MAGKAHAWAK ang kamay nila ni Kronack nang pumasok sila sa Crown's HQ. Nakasunod naman sa kanila ang mga kaibigan nito.
Crown's HQ was the only building on Crown Island with high walls and gates, piquing her interest for its highly classified and private nature.
She was not wrong. The place was extremely secure, with advanced AI systems for security, though human presence and monitoring were still very much in place.
"Cuddlebear..."
Mahigpit siyang humawak kay Kronack ng papalapit sila sa dalawang lalaki na sobrang laki ng katawan at matangkad. Parang mga wrestlers ang mga ito.
Kronack kissed her and smiled. "Don't be afraid sweet babe they just look dangerous but they aren't bad people."
"Good afternoon, boss and ma'am."
Sabay na bati ng dalawa na tinanguan lang ni Kronack at ng mga kaibigan nito saka binuksan ng dalawa ang pintuan na gawa sa metal.
Pumasok silang lahat maliban sa dalawang mukhang ang trabaho ay bantayan ang pintuan.
Inilibot ni Kalisz ang tingin sa pinasukan nilang hindi kalakihang silid na kulay puti at sa gitna ay may parang door frame.
"Sweet babe, you need to stand inside that door frame to register your presence in the facility. After that, we’ll confirm your access to the underground jail," ani Kronack.
"Kailangan ba?" nag-aalanagan na tanong niya.
"Yes, Kalisz. If you don’t register, the door to the underground will not open. Additionally, alarms will sound, lasers at every entrance and exit will activate, and anyone not registered in the building’s database will be unable to leave," sagot ni Prius.
Napatango siya saka lumapit at tumayo sa loob ng frame. Nabigla pa siya nang may green na umilaw at mula sa ulo ay bumaba iyon sa paa niya at balik ulit. At habang nakatayo siya doon at parang ini-scan ay nakaharap naman sa computer si Kronack at mabilis na nagtitipa. Ilang sandali pa ay narinig na nila ang isang bose.
"Kalisz Crown registered. Access to the underground granted."
"You, ok?" Morris asked as she stepped out of the frame.
"Yes, Morri." Malawak siyang ngumiti at agad niyang narinig ang pag-tsk ni Kronack.
"Jealous are we?" Morris smirked.
"Oh, fuck you," sagot ni Kronack kay Morris sa hindi maipintang mukha.
Kinurot niya ito at masamang tinignan.
"Sweet babe!" Reklamo nito.
"Huwag mo ngang pinag-iinitan si Morri! Ang cute cute kaya niya!"
Natahimik ang buong silid ng sinabi niya iyon bago malakas na nagtawanan ang mga ito maliban kay Morris na ngayon ay hindi na maipinta ang mukha.
"Cute is a positive trait but I feel insulted Kalisz," Morris said, shaking his head but smiling.
Kalisz shrugged before hugging Kronack's waist who was still chuckling. "Tara na, cuddlebear."
"Yeah babe," he replied and guided her to the lift.
Pumasok silang lahat at agad iyong bumaba ng sumara ang pinto. Pagtigil nito at pagbukas ay bumulaga sa kanila ang babae na nasa likod ng marbled reception island.
"Is Mr. Birton already in the meeting room?" Kronack asked.
The woman smiled and nodded. "Yes, boss."
Dahil sa sinabi nito ay agad siyang iginiya ni Kronack sa pasilyo na maaaring papunta sa meeting room kung saan naghihintay ang ama niya.
"You ready, sweet babe?" Kronack asked, voice worried.
"I'll be fine as long as you all will stay as I talk to him. Okay?" aniya sa pitong lalaki.
"We'll be here for you," ani Lust.
"Salamat," Kalisz smiled and nodded to Kronack to open the door.
When she stepped inside, the room was far from what she had imagined. She had expected a conference room with a long table and chairs, but it was quite different.
Instead, there was thick glass separating the two sides of the room: one side for her, and the other for her father, who was looking at her in shock.
Mahigpit na napahawak si Kalisz sa kamay at braso ni Kronack. Until now she still fears her father.
"Don't be afraid. He will never be able to hurt you again. The glass is strong enough to stand a car crash. It won't break even if he tries to," Kronack assured.
Lumapit sila at tumayo sa harapan ng ama niya. With only the glass wall separating them.
"I'm surprised you're still alive and I am more than amazed that you're here in your mother's birth country. How's life treating you... daughter," her father spoke emotionless.
