Chapter 48: Home
Meghan Ferren's POV
It's almost noon right now and I just got to the fancy restaurant Declan told me to go to. I think it's an American restaurant. I love steaks and all, but I don't really have the appetite after fighting with Adrien.
I felt my heart racing as I saw Declan sitting on a table, waiting for me. Just like the last time, casual lang iyong damit niya. He's in a baby blue polo and white shorts.
For some reason, I feel guilty. I feel like I shouldn't have went here. I feel like I should be at the hotel, talking to Adrien and solving our conflict.
Natigil iyong pag-iisip ko nang makita ako ni Declan na mabilis na lumapit sa akin.
"Meghan!" He looks the same as the last time I saw him. Still hot and stunning. "I'm so glad to see you again," sabi niya at akmang hahalikan ako sa pisngi, but I stepped back.
"Oh, I- I have a boyfriend na," I said sheepishly and as I expected, he looked a bit disappointed.
"Oh. That's a shame," halos pabulong niyang sabi at magsasalita na sana ulit ako, but he cut me off. "Shall we eat?"
"Yeah, sure," sabi ko at umupo na kami.
"I already ordered, actually. I ordered a lot para madaming kang pagpipilian," he said, making me smile.
"Thank you. You've always been so nice to me," nahihiyang sabi ko at natawa siya. "I agreed to see you today kasi naalala kong hindi pa pala ako nakakapagpasalamat ng maayos sa'yo for being so kind to me."
Before he could answer, a waiter approached us, carrying our orders.
"That's nothing, Meghan. I actually want to thank you for coming today, because to be honest, I've really missed you," sabi niya at tinawanan ko lang siya. I don't think it's appropriate for him to tell me he missed me after I said I already have a boyfriend.
The waiter started placing the plates of appetizers infront of us, and I noticed that Declan is staring at me, in a strange, unusual way. Iniwasan ko nalang iyong mga mata niya para hindi kami magkatinginan.
After the waiter served our foods, I grabbed my fork and knife at nag-umpisa nang kumain ng salad.
"I'd also like the bottle of wine I ordered a while ago," sabi ni Declan sa waiter at napatingin ako sa kaniya.
He never told us we'd be drinking. I don't want to drink with him. I have a boyfriend.
"Oh, um, I actually don't feel well dahil kakainom ko lang kahapon. I won't be drinking today," pagpapaliwanag ko sa kaniya.
"Don't worry, Meghan. It's just a wine, it won't get you drunk."
"I... I really don't want to. P'wede namang ikaw nalang, if you wanna drink."
"How about some beer?" This restaurant serves nice beers," makulit na sabi niya dahilan para makaramdam na ako ng inis. Nang mapansin niyang naiinis na ako, he asked me again, "Is it because of your boyfriend?"
"No. I'm just really not in the mood to drink, Declan," sagot ko at napatingin siya sa akin nang ilang mga segundo bago humarap ulit sa waiter.
"Nevermind nalang," he told the waiter at nakahinga na ako nang maluwag. Tumango iyong waiter sa kaniya at naglakad na paalis.
"Thanks," I said at ngumiti lang siya. I went back to eating at napansin na hindi parin siya nagsisimulang kumain. He's suddenly on his phone, texting someone. "You should start ea-"
"Wait, I have to make a call." Seryosong sabi niya nang hindi manlang ako tinitingnan at napatango nalang ako. He's been acting weird, it's starting to creep me out.
He quickly stood up and went to the comfort room. Naiwan akong mag-isa sa table, feeling weird for some reason.
Nangungulit siya kanina na uminom ako, then he suddenly looks so serious and have to call someone. Naalala ko tuloy iyong sinabi ni Adrien.
"I have a bad feeling about that guy, but if you wanna go see him, then go!"
Something in me feels like I should follow him. I feel like it's what Adrien would want me to do if he was here. Pero masyado naman ata akong paranoid at pakealamera pag ginawa ko 'yon.
But fuck it, I won't lose anything if I follow my instincts, right?
I grabbed my glass of water and took a sip before standing up and carefully walking towards the restroom.
Bumibilis iyong tibok ng puso ko habang naglalakad, making me even more nervous.
The second I saw him, mas lumakas 'yong kutob ko na may kakaiba sa kaniya. This is the first time I saw him looking so serious. Nakatalikod siya sa akin at nasa labas ng pinto ng restroom ng mga lalaki habang may kausap sa phone niya.
