Chapter 2

MAAYOS NA ANG pakiramdam ni Nina ng makarating sila sa clinic, agad naman siyang sinalubong ng kaniyang assistant at isa sa mga vet ng clinic na si Darby. Ubod ng tamis ang pagkakangiti. Sila Soleil at Argus naman ay nakasunod lang sa kanya.

"Ilang oras na siyang naghihintay dito. Naaawa na nga ako kaya ayon, don sa office mo na lang ko siya pinaghintay, ma'am." Darby whispered while they headed to her office. "May kasama din siya kanina ngunit umalis din, mukhang na-bore na."

"Anong mga pangalan? Kilala ko ba daw?" She asked.

"Ayaw magpakilala, nagkwentuhan na kami ng kung anu-ano pero hindi pa rin niya sinasabi kung sino siya. At pakiramdam ko ay hindi mo rin naman kilala, ma'am."

Parehas silang natigilan ng makitang nauna sa kanila si Argus at ito mismo at nagbukas ng pinto.

Mukhang kinilig naman si Darby sa ginawa nito. "Always the gentleman. That's so sweet of you, Argus."

Napapailing na lang siyang natawa at siya ang naunang pumasok sa kaniyang opisina. He saw a man who looked her age, he had black curly hair and green eyes. Even just sitting, he looks already tall too with a broad shoulder and perfect jawbone. At first look, he really looked ruthless and dangerous with his grim lips and arched brows. But when he saw me, he immediately stood up and smiled.

She's about to ask Darby about their tea but the guy declined. Darby smiled at them before she get out. After Nina told Argus and Soleil to just wait for her in the lounge pagkatapos ay pormal niyang hinarap ang lalaking kanina pa mariing nakatitig sa kanya.

"Hmm, good evening, sir! Pasensya ka na kung naghintay ka ng matagal." I offered him an apologetic smile as I quickly removed my coat and hung it on my swivel chair then faced him because I don't want to waste his time anymore.

"Can we now take a look at your dog, sir?"

"Take your time but if you want, we still can talk. Truth is, I have all the time in the world."

She just raised her eyebrow weirdly, she can't tell if he's serious and flirting with her or he's just crazy. Pero nailang pa rin siya dahil titig na titig ito sa kanya. Bumaba ang kaniyang mata sa asong nakaupo sa tabi nito. It's strange for a breed like his dog to behave and just stay silent beside him.

Lumabas sila ng kaniyang opisina para tingnan na ang aso nito. Nakakamangha talaga kung gaano kabait at katahimik ang aso nito, a well-behaved dog is what she needed right now.

"There's nothing wrong with your dog, Mister—"

"Call me Titus." Then his smile grew bigger. "Titus Asa!"

Nina cleared her throat, he's really giving her that psycho vibe. Like those thriller movies she watched.

"Mister Asa—"

"Just Titus." Putol na naman nito sa sasabihin niya. "And please check her properly, I know there's something wrong with her. I can feel it in my bones."

"Sa totoo lang, sa breed at sa edad niya ay talagang nakakamangha ang kabaitan niya." Hinimas niya ang ulo ng aso. "Pero wala talagang problema sa kanya, Mister Asa."

"Just Titus!"

She ignored him. "Masigla siya at malusog kahit tahimik."

"Maybe she's pregnant."

"Mister Asa, she's still a puppy." Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay, mariing pinakatitigan. "Are you sure this is your dog?"

"Of course, I have proof if you want. Though she still doesn't have a name. But I actually want to call her Rosemarie..." Then he intentionally paused and stared at her like he was observing her reaction.

"That's a nice name." Pagsang-ayon naman niya.

"Of course, but a friend of mine doesn't want me to use that name because it's really special and meaningful for him. How about you? Can I call you Nina?"

"If that makes you comfortable then it's your choice, Mister Asa."

"Then calling me Titus makes you uncomfortable?"

Napakurap-kurap si Nina dito, hindi nakaimik at hindi alam ang sasabihin. Titus Asa acts like he really knew her well.

NAG-ANGAT NG tingin si Nina ng pumasok sa kaniyang opisina si Argus. She was busy with paperwork that needed her review and signature because she needed that to finish before the party this coming weekend so she instructed Soleil not to let anyone in and the man also knew that so it seemed important what he would say to her.

"Pasensya na kung nadistorbo kita, Nina but it's about Diether's mistress."

Kung paano nito bigkasin ang pangalan ng kaniyang hilaw na fiancée ay puno ng disgusto. Ipinagpatuloy niya ang ginagawa at binaliwala na lang ang napansin.

"What about her?" She asked uninterestedly.

"We already got her. Handa na ang mga tauhan natin na pahirapan siya at kung gusto mo naman siyang kausapin ay sabihin mo lang. Utos mo na lang ang hinihintay namin, Nina."

Unti-unti siyang natigilan at pinag-isipan iyon. Nina greed for revenge, she may not be the type of person who holds a grudge towards other people but she can't let Diether do those things behind her back and play with her feelings without suffering. She's no fool.

