Chapter 2 (continuation)

"Yeah.", maikli niyang sagot.

"Anyway, I'll prepare something. Come down when you're dressed.", pag-iwas niya na naman sa akin at akmang iiwan ako, kung kaya't agad ko siyang hinabol saka hinawakan ang kanyang braso.

"I really can't understand why you're avoiding me, may nagawa ba ako? Allergic ka ba sa akin? Hindi mo na ba ako mahal? Or are you just uncomfortable with me kasi wala kang maalala tungkol sa atin? Ang dami kong tanong, you're not helping with the answers, you're just making me confused.", mahigpit kong hawak sa braso niya na sabi.

Hinarap niya ako, tinanggal niya ang kamay kong nakahawak sa braso niya. Deretso siyang nakatingin sa mukha ko.

"Someday, you'll thank me for doing this. This is for your own good.", nagdadalawang isip niya pa ngang hawak sa magkabilang balikat ko.

"Is this about me being a public figure again? I told you, I don't care about it.", I frustratedly said.

"Just... Just don't give yourself to me. Not now, not me.", iwas niya ng tingin sa akin.

Naguguluhan akong napatingin sa kanya. Ano bang ibig niyang sabihin? Does he hate it that much?

Napayuko ako...

"I'm not asking for too much, It's not just about giving myself to you... I can totally understand, I just feel devastated, pakiramdam ko hindi mo na ako mahal kaya nilalayuan mo ako.", tumulo sa sahig ang mga luha ko.

Narinig ko ang pagbuga niya ng hangin. Maya-maya lang ay naramdaman ko ang paglagay niya ng kumot sa mga balikat ko, bago ko maramdaman ang mainit niyang yakap sa akin.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I'll do better. Babawi ako, hmm?", halik niya sa noo ko.

"Promise?", piyok kong sambit.

Inangat ko ang aking tingin, at nakita siyang tumango.

Napasinghot ako. Napangiti siya, saka pinunasan ang mga luha ko.

"That's unfair... You still looked pretty even when you cry.", mahina niyang sabi.

Pigil akong napangiti. Bolero eh.

"Sige na, get dressed, I'll prepare something for us sa baba.", tapik niya sa balikat ko.

"Mmmm...,", nguso ko, nagtaka naman siyang nakatingin sa akin.

"Hmmm?", gaya niya sa akin na may pagkalito.

Mas inangat ko pa ang ulo ko at ngumuso ulit. Slow ba siya?

"Ahhhh... ", parang na-gets niya na ang pinapahiwatig ko na reaksyon.

His lips smacked as he roam his eyes around na parang 'di alam ang gagawin.

"Ayaw mo?", seryoso kong tanong.

Ibinalik niya tingin niya sa akin. Napakamot siya sa likuran ng kanyang tainga, napatingin ako doon at nakitang namumula iyon. Dahan-dahan niyang iniyuko ang ulo niya to reach my face, matangkad kasi siya tapos ito tayo, hindi pinagpala sa height.

Ibinalik niya tingin niya sa akin. Napakamot siya sa likuran ng kanyang tainga, napatingin ako doon at nakitang namumula iyon. Dahan-dahan niyang iniyuko ang ulo niya to reach my face, matangkad kasi siya tapos ito tayo, hindi pinagpala sa height.

Ang tagal niyang gumalaw, kaya ako na ang gumawa ng paraan. Tumingkayad ako para abutin ang mukha niya saka siya binigyan ng halik. It was just a peck, but it made me happy.

"I'll get dressed.", mabilis kong pagtalikod, halos patakbo akong tumungo sa banyo.

Tinignan ko agad ang sariling repleksyon sa salamin. Namumula ang mukha ko, it's our first kiss after we got married.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko to feel my heartbeat. I'm actually calmer than I expected. I kinda felt nothing with the kiss, other than nahihiya ako ngayon.

Zethus' POV:

Lumabas ako ng kwarto, at doon ako napasandal sa pintuan. Napahawak ako sa labi ko, bago ko ito punasan.

"I married her so that I can keep her close and monitor her actions. I wasn't expecting that she's this eager.", bulong ko sa sarili.

Bumaba ako papuntang kusina, I checked my phone to see If I received any calls from Alfonso, since I haven't heard of him for days, but there was none.

That's right, I am not Zach. I am Zethus Linton Silvius, and the real Zach is living the life that I planned for him using my name, cluelessly.

This was never part of the initial plan kung naging go with the flow lang si Zach sa mga plano namin noon. But, he suddenly changed his mind, and that resulted to what's happening right now.

I risked my life just to achieve my plans. Nang umatras siya sa napag-usapan namin na sasama siya sa akin sa US, that's where it got messy. I asked Alfonso to have Zach's car ready in case na umatras ito. Nakikinig lang si Alfonso sa naging pag-uusap namin ni Zach sa loob ng kotse at that time thru a phone call that I made in advance. Kaya no'ng biglang umatras si Zach, that's when Alfonso crashed Zach's car that he was driving to my car kung saan nasa loob ako at si Zach. He directed it specifically sa passenger's seat kung saan nakaupo si Zach, that's why Zach received the most damage. It was a risky move, but me and Alfonso were ready to risk it all.

If you're wondering how Alfonso managed to do it, he jumped out of Zach's car before the collision happened. He took care of everything, removing the surveillance cameras on that area, cleaning every tiny bits of clues that will give out the truth about the accident. I exchanged clothes with Zach, as I was hospitalized, Alfonso hid Zach for a week in discreet in the Philippines to treat its wounds bago ito inilipad papuntang US using a private plane.

