A Night with a Stranger

Chapter 15

Masakit ang ulo ni Light pagka gising niya dahil sa hang-over. Napasobrahan talaga siya sa pag-iinom.

"f**k! My head is cracking," he said and stood up from his bed. Tiningnan niya ang kanyang orasan. It is already 9:00 in the morning. He went inside his bathroom and washed his face.

Naghahanap din siya ng gamot para sa sakit ng kanyang ulo.

"Who sent me here?" he tried to recall what happened last night after Bliss left him.

"Oh, it must be Ms. Cruz. But where is she? Did she go home safely?" he asked himself. Tinawagan niya ang numero ng dalaga ngunit hindi ito sumagot. He dialed her number countless times but no response from her. He began to worry. He dialed her again and finally sinagot into ang tawag niya.

"What? I am still sleepy." she said in her bedroom voice.

"I am just checking on you if you went home safely." he said in his deep voice.

"Sino ba to? Ang aga-aga mo pa para mambulabog eeeh. Inaantok pa yong tao."sagot ng dalaga sa iritabling boses. Napangiti na lang ang binata sa inakto sa dalaga. He imagined her face right now and her facial expression when she gets irritated.

"Alright. Sleep again. I'll hang up my call. Sleep well." he said.

Light was busy signing the papers and checking the reports of each department when Night entered his office.

"Hello, my dear cousin." bati ni Night sa pinsan

"What do you want? Why brought you here?" diretsang tanong ni Light sa pinsan.

"Oh, is that how you treat your client?" nang-uuyam na sabi ni Night sa kanya.

"I do not want to waste my time, Night. Straight to the point. " cold na sabi ni Light sa pinsan.

"I want to give this resignation letter on behalf of Bliss. Starting today, she will not work with you." Night said to him. Tiningnan ng masama ni Light si Night.

"It is not you who will decide for her." aniya

"Nope. That is the final Light. She will not work with you whether you like it or not." Night said firmly.

"Do not be immature, Night. Whatever happens between us, let Bliss stay away from it. Do not use her for vengeance ."

"No. I am not using her Light. I don't want her to associate with you. Do you think that I don't know that you are into her? Stop it Light. You might put her in danger just like what you have done." galit na sabi ni Night sa kanya. Nagtitinginan silang dalawa..

"Anyway, mamita invited us for a family dinner." sabi ni Night saka umalis.

Napabuntonghininga na lang ng malalim si Light dahil sa inakto ng kaibigan. He knew him well. Gagawin talaga nito kung ano ang gusto.

Pinatawag niya si Jamaica.

"Did she call you?" tanong niya agad kay Jamaica

"Amarie Bliss? Hindi po, sir." agad naman sagot ni Jamaica.

"Okay, you may leave." he said.

"Anyway, thank you." sabi niya.

"Thank you? For what?"

"The other night." he replied. Tumango na lang si Jamaica at saka iniwan siya. Tiningnan niya na lamang ang papalayong bulto ng dalaga. Mas lalong sumakit ang ulo niya eeh. Nag-aalangan pa siyang pumunta mamaya sa family dinner nila.

Then, tumunog ang kanyang cellphone.

"Hello, abuela." sagot niya sa kabilang linya

"Oh, my dear apo. How are you?" sabi ni Doña Lessandra

"I am fine, Abuela."

"Well, apo. Do not forget our family dinner later. I am expecting you to be here. Night will be here as well." sabi ng kanyang abuela

"Abuela, I can not promise. I am busy in my office."

"Aha aha.... I do not take for No answer apo. Bye bye." sabi ng kanyang abuela saka ibinaba ang tawag. Napabuntonghininga na lang si Light sa inakto ng kanyang abuela. He knew that his grandma would not take No for an answer.

"Mom, Dad." tawag pansin niya sa kanyang mga magulang ng makarating siya sa mansion. Nasa sala ang mga ito papuntang reception area ng bahay.

"Oh, my dear son. Good to see you." sabi ng ina at nakipag beso sa kanya.

"Son." sabi ng ama and tapped his shoulder.

"Good thing that you are here. Your grandma will be happy to see you." his dad said.

"She called earlier. And you knew Abuela well," he replied

"Hijo, your abuela just misses you and Night. " Cassandra said. He shrugged his shoulder. Pumunta na sila sa reception area. The place is exquisite.

"Oh, my dear apo. I am happy that you are here. " his grandmother said and hugged him.

"My beautiful Abuela. I miss you too." he replied.

"Anyway, let's just wait for a while. Night and his family will come here as well." Doña Lessandra said happily.

After a few minutes, dumating si Night kasama si Bliss.

He looked at her. She looked stunningly gorgeous.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng dalaga ng makita siya. He smiled at her.

"Well, they are here. Let's go to the dining area. " masiglang sabi ni Doña Lessandra.

The table is full of sumptuous food. May lechon at ibat bang uri ng pagkain. Sa Manila ng karangyaan ,ramdam mo pa rin ang tensjon ng dalawang binata.Hindi ito nagpapansinan.

Mr. Del Monte broke the silence to avoid the tension

"Okay, let's eat." Chandler said.

Nilagyan ni Night ng pagkain ang plato ni Bliss

"This is enough." ani dalaga

"No. You have to eat plenty of food." he insisted.

"but____

" No buts , Sweetie. Eat it." he said. Tahimik lang din si Light habang minsan nagnakaw ng tingin sa dalaga

"I heard that you are going to have an expansion in Singapore, Light. How was it?" tanong ng matanda sa apo.

"It went well, Abuela."

"How about you Night? I heard that something is happening in your laboratory? What is the update?" baling naman ng matanda sa isa pang apo. Night cleared his throat

"It is nothing serious, Abuela."

