Wicked Obsession

KABANATA 9

I FELT MY cheeks burning because of his remarks.

Lay my back here!? I was still processing everything—ng biglang may narinig kaming kumalabog!

"Ser—"

Natigilan ang isang hardinero noong makita ang pwesto namin ni Sebastian. I immediately pushed him out, stand up and act like nothing happened.

"Anong tinitingin-tingin mo diyan!?" I hissed on the gardener.

Tumayo na si Sebastian at inilingan ako. "Stop shouting. Halika..."

Hinawakan nito ang kamay ko na mabilis ko namang binawi.

His eyebrows met, annoyed.

"Stop being a brat, Cara. Kailangan natin gamutin ang sugat mo—"

"Kailangan pag gagamutin may hawak ng kamay?" Inis na tanong ko dito.

"Oo nga naman ser! Bakit may paghawak ng kamay!" Gatong pa noong lalaki. "Ser, kaya niyo na po ata dito. Mauuna na ako.."

Naglakad papalayo ang hardinero. I wanted to call the boy, but I don't want to lose my poise! Bakit ko tatawagin?

Ayokong magmukhang takot!

Oh my gosh! Kung hindi lang pinutol ng hardinero ang tinginan naming dalawa ni Sebastian... Malamang ay nakahiga na ako sa kwadra?

"Tsk... Sino ba kasing may sabing kailangan kita dito?" Inis na bulong ni Sebastian.

Tinignan ko siya ng masama. "Ikaw nga si Sebastian!"

"I am not."

"Yes, you are!"

Hindi ako pinansin nito at dire-diretso lang papunta sa pintuan.

"This is the entrance in our sunflower garden," he explained, cutting me off!

"Do you want me here?" Walang habas na tanong ko sakanya, ngunit naglakad ito patungo sa garden!

Nanatili ako sa pintuan at tinignan siya.

"I heard you have some serums related to sunflower—"

"Do you want me to take here, Sebastian?"

Hindi pa rin ito nagpatinag sa paglalakad.

"And I will guarantee you that changing the farm brand name wouldn't affect the quality of your products—"

"Akala ko ba ay ihihiga mo ako sa kwadra?"

"Cara!" He hissed in annoyance. Inis akong nilingon nito. "Can you please focus on this matter? Ito muna ang pakinggan mo—"

I crossed my arms and shook my head.

"Bakit hindi ka makinig sakin? I thought you wanted me? Anong nangyari—"

"If I want to take you here, would you agree!?" Inis na aniya. "Do you want to make out with a man that is in relationship, Cara? Is that okay with you!?"

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Wow! Parang ako na ang mali dito ah!

"Stop hissing on me! Wala kang karapatan magalit! You laid me there earlier, tapos balik sakin ang sisi!?" Natatawang tanong ko sakanya.

Ito... Ganito ang ginagawa niya sakin noon. He loves to manipulate me so much and all my life, akala ko ako ang mali!

Well, everyone in my life loves to manipulate me. Lahat ng tao, ayaw sakanila ang sisi lalo na't kung may mali!

Gusto ko umatras noong naglakad pabalik sakin si Sebastian—ngunit bakit ako aatras? Para saan? Hindi ko ipapakita sakanya na aatras ako!

His serious eyes stared at me darkly. "Just stop bringing it out, Cara. Focus on your job..."

"How can I focus on my job if I know that you are Sebastian?" Natatawang iling ko dito. "I don't want to work with you, Seb—"

"Is that why you want to know who I am? Because you will feel uncomfortable if I am Sebastian?"

I stilled in his question. I am trying to find answers within myself. Pero bago makasagot ay inunahan ako nito.

"Just make it sure Cara, that is your reason. I hope you're just feeling uncomfortable... Kasi hindi ko maintindihan... Okay, let's say I am Sebastian, but what's next?" Sampal na tanong nito sakin. "Anong sunod mong gagawin kung ako nga siya? Wala namang maniniwala sayo..."

Walang... maniniwala sakin.

That hit my heart. Sa sobrang talas ng salita nito ay namasa agad ang mata ko at bumalik ang ginawa niya noon sakin.

Lumapit ako sa lalaki para sampalin siya.

"Ang... dami mong kasalanan sakin noon! How could you say things just like that? Anong klaseng nilalang ka? Are you even a human?!"

