The pain he never knew (Book 1)

14

Chapter 14

"Ang ganda talaga"

"It doesn't look like an engagement ring to me. It looks rather informal"

Kunot noo ni dad while sipping his cup of tea.

Sumimangot ako at patago siyang inirapan. Tss! Laitin ba naman ang singsing ko?

"It's just...perfect, for me." bulong ko.

I stared at the beguiling silver ring on my finger. Yes, it was informal-looking because of it's shape na pinasadya pa ata ni kage. It was molded into a flower, a familiar flower which he last gave to me. It was shaped like my name, zephyranthes.

The flower was placed on the middle wherein there was a medium-sized crystal in the shade of bleu de france, the choice of color makes the silver stand out. On both sides are like crawling vines na may mga maliliit na crystal din which made it alluring and defines it's elegance.

"Tigilan mo muna ang pantitig diyan at kumain ka na" saway ni dad.

Napanguso ako pero sinunod din naman siya. Last night, sobrang na excite ako to the point na kinuhanan ko iyon ng litrato sa social media ko, and what do you know? It received ample amounts of praises. Some were shocked and curious kung bakit ako may suot na singsing sa aking ring finger. I just let them wonder.

"Saan pala kayo pumunta kahapon? Pansin ko na late na kayo umuwi."

"Ah oo, he fetched me sa bar kahapon so hindi din ako nagtagal doon."

"Yeah, i know, one of his men informed me"

Napataas ako ng kilay. He also has access to my guards? Hindi na ako nagtanong at inisip na lamang na baka nga binilin niya kay kage na ipaalam din sa kaniya ang mga ginagawa ko.

"Saan kayo pumunta pagkatapos nun?"

"He drove me off outside the city"

Nagtatakang bumaling siya sa akin.

"I meant to the mountains"

"Umakyat kayo sa bundok? Ng disoras ng gabi?" He said in a questioning voice, na tila hindi makapaniwala.

I nodded.

"Yes, he did. He set us up a picnic date on which we watched the city lights from above there" i bragged.

"Really?" He inquired. "He did that? I didn't know he's that romantic"

"Neither do i" tiningan ko siya. "I even saw you from up there"

Tumawa ng malakas si dad.

"Talaga? What was i doing?" Sabay niya.

"You were on your office, overworking yourself..again. Umuwi ako dito siguro mga alas diyes at wala ka pa" i glared at him.

Agad siyang umiling.

"No, i was not." He defensed. "Actually, we just arrived at the same time. Nang dumating kayo ay kakapark ko lang ng sasakyan. I was even confused dahil ilang minuto pa ang tinagal niyo doon sa loob ng sasakyan ni kage. Hindi kayo kaagad lumabas"

Bigla akong nasamid. I shifted uncomfortably on my seat at mabilis na uminom ng tubig.

"T-talaga?"

"Uhuh. What were you two doing anyways? Nag-usap ba kayo na ganon na lamang ang tagal niyo doon? I even asked one of his men na e check kayo, and i saw him jumped out of shock dahil bigla na lang siyang bumisina nang katokin na kayo."

"Ikaw ang nagsabi na e check kami?" I acted formal.

Tumango siya.

"Bakit? May problema ba? Siya nga pala, alam mo ba kung bakit niya ginawa iyon? He doesn't seem like the type of guy that would disrespect people like that."

Pasimpleng kinagat ko ang pang ibabang labi para mapigilan ang ngisi. Yes dad, he doesn't seem like a type that would do that, but your daughter is. And to answer your question, we were doing inappropriate things kaya kami nag tagal doon.

Pero syempre, hindi iyon ang itutugon ko. It would give the old man a heart attack.

"Yes, we talked. At hindi iyon sinasadya ni kage, it just so happened that he accidentally leaned on the stirring wheel kaya napabusina ng malakas."

Tumango-tango siya na tila naniniwala nga sa alibi ko. I just continued eating at agad na pinunasan ang labi ng makatapos.

Dahil weekdays ngayon at walang pasok ay tambay na naman ang gagawin ko dito sa kwarto. Where would i be right?

Gusto kong gumala pero as if naman papayagan ako ni dad! My eyes automatically landed on my phone sa babaw ng aking kama. A wide smile stretched on my lips when i thought of something.

I grabbed my phone and started dialing the person's number on whom i needed right now, he's my key para makalabas dito at gumala without my father's disapproval.

