Tempted Heart (FREE TO READ)

Kabanata 16

KABANATA 16

NAGISING ako kinahapunan na nakapulupot na sa aking katawan ang mga braso at binti ni Achilles. Hindi na naman ako halos makagalaw dahil sa higpit nang yakap niya. His face is now on my neck. Kunting galaw ko lang ay tiyak na magigising siya. Halos hindi ko alam kong paano huminga. Kumakalam na ang tiyan ko. I missed lunch and my stomach will make a sound any minute now.

Bumuntong hininga ako. I groaned when I lift his hand slowly. Mabigat siya at mas lalo akong nahihirapang iangat iyon.

Bless me! Naiihi na din ako.

"Ayy!" Napatili ako ng maramdamang gumalaw siya.

He encircled his arms around my waist again and pull me closer to his body. I felt his lips move closer to my neck. Napatigil ako sa paggalaw. Hindi ko talaga siya napansin kanina ng dumating siya. Tulog na tulog siguro ako dahil hanggang sa paggising ko ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na nandito na siya. Hindi mapagkakailang masaya ang gising ko nang madatnan siyang nasa tabi ko. Ayaw kong maging ipokrita pero namissed ko siya ngayong araw na ito lalo't na at may hidwaan pang nangyari sa aming dalawa kagabi.

Inulit ko ulit ang ginawa ko kanina. This time I was really gentle, I might wake him up if I just shrugged off his arms.

"Hmmm?" I heard him groaned.

Napatigil ako at napatingin sa kanya.

Gising na ba siya?

I gulped. I then suddenly felt his lips over my neck. Napaigtad ako dahil doon.

What the! Tiningnan ko siya ulit. Tulog na tulog pa rin na parang walang ginawa sa akin. I felt my cheeks heated. Kunting galaw niya pa ulit ay alam kong sasayad na naman ang mga labi niya sa leeg ko.

What are you doing to me, Achilles? Naiihi na ako, kailangan ko na talagang pumunta sa banyo.

I tried to push his shoulder slightly.

"Achilles..." I tried to push him again, pero hindi pa rin siya natinag.

"Achilles..." I whispered again.

Baka sakaling pakawalan na niya ako dahil sa lagay naming ito, kailangan ko nga talaga siyang gisingin para makaahon ako.

Hindi siya nagising.

"I want to go the bathroom. Naiihi na ako." Mahina kong saad kahit alam ko namang hindi niya maririnig dahil tulog siya.

Hindi naman siya ganito kong matulog dati. Kapag kasi kunting galaw ko lang ay nagigising siya kaagad. Masiyado ba siyang napagod sa biyahe niya? Or maybe in his work?

I felt his wrap loosened up. I felt him moved and let me go. Namangha akong napatitig sa kanya.

"Achilles?" I called him out again. He rolled to other side of the bed while his back is facing on me.

Inangat ko ang katawan ko at sinilip siya mula sa kanyang likod. His eyes were still closed. Napailing akong tumayo at iniwanan siya doon. He must be really tired.

Kaagad akong pumunta ng banyo at pagkatapos ay napagdesisiyunan ko nalang na maligo dahil hindi pa ako nakakaligo kanina. It's a good thing that Achilles stocked some woman's stuff in here because I don't know what should I do if he didn't. I can't use his stuff, kahit pa sabihing may relasiyon kami. Well, it is still wonder to me. Maraming siyang mga gamit na mga pambabae dito. Ayaw kong mangialam, baka nga may dinala na siya ditong babae bukod sa akin.

Maybe his girlfriend? Fiancee? It can't be his mother's clothes and stuffs because it is for my age. What shall I think then? Hindi ako inisonte sa mga bagay na iyan lalo't pa't si Maria ang nagsusulsol sa akin ng impormasiyon tungkol kay Achilles. Hindi ito nawawalan ng kasamang babae sa iba't ibang event na pinupuntahan nito, both in charity's parties and business parties. Most are popular and supermodels from different countries. Kung pagbabasehan nga naman sa tikas at tindig niya ay walang pamana ang iba lalo't nat matalino din siya at maraming alam sa mundong kinabibilangan niya.

