Love Me Again, My Alpha

CHAPTER 20

Saffron

"Cullen will be here," kaswal na sabi ko kay Luca noong bumisita ako sa office niya.

"Oh it's about time," nakangiting sagot ni Luca sa akin. "He's very creative. I like the one that he designed," aniya pa.

"Which one?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"The tears of Mary. He chose red ruby as the stone of the jewelry," sagot niya sa akin. "Marquis asked his presence while making this set. He felt like this jewelry is a fool of sadness based na sa mga kulay at napili niyang mineral dito. As if the jewelry speaks the designer's feelings," dagdag pa niya.

In designing jewelry, both the maker and designer should collaborate. It's a rare occasion that the designer can create jewelry on a piece of paper and show how the designer's feeling is.

Hindi pa halos umiinit ang aking pwet ng marinig kong may kumatok. Binuksan ni Luca ang pintuan.

"Hello, good morning," nakangiting bati ni Cullen sa amin.

Napansin ko ang pangingitim ng kanyang mga mata at ang hindi abot sa tengang-ngiti niya. It has been few weeks since the last time I we met and yet, parang may nagbago sa kanya. Kasama niya si Eon.

"Come in, please," nakangiting sabi ni Luca at inihatid siya sa upuan.

"Eon, anak. Go play. May gagawin lang ako," sabi nito sa bata na tumango at nagpunta ng sulok. Umupo ito at binuklat ang notebook. "Sorry," nakangiting sabi niya. "I can't leave him so I brought him along with me," aniya pa.

"It's fine," nakangiting sagot ni Luca.

After Cullen throws me an apologetic smile dahil hindi niya ako nabati at atat na atat na si Luca sa kanya, I smiled back at him. Plano kong yayain siya ng lunch after. I had all my meetings and appointments canceled today. Once in a blue moon ko lang nakikita si Cullen so I have to be free.

Tumabi ako kay Eon.

"Hello," nakangiting bati ko kay Eon.

"Hi," kiyemeng sagot ng bata.

"Where is Kai?" tanong ko dahil hindi ito sumama sa kanila gayong parang tuko itong nakakapit kay Cullen noong nasa eroplano kami. Wala namang klase kaya nakakapagtaka.

"Uhmm," sabi ng bata bago tumingin kay Cullen na pinapaliwanag kay Luca ang design niya. "Mama's not allowed to go near to Kai," sagot niya.

Nagtaka ako.

"Huh? Why? Hindi ba siya ang yaya nila?" curious na tanong ko.

"Palagi po kasing inaaway ni Liyue ang mama kapag wala si Sage. Kasama po niya iyong kapatid ni Sage. Naaawa na po ako kay Mama. Gustong-gustong na namin pong umalis kaya lang po, wala po kaming pambayad ng utang. Narinig ko po kasing malaki po ang utang ni Mama kay Sage," sagot ng bata sa mahinang boses. Natatakot itong baka marinig ni Cullen ang usapan namin.

"Kaya ba malungkot ang mama mo? Kaya ba nangingitim na ang eyebags niya? Magkano ba ang utang ng mama mo? Alam mo ba?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Luminga muna si Eon kay Cullen at noong hindi ito nakatingin sa amin ay nagsalita ito.

"Buntis po kasi si Liyue, Miss Saffron. Naglilihi po ito ngayon. Gusto niya pong paalisin kami ni Mama pero ayaw ni Sage dahil nga po sa utang. Si Mama po kasi ay naghahagilap ng pwedeng trabaho. Kaya lang po, wala pong tumatanggap sa kanya kasi po recessive lang daw po siya at wala po siyang alam," sagot niya na gumaragalgal ang boses.

Tumingin siya sa akin.

"Gusto na po naming bumalik sa Far East po kaya lang po hindi po pwede. Baka po ipakulong si Mama ni Miss Sage sa laki ng utang niya.

Tila pinisil ng isang malaking kamay ang aking puso sa narinig. Bata palang itong si Eon ngunit naiintindihan na niya ang sitwasyon nila ni Cullen.