"Then, when do you plan to manage the Del Monte Empire? I let you build your Enterprises but it doesn't mean that you will leave your responsibilities as heirs in our empire. Kayo na lang dalawa ang tanging naiiwan na tagapagmana ." the old woman said in authority. Natahimik ang dalawa.

"Both of you must think of it." Lessandra said strictly. In their family, she is the Law and they must obey her. For a long time, Doña Lessandra did not interfere with their lives but iba na ngayon. Hindi lingid ng mga ito ang hidwaan ng dalawang binata.

Pagkatapos ng hapunan , pinatawag ang dalawang binata sa study room ng kanilang Abuela.

"Abuela, what is wrong?" basag ni Light sa katahimikan

"There is nothing wrong but I want you to be at peace. When do you plan to reconcile?" direktang tanong ng matanda. She asked in an authoritative voice.

"I know that you still have grudges in yourself. Why don't you learn how to forgive each other? It is nobody's fault. You should not blame one another. " their Abuela said softly at this moment. Nag-iwas ng tingin ang dalawa , walang nagsasalita, walang umimik.

"Kayo na lang ang naiwan na tagapagmana sa negosyo natin. I am not getting any younger as well. Any time, I'll be leaving this world."

"Abuela" sabay nilang dalawa

"That is the reality.kaya kayong dalawa huwag nyo pasakitan ang ulo ko kundi makukutusan ko na talaga kayo." sabi ni Doña sa dalawang apo.

"Mga apo, patahimikin niyo na rin ang buhay ng kuya Dark niyo.Let's accept that he is is gone. Wala din dapat sisihin sa nangyari kay Alanna. We can not do anything about it." patuloy ng matanda.Nag-iwas na lang nang tingin ang dalawa.

"You are gorgeous, hija. You look like someone that I knew ." sabi ng ginang ng nasa veranda sila nagkukwentuhan.Biglang malungkot ang tinig

Hindi naman gaya ng iniisip niya sa palabas na masama ang ugali ng mayayaman. Natatawa na lang siya sa kanyang iniisip.

"Thank you po, tita. Ang ganda mo rin po kaya." sabi niya

"Ayy maliit na bagay ,hija. Dyosa kaya ito." biro nitong sabi. sobrang bagets nito kausap. Hindi mo akalain na sobrang bait nito dahil sa postura nito na sobrang ka repestado. Ika nga, Don't judge a book by its cover.

"Ehh pero tita nasaan na po yong kaibigan mo? Bakit parang nalungkot po kayo? curious nyang tanong.Hindi niya kasi maiwasan na mag tanong. na curious siya. Tela may nag-udyok sa kanya na magtanong

" Haist, she's gone with her child 23 years ago. I really miss her. For 23 years, dala dala ko ang bigat sa pakiramdam na wala akong magawa para sa kaibigan ko. Wala ako sa tabi niya noong panahon kailangan nya ako."Emosyonal na sabi ng Ginang. "Tapos di ko pa nagawa ng protektahan ang isa niyang anak. Kaya heto ngayon." bigla ng tumulo ang luha ng ginang.

"Tita, tahan na po. I know kung nasaan man siya ngayon , hindi niya gugustuhin na maging malungkot at sisihin ang sarili mo." sabi ni Bliss at niyakap ang ginang sabay bigay ng panyo

"I'm sorry, hija. Naging emosyonal tuloy ako."

"Naku, tita. Okay lang no. Walang problema yon sa akin." she said and smiled at Light's mom genuinely.

"You have the sweetest smile ever." Cassandra said and touched her face

"I wish to have a daughter. You have this perfect shape of your face. Your hair is soft and silky. You resembled her."

"Thank you po tita. hehehe."

"Mom" tawag ni Light sa ina

"Hijo, what happened? Where is your Abuela and Night?" tanong ng ginang sa anak

"They are still in the study room. Abuela wants to talk with Night ". Can I talk with Bliss for a while?"

"Sure."

Sumunod si Bliss sa binata sa garden ng Mansion

"Boss, bakit po?" basag niya sa katahimikan

"Do you really want to resign from my company?" diretsong tanong ng binata

"Yan ang gusto ni Night, boss eeh. And Serenity needs me now." sagot niya

"Do you like him?" Light asked and looked at her. Waiting for her to answer

"Bliss he will just ________"

"Sweetie, let's go home now." malakas na boses tawag ni Night sa kanya. Napuputol ang sasabihin ni Light ng dumating ang binata. Tela nagbabagang apoy ang itinapon nya na tingin kay Light. Kung nakakasunog pa ang tingin, tustado na si Light. Ramdam ni Bliss ang tension ng dalawa.

"May sasabihin pa si Boss."

"You are not allowed to talk with him. He is no longer your boss. Got it?" sabi ni Night

"You are impossible, Night. Are you afraid?" nangiinis na sabi ni Light

"Don't try me, Light."

"Why not?" nang-uuyam na sabi ni Light sa pinsan.

"Are you trying to pester me?" nanggigil na sabi ni Night.

"Tanner,stop it. Calm down. I am just talking with him." Bliss interrupted. They are exchanging their glares. Then after that Night and Bliss left him.

Light sighed deeply while looking at the two lovers who walked away from him.

"Hijo, are you okay?" Cassandra asked him

"Yes, mom. I am fine." he replied

"Are you sure?" paninigurado pa ng ina.

"Yes, mom. Don't worry about me everything is alright." he said

"Okay.If you say so. Always remember that I am here.Do not be shy to share your burden with me." Cassandra said and hugged his son.

"Of course, mom. Thank you." he said and hugged back to his mother.