Please ignore the mistake.
***
"Saan mo nakilala si Gabriel?" Ethan asked without looking at her. Hawak ang bote ng alak sa isang kamay at ang isa naman ay sa baso na panay ang salin pagkatapos nitong maubos ang laman.
Dinala siya nito sa mini bar sa loob ng villa matapos makaalis ni Gabriel at kumuha ng isa bote mula sa nakahilirang mamahaling alak na ngayon nga ay kasalukuyan na nitong iniinom, while she stood there with uneasiness and kept a safe distance between them habang pinapanood ito sa paginom. Mukha itong kalmado but she could see the stiffness of his body, kung hindi mo ito kilala ay aakalain mo na normal lang iyon at isang simpleng tanong lang ang sinabi nito but Isabella knew him better.
Mahigit isang buwan na silang magkasama at sa mga panahong iyon ay ilang beses na niyang nakita ang ganitong anyo ni Ethan. Kalmado ang panlabas na anyo pero sa kabila ng pagiging kalmado ay nandoon ang natatagong galit at bigla na lamang sasabog na parang bulkan o di kaya naman ay bubuhos na parang bagyo. At alam niya na galit pa rin ito, katunayan ay ang sunod sunod na paglagok nito ng alak.
"Sa__ school, isa siya sa mga professor ko," She answered quietly. Hindi alam ang tamang sasabihin para kahit paano ay mabawasan ang galit ni Ethan.
"So, matagal na pala kayong magkakilala? Kaya ba ganoon na lang kung yakapin ka niya?" Isabella could feel than heard the anger in his voice. "Nagkaroon ba kayo ng relasyon?" He continued. Humigpit ang hawak nito sa baso bago itinaas sa bibig, inubos ang laman at ibinagsak sa counter. Mabuti na lang at matibay ito dahil kung hindi ay baka durog durog ito sa lakas ng impact ng pagkakabagsak nito na bahagyang ikinagulat ni Isabella.
"Sagutin mo ang tanong ko, Isabella." Ethan said impatiently, commandingly.
"No. Si Gabriel__ isa lang siyang kakilala."
"Kakilala," Ethan mocked, one eyebrow raised cynically. He looked at her for the first time and their eyes met, and Isabella shivered at the coldness of his stare. Hiling niya ay hindi ito nakatingin sa kanya. Nasasaktan siya kapag tinititigan siya ni Ethan ng ganoon.
Where is the sweet and caring Ethan awhile ago. The one who held her in his arms lovingly. The one who looked at her with such tenderness and admiration in his eyes as if she was the only woman in the world. And what did he just called her?
Isabella?
So she was Isabella now. Not Belle o sweetheart. Isabella felt the tigthening of his chest. Sa isang iglap ay nasira ang maganda at masayang gabi nila ni Ethan dahil sa kagagahan niya.
"Ganoon ka ba ka-intimate sa lahat ng kakilala mo?" He sneered maliciously.
"Walang ibig sabihin ang yakap na iyon." Ang sagot ni Isabella habang malungkot na nakatitig kay Ethan. Ilang hakbang lang ang layo niya dito pero pakiramdam niya ay umatras ito ng sampung hakbang sa ipinakikita nitong kalamigan.
"Wala?" Ethan laughed sarcastically. The sounds of his laughter vibrated all over the place, echoing in the four corners of the room. Masarap sanang pakinggan kung hindi lamang sa sarcasm at bitterness na maririnig mo sa boses nito. Then the laughter faded, the smile vanished from his lips. Meeting her gaze he said...
"You flinched the first time I tried to hold you. You almost hysterical the first time I held your hand, tapos sasabihin mo sa akin ngayon na walang ibig sabihin ang yakap na iyon!" Ethan was not shouting, he still look calm but his tone hardened may diin ang lahat ng binibitawang salita. May pagdududa. Nagaakusa... na para bang nakita nito si Gabriel at siya na may ginagawa na higit pa sa yakap. And before she could depend herself, Ethan spoke again, "At napaniwala mo ako." A muscle ticked on his jaw as his eyes narrowed down at her. His chest moved up and down heavily na parang bang nahihirapan itong huminga.
"Totoo ba ang lahat ng ipinakita mong takot at luha noon o umaarte ka lang para makuha mo ang loob ko?" He said accusingly, eyes cold and filled with contempt and fury. And Isabella wanted to melt sa nakikitang galit sa mga mata nito.
Gusto niyang magalit sa akusasyon nito pero nangingibabaw ang lungkot na kanyang nadarama, nanghihinayang na matatapos ang gabi sa isang pagtatalo. Masaya sila kanina, kung hindi siguro niya naisipang maglakad at umalis sa lamesa kung saan nandoon ang pamilya nito ay baka hindi niya nakita si Gabriel. Hindi sila nagtatalo ni Ethan ngayon. Hindi siya inaakusahan nito na para bang ang sama sama niyang babae. At gustong tumulo ng luha niya sa sama ng loob.
