"Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction. ~Antoine de Saint" -Exupery
Kabanata 8 - Engagement Ring
"HAILEY."
The way he say my name is so gentle, tila ba nakalimutan ko kung ano ang tunay na katauhan ng kausap ko. Tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin, faster than I can blink.
Nasa veranda kami ngayon listening to somewhat classical music with Mama Katherine. Those dark eyes bore with mine. I tried to step back yet he steps forward over to get closer so that we are only couple inch apart.
"Lumayo ka nga! Layo ako ng layo, lapit ka ng lapit!", mahinang sabi ko kay Hunter.
I tried to step backward when he grabs me closer to him. The maids laughed and said that we are a perfect couple.
Kung alam lang sana nila kung gaano ka-demonyo ang unggoy na ito and if only they would know behind our relationship---it's all about a deal.
His cold eyes stare to mine. "You're making me jealous. You're doing sweetstuff with my brother. And yet, all you could do to me is curse me. Am i really a beast to you?"
I blink. Nagseselos siya? Akala ko ba bawal ang ma-in love sa amin? Nagka-amnesia na ba siya?
"Tsk. Close na kami, eh. Saka bakit siya kabilang sa mga men in black mo eh kapatid mo naman pala siya. He even called you, boss? Ang weird lang kasi. Dapat bro, dude, tol or Kuya ang tawag niya sayo. Ikaw naman feel na feel mo matawag na boss ni Knoxx."
"He never dare to call me brother. Not even once. Knoxx is an illigitimate son of my father. My dad and my mom doesn't love each other. Alam mo naman siguro ang arrange marriage? My parents agreed to marry each other to expand our business. Soon, my father has secret affair with Mama Suzette, the woman my dad truly loves."
Seryoso ang mukha niya. So is this one of the reason he's so cold? Pero sa tingin ko naman close sila ni Lennox.
"Being a leader of our family, Knoxx called me boss ever since. But don't worry, were close."
"Leader of a family? Anong pinagsasabi mo?", Naguguluhan kong tanong. "Saka nakalimutan mo na ba ang pinaka-importanteng rule. Don't fall in love. Ikaw pa nagsabi niyan.", Paalala ko sa kanya.
Hunter chuckled. "Yeah. Because I don't want you to fall in love with me nor my brother. After our deal expires we will go on our separate ways." Then his eyes turn to serious and cold again. "Why do you hate me so much?"
Napalunok ako. Bakit nga ba? His cold eyes with his cold face is too much for me to handle. He is a mysterious guy. Maybe I don't like him dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip niya o kung ano ang tunay niyang pagkatao. He's a puzzle to me that I can't be solve. Yung para bang nasa maze ako at hindi ko alam kung saan lalabas.
"Were going to be married next week."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. His dark expressions completely change from sorrowful to cheerful.
I stare at him. "Bakit ba ikaw na lang palagi ang nagdedesisyon? Ambilis ata?"
"Yeah. Because, I need to protect you now. I need you to stay by my side."
Nagsalubong yung mga kilay ko. Naguguluhang tiningnan ko si Hunter. Proteksyon? Eh, siya lang naman itong dangerous sa akin.
"Excuse me, ikaw lang naman itong dangerou-----"
I was cut off when I turned to face Hunter who was currently down on one knee. Isang velvet box na nakabukas ang nasa kamay nito na naglalaman ng isang nangingislap na diamond ring.
Everyone clasped at the mansion.
Nagtaas siya ng kilay saka ngumisi. Nagpakawala siya ng buntung-hininga. "Hailey Gail Sandoval, I love you. You were the amazing and perfect girl who complete me.", diniinan niya pa yung word na amazing and perfect. Sarap sakalin ng plastic na to. Note the sarcasm.
"You're beautiful, stunning, strong, brave, gorgeous funny and kinda stupid I've seen in my life. I want to spend my life with you. I want you to be my other half. Will you do the honors of becoming my wife, cara mia?"
Napangiwi ako. Pang grammy awards talaga ang pagiging best actor niya. Siguro kung wala kaming audience kanina ko pa siya sinipa. Napaka-sinungaling ng lalaking ito.
Kumunot ang noo ko. Ano na naman bang kalokohan ang ginagawa niya?
Yumuko ako para magpantay yung mga mata namin habang nakaluhod parin siya. Bumulong ako sa tainga niya. "Ano yung cara mia? Saka ano'ng ka-ungguyan na naman tong ginagawa mo?"
Tumalim yung titig niya sa akin saka ngumuso dun sa velvet box na may diamond ring. "Stupid ka talaga? Utak ibon ka ba so you don't get it? Can you play the cards right and just say YES? I'm proposing to you, idiot. Kanina pa ako nakaluhod dito."
