Chapter 2

"Alisha? Do I look like I'm wearing a mask right now?"

In an instant, Reuz's expression shifted. He became stoic and took a deep breath. Biglang nagkaroon ng mahabang katahimikan sa kanilang dalawa. "—my bad." He flatly said, at bumalik na ulit sa pageempake.

Saglit naman napaisip si Alisha, no—Her real name is Sofia. She can't mistake her own self as someone else. She needs to get herself act together.

Sofia met Reuz in her work before, then suddenly offered her an impossible contract but somehow, they managed to pull it off and here they are, still dancing on their own plays.

"Reuz, are you hungry?" Aniya, habang kinukuha ang atensyon ng binata. Bigla kasing nagkaroon ng awkward atmosphere sa kanilang dalawa kaya napagdesisyunan niya na magchanged topic na lang.

"No." Seryosong sagot ni Reuz pero kalaunan ay narinig naman ni Sofia ang pagkulo ng tiyan nito. "Are you seriously lying right now when your tummy doesn't even lie?"

She immediately called room service and placed an order for a variety of foods that Reuz would undoubtedly enjoy. For some reason, she felt guilty. Argh! She despises being regretful in this way. "That was insensitive of me, dude. I'm sorry for bringing that up." Mahinang sabi niya pero alam niyang makakarating ito sa lalaki.

Umangat bigla ang tingin ni Reuz sa kaniya, nakangiti na. Bigla itong tumayo at niyakap siya ng mahigpit. "So sweet, my darling!" Maharot na sabi nito pero napairap lang si Sofia. Actually, sanay na siya sa pabago-bagong mood swing ng lalaki kaya ang ganitong moments ay hindi na bago sa kaniya. Mabilis lang magpatawad si Reuz at mabilis maka-appreciate ng maliliit na bagay kaya agad silang nagclick nang mag umpisa ang kontrata nilang dalawa.

Sofia slightly pushed Reuz because she felt her cheeks burning. "Personal space, please!" Parinig niya pero parang walang narinig ang lalaki at mas lalo pa siyang niyakap ng mahigpit. Hindi natapos iyon hanggang dumating ang room service.

NAKAALIS na si Alisha at Reuz sa hotel na tinutuluyan nila at kasalukuyang papuntang airport para sa kanilang honeymoon. They are going to Maldives and enjoy their own moments. Yes, own. Napag-usapan nilang dalawa na total, wala naman sila sa Pilipinas, free silang magenjoy at maghanap ng kaharutan dahil minsan lang magkakaroon ng time na walang matang nakabantay sa bawat galaw nila.

Sigurado naman siya na kahit magisa ay magiging masaya siya. Maldives was one of the places she wants to visit and it's also written in her bucketlist! There's no way she wouldn't enjoy staying there.

Napansin ni Sofia ang paghinto ng private car na sinasakyan nila. They arrived now at the airport pero ang ‘asawa’ niya ay tulog mantika pa rin. Mahina niyang tinapik ang balikat nito para magising, at pasimpleng sumilip kung nakatingin ang driver sa kanila. Mukhang tama nga siya, minamanmanan nga talaga ng ina ni Reuz ang mga galaw nila. Binalaan na siya ng binata na mag-ingat sa mata ng ina nito dahil ito daw ay strikto at mahilig magimbestiga.

Napapikit ng mariin si Sofia ng hindi nagising si Reuz sa ilang tapik niya, she needs to act now. Then, she kissed Reuz like a morning kiss and smiled sweetly at him nang mapabalikwas ito ng gising. Nilakihan niya ito ng mata na at nginuso ang driver na pasimplening nakatingin sa kanila, para bang sinesenyas kung ano ang kasalukuyang nangyayari.

Mukha namang na-gets ng binata at niyakap siya ng mahigpit. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I fell asleep, were you bored earlier?" Matamis na ani ni Reuz habang hinahaplos ang likod niya.

Nagtatampo namang sumagot si Sofia, "—hindi naman, because I know you're really tired since morning. Hindi sana kita gigisingin kung hindi lang natin need pumasok sa airport. Sorry, my hubby."

Kung alam lang nang nagmamasid sa kanila kung gaano silang dalawa masuka-suka dahil sa pinagsasasabi nila ngayon. Mabuti kamo at na-practice na nila ang ganitong mga pangyayari kaya medyo nakampante naman sila na magiging maayos ang lahat.

Agad naman silang lumabas ng sasakyan nang mapansin na satisfied na ang driver sa akto nila. Hinapit pa ni Reuz ang baywang niya habang papalayo sa sasakyan.

"Why did you kiss me, bitch? Oh, God! I need to use mouth wash right now. I need to go to the bathroom!" Maarteng reklamo nito habang sweet pa rin na nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Akala mo ba ginusto ko 'yon? Kung hindi ka lang sana tulog mantika, edi sana walang mangyayaring ganoon." Irap ni Sofia dito. She knows how to wake up Reuz, and at that moment, she certainly needs to use that card when she doesn't really have a choice.

"Kahit na!" Huling sabi ng binata bago magpaalam na pupuntang restroom. Napabuntong hininga na lang siya habang nakatulala sa papalayong likod nito. Mas maarte pa sa kaniya si Reuz, at mas babae pa kung tutuusin.

May ilang oras pa sila bago lumipad kaya nagmuni-muni muna si Sofia. Seeing a lot of people reminds her, this is the freedom that she always wanted. Iyong para bang kaya niya na makipaghalubilo sa mga tao kahit lumaki siya sa orphanage. Iyong parang belong siya sa lugar na ganito, hindi katulad noon na kahit pa nakalabas na siya sa tinutuluyan dati, hindi pa rin niya nagawang pumunta ng iba't ibang lugar. And somehow, she suddenly felt happy knowing that one by one, her dreams before are becoming true.

"Alisha?" Someone's voice disturbed her and she knows when that voice called her name Alisha, this person knows Alisha and not Sofia. And right now, she needed to act 'Alisha'.

She slowly but gracefully faced that person. "—Yes? Do I know you?" She beamed sweetly as she observed the person in front of her. No way, I don't know him at all. His identification wasn't in the file na binigay ni Reuz.

He was a tall man, in fact, a very tall man. With his attractive emerald eyes, he has a masculine body and overflowing sex appeal. This man also has a charming smile that can entice many women.

Mapagbirong nagsalita ang lalaki. "No way? Have you forgotten about me? That pains me, we were together for almost six months!"

Nag simulang kumabog ang dibdib ni Sofia ng marinig ang impormasyon na bago sa tenga niya. Fuck, parang dito pa siya papalya. At ang mas malala pa ay ang tagal bumalik ni Reuz. She needs to calm herself; a simple mistake can ruin her image as Alisha, and she cannot let that happen.

"Can I ask your name, please?" She kindly asked while stalling some time to wait for Reuz.

"You seriously forgot about me? That really hurts." Sagot ng binata at maiging tinignan ang mukha niya. Isang matamis na ngiti lang ang ibinigay niya dito at sakto namang nakita niya si Reuz sa kalayuan.

Dali-dali siyang tumayo at matamis na ngumiti dito. "Honey~!" kumaway siya at alam niya, na maiintindihan ni Reuz ang ipinapahiwatig niya dahil bigla itong lumapit sa kaniya, with his serious expression like a jealous man.

As if on cue, the play starts now.

Nang nakalapit si Reuz sa kaniya ay mabilis na hinapit nito ang baywang niya at seryosong tinignan sa mata ang binatang nasa harapan nila. Nagtangis ang kaniyang baga. The veins in his neck were evidence that he was seriously pissed right now.

"You better fuck off now, no one should lay their hands on my wife."