Taming the Blaze (Magnates Series #2)

Wakas

Wakas

I was devastated and I can feel my whole body trembling. Sunud-sunod na lumandas ang luha sa mata ko matapos marinig ang balitang iyon. That painful emotion consumed me again. Pakiramdam ko hindi ako p'wedeng maging masaya dahil palagi na lang ganito ang nangyayari. 

"How is he?" tanong ko kahit na parang natatakot akong malaman. "How's Darius?"

Nakita ko na parang ayaw niyang sagutin ang tanong ko. Mas lalo lamang dumoble ang kaba na naramdaman ko. It was like, even though he won't tell me what happened, I already know it. 

"I want to go to him, please. Please let me go to him."

"Mrs. Velarde, I'm sure Mr. Velarde will insist for you to stay here. Ayaw niya pong madamay kayo kaya—"

"I want to see him!"

"I'm sorry but you can't." seryosong sabi ni Mr. Montero. "Babalitaan na lang po namin kayo kung anong meron."

Bago pa ako makapagsalita ay umalis na siya, mukhang nagmamadali na rin. Hindi ko mapigilan ang panghihina.

Waiting here without knowing what's happening was a torture. Na tila ba ang tanging magagawa mo lang ay umasa na sana ayos lang ang lahat. But that isn't enough assurance.

Hindi rin naman ako p'wedeng sumugod doon kahit na gusto ko siyang makita. I would be just a nuisance and I could let them be in danger more. And I know that's the least thing that Darius would want, to get my life in danger.

"Please be safe. Please..." I prayed more. Napatingin ako sa bagong singsing na nasa daliri ko. I kissed it hard. "We still have a lifetime together ahead of us, right? Please be safe."

"Mommy?" Flare walked towards me when most of Darius's men left the house. Sumunod ang kapatid niya na mukhang nag-aalala habang tinitignan ako.

"Yes, baby?"

"Are you okay?" Flare asked. "Is everything okay?"

"Of course," I hugged them both. "Everything's fine."

It was difficult waiting at home while trying to act that everything's fine in front of my kids. I can't let them be affected by it. I don't want to scar their life. Masyado pa silang bata para sa ganitong problema.

"Is it Papa?" Flare's gaze looks serious, trying to analyze my reaction. "Is Papa okay?"

"Papa's okay. We'll see him soon. He's just busy with work for now."

"Is he going faraway again?" Flame looks sad. "Is he going to leave again?"

"Of course not, baby." I reassured him. "Your Papa will go home right away. He promised, didn't he? And Papa never breaks his promise."

I tucked the twins to sleep when night came. Hindi ako makatulog at naghintay ako sa sala. Ate Pola and Ate Riza were worried but I assured them that I'm fine. Nanatili ako sa sala habang iniisip kung ano na ang nangyayari.

It's tormenting knowing how risky the situation is. Kahit konting balita lang pampagaan ng loob kasi pakiramdam ko mamamatay ako sa kaiisip. Hindi nagtagal ay biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko.

"Hello?" I answered it, hoping that it's an update about Darius.

"Blaire Bordeaux,"

That familiar low voice sent shiver to my spine. Kilalang kilala ko ang boses na iyon kahit halos limang taon na nang huli ko itong narinig.

"Did you plan this, Vermundo?" I accused him. "Hindi mo ba talaga kami titigilan, ha?!"

"Woah," he annoyingly chuckled. "I didn't do anything, Blaire. I'm done with it five years ago."