"Jesus Christ! I'm a man, I don't take advantage but you're too desperate to play fire so I gave in" — Vaughn Vestager
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ILLYZA couldn't held back her tears of too much fury to the man who took advantage of her. She don't even know his name yet gave up everything to him. How stupid.
"I was under the spirit of alcohol last night," umiiyak niyang sambit. "But you didn't respect me!" Nanghihina niyang sabi.
This time, she felt hopeless. She can't think straight, her mind is running and she can't control it.
The guy didn't move. Nakatingin lang ito sa kanya habang nakatayo.
He felt sorry for what he did. He's not the type of a guy who would touch women without their permission. But last night was different, he can't hold the beast in him.
"I respect women." Tangi nitong sabi. Diretso lang itong nakatingin sa mukha ng babae.
Her brows snapped. She looked at him in a sarcastic way.
"Don't make fun of me," kahit nanginginig ay tumayo ng maayos si Illyza at pinantayan ang mga titig ng lalaki. Her nakedness is visible but she doesn't care."I didn't see any part of you respecting women. You're disgusting!" She heaved a sigh. She roamed her eyes at nakita ang damit sa sahig.
She immediately move at kinuha ito.
"I did" mahinang anang lalaki na nagpatigil sa kanya.
Ano?
She raised her brows at lumingon rito.
"God knows how many fvking times I tried to stop you last night but you were so persistent even when we were at the bar. I almost left you because I don't like it when you kept on pushing yourself to me. But you cried and make a small scene, I stopped you but you went wild that's why I brought you here." He sighed at umiling-iling. "As I laid you on bed, you pleased me to touch you but I didn't because I respect you. But what you did? You stripped and kept on pushing your body to me, I can't help it anymore! Jesus Christ! I'm a man, I don't take advantage but you're too desperate to play fire so I gave in... You can't blame me, you're the one insisted for a sex, Miss."
Miss.
Namalisbis ang mga luha ni Illyza sa sinabi ng nito. Hindi niya alam na siya rin pala ang rason kung bakit nangyari ito sa kanya. She's a shameless. Nahihiya siya sa kanyang mga ginawa kagabi. Wala man siyang maalala pero sapat na sa kanya ang mga sinasabi nito.
Alam na niya noon pa na nagiging iba siya kapag tinatamaan na ng alak kaya minsan lang talaga siya umiinom kapag nandiyan ang mga kaibigan o si Kevin, pero kagabi ay hindi niya napigilan at ilang baso ang naubos niya.
Walang hiya-hiya ay nagbihis siya sa harapan nito pagkatapos ay dinampot ang sling bag na nasa sofa. Napahinga siya ng malalim. Kahit anong gawin niya hindi na mababalik ang nawala, better accept it pero hindi parin niya kaya.
She faced him with her blank expression.
"You must pay for this." Mariin niyang sabi.
The man became emotionless, but there's something lurking in his eyes she can't decipher.
"How much?" He said emphatically.
Nainsulto siya. Her tears seemed like a waterfall, she can't stop it. Patuloy lang ito sa pag-agos. Umiling-iling siya. She don't need his money. Hindi matutumbasan ng pera ang kinuha nito sa kanya.
"I don't need your money!" Marahas siyang bumuga ng hangin. "I curse you to death!"
Pagkatapos ay dali-dali siyang lumabas. Paglabas niya saka lamang niya nalamang nasa pinakamataas sila ng bahagi ng building. Kinagat niya ang ibabang labi at tinungo ang elevator.
Habang naglalakad sa hallway palabas ng hotel ay walang tigil ang pagpatak ng mga luha ni Illyza. Kumuyom ang mga palad niya sa sobrang galit, gusto niyang magwala pero kahit anong gawin niya'y hindi na mababalik pa ang dating tingin niya sa sarili. Pinagtitinginan na siya pero wala siyang pakialam, they're not important. Hanggang sa makalabas siya ng hotel ay blangko ang kanyang isipan, humihikbi na siya na parang bata. Minsan hinahawakan niya ang ulo, minsan naman ay hinihila niya pababa ang suot na pulang fitted dress na hanggang kalahating hita lang ang taas, sa unang pagkakataon ay nahiya siya sa kanyang suot. Hindi niya maayos-ayos ang kanyang isipan dahilan para mas lalong bumuhos ang kanyang mga luha.
