Winds of Hatred (Isla Europa Series #1)

Kabanata 8

Kabanata 8 

Birthday

After that incident, we stayed quiet in his flashy car. We're in his Ferrari Pininfarina Sergio. Ang yabang, tss. 

I never talked to him nor looked at him in this moment. Nanatili akong nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. I don't care kung mangawit ako or what, basta I can avoid him. After what happened on the bathroom? Do you think that I will let that slip like nothing happened? Hah! In his dreams.

In my peripheral vision, I can see that he kept looking at me while driving. Anong problema nito? 

I just continued to ignore him, kahit nakakailang ang mga titig niya. Gumalaw ako ng kaunti kasi nangangawit na talaga ako. He stopped on a side of the road and lumapit siya saakin. Nagulat ako sa biglaang niyang paglapit. I can smell his scent. His perfume is so manly, but it's not that overpowered. It's not that irritating to the nose. Ang sarap lang amuyin. 

The smelling session stopped when I heard a clicking sound. Bumalik ako sa aking ulirat at napatingin sa kaniya. Inayos lang pala niya ang seatbelt ko. My face heated when I saw a grin is plastered on his face. 

"Done smell-raping me?" He said maliciously. Mas lalo na ata nadagdagan ang aking blush-on. Ang kapaaal talaga ng mukha ng gwapong tukong ito. Wait, did I say gwapo? Scratch that please. 

"A-anong smell-raping? Whoa. Slow down there, Mr. Mercanti. Masyado na yata mataas ang tingin mo sa iyong sarili. Hinay-hinay, baka mabuwang," I said sarcastically. Nagpatuloy na siya sa pag-drive.

"I just saw you smelling me. Nakapikit pa nga mata mo. Feel na feel ba, Ms. Mucellini?" He playfully said while looking at the road. Is he pissing me off?

"Ikaw ba'y nang-aasar, Mr. Mercanti?" Taas kilay kong sabi. 

"That's what you think. I really don't know, Ms. Mucellini," He said and looked at me. That bluish gray eyes is piercing through my soul. I can feel my heart beating abnormally and that unfamiliar butterflies in my stomach. What the heck is this? 

"M-mag-drive ka nga. 'Pag nasagasaan tayo, lagot ka saakin," I said and avoided my gaze from him to compose myself, hyperventilating. 

"Noted, ma'am," sabi niya at tumahimik na ulit. 

I felt myself sleepy. Malayo-layo pa naman kami. Pwede pa ako matulog. 

Sumandal ako sa bintana, at pinikit ang mga mata. 

After minutes, I felt the car stopped again and my seat going down. Sleepy, I half-opened my eyes. I can see Callisto arranging my seat. I know that he wouldn't do something bad, kaya pinikit ko ulit ang mga mata ko. But before I dozed off, I felt he kissed my forehead and said something that I can't understand but this are some of I heard,

"I missed you. I missed your voice, you calling me by my second name, your feisty attitude, just your whole existence. And it drove me crazy by not seeing you for the whole week and you mad at me. I really hope we make up. Please, come back. I really missed you, Mrs. Mercanti."

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I woke up, hearing a loud crash. I felt someone holding me and my feet is so light. I opened my eyes and I saw a ceiling, an unfamiliar ceiling and Callisto's face. This is not my house and why Callisto's face is so close to me? 

Nang bumalik ako sa tamang pag-iisip, tumingin ako sa baba at binubuhat ako at nakahawak saakin si Callisto. Oh my gulay, he's carrying me! And not just carry, it's on bridal style!

"Oh my god!" I exclaimed. Gumalaw-galaw ako pero he's holding me so tight para 'di ako mahulog. I looked at him, mad. He's not looking at me at tumingin ako sa tinitignan niya. 

WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. HELL. Andito sila Dad, Tita, at Tito. Nakalaglag ang kanilang mga panga! Gosh, nakakahiya. 

Pumipiglas ako pero 'di pa rin ako binibitawan ni Callisto. Ano ba trip nito?

