When Love Makes A Mistake (Book 2 of WL Trilogy) (ML, #2)

Kabanata 32

Kabanata 32

I have this

Bumagsak ang tingin ko sa paa ko. O damn. What I am thinking now? Nothing. I’m thinking of nothing but bullshit. Hindi ko alam kung bakit lamig na lamig ang katawan ko sa mga naririnig ko mula kanina.

“Sir…” I closed my eyes when I hear his voice.  “Maybe you could talk to him privately in the car. I don’t want anyone to hear the said agreement of yours with Mr. Sanchez. Then I’ll assist him. Is that all right, sir?”

Lolo laughed at Benj’s suggestion. “Right! You’re right, Benj.” Napatingin ako sa reaksyon ni lolo na ngayo’y hindi mawala ang ngiti sa labi. He’s fond of Benj. Right. Anong mayroon sa kanila? “Okay then Mr. Sanchez, is it okay with you?” Lolo looked at Mr. Sanchez’ direction.

“If that’s what you want, Lorenzo, it’s okay.” Mr. Sanchez laughed and I felt his gazed on mine. Ito iyong pakiramdam na parang may tumitingin sa’yo nang nakakakilabot. “After this, I would love to talk to your granddaughter alone.” I shivered with his words. I turn my stare on him. I swallow hard with his smirk. O Lord, what kind of guy is Mr. Sanchez? I could punch him right now kung mabibigyan lang ako ng pagkakataon.

“This way, sir. “ I jumped when I felt his breath on my neck. Benj’s breathed on my neck. Shit. Mula kanina hindi ko siya mapagmasdan ng mabuti. Hindi ko alam kung anong iyong itsura mula pagkapasok. Anong suot niya, if he’s breathtakingly beautiful? I wonder…I wonder so much that my eyes doesn’t want to see how handsome he is right now because it will just hurt me knowing he’s with Jezel…knowing he can’t be with me.

Hindi ko napansing lumabas na si Benj at Mr. Sanchez. And I am alone with the presence of lolo. “You’ll thank me. You will always thank me, Leigh.” I looked up…staring at him. And I feel empty. “I want partnership with him.” He smirks and speaks, “And I offer you. Para naman may ikalagyan ka sa lipunang ito.” I just want to smack him until his face is bleeding…until he is choking with his own blood…until my hands hurt hurting him. I want it. I want it so badly.

“How could you?” My lips are trembling. My hands are shaking. My chest is aching. “How could be this cruel to me—to us?” I felt my heart on my throat. My eyes ache for a cry and for beg. But seeing myself begging to him feels like losing my dignity, which is bullshit. I stand still. Pero may respeto ba ako sa sarili ko? “Your own blood is running to my vein…to my body. How could you offer me to someone just for power?” My hand clenched into fist.

“You’re welcome, Leigh.” And I want to scream but now words came to my mouth. I feel so frustrated, humiliated, and nothing.

**

“Do you guys talk about the wedding?” I closed my eyes. O not now. I feel so tired…so tired neither to move nor to speak. “I could offer myself as the bridesmaid.” Napabukas ako ng mata at bibig.

 I roll my eyes and speak, “You shut up.” But Lana will never shut up until she gets what she wants. “O damn you. Ask him. Why would you ask me? Ha? Hindi naman ako nagbigay nito a!” Nilapag ko ang aking kamay sa mesa. Tumingin saglit sa tao kung may nakatingin ba sa amin ngunit wala. “He’s with Jezel! Ask him!” I taste bitterness in my mouth. Shit.

“Jealous. Bitter.” I roll my eyes again. Napatingala at nakita si Sebastian na may dalang tubig. Nilapag niya ito sa aming mesa at umupo. “Well, hindi ko masisisi si Benj kung bakit siya kay—“ At tinadyakan ko ang paa niya sa ilalim ng mesa. He groaned. And I laughed. Lana glared at me. And I shrugged my shoulder.

“Idiot. You fucking idiot!”

“Le! Your mouth! This is my boyfriend!” Inilagay ni  Lana ang kanyang kamay sa balikat ni Seb. “You don’t have any rights—“

“Fine!” Tumayo. I surrender my hands. “But still, your boyfriend is an idiot.” She gasps and glares at me.

