Fortress Island Series 1 Alejandro: Love Just Ain't Enough (BOOK TWO)

TWENTY-FIVE

Patient

"I'm leaving." Matabang na salita ko. I tried to make a step, but Alejandro was too fast at blocking my way.

"No, you're not." Matigas na sambit nito. Ang kanyang braso ay mahigpit na nakagapos sa aking baywang. "You need to tell me what exactly happened, Bea."

"Dito? In the middle of this party, Ale? I'm angry. I'm fuming mad. I'm irritated and I'm starting to hate you. Kung gusto mong malaman kung ano ang nangyari, this isn't the right place." I hissed the words under my breath.

"Fuck." He fished his phone from his pocket. Humakbang ito palayo sa akin pero hawak pa rin nito ang aking kamay. He dialed a number and talked to someone.

Bumaling ito sa akin nang matapos itong magbigay ng instruction. "Let's get out of here." Nang maibulsa muli ang cellphone, banayad na hinila ako nito palabas sa ballroom.

A man in his black suit approached and led us to a quiet hallway. Pumasok kami sa pribadong elevator at tumigil sa first-floor ng hotel. The man opened a certain door and let us through. Sinarado lang din nito ang pinto nang makapasok na kaming dalawa ni Alejandro.

"As much as I wanted to take you home, people will start speculating there's something going on between us if we chose to leave early." He said as he started removing his dinner suit jacket. Binuksan nito ang mini refrigerator at kumuha ng mineral water doon. Nagsalin ito ng tubig sa baso at binigay sa akin.

"Drink this to calm yourself."

"I am calm!" Humalukipkip akong nakaharap sa malawak na bintana. Hindi tinanggap ang basong iniabot sa akin.

"You're not. You're even shouting at me." Kalmado nitong sagot sa akin.

Umiling ako kasabay ng pagngatal ng aking mga labi. I can't talk anymore. Gusto kong umalis para pakalmahin ang aking sarili. Kanina pa ako nanginginig at masama din ang aking pakiramdam.

Ang gusto ko lang sana ngayon ay magpag-isa muna. Alam kong marami na kaming pinagdaanan ni Alejandro. Alam kong marami na rin itong isinakripisyo. Marami na itong ginawa na para lamang sa ikakabuti ko. Ang hindi ko lang maintindihan, sa halos isang buwan ng pagsasama namin, kahit isang beses ay hindi nito nabanggit ang pangalan ng babaeng iyon. Kailanman ay hindi nito sinabi sa akin na may anak siya.

I could not help but think that maybe, he really didn't want me to know that part of his life. The kind of life he had in America. Puro pahaypaw lang din kasi ang mga kwento nito sa akin. Kapag nag-uusap kami ng mga buhay-buhay namin, halos tungkol sa akin ang paksa ng kwentuhan.

When I called Tyler to confide in him about my relationship with Alejandro, he was there beside me listening to our conversation. He was there when Tyler broke down over the phone. He was there hugging me when my heart was breaking hearing Tyler's pain. It was a harsh move from me. I felt bad about it. Pero kahit gusto ko mang magpaliwanag ng personal sa kanya, imposible dahil nasa ibang bansa ito.

And now that I had learned about this, I felt it was unfair. I poured my soul out to him. I had already told him everything. Malalaki at maliliit na detalye man. Kasi di ba nga, nangako kami na wala na sanang lihiman pa. No more lies, no more pretending, no more hiding.

Pero bakit ganito? Bakit niya nilihim sa akin ang bagay na'to? Matatanggap ko naman sana, e. Kung sa kanya ko lang mismo narinig ang lahat, kaya kong unawain. Dahil bukod sa mahalin, ang unawain si Alejandro ang siyang lagi kong binibigay.

"Baby..." Alejandro turned me around to him. Touching my chin, he raised it up so I could meet his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Bea. I didn't mean to lie to you."