Hate And Desire

CHAPTER 1 - Battle In Silence

SIX YEARS LATER

ZERON IS LATE AGAIN.  Jordan is currently sipping his drink at the club's counter while waiting for his cousin. Kasama niya si Ramsel Folland, an old friend. OLD habits die hard. His cousin never failed to make him wait every time they set an appointment. He have to attend Georgina's welcome party in a few hours! He really have to! 

Eight years ago, he went to Paris to follow Georgina. They stayed together in the place where their love was free. But Georgina suddenly wanted out. She still loved him but she couldn't afford to be his mistress. They tried to live normally on separate ways until he found himself dating Georgina's co-model who like him very much. One day, she came and told him to stop womanizing and to make everything right. Iyon ang naging set up nila, she dated another man, he dated another woman but they both continue to get in touch....as friends...but he knew that their feelings with each other will soon be rekindled once they put themselves near the flame.

He stared at his watch again. Zeron is two hours late! Good thing he's with Ramsel Folland, an old friend who just arrived from Canada. The man looked bothered while silently drinking his root beer.  

"You okay, man?" He asked, this sight of him looked familiar, he was like this before. Heart broken-hell

"Yeah, thank you..." Tipid nitong sagot.

"I apologize for my cousin, he always arrive late, you know." Wika niya para lang may mapag-usapan. Hindi niya gustong mawala si Ramsel Folland bilang business partner nila. His name spoke millions! Damn his cousin for causing this trouble.

"No problem man, I'm not in a hurry." Ramsel answered. Good thing this man was not as demanding as his other target Timothy Prince Azalcon. That freak was a real pain in the ass!

"So tell me about your marriage." He asked again. It was too late  to realize that he had ask the wrong question. s**t! Saka lang niya naalala na tinatrabaho pala nito ang pakikipaghiwalay sa asawang si Lassey. His wife is currently dating a famous good looking  wolf in the business world Netro Gabriel.

"Lassey wanted out..." Malungkot nitong sagot. At least, he was not angry with the question. He seemed willing to open up.

"What's your plan now?" He sipped his root beer. Annulment is always an interesting topic for him for a resource matter.

"I don't know brad, I mean, we really need to talk about what happened between us. Annulment is never an option for me." Nilingon siya nito. "How about your marriage with your ex-fiancee's sister?" He mocked, a rebound for his tackless question.

Ah no! wrong topic! His face hardened at the memory. He didn't answer to that.

"Hey buddies!" 

They both looked at the man who just arrived. 

Zeron

Finally, the dolt is here, just in time when he was avoiding Ramsel's question.

"You're late." Sita niya, he noticed a girl with him, probably his girlfriend? Uh-huh, his cousin had a taste.

"I'm sorry man, had to pick up my girlfriend first." Zeron answered apologetically and looked at Ram too. "Sorry Ram."  Ram just nodded.

Jordan suddenly held his breathe when he looked at Zeron's woman again, it cannot be! The woman looked familiar, and she stared at him like she knew him too!

"Ah by the way, meet my girlfriend, Celestine...Babe, this is my cousin Jordan and ofcourse you know Ramsel, right?"

Pakilala ni Zeron. The woman nodded to Ramsel.

Celestine...

Jordan inhaled sharpy. Suddenly feeling something he could not explain. He had blocked this woman from his memory but how could he ever forget? This was the little girl who accused him of the crime he never committed. Yes right! He was just a little girl back then. But right now, she had grown into a very beautiful woman, wearing her body hugging black dress, she looked ravishing! He can't help to caress her whole body with admiration. Unbelieving she is real. where's the little girl, Celestine?

"Man! taken already..." Bulong ni Zeron sa kanya. Huh? taken? Didn't she tell his cousin that she's currently married to him?

"Celestine..." Her name rolled on his tongue like a caress, reminding him of their old times when they used to be so closed like brothers and sisters. He offered his hand.

She reluctantly accepted his hand. "Jordan..."