Nagtagis ang bagang ni Kalisz sa ipinapakitang ugali ng ama niya. Sa kabila ng kinasadlakan nito ay wala parin siyang makitang pagsisi sa mga mata nito.
"It's treating me fairly and freely—nothing like the life you forced upon me," Kalisz said with a cold smile, mirroring her father's emotionless expression. "How about you? How's the dungeon treating you?" she taunted.
Kalisz flinched back when her father angrily hit the glass wall.
"You fucking ungrateful child! You're just like your mother, who, even after I took her from the mud, had the gall to leave me for another man!" he accused.
"Mom didn’t leave you," Kalisz said calmly. "But that doesn’t mean she should have stayed with you. With all the beatings she endured from you, she should have left the first time you hit her. But you inflicted so much fear that she couldn’t."
Ngumisi ang ama niya. "She deserves it. She's a whore-- ugh!"
Her father fell on his knee after he was electrocuted, gritting in pain as he breathed heavily.
"Don't fucking disrespect our mother like that moron."
Napatingin siya sa kapatid niya na mukhang sumunod sa kanila. Madilim ang mukha nito habang lumalapit sa kanila habang hawak ang isang remote. Mukhang ito ang may pakana sa nangyari sa ama niya.
"Kuya..."
Tumabi sa kanya ang kapatid at hinawakan ang kamay niya.
"How unfortunate, a child couldn't choose who their father should be. You moron doesn't deserve my sister as your child."
"And I don't want her as my child! She's weak and a fucking useless— aah!"
Malakas itong napasigaw ng hinablot ni Kronack ang remote na hawak ni Rage at may pinindot doon.
"Kronack, t— tama na..." Pigil niya sa binata na madilim ang mukhang nakatingin sa ama niya habang mabilis ang paghinga dahil sa galit.
"You fucking imbecile! Kalisz is nothing but a strong and amazing woman! You fucking idiot!" Sinipa ni Kronack at sinapak ang salamin at agad niya itong niyakap ng mahigpit para patigilin.
"Alis na tayo cuddlebear... Please?" Hiling niya sa binata. "It was naïve to expect him to change. It looks like he hasn’t changed at all. So let’s go home."
"It wasn’t naïve, Kale," Kuya Rage disagreed. "It’s unfortunate that your father is still a moron and an imbecile who doesn’t see how lucky he is to have a child like you."
Tumulo ang luha niya habang nakatingin sa ama niyang mukhang nawalan ng malay. May pumasok na dalawang lalaki at tumango sa kanila para kunin ang ama niya.
As they carry her father away, Kalisz could only hope and pray her father will have a change of heart.
"LUST STOP the car at the ice cream parlor. I'm going to buy ice cream for Kalisz," Kronack ordered.
"Wala na ba sa freezer?" tanong ni Cyclone.
Kronack glared at Cyc.
"Really? You're asking me that when all of you always took the ice cream I specially bought for my wife," he deadpan.
"Fine, fine. Just buy more so we will have stock," Leaf replied who was seated beside him.
Sinapak niya ito sa balikat na ikinatawa nito.
"Tang'na mga gago kayo. May pera kayo bakit hindi kayo bumili ng sa inyo. Kinukuha niyo pa yung para sa asawa ko," he annoyingly said glaring at his three friends.
"I'll pay--"
"No thanks," Kronack cut off Cyc.
"See," Lust spoke and glanced at him. "We want to buy ice cream too but you wouldn't let us."
"I want my wife to eat something I bought, okay?" he reasoned. "But it doesn't mean you fuckers shouldn't buy yours," Kronack tsked.
"Morris did but you took it and sent it to Ruckus's orphanage," Leaf reminded.
"Because Kalisz will surely eat it--"
"And that would be the same with the ice cream we will buy for us. Kalisz would also take it." Putol sa kanya ni Lust. "Or... you want us to buy our own freezer—"
Binato ni Kronack ng walang laman na plastic bottle si Lust.
"Fuck you! Pinuno niyo na nga yung garahe ko ng mga tang'nang sasakyan niyo tapos ngayon kusina ko naman!" Yamot na saad niya.
Nagtawanan lang ang mga ito. Samantalang siya ay napailing na lang. Mukhang wala siyang magagawa kundi ang bumili ng maraming ice cream. Tch!
And that's what he did.
