CHAPTER TWO

Dos

LILITH woke up late, as usual. She sleeps late last night, she was busy contacting her men inside and outside the Philippines to give her some updates about her elder brother. It's been two years since her Kuya walk away from their home without saying goodbye. They can't even track him, it's like someone is protecting him from being traced.

She stretched her arms and yawned as she stood up from the bed. She didn't sleep with her husband, it's still uncomfortable though. Sleeping with someone she still doesn't know. She might know his background but not the real him. 

She slept in the guest room located on the first floor and what's worse is that there is no aircon there. Nahirapan tuloy siyang makatulog kagabi, thanks to the sleeping pills she has taken last night, she was able to sleep soundly.

Tinatamad niyang tinahak ang daan papunta sa kusina dahil kumakalam na ang kanyang sikmura. She's confident as she step out in the guest room, knowing that Nikolaus might be gone to his company, working.

Pinalibot niya ang tingin sa kabuuan ng mansion nito. Napakibit-balikat nalang siya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. It's not that he's boasting or what, but her house looks much nicer and lively than him. 

Walang katao-tao, walang kabuhay-buhay. From the decorations to the paintings, all gray and black. Hindi naman halata na malungkot ang nakatira dito.

Nang makarating siya sa kusina ay kaagad niyang naabutan si Nikolaus na abala sa pagluluto. Shock is written into her face while facing his back. 

Palihim niyang pinakatitigan ang likuran nito habang abla ito sa pagluluto. He look like a professional in cooking industry as he stirs the ladle on the casserole. 

I have a talented husband. She said proudly in her mind.

"Wife!"

Bahagya siyang napaigtad sa biglaang pagsigaw nito. Nikolaus then, glance at her and motioned her to go on his place.

"Come, taste this." Alok nito habang hinihipan ang sabaw na nasa kutsara. 

Parang may mga sariling isip ang kanyang mga paa at lumapit sa asawa kuno niya. She automatically open her mouth to taste the soup. Nang maisubo ito ni Nikolaus ay kaagad itong nagtanong.

"Do you like it? Masarap ba? Is it perfect for your taste?" Sunod-sunod nitong tanong na nagpataas ng kilay niya.

The soup tastes sweet yet a bit salty and minty. She gave Nikolaus a questioning look.

"The soup tastes weird," she honestly said. Napakunot naman ang noo ni Nikolaus sa sinabi niya. He then, put some soup in a small bowl and tasted from it.

Nang matikman nito ang sariling luto, nag-angat ito ng tingin sa kanya. 

"It's not weird, baby." Despensa nito sa niluto nito, "ganito talaga ang lasa nito."

She rolled her eyes and was about to wear her emotionless face like she always does when she suddenly remembered what Nikolaus just said last night.

"I don't like it, Nikolaus." Nakasimangot na sabi niya saka pinagkrus ang magkabilang braso sa harapan niya.

She sighed when their eyes keep in contact for a minute. Tumalikod siya at nagpaalam.

"Sa labas nalang ako kakain—"

Nikolaus suddenly hold her wrist, stopping her words. Nilingon niya ito at nagtatanong na tiningnan.

"I'll cook for you then," suhetisyon nito. Kaagad namang nagliwanag ang mukha ni Lilith at hindi mapigilang mapangiti. 

"Really?" She can hear the excitement in her voice. 

Nikolaus nodded and smiled. "Yes, you're my wife now. I'll treat you good. Sabihin mo lang sa akin kung anong gusto mong kainin, I'll cook it for you—

"I want bacon, then fried rice, sunnyside up egg, and oh! I wanna try menudo." Nakangiting sabi niya saka tumingin kay Nikolaus. Nahuli niya itong nakatitig sa kanya na may supipil na mga ngiti sa labi.

"What?" Takang tanong niya  dito.

Nikolaus tried to hide his smile and shook his head. "Nothing," sagot nito. 

She flatly stared at him, confused why he has that kind of smile earlier. "You're weird," hindi mapigilang bulong niya sa hangin at mukhang narinig nito ang bulong niya at mahina itong napatawa.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll cook now, give me thirty minutes." He said and was about to leave when he looks like he remembers something.

"Anong tinitingin-tingin mo d'yan?" She asked and he just smiles as he leans closer to her face and give her a quick kiss on her lips making her stilled. 

Nikolaus then smiles and returns to the kitchen. She was rotted on her place, staring at his back. She was still taken back by what he had just done earlier. 

