He's stroking her back na tila ba panapakalma sya.“I just want to, you can do that to me too if you want. Feel free” he simply uttered and smiled so playfully.Ibinaba pa ulit neto ang ulo at tila ba inaantay si Astria na ulitin ang ginawa nya.“Don't want to? sayang naman, sige ako na lang” saad neto ng mapansing hindi umiimik ang dalaga, matapos bigkasin iyon ay inilapit nya pa ang mukha upang dumampi ulit ang labi ni Cairan sa labi ni Astria.It was a peck kiss.“H-hey! tama na!” nahihiyang sita ni Astria sa binata ng nakabawi, nakakailan na sya ha!How can he stop? kanina nung maabutan nya sya sa doorstep nya para etong batang iniwan ng magulang na anytime ay iiyak, she looks so helpless, lonely and pitiful kaya naman gusto nyang punuin ng comfort at warmth ang dalaga ngayon, he wants to lighten up her mood at mukhang umepekto naman.“What if I don't want to?” malokong tugon ni Cairan at hindi parin inaalis ang kamay nyang nasa bewang ng dalaga dahilan upang hindi makadistansya s
“Looks like you had a plan… Why are you doing this??” she asked, hindi nya alam bakit sya nagsabi ng ganito.“I don't want to watched you being embarrassing because of your dad, isa pa, hindi ko gustong ma-engage ka sa step brother ko” diretsong saad ni Cairan.Hindi naman mapigilan ni Astria ang malakas na pagtibok ng puso nya dahil sa sinabi ng binata.Pero naalala nya… Her dad looks down on him… what if he tries to talk to him, sure syang mamaliitin lang sya ng dad nya and she didn't want that….She didn't want him to be hurt by her dad's cold words.“Ahh… uhm, ano kaya, why not tell me your plan? pag aaralan ko tapos ako ang magsusuggest may dad?” pagsushwestyon ni Astria.Hindi naman umayaw si Cairan sa idea ng dalaga “Alright”Kinabukasan, maagang naligo si Astria at nagayos ng sarili upang tumungo sa bahay ng binata.Mabuti nalang at day off ng binata ngayon kaya may oras eto para turuan si Astria kung papaano magpapaliwanag sa tatay nya kung anong plano ng binata.It's odd dah
“Please.. don't be mad at me” she helpless uttered at inabot ang laylayan ng sleeves ni Cairan upang hatakit eto She was so cautious, feeling nya kasi ay anytime baka magalit sakanya lalo si Cairan, she's scared na baka masira ang kung anong meron sila pag nagalit eto…Napansin naman eto ni Cairan at nanlambot ang puso nya, she was really anxious.“I’m not angry or mad, you don't have to be cautious of me” he uttered and reached out at her to rub her hair.“Hindi ako sanay na cautious ka sakin, I want you to be comfortable with me, always” dagdag pa ng binata.Matapos nang halos ilang oras ay nakarating na sila sa gate ng village nila, as always hindi na pinasok ni Cairan ang sasakyan nya dahil sure syang hindi eto magugustuhan ng dalaga.After everything, Astria is still scared of them being caught kahit na wala naman silang ginagawang masama. Naiinis man si Cairan doon pero wala syang magagawa he can't force Astria in that matter.“Uhm… thankyou kuya Cairan for the ride and sa pagt
Habang sya laging may kung sinong buntot nang buntot!? This feeling is suffocating Cian, sanay syang malaya sya sa lahat ng bagay at lagi syang pinapabayaan ng magulang nya. Ngayon e halos idikit na nya ang sarili sa bahay nila, he can't leave, he can't raced or worse hindi nya mapuntahan ai Roxie dahil sa mga bodyguard na halos 24/7 nang nakabantay sakanya.All he can do now is walk around their neighborhood and still nakabuntot parin sakanya ang mga bodyguards nya.It's frustrating to him.Sobrang bored na bored sya at di rin sya makatulog dahil sa gulo nang utak sa mga nangyayari kaya naman napagpasyahan nyang maglakad lakad tapos ganto ang bubungad sakanya? He witnessed Astria coming out of that bastard’s car? what the fuck?Sobrang naiinis sya gusto nyang magwala at awayin si Cairan dahil how dare he use Astria to provoke him!? Gusto nya etong puntahan sa kotse neto at bulabugin para pababain but he can't do that.Bukod sa umalis na ang sasakyan ng binata bago sya makalapit ay…
“Ha! I really hate that side of yours, Cian. You always throw your troubles on me— I'm so done with this, I don't have any words to say anymore. It was you who made lolo Carlos get in the hospital, not me, Stop blaming me” lantang saad ni Astria sa binata saka tumalikod at tuluyan nang naglakad papalayo kay Cian. Si Cian naman ay masamang nakatingi sa likod ni Astria na ngayon ay unti unti nang dumidistansya sakany “Astria! You will regret this. Sure akong may masamang balak sayo ang bastardo nayon! Kung ayaw mo talaga sige, I'll just wait for you to come to me crying the shit outta you because of him!” inis pang sigaw ni Cian sa dalaga Napabalik tingin naman si Astria dahil sa sinabi neto “I won't, If he do betray me I will not crawl back to you! I won't regret anything, ikaw ba? Will you not regret choosing Roxie over your own family? Lalo na naospital si Lolo Carlos dahil sainyo, kaya mo bang piliin sya?” she sarcastically said at matatalim ring tumingin kay Cian. “Ha! talaga?
