IN THE BACHELOR’S BED-SSPG

Chapter 26

Salamat sa Diyos dahil sa wakas, rest day ko ngayon.

Matapos ang sunod-sunod na trabaho at ang daming ganap sa buhay ko, mula sa marahas at matigas na parusa ni Vittorio sa kwarto, ang beach shoot na puno ng mga tsismosang models, hanggang sa nakakarinding pakikipag-asaran sa aking stepsister at sa jowa nitong kulang sa pansin. Sa wakas ay may isang araw ako para maupo lang sa mansyon nang walang iniisip na layout o pirma.

Kasalukuyan akong nakasandal sa dambuhalang velvet sofa sa malawak na sala ng bahay. Nakasuot ako ng isang napakalambot na silk loungewear habang nagpapakasasa sa lamig ng aircon. May hawak akong isang baso ng iced matcha latte, at talagang nire-relax ko ang buong katawan ko na medyo may kaunting kirot pa rin dahil sa matitinding trabaho araw at gabi.

Ngunit ang aking inaasam na katahimikan ay agad na na-basted nang pumasok sa sala ang nag-iisang reyna ng kalituhan.

Si Badiday.

May bitbit siyang balahibo ng manok—este, feather duster at isang makintab na spray bottle para sa mga mamahalin at antigong dekorasyon sa sala. Pagkakita niya sa akin ay agad siyang ngumiti nang napakalawak, nag-bow nang halos 80 degrees at nagsimula nang mag-ingay gamit ang kaniyang dila.

“Oh, a splendid, magnificent, and unblemished non-working solar duration to you, Madame Lindsay!" masayang bati niya, habang marahas niyang iwinagayway ang duster sa hangin, dahilan para mapabahing ako nang bahagya. Ito na naman siya.

"The atmospheric condition inside this domestic domain is currently harmonizing with your state of stationary relaxation. I am utterly flabbergasted to perceive your presence in a horizontal posture of non-activity!"

Napatitig ako sa kaniya, ang aking kanang kilay ay dahan-dahang gumapang paitaas hanggang sa dulo ng aking hairline. Ininom ko ang aking matcha latte bago ko siya hinarap gamit ang aking kilalang kamalditahan.

"Badiday, pakiusap," panimula ko, ang boses ko ay puno ng kapaguran kahit na nakapahinga naman ako. "Rest day ko ngayon. Ibig sabihin, ang utak ko ay naka-off din. Pwede bang huwag mo munang pag-aksayahan ng lakas ang mga salitang parang kinuha mo pa sa baul ni Shakespeare? Masakit pa ang ulo ko sa asawa ko, huwag mo nang dagdagan."

Badiday gasped softly, sweeping her feather duster across a gintong vase na parang nagpapalayas ng masamang espiritu.

"Alas, Madame! My linguistic performance is merely an outer manifestation of my cognitive devotion to your elite status!" pagdadrama niya, sabay hawak sa kaniyang apron. Ngunit sa isang iglap, biglang nag-tumbling ang kaniyang dila.

“But, you know, Madame... the broom of the dust is very dustful today. The air is going up, the nose is going sneeze! Because Sir Vittorio, he is go out very early. Like a bird flying into the sky of properties, you know? He say to me, 'Badiday, clean the house or I will shoot your face.' Very romantic husband, yes?"

Napatigil ako sa pagsubo ng straw ng latte ko. Napakunot ang buong noo ko habang pilit kong inaanalisa ang pagkakasunod-sunod ng mga salita niya.

The broom of the dust is very dustful? Clean the house or I will shoot your face? Mababaliw ako. Literal na mababaliw ako sa babaeng 'to. Minsan, ang lalalim ng mga vocabulary na ginagamit niya na parang may legal contract siyang binabasa, pero kadalasan talaga, para siyang nagpapatakbo ng sentence sa isang sirang translation application. Nagtu-tumbling ang grammar niya na kahit ang mga kaibigan ko sa Milan ay hindi magagawang intindihin.

"Badiday," irap ko habang isinasandal ang ulo ko sa unan ng sofa. "Sinabi ba talaga ni Vittorio na babarilin niya ang mukha mo kung hindi mo lilinisin ang bahay?"

