Satin Sheets Romance
Series: The Castillione Empire II
BY NIMFA BECK
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
“Vane, matagal ka pa ba? I am so worried!” Bianca hoped and pray that she was pulling the right tone over the phone.
“Ma, for Christ sake calm down! Hindi ikaw ang may kasalanan kung bakit nandiyan ang babaing iyan. Hindi ka dapat matakot. I just parked.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you,” she hanged up and talked to Evie. “He’s coming.”
“Okay, relax ka lang, Tita Bianca.” Dumapa si Evie sa buhanginan. Inaabot ng alon ang paa nito, which was not exactly a problem dahil binasa nito ang buong katawan sa dagat kanina. Evie had to appear she drowned and that Bianca saw her on the shore.
Series: The Castillione Empire II
BY NIMFA BECK
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
“Vane, matagal ka pa ba? I am so worried!” Bianca hoped and pray that she was pulling the right tone over the phone.
“Ma, for Christ sake calm down! Hindi ikaw ang may kasalanan kung bakit nandiyan ang babaing iyan. Hindi ka dapat matakot. I just parked.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you,” she hanged up and talked to Evie. “He’s coming.”
“Okay, relax ka lang, Tita Bianca.” Dumapa si Evie sa buhanginan. Inaabot ng alon ang paa nito, which was not exactly a problem dahil binasa nito ang buong katawan sa dagat kanina. Evie had to appear she drowned and that Bianca saw her on the shore.
Nakitang niyang patakbong lumapit si Vane sa kanya. “Ma.” He kissed her on the cheek to greet her pero agad niya itong tinulak. “Help her,” itinuro niya si Evie.
VANE looked behind him and frowned. He found the woman laying flat on her stomach on the sand. She was on a black combination jogging suit, complete with running shoes. Tila ito inanod ng alon patungo sa pampang. Lumuhod siya sa harap nito. And carefully flipped her to lie on her back.
Natigilan siya. The woman was a looker, slender and tall and she was breathing fine. Nakatali ang itim na itim at mahabang buhok nito in a ponytail. At kung nag-alala man siya sa reaksiyon ng kanyang mama kanina ay wala na iyon ngayon. Her cheek was still rosy and her lips were pink. Technically, mukha namang hindi dying ang kondisyon ng babae, she just probably collapsed. Tiningala niya ang ina. “She’s fine, mom. Anong gusto mong gawin sa kanya. Ihatid sa clinic ni Uncle Norman. O sa bahay?” He didn’t know why he gave his mom an option. Marapat lang naman na sa clinic ng Uncle niyang doktor dalhin ang babae. Bakit inisip niyang dalhin ito sa bahay?
“If you said she’s fine, then bring her to the house. At tawagin na lang doon ang Uncle mo.”
And he wondered himself why would his mom thought of the latter either. But then, matulungin naman talaga ang mama niya, hindi nakakapagtaka ang suhestiyon nito. Besides, they found the woman in their premise, kahit pa negosyo ang breakfast and in na iyon. He carefully moved to insert his hand under the woman’s knee and back. He carried her limp body. She was light weight and her skin was a slight fairer than normal filipino.
Naglakad siya papunta sa sasakyan. Naramdaman niyang sumunod ang kanyang mama. “Sa likod na lang kayo para mabantayan mo siya, sabi niya rito. “I wonder who is this woman.”
Hindi siya nito sinagot.
“How did you find her? Plano mo ba talagang pumunta dito?” He carefully laid the woman inside the car in a sitting position.
“I checked the bed and breakfast status. Tapos lumabas ako at naglakad-lakad sa dalampasigan, and I saw her.” His mother sat beside the woman. He shut the car door at lumigid siya sa driver’s seat.
“Of all time, ngayon ka pa nag-check ng business status. Hapon na, ma. Malamig.” He turned on the ignition and drive. Their rest house was only a minutes away from the bed and breakfast business. Kaya nang tawagan siya ng ina ay agad siyang nakarating sa lugar na iyon.
“Babalik na kasi tayo sa Manila in a few days.” He saw his mom touch the face of the woman. “Gusto kong masigurong maayos ang lahat.
He didn’t comment on that. They rode in silence. He didn’t like discussing business with his mom. Lumalabas ang pagiging negosyante niya. As much as possible he wanted to remain sweet and soft in front of her. She deserved all the tenderness in the world after all that she had been through. And he would give his everything for his mom to stay happy and peaceful.
He stopped the car in front of the rest house. It was a huge and modernized two storey home. It had every leisure things that they were enjoying in their city life. Including generators, kapag nawawalan ng kuryente.
Umibis siya ng sasakyan at hinagis ang susi kay Kanor, ang kanilang garder-boy-driver. Binuksan niya ang hulihang pinto ng kotse at maingat na kinarga ang babae. Everybody was curious about the woman, he was, too.
A maid opened the big entrance door for them. Pinasok niya sa loob ng bahay ang babae. He was thinking and deciding where to bring her when he saw the door of his bedroom at the back of the grand staircase. Dumiretso siya doon.
