Chapter Twenty One
TAHIMIK ang naging byahe nila Karen pabalik sa bahay nila. Tila ba napansin ng mga kapatid niya na wala siya sa mood makipag-usap, maging si Colton ay tahimik lang din na nagmaneho. Hindi mawala sa isip niya ang pag-uusap nila ni Gail. Seeing her and hearing the bad news stressing her out.
Nang dumating sila sa bahay nila ay sa kwarto kaagad siya nila ni Colton tumuloy. Hindi niya alam kung paano sisimulan ang pagsasabi sa binata sa nangyari sa mommy nito. Seems like he doesn't know the news. Are they hiding it from him?
When Carter visited them, parang wala naman itong sinabi kay Colton tungkol sa kalusugan ng ina nila. Kung alam man ng fiance niya, siguradong sinabi na iyon sa kanya. Di ba?
"Did I make you tired last night?" Malambing na tanong ni Colton nang tabihan siya sa kama.
He's topless. His well-cut muscles on his arms scream how strong he is. The hair on his lower abdomen making her gulp. Wearing his dark checkered boxer, she could almost see the bulge between his thighs. And knowing that there's nothing underneath, makes her sweat! Her fiance and soon to be husband legally is smoking hot!
"A little bit." She answered truthfully.
Colton really made her tired last night, okey. They made love until midnight, then he made her sleep for a couple of minutes, before he took her again. Literal, na kaunti lang ang naging tulog niya kagabi.
"Okey. I will make you rest tonight."
K chuckled.
Kahit papano napapawi ang pagod sa kanya dahil sa mga banat nito. Hinaplos niya ang panga ng binata. Bagong shaved ito, kaninang umaga lang.
"Hmm, can we move our wedding day?" She asked, looking at his eyes that captivates her.
"Did I pressure you?"
She nodded slowly. "Y-yes,"
"I'm sorry for that. But yes, we can move our wedding. When do you like?"
He slid his one hand inside her bra and started caressing her breasts. He's starting his business again! Palagi. Palagi na lang nitong ginagawa iyon sa tuwing magkatabi sila. Para bang nakasanayan na nitong himasin at pisil-pisilin ang dibdib niya.
"Akala ko ba pagpapahingahin mo ako? Bakit naglilikot na naman 'yang kamay mo?"
Colton groaned. "I can't stop myself. Let me touch you, only touch. No licking and kissing." Pagkumbinsi nito sa kanya na parang mas sarili pa nito ang kinukumbinsi.
"Hindi mo ba namimiss ang pamilya mo?" Kapagkuwan ay pag-usisa niya.
"Why are you asking?"
"Bakit hindi? Pamilya mo sila. Your brothers, your parents. Do you miss them?"
Humigpit ng bahagya ang yakap nito sa kanya mula sa likod. Marahan siyang napapikit, dinama ang mga bisig nito na nakapalupot say kanya. Kung sana ay madali na lang ang lahat sa kanilang dalawa, kung sana wala lang tutol sa pagmamahalan nila, e di sana ay hindi na siya nahihirapan at nagdadalawang isip pa.
"I do, okey. But if you'd ask me to pay a visit in mansion to see them, my answer is no."
"Do you communicate with them?" Stupid question! Of course he doesn't! Madalang niyang makitang hawak nito ang cellphone at kung may katawagan man, si Carter lang.
"I don't need to. Sanay sila na wala ako."
"Sanay ka din na wala sila?"
"Nasanay na din." Hinalikan nito ang leeg niya. "Why don't we talk about our wedding? When do you like? Which church?"
Paano niya nga ba sasabihin dito ang tungkol sa kalagayan ni Mrs. Altaraza kung ibang usapan ang gustong nitong pag-usapan nila? But this is about their wedding, right? Dapat ay excited siya! Dapat ay masaya siya! Dapat ay wala nang bumabagabag sa kanya bago sila ikasal kaya dapat ay sabihin niya na dito ang tungkol sa ina nito!
"M-may sasabihin sana ako sa'yo..." This is it!
"What is it?" She could feel the intensity over his voice. "You already said Yes to me, baby." He reminded her as if she forgot about it, as if she would cancel there wedding.