Pushing the grocery cart, Kronack stopped at the side of his car and gave his friends the seventy gallons of ice cream they should hold.
"Dude, the other consumers are looking at you. Did you buy all the ice cream?" Lust asked, grimacing.
"Almost," Kronack replied nonchalantly.
"Oh..." Cyc drawled. "That's why the kids are looking at you sharply."
Nilingon ni Kronack ang mga bata at binigyan ang mga ito ng peace sign bago tinawag ang isang crew para kunin ang push cart na ginamit.
"Sorry bud for bothering you with this," aniya sa empleyado na kumuha ng push cart. "But the kids look very mad. We need to get out of here before they attack."
"Walang anuman boss—"
"Kuya Kronaaack!" Sigaw ng mga bata na nakatira sa orphanage ng kakambal niyang si Ruckus.
"Oh, shit!"
Nagmamadali siyang sumakay sa sasakyan at agad iyon pinasibad ni Lust.
Nagtawanan silang magkakaibigan nang masama na lang sinundan ng mga bata ang sasakyan nila.
"Geez, Ruckus will go bull on us again for bullying his gangs." Natatawang saad ni Cyclone.
"Don't worry we will use Kalisz—"
Binatukan niya si Leaf. "Asshole! Keep my wife out of this."
Then his phone rang and when he looked at his phone, it was his twin.
Kronack rolled his eyes. Ang bilis ng mga batang magsumbong.
"Twinie! Inubusan mo ng ice cream yung mga bata ko!" Galit na sigaw ng kakambal niya ng sagutin niya ang tawag.
Napangiwi siya. "Sorry bro. My beautiful pregnant wife is craving for ice cream. Ayaw mo naman pamangkin mo mawalan ng ice cream no?"
"Oh... Is that so? Fine. I'll just order another for my gangs," saad nito bago nagpaalam.
At ng tumingin siya sa mga kaibigan niya ay masama ang mga itong nakatingin sa kanya.
"Moron. You alone used Kalisz. Tsk," Lust noted.
"Well..."
Kronack was unable to say more.
Looks like he will have to apologize to his sweet babe for using her name.
KUMUNOT ang noo ni Kalisz at dahan-dahang nagmulat ng mata ng maramdaman niyang may humahaplos sa tiyan niya.
"Cuddlebear..." Bulong niya sa inaantok na boses nang makitang nasa tabi niya si Kronack habang nakangiting nakatingin sa kanya.
"Why are you sleeping here?" Masuyo na tanong nito.
Inilibot ni Kalisz ang tingin at do'n niya lang napagtantong nakatulog pala siya sa pool lounge.
"I fall asleep." Naisagot niya bago umupo mula sa pagkakahiga sa sofa. "Kanina ka pa?"
Ngumiti ito at tumango.
"Ba't hindi mo ako ginising?"
"Because I love to see you sleep and I know you're tired and need much sleep." Nakangiting sagot nito.
Kalisz pouted. "Says the man who didn't let me sleep until dawn." Nakaingos niyang bara dito.
Malakas itong tumawa bago siya niyakap ng mahigpit at ilang ulit na pinatakan ng halik sa labi.
"Sorry about that, sweet babe. It's just I can't get enough of you." Tinignan nito ang kabuuan niya. "And you look so fucking hot ang beautiful with your pregnancy," he said, grinning.
Matalim niyang tinignan si Kronack.
"We're not doing it." Gagad niya agad sa kung ano man ang iniisip nito.
She could see the hunger in Kronack’s eyes once again. Since the doctor confirmed it was safe, Kronack hadn't let a day pass without making love to her. There hadn’t been a quiet night in their bedroom since then, and he had become even more insatiable since they married two months ago.
His reasons?
Aside from his inability to get enough of her, he was concerned that once she gave birth, he would have fewer opportunities to make love to her. So, sinusulit nito ang panahon na wala pa daw distorbo sa kanila.
Tsk!
Napanguso ito sa sinabi niya. "Babe naman, umuwi ako ng maaga para do'n," reklamo nito.
Pinandilatan niya ito bago kinurot ng pino sa tagiliran na ikinatayo nito at ikinaaray.
"Kalisz naman, puro kurot mo na tagiliran ko." Nakangiwi nitong saad sa kanya.
Kalisz sweetly smiled at her husband. "Okay lang yan." Tumayo siya at lumapit dito bago bumulong. "Fair enough, cuddlebear. Pambawi mo na 'yan sa gabi-gabi mong pagpagod sa akin."
