"A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences." - Dave Meurer
Kabanata 10 - A crazy morning
Hunter Sylverio POV
HINDI ko alintana ang malamig na hanging dumadampi sa balat ko. I was here in the dark alley waiting for my brother to arrive.
Kanina nakatanggap ako ng tawag kay Lennox na pinasok ni Trent si Hailey sa apartment unit nito. Lalong kumuyom ang mga palad ko. Alam ko, pinaglalaruan ako ng boss ng Red Dragons dahil nalaman nito ang kahinaan ko. Gusto ko ng matapos ito. I want to leave a peaceful life now with Hailey.
As a mafia boss, the night for me is dangerous. Most people heard of me as cold, heartless, beast and ruthless man that I put my words as rules and never listens to no one but myself. They see me as an egoistic person with so much pride. Hindi iyon totoo, hindi ko lang alam kung paano ipapakita yung totoong nararamdaman ko.
Dumiretso ang tingin ko sa blue jaguar ni Lennox na pumarada sa harap ng mansion. Bumaba ito, tinungo ang kinatatayuan ko at yumuko sa akin upang magbigay galang hindi bilang nakakatandang kapatid kundi bilang leader ng Beehive.
Natanaw ko si Hailey na nakatulog na sa sasakyan. She's really a sleeping beauty. Seeing her like this make my heart melt.
"A few things came up back there. That asshole escaped.", saad ni Lennox. "That Trent will pay for hurting Young Miss.", dugtong pa niya na mas lalong tumalim yung mga mata niya.
"I'll take care of that bastard. He can ruin my business but I won't forgive him for hurting what's mine.", sabi ko habang dumako uli yung paningin ko sa nahihimbing na si Hailey.
Pagkasabi ko non, binuhat ko si Hailey into a bridal style. Pinunta ko siya sa guest room. Dahan-dahan ko siyang inihiga sa kama. At bago ako umalis, hinalikan ko yung noo niya.
Napasandal ako sa brick wall ng kwarto habang tinititigan siya. I'm a man who doesn't lose my focus. Na kahit malagay sa alanganin ang buhay ko aayusin at aayusin ko parin ang problema sa negosyo at sa Beehive. Hindi ako nagpa-panic, hindi natatakot, although aminado akong mabilis akong magalit. I like to plan everything out very carefully. Ayaw ko ng pumapalpak. In other words, ayaw ko ng distraction sa trabaho ko.
Maybe this qualities of mine that's why my Mom pushes me to get married. But because of that promise I made with my mother and a deal with this woman.... I've been losing my focus. I'm not paying attention at meetings anymore dahil nag-aalala ako kay Hailey. I'm falling behind both of our business and the Beehive organization. Even the fights when I'm facing the enemy, someone of the members of the family will come to save my ass.
Parang hindi na ako yung dati. I don't know what's happening to me! Hindi ko alam kung paano ito nagsimula. My heart is going crazy!
No! Kailangan kong kumalma. Kailan ba nagsimulang makadama ako ng takot at pag-aalinlangan?
Now that, think of it, my chest keeps pounding lately. Not to mention I'm getting this strange feeling. It consumes me at nababaliw na ako.
Muli kong tiningnan si Hailey. Whenever I see her, my chest hurts more. She hated me so much and that's stings my heart. Nang makita ko siyang ngumingiti at tumatawa kay Lennox, I felt so much rage and envy. Bakit hindi niya kayang ngumiti sa akin? Am I really that beast to her?
Tuwing pumipikit ako, her image pops in my head. Ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng ganito kalaking problema sa buhay ko!
Her coldness been hurting my chest. And that stupid rule. Ano bang iniisip ko ng mga panahong iyon? I'm such a stupid jerk. Isa pa iyong deal na nilikha ko para lang pumayag siyang pakasalan ako. Kailangan pa ba ng deal para pumayag siyang pakasalan ako?
"Do you really hate me that much, Hailey? I'm not the heartless one, you are."
Hailey Sandoval's POV
I WOKE up in a room that was unfamiliar to me--- No, scratch that, ito rin pala yung kwartong pinagtulugan ko nung time na nalasing ako at dinala ni Hunter sa bahay niya. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko and found myself laying in very comfortable bed in a beautifully large bedroom.
Tinungo ko ang bathroom. I notice a white dress na nasa sink ng lababo na may nakadikit pang note na kasama. Kinuha ko yung note at binasa.
'Hailey,
I hope you had a pecefull sleep. The dress should fit you. Come downstairs I will be waiting for you. Let's eat breakfast.
P.S. don't try to run away. My men will find you'
-You're Hubby-
Napangiwi ako saka ko nilamukos yung papel. Ang kapal talaga ng lalaking iyon. May pa-hubby-hubby pang nalalaman.
Bumukas yung pinto saka pumasok si Nami. "Shall I help you get dress, Young Miss?"
Napa-atras naman ako saka napayakap sa aking sarili. "Kaya ko na, noh! Pwede ba huwag mo na akong tawagin ng ganyan. At pwede ba ba kaya ko mag-bihis mag-isa!"
"Huwag ka ng mahiya. I already saw your body. Ako ang nagpalit sa iyo noon, di ba?", tumatawang sabi ni Nami.
Bigla namang nag-init yung pisngi ko. Kahit parehas kaming babae, ang awkward kaya non! "B-Basta! Hindi ako baby para bihisan. Ano ba'ng problema ng Boss niyo? Masyado siyang O.A!"
