One-night Stand with the Billionaire

Chapter 4 - Naalala Kita

Chapter 4

Brando

I paused when I stood in front of the comfort room's door, where she told me to go. I couldn’t help but lick my lips as I tried to brush her face off my head. What should I say now?

I, Brando Araneta, was that man who nailed you last night. Jesus. Bakit sa dinami-rami ng babae na maikakama ko ay ang babae pang ipinagkasundo ng kapatid ko sa anak niya? Take note, nagpakama. Wala iyong sapilitan. Hawak ko ang doorknob ay yun ang iniisip ko. I was so bothered the moment I saw her. Hindi lang ako mapagpahalata pero apektado ako. I knew the girl, yes, she's just a girl.

Georgina is pretty in dim lights but prettier in vivid lighting. She's so f*****g young and quite funnier than I thought. Ayaw ko man sabihin at aminin pero nakatayo ang p*********i ko ngayon sa pagkakasulyap ko sa mga hita niya. I wasn't sober last night, pero kahit na ako ay lasing, hindi ako ganun kagago para makalimutan ko ang nangyari sa amin at lahat ng ginawa ko sa katawan niya. I parted her thighs and shoved my d**k inside her tight p***y. I tasted her. I ate her, motherfucker. May mga bagay akong hindi halos matandaan dahil malamang sa epekto ng alak pero may mga naaalala rin naman ako kahit na paano, isa na roon ang hirap akong ipasok sa kanya ang p*********i ko, not to mention that I'm not the usual size. I'm bigger than normal. Pero alam ko ang pretending virgin sa hindi. Marami na akong naging babae, bata pa lamang ako. Hindi ko na mabilang, sa totoo lang kaya bihasa na rin ako sa pagkilatis sa mga pa-virgin pero naman kung makasubo ng p*********i ko daig pa ang porstar.

Damn it! Agad akong napahilamos sa mukha dahil sa karumihan ng isip ko. Itinulak ko ang pinto ng banyo. Nandito ako sa bahay nila pero kung anu-anong kabastusan ang iniisip ko, not to mention that she's going to be my nephew's little wife. She's going to be my niece.

Georgina remembers me. I could see how her face turned pale when she saw me. I knew she wanted to escape because she was afraid. I just gave her a little help. Kahit naman ako ay nabubwisit din sa kung anu-anong pakulo ng kapatid kong prenup, balloons and etchetera. Ang ipinagtataka ko ay bakit ibinigay ni Georgina ang sarili sa ibang lalaki, sa akin particularly, bago magpakasal sa pamangkin ko? Parang ayaw niyang si Nico ang makauna sa kanya. Poor boy. She was a virgin. I wasn't numb and I was not a fool. Lasing ako pero hindi ako tanga. Nakita ko pa ang mga bakas ng dugo niya sa kama, at alam kong hindi iyon regla.

Well, that night must be forgotten. Hindi na dapat yun alalahanin pa dahil ang batang yun ay magiging pamangkin ko na.

Matapos kong maghugas ng kamay ay agad akong lumabas ng banyo na yun. Inilibot ko ang mga mata ko sa kabuuan ng bahay ng mga Lagdameo, sa abot ng mga mata ko, tapos ay sa hagdan, kung saan pumanhik ang bata. I looked up, and there she was. Naglalakad siya, hawak ang smartphone, may kausap. Nakikita ko ang mga hita niya. In fact, I could see her underwear.

Fuck!

Binawi ko ang mga mata ko sa pagkakatitig saka ako naglakad pabalik sa kung saan naroon ang pamilya ng kapatid ko.