They stared at each other for a long time. Like there's a hidden battle between them. Jordan couldn't take his eyes off her. The woman have mature enough to drive a man fool. Who would have thought this was the girl madly inlove with him when she was merely a teenager? She even stole him from her sister right? But right now there's no trace of that teenager anymore, gone are the baby fats, the fancy braces, the baby fat face he always loved to pinch before...

"Uh-huh! Guys? eyes off please! I'm hurting already!" Pabirong sabi ni Zeron, saka lang nila napansin ang pinsan niya. Agad na binawi ni Celestine ang mga kamay sa pagkakahawak niya.

"So obviously, you two knew each other?" Zeron asked curiously. Pinaglipat-lipat ang tingin sa kanilang dalawa.

Yeah I'm her husband, dear cousin...

That sudden thought of possessiveness alarmed him. He couldn't be feeling this!

"Y-yes, Jordan here was Georgina's fiance." Sagot nito na nagpataas ng kilay niya. She instantly noticed his mocking reaction. "Will you excuse me guys? I'll just use the washroom..."

Paalam nito na agad tumalikod. Sa naniningkit na mga mata ay sinundan niya ng tingin si Celestine.

"Man, what was that?" Zeron stared at him with a curious look. "I know we both share women before, but I don't remember sharing her, I'm serious with her!" He warned in joking way. 

"That's right man, stake your territory!" Ramsel said with amusement, enjoying the silent commotion.

Jordan stared at his cousin. "How did you two meet?"  That woman was never Zeron's territory Ramsel Folland!

"We were classmates in College."

"How long have you been together?" He inquest sharply.

"Two years now..."

He nodded. Waiting patiently for Celestine to come back.

CELESTINE COULDN'T remember how many times she had practice inhale-exhale inside the washroom. Hindi niya inaasahan ito, na makita si Jordan after eight long years since their wedding. How could she ever face him gayung napakalaki ng kasalanan niya dito? And why on earth he happened to be Zeron's cousin? Kilala niya halos lahat ng mga pinsan ni Jordan noon pero hindi niya alam na pinsan nito si Zeron. When Zeron told her a while ago that they are going to meet his cousin named Jordan, hindi niya naisip na ang mismong Jordan na kinatatakutan niyang muling makita ang makakaharap niya, he's not the only Jordan in the world!

She held a deep breath again. She have to remind herself that it was eight years ago, and she is a mature woman now, she can deal with him confidently and bravely. Binuksan na niya ang pintuan ng washroom para balikan ang tatlong lalake.

The trio were already discussing purely business when she came back. She silently sat down on the vacant chair. Pretended to listen to their discussion regarding the recent project that their working on. Pero panakaw siyang tinitingnan ni Jordan habang nakikipag-usap ito sa dalawa at lalo lang siyang hindi mapakali. At the middle of their conversation, Zeron received a phone call.

"Ah excuse me guys, it's an important client." Tumayo si Zeron at lumabas muna.

Naiwan silang dalawa sa mesa kasama si Ramsel. Celestine tried to calm herself even though her knees are already trembling under the table. Jordan looked at her with calmness. Gosh! She couldn't bear to look straight at him, she felt so guilty and intimidated by this man.

"Celestine..." He shook his head. "What a surprise..." He said, staring at her like she was a wonder.

"Jordan, I didn't know you're in the country." She responded confidently.

"I actually arrived with Georgina a week ago..." He said bluntly.

"I see." She nodded

They are still seeing each other. No wonder that their love is greater than the great wall of China. Why should she even care? sooner or later she and Jordan will have to arrange legal matters for their own freedom. Seeing him again was just a perfect timing.

To ease the tension, Celestine looked at Ramsel who's currently enjoying their situation. The man was good-looking, but he's already married.

"Hi Ram, how's Lassey?" Tukoy niya sa dating asawa nito.

"Still pissed off at me, I guess." Sagot ni Ram.

