The pain he never knew (Book 1)

13

Chapter 13

"Kage? Saan tayo pupunta?"

Takang tanong ko ng dere-deretso lang ang maneho niya. It doesn't seem na iuuwi niya ako dahil hindi naman 'to ang daan papunta sa'min. Dagdag pa na kanina pa siya nagdadrive.

He didn't say anything. His eyes were just focusing on the road. Hindi ko na siya kinulit pa dahil mukhang badtrip, his lips were sealed and it seems like he was glaring intensely sa dinadaanan namin.

The silent drive were boring and was making sleepy kaya I took a peek outside the car window and all i can see are trees, lots and lots of trees. If i didn't know that he's reasonable, I'd think na lalabas na kami ng lungsod.

At napatunayan kong tama nga ang hinala ko nang lumabas kami ng sasakyan at sumalubong sa akin ang napakaginaw na ihip ng hangin. I was shocked and thrilled at the same time dahil sa napakagandang tanawin sa harapan ko.

"A-anong..?"

The city lights, alternating color of black and warm yellow were reflecting on my eyes, making it glimmer. Bumaba ang tingin ko at nakita kong may nakalatag na kumot sa madamong lupa. Nakalapag doon ay iba't-ibang klase ng pagkain. There was a lantern on both corners at may mga petals na nakakalat sa mismong kumot, i also saw a bottle of wine.

Nilibot ko ang tingin ko.

We were surrounded by trees and it adds to the peacefulness when it's leaves dance when being hit by the chilly breeze. Plus, the sound of the night crickets. Sa mga puno na yun ay may mga nakasabit na fairy lights at lanterns making them look aesthetically appealing.

"A-anong..bakit?" Nahihiwagaan ako.

Humarap ako sa kaniya at tinitigan niya ako mabuti. Tila sinusuri ang reaksyon ko.

"I already got it all planned out. Kahapon pa."

"P-paano? I mean, umalis ako diba? Nag bar ako kasama mga kaibigan ko? Did you got it planned too? Na sunduin ako doon at ihatid dito?"

He stood up straight, both hands were shoved inside his pocket. Umiling siya at humarap sa mga ilaw galing sa lungsod.

"Hindi" tanging sabi niya kaya naguluhan ako.

"Anong hindi?"

"When i was about to leave the condo, everything was all set, ikaw na lang ang kulang. Susunduin na sana kita sa bahay niyo but i got a text from your father saying you couldn't make it because you swore to your friends that you'll be going to their birthday party. Even though i thought that my efforts will be gone to waste, i decided to take it all down. What choice do i have? Alangan naman ako lang mag-isa ang magmumuni-muni dito just because my girl couldn't make it"

"Pero kung saka-sakali, sayang naman pala ang lahat ng 'to" ani ko pinasadahan ng tingin ang nakalapag na mga gamit.

"I wouldn't want to deprive you from your friends. I didn't want you to think that I'm a controlling fiancé kaya even though i thought that it's dangerous with all the crowd and careless people, i let you be.."

"Kaya mo ako pinadalhan ng mga body guards dahil natatakot kang may mangyaring masama na naman sa akin habang wala ka? Ni hindi mo nga muna ako kinonsulta kung okay lang ba sa akin na may nakaaligid sa akin." Liningon ko ang mga guards na tila propesyunal lang na nakatayo ilang metro sa amin. They were all looking away from us, as if they were turning blind eye at hindi nakikinig sa usapan namin.

Humalukipkip ako at nauna nang umupo. Since i cannot sit comfortably dahil sa suot na dress, i just stretched my leg. Nagulat naman ako nang tinabunan ni kage ng extrang kumot ang aking binti. Nilagay niya din sa balikat ko ang jacket na kani-kanina lang ay suot niya.

Napatikhim ako.

"So back to the topic, where was i again? Oh, right! So..dahil sa ginawa mo. what makes you think that i don't see you as controlling now?"

Nilingon ko siya at nakitaan ko ng pagkabahala ang mga mata niya.

"Baby.. it was never my inte—"

Tumawa ako.

"Chill, i'm just joking"

Dahil doon ay napabalik sa seryoso ang mukha niya. He stared at me unbelievably at umiling-iling. "Zephyrine"

Agad akong napatingin sa kaniya. Naramdaman ko ang pagpula ng pisngi ko dahil sa pagbanggit niya sa pangalan ko. Sa pagkakaalala ko, this is the second time since we've met he uttered my name completely.