I hate Nico. Masyadong mayabang ang pamangkin ko, the reason perhaps why Georgina never wanted to give her innocence to a boy like him. For me, Nico is not mature enough to settle down. Parehas ang mag-ama, na gusto ay mga pansariling interes lang sa buhay kaya ayos lang na mag pakasal kahit na hindi naman mga nagmamahalan. Nagtataka ako kung bakit nagpapauto sina Arracelli at si Daniel kay kuya Hector. Isa lang naman ang naiisip kong dahilan ng lahat, ambisyon. Ang ganda nga naman ng magiging koneksyon ni Daniel kay Hector. Isang bise presidente, protektor, maraming koneksyon at makapangyarihan si Daniel Lagdameo. Maraming makukuha ang kapatid ko sa lalaking iyon. May mga makukuha rin naman si Daniel sa mga Araneta, business. Poor little Georgina. She has to catch all of the stupidity of her father, forcing to marry a man she doesn't love.

Sorry, but I am a hopeless romantic.

"Isn't this over yet?" I asked drastically, still meters away from the people that I see as I walk towards them.

They all looked at me and I saw how Hector hung his mouth agape while attempting to take a sip of his glass of water.

There's no reason for me to stay here. Wala na ritong magandang tanawin, nasa loob na ng bahay. I only stayed for a moment because I was trying to decipher where I saw that girl. Then, I remembered that we had s*x.

"Do you have another agenda, Brando?" Hector asked me in a serious tone.

What's new? My brother is always serious. Sa tanda kong ito ay baka ilang beses ko lamang siyang nakitang ngumiti. I saw him perhaps ten times? I almost chuckled with my own thoughts.

"I have. Since the girl already signed the papers and already darted to her room, I think the traditional pamanhikan is now over," nakapameywang na sabi ko sa lahat.

Naoagbigyan ko na sila. Wala na naman siguro silang masasabi pa. Mainit na sa kinatatayuan ko at naramdaman ko na tumulo na ang pawis ko sa batok.

"I will go now. Just give me an update when the wedding is," I added but turned my back on them right away.

I don't have time to become plastic, kissing the cheeks of these people. I am not like them. I walk away when I want to. I just stay because I need a family. I've worked hard to fit into this family and I'd never waste that. As long as I'm doing my best, obeying their requests, I'm all good then. Ang mahalaga ay napagbigyan ko ang mga kagustuhan nila, ang mga hiling nila sa akin.

"Don't you dare turn your phone off all the time, Brando!" Hector yelled at me but I just smirked.

Why? I never wanted them disturbing me while I'm banging a woman's p***y so I had to keep my phone shut. Womanizing is my favorite hobby since my wife died. Too bad because the name of my late wife was Georgina. That girl's name reminds me so much about my wife. Too bad we also had an intimate affair last night. It could be one night but that was quite uncommon. I got her virginity.

Jesus.

Halos mapahilamos ako sa mukha. That's so odd. Ako ang nakauna sa babaeng aasawahin ng pamangkin ko. Who knows, love may develop between the two of them later on after the wedding. Guilt would always prick me inside. I knew something about me and her, something we only know and nobody else.

Well, that will always remain a dirty little secret and has to be buried.

My phone rang while I was walking so I checked it, and saw that it was Camilla, my secretary. I saw fifteen missed calls. Ang tanga naman ng babaeng ito para hindi niya maintindihan ang sinabi ko na huwag akong istorbohin dahil may lakad ako.

What's hard to understand with that simple order? It's just so basic.

Nagmadali akong makarating sa itim na Aston Martin, latest model. Bagay na bagay sa akin ang kotse kong ito. I bought this just last January, the 2023rd edition. Sayang lang, hindi na nakasakay ang asawa ko rito dahil patay na siya nang mabili ko. With everything that I do, I still always remember her but I'm moving on, I'm trying my best.

I sighed as I answered another incoming call from Camilla.

"What is it, Camilla?" Tamad kong tanong sa babae.

"Sir, you're badly needed here. May babae rito, nagwawala!" Nagpa-panic ang tinig nito.

Agad akong napakunot-noo. Sino namang babae ang magwawala sa opisina ko? Damn! My office was made for paperworks, not for some stupid Amazonas and let them roar inside it, making a scene, worse, a scandal.

"Who?" I asked, my brows knitted."

"Miss…C-Caroline?"