Kung nagtaka man ang mama niya ay na hindi ito kumibo, na ipinagtaka niya. His mother opened the door for them. He deposited the woman in the middle of his big custom made bed. “She needs to change,” he murmured. “Basang basa siya.”
Agad na lumapit ang kanyang mama. “I’ll change her. Nagpakuha ako ng damit ko kay Ella. Iwan mo kami.”
Again he frowned. “Bakit hindi mo na lang pabihisan kay Ella.” Ella was one of the maid.
“I feel responsible for her. Napaka-gandang bata. Let me do the honor.”
He looked around and think. Nag-iisa siyang anak. His father died when he was twelve with his only brother in a tragedy that no one wanted to recall. After all these years, even the time before that dreadful incident, her mother had been wanting to have a daughter. And if he could only give her a granchild, a grand daughter, that would be great, but he just couldn’t. His lips twitched, tiningnan niya ang kanyang mama. She was carefully touching the face of the woman, mukhang nakakuha ang mama niya ng ituturing na anak na babae. He didn’t know what to feel, or didn’t even want to entertain his thoughts, but he had to end up somewhere. Maybe this was good for her mother. Kakausapin niya ang babaing ito kapag nagising.
“Lalabas na ako,” paalam niya sa ina.
“Lock the door.” His mother almost whispered.
“Puwede mo nang buksan ang pinto, Tita Bianca. Okay na ako.” Bumalik sa kama si Evie at pumailalim sa comforter. Tinulak niya iyon para paa niya lang ang matakpan. Nagkapagbihis na siya ng damit. Medyo malaki sa kanya ang summer dress dahil pag-aari iyon ni Tita Bianca, but it would suffice.
“Okay ka lang ba?” Nag-aalalang tanong nito.
She smiled. “I’ve done worse in acting, this is nothing.”
Ngumiti ito at binuksan ang pinto.
Agad na pumasok si Vane.
She looked at him in a suspicious eyes. Hinila niya paitaas ang kumot kahit hindi naman ganoon ka revealing ang suot niya. Nevertheless it showed her full shoulder and the upper part of her breast.
“Hindi kasya sa iyo ang damit ni mama.” Vane gave her a seemed to be genuine smile. “Magpapabili ako ng damit mo kay Ella.”
“Bakit?” she asked in a surprised voice.
Kumunot ang noo nito.
“Sino kayo?” She purposely looked at Tita Bianca on the door. Nakatingin lang ito sa kanya.
Walang sumagot.
She looked at her fingers crumpling the duvet on her lap. “Sino ako?”
Naramdaman niyang marahang umupo sa kama si Vane. Alam niyang tinititigan siya nito, and she knew that he was thinking of something. By practice she shouldn’t have an eye contact with him. Not at this time. Not the type of charade they wanted to make him believe. Hinipo niya ang ulo niya. Alam niyang wala iyong tama, but she had to make them think that she hit somewhere or something is wrong in her head.
Tumayo si Vane, tiningnan ang hinipo niya sa likod ng ulo niya. “Wala namang pasa o anuman. Masakit ba?”
Tumango siya.
“We are waiting for my Uncle. Dr. Norman.”
Dr. Norman being Dr. Jon’s friend was also a part of all of these.
“You… don’t remember who you are?”
Umiling siya.
Muli itong naupo sa harap niya. Saka ngumiti. Nagulat siya ng hawakan nito ang kamay niya at halikan. “Whatever happen to you, sweetheart. This is my mom, of course you call her, Mama. My name is Vane. And you are Violet, my fiance.”
Hindi niya alam kung kanino ang mas malakas na singhap. Kung ang sa kanya o kay Tita Bianca. What is going on? Ano ang sinasabi nito? Tinitigan niya ito in her widest stare. “I don’t remember you,” wala sa loob na naibulong niya. Tinatakasan yata siya ng ulirat.
Ngumiti siya Vane, lumapit at hinalikan siya sa pisngi.
She blushed, and she shouldn’t!
“Now how can you remember me kung hindi mo nga matandaan kung sino ka?”
He made sense, pero bakit siya nito kikilalaning fiance?
May alam ba ito sa mga nangyayari at bigla silang binalikan? She didn’t think so, napaka-ingat nila. Tita Bianca should be able to ask him later. “I- I don’t believe you,” she tried to put horror in her voice.
“What’s up, babe. Don’t I look good to you anymore and you are denying me?”
Damn it! Why did he look so compose and calm? She was horrified. It looked like she became a victim of her own scheme. And Vane was playing with her, hindi niya alam kung hanggang saan iyon. Bigla siyang kinabahan ng todo. Tinutop niya ang noo para maitago ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha.
Hinawakan nito ang gilid ng noo niya. “Terrible headache? Why don’t you rest first and let’s talk later pagkatapos kang gamutin ni Uncle Norman.”
Umiling siya, nang mag-angat siya ng tingin ay nakita niya si Tita Bianca na tutop ang bibig, gulat na gulat ito sa mga nangyayari. Inilayo niya ang tingin dito.
