"He's what a man would look like if a roman god and rugged cowboy had a baby."
― Maddy C. James
∞
Chapter 17
"What are you gonna do now?" Hiro asked in a very serious voice.
We're inside the coffee shop─ the same coffee shop where Kaius burst out in anger. Naikwento ko na kay Hiro ang buong katotohanan. And I silently thanked God when I heard no judgment from him.
"Hindi ko alam," saad ko at nilapag ang tasa sa ibabaw ng mesa at tumingin sa labas ng coffee shop. The walls are made up of glass, making it easier for me to watch the people outside as they pass by. "Siguro hayaan na lang ang mga pangyayari. I'll just let everything fall into its place. I can't just turn back the time to correct my mistake."
"But you're adding another mistake to another mistake again, Sam. And it's not good, and it won't correct anything either."
Alam na niya. Mapagkakatiwalaan naman si Hiro, well that's what I think so. Hindi ako sumagot sa sinabi nito. I want to ask him if I am to blame but I already have the answer. I am to blame.
Napatingin ako sa kanya nang tumayo ito at tumabi sa akin. Inakbayan ako nito at hindi na 'ko nagulat nang tapikin nito ang aking balikat. "I won't meddle with every decision you'll make. Just always remember that I'm always at your back."
Napangiti ako at sumandal sa balikat niya. "My baby's birthday will be next month. Hindi ko alam kung sino-sino ang iimbitahin ko. He's my forbidden jem. Ayokong mabulgar ang katotohanan."
"Invite me then," he said. "We'll celebrate his birthday."
Lumayo ako rito at tinignan siya na may ngiti sa 'king labi. "Totoo?"
"Yup," he said, popping the 'p'. "I want to meet him personally."
My smile widened even more. "Great!"
We continue talking. Minsan ay iniirapan ko siya kapag nagkukwento na siya sa mga moments na kasama niya ang crush niyang si Hope. An engineer under his supervision. Torpe rin minsan, e. Takot umamin, halata namang gusto din siya ng babaeng 'yun.
"We'll have it in Tagaytay? Baguio? Where do you want?" offer nito.
I hummed as I stared at my cup of coffee. "Isang araw lang day-off natin, e. Siguro sa Tagaytay na lang? We'll travel on─"
"Then we'll take a leave for two days. You should have extra time together."
Tumingin ako dito at ngumiti. "Brilliant! Then sa Tagaytay tayo. We'll leave on Friday evening."
"Who'll leave?"
Sabay kaming nag-angat ng tingin sa lalaking bigla-bigla na lang magsasalita. My heart immediately pounded fast as my eyes landed on the man with his infamous blank expression and his hands inside his pocket.
Napalunok ako at umiling. "Nothing, Mr. Imperial."
Tumango ito at walang paalam na umupo sa upuang katapat namin ni Hiro. "I heard you'll leave on Friday evening."
Nanlamig ako sa narinig. I was about to spit some lies again when Hiro did it for me.
"Her book signing event. She'll leave on Friday," pagsisinungaling ni Hiro. I felt him hold my hand and squeeze it.
Kahit hindi ako makatingin sa kanya ng diretso, hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ko ang pag-igting ng kanyang panga. As if he's reigning his anger that would burst at any moment.
"Really?" he asked. Ramdam ko ang sarkasmo sa tinig nito.
Hiro nodded, and I remained silent. "How about you, Mr. Imperial? What are you doing here?"
He shrugged, glancing in my direction. "I just passed by."
Tumingin ako sa aking pambisig na relo at bahagyang tumikhim. Ramdam ko kasing parang may kung anong bumara sa lalamunan ko kahit wala naman. "We'll get going, Mr. Imperial. It's already one in the afternoon."
He looked at me and said, "Glad you know it, Ms. Kainashi."
--
"Tangina, bad mood na naman ang tigre." Bumusangot si Claire nang makalapit sa table ko.
I frowned. "Tiger? Who?"
