His Arms

Chapter Fourteen

14

"Oh! Wait, the prince is coming."

At halos lumuwa ang mata ko sa nakita.

Max was holding a silver white heels. What the hell is he doing here anyway?

"There you are, the most beautiful princess I laid my eyes with." Max said as he approached me with his so handsome and cute two-piece suit. Why is everyone needs to dress up so formal?

"A-anong ginagawa mo dito?" I asked as I avoided his gazes.

"To make sure the princess gets what she deserves." Nakangiti itong yumuko sa akin at daham-dahang lumuhod.

"What are you doing?"

"Isusuot ko po sa'yo mahal na prinsesa ang iyong panyapak, maari ba?" Makata nitong tanong na nagpatawa kay Mike na kasalukuyang nanonood sa amin. He's also wearing his two-piece black suit.

"Oo naman. Haha." Awkward akong tumawa at halos kapusin ako ng hininga ng hawakan ng maiinit niyang palad ang paa ko.

I closed my eyes. Natatawa ako. Feeling ko talaga isa akong prinsesa.

"Hmm...you have a very cute pair of feet, your highness." Biro nito at marahan pang tinapik-tapik ang mga paa ko.

"Ewan ko sa'yo." Muntik ko na siyang masipa ng halikan pa niya ang isa kong paa. What the hell? That's gross!

"What the hell, Max? That's yucky!"

"Hmm? Why? Your feet are like skin of a baby, so milky."

"Tsk. Young master, Max. We need to hurry. The car's waiting outside." Maya-maya pa ay singit ni Mike.

"Allright. You can go now. I'll be with the princess."

"Okay. Take care of her. 'Wag mong patakasin, sinindak pa ng mga make-up artists kanina."

"What the heck? Nagsumbong sa'yo 'yung mukhang naghilamos ng espasol?"

"Nope. But I heard you screamed it to them."

"Eavesdropper."

Natatawang naglakad paalis si Mike habang inaayos pa ni Max ang strap ng heels.

I didn't started a conversation. Ayaw ko dahil baka kung ano nanamang masabi ko at madagdagan pa ang kasalanan ko dahil sa pagmumura.

"Michaella." Paos nitong tawag sa pangalan ko matapos niyang mailagay ng maayos ang panyapak ko.

I almost dropped on the floor when I tried to take a step. Geez, hindi nga pala ako sanay sa ganitong kataas na takong. I think it's four inches heels with a glittery design.

Mabilis ang reflexes ni Max dahil nasalo pa niya ako at natatawang hinaplos ang pinaghirapan kong ayusing buhok.

"Ano ba? Not my hair!" Timabig ko ang kamay niya at muling ibinalanse ang sarili.

"Tsk. Why all girls don't want to ruin their hair?"

"I'm not just 'other girls', tsk." Sikmat ko at dahil medyo maayos na ang lagay ko, I started to take a step, and thanks God, I can now manage walking with a four inches heels.

"So, let's go, princess?" I saw Max in my peripheral vision giving me his shoulder. But, I didn't bother to accept it. I don't want any physical interaction, last na 'yung kanina na sinuot niya sa akin 'tong panyapak ko.

"Michaella. Please, atleast accept my shoulder."

"Not a chance, Max."

Nauna na akong lumakad sa malamig na pasilyo nang mansion at nauna na ring bumaba sa grand staircase ng hindi nanghihingi ng tulong kay Max na parang aso na sunod ng sunod sa akin.

"Geez, careful Michaella!"

Nagulantang ako sa sigaw nito sa likod ko at dahil may takong ang suot ko, sumabit ito sa kahuli-hulihang baitang ng hagdan. But, thanks to my lucky charm necklace na hanggang ngayon ay suot ko pa rin, nakahawak pa ako sa grill ng hagdan.

Napaigtad ako ng maramdaman ang malapad na palad ni Max sa bewang ko at hinapit ako nito palapit sa kaniyang katawan. I groaned when he tighten his grip on my waist.

"Max, remove your hands." Matigas kong utos dito at pilit na hinahawi ang kamay nitong nakahawak sa akin.

"Your hands." Ulit ko dahil wala ata itong balak na alisin ang kamay niya.

"I said, your hands!" I used my remaining strength to push him away from me. I managed to, but in exchange muntik na naman akong mabuwal, but a soft warm and familiar hands catched me.