"Alam mo ba kung magkano ang utang ng Mama mo kay Sage?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Narinig ko pong nag-uusap sina Liyue at Sage. Narinig ko pong fifty million po. Ano po iyon? Malaking halaga po ba iyon?" inosenteng tanong niya.

Napatingin ako kay Cullen. Is this why he's so eager to stay with Sage sa kabila ng mahal nya pa ito?

He's paying a debt that isn't his. Now I know what to do at kailangan kong mapa oo si Luca sa deal na ito. This is for Cullen's sake.

"What!?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Luca sa sinabi ko. "That is a crazy huge amount of debt for an omega like Cullen," aniya pa.

"I know right? Nabanggit niyang maga utang iyan ng mga magulang niya ng dahil sa kapatid niyang lalaki para magbuhay-marangya," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Hmm okay," sabi niya. "I'll help you. But you have to convince him to join my company and help us win the Noblesse award," aniya.

"Sure. I believe that Cullen will win this. He's a natural talent," sagot ko.

"Yes. Lalo na kapag maging ganap na siyang jeweller. What do you think?" aniya.

"He needs to study for that."

"I'm willing to pay. All I need his loyalty," sagot nito. "Hindi ko pwedeng i-down ang lola. She's been talking good care of this for mom's memory," aniya pa.

"Don't worry. I trust Cullen," sagot ko sa kanya.

Ngumiti siya.

"Iba talaga ang nagagawa kapag in love, ano?" tanong nito sa akin.

Ngumiti ako pagkatapos at ibinulsa ko ang aking mga kamay sa aking slacks.

"Who knows." malahulugang sagot ko sa kanya.

Matapos maguhit ni Cullen ang bagong ideya ng iba pang design para sa upcoming jewelry design display ng Alta Maria, nakita kong pumasok si Cullen sa Cr. Walang gaanong tao doon kung kaya ay sinundan ko siya sa loob.

Nakita ko siyang naghilamos ng mukha at saka tinapik-tapik ang kanyang mga pisngi as if he's trying to make himself smile but his eyes, his eyes shows that he's not.

"Are you okay?" tanong ko sa kanya na ikinagulat niya.

He's trying to smile at me but fails. Napaiyak siya. Tinakpan niya ang kanyang mukha gamit ang dalawa niyang palad.

Agad akong lumapit sa kanya at niyakap siya ng mahigpit.

"Talk to me, Cullen. I'm all ears," bulong ko sa kanya habang hinahagod ang kanyang likod. "What's wrong?" nag-aalalang tanong ko.

Hindi ako sanay sa malungkot na Cullen. I love the way he smiles lalo na kapag nawawala ang kanyang mga mata.

Naramdaman kong yumakap siya sa akin ng mahigpit. Naramdaman ko rin na nabasa ang aking suot na damit.

"Cry on me until you feel okay," bulong ko sa kanya and kiss his head.

Mas lalong humigpit ang yakap niya sa akin.

This omega is broken. Halatang-halata sa bawat paghikbi niya. I want to fix him. I want to be with him right then and there. This little omega deserves to be loved by someone who sees his worth. And I want it to be me.

Ilang sandali kami naging ganoon bago kumalma si Cullen.

"Sorry," nakangiting sabi niya.

Hindi man ganoon ka bright ang smile niya, but it wasn't' the same few minutes ago.

"Sorry," sabi niya bago pinunasan ng panyo ang basang bahagi ng aking damit.

"It's okay," nakangiting sabi ko bago pinunasan ng aking mga daliri ang ibabang bahagi ng kanyang mga mata. "Care to tell what happened?" tanong ko pa.

Humawak siya sa laylayan ng aking suot na shirt.

"Help me," bulong niya na tumingala sa akin. His eyes are screaming for help so desperately. And before I could even stop myself, naramdaman ko na lang na nahawakan ko ang magkabila niyang pisngi and kiss him softly on his lips. Noong una ay nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata and then he closed it. He then responded to my kiss. And he wrapped his hands around my waist for support.

Jesus!

His lips are so soft like cotton and he tasted so sweet. Is this how Sage felt when she kissed Cullen for the first time?

It took us a minute before I broke the kiss and was still holding his cheeks.

"Cullen," anas ko sa kanya.