K shifted her position. Ngayon ay magkaharap na sila, nakita niya sa mga mata nito ang pangamba at kailangan niyang alisin ang pangambang iyon. Slowly, she kiss him on the lips, telling him how much she loves him and how much she wanted to marry him.
"I will marry you, okey? Ayokong pagdudahan mo ang nararamdaman ko sa'yo, Colton. Things happened so fast between us, but I have no problem with that as long as I know that we're true to ourselves and to our feelings. Simula ngayon, gusto kong mas maging tapat pa tayo sa isa't-isa, 'yung wala tayong itinatago..."
"I don't hide anything..."
Marahan niya itong tinanguan at nginitian. Siguro nga, siya lang itong may itinatago sa kanilang dalawa. Kung patuloy niya itong pagtataguan, hindi iyon maganda para sa isang relasyon. Kaya, sasabihin niya na bago pa mahuli ang lahat.
K silently took a deep breath.
"I saw Gail," She thought that Colton will be surprised, but he didn't. He's showing her his stoic face. She can't read him!
"When?"
"Kanina sa Mall." Ngumuso siya nang hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito. "She was following us, Colton. Alam niya kung saan tayo nakatira. Ayoko ng gulo. Ayokong pati ang mga kapatid ko ay madamay." May bahid na pag-aalala ang boses niya. "Gail is capable in doing things that could ruin me. I won't be surprise if one day, she show up here and make a scene."
"I will talk to her, okey? Stop worrying. I won't let her hurt you again." Hinawi nito ang mga takas na buhok sa pisngi niya bago siya hinalikan sa noo. "What else did she tells you?"
"A-about your mother's health..." His eyebrows furrowed, curious.
"What about my mom?"
"Mrs. Altaraza rushed in the Hos—" She stopped mid sentence when her phone suddenly rang.
Nasa side table iyon ng bed nakapatong, balak niya sanang balewalain at ipagpatuloy ang sinasabi pero inunahan na siya ni Colton na abutin iyon mula sa likod niya.
"Unregistered number," He murmured before answering the call. He place the phone on his ear. "Who's this? Why are you calling my wife?" Uminit ang pisngi niya sa endearment na binanggit nito. His face is so serious that it scares her. "Fuck off, dude. She's married to me, stop calling her!" Then he cut the line, almost throw her phone on bed.
"Sino 'yung tumawag?" Maang na tanong niya. Walang ideya kung sino at bakit alam ang number niya?
"He said, you two were friends. But I don't believed him."
"Lalaki?"
Colton lips form into thin line while staring at her, as if reading her thoughts. Wala sa sariling nakagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi. Kung tama ang hinala niya, baka si Brooke 'yon? The man she met when she visited her siblings before.
"Yes, a man."
"Si Brooke 'yon,"
Lalong nagsalubong ang makakapal na kilay ni Colton. Dumilim ang mukha at gumalaw ng bahagya ang panga. Mapanganib kung titignan, pero bakit parang mas natutuwa siyang pagmasdan ito sa ganoong estado? He seems like ready to beat someone anytime!
"Who's that?" His cold baritone voice, tells her that he doesn't like the news about her, receiving a call from a man.
"I met him when I visited my siblings here, remember? When Ryzza got sick."
"And you gave your number to him?"
"Nakikipagkaibigan lang naman 'yung tao."
"Kahit na! Bawal kang makipagkaibigan sa mga lalaki!" Napangiwi siya ng marahas na gumalaw ang panga nito, tanda na nagpipigil ng galit sa kung kanino.
"Oo na... Hindi na. Okey? Huwag ka nang magalit." Naglalambing na yinakap niya ito at isiniksik ang sarili sa malapad na dibdib ng binata.
Naramdaman niya ang pag buntong hininga nito at ang tila pagpayapa ng katawan. Nakakatuwang isipin na gano'n niya lang kadali pakalmahin si Colton. Isang lambing niya lang, wala na kaagad ang galit nito. Malamang, gano'n din siya sa binata, hindi niya nga yata kakayanin na magalit dito ng matagal.
Maybe because that's how love works, you can't stay mad to the one you love.
"We will buy a new SIM card for you." She looks at him in disbelief. Like, what? Colton just leered, ignoring her reaction. "I don't want any man other than me calls you or send you text messages. I am very territorial, K. You should now that by now."