Kinuha niya ang cellphone at kokontakin na sana si Kevin pero nahihiya siya. She's disappointed of herself.
"Hayop! Hayop!" Paulit-ulit na sambit niya habang naglalakad. She don't know where will she go basta patuloy lang siya sa paglalakad at walang pakialam sa paligid. Hanggang sa mapadpad siya sa isang parke. Umupo siya sa isang bench at blangko ang mukhang nakatingin sa malayo habang umaagos parin ang mga luha. Mariin ang hawak niya sa kanyang sling bag habang patuloy na binababa ang laylayan ng suot niya. Nahihiya siya at the same time naaawa sa sarili.
Napatingala nalang siya nang may mag-abot sa kanya ng panyo.
"I hate seeing a lady crying. I may not know the reason behind those tears but as a gentleman, I know you need this." A guy in his ocean blue eyes retorted.
Mabilis na kumabog ang kanyang puso hindi dahil sa pagiging maginoo nito kundi dahil sa may kahawig itong lalaki na labis niyang kinamumuhian ngayon. Magkaiba lang ng kunti ang kulay ang mga mata nila pero makikita parin niya ang pagkakahawig ng dalawa kaya kumulo agad ang kanyang dugo rito at tumayo, pinaghahampas niya ito ng kanyang bag.
Nagulat naman ang lalaki sa ginawa niya.
"Hey, Miss! Hey! What's your problem! Hey!" Sabi nito habang sinasalag ang kanyang mga hampas. Kahit pinagtitinginan na sila ng ibang mga tao ay wala siyang pakialam. Gusto niyang makaganti sa lalaking nakikita niya sa mukha nito.
"You devil! Devil! Get out of my sight! Go away! You jerk! Leave me alone! Hayop ka!" Patuloy siya sa paghampas rito habang umiiyak.
"Wait, Miss! Hey!" The guy held her wrists.
Doon ay nabalik ang diwa niya. She stares at him with so much sorry. Nagmagandang loob lamang ito pero pinaghahampas na niya agad.
"I'm sorry," bumaba ang mga tingin niya. Nahihiya siya rito at sa mga taong nakatingin na sa kanila. Kinagat niya ang ibabang labi at muli itong tinitigan. "I'm really sorry"
Then she left.
Dumating siya sa hotel na tinutuluyan ng lutang. She don't know what to do. She tried to contact Kevin pero cannot be reach ito. She tried to contact her friends pero ni isa walang sumagot.
Kahit hapon na ay nagkukulong padin siya sa kwarto at hindi kumakain. Nakaupo lang siya sa kama at nakatingin sa kawalan. Ilang beses din siyang naligo pero kahit anong gawin niya, marumi na ang tingin niya sa sarili. Wala na siyang magawa pa kundi iiyak nalang ang lahat, kahit anong gawin niya hindi na mababalik pa ang nawalang pinakaiingatan niya.
Bandang alas singko ng hapon nang makaramdam siya ng gutom. She rose from the bed at nagbihis.
Nang makalabas na siya ng hotel ay may biglang dumaan na mamahaling kotse at nakabukas pa ang bintana nito sa driver side. Hindi paman nalilipasan ng isang araw ay nakita niya muli ang lalaking kumuha sa pagkabirhen niya.
Bumilis ang kanyang paghinga at may nagbabadya na namang luha sa kanyang mga mata. Agad siyang pumara ng taxi at pinasundan ang kotse, it stopped in a mall. Dali-dali siyang bumaba pagkatapos bayaran ang driver.
Sinusundan niya ang lalaki kahit saan ito pumupunta hanggang sa huminto ito at lumiko. She stopped when she noticed na walang tao sa lugar, may nakita din siyang sofa at lamesa sa gilid. Do'n lang niya namalayang nasa loob na pala siya ng isang opisina. Kumuyom ang mga kamay niya at tumalikod, but taken aback when she saw the man standing a few distance away from her. Nakatayo ito sa may entrance and nakatingin ng mariin sa kanya.
"Hello to you lady," nahigop ni Illyza ang hininga, his voice is deep and enticing. His blue-green eyes looking at her is so damn sexy. Ang tindig nito ay lalaking-lalaki. "Are you stalking me?" Diretso nitong sabi na nagpaikot sa kanyang mga mata.