"Verily, Madame! In my translation of his optical expressions, yes!" buong kumpiyansa niyang sagot, habang marahas na pinupunasan ang gilid ng lamesa. "His eyes is very look like a machine gun, ratatata! When he look at the dust, he is angry. When he look at your neck with the red design from the midnight wrestling, he is smile like a hungry dog. The vocabulary of his face is very multi-dimensional, Madame! Grabe ka gilok mo tutok!”

Midnight wrestling. Hungry dog. Gilok?

"Shut up, Badiday!" mabilis kong putol sa kaniyang sasabihin, naramdaman ko ang biglang pamumula ng aking mga pisngi sa tindi ng hiya at inis. Sadyang inikot ko ang aking mga mata nang napakatindi para lang itago ang kabog sa dibdib ko kapag naaalala ko ang mga mararahas at matitigas na pag-angkin ng ugok na ‘yon sa katawan ko kapag gabi.

Kahit na likas akong maldita at palagi ko siyang tinatarayan, napansin kong walang kaunting paki si Badiday. Sanay na sanay na siya sa aking kamalditahan. Para lang siyang nakikipag-usap sa hangin, patuloy pa rin ang kaniyang pag-kuskos habang ang utak ko naman ay unt-unti nang sumasabog sa kaniyang baligtad na English.

"But, Madame, listen to my adviceful vocabulary," patuloy muli ni Badiday, lumapit siya nang bahagya sa sofa ko habang nakasandal sa kaniyang duster na parang isang matandang pilosopo.

“The heart of Sir Vittorio is like an iron, very hard, very hot. But you, you are the water of ice. When the fire is touch the ice, the ice is melt into water, and then you become a liquid of love! Don't be too much of a high-fashion attitude, Madame. Sometimes, the husband is want a soft cushion, not a sharp needle of the mouth."

Napatitig ako sa kaniya nang matagal. Seryoso, hindi ko alam kung maaantig ba ako sa logic ng sinabi niya o maiinis ako dahil nag-tumbling na naman ang salita niya mula sa 'liquid of love' hanggang sa 'sharp needle of the mouth.'

Napngiwi na lang ako.

"Salamat sa adviceful vocabulary mo, Badiday," sagot ko na lang nang may matinding pangingitngit habang ibinabalik ang aking sunglasses sa mukha ko para lang matapos na ang usapan.

“Pero pakiusap, bago matunaw ang utak ko sa English mo, tapusin mo na 'yang pag-dustful mo sa sala dahil gusto kong matulog nang tahimik."

"Thy royal hibernation shall not be interrupted, Madame!" masayang sagot niya bago nag-martsa pabalik sa kitchen chambers habang kumakanta ng isang kanta na hindi ko na naman maintindihan ang lyrics.

Inikot ko ang aking mga mata at napabuntong-hininga sa dilim ng aking sunglasses. Ibang-iba na talaga ang buhay ko sa dati. May asawa akong mapanganib at may ari ng kalahati ng logisitics sa Europe, at may katulong naman akong handang mag-gymnastics ang dila araw-araw. Pero kahit papaano, sa gitna ng lahat ng kalituhang ito, naramdaman ko ang isang maliit at kakaibang ngiti na sumilay sa aking mga labi habang dahan-dahang ipinipikit ang aking mga mata.

—

Isang kakaibang pakiramdam ang unt-unting humila sa akin palabas ng aking mahimbing na tulog. It wasn't the sound of Badiday’s tumbling English, nor was it the heavy clicking of heels on the marble floor outside. It was a dense, suffocating weight in the air—the feeling of being hunted, or worse, being watched.

Mabilis akong naalimpungatan. Pagdilat ng aking mga mata mula sa ilalim ng aking sunglasses na nakatabing pa rin sa aking mukha, ang sumalubong sa akin ay ang pamilyar, guwapong mukha ng aking asawa.