Men will always be men.

Nang matapos ako ay kaagad akong nagbihis at nagpatuyo ng buhok. Nang sinilip ko ang kama ay wala na siya doon. Agad akong lumabas at tinungo ang kusina nang may malanghap akog masarap na amoy. I stilled when I saw him there. He was topless while cooking something. It must be very delicious.

Nilingon niya ako.

"Come here, wife." Malamig niyang saad sa akin.

I will be distracted if I will going to come near him or just stay on my place. Every muscle on his torso moved gracefully with his tan complexion. With a well-toned and muscular body, his physique was admired by the opposite s*x, and still fired the envy of many other men. His just wearing a jeans on his lower part. Hindi ako sanay na nakikita siyang hubad at hindi rin ako sanay sa mga tawag niya sa akin.

I sighed.

Hindi ko siya sinunod at walang imik akong umupo na lamang sa mga metal stool sa kitchen counter. Alam kong nakasunod lang siya sa akin.

Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay salubong na naman ang mga kilay niya.

"You will come here on my side or you will have no dinner tonight?" He smirked after. "Choose wisely.."

This man is not fair.

Namangha akong tumitig sa kanya. "G-gugutumin mo ako? You are not playing fair!"

He arched his brows. "Looks who's saying..." He mocked me. "I'm not playing with you, baby. You shouldn't take that as advantage to outwit me this time because I will never let you. You fooled me once, I will never let you fooled me twice."

Who says I'm fooling him?

"So, gugutumin mo nga ako kapag hindi kita sinunod?" Mahina kong tanong kahit namumuo na naman ang galit sa aking dibdib para sa kanya.

Kaagad siyang natigilan ng makita ang ekspresiyon ko. I saw his jaw clenched. This man never ceased to control me. Nakulong na nga niya ako sa islang to kaya ano pa bang mga kondisiyones ang gusto niyang mangyari.

Tumalikod siya sa akin at pinatay niya kaagad ang stove. He turned on me after. He then lazily folded his arms over his tussled chest while looking at me intently.

"Let's have a deal, shall we?" I felt a triumphant in each of every word he said. Bakit parang feeling ko ako ang madedehado dito?

"Do I have a choice?"

Napatingin siya sa mukha ko at kaagad kong pinagsisihan ang sinabi ko. Naging marahas na ang bawat paggalaw ng panga niya at nasisiguro kong galit na naman siya.

"You don't have any choice."

I mentally rolled my eyes. "What the use of asking me anyway?"

I then felt his aura changed. "That beautiful lips of yours are really tempting me now. Do you want my kiss again, my Braises?"

Natikom ang bibig ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

I saw him smiled when he didn't heard any response from me anymore.

"So, what about the deal?" Tanong ko makalipas ang ilang segundong katahimikan sa aming dalawa.

"First, you will do everything that I will tell you to do." Simula niya.

I frustratedly looked at him. "Is this a slave contract?" Hindi ko makapaniwalang tanong.

He glared at me. "Do you think I would f*****g treat you like that?!" Parang kulog na boses niyang saad. Halos mapaigtad ako doon.

Napayuko ako ng wala sa oras.

Hayy, naku... I must really have to control my temper now. Hindi naman ako ganito kapag... Oh shoot! Agad akong tumayo ng may maalala.

"Where do you think you're going?" Malamig niyang tanong sa akin.

Wala sa sariling nilingon ko siya. Fudge! I suddenly felt the pain on my lower abdomen. Bakit ko ba kasi nalimutan ang araw na ito?

"What date is today?"

Nalukot ang mukha niya sa sinabi ko. "Third week of the month."

I swirled my tongue on my mouth frustratedly. Hindi ko na siya nilingon at basta nalang akong umalis sa kitchen. Natataranta akong bumalik sa kwarto. May ilang luha at pawis na ring lumalabas sa mata at noo ko. I felt every pain in every stride.

"Bree!" I heard him call me but I can't attend on his call right now. Lalo na't mas lalong sumasakit ang puson ko.