Vane cupped her face and kissed her lips softly. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. Gusto niya itong itulak but that was an over reaction. Dinaan niya ang lahat sa diplomasya.
“Please, I don’t remember who you are. I’m sorry, if you are really my fiancé, I don’t remember you. Please refrain for now from any… intimacy.”
He chuckled. “Baby, hindi ko alam kung magagawa ko iyan. You and I are unstoppable. I mean, we can’t get enough of each other. But I will try my best.”
She looked at her fingers and decided to play his game, kaysa matakot siya, baka lalo lang silang mahalata. She had to remember that Vane is her patient and she needed to find out right away what had been going on in his mind. “If I am your fiance, that means we are engaged to married.” She looked up at him. She knew she was blushing.
“Certainly, sweetheart,” sagot nito, still holding her face with both hands.
“But… where is my ring?”
“Of course…” Binitiwan siya nito at hinugot ang side table drawer. From a little box that he opened inside while she was looking, he brought out a ring with a platinum band and a sapphire stone in heart shaped cut.
What the hell is going on?
Muli niyang narinig ang pagsinghap ni Tita Bianca.
“Here, baby.” Kinuha nito ang kamay niya at isinuot ang singsing sa daliri. “Nag-away tayo kanina, nagalit ka at ibinato mo ito sa akin. Tsaka ka lumabas ng bahay, next thing I know ay nakita ka na ni mama sa dalampasigan.”
She was speechless. “V-Vane…”
“Yes, babe?” He looked so pleasantly happy. Hindi niya puwedeng maipagkamali iyon. When was the last time he had a relationship? Sabi ng mama nito ay hindi ito nagkaroon ng relasyon kailan man. But he had companions, mistresses and one night stands. In whom he carried the partnership with no problem, until he is the one who decided to just let go. Except for those three women.
“Why are we here?”
“Nagbakasyon tayo dito, one week lang. In two days time ay babalik na tayo sa Manila.”
Tinuloy niya ang pagtatanong. “And my family?”
“You are an orphan, sweetie. You live as my baby sister for a very long time until I decided to pursuit you. Kinuha ka ni mama sa isa sa mga orphanage na tinutulungan niya. You are so beautiful and she wanted a daughter. You are our happiness.”
Oh my God! What have I’ve done? Pinilit niyang ngumiti. “I wish, I remember.”
“You will remember in time, sweetheart. Huwag mong madaliin.”
Hindi niya na alam kung ano ang sunod niyang sasabihin. She didn’t know when the turn of the event materialized. “D-do…” She sighed in frustration, real frustration. Bigla na naman siyang kinabahan ng maisip ang susunod na tanong. “K-kanino itong silid?”
“Ours…”
“Ours?”
“Dito tayo natutulog,” agad na sagot nito.
Gusto niya nang maiyak. Ano ba itong pinasukan niya. “I don’t have… my own room?”
“No, babe. We have been sleeping together for a while.”
She gasped holding his forearm. Naluha siya. Did she just sign her death?
“Hey…” Niyakap siya nito sa pang-gigilalas niya. “Shhhh… I know it’s frustrating, pero makakaalala ka at mababalik ang lahat sa ala-ala mo. Nandito lang kami. We will help you, okay?”
She swallowed. “Okay…”
Noon may kumatok sa pinto. Dr. Norman entered the room.
VANE looked behind him and frowned. He found the woman laying flat on her stomach on the sand. She was on a black combination jogging suit, complete with running shoes. Tila ito inanod ng alon patungo sa pampang. Lumuhod siya sa harap nito. And carefully flipped her to lie on her back.
Natigilan siya. The woman was a looker, slender and tall and she was breathing fine. Nakatali ang itim na itim at mahabang buhok nito in a ponytail. At kung nag-alala man siya sa reaksiyon ng kanyang mama kanina ay wala na iyon ngayon. Her cheek was still rosy and her lips were pink. Technically, mukha namang hindi dying ang kondisyon ng babae, she just probably collapsed. Tiningala niya ang ina. “She’s fine, mom. Anong gusto mong gawin sa kanya. Ihatid sa clinic ni Uncle Norman. O sa bahay?” He didn’t know why he gave his mom an option. Marapat lang naman na sa clinic ng Uncle niyang doktor dalhin ang babae. Bakit inisip niyang dalhin ito sa bahay?
“If you said she’s fine, then bring her to the house. At tawagin na lang doon ang Uncle mo.”
And he wondered himself why would his mom thought of the latter either. But then, matulungin naman talaga ang mama niya, hindi nakakapagtaka ang suhestiyon nito. Besides, they found the woman in their premise, kahit pa negosyo ang breakfast and in na iyon. He carefully moved to insert his hand under the woman’s knee and back. He carried her limp body. She was light weight and her skin was a slight fairer than normal filipino.
Naglakad siya papunta sa sasakyan. Naramdaman niyang sumunod ang kanyang mama. “Sa likod na lang kayo para mabantayan mo siya, sabi niya rito. “I wonder who is this woman.”