"Kapal din naman ng mukha mo? Huh! Sino ka para subaybayan ko ng palihim?"
Bulalas niya na nagpakunot sa noo ng lalaki. He's wondering what she was saying.
"Miss foreign, you're kind of sexy speaking your own language but unfortunately, it's kind of puzzle to me." Naningkit ang mga mata ni Illyza sa tinawag nito sa kanya, Miss foreign?
"I guess you're a Filipina huh?" tumaas ang kilay nito at namulsa.
She rolled her eyes again.
"What is your name?" Diretsong anang Illyza. She has no time talking nonsense dahil naiinis na siya sa pagmumukha nito. Lalong-lalo na't may pagkamahangin ito. Lakas ng kompyansa sa sarili.
He tsked. He walked and stop three steps away from her.
"You're so fast, Miss Foreign."
"I'm asking you again, what is your name?" She asserted in the state of coercion. Her fists balled as it remained on her side. She's restraining herself on breaking the devil's face.
He lips twitched for seconds. Based on his expression, he's not enjoying it anymore.
"Seriously? You kept on following me but you don't know my name?" He said sarcastically. "Who are you kidding?" His eyes darkened. "If I know this is only your scheme to charm me. Well, sorry Miss Foreign. I don't like Filipina." Pang-iinsulto nito.
Bumilis ang paghinga ni Illyza sa sinabi nito. She felt small. She stepped closer to the lean man, she can't deny the fact how his height intimidates her. His adam's apple is bobbling and his cologne penetrates her nostrils but she shrugged the thoughts in her mind, why the hell did she think of these? Damn! She's yearning over this evil man?
She slapped him.
"I am not following you, and never will be. I am not the kind of woman you think I am mister! You're kind of effrontery!" She said gasping for air. She will be having a heart attack in no time. "I despise you! You evil!"
For a good five seconds, he snickered the tension building in between them. He scanned her figure, he can't deny the fact that she's a beauty. The kind of beauty he's looking for a woman is in her. He's amazed, it's his first time meeting a kind of woman like her. She has the guts to slap him like she's not scared. She's a woman full of combativity that makes her look so sexy in his eyes.
"I don't care what you're thinking of me, mister. I just want to know your name, in case something might happen to me." Pabulong na anang Illyza sa huling mga salita.
"You will drag my name..." He said calmly while loosen the black tie of his three piece black suit. "You're thinking about the consequences of what we did?"
Illyza's tears brimming in her eyes, this is one of the fact that she can't control when she's in the verge of anger. She's really mad with this man.
"I used protection when I did it to you." His expression is void, he used it because he's lying. Sa lahat ng babaeng naikama kay Illyza lang siya hindi gumamit ng proteksyon.
Hindi mabasa ni Illyza kung ano ang nasa isip nito. Pakiramdam niya may nagtatagong lihim sa mga mata ng lalaki, kung ano man 'yon, natatakot siya.
"Okay. Let's get to this," he said flatly. "How much do you want?"
Muli ay sinampal ito ni Illyza. Nainsulto siya, pakiramdam niya bayaran ang tingin nito sa kanya.
Her tears began to flow. Husto na! Sobrang sakit na!
"I felt small. Do you really think I'm after your money? Do you think everything settles with money?" She whispered. She sighed and swallowed the lump in her throat. She needs be tough, no one can step down on her. "Just because you have everything doesn't mean you can step down someone. Oh god! You're so pathetic." She looked at him intently trying to read what's on his mind, but he's really good at hiding.
His face is impassive.
"I will give you tons of money—" without farther ado she slaps him again real hard leaving a mark of her fingers on his face.
Umiiling si Illyza. Kahit tumutulo na ang kanyang mga luha ay wala siyang pakialam.
"Suck your money!" Mariin niyang sabi at nilagpasan ito. Naglakad siya palabas pero napahinto siya nang magsalita ang lalaki.
"Vann. My name's Vann," anang lalaking nagpakilalang Vann. Puro sila nakatalikod sa isat-isa.
Huminga ng malalim si Illyza at tuluyan ng umalis.
-----
VAUGHN was silent for an hour. He's in his mother's office sa kanilang mall. Nandito siya dahil may kailangan sana siyang bilhin pero hindi niya nagawa dahil sa babae kaninang sunod ng sunod sa kanya.