Kinabukasan, kahit na nahirapang matulog si Astria ay maaga parin syang ginising nang kanyang telepono. It's ringing non stop kahit na alas sais pa lamang nang umaga and she knows why it's ringing so loud. Ganito sya gisingin ni Roy, he won't step up on his room pero bubulabugin nya eto gamit ang telepono nya. Kahit tinatamad ay napilitan na lamang maligo ang dalaga at magbihis, pinapababa na sya nang tatay nya dahil ano mang oras ay baka dumating na ang mga Funtaveriá para pagusapan ang engagement nila ni Cian. She don't know what to feel, gusto nyang umayaw pero hindi nya kaya… she's so helpless. Ting. Her phone rings and vibrated again, nagtext ang dad nya at pinapababa na sya para salubungin ang mga Funtaveriá. Labag man sa loob ay wala syang magagawa, bumaba na lamang sya nang walang kabuhay buhay ang enerhiya. Hindi pa nagsisimula ang lahat pero feeling nya ay sobrang pagod na pagod sya, di rin mawala sa isip nya ang banta ni Cian— hindi nya alam kung may sinabi ba eto sa
“You're always with Cian all-day long and a lot of people knows about your childhood engagement dahil sa lolo mo kaya alam kong alam mo na ang pagiging malapit mo kay Cairan can cause some scandal and it's not good for Cairan, Cian and especially for you— you're a woman, i know you know how much important reputation is sainyong mga babae” dagdag pa neto at kitang-kita ang pagkadismaya sa mukha. Hindi naman makasagot agad si Astria, her heart is aching feeling nya ay nalaglag sya sa kung saang madilim na bangin. Gusto nyang sumagot, tumutol o idepend sarili nya pero hindi nya magawa, nanigas sya na tila ba isang bato. “Star…” pagtawag ni Odette sa dalaga kaya naman napaangat eto nang tingin “Talk to tita, You just happened to take that- I mean Cairan's car right?” pagsabat ni Odette at todo pigil sa sariling tawaging Illegitimate si Cairan. She can't blurted out that word infront of Cael kasi. Lahat nang atensyon ay ngayo'y nakay Astria. It's overbearing. Their stares pressed he
After hearing what Odette said, everyone in the room was stunned. Even Cian, halos hindi sya makapaniwala sa narinig, he never knew this. So... kahit pala umayaw si Astria sa engagement na ito ay kailangan parin nyang maengage? at hahanap sila nang bagong magiging fiancé nya!? What the hell is that!? Napakurap-kurap naman si Astria, feeling nya ay nakikita na nya ang lahat nang nasa harap nya. Hindi lang pala sya ang tila ba kulong na kulong sa ganitong situwasyon. Even Cian, he's not as free as she always thinks he is. Like her, his feelings and opinions aren't seen by his own parents. Kinokontrol nila ang lahat-lahat sakanila leaving them no choice but to do what they want. He needs to sacrifice for the sake of his family's reputation. While her… She needs to sacrifice for his father's company… kahit na ang tingin lang naman talaga nang ama nya sakanya ay isang tool or way upang mapalapit lalo sa mga Funtaveriá at magamit ang reputasyon nila para umangat ang kumpanya nya.