I didn't notice that my period will be this week. Masiyado akong nag-iisip ng ibang bagay. Kaagad akong umupo sa kama ng maramdaman na naman ang sakit. Fortunately, I bring my meds on my luggage but the problem is, I don't know where Achilles putted it.

"Ah!" I tried to stay still but the pain is not that bearable anymore.

Suddenly, I heard the door open revealing Achilles mad face. Nang makita niya ang itsura ko ay kaagad napalitan ng pagkabahala ang kanyang mukha. Without a second thought, he immediately come to me and kneeled in front of me.

"Why are your face was so paled?" I felt him trembled when he touch me. "You were just fine earlier." Malambing niyang saad.

I tried to shove his hand away but he didn't let me.

"Aww..." I groaned painfully when the pain hit me again. He tried to catch my face but I don't know what to do anymore. Masakit na masakit na ang puson ko habang patagal ng patagal.

"What's wrong, baby?" He whispered.

Pumikit ako ng mariin. "M-masakit..." I cried after saying that.

Nataranta siya at mabilis na inaangat ang nakayuko kong mukha.

"What? Where?!"

Umiling ako. "I need my meds. In the luggage."

"Bakit? May sakit ka ba?"

Umiling ako. "Just please..." Hindi ko na talaga kaya.

"Okay. I'll get it for you. Stay here." Saad niya at mabilis akong iniwan.

Everytime I have my period, I always felt the cramping pain on my lower abdomen. I know that most of women's population were experiencing this and it was fortunate for others who don't feel this kind of pain. I felt so moody when I have this kind of pain. Naalala ko pa noong college ako ay umaabsent ako ng dalawa hanggang sa tatlong araw kapag sinusumpong ako dahil hindi ko kayang gumalaw galaw. Baka may mabato pa akong tao dahil madali akong mainis. I will just make an excuse letter about my period. Well, most of all professors were considerate naman dahil lalo pa at mga babae kami, hindi iyon maiiwasan.

Some says it is unfair. Most women advocate equal rights and some of the boys in our campus are not really considerate when it comes to that matter. Well, come on, we are in a democratic country. Even if perhaps we can do what we want, but we should know there will be always some limitation. Ang sabi kasi ng mga ibang lalaki naming classmate ay dinadahilan lang daw namin ang period namin para umabsent. Kaya, minsan nagiging inconsiderate din ang mga ibang professors sa amin.

But I choose to stay quite! We don't have similar organs and I wish I could have a magic to make them feel how I felt every time I have my period.

I felt the door open again.

Achilles immediately squatted in front of me.

"Why didn't you tell me that you will be having your period this week?" Madali niyang tanong sa akin habang inaabot ang gamot at isang basong tubig sa akin.

I sighed.

"Nakalimutan ko..."

I felt him exhaled heavily.

"You shouldn't be. Paano na lang kong wala kang dala sa maleta mo? Even if I have my chopper fetch me here to buy you a medicine, it will take me hours to go back." I felt his frustration while saying that.

Wala akong naging sagot sa kanya. Pumikit lang ako at hinayaan umepekto ang gamot na iniinom ko.

"You got me worried."

I opened my eyes. "I'm sorry. I really just didn't notice it."

Hinaplos niya ang pisngi ko. "Your skin is still pale." Naalarma niyang saad.

I smiled. "It will go back to its color anytime soon."

Kaagad siyang tumango na para bang nahihimasmasan. Is he really this worried?

"Wala ka pang kain simula kaninang tanghali. Totoo ba iyon?" Tanong niya sa akin.

Tumango ako.

"Ang sabi ko hindi ka pwedeng lumabas, Bree. Hindi ko sinabing hindi ka pwedeng kumain. Is this how you wanted to get even with me? Every time you pulled this move on me, I will always be insane."

I bite my lips nervously.

"N-no." I replied.

"Then why are you doing this?"

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya.

"Why are you so indifferent when it comes to me?" I felt his sadness after saying that on me.

I wanted to cry in front of him, but I know it just my hormones taking over at me right now. Hindi dapat ako magpadalos dalos ng desisiyon lalo pa at tungkol sa kanya.

I heard him sighed again.