Isinubsob ni Kronack sa leeg niya ang mukha nito bago umungol na parang nagrereklamo.
"That's unfair, sweet babe, masarap ang ginagawa ko sayo gabi-gabi tapos ganti mo sa akin masakit."
"Kronack!" Inis niyang angil sa binata pero napaungol siya ng sipsipin nito ang balat sa leeg niya at pinisil ang pang-upo niya.
"Hmm..." Kagat-labing ungol niya. "Kronack stop..."
Tumigil ito pero para lang sapuhin ang mukha niya upang mainit na halikan. Kalisz didn't know how long they had been kissing, they only stopped when both had enough and were breathless.
"I want you..." Kronack whispered to her ears panting.
Napalabi siya bago binigyan nang halik sa leeg ang asawa at tinignan ito.
"May lakad ako Kronack kaya hindi pwede."
Nang marinig ang sinabi niya ay parang nanghihinang isinandal nito ang noo sa balikat niya.
"Damn it!" Narinig niya mahinang mura nito kaya't agad niyang tinampal ang braso nito.
"Don't cuss," saway niya. "Halika na sa loob, nagugutom ako at pagkatapos aalis ako."
"I'll go with you," anito habang nakaalalay sa kanyang bewang habang naglalakad sila papasok ng bahay.
"Nope." Iling niya.
"But--"
"Hindi cuddlebear. It's a lady-only meeting." Mariin niyang tangi.
Nagbuga ito ng hangin. At hindi na nagsalita pa. Pero makikita sa mukha nito na hindi ito masayang aalis siya na hindi na naman ito kasama. Nailing na lang siya.
Hindi pa talaga buong nawawala ang takot nito kahit ilang buwan na ang nakakalipas. Hindi parin ito mapakali at komportable pag-umaalis siya na hindi ito kasama o di kaya't isa sa mga kapatid nito o kaibigan.
Kaya naman ay niyakap niya ang asawa patagilid at inabot ang mukha nito at hinalikan sa labi.
"Don't worry cuddlebear. Sa ice cream parlor lang kami. At hindi ako magpupunta ng washroom mag-isa." Ipinakita niya ang relong pambisig na bigay nito na lagi niyang suot. "You can track me and know if I'm in distress."
Muli itong bumunot ng buntong-hininga at tumango.
"I love you, cuddlebear." Nakangiti niyang saad na mabilis na nagpangiti dito pero agad din siyang tinignan ng masama.
"You're tricking me again with your I love you."
Mahinang siyang natawa. Ganoon lagi ang ginagawa niya para hindi ito mag-isip masyado.
Umiling-iling ito. "I'll punish you tonight for doing that," he said smugly with a smirk on his lips.
It was now her turn to frown. She could already imagine what punishment it would be. Ugh!
"Kay kuya Rage ako uuwi." Nasabi niya at iniwan ito at nagpatiuna nang pumunta ng dining room.
Napaawang ang labi nito sa sinabi niya.
"W— What the... Babe!" Sigaw na tawag nito ng makabawi ata sa pagkabigla.
Umupo siya sa laging inuupuan noon ni Kronack. The armchair in the dining room. Siya na ang nakaupo doon lagi.
Pagkaupo na pagkaupo niya ay agad na nilapag ni Prius ang pagkain niya.
"Thanks, Prius."
"Anytime--"
"You're going home here tonight, sweet babe." Madiing turan sa kanya ni Kronack na hindi maipinta ang mukha na siyang ikinatigil ni Prius.
"No, kay kuya Rage ako matutulog--"
"Fine!"
Tinignan niya ito nang pumayag ito ng ganoon kabilis at nakita niya ang ngisi sa labi nito.
Fudge... Ano naman kaya binabalak ni cuddlebear?
"R-really?" May pag-aalangan na tanong niya kay Kronack na hindi mawala ang kakaibang ngiti sa labi habang nakayukong nakatingin sa kanya.
"A-huh." Tumatangong saad nito pero puno ng pilyong kislap ang mga mata nito. "Walang problema Kalisz, masarap sa pandinig ko ang mga ungol mo, ewan ko na lang kay Rage at mga kaibigan naming nakikitira sa bahay niya. Remember your room there isn't soundproof," he said casually like it was no big deal while she couldn't help but get stunned.
Her cheek turned pink and hot because Prius heard her husband's words.
Shit!
Clfern