I carefully walked towards the women's restroom, making sure to not make any noise. Nakatalikod parin siya at binilisan ko iyong paglakad ko.
What the hell am I doing?! Why am I trying to listen to whatever the hell he's saying?
Para akong hihimatayin sa kaba nang gumalaw siya at mukhang haharap sa akin. I ran towards the restroom, as quiet as I can at nakahinga nang maluwag pagkarating ko sa loob.
Walang tao sa loob ng CR. Agad kong isinara 'yong pinto pagpasok ko.
I feel so fucking dumb for trying to eavesdrop on him. Why am I even doing this?! Maybe I should just go back to our table and just eat my fucking-
"She refuses to drink, sir. I didn't think that she would refuse to drink because I know she's a heavy drinker."
What the fuck?
Who is he talking to? Ako ba iyong pinag-uusapan nila? Bakit gusto niya akong painumin?
I felt my face heating up, I don't know what I'll do to him pag tama iyong mga naiisip ko.
"It's not that easy, sir. I have a pill ready, but if I put it in her drink, how am I supposed to carry her out of the restaurant asleep without the other customers getting suspicious?! I think I'll just stick around for a while and tell her I'll take her somewhere else."
I feel like my heart just stopped.
Declan is planning to kidnap me. And I no longer care why he's planning such things, I just wanna get out of this fucking restaurant and call Adrien.
Nanginginig ako sa takot at kaba habang nagkalkal sa sling bag ko, and I suddenly remembered that I left my phone in the hotel because I didn't want to be interrupted today.
"Fuck." Bulong ko sa sarili ko. I feel so scared. I feel trapped. I feel so hopeless.
I want to scream and call Adrien, I want to tell him I'm sorry that I didn't listen to him, but it's all too late now.
Napapikit ako nang magsalita ulit si Declan.
"I'll make sure to bring her home by today. Have a good day, Mr. Ferren."
I knew it.
How can he do this to me?
He actually fucking hired someone to sleep with me and make me trust him, in order to kidnap me and get me home.
He'd really do anything to ruin my life.
Hindi ko na napigilan iyong mga luha ko na kanina ko pa pinipigilan. I fucking hate this life. I shouldn't have left the hotel. I shouldn't have left my phone. I shouldn't have left Adrien.
I can still feel my heart beating rapidly as I listen to Declan's footsteps slowly getting farther away from me.
I need to do something. I need to get away from here.
I wiped my tears away and calmed myself down. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan iyong pinto ng CR at tumingin-tingin kung nandito pa siya.
When I didn't see him anywhere, I quickly ran towards the kitchen of the restaurant na malapit lang dito sa restrooms. Pinigilan ko iyong mga luha ko habang naaalala lahat ng mga nangyari sa amin. We fucking slept together. He fucking had sex with me, I can't believe he was ready to do all that just to take me to my Dad. I can't believe all of them.
Gusto ko nalang tumakbo papunta kay Adrien at isumbong sa kaniya si Declan. I wanna rant my heart out and tell him everything I feel, but I fucking left him and my phone at the hotel.
I felt as if my heart stopped beating when I heard Declan's voice again.
"Meghan!"
I didn't know what to do. I couldn't stop running. All I can think of right now is that I have to get the fuck away from here.
"Meghan! Saan ka pupunta?!" Pasigaw na tawag sa akin ni Declan at mas lalo kong binilisan ang takbo ko nang habulin niya ako. "Why are you running?!" pagkukunwaring tanong niya. I'm having a hard time breathing as I run. Everything feels so heavy. I can't believe I have this kind of life.
Nakalabas na ako ng restaurant at dinig ko iyong mga tapak niya na papalapit nang papalapit sa akin. Hindi ko na napigilan 'yong mga luha ko nang maramdaman ko 'yong malamig niyang kamay na hilain 'yong kamay ko.
"Bitawan mo ko, Declan!" pagalit na sigaw ko sa kaniya habang bumubuhos 'yong mga luha ko.
"What did I do? Are you o-"
"Can you stop pretending that you're not getting paid by my Dad to kidnap me?!" sigaw ko, dahilan para magtinginan sa amin iyong ibang mga tao. Napatigil siya at napatitig sa akin, looking shocked that I heard everything. I continued glaring at him.
"I'm not trying to kidnap you. He just sent me here to try to convince-"
"Quit fucking around, Declan! Bitawan mo ako! Kaya pala ang bait-bait mo sa akin from the very start kahit hindi pa tayo magkakilala!" sigaw ko at sinubukang tanggalin iyong kamay niyang nakahawak sa akin.