“I don’t even know why you are acting like a bitch! Well, you’re a bitch na pala.” It is easily to Lana said these words to me. “But still, hindi mo kailangan sa amin idaan lahat iyon. We’re always here for you! We will not be a fucking burden to you!” I feel so hurt right now because I hurt my only friends in this world. Umiling ako sa kanila at lumakad papalabas ng building.

Umihip agad ang hangin sa akin pagkalabas ko. Naglakad ako hanggang sa may nakita akong bench at doon umupo. Napatingala ako at napayakap sa sarili ko. There are no stars…maaaring umulan mamaya.

Binaba ko ang kamay ko sa aking lap at tumitig roon. I am shocked with the news lolo offered to me. Nasasaktan ako dahil wala akong alam sa ginagawa ni Benj. Bakit niya kasama si Jezel? And now I hurt my friends.

Ano pa bang gagawin ko sa buhay ko? Bakit parang ups and downs na lang? Hindi ba pwedeng dirediretso na? Bawal bang maging masaya ako? Lagi na lang bang kasunod ng kasiyahan ang kalungkutan? Iyon ba ang routine na binigay ng Diyos sa akin?

How could I hold on? Paano?

I feel my tears streaming down on my face. I let my tears fall. Hinayaan akong tumulo ang aking luha para makaramdam sila ng kalayaan. Kanina pa…kanina pa nila gustong tumulo. Napatingin ako ng diretso sa isang pader.

At hindi ko inaasahang may tao pala roon. “You need to hold on. You need to be brave and strong because this world is too cruel. This world is too harsh to let you to be happy and too jealous to feel you love.” I hear him breathe and stand straight. I try to figure him. Pero masyadong madilim ang lugar na iyon. “And don’t ever let this world conquer the bravery inside you. Leigh should not be affected.” Kumabog ang dibdib ko sa narinig ko. He knows my name! This man knows my name…who am i. His voice is familiar. Alam ko ang boses na iyon. Tumayo ako. Muntik na akong matumba sa biglaang kong pagtayo.

Napapikit ako bago tumakbo. Tumakbo ako ng mabilis para makita siya sa madilim na parteng iyon. “Pa!” Ito ang salitang gustong ilabas ng bibig ko. Pero bumagsak ang aking balikat sa nakikita ko. Hindi si papa.

“I’m sorry miss?” I let go of him. Nagulat ko ata siya sa ginawa kong pagbibigla sa kanya.

“I’m sorry, sir.” Napailing ako at yumuko. Akala ko si papa. Akala ko siya na iyon pero mali ako. Maybe I’ve missed him. Maybe I’m mad at him. I don’t know.

Naglakad na ako papasok ulit sa loob ng center. Pinunasan ko muna ang aking mukha. Pero hindi pa ako nakakapasok ay may kamay ng humila sa aking siko. “We’ll go home. Now.” His words are sharp like him. Damn.

“Lo?”

“I’m mad, so mad.” Umiling siya sa akin. Hinawakan niya ng mahigpit ang aking siko. “Why?!” He almost shouts at me.

“Sir…” At dumating siya. Napatingin ako kay Benj na ngayo’y nakatingin sa hawak ni lolo sa akin. “We need to get inside the car.” Naglakad si Benj sa pwesto namin. Of course, Jezel is with him. Napalunok ako. Inalis ko ang tingin ko sa kanya.

Gusto kong tanungin kung anong nangyari. Pero masamang intensyon iyon. Bumitaw ng hawak sa akin si lolo. Mabilis siyang naglakad sa pwesto kung saan ang kotse namin. Bago ako maglakad ay may kamay na namang humawak sa aking siko.

“Ang swerte mo hindi tinanggap ni Mr. Sanchez ang gusto ni lolo. Maybe you could dance all night, Leigh.” Ani Jezel.

“What?” I scowled. I jerked her hold to me.

“Well, you’re one lucky girl.” Nginisian niya ako at gusto kong sapakin ang labi na iyon. Naglakad na siya papunta sa pwesto ng kotse rin. Napaawang ang bibig ko. Lolo is mad dahil hindi tinanggap ni Mr. Sanchez iyong offer niya. But why? Why? Anong dahilan?

“I have this.” Dahan-dahan akong tumingin sa salita. Bumungad ang mukha ni Benj sa akin. “I have this.” He repeated the same words. His eyes are the only hope I have know.

My eyes went wide with shock. Benj did something…did something to saved me from hell again.