Chapter 168
I WENT OUT OF THE ELEVATOR in big steps. Taas-noo at tumitindig akong naglakad sa pasilyo habang dala-dala ang isang suitcase. I was wearing a formal attire. Both a dark blue slacks and a business suit.While I walked along the hallway with might, I was fixing my red neck tie. And because I will be meeting with my business partner, behind me were my project management team."Everthing set?" I asked without looking at the person behind."Yes, Mr. Lombardi," atat na tugon niya at ramdam ko ang kanyang paglapit sa likuran ko. "Everything is all set. Lahat ay polido. Walang lamat, walang manggas. All you have to do is say it.""Very well, then.""Yes, Sir. This is our first project, so we really put on a lot of work."I was put at ease. Hindi lang sila ang gumawa niyon pati ako. Every detail and information was sent to me. And as their team captain, I analysed every design andAND THANKS TO OUR engineers and architects…" Ngumiti ako at nilingon ang mga negosyante. "Kung hindi dahil sa kanila, hindi makukumpleto ang proyektong ito. It'll be… world class. And we guarantee you that this cruise ship will be the best among the other ships made by our company. At salamat din sa ating project management team. Natutuwa ako dahil sa galing nila sa pagkilatis."Sa pagtatapos ng presentasyon ko, lahat ay isa-isang nagpalakpakan. Abot-tainga ang mga ngiti nila. They were… satisfying, which gave me a good sign that they'll approve of this.I also smiled after I put down my papers. Bahagyang hinihingal ako dahil sa matagal na pagsasalita, but I didn't mind it. All our hard work paid off at malinaw ang pagkaka-eksplika ko.This project is really technical and extravagant in designs. Ngunit para sa maganda naman ang kalalabasan nito. The building team will be utilizing resilient materials that can withstand big waves and heavy storms.Sa gitna ng palakpakan, hindi ko maiwa
THE NIGHT AFTER the project presentation, I couldn’t concentrate on my blueprints. I’m in our master bedroom… alone. Ilang papel na ang nakusot at itinapon ko sa basura habang inaalala ang kayabangan ng mukha niya. I massage my forehead while my elbows rested on the desk. Sa kanang kamay ay may hawak akong teal pen. I gritted my teeth and scribbled messy swirls on my plates. Ang resulta, lumusot ang ballpen at napunit ang papel. “Shit…” I cursed, then crumpled the paper.Eh, anong kinakagalit ko kung wala siyang pake sa love life ko ngayon? Well, at least… She should’ve cared! Siya ang nagbigay niyon sa akin. She pushed me to enter into that kind of arranged relationship. Tapos sasabihin niyang she doesn’t care kung may hinaing man ako.I snorted in irritation and sunk my body on the swivel chair. Pinagmasdan ko ang kisame habang hinehele ang upuan. So, she doesn’t care for my feelings at all? Is that what she’s pertaining to? Na wala siyang pakialam kung nasasaktan ako? Kaya pala m
I WAS WALKING along the hallway while I whistled harmoniously. Hindi mawala sa isip ko ang mukha niya. Her beautiful and… pleasurable face. Natatawa akong mag-isa habang papunta sa condo ko. My right hand was inside my slacks pocket while the other was gripping my suit at the back. She thought she could resist me, but no… she can never. Ilang ulit man niyang pilitan, ako at ako pa rin ang hinihiyaw ng puso niya. She still wants me back. No. She has never wanted to push me away. Napilitan lamang siya. I don't know what made her do so, but I'm sure… She didn't want to leave me. It was hard for her to let me go.After I typed in the passcode, I pushed the door open. Masyado akong pagod sa ginawa ko kanina at para pa rin akong lumulutang. That was still the power of my fingers. I chuckled when I realized how strongly I affected her.Kahit sa pag-upo ko sa sopa, naririnig ko pa rin kung papaano niya tawagin ang pangalan ko. Sensual… Full of passion… Burning. I couldn't think any more wo
MY BLACK CAR HALTED in front of a grand staircase with red carpets, cameras, and paparazzis, waiting to get a quick interview from me. I then went out of the car in a red business attire. Inaayos ko ang kwelyo ko habang nag palinga-linga sa paligid.The hotel resort was wide, covered by bricked paths and artificial meadows. Everything around was touched with old styles of architecture. Not far from here was a fountain with a plainly furnished statue.Hindi ko nakalimutan ang kasama ko, that's why I ran around the car and opened the door in the shotgun seat. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya dahil tiyak, hindi niya kakayaning bumaba mag-isa sa suot niya.As Kachina stepped out her black heels on the red carpet, I could her the camera shutters behind me. Halo-halo ang ingay at sigaw mula sa reporters kaya hindi ko na lang inatubiling pakinggan isa-isa.My eyes were fixated at Kachina's super long gown. Para siyang ikakasal sa gabing ito. As an engineer, I can't help but measure it by sight. Aa