"You should rest now. I will just wake you up when I'm done preparing our food." I felt relieved when he withdrew our conversation earlier.

I smiled. I felt like I saw my old Achilles again. He kissed my forehead gently before walking out of the room. Now, what am I gonna do?

"Grrrr.." Agad nag-init ang mukha ko nang mag-ingay ang tiyan ko.

Siguro uunahin ko muna ang gutom na nararamdaman ko.

Lumipas pa ang isang araw ay naging mabuti na ang kalagayan ko. Mabuti na lang talaga at may dala akong mga gamit dahil kong hindi ay baka mas mahirapan pa ako lalo sa sitwasiyon ko. Achilles was very patient in handling me too yesterday. Nahihiya na nga ako sa kanya dahil sa mga nangyari kahapon. Akala ko kasi ay magagalit na naman siya sa akin dahil natagusan ko iyong bedsheet sa kwarto namin. I sleep the whole time yesterday because my lower abdomen was still hurting. I bleed so much yesterday. Kahit kinakapos akong kumilos ay inialalayan niya pa rin ako kahit magpapalit lang ako nang pads patungong bathroom.

Fortunately, he didn't say a word because I was embarrassed to say such thing. As a woman, it's one of my greatest insecurities. The part in which we try to hide it because it's really an awkward situation. Kahit sabihin pa nating natural lang iyon. I never imagined myself being taking care of him. The preservation I have for myself shattered a bit but in a good way. It's unfortunate actually of how I can easily adjust with him.

I smiled looking at the sun. It is still in the morning. The sky was so bright and blue. The clouds are puffs of white magic in acres of blue. Through the glass was the ever changing art of the sky, the clouds that brought infinite images of beauty.

Kanina pa ako gising at napagpasiyahang pumunta dito. Akala ko nga haharangin ako ng mga tauhan niya pero hinayaan lang nila ako. Hindi naman kasi ako makakatakas dito, kahit pa sabihing may bangka dito. I never know how to maneuver a boat. Even if I am in a crucial and urgent situation, I wouldn't dare to go sailing all by myself. Baka mas lalong mawala pa ako. Wala pa naman akong karanasan at kaalaman patungkol sa paglalayag.

"There you are." His cold baritone voice immediately makes it way to my ears.

Hindi na ako lumingon dahil alam kong lalapit lang din siya. I immediately felt his hold on me. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close to him. Fluttered by his action, I suddenly felt my inside heated up and I can't help to smile contentedly. I can see that I am more satisfied.

Wala ka na talagang kawala, Bree.

"I just realized..." I trailed off.

I felt him sunk his face on my neck. I gasped. His touch made everything on my body turned warm. It felt as if when I was in his arms all my pain went away - mental and physical, mostly the depressing pain.

"What did you realized, hmmm?" He whispered tickling me.

I smiled.

"This place is so beautiful." Saying that, feels like I already said everything. Like, that's all the answer for I don't know what question it is. I felt so calmed while saying it.

Habang nakatanaw sa magandang tanawin na nasa harap namin ay ngayon ko lang lahat naalala ang sinabi niya. Kung paano wala akong pagpapahalaga sa sarili ko. Truth is, I was and still selfish until this very day. Truth is, until now, I'm still selfish when it comes to him. I don't what him to know my feelings. I don't what him to reach out for me anymore even if I love him. Maria says I'm so complicated and I agree with that. Kahit ako ay hindi maintindihan ang sarili ko.

"There are more beautiful places like this, baby. We can travel the whole world if you want." He said.

I laughed on my mind. I don't want the world.

I want my peace.

I want my space.

"I just wanted to go home." Sambit ko.

I felt him stilled. Tahimik siyang nakatanaw lang sa akin at alam kong hindi niya nagustuhan ang narinig ko.

"Why can't we just enjoy this day without saying that on me?"

Nilingon ko siya. Our face was just inches away.

"Hindi natin ito maiiwasan ito, Achilles. Kailan pa ba natini to pag-uusapa? Hindi na tayo mga bata para patagalin pa ito. We've wasted almost a week here."

Napatanga siyang nakatingin sa akin. Namamangha siyang umiling.

