11

"Del Valle? Are you Dominique's son?" Tanong niya sa akin. Tumango naman ako sa kanya. He looked confused. Tinanong naman siya ni Sky kung may problema. "Ah wala naman hijo. Pero I haven't heard of any Soliel Alexis being related to Dominique. Ang kilala ko lang na anak niya ay si Luna kaya I concluded na baka isa lang ang anak ni Dominique."

I felt a slight pain in my chest after hearing those words. Does that mean he never even mentioned my name in front of anyone? Sky noticed the change in my mood kaya naman ay agad siya nagpaalam sa matandang lalaki at bumalik na kami sa upuan namin.

He made me sit on the chair and he kneeled in front of me. "Are you okay?" He asked, worriedly. Tumango naman ako at ngumiti sa kanya.

"Yeah. Of course. I actually expected that to happen. Alam ko naman na kay Ate Luna lang tumatakbo ang mundo ni Daddy. P-pero I didn't think na totoo nga pala ang lahat ng hinala ko. Masakit pala kapag ikaw mismo ang sinabihan na hindi ka pinapakilala ng sariling ama mo. Did you hear what he said Sky? He thought isa lang anak ni Daddy. He thought si Ate lang ang anak ng Daddy ko," I tried controlling my tears. Sky stood up and placed my head on his chest. He wrapped my arms around his waist so that I could hug him.

He looked down at me and wiped my tears. "Shhhhh. Hush now, I'm here. I'm proud of you, Soliel. Kung hindi kaya ng ama mo na ipalandakan ka sa lahat, pwes ako kaya ko."

Sky and I were sitting beside each other. Nakasandal ang ulo ko sa balikat niya. He's holding me close habang pinapakalma ako. I felt him stiffened kaya naman inangat ko ang ulo ko. Tinignan ko kung saan siya nakatingin and I saw my parents arriving. Some guests greeted my father and he looked so proud. I felt Sky's grip on my arm tightened. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya kaya naman napatingin siya sa akin. I smiled at him para kumalma siya. He sighed and I was glad that he eventually calmed down. Sa ilang araw na magkakilala kami ni Sky I know that he has a short temper. Kapag galit siya, galit talaga siya. No one can stop him. He has the power to destroy anyone who gets in his way.

Nagulat ako nang biglang tumayo si Sky. Inalalayan niya akong tumayo. "Anong gagawin mo?" I asked him. Obviously worried with what he's going to do.

"Nothing. Let us greet your parents," he said coldly. Ipinatong niya ang kamay ko sa kamay niya at naglakad kami palapit kila mommy.

"Alexis!" Mommy greeted me. I smiled at her a bit. We were in front of them. Shock was written all over dad's face. Ngumisi lamang si Sky.

"Good evening, Mr. Del Valle," Sky greeted.

"Ano ka ba hijo! Magiging pamilya din naman tayo after a few months! You can call me dad!" Masiglang sabi ni Daddy.

"No than you. I prefer calling you as is," pambabara ni Sky sa kanya. "Oh by the way, won't you greet your daughter?"

"A-ah yes. It's a surprise to see you here, Alexis. I didn't know you were coming," Dad greeted me. I remained a stern face while Sky laughed. Napatingin si Daddy sa kanya. He was confused.

"Ofcourse you will be surprised! Ni hindi mo nga siya sinama hindi ba. You did not even invite your own daughter. Tsk tsk tsk. What a shame, dad," Halata ang pag-pipigil ni Daddy. I know he's mad at Sky.

Walang bakas ng takot sa mga mata ni Sky. He was rather enjoying the sight of my father getting angry! This guy! Wala talaga siyang kitakatakutan! I grabbed Sky's hand at inilayo ko na siya sa ama ko dahil baka may masama pang mangyare sa pagitan nila. You can see anger in Sky's eyes but his smirk remains. "Alis muna kami ni Sky Mom, Dad," paalam ko sa mga magulang ko. Mukhang naintindihan ako ni Mommy dahil tumango naman siya at agad na kinuha ang kamay ni Daddy.