Nanatiling nakatagilid ang mukha nito, hindi na nagsalita pa. I took that oppurtunity to walk out.

What a fvcking retard. A fcking b***h. A fvcking cold-hearted guy! Wala siyang pakialam sakin!

Habang ako, ito! Halos mabaliw sa bagay na kung siya si Sebastian o Silver!

Sebastian rubbed the salt in my wound—that question hurted me so much.

Ano naman kung siya si Sebastian? Ano ang gagawin ko? Wala namang maniniwala sakin?!

My heart filled in rage.

What a heartless creature!

Dire-diretso ang lakad ko papunta sa kung saan. I am not minding my direction... I am just so fuming mad!

And I am even getting madder because he is not even trying to chase me! Naiinis ako sa sarili ko kasi I am so disappointed that he didn't even chased me!

My eyes started to blur, and I didn't notice a small hole on the ground. My left foot was about to slip, but a guy from my back catch me!

"Oh my gosh!" I said in horror. Muntik na lumusot ang paa ko sa maliit na butas!

Nakasabit ang kili-kili ko sa braso ng lalaki! Akala ko nga ay si Sebastian iyon—pero pagkalingon ay isang chinitong lalaki ang nakita ko!

His face were all smiley. Kumunot ang noo ko sa ngiti niya. Is he mocking me?

"Buti at hindi ka natuluyan... you should watch your steps, darling," he said sweetly and pull me up.

I immediately step away from him and glared. "Who are you?"

"Is that even a nice way to say thank you?" Takang tanong niya at tumagilid ang ulo. "Dang. Manila girls are really rude huh?"

Excuse me? Manila girls!? Can't he see that I am a full grown woman!?

"Calling me a girl is way more than rude, sir. I am just asking who are you—"

"Hindi ka ba talaga magt-thank you?" He asked me again.

My eyebrows met. "Sino ba may sabing iligtas mo ako? Sana hinayaan mo na lang ako mahulog!"

"Woah there!" He chuckled in disbelief. "What an ungrateful girl!"

Hearing these stingy words makes me cry. I know, I am such a lame person right now because I am crying in front of a stranger!

Am I really that ungrateful? Kahit na ang isang estranghero ay halata na iyon?

"Why are you crying!?" Gulat na tanong nito. "May masakit ba sayo? Lumusot ba ang paa mo sa butas?"

Hindi ako nakasagot sa mga tanong niya. I was just crying in front of him, nakayuko. I was thinking about Sebastian face. Nanalo siya. Siguro ay tuwang-tuwa na naman ito dahil napahiya ako!

"Hey..." Hinawakan nito ang balikat ko at sinilip ang mukha. "Did I offend you? Pasensya na—"

He didn't finish his words because someone punch him away from me!

My eyes widened and saw Sebastian's angry eyes.

"Anong ginawa mo sakanya?!" Sigaw nito sa lalaki.

Oh my god! For pete sake, walang ginawa ang lalaking 'yon!

"Sebastian!" I said in horror.

"Why are you crying—"

Tinulak ko si Sebastian at mabilis na dinaluhan ang sinuntok niyang lalaki. Wala siyang pagbabago, puro... puro siya panununtok!

Inalalayan ko ang lalaki patayo at tinignan siya.

"I am so sorry!" Gulat na sabi ko dito. I may be rude, but I don't like seeing people hurt!

"Sa wakas, may nasabi ka na ring tama," nakangiwi na aniya at tinignan ng masama si Sebastian.

"What did you just do!?" I looked at him too.

Kumunot ang noo nito at tinignan kaming dalawa.

"Hindi ba't dapat ako ang magtanong niyan?" Si Sebastian!

He is the one who hurt me, for fvcking sake! What a very unreasonable man I have here!

I gritted my teeth and looked at the guy. Papatulan ko pa sana si Sebastian, pero noong nakita ko ang nagdudugong labi nito ay napailing ako.

"Can you stand up?"

"Hindi naman niya ako binaldado," he simply said.

Napairap ako at inalalayan siya sa braso para makatayo. Ramdam ko ang titig ni Sebastian, pero hindi ko pinansin iyon.

Isinampay ko ang braso noong lalaki sa'king leeg.

"Cara," tawag ni Sebastian noong papaalis na kami.