She looked at me and rolled her eyes. "Sino pa ba? Edi si Sir Ice! Ang tino-tino pa kaninang umaga tapos ngayon, tingnan mo, may napatanggal kaagad sa trabaho."
"Bakit daw?" pakikiosyoso ni Ren
Nagkibit-balikat si Claire. "Hindi ko alam."
Nakamot ko ang aking batok at tumayo habang hawak ang folder na naglalaman ng mga ideas namin para sa desenyo ng paliparan. Napatingin naman sila sa 'kin nang tumayo ako.
"Saan ka?" takang tanong ni Ren.
I showed them the folder. "Ipapasa ko 'to sa kanya."
"Mamaya na lang," usal ni Claire. "Bloodhigh pa si Sir Ice."
Umiling ako at tumingin sa aking pambisig na relo. Mamayang alas singko y medya ang book signing event na dadaluhan ko. At alas kuwatro na, ayokong mahuli.
"May lakad pa ako mamaya, e." Ngumiwi ako bago nagpaalam nang mapagtantong konting minuto na lang bago mag alas-singko.
I hurriedly entered the elevator and pressed the top floor, where Kaius' office is located. Habang naghihintay sa pag-akyat ng elevator, sumagi sa isipan ko ang sinabi ni Claire kanina. Nagpatanggal? This is Kiyo's company, right? But then reality would just tell me that Kaius is more powerful than I thought.
Speaking of power, I remembered my conversation with Hiro this noon. And it keeps replaying inside my head.
"He's powerful, Sam. What if he hired some investigators to know your background? It's not damn impossible!"
Napakurap ako at yumuko upang pasimpleng punasan ang aking mga mata. I felt scared at the thought of it. Him, investigating me, discovering about our child... then it would be a total fuckup for me.
Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga nang tumunog ang elevator at bumukas ang pinto. Taas noo akong naglakad palabas at nagtungo sa pinto ng opisina ni Kaius. I was about to knock when I heard broken glass from inside. Wala sa sarili kong tinulak pabukas ang pinto at bumungad sa 'kin ang sinaryo ni Kaius at Ms. Gallego.
His secretary is standing straight, but her knees are trembling. My eyes settled on the broken goblet on the floor and Kaius's fisted hand. Anong nangyayari? Nag-angat ng tingin sa 'kin si Ms. Gallego at doon ko napansing humihikbi ito.
I bit my lip as I strode in her direction. Binaba ko ang folder sa center table at nilapitan siya. I held her arms when she almost lost her balance. Humawak naman ito sa 'king kamay at nanginginig. Tumingin ako kay Kaius na nag-iigting ang panga at may malalim na hininga. Muli akong bumaling kay Ms. Gallego at ngumiti ng pagpapaumanhin. I guided her outside of Kaius' office, and I never heard him complain about it.
"Anong nangyari?" malumanay kong tanong at inabot sa kanya isang baso ng tubig.
"M-may mali sa mga na-submit ng manager ng isang kompanya t-tapos─"
I placed my forefinger on her lips to shut her. "Rest, okay? Kakausapin ko muna si Mr. Imperial."
Umiling agad ito. "B-baka po kayo ang mabuntunan..."
Ngumiti ako. "We'll see."
Pansamantala ko muna siyang iniwanan sa labas at pumasok ng opisina ni Kaius. I faced him again.
"Bakit mo ginanon ang sekretarya mo?" I asked.
He looked at me dangerously. "Get out."
Something pinched my heart. "Okay," I replied, turning my back.
"Fuck," I heard him cuss. "Get back here, Alexis, and kiss me."
Natigilan ako sa huli nitong binitiwang salita. I turn to face him with an unreadable expression. "Why would I kiss you?"
Umupo ito sa kanyang swivel chair at sumandal. He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Just kiss me, damn it!"
No, Sam. Don't you dare.