Nagulat ako nang tatlong ring pa lang ata ang nangyari pero agad nag sinagot iyon ng nasa kabilang linya.

I smiled widely, speculating. is he...?

[yes? What is it? I'm busy at the moment]

I rolled my eyes.

"As if" maarte kong saad.

[what does that mean?]

I brought a chuckle just by imagining his brows furrowed.

"Wala! Enough with that, let's go straight to my agenda" pagmamadali ko, i'm afraid na baka umalis na maya-maya si dad. Baka hindi na ako makapag-paalam. But who am i kidding? Ang lakas-lakas kaya ng lalaking 'to kay dad! Siguradong papayagan ako.

[Kung sa ganon, ano yun? Why'd you called? Missed me already? Zy naman, kagabi lang tayo naghiwalay]

I frowned at the brute's cockiness.

"Yes, i do miss you" namanaos kong sabi. "I miss you so much kaya nga papupuntahin kita dito. Let's go out again?"

Napangisi ako at bahagyang natawa nang napatihimik siya sa kabilang linya.

[it's not funny] he stated in a low voice. [okay, I'm on my way]

"Akala ko ba busy ka? Nasaan ka ba?" I teased.

[Be there in 15 minutes, you better be ready.]

Bago pa ako maka reklamo ay binaba niya na ang tawag. Ang bastos nun ah?

15 minutes? Eh hindi pa nga ako nakakaligo! At hindi sapat ang nalalabing oras para sa pagpili ko ng isusuot at paglagay ng make up! Damn!

Mabilis akong tumakbo sa walk in closet para pumili ng damit. Tumagal pa ako ng ilang minuto doon dahil hindi ako makapili ng isusuot. Damn, it sometimes sucks possessing a lot of clothes!

Pagkatapos nun ay pumasok na ako sa banyo at nagsimula nang maligo.

Naglalagay pa lang ako ng shampoo sa aking buhok nang marinig ko ang katok sa pintuan.

"Zy, hindi mo naman sinabi na pupunta pala si kage dito. Niyaya mo daw siyang lumabas?" Si dad.

Shit! Nandito na siya!? Bakit ang bilis niya ata?

"Nandito na siya. Bilisan mo diyan princess. 'Wag mong pag-antayin ang fiancé mo. Baka mainip" at narinig ko na ang kaniyang papalayong yabag.

Don't keep him waiting my ass! Gusto ko pa sanang e take ang time ko pero pinangaralan ko ang sarili na dapat mag behave muna dahil ako naman ang nang-istorbo at nangyaya.

Lumabas ako nang nakatapi ang tuwalya sa aking katawan. At kamuntikan na akong madulas nang makitang prenteng nakahiga si kage sa aking kama, he was leaning on the headboard at napabaling siya sa akin.

I saw how his lips rose up as he glanced at me from head to toe.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito!?" I shouted at him.

Umayos siya ng upo At humalukipkip. Hindi inaalis ang tingin sa akin.

"You asked for me." He stated in a husky voice.

"I know pero..dapat sa baba ka naghintay. Alam mo namang..." I grunted stressfully. Tatalikod na sana ako nang makita kong tumayo siya at aakmang lalapit sa akin.

"Anong—diyan ka lang! Wag kang lalapit!." I raised an index finger at him. My grip on my towel tightened.

"Isa kage! Hindi ako nagbibiro! Sisipain ko yang—" my eyes landed on his crotch. My eyes widen when i saw that it was visible on the jeans he wears.

"Are you—" i squealed loudly nang mahawakan niya ako sa magkabilang braso. My bare cold skin was touched by his warm hand making me uncomfortable lalo na't sobrang lapit niya sa akin at alam kong wala akong suot na kahit ano sa ilalim ng aking tuwalya.

"Aww!" Reklamo niya habang natatawa nang hampasin ko siya ng malakas para maialis ang kaniyang kamay.

"Bitawan mo na ako. Magbibihis pa ako"

"There's no rush. Bakit ka ba nananakit?"

Ngumuso ako.

"Kasi naman eh!—"

He chuckled softly. "Where's my greeting kiss?"

Napaawang ang mga labi ko sa sinabi niya.

"Y-your what?"

"My kiss. My morning kiss. I can't get enough with your lips since last night. It kept me awake." Hindi pa ako nakatugon nang Lumapit na siya at dinampian ako ng halik. It was soft and fast. "There" he chuckled at my reaction. "Where do you wanna go today?"