"S-sure thing anak! Your Dad and I will be right here greeting some of our friends. Let's go, Dominique."

I pulled Sky away from my parents. He was still mad pero hinayaan niya lamang ako na ilayo siya sa mga magulang ko. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan kami ngayon all I know we are inside some big room. I heard Sky chuckle kaya naman agad ko siya nilingon.

"What are you laughing about? Muntik ka nanaman gumawa ng gulo kanina pero parang wala lang iyon sa'yo!" The tension between them was intense! I know I had to do something before it goes out of hand! Si Sky ang tipo ng tao na walang pakealam kahit mas matanda sa kanya ang kaaway niya. Basta't alam niya na siya ang nasa tama. He will use his power to destroy you. That's how ruthless he can be.

"How did you know that this is my room?" He asked, amused.

"What?!" Halos lumaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya.

"Yeah," he chuckled. "You're such a stalker, Soliel."

"N-no! Hindi ko alam na kwarto mo 'to! I was just dragging you somewhere para hindi ka gumawa ng gulo sa baba," depensa ko sa sarili ko. Malay ko ba na kwarto niya ito! I began looking around his room. Medyo madilim kaya ko ko masyado makita ang design ng kwarto niya. Mukhang nahalata niya ito dahil I was looking at his room intensely. He went near the door to open the lights. My eyes were adjusting to the light.

Napaka monochrome ng design ng kwarto niya. His walls were painted gray and black. Wala din masyadong design ang kwarto niya. "Sige lang, mag sight seeing ka kung gusto mo," sarcastic na sabi ni Sky sa akin. Inirapan ko nalang siya kaya naman napatawa siya sa akin.

I was looking at the stuff on top of his shelf nang bigla akong may nakitang picture frame. It was him and a girl. Naka-akbay siya sa babae. Hindi ko masyado makita ang mukha ng babae. That must be his ex-girlfriend? I was about to take the picture frame para mas makita ko ng Mabuti but Sky was quick enough to grab the picture frame away from me.

"I told you mag sigh seeing ka. Hindi ko sinabing mangealam ka ng gamit ng iba," he said coldly. I froze. Bigla akong natakot sa boses niya. Was he mad? Napaka importante siguro ng babaeng iyan dahil ayaw niya ipakita sa akin.

"I-I'm sorry. Hindi ko sinasadya," I apologized. Yumuko ako sa kahihiyan at kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko. Ayan kasi napaka pakealamera.

Tinignan niya lamang ako. "Mauna ka na sa baba." I nodded and left his room I tried my best not to cry. My tears started to fall as soon as I got far away from his room. I grabbed my chest. May kung anong kirot ako na nararamdaman sa dibdib ko. Why am I in pain?

I wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible. I might be falling for him and it's dangerous! Alam ko ako lang ang masasaktan sa huli. I hurriedly went down stairs making sure no one would notice me leaving the place pero mukhang ayaw talaga ako paalisin ng matiwasay ng tadhana. Athaliah saw me running kaya naman ay hinabol niya ako.

"Ate! What's wrong? Asan si Kuya Sky?" She asked me. I looked away para hindi niya makita ang mukha ko.

"H-hindi ko alam eh. Pupuntahan ko muna nag pamilya ko. I want to talk to them," palusot ko pero ayaw talaga ako pakawalan ni Athaliah.

"Ha? Let's look for Kuya Sky muna Ate!" Pamimilit ni Athaliah sa akin. I tried my best to leave pero ayaw niya talaga pakawalan ang braso ko.

"A-Athaliah, can I go to the rest room real quick?"

"Sure po! I'll go with you!" Masayang sabi niya. I sighed. Ang kulit din ng batang ito!