She might looks behave and obedient to his mom pero her eyes is no longer the same back then in the paste, her eyes looks tired and uninterested.Hindi naman nagtagal ang pagdidiscuss nila Odette tungkol sa mga bagay at aalis na sana ng kausapin ni Cian ang ina nya "Mom, mauna ka nalang muna. Kakausapin ko lang si Astria".Odette just look at him with some hesitated eyes, maybe nabalitaan neto ang nangyari sa ospital noon, matapos ang ilang minuto ay nagsalita rin naman eto "Alright, be nice to Star ok? She's your fiancee now and sooner she will be your wife, Do you got it?""Yes, I know mom, I understand" inis na sagot ni Cian, he was really annoyed tuwing pinagsasabihan sya ng kung sino kahit pa ina nya eto. Umalis naman na ang ina nya kasama si Roy na ngayo'y hindi matanggal ang abot tengang ngiti, hinatid neto si Odette papuntang gate. Pero, bago eto umalis ay lumingon muna eto sa likod sabay sabing "Astria, prepare some drinks si Cian habang naguusap kayo" utos neto kaya napaira
Kinaumagahan, halos mga alas kwatro nang umaga ng magising si Astella mula aa pagkakatulog, she was sober too at medyo magaan na ang pakiramdam nya. Nagulat pa sya ng magising sa hospital bed kaya naman napatitig sya sa gilid at nakita nya si Astria na natutulog, napalinga rin sya at napansin si Roy na prenteng natutulog sa sofa habang si Astria e nasa hindi komportableng posisyon.Napailing na lamang sya at napabuntong hininga, wala talagang pake ang asawa nya sa anak nila... she failed as a mother for choosing a bad father. May hinuha na sya sa nangyayari kung bakit nandito ulit ang anak nya and she feels so bad and guilty. Hahawakan sana ni Astella ang ulo ng anak para himasin ng gumalaw ang dalaga, naalimpungatan ata eto.Nagulat eto ng makitang nakabangon ang ina mula sa pagkakahiga "Mom! gising ka na! teka, you should I down first kailangan mong magpahinga" natatarantang saad neto at ginaya ang ina papahiga "Nilagnat ka ulit at sobrang taas kaya naman dinala ka na namin ni dad
"Mamili ka ng maayos Astria, you being engaged to Cian and cut ties with that bastard or you will be freed but your damn mother will be sold with some maniac old man and your lovely illegitimate man will be kicked out of the Funtaveria Corp, choose wisely Astria. Choose" paguulit pa ni Roy na puno ng ngisi ang labi, nakikita nya kasi ang reaksyon ni Astria. She looks pale, shocked an helpless, and he's enjoying it.Choice... do that shit can be called a choices!? kahit anong piliin nya wala syang magagawa, lahat may masamang mangyayari... Naiiyak sya.Napalingon sya sa ama ng makarinig ng malalakas na halakhak."Astria, you should obey me and just damn get engaged with Cian and cut that bastard out of your life. Yan ang napag-usapan natin kanina diba bago ko ihatid ang ina mo sa ospital? You will obey what I want. Isa pa, Sure naman akong hindi mo kayang makitang maging parausan ng matanda yang nanay mo no? then, text that bastard that you will get engaged with her own damn step-brot
She's speechless, wala nang pagaasa pang magtino ang ama nya. Astria wipes her tears at pinilit buhatin ang ina o kaya'y tapik-tapikin "Mom, stay awake for a while, tutulungan kitang makalakad para madala sa ospital" marahang saad ni Astria sa ina.Sobrang init na ng temperatura ni Astella at napapansin nya narin ang pangangatog neto, kinakabahan na sya lalo. Her mom needs to go to the hospital immediately.Pinilit naman ni Astella ang sarili, sinuportahan sya ni Astria na makatayo at lalabas na sana ng storage room ng pigilan at harangan sila ni Roy."Do you think I will let you go that easily!? ngayon pa na tumapak ka ulit sa pamamahay ko!?" inis na asik ni Roy sa anak."Nababaliw ka naba!?" nagngitngit ang mga ngipin ni Astria at masamang tumingun sa ama "Mom needs to go to hospital immediately! she's burning as fuck! she's your wife and she needs immediate help right now!!" galit pang asik ni Astria sa ama.Sinalubong naman ni Roy nang nanlilisik ring mata ang mga mata ni Astria "