"H-huh?" Wala sa sarili kong sambit. "I mean..p-pwede bang tsaka na ako magdedesisyon kung tapos na akong m-magbihis?" I whispered in a sweet tone. It just happened.

He smiled, stretching his plump lips. "Okay" dinampian niya pa ako ng mas matagal na halik bago tumalikod at lumabas na sa aking kwarto.

I stared at the locked door for a couple of minutes bago tumalikod na din at nagbihis. I did all the necessary doings in just a swift move. I just found myself na naglalakad pababa ng hagdan at ready na. My hair was already held in a tight ponytail at may nakapatong na sunnies doon. I decided to go with a summer look, wearing a tight puff sleeves dress in the color of bright yellow and wedged heels.

Kage stared at me bago tumayo at dumalo sa akin.

"You done? Let's go? Magpaalam ka na sa daddy mo"

I glared at him. Kung utos-utusan niya ako akala niya sa akin bata!

But i still followed.

Nang makarating sa mall, yes, sa mall ulit. Wala na akong maisip na ibang pupuntahan eh. Kage pulled me closer to him sa pamamagitan ng pag-akbay sa akin. I smiled at his swaggy moves.

"Where to?"

"Window shopping!"

Tumaas ang kilay niya at tila gumaan ang pakiramdam.

"Sigurado ka? Hindi ka magbibili? Why?"

"Anong why? Why ka diyan!"

"Why? Akala ko ba magsho-shopping ka kaya mo ko niyaya dito. Bakit? Nagtitipid ka ba? Is your dad losing a lot of money because of your retail therapy?" He bluffed.

"Oo! Kaya nga kita papakasalan eh. Kasi bankrupt na kami" tawa ko.

"Window shopping then"

"Tig-iisang small, sa bags namn isang color beige at isang nude. Tsaka size 7 dun sa mga pinili kong sapatos"

"Zy, Akala ko ba titingin ka lang?"

Napabaling ako kay kage nang magsalita siya. He was sitting boringly on the reserved seat, naiinip.

"Eto na ba lahat ma'am?" Tanong ng saleslady.

"Ah! Meron pa. Sandali" tumango lang siya. Pumasok ulit ako sa fitting room dala-dala ang isa pang damit, it was a long gown.

"Anong sa tingin mo? Bagay ba? Is the length okay?" I showed kage.

"Saan mo naman isusuot 'yan? Aren't those dresses enough? Ang dami na nun ah!"

Sumimangot ako. Badtrip!

"Sa mga social gatherings syempre! Palagi kasing na-iinvite si dad eh. At sinasama niya ako. Ano? Okay ba 'to? Kukunin ko ba?"

He stared at it. Tila napipilitan lang talaga.

"Turn around. Let me see the back"

Mabilis akong tumalikod. I heard him tsked from behind.

"No, i hate it. Not a chance woman." Pagsusuplado niya.

"Ano?! Bakit?"

"I hate the back. It's too revealing. It shows too much skin."

"Huh?" I looked at the mirror. "Okay naman ah? Normal lang yun dahil backless!"

"No—no, take that off. I'm not paying for that."

"Hindi naman ikaw ang magbabayad e—"

"Hubarin mo yan o ako ang maghuhubad niyan sayo. You choose" he warned in a lowly, serious voice.

Tumingin ako sa paligid at natanto kong nakatingin ang ibang mga costumer at saleslady sa akin. Siguro narinig ang sinabi niya dahil kinikilig at naghihigkikan na nakitingin ang mga ito sa kaniya.

Padabog akong pumasok sa fitting room at hinubad iyon. Hindi na ako nag-abalang pumili ng isa pa at nakuntento na lang sa mga napili ko.

"Ano yan?" Tanong ko nang ilapag niya ang kaniyang card sa ibabaw ng counter. It was black so i knew by then that it was limitless, my eyes glimmered.

"Let me pay for all of it" he demanded cooly.

"Ah—eh.. wag na. Nakakahiya naman" pagpapakipot ko. My principles backed out when i saw the card. "Pero..sige na nga. Ikaw bahala" i chuckled excitedly.

He stared at me weirdly na tila nahihiwagaan na pumayag ako.

We stepped out of the boutique. Kage was carrying a handful of paper bags while me on the other hand, isa lang ang hawak at sa kabilang kamay naman ay ang handbag na dala-dala. He insisted na mabigat ang mga iyon at siya na lang ang magdala kaya hinayaan ko na.