Vittorio was sitting on the edge of the velvet sofa, right beside my legs. He was leaning forward, his massive frame casting a long shadow over my body. Fully dressed pa rin siya sa kaniyang madilim na corporate suit, pero ang kaniyang necktie ay maluwag na nakasabit sa kaniyang leeg, at ang kaniyang government-cut hair ay bahagyang gulo-gulo na tila ba galing siya sa isang napakahabang boardroom battle.

Mabilis akong napabangon, halos maihagis ko ang baso ng aking natutunaw na matcha latte sa sahig sa tindi ng gulat. Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib habang nagpapakawala ng isang napakalawak at malalim na hininga.

It was a sharp, involuntary sigh of relief.

"God, Vittorio!" asik ko, pilit kong ibinabalik ang aking kilalang kamalditahan para lang itago ang mabilis na pagwawala ng puso ko. "Akala ko kung ano na! Pwede ba, huwag kang nanggugulat ng tao habang natutulog? You looked like a literal stalker sitting there in the dark!"

Vittorio didn't flinch. Instead, a lazy, amused smile slowly curled on his lips—isang pilyo ngunit tamad na ngisi na karaniwang nagpapainit ng ulo ko. But as I stared deeper into his dark eyes, my words suddenly died in my throat.

Hindi gumagana ang kamalditahan ko. My sharp tongue completely froze because his gaze was completely different today. There was no rough, possessive madness, no dark territorial hunger like last night. Instead, looking at his eyes was like looking at a dark, freezing ocean... may kakaiba at malalim na lungkot na pilit niyang itinatago sa likod ng kaniyang matigas na panga.

He reached out his massive hand, his long fingers gently caressing my hair, smoothing the stray strands behind my ear before his thumb softly trailed down to the side of my face. His touch was remarkably gentle, completely opposite to the hard and rough rhythm he used to dominate me in the bedroom.

"You look beautiful when you're quiet, piccola," he mumbled, his deep, bedroom baritone voice dropping into a soft, textured whisper that sent an instant, heavy wave of shiver straight down my spine.

Hindi ako makasagot. My barbie-like face remained static, my lips slightly parted as I got lost in the sheer intensity of his proximity. The ice queen in me was completely locked inside her own perimeter, unable to find a single witty comeback to defend her territory.

Vittorio slowly withdrew his hand, his eyes never leaving mine. "

“Can you come with me tonight, Lindsay?"

Nabalik ang kontrol ko sa sarili kong mukha at agad kong tinaasan siya ng kanang kilay.

“Saan? Gabi na, Vittorio. At kakasabi ko lang kay Badiday na rest day ko ngayon, so I have zero intentions of attending another high-society corporate dinner with you."

Vittorio let out another low, vibrating chuckle. He stood up, towering over the sofa as he fixed the cuffs of his shirt. He didn't answer my question. He just looked down at me, smiled, and muttered a single word.

"Secret."

Isang matinding pangingitngit ang gumapang sa sistema ko. "Secret mo mukha mo," bulong ko sa sarili ko habang marahas na inaayos ang aking silk loungewear. Nainis ako dahil palagi niya akong ginagawang sunod-sunuran sa kaniyang mga plano, pero dahil sa kakaibang lungkot na nakita ko sa mga mata niya kanina, may kung anong bahagi ng puso ko ang hindi nagawang tumanggi.

I quickly went up to the master bedroom to change. Dahil gabi na rin naman at hindi ko alam kung saan kami pupunta, I decided to keep it simple—pero natural, keeping it simple for a sikat na designer means a flawless, high-fashion casual look. I wore a structured white ribbed turtleneck top, high-waisted wide-leg denim pants, and a long beige trench coat over my shoulders. I kept my face fresh with minimal makeup and pulled my long dark hair into a high, sleek ponytail.

Pagkababa ko, Vittorio was already waiting by the main door. He didn't comment on my clothes, pero ang kaniyang titig habang pinapanood akong lumapit ay sapat na para malaman kong paboritong-paborito niya ang ayos ko ngayon.

Sumakay kami sa kaniyang sleek black SUV. The drive was remarkably quiet. Walang radio, walang usapan, tanging ang tunog lang ng makina at ang paminsan-minsang pagpapatunog ng kaniyang mga daliri sa manibela ang naririnig. I looked out the window, watching the city lights blur past as we moved away from the busy streets of the city and, climbing up toward a more secluded, elevated area.