Hindi siya nito sinagot.
“How did you find her? Plano mo ba talagang pumunta dito?” He carefully laid the woman inside the car in a sitting position.
“I checked the bed and breakfast status. Tapos lumabas ako at naglakad-lakad sa dalampasigan, and I saw her.” His mother sat beside the woman. He shut the car door at lumigid siya sa driver’s seat.
“Of all time, ngayon ka pa nag-check ng business status. Hapon na, ma. Malamig.” He turned on the ignition and drive. Their rest house was only a minutes away from the bed and breakfast business. Kaya nang tawagan siya ng ina ay agad siyang nakarating sa lugar na iyon.
“Babalik na kasi tayo sa Manila in a few days.” He saw his mom touch the face of the woman. “Gusto kong masigurong maayos ang lahat.
He didn’t comment on that. They rode in silence. He didn’t like discussing business with his mom. Lumalabas ang pagiging negosyante niya. As much as possible he wanted to remain sweet and soft in front of her. She deserved all the tenderness in the world after all that she had been through. And he would give his everything for his mom to stay happy and peaceful.
He stopped the car in front of the rest house. It was a huge and modernized two storey home. It had every leisure things that they were enjoying in their city life. Including generators, kapag nawawalan ng kuryente.
Umibis siya ng sasakyan at hinagis ang susi kay Kanor, ang kanilang garder-boy-driver. Binuksan niya ang hulihang pinto ng kotse at maingat na kinarga ang babae. Everybody was curious about the woman, he was, too.
A maid opened the big entrance door for them. Pinasok niya sa loob ng bahay ang babae. He was thinking and deciding where to bring her when he saw the door of his bedroom at the back of the grand staircase. Dumiretso siya doon.
Kung nagtaka man ang mama niya ay na hindi ito kumibo, na ipinagtaka niya. His mother opened the door for them. He deposited the woman in the middle of his big custom made bed. “She needs to change,” he murmured. “Basang basa siya.”
Agad na lumapit ang kanyang mama. “I’ll change her. Nagpakuha ako ng damit ko kay Ella. Iwan mo kami.”
Again he frowned. “Bakit hindi mo na lang pabihisan kay Ella.” Ella was one of the maid.
“I feel responsible for her. Napaka-gandang bata. Let me do the honor.”
He looked around and think. Nag-iisa siyang anak. His father died when he was twelve with his only brother in a tragedy that no one wanted to recall. After all these years, even the time before that dreadful incident, her mother had been wanting to have a daughter. And if he could only give her a granchild, a grand daughter, that would be great, but he just couldn’t. His lips twitched, tiningnan niya ang kanyang mama. She was carefully touching the face of the woman, mukhang nakakuha ang mama niya ng ituturing na anak na babae. He didn’t know what to feel, or didn’t even want to entertain his thoughts, but he had to end up somewhere. Maybe this was good for her mother. Kakausapin niya ang babaing ito kapag nagising.
“Lalabas na ako,” paalam niya sa ina.
“Lock the door.” His mother almost whispered.
“Puwede mo nang buksan ang pinto, Tita Bianca. Okay na ako.” Bumalik sa kama si Evie at pumailalim sa comforter. Tinulak niya iyon para paa niya lang ang matakpan. Nagkapagbihis na siya ng damit. Medyo malaki sa kanya ang summer dress dahil pag-aari iyon ni Tita Bianca, but it would suffice.
“Okay ka lang ba?” Nag-aalalang tanong nito.
She smiled. “I’ve done worse in acting, this is nothing.”
Ngumiti ito at binuksan ang pinto.
Agad na pumasok si Vane.
She looked at him in a suspicious eyes. Hinila niya paitaas ang kumot kahit hindi naman ganoon ka revealing ang suot niya. Nevertheless it showed her full shoulder and the upper part of her breast.
“Hindi kasya sa iyo ang damit ni mama.” Vane gave her a seemed to be genuine smile. “Magpapabili ako ng damit mo kay Ella.”
“Bakit?” she asked in a surprised voice.
Kumunot ang noo nito.
“Sino kayo?” She purposely looked at Tita Bianca on the door. Nakatingin lang ito sa kanya.
Walang sumagot.
She looked at her fingers crumpling the duvet on her lap. “Sino ako?”
Naramdaman niyang marahang umupo sa kama si Vane. Alam niyang tinititigan siya nito, and she knew that he was thinking of something. By practice she shouldn’t have an eye contact with him. Not at this time. Not the type of charade they wanted to make him believe. Hinipo niya ang ulo niya. Alam niyang wala iyong tama, but she had to make them think that she hit somewhere or something is wrong in her head.
Tumayo si Vane, tiningnan ang hinipo niya sa likod ng ulo niya. “Wala namang pasa o anuman. Masakit ba?”
Tumango siya.
“We are waiting for my Uncle. Dr. Norman.”
Dr. Norman being Dr. Jon’s friend was also a part of all of these.
“You… don’t remember who you are?”