The image of the woman earlier is still in his mind. He couldn't take off the hurt and sadness in her eyes.
He heaved a deep sigh at inayos ang pag-upo sa swivel chair. He closed his eyes tightly trying to remove the memory of the woman but he couldn't. He felt guilty, he was lying twice. First, he didn't use protection while having intercourse with her and secondly, he's Vaughn not Vann.
He pressed the middle of his eyes. Marami na siyang problemang iniisip dumagdag pa ang babaeng huling katalik niya.
His eyes shut open when his phone suddenly ding. Kinuha niya ito sa loob ng suit at tinignan ang taong nag-text.
[I miss you]
Kumuyom ang kamao niya at muling pumikit ng mariin. He cursed this woman. She is the reason.
Binaliwala nalang niya ito at umalis sa opisina ng ina. He found himself inside his car. He held the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles getting white because of too much fury.
"Damn you, Hollerith. Damn you!" He hissed.
"Yow, wazzup bro!"
Napabuga nalang ng hininga si Vaughn nang paglabas niya ng kanyang kotse ay bumungad sa kanya ang kapatid. Naka-uniporme pa ito.
"Zup!" aniya at tinignan ang hotel na pagmamay-ari nila.
"Captain Vestager, come and join me for drinks." Aya nito sa kanya.
Vaughn shook his head but he stopped when he noticed the small cut on the side of his right brows. He tilted his head.
"The hell with your face?"
Namulsa ang kapatid nito at ngumisi na lumapit sa kanya.
"Ah! Earlier this morning, I met this girl. She's crying and I was just being kind to her, I offered my hanky but she striked me with her damn bag. So yeah, this is what I've got in return."
Vaughn made a side smile and nodded twice. He's being sarcastic.
"Well, what she did deserves you." Then he passed over him papasok sa entrance ng hotel.
"Fvck you!" Sigaw ng kapatid sa kanya.
He grinned. Kahit nakatalikod ay tinaas niya ang kanang kamay at nagmiddle finger sa kapatid. He didn't see his reaction but he knew his brother's smirking.
"Damn bro! She's so fvcking hot!"
"You fvcking shut up, Evander!" Ani Vaughn at pumasok na sila sa penthouse.
"And she's so sexy speaking her own language." Natigil si Vaughn sa narinig sa kapatid. May naalala siyang tao sa sinabi nito. Umiling-iling siya, ni hindi nga niya kilala o kung ano ang pangalan ng babaeng katalik niya kagabi.
"Such a womaniser. Lmao!"
"I heard her saying, ahm..." Nag-iisip ito. "Ah! ’Hayop ka?‘" patanong na sabi nito sa huling mga salita.
Vaughn stared at his brother mockingly.
"You sure your memory speaks it correctly? You can be hundred percent wrong bro." Biro niya sa kapatid.
Umiling-iling nalang si Evander.
"What language she's speaking?" Tanong nito na halata ang kuryusidad sa mukha at tono ng pananalita.
Tinapon niya rito ang unan na nasa sofa na nadaanan nila.
"You seriously asking me huh? Stupid. Do you really think I know?" He said sarcastically. He shook his head at dumiretso at kusina para uminom ng tubig.
Sumunod naman ang kanyang kapatid at umupo sa isa sa dining chair.
"Damn! She's so beautiful," nangalumbaba ito at iniisip parin ang babaeng humampas rito kaninang umaga. "She's a foreign perhaps."
Huminga nalang ng malalim si Vaughn at umiling. Hinarap niya ang kapatid matapos uminom.
"You do realize your wearing before you invite me for drinks huh?" Taas kilay na anang Vaughn at namulsa. Iniba niya ang usapan.
Evander nodded and got up.
"Nah! I have few clothes here. You wait and we'll go," umiling-iling nalang si Vaughn.
Pagkatapos magbihis ng kapatid ay nagtungo na sila sa bar. Umiling nalang si Vaughn, ito ang bar na pinuntahan niya kagabi. Pagkapasok ay dumiretso agad sila sa counter.
Nasa kalagitnaan sila ng pag-iinom nang may mahagilap si Evander. His eyes focus on the entrance, widen in shock.
"Fvck, it's her!"
To be continued...
✴ever_minah✴