Suarez Empire Series 2: The Angel with a Pitchfork

Chapter 49

Chapter 49

I was restless after that call. Hindi ako mapakali sa isang tabi habang iniisip na ganoon kadali para kay Nicole ang pakialaman ang personal na gamit ni Caspian.

Bilang respeto... hindi niya dapat maiisipan gawin 'yon kahit pa makita niya akong tumatawag. Being our friend doesn't and will never give her the right to touch my husband's personal things. Dapat ay alam niya 'yon. She is a smart woman and she should know her limitations.

Sa mga sandaling ito, hindi ko maiwasan isipin kung talaga bang kaibigan ang turing niya sa akin. She keeps on telling me that she's just trying to help me and do whatever she can do to ease my problems... my pain. Pero bakit hindi iyon ang nararamdaman ko? All of a sudden, why am I being uncomfortable with her? Is it because of her offer about the traditional surrogacy?

Closed eyes, I was massaging the bridge of my nose when I suddenly felt an arm slightly locked around my neck. It was followed by a soft kiss on my cheek.

Nagmulat ako ng mga mata. Bahagya akong lumingon at nakita si Caspian na naupo na sa tabi ko. He let himself fall on the couch as if he's been tired from everything.

He rested his arms on the head rest. Maging ang batok niya ay isinandal niya rin at pumikit. Tinitigan ko siya. Walang salita kong isinandal ang ulo sa dibdib niya. He then placed his hand above my shoulder.

"You okay?" I asked while slowly caressing his chest.

"Tired," he replied huskily. "Kumain ka na?"

"Nope. I was waiting for you."

Nag angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya. I saw him unlock his eyes and they were already bloodshot. Alam kong matindi ang pagod niya sa tuwing ganiyan ang dating ng mga mata niya.

Since Papa Eduard stepped down as the chairman of De Ayala Telecommunications, Caspian has become hands on in running the company. Madalas pagod. Madalas wala nang oras para sa akin pero iniintindi ko. I have never grown fond of businesses but having a father who is already a mogul in the business world, I know that it's more than difficult.

"I'm already hungry." he said.

"Nakahain na ang pagkain doon. Iaayos ko lang."

I was about to stand up when he suddenly held my wrist. Nilingon ko siya at nakitang nakatitig sa akin.

"I'll help you." he let out a little smile.

"You sure? Pagod ka na."

Tuluyan na siyang tumayo. He snaked his hand around my waist as we walked towards the dining area.

"Bukas na lang tayo bumiyahe patungong Batangas. Hindi mo na kakayanin pa ang magmeneho." sabi ko habang nilalagyan siya ng kanin sa plato.

"Hmm. Let's just leave early tomorrow."

Tahimik akong tumango at hindi na sumagot pa. Gusto ko sanang itanong sa kaniya kung sino ang maiiwan sa kumpanya habang wala siya pero alam ko namang hindi siya basta magdedesisyon na magbakasyon kung walang pansamantalang hahalili sa kaniya.

"So, Nicole was there?" saad ko sa gitna ng pagkain naming dalawa.

He glanced at me, slowly chewing his food. Tumango siya.

"Hmm. She brought the proposal I was telling you the other day," he uttered. "How did you know?"

"When you called to inform me about your meeting, tumawag ako ulit sa'yo para itanong kung itutuloy pa rin natin ang Batangas ngayong gabi. Unfortunately, you're already at the meeting..." I explained. "You left your phone inside the office and Nicole was there to answer it."

I saw how his brow furrow. "She answered it? Why? I mean," he shook his head. "Why would she touch my phone?"

I sighed. "The same question I asked her earlier. I actually... got mad."

Muli siyang umiling, tila hindi makapaniwala na nagawa iyon ni Nicole.

"Damn. I can't just tolerate it, Embry. I know she's your friend but-"

"Do whatever you want. Gusto mo siyang kausapin? Go ahead. I'm not going to stop you."

Tuluyan na siyang tumunghay, tila naagaw ng mga salita kong iyon ang atensyon niya. He clasped his hands over the table while looking intently at me.

I had no plans of telling him about my conversation with Nicole yesterday. Ayaw ko na sanang ungkatin pa ang tungkol sa usapang pagbubuntis lalo na sa surrogacy. Pero hindi ako mapalagay. Pakiramdam ko, hanggang ngayon ay nagagalit pa rin ako.

"What happened?" he asked as if he knows that something is wrong.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa mga kubyertos nang manumbalik sa utak ko ang mga pinagsasasabi ni Nicole. Huminga ako nang malalim at nag angat ng tingin kay Caspian.

"Remember when I asked you about surrogacy?"

Tumango siya. "What about that?"

"She's the one who offered it, Caspian. Be it gestation or traditional, she's willing to do it for us."

His lips slightly opened. Pansin ang pagbalatay ng gulat sa mukha niya. Nga lang, hindi ko magawang pangalanan ang emosyon sa mukha niya. But he seems surprised and... angry.

Hilaw siyang natawa hindi kalaunan na para bang may nakakatawa sa sinabi ko.

"Seriously? She volunteered to be a surrogate mother? I mean, even the traditional?"

I nodded. He muttered a curse. He avoided my eyes, his gaze became sharp as if he just realized now about everything that I've said.

Umiling siya, mas lalong tumalim ang mga mata.

"Is this just a joke for her?" Caspian bore his eyes on me again. This time, it was laced with immense anger. "She thinks I'm cool with that? That I would let her carry my child without your participation?" his voice was venomous. "If we're leaving with no choice, I would rather choose of adopting someone we don't know than being involved with her."

"Nagalit rin ako sa kaniya-"

"You should be! I've been telling you before to stop being friends with her but you keep on telling me that she's nice. That she's always there for you. That you can trust her..."

He chuckled sarcastically and shook his head. He bit his lower lip. Muli siyang nag iwas ng mga mata ngunit kaagad rin naman ibinalik iyon sa akin. Namungay ang mga mata niya, nawala ang biglaang pagsibol ng galit kanina.

He reached for my hand and held it.

"Baby, aside from your own family, I am the only person you can trust," he stated while eyeing me seriously. "Please stop being friends with Nicole. I never trust her since the day she dared to hurt you. I can feel that something is still off with her."

Simula nang maging magkaibigan kami ni Nicole, napapansin ko nang tutol roon si Caspian. Ako lang palagi ang nagsasabi sa kaniya na kalimutan na ang nangyari noon. Na nagbago na ito at malayo na sa naging ugali niya noon sa akin. That was just a single mistake anyway. Hindi na naulit pa.

"Why are you letting me be with her if you're not comfortable with her being around me?"

He breathed out. "Because you are happy when you are with her. You know I'll do anything just to see you smile," his voice was filled with warning. "But that doesn't mean I'm already letting my guard down."

—

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