Book2: A Night Darker

Chapter 9: Suppresed Emotion

  Chapter 11: Suppresed Emotion

Kasama ang kambal ay mabilis na umalis at bumiyahe patungong airport sila Sophia. They rode a car with Clarence as the driver. Tatawagan na lang nila si Manong Ben para kunin ang kotse sa airport, sa oras na makaalis na sila.

Pagdating sa airport, agad nilang hinanap si Nickolas, and saw him sulking on one place. They approached him, pero tama lang na kinulit nito ang kambal, at hindi na ito nagsalita pagkatapos. Somehow, she expected him to be as persistent as before, but he didn't. Ni hindi na nga siya nito tinapunan ng tingin pagkatapos.

Alam niyang tama lang ang nangyayari, she should be thankful pa nga dapat, but she just can't. Deep inside her, she's yearning for his attention. She's stupid, she knew it, but just can't help it.

Nakatulog siya sa sa eroplano, ng maalimpungatan siya, she saw both man holding each of the twin, and as expected, kalong ni Clarence si Flame habang si Frost naman ay tuwang-tuwa habang nilalaro ang butones ng damit ni Nickolas. Until now, she still wonder what is it with Nickolas which managed to tame her daughter's wicked heart.

Pagdating sa batangas ay sinundo sila ng isa sa mga tauhan ni Clarence. Yes, may bahay sa Batangas ang asawa niya. He'd been staying here, pero ng magsimula ang hotel Maya ay minsan na lang siyang nakakapunta dito. Kaya nga nong maisipan nilang magtayo ng extension ay dito agad ang una nilang naisip. Para naman magkaroon ng rason ang asawa na balikan ang lugar na kinalakhan at minahal.

Nilingon niya si Clarence, at nakita niyang nakikipag-usap parin ito kay Nickolas patungkol mga facilities na gusto nilang i-avail sa loob ng hotel na itatayo. They were so engrossed with their conversation and she find it hard to intervene. It's just funny seeing them with their bussiness aura, pero may dalang mga bata. It softens their image. They look so cute.

Alam niyang mahalaga ang pinag-uusapan ng dalawa, at hindi sila maaaring paghiwalayin. Kaya ng pasakay na sila sa sasakyan, she tried to open the door on the front seat. But, before she could even slip inside, mabilis na siyang napigilan ni Clarence. He smiled at her, silently giving her the message na siya ang uupo sa harap. Tumango na lang siya, kinuha si Flame mula dito at tsaka pumasok sa backseat.

Nakita niya sa loob si Nickolas, and like an instant, her system was on riot. Agad siyang kinabahan, that very small distance between them made her heart leap with a feeling she can't fathom. Tiningnan niya ito, and he did the same. His glacial stare almost made her shiver. Walang emosyong mababasa sa mga mata nito, hindi katulad ng mga naunang tingin nito. Ngayon, it's like he was staring at the most unworthy piece on earth.

Pinilit niyang balewalain ang nararamdaman. This is what everything should be between them. She told herself.

"Bakit si Sophia ang nandito?" He suddenly asked, and she looked at him in disbelief. Yes, she never expected the word 'gentleman' on his list of characteristics, but neither rudeness to this extent!

She's still staring at him, trying to make him feel that she was offended and deserve an apology, pero tiningnan lang siya nito na tila ba wala itong sinabing masama. Sa inis ay Ibinaling niya na lang sa labas ng bintana ang paningin.

"Well, she just can't." She heard Clarence said from the front seat, pero hindi na siya nag-abalang lingunin pa ito. Hindi niya inaalis ang tingin sa bintana. Naiinis siya. "She kinda freak out sa tuwing may nakakasalubong kaming sasakyan. And as much as I want her to sit beside me whenever I drive, I can't bear seeing that agony written all over her face."

She wanted to spank Clarence for sharing that dark part of her life na hindi niya alam kung kailan pa mawawala.

Yeah, she'd always been afraid of cars na nakakasalubong niya.