Umiling siya.
Muli itong naupo sa harap niya. Saka ngumiti. Nagulat siya ng hawakan nito ang kamay niya at halikan. “Whatever happen to you, sweetheart. This is my mom, of course you call her, Mama. My name is Vane. And you are Violet, my fiance.”
Hindi niya alam kung kanino ang mas malakas na singhap. Kung ang sa kanya o kay Tita Bianca. What is going on? Ano ang sinasabi nito? Tinitigan niya ito in her widest stare. “I don’t remember you,” wala sa loob na naibulong niya. Tinatakasan yata siya ng ulirat.
Ngumiti siya Vane, lumapit at hinalikan siya sa pisngi.
She blushed, and she shouldn’t!
“Now how can you remember me kung hindi mo nga matandaan kung sino ka?”
He made sense, pero bakit siya nito kikilalaning fiance?
May alam ba ito sa mga nangyayari at bigla silang binalikan? She didn’t think so, napaka-ingat nila. Tita Bianca should be able to ask him later. “I- I don’t believe you,” she tried to put horror in her voice.
“What’s up, babe. Don’t I look good to you anymore and you are denying me?”
Damn it! Why did he look so compose and calm? She was horrified. It looked like she became a victim of her own scheme. And Vane was playing with her, hindi niya alam kung hanggang saan iyon. Bigla siyang kinabahan ng todo. Tinutop niya ang noo para maitago ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha.
Hinawakan nito ang gilid ng noo niya. “Terrible headache? Why don’t you rest first and let’s talk later pagkatapos kang gamutin ni Uncle Norman.”
Umiling siya, nang mag-angat siya ng tingin ay nakita niya si Tita Bianca na tutop ang bibig, gulat na gulat ito sa mga nangyayari. Inilayo niya ang tingin dito.
Vane cupped her face and kissed her lips softly. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. Gusto niya itong itulak but that was an over reaction. Dinaan niya ang lahat sa diplomasya.
“Please, I don’t remember who you are. I’m sorry, if you are really my fiancé, I don’t remember you. Please refrain for now from any… intimacy.”
He chuckled. “Baby, hindi ko alam kung magagawa ko iyan. You and I are unstoppable. I mean, we can’t get enough of each other. But I will try my best.”
She looked at her fingers and decided to play his game, kaysa matakot siya, baka lalo lang silang mahalata. She had to remember that Vane is her patient and she needed to find out right away what had been going on in his mind. “If I am your fiance, that means we are engaged to married.” She looked up at him. She knew she was blushing.
“Certainly, sweetheart,” sagot nito, still holding her face with both hands.
“But… where is my ring?”
“Of course…” Binitiwan siya nito at hinugot ang side table drawer. From a little box that he opened inside while she was looking, he brought out a ring with a platinum band and a sapphire stone in heart shaped cut.
What the hell is going on?
Muli niyang narinig ang pagsinghap ni Tita Bianca.
“Here, baby.” Kinuha nito ang kamay niya at isinuot ang singsing sa daliri. “Nag-away tayo kanina, nagalit ka at ibinato mo ito sa akin. Tsaka ka lumabas ng bahay, next thing I know ay nakita ka na ni mama sa dalampasigan.”
She was speechless. “V-Vane…”
“Yes, babe?” He looked so pleasantly happy. Hindi niya puwedeng maipagkamali iyon. When was the last time he had a relationship? Sabi ng mama nito ay hindi ito nagkaroon ng relasyon kailan man. But he had companions, mistresses and one night stands. In whom he carried the partnership with no problem, until he is the one who decided to just let go. Except for those three women.
“Why are we here?”
“Nagbakasyon tayo dito, one week lang. In two days time ay babalik na tayo sa Manila.”
Tinuloy niya ang pagtatanong. “And my family?”
“You are an orphan, sweetie. You live as my baby sister for a very long time until I decided to pursuit you. Kinuha ka ni mama sa isa sa mga orphanage na tinutulungan niya. You are so beautiful and she wanted a daughter. You are our happiness.”
Oh my God! What have I’ve done? Pinilit niyang ngumiti. “I wish, I remember.”
“You will remember in time, sweetheart. Huwag mong madaliin.”
Hindi niya na alam kung ano ang sunod niyang sasabihin. She didn’t know when the turn of the event materialized. “D-do…” She sighed in frustration, real frustration. Bigla na naman siyang kinabahan ng maisip ang susunod na tanong. “K-kanino itong silid?”
“Ours…”
“Ours?”
“Dito tayo natutulog,” agad na sagot nito.
Gusto niya nang maiyak. Ano ba itong pinasukan niya. “I don’t have… my own room?”
“No, babe. We have been sleeping together for a while.”
She gasped holding his forearm. Naluha siya. Did she just sign her death?
“Hey…” Niyakap siya nito sa pang-gigilalas niya. “Shhhh… I know it’s frustrating, pero makakaalala ka at mababalik ang lahat sa ala-ala mo. Nandito lang kami. We will help you, okay?”
