Chapter 17
I'm all sore the next day. Ace was lying beside me on the bed, topless, and only the blanket was covering his lower body. My face flushed when I glanced at him. I suddenly looked away.
"Mornin'." I heard him say.
It's our first time being intimate until dawn, it's so awkward for me since I looked like a witch early in the morning. Sumulyap ako sa gawi ni Ace. My heart flustered like the first time, no change, the feeling's still the same.
"Hmm..." tanging sagot ko bago bumangon.
I walked towards the bathroom and took a mouthwash. Kapit na kapit ang kumot na itinakip ko sa aking katawan habang nakatingin sa repleka ko sa salamin matapos maghilamos.
While looking at the mirror, my father's face appeared on my vision. He wickedly smirked at me before saying the phrase,
"Do your best to please the Walton's CEO, or at most, Seduce the guy."
Napapikit ako nang mariin habang kuyom ang mga kamay. Tila kampana ang salitang iyon sa teynga ko. Nakakabingi, nakakairita, nakakababa ng pagkatao.
I opened my eyes and faced my reflection. "I was forced to be in this situation. Ace asked me to just seduce him, and I obliged. I like it, no, I love it everytime we end up intimate. But after all...."
Marahas akong napasinghap. "But after all, it's just the papers. The papers."
I know, everything would end up soon. Ace would be sated and he'd throw me like a trash like we never happened. Thinking things about that gave a massive pain through my heart.
I hope this feeling would be gone. Like a chalk on the blackboard that can be erased by an eraser. Or a message on the phone that can be deleted in a click. Why I am hurt, anyway?
Am I falling? Or am I already fallen? Am I in love with him?
Natawa ako. Love? Ha! Makakain ba 'yon?
I didn't believe in 'love' then. Yes. For me, it was just a cover-up word for lust. But I was lost when my mom died. My perceptive for love changed especially when my son was born.
Pero ngayon parang nagbago ulit. Ewan ko ba! It feels like my life has a missing piece. Para akong naglalaro ng puzzle, I need to fill what's missing.
Is it possible that Ace is the missing piece? Natawa ako na parang nababaliw na.
Damn! I shouldn't be thinking things like this! Nag-ayos ako ng sarili, inayos ko rin ang kumot na nakatakip sa katawan ko. Lumabas ako sa bathroom.
I saw Ace lying on the bed. He moved when he saw me. Napayuko ako. I'm so much affected from my thoughts earlier. I can't stand looking at him.
Naglakad ako palapit sa gilid ng kama, nandoon ang mga damit ko. I picked it all up, but one missing. I looked for it around.
I winced when I saw my brassiere on the bed, beside Ace. My face flushed.
"Uh. Paki... abot ng bra ko. Please." nag-iwas ako ng tingin.
Naramdaman ko ang paggalaw ng kama, bumangon si Ace. Sumulyap ako sa gawi niya, umawang ang labi ko nang makitang nakaboxer lang siya. God! Bakat.
"Here. Huwag ka munang umalis,"
Uminit ang pisngi ko nang iabot niya ang bra sa akin. Kinuha ko iyon at inangat ang paningin para sa kanya. Nasa harap ko na siya, isang metro ang pagitan namin.
"W-Why?" I bit my lower lip. He glanced at my lips before facing me.
"Maaga pa naman. Let's cuddle for a while," side of his lips rose. Uminit ang pisngi ko.
But before I could react, he grabbed me by his big hands. We ended up lying down the bed. God! He would be the death of me!
Kinubabawan niya ako at agad pinatakan ng halik ang halos buong mukha ko. Napatili ako na agad napalitan ng tawa at hagikhik.
"H-Hey, stop it!" I said, chuckling. Umangat ang ulo niya, halos maduling ako sa lapit ng mga muka namin.
"You didn't respond my 'Mornin' earlier. Now, take my punishment."
He crashed his lips onto mine. I chuckled yet I responded to his kisses. The kiss longed, and it deepened for every second. I could feel him touching my body now. His hands were roaming my body spots without cutting the kiss.
But before he could touch me down there, I stopped him. Umangat ang paningin niya.
"I'm still sore, Ace. We fucked afternoon, night till dawn. I want a rest." I smiled weakly and gave him a peck on the lips.
"Oh. Sorry."
Humiwalay siya sa akin at ngayon ay nasa tabi ko na siya. I moved sideways then our eyes met. He smiled sweetly. That made my heart pound. Damn! I'm falling deeper and deeper.
"Know what? You look good when smiling," I said.
His face features became soft. Rare. I never saw him like this, ngayon pa lang. Para tuloy siyang anghel na naparusahan sa sobrang kagwapuhan kaya ibinagsak dito sa lupa.
Unconsciously, my fingers slowly caressed his face. Parang may sariling isip ang kamay kong hawakan siya. He didn't complain, though. Pumungay lang ang mata niya at malambot ang mukhang nakaharap sa akin.
"You're so handsome and irresistible." I pinched his nose the way I pinched our son's nose.
"You, too." he said.
Natigilan ako at kunot noong tiningnan siya. Ano raw?!