Damn her emotions! Nasaan na ba ang tapang niya. Bakit ba ang dali dali niyang nasasaktan at kay babaw ng luha niya? And damn Ethan for making her feel this way! Magulo na ang mundo niya noon bakit kailangang guluhin pati nito ang damdamin at puso niya. At bakit ba kung husgahan siya nito ay ganoon na lang?
Isabella closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Iniipon ang lahat ng lakas at katatagan para hindi maiyak. She reopened her eyes, itinaas ang mukha at sinalubong ang malamig na titig nito. "Kahit siguro anong sabihin ko ay hindi mo rin ako paniniwalaan base sa nakikita ko sa mga mata mo. So, wala ding kwenta kung magpapaliwanag pa ako." She said softly, sadly. "And it was so sad to know na ganoon pala kabawbaw ang pagkakakilala mo sa akin." Her voice trembled, tears threatening to fall.
"I'm tired, Ethan, gusto ko ng magpahinga," Isabella smiled bitterly and hurriedly turned around to hide her tears na hindi na niya napigilan pa at sunod-sunod na bumagsak sa kanyang pisngi. She felt the shaking of her fingers kasabay ng panghihina ng kanyang katawan, not to mention the aching of her heart.
In her weak knees, ay nagmamadali siyang tumakbo sa may hagdan. Ayaw niyang makita ni Ethan ang kanyang pagiyak kaya mas makakabuting palipasin na lang niya ang sama ng loob sa kuwarto. Pero bago niya marating ang hagdan... She felt a hand around her wrist.
Ethan pulled her against him, one hand circled around her waist while the other cupped her face and raised it to him. His expression changes from anger to remorse and tenderness, cursing himself when he saw the tears in Isabella's eyes.
"Belle..." He whispered, unsure of what to say and what to do to stop her from crying. He felt his chest ache as if someone squeezed his heart sa nakikitang anyo ni Isabella.
He was so stupid. He was too angry and too jealous too see reason kaya kung anu-ano na lang ang lumalabas sa bibig niya and Isabella was the receiving end. Nasaktan na naman niya ito.
"I'm sorry, baby," He breathed into her hair. He took her arms and wrapped it around his waist. Then his hands went back around her and pulled her against him, rubbing soothing circles on her back and her hair, pero sa halip na tumahan ay lalo pang lumakas ang hagulhol ni Isabella.
"Oh, sweetheart, please don't cry," He pleaded while kissing her hair, her temple, her forehead...her closed eyes... nose, her jaw, her ear and her wet cheeks, drying her tears. Murmuring endearing words until she stop crying.
For an endless moment, they remained standing there, embracing each other, sharing each other warmth before Ethan kissed her forehead and lifted her into his arms then walked to the stairs and carried her to his bedroom.
Isabella wrapped her arms around Ethan's neck, she closed her eyes and burried her face into his chest. One touch. One hug and one kiss...Her anger and sadness instantly disappeared. Ganoon kalaki ang epekto ni Ethan sa kanya.
Iminulat ang mga mata ng maramdaman niya na ibinaba siya ni Ethan sa dulo ng kama. He bend, held her knees apart and knelt down between her legs. Maingat na itinaas ang kanyang paa at dahan dahang inalis ang sapatos. He took her one hand and squezeed it gently before raising it to his cheek. He moved his face to the side, kissing her palm and her wrist as he said, "I'm sorry, sweetheart... Nagseselos ako at nagagalit kay Gabriel kaya ko nasabi ang lahat ng iyon," he admitted, and Isabella felt joy sa kaalamang nagseselos ito at hindi ito nahihiya na aminin iyon sa kanya.
"But It was not my intention to hurt your feelings." His face sad almost in pain as his eyes bored into her. He let go of her hand and came closer then cupped her face in his hands and rested his forehead against her. "Will you forgive me?" His eyes pleading, at paano ito matatanggihan ni Isabella if he looks so adorable in that expression.
She placed her hands over his and squeezed it gently, nodding her head she whispered, "I forgive you..."
A relief crossed his eyes and a big grin curved into his mouth. "Thank you, sweetheart," then he placed a soft kiss on her forehead while his thumb gently stroked her cheeks. Bumaba ang labi nito sa pagitan ng kanyang kilay, sa ilong at sa magkabilang pisngi at sa baba, sadyang iniwasan ang kanyang labi.
"Kiss me, sweetheart." He murmured.
Isabella sligthly pulled away to stare on his face. A creased formed in her forehead. "Bakit hindi mo na lang ako halikan? Alam mo na tutugon ako."
