CHAPTER 8Napabitaw kami sa pagkakayakap sa isat-isa nang tumunog ang phone ko.Wait---- What the hell just happened?!It was a relief that the phone call made an escape to ease the awkwardness between us.I couldn’t see Mikael’s face because he looked on the other side, while massaging his nape.I could feel my cheeks heating up, so I turned my back on him. Ni hindi ko mahawakan ng maayos ang phone ko. Medyo natagalan pa nga ako sa pagsagot ng kung sinong tumatawag sa’kin dahil roon. I glanced back to my phone, and it revealed the caller.It was Mikael’s mom.Could timings get any worse?I excused myself to Mikael and he let me be. Naglakad na agad ako patungo sa balcony. I let go a heavy and deep sigh before answering the call.“Hello Tita Valeen, yes this is Mauveine.”There was no answer on the other line. Nang dumungaw ako mula rito sa balcony ay nakita ko ang dalawang itim na SUV. Don’t tell me…“Mauveine? Could you please welcome us? I’m sorry for the sudden visit, honey.”I pl
CHAPTER 9 Gumising ako nang maaga para makapaghanda sa flight namin mamaya. Kaya pala binisita kami kahapon ng parents ni Mikael kahapon ay para ipaalala sa amin ang vacation daw naming dalawa. I suddenly remembered my parents. I was used to have my parents’ attention since I’m their only child, and what I’m feeling now seems surreal. They never reached out to since the wedding happened. Hindi kaya masyado na silang abala sa pag-aasikaso ng mga bagay-bagay sa kompanya? O sadyang hindi lang talaga nila ako mabigyan ng oras? I feel like they just abandoned me out of nowhere. Those thoughts of mine were quite disturbing and exaggerated, but I managed to set it aside. Aahon na sana ako sa aking pagkakahiga nang mahagip ng aking paningin ang natutulog na si Mikael. He was facing the ceiling. Naalala ko tuloy na nasa ganoong posisyon rin siya natulog kagabi. He looks so tranquil while sleeping. Hindi ko maiwasang purihin ang guwapo niyang mukha. Marami na akong kakilala na guwapo pero
CHAPTER 11It was the time when I realized that we’ve been staring at each other for quite some time, when someone knocked at our door. Tumayo si Mikael nang hindi binibitawan ang titig niya sa akin, kaya ako na lamang ang gumawa.Nahagip ng ko ang aking sarili sa salamin na nakangiti. Naramdaman ko na lamang ang pag-init ng aking mga pisngi at agad na napahilamos gamit ang aking mga palad. I must’ve looked pathetic wearing such smile at Mikael.Tinanaw ko siya mula rito sa kinauupuan ko. Abala pa rin siya sa pakikipag-usap sa kung sinong nasa labas ng room namin. I took that opportunity to change my clothes. Masyado kasing mainit ang suot ko at ani mo’y nagsno-snow rito sa Pilipinas.Napansin ko ang panay na pagsulyap ni Mikael sa akin habang kinukuha ko ang aking susuoting damit at ang aking flip-flops sa luggage. Is he thinking that I’m going through his stuff? If that is what he’s thinking, then he’s wrong. I would never be that low. I let a heavy sigh out.Hindi ko na siya pinans
CHAPTER 11There was no regret in what we are doing. We stopped the kiss to catch our breaths in. I could feel my heart beating fast, yet I didn’t really put more attention to that.Nanatili kami sa ganoong posisyon. Nakasabit ang aking mga kamay sa balikat niya. His hands were also getting a hold of my bare waist. I let our gaze meet once more. His eyes were smoking hot and so as he.Napangiti na lamang ako ng wala sa oras at ganoon rin siya.Humiwalay ako sa kanya at pinalutang ang sarili sa dagat. Nasa malalim na parte na pala kami, at hindi ko iyon namalayan kanina.I had decided to dive into the water to take a glimpse of the seafloor. From there I was able confirm that I really stepped on to a bunch of seaweeds. After a minute or so I can’t hold my breath any longer, so I emerged.I was taken aback when Mikael spoke.“It’s your turn now. Would you let me know you more? Hmm?”Binalaan ko siya na walang gaanong ganap sa buhay ko pero nagmatigas siya kaya napilitan na rin akong ma