As much as she doesn't want to believe on him, but the way he acts, Colton is indeed territorial! Nung una palang dapat ay napansin niya na 'yon. It started with Jonas, na halos ayaw siyang palapitin at ipakausap samantalang wala naman malisya ang bagay na 'yon. Idagdag pa na wala naman pa silang relasyon no'n ni Colton. Dati pa man ay mapag-angkin na nga talaga ito.
Karen is about to speak to continue telling him about his mother when they heard a knocked from the main door.
"Ate! Ate! May bisita kayo ni Kuya Colton!" It was Raquel and Rachel's voice from outside.
"Are you expecting someone to visit you today?" He asked her. Umiling siya.
Sino naman ang bibisita sa kanya na hindi kilala ng mga kapatid niya? Gelicah, her only friend is in Manila and her siblings knew her. It must be Colton's visitor.
"Baka bisita mo?" Hinuha niya.
Colton just shrugged. "I don't expect someone to visit us today. My brother is out of town."
"Tignan natin."
Tinulungan siya nitong bumangon. Inayos niya ang pagkaka-hook ng bra niya dahil tinanggal iyon ni Colton kanina. Nang makitang okey na ang itsura niya ay sabay na silang lumabas ng silid upang tignan kung sino ang hindi nila inaasahang bisita sa araw na iyon.
KAREN stopped from walking when she saw their visitor who's siting comfortably on their single sofa. Wearing a fitted dress that hug her body sexily and high heels sandals, Gail's was looking at them with bitterness on her face.
"Who told you to come here?" Colton asked coldly at their visitor. Nakaakbay ito sa kanya, naramdaman ang pagkabigla niya sa hindi inaasahang bisita nila.
"No one told me to come here, babe." The woman answered sweetly.
"You're not welcome here, Gail. You better go back to Manila."
Gustuhin niya mang mag react ay hindi niya magawa lalo at nakita niya ang pagbalatay ng sakit at disgusto sa mukha ng babae. Come to think of it. Gail and Colton were in a relationship for a long time and just a snapped of a fingers, their relationship ruined just like that. And it's because of her? She shook her head silently, erasing the negative thoughts. She's not the reason of their break up. There must be a deeper reason why they split. Nagkataon lang na nando'n siya sa mga oras na kailangan siya ni Colton at hindi naman din nila inaasahan na mahuhulog sila sa isa't-isa.
"Colton, mag-usap tayo..." Nagsusumamo ang boses ni Gail.
Napapikit siya, inuusig siya ng kanyang konsyensya dahil sa ginawa nila ng binata kahit hindi naman dapat. Hindi dapat! Hindi! Nang may nangyari sa kanila ni Colton, wala ng relasyon ang dalawa. Gail tried to make it up with him, but she's too late for that because of what happened between her and Colton. Naramdaman niya na simula nang may namagitan sa kanila ng binata ay hindi na siya nito pinakawalan hanggang sa umabot sila sa pagtatanan.
"We're over, Gail. Wala na tayong dapat pag-usapan pa."
"No! We're not yet over, Colton! You know how much I wanted you back!" Matalim na lumipad sa kanya ang tingin ni Gail. Hindi siya nagpasindak. Taas noo na sinalubong niya ang mata nito. "But because of that gold digger—"
"Fucking shut up!" Colton voice thundered around their small house.
Mabuti na lang at nakasara ang pinto at ang mga kapatid niya ay nasa kabilang unit na. Ayaw na yaw niyang masaksihan ng mga kapatid ang ganitong uri ng pagtatalo. Ayaw niyang malaman ng mga ito kung paano sila nagsimula ni Colton. Na ang magiging tingin ng mga ito ay isa siyang mang-aagaw na babae at mapanira ng relasyon. Her image is very important to her because she wanted to be a role model to her siblings. And hearing this kind of conversation between her, Gail and Colton are not good for her siblings.
Marahan na hinawakan niya si Colton sa braso upang pakalmahin ito. The muscles on his arms were dangerously moving. He's controlling his anger. His face became dark when he looks at his ex girlfriend.
"Please, umalis ka na, Gail." Taboy niya sa pormal na paraan, tunog nakikiusap. "Ayoko ng gulo."
"Ayaw mo ng gulo pero ikaw itong nagsimula ng gulo?!" Matabang na sabi ng babae at tumayo mula sa kinauupuan. Gail is taller than her, she stands like a ramp model.
