YUMIKA SQUIRMED in her seat as she popped her knuckles. Kanina pa siya patingin-tingin sa malaking wall clock na nakakabit sa dingding ng opisina ni Attorney Tan. Hindi na niya mabilang kung ilang buntong-hininga na ang pinakawalan niya para lang maibsan ang kabang nararamdaman. Sa totoo lang ay gusto niyang tumakbo. Gusto niyang umalis habang hindi pa dumarating ang taong hinihintay nila. She wasn't ready to face him yet. She wasn't ready to see him up close.
Cade Hernandez, the man who left her two days after their wedding. Hanggang ngayon ay ramdam parin niya ang sakit na dulot ng pag-iwan nito sa kanya kahit dalawang taon na ang lumipas.
The door suddenly squeaked open and Yumika's head shot up in an instant. Lumakas rin lalo ang pintig ng puso niya. Dumating na ang pinakahihintay nila. Yumika breathed in and forgot to let it out. Why, the devil incarnate was still looking so damn good. So much better, in fact. He wore a dark blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows, at humuhubog iyon sa matitipuno nitong mga braso. He looked taller compared before. He even looked sexier with his hair pushed back. Parang kagagaling lang nitong mag-shower. He's got a perfect five o' clock shadow which added mysteriousness in his overall appearance. Ngunit mas lalong nahugot ang hininga niya nang magtama ang kanilang mga mata. Cade stared at her for three seconds before he eyed her up and down. Feeling tuloy niya naglaho ang suot niyang pencil skirt. His dark eyes met her brown eyes once again. Gusto niyang umiwas ng tingin ngunit parang hindi niya magawa. It was like she suddenly went weak.
"Cade, hijo." Ang tinig ni Attorney ang pumutol sa tila hipnotismo sa kanilang dalawa ni Cade. Humugot siya ng hininga kasabay na napalinaw si Cade sa lalamunan nito.
"Attorney..." Anito sa baritonong boses nito na nagpatayo sa kanyang balahibo. "Sorry for keeping you waiting. Medyo traffic kasi papunta rito."
"It's okay. Kararating lang din naman ng asawa mo." Sagot ni Attorney Tan sabay tingin sa kanya. Cade didn't glance at her though, instead he slouched on the comfy chair as if she wasn't there.
Okay, fine. If you can ignore me, I can do the same for you. Aniya sa isip. "Attorney, let's get to the point why you called us. I have to be somewhere else by ten 'o clock."
Bumuntong-hininga ang matanda. "Okay, this is all about the last will and testament of Franco." Tukoy nito sa namayapang ama ni Cade. Napatuwid ng upo ang binata, halatang interesado sa sasabihin ng attorney.
Two weeks ago ay inatake sa puso ang ama nito at hindi na nga nito nakayanan pa. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit muling nagpakita si Cade. He showed up at the last vigil of his late father. Yumika didn't see him since he came back, or rather she was intentionally avoiding meeting him and this would be their very first meeting since he disappeared.
"Am I part of this, Attorney Tan?" Tanong niya.
"Of course. You are a Hernandez, after all."
"Only by marriage. Mas nararapat na nandito si Steph." Giit niya na hindi man lang tinitingnan si Cade. She was fully aware of his gaze though.
"Tinawagan ko na si Stephanie pero hindi siya makakarating ngayon. With her consent, she told me to go on with this even without her. She will meet me anytime today though." Tumingin ito kay Cade. "Shall we proceed, Cade?"
"By all means, Attorney."
"Okay," tumingin ang matanda sa papel na hawak nito. "Nakasulat dito sa last will and testament ng papa mo na mapupunta kay Stephanie ang La Manière. Isa itong clothing line, Cade at simula ngayon ang kapatid mo na ang hahawak nito. It caters wedding gowns and fabulous dresses."
"I didn't know na mayroon kaming business na clothing line."
"How would you know? You left, remember?" Hindi napigilang sumabat ni Yumika. Napakagat-labi na lang siya nang parehong tumingin sa kanya ang dalawang lalaki. "Carry on, Attorney."