Images flash in her mind, she lose all the control she has, nabablangko ang utak niya, and a terrfying emotion rises from her feet. She feels helpless and desperate at ang tangi niya lang nagagawa ay sumigaw. Yun din ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit sa tuwing umaalis siya ng bahay ay aligagang hinahabol siya ni Clarence. Nagagalit ito sa tuwing sinusubukan niyang mag-isa, but she just can't help it. She'd grew tired of feeling so traumatic. Pagod na siyang matakot. She wanted to erase that part of her, kaya kahit takot ay palagi niya paring sinusubukan.

"R-really?" A faint voice asked, at ng ibaling niya kung kanino iyon nagmula, she was almost moved ng makita ang mga tingin ni Nickolas. Hindi katulad ng kanina, puno iyon ng mga emosyon ngayon. Awa. Yun ang pinakamasidhi.

She scoffed. Hindi ko kailangan ang awa niya! She shouted mentally. Hindi yun ang kailangan niya.

Nickolas stared at the woman beside her. Napuno ng awa ang puso niya matapos marinig ang sinabi ni Clarence patungkol sa takot na iyon ni Sophia. He want to reach out for her, whisper words that will soothe her agony. He wanted to tell her that everything will be okay, but he think he was two years late for that. He hurt her, and still hurting her. Hindi na nga siya nito naaalala, pero dala parin nito ang sakit na siya ang dahilan.

Kahit anong gawin niya, hindi niya talaga ito mapapasaya. Palagi niya na lang itong nasasaktan. He doesn't have a single idea how the hell he would erase the misery he caused her, the misery na hanggang ngayon ay dala dala parin nito.

Just vanish ... And stay away. A part of him whispered, and if its only possible, he could have killed it for stating that painful words.

Stay away? He would have said No way in an instant, pero alam niyang tama ang parteng iyon ng pagkatao niya.

Siguro nga tama ang naging desisyon niya noon. Tama lang na palayain niya ito. His love is poisonous.

She may be better off without him. Baka maging masaya pa ito. Kaya siguro siya nito nakalimutan, because she have to start her life over again. A life she deserve from the very start, a life with happiness and love, and a life without him.

Gustung-gusto niya itong makasama! Zeus knows how much he wanted to have her again in his life and correct everything. He wanted to own her smile again, her love and everything, pero ayaw niyang maging makasarili. No matter how much he love to be with her again, he can't risk ruining the happy life she has now. It hurts like hell, yes. But he'll choose it, rather than see this woman in tears again. He's nothing but pain to her, kaya bakit niya pa ipagpipilitan ang sarili?

At this very moment, gustung-gusto niya ng saktan ang sarili. How could he be so useless?

He was known to be a very intelligent man. He was used to always know his next step, pero ngayon, gulung gulo na siya. Sanay siyang gawin at kunin lahat ng anumang gustuhin niya, pero ngayon hindi niya magawa. Hindi dahil hindi niya kaya, kundi dahil hindi na pwede. How fvcking good is that?!

Damn!

          NANG makarating sa kanilang destinasyon ay agad na idineposito ni Sophia ang nakatulog na kambal sa kama ng kanyang kwarto. Siguradong napagod ang mga ito sa byahe nila kanina.

As she went out of the room, she look around the place, napagod din naman siya sa byahe and is really tempted to lay, but she won't miss the chance to look around the place kung saan lumaki ang asawa.

She only knew the place through her husband's stories. Noon niya pa gustong makita ang lugar, but she just can't find a time to do so. Tama ang sinabi ng asawa, the place is so simple, hindi mo aakalaing isang multimillionaire ang nagmamay-ari niyon. It doesn't have luxurious facilities, just common things, but the thought that this place held the young memories of her husband makes it more than special to her.

Napansin niya ang iilang kasambahay na nasa paligid. She stop for a while para magtanong sa isang kasambahay, na sa  tingin niya ay mas bata sa kanya. Maganda ito at mukhang mabait.

Ang alam niya ay hindi stay in ang mga ito at nagpupunta lang da bahay para i-maintain iyon, but since naroon sila nila Clarence, the housekeeper's presence will be needed during theie stay.

