh!" Elizabeth exclaimed ng makita niya ako.

"Sabi ni Stacey nahihiya ka daw samin? Oh no, don't be. Kung gusto mo sumama ka sa bridal shower bukas?" Sabi niya while clasping my hands. She squealed like a little girl but realization hits her at unti-unting nawala ang ngiti sa labi niya.

"Oh my goodness! Elizabeth we are so busted!" Sabi ni Tori habang nakakunot ang noo.

"What bridal shower are you talking about Elizabeth Dianna Williams? Please enlighten me." Sabi ni Kelvin na nakaupo sa kabisera habang may madilim ang mukha. She laughed nervously.

"It was just a harmless party for Ate Stacey. Like duh." She said at patay malisya lang. Tumabi si Stacey kay Kelvin at ako naman ay naupo katabi ni Elizabeth at kaharap si Nikos.

"We promise you, no boys. Magpaparty lang kami sa bar and of course kami lang girls." Sabi ni Tori habang nagpatuloy kumain, ignoring his furious cousin.

"Marsh is coming with us." Tori added with a grin as she winked at me.

"Baby, party lang yun okay? Girl’s night out. No boys. No strippers. Just us." Stacey cooed and gives Kelvin a kiss on the cheeks. How sweet.

"Make sure of it." Kelvin replied, halata sa mukha niya ang pagkaselos.

"Don't act like a saint Kelvin. There's also a bachelor party for you. Who knows what will happen?" Nikos smirked as he continues to slice the steak. Si Stacey naman ang kumunot ang noo.

"Baby..." he coughed.

"It was just a harmless party." Ginaya niya ng sinabi ni Elizabeth. Those words made me laugh. Napatingin silang lahat sa akin. Bigla kong natikom ang bibig ko.

"S-sorry." Sabi ko. Dapat kasi nirerendahan ko ang bibig ko.

"Wow. You're so cute when you laugh like that. Your eyes glow and trust me you looked like a freakin' goddess." Sabi ni Nikos at nakatingin sa akin. Nagiwas ako ng tingin. Flattered, tinuon ko na lang ang pansin ko sa pagkain sa mesa. This is so embarrassing.

"So anyway, I was saying baby, mga pinsan ko lang at kaibigan ang kasama ko sa party. I promise you no girls. Baka hindi mo ako siputin sa kasal natin eh." Kelvin mumbled while looking at Stacey. Halata naman sa mukha nila na inlove na inlove sila sa isa't-isa. They're both lucky.

"Pero Stacey," Nikos said.

"Seryoso ka na ba sa pinsan namin? You know hindi pa huli ang lahat. Pwede ka pang tumakbo at pagisipan mo pa nang mabuti ang magiging desisyon mo." He added and laugh frantically.

"Oh shut up Nikos!" Nakakunot na ang mukha ni Kelvin at hindi na maipinta. Nagtawanan lang ang magpipinsan sa sinabi ni Nikos.

"Pajama party later. Movie marathon tayo? Just like what we usually do? Marsh sama ka?" Sabi ni Elizabeth sa akin.

"Sounds good to me." I said.

Watching a movie with them is a new experience to me. Nakaupo ako sa kama ni Elizabeth at si Stacey naman ay nakaupo sa carpet habang kumakain ng pop corn. Nakadapa naman si Elizabeth at Tori habang nanonood ng Hangover.

"This is nice." I said while watching.

"We're always doing this when we have time. Girl’s night out, sleep over and such." Sabi ni Elizabeth. Both of them are so friendly and they are so warm.

"This is actually my first time." Sabi ko naman. Agad namang napaupo si Tori at humarap sa akin.

"Really? First time is always the best." She added. Her blond hair is tied in a bun at ngayon ko lang napansin na hindi sila yung ibang mayayaman na puro paganda lang ang alam.

"Anong ginagawa mo sa free time mo?" Tanong ni Elizabeth. Napaisip ako, ano nga bang ginagawa ko? Minsan lang naman ako magkaroon ng free time at nakakasigurado akong ibinibigay ko yun sa kapatid ko.

"Playing with my younger brother." I said.

"Ohh. Bakit hindi mo siya sinama dito?" Sabi ni Tori. I shook my head.

"Long story." I answered.

"How about your parents? Where are they?" Biglang napalingon sa puwesto namin si Stacey na kanina pa nakatuon ang atensiyon sa pagkain ng pop corn.

"I don't have parents anymore." I mumbled. Shock is visible on her face,  I can feel her being guilty.

"Sorry Marsh for asking." Tori said while pouting.

"No it's okay. Matagal na 'yon." Yun na lang ang nasabi ko. I want to drop the topic right at this instant.

"Can I leave for a moment? Iinom lang ako ng tubig." She had touched a sensitive spot on my heart.

"O-okay. You may go. Pero babalik ka, alright? May Hangover II and III pa tayong isusunod." Tori studied my calm face.

Lumabas ako sa kwarto ni Elizabeth and dumiretso pababa ng hadgan. Ilang ilaw na lang ang bukas at masyadong dim na ang ilaw nang nilalakaran ko. Pababa ako ng hadan nang may narinig akong tumutugtog ng piano. It was soft melody. Habang bumababa ako mas lalong lumalakas ang tunog. If my memory serves me right, it was a piano piece by Beethoven. Fur Elise. Natandaan ko noong high school ako may music class kami. It's like nabuhay ulit si Beethoven para tumugtog ulit. It has a light, mellow character. Tuluyan akong bumaba sa hagdanan. I saw a man playing the piano. His back facing mine. All I can see is his black hair. It seems so soft. Plus, he has a bulky sexy back. And how the hell he could play a piano in a dim light like these? And little did I know nakatingin ako sakanya for as long as I can't remember. Impossibleng si Nikos 'to. Lalo na si Kelvin. His aura seems different.

"Enjoying the show?" A deep baritone voice mumbled at tumingin siya sa gawi ko. I can't see his face clearly because of the dim light. Kahit hindi ko siya makita alam kong siya yung lalaking nakita ko sa dalampasigan.

"I-ikaw. Ikaw yung nakatingin sa akin kanina." I exclaimed. Tumayo siya at doon ko lang napagtanto na hanggang balikat niya lang ako. He's so tall, taller than Kelvin. Maybe six feet and two inches long? Yes, he's too tall.

"Hmm. I was looking at you? Now that's hilarious." He said as his lips turns into a smirk.

"I was there to witness the sun set. Not to stare at you." He said at naglakad ng dahan dahan sa puwesto ko. Habang lumalapit siya mas nakikita ko ng malinaw ang kanyang mukha. There's a small scar marred on his eyebrows. That gives him a bad boy profile. He's so handsome and too gorgeous. So impressive. Lalo na ang tindig nito, full of confidence. For sure he's earning a lot of interest of every woman. At tama nga ako halos wala pa ako sa balikat niya. Nasa harapan ko na siya and I can even smell him. Manly. 'Yan agad ang pumasok sa isip ko. He bent down para maabot niya ang mukha.

He possesses aqua blue eyes together with long lashes. A proud nose. About his jaw line? Too stubborn. I never have been able to resist his eyes. I subconsciously bite my lips. He lifted his hands and brushes its back against my cheeks.

"Your skin seems the softest part of you but I think I'll disagree once I kiss that f*****g lips." And before I could respond he quickly withdrew his hands and walk away from me like nothing happened.

Bakit ang lakas ng epekto niya sa akin. Who is...he?