I HAVE THOUGHT long and deep enough that I want to cut ties with everything that's keeping us apart. Hindi ko na maatim ang makulong sa walang hanggang kalungkutan sa piling ng taong hindi ko naman mahal.Even when I was just a boy, I did what I was told. Iyan ang isiniksik ko sa kokote ko. I promised myself to become the most obedient son my mother could ever have. Naging sunod-sunuran ako at nawalan ng dila dahil sa mga salitang pinapakain nila sa utak ko.Simula noong inampon ako sa pamilyang nagpalaki sa akin, I strove hard to never cause something that's gonna disappoint them. Iniisip ko lagi na kapag nadismaya ko sila, kay Mama ang bawi ng mga kamalian ko.Ayaw ko ring mapahiya si Mama sa harap ng kanyang asawa. I didn't want them to fight again because of me. Dahil hindi pa rin mabura sa isipan ko ang gabing iyon. It had pinned me in the corner. That time I was still innocent and too paralyzed to even protect my mother.The night she brought me to her husband's mansion after my
FOR THIS LOVE… THIS RIGHT LOVE, we left what’s ours behind. For this furious love, we angered and shamed and disowned who dared to wreck it. For this passionate love, we kissed each of our flaws and embraced our vulnerability. And for this love… this irrevocable love, we vowed to stay, to hold onto this, like she is my air and I am her last breath. “We’ll live here for the meantime,” I told Shanta habang padaong kami ng barko. My right hand held her waist while my left hand carried our baggage. Inalalayan ko siyang bumaba ng yate hanggang sa makatapak kami sa puting buhangin ng isla. We just arrived last night from Manila. At nagpalipas muna kami ng gabi sa isang hotel dito sa Bohol. “Wait for me here,” bulong ko kay Shanta saka hinalikan siya sa gilid ng noo. “Baby, I’ll be back. For now, admire the view. We’ll mark every corner later.” Ramdam ko ang pagtingala niya sa akin. I looked down at her gorgeous face. Bakas ang gulat doon. I chuckled, then sniffed her blowing hair. Hindi
WHAT IS MY BABY DOING?” I asked Shanta, then went behind her. We just arrived from the village market at nadatnan ko siyang naghuhugas ng mga gulay. I kissed her neck while my arms surrounded her waist. Napagod akong magmaneho ng barko. Pakiramdam ko rin ay masakit ang ulo ko mula sa pagkakababad sa tirik na araw. It’s already two in the afternoon when I woke up. At dahil kakagising ko, kailangan ko ng halik niya. “Do you want help, Baby?” I asked again while sniffing her right shoulder. She doesn’t seem to be bothered, so I tightened my grip. Patuloy siya sa paghuhugas ng mga gulay. “What are you cooking for us, hmm? Kasing-sarap mo ba ‘yan?” “Baby…” She giggled when I licked her jaw. Napangisi ako dahil ang bango niya. Nakakabaliw. “Umupo ka na lang doon. You’re starting it again. Wala tayong maluluto nito kapag ganyan ka.” I chuckled. “But I’m full. Pinakain mo ‘ko kanina.” “Kagan!” suway niya at humagalpak ako ng tawa. “Alright, alright…” “Panoorin mo na lang ako.” Hin
NAGDAAN ANG MGA ARAW at hindi lumipas ang nga gabi na wala kaming ginagawang espesyal. At para sa araw na ito, it took me connections and a few days to make it happen. Ilang mga kaibigan ko sa akademiya ang pinakiusapan ko para maging matagumpay ang hapong ito. And as I held Shanta’s hand up the yacht, wala pa rin siyang ideya kung para saan ito. “May ginawa ka bang kasalanan sa akin kaya mo ginagawa ito?” She speculated with her beautiful eyes squinting. I chuckled as she roamed her eyes around the deck. “Is that what you think?” I asked scornfully. “Bakit? Bawal bang i-date ang magiging Misis ko?” “Malay ko ba kung may ginawa ka palang kasalanan sa akin at panakip-butas mo lang ito para hindi ko ‘yon malaman,” angil niya at mas natawa ako. Her back was facing me as she admired the turquoise blue sea ahead. Nagmistula itong larawang tatatak sa isip ko. I watched as the fresh wind blew Shanta’s lengthy, wavy hair. Parang imbes na iyon ang tangayin, ako ang natatangay sa taglay na