My breath almost stopped when I smelled a familiar scent. s**t, it's Isaiah!

"Next time, be f*****g careful and don't be so clumsy!" Malamig nitong saad at mabilis na binitawan ang bewang ko.

But I need his heat. Parang may biglang nawala din sa akin ng bitiwan niya ako.

Humarap ako sa kaniya. I saw him wearing a three-piece suit with his eyeglasses that made his face even more attractive.

"Let's go."

Nabalik lang ako sa realidad ng makita kong tumalikod na ito sa akin at nang maramdaman ko naman ang kamay ni Max na humawak sa braso ko.

I flinched but he tighten his grip on me.

"Not again. Aalalayan na kita. Kapit ka lang sa akin." Makahulugan nitong saad at ikinawit ang kamay ko sa braso niya.

I sighed heavily.

"Sa'n ba ang dinner? Bakit parang party naman ata ang pupuntahan natin?" Mahinang-mahina kong saad na ako lang ata ang makakarinig.

"It's in MiLee Hotel." Mahinang tugon sa akin nang katabi ko.

"MiLee?" Ulit ko.

"Yeah."

"Parang familiar. Saan ba 'yun?"

"It's just a branch of ML Group of Companies that are managing chains of hotel and restaurant, the main branch is in Manila." Sagot nito sa mga katanungan sa isip ko. Galing. Yaman naman ng may-ari.

"Wow. Marami bang pagkain? Gutom na ako." Ungot ko.

Max chuckled and open the car's door for me. Hindi ko namalayang nakalabas na pala kami dahil sa pagkakatulala ko.

"Ladies first." Ikinumpas pa nito ang kanang kamay sa akin.

"Hmm."

As I entered the car, it's scented smell lingers on my nose. Nilingon ko ang driver's seat at nakita ang isang men in black na siyang naka-upo dito.

I'm in the backseat and Chase is in the shotgun seat.

"Chase." I acknowledged his presense and smiled to him.

"Hi, lady! Oh, you look like a totally princess tonight huh?"

"Hindi naman. Bolero ka talaga."

"It's true! Right Major Taylor?" Baling nito sa lalaking nasa driver's seat.

"Exactly, you exactly looked like a princess, lady Michaella." Ngiti nito.

i just awkwardly smiled and looked at the three cars behind us.

"Where's Max?" Taka kong tanong ng mapansing hindi pa pala ito pumapasok.

"He's in the other car. With young master Isaiah." Tugon ni Chase.

After a minute, the car infront of us moved an inch. May inayos si Chase sa may kaliwa niyang tenga.

"We're ready. Car's moving in ten seconds." Mahina nitong saad pero rinig ko pa rin. Is that an earpiece?

I suddenly felt nervous when the car started moving. Anim na tinted car ang magkakasunod na lumabas sa front gate ng mansion, pangalawa kami.

I don't know but a cold bead of sweats suddenly escaped my forhead. This is totally crazy. Bakit ako kinakabahan.

"Bakit kailangan pa nating sa isang hotel mag-dinner?" Maya-maya ay basag ko sa namamayaning katahimikan.

"It is not just a normal dinner. It's an engagement party, lady Michaella." Sagot ng driver. Parang bigla namang na-tense si Chase sa upuan niya dahil bigla itong naubo at nag-pawis.

"Hala! Engagement party? Nino?" Taka kong baling sa driver.

"Um...lady, your question will be answered once we proceed to the hotel." Pormal nitong tugon.

Hindi nabawasan ang kabang nararamdaman ko sa naging sagot ng driver. Pinagpapawisan ang mga kamay ko at gustong-gusto ko nanag bumaba. But I can't, we're in the middle of a highway now.

"Ganun ba? Pwede bang pakibuksan na lang ang car stereo, gusto ko kasing madistract, kinakabahan ako."

"Kinakabahan ka?" Takang tanong ni Chase sa akin at pilit inaayos ang composure niya.

"I don't know too. Um, pwede ba, pwede bang pakibuksan?"

"Sure, lady." Maingat na sagot ng driver at marahang binuksan ang car stereo. Biglang pumailanlang ang kantang parang patama sa akin.

Sasabay na sana ako sa kanta ng bigla namang pumreno ang sasakyan. Napasubsob pa ako sa harapan, buti na lang naka-seatbelt ako.