Lalong nangunot ang noo ko pero nasundan iyon ng buntong hininga. There's that woman again, acting so possessive over me. We only had one night affair and nothing more. I don't know why she's being so paranoid.

Caroline de Silva is a CEO of a certain cosmetic company. We met at a gala in Milan, Italy two weeks ago. I was a bit drunk when she invited me for a s*x. Maganda si Caroline, napakaganda. Siya ang tipo ng babae na may katawang hindi pagsasawaang tikman. Magkaedad kami pero wala pa siyang asawa dahil wala raw nagkakagusto na magpakasal sa isang lady CEO. Hanggang pagiging engage lamang daw ang mga nakakarelasyon niya. She's close to perfect. She's kind, too. She's sophisticated, educated and intelligent. She's a Pharmacist. Her business and her career boomed when she formulated a skincare product that was patronized by many people. Halos lahat ng katangian ng isang babae ay nasa kay Caroline na, mayaman, may pinag-aralan at may mabuting puso, pero hindi ko siya gusto. Iyon lang, nagwawala siya sa opisina ko.

I already told her that I don't repeat a woman. I don't f**k a woman twice. Once the hours we spent in bed already ended up, there's no other chance for us to f**k our brains out again some other time. No matter how beautiful, hot, and sexy that woman is, when it's over, it is over.

"Wait there," I told my secretary.

Diplomasya ang ginagamit ko sa mga tao. Though my blood is seething I don't get myself engaged in fights, especially if I'm fighting with a woman.

I revved my car after ending up the call. Agad kong iniatras ang sasakyan ko, kasusunod ang aking mga bodyguards pero agad akong napatigil nang mapansin ko ang isang bulto ng tao na bitbit ang mga sapatos.

I put down my sunglasses and stared at her, mentally shaking my head.

The heiress of Vice-president Daniel Lagdameo is sneaking out. May CoVid daw iyon pero lalarga, ang daan ay sa terasa nun sa kwarto. L

I remained looking, watching her every move and the way she moved behind the railing.

Jesus. She clung onto the knitted stairway after tossing her slippers. Nakalawit lamang iyon papunta sa carpeted na lupa. Nakapantalon na si Georgina, wala na ang bestida na parang nagtatakip sa rebelde niyang p********e.

I knew the moment I saw her earlier that she's rebellious, rebellious but can't defy her father's will. Magkaiba kaming dalawa. Ako ay ginagawa ko ang lahat noon para matanggap ako at mapabilang sa pamilyang Araneta dahil anak lang ako sa labas. I am carrying my father's name but ever since, I felt like I was never meant to be a part of his family. I was only pushing myself for them to accept me, making myself fit in a place where I never belonged. But I was thankful. Kahit na pera lang ang ibinigay sa akin ni Papa, napalago ko yun. Hindi naman sa pagiging mahangin. Kabilang ako sa mga pinakamayamang tao sa buong Pilipinas, pero ang mga kapatid ko ay wala.

Nang bigyan ako ni Papa ng pera para gamitin sa negosyo, hindi ko iyon sinayang. It was not a small amount of money. I was able to buy the whole shares of Arandia, the former owner of my company. Palugi na iyon nang bilhin ko pero binuhay ko at pinatatag. I started the business a year after my father died. He left me with inheritance and I was thankful for that.

Virago.Com is the name of my business. It was formerly, Arandia.com. It is an e-commerce type of business, and just last year, it entered the top 10 of leading e-commerce companies in the world. Nasa New York, America na ang sentro ngayon ng aking negosyo. Doon din namatay ang asawa ko kaya umuwi ako para magbakasyon at magtrabaho sa branch ko sa Makati, Metro Manila. I wanted to start a new life, far from the workplace where my wife worked. Kapag ayos na ako, makakaya ko na ulit magtrabaho sa U.S na hindi nakikita sa balintataw ko ang asawa kong naglalakad sa lobby o hallway. That place has been like hell to me, reminding me of every piece of my deceased wife.

Parang tumalon ang kaluluwa ko nang makita kong mahulog si Georgina Lagdameo sa hagdang tali.

