Lead Me To You

Kabanata XX

Francis

Side (Part Two)

"I need to speak with Monica,"

Carter is guarding her door as usual. I cannot go in because of him.

"Signorina is currently taking her rest. She will not accept any interruption." He said.

"This is important-"

"You can talk to her tomorrow morning..."

How dare he cuts me off?

I clenched my jaw because of irritation. Kapag gusto kong makausap si Monica ay pinapagbawalan ako ng lalaking ito. Grabe kung protektahan niya ito na pati sa akin ay inilalayo niya ito. Should I fire him? No, I can't. He's good at his job kahit ganyan niya ako tratuhin.

The next morning, I came down to the kitchen to take my breakfast. The maid prepared all the food and set the table. Nakaupo na si Monica sa usual niyang pwesto sa hapag. Tahimik na kumakain at kahit ang aking presensya ay hindi nakapagpabaling ng kanyang atensyon.

"Magandang umaga, Francis. Pinahanda ko na ang sasakyan na gagamitin mo paluwas ng Maynila." Si Manang Ophelia ang sumalubong sa akin.

"Maraming salamat po. Kumain na po ba kayo?"

"Mamaya na kami kakain pagkatapos niyo," sagot nito at umalis na sa aking harapan.

I will go to Manila this afternoon. I was told that there will be an organization meeting tomorrow since all the board directors and CEO of the company will come to the office. It was so sudden and my secretary only told me yesterday. What could be the reason for this meeting?

Umupo na ako at kahit ang paglapit ko ay hindi nakapagpatinag sa kanya. I was about to reach for the plate of egg that was in front of her but she suddenly stood up.

"I'm done eating," she said to the maid.

She excused herself before leaving the table.

Does she know that her husband will come?

I can't find the right time to tell her. Dapat ay kagabi ko pa sasabihin ngunit hindi naman ako pinahintulutan ni Carter. Matteo insisted on telling her instead but I refused. I wanted to personally talk to her.

I sighed.

The morning have passed na hindi ko pa rin nakakausap si Monica. Nagkulong lamang ito sa kanyang kwarto. I am almost prepared to leave for Manila but I just can't. She have to know at least.

"What are you talking about that he's not here? I need to talk to him! Let me in!"

I heard a commotion down in the lobby from my veranda. Eugene is causing a scene, and the guards prohibit her from entering the house. She looked up in my direction and stood still.

"I will not leave until you talk to me!" She struggled with her arms but the guards' grip was stronger.

"We have nothing to talk about, Eugene," I said.

"Meron. Marami!"

"Let her go," utos ko sa mga guards.

"Isa na ito sa pinunta ko dito!" May dinukot siya sa kanyang bag at tinaas ang kanyang kamay upang ipakita sa akin ang bagay na iyon.

I am not familiar with that thing and haven't seen any of that for a while. But I know the purpose of it.

I let her in and went straight to the library. She wants us to talk in private and that's the only place in this house that only I can control. Sumunod ako sa kanya at nilock ang pintuan bago ko siya harapin.

"I didn't come here for nothing, I swear. All that I will say are true." She started the conversation.

I stood in front of her with enough distance between us.

"You better be. I don't want anyone to waste my time." I said.

She's still holding the small white rectangular thing in her hand. Nang mapansin niya na doon ako nakatingin ay tinapat niya iyon sa akin. I didn't hesitate to grab it and looked at it. I am seeing two lines.

"I am pregnant, Francis."

I didn't react. I didn't move at all.

"I am three weeks pregnant with your child," she continued.

Three weeks? Really?

I looked into her eyes. I remain cool in my stance and didn't talk. So that's the purpose of this white thing I'm holding. Two red line means pregnant.

"Aren't you going to say something? I just said that I am pregnant."

"You did great on lying. How much does my father give you to lie like this?" I asked while examining the white rectangular thing in my hand.

"What? Seriously? Is that all you can say after I told you about my condition? Your father is not involved in this!" She declared.

I do really wonder how this small thing works. Whoever invented this must have found this convenient, especially in today's generation where some are very liberated and vulgar. They can easily dictate if a female is pregnant or not.

"Well, this kind of thing can easily be manipulated," I said, referring to the thing I am holding.