She swallowed. “Okay…”
Noon may kumatok sa pinto. Dr. Norman entered the room.
Nasa kalagitnaan siya nang salubungin siya ni Vane. And she knew that everybody was looking at their CEO and the woman he was with.
“Hey, baby.” He kissed her on the cheek while clasping an arm on her waist.
Nginitian niya ito. There must be about one thousand five hundred people around. Although hindi crowded ang lugar dahil napakalaki ng ballroom. Food and drinks were being served generously, sky was the limit. She felt so alone when she arrived. Now in his arms, she felt as if she owned the world.
Kumunot ang noo niya nang maramdamang inaakay siya ni Vane papunta sa stage. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa braso nito. “Vane?”
Yumuko ito. He kissed the inner part of her earlobe and whispered. “You are so beautiful, I’m aching to touch you. And you smell so good. I didn’t know this part of you.”
Lumayo siya ng bahagya at tinitigan ito. He probably had a few alcohol, but she was certain he was not drunk at all. “All this time?” she grinned.
He grinned back. He was very sexy, very executive in black business suit. The CEO.
Inakay siya nito paakyat sa entablado. She looked at him confusedly.
Tumapat sila sa harap, binigyan ito ng microphone ng isang lalaking naka-asul na business suit. He cleared his throat before he spoke. “Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please.”
At sino kaya ang hindi magbibigay ng atensiyon dito. With just his handsome profile, he was also their CEO. Kanina pa tahimik ang mga tao at nakatingin sa kanila mula pa ng salubungin siya nito sa gitna.
“I want to introduce to all of you the woman beside me, Evie, or Eva Marie Purisima.”
She gasped, literally. How did he found out?
“My more than a year girlfriend.”
Oh no! She heard the people gasped, too.
“Tonight will be a very very important night to us. As we, the company celebrates our eighty fifth year in the industry. I would like to inform all of you that I have been engaged with this very beautiful woman for three months now.”
Darn! What is going on? Bigla siyang kinabahan, but Vane looked happy and calm. Pinilit niyang ngumiti kahit pinagpapawisan siya ng malamig sa kabila ng malamig na airconditioning.
“And all of you will be invited to our big wedding in a month time. Invitations will be given away as soon as her parents and my parents could arrange it.”
Nagtayuan at nagpalakpakan ang mga tao.
Ibinigay nito sa kanya ang microphone. “You have anything to say, sweetheart?”
Umiling siya. “I think we just have to talk?” she put humor in her voice.
The guest chuckled while still clapping. She was thinking that they probably got the joke that she didn’t know anything about this. Except, this was not a joke!
“Vane,” she whispered.
Lumapit ito at niyakap siya. “Do not put up an act, sweetheart. Pareho tayong nagsisinungaling sa umpisa pa lang. Now it’s your turn to pay me back. Marry me.”
“You can’t possibly be serious!” she whispered back near his ear.
“But I am, baby.” He licked her earlobe at saka hinawakan ang kamay niya. Naglakad ito papunta sa hagdan ng stage. He was holding her firmly at wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ang sumunod.
Sinalubong sila ng mga well wishers. Pinakilala ni Vane sa kanya ang mga importanteng taong hindi niya matandaan ang mga pangalan. After about thirty minutes ay natapos ang batian. Huli niyang nakitang lumapit at mama nito.
Tita Bianca looked so worried. “Hija.”
“We’ll done show, mama,” sabi ni Vane habang nakangisi. “Ayusin ninyo ng mabilisan ang lahat para makapagpakasal kami.”
What’s going on, what’s going on? Damn it! Humalik siya kay Tita Bianca at bumulong, “Please do not worry.” Hindi niya alam kung saan niya napulot ang lakas ng loob niya, but she needed to comfort his mom.
Vane’s mom reluctantly let her go.
Vane brought her with him palabas ng ballroom, patungo sa lobby. Dumiretso sila sa elevator.
Napatingin siya dito, ang higpit ng pagkakahawak nito sa kamay niya. “W-where are we going?”
“Scared little rascal?” Sinulyapan siya nito at hinatak papasok sa bumukas na elevator.
She closed her eyes at sumandal sa dingding ng elevator. She needed to compose herself at alisin ang takot sa ekspresyon ng mukha niya.
She felt a lips on hers, coaxing her to open her mouth. And his arm clamped on her waist. He pinned her on the wall of the lift using his big and hard body.
Concentrate, Evie, concentrate… She kissed him back. Nilabanan niya ang intensidad ng halik nito. She pulled his head and pressed her mouth fully to his.
He groaned and pulled her bottom closer. She felt his groin grinding on her navel.
Tumunog ang elavator door. Binitiwan siya nito. Bumukas ang pinto, walang tao sa labas. Mabilis na kinuha nito ang kamay niya at muli siyang hinatak palabas. Kinaladkad siya nito sa pasilyo.
“Vane…”
Tumingin ito sa kanya, napaka-dilim ng ekspresyon sa mukha nito.
“Sasama ako sa iyo dahil gusto kitang makasama, hindi mo ako kailangan kaladkarin.”
