Chapter 6: Consequence 2

Lauren’s breathing hitched. She got easily distracted by his minty breath fanning her face. Not to mention his presence screams authority, as if forcing her to make a full surrender. But she refused to back down. Sa Tita Lileth lang niya siya takot, hindi sa ibang tao.

And so she composed herself, lifted her head a fraction and spoke. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking a-about,” she said in a half-shaky voice. “And how did you get inside my house? Don’t you know I can sue you for trespassing?” dugtong pa niya, pag-iiba sa usapan.

Kiel grinned, amused, taking a few steps away from her. “You left me no choice. I had to use my connections to get to you.” Agad na nagsalubong ang kilay niya. He must have sensed her confusion, that’s why he continued. “I told you last night, we need to talk. You did not reply. There are things that I need to discuss with you. Urgent.”

He spoke the word urgent in a dark tone, making her tremble a little. Kakasuhan din ba siya nito for dragging him into the mess she’s currently in? Her heart sank on the thought.

"I-I'm s-sorry, I was..." she huffed, confusion looming on her face. In the end she chose to just shake her head and lower her head.

Everything is too much. She just wanted to have even just a minute a peace, but with the scandal surrounding her, mukhang malabo iyon. Her dignity and career is on the line. At hindi niya alam kung makakabawi pa siya.

"Are you here to tell me that you're suing me too?" wala sa sarili niyang sabi maya-maya, nag-angat ng tingin sa kausap.

Kiel's brows furrowed. "Sue? Why will I sue you?"

"I dragged you into this mess. I'm putting your precious name on the line gaya na rin nina Jerome at Tita Emily. Hindi ba 'yon ang gusto mong pag-usapan?" maagap niyang sagot.

His brows furrowed further and studied her some more. "If I want to sue you, I wouldn't have come here myself. My legal counsel can to that job better, don't you think?" Hindi siya sumagot, she stared at him. "But since I am here, expect that we are discussing a different thing."

"A-a different t-thing?" she whispered.

Alanganin itong tumango, maya-maya pa, muli siyang tinitigan, nangunot-noo. "Is that a bruise on the side of your mouth?" Taranta siyang napahawak sa gilid ng kanyang labi. She winced as soon as she felt pain in there.

Her aunt must've hit her too hard last night when she welcomed her home with a slap on the face. Akma sanang aabutin ni Kiel ang kanyang pisngi subalit umatras siya.

"H-hindi. W-wala 'to. Let's just talk about what you're here for," pag-iiba niya sa usapan.

Mabilis nitong ipinasada sa kabuuan niya ang tingin nito. "Would you prefer to discuss things with me wearing just your robe or with your full clothes on?"

Lalo siyang pinamulahan ng mukha, realizing she was as naked as the day she worn underneath her fluffy robe. Wala sa sarili niyang pinagsalikop ang kanyang roba sa may bandang didbib at nagmamadaling pumanhik sa hagdan.

"I will behave , I promise. I won't touch anything," pahabol pa ni Kiel bago niya tuluyang maisara ang pinto ng kanyang kwarto.

Once inside, she leaned on the door and tried to catch her breath. Her mind was racing and so was her heart. Just like for the past two days, her mind was filled with never ending questions. But despite the confusion, she willed herself to put on some decent clothes, cover that little bruise on the side of her lip with make up, and fix herself as quickly as possible for she knew it was the next best thing to do than to just hide under her bed until the controversy is over. Dahil tama si Kiel, kung balak siya nitong kasuhan, hindi siya nito pupuntahan mismo. The man is so damn rich he can even enter her house without her damn permission.

She huffed as she set aside her anger. She needs a level head when she face Kiel. As soon as she composed herself, with one last look on the mirror, she stepped out of her room and climbed down the stairs onto the receiving room.

Naabutan niya si Kiel na nakatayo sa tapat ng isang bureau, the one where she keeps all mementos she had with her parents-- the only things she got to keep when she was leaving San Ildefonso.

When Kiel noticed her presence, agad itong bumaling sa kanya. "Parents?" anito, tinuro ang isang lumang retrato nilang mag-anak na naroon sa bureau. Marahan siyang tumango. "I heard you were orphaned young." Hindi siya sumagot, she just watch him put his hands on his pockets. "You looked like your Dad," komento nito.