Damn! i love how my name slid out his tongue.

"Aren't you hungry?"

Dahil sa sinabi niya ay doon ko na lang napansin ang bahagyang paghapdi ng tiyan ko.

"Actually, hindi pa ako nakakain. Dumeretso kasi ako ng inom"

I chuckled lightly when i saw him glaring at me warningly. He leaned down at binuksan ang box ng pizza. Nilagay niya iyon sa isang paper plate bago binigay sa akin. He also handed me a mineral water out of the mini chiller on his side.

Napangiti ako sa pagiging ready niya. How can a man be so caring and sweet?

"Thank you" i said before shoving the food in my mouth. Na parang isang araw ako hindi pinakain.

He chuckled because of my careless eating. He chuckled even more nang unti-unti ko nang binuksan lahat ng mga pagkain na dinala niya.

I was so hungry that i could care less. Nagsimula na din siyang kumain.

I let out a silent burp afterwards. Not that it was completely silent dahil naramdaman ko ang bahagya niyang lingon sa akin. He let out a breath as if he was amazed.

Kinabahan ako nang unti-unti siyang lumapit sa akin. With his hand leaning on the floor for support and the other was holding a handkerchief, he leaned over to me and stopped a few inches away. Umiwas ako ng tingin pero binalik niya iyon paharap sa kaniya.

I was losing breath. I was nervous. But be just smirked as his eyes landed on my lips. Bahagyang umawang ang kaniyang mga labi, and i don't know pero napagaya din ako.

Shit! Hahalikan niya ba ako? Bakit ang tagal naman ata? Bakit pinapatagal niya pa?

I was about to intentionally close my eyes nang maramdaman ko ang pagdampi ng hawak niyang panyo sa gilid ng aking labi.

"May ketchup" he chuckled before pulling away, which made me part my lips in shock.

"A-ano?"

"Did you though i was gonna make a move on you?" He sounded amazed but teasing at the same time.

Umiling ako at umiwas ng tingin. Narinig ko naman ang pagtawa niya.

"God! You're so adorable"

"And you're so irritating." Simangot ko.

How dare he humiliate me like that!? Argh!

Kinalma ko ang sarili sa pamamagitan ng pag appreciate ng tanawin sa harap namin.

"Hindi ka ba busy?" I asked in the middle of silence.

"Hmm?" He hummed.

"Hindi ka ba busy?" Pag-uulit ko. "Wala ka bang ginagawa? Like trabaho? Paper works?"

"I already told you, i have investment. Yes, i do have paperworks pero hindi gaanong madami. It doesn't squander much of my time kaya i have all the time in the world to do everything i want"

"Like going on dates"

He chuckled deeply.

"Yeah, like going on dates"

I don't know if he caught what i was implying pero ang ibig kong sabihin doon ay ang pakikipag date sa ibang mga babae. I silently rolled my eyes.

"Alam mo, i didn't know that you were this fast in changing moods"

"What? I'm not"

"Yes you are, at first, i thought you were childish and naive dahil inakala mo nung una that my parents would adopt you. You concluded that my mom doesn't have the capability on bearing a child anymore"

Hinarap ko siya.

"No, i did not say that. But i did say and thought that you're dad was already infertile."

Napaawang ang labi niya sa pagiging straight forward ko. Bahagya ko pang narinig ang pagpigil ng tawa ng mga guards sa likod namin, nang lingunin sila ni kage ay umayos sila ng tayo at bumalik sa pagiging seryoso ang mukha.

"Say that in front of my father then he'll—"

"Gladly"

Umiling-iling siya.

"Next, i thought you were soft and a cry baby"

"I was broken and i nearly got kidnapped" pagtatama ko.

"Then, you showed me how humble and kind you were when you gave those girls lipsticks"

"Can't argue with that" tawa ko. I wonder what his thoughts nung makita niya akong namimigay ng mga bagong bili kong lipstick.

"Then you can also be cold and jealous and leav—"

"I am not jealous" ani ko sa disgustong tinig.

Gumawa siya ng tunog na tila hindi naniniwala. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"Bakit ikaw? Hindi ka ba bipolar tulad ko?"

He shook his head as he chuckled.

