Dangerous Embrace

CHAPTER 16

“MARRY ME.”

Isabelle felt the world stop revolving around her when she heard Elliot. Napaubo siya at agad naman niyang inabutan ni Elliot ng tubig.

Nang kumalma siya, tiningnan niya nang masama ang binata. “Baliw ka ba?”

Ngumiti si Elliot. “Hindi ako baliw.” Pero nababaliw ako sa ‘yo. “I’m serious.”

Umiling si Isabelle. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin niya kay Elliot. “You know that I am getting married, right?”

Tumango si Elliot. “I know.”

“Then why ask me to marry you?”

Instead of answering Isabelle, Elliot looked around at the people nearby. Then he looked back at Isabelle. “I grew up in a loving family. My parents were fair to me and my brothers and sister.”

“Hindi lang suwerte katulad mo,” sabi ni Isabelle.

“Indeed. So, I want to help you.”

“By marrying me.”

“Yeah.”

“Why? I’m not even worth a fraction of your hair.”

Elliot let out a small sigh. “Isabelle, every person has their own value. Huwag mong masyadong maliitin ang sarili mo.”

Isabelle remained silent.

“So, do you want to marry me?” Elliot asked.

Isabelle looked at Elliot in disbelief. “Mr. Rios, I’m engaged. Paano kita pakakasalan kung sakali mang papayag ako?”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Elliot. “You don’t have to worry about that. I have a plan. So, do you want to marry me? I promise that after we get married, you can do whatever you want. No one will stop you. I got your back. I will support you. You will have the right to choose and decide on your own.”

Isabelle stared at Elliot.

“Of course, if you agree, this marriage will be real. I don’t want a fake marriage, Isabelle. I want a real one. I want to have a family.” Seryosong sabi ni Elliot.

“Hindi ko alam…” umiling si Isabelle. “It was tempting. But to be honest, I don’t want to marry James, but here you are proposing to marry me.”

Ngumiti si Elliot. “Isabelle, you need a strong backing. Having a husband like me can ensure that your family won’t be able to touch you again.”

“Let me think about it.”

“Of course, I’ll wait.”

Bumaba ang tingin ni Isabelle sa pagkain.

Parang hindi kapani-paniwala ang mga nangyayari ngayon.

Why would a man like Elliot propose marriage to a nobody like her?

For sure, maraming babae ang nagkakagusto rito. Maybe they can even form a long line just to wait to have him.

But here he was, telling her to marry him.

Kumuyom ang kaniyang kamay.

“Give me your phone.”

“Bakit?”

“Just give it to me.”

Kinuha ni Isabelle ang luma niyang cellphone sa kaniyang bag at ibinigay kay Elliot.

Elliot saw Isabelle’s phone. Halatang luma na ito dahil may bitak na ang screen. Her family doesn’t deserve her.

He called his number through Isabelle’s phone and saved his number on her phone. Then he gave back the phone to her.

“I saved my number in your phone. Remember to call me when you need anything.”

Pero noong gabing ‘yon, hindi nakatulog si Isabelle. Pabalik-balik sa isipan niya ang mga sinabi ni Elliot.

Elliot’s offer was tempting.

She wanted to say ‘yes’ right on the spot. Pero nag-aalangan siya.

What does Elliot want from her?

Why did he propose marriage?

It was just a verbal promise. Walang kasiguraduhan kung gagawin talaga ni Elliot ang sinabi niya.

Men will always be men. Their promises are firm on day one, forgotten on day two.

Isabelle let out a small sigh.

Napatingin siya sa cellphone niya nang umilaw ito.

‘Pag-isipan mo nang mabuti ang sinabi ko.’

Lumaki ang mata ni Isabelle nang makita niya ang pangalang inilagay ni Elliot sa cellphone niya.

“Hubby… What the heck?!”

Then she chuckled while shaking her head. Hindi niya akalain na ang isang katulad ni Elliot ay isip-bata rin.

Pinalitan ni Isabelle ang pangalan ni Elliot sa contact niya. Inilagay niya ang tunay na pangalan ng binata.

It would be bad if someone saw this.

Isabelle didn’t reply. Baka lalong hindi siya makatulog.

She forced herself to sleep, and thankfully, after an hour, she fell asleep.

Kinabukasan, maaga siyang nagising. After taking a bath and getting dressed, she came out of her room.

Nakasalubong pa niya si Sabrina sa may hagdanan nang pababa siya at paakyat naman ito.

