Chapter 5

Tinalikuran ko na siya. Tumungo na ako sa sasakyan ko. I started the engine of my car and started driving. Kita ko mula sa rear view mirror ang sasakyan ni Accius na sumunod sa akin. Binilisan ko ang sasakyan ko para malayo sa kaniya. Muli kong binagalan ang sasakyan nang magkalayo ako.

Ang tapang ko naman yata para kalabanin ang dating naging racer.

I glanced at the rear mirror and saw his car behind mine. Bibilisan ko sana ang takbo ng sasakyan ko nang mapansing mabagal na ang takbo ng kaniyang sasakyan at hindi inilalapit sa akin kaya hindi ko na binilisan ang pagtakbo. Hanggang sa makarating na kami sa mansion niya.

I walked fast heading to the mansion. Sinalubong ako ni Jesel at ibang mga kasambahay. “M-Madame! Mabuti at naka-uwi na po kayo–”

Bago ko sila malampasan ay may marahas na humila agad sa braso ko. “We’re not f*cking done talking, Dollina!” matigas na sambit niya.

Napalingon ako sa mga kasambahay na nasa baba lang ang tingin, walang may sumubok na umangat ang tingin sa amin lalo na kay Accius na galit ngayon. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya at bumuntonghininga.

“We’re done talking, Accius. What do you want to hear from me? Sinabi kong hindi ko sasabihin ang pangalan niya dahil ayokong mapahamak siya,” kalmado kong sinabi.

His eyes darkened. “What? You’re that worried for him? I'm really going to do something you won't like if I see you with him or with another man, Dollina," he exclaimed.

My lips parted. This is the first time I saw him mad like this. I didn’t know that he’s this possessive. And at the same time, I am confused why he is being like this towards me. Is it because of his ego? Because I’m his wife at hindi puwedeng may kasama akong ibang lalaki dahil baka madungisan ang pangalan niya? I don’t even know if our marriage is shared in public.

Gusto kong magsalita at sigawan din siya pero nakakahiya sa mga kasambahay at makita pa nila itong walang kwentang away namin na sinimulan niya.

“Let’s talk privately,” sabi ko sa mababang boses. Nilingon ko ang mga maid at pilit na ngumiti sa kanila. “Magpahinga na kayo.”

I turned my back at them and headed upstairs. I sat on the bed and took off my stilettos.

“I am warning you, Dollina. I don’t want you with other men except me and your father. Ayoko na kasama mo ang batang lalaki na ‘yon,” mariin niyang sambit bawat salita.

Napatayo ako at hinarap siya. “You’re crazy! Hindi mo ako pag-aari at hindi mo desisyon kung sino ang gusto kong makasama! Oo, asawa kita pero hindi tama na umakto ka ng ganiyan. Stop acting like a possessive and jealous husband!” I shouted back.

His eyes darkened more. I can see his intense jaw from here. “Because I am! I am f*cking jealous, Dollina! I’m already jealous when I think of you with other men! What if I see you with someone else, right?" His voice roared.

I flinched at his voice. Napayuko ako at humakbang ng isang beses palayo sa kaniya. I couldn't look straight into his eyes. He got pale when he saw my reaction. His jaw clenched but his eyes softened as he looked at me. Kumalma siya.

"I would be more crazy. I will be f*cking jealous. And yes, I am possessive when it comes only to you. So please… don’t be with other men. Just me, I can't stand seeing you with another man,” he pleaded. This time, his voice was gentle.

My eyes narrowed. “Do you like me?” I asked confusedly. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin nang mapagtanto ang tinanong ko.

I saw him gulp at my sudden question. His eyes were soft as he walked towards me.

He gritted his teeth. “No. I don’t like you. Because I love you. So please, Doll, don’t make me so f*cking jealous.” Marahan niyang pinaikot ang kaniyang mga braso sa aking baywang at hinapit ako papalapit sa kaniya. He buried his face on my neck and sniffed it. He's calming himself. Nagiging marahas ang pag-amoy niya sa akin.

I felt him sucking my neck that made my eyes shut. I groaned in pain. Natulak ko siya, at dahil hindi mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya ay nagawa kong itulak siya palayo.

What he just said is still not processing to me. Hindi ma-proseso sa utak ko ang mga sinabi niya.

He loves me? When did that feeling start? Is he true to what he just said? Some part of me doesn't believe him. Kailan lang kami nagkakilala. Mahal na niya agad ako? I don't get it.

