Book2: A Night Darker

Chapter 7: Mahal Ko Memories

Chapter 7: Mahal Ko Memories

       HANGGANG makaalis ang mga magulang ay hindi parin maalis sa isipan ni Sophia ang mga narinig. It's bugging her. Gusto niya sanang tanungin si Clarence tungkol doon, but later decided against it. Ano naman kasi ang alam nito diba? Isa pa, ayaw niya ng makisawsaw. No matter how she wanted to help her mother. Gusto niya paring magmula dito ang pagpapasiya kung papayag ba itong manghimasok siya.

Matapos ihatid sa labas ng bahay ang mga magulang ay bumalik na siya sa sala. Kanina pa nakaalis sila Danica, kaya ang naiwan na lang doon ay si Clarence na kasalukuyang may pinagkakaabalahan sa cellphone nito. Hindi niya na napansin ang kambal sa sala,  so she assumed na nakatulog na ang mga ito at naihatid na ni Clarence sa kwarto. Yun naman palagi ang nangyayari. Ilang beses pa siyang nakatitig sa sala,  ng mapansin niyang parang may kulang.

Where's Nickolas? She asked herself ng mapansing wala na doon ang lalaki.

Ilang beses niyang inikot ang paningin sa loob ng bahay,  trying to catch a glimpse of the man's image,  but it was no use.  He's gone already.

Uggh! Why am I even looking for him?! The hell,  kung umalis na siya! She foolishly reasoned out to herself,  pero hindi niya parin maiwasang manibago.  She felt calm, yet almost empty without his presence lingering around.

Tumingin siya sa asawa,  and he smiled at her.  He made a few long strides palapit sa kanya,  at pagkatapos ay mabilis siyang ginawaran ng matunog na halik sa pisngi.

"Hey pretty. " Kinurot nito ang kanyang kanang pisnge,  dahilan para malukot ang mukha niya. As much as she love that sweet gesture of him, naiirita din siya dahil pinanggigigilan nito ang pisngi niya,  making his touch somehow painful.

"Bae!" Tinampal niya ang kamay nito,  and he just laughed,  revealing his colgate smile and killer dimples,  which gives her a strong urge to pinch his cheeks.

"I'll just take this call." He said,  and raised his hand,  the one holding his phone. Tumango lang siya  and he gave her another smack before he excused himself.

Since wala naman siyang gagawin, umupo na lang siya sa couch and took her ipad.  She tap the playbook app para maghanap ng magandang mababasa. She saw 'Eyes on You' by Kate White.  Actually,  she has the book version of it,  but too lazy to walk a little para kunin yun sa kwarto.  She'll just settle with it anyway,  though mas gusto niya talagang magbasa ng libro,  since it became her addiction to breathe in the scent of fresh papers.

She was almost caught up with the story,  when she heard soft thuds coming from the stairs. She looked up instantly,  and caught the image of a man na kanina niya pa hinahanap.

No, Of course not. I wasn't looking for him, I was just wondering where he is.  There's a difference between the two. I reasoned again.

"Hey, did I disturbed you?  Sorry,  I tried not too." He said as he descended the stairs.

"No,  It's okay. I wasn't really enjoying the story. " she said and twisted a little when she heard her inner self shouted, 'Liar!  You love the story!  You even read it thrice! '

If only she could touch and hold her inner self, she would be more than grateful to give it a slap for being such a b***h.

"Shii---

He started the moment he reached the floor,  but she abruptly dismiss him,  knowing the next words that would come out of his mouth.

"It's Sophia." She corrected him.

"Okay, Sophia." He said almost reluctant, before he breathed deeply.  "Let's talk."

"About what?"

"About us." Nangunot ang noo niya sa narinig.  There's no us,  there will never be us. She wanted to say.  Napansin nito ang pangungunot ng kanyang noo,  and hastily corrected himself.  "I mean,  what happened 'there'."

She'd understood what he meant, and felt her face instantly glowed red, out of humiliation when she remembered That bathroom sin.  She's fully aware that this time will surely come, that she has to face the consequences of his stupid actions.  She has to fix it before it was too late,  but now, is not the right time.  She can't risk being heard by her husband.  Ayaw niyang mag-away sila dahil lang sa kagagahan niya.  She loves her husband very much,  and she can't afford losing him.

"I know, but I believe this isn't the proper time for that. Nasa labas lang ang asawa ko,  I don't want him to get involve in this stupidity." Tumayo siya mula sa pagkakaupo dahil nag-umpisa sumakit ang batok niya sa kakatingala sa lalaki. 

He's so tall, I wonder how I managed to kiss him.

She hastily shrugged the thought off her mind. "Look,  what happened,  shouldn't happen in the first place.  It was a sin. May asawa akong tao, and I shouldn't have done that with you, I shouldn't even go near you. I hope you get what I mean."