"No!" Nagulat siya sa biglang pag sigaw ko. I calmed down a bit. "I mean.. You can look for Sky first. Susunod din ako, I promise," I told her and smiled. She raised her eyebrows. Tumango naman siya kaya medyo gumaan ang pakiramdam ko.

Mabilis akong naglakad palabas ng pinto. I was about to open the door when someone grabbed my hand. Agad naman ako napalingon and I saw him! His eyes were cold as ice. "Where do you think you're going?" Tanong niya sa akin.

"W-wala," I whispered. Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay.

"Yeah, lie better."

"Uuwi na ako, Sky," I told him. Kumunot naman ang noo niya.

"Why? What's wrong?" He asked. Pilit niya akong pinapatalikod para makita niya ang mukha ko.

"Wala. I'm just tired, Sky."

He sighed and hugged me from the back. "You're lying, Soliel. Pero sige. Hahayaan kitang umuwi pero dapat ako ang maghahatid sa'yo pauwi."

Agad naman ako kumalas mula sa yakap niya. "Are you insane? Isang sasakyan lang dala natin kanina. If you're planning to drive me home paano ka uuwi?"

He smirked. "Who told you we're bringing your car?"

"Aba't! Paano ako makakapunta ng school bukas kung hindi natin dadalhin ang sasakya ko?" Naiinis na tanong ko. I got annoyed when his smirk grew even bigger.

"So does that mean pumapayag ka na ako ang maghahatid sa'yo pauwi?" Natauhan ako sa sinabi niya.

"H-hindi no! Bitawan mo nga ako!" I tried to unwrap his arms from my waist but he was too strong for me. I sighed. "Fine! Whatever! Can you just let me go?" Sabi ko sa kanya at agad naman niya niluwagan ang yakap niya sa bewang ko.

We went to my car at pumasok na kami doon. "I'll just bring your car," he said. Inirapan ko naman siya.

"Bahala ka sa buhay mo kung paano ka uuwi mamaya," I rolled my eyes at him.

"I'm bringing your car of course," sabi niya at pinaandar naman niya kaagad ang sasakyan ko at nag drive na paalis.

"What?! Are you out of your mind? What do you mean by 'you're bringing my car' may saltik ka ba?" Galit na sabi ko pero tinawanan niya lamang ako.

"Uh, yes?" He teased. "Relax! Susunduin din naman kita bukas sa inyo. I'll drive you to school," he calmly said. Halos magwala ako sa loob ng sasakyan. This guy is insane!

***

I woke up from the sound of my alarm. Agad naman ako nag ayos para sa klase ko. I went inside the bathroom to take a bath and I changed to my work out clothes. Agad naman ako bumaba papunta sa gym namin. Yes, we have a gym inside our house. Ate Luna likes working out kaya nagpalagay si Daddy ng gym para hindi na labas ng labas si Ate for her work out.

I was doing some full body work out when I heard my phone ringing. Tumigil naman ako sa pag wowork out para sagutin ang tawag. I checked my phone to see that Stephanie left me a lot of messages!

"Hello?" Sagot ko.

"Hayop ka! I kept on texting you! Bakit hindi ka nagrereply!" Bungan ni Stephanie sa akin. I apologized and asked her what was wrong.

"I was working out. Bakit ba? Ano ba ang nangyare?" Tanong ko habang binubuksan ang hydro flask ko para uminom ng tubig.

"Alam mo ba na engaged si Sky?!" Hysterical na sabi ni Stephanie! Naibuga ko ang tubig na iniinom ko. Bigla akong kinabahan. Ano ang ibing niyang sabihin?

"T-teka. P-paano mo nalaman?" I was nervous as hell!

"It was on the news! Some reporter took a picture of Sky hugging someone from their Family gathering last night. After nalabas 'yung picture madaming lumitaw na mga insiders saying that Sky is already engaged and ang babaeng iyon daw ang fiancee ni Sky!” Pakiramdam ko ay nabuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig dah sa sinabi ni Stephanie.