"Handsome?" I said.
Ngumiti siya at lumapit sa akin. He kissed my forehead. He faced me after that. His eyes were so beautiful. Seemed like he's into something. Joy, that's what's written on his eyes. And it's unusual for me.
"You're breathtaking, gorgeous, beautiful, stunning, captivating, radiant, divine, sweet, adorable, incredible, irresistible, and amazingly charming. That's what you are, Avianna."
I didn't know how to react. My lips parted as I watched him emotionally saying those words. My heart pounded so fast it hurt. Damn! Who wouldn't fall for him?
He's such a dickhead, manwhore, asshole, jerk and a fucking sweet guy I've ever met.
I jerked off. "You seem to call me by my second name, huh? You're the first and only guy calling me that. Usually, it's 'Syden'."
He smirked. "Yeah. I like being first. Luckily, I'm your first."
Umawang ang labi ko. I didn't want to be dirty minded, but, his words for me were double meaning. Uminit ang pisngi ko sa naiisip.
I bit my lower lip. "Uh... hmm. Yeah. By the way, you're the Seventh, right? The seventh generation of your clan, I guess." I diverted the topic.
He nodded. Gumalaw siya at humarap sa kisame. I just looked at him.
"I'm the Seventh."
"Honestly speaking, I like your name. Parang may something, it seems like for modern name generation. But the fact that, you're the Seventh, means your ancestors were very old now. 17th century or 16th?"
He heaved a sigh.
"17th century. My name Ace Caspian Walton came from my great, great grandfathers. Well, it's obvious, though." he glanced at me.
I smiled. "Yeah, your family must be the richest clan since then."
"The Ace Caspian the first, his father is a pirate, namely, Bastian Cronus Walton. He's the Captain Pirate, married to Astrea Luise Walton and had a son Ace Caspian Walton, the heir of the Waltons. The name Ace Caspian is a pirate name, nagpasalin salin ang pangalang 'yan sa aming angkan hanggang sa akin, and soon to my kids and grandkids."
They're family of pirates? Oh, they must be really to the core rich! The wealthiest family in and outside the country. A billion dollar was like a penny to them.
Naglapat ang mga labi ko at tinitigan nang mataman si Ace. His name would be the name of his future son, the eighth. When that day comes, I would be very broken. Looking at him from afar, happily married to the love of his life then have children.
God! Avianna, you're just hurting yourself! Stop thinking!
"You have plans on having kids, haven't you?" I asked.
"Of course, I have. I'm not getting any younger, it's time to settle down, I guess." Hinarap niya ako nang maigi.
He glanced at my stomach then looked at me in the eye afterwards. I faked a cough.
"What if... malaman mong may-anak ka na?" I asked, again. My heart was beating so bad.
He groaned and laughed a bit. "At kanino naman?"
I felt a massive pain in my heart. My hands were shaking as well as my knees below. I'm sweating bullets at nangangapa ako ng isasagot. Damn!
"A-Ano... You know, you're a manwhore, a playboy, and such. I even saw you making out with a woman the first d—"
He groaned, complaining. "Forget it. I wanna fool that time, that's why."
I rolled my eyes. "You're not using any protection when we have sex, baka ganoon ka rin sa kanila—"
"Shut it. I only make love to you without protection. You're the only woman I've filled with m—"
"Tss." uminit ang pisngi ko. Make love? That's his term whenever we fuck? I looked away. "I'm only asking, what if you had a child with the woman you've had sex. What will you do?"
I glanced at him. He's thinking.
"Ipapa-DNA ko muna, we're not sure if it's really mine. Baka ginagamit lang 'yong bata para perahan ako," he then smiled at me.
Mapait akong napangiti. Parang may pumiga sa puso ko dahil sa sinabi niya. "Yeah, right."
I don't have plans to expose my son, though. I don't trust him that much for my son.
"But, if the DNA says that that child is mine. I'd do whatever it takes to get the kid away from his/her mother. I'll fight for custody." he fiercely said.
I stilled. I felt a big lump in my throat, unable me to speak. I felt numb. Para akong binagsakan ng malamig na tubig sa simpleng tugon niya.
I know he didn't know my son yet, but what if he did? Is he going to do what he just said? Is he going to keep my baby away from me? No way!
I was silent for minutes. Ace noticed it then I heard him speak.
"You... still taking those pills?"
Napatingin ako sa kanya, saka tumango. I don't have the mood to speak for now.
"Stop it, then." he said.
Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang humilig sa tiyan ko at nakangiting nakatingin sa akin. What the hell is he doing? Napasinghap ako nang haplusin niya ang tiyan ko.
"I want a girl."
My whole body froze. My eyes widened, my lips parted and literally no words came out. I was so shocked from what he said. My heart was beating so fast like I had joined a fun run.
He's smiling from ear to ear as he caressed my stomach. I gasped softly. This ain't happening! Gusto ko isiping mali ang iniisip ko pero paano?! I knew exactly what he meant.
"H-Huh?" I tried my very best not to stammer.
"You're so beautiful, and being the mother of my children suits you better. Stop taking those pills. Baby, trust me."