Tempted Heart (FREE TO READ)

Kabanata 20

CHAPTER 20

SUMAPIT ang gabi ay doon na lang napagdesisiyonan nila Mama na maghapunan. Achilles was so against the idea but he was left with no other choice because I forced him and his mother kept insisting the girl power thingy until the dinner ended. Hanngang sa natapos din kami ay hindi na ako nilubayan ni Mama ng tanong.

“What really happened to you, hija? Bigla ka na lang kasi nawala noong nakaraang mga taon. Forgive me for asking, but I am just curious...” Nakangiwi niyang saad.

Nasa living room kami ngayon habang si Achilles at si Papa Samuel ay nandoon sa library.

“Umuwi po ako sa amin after my mother died, Mama.” Malungkot kong saad.

Napawi ang ngiti niya.

“We heard about Emma’s sudden death too, the Doctor that operated your mother told me and it happened that he is also a friend of mine. I’m so sorry, hija. My condolences for your lost.”

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at marahang hinaplos. I felt a warmed heart touched my soul. I felt like I found a mother again. At kung hindi kaaya aya na sabihin iyon ay mas bibigyan ko pa ng malalim na kaunawaan upang hindi ako malito.

“Maraming salamat po.” May kung anong mapait na bagay na bumara sa lalamunan ko.

“Hindi kita tatanungin pa kung bakit hindi mo nasabi kay Achilles o sa amin man dahil alam kong may rason ka. Just remember, we are here for you. Hindi ka nag-iisa. The moment I became a friend of your mother, I already treat you as my own daughter, Bree. Hindi ka na naging iba sa akin kaya sana huwag kang mahihiyang humingi ng tulong sa akin. Sa aabot ng aking makakaya ay gagawin ko. And besides, Achilles is also here with you. I assure you, hija. Achilles will never hurt you.” Mataas niyang saad sa akin.

I hope too. I smiled at her.

“Ano pa lang nangyari sa iyo, hija? Hindi na kita natanong kanina dahil sa anak ko.”

Halos masamid ako sa sariling laway ng tanungin niya ang bagay na iyon. Hindi ako nakasagot. Mama Laura eyed me.

“Can I expect a grandchild after a year, then?” She playfully asked me.

She sighed. “Anyway, how’s the honeymoon going?”

Kinabahan ako kaagad. Nag-init ang mukha ko sa tanong niya.

Tumawa siya. “Oh! I won’t bother to ask you anymore, hija.” She said teasing me. “Base from my son’s face earlier, I already knew it.”

She even winked at me.

“Mama...” Natawa ako ng tuluyan.

Quickly, I was startled when someone immediately embraced me from the back. Achilles then kissed my cheeks.

“What did I miss?” He whispered.

Mama chuckled. “Oh nothing, sweetheart. We are just talking about your honeymoon.” Parang wala lang na saad ni Mama sa kanya. Natawa ako ng bahagya sa sagot niya. I never thought that Mama Laura could be this playfully elegant at the same time.

Achilles stilled. “Ma!” He groaned.

Tumawa ulit si Mama.

“Okay, fine. You don’t need to be this defensive, hijo. Masiyado ka namang napaghahalataan.” Natatawang saad ni Mama habang umiinom ng kanyang juice.

Dumating naman kaagad si Papa Samuel at mabilis na dinaluhan si Mama. He kissed her cheeks, a sweetest gesture I’ve seen this day so far.

“Pa, please... take Mama away from here. Have mercy on us.” Saad nito sa kanyang ama.

Papa chuckled. “What did you do again, sweetheart?” Malambing na tanong nito kay Mama.

So sweet… I smiled widely while looking at them.

“Nothing... much.”

Tumawa si Papa. “I guess that nothing means much. Your son is grumpy again and that means you pester him again.” Papa sighed. “We have to go now before our son dragged us out of here.”

“Mabuti pa nga.” Achilles nodded.

Umiling si Mama. “No! Until you promise that you two will visit me this week, okay?” Tumingin siya sa gawi namin.

Binaon ni Achilles ang kanyang mukha sa aking leeg na para bang ayaw na niyang makausap ang ina.

“Opo, Mama. We will be there one of these days.” Nakangiti kong saad.

“Thank you, hija. We will go now.” Aniya.

Achilles was about to stand up but Papa stopped him.

