Kabanata 5

Kabanata 5

"SORRY, BUT I CAN'T."

Tinalikuran ni Lucy ang lalake saka siya mabilis na naglakad palayo kahit nangangatog ang kanyang tuhod dala ng epekto nito sa kanya. What is it with that guy that her system suddenly went in chaos? She'd never encountered anyone who can enduce such power. Nais bumigay ng kanyang mga tuhod habang tila may sumusuntok sa kanyang sikmura. Hindi iyon tama. His effect feels so forbidden to be felt... But why does it feel so good?

Naikuyom niya ang kanyang mga kamao at tinahak ang daan palabas upang iligtas ang sarili sa mas malalang maaari nitong magawa sa kanyang sistema. Para itong bolang apoy na kaya siyang tupukin sa isang iglap at kung hindi niya bibilisan ang kanyang lakad ay baka magtagumpay lamang ang binata, ngunit nang marinig niya ang muling sinabi nito ay napahinto siya.

"Then I guess I'm gonna have to resort to exposing you and Papa," he said in a bored tone.

Her eyes widened. Nilingon niya itong muli sa kaninang pwesto, sinusubukang basahin kung nagsasabi ba ito ng totoo o sadyang ginigipit lamang siya. He wouldn't do that, would he? But why does he look serious about it? Ni hindi niya ito makitaan ng pagsisinungaling sa mga salitang binitiwan. Ganoon ba ito kawalang utang na loob sa Presidente?

She needs to think. If Alec De Vera is just playing with her then she better exit from this stupid game as soon as possible. Hindi niya man ito lubusang kilala ngunit sa kaya pa lamang nitong iparamdam sa kanya, alam niya nang isang napakamapanganib na tao ni Alec.

She cannot be his victim or she will surely regret looking at him. 

Tumikhim siya at sinubukang ipakitang hindi siya naalarma sa sinabi nito. "I don't believe you, Mr. De Vera, and one more thing, I ain't someone whose ground you can shake easily and fool."

Lumandas sa mga labi Alec ang isang makahulugang ngisi. His eyes sparkled with something, tila hinahamon siya o... Pinagbabantaan siya. Nagsitayuan ang mga balahibo niya sa batok. Bakit ganoon? He's already meters away from her yet he can still send shivers down her spine. How is he even doing it effortlessly? 

Naiintindihan niya na ngayon kung bakit bantog si Alec hindi lamang sa mga kababaihan kung hindi sa mga showbiz talk shows. He got invited for several times but Alec didn't accept any of it. He kept his life private, even his social media accounts were only visible to a few trusted people. Oo nga naman. He can really be the next box-office king if he decides to enter showbiz. Baka kahit wala itong talento sa pag-arte ay pumalo pa rin sa takilya sa taglay na kagwapuhan at angking lakas ng karisma. 

She watched him carefully as he slightly lifted his head, exposing his adam's apple when he gulped. Binulsa nito ang mga palad saka muling nagsalita. "Try me, Sta. Maria. I don't play nice when I get mad. If you know me already then you're probably aware how much I hate seeing Mama in pain. That woman is precious to me, at sa labin-limang taong kasama ko sila, ngayon ko lang nakita si Mama na nagkakaganito. Dr. Hailey De Vera was never insecure until you happened. I can put Papa's reputation on the line if it means getting rid of what's causing her heartaches so I suggest you take the deal now or watch me unleash the devil in me we both wouldn't enjoy to meet."

Natahimik si Lucy, hindi magawang magdesisyon kung kakagatin ang pain ni Alec De Vera. Una, masyadong mapanganib. What if he's just trying to mess with her and prove how much of a whore she truly is? Pangalawa, paano kung kung saan siya nito dalhin? Baka sa susunod na araw ay palutang-lutang na lamang ang katawan niya sa Ilog Pasig.

But on a second thought, despite the dangerous vibe Alec is radiating, Lucy doesn't think he will ever let his hands get dirty just because of someone like her. Mukha namang maayos ang naging pagpapalaki rito ni Hailey at Vince kay hindi niya magawang matakot na iyon nga ang binabalak nito sa kanya.

Nanatili siyang tahimik at nakatingin lamang dito. Ngunit nang magsimula itong humakbang palapit sa kanya sa mabagal na paraan, halos mataranta na naman siya. Hindi niya alam kung tatakbo ba siya paalis o paninindigan ang kanyang sinabing hindi siya basta masisindak ng binata.