"Is this okay? Baka masuntok ako ng boyfriend mo," bulong noong lalaki sakin.

"He is not my boyfriend and please, stop being noisy and don't look back."

"Are you really single?"

Nilingon ko ito. What a suspicious guy.

"I am... single."

Tumaas ang kilay nito at inilingan ako.

"Don't look at me like that. I am just making sure! Ayoko masali sa away ng magka-relasyon!"

"Cara!" Sebastian hissed from afar.

He can chase me. He can pull my arm. But he just chose to let me go even when I wanted him to do the opposite.

"WHY ARE YOU with Silver Galliano? Bakit Sebastian ang tawag mo? Umalis na si Sebastian..."

Ang daming tanong ni Francis matapos namin makarating sa gilid ng hacienda. Pinapapasok kami ng mga kasambahay, but I rejected.

"Nagkamali ako sa tawag," I told him while treating his wounds on his lips.

"Oh. Hindi mo alam na si Silver ang nasa harap mo?"

"Why are you so talkative?" Napadiin ang pagdampi ko ng gamot sakanya.

"Aray!" He reacted, nanlalaki ang mata. "Manila girls are really sadistic!"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "You should stop addressing me that way. Call me Cara..."

Ngumuso ito at inilingan ako. "Masyado ka naman atang siga para sa taong dapat pasalamatan mo," aniya. "And you should even say sorry! Nasapak ako!"

"Ang daldal mo para sa lalaki!" Reklamo ko dito. "Lalaki ka ba?!"

His eyes widened. "Oo! Lalaki ako! Do you want a kiss as a proof?"

"Kung ayaw mong madagdagan ang pasa mo, umalis ka dito..."

Sebastian showed up from nowhere!

Nakakahiya naman!

"Cara, lumayo ka nga. Ayokong masapak," si Francis.

Inis naman na tumayo ako at hinarap si Sebastian.

He said harsh things on me earlier, tapos ay tatayo siya sa harapan ko without any remorse?

Sabagay, bumalik nga siya ngayon at nagsisinungaling na naman kagaya ng ginawa niya dati.

"Se—Silver, umalis ka nga," utos ko dito. "Stop... Just stop being unreasonable and go."

"Hindi ako aalis dito ng mag-isa. Uuwi na tayo," he told me.

My mouth opened and looked at Francis. I really don't want to go with him!

"Ayoko. I already called my service. Magpapasundo ako—"

"Bakit hindi ka na lang sumabay?"

Ang kakapalan talaga ng mukha! Hindi ko masukat!

Hinawakan ni Francis ang kamay ko.

"May utang ka pa sakin," aniya.

"What is it?" Ang pakialamerong si Sebastian ang sumagot! "Sabihin mo kung magkano ang utang niya. I will pay for it."

The guy, Francis, laughed in a very insulting way. "It's not something that you just can pay with a money..."

Nang-aasar ba 'to!?

"What the fvck?" Si Sebastian at akmang may gagawin na naman, ngunit hinarangan ko ito.

"Silver! Mauna ka na nga!" Sita ko sakanya.

"I am not leaving you with a stranger, Cara..." Then Sebastian looked at Francis like he is going to tore him alive.

"Silver!" I said, frustrated. "Umalis ka na, please. I... really don't need you here."

"Cara..." Lumambot ang titig nito sakin. Napansin na niya siguro na hindi ako makukuha sa sindak.

"Di ba, ikaw si Silver Galliano?" Francis asked. "I think you wouldn't like it if someone will ask your girlfriend this way. Namimilit?" Tawa pa nito.

Napatingin ako dito. Francis, oh no! Naghahanap ka ba talaga ng sakit sa katawan?!

"Halika dito, Cara..." Si Francis at hinila ako papunta sakanya. "You should come with me. Let's talk about your utang."

NAKAALIS NA kami ni Francis sa harap ni Sebastian. I really don't have an idea why I am with him... But it's better than Seb.

"Thanks for helping me," I smiled on Francis.

Tumaas ang kilay nito. "I am not helping you. May utang ka nga sakin..."

My smile faded. I thought he is just helping me out ealier! Pero anong utang?

"This face cause a lot," turo niy sa mukha. "And you need to pay a fortune for it..."

He mentioned this earlier. Seryoso pala siya doon?

"Then, how can I pay?"

Ngumisi siya. "About Lara..."