What the f**k! Gusto ko siyang takbuhin pero hindi ko magawa.

Napaupo siya sa carpet pero mabilis na tumayo at pinagpag ang pwet na parang walang nangyari.

Diyos ko. Who would even think that this kind of sassy lady could climb down a knitted staircase? Is she even aware that she's the VP's daughter? Sa pagkakaalam ko ay malakas ang tyansa ni Daniel na manalo bilang Presidente ng bansa sa susunod na halalan kaya paano na ang tagapagmana ay kumikilos nang hindi akma sa pagkatao bilang sopistikadang anak? Daniel created a good and strong reputation in the country. The people love him despite his hidden attitude of being a dictator in his own family members. Kaya magkumpare sila ni Hector dahil pareho silang ganun. Ang pagkakaiba lamang ng dalawa, iisa ang plano ni Daniel sa isip, palaguin ang pagiging pulitiko, habang si Hector ay di ko na maintindihan ang gusto. Paiba-iba ang utak ng kapatid ko.

Our father left him the family's business' Araneta Cons. My father was the leading CEO when it came to construction and bidding businesses. He had a strong manpower, intelligent Engineers, competent Architects, Decorators, bidders and representatives. Hindi ko malaman kung paanong halos bumagsak ang kumpanya na ipinundar ni Papa. Then, Hector wanted to try e-commerce and socialize with me when my business had hit the number three spot. Then, he had a change of mind. Baka raw bumagsak din ako dahil hindi ako business minded na tulad ng ama namin. He tried different businesses and I could say that those were just okay. Ngayon, parang iba na naman ang target ni Hector, magmimina na naman at kailangan ng protektor. Baka buong Pilipinas ang balak na kalkalin ng kapatid ko kaya gustong magkaroon ng balae na bise presidente.

Pinapanood ko ang dalaga habang palinga-lingang tumakbo sa isang kotse matapos na pagpagin ang pwet, pwet na nahawakan ko kagabi.

Hindi ako nakatiis kaya bumaba ako. She's already inside her white BMW. Ibinababa niya ang bubong ng kanyang convertible car.

I stopped beside the driver's side, pocketing my hands.

"If I were you I would never do this, sweetheart, " I told her and she looked up at me, agitated.

Nakita ko ang paglunok niya ng laway nang magtama ang mga mata namin.

"I didn't help you escape earlier for you to run away after. Once your mother gets to know this, she'll get mad."

Ngumisi siya sa akin, nawala ang gulat sa kanyang magandang mukha.

"UNCLE Brando…"

Fuck! Parang umigkas ang p*********i ko sa pagkakabanggit niya sa pangalan ko. I don't know how she makes me feel this way. Malamang ay dahil iniwan niya akong mag-isa sa motel at hindi siya tulad ng mga babaeng nagkakandarapa na magpakama sa akin ulit. No woman left me alone while I was sleeping naked in the bed. I left them.

"I'm already used to my parents. Gumawa ako ng tama o gumawa man ako ng mali, I always get scolded so…" she shrugged and smiled at me beautifully, "Bye, Uncle Brando."

"No," I replied but she just lifted her hand and drove away too fast.

This girl is quite stubborn, I realized.

I went back to my car when she's already gone. Nakakapagtaka na isang rebelde si Georgina pero hindi niya magawang humindi sa kasal, kahit na mukhang ayaw naman niya sa plano na yun. I see no love in her eyes when she looks at Nico, in fact I wonder if she ever looks at my nephew because I think she doesn't.

Si Nico naman, kahit na pamangkin ko ay nakikita ko ang kayabangan na sumisingaw sa katawan ng batang yun. He is merely like his father, undecided with everything. Hindi ako nakikialam sa kanila dahil mula at sapol ay alam kong wala akong karapatan na magsalita. I just keep on watching them, eyeing their mistakes. Sunod-sunuran lang din ako sa kanila. It's not because of the reason that I am a coward but I am afraid to be disowned as a family member because I've got no family other than them.