"I know." Ethan cupped the back of her neck and pulled her, pressing her forehead against him again. "Pero ayaw kung isipin na kapag hinahalikan kita ay napipilitan ka lang. Na obligado kang tugunin ang halik ko dahil sa ating kasunduan."
Isabella shook her head. "I'm new to all of this pero alam kong hindi totoo iyon."
"Hindi nga ba?" Ang may pagdududang tanong ni Ethan. "Hindi ka ba natatakot sa tuwing hinahalikan kita?"
Muling umiling si Isabella. "Alam ko na dapat iyon ang nararamdaman ko, pero nakakapagtaka na pagdating sa'yo ay nawawala ang takot ko. May kaba oo, pero sa rason na hindi ko kayang ipaliwanag."
Ethan smiled at her lovingly, hindi maipagkakaila ang kasiyahan. "Then show me, sweetheart, kiss me because I'm dying. I'm dying to feel your lips against mine." Dahil buong linggo ay hindi mawala sa isip niya iyon, mula ng mahalikan niya si Isabella.
"How?" Isabella swallowed. Hindi alam kung paano iaanggulo ang ulo, hindi ito ang unang beses na hahalikan niya si Ethan pero ito ang unang pagkakataon na mag initiate siya ng kiss.
Ethan chuckled. Amused by her innocence. "Just follow your instinct, love." he advised at hindi napuna ang ginamit na endearment para kay Isabella.
Isabella placed her hands on both of Ethan's cheeks and slowly fused her mouth on his. A harsh groaned escaped from Ethan's mouth the moment he felt Isabella's lips on his. Mahigit ng isang linggo ng huli niyang matikman ang labi ni Isabella at pakiramdam niya ay nalulunod siya sa tamis ng labi nito.
Isabella smiled into the kiss, nasisiyahan sa kaalamang siya ang dahilan ng reaksiyon na iyon ni Ethan. Nawala ang alinlangan... she closed her eyes, angled her face and deepened the kiss. His mouth tasted gum and wine but it only served as an aphrodisiac to her dry and craving mouth.
The kiss started slow and gentle but it became wild. Ethan coaxed her mouth to open and kissed her hungrily... demandingly... and Isabella kissed him back without reservation.
He ignited. He rose up on his knees and climbed on the bed, dragging them both on the center while his mouth still on hers. Ethan gently pushed her down on the mattress and settled between her legs.
"Belle..." He murmured into her lips as he hesitatingly pulled away from the kiss. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes..." She whispered softly. Their breaths mingled, both still panting.
"I know I told you na kaya kung maghintay but I'll die if I didn't do this..." He gazed down at her. The longing and desire clearly in his eyes.
Alam ni Isabella kung ano ang ibig sabihin ni Ethan. Nandoon pa rin ang hesitation sa panig niya but she wants him to be happy. She reached for his hand and took it to her smaller one and kissed his finger one by one encourangingly nasa mga mata ang pangsangayon.
"Just say stop if you feel uncomfortable and I'll stop." He said at tumango si Isabella biglang sagot at iyon lang ang hinihintay ni Ethan.
He went back to her lips and claimed her mouth hungrily. At ng mapagod doon... He gave her an open-mouthed kisses on her throat... her jaw... shoulder... sa tenga... paulit-ulit, tasting, nibbling and leaving a mark on her skin while his expert hands traveled up and down on her body. Touching every curve... Squeezing her side... kneading her breast.
Nararamdaman ni Isabella ang pagiinit ng kaniyang buong katawan at hindi niya alam ang gagawin. She arched her body upward, pressing her body even more against Ethan and he answered her with a satisfied moan, nasisiyahan sa ginawa niya. Both lost into desire at sabay na naglikot ang mga kamay. Isabella fumbled with the buttons of his suit habang natagpuan naman ni Ethan ang zipper ng kanyang gown and slowly pulled it down. Muling bumalik ang labi nito sa kanyang labi mula sa kanyang leeg before peppering kisses all over her face.
"Belle..." He moaned, "Oh, my sweet Belle, I lov--," Ethan suddenly froze and stop from kissing her. Iniangat nito ang mukha at tumitig sa kanya na parang bang hindi ito makapaniwala. Emotions flickered into his eyes pero hindi mabasa ni Isabella kung ano iyon, na kasalukuyang naguguluhan kung bakit tumigil si Ethan gayong hindi naman niya sinabing tumigil ito.
"Ethan..." She whispered, kitang kita ang kalituhan sa mukha. Itinaas niya ang kamay para hawakan ang mukha nito pero mabilis iniwas ni Ethan ang mukha at biglang tumayo, bago lumakad patungo sa pinto at basta na lang lumabas at iniwan si Isabella ng walang paalam.