His Arms

Chapter Fifteen

15

IS THIS really an engagement party? If yes, then who's engagement is this?

I automatically closed my eyes and heaved a sigh. I should not think of who's engagement is this. Earlier, after we arrived here in the hotel, I saw Isaiah and his girlfriend gripping each other's body and kissing without noticing that they are the center of the attraction. But I didn't budged, I just walk gracefully in their side with my head held high with so much confident plastered on my face, luckily I passed through them, but my knees can't stop wobbling and I need someone or something to grip or else I will collapse.

I don't know, but that scene was more heartbreaking than the other one in the mansion dahil marami ang nakakita sa kanila, parang wala na akong pag-asa, di'ba? Takte lang talaga.

Yes, I AM INLOVE WITH ISAIAH. Capslock para mas intense ang dating. I am not regretting this feeling, honestly I was so thankful dahil kahit anong pait na nararanasan ko sa buhay, nakahanap pa rin ang puso ko ng taong mamahalin, but with the wrong person, wrong time, and wrong place.

I don't have any idea where and when I discovered this feeling, but as days passed by, hinahanap-hanap na siya nitong puso ko, I always think of him. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko pa patitigilin itong puso at isip ko sa pagmamahal na unti-unti nang lumalalim.

I was back from my reverie when a pair of brown leather shoes stopped in front of me.

I paused myself from yawning and closing my eyes because of sleepiness. Pero walang epekto dahil napa-hikab pa rin ako.

"Oh! Haha. Cute, hmm. By the way, can I have this dance with a beautiful lady?" I automatically covered my mouth using my right palm. Wa, nakakahiya 'yun.

Inikot ko ang aking paningin at halos lahat ng kadalagahanan at kabinataan ay nasa dance floor na at sumasayaw na. Ganun na ba katagal ang pagi-isip ko?

The oldies are still in their usual tables eating and I think talking about business.

A sirring pain suddenly covered my whole being when a familiar man caught my eyes. It's Isaiah and his girlfriend dancing. Damn. Bakit ko pa ba inikot ang paningin ko?

Nakakaselos. NAKAKASELOS.

"Sure."

Natawa ang lalaking nasa harapan ko at inilahad ang palad nito kasabay ng pagyuko. My hand automatically held his hand and looked at his eyes.

"Tara na!" Pilit kong pinasigla ang boses ko at hinatak na ang lalaki sa dance floor. The lively music stopped and was replaced by a soft and a romantic piano music.

Napalingon pa ako sa pwesto nila Isaiah ngunit hindi ko na halos sila matanaw dahil sa mga nagsasayawang magkapareha.

Hindi ko namalayang nakahawak na pala sa bewang ko ang lalaki at iginiya pa nito ang mga kamay ko pahawak sa balikat niya.

"Hmm. Finding someone?" Medyo paos nitong tanong at pilit na hinihigpitan ang kapit sa bewang ko.

"Ah, wala. Wala 'yun."

"Really? But it seems that you're uncomfortable."

"Pa'no ba ako magiging komportable? Higpit ng kapit mo. Hindi ako tatakas." Pilit akong nagbiro.

"Hindi mo nga ako tatakasan, ang sarap lang kasi na may kasayawan."

"Bakit? Wala ka pang naisasayaw sa buong buhay mo?" My voice turned sarcastic and almost rolled my eyes.

"Hmm. Kapag sinabi kong wala pa. Maniniwala ka?"

"Hindi."

"Tsk. 'Yun eh. Hmm, anyway, you looked familiar." He said seriously and slightly bit his lower lip.

"Talaga? Hindi ako sikat para maging pamilyar sa paningin mo."

"Yah. But you looked like the mother of my future children." Kindat nito at halos masapok ko ang ulo niya.

Bumanat pa, hindi ko naman kilala.

I was about to answer him when the light suddenly became dim. Nagbago ang musika at naging masigla na naman.

Muli akong napalingon sa pwesto nila Isaiah ngunit halos hindi ko na sila maaninag dahil sa dim na ilaw.

"The engagement party was about to start. Tsk. That couple really are a pest in my eyes." I knotted my forehead with what the man in front of me said.

"Couple?"

"Yah."

Tamad itong lumingon sa harap ng magarang stage habang hawak pa rin ang bewang ko.