But no. My feet have a life of their own; even moved and walked in Kaius' direction. Nang nasa tapat na ako nito ay tinitigan ko siya. My hand balled into a fist as I closed my eyes. Get back to your senses, damn it!
"Uhm..." I took a step back when his hand moved swiftly as he held my arms and pulled me to him.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang sapuhin nito ang aking pisngi at hinalikan ako ng mariin. Parang may halong galit, at kung ano-anong emosyong hindi ko mapangalanan. My legs straddle on his waist, and I'm sitting on his lap, facing him.
"Respond," he commanded, and I obeyed.
I kissed him back, and his kisses turned from rough to gentle. Ramdam ko ang bigla niyang pagkalma. Ang humahangos niyang hininga sa galit kanina ay biglang kumalma. He's now breathing normally. His arms wrapped possessively around my waist, pulling me closer to him.
I don't even get the point of why I follow his order.
Bumaba ang halik niya mula sa labi ko, patungong leeg. Inalis niya ang nakaharang na buhok sa 'king balikat upang malaya niyang mahalikan ang leeg ko.
"Your scent relaxes the hell of me," he murmured as he took a deep breath. "Ang sarap mong padapain."
Namula ako sa narinig at nag-iwas ng tingin. "W-why are you so angry a while ago?"
With that, muling umigting ang panga niya. "Why are you with Austria? Are you two in a relationship?"
Napalunok ako ng sunod-sunod. I was about to get myself away from him when his arms held me still. "We're just having coffee, Kaius."
Umiling ito at napasinghap ako nang hawakan nito ang leeg ko. "I already marked you. Isn't that so obvious? Or shall I make another one? Much better and redder this time," he murmured.
"Kaius..."
He held my chin and licked my lower lip. Ramdam ko naman ang paghawak niya sa pang-upo ko at giniya ito upang gumalaw. "Calm me."
I look at him with a questionable expression on my face. "Huh?"
"Pakalmahin mo ako."
--
"Thank you for accepting our invitation, Ms. LexBleed. We're so honored to have you in this event," sambit ng manager.
I smiled. "You're welcome."
The book signing was done. Medyo nangalay ang pisngi ko kakangiti at kamay sa pagpipirma ng maraming libro. Hindi lang naman isa ang libro ko. I also have bunches of series and trilogies.
"Would you like to uhm..." Kumamot sa kanyang batok ang isang lalaking sa pagkakaalam ko ay ang may-ari ng kompanyang matagal nang nagbibigay sa 'kin ng imbitasyon upang magsulat sa kanilang kompanya.
I smiled. "I'll think about it, Mr. Lim. I'm here in the Philippines for work, and I can't promise to update my stories each day with an approximate number of words."
"I hope you'll accept our offer, Ms. Lex," pormal nitong ani na ikinangiti ko.
Nagpaalam ako sa kanila at agad na lumabas ng venue. I hurriedly went inside my car and dialed James' number. Just a few rings and James lifted the call.
"Oh?" bungad nito na ikinailing ko.
"Where's my Ashley?" I look for my son using his second name.
"Here," he said and after a few moments, I heard my son talk. "Mommy!"
Gumaan agad ang pakiramdam ko. "Mommy will visit you on Sunday."
"Hontōni? Mama ga machi kiremasen!" [translation: Really? Can't wait, mommy!]
I smiled to myself as I turned on the engine. Sumandal ako sa back rest ng upuan habang hawak ng isang kamay ko ang steering wheel. "Me, too. What do you want to do on Sunday?"
"Bīchi ni ikemasu ka?" [translation: Can we go to beach?]
I nodded and stamped on the accelerator, maneuvering the car out of the place. "Sure."
"Nice," rinig kong sambit nito na ikinangunot ng noo ko.
"Where did you learn that expression, Ashley?" takhang tanong ko.
"Eiga kara titajeimī to watashi wa mimashita." [translation: From the movie tita Jamie and I watched]
I silently facepalm to myself. My son is learning something again.
END OF CHAPTER 17