He put his hands in both his pockets,  and lean on the baloster,  in an arrogant way.  Matiim ang pagkakatitig nito sa kanya,  and he seriously looks dangerous.  His look sent a chillin feeling down her spine, fluttering her stomach and started a riot in her chest.

"And what exactly did you mean?" He c****d his head sideward.

She's really tempted to shudder,  but she doesn't want to lose the battle, so she kept her head held high.

"Leave me alone." She answered with the the same stern voice.  She doesn't want to appeal wicked in front of their prospect business partner,  but it was their marriage which is on stake.  It was partly her fault,  she admits that,  that's why she's trying to straighten her crooked deeds.

She saw how his jaw tensed after what she had said, at kahit hindi niya nakikita, she knew that his hands inside his pockets were balled to fists. He looked like he was about to explode,  kaya naman nagulat siya ng naging mahinahon ang sumunod nitong mga salita. "I doubt that ... Mahal ko." His face softened with the last words,  as if he remembered something dear to him. "I won't let you slip off my grasp,  not again."

Mahal ko ...

Those words started ringing within her head, with different tone,  with different emotion.

Mahal ko! Where are you?!

Mahal ko ...

Mahal ko ...

Mahal ko ...

They're ringing repeatedly, sounding so familiar, that she almost wonder if they're memories.

Oh god, yes mahal ko ... That's it ... Ooooh! "

She covered her ear when she heard those seductive words. No! Stop it!  I don't wanna hear it! Hindi niya alam kung bakit naririnig niya ang boses ni Nickolas sa ibat-ibang tono,  but one thing she knew is that she hate it! God,  she really hate it. She hates how her body reacts in the most sinful way.  No,  not again please.  Stop it!  I don't want to hear it!

Ayaw niya ng maulit ang minsang pagkakasala sa asawa,  so she covered her ears,  foolishly thinking that the voice will stop,  but it didn't.  Sumasakit na ang ulo niya, and she doesn't know what to do.

"Mahal ko?  ... Oh god Shiinel!  What's happening?" He heard Nickolas' alarmed voice,  and his fast strides toward her.  "Shii, how are you?  Anong masakit?" She didn't answer.  She just keeps on holding her head. "Shii---

He was about to hold her,  but she refrained from his touch. "I'm not Shiinel! I'm not Mahal ko,  so quit it, will you? Just stop it!" Sigaw niya dito. Naguguluhan na siya.

She felt him stop.

Fortunately,  the ringing and the throbbing of his head subsided, even before Clarence stepped in the picture.

"What happened here?" Agad nitong tanong ng makalapit sa kanila,  at mapansin ang pagkakasalampak ni Sophia sa upuan na tila ba pagod na pagod ito. She's sweating,  and her hair went a little messy dahil sa pagkakahawak niya kanina. "I heard you guys shouting.  May problema ba?"

Sophia drunk the lump in her throat,  while formulating some valid excuses in her mind.

"Umm..." She started,  but still not sure what to say next.

"What?" Clarence asked impatiently,  and sophia was sweating nervously.  She can't just say,

'Hey husband, your business partner kissed me and called me mahal ko,  and guess what?  I let him.'

She's not that stupid.

"We're just having a debate." She was surprised,  yet grateful at the same time when Nickolas answered.

"Debate about what?"

Now what? She thought,  and rolled her eyes inwardly.

"Umm ... About... " She looked for something that could be a worthy subject,  and fortunately, she spotted her ipad with the playbook app, still open. "This." She pointed at it.

"Oh!" His face instantly glowed after scanning the ipads content.  "The 'In your Eyes' story by Kate White. I'm sorry Nickolas if my wife brought you trouble,  but she would really fight hand and tooth to defend her favorite book." He said laughing. He assumed that they were fighting over the book, and she chose not to correct him.

"Yeah." Nickolas answered and darted her a dangerous look ng magsumiksik siya kay Clarence.  She didn't care.  All she want now,  is a little comfort, that only her husband could give her at the moment.  Clarence draped an armed around her,  thinking na naglalambing lang siya.

"By the way, I received a call from Batangas, and it confirmed that the day after tomorrow,  we could already go there. I hope you're not busy on that day Nickolas."

"I will find time." He answered.

"Good.  I really hope you could come with us.  Para makita mo na rin yung site and share us your insights."

"Sure,  I would be grateful to." She heard him answered,  at kahit hindi na siya nakaharap dito,  she could imagine his face.  And the way he said those words,  parang may iba pa itong ibig sabihin. She hate it. 