"You think I'm just wasting my time on you, Braises?" He sneers at me then laughs only adding fuel to my wrath.

"You think this is funny anymore?" Kalma ko pa ring tanong sa kanya kahit pilit umuusbong sa puso ko ang galit para sa kanya.

His face immediately darkened, gone the soft and caring Achilles. The anger from her eyes showed the scared personality within him.

"You think I am being funny?!" He growled. He pulled my hands making me lost my balance. Hindi niya ako hinayaang makabawi lamang dahil marahas niya akong kinuha at iniharap sa kanya. His grip on my arms was tight. I can't calm him right now.

My heart beat faster. I'm nervous but if I don't do this, I won't stand a chance again.

"Why are you so selfish?!" He gritted his teeth.

I was taken aback at what he said. Hindi makapagsalita dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Bakit hindi ka nagsasalita? Sumagot ka sa akin!" The pressure of this raging sea of anger would force me to say things I do not mean, or to express thoughts I've suppressed for weeks.

Gusto ko siyang awatin pero baka maudlot ang usapan namin.

I smiled bitterly even if I already felt the pain of his hold.

"Bakit mo ito ginagawa sa akin? What's your reason? Why do you have to cage me here?"

Fury and hatred were smoldering in the small narrowed eyes as he stared at me.

"Are you playing games with me, Bree? Have you forgotten already what you did to me few years ago? Where you f*****g fooled me and leaved me with a residual damaged emotionally!"

"I didn't fool you."

He refrained his hold on me.

"But you did leave me."

"It's different."

Hindi siya makapaniwalang nakatingin sa akin. "You think what happened between the two of us was just easy for me? You leave me hanging! Did you lost your interest on me, hmm?" He advanced savagely to me.

A lone tear escaped in my eyes. "All this time, it was just your ego. You hated me just because I left you?" I laughed never minding his deadly stares.

"Why, Achilles? Because I am a challenge?!"

Hindi siya umimik.

"Bakit hindi mo na lang tanggapin ang lahat? We are over!"

He ran his hand through his close cropped hair three times in quick succession.

He smirked. "We will never be over, baby. I can't let you messed up with our relationship again."

"No!" Pilit akong kumawala sa hawak niya pero hindi niya ako hinayaan. "You listen to me, brute!"

His eyes twinkling a bit when he heard me.

"Did you just call me brute?" He said, amused.

What the heck? I want him to be angry at me. In that way, he will hate me more and probably he will just let me go.

"I can call you whatever I want!"

He barked a laugh. "Of course. You can call me any names you want, my innocent wife."

Nag-init ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya. I felt his hand loosened up. Yumuko siya at sinuri ang braso kong hinawakan niya.

"Damn it!" Mura niya ng makita ang pamumula doon.

"f**k!"

I sighed. Kukunin ko na sana ang braso ko pero binigyan niya ako ng masamang tingin.

"Kasalanan mo kung bakit namumula iyan." I glared at him.

"That's why I don't want you to go through with my anger again."

I arched my brows.

"Hindi mo ako mapipigilan dahil hinding hindi kita titigilan hangga't hindi mo ako papakawalan."

Umangat ang mukha niya sa akin. His dark brows were actually graceful, but currently furrowed in a frown. His dark blazing dark eyes were directly staring at me.

"As if I will let you.."

Wala na siguro talaga akong pagpipilian nito.

"You will let me go." I said in a matter of my remaining confidence.

I saw him smiled and smirked.

"How so sure are you?" Malaming niyang tanong sa akin.

I sighed.

"I will do whatever you want!" Mariin kong saad. Wala nang atrasan ito.

Natigilan siya at mas tumitig pa sa akin.

"What ever I want?" He whispered.

I nodded.

"I want you, Braises."

"W-what?" Gulat kong saad.

He arched his brows. "That's what I want." He said hastily. He was unmoving and serious.

Halos mawalan ako ng malay dahil sa sinabi niya. I did expect this on him but I never thought that he would just ask this easily on me like he's just asking for a bar of candy. I am speechless. I never thought that I will be burned by my own fire.

"I want you tonight, baby."