Dinuro siya nito. “No more lying!” Mas lalo siyang hinaltak nito.
She swallowed and tried to compose her breath.
He was really mad, parang papatay na ito ng tao sa sobrang galit. Tinulak nito pabukas ang isang malaking pinto matapos isuksok ang key card. Then he threw the keycard on the floor and pushed her inside the room.
Sinikap niyang hindi tumumba. Inalis niya ang heels niya. Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng paglalagay ng sapatos sa gilid ng dresser nang haklitin nito ang baywang niya. At parang bumuhat lang ng maliit na bata, hinagis siya nito sa kama.
Napatda siya, pero sinikap bawiin iyon. She tried hard to look calm. “Vane, babe.”
“Don’t call me that!” Galit na galit ito. Kinubabawan siya at pinigil sa magkabilang gilid ng mukha niya ang mga kamay niya. Hindi siya lumaban.
“Sino ka? Anong kailangan mo sa akin?”
“You already know who I am, my name is Evie. Hinimatay ako habang nag-jo-jogging nang makita ako ni Tita Bianca. Totoong nalimutan ko ang lahat ng tungkol sa akin in two days, but I remembered everything after that, na hindi ko agad nasabi sa’yo. Pero sinabi ko kay Tita Bianca.”
“Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin? Bakit mo tinago? Ano’ng plano mo?”
“Wala akong plano. I enjoyed your company at gusto kitang makasama. Sabi ni Tita Bianca napapasaya daw kita. She asked me to linger for a while. And I did dahil masaya din akong kasama ka.”
Ang tagal siyang nitong tinitigan. “You are a licensed and practicing Psychiatrist!”
“So?”
Mapaghinala siyang tinitigan nito. His jaw clenched.
Tiningnan niya ang kamay nito sa palapulsuhan niya. Napakahigpit ng hawak niyon sa kanya. He was almost crushing her wrist bones. She looked in his eyes. “Alam mo na siguro na hindi ako tatakbo. You can let go of my hand.”
“Don’t tell me what to do!” he yelled those words.
Nauubusan na siya ng paraan para mawala ang galit nito. She just stayed calm under him. Kanina habang hatak-hatak siya nito ay inisip niya na lahat ng sasabihin dito, ang lahat ng isasagot sa tanong nito.
“Kinausap ka ng mama ‘di ba? Para obserbahan ako, o gamutin?”
“Bakit naman niya gagawin iyon?” kunwari ay kinunot niya ang noo. “May sakit ka ba? I mean, can I help you with anything?”
Bigla nitong hinatak pababa ang tube top ng gown niya.
“Hey, baby.” He kissed her on the cheek while clasping an arm on her waist.
Nginitian niya ito. There must be about one thousand five hundred people around. Although hindi crowded ang lugar dahil napakalaki ng ballroom. Food and drinks were being served generously, sky was the limit. She felt so alone when she arrived. Now in his arms, she felt as if she owned the world.
Kumunot ang noo niya nang maramdamang inaakay siya ni Vane papunta sa stage. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa braso nito. “Vane?”
Yumuko ito. He kissed the inner part of her earlobe and whispered. “You are so beautiful, I’m aching to touch you. And you smell so good. I didn’t know this part of you.”
Lumayo siya ng bahagya at tinitigan ito. He probably had a few alcohol, but she was certain he was not drunk at all. “All this time?” she grinned.
He grinned back. He was very sexy, very executive in black business suit. The CEO.
Inakay siya nito paakyat sa entablado. She looked at him confusedly.
Tumapat sila sa harap, binigyan ito ng microphone ng isang lalaking naka-asul na business suit. He cleared his throat before he spoke. “Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please.”
At sino kaya ang hindi magbibigay ng atensiyon dito. With just his handsome profile, he was also their CEO. Kanina pa tahimik ang mga tao at nakatingin sa kanila mula pa ng salubungin siya nito sa gitna.
“I want to introduce to all of you the woman beside me, Evie, or Eva Marie Purisima.”
She gasped, literally. How did he found out?
“My more than a year girlfriend.”
Oh no! She heard the people gasped, too.
“Tonight will be a very very important night to us. As we, the company celebrates our eighty fifth year in the industry. I would like to inform all of you that I have been engaged with this very beautiful woman for three months now.”
Darn! What is going on? Bigla siyang kinabahan, but Vane looked happy and calm. Pinilit niyang ngumiti kahit pinagpapawisan siya ng malamig sa kabila ng malamig na airconditioning.
“And all of you will be invited to our big wedding in a month time. Invitations will be given away as soon as her parents and my parents could arrange it.”
Nagtayuan at nagpalakpakan ang mga tao.
Ibinigay nito sa kanya ang microphone. “You have anything to say, sweetheart?”
Umiling siya. “I think we just have to talk?” she put humor in her voice.
The guest chuckled while still clapping. She was thinking that they probably got the joke that she didn’t know anything about this. Except, this was not a joke!
“Vane,” she whispered.
