Dangerous Embrace

CHAPTER 18

“SO, how was your love life? Have you taken her away from your rival?” Ellis asked Elliot over the phone.

Umasim naman ang mukha ni Elliot. “What rival? I don’t have a rival. Isabelle doesn’t even like him.”

Well, at least that’s what he knows. Isabelle, after all, was being forced into an arranged marriage.

“Oh,” Ellis said teasingly. “Kahit wala ako sa harap mo, nakikita kong maasim na ang mukha mo.” Tumawa siya. “My twin brother, sometimes, you lose your composure. It’s okay. We’re just human.”

Elliot rolled his eyes. “Bakit ka napatawag? I’m sure, right now, you’re busy.”

“Nope, just stepped out of the party. Pauwi na ako.”

“Ellis, don’t drive if you’re drunk.”

Ellis chuckled. “I’m not.”

Sumandal si Elliot sa swivel chair. “So…”

Napabuntong-hininga si Ellis sa kabilang linya. “Just checking on you if you’re still not crazy.”

Elliot snorted. “Compared to you. I’m not pressuring myself to become crazy one day.”

“But I really like her, twin.” Sabi ni Ellis.

Napailing si Elliot. “So, you called me not to check on me, but to blurt your trouble on me. I’m busy. Bye.”

Mabilis na pinatay ni Elliot ang tawag bago pa man makapagsalita ang kakambal niya.

Wala siyang oras para problemahin ang problema ng kakambal niya.

May sarili rin siyang problema.

Though he had his plan now, he was still waiting for Isabelle’s decision.

But he was hoping it was a favorable decision from her.

Binitawan niya ang hawak na ballpen at pinulot ang sariling cellphone.

Kung tama ang pagkakaalala niya, Sweet Hazel Bakery was doing deliveries for customers.

Tumaas ang sulok ng kaniyang labi at tinawagan si Noah.

“Order some pastries at the Sweet Hazel Bakery for me.”

“Yes, sir.”

Tumikhim si Elliot. “Have Isabelle Valencia deliver it to me personally.”

Napaisip naman si Noah. Puwede ba ‘yon?

“Yes, sir.” Tugon niya.

Elliot ended the call.

Now, he’s looking forward to seeing Isabelle, not the pastries.

Tumawag din siya sa isang restaurant para magpa-deliver ng take-out. He wanted to eat lunch with Isabelle.

Noong nakaraan kasi nang kumain sila sa labas, halos nakatungo lamang si Isabelle habang kumakain sila. She looked afraid to look around.

Makalipas ang isang oras, dumating si Isabelle sa kaniyang opisina dala ang pastries na pinadeliver niya.

"Hi, Isabelle.”

Isabelle glared at Elliot, but didn’t say anything. Inilapag niya ang pastry box sa lamesa nito. “Your pastry.”

Ngumiti si Elliot. “Thanks.”

“Aalis na ako.” Sabi ni Isabelle.

“Nag-order ako ng pagkain. Join me for lunch.”

Isabelle looked at Elliot. “Lunch?”

Tumango si Elliot. Tiningnan niya ang wristwatch. “Probably arrived in a minute or two.”

Then someone knocked on his office door.

“Come in.”

Pumasok si Noah na may dalang tatlong paper bag. “Sir, your food delivery.”

Sinenyasan ni Elliot ang assistant niya na ilapag niya ang mga paper bag sa center table, saka siya umalis.

“Kumain muna tayo bago ka umalis.”

Tumayo si Elliot saka naglakad patungo sa may sofa. Inilabas niya ang mga pagkain sa paper bag.

Elliot looked at Isabelle.

“This is free,” he said. “Gusto ko lang na may makasalo akong kumain.”

Tumango si Isabelle saka lumapit na rin kay Elliot. Sayang naman kung tanggihan niya ang pagkain. The food served on the table right now is food that she rarely ate. Kaya bakit niya palalagpasin ang pagkakataon?

Tahimik lang silang kumain.

Isabelle was waiting for Elliot to ask her for an answer about his proposal, but he didn’t ask.

“Eat more,” sabi ni Elliot. “Ang payat mo.”

Sumama ang mukha ni Isabelle. “I’m just petite.”

“Payat ka pa rin.”

Isabelle pouted. Hindi na siya nakipag-argumento kay Elliot at kumain na lamang siya. It’s better to stuff her stomach than to have an empty talk. Mas mahalaga pa rin ang pagkain.

Lihim namang napangiti si Elliot nang makita niyang maganang kumakain si Isabelle.

Pero napansin niya na mukhang walang buhay ang mata ni Isabelle. Napansin na niya dati pa na walang buhay ang mga mata ni Isabelle, pero iba ngayon.

“Isabelle?”

Isabelle looked at Elliot.

“Did something happen? You looked lifeless.”

“Elliot.”

“Hmm?”

“If you have a wife, will you force her to quit the job she loves and just be your wife?” Isabelle asked.

Napatitig si Elliot kay Isabelle. He’s not a fool, not to know what Isabelle meant. She asked that question. Malamang ay may kinalaman ito kay James.

But Elliot didn’t ask anything that was obviously laid out in front of him. “No,” he answered. “I would never ask my wife to quit the job she loves, even if it was the lowest-ranking job, as long as she’s happy.” Sabi niya habang nakatingin nang diretso kay Isabelle. “I will support my wife in anything she will do.”

His wife will be lucky. Isabelle thought.

“I already said it, Isabelle. If we got married, you can do whatever you want. As long as you’re happy and won’t get hurt.”

Namula si Isabelle dahil sa sinabi ni Elliot. Hindi pa siya pumapayag sa proposal nito, pero sa paraan kung paano ito magsalita, parang nakasiguro na ito na papayag siya.

Nang matapos silang kumain, maglilinis sana si Isabelle ng mga pinagkainan nila, pero pinigilan siya ni Elliot.

“Just sit. Let me do it.”

“Pero…”

“You’re the guest, Isabelle.”

Isabelle remained seated and watched Elliot as he cleaned up the table. Habang pinagmamasdan niya ang binata, nalaman niya na marunong ito sa mga ganitong bagay. Hindi ito nagpapanggap. He genuinely knew how to use the rug to wipe the table.

Isabelle inwardly smiled. What a good catch...

“Done.”

Tumayo si Isabelle. “Then I should go now. Thanks for the food.”

Mabilis na hinawakan ni Elliot ang pulsuhan ni Isabelle.

Kanina pa siya nagpipigil, pero parang hindi na niya kayang pigilan pa ang kaniyang sarili.

“Isabelle.”

“Uh?”

Elliot swallowed. “Kung hahalikan kita, magagalit ka ba?”

Natigilan si Isabelle sa tanong ni Elliot. Hindi siya agad nakatugon dahil nagulat siya. She stared at him, and he stared back at her.

“Isabelle…”

Hindi naman alam ni Isabelle ang isasagot niya, pero kusang umiling ang kaniyang ulo.

Huli na para magsalita siya dahil ipinalibot ni Elliot ang isang kamay sa baywang niya habang ang isa pa niyang kamay ay humawak sa batok niya.

Her eyes widened when their lips met.

Elliot’s lips moved.

Isabelle was supposed to push him away, but her hands didn’t obey. Instead, she wrapped them around his neck and kissed him back.

And Isabelle knew she was done for.