We weren't expecting Zach to lost his memories, which is very in favor of our plans.

You must be wondering why I'm doing this, to an extent that I'm ready to risk my life. What I told Zach before was true, there were lies, but it was mostly true. Ang paghihirap namin ni Dad nang iwan kami ng magaling naming Ina, leaving me and Dad behind, leaving with just Zach. Lumaki akong saksi sa paghihirap ng aking Ama hanggang sa maibuo niya ang 9Yards Media.

Ako 'yong nasa tabi niya all this time, pero hinahanap-hanap niya pa rin si Zach. He's thinks that he's dying kung kaya't gusto niyang makita si Zach, okay lang sana kung 'yon lang, but I found out na parte si Zach sa mamanahan niya. How can he? Lahat ginawa ko just to be in his favor, I dirtied my hands in order to help him keep what he built, pero si Zach pa rin ang hinahanap niya.

I can never let a stranger take what I've been trying to keep for myself. Wala akong dapat na kahati, ang sa akin ay para lamang sa akin. It took longer than expected, it took great measure to get this far for just a simple move that will achieve my greed.

As instructed, Alfonso is currently controlling Zach's actions as Zethus in the US. He will make him think that they need to get me here from the Philippines to meet our dying father. Sasama ako syempre, it has been long decided, that once Zach appears, Dad's inheritance will be announced. As the current Zach, I will give up all the inheritance na ibibigay sa akin at itra-transfer sa pangalan ni Zethus. Sa oras na mangyari 'yon, me and Zach will go back to our rightful lives. As long as wala siyang maging tutol sa oras na malaman niyang hindi talaga siya si Zethus, then he can go back to his life safely and with no problems.

I'm trying my best to not get caught. I'm careful with my actions kung kaya't iniiwasan ko ang mga taong malapit sa kanya, especially his half-brother, who's way sharper than the knife.

Gising ako all those times na nakahiga sa kama ng ospital kung saan kunwaring comatose ako, we can't make further actions at that time while Zach is unconscious in the US, kaya no'ng malaman kong gising na siya ay doon na rin akong nagkunwaring magising. I acted like I don't remember anything, I have the help of my doctor in that hospital, I paid a great sum of money to hide the truth.

Gumigising ako sa tuwing wala akong bisita, I also get alarmed sa tuwing may bisita naman ako.

Habang nakahiga ako sa kamang 'yon, a lot of unfamiliar people visited me... visited Zach, as they thought who I am to be. But who caught my attention was that woman... Charlotte.

Hindi ko alam na may girlfriend pala siya. And on top of that, araw-araw itong bumibisita, kinakausap ako, inaalagaan ako. Sa tuwing bumibisita siya, nakakalimutan kong ako si Zethus.

I heard her cry every time she pays a visit. I heard her desires, hopes and wishes. She was patient, strong, and determined. Nawala siya ng iilang buwan, I was wondering where she left, why she stopped visiting, I thought she got tired. Nalaman ko lang sa ibang mga taong bumibisita sa akin while listening to their conversation, na that woman is an actress, and it was also sudden for her to leave nang hindi nakakapagpaalam.

I've never really seen her once, since my eyes were close sa tuwing bumibisita siya. Kaya no'ng araw na magising ako, the day after that, It took me by surprise when this unfamiliar woman came by and hugged me tightly. I was taken aback but when I heard her voice, ay doon ko siya nakilala. It's Charlotte.

I never wanted to include her in my plans, she doesn't know na may kakambal si Zach, and I thought na 'pag nalaman niya ay mapapansin at malalaman niya aagd ang totoo. Kung kaya't I kept her close, I proposed to her, upang mabantayan ko siya. Her mother was against about living together without getting married kaya pinakasalan ko. I also plan on using her as threat sa oras na may gawin si Zach na hindi ko ikinagusto. It doesn't matter, sa oras na bumalik ako bilang Zethus, I am not her husband anymore because she married Zach, not me.

I don't wanna mess with my twin brother's girlfriend, so I avoided any possible physical contacts with her. Hindi ko alam ang hirap pala magpanggap. Gusto ko lang matapos agad 'to, kasi I'm starting to get concerned about her. Araw-araw ko nalang ata pinapaiyak ang babaeng 'to, I also witnessed how genuine her love for Zach is. I know how bad of a person I am, but I also don't want to involve innocent people into this.

I've come this far avoiding her, but that woman is really eager. I wasn't able to find way to stop what happened earlier. It's getting harder everyday.

"Akala mo ka ba you'll prepare something? Ba't nakatulala ka lang diyan?", biglang sulpot niya.

Natauhan ako, 'di ko namalayan na nakatulala lang pala ako sa kawalan.

"I'm sorry, maybe I'm just tired.", sagot ko nalang.

"Are you hungry? I'll cook instead, akala ko kasi kumain ka na sa labas. Sa tuwing umuuwi ka kasi at 'pag inaaya kita kumain ay sinasabi mong busog ka.", may bahid ng lungkot niyang sabi.

Why am I even doing this with someone else's girlfriend?

"Can you cook for me?", I asked. Sumigla ang mukha niya sa narinig.

"I can, wait for me sa dining table.", na-eexcite niyang sabi, she even rolled up her sleeves.

Imbes na makinig sa kanya ay nanatili ako doon sa pwesto ko at pinanood siya.

I need Alfonso to get things done as fast as he could. The only thing that I can do for this woman is to give the man that she loves back to her. Zach only needs to cooperate just in case he gets his memories back, there will be no complications, if so.