"Are you saying that I-" she chuckled "-manipulated it? That I am fooling myself?"

"Are you really that desperate to have me? That you're willing to do everything to corner me. From the last time that we did it, I used protection. And I will never skip using that." I said.

I never do s*x without protection. Apart from hindering myself to a father role, I am also protecting myself from diseases.

Another thing is my father keeps on bothering me about that sensitive topic. He wanted to have grandchildren with me. That's the reason why Eugene became my fiance. Because I want him to stop pestering me about that.

"You said that you're pregnant for three weeks. But we didn't meet last three weeks ago."

Her eyes start watering. She's being hysterical as well now that I don't want to believe whatever she's saying.

"You might not remember but I am not lying. I am not doing this for money. I don't even care about it. I don't need your money or your father's money!"

She has a point. She came from a wealthy family like Monica. Money is not a problem from the moment she came out into this world. How could my father have convinced her then?

I took a few steps forward to her and looked into her eyes.

"Look here, Eugene. I don't care if what your telling me is true or not. Hindi problema sa akin kung nabuntis kita. Papanagutan ko iyan. Ako ang magpapalaki, walang problema. Pero kung pinilit ka lang ng tatay ko kagaya ng sitwasyong ito, malalaman ko. I am busy as it is. And you know how much I hate someone who wasted my time."

I walked passed her. Iniwan ko siya sa loob ng library at naglakad na pababa ng hagdan. I need to call the driver para ipahanda na ang sasakyan na gagamitin paluwas ng Maynila. I should have left thirty minutes ago.

"Francis!"

She keep on calling me kahit sa pagbaba ko ng hagdan.

"Francis!"

I am hearing her fast footsteps and I am sure that she's keeping track of me.

"Francis, sandali!"

I stopped when I arrived in the lobby hallway. The maids stopped what they were doing when they saw us having a serious talk under the grand staircase. Nang nakababa naman si Eugene ay hinarangan nito ang aking unahan kung sakaling maglakad na naman ako.

"I don't know what to do to make you believe me. Your father was not involved in any kind of situation we have right now! I wanted you to know that's why I come here. I want you to be the first one to know!" She said.

Believable, no.

"Hindi naman ito mangyayari ng ako lang! Francis, alam ko ang pinasok ko."

I remain cool kahit na ang dami nang nakakarinig ng usapan namin.

"Kung alam mo ang pinasok ay hindi ka sana sumisigaw ngayon." I took a step close to her. Near her ear to whisper.

"If you really are pregnant, you will not do a scandalous thing like this. You will keep it private if you really wanted me to know it first. You will not act like this if my father isn't really involved." I whispered to her.

Binawi ko ang isang hakbang upang makita ko ang kanyang reaksyon. Mga mata'y puno ng luhang umaagos habang natigilan. Nilagay ko sa bulsa ng aking pantalon ang aking mga kamay at umaktong parang walang nangyayari ngayon.

Nagiba ang direksyon ng kanyang mga mata. Sinundan ko iyon at tumalikod. Dahan dahan naman ang pagbaba ni Monica sa hagdan habang nakatingin sa amin. Walang reaksyon ang kanyang mukha at mga mata.

"I'll explain to you later," sabi ko kay Monica.

"What for? Ano ang dapat mong ipaliwanag sa kanya? Francis, I am your fiance, sa akin ka dapat makipagusap!" Sabat naman ni Eugene sa aking likuran.

Napapikit na lamang ako habang tinitiis ang sitwasyon.

"I now see. Alam ko na kung bakit ganito ang trato mo sa akin-"

"Excuse me. Please exclude me from your quarrel. I am out of the picture." Monica cuts her off and defended herself.

"Oh, are you?" Tanong naman ni Eugene ngunit sa akin nakatingin.

"You see, my fiance here forced me to leave to make me leave when we are not yet done talking." She raised her left hand and showed it to Monica.

"I am the only fiance who doesn't have an engagement ring. He proposed, but he didn't give me a ring. He didn't even want to introduce me to society as his woman."

"Enough this bullshit. Leave." I whispered to her but she didn't listen.

"Then you came in the picture. You stole him away!

