Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

"Catalina we're leaving!" sigaw ni Hugo mula sa ibaba.

Catalina took her bag and went out of the room. It's been a year since they got married, and never once did she hear Hugo call her by her second name again. She was at fault by that, but Hugo also kept things from her so it's a fair situation for the both of them.

Napaangat ang tingin ni Hugo nang makita niya si Catalina pababa ng hagdan. His throat went dry and he gulped at the sight of her. She was on her usual black dress, but today was different, she was wearing a black skin tight halter top dress. Wala sa sariling napahilot ng sintido si Hugo.

"What are you wearing?" he asked, a little irritated.

"Damit, Sebastian. And if you don't stop staring, I'll poke your eyes."

Agad na nagiwas ng tingin si Hugo nang tuluyang bumaba si Catalina. She was always wearing dark-colored clothes it matches her porcelain skin. Contrasting her beauty, she didn't have jewelry around her except for the golden rings on her fingers, isa na roon ang simple nilang wedding ring.

Hugo stared at their wedding ring on her finger. Wala sa sarili niyang inabot ang daliro niyang may singsing nila.

"Papasok ka ng opisina ngayon?"

Umiling si Hugo, hawak-hawak pa rin ang singsing sa sariling daliri. "I'm coming with you."

"I'm staying in the mansion," Catalina referred to her childhood house.

Umangat ang tingin ni Hugo sa dalaga. "Walang ibang tao doon, what are you planning?"

"Swordfight, horse rides, shooting... What else?" Catalina counted her fingers. "I'll swim."

Ngumisi si Hugo. "Then, I'm coming."

Umirap si Catalina. Tinalikuran niya ang binata at lumabas sa bahay. They were in a secured village and Hugo occupied two lots since he was a shareholder of the company that built this subdivision. Their house is two-story, compose of a gym for two, an infinite pool, a rooftop for the helicopter, an underground parking space, 6 bedrooms including the masters, and 3 spacious bathrooms. Modern design ang bahay at ang kulay ay naaayon sa gusto ni Catalina, itim.

"We're taking my car.”

Umiling si Catalina. "Too late, my car is ready. Babana ka pa?" She smirked at him.

"You got me, I'll drive."

Ngumisi lalo si Catalina. "Oh no, dear, I'm driving."

Umiling si Hugo at kinakabahang tumawa. "We almost died when you drove..."

"Then we'll definitely die now."

Catalina went inside the passenger’s seat and turned the engine on. Walang magagawa si Hugo kundi sumunod. He doesn't know that the car was in voice-command and had fingerprint sensors on the steering wheel. Kung sino mang hindi registered sa system ang gumalaw ng kotse ay tiyak na makukulong.

"Seatbelt, dear, baka lumipad ka na ngayon," ngising asar ni Catalina.

"This isn't funny... Fck..."

Catalina pressed something on the steering wheel making the roof open. Natulala si Hugo.

"What the fck are you doing?"

There was an attached tablet on the car's headboard. Catalina clicked some things and suddenly a hand outline showed up on the screen, requesting for fingerprints.

"Please," Catalina pointed at the tablet.

Hugo placed his hand on the tablet and in an instant Hugo was registered.

"Hello Hugo, welcome to the system," the car said.

Hugo frowned, "What is this car?"

"Let's go," Catalina said.

The gates automatically opened and Catalina drove the car in her normal speed but Hugo thought it was too fast. Nang makalagpas sila sa gate ng subdivision ay lalong binilisan ni Catalina ang pagpapatakbo nito.

"Too fast, Babe. Slow down!"

"Hugo, I'm only running 40 kilometers per second,” Catalina lied while chuckling.

“Fck, I told you I’ll drive!” Napakapit ng mahigpit si Hugo sa kinauupuan niya.

Biglang inapakan ni Catalina ang preno kasabay ng malulutong na mura ni Hugo. Catalina started laughing so hard that it made Hugo pissed off. Catalina parked her car before looking back at Hugo. Bumaba ang binata sa kotse at umikot papunta sa driver’s seat kaya bumaba na rin si Catalina. She stood in front her husband with crossed arms.

Hugo was tall, he stood 6 feet from the ground, with broad shoulders and tanned skin. He had long hair and it was tied into a half ponytail while the lower part was clean. Hanggang balikat lang ni Hugo si Catalina, but whenever she wears heels she stood close to his ears.