"Sino ba kasi nagsabing lumuhod ka. Ikaw pala itong tanga. Stupid ka din, galing mo pa umacting. Napaka-liar mo pa. Hindi ko tatanggapin yang singsing mo. Isaksak mo diyan sa baga mo! Napaka-plastic mo pa talaga. Wow. Best actor of the year!", bulong ko rito.
Lalong umasim yung ekspresyon ng mukha niya at nangangalaiti pa yung mga ngipin niya. "Just say yes, stupid. My mother is looking!"
Saglit na dumako yung paningin namin kay Mama Katherine. Sumasabay sa tugtugin ng classical music ang mahina nitong paghikbi.
Napalunok ako. Wala na naman akong choice but to be submissive again. Dumiretso ako ulit ng tayo and begin mg acting as a loving fiancee. I looked at him lovingly but deep inside me I want to tear him apart. "Of course, Honey, YES!"
I emphasis the word yes at pinanlakihan ko rin siya ng mata.
"I am happy to marry you, honey.", muli akong yumuko saka ko pisili yung pisngi niya ng super diin. "Bwiset ka talaga, lagi mo akong nilalagay sa hot seat!", sabi ko sa mahinang tono, yung kaming dalawa lang ang nakakarinig.
"M-Masakit, ano ba?!"
Yung mama ni Hunter pati narin yung mga maids nagtataka na sa inaakto naming dalawa.
Hunter smirked. Hinila niya yung mukha ko gamit yung isa niyang kamay and kissed my lips habang nakaluhod siya at nakayuko naman ako.
Bahagya ko tuloy siyang naitulak at tumuwid na ako ng tayo. After that, tumayo na rin si Hunter na nakangisi. Kinuha niya yung left hand ko and slipping the ring on my ring finger on it.
Tuwang-tuwang lumapit sa amin si Mama Katherine to congratulate us. She hug and kiss us.
Napabauntung-hininga na lang ako habang tinatapunan ng masamang tingin yung unggoy kong katabi. "Stop controlling me again, jackass!", muli kong bulong. "At ano yun cara mia?"
"It's my dear or my love in italian."
Lennox Sylverio's POV
I WENT to the mansion's bar, humingi ako ng margarita kay Nami. I put cigarette in my mouth. After, inilagay ko muna iyon sa ash tray.
"Something wrong, Master?", tanong ni Nami.
I smiled at her. She's beautiful with her pinkish pale skin that matches her chinita eyes. My family adopted her when she was eight. Nami was abused by her step father and almost half dead when we rescued her. She's like a dearest younger sister to me and Hunter.
"That Hailey is quite a headache. She's a bully. Hindi ko ma-imagine kung ano'ng pagsasama ng dalawang yun if they become man and wife."
Tumawa si Nami. "Do you found her cute? Baka naman crush mo siya? I'm also fond of her. She's kind and beautiful. And don't forget her sweetness and innocence. Your brother pick up a perfect girl who will be by his side."
Bigla nag-init ang pisngi ko. Crush? Stupid! I'm a cold blooded mafia, not some hopeless romantic guy. I can't let that girl make me feel this way. Just no. Snap out of it! She's my brother soon to be wife. And she's going to be my sister in law.
"Good evening Boss, Nami..", Xander interrupted my chain of thoughts. He came and sit beside me in the stollbar.
Tiningnan ko siya. "I have a job for you."
Kumunot ang noo ni Xander. Napakamot pa siya sa ulo. Inabutan siya ni Nami ng vodka. "So what's the catch?"
"There's a guy owes the Boss money. He didn't pay for almost a year now. Send some men to collect his payment. If he against our will, you know what to do."
Bumuntung-hininga si Rafhael. "It sounds way too simple. Ako na ang bahala sa kanya."
Inutusan ko si Nami na kunin yung file ng taong binanggit ko. Ilang saglit lang ay bumalik na ito dala ang brown folder. I threw the folder to Xander.
"And how about Rafhael's case?"
"We threw that traitor to the secret basement and locked him up. Boss said don't kill him. Kailangan niya pan kumanta kung anu-ano'ng impormasyon ang ibinenta niya laban kay Big Boss."
Tumango na lang ako. "Xander, how long have you worked at the family?"
Ngumiti si Xander. "It's already five years Boss. Boss Hunter was nineteen at that time when I became a member of Beehive."
Ngumisi ako at tinapik ang balikat niya. "Thank you for being loyal to the Beehive. To our family. We promise to give you fortune that you deserves as long as you keep loyal to us."
Tumawa si Xander. We drunk our wine and forget about the mission just for this day.
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