Kakapusin yata ako ng hininga dahil sa kanya, it's been forever since the last time I saw him but he still have this effect on me, damn Dela Silva's genes and the bad news is, his 200% more handsome now and his oozing with sex appeal in that black armani exchange polo shirt and slim fit pants. His actually bringing the A game because of his manly features, from his clean cut hair down to his jaws and oh dear, let's not forget that he's been working out since day 1 which is evident in that well built body na bakas sa fit polo shirt na sout nito. Stop it... and remember how he cheated on you with that look! I admonished myself.
'Why are you here?' I asked and he just chuckled in response but he pulled a chair for me.
'I've already ordered for us.' He said with all of the confidence that this world could give, I need to show him that I'm not affected by his presence so I took his offer. He sat across the table and positioned his hands in front of him.
'So I guess it's time that you answer my question Mr. Dela Silva'
'You look stunning..' tila wala sa sariling saad ni Zach na hindi man lang inaalis ang titig sakin.
'Still loving the game huh' i muttered. 'Now back to business, what are you doing here'
'Waiting for someone' tipid nitong sagot.
'Then I assume that someone wouldn't want to see you with me here and I'm sure that my fiancé would hate to see me with someone else, so I believe one of us is in the wrong table'
'I'm sure I've got the right reservation and I'm damn sure also that your fiancé would hate to see you with someone else' God, breath Alli, breath. 'I really hate it when you're with someone else Miss Esquibelle that's why I'm marrying you.' Naglolokohan ba kami?
'W-what the f-'
'I'm your fiancée' he stated with authority. God no, this can't be happening.
'Stop fucking with me Zach!' I can literally taste bitterness in my words and yet here's Zach staring blankly at me.
'We'll get there Alli lets talk about marriage first' Oh yes, how could I forget that he's fluent in sarcasm. This asshole!
'I know you're good with games Mr. Dela Silva but let's quit playing here because to be honest with you I am expecting a decent fiancée .' Matalim na titig ang ipinukol niya sakin
'Too bad that decent guys are no good in handling business Miss Esquibelle, they won't take risk on investing in a losing company that's why I'm your father's last resort but if not I am still willing to help by buying your stepmom's island' umupo siya ng tuwid at hinimas himas ang baba na tila naghihintay ng sagot ko.
'Fuck you Zach!' He grinned triumphantly at me. 'For how long?'
'Now we're talking' pareho kaming tumahimik ng dumating ang waiter at dinala ang order namin.
'Why would you help our company? You're going to invest in a sinking company? Really Zach? Never thought you are also into charity now'
'Once we're married. Our companies will be merged. Your firm is still one of the well known firm in the country and that fact alone will be beneficial to my new company, I need your father's expertise when it comes to construction and architectural matters and as we are on the process of merging we will prevent bad news like bankruptcy to circulate. I will be the major shareholder but you will still be getting your own share as the only heiress of Esquibelle and as.. Mrs. Dela Silva.' Mrs. Dela Silva? ''Merging our companies will be a win-win situation, makakabawi ang kompanya niyo and that will be beneficial to my company dahil hindi na ako mahihirapan pa dahil may sarili ng market ang kompanya niyo, having said that, your company will help mine to establish its name..'
'You've got it all planned out' puna ko.
'And one more thing Miss Esquibelle.' I raised a brow on him.
'Si lolo..' Lolo Clemente.. 'He doesn't know anything about this agreeement. He's not fond of fix marriage, my family actually doesn't know about this. They wont give me their approval so for this merging to be successful we need to pretend'
'Gusto mong lokohin natin ang pamilya mo? And what made you think that i'll participate?'
'Your business. Is that enough reason for you?' My jaw dropped because I am obviously caught off guard. This bastard! 'We'll be married for as long as I want us to be married Alli.. I need your company for my company to be on top.' Napaawang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya.
'I know I need your help for our company to survive pero unfair naman ata yang hinihiling mo.'
'Mahaba na ang isang taon Alli' mahaba nga! I wanted to say that pero pinigil ko ang sarili ko.
'Lastly..'
'Do you have a list of your rules Mr. Dela Silva? Namumuro kana ah'
'Stop seeing other men Alli.'
'I am not seeing anyone and-'
'I just saved your ass the other night in a bar because you're too wasted and you cant even manage yourself.' Darn! Tama nga ako at gusto kong itanong kung bakit siya andun pero itinikom ko nalang ang bibig ko.
'That wont happen again.' I saw his lips pursed and his facial expression hardened. 'T-thank you'
Tahimik na kaming kumain pero hindi parin ata ako nakakarecover sa bilis ng pangyayari kaya hindi na ako nag angat ng tingin hanggang sa matapos na kaming kumain at sabay na kaming naglakad pabalik sa loob ng restaurant. Napaigtad ako ng hinawakan niya ang beywang ko lalo na ng mahagip ng mata ko ang mga mata ng ibang tao na nakatingin samin at nakahinga lang ako ng dumating na ang valet.
'Give me your phone' utos nito kaya hinagilap ko ang phone at agad ibinigay sa kanya.