I heard him sighed and held both of my hands. "I know it's confusing and it's hard to believe. But don't underestimate my feelings for you. You don't know how I feel."

I didn't say anything and just remained silent. I looked away. "Leave me alone first. I want to be alone," I mumbled. He didn't not speak and just stared at me like he didn't want to leave. But after a minute he nodded and kissed the side of my lips before heading out.

Sa dami at halo-halo na mga naiisip ko ay hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na ako. Kinabukasan ay nagising na lamang ako at maliwanag na.

Nasabi ni Jesel na wala na raw si Accius at nakaalis na. Late lang talaga ako nagigising kaya hindi ko na siya lagi naaabutan kapag magigising.

"Madame, sinabi nga po pala sa amin ni Sir na bawal na po kayo palabasin ng mansion."

Napalingon ako kay Jesel nang marinig iyon. “What? Did he really say that?"

"O-Opo. Hindi po kasi kayo nagpapaalam, Madame. Kahit sa amin 'di ka nagsasabi kaya hindi rin namin alam kung saan ka nagpunta. Kaya po siguro nagalit si Sir. Iyon po ang utos niya. Pasensya na po."

I didn't continue my food since I lost my appetite. Umakyat ako at nagbihis. I scrolled down on my I*******m and saw a glittering white dress. I gasped as I saw the dress. But I doubt if it is still available since this is the only one. Nag-iisa lang ito. Dalawa lang ang mayroon na pilipinas pero may naunang nakabili.

Pabagsak akong napaupo nang makitang kailangan ko pa lumuwas. I bit my lower lip as I think of it if I'll go and buy it. I have my money.

Hindi ko na pinag-isipan pa ng mabuti. I immediately booked a flight and fixed myself. Natigil ako sa pag-aayos nang maalala na hindi ako puwedeng lumabas.

Kung magpaalam na lang kaya ako na aalis para mag-shopping? Maybe he'll say yes.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko at tinawagan siya. Wala pang segundo at sinagot niya agad. "Doll. Is there a problem? You want something?" he said as he answered the call.

"Wala naman. Gusto ko lang sana lumabas para mag-shopping. Can I?" I asked.

"It's a no, Dollina," he said sharply.

"Fine," I said calmly and ended the call.

Tumayo na ako at lumabas ng kuwarto. I checked first if there's a maid that will see me. Agad naman akong nagmadali na bumaba at lumabas ng mansion nang walang makitang tao. Mahina akong nagpasalamat nang makitang walang bantay.

Hindi ko ginamit ang sasakyan ko. Naisipan ko na tumungo sa restaurant kung saan si Daven. He smiled and waved his hand when he saw me. Umupo ako pang dalawang upuan. I took off my gentle monster and put it on the table.

"Mabuti at maayos ka lang, Sadie. Kamusta?"

"I'm fine, Daven. Anyway, can you sit here with me for a second? I'll ask you something."

Tumango siya at umupo. "I want to go shopping kasi. And since wala akong friends na puwedeng makasama, I'll ask you to go with me if that's fine with you."

I can go on my own but I just really want to try hanging out with some friends. But I don't have that. Hindi na tumagal ang mga kaibigan ko noon. I also don't have close friends at work. I'm not really that close to my co-models.

Maliban kay Reed, Kyle, and Levi. Those three are my closest friends. Sila lang ang naging totoo sa akin.

Daven and I are not that pretty close but I can feel that he's a good guy that I can be friends with.

His eyes widened. "Talaga? I mean, puwede naman pero bakit ako?"

I crossed my arms. "Gusto ko lang naman ng may kasama. It's okay if you don't want to."

He nodded slowly. "Puwede naman, Sadie. Nakakahiya nga lang."

My forehead increased. "Why is that?"

Napahaplos ito sa batok. "Mahirap lang ako at worker sa restaurant. Hindi naman yata bagay kung ako ang makakasama mo."

I smiled and looked at him softly. "Daven, it doesn't matter. What matters is we're being true to each other and not backstabbing each other. Ano naman kung ganoon na worker ka lang sa restaurant?"

He smiled and blushed a bit. Mas nakikita ang pula niya sa puti ng kaniyang balat.

"Mabuti at leave ko na rin ngayon. Magbibihis lang ako saglit para makaalis na tayo."

I nodded and waited for him. We took a taxi on the way to the airport. Sinigurado ko na hindi agad makakarating kay Accius na nag-book ako ng flight. Alam ko naman na malalaman niya rin ang ginawa ko. Sana lang talaga hindi agad mapansin na wala ako sa mansion.