"Well, eight months ago binili ito ng papa mo. This clothing line was in the middle of bankruptcy. Your father helped Mrs. Ortega, the former owner, and later on bought all the rights to it. The name was changed then, from Fashion Fever to La Manière. Since Steph had contributed few designs, your father decided it was best for La Manière to be managed by your sister."
"I don't have a problem with that. I think Steph can handle it."
Tumango ang matandang attorney at napatango naman si Yumika. Nararapat lang naman na kay Steph mapunta ang clothing line. Simula kasi nung nabili ng yumaong ama nila ang business, naging matino na si Stephanie. Iyon ay dahil nasa puso talaga ni Steph ang pagiging isang designer. His sister finally got the chance to do what she really wanted to do.
"And for your wife, may habilin rin ang iyong ama." Narinig niyang sabi ni attorney. Yumika squirmed again. "Your late father wanted Yumika to have the Hernandez Manor." Tukoy nito sa isa pang mansion na pagmamay-ari ng mga Hernandez. It was a modern mansion located in the outskirts of town. Pangalawang beses na siyang nakapunta doon nung dinala siya ni Steph para magbakasyon. Medyo isolated lang ang bahay dahil nasa parte ng bundok iyon nakatayo. At night though, the place was magnificent.
Hindi mapigilan ni Yumika ang sulyapan si Cade. Too late, he was already looking at her. "Well, if that's what my father wanted. She can have the mansion." Anito sabay turo sa kanya. Yumika's nose flared. Hindi man lang nito masambit ang kanyang pangalan. Makikita siguro sa kanyang mukha ang pagkairita dahil napangiti ang matandang attorney.
"The she you are referring to is your wife, Cade." Attorney sounded amused.
"Yeah, but not for long. I'm planning to have an annulment."
Umiling si Attorney Tan. "If I were you, Cade. I wouldn't do that. Especially if you still want your share."
"What do you mean by that, Attorney?"
Tumikhim ang matanda. "Your father wanted you to have the whole Hernandez empire but on one condition." Panimula nito. Biglang kinabahan si Yumika. Para kasing kasali siya sa sinasabing kondisyon. "You can only have it if both of you, as husband and wife, will live together under the same roof for one whole year."
Sabay silang napa-'what' ni Cade.
"Yup, nakasulat lahat ng iyan dito sa last will and testament ng papa mo." Itinaas pa nito ang papel. Napahawak na lamang si Yumika sa kanyang sintido. Parang sumasakit na ang ulo niya. Kung panaginip lamang ito, nais na niyang magising. Isa itong nightmare para sa kanya. "From being the president, your mother is now the current CEO until you will take over. Plano ng mag-retiro ng mama mo kaya dapat sa lalong madaling panahon ay ikaw na ang magti-take over." Dagdag ni Attorney Tan at makahulugang tiningnan siya.
"What if hindi ako papayag na makasama si Cade?" Tanong niya pagkaraan ng ilang minuto.
"Then Cade won't get the Hernandez empire." Simpleng tugon ng matanda na may kasama pang kibit-balikat.
"No, no, no. You will help me get the Hernandez empire, my dear wife."
Nakataas ang isang kilay na tiningnan niya si Cade. Pagkaraan ay tumawa siya ng mapakla na waring naghahamon. "Oh, wow. So, I'm your wife now? At paano kung ayaw ko? May magagawa ka ba?"
Tumikhim si Attorney Tan kasabay na tumayo ito mula sa kinauupuan. "I'll just gonna leave you two para makapag-usap kayo."
"No, Attorney." Pigil niya sa matanda. "You don't have to leave. Wala naman kaming dapat pag-usapan pa nitong estranged husband ko."
"Please, Attorney. Give us a moment." Napa-ismid na lang si Yumika dahil mas sinunod ng matanda si Cade. "Sa ayaw at sa gusto mo you will help me get my share, wife." Tumayo si Cade at tinungo ang pinto. Nanayo ang balahibo niya nang makitang ini-lock nito iyon.
Napatayo siya ng wala sa oras. "A-Anong ginagawa mo?"
Tumawa si Cade habang papalapit sa kanya. "I'm not gonna kill you or anything, wife. I just want to have some quality time with you."