"Excuse me, nakita mo ba si Clarence?" Tanong niya dito.

"Nasa kusina po, nagkakape." Sagot nito. She looks a little shy and intimidated kaya nginitian niya ito. Ngumiti din ito, looking a little relief.

"Ah sige, salamat." Tumalikod na siya dito para tahakin ang daan papunta sa kusina, pero muli siyang humarap dito. She was really tempted to asked about Nickolas, but decided against it after awhile. "Umm, could you just call me Sophia? Mukhang hindi rin naman nagkakalayo ang edad nating dalawa eh." She said instead and tilted her head sideway to show another charming smile.

She smiled in response. "Sige S-sophia." she stuttered. "Ako nga pala si Yna."

She nod and finally made her way to the kitchen. She guess she just made another friend?

Stepping into the kitchen, he found Clarence holding his coffee. Mukhang malalim ang iniisip nito kaya hindi na siya magtataka kung ni hindi man lang nito napansin ang paglapit niya.

This is one of the moments na naiinis siya kung bakit hindi siya makaalala. Hindi niya na matandaan kung ano ang problema ni Clarence. She knew he was hurt, deeply, and still hurting. Gusto niyang tumulong, but she doesn't want to open his wounds by asking about his painful past over again.

With him, still oblivious of her presence, lumapit siya dito. She snaked her slim arms around his neck and placed her chin on his shoulder. Ngumiti ito as he touch her arms that were wrapped around his neck.

Sa ngayon, all she could do is to stay with him, soothe his pain, and make him feel na hindi niya ito iiwan. She doesn't want him to feel the excruciating pain of being alone ... with no one to hold on. Alam niya kasi kung gaano kasakit, but the confusing part is, hindi niya alam kung bakit.

Suddenly, she itched to look outside the window na nasa harap lang nila. It presents the beautiful view of the house's frontyard, and there she found Nickolas habang may kausap sa telepono. She was facing his back, but that's enough to send a turmoil within her.

For some unknown reason, like as if he had sensed that she was staring, lumingon ito and met her gaze. They look at each other for a moment. He was still holding his phone. His eyes held nothing but frigid emotion, so far from those sparkling eyes she used to see. Everything is supposed to fall just right, but why do it feels so wrong? It makes her feel abandoned. Seriously, she's going nuts about this guy and she's not liking it a single bit.

Nauna siyang nagbaba ng tingin at ibinaling ang atensiyon kay Clarence. He look so charming, so tough yet soft and very prince like. Yeah, siya yung tipo ng lalaking pwede mong mabasa sa fairytale. So caring and protective. But deep inside, he's fragile. He keeps on holding this facade and she doesn't know how long he could keep it.

But he is her husband and she's his wife. They were bound together. If the time came that his facade suddenly collapsed. She promise that she'll be there to keep him up. She will stay with him no matter what. Yeah, that's it. Why did it even slip her stupid mind? Kung ano man ang nararamdaman niya kay Nickolas it was nothing and will surely fade. She hope so.

"Mukhang malalim ang iniisip mo ah?" She was awakened from her dream when Clarence touch her face with his hand. She instinctively lean on it. It's perfect. "Bae, may problema ba?" He inquired, but she just nod and close her eyes while relishing to the feel of his palm against her cheek.

"Nothing Bae." She smiled when he start drawing circles at her cheek which tickle yet feels good. She knew that he knew. Alam nitong kung kailan may problema siya and she's sure as hell that he's just doing this cuteness for her to get distracted, and it's effective. Saglit niyang nakalimutan si Nickolas and his dangerous presence which sends shiver to her nerves down to her every extremities.

"Aalis ba tayo ngayon?" She asked him when he pulled her to sat on his lap.

"Hmm, I think we might need a little rest bae. Pagod ka sa biyahe and you'll surely need an energy for all the places I want to bring you." She felt him start braiding her hair, and he's very good at that.