'Text me when your home' pagod akong tumango bago sumakay sa kotse at pinaandar ito palayo sa kinatatayuan niya, nasilip ko pa siya sa side mirror na nakatayo parin sa kinatatayuan nita at nakapamulsa, hinatid niya ng tingin ang kotse ko.
Dumiretso na ako sa condo at inabutan ko si Shane at Ara na natigilan ng pumasok ako, si Ara ay natigilan pa sa pagsubo ng popcorn habang pinapanood akong hinuhubad ang sapatos, agad namang inabot ni Shane ang remote control at pinatay ang tv. Sabay din silang umayos ng pagkakaupo. Dumiretso lang ako sa mini bar at kumuha ng bottle ng wine, binasa ko muna ang label nito bago nagsalin sa wine glass, tinungo ko ang couch at pagod na umupo sa gitna nila.
'So?? Gwapo ba? Matangkad? Puti? Tan? Chi-'
'It's Zach!' Parehong nalaglag ang panga ng dalawa at tila ba nahirapan silang lumunok ng popcorn.
'B-but he's engaged to be married! Oh my God!' Maarteng tinakpan ni Ara ang bibig niya.
'I'm his fiancée.' I muttered at diretsong nilagok ang wine. I told them the whole story hanggang dumating si Jerric at nagdala ng pizza na wala sa sariling nilantakan ko. Napatitig naman silang tatlo sakin habang walang nguya-nguya kong kinain ang pizza. 'How could he do this to me? Alam naman ni daddy na nil-' natigilan ako dahil nabilaukan at inabutan ako ni Shane ng isang baso ng juice 'alam naman niyang niloko ako ni Zach ah!'
'Baka kasi kelangan lang ng negosyo niyo Alli. We both know your dad, he's really capable of doing everything for his business.' Ani Jerric na hinahagod ang likod ni Ara.
'No!' I groaned because of the frustration that I'm feeling right now.
'Saka ayaw mo nun? Si Zach? At least kilala mo na siya diba?'
'Kilala ko siyang manloloko!'
'Oh dear! You shouldn't be affected whether he's still a cheater or not, just do as planned. Naka-move on kana diba? Then feelings should no longer be an issue here.' May diing litanya ni Shane.
'Ang tanong, nakamove on na ba talaga?' Si Ara.
'Yun lang' dugtong pa ni Jerric na may konting tawa sa dulo kaya sinipat ko silang tatlo.
'I've moved on' Sagot ko bago nagsalin ulit ng wine sa baso. I've moved on!
Tulog na si Shane sa kabilang kwarto samantalang si Ara naman ay nagpakidnap kay Jerric, bukas pa yon uuwi dito. Pinilit ko nalang ipikit ang mga mata ko pero sa tuwing gagawin ko yun ay naaaninag ko lang ang mukha ni Zach. Mas lalo talaga siyang gumwapo ngayon kaya dinaan ko nalang sa buntong hininga ang nararamdaman ko ng biglang magring ang phone ko. My jaw dropped when I saw whose calling..
Zach Dela Silva.. Oh shit! Napabalikwas ako ng bangon at tumayo palabas sa terrace.
'Yes?' I tried to calm my voice kahit nagwawala na ang puso ko. This can't be happening. No, really.
'I told you to text me when your home. Don't tell me hindi ka pa nakauwi?' I can hear him breathing heavily at ramdam ko din ang diin sa mga binibitawan niyang salita.
'I-it slip my mind.. but I'm home, kanina pa' is this also part of our agreement?
'Informing me with your whereabout is part of our deal Miss Esquibelle' may otoridad nitong saad.
'Fine!' Pareho kaming natahimik sa magkabilang linya at naririnig ko parin ang paghinga niya. 'M-matutulog na ako.'
'You should.. I'll pick you up tomorrow. Lets have lunch' Hindi na ako sumagot at kinancel ko nalang ang tawag.
This agreement to save our company gives me no right to be mad at him, to condemn him for what he did to me before and to insult him for putting me into almost 2 years of agony because of him. Hindi naging madali ang pagmove on ko sa kanya, walang gabing hindi ako sekretong umiiyak sa tuwing naaalala ko ang ginawa niyang panloloko, walang weekends na hindi ako nalalalasing habang minumura ko siya sa harap nila Ara and yet here I am, pumapayag sa lahat ng gusto niya ng hindi man lang nasusumbatan sa kagagohan niya sa akin noon. My dad is such an evil man for putting his only daughter throughhell.
Nagising ako at inabutang kumakain na ng breakfast si Shane.
'Good morning sunshine!' Nakangising bungad nito sakin bago sumimsim ng kape.
'He'll pick me up later.' I said dahil sigurado naman akong yun ang hinihintay niyang detalye.
'Oh.. so? You too are going out for lunch? Or what?'
Tumango lang ako bago nagsalin ng kape sa mug ko at padabog na umupo sa silya. 'I can't believe that i'm marrying that bastard' umiling lang si Shane sakin kaya tahimik kong tinorture ang ham sa plato ko at wala sa sariling napabuntong hininga.