“Kanina pa kami nandito, you don’t have to see us go anymore. Pagpahingahin mo na ang asawa mo, hijo.”

“Thanks, Papa.”

Hanggang sa makaalis sila ay hindi pa rin ako binibitawan ni Achilles. I felt him inhaled my scent, I tried to lift his head but he didn’t let me.

“Baby...” He murmured against my skin. It tickles.

I sighed. “What is it?”

“Maria called me.” He coldly said.

Agad ko siyang pinaangat ng mabilisan. “When?” I asked desperately.

“Haven’t you open your phone yet?” Tanong niya sa akin sa malambing na boses.

“No. It was lowbat. Nakalimutan kong sabihin sa iyo.”

Tumango siya at marahan akong niyakap ulit.

“Anong sabi niya?”

“She wants to meet up with you.”

Nag-angat ako ng tingin. His eyes were directly staring at mine. Himala atang hindi umiinit ang ulo niya sa akin ngayon.

“A-and?”

He stared at my lips. I saw him gulped.

“She’s mad at me too. Minura niya ako ng ilang beses.” He chuckled after saying that.

I smiled too. “T-talaga?” That’s new.

“Are you happy that she called?”

Umiling ako. “No. I’m happy that she cursed you.” I said honestly as a matter of fact.

Hinilig niya ang kanyang ulo habang nakatingin sa akin. His serious eyes makes me stopped smiling.

“That’s not good, my Bree. You are tempting me again.”

I arched my brows. “Why do you always say that I’m tempting you?

Umiling siya sa akin. Hindi na nakayanan siguro ang mga sagot ko. His eyes wonder all over my face.

He then sighed afterwards like he is relieved.

Agad akong nagtaka at nababahala.

“May dumi ba sa mukha ko?”

He chuckled sexily and bite his lips while he is combing his hair lazily.

“Trust me, Bree. Even if you have dirt all over your face, you are still the most beautiful woman for me.” He said seriously.

What? Huwag naman sana ganito. It just so silly of me to think about what’s happening today. Ang ganda pala kapag ganito kami palagi, hindi nag-aaway. We don’t need to act civil so just we could stand each other without fighting because our hearts already did it for us. I just don’t know about him yet, why he has to find me and why he has to marry me? Totoo ba talagang kasal kami? Dahil kahit ilang ulit kung kukulikutin ang utak ko, wala akong maalalang may pinirmahan akong dokumento.

He didn’t say a word about his feelings about me or if there is any. Hanggang ngayon, wala akong sagot para diyan.

I sighed.

When morning came, I decided to meet with Morea. Nakausap ko na siya kagabi at halos hindi ko masagot lahat ng katanungan niya. Hindi ko masundan dahil sunod sunod ang tanong niya. Hindi man lang ako hinayaang makasagot. Puro sermon ang inabot ko at kung hindi lang buntis ang babaeng ito baka sinagot sagot ko nang walang habas.

I even called Tito Claudio and Tita Daniela last night, true to what Achilles said, wala nga silang kaalam alam sa nangyayari sa akin at ang pagdala ni Achilles sa akin sa isla. Ang alam lang nila ay naghahanda na ako para sa board exam kaya hindi ako nakatawag man lang. It is just still impossible. One of these days, tatanungin ko kung ano ang sinabi ni Achilles sa kanila.

Mabuti na lang ay nakakalakad na ako pero hindi pa masiyado. Masakit pa rin at may kaunting kirot kapag sunod na sunod ang lakad. That’s why Achilles suggested na dito nalang kami sa bahay ni Maria magkita.

“Maria’s here.” It was Achilles when he opened the door in our room.

Lumapit siya sa akin at kaagad akong inalalayang tumayo.

“Where is she?” I excitedly asked.

He looked at me.

“She’s in the living room with Miguel.”

He scooped my waist and firmly held it as we descend downstairs. Mahigpit din ang kapit ko sa kanya dahil nawawalan ako ng balanse kapag nasasagi ko ang gitna ko.

“Careful, Bree.” Sabi niya ng halos matalisod ako.

Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya bilang sagot.

“Bree!!!!” Maria called me loudly when she saw me.

Namangha ako ng makitang malaki na ang tiyan niya. It was a new view for me to see her in this state, being pregnant and happy. She happily comes to me and the next thing I knew, she’s hugging me so tight.