"Kamay mo po, upo na tayo, tapos na ang romantic music."

"Sinong nagsabi sa'yong hanggang 'dun lang ang sayawan? Hmm-mm. Sasayaw ka kasama ako." Bumalik ang sigla sa mga mata nito at biglang naiba ang music at napalitan ng...what the heck?

"Is that Batang Pasaway?" Patanong kong tanong. Naalala ko 'tong kantang 'to nang minsang mapadaan ako sa front gate 'nung isang araw at 'yan ang tugtog habang naglolokohan ang mga security 'dun. I even asked them what's the title tapos 'yun na nga.

"Yeah, paborito ko 'yan!"

"Weh?" Hindi ako makapaniwala.

The MC suddenly appeared from somewhere and started to dance with the beat.

"Yeah! Goodevening ladies and gentlemen! Seems that you are all enjoying the party, huh?" There's a long and loud claps coming from the crowd.

"Well! Masaya nga ang ganitong party, may kasamang kalokohan, hindi puro seryoso."

Silently, I looked again for some traces of Isaiah but I saw nothing, even just his shadow. Nagkakasayahan na sa dance floor ang mga tao pero ang katabi ko, umiindak habang hawak ang bewang ko, the victorian gown made it hard for me to follow the beat dahil ako lang ata ang hindi nakikisabay sa beat ng kanta.

Sumabay na rin ang baklang MC sa pagkanta ngunit masyado ng okupado ang isip ko. I need to find Isaiah. Pero bakit pa? Pagkakataon ko ng tumakas. Wala ang mga parang asong men in black na sunod ng sunod sa akin dahil iniwan nila ako kanina, kampante ata silang wala akong balak ma tumakas, o kaya naman may naiwan at binabantayan pa rin ako?

I was about to remove the hand of the man beside me but the loud beat stopped making the crowd crazy and complained about the sudden stopping of the music.

Wow, akala ko pa naman formal pero nagiging informal na ang ginagawa ng mga tao dito sa dancefloor.

"Oh! Bitin ba? Don't worry, guys! May mamaya pa!" The loud complaints turned into cheers and the MC just chuckled in the mic.

"Let's start the real party! Let's all welcome Mr. Isaiah Magno Fuentes and Ms. Mira Uy Lee for their engagement party with a twist!" At naramdaman ko na lang na nagkagulo ang mga tao dahil sa pagbabago ng lights, it became a real party lights, may mga nagliliwanag na bilog at mga iba't ibang hugis ng iba't ibang kulay na lights ang paikot-ikot sa loob ng engrandeng hall.

But I didn't realized that I was already crying in the middle of the wild crowd. No! Isaiah and Mira's engagement!

Pakiramdam ko paramg tinutusok ng milyon-milyong karayom ang puso ko. The unexplainable pain traveled to my heart and up to my head making my vision blurry.

Not even a chance, hindi ko pa siya nakaka-usap at naipagtatapat ang nararamdaman ko, ganito na ang nangyayari.

So much of the revelations. I'm damn tired. Nawala na sa paningin ko ang kasayaw ko kanina at parang basang sisiw na nakatayo ako sa gitna ng mga nagkakasayahang tao.

Umatras ako ng tatlong beses at hindi ko namalayang may nakabunggo na pala ako.

Hindi ko ito binigyan ng pansin dahil lalagpasan ko na sana ang nakabangga ko ng bigla ako nitong higitin paharap sa kaniya.

Through my blurred visions, I saw a familiar face.

"I-Isaiah." Mahinang-mahina kong tawag sa kaniya.

"What the hell, are you trying to escape at me?" Mapangahas nitong saad at mahigpit na hawak ang kamay ko. Pakiramdam ko lalabas na ang mga buto ko sa palad dahil sa diin ng hawak niya dito.

"No! H-hindi ako tatakas!" Pilit kong tinatanggal ang mahigpit niyang hawak sa akin ngunit mas humigpit pa ito at mabilis akong kinaladkad palabas ng events' hall ng hotel.

I didn't fought back, it will be useless. Malakas siya at lalaki pa, ako isang babae lang.

Hindi ko namalayang napalayo na pala kami sa pinagdadausan ng party.

"Isaiah, baka h-hinahanap ka na 'dun." Maingat kong saad. Pilit na pinipili ang mga wikang gagamitin ko dahil baka bigla na lang niya akong sakmalin.