           "Sir, nandito na po yung mga documents na kailangan niyo for the meeting later." Luz entered his boss'executive office.  She saw him tapping his hand on the table,  at hindi malaman kung saan nakatutok ang tingin. "Sir?" Muli niyang tawag sa pansin nito, ng hindi parin ito gumalaw. Napangiti siya ng kumislot ito, at tila nagulat. Confirmed.  He's idling! Sino ba namang mag-aakala na ang boss niyang tinitingala ay marunong din palang magpantasya?  Like c'mon! Lahat ay nasa kamay niya na.  So what to dream?

"Ah yes, Luz?"

"Sir,  nandito na po yung documents na kailangan niyo para sa board meeting mamaya, at tsaka ... Eto po,  pinapabigay po ni Alfred." Pinatong niya ang isang maliit na papel sa ibabaw ng lamesa nito at pagkatapos ay mabilis na siyang nagpaalam para umalis. 

Ilang taon na siyang nagtatrabaho sa lalaki, at ipinagpapasalamat niya yun ng sobra. She'd gone mature, pero sa tagal ng panahon ng pagtatrabaho niya,  hindi niya parin napeperpekto ang art of immunity.  Hanggang ngayon ay hindi niya parin matagalan ang mga tingin nito. Naghuhumiyaw iyon ng kapangyarihan at tila sinasabing wala kang karapatang huminga sa kaparehang lugar ng sa kanya.

Sa tagal ng panahon panahong ginugol niya sa pagtatrabaho niya dito,  nakita na niya halos lahat ng intensidad ng galit at lamig na maaaring bumalatay sa halos perpektong mukha nito,  pero hindi ang mga ngiti. Kailan ba mula ng huling beses na nakita niyang ngumiti ito?  Hmm,  like two years ago?

Noon pa man ay malamig na itong makitungo sa ibang tao,  minsan pa nga ay madaling magalit. He was very hard to please, and now,  he's even more than that.  He's ruthless. You might be hired today,  but do any drastic move,  and you'll surely hear his magic words. He could fire anyone in just a snap of hi fingers.

She almost shivered when she remembered a particular moment, whereas she personally witness his ruthless attitude. Naiiling na naglakad na lang siya pabalik sa kanyang mesa.

        Nick was sitting on his desk still tapping on his table even after Luz went out. Simula kahapon ay hindi parin maalis sa isipan niya ang nangyari sa pagitan niya at kay Shiinel or Sophia or whoever she is! But he knew deep inside,  siya si Shiinel, that's for sure.  Hindi niya pa alam kung ano ang nangyari,  kung ano ang naging problema para hindi siya nito maalala, pero aalamin niya. He will take her back,  no matter what.

Dumako ang tingin niya sa mga papeles na dinala ni Luz kanina.  Sa dinami-dami ng mga iyon,  isa lang ang umagaw sa kanyang atensyon.  He took the strip of paper at tiningnan kung ano ang laman niyon.

Sophia L.  Carrantes

0946*******

Napangiti siya ng makita iyon. He's been struggling to get Sophia's mobile number,  the personal one. So he asked Alfred,  his private investigator to do the job.  According to his sources,  Sophia had been using two phones,  the other for business and the other one is for personal use.  Matagal niya ng nakuha ang business number nito, because he got one of her calling cards,  but he doesn't want to be categorized as just a business partner, he was more than that,  he had more of her before.

He grabbed his phone and dialled the number.  He was about to press call,  when he realized something.  and what will he say?

Ibinaba niya ang hawak na telepono at marahas na nahampas ang mesang nasa harapan. Dammit! Ngayon pa siya naubusan ng sasabihin! He put the phone back on his pocket.  Maybe he would just call her some other time.

Bukas na sila aalis patungong Batangas.  He had already instructed Luz, to clear all his schedules for tomorrow and the day after it. Seriously,  he still doesn't have a plan kung papaanong mababawi si Shiinel from her husband. 

Her husband ... Tss. That should have been him.

       Kinabukasan,  mabilis siyang naghanda.  Ngayon ang alis nila papuntang Batangas.  He might be on top,  but still,  he knew the value of time.  Mabilis siyang nag-ayos and took his duffle bag na naglalaman ng iilang mahahalaga at personal na mga gamit. His iPhone,  laptop and other documents na kailangan niyang pag-aralan. 

He brought a driver since kailangan ng magmamaneho ng sasakyan pabalik.  He instructed him na ihatid siya sa airport, at pagkatapos ay umalis na din.

He went inside the airport and looked around the place. They're still not here. He looked at his watch and realized that he was an hour and a half earlier. He wanted to reason out that he value time, but later accepted that, he's just too excited to spend another time with Shiinel.  Sino pa bang lolokohin niya?