"Emergency, a black tinted van is blocking us." Natatarantang saad ni Chase at pilit namang kumakalma ang driver na sumubsob sa manibela.

"What's happening?" Nadagdagan ang kaba kong nararamdaman.

"There's a van that's blocking our way, we need back-up!" Sigaw na ni Chase at pilit idinidiin sa tenga niya ang itim na bagay.

"Damn. The other cars were being blocked too. This is a f*****g torture!"

Pigil hininga ang ginawa ko ng makitang lumabas na ang mga tao sa itim na van. They are holding guns with high caliber dahil sa laki ng mga ito. Putakte. Kamatayan ko na ata.

"Major Taylor, accelerate the car's speed, and follow my lead. Back-ups are having hard time too in the headquarters, they are being attacked too!"

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig. Is this really how my life will end?

Ah. Gusto ko pang makatikim ng adobong paa ng manok! Iluluto ko pa 'yung pinabili ko kanina! But, the problem is, I don't know how to cook!

I suddenly shooked my head. Seriously, in this kind of time, pagkain pa ang naisip ko? But, I'm too hungry na kasi.

Ipinikit ko ng mariin ang aking mga mata ng ang mga armadong lalaki ay papalapit na sa sasakyan namin.

The other cars in our front and at the back was being blocked too.

"f**k, we are not prepared with this sudden attact!" Malakas na mura ni Chase ang narinig ko kasabay ng pagkatok sa bintana ng kotse.

Harujusko! Sa tapat ko pa talaga! Ako ba ang unang mamamatay? Nakikita ba nila ako dito sa loob? But, it's tinted!

Sa nanginginig na kamay, bubuksan ko na sana ang bintana but Chase shouted.

"No! Do not open the car's window! On my command, everyone, accelerate all your car's speed. In one, two...---" natigil ang pagbibilang ni Chas nang tuluyan ko nang buksan ang bintana ng kotse.

"f**k!"

"Damn!"

"Hehe. Ano p-po i-iyon?" Nauutal kong tanong nang bumungad sa akin ang mga malalaking lalaki na nakayuko ngayon sa sasakyan.

"Get out in the car, so we can all have a peaceful night." Matigas na wika ng isang malaking lalaki na puno ng tatoo ang katawan.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. No!

"Everyone! Move now!" At halos maiwan pa ang kaluluwa ko sa mga lalaki dahil sa biglaang pagharurot ng sasakyan.

I waited for a gunshot to be heard in the whole area but a minute passed, there's no gunshot.

"Whew. That was close."

"Are you okay there, lady Michaella? f**k, I told you do not open the window, you just risk your life!" Sumisigaw sa galit na saad ni Chase at halos mapaiyak na ako sa kabang nararamdaman.

"f**k my life!" I blurted out. The two men suddenly sighed.

I just controlled my tears, tumingala ako para hindi tumulo ang mga luha ko, but funny, tears cannot be stopped if it wants to escape your eyes.

"I never dreamed of this kind of life." Mahina at puno nang poot kong saad.

"Nor was I, nor was we." Matigas na tugon ni Chase sa akin.

The tears ruined my make-up. It's okay. Atleast, after almost two weeks after the confrontation, I cried.

"I am now starting to hate this kind of life, I am a messed, I am ruined."

"You are not." Pikit mata akong tumawa ng mapait.

"How can you say that? You are not in my shoes, atleast consider me as a woman, please, I really wanted to be treated as a human, a woman, with no lies, hatred, anger and disgust. Gustong-gusto ko nang magkaroon ng kapayapaan."

"You'll have that tonight." Mas lalo kong nilakasan ang mapait kong tawa. Tonight? Why? Eh halos mamatay na nga ako sa kalsada eh.

"Talaga? Ngayong gabi? What a shame, muntik na nga akong mamatay. May kapayapaan pa ba na naghihintay sa akin?"

I heard Chase sighed heavily. There was a long silence.

"What? You mean there was no casualties in the unexpected attact? That's good."

Iminulat ko ang mga mata ko at huminga ng malalim. Atleast walang namatay ngayong gabi dahil 'dun sa atake.

I flinched when Chase handed me a tissue paper.

"There, I'm sorry I raised my voice earlier, I was just...um...nothing. Wipe your face Lady Michaella. We are almost near."

And my heart actually contracted in unexplainable pain when I saw with my two naked eyes a lovely couple hugging each other in their elegant suits. That hurts, big time.