Hindi nakaligtas sa paningin niya ang hickey sa leeg ni Sabrina. And she even happily flexed it to her.

Isabelle ignored Sabrina.

Sabrina snorted and continued her way to her room.

Nang makababa siya sa salas, nasulyapan niya sa dining table ang kaniyang mga magulang, pero hindi na siya pumunta sa dining table para kumain. Baka hindi rin lang siya makakain sa oras na magsalita ang kaniyang ina.

Isabelle stepped out of the house without eating breakfast.

She went to the bakery. Nagsusuot pa lang siya ng apron nang hinila siya ni Hazel papunta sa maliit nitong opisina.

Hazel held Isabelle’s shoulder. “Isa, tell me what happened last night. Anong ginawa ninyong dalawa ni Elliot? Anong sinabi niya sa ‘yo?” sunod-sunod niyang tanong. Then she pointed to the food bag on her table. “Did you know that Mr. Rios came here and dropped this breakfast? He specifically told me to give it to you. Hihintayin ka raw niya sana, pero may meeting siya, kaya iniwan na lamang niya ang food bag.”

Napakurap si Isabelle at tiningnan ang food bag na nasa mesa ng kaibigan. “Elliot?”

“Yeah, sino pa ba?” Hazel let go of Isabelle. “So, tell me what happened last night before I give you your breakfast."

Isabelle let out a small sigh. “Ang dami mong tanong. Anong uunahin kong sagutin?”

Hazel rolled her eyes. “What happened last night? Anong ginawa niyo ni Elliot?”

“Nothing much,” Isabelle answered. “We just ate at the night market.”

Lumaki ang mata ni Hazel. “A man like Elliot Rios went to that kind of place?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya.

Umiling si Isabelle. “Hindi nga rin ako makapaniwala, eh.”

Hazel crossed her arms over her chest. “So, anong sinabi niya sa ‘yo?”

Napahawak si Isabelle sa laylayan ng kaniyang damit. “Hazel…”

“Tell me, I am curious because he dropped by just to give you breakfast.”

“Hazel… Elliot proposed marriage.”

Natahimik ang buong opisina ni Hazel.

“Come again. Anong sinabi mo?”

“He proposed marriage.”

Lumaki ang mata ni Hazel. “He did?!”

Tumango si Isabelle. “He told me that I can get rid of my parents once I marry him. He also told me that I can do whatever I please once we get married. He will support me, and he will let me choose and decide on my own.”

“Talagang sinabi niya ‘yon sa ‘yo?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Hazel.

Isabelle nodded again.

“Anong sagot mo?”

Umiling si Isabelle. “Hindi ko alam.”

Umupo si Hazel sa kaniyang swivel chair at napaisip. “Elliot Rios has never had any scandal and always distances himself from women. Rumors say he’s an aloof person, but he actually took the initiative to propose marriage to you.”

“Isa, anong gagawin ko? His offer was tempting, but it was just a verbal agreement. At maraming tanong sa isipan ko.”

“Like what?”

Isabelle looked at her friend. “How will he stop my marriage with James? How will he deal with my parents?”

“And what did he tell you?”

“He said he has a plan… pero… pero nag-aalangan ako, Hazel. I don’t know if I should trust him.” Isabelle lowered her head. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Isa, as your friend, I don’t want to see you suffer. But for me, comparing your fiancé and Mr. Rios. Mr. Rios is a better choice.”

“Paano mo nasabi ‘yan?”

“Because Mr. Rios promised you what your fiancé can’t give. Ano nga bang binigay sa ‘yo ni James? Wala. Ayun, busy siya sa kapatid mo. If you marry him, you will only swallow your pride in the future." Hinawakan ni Hazel ang kamay ni Isabelle. "I don’t want to see you suffer. Kapatid na ang turing ko sa iyo, Isa. Kaya pag-isipan mo nang mabuti ang desisyon mo.”

Hindi nagsalita si Isabelle.

“Pero kung ako sa ‘yo, pumayag ka sa alok ni Mr. Rios.”

“What?”

Hazel chuckled. “Don’t you like it? He’s rich, handsome, and his body—a total package. Saan ka pa?”

Isabelle blushed. “Hazel, stop it.”

Hazel rolled her eyes. “Don’t be too reserved, my dear sister. Minsan, kailangan din nating maging green para may thrill ang life.”

Napailing na lamang si Isabelle. “Babalik na ako sa trabaho.”

At pag-iisipan niya ang alok ni Elliot.

It was tempting, but she was hesitant.