Hindi ko alam kung kanino ba ako lalapit. Hindi ko na alam kung sino sa kanilang dalawa ang aking titingnan. Palipat lipat ang aking mga mata sa kanyang dalawa at napansin ko ang pagtaas ng isang kilay ni Monica sa sinabi ni Eugene.

"Listen, lady. No one is stealing him away from you. He's all yours. In fact-" Monica paused and walked towards Eugene, passing beside me.

"-you are way out of line. First, do not include me in your life. I don't want any drama. Second, I don't care about your title to Francis' life. I don't care if you're the fiance. Actually, I don't want to know. Third, Francis is right, you should leave. I saw your scandal down at the entrance and that's very unsophisticated. You are trespassing."

Habang nagsasalita si Monica ay lumalakad ito upang mapaatras si Eugene hanggang sa pintuan.

"First name basis? That's sweet." Eugene mocked.

"Leave or I will call security. They will drag you out in any possible way they know."

With that, she stopped. I can feel the tension between them. Walang gustong magpatalo.

"Who are you to dictate to me? You don't have the right!" Eugene said that to Monica's face.

I cannot see Monica's face because I am behind her. I can only see Eugene's and she's closer to getting irritated. Before that happen, I called the maid to interrupt them.

"Hindi pa tayo tapos. I swear, we will see each other again." Eugene threatened Monica.

"Oh, we will surely meet again. I cannot wait for the regret plastered on your face."

The guards came and they held Eugene's arms to drag her out. But she struggled and glared at every one of them.

"I can walk on my own!"

She rolled her eyes before turning her back to Monica. She's finally stepping out to the gate and leaving.

Tinatanaw naman ni Monica ang tuluyang pagalis nito. Nilapitan ko ito at tumigil nang mapatapat ako sa kanyang likod.

"There are no romantic feelings involved in the relationship I'm with her," I am stuttering when I said those.

She suddenly turned and got caught off guard and she loses her balance. She might have got shocked by our closeness and there's a step under the door. I catches her waist and pulled her, making her place her two hands on my chest.

"I-I don't care!" She pushed me away and walked past me to return to her room.

Hindi pa rin mawala sa isip ko ang pakiramdam nang hawakan ko ang kanyang bewang. I want to squeeze her tight and never let go. I want our skin to meet again. I want to touch her again or I will loose my mind. Ilang oras na ang nakalilipas at nagbalik na ako sa aking library ngunit hindi pa rin mawala sa isipan ko ang pakiramdam na ito.

Ilang beses na akong tinatawagan ng mga maid at driver sa baba upang makaalis na kami papuntang Manila pero tila ayaw gumalaw ng mga paa ko. Parang ayaw kong umalis hangga't hindi ko nakikitang muli si Monica.

Why am I feeling this way?

"Sir, ipapabuhay ko na po ba ang makina ng sasakyan?" May kumatok sa pintuan ng library.

Iyon na ang pahiwatig na kailangan ko na talagang umalis. Malapit na mag alas sinco ng hapon ngunit narito pa rin ako. Gagabihin na ang aming byahe.

"Pababa na po ako," sagot ko naman bago buksan ang pinto.

Hinakot ko na lahat ng gamit na dadalhin ko upang mailagay na ito sa loob ng sasakyan.

"Magandang hapon po, Sir Matteo."

Pagbaba ko ng hagdan ay naabutan ko si Matteo sa hamba ng pintuan. Papasok pa lamang ito.

"Magandang hapon po," bati naman nito sa lahat ng bumabati sa kanya.

Abala ito sa kanyang telepono at tila hindi ako nakikita. Panay ang type at tawag at nang mapatingin ito sa akin ay binaba niya ang kanyang cell phone.

"Why are you still here? Dapat ay nasa Manila ka na ngayon." Tanong nito.

"Just got some commotion here that I needed to fix. Ngayon pa lamang ako aalis." Sagot ko naman.

Napabuntong hininga ito. "Is that about my cousin again?"

"No, it's personal."

"That's a relief. I came to get her. Her husband is suddenly looking for her." He said.

"Nandito na siya?"

"Yeah, and he keeps bothering me until I present her to him.

The reason that I need to talk to her is to inform her about her husband. But I haven't had a chance since yesterday.

"Have you told her?" He asked.

"No. Haven't got any chance." I replied.