When the car finally pulled up to a private, high-end restaurant perched on the edge of a cliff, I was completely astonished.

The view was breathtaking. He guided me toward the highest, most exclusive outdoor deck of the restaurant—isang pwesto na walang ibang tao kundi kaming dalawa lang. From our table, the entire skyline of the metropolis was laid out like a sea of diamonds under the dark sky. The cool night breeze was playing with the hem of my trench coat, and the romantic setting was so intense it felt entirely illegal for a contractual marriage like ours.

Ngunit habang nauupo kami, hindi ko napigilang magtaka. Vittorio's actions were remarkably strange today. Siya ang tipo ng lalaki na kapag nasa harap ko ay palaging nagpapakita ng absolute authority, pero ngayon, he was remarkably quiet, just nursing his glass of scotch while looking out at the city lights.

Bago ko pa man siya matanong kung ano ang ginagawa namin sa lugar na 'to, isang waiter ang dahan-dahang lumapit sa aming lamesa.

My eyes widened as the waiter carefully placed a small, elegant chocolate cake in the center of the table. It wasn't a big cake tulad ng sa birthday gala ng aking ama kagabi. It was a modest, minimalist cake with a single lit candle in the middle. Written in elegant white frosting on the plate were the words.

Buon Compleanno, Vittorio.

I froze. My entire body went completely stiff, and I felt my jaw practically drop.

It was his birthday.

I was dumbfounded. Literal na nablanko ang utak ko at hindi ko alam ang sasabihin. All this time, busy ako sa pag-aalaga sa sarili kong brand, pakikipag-asaran sa pamilya ko, at pagmamatarit sa kaniya, nang hindi ko man lang alam na ngayong araw pala ang kaarawan ng asawa ko. At ang mas malala? Ako pa ang dinala niya rito para samahan siya, habang ako ay walang dalang kahit anong regalo o kahit simpleng pagbati.

"V-Vittorio..." pautal-utal kong panimula, ang aking signature kamalditahan ay tuluyan nang tulad ng yelo na natunaw sa init ng araw. "Birthday mo ngayon? Bakit... bakit hindi mo man lang sinabi sa akin?? I could have prepared something, or at least..."

Vittorio remained as is. He didn't look offended, nor did he look disappointed. He just looked at me with those deep, dark eyes that held that hidden ocean of loneliness, and then, a soft, genuine smile slowly traced his jaw.

"I don't celebrate birthdays, Lindsay," he replied, his bedroom baritone voice remarkably calm against the night breeze.

“In my world, another year alive is just another year of survival. But tonight... I just wanted to spend it away from the blood and the boardrooms. I wanted to spend it here. With my wife."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. The sheer weight of his words felt like a physical touch, wrapping securely around my heart. Para akong isang estatwa na nakatitig lang sa kaniya habang marahan niyang inihipan ang nag-iisang kandila sa ibabaw ng cake.

Saktong pagkapundi ng apoy, isang malakas na dagundong ang yumanig sa kalangitan.

I gasped softly as a magnificent explosion of colors suddenly burst directly above the cliff. A massive fireworks display began to illuminate the dark sky, painting the city skyline with brilliant shades of gold, crimson, and emerald. The reflection of the sparks danced beautifully across the glass panes of the restaurant and across the hard, sculpted lines of Vittorio’s face.

"Happy birthday, Vittorio," I whispered, my voice almost drowned out by the thunderous sound of the fireworks, pero sapat na para marinig niya sa lapit namin.

Vittorio turned his head to look at me. The bright flashes of light revealed the sudden, warm satisfaction in his eyes. He reached across the table, his massive hand securely closing over mine.

“Thank you for staying, piccola," he murmured.

I didn't pull my hand away. For the first time since we signed that contract, I let my fingers intertwine with his, completely abandoning the war of our egos. As the fireworks continued to paint the sky, I silently promised myself that tonight, the Ice Queen would step down from her throne—just for one night—to give this lonely beast the sanctuary he didn't even know he was looking for.