"D-Don't come near me! Hindi mo na ako madadala sa—" Hindi na niya natapos ang sasabihin nang hapitin siya nito sa baywang. Tila nalunok niya ang kanyang dila nang magkalapit ang kanilang mga mukha.
"Hmm? What did you say, wife?" Bulong nito sa kanya. His breath fanning her cheek and tickling her at the same time. All the signals in her body were going insane—red lights, wailing sirens. Ngunit tila nag-malfunction ang utak niya dahil nang mapansin niyang unti-unting lumalapit ang mukha nito na tila hahalikan siya, hindi man lang siya lumayo rito. She was immobilized, in fact. At wala siyang nagawa nang maglapat ang kanilang mga labi.
At first, he kissed her gently as if she was going to break. But a few seconds after, he kissed her like he owned her. Sa puntong iyon parang gumana na ang kanyang utak, sending warning signals like it was between life and death. With her palm against his chest, she pushed him away. Pero parang alam nito ang binabalak niya dahil hindi ito nagpatinag. Sa halip ay humawak ang isang kamay nito sa kanyang batok. He deepened the kiss and Yumika silently shrieked. He was kissing her like her lips were air and he couldn't breathe. And when she felt that his arm around her loosened a bit, she took the chance to fully push him away. This time, she finally won. Pero hindi lang iyon ang nangyari. Natagpuan niya ang sarili na ang isang kamay niya ay malakas na dumapo sa pisngi nito. Nagulat man sa nagawa ngunit mabilis na naitago niya ang pagkagulat. Walang sabing kinuha niya ang kanyang shoulder bag at dali-daling tinungo ang pinto at iniwan ito.
MAY NGITI SA MGA labing napahawak si Cade sa kanyang pisngi. No one had ever slapped him before. Yumika was the first one to have done it. And he was both amused and shocked at the same time. Kung galit siya, hindi niya mawari. Ang alam lang niya ay naaaliw siya sa reaksiyon ng kanyang asawa matapos niya itong halikan. She was a fiery, little fox. May kutob siyang hindi ito madaling kumbinsihin na tumira sa isang bahay kasama siya. But he was up for the challenge though.
Mula sa kinatatayuan ay tinungo niya ang bintana. Hinawi niya ang kurtina at napadungaw sa labas. Muli siyang napangiti nang makita si Yumika na nagmamadaling makapasok sa kotse nito. She must have sensed that someone was looking at her because she looked up. Their eyes immediately locked up.
Mapang-uyam na kumaway siya sa dalaga. Through the glass window, he could see how her nose flared and that made him laughed. Inirapan lang siya ni Yumika bago ito tuluyang pumasok sa kotse at ipinaharurot iyon.
"Where is Yumika?" Tanong ni Attorney Tan nang bumalik ito.
"She left," Cade answer casually as if nothing happened between him and his wife. Muli siyang naupo sa kinauupuan niya kanina. Hinimas niyang muli ang pisnging sinampal ni Yumika. Hindi na iyon sumasakit pero bigla na lang niyang naalala ang pangyayari at napa-iling na lamang siya.
"You've got to convince your wife, Cade." Dagdag ng matanda sa seryosong tono. "Or else the Hernandez empire won't be yours."
Tumango si Cade. "I know exactly what to do, Attorney. Yumika may appear uninterested now when it comes to me but I was once her kryptonite. I have my ways." He was confident enough that he had the guts to smile.
Attorney Tan leaned back against his swivel chair. "Whatever is that plan of yours ay sana lang gagana kay Yumika. After all she'd been through when you left her, I think she had learned her lesson."
Cade went silent with that statement, the smile on his face slowly disappearing. He didn't know what to respond to that. All of a sudden, he remembered what he did to her that one night...
"P-Please don't go, Cade. Please don't leave me." Umiiyak habang nagmamakaawa ang asawa niya at pilit na inaagaw ang trolley niya. Cade looked at her with disgust in his eyes. He has nothing but contempt for his wife. Wala itong ibang ginawa kundi guluhin ang buhay niya. Hindi pa ito nakuntento sa kakabuntot sa kanya, and now she made sure he was hers for the rest of her life.