"Anong—" reklamo ko nang kunin niya ang handbag sa aking kaliwang kamay. He smoothly intertwined our fingers as he pulled me closer.

"Nasaan ba ang mga guards at hindi sila ang pinadala mo niyan? Nahihirapan ko pa tuloy"

Pansin ko na wala palang nakasunod na mga lalaki sa amin ngayong araw.

"They're in hiding. Ayaw mong may makakita na may umaaligid na mga bantay sayo diba? But don't worry. They're doing their job."

It made me smile and shook my head understandingly. As a cue, lumabas ang dalawa sa mga ito mula sa pinagtataguan at kinuha ang mga dala ni kage. Excluding my bag.

"Pakilagay na lang sa sasakyan ko." Tumango ang dalawa sa kanila at umalis.

"Salamat" i said kindly.

Tumawa ako ng mahina nang mapansin na ang cute niya habang hawak-hawak ang aking pink na hand bag. Imagine bumping into kage, the masculine, bulky man carrying a hand bag with a girly bow on the side. It was quite an adorable sight to see. Hindi mo makikita na napipilitan lang siya. He was actually serious while walking kaya natatawa ako.

"Where to ne—"

"Candies!" Tili ko ng malakas nang mapadaan sa isang candy stall.

"Gusto mo yan?"

Mabilis akong tumango. Lumapit kami doon and my eyes were like rainbows habang nakatingin sa iba't -ibang kulay na mga candies at tsokolate.

"Alin diyan ang gusto mo?" He asked as he let go of my hands to grab the mini tong.

"Marshmallows and mints" i was salivating.

"Okay." Tumango siya at kumuha nga ng gusto ko. "Anything else?"

My eyes roamed around at the different kinds. And it stopped on a certain candy, it was thin and long and it has a lot of colors.

"What's that?" Turo ko, excitedly. I was looking like a lunatic kid but who cares!

"Alin? Ito?" He pointed using the tong.

Tumango ako.

"Gaano kadami ang gusto mo?"

"Before that, i wanna know what it tasted like" i wanted to make sure.

Mataman niya akong tinitigan.

"They don't allow samplers in here bu—"

"Kuha ka lang ma'am. Ang amo po ng mukha niyo tsaka nakakatuwa po kayo kaya sagot ko na po yan" singit ng tindero.

" wag na. I can buy her—"

"Talaga po? Thank you po!"

Nakakatuwa naman! Biro mo, may naamuhan pala sa mukha ko? Haha!

I quickly grabbed one at napag-alaman kong sour belt pala ang tawag doon. I chewed it slowly, trying hard to let it melt on my mouth. At first, i thought it was sweet, pero maya-maya pa ay napangiwi ako nang malasahan na maasim.

May narinig akong tumawa sa aking gilid at kasabay nun ang tunog pagcapture ng phone camera.

"You're face is priceless" aniya habang may kinakalikot sa kaniyang phone. He then faced it to me, showing my grimaced face. I looked funny in the picture. Like a kid na pinakain ng lime. "You're adorable" he said as he kissed me on my forehead. He chuckled one more time bago na binayaran ang binili namin, including the bag of sour belt. I excitedly took a picture of it at pinost sa aking socmed. It was aesthetically appealing.

"Do you think i should cut my hair short?" I asked out of the blue when we passed by a salon.

"You're asking for my opinion?"

I hummed as i trailed my fingers on my long hair. Malapit na iyong maabot sa aking bewang.

"Oo. Nabobother na din kasi ako kasi palaging nakatabon sa mukha ko. Tapos nakakapagod suklayin at itali, napakabigat. Nakakangalay sa braso." Ngiwi ko.

Ngumiti siya at bahagyang lumayo sa akin para tingnan ng buo ang aking buhok.

"I think it's just right. It looks good especially that you have a dark straight hair."

Tumango ako. "So hindi ko ipapagupit?"

"No, it's already perfect. Besides, i always liked your long hair. It reminds me of someone." Inipit niya ang aking buhok sa likod ng aking tenga.

"Someone? Sino naman yun?" Simangot ko. Grabe ha! Buhok ko yun eh! Bakit nag-iisip siya ng ibang babae!?

He avoided the question by shaking his head.

"Pero kung ano man ang prefer mo, I'm sure you will look stunning. As you are always..to me." He looked at me adoringly.