I sighed heavily when I remembered what happened last night. Gusto ko rin talaga makalayo muna sa kaniya. I want to have a time na makapag-isip ako sa mga nangyayari.

"Airport? Manong, mali po yata kayo. Sa Mall po ang punta namin–"

"He's right, Daven. Airport talaga ang sinabi ko," I said, cutting him off.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at naguguluhan. Bumaba na ako mula sa taxi, at kahit na naguguluhan ay sumunod pa rin siya sa akin.

"Akala ko ba shopping ang gusto mo? Pero bakit dito?"

I smiled. "Right. We'll go shopping. But in Paris."

His eyes widened. He blinked twice, still processing. "Sa P-Paris mo gustong… mag-shopping?"

"Yup. Actually, may gusto akong bilhin na dress sa Paris. And also we'll go shop na rin."

"Let's go. Baka mahuli pa tayo." Naglakad na ako papasok, sumunod naman siya agad kahit na iniisip pa rin ang mangyayari.

Hanggang sa nakasakay na kami sa eroplano ay tahimik pa rin siya at namumutla. Nilingon ko siya at pinagmasdan.

“Are you okay, Daven?” I asked. He nodded. “Hindi lang ako makapaniwala na pupunta tayo sa Paris.”

I chuckled and turned my phone off. “It’s your first time going to Paris?”

He nodded. “Hindi pa ako nakakapunta sa ibang bansa.”

“Pero makakapunta ka na sa Paris ngayon,” I smiled. Tumango siya at ngumiti na rin.

“Wala tayong mga dalang damit o ano man. Wala rin akong dalang pera. Paano ‘yon?” nag-aalala na tanong niya.

“Uuwi rin naman tayo agad,” aniko. Tumango siya at nag isip-isip.

“Don’t worry. Ako naman ang bahala sa’yo. So don’t worry and enjoy our time in Paris later.”

Sa haba ng byahe ay nakatulog siya. I can’t sleep thinking that Accius already knows that I am missing. I’m 13 hours missing so he’ll know by now.

Bumaba na kami mula sa eroplano. Paglabas sa airport ay hinanap agad ng mata ko si Levi. Kumaway ako at agad naman siyang lumapit sa amin.

“I've been waiting here for an hour now. I thought you weren't coming,” he said. I chuckled and shook my head.

“Of course not. I told you he’s at the office so I can escape.” He raised his eyebrow and smirked at me.

“I bet he’s finding you right now,” he pointed out. I crossed my arms.

“I asked him if I could go and shop. But he said no. He wants me locked in his mansion.”

“But what you did today, makes him want you to lock in his mansion more.”

My lips twitched. He’s right.

“By the way. Daven, he’s Levi, one of my handsome friends. And Levi, he’s Daven.” Tumango lang si Levi at pinagmasdan si Daven. sumakay na kami sa sasakyan niya, dahil iyon naman ang dahilan kung bakit isinama ko si Levi.

Levi has been my friend since high school with Reed. and Kyle. He’s now a lawyer. And he’s also Accius’ step-cousin. I actually didn’t know that at first. Nalaman ko lang noong sinabi kong ikakasal na ako kay Accius Vasquez. Kaya nagulat siya dahil ako raw pala ang babaeng pakakasalan ng pinsan niya. I was also shocked.

Nagtungo na kami sa sasakyan ni Levi.

Nilingon ko si Dave at hinawakan ang kamay niya. "Relax. We're here to enjoy, Dave."

Tumango siya at pilit na tumawa. "Hindi ko maiwasan, Sadie. Napakalayo nito sa Pilipinas. At wala akong alam dito."

"I said ako ang bahala sa'yo. So don't worry."

Nang makarating kami sa pupuntahan ay sinalubong ako ng may-ari. I'm glad that she's here. The owner and I talked a little bit. Sinuot ko na rin ang dress at kumuha ng litrato. She knows me kaya binati at kinamusta niya ako. She also asked about my Mother.

We headed out when we're finally done.

Pinasadahan ako ng tingin ni Levi at ngumisi. "Stunning as always. So you're happy now? I thought you came here for a serious matter. I didn't expect that you came here just for that," Levi said. He sarcastically laughed.

I raised my eyebrow. "Excuse me? Just for this? You're so rude."

"I'm not. You're just m*****a," he chuckled.

"And you're mapang-asar."

"Let's go, we don't have much time. He's quicker than you think."