Deceiving The Billionaire

19. Don't go.

MAAYOS naman lahat ang resulta ng tests kay Julia. At dahil do'n ay narelieved si Jillian. Kung nagkataong nakritikal na naman ito ay baka hindi na niya kayanin ang sundot ng konsensya niya. Iyon ay kahit pa ilang beses na sabihin ni Sake na wala siyang kasalanan.

Umaga na sila nakaalis ng ospital. Dumating kasi sina Valeria at Victoria. S'yempre mapapalampas ba ng kanilang ina ang nangyari sa paborito nitong anak? Valeria blamed her, pinagmumura siya nito kahit pa nakaharap si Sake. Ipinagtanggol siya ng binata kahit hindi niya hiningi. Inako nito ang responsibilidad sa nangyari kay Julia.

Sake admitted that he broke up with Julia earlier that night. Nag-apologize ito kay Valeria at humingi ng tawad na hindi na nito kayang mahalin ang kakambal niya. Pagkatapos no'n ay walang pasabing hinawakan siya sa kamay at sabay nilang nilisan ang ospital.

"May ibang lalaki sa buhay ni Julia," sa wakas ay sabi ni Sake nang makarating sila sa bahay. "Matagal na niya akong niloloko," he added when she looked at him in surprise.

"A-are you sure?" Hindi siya makapaniwala. Niloloko ito ni Julia? Samantalang papatay ang kapatid niya para sa pagmamahal nito kay Sake? Imposible ata iyon. "Baka naman nagkakamali ka lang,"

"Aunt Victoria told me. At inamin din ni Julia sa akin. She's been seeing the guy since before the accident. In fact, they were together in the crash."

Sake went to his mini bar, took a glass and poured himself one of his wine collections.

Inalok siya nito but she refused.

She watched him as he emptied his glass. Hindi niya malaman ang sasabihin. Kung totoo iyon ay bakit hindi sinabi ni Victoria sa kanya? Ang sabi nito noon ay lasing lang si Julia kaya ito naaksidente.

"Auntie didn't tell you on purpose so don't wonder why you do not know. She was afraid you will not consent to pretend as Julia." He glanced at her. Para namang nanikip ang dibdib niya. Ano pa ang mga hindi sinabi sa kanya?

"I- I don't know what to say... Sake, this must be hard for you- I know that you love Julia."

"No." Umiling ang binata. "She just gave me a valid reason to end our relationship."

Nagtatanong ang mga matang tumingin siya sa binata. Seryoso ba 'to? Pero bakit?

She would have wanted to hear his explanation to know if Julia was right. Na may kinalaman siya sa desisyon ni Sake. Pero mukhang wala naman. Maling akala marahil ni Julia. Naghanap lang ng masisisi ang kapatid niya. At siya naman ay umasa nang kaunti na dapat ay di niya ginawa.

Hindi na kumibo si Sake so Jillian took it as dismissal on his part. Baka ayaw nitong pag-usapan. Baka masakit pa rito ang break up nito sa long time girlfriend nito.

Magkaharap na lang din sila, Jillian decided na samantalahin na rin ang pagkakataon para kausapin ito tungkol sa paglipat nila ni Shawn. Tutal at kagabi pa talaga niya ito hinihintay.

"Sake," umpisa niya while climbing on a stool. Parang kailangan niyang nakaupo siya para hindi siya mawalan ng lakas ng loob. "Uhmn," napalunok siya nang tignan siya ng binata. "I just want you to know that Mama Lora and I already agreed na lilipat na kami ni Shawn. Hindi kasi---"

"What?!" bulalas ni Sake. Napaigtad naman siya't muntik pang mahulog sa upuan.

"S-si mama naman ang pumili ng lugar kaya siguradong safe at- at--" kandautal niyang paliwanag.

"No one's leaving this house without my permission, Jillian!" mariing wika ng binata.

"Yeah, yeah, of course!" mabilis niyang sagot. "Kaya nga sabi ko kay mama sasabihin ko muna sa 'yo."

"Kung ayaw mo rito sa bahay dahil si Julia ang kasama kong nagpagawa nito, then we will look for another one," nakatiimbagang nitong dagdag.

"Hindi. Hindi gano'n Sake. This house is beautiful and I wouldn't mind living here. Pero kasi-" paano ba niya sasabihin kay Sake na hindi tamang 'andoon sila ni Shawn dahil hindi naman sila kasal nito? That it is not proper na magkasama sila sa iisang bubong? "Kasi--"

"Kasi hindi kayo kasal."