Marahas na hinawi niya ang kamay nito. "You still don't get it, do you? I don't want to be near you, Mika. And I'm sure as hell that I don't want you as my wife." He told her, ignoring her pained look and her cries. "You ruined my life by forcing this marriage, by forcing yourself to me!" He sputtered and she flinched, moving back an inch.
"C-Cade..."
"And you know what else, Mika?" Hinablot niya ito sa mga braso at napangiwi ito sa sakit. Pero wala na siyang ibang nararamdaman kundi poot para rito. "I will never, ever, love you."
"If you really want her to cooperate with you..." tinig ni Attorney Tan ang pumutol sa daloy ng kanyang isipan. Hindi niya ito namalayan na umibis mula sa kinauupuan at kumuha ng wine para sa kanilang dalawa. Kinuha niya mula rito ang inabot nitong wine glass at tahimik na sumipsip. "...then you'd really have to do a lot of groveling, hijo. Hindi lang sakit sa puso ang ininda niya nung iniwan mo siya. Pati kahihiyan ay hinarap ni Yumika. She was sort of the town's laughing stock during those times."
Bumuntong-hininga si Cade, feeling the guilt creeping up inside him. "Did she try to look for me while I was gone?"
Nagkibit-balikat ang matanda. "Not that I know of. But I guess she did. Everything was in chaos that time. Your family can't even reach you. Hindi nila alam kung saang sulok ka nagtatago. Ang alam lang nila ay pumunta ka sa ibang bansa. Your father had managed to trace you somehow. You were in London, but they couldn't find you there."
"Alam kong hahanapin ako ni papa so from London I travelled again to the neighboring countries by land."
"Your father suspected that. At ibang pangalan rin ang ginamit mo, I believe."
Tumango si Cade. "I also changed my looks. I dyed my hair, grew facial hair, wore contact lenses when going out. I've stayed lay low. I met a very good friend and I told him what I was going through. He offered me a job as his assistant manager in a local inn. And that's how I lived for the past two years. It was hard at first but then eventually I got the hang of it."
Attorney Tan sighed as he went back to his chair. "Cade, hijo, Yumika..." Napatigil ito na waring naghahanap ng tamang salita na sasabihin. "Nagkaroon siya ng social anxiety disorder dahil sa pangyayari pero buti na lang at naagapan. There was also one time nung na corner siya ng mga local press dahil tumirik ang sasakyan niya, she had panic attacks. Good thing your sister went to the rescue. Yumika's never been the same since then."
Napatitig na lang si Cade sa kawalan, ini-imagine si Yumika matapos ang pag-iwan niya. Magiging sinungaling siya kung sasabihin niyang hindi kailanman sumagi sa isip niya ang dalaga habang nagtatago siya. He had also wondered how her life was after he had left. Though the anger had still managed to creep up inside him from time to time. Sa ngayon, hindi siya sigurado kung naroon parin ba ang poot. Dahil nung nakita na niya ang dalaga kanina, after two years, hindi niya mawari ang nararamdaman. He couldn't seem to put a finger on it.
Cade paused his thoughts and went back to reality. Napatingin siya kay attorney at nakita niyang nakatitig lang ito sa kanya na waring binabasa siya. He cleared his throat. "If you're worried about me and Yumika sharing the same house together, don't be. I promise you, we won't kill each other."
Tumawa si Attorney Tan. "Nah, hindi naman 'yan ang ikinakabahala ko. I am more worried about Yumika. She went through a lot, Cade. Please don't make her suffer for more."
"If that is your way of asking me to reciprocate her old feelings—"
"Nope." Putol nito. "That is my way of saying do not play with her heart. Do not lead her on and then leave her for the second time around. Your father blamed himself for what had happened, he felt responsible for Yumika's pain. Kahit na sa huling hininga nito ay humingi parin ito ng tawad kay Yumika. I'm just saying Cade na huwag mo ng saktan si Yumika, for your late father's sake."
Natahimik si Cade. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin. Naisip niya na kung alam ng kanyang namayapang ama ang pinagdaanan ni Yumika nung umalis siya, bakit pa nito pilit na pagtirahin pa silang dalawa sa iisang bahay?