Dangerous Embrace

CHAPTER 8

AS THE MORNING light slowly slipped through the curtains, Isabelle stirred beneath the blanket. For a moment, she was confused. She didn’t remember where she was.

Then everything came back.

Mabilis siyang napabalikwas nang bangon nang maalala niya ang mga nangyari.

She was drugged by her own sister.

Lumabas siya ng kwartong ‘yon. And then she met someone.

Someone?

Kumunot ang noo ni Isabelle at sinubukang alalahanin kung sino ang lalaking ‘yon. She was still conscious, and she knew it was a man.

“Did I…” Unti-unti siyang napayakap sa kaniyang sarili habang lumulukob sa kaniya ang takot.

“You’re awake.”

Isabelle immediately looked at the window.

Lumaki ang kaniyang mga mata nang makita niya kung sino ang nakatayo doon.

She didn’t expect it was him.

“Elliot…” she muttered under her breath.

He was standing near the window, already dressed, and a cup of coffee in his hand.

“Magandang umaga,” bati ni Elliot at humarap sa kaniya.

Napatitig si Isabelle sa lalaki.

Maraming mga pumapasok sa kaniyang isipan—mga posibleng nangyari kagabi.

I didn’t do anything stupid to him, right? Isabelle was trying to reason with herself.

“Do you remember what happened to you?” Elliot asked as he walked towards her and sat on the couch near the bed.

Isabelle hugged herself tightly. Umiling siya. “I just remember I was drugged. I’m sorry.”

Napabuntong-hininga si Elliot. “Why are you apologizing? It’s not your fault.”

Mabilis na napatingin si Isabelle kay Elliot. Then she looked down.

“Anong… anong nangyari kagabi?” tanong niya sa mahinang boses.

“Hindi mo maalala?”

Isabelle’s heart began beating faster. Hindi siya nagsalita dahil hindi rin niya alam kung ano ang kaniyang sasabihin.

“Isabelle,” Elliot called her name. “Look at me.”

Agad namang tumingin si Isabelle kay Elliot.

Elliot pointed his finger at his lips after setting down his cup. “You kissed me.”

Isabelle’s eyes widened. “What?!”

Tumayo si Elliot at lumipat ng upo sa gilid ng kama. “Isabelle, you took my first kiss. You should be responsible for me.”

Isabelle stared at Elliot. She didn’t know what to say. Bumuka ang bibig niya, pero walang lumabas na salita, kaya itinikom din niya ito.

Elliot leaned forward. “Isabelle, why don’t you marry me?”

Parang nablanko si Isabelle nang marinig niya ang sinabi ni Elliot.

“Baliw ka ba?” Ang tanging nasabi ni Isabelle.

Ngumiti si Elliot. “Yeah, since meeting you, I’ve been crazy for you, Isabelle.”

Sobrang bilis ng t***k ng puso ni Isabelle noong mga oras na ‘yon. Parang anumang oras ay lalabas na ito sa kaniyang dibdib.

This man… is he insane?

“Isabelle?”

Napakurap si Isabelle at agad na umatras palayo kay Elliot. “No…” she said.

“Why not? We’re both single.”

Tipid na ngumiti si Isabelle. “Elliot, I’m getting married next month.” The words sounded painful even to her.

Napatitig si Elliot sa dalaga.

Then, unexpectedly, the corner of his mouth lifted.

A rare smile. The kind of smile that Elliot wore when he wanted something, and he was confident to get it, no matter what would happen, and no matter who would cross his path.

Umangat ang kamay ni Elliot at hinawi ang ilang hibla ng buhok na tumatabing sa mukha ni Isabelle. “You know, I could get what I want.”

Isabelle looked at him. She didn’t know why she was comfortable with his presence.

“And I want you, Isabelle.”

Bago pa man makatugon si Isabelle, Elliot leaned closer. And then he did the unexpected. He kissed her.

This time, there was no confusion. No drugs and no fear.

Isabelle was completely awake. She could pull away, and she could tell him no, but she didn’t.

Ipinikit niya ang kaniyang mga mata at tumugon sa halik ni Elliot.

Maybe because, for the first time in a very long time, someone was making her feel wanted.

