Dangerous Embrace

CHAPTER 20

“MA’AM, could you please turn a little to the left?”

Isabelle followed the seamstress’s instructions, slowly turning in front of the tall mirror.

The wedding dress hugged her figure completely. It was white, elegant, and decorated with delicate lace along the sleeves. The long skirt flowed gracefully to the floor, making her look like the kind of bride people would admire.

Pero hindi makuha ni Isabelle ang ngumiti dahil hindi naman siya masaya habang sinusukat ang wedding gown.

“Ang ganda mo, Ma’am,” puri sa kaniya ng seamstress habang nakangiti ito. “Sigurado akong masaya ang fiancé mo na makita ka niya habang suot mo ang wedding gown.”

Pilit na ngumiti si Isabelle. “Thank you.”

Happy?

That was ridiculous word she heard this day.

Napatingin siya sa kabilang bahagi ng boutique shop, naroon si James at nagsusukat rin ng damit nito.

“Puwede bang i-adjust natin ang baywang?” tanong niya.

“Of course, ma’am.”

The seamstress approach Isabelle with her measuring tape.

She was about to look away from the mirror when she heard the familiar sound of heels clicking against the tiled floor.

“Well, well, well.”

Napatigil si Isabelle nang makita niya si Sabrina.

“Hi, Ate.” Bati ni Sabrina. “Wow. You really do look like a bride.”

Hindi sumagot si Isabelle.

Sabrina tilted her head, pretending to admire the dress. “Sayang nga lang.”

Isabelle met her sister’s gaze through the mirror. “Anong ibig mong sabihin?”

Ngumiti nang matamis si Sabrina. “Nothing, Ate. I just think it’s funny.”

“What’s funny?”

Sabrina stepped closer and lowered her voice so the seamstress wouldn’t hear. “Ate, kahit pa ikasal kayo ni James, alam kong hindi ka niya mamahalin.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Isabelle. “I know.”

Nawala ang ngiti ni Sabrina nang makita niya ang pagtaas ng sulok ng labi ng kaniyang kapatid. She was here to provoke her but why does she feel like Isabelle was the one provoking her. Pero hindi niya pinansin ang kapatid.

“Ate, don’t you know that I and James had already something happened between us.” Sabi ni Sabrina.

Ngumiti si Isabelle.

“James might marry you, but I’ll always be the woman he wants.”

And she’s not even denying it. Isabelle thought.

Matapang si Sabrina na sabihin ito sa kaniya kasi alam niyang wala siyang magagawa. Their parents will always have Sabrina’s back.

Humarap si Isabelle kay Sabrina.

For years, she had wondered what she had done wrong. Why her parents always chose Sabrina and why, no matter how hard she tried, she could never seem to be enough.

And until now, she hadn’t found the right answer.

Maybe Elliot was right.

Kailangan niyang pumili sa kung ano ang mas nakabubuti para sa kaniya.

She needs to live in a life that she chooses and not what others chose for her.

“Tapos ka na ba?” tanong ni Isabelle.

Sabrina’s eyebrows lifted. “What?”

“I asked if you’re finished?”

Sabrina looked momentarily surprised. Then she laughed. “Oh, Ate. Don’t tell me you’re pretending to be strong now?”

Muling humarap si Isabelle sa salamin. “Napagod lang ako na nakikinig sa ‘yo.”

Sabrina’s smile disappeared.

Isabelle met Sabrina’s eyes in the mirror.

“You already have our parents and James, Sabrina. You have everything you want. So, why do you still need to make me feel miserable?”

Hindi agad sumagot si Sabrina. Then she scoffed. “Because you always act like you’re the victim.”

Mahinang napabuntong-hininga si Isabelle. “And you always act like you’re innocent.”

Sabrina’s face hardened. “Careful, Ate.”

“Why? Are you afraid I’ll tell everyone what I saw?”

At nakita niyang kinabahan si Sabrina. Yes, their parents might not blame Sabrina for what she did. But what about other people?

Humarap si Isabelle kay Sabrina. “Huwag kang mag-aalala. Hindi naman ako gagawa ng eksena.”