“Oh my God, Bree. I missed you so much!” She cried.

Nagulat ako kaagad. Achilles loosened his grasp on me but he didn’t let me go. I tapped Maria shoulder lightly.

“Shhh… Maria, it’s bad for you to cry this hard.” Alo ko sa kanya.

Umiling siya at mas mahigpit akong niyakap.

“Kasalanan mo to. You expect me to be happy kung ngayon lang kita nakita for almost seven years?” Hindi makapaniwala niyang saad.

Nakangiwi akong tumingin sa kanya ng umahon siya galing sa pagkakayakap sa akin.

I smiled. I cried a little bit too. Pareho na kaming emosiyonal at kung iiyak pa ako ay baka mas umiyak pa ang babaeng ito. It will be very dangerous. Makakasama iyon sa kanya.

Nang lingunin ko si Miguel ay nakangiti lang itong nakamasid sa aming dalawa.

“Nice to see you again, Braises.” Aniya sa akin.

Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya bilang tugon.

“Mabuti pa ay umupo muna kayo.” It was Achilles.

Tumango si Maria at mabilis akong hinigit.

“Aw...” I can’t help to mutter painfully when I felt the pain between my thighs. Namamangha akong nilingon ni Maria.

“W-what happened?” Tanong niya.

When I looked at Achilles, I immediately saw his bbothered expression. He looks guilty, please and the other expression was unknown for me.

Mabilis akong umiling at inalalayan akong umupo ni Achilles sa sofa. Mabuti na lang talaga at mabilis siya dahil baka mapansin ako ng babaeng ito. Malakas pa naman itong mangtukso kahit sa hindi ko malamang dahilan.

“Why are you limping?” She arched her brows.

Umangat ang mukha ko kay Achilles.

“Can you please leave us two for a moment?”

Tinitigan muna niya ako ng mariin.

He sighed. Tumango siya pagkatapos ay bumaling siya kay Miguel na ngayon ay inaalalayan ang asawang umupo.

“Let’s go to the library, Mig.” Tawag nito sa kaibigan.

He then leaned closer to me. “Papahatiran ko kayo dito ng meryenda.” He whispered. Mabilis akong tumango.

I saw Miguel kissed Maria before leaving us together with Achilles.

I smirked. “So you really married the man of your dreams, huh?” I teased her.

Namula ang pisngi niya.

“Kung alam mo lang ang nangyari sa amin sa nagdaang taon ay mapapatawa ka na lang, Bree.” Natatawa niyang saad habang hinahaplos ang kanyang malaking bilugang tiyan.

“Ilang buwan na iyan?”

“Seven months.”

I smiled. “So you knew already the gender?”

She excitedly nodded. “It’s a twin, actually. Girl and boy.”

Napatakip ako sa sariling bibig.

“W-wow!” All I could say. “That’s a wonderful blessing for you.”

Ngumiti siya sa akin pero kalaunan ay umismid siya.

“Achilles told me that you have a vacation with him. Nang malaman ko iyon kay Miguel ay agad kong tinawagan si Achilles. I’m shocked! Ano itong nalalaman ko na asawa ka na niya?” Mataas na boses na tanong niya.

Ngumiwi ako sa tanong niya.

“I hate to say this…”

Agad siyang mabilis na umiling. Umusog siya malapit sa akin

“Oh dear! You can’t say that on me now. Tell me!” Hinigit niya ang braso ko at niyuyugyog pa niya. She’s very energetic. Mas naging malala siya ngayon na buntis siya.

“Come on, this is a moment of truth!” Tapos humahalakhak siya na para bang butong buto pa rin siya sa nangyayari sa akin. Dahil kung tutuusin ay siya rin ang nagtulak sa akin palayo kay Achilles.

Lumayo ako sa kanya ng kaunti. Habang siya ay tumataas taas ang kilay habang nakatitig sa akin. May nakaplastar na mapanuksong ngiti sa kanyang labi.

“Akala ko hindi mo gusto si Achilles para sa akin? He kidnapped me, Maria. I told you that last night.”

She rolled her eyes dramatically. “Oh please, as if that wasn’t romantic! The man loves you so much, Braises! Akala ko noong una ay galit lang siya sa iyo kaya ka niya kinuha pero ngayong nakikita kong harap harapan ka niyang muntik na ipinagdadamot sa akin ay naniniwala na ako sa kanya. Kung ginawa ni Miguel sa akin iyon ay baka naglulundag ako sa tuwa.” She then leaned closer.”Alam mo naman kung gaano ako kabaliw sa asawa ko.” Sabi niya at sinundan pa ng hagikhik.