"Baby, we are not talking about me, we're talking about you"

"Nung una, i thought you were sweet because you tried to comfort me on more ways than one. Tingin ko nga naipon ko na lahat ng panyo na naibigay mo sa akin sa bahay" pagpapatuloy ko pa din.

Napatawa sng ng malakas dahil doon. Napangiti din ako.

"I only gave you two"

"Three" i said as i raised the one na ginawa niyang pampunas kanina sa labi ko.

"And then i thought you were a stalker nang sumusulpot-sulpot ka na lang bigla kung nasaan ako"

We both laughed.

"But, i also thought that you're a bad ass"

"Me? Why?" Pinagkatitigan niya ako.

"You saved me a lot of times already" i said in a very low voice, it was almost a whisper. "You saved me from melancholy, you were even there for me when dad was rushed in the hospital. Even thought you have no business there, you stayed para tulungan akong magbantay sa kaniya"

Mas lumamlam ang titig niya sa akin.

"Then you saved me from the judgments of those girls, those kidnappers, and then another saving happened, kanina...when you defended me from the hands of that pervert."

Binaba ko ang tingin ko.

"Honestly though, i don't know anymore kung pano ka mababayaran sa lahat ng ginawa mo para sa akin. I'm starting to feel ashamed of acting childish and bratty towards you." ngiwi ko.

Ilang minuto kaming napatahimik.

"Marry me"

Nagulantang ako sa biglaang sabi niya. Napaayos ako ng upo. My heart starts to fasten it's pace. Tama ba ang narinig ko galing sa kaniya?

"A-ano yon?"

"Marry me baby. That's how you'll repay me. Just say i do"

Tumingin ako sa kaniya ng ilang segundo bago kumurap at awkward na tumawa.

"Oo naman. That's our fathers deal right? Paano ko makakalimutan?"

Kunwaring pambabalewala ko at uminom na lamang ng tubig para maibsan ang tensyon.

Bakit niya kaya nasabi iyon? Maybe he was just joking? O di kaya ay sinisigurado niya lang na hindi ako tatakas. After all, he already invested so many time and efforts for me. He doesn't want that to ho to waste. Siguro nga napagisip-isipan niya na din na tanggapin ang alok ng daddy niya.

Yumuko ako, Ganon din siya, napatahimik na.

As i was finished drinking, nilapag ko ang walang laman na plastic bottle sa harapan namin. I pursed my lips.

"I think, kailangan na nating umalis? Umuwi i mean. May curfew ako eh. At mahaba-haba din ang biyahe natin. Baka pagalitan ako"

"Yeah, i think we should"

At nagsimula na siyang magligpit. Tinitigan ko lang siya habang nililigpit niya yung kalat na ako mismo ang gumawa. Nang walang magawa kasi kanina ay binutasan at pinunit-punit ko yung lalagyan ng pizza.

Napanguso ako para pigilan ang tawa. The sight of a bulky and formal-looking man cleaning up the mess that his girl just made. Wait? Did i just addressed myself as his girl?!

Lumapit na din ang mga guards para tulungan ang boss nila sa pagligpit. Nandito lang ako at prenteng nakatayo habang minamasdan sila.

Hindi pa din tapos ay tumayo na si kage at tumabi sa akin. I don't know what's happening to me but i just felt the urge to...

"Can your men turn a blind eye?"

Nagtatakang bumaling siya sa akin. Hindi pa siya tuluyang nakapagtugon ay nilapit ko na ang mukha ko sa mukha niya. And with a swift move, his lips met mine.

It was just a quick kiss. But it caught him off guard. He stilled and just stared at me shocked.

I contained myself from laughing at his reaction. It's as if he was about to say what the hell woman? Why did you do that?! Or that fast?! I couldn't determine which is which.

"Thank you..for today"

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko at tumakbo na papuntang sasakyan. At dahil hindi naman iyon nakasara ay nauna na akong pumasok para magkunwaring tulog, para makaiwas sa kahit ano mang sasabihin niya tungkol sa nangyari.

Nakasandal at nakapikit ay narinig ko ang pagbukas at pagsarado ng katabing driver seat. The engine was turned on at maya't-maya pa ay nagsimula na siyang magmaneho paalis doon.