“Good.”

But don’t mistake my silence for ignorance, Sabrina.”

Umigting ang panga ni Sabrina saka ito umalis.

Napailing naman si Isabelle. She knew Sabrina came to provoke her, but didn’t expect she will be the one who will be provoke at the end.

Napatingin siya sa isang pinto nang bumukas ito. James stepped out. Nagmamadali ito at tumigil lamang sa harapan niya.

“Take your time. I have something important to do.”

Hindi na hinintay ni James ang sasabihin ni Isabelle, basta na lamang ito umalis.

Natawa ng mahina si Isabelle.

Alam niyang pupuntahan ni James si Sabrina.

Nang matapos ni Isabelle ang pagsusukat sa gown, nagpalit siya ng damit at umalis na rin.

Hindi pa man siya nakakalayo sa boutique nang may biglang humila sa kaniya. The man pressed her on the wall.

“Sinong—”

Her eyes widened when she saw Elliot.

His body completely covered her.

“What’s wrong?” tanong ni Isabelle nang makita niya ang ekspresyon ng binata.

Elliot was calm but his eyes were telling something else.

“Let’s talk.” Sabi ni Elliot. Ipinasuot nito sa kaniya ang isang sombrero at facemask saka siya nito hinila paalis ng lugar na ‘yon.

They left the mall and entered the parking lot.

Pinapasok siya nito sa isang kotse.

They sat on the backseat.

Isabelle removed her cap and her face mask.

“Anong pag-uusapan natin?” tanong niya at tumingin kay Elliot.

But Elliot was controlling himself. Mahigpit ang pagkakuyom ng kaniyang kamao. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

“Elliot?”

Nagmulat ng mata si Elliot at tumingin kay Isabelle. “Are you really going to marry him? You’re already picking your wedding gown.”

Elliot admitted it. He was afraid. He’s never been afraid like this his entire life. But seeing Isabelle trying on her wedding dress, right at that moment, he wanted to step into that boutique, and take her away.

“Elliot…”

“Isabelle, malapit na ang kasal mo. Hanggang ngayon wala ka pa ring sagot sa tinatanong ko sa ‘yo. If you marry me, I will handle everything for you. Your parents, the Ramos family, the media, and everything. You don’t need to lift a hand.”

Isabelle swallowed the lump on her throat. She stared at Elliot.

Staring at herself in the mirror while wearing a wedding gown, a decision was made up in her mind.

And this time, she won’t back down.

Pero bago pa man siya makasagot kay Elliot, tumunog ang cellphone niya.

She let out a small sigh and looked at her phone.

It was a text from her mother, saying they were in a restaurant and waiting for her and James. Kasama ng mga ito ang magulang ni James.

Tumingin si Isabelle kay Elliot. Sinapo niya ang mukha nito saka niya ito hinalikan sa labi.

Nagulat naman si Elliot.

Isabelle smiled and pressed her lips against Elliot’s.

“I need to go. Saka na tayo mag-usap.”

Hindi agad nakatugon si Elliot dahil gulat pa rin siya sa biglaang paghalik sa kaniya ni Isabelle.

The kiss was so sudden that he didn’t have time to react.

Kahit nakababa na ng sasakyan si Isabelle, nasa isipan pa rin ni Elliot ang paghalik sa kaniyang dalaga.

Napahawak siya sa kaniyang labi.

Isabelle, why did you kiss me?

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked in the air.

Tumingin siya sa labas at nakita niyang nagmamadaling sumakay si Isabelle ng taxi.

Natawa na lamang siya nang mahina, saka inilabas ang cellphone.

He called Noah.

“Noah, compile every document and evidence that you gathered against the Ramos Company.”

“Ilalabas na ba natin ‘to, Sir? Or should we send it to the authorities?” tanong ni Noah.

“No,” tugon ni Elliot. “Just put it on my desk.”

“Yes, sir.”

It will be depended on what Isabelle will choose, if Ramos Company will be destroyed or not.

After all, everything he does right now was for Isabelle.