Maybe because Elliot’s arms felt safer than the home she had spent her whole life trying to belong to.

Or maybe because somewhere inside her, she already knew that this might be the last time she would allow herself to feel this kind of happiness.

This kind of tenderness and care. Even if it came from a stranger.

Nang maghiwalay ang kanilang mga labi, bumaba ang tingin ni Isabelle.

Pero hindi nakuntento doon si Elliot. He pulled Isabelle into his lap, held her nape, and kissed her passionately.

He was already expecting Isabelle to struggle, but it didn’t happen. Instead, Isabelle followed his move.

They kissed like there was no tomorrow.

Didn’t she say she was getting married? Elliot thought.

Pero wala na siyang panahon para isipan pa ‘yon. As long as Isabelle didn’t push him away, nothing mattered anymore.

“Isabelle…”

Isabelle was kissing his neck, and he stopped her by slightly pushing her away, just enough to give them distance.

“Stop it.”

“I thought you wanted it?” Isabelle asked. Didn’t men like when women took the initiative?

“I want it, but we’re not married. If my mother learns about this, she will kick me out of the family tree.”

Hindi masyadong naintindihan ni Isabelle ang sinabi ni Elliot. Hindi na lamang siya nagsalita kundi umalis siya sa kandungan nito. Bigla naman siyang nakaramdam ng hiya sa binata at sa kaniyang sarili.

Kinalma ni Elliot ang sarili.

That kiss made the thing in his crotch react.

“Last night, I called the doctor for you.” Pag-iiba ni Elliot ng usapan. “You’re fine now. You just need to drink a lot of water so you can expel the remaining drug in your system.”

Tumango si Isabelle. “Thanks.”

Tumikhim si Elliot. “By the way, I asked my assistant to investigate what happened… and it was—”

“My sister,” sabi ni Isabelle. “She wanted to ruin my reputation. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang plano niya, pero ‘yon ang nakikita kong plano niya.”

“Anong plano mo ngayon?”

Umiling si Isabelle. “Nothing.”

“You won’t confront your sister?” Elliot asked.

“Hindi na kailangan.” Sabi ni Isabelle at sumandal sa headboard.

Nagtaka naman si Elliot, pero hindi na siya nagtanong pa. He didn’t want Isabelle to find him annoying and end up being yelled at by her.

“Can I rest here before going back? I feel like I don’t have enough strength to get up.”

Ngumiti si Elliot. “Of course, you can.” Bumaba siya sa kama. “I will order something for breakfast. Anong gusto mo?”

Isabelle closed her eyes. “Anything.”

“Okay.”

Hindi namalayan ni Isabelle na nakatulog siya ulit.

Nang magising siya, it was already nine in the morning, and her phone was flooded with calls and messages.

Mostly, calls and messages from Hazel. Pero walang mensahe o tawag mula sa kaniyang pamilya. Inaasahan na niya ‘yon.

Ano nga bang pakialam ng mga ito sa kaniya?

But as for what Sabrina did… someday, she will get her revenge.

She sends a message to Hazel, telling her not to worry before getting up.

Natigilan siya nang makitang may nakalagay na paper bag sa dulo ng kama. And there was a note pasted on it.

‘I bought this for you. And your breakfast is on the table. I’m sorry, I have an emergency at the company.’

Kusang gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Isabelle. She opened the paper bag and saw an expensive dress with a pair of undergarments.

Isabelle blushed seeing the undergarments.

She couldn’t imagine Elliot buying those things.

Siya ba talaga ang bumili?

Parang hindi kasi kapani-paniwala, eh.

Elliot is a rich man. He won’t stoop his pride at her level. Sino ba siya para pagtuunan nito ng pansin?

Isabelle let out a small sigh.

This gesture from Elliot… she never received them from anyone. And this one, she felt warmth and cared.

Too bad, he’s a rich man. And rich people bring trouble.

Pero nag-effort si Elliot na gawin ‘to para sa kaniya. He even bought breakfast for her.

And as the say, don’t give back the gratitude with ingratitude.

I’ll just make some pastries and sent it to him.

Napatango si Isabelle.

Right, that’s what she should do.

Isabelle didn’t know that in that gesture she was thinking of… everything will change.