KRISTINE SERIES 26: Trace Lavigne (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 13

"Kaya ipinasya mong mabuti nang ikaw iyon?"
sarkastikong sabi nito.

"Would you rather she married any man in that
bar? Besides, have I told you that Jessica passed out while we were driving?" he taunted.

Kurt's eyes flew to him. "You... you didn't..." His
voice hung in the air.

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I had been a perfect gentleman. You will be proud of me."

"Proud, my ass!"

Trace laughed. He couldn't remember a time
when he saw his former comrade cross. Ilang
sandaling katahimikan ang pinalipas ni Kurt.
Nang muli itong magsalita ay hindi na nito ikinaila ang galit at akusasyon.

"Have you known beforehand that Jess is an
heiress and so you offered yourself? Tagarito ka sa Palawan, hindi malayong kilala mo siya sa
pangalan at anyo."

At sapat din iyon upang maningkit ang mga mata niya at mag-igting ang mga bagang. "Alam mo ang sagot sa tanong na iyan, Kurt. Hindi ko kailangan ang salapi ng sino mang tao. I may not be rich but I have more than enough money for me to live comfortably for the rest of my life!"

"Then why, Trace?"

"Hindi ko alam! And that's the fucking truth. So
I have acted madly...irresponsibly...immaturely."
Marahas niyang itinaas sa ere ang mga kamay.

"Kung may alam man akong bagay na kaya mong gawin, Trace, ay ang makipaglaro kay Kamatayan. I never thought you were capable of this madness. Not in my wildest dreams." Kurt was incredulous.

"Maybe I got bored with my life and found that
marrying an exotic stranger is something of an
adventure... Or maybe I had this compulsion for heroic deeds and wanted to play a knight in shining armour and slay dragons for her..."

He took a deep breath and met Kurt's eyes.
"Yesterday morning, in the light of day, I advised her to think. Na pag-isipan niyang mabuti ang lahat bago kami pakasal. Na huwag siyang padala sa ano mang suliraning kinasusuungan niya. I gave her the chance, Kurt. But she was even more scared that
I'd back out on her. Now, kung hindi mo gustong paniwalaan iyan ay problema mo na."

"Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin at iisipin ko, Trace," Kurt said wearily. Umiling ito at sinulyapan si Jessica sa loob ng bahay.

"Sana'y may magandang kahihinatnan ang lahat ng ito. Maybe this would stop you from accepting that assignment in Iran. Na maisip mong magretiro na dahil may asawa ka na."

"This marriage, as far as I know, has a one-year
duration." His lips twitched in a dry smile. "At ang Iran assignment mismo ang mapanghahawakan mo na wala akong intensiyon sa kayamanan ng mga Fortalejo. Sinabi sa akin ni Jessica ang tungkol sa dalawampung milyong inilaan ng papa niya para sa mapapangasawa niya."

"She told you about that? When? Bago kayo
nagpakasal?"

"Fuck you, Kurt!" he snarled. "Ibigay niya iyon
sa kung kanino niya gustong ibigay. Saang bahagi ng disyerto sa Iran ko gagamitin ang salapi? Sa mga susunod na araw, tiyak na maayos na ang lahat para kay Jessica may kinalaman sa testamento ng ama niya. Then time for me to go back to my old life."

"So, you'd still take that Iran assignment?"

"I haven't changed my mind."

Nilinga ni Kurt ang villa. Matagal na tinitigan si
Jessica sa pakikipag-usap nito kay Aidan. Pagkatapos ng ilang sandali ay ibinalik nito ang mga mata sa kanya.

"When you left my office more than a week ago, I prayed for a miracle, Trace. This might be it."

Isang matabang na tawa ang pinakawalan niya. "You are so inconsistent, Kurt. You condemn me for marrying the heiress. At the same time, iniisip mong si Jessica ang kasagutan sa himalang hinihingi mo. Which is which, buddy?"