My mother left me soon after I was born. Up until now, I never got the chance to meet her. She never even came up to see me and talk to me. I've got so many questions but still wasn't able to get any answers. She gave me to my father. Maraming asawa si Papa, pang-apat na siguro si Nanay. Ang tunay na asawa ang pinakisamahan ni Papa buong buhay niya. Jesusa Araneta was an aristocrat. Nanatili ang babae sa kabila ng kaliwa at kanang mga tsismis para raw sa reputasyon, at syempre para sa mana. Bali-baliktarin man ang mundo, si Jesusa ang legal na asawa, may karapatan sa lahat. She accepted me but she always fired hurtful words towards me, reminding me almost every day of my life that I'm illegitimate. When Jesusa was still alive, I never felt that I belonged to the Araneta clan. When there were parties, I served as a normal household. She never let me talk to Papa's visitors. She never wanted me to be renowned as Papa's youngest son. Kaya nakasanayan ko na sumunod parati sa kanila dahil kinupkop nila ako, binigyan ng masisilungan kahit na ang nanay ko ay isa sa mga babaeng sumira ng pamilya nila. Kahihiyan ko yun. Parati ko yung nararamdaman.

Kahit na ang pamana sa akin ni Papa ay nakuha pang i-contest ni Jesusa sa abogado de kampanilya ng pamilya Araneta. She was so mad about my father's decision, giving me billions of money. She never wanted me to have anything.

Napakayaman ng ama ko. Isa siya sa shareholder ng pinakamayamang kumpanya sa pagmimina ng langis sa Saudi kaya hindi nakapagtataka na milyong dolyar ang pamana niya sa bawat isa sa aming magkakapatid. I was only fourteen when the will was revealed. In exchange for that inheritance, Jesusa made sure that I'd remain obedient, following the rules of my elders. Napasunod niya si Papa para lang tumigil na iyon sa kakadaldal Matalino ang madrasta ko. Naisip niyang hawakan ako sa leeg dahil baka nga naman tubuan ako ng sungay, huwag silang sundin dahil mayaman na ako. Up until now, pinagbabayaran ko ang milyong dolyar na mana sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa mga utos ng mga nakatatanda kong kapatid.

Habambuhay ko siguro iyong dapat na gampanan dahil lahat ng nasa akin ay mawawala sa oras na sumuway ako sa kanila. Kaya ko na sigurong magtrabaho kung sakaling iiwan ko ang marangyang buhay ko, but being a docile son and brother was no longer hard for me to master, so why would I give up everything that I've got by disobeying their rules?

Basic lang ang pagiging masunurin kapalit ng pagiging isang Presidente, s***h CFOO ng bilyong halaga ng sikat na kumpanya.

Inah

Free as a bird again. Iyon ang pakiramdam ko sa mga oras na ito habang nagmamaneho ako ng sasakyan ko, papunta sa bestfriend kong si Mira.

Mira has her own pet shop. Doon ako naglilibang madalas kapag bored ako sa buhay ko. Wala naman akong mapuntahan. Wala pa naman akong trabaho. Graduate na ako pero hindi pa ako nagti-take ng board exam para maging isang Certified Public Accountant. Dad told me to fix my marriage first before taking a review. Kaya raw niya akong palamunin kahit na wala pa akong trabaho. May mga negosyo rin ang pamilya ko. We take a hold of some finest resorts here in Manila, and lastly, we opened a sixteen hectares park, Deep Waters Park and Dino Park. Wala akong interes sa mga yun. Ayaw kong makisawsaw. I'm afraid to fail because when I fail, maghihirap din ako at ako ang magsa-suffer.

Hindi ko ma-imagine ang sarili ko na tulad kay ate, walang trabahong mapasukan, parehas ang mag-asawa. Nakapagtataka nga kung paanong minamahal ng madlang people si Dad. What he's been doing to his eldest daughter is very callous. Kung sabagay, who would even believe ate Marga if she spills the truth? She's nothing compared to our father. Iisipin at palalabasin na yun ay paninira lang. At isa pa, sanay na ang mga tao sa mga kasiraan sa pulitika, at mga eskandalo.