"Meghan-"
"I should've notice it when you were acting too generous towards me! You know what frustrates me the most?! I fucking trusted you, Declan! I got fucking comfortable with a guy who wanted nothing but my father's money!" Para akong sumasabog. I didn't know I felt all this not until now that I've spoken about it.
"It's not my fault that you sleep with guys you barely know, Meghan! It's not my fault that you're such a whore!" sigaw niya pabalik na ikinagulat ko. He's fucking crazy. I can't believe I never noticed anything before.
"Maybe if you're not that dumb, you'll understand that I am not a whore, Declan. I am just making the most of the life I wanna live," I said as I felt my heart breaking. How can someone think like that? "Let me go, or I'll start screaming that you're sexually harassing me," mariing bulong ko sa kaniya at wala na siyang nagawa. He slowly let my hand go at nang walang pag-aalinlangan, tumakbo na ako paalis doon, palayo sa kaniya.
I was worried that he'd still call me and ask me to come back, but he didn't. I don't wanna talk to him anymore. He's a piece of fucking trash. I hate myself so much for ever sleeping with a guy like him.
I can't think of anything else but running. It felt as if I was running for so much more than my life. I was running for my freedom.
Tuloy-tuloy iyong buhos ng luha ko habang tumatakbo. I feel like I'll be found, no matter what I do or where I go. I just want to be left alone. I just want to do whatever I want and have no one dictating or trying to control everything I am.
Parang nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang makakita ako ng taxi. Agad kong pinara ito. Tumakbo ako papunta rito at mabilis na sumakay, worried that I'm being chased.
After I told the driver the name of the hotel where me and Adrien are staying, sumandal ako sa upuan at pumikit muna.
When I was young, Jaden told me that if I just wish hard enough, my wish would come true. I never believed it, because although I was young and gullible, I knew that wishes never come true.
But I right now, I can't think of anything else, but making a wish.
I hope all of this can stop already. Sana pagdilat ko, wala na 'to lahat. Sana pagdilat ko, panaginip lang pala ito lahat. Kahit ito lang 'yong matupad, I'll be okay, I'll be the happiest. I'd be thankful for the rest of my life, just let me have this one wish.
"We're here po," narinig kong sabi noong driver, dahilan para matigil iyong mga naiisip ko. Dahan-dahan akong dumilat, my heart aching more and more as I see that I'm still in this fucked up life. Everything isn't just a dream. It's all real. And I have to live it.
I grabbed some money from my sling bag and handed it to the driver. Ramdam kong nanghihina na iyong katawan ko habang lumalabas ng taxi. Binilisan ko iyong lakad ko papasok sa hotel, feeling so exhausted.
I just wanna see Adrien already.
"Are you okay, ma'am?" Salubong sa akin ng receptionist at hindi ko na siya sinagot. I continued walking towards the elevator, and luckily, no one's using it. I went inside and pressed the number '7'.
Wala nang ibang pumapasok sa isip ko kung 'di ang makita si Adrien. I have no one else right now. Adrien is all I have right now.
Hindi parin tumitigil iyong mga luha ko sa pagbuhos hanggang sa makalabas na ako ng elevator.
I can't even feel my body as I fumbled through my sling bag to grab the key for our hotel room. My vision looked so blurry dahil sa mga luha ko, and it took me quite a while to unlock the door, it started to frustrate me. My eyes are fucking craving to see Adrien. Nang mabuksan ko na ito, I felt my whole body getting weak.
"Meghan?"
Napahagulgol ako sa iyak nang marinig ang boses niya. He's here now. I am now safe. I am now home.
"I-I'm sorry I d-didn't listen t-to you," I said in between sobs and I saw him running towards me.
"Anong nangyari?! What did he do to you?!" I felt my legs getting weak as I threw my arms around him.
"I'm s-sorry, Adrien. I'm sorry for being such a b-bitch to you when it was all m-my fault," nauutal na bulong ko sa kaniya habang umiiyak at napayakap na rin siya sa akin.
"I'm sorry rin, Meghan. I left you. I shouldn't have left. I should've stayed here and argued with you, instead of just leaving," bulong niya sa'kin at hinigpitan ko iyong yakap ko sa kaniya.
Huminga ako nang malalim at pinigilang hindi mautal. After calming down, in a gentle and tender voice, I called him, "Adrien?"
"Hmm?"
"Is it okay if I fall in love with you?"