"Fine. Guess we'll just save everything for tomorrow." Nagsimula ng mangawit ang mga paa niya so she moved a little to ease its numbness. Wrong move though, dahil nakatanggap siya ng pinong kurot sa tagiliran mula kay Clarence.

"Ouch! Bae, masakit!" She protested pero tinawanan lang siya nito. "Bully." She murmured.

"Wag ka kasing malikot, di pa ko tapos." He said smiling as he did the last part. She just pouted. "Childish."

"Bully." She retaliated.

Tinawanan lang ulit siya nito. "There you're done." He spun her around. "50 pesos lang naman yan, pero pag tinawaran mo, pwedeng kiss na lang. So ano?" He said smirking and She laugh at his humor. He just stared at her as she laugh, yet she could feel the love. "You look beautiful bae." He said dreamily.

"Oh believe me, I know." She answered smugly, not wanting to break the humor. His nose cringed at her boldness.

"You know bae, a little humility don't sting."

It's her turn to laugh, and she laugh out loud. "And so as acceptance bae." She managed to say and winked at him.

"Oh! not that wink again bae!" He scratch the back of his head, looking so defeated. "Alam mo namang kinikilig ako."

She laughed so hard that it made her stomach ache. It felt painful yet blissful. She's enjoying her moment na halos hindi niya na naramdaman ang pares ng mga matang kanina pa nakatingin sa kanila. And if only she had seen it, she'll surely read the bold E.N.V.Y letters it radiates.

Kinabukasan, tulog pa ang kambal ng magising si Sophia. The weather was good and she wanted to take a jog but realized na hindi niya kabisado ang lugar. Pumunta na lang siya sa maliit na veranda ng kanilang kwarto and enjoyed the view.

The cool and fresh air filled her lungs as she inhaled it with the smell of the morning dew. Napangiti siya. That felt good. What a way to start your day.

Muli siyang bumalik sa loob. After checking the twins ay na-ayos na siya ng sarili at tsaka bumaba para tumulong sa paghahanda ng almusal. She was surprised though, seeing na halos lahat ay nasa kusina na.

She was half expecting na paggising niya ngayong umaga, madadatnan niya si Clarence, digging on his food like the pig he is when nobody's around. With all the laugh she had yesterday, it slip out of her mind na kasama nga pala nila si Nickolas, which is surprising. Nickolas is with them, and he smells business if not danger.

"Good morning." She greeted. Lumapit siya kay Clarence, kissed his temple and settled beside him. Somehow, it feels disrespecting not to recognize Nickolas presence, so she grant him a short nod, bago muling ibinaling ang pansin sa almusal.

"How's your sleep?" Clarence interrupted her thoughts. She took a bite of her food at halos mapapikit siya when she tasted the food against her tounge. It  taste so good.

"Great." sagot niya na ang tinutukoy ay ang pagkain. She took a spoonful of rice and eat it in the most unladylike way. god, isn't she pertaining to herself when she said 'pig'?

Kaya siguro destined sila ni Clarence.

She smiled when she heard Peng at the back of her mind shouting 'Walang Forever!'

"Halata nga." Clarence mocked and she just cringed her nose at him. "Well that's good though, because we'll be hitting the town today." Napangiti siya ng malawak sa narinig. "Ugh, I just saw a pig with twinkling eyes in the broad daylight. How amusing." He mocked again dahilan para sipain niya ito sa ilalim ng mesa.

"Bae! That's ouch." He brushed his foot na nasa ilalim ng mesa while sending her a deathly glare. Childish.

"Well, if you ask me, I just foresee a very 'Stinking pig'..." She emphasized while looking at him, making it obvious na ito ang tinutukoy niya. "With a broken leg~" She said in a sing song voice.

They heard a harsh pull of chair kaya sabay na nabaling ang atensiyon nila sa kaharap na lalaki who bears an expression colder than any morning.

"I'm full." He stated, and she felt her lips tug slightly upward. He's fool? Oh dear, I know, I was well-informed.

If she's on to fight her unknown emotion towards the stupid guy, then might as well try to do it good.

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Gee❤️