"Yeah," sang-ayon niya bago niya narealize na may ibang tumapos sa hindi niya masabi-sabi at heto't sinang-ayunan pa niya. "I mean, no!" Mabilis niyang bawi. "Hindi 'yon ang ibig kong sabihin."

"Kasi hindi kayo kasal, Sake," ulit ni Lora na sumingit sa usapan nila. Hindi nila alam na 'andoon pala ito.

"'Ma, what are you doing here?" tanong ni Sake na hindi pinansin ang sinabi ng ina.

"Sinasamahan ko ang apo ko." Kibit-balikat ng babae. "Yaya Pasing went on a day off."

"I'm sorry, mama. Ako na po ang bahala kay Shawn," hinging paumanhin niya.

"It's fine, Jillian," bumaling ito sa anak pagkatapos. "Sake, I'm telling you to let Jillian and Shawn go. If you want them to live with you, do the right thing!"

"'Ma, nag-uusap kami ni Jillian about it." Halatang hindi natutuwa ang binata sa panghihimasok ng ina nito. "I appreciate the suggestion but I can very well decide on my own."

"Okay. Fine." Sa halip na mainis o mairita man lang ay ngumiti pa si Lora. Tinapik nito sa braso ang anak pagkatapos. "Make sure to make the right decision. I want nothing but to see my only son happy."

"Thanks, 'ma."

"I'll go prepare my grandson a breakfast," sabi nito bago sila tuluyang iniwanan.

"We can make an arrangement kung ayaw mong mawalay si Shawn sa 'yo," ani Jillian nang mapagsolo ulit sila ni Sake. "Just don't ask for a full custody." Bahagyang nakikiusap ang tinig niya sa huling sinabi.

"My offer still stands, Jillian," muli itong nagsalin ng inumin at inisang lagukan iyon na wari ba'y inihahanda nito ang sarili nito sa magiging sagot niya.

"We can't get married for custody's sake...You know that." Matamlay siyang ngumiti sa binata.

Ibinaba ni Sake ang kopitang hawak nito sa bar counter. Ipinatong ang dalawang braso nito doon, pinagsalikop ang mga kamay habang tila nahulog ito sa malalim na pag-iisip. Tumitig ito sa estante ng mga mamahaling alak but he wasn't really looking at anything in particular.

"Perhaps we should talk some other time, Sake." Tumayo na siya at tuluyang umalis para tingnan ang kanilang anak.

Wala pa sa tamang kondisyon si Sake para pag-usapan nila ang tungkol sa kanila. He might still be nursing a broken heart. Naaawa siya rito dahil lagi na lang nila itong niloloko.

Sake is a good person. Too trusting in fact. Hindi nito deserve iyon.

Tulog pa si Shawn nang sumilip siya sa silid nito. Kaya naman dumiretso muna siya sa silid niya para maligo at magbihis. Galing sila sa ospital at baka may naiuwi siyang bacteria na makakasama sa anak niya.

She was done with her bath at bihis na rin nang katukin siya ni Sake. Atubili man ay pinagbuksan niya ito.

"Jillian!" Nagulat siya nang bigla siya nitong yakapin. "Don't go..."

"Sake---" sambit niyang bahagyang nalanghap ang amoy alkohol nitong hininga.

"'Wag kayong umalis ni Shawn... Please?" he pleaded.

"Sake, you're drunk." Malumanay niyang saad "Hindi pa naman kami aalis ni Shawn. Ang mabuti pa magpahinga ka muna," sinubukan niyang kumawala sa yakap nito pero mas lalo lang humigpit iyon na para bang nasa isang kumunoy siya at bawat paggalaw ay lalo lamang magpapalubog sa kanya.

"Tell me what would change your mind," pakiusap ng binata. "I cannot let you go the third time, Jillian."

"Let's talk when you're sober, Sake," sagot niya kahit pakiramdam niya'y napakadaling hingiing mahalin siya nito sa mga pagkakataong iyon. Pero lasing ito.

"I'm not drunk, Jillian," frustrated na giit nito, but releasing her in the process.

"You are. Please, let's talk after you get some rest." Nagpatiuna na siya palabas ng silid niya.

Akala niya titigil na ito. But his next words caught her off guard.

"What if I tell you that I love you?" May bahid ng desperasyong tanong nito bago siya tuluyang makalabas.

Ano raw? For a moment there, Jillian thought her world stopped spinning.

"Would it be enough to make you stay?" Patuloy ni Sake.

"W-what?" Mahina niyang anas.