Magdidilim na ang paligid nya nang tumunog ang telepono nya at makatanggap sya ng mensahe mula kay Cairan. Mukhang nakauwi na eto at hinahanap sya, he's asking kung bakit pa sya wala sa penthouse...Nanlalabo ang paningin ni Astria habang binabasa ang mensahe ng binata.But she manage to pull herself together and replied on his messages ' I'm just taking a stroll, Mauna ka nalang muna kumain ' tanging nasagot nga na lamang sa binata at ibinalik ang telepono sa bulsa nya.'what a cold reply' she said in her mind. Infact, hanggang ngayo'y may cold war parin naman sa pagitan at halos ilang araw rin silang wala masyadong kibuan, pero sure syang kahit ganon ang situwasyon nila ay naghihintay lang talaga eto nang desisyon nya at plano nya.Napabuntong-hininga na lang sya, as if naman she have a choice diba? she have none, kahit anong piliin nya ay may dapat parin syang isakripisyo.Matapos nang ilang minutong lakadan ay nakarating na sya sa tapat ng bahay nila. Huminga muna sya ng malalim m
Maya maya, nagvibrate ulit ang telepono nya. It was from cian again "Asked nicely, I might reconsidered it". Napabuntong hininga si Astria. "Please, Cian. Can you check her up? it's fine even if it's quick" pagrereply neto saka nagsend ng isang gif, a puppy with a pleading look and saying please. Matapos magsend ay agad syang nireplyan ng binata "Yan, sige. Wait, I'll check her up. Update kita pagtapos" He's still childish like he used too, isip isip ni Astria matapos tingan ang reply sakanya ng binata. Binitawan naman na ni Cian ang telepono nya at nagbihis, nakangisi ang binata at magaan ang aura nya ngayon. As if something good happen. Feeling kasi nya ay unti-unti nang bumabalik ang pagkakaibigan nila ni Astria kaya naman hindi maalis ang ngiti sa labi nya, halos matagal tagal narin simula ng huling sumaya sya. Nung mga nakaraang araw kasi ay puro nalang problema ang kinakaharap nya. He was forced in this damn engagement at wala syang magawa dahil may bantay sya
Buong magdamag na hindi pinatulog ng niya si Astria, she kept thinking and organizing her thoughts. In the he only state that he had a plan for Funtaveriá corp, not the whole detailed plan. Was it because he didn't trust her that much para sabihin? natatakot ba sya na baka ibunyag nya to sa mga Funtaveriá? She can't herself but to doubt him... his distrust to her mad her trust to him broken, she's also feel so guilty because of her own conscience. Those thoughts kept messing their relationship. Her conscience and guilt is eating her up along with her distrust on him. If she had never hurt him back then baka hindi sya naguguilty tuwing nakakasama ang binata, she wouldn't have to be afraid to be with him but the irony was, if she hadn't done those immoral things, would he really still approach her? hindi mawala sa isip nya na baka talagang inapproach lang sya ng binata dahil para makaganti eto and that was her biggest fear... It's holding her back to choose and run to him without
"Hey, stop. Don't bite yourself" pagaawat ng binata matapos makita ang ginagawa ng dalaga sa labi nya. He raised his hands at inabot ang labi ng dalaga, he gently rub them. "Please, don't be burden by those things. Now, your problem is my problem too. Kung pagbabayad nang pera ang solusyon sa problema mo willing akong gawin lahat para matulungan ka, I will give you all I have if that's what it takes." Bakit tuwing bumubuka ang labi ng binatang kaharap nya ngayon ay puro na lamang bagay na hindi nya pa naririnig ang inilalabas ng mapupula at maninipis na labi neto? it's making her doubt anything because hindi nya maramdamang worthy sya para sa mga sinasabi ng binata. How can she be worth it for those sacrifices? She hurt him back then... She... She always choose someone else, kahit na pasikreto nya mang tinutulungan dati si Cairan, she still choose to shut her mouth and turn a blind eye on his suffering siding those people who hurt him. Even she did give him a flashlights everytime
"You're thinking, I'm just talking nonsense right?" buntong hiningang saad ni Cairan matapos makita ang mga tingin ni Astria. Napababa naman ng tingin ang dalaga sabay iling na lamang "No... hindi sa ganon... it just, kahit na makahiram ka man ng ganong kalaking pera... I-i... I can't afford to pay it back. How can I pay you back" alalang saad ni Astria sa kasintahan. Hindi naman nakasagot si Cairan sa mga oras na iyon at nabalot na ng katahimikan ang buong hapag. The meal ended in silence, parehong walang kibo ang dalawa sa magkaibang dahilan and that gives Astria sa sense of guilt for ruining the mood. It's just... how can he borrow a hundred millions from someone? sinong tanga ang magpapahiram ng ganoong kalaking pera just because they're friends? he didn't even know kung mababayadan ba eto. And if Cairan did borrow money, hindi nya alam kung pano nya mababayadan ang binata. Hindi ganon kadaling maghanap ng pera, kahit magkayod kalabaw pa sya nang buong taon hindi manlang neto