A Sinful Forbidden Affair

Chapter 9

Tulad ng napagkasunduan, Zenith would be a silent partner for Luxxe. Tulad ngayon, hindi siya sumali sa photo opportunities and for media documentation. 

Pinagmasdan niya si Era from where he was. She could mask her emotion, but not from him. She was stunning in her simple, white blouse, a pair of jeans, and stiletto. For the last weeks na nakakasama niya ito, alam na niya how her genuine smile looked like and how her genuine laugh sounded. Hindi man nito sabihin ay napapansin niyang may kakaiba rito. He couldn't pinpoint directly, ngunit nararamdaman niyang may gumugulo sa isipan nito. 

Habang nakikipag-usap sina Steph at Alexis sa mga bisita, he looked for Vernon, napansin niyang wala ito. He saw Era na palinga-linga habang may kausap at tangan ang isang wine glass na may lamang champagne. She saw her wandering around. Sinundan niya ito nang pasimple when she went inside the kitchen at palabas ng back door.

He heard voices. Nagmadali siyang lumapit at nagtago sa may bandang parking area. Nagitla siya sa nakita at narinig. He clenched his fists and breathed heavily, pilit pinakakalma ang sarili. Wala siya sa posisyon para makialam. 

Seeing Era wail and cry that way pained him the most. Zenith wanted to beat Vernon to a pulp by hurting and breaking her like that. He impregnated another woman? How could he? Hindi siya makapaniwala. He heard his cheating issues at hindi naman siya maaaring humusga dahil nagawa nila ni Era ito. 

Era didn't deserve to get cheated on. Oo, may nagawa silang mali rito, but to get somebody pregnant and you have cheated your woman numerous times? That was a different level of being a douchebag. 

Parang dinaklot ang puso ni Zenith sa nakikitang sakit na bumalatay sa magandang mukha nito. The loss of hope, the shattered dreams, the unfulfilled promises were evident in her beautiful face. He wanted to hug Era tightly and reassure her how wonderful she was as a person, na wala siyang pagkakamali at pagkukulang bilang babae at bilang karelasyon.

Hindi niya na namalayan gaano siya katagal nakatayo roon at nakikinig. Zenith ran on the other way when she saw her walking away from Vernon. Napansin niya kaninang paulit-ulit nitong hinihimas ang dibdib. He knew she had an asthma, sadyang matigas din ang ulo nito kung minsan at naninigarilyo pa rin.

Hindi niya ito makita. He ran on the last position he saw her. 

"Era!"

Zenith immediately went to her side. Naabutan niya itong nakasalampak sa sahig. He gathered her on his lap and tapped her face lightly. "Era, open your eyes, babe." 

Umungol ito. Pinulsuhan niya ang dalaga, itinapat ang tainga sa ilong nito to feel if she was still breathing. Mahina itong humihinga. Kinapa niya ang susi sa bulsa. Binuhat niya ito at nagmamadaling dinala sa sasakyan. He needed to bring her to the hospital.

***

Vernon never felt this lost in his whole life. Parang dinaklot ang puso niya, as if half of him was missing. He couldn't breathe properly. He heard someone shout Era's name.

No. Kapag hindi nito nakokontrol ang emosyon, she would pass out at hindi makahihinga. 

Pinahid niya ang mga luha at nagmamadaling tumayo. Hinanap niya sa parking area ang kasintahan. Hindi siya papayag na magkalayo silang dalawa. Hindi maaari.

He went inside. He looked for her anywhere. Tinanong niya ang mag-asawang Ballesterso, ngunit hindi raw nila ito nakita. Nagpaalam siya sa mga kakilala, baka umuwi ito ng condo nila. 

"Era! Honey!"

Vernon stormed inside their unit. He went to their room, to the bathroom, and to the walk-in closet ngunit wala ito. He tried calling her phone. Napalingon siya sa ibabaw ng center table. Oo nga pala, naiwan nito sa kotse ang purse nito kung saan naroon ang phone nito.