"Can't blame her, men's womanizing issue is always the biggest trash in every marriage...." Hindi alam ni Celestine kung ano ang nagtulak sa kanya para sabihin ang mga bagay na iyon na tila bang ang pinariringgan niya talaga ay si Jordan. She noticed Jordan rose his brows. Gosh! dapat nanahimik na lang siya!

Ramsel doesn't seem to be affected. Palibhasa ay alam nitong si Jordan ang pinariringgan niya. He just chucked in amusement. Naiiling pa ito.

"'You talking to me?" Biglang tanong ni Jordan, titig na titig sa kanya. Taas noo niyang sinalubong ang mga mata nito.

"I'm talking to Ramsel." She answered firmly.

"So, it's my cousin now, huh?" Jordan mocked

She gave him a friendly smile, hiding her nervousness. "Oh I'm sorry...I didn't know Zeron was your cousin."

"Hmm..that's interesting! And it also seemed like he didn't know everything about us?" Naniningkit ang mata mga nito sa kanya. "What about your habit of accusing and cheating on men, huh?"

Celestine cleared her throat. No matter how guilty she's feeling right now. She won't show any weakness on this man anymore. He will only eat her alive. 

She rose her head confidently to meet Jordan's eyes.

"It was eight years ago Jordan...I was selfish and childish, you should know it by now...but I regret everything I did to you, for accusing you, for forcing you to marry me....Can we just move on and settle this once and for all?" 

Her voice full of sincerity because it was true, she really regret everything because she also suffered from it.

Prenteng isinandal ni Jordan ang sarili sa upuan at tinitigan siya. Like he was measuring how sincere she was from the words that came out from her mouth.

"Too late for that sweetheart...."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Celestine. She was about to say something when Zeron came back. She was just so thankful that Zeron was back, or else, she would have melted helplessly in front of this man.

"I'm sorry guys, the call took longer than I expected." Paliwanag nito na muling naupo. She couldn't take it anymore. The tension between her and  Jordan is so unbearable.

"Zeron, I'm sorry but I need to go, mom wanted me to go home early para sa party ni Georgina." Paalam niya.

"Running away?" Jordan interrupted blatantly. Not even care for Zeron's presence. He was so vulgar and Zeron was not an idiot not to notice it!

"Hey, hey, hey, guys! enlighten me here please, you too obviously have some unsettled business here, Jordan?" Baling nito sa pinsan nang nangtatanong ang mga mata.

"Ahh! Didn't your girlfriend tell you about us Zeron?" Jordan mocked while looking straight at her. Gosh! She's breaking down! This is not the right time for Zeron to find out. She's holding her breath to the extent. Jordan is torturing her internally.

"What about it?" Zeron asked. "Babe?" Zeron looked at her with a confused eyes.

"That your pretty 'babe' here was very much against my err--" He paused for a while "..relationship with her sister before, she tried everything to break us apart." 

Celestine stood up and kissed Zeron on the cheek "I'm sorry I've to go...Ram please come to Georgina's party." Ram nodded. Then she turned to Jordan and gave her an intensifying gaze....hoping he got the silent message: Leave Zeron to me, you bastard!

She walked out immediately from that place or else she would really break down any moment. Gosh! She hated the situation, she can't hate Jordan that much because it was all her fault! When Zeron expressed his interest for her, agad niyang sinabi dito na kasal siya sa iba, pero hindi nito alam na kay Jordan siya ikinasal. Why why why on earth that Jordan has to be Zeron's cousin? Now that she's trying to move on and live normally, her marriage with Jordan has to be annulled! They both deserve to be free!

Hello Gorgeous,

If curious ka sa story ni Ramsel at Lassey, feel free to read "My Ramsel, the man who hurt me". Pero Jordan and Celestine might not be mentioned in that story kasi e-edit ko pa uli iyon.

Thanks and enjoy reading!

My apologies for any grammar error. Trying hard si ateng! lols

-frequencylsr