What the hell was that?

SHE WAITED for thirty minutes and finally, the food are already done! That was one of the hell waiting she has done in her entire life. But as they said, be patient and it'll be worthwhile. 

She watched how Nikolaus prepared the utensils and served the foods in her front. She feels like a queen out of a sudden, watching a man serving him with a smile on his face. 

She doesn't really like the smile plastered on his face, he's like an idiot, smiling without a reason. Nang matapos na siya nitong ipaghain ay walang imik niyang sinunggaban ang pagkaing nakahain.

PAGKATAPOS nilang pagsaluhang ang niluto ni Nikolaus ay kaagad itong nagpaalam para pumunta sa kompanya. Ito na rin mismo ang nagligpit ng pinagkainan nila dahil wala namang kasambahay dito sa mansion nito.

"I'll go now," paalam nito matapos siyang bigyan ng isang tasang kape.

She stared at him with confusion. "Bakit ka nagpapaalam?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.

Nikolaus just smiled and kissed her on the lips quickly.

"You're my wife," sabi nito na para bang iyon ang sagot sa katanungan niya.

Gusto niya itong barahin at sabihan na hindi na masyadong naintidihan ang sagot nito. So what if I am his wife? Anong meron dun?

She's still confused but intended not to ask and argue for more, instead, she nods. 

"Okay," sagot niya at akmang hahalikan na naman siya nito nang bigla siyang magsalita at iniharang ang palad niya sa labi nito.

"Bakit panay ang halik mo sa akin?" Hindi mapigilang tanong niya kay Nikolaus. She can't hide the irritation in her voice making Nikolaus chuckled.

"Remember the rules I have set last night?" Tanong nito na ikinatahimik niya. "Okay, I really have to go. Bye, wifey." He then kissed her again on the lips quickly and walk away like he did nothing.

Habang si Lilith ay naiwang gulat sa malawak na kabahayan. She was still in daze on what Nikolaus just did. Shit, stop beating so fast heart!

DAHIL wala namang maggawa si Lilith sa bahay ni Nikolaus, she contacted the man who she trust the most. 

In just two rings, the man spoke on the other line. 

"What do you need?" Kaagad nitong tanong sa kanya.

"Come on, baby. Don't be grumpy." She teased him making the man from the other line groan in annoyance.

"I'm busy, Lilith!" He hissed, she chuckled when she heard the annoyance in his voice.

"Fine, fine. I need some updates," she said in a serious tone of voice. Gone with the tease and playfulness. 

"I'm getting some leads already, I just need some confirmation." Anito. "Now, can you please—" hindi niya ito pinatapos sa pagsasalita at walang paalam na binabaan ito. 

She sighed and went inside to the bathroom to take a quick bath. After ten minutes, she steps out of the bathroom, wearing her bathrobe, and picked the denim jeans and long sleeve color gray crop top. She then, steps outside the house of Nikolaus. Pumara siya ng taxi pagkalabas niya ng subdivision at nagpahatid sa mall. 

WHEN she finally arrived at her destination, she quickly give the taxi driver a blue bill and was about to give her her change when she motioned him to stop. She gave the taxi driver a simple smile.

"Keep the change, Manong." Sabi niya at akmang aangal ito nang bigla niya itong tinalikuran at iniwan ng walang paalam. 

She confidently walks inside the mall and wanders her eyesight around the crowded mall. Maraming tao ang naglalakad sa loob ng mall, this people could easily be robbed. Napailing nalang siya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. 

Wala talaga sa plano niya ang gumala sa matataong lugar. Her main goal is to find her elder brother. Napapagod na din siya hanapin ang isang taong ayaw namang magpakita sa kanya, pero hindi siya susuko. Now that she already has the money, power, and connections, she can now easily track and find her kuya.

Dinala siya ng sarili niyang mga paa sa isang botique at akmang papasok doon nang may biglang nahagip ang kanyang mga mata. She saw a familiar built of a man, who is currently paying something on the counter. Naka sideview ito sa kanya kaya kitang-kita niya ang pamilyar nitong pagmumukha.

The man she's been looking for years. Her Kuya. With her teary eyes, she absent-mindedly called out his name.

"Kuya!" Her voice echoed in the mall making her kuya look at her. She smiles genuinely with a teary eye and was about to run to welcome him a hug when he suddenly ran away from her. Tumakbo ito nang mabilis kahit panay ang tawag niya sa pangalan nito. 

Kuya...