"I will face her after the party but please don't hurt her, Argus. I don't want her to have any wounds or scars on her body, especially her face. Please take good care of her."

"Why would you do that? Sinaktan ka niya."

She smiled at him. As she said, she doesn't care about Diether or how many women he will bed. But she also wouldn't just sit on the corner while being betrayed and laughed at. Once she gets what she wants she will let them do whatever they want.

"Argus, how else can I use her if she's full of wounds and miserable? This is not the time for her to suffer because we can still use her to our advantage."

He looked at her with a confused face but nodded anyway. "If that's what you want, Nina. I will go now, call me if you need anything or if there's something wrong."

He was about to leave when she remembered something so she immediately called him back.

"Gusto kong imbestigahan mo din ang lahat ng tungkol kay Hawthorne Salvatrix."

"Hawthorne Salvatrix?"

"Yeah! All about him, Argus. Everything about him." She smiled a little at him when she noticed the suspicion and confusion on his handsome face.

Argus owns a pair of beautiful blue eyes that really matches his straight nose and narrow lips

"Gusto ko lang na makasigurado. Ayaw kong mapahiya si daddy."

Pero iyon nga ba talaga ang dahilan?

Simula ng marinig niya ang pangalang iyon ay parang may mainit na bagay na yumayakap sa kaniyang puso at mas lalo pa niya itong gustong makilala at hindi niya alam kung bakit niya iyon naramdaman.

MAHINANG NAPAMURA SI Hawthorne ng maramdaman ang presensya ni Constantine sa suite ng hotel na kaniyang tinutuluyan. Naghahanda na siya para sa kasiyahang inihanda ng mga Gabriel ng gabing iyon. He's in front of the mirror while adjusting his necktie.

"Mukhang ang binata namin ay handa na sa kaniyang date. Kinakabahan ka ba?" Pang-aasar nito.

Nakita niya itong nasa bar at umiinom don ng alak na para bang inimbitahan niya ito.

He's already annoyed fixing his necktie and the man who he never wants to see again was there, annoying him more. Sa nakaraan na daang taon ay ngayon lang siya ulit dadalo sa isang kasiyahan. Nervous? Yes, he is. So nervous that he wants to kill the man annoying him at that moment.

"I still have a condom left here, I know you won't be able to stop yourself when you see her. And don't worry, I will never disturb you."

Because he can't fix his necktie properly and was also very annoyed, he pulled it and just threw it somewhere. He also removed the two buttons of his polo shirt to somehow calm himself and then put on his gray coat.

"Aren't we looking dignified now eh? Nagpapakabait?"

"Shut the fxxk up!"

"Oh! I heard that she's getting married soon. Bilis-bilisan mo naman, Hawthorne Salvatrix. You might have to wait another thousand years to see her again."

He shot him a deadly look. "I will just do this not because I already trust you. I'm doing this to make sure that she is my Rosemarie."

"She is. No doubt about that." He still insisted then frowned. "Why can't everyone trust me? I'm changing my life."

"Why don't you ask that to yourself, Constantine." He spite, pick up his car keys and headed to the door.

"Hey, Constantine freaking amazing Wilderheist, why can't everyone trust you?"

Hawthorne even heard Constantine ask that to himself.

Fxxking axxhole!

AS NINA LOOKED around at the venue of the party, she had a proud smile on her face. She was satisfied with the outcome of the preparation. As expected, it was attended by rich, powerful, and influential people.

There's an orchestra playing soothing music that just wants you to lay down on your bed and sleep peacefully. The ambiance is very calming and lets you forget about your worries. She saw her parents talking to the other guests. She turned to Soleil who was standing quietly by her side.

"Where's Argus? I haven't seen him before. He didn't bring us here either."

"He went through something important, miss Nina but he assured me that he would get here soon."

She's not comfortable when Soleil or Argus or any one of them is not around. She felt like she was leaning too much on them. She is so used to them that she trusts them with everything.

Nakangiting nilapitan niya ang mga magulang at inaasahan na niyang hindi siya makakatanggap ng kahit na anong papuri sa paghahanda niya sa kasiyahang iyon. Wala siyang naaalala, kahit isang beses na pinuri siya ng mga magulang. Even in her school achievements or even in a simple thing.

For them, those things are just nothing so she never expected anything from them anymore.

"What about Hawthorne Salvatrix? Ginawa mo ba ang pinapagagawa ko sa iyo?" Instead, that is how her father approach her.

She clenched her fists but she still tried to be calm and okay in front of them.

His father's face darkened, his gaze hovered over him with full of disappointment. "Hindi, 'di ba? What a disappointment—"

"Sir Gabriel, Argus already has everything about Hawthorne Salvatrix. Mamaya ay nandito na rin siya." Soleil interferes which made my father get mad even more.

"You fool, who gave you permission to talk to me and interfere with our affairs?"

"Honey," mommy stopped him and held his arm while looking around as if she was afraid that others would hear us.

"That's enough, guests might hear us."

Soleil immediately looked down, humarang naman si Nina para sa kanya mapunta ang atensyon ng kaniyang ama.