“Tatanggalan kita ng lisensya, Sienna,” ngising tugon ni Hugo.

Ngumisi rin si Catalina. “Oh, I bet you babe.”

“Get in the car,” malamig na sabi ng binata.

Mabilis na naglakad si Catalina papunta sa passenger’s seat at padabog na sinara ang pintuan ng kotse nang makaupo na ito. Hugo also went in the driver’s seat and started the engine again.

“Let’s go to the office first.”

Mabilis na umangal si Catalina. “Sebastian!”

“Mabilis lang tayo.”

“Ayoko,” nguso ng dalaga.

Hugo sighed and started driving. “Babe, I swear we’ll be fast.”

“Sebastian, the last time you swore, na late ako sa klase!”

Ngumisi si Hugo. “What? It was babe time in the shower, can’t I swear again?”

“Oh, dear, ikaw ang papatay sa ‘kin…” bulong ng dalaga.

“Babe, sa sarap kita papatayin. Hindi sa inis.” Hugo laughed sexily.

Umirap si Catalina dahil sa kapilyuhan ng binata pero kalaunan ay naikagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi para pigilan ang pagngiti. Hugo ang his antics, he never changed his sweet little ways.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas nang tuluyan silang makarating sa harap ng kumpanya. It was the SHR Software Corporation, which typically focuses on developing software games with strong security for both the game and the device that they use.

Bumaba si Hugo mula sa kotse at hinagis ang susi sa valet attendant. Hugo opened the door for Catalina who was wearing her sunglasses. Bumaba ang dalaga mula sa kotse at naunang pumasok sa loob. She handles this company with no risk, she’s smart, and she’s friendly also. But whenever Hugo is around, nagkakagulo ang mga staff. Katulad nalang ngayon.

“Nandiyan na si Mr. Ruiz!” taranta nila.

A warm hand was wrapped around Catalina’s waist. “Can’t you wait for me?”

Umirap si Catalina sa loob ng salamin niya pero kitang-kita ‘yon ni Hugo. He chuckled a bit then cleared his throat and went back to his serious mode. Naglakad sila papunta sa private elevator na para lang sa kanilang dalawa. When the elevator door closed, Catalina took off her glasses and put on her contact lenses.

“You have beautiful eyes, Sienna…”

“I’m just preventing harm from everyone, Hugo. Alam mo naman siguro kung bakit, hindi ba?

“I’m here, okay? You’re in my company and everyone is safe here. Hindi mo kailangan magtago…”

Hinarap ng dalaga ang binata matapos nitong isuot ang lenses niya. “’Wag kang magpapakakampante… Kahit kailan, Sebastian. Huwag.”

Kasabay ng mga salita ni Catalina ay ang pagbukas ng pinto ng elevator. Naunang lumabas si Catalina kaya sumunod na lang si Hugo. She headed directly to her office and Hugo followed her there.

“Babe…”

“Seb, kung wala kang gagawin dito, umuwi na tayo sa mansion.”

Binaba ng dalaga ang bag niya sa center table at humarap kay Hugo. Hugo was standing near her desk, while she was standing across him, near the sofa.

Hugo sighed and looked at his watch. “Give me an hour, I have a meeting. Stay here, anong gusto mong kainin?”

Ngumuso si Catalina. “Strawberries?”

Ngumiti ng maliit si Hugo. “Come here…”

Wala sa sariling lumapit si Catalina kay Hugo. Hindi niya alam kung anong gagawin ng binata pero lumapit pa rin siya. It’s been a year of marriage. It’s been a year of hate for the both of them.

Umangat ang tingin ni Catalina kay Hugo sabay ng pagyakap ng binata sa beywang niya. Hugo planted soft kisses on Catalina’s forehead making her comfortable. Pumikit ang dalaga at yumakap pabalik kay Hugo. She thought it was just that but he suddenly spoke words that melted her heart and made her knees completely weak.

“Sorry, babe… I’m sorry…”

Isang marahang katok ang nagpahiwalay sa kanilang dalawa. Catalina cleared her throat when Hugo finally excused himself to attend the meeting. Huminga ng malalim si Catalina at sinundan ng tingin ang asawang naglalakad na palabas ng opisina niya.

“I’m sorry too, Sebastian…”