"Let. Me. Go." I whispered with emphasis on every word. 

He looked at me and smiled, "No." 

At nagsimula na siya maglakad pataas, nilagpasan ang mga matanda na hindi pa rin maprocess kung anong nangyayari. Patuloy parin akong sumisigaw at pumipiglas sa hawak niya pero mas humihigpit ang hawak niya. 

Nang makarating kami sa isang kwarto na siguradong kwarto niya dahil nandoon ang nakakabwisit niyang mukha na paka laki-laki na nakasabit sa isang dingding. 

Pabagsak niya ako binitawan sa kaniyang kama. Aba! Sumosobra na 'to ah! 

"HOY! Ano ba trip mo ha? Pwede mo naman ako gisingin kanina sa kotse ah! Hindi yung bubuhatin mo pa ako. Ano ako? Asawa mo?" Naiinis na sambit ko. Wala siyang karapatan na hawakan ako. I didn't even give my permission for him to hold me! 

"Yes, Cassiopeia Europa. Asawa ki-"

"MAGIGING, Perseus Callisto. Magiging asawa mo palang. And if you're forgetting something, sa papel lang. Sa papel lang tayo ikakasal. There is no love or attraction attached. Kaya 'wag kang mag-feeling dahil-" Natigilan ako dahil sa emosyong nakikita ko sa mata niya. Malungkot ang mga matang iyon. 

"Yeah, on papers only. I know that. Sorry for what I did. It's not my intention to touch you. I just don't want to wake you up because you look tired. But still, I shouldn't have touched you. I'm really sorry," he said coldly. 

I was about to speak, but after that, he left the room. I was left dumbfounded. I felt my heart ache. Why is he sad? Why did he became cold, eventually? Why is he like that? 

I shook my thoughts away. Edi magalit siya. I don't care. Ang dami niyang arte. Tss. 

I scanned the room. The interior design screams bachelor. All of his things are so organized. I bet he's a clean freak.

Matapos kong libutin ang buong kwarto, natigil ako sa kaniyang picture na pakalaki laki sa isang dingding. He was wearing a tuxedo in that picture, standing so authoritavely with those intimidating cold eyes. He looked in the camera like it was his prey.

I felt butterflies in my stomach. What is happening to me?

I continued to look around and I found a picture frame. A picture frame that was turned down. Out of curiosity, I picked it up and I saw him and his desperate girlfriend, smiling so wide. They were hugging each other while his girl is kissing his cheek.

My chest hurts. Why does it hurts? Why am I like this when we met? Ano ba nangyayari saakin?

I turned down the picture frame again. Hoping that I will never see this again.

Bumaba na ako sa baba. Lumakad ako sa kanilang hallway papuntang dining area. They are so rich.

Pagpasok ko sa dining, nakita ko sila Tita nagaayos ng lamesa. Tila libang na libang sa pagaayos. "Tita, what's that for?" I asked.

She was startled by my voice. Napangiwi ako, medyo nahiya sa ginawa ko panggulat sa kaniya.

"I'm so sorry for making you startled." I apologized.

She laughed like what I said is something funny, "No, darling. It's fine. No need to say sorry." She said. "This set up is for you, sweetheart. Happy birthday." She greeted.

When she said that, I feel like tearing up. I remembered my mom from that sight. The smile, the laugh, everything. Even the table set-up. Parang nabuhay si mom sa katayuan ni tita.

I just realized just now of how I missed my mom. I miss her so much that it slaps. The truth slaps that I need to pretend to be in love just to save the company she left. My mom is a religious person. She believes that marriage is sacred. And just done by those who were in love. She always taught me that. But here am I, faking marriage just for clout.

Out of nowhere, I just hugged Tita and cried on her shoulder. "Thank you, Tita. So much." I said.

She just tapped my back and I cried more.

Mom, if you're hearing this, I'm so sorry. Sorry for using this marriage just for money. But I know, you understand me. It's for the sake of us. The sake of your hotel.

I will do anything and everything, just to make it better. Even, if it breaks me.