"At alam mo rin bang hindi makakadalo ang mga Lexington. I told you already to fix whatever issues you have with Diether, haven't I?"

Nina didn't even flinch when her father shouted at her.

"Don't worry, dad. I'm fixing our relationship already. I will make sure that our misunderstandings will be okay soon. Just give me time." Yumuko siya, her expression on her face was cold but there was a smile on her lips.

"Just make sure that whatever you and Diether's differences, you can fix it right away. Ikaw ang babae, dapat Ikaw ang nagpapakumbaba at huwag masiyado mataas ang lipad. Don't disappoint me again, Nina Celestine. Malapit na kayong ikasal na dalawa."

Tanging tango lang ang naisagot ni Nina dahil tinalikuran na siya ng mga ito at nilapitan ang bagong dating na mga bisita.

"Sorry, miss Nina." Agad na hinging paumanhin ni Soleil, hindi makatingin sa kanya.

"Wala kang kasalanan, Soleil. Just promise me next time you won't do that again. Kilala mo si daddy at alam mo kung paano siya magalit."

AS THE NIGHT was getting darker, Nina was feeling bored but she could only leave the place once it's over. She already had a few glasses of wine but that didn't help her either. It just made her more sleepy.

To every visitor who approached her, she would just smile and also talk even if it was against her will. Iyon ang kapalit ng pagiging isa niyang Gabriel, bilang nag-iisang tagapagmana ng lahat ng mga kayamanan ng kanilang pamilya. Siguro ay dapat na siyang masanay don, lagi niyang paalala sa sarili.

"Miss Nina, will you be okay here? I'll just wait for Argus at the entrance."

"Don't mind me, Soleil. Just see if Argus is already there. Ayaw kong umuwi habang hindi pa kami nagkakaayos ni dad."

She just nodded before she finally left her there. She's all alone at her table. There were no guests her age. And she understands the children of these rich people if they don't want to attend that party. But for her, she doesn't have any choice.

Pigil niya ang sariling huwag humikab ng mapatingin siya sa may bandang pinto ng beranda. There was a man standing there, holding a champagne glass while staring at her.

Nag-init ang tainga niya at hindi na niya maalis ang tingin dito. It felt like his eyes were hypnotizing her whole existence. He's tall too, no doubt about that. He also has that aura that makes him more mysterious. He's scary, his stares terrified her. It's like a stare of a predator to its prey.

In Nina's whole life, for the first time, her chest throbbed as she stared at him. She didn't even feel that way with any man, especially Diether. Only to this man who is staring at her.

Nawala lang ang atensyon ni Nina dito ng biglang magpatay sindi ang mga ilaw. Lahat ay napatayo, natahimik naman ang hall at ng mawala ang kuryente, nagkaron na ng gulo.

Napahamak siya sa dibdib ng biglang makaramdam ng paghihirap sa paghinga. Ganon din ang pakiramdam na naranasan niya noong muntikan na silang maaksidente ng papunta sila sa kaniyang clinic. Napahawak siya sa mesa ng mas lumalala pa ang sakit na nararamdaman niya. Nahihirapan na rin siyang huminga at ang mas malala pa ay hindi niya makita ang paligid.

"So-Soleil— Ah... A-Argus." She tried to scream but she was too weak.

Slowly she fell to the floor and no matter how much she tried to fight she was weak. She burst into tears, her entire system was completely covered by fear because of the lightning and thunder. She was deafened by the screams of guests pero ang mas kinatakutan niya ay ang pag-ulan at pagliwanag ng paligid dahil sa kidlat.

"M-Mom..." She said breathily. "Dad-D-addy."

She crawled, trying to get out of there as well because the guests were already running towards the exit.

Napasinghap siya ng makita ang lalaki kanina na ngayon ay naglalakad sa kaniyang direksyon. Her lips parted, she tried to shout but no voice came out of her mouth. He got closer and closer to her and her fear of him increases even more because of the lightning.

Nang makalapit ito sa kanya, sinubukan niya pa itong itulak pero nabuhat na siya nito bago pa mahulog sa kanya ang mga champagne glasses.

WHEN THE LIGHT came back, Nina was already lying on a sofa while Argus was trying to wake her up. Katulad ni Soleil na hinahaplos ang kaniyang buhok ay puno din ng pag-aalala ang mukha nito.

Luminga siya pero silang tatlo na lang ang tanging taong nandon. Ang mga baso, upuan at mesa ay nakakalat at ang mga kurtina at palamuti ay nasa sahig na.

"Wha-What happened? Where is that man?"

"Sinong lalaki, miss Nina? Ikaw lang ang nakita namin dito... Nasaktan ka ba? I shouldn't have left, I shouldn't have just left you. I'm sorry, miss Nina." She cried, full of remorse.

It's still raining outside but unlike earlier, the sky is calm. She feels okay too as if nothing happened.

"I'm sorry, Nina." Argus also apologized, seemingly blaming himself for what happened.

"The guy who helped me..." She whispered, she was so confused and a bit regretful.