I grimaced at her exaggerated implemented words. That was really vulgar!

“Maria, your words!” Tinuro ko ang tiyan niya. “Baka marinig ng mga babies!”

Mas lalo siyang natawa sa akin.

“You are really as innocent as ever, Bree! Come on, tell me the details already.” She convinced that sa until I cannot say no.

Umabot kami ng ilang oras sa pagkwekwento at tuwing may nababanggit akong maselan na detalye ay napapatili siya.

“Oh my God! Tell me! Malaki ba ang sa kanya? Dahil kay Miguel ay halos malumpo ako sa unang gabi namin!” Tapos tumawa siya.

I can’t believe we’re talking this censored things.

Namula ako sa sinabi niya. “M—maria!” Damn it! Her mouth has no filter. I got hospitalized because of laceration, what did she expect? Pero ko sinabi iyon. Nakakahiya!

“Come on! Ito naman, nagdadamot pa! How long?!”

Tinampal ko siya ng niyugyog niya ako. “I—I don’t know. Hindi ko naman nakita.” At aba malay ko naman at tsaka kailangan pa bang sukatin iyon?

Kaya ng halos matapos na kami ay lumabas na sila Miguel at Achilles. Hindi siguro nakayanan ang tili ng asawa na umabot hanggang sa bubong ng bahay.

“Why are you shrieking, babe?” Tanong ni Miguel ng maabot ang si Maria.

She smiled widely. “Nothing! Pasalamat iyang kaibigan mo at buto pa rin ako sa kanya kung hindi ay kukunin ko dito si Bree.” Saad niya.

Tumawa si Miguel. Sumimangot lang si Achilles na ngayon ay nasa likod ko na at nakayakap na sa akin. His jaw was leaning on my neck. Gusto ko man siyang sitahin ay hindi na lang. My heart is beating crazily again and he might hear it. I don’t know. I always feel this when he is always near me.

“I guess we have to go now. I have my monthly check up with my OB, Bree.” She then smiled.

Malungkot akong tumango. Ang bilis naman..

“I will visit you again as soon as I can or you will visit me. How’s that?” Masayang tanong niya sa akin.

“We will visit you tomorrow, Maria. I can’t bare seeing my wife lonely.” It was Achilles.

Napalingon ako sa kanya, tuwang tuwa sa sinabi niya at hindi na inalintana ang pagakakalapit ng mukha namin.

“Talaga?!” I happily asked.

Tumango siya. His lips stretch for a smile. “Anything for my baby.” He whispered and stared at me longer.

“Oh come on.. Let us go first, bago kayo maglampungan.” Si Maria.

Natawa na naman kami sa kanya. She can’t really stop her mouth, can she? Habang lalong tumatagal ang tawa ko ay napansin ko ang titig niya sa akin. Natigilan ako ng umangat ang kamay niya at pinirmi niya ang mukha ko.

“Bree…” She called me almost breathless.

Ngumiti ako. “Yes?”

Para siyang nabuhusan ng tinik ng mas lalo pa siyang tumitig sa mata ko. Her face was unreadable right now. Hindi ko siya kailan man nakitang ganito.

Namilog ang mata niya ng mas lalo siyang tumitig sa mata ko.

“Y--your eyes?” She stuttered.

I chuckled.

Ngayon lang ba niya napansin? I was wearing an anti –radiation eyeglass. Ang rason kung bakit rin siguro hindi niya napansin. I scanned my social media account earlier. At dahil masiyado akong nalibang kaya ipinasuot ni Achilles sa akin ito.

“Yeah, I know.”

“It’s gray?”

Tumango ako.

Napatakip siya sa kanyang bibig. Agad akong nabahala nang mapansin ang ekspresiyon niya.

“W-what’s wrong?” I asked.

I was about to hold her but she suddenly lost her consciousness. Miguel hurriedly catched her wife’s falling head.

“Babe?” He nervously called.

A pain immediately struck to my heart and minutes later, I immediately found myself falling into the darkness.

Why does suddenly I felt this?

Achilles called me but I’m too lost to respond anymore.