Nami laughed. "Alright, I'll deliver your message to Master. But I'm your maid, whether you like it or not. I'll assist you with all your needs."
Napanganga ako. Talagang confident ito at seryoso sa sinabi. Ngumuso na lang ako.
NAPABUNTUNG-HININGA na lamang ako ng lumingon ako sa aking likuran. May dalawang men in black at Nami na sumusunod sa akin. Kapag hihinto ako, hihinto rin sila. Kapag tatakbo ako, tatakbo rin sila. Sa tingin ko, baliw talaga si Hunter. Mas pyscho pa ata siya dun sa Trent Cross na yun.
Nang maalala ko si Trent, muli akong pinanginigan. Sino ba talaga ang geekco na yun? Isa lang ang sigurado ako, magka-away sila ni Hunter. Maybe, sa business siguro.
I walked down the wide spiral staircase that was made out of marble stone. Tinungo ko yung dining hall that consisted a very large and long table and a silver grand piano behind. Yung mga taong nasa likod ko nagsipaglinyahan na sa gilid na para ba silang mga robot na hindi gumagalaw.
Bago ako umupo, dineretso ko yung pwesto ni Lennox saka ko siya kinalabit. "Cyborg..."
As expected, a cyborg is always a cyborg. He don't even dare to glance at me. Sumimangot tuloy ako. Pero may napansin ako sa kanya ngayon, he's not wearing his famous black suit. Naka-white tuxedo ito na may pink ribbon sa collar niya. Ang cute tuloy niyang tingnan.
"Cyborg, thank you kagabi. Buti na lang dumating ka, Knoxx.", nginitian ko siya bago ako tumalikod.
"Wala 'yon. I'm going to protect you. My life is yours."
Bigla akong napalingon ng magsalita ito. He smile angelically at me and my heart pounding so fast. Umayos ulit ito ng tayo saka dumiretso ulit ng tingin.
Namumulang tinungo ko yung table. Nakita ko si Hunter na nakayuko. I stood there looking at his feature. He is also wearing white suit. That's weird. Dahil nakasuot din ako ng white dress na above knee lang ang haba.
I sat at the chair behind him saka ako pumangalumbaba. Kahit na andaming pagkain sa mesa para akong nawalan ng gana. I feel something really really strange today. Ewan ko kung ano.
"Look at me.", narinig kong sabi ni Hunter. Dahan-dahan ko siyang tiningnan.
I looked at him with his astonishing beauty. Pale white skin with dazzling cat like eyes with dark eyes that matches his thick eye lashes. I think he's pretty man I have encountered in my life.
Nagkatitigan kami sa isa't-isa.
Bumuntung-hininga siya. I tried to read his mind pero wala akong mabasa. It's blank.
"A-Are you really okay now?", hindi makatinging tanong niya.
I eyed him suspiciously. "Ang weird mo ngayon."
He smile at me. Yung smile talaga, hindi ngisi o ngiting-pilit.
I blink.
"Really?"
Tumango ako. "Hindi ko alam pero kinakabahan ako na ewan. May binabalak ka ba?"
He furrowed his eyebrows and scratched the back of his neck nervously. Habang ako, sumubo na ng pagkain.
I quit chewing the food and gave him a dirty look. "Maybe hindi pa kita gaanon kilala but I know your up to something. I can sense it."
"What do you mean, wifey?", He grimaced.
Ngumuso ako. "Teka lang bakit hindi mo kasabay kumain si Knoxx. He's your brother after all.", tanong ko. Ang weird lang kasi nilang magkapatid. Magkadugo sila pero parang hindi magkapatid ang turingan. Ganoon ba kagulo ang pamilya ng lalaking ito? Di ba kahit na magkapatid lang sila sa ama dapat sabay silang kumain lalo na't palagi silang magkasama.
"He doesn't want too. Lagi ko siyang niyayaya but he keeps rejecting my offer. For him, I'm his Boss. Ugh! Sometimes I hate being their leader."
Nagsalubong yung kilay ko. "Sino ka ba talaga, Hunter? I mean, alam ko na ikaw si Hunter Louis Sylverio pero ano ba talaga ang katauhan mo?"
Hindi ito nakapagsalita agad. His eyes turns cold again. "You don't need to know, Hailey. Ayaw kong mapahamak ka."
"Pero napahamak na ako. Sino si Trent? Bakit ka niya nabanggit sa akin kagabi? Ano'ng kailangan niya sa akin? I want to know the details, Hunter. Don't be a mystery to me, please."
Bumuntung-hininga siya. Lumapit sa akin and he held his hand and I pressumed he wanted me to take it. Tinanggap ko ang kamay niya. He pulled me out of the chair and whisper at my ear. "Change subject, wifey. Were going to get married today."
Bigla ko siyang itinulak palayo. "Ano?! Akala ko ba next week?"
"Well, I change my mind. Today is the day!"
Ibinulsa niya yung kamay sa bulsa ng pants niya saka cool na lumakad palayo. Gusto ko siyang sakalin.
He's possessive and controlling! I was about to turn nang palibutan ako ng mga men in black niya at pati narin si Nami.
"Ah, he-he, baka naman pwede nating pag-usapan to?"
"Young Miss, your stylist will soon to arrive to do your make-over. Your wedding dress are in your room now."
Hunter peeped his head back at me and smile evily. "Wifey, make yourself pretty. You're hubby will be waiting. See you soon, honey!"
Nanggigigil na napapadyak ako.
"Hubby your face, you jerk!", sigaw ko.
And for the first time I heard his blissful laughed.
_________