"Alam kong independent kang babae. You probably do not need any man in your life. Alam ko ring kayang-kaya mong maging ina at ama kay Shawn nang sabay and I'm sure you'll do a good job. But sometimes I wish you're not so strong. Para kailanganin mo naman ako." Sa pagkaka-istatwa niya, naramdaman niya ang paglapit ni Sake sa likuran niya. "Kasi ang hirap mong abutin. Kasi kayang-kaya mo. Kasi alam kong hindi mo ako kailangan. Pero ako-" hinawakan siya nito sa magkabilang braso bago dahan-dahan siyang iniharap dito "Hindi ko kayang mawala ka ulit. Four years is enough, please don't leave me again," Sake took her already trembling hands. "I love you, Jillian."

Jillian was too surprised for words. Narealize na lang niyang hilam sa luha ang kanyang mga mata dahil hindi na niya ito gaanong makita.

Totoo ba? Nangyayari ba talagang sinabi ni Sake na mahal siya nito?

"W-what about Julia?"

"We're over. Besides, everything between me and Julia already changed since you happened," he answered looking straight into her eyes. His bluish-gray orbs penetrating the very depths of her soul like searching her for the same feelings. "I understand now why my heart failed to recognize that you weren't Julia the first time I saw you at the hospital," without leaving her eyes, idinikit nito ang kamay niya sa tapat ng puso nito. "My heart knew it first that it already found its reason to beat forever."

"Sake," sambit niya sa pangalan nito, hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala.

"When you supposedly die with our child, I was lost. I found my life hanging in darkness, not knowing how and where to start with my life again. I have the real Julia but my heart and my soul still longed for the dead impostor."

Umangat ang isang kamay nito sa mukha niya while she remained unable to say anything. Mga luha lang niya ang patunay kung gaano siya kaapektado sa pagtatapat ni Sake.

"I was blaming myself everyday, Jillian... Para rin akong namatay at laging nagi-guilty dahil hindi ko magawang ibigay ulit kay Julia ang buong puso ko. But just as when I finally decided to move on with Julia, I saw you again. You were alive and you have our child. I didn't know how to feel. I realized that you just love deceiving me over and over again and I couldn't do anything about it. So hating you was the safest reaction I came up with. But, I already know that I am rejoicing inside. You and Shawn brought back the life in me. And I am not letting you go again, Jill... I'm tired chasing you. I want you to stay with me forever..." He dried her tears. "I love you, Jillian. Please say you feel the same way too--"

Jillian tiptoed and pressed her lips to his. Let her action tell him that she loves him too. Saglit lang ang pagkapatda ni Sake sa ginawa niyang pagpapatahimik dito sa pamamagitan ng halik. In few seconds, ito na ang nagpalalim niyon.

Jillian was happy and her heart was about to burst with so much love for the man who just declared his love for her.

"Wait..." she broke the kiss at bahagya itong itinulak. Ngumiti siya sa pagsimangot ni Sake. "I just want to tell you that I--------"

Jillian's smile turned to horror when a loud explosion shook the whole house. Pakiramdam niya'y nabingi siya sa sabay-sabay na pagkabasag ng mga salaming dingding at bintana. She almost saw the broken pieces shattering in slow motion and flying into different directions.

Debris started falling off in a matter of seconds as the house was set aflame. Smoke was rising making it difficult for them to breathe.

"Jillian!" Sake protectively led her out of the room to an already smoke-filled hallway. Mas lalo siyang nahintakutan.

What exactly was happening?!

"Sake!" she cried in fear. "Si Shawn! Let's find Shawn!" Nanginginig na sigaw niya at kusa siyang dinala ng mga paa niya sa direksyon ng kwarto ng kanilang anak.

"Get out of the house, Jill. Ako na ang maghahanap kay Shawn." Mariing pigil ni Sake na alam niyang nagpapakatatag lang din.

"No! I'm going to find my baby!" Giit niyang umuubo na sa nalalanghap na usok.

Downstairs or was it outside, naririnig nila ang pagtawag ni Lora. They hoped she was well. But they couldn't get out of the house without Shawn.

"Shawn," Sake and Jillian called in unison. "Shawn!!!!"

Halos madurog ang puso nila nang makita ang batang duguang nakahandusay sa sahig ng silid nito. Wala itong malay.

"Shawn!!!!" Jillian cried as she fell on her knees and scooped her child in her arms. "No! Anak!" she shouted.

"We have to get out of here now... Come on, Jillian. Let's go." Kinuha ni Sake ang bata and navigate their way out of the burning house.

Napakabilis ng pangyayari. One moment Jillian was very happy, the very next, everything exploded right before her eyes, literally.

Her life, Sake's and Shawn's were at an imminent danger of not making it out of the house in time.

Another explosion threw the three of them on the floor....