Nagsout ako ng maroon na bodycon dress na hanggang legs at may slight slit sa gilid. Ara, who just arrived did my shoulder length hair, beach waved. My phone vibrated.
'Im in front of your condo'
Nagpaalam na agad ako kina Shane at Ara na nagpipigil ang ngisi. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sobrang kaba ko ng nasa loob na ako ng elevator kaya di ko tuloy maiwasang icheck ang mukha ko. Well, I went for a lighter make up today. A deep breath before I stepped out of the lift. Good gracious! I almost had a mini heart attack when I spot him leaning on his black audi and his arms are crossed over his chest, napalunok ako ng mag-angat sya ng tingin at sinalubong ang mga titig ko. So God help me, I cant help but stare at him, he's wearing a white longsleeve folded to his elbow, bukas ang dalawa o tatlong butones ng damit niya kaya lihim akong napamura. How could he be this perfect. He opened the door for me bago siya umikot sa driver's seat.
'San tayo maglu-lunch?'
'Just nearby. I need to be back in my office, I have a client'
'Oh.. so you're busy?' We stopped in red light kaya lumingon siya sakin, he stared at my face for a moment bago ito bumaba sa damit ko. Tumikhim ako baya bumalik ang titig niya sa mata, wrong move!
'You always wear clothes like that?'
'Why?' Napakunot-noo kong tanong ko at napatingin na rin ako sa sout ko.
'It's too short.'
'So?' Sasagot pa sana siya ng magring ang phone nito, the traffic light went green so he just put it on speaker.
'You moved your meeting with Mr. Claridel?' Pambungad tanong ng nasa kabilang linya, it's a woman. Maybe his assistant? 'Your assistant told me' or maybe not! 'Where are you Zach?? I've been texting you since last night.' And they're constantly texting each other, parang nahirapan yata akong huminga sa iniisip ko. What do I expect?
'I'm driving. I'll call you later' agad kong ibinaling ang paningin sa labas, trying to convince myself that I am not affected.
'Tumikhim ito pero hindi ko pinansin.. That's one of my associates.' he said. Tinanong ko ba?
'A woman associate.' Damn you self, how dare you betray me. Now you sounded like a jealous girlfriend.
'I'll let you meet her' ano raw??
'Why should I meet your associate?' Now I really am doubting myself if I really moved on.
'To stop you from being jealous'
'God! How conceited! I'm not jealous!' I rolled my eyes on him. Bahagya lang siyang tumawa sa sinabi ko, he's really enjoying pissing me off.
'You have all the right to be jealous, after all you're my fiancée so stop denying it Miss Esquibelle.' He smirked at me as if he's sure of everything. 'We're here.' He got out of the car and turned around to open the door for me, I got out in one swift motion, he handed the key to the valet.
Nagpatiuna na akong maglakad kaya nagulat ako ng bigla niyang hinapit ang beywang ko, napasinghap ako sa ginawa niya and what makes it more difficult for me to breath is the fact that I can feel his manly scent, he's too close that my brain is not functioning well.
'You're getting all the attention with that dress' he whispered closely to my ear. His warm breath sent shiver to my system. 'Now I'm jealous.' Mahinang saad nito habang naglalakad kami at muntik pa akong matumba dahil nagkabuhol buhol na ang paa ko sa paglalakad dahil sa sobrang lakas ng pintig ng puso ko. 'Careful babe' agap niya sakin kaya mas lalong napahigpit ang hawak niya sa beywang ko.
'I-I'm okay..' i mumbled.
'Well I'm not, fix your dress before I bring you somewhere else' namilog ang mata ko sa sinabi ni Zach.
'Zachary!' Bahagya siyang natawa sa reaksyon ko pero bumalik ang pagkaseryoso ng dumating na kami sa table namin. He pulled the chair for me. Siya na ang nag order para saming dalawa at habang sinasabi niya sa waiter ang order ay hindi mawala ang titig nito sakin kaya feeling ko tuloy pinapawisan ako kahit ang lakas ng aircon sa restaurant.
'So how have you been?' I wasn't expecting that question so I unconsciously raised my brow on him.
'I'm good..' inabot ko ang wine glass at dinala sa bibig ko.
'I can see that.' Nangalumbaba siya sa harap ko kaya mas naging obvious ang features ng mukha niya, Ang pormadong kilay niya na mejo may kakapalan, ang matangos niyang ilong, mamula-mula niyang labi. He's a perfection. 'And I can see you staring at me' Bigla akong napasandal sa upuan ng mapagtanto kong kanina pa ako nakatitig sa kanya.
'I-I'm act-'
'So you're here pala' natigilan ako ng may babaeng nagsalita sa likuran ko at maging si Zach na nakaupo sa harapan ko ay nakatingala sa nagsalita. Ang pagkabigla nito ay napalitan ng seryosong ekspresyon.
'Inggrid.' Napaawang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya kaya napalingon na rin ako sa likuran ko, napatayo ako ng mapagtanto kung sino ang tinawag niyang Inggrid, maging ito ay nabigla rin.
'A-Alliyah? Alliyah Esquibelle?' Inggrid Marize Alano. The cheerleader from the past!