Matagal siyang na-deprived sa atensyon ni Shiinel. Akala niya nga hindi niya na ito muling makikita,  but now she's here.  So he would spend every time he could have,  with her.  Kahit hindi pa ito buong maging kanya ulet,  basta't nakikita niya ito, that's enough for the meantime.  Hindi niya na hahayaang makawala pa ito, ngayon pang naranasan niya na kung gaano kahirap mabuhay ng wala ito?  Just no way!  Not in a hundred hell!

He waited for several minutes, at ng halos maubusan na siya ng pasensya dahil wala parin ang mga ito,  he took his phone and dialled Shiinel's number. Wala na siyang pakiaalam kung wala pa siyang siguradong sasabihin. He just want to make sure that they're not having the time of their own.

It took a few ring bago may sumagot ng tawag niya.

"Hello,  who's this please?" A groggy voice came from the other line.  His jaw tensed and his other hand balled to fist ng makilala ang nagmamay-ari ng boses na iyon.

So they do share the same room huh?

Of course!  How stupid are you Nickolas?!

Para siyang baliw doon na kinakausap ang sarili. He fought hard to keep his fist on him and to not throw it to the face of any passerby. Iniisip niya pa lang kung ano ang ginawa nila ng gabing yun ay parang gusto niya ng magwala.

Dammit! Dammit to death! Agad niyang pinatay ang tawag at sinipa ang upuang nasa harapan.  The man at his side looked at him,  but he just glared in response.

He definitely lost his mood.  He even thought of backing out.  God,  he doesn't know how to contain the raging emotion inside him.  He tried to divert his thoughts by reading the documents he brought with him.  But then,  images of other man touching Shiinel intimately comes flashing in his mind.  It drawn even the last strand of patience he has. His hands began to tremble,  creasing the side of the paper he's holding,  so before he totally ruin the document,  he stuffed it back inside her bag and chose to groan his frustrations.

"Shit." He muttered.

     Maagang nagising si Sophia dahil sa tunog ng kanyang cellphone.  She remembered setting an alarm the previous night,  dahil ngayon ang nakatakdang araw na aalis sila patungong Batangas.  She had packed their things already kaya wala ng dapat alalahanin. 

Mabilis siyang bumangon,  ng maalala ang isang tao na maaaring maging problema. She went out of her room at nagtungo sa kwarto ni Clarence.  Yeah,  they don't share the same room. She really don't mind if they do,  pero si Clarence mismo ang ayaw. They use to share a room when she was still pregnant. Gusto kasi nitong binabantayan siya. Hindi ito makatulog ng maayos sa kwarto niya. She has a very soft bed and pillows, and he doesn't like that.  Naiirita ito dahil nahihirapan daw itong tumayo at para itong nilalamon. So, when he decided to move to another room ay hindi na siya nagreklamo.

Madilim pa sa labas dahil nga madaling araw pa lang. On her way to Clarence room with her phone on hand,  she didn't bother turning on the light. Sumasakit ang ulo niya sa instant flash of light.  It reminded her of something horrifying. A scene where she's driving a car. It was raining so hard,  then she was blinded by a bright light, before everything went black. 

That might what probably happened when she met her accident, which cost her her memories.  Hindi niya sinasabi kay Clarence ang takot niya sa biglaang liwanag dahil ayaw niya na itong mag-alala pa.  She love her husband dearly,  to cause him more pain than he had already.

Nang buksan niya ang kwarto ni Clarence, napangiti siya.  Tama nga ang hinala niyang, mahimbing parin ang tulog nito.  She went near his bed and savored his sleeping image.  He look so cute,  yet manly.  He was wearing a gray sando, and she tried to suppress a giggle,  with the thought that he's wearing his favorite mickey mouse boxers under his sheet.

Sobrang himbing ng tulog nito, that it affects her.  Nakaramdam ulit siya ng antok, she tried hard to fight it,  but she still ended up putting her phone at the side and snuggling beside her husband.

Maiksi lang ang kumot nito,  sakto lang para dito, kaya hinila niya iyon para ibalot sa katawan niya.

"Bae ano ba, wag ka ngang nangnanakaw ng kumot. " Reklamo nito,  pero hindi naman binawi iyon sa kanya. Nagsumiksik siya dito and he sleepily draped an arm around her waist.

Hindi niya alam kung ilang oras o minuto na siyang nakatulog ng marinig niyang tumutunog ang cellphone niya.  She didn't open her eyes,  knowing that she will be welcomed by a great light. Hinayaan niya lang iyong tumunog. Clarence stirred on his sleep,  naramdaman niyang bumangon ito at sinagot ang tawag. 

"Hello?  Who's this please? " He answered in a groggy voice. 

She doesn't know what happened next, dahil mabilis na naman siyang nahila ng antok.

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Gee❤️