Damn it! Bakit parang nagkakaroon ng short circuit sa kanyang isip lalo na nang manatili sa kanya ang buong atensyon ni Alec? He's looking at her as if she's the meal he will never share and his effect is driving her crazy. 

His slow footsteps echoed in the marbled hall of the art museum. Hindi niya alam kung dapat siyang magpasalamat na huminto ito isang metro ang layo mula sa kanya dahil baka kung muli nitong tawirin ang natitirang espasyo ng kanilang mga katawan ay bumigay na nang tuluyan ang kanyang mga tuhod.

He is like the storm she knew can bring the biggest catastrophe in her life, yet here she is, glued in her spot and unable to save herself from his wrath.

"Do you love him?" he asked as if it's the most casual question ever existed.

Lucy swallowed the lump in her throat. "Y—Yes."

His pools darkened, his jaw locked as if she answered his question wrong. Hindi ito kaagad kumibo. Mayamaya ay malalim itong humugot ng hininga saka ito marahas na pinakawalan. 

"Two weeks..." He rolled the tip of his tongue between his parted lips without tearing his gaze off her. "If you manage to forget Papa in two weeks while you're with me then it means you're not really in love with him."

"And who told you I'd spend two weeks with you?"

"Oh, you will." Muling lumandas ang makahulugan nitong ngisi sa mamula-mulang mga labi kasabay ng pagtaas ng isa nitong kilay. "If you really love him it means you will do everything to save his career... O baka naman hindi mo naman talaga siya mahal at handa kang sirain siya kasi nga naman gano'n ang mga kabit, hindi ba? You only care about the benefits—"

"And you think you have the power to stop me from loving him, is that what you're saying?" napikon niyang putol sa litanya nito.

Sumipol ito at muling ngumisi. "I hit a nerve, huh?"

Mariing lumapat ang mga labi ni Lucy sa isa't-isa. God-knows how many times she told Vince that she wanted to work for her needs. Ilang beses din niyang tinanggihan ang bahay at sasakyan ngunit pinilit nito.

But who is she to defend herself? Hindi rin siya pakikinggan ni Alec dahil sa mata ng lahat, siya ang anay sa pamilya De Vera.

"Listen, Lucy Sta. Maria. I said you just have to stay with me for two weeks I didn't say you're gonna have to be my own hoe." Umismid ito. "Don't tell me you're not confident with what you feel for Papa because you think I'm a better deal, hmm?"

Kumuyom ang kanyang mga kamao. Ang kapal din pala ng apog ng isang ito. "Stop putting words in my mouth, Mister."

"Well then why are you scared to spend two weeks with me?" Humakbang ito palapit sa kanya. Halos mapaatras siya kung hindi lang niya inalalang iba ang isipin nito sa kanyang pag-iwas. "Are you... Scared to fall for me instead?"

She swallowed hard and looked away. "You're not my type, Mr. De Vera."

Umismid ito, tila nagpigil ng tawa. "Then it's a deal."

"What? No—"

"I'll give you three days. You can't tell Papa about it or you wouldn't like what I'll do, Lucy. Papa will be in Thailand for the ASEAN in two weeks. Hindi ka mahihirapan gumawa ng rason." He raked his hair and towered her. "You should be thankful I'm playing nice with you. I could help Mama throw you in jail in just a snap but I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Lucy. "I didn't ask to be saved, Spiderman."

Umangat ang sulok ng mga labi nito ngunit ang mga mata ay bumalik sa pagiging mapanganib. "We'll see about that." 

He held her sunglasses and pushed it upwards to the top of her head. Nang magtama ang kanilang tingin, sandali itong natigilan na tila may kung ano itong nakita sa kanyang mga mata. Napawi ang maangas na ekspresyong nakapinta sa gwapo nitong mukha at napalitan ng tila pagkalito at pagkagulat.

Mayamaya'y lumunok ito at umiwas ng tingin. "I'll see you in three days, Lucy. I know you will show up."

Pinanood ito ni Lucy na tahakin ang daan palabas ngunit bago ito nakaliko sa sunod na pasilyo ay tuluyan siyang nagsalita.

"Why do you think I would even show up and take your offer?"

Huminto ito ngunit hindi kaagad kumibo. Nagtaas-baba ang mga balikat nito na tila malalim na huminga.

"Because you're too innocent to be a mistress." He looked at her over his shoulder with disappointment written in his olive eyes. "And we both know no woman would ever want to just stay in the sideline..."