Parang sumpa na dumaan sa windshield ko ang mukha ni Brando Araneta. Pusang gala! Kanina pa ako hindi mapakali. I was so nervous when I talked to that man. Thank God, he never remembered me. Wala akong kahihiyan na dapat maramdaman kaya nga naging kaswal na lang ako sa lalaki.

He's really handsome despite his age. He looks so mighty in his hair, tied in a ponytail. Ngayon lang ako napogian sa isang lalaking may mahabang buhok at may hikaw sa tainga. Kagabi ay wala naman yun o baka hindi ko lang napansin. Mayroon man o wala, he still looks so gorgeous. Iyon ang kamukha ni lolo Damien, not Hector and not even Nico. Brando merely looks like the real Araneta rather than his siblings. Where had he been all my life? What the fuzz? Anong klaseng tanong ba yun, Georgina? Do I even have a crush on him?

Well, kung pagbabasehan ang itsura, talagang kahanga-hanga naman si Uncle Brando, kaysa kay Nico yabang. Hindi ko lang alam sa ugali kung tulad din siya nina Hector at iba pa.

Maya-maya pa ay nakarinig ako ng wang-wang sa may gawing likuran ko. I glanced at the side mirror and almost cursed under my breath when I saw my bodyguards. s**t! Nalaman na nilang wala ako sa bahay. Kwento ni Yaya Yolly na kagabi ay nasabon ang mga tauhan ni Dad dahil hindi ako mahanap. They thought I was asleep. Naglagay ako ng pekeng Georgina sa kama. Akala nila natutulog lang ako pero dummy pala ang bulto na nakikita nila.

Sino kaya ang damuho na nagsumbong na wala ako sa bahay? Only Uncle Brando saw me. Walang hiyang matanda yun. Pakialamero. Now, I regret giving him my virginity. Pwede ko kayang bawiin yun? Stupid little brat. Paano naman niya mababawi yun?

I glanced at my phone when I saw my mother calling. Double s**t! Alam na talaga nila na tumakas si CoVid girl.

I ignored the call and let my Wang-wang men blow their siren. Bahala sila sa buhay nila basta nagmamaneho ako. Sumunod sila kung gusto nilang sumunod.

Now my mother's calling me on the Mensahero App. Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang sagutin yun pero umaandar ang utak ko kung anong irarason ko. I glided the answer icon after putting on my earbuds.

"Georgina!" Mom blew right away.

I noticed her tattooed eyebrows were more lifted than normal.

"Mommy, I have to go to a wake. Spare me just this once."

"I don't care who died. Come back here and bid goodbye to your future father-in-law," mariin na utos niya na ikinalaglag ng mga panga ko.

Like legit? My mind asked. Magpapaalam lang need pa ng hundred percent presence?

"Give him the phone, mom, I'll bid goodbye," ani ko at sincere naman ang offer ko pero lalong nagkorteng mga sungay ang mga kilay ni Mommy.

"Don't give me answers that are beyond logic, Georgina. Your father is mad."

Naiinis akong napaismid, "I already did my part," I lazily told her.

"Your part?" Inis niyang tanong sa akin. Ang labi niya ay hindi maipinta, "Your part as a stubborn heiress of Daniel Lagdameo?"

Nainis ako sa tanong na yun ni Mommy. Sa tingin ba nila ay gusto kong maging anak nila? Bakit kaya hindi nila yun itanong sa mga sarili nila? If only I could speak for myself.

"Mommy, my wifi's losing its signal. Bye!" Paalam ko sabay pindot ng end call sa earpiece.

I sighed and continued driving, not minding how harsh my mom's words are.

Naiirita ako sa pa-sirena ng mga bodyguards. They're so scandalous. Sumusunod na naman sila sa akin, bakit pa kailangan nilang patunugin hanggang ngayon ang sirena nila? As if naman maiiuwi nila ako, isip ko.