Lumapit ito at niyakap siya. “Do not put up an act, sweetheart. Pareho tayong nagsisinungaling sa umpisa pa lang. Now it’s your turn to pay me back. Marry me.”
“You can’t possibly be serious!” she whispered back near his ear.
“But I am, baby.” He licked her earlobe at saka hinawakan ang kamay niya. Naglakad ito papunta sa hagdan ng stage. He was holding her firmly at wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ang sumunod.
Sinalubong sila ng mga well wishers. Pinakilala ni Vane sa kanya ang mga importanteng taong hindi niya matandaan ang mga pangalan. After about thirty minutes ay natapos ang batian. Huli niyang nakitang lumapit at mama nito.
Tita Bianca looked so worried. “Hija.”
“We’ll done show, mama,” sabi ni Vane habang nakangisi. “Ayusin ninyo ng mabilisan ang lahat para makapagpakasal kami.”
What’s going on, what’s going on? Damn it! Humalik siya kay Tita Bianca at bumulong, “Please do not worry.” Hindi niya alam kung saan niya napulot ang lakas ng loob niya, but she needed to comfort his mom.
Vane’s mom reluctantly let her go.
Vane brought her with him palabas ng ballroom, patungo sa lobby. Dumiretso sila sa elevator.
Napatingin siya dito, ang higpit ng pagkakahawak nito sa kamay niya. “W-where are we going?”
“Scared little rascal?” Sinulyapan siya nito at hinatak papasok sa bumukas na elevator.
She closed her eyes at sumandal sa dingding ng elevator. She needed to compose herself at alisin ang takot sa ekspresyon ng mukha niya.
She felt a lips on hers, coaxing her to open her mouth. And his arm clamped on her waist. He pinned her on the wall of the lift using his big and hard body.
Concentrate, Evie, concentrate… She kissed him back. Nilabanan niya ang intensidad ng halik nito. She pulled his head and pressed her mouth fully to his.
He groaned and pulled her bottom closer. She felt his groin grinding on her navel.
Tumunog ang elavator door. Binitiwan siya nito. Bumukas ang pinto, walang tao sa labas. Mabilis na kinuha nito ang kamay niya at muli siyang hinatak palabas. Kinaladkad siya nito sa pasilyo.
“Vane…”
Tumingin ito sa kanya, napaka-dilim ng ekspresyon sa mukha nito.
“Sasama ako sa iyo dahil gusto kitang makasama, hindi mo ako kailangan kaladkarin.”
Dinuro siya nito. “No more lying!” Mas lalo siyang hinaltak nito.
She swallowed and tried to compose her breath.
He was really mad, parang papatay na ito ng tao sa sobrang galit. Tinulak nito pabukas ang isang malaking pinto matapos isuksok ang key card. Then he threw the keycard on the floor and pushed her inside the room.
Sinikap niyang hindi tumumba. Inalis niya ang heels niya. Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng paglalagay ng sapatos sa gilid ng dresser nang haklitin nito ang baywang niya. At parang bumuhat lang ng maliit na bata, hinagis siya nito sa kama.
Napatda siya, pero sinikap bawiin iyon. She tried hard to look calm. “Vane, babe.”
“Don’t call me that!” Galit na galit ito. Kinubabawan siya at pinigil sa magkabilang gilid ng mukha niya ang mga kamay niya. Hindi siya lumaban.
“Sino ka? Anong kailangan mo sa akin?”
“You already know who I am, my name is Evie. Hinimatay ako habang nag-jo-jogging nang makita ako ni Tita Bianca. Totoong nalimutan ko ang lahat ng tungkol sa akin in two days, but I remembered everything after that, na hindi ko agad nasabi sa’yo. Pero sinabi ko kay Tita Bianca.”
“Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin? Bakit mo tinago? Ano’ng plano mo?”
“Wala akong plano. I enjoyed your company at gusto kitang makasama. Sabi ni Tita Bianca napapasaya daw kita. She asked me to linger for a while. And I did dahil masaya din akong kasama ka.”
Ang tagal siyang nitong tinitigan. “You are a licensed and practicing Psychiatrist!”
“So?”
Mapaghinala siyang tinitigan nito. His jaw clenched.
Tiningnan niya ang kamay nito sa palapulsuhan niya. Napakahigpit ng hawak niyon sa kanya. He was almost crushing her wrist bones. She looked in his eyes. “Alam mo na siguro na hindi ako tatakbo. You can let go of my hand.”
“Don’t tell me what to do!” he yelled those words.
Nauubusan na siya ng paraan para mawala ang galit nito. She just stayed calm under him. Kanina habang hatak-hatak siya nito ay inisip niya na lahat ng sasabihin dito, ang lahat ng isasagot sa tanong nito.
“Kinausap ka ng mama ‘di ba? Para obserbahan ako, o gamutin?”
“Bakit naman niya gagawin iyon?” kunwari ay kinunot niya ang noo. “May sakit ka ba? I mean, can I help you with anything?”
Bigla nitong hinatak pababa ang tube top ng gown niya.