"This is going to be hard..."

Monica is not answering her cousin's call and that is why Matteo is frustrated right now. Her husband wanted to surprise her and she got no clue that he was already here, looking for her. What could be her reaction? I'm suddenly curious.

"Anyway, safe travels. We'll be there with you later on." Matteo tapped my shoulders before climbing up the stairs to Monica's bedroom.

Tinulungan na ako ng driver na ilagay ang aking mga gamit sa trunk. I will be staying there for a week so I didn't packed much. Naiwan ko sa Manila ang aking maleta dahil noong huling umuwi ako ay emergency iyon at hindi na nakauwi pa ng condo.

Where is my phone though? Oh, I must have left it in the library.

I need to call my secretary to inform her that I will be arriving in the office tomorrow morning. She was already informed about the general meeting so she already prepared everything.

"Tatay Dino, may kukunin lang po ako sa library." Pagpapaalam ko sa aking driver bago ako pumasok muli sa mansyon.

Monica's room is quiet when I arrived on the second floor. It's strange because the cousins are always fighting whenever they meet. I didn't hear any shouting.

Nagtuloy na ako sa library upang hanapin ang aking cellphone. I am certain that I left it here. I searched my table but I cannot find it there. Nang hindi ko mahanap dito ay nagpunta naman ako sa aking kwarto at nagbabaka sakaling naroon ngunit wala pa rin.

Bumalik ako sa library at muling sinuri ang sofa at ang aking lamesa. Saka ko lamang iyon nakita noong umilaw ang screen nito dahil sa isang notification. Natatabunan lamang ito ng isang manipis na papel sa aking lamesa habang nakapatong ito sa aking laptop.

I heard the door open aggressively while Monica is there standing. Looking straight at me while locking it behind her.

"Aalis ka?" Tanong nito.

"Oo. There's a meeting for tomorrow. I need to be there." Sagot ko.

"Then, I'll keep it short."

She removed her ponytail and unbuttoned three buttons of her shirt. She hurriedly walked toward me to meet my lips. I was caught off guard to even move when she snaked her arms around my neck. When she felt that I didn't move my lips, she stopped. She wanted me to remove my shirt and I can feel that her hands were shaking. She can't look straight into my eyes. She's too focused to remove my shirt even though she's shaking.

"What are you trying to do?" I asked but she didn't respond.

She gave up on removing my shirt and her next target is my pants. I heard the cling sound of my belt and her shaking got worse. I am inclining back to my table when she pushed me earlier to kiss me. I softly held both of her hands and place them on my chest. I squeezed them slightly to ease her shaking. She then put her head to my chest between her shaking hands. I am hearing sobs and heavy breathing but I didn't react.

Her shaking became less and I can feel that she was starting to calm down.

"I'm gonna need you to do something for me," she said.

"What is it?" I asked.

She raised her head and looked at me. Her eyes are wet as well as her cheeks from the tears.

"I want you to make me the owner of Carlucio's. Effective immediately." She said.

Her eyes are waiting for me to answer. I cannot find any words right now.

So the kissing and the undressing... was it because she wanted something from me?

"I'm begging you, please. Give it to me. I really need it."

She's tightening her grip to my shirt.

Why did she suddenly want it? Is this because of her husband?

"I can't do that, Monica. I am not the one to decide." I left her standing so weak.

"Don't lie to me. You are capable of doing that! You just don't want me to have it!"

"Why would you want it, huh? This company is the reason your father died! And you still want it that badly? Your life is in danger and you will be in more danger if you have it!" I shouted back.

I just couldn't understand why she's not yet giving it up. Her father gave it up to me willingly. Why is she still stubborn and wanted to have this company that will put her life in danger? Because of money? No, she's capable enough to have that. With of without the help of her husband, she have money. Her father made sure that she will not be left behind.

Why do you think she still have properties left? Because of his father. He begged me not to touch them. The Casa in Italy where her grandparents live, her house in Batangas, her condo unit and even the car she brought on the day of her accident; all those properties are hers. Named after her. Her father also left her with tons of insurances.

"Stop this nonesense, Monica. I have to go."

I was about to take a step but she's quick. He stood in front of me and fallped her arms like a barrier.

"I will not let you go away until you give me what I want,"