The drive towards home consumed one and a half hour of our time. Nangangawit na din ang ulo ko dahil hindi ako nag-abalang mag change ng posisyon. Pinanindigan ko talaga ang pagtulog-tulogan ko.

Confused dahil kanina pa kami tumigil sa labas ng bahay ay hindi pa din niya ako ginising kaya kunwaring bagong gising lang ay kinusot-kusot ko ang aking mata at kunwaring nagulat na nakarating na kami sa aming bahay.

"Uhh...nakarating na pala tayo?" Kunwaring namamaos kong boses,

Tumaas ang gilid ng kaniyang labi, tumango siya.

Hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin ko. How awkward can this be? Mag gu-goodnight na ba ako? Magpapaalam na o buksan na lang ang pintuan at tumakbo papasok ng bahay? Eh?

"So this is goodnight?"

Tahimik akong magpasalamat nang siya na ang naunang magsalita.

"Uh..yeah. I guess?" Tawa ko. "Uhm..goodnight na. Text text na lang tayo? I mean..hindi mo naman ako kailangan i text. Kung—kung hindi ka lang busy?..ay hindi! I mean.."

Napatawa siya.

"Yeah, I'll just text you when i got home"

Tumango ako at hindi na nagsalita. Baka ano na naman ang masabi ko. Bubuksan ko na sana ang pintuan ng hawakan niya ako sa pupulsuhan at hinarap ulit sa kaniya.

"That's it?"

Napakunot ang noo ko.

"H-huh? Anong—"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang bigla niya na lang akong hapitin sa beywang at nilapit sa kaniya. He held me by my jaw as he kissed me passionately, without warning.

Sa gulat ko ay hindi agad ako nakatugon. It's not like i know how, i don't! Hindi dahil siya ang first kiss ko kundi dahil siya pa lang ang nakapagtagal ng halik sa akin. All that i gave to my past boyfriends were just a quick peck!

What the hell am i supposed to do? Tutugon na sana ako nang nilayo niya na ang mukha niya sa akin. He stared at me questioningly.

"I don't know how" bulong ko.

His face showed sign of shock.

"It's not what you think. Hindi ito ang first ko. I just..i just don't know ho—"

Hindi niya na ako pinatapos, dumampi ulit ang labi niya sa labi ko. He continues kissing me as he sucked on my bottom lip. Napaungol ako when he parted my lips as he entered his tongue.

Napakapit ako sa kaniyang mga braso nang bumaba ang halik niya sa aking leeg. He kissed it gently but later on, i felt him sucking on it making me moan. Agad akong napatabon sa aking bibig nang marinig ang di kaaya-ayang tunog na nanggaling sa akin. s**t! That wasn't me! That was a whole new person, i swear!

I heard him chuckle on my neck. His warm breath touched my skin sending me goosebumps.

I disheveled his hair when his hand roamed around my body naughtily as if it was inevitable. I was quite uncomfortable with it but i just let him be, I didn't wanna ruin the moment.

His hand reached for my right boob as he gently squeezed it. I was amazed on how his hand fit perfectly on it, like it was made for his hand only. Sa tuwing pinipisil niya iyon ay mas lalong lumalakas ang ungol ko, lalo na't unti-unti nang bumababa ang strap ng aking damit.

I shamelessly leaned my chest on his like i was offering it to him. Like i was expecting him to do whatever he wants with it. Just so that he can do anything to put out the fiery warmth i was feeling.

"f**k!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at napatigil kami sa ginagawa nang may biglang kumatok sa bintana ng kaniyang sasakyan. Nakaawang ang labi na nilingon ko iyon. It was one of his men.

"s**t! s**t!" I panicked.

I didn't know until then that i was already sitting on his lap, straddling him. Dahil sa magkahalong inis at hiyang nararamdaman ay nilingon ko ang steering wheel at nagbusina ng malakas, making the poor man jump in surprise.

I heard kage chuckled lowly.

Nahihiyang sumandal ako sa kaniya at binaon ang mukha sa kaniyang leeg as he continued laughing at what i did.

"Damn baby, you're a savage"

"Tinted naman ang sasakyan mo diba?" Bulong ko.

He hummed as a yes.

"Thank goodness. It would've be embarrassing if they saw us eating each other's faces"

He chuckled once again bago inayos ang strap ng damit ko as he let me rest on his neck, pulling me more by hugging me by my waist.