"f**k the party, f**k them all. I need to punish you, Mica." Matigas nitong sagot sa akin na lalong nagpakaba sa dibdib ko.

He used that nickname to me again, ibig sabihin, galit na talaga siya.

We suddenly stopped from a wooden classy door. He took a swipe key in his side pocket and slid it in the button in the side of the door.

Nalanghap ko kaagad ang panlalaking amoy ng kwarto ng maingat na bumukas ang pinto.

Mararahas ang ginawa niyang pagkaladkad sa akin sa loob. I heard a click, he locked the door!

Pabalya niya akong binitawan at pina-upo sa gilid ng isang panlalaking kama.

"Ano pa ang hinihintay mo? Hubarin mo na 'yang gown mo. Dito natin masusubukan kung tatangkain mo pang tumakas."

Hindi ko mapigilang mag-isip ng mga bagay na maaari naming gawin.

Wild thoughts came brushing my mind like a wildfire ready to wipe someone's sanity.

Pinilit kong maging mahinahon sa kabila ng kabang nararamdamn ko.

"Please, Isaiah. Not now, I am so damn tired and sleepy, just atleast let me sleep, and you can have s*x with me after that." Mahinahon kong saad habang pinipigilang mapa-aray dahil sa bigla niyang paghawak ng madiin sa braso ko.

"No. It will be this time. Kung ayaw mong maghubad, ako na ang gagawa para sa'yo." His voice was so powerful that I can't stop myself from wobbling.

Trying to act unaffected with his words. I smiled with a soft expression written on my face, I want him to calm down, I know he is just angry.

"Please, kamahalan?" I used my eyes and gave him the softest expression I can ever had.

He suddenly clenched his jaw and form a ball on his fist. His eyes glistened in pure lust and agresiveness. I felt disappointed. I knew it. I can't never tame a man with a hard heart, lalong-lalo na galit sa akin.

"Do not try my patience, Mica. Hubad." The smile on my face moved down and was replaced by a thin line.

"Kamahalan, this is an inappropriate act, remember tonight is your engagement party, you have a fiancėe and that would never change the fact that you're cheating." Mahinahon pa rin ang aking boses. Hindi ko hahayaang magkaroon siya ng pagkakataong kunin ako ulit.

He smirked and crossed his arms on his broad chest giving me a fair view on how his muscles flexed.

"Cheating, huh? Mica, this is not cheating, yes, may fiancėe na ako, but you are not any of my women, you are just my slut, my whore." He said with his authorative voice vibrating to the whole room.

I suddenly felt a pang in my chest, this is too much, too much for my feelings and my heart. My breathing hitched, I looked up to him, he's a meter apart to me. But he is tall and I still need to look up or else his chest is on my full view.

"w***e? Slut? 'Ganun pala, bakit hindi ka man lang magkaroon ng kahit kaunting konsensiya diyan sa puso mo, I was a virgin before you took me. Ganoon na ba ang tingin mo sa isang w***e, virgin ng makuha mo?" I said emphasizing every words and giving my true feelings on it.

His face suddenly turned dark, his eyes looked at me with immense hate and anger.

"This is me, Mica. Huwag mong baguhin ang usapan, hubad o hubad?" Napatawa ako ng mahina, iniwas ko ang aking tingin.

"Hubad? Okay, sige." I answered. Standing up, I didn't even bother to look at his eyes. Pinilig ko ang aking ulo para maiwasan ko ang nagbabaga niyang mga titig.

I quickly tore my gown, it made a screeching sound that echoed in the whole room, marahas kong tinanggal sa katawan ko ang napunit na gown, I was now only wearing a pair of black underwear.

The cold touched my exposed skin, I didn't mind if I was wobbling, I need this night to end.

"Ano pa ang hinihintay mo, kamahalan? I am now only left with a very thin piece of my cloth, why don't you devour me?" I used my very sarcastic tone.

I looked at him in the eyes, but it is void, wala siyang pinapakitang emosyon.

"Payo lang. Huwag mo nang dahan-dahanin ha. Para naman mawalan ulit ako ng malay at hindi ko maramdaman ang katawan mo sa akin." I added.

He suddenly walked to me and held my waist tightly.

"Well, akin ka ngayong gabi, kakainin kita."