CHAPTER 12 “You’re joking right?” Matthew laughed with disbelief. I rolled my eyes at him. I can’t even imagine of how I got into a relationship with this guy! Nagulat na lamang ako nang hilahin ako ng marahan ni Mikael papunta sa kanyang braso. Our skin was touching, and I could feel the heat between us. His familiar scent has now a hint of mint, of which I think he got from his drink. Itinaas ko ang aking ulo at nagtama ang aming paningin. I saw how Mikael clenched his jaw. It only lasted for a second and we pulled away each other’s gaze. “I’m Mikael Jarren Valiente and you are Matthew, right?” Nakita ko ang pagkamangha ni Matthew nang ipininakilala ni Mikael ang kanyang sarili. As he should! Kilala ang mga Valiente sa larangan ng business industry. And Jarius Leonel Valiente, Mikael’s father is a multi-billionaire and ruthless businessman. Bukod pa roon, alam ng lahat na iisa lang ang tagapagmana nito, kundi ang kanyang nag-iisang anak. ‘Di hamak na mas maimpluwensiya at mayam
CHAPTER 13I closed my eyes as I tasted fresh mint from his mouth.Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. With his lips moving against mine, I am now lost. When I looked at Mikael, he seems pleasured. The heat from our bodies just fueled something within each other, of which was making us feel this way.His hands travelled beneath my sundress but before he could do more, someone knocked at our door that made the both of us jump.Agad akong natauhan. We let each other go. I looked away from him immediately as he answered the door.Inayos ko ang aking suot at sinuklay muli ang buhok. That was… intense.Nagpatuloy ako sa pag-aayos ng aking sarili. Napansin ko na lamang na parang nakikipagtalo na si Mikael sa kung sino mang nasa labas ng pintuan. Hindi ko na napigilan ang aking sarili at agad na lumapit roon.“Where’s Mauveine? I want to see her.” The guy with a familiar voice asked him.Hindi ko narinig ang sagot ni Mikael, baka nga hindi talaga niya iyon sinagot. Tsaka sino b
CHAPTER 14 Nagpaalam na sa amin si Lynch nang tawagin siya ng isang magandang babae. Parang magkamukha pa nga sila. At hindi nga ako nagkamali. He confirmed that it was her older sister, and she was one of the reasons of why he is here. Nang tuluyan na siyang makalayo sa amin ay tinanong ko si Mikael. “Kakarating lang natin dito kaninang umaga, tapos pinapauwi na tayo ng dad mo?” Kumunot ang kanyang noo at tila napaisip ng malalim. “Sa tingin ko hindi naman siguro ‘yon ganoon ka importante.” Aniya. “Because if it is, dad himself would’ve called me.” He added. That makes sense. Kung ganoon, wala ba siyang balak na umuwi? Dahil kung ako naman ang tatanungin, ayaw ko rin. Alam ko na pag bumalik ako roon puro business meetings at kung ano-ano pang related sa kompanya ang aatupagin ko at sa tingin ko, ganoon rin si Mikael. Bukod pa roon ay aasikasuhin rin niya ang kanyang pag-aaral sa kolehiyo. “Hindi pa tayo uuwi?” “We’ll go back, the day after tomorrow. Why, do you want to?” I
CHAPTER 15 Agad akong napatayo sa sinabi niyang iyon at napaawang ang aking labi. My heart raced, it felt somehow satisfying rather than menacing. Mikael watched me intently. His gaze made my knees weak. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba dapat ang nararamdaman ko ngayon at kung ano ba dapat ang mga salitang dapat kong bitawan. Mahal na daw niya ‘yata’ ako? May ganoong bagay ba? Looking at his convincing stare just made me want to believe him. I bit my lower lip. “We s-should go back, it’s getting late.” Right after I said those words, I turned my back on him and started walking to the hotel. Habang humahakbang ako palayo, parang ang bigat ng pakiramdam ko. I feel like I’ve done a wrong thing and I also feel like a fcking coward. And I hate it. All he ever done is to make me feel this way. I shut my eyes close and took several breaths to clear up my mind to summon the courage within me to talk to him. From there, I started walking back to him. Nanatili pa rin siyang naka-upo kung saa