The woman scanned the whole house with bitterness on her face. Hindi niya ikinahihiya ang tinitirahan nila ni Colton, pero kung tignan ni Gail ay para bang basura ang tinitirahan nila. Nakakainsulto sa parte niya iyon. She tried hard not to complain, she wants this to stop. She wants Gail to leave them, alone and happy. How can she do that?
"Leave." Colton motioned the door to his ex girlfriend.
Gail stands straight and face them with a little pride on her. She's wondering what's on her mind and what she's feeling now? Does they hurt her so bad?
Gaano ba kasakit mawalan ng taong minamahal at malaman mong napunta ito sa iba ng gano'n lang?
Gaano ba kasakit malaman na dapat ikaw ang pakakasalan pero ibang babae ang itinanan? At ngayon, binabalak na pakasalan.
Gaano ba kasakit na dati-rati ikaw lang ang babaeng nakikita ng mga mata niya at minamahal niya? Pero ngayon ikaw na itong nanghihingi ng pagmamahal at kaunting pansin mula sa kanya?
At higit sa lahat, gaano kasakit makita ang taong mahal mo na kasama ang babaeng ipinalit sa'yo?
Kung sa kanya nangyari iyon, siguradong wasak ang puso niya. Marahil, ang babaeng kaharap nila ngayon ay basag na basag sa loob at pinipilit lang na magtapang-tapangan para humarap sa kanila.
Gail suddenly fake a cough. The hatred on her eyes were very visible. She can't blame her.
"Before I go, I would like to tell something very important to you, Colton..." She trailed off, making her nervous. Gail smirked at her, as if she knew what she feels at that moment. Kinukutuban na siya na ang tungkol kay Mrs. Altaraza ang sadya ng babae, kung may iba man, sana ay hindi siya masaktan.
"Tell it then leave."
"But I guess, your future wife already tell it to you?" Muli ay sinulyapan siya ng babae sa nakakainsultong pamamaraan. "Am I right, Karen? Sinabi mo na ba kay Colton ang balita?"
Napalunok siya bigla lalo na nang nagbaba ng tingin sa kanya si Colton, nagtatanong ang mga mata. Ito na nga ba ang ikinatatakot niyang mangyari. Kung bakit ba nagpatumpik-tumpik pa siya kanina.
"What is it, baby?" Masuyong bulong nito sa kanya.
"I was about to tell it to you kanina—"
Gail interrupted.
"So, hindi mo pa pala sinabi? Bakit? Natatakot kang iwan niya nang hindi pa kayo kasal? Afraid that your only hold on him is the ring on your finger? Huh?" Gail chuckled sarcastically. "I thought you love Colton, why do you need to hide it from him then? Alam mong importante iyon sa kanya!"
"I don't hide it from him!" Sikmat niya. Hindi na kayang kontrolin pa ang sarili. Naiinis siya at nagagalit. Balak yata ni Gail na pagmukhain siyang may itinatago siya kay Colton! Samantalang sasabihin niya naman talaga ang tungkol sa ina nito.
"Really, huh?" Gail crossed her arms over her chest, showing them her cleavage. Umirap siya sa hangin. Is she trying to seduce Colton? In front of her?!
"Umalis ka na, Gail. Hayaan mong kami na ang mag-usap ni Colton sa bagay na 'yon."
"How selfish of you, Karen." Iiling-iling ang babae.
"Spit it out, Gail." Colton commanded impatiently.
"Oh well, about tita Carreine, ahm..."
"What about mom?"
"She rushed in the hospital again yesterday—"
"What?! Why?!" Napapikit siya boses ni Colton. Inalis nito ang pagkakaakbay sa kanya at inilang hakbang ang pagitan nito at ni Gail.
Seeing them this close makes her feel envy at Gail. She is really fit to Colton. Bagay na bagay ang dalawa kapag tinitignan. No wonder their relationship lasted for a years, but not until she came in the picture. Karen heaved a sigh. She looks like an annoying villain of their love story.
"She wanted to see you, Colton. Please... This is the only thing I can do for your mom to help her recover." A drop of tears rolled down at Gail's cheeks. Karen heart aches when she hug Colton and sobs on his chest. "Please... Come with me, not for me, but at least for your mother."