Alam kong magagalit siya sa ginawa ko but he just cried again.

"Help me get through everything," sabi niya in between crying.

Ngumiti ako.

"Then let me fix you," sagot ko sa kanya.

"W-will you wait f-for me until I'm hurting no more?"

"I will. I will," sagot ko sa kanya.

I don't know how long we stood there and hugged him. He's shivering. He's hurting. I know the reason. It's Sage.

I don't really know what happened to their past but despite how years passed after that, Cullen still loved him.

Inihatid ko si Cullen sa gate ng bahay ni Sage. According to him, wala daw ang mga ito ngayon dahil pumunta sa bahay ng magulang ni Liyue. At tanging naroon ngayon ay ang mga katulong nila.

"Thank you sa paghatid," sabi niya noong makarating ang sasakyan sa gate ng bahay. "And also thank you for comforting me," aniya pa.

"It's nothing. When you need me, call me. Okay?" sabi ko sa kanya. "And also," dagdag ko pa, bago binigay sa kanya ang isang maliit na brown envelope.

"What's this?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Your payment," sagot ko sa kanya.

Binuksan niya ito at halos ay mapamulagat ang mga mata niyang singkit sa nakita. Napatakip ang isa niyang kamay sa kanyang bibig at hindi makapaniwalang napatingin sa akin.

"Saff, this is a huge amount. Why? Why did Luca pay me this much?" mangiyak-ngiyak na tanong niya.

"Why? Does your work don't deserve the amount?" tanong ko.

"Napakalaking halaga nito, Saff," aniya pa.

"Well, Luca said, she sees some potential in you. She wanted you to let you study abroad for jewelry making. And also she wants you to represent the company in a contest. If you win, then she will pay you another amount like that," sabi ko sa kanya.

Bigla akong niyakap ng mahigpit ni Cullen.

"Saff, you are really an angel sent for me," bulong niya sa akin. "I wished I had met you during the time I was madly in love with Sage though she wasn't there," aniya pa.

"Don't worry, Cullen. I will wait. I will wait until you're hurting no more. Until your heart is ready to love someone again. But I have loved you already since the day I first saw you on that plane. Fate brought you to me. And when you want to leave this place, call me. I will help you because I want to be the shoulder you can lean on," pabulong ma sagot ko sa kanya.

Naramdaman kong humigpit ang yakap niya sa akin and that slight kiss on my neck from him. Soon. Very soon. I'll make him mine. I will protect him from this sorry kind of humans.

Nadatnan kong nasa bahay si Bettina habang nagsusunog sa pag-aaral. She's my youngest sister and currently in College of human body. She's a dominant omega.

"What's up, sis?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Tumingin ito sa akin at saka ngumiti.

"Hey you," sagot niya.

"Anong binabasa mo? Mukhang seryoso ka ah," sagot ko sa kanya.

"About recessive omegas, sis," sagot niya.

"Oh? Anong meron sa kanila at kanina ka pa naa-amazed diyan?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Kasi, their pregnancy, mostly occurs to men, are complicated," sagot niya.

Biglang nabuhay ang interest ko sa sinabi niya.

"Well what does it say about them?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"It says here that male recessives are extremely neglected by society due to wrong judgement. Most of us think that they bring misfortune simply because they are ugly. They are located and sometimes make them slaves. But studies showed that when given a proper education, male recessives can rival the ability of an elite alpha in any field. Both of their brain waves are the same and compatible. Although pairing for them never occurred. Scientists believe that offspring from these two second genders are extremely rare or let just say more advanced than the normal babies," sagot niya sa akin.

"Wow," sagot ko habang iniiisip si Cullen. That explains why he's very skillful when it comes to designing.

"And also, male recessive omegas tend to forget their memories after giving birth. They have partial memory loss due to extreme pain they had when giving birth. Unlike dominant and normal omegas, recessive's body isn't made to endure long labour. Thus, the pain neuron activity messed up," sagot niya sa akin.

"I lost some of my memory." naaalala kong sabi ni Cullen.

"But in time, when the brain finally healed which mostly took years, the recessive will remember everything," dagdag pa niya.

Hmmm..