Tipid siyang ngumiti. She had heard that remark a dozen times before. And hearing it now doesn't help her already difficult emotional state. She missed her parents... desperately. But...

"You said you came here to discuss something

with me. Urgent things, "seryoso niyang sabi.

Mabilis itong tumango-tango, pumormal at dumiretso ng tayo. "The other night when... Did you drink from this?" anito, inilabas ang cellphone nito, ipinakita ang larawan ng pamilyar na wine bottle na nasa food trolley noong isang gabi. Alanganin siyang tumango. "How much did you drink?"

"I'm... I'm not sure."

"Where was Jerome? You did not drink the wine with him?"

Umiling siya. "He was... p-preoccupied."

His brows furrowes. "Preoccupied?"

She studied Kiel for awhile, contemplating whether to answer him or not. She dragged her into this mess. He at least deserved the truth, the one she knew. "Jerome was on the other room... with... with Steffie. They were... b-busy."

"Steffie Gonzales?" Tumango siya. "With busy you meant, he was cheating on you?"

She bit her lower lip and looked away. Nanariwa sa isip niya ang pagkakatuklas niya sa panloloko nina Jerome at Steffie. And while she's still angry , hindi pa rin niya maikakaila na nasaktan siya sa mga pangyayari. They've made a fool out of her. And for the past months that they were together, hindi niya maikakailang minahal niya si Jerome. Because if she still didn't fall for him, she wouldn't be that hurt and angry.

"That's why you got drunk?" tanong ulit ni Kiel.

"No! That's not how it happened." Sa mabibilis na salita ay kinuwento niya sa lalaki ang mga nangyari nang gabing nalaman niya ang panloloko ng nobyo at nang kaibigan. "I wanted to confront them. But I don't have the strength of heart. Kaya ako uminom ng alak. Paglabas ko ng suite, my vision doubled. I got into the wrong room, your room and..." She huffed and massaged her throbbing temples. Just the mere recollection of that night was enough to send her to the edge.

"Look, I know you're upset with how things are going. But you need to take a look at this," pukaw ni Kiel sa kanya, inabot ang isang puting sobre.

Mabilis niyang binuksan iyon at binasa ang laman niyon. It was a background investigation report for Jerome. She gasped when she saw two names under offspring. Jerome has 2 illegitimate children, both under five years old!

Pero ang sabi ni Tita Emily...

Naguguluhan siyang nag-angat ng tingin kay Kiel. A muscle on his jaw ticked before he spoke. "He fathered two kids from two different former employees of NTS. Both claimed that they were drugged by Jerome when the encounter happened. My men found a toxicology report for one of the women who was supposed to file a case against him. Subtances found on the woman were also present on the bottle of wine you drank from the other night."

Her eyes grew wide Instantly, she began to tremble. "Y-you mean--"

"You were drugged, Lauren without a doubt by Jerome himself."

The dizziness, the heat, the way she craved for Kiel's touch, it all made sense now. Jerome intended to drug her and make his way with her!

That cheating perv! she mumbled and embraced herself, tears welling her eyes.

How could Jerome to that to her? Tapos siya ang naiisip ngayon sa lahat ng kagagawan nito?

"In case you didn't know, na-upload ang video mula sa IP address na nasa NTS. It seemed your boyfriend had planned something big for you that night," paliwanag pa ni Kiel.

She withhold a sob and hugged herself tighter. It seemed she didn't really know Jerome at all!

When her knees began to buckle, agad siyang inalalayan ni Kiel at pinaupo sa sofa. She cried bitter tears, as confusion and anger washed over her.

"I will be with you on this, Lauren. I promise," alo ni Kiel sa kanya.

Maya-maya pa, may lumabas na isang lalaki mula sa mini library ng bahay niya. Kung paano at kailan ito nakapasok, hindi niya alam.

"I hate to interrupt, boss but, something is happening right now."

Boss. She's more than sure, tauhan ito ni Kiel.

"What is it Claine?" si Kiel.

Sandaling naglipat-lipat ang tingin nito sa kanilang dalawa bago, "You mother went to the press and made a statement. Sinabi niyang kasal na kayo ni Ms. Lauren."