Dangerous Embrace

CHAPTER 15

“WHY?” Isabelle asked Elliot. The only word that came out of her mouth after Elliot had told her what he had found out about James.

Itinulak niya ang mga larawan na ipinakita ni Elliot. “I already know all of this. Thank you for telling me.”

Her calm responses surprised Elliot. “Iyon lang ang masasabi mo?”

“Ano pa bang sasabihin ko?”

“You’re marrying a man who’s been seeing your sister,” Elliot said, trying to explain that Isabelle will get hurt.

When it comes to Isabelle, his calmness was always ruined.

Tipid na ngumiti si Isabelle. “Alam ko.”

“You know?”

Tumango si Isabelle. “Nahuli ko na sila minsan, pero hindi nila alam na alam ko ang tungkol sa kanilang dalawa.”

“And you didn’t tell anyone?”

Nagbaba ng tingin si Isabelle. “What’s the point?” she muttered.

“Are you sure you want to marry him?” Elliot asked.

Tumingin si Isabelle kay Elliot. For a moment, she seemed to struggle with an answer. Then she gave him a question instead. “May magagawa pa ba ako?”

Lumambot ang ekspresyon ni Elliot. “Maybe… you do.”

“Do I?” Isabelle let out a quiet laugh. “My family already announced the engagement. My father needs their business partnership. My mother thinks refusing would embarrass them. And James… he only wants my sister.”

“Then don’t marry him.”

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Isabelle. “Madali para sa ‘yo na sabihin ‘yan dahil wala ka sa sitwasyon ko.”

“Alam kong hindi—”

“Hindi mo alam, Mr. Rios,” sabi ni Isabelle. “Hindi mo alam kung ano ang pakiramdam sa tuwing iba ang nagdedesisyon para sa ‘yo. To be told that you’re selfish whenever you want something for yourself. Kapag hindi ako pumayag sa gusto nila, sisisihin nila ako at sasabihan nila akong wala akong utang na loob. And if I tell them about Sabrina and James, they’ll probably accuse me of making things up just to ruin my sister’s happiness.”

Hindi akalain ni Elliot na mas malala pala kaysa sa iniisip niya ang sitwasyon ni Isabelle sa pamilya nito.

“Then let them say it.”

Umiling si Isabelle. “Hindi mo naiintindihan, Mr. Rios. Wala akong alam na ibang puntahan.”

Elliot stared at Isabelle. Naluluha ito at gusto niyang hawakan ang mukha nito at punasan ang luhang tumulo sa kaniyang mga mata.

“So, why? Why doing this, Mr. Rios? We’re not that close. We've had just a few encounters.” Sabi ni Isabelle. “Bakit mo sinasabi sa akin ang mga ‘to? We’re totally strangers.”

“You want to know?”

Isabelle stared at Elliot but didn’t respond. Basta tiningnan niya lamang ang binata.

Elliot stared back. Because the truth was, he didn’t have a simple explanation. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to see her happy. And the thought of her standing beside another man at the altar was something he couldn’t bear.

Pero hindi niya ito masabi sa dalaga. Dahil kung sasabihin niya ngayon, baka matakot lang ito.

Not yet.

“Because you deserved to know the truth before making a decision that will affect the rest of your life,” Elliot finally said.

Walang nagsalita sa kanilang dalawa nang ilang minuto.

Pareho ang sinasabi sa kaniya nina Hazel at Elliot.

This marriage will affect the rest of her life.

Then she whispered, “I don’t know what to do.”

It was the first time she had admitted it aloud.

Elliot leaned forward. “Isabelle, may tanong ako.”

Tumingin si Isabelle kay Elliot.

“What do you want?” Elliot asked in a firm voice.

Bumukas ang bibig ni Isabelle, pero walang sagot ang lumabas sa kaniyang bibig. Because no one had ever asked her that question and genuinely waited for her response.

Hindi na muling nagtanong si Elliot. He didn’t push an answer from Isabelle. Basta nakaupo na lamang siya sa tapat nito. He was giving her space to think.

And Isabelle realized something. For the first time, someone was asking her to choose herself.

“Isabelle, there are people who want you to be happy.”

“Sino naman? Except Hazel, I have no one else.”

“Ako.” Sabi ni Elliot.

Natigilan si Isabelle. “Ikaw?”

Tumango si Elliot. “Well, after our few encounters… at least we are friends now, right?”

Umiwas ng tingin si Isabelle. Tumikhim siya at napainom ng tubig.

Natawa naman nang mahina si Elliot.

Isabelle looked at the people passing. Then, when the food arrived, she couldn’t eat.

“Isabelle, let’s eat.”

Kumuha ng isang barbecue si Isabelle. She dipped it in the sauce and took a bite. Habang kumakain siya, iniisip niya ang sinabi ni Elliot.

What do you want to do?

It echoed in her mind.

Ano nga ba ang gusto niyang gawin?

There are a lot of things she wanted to do. But she can’t do it.

And now, someone was asking her what she wanted to do.

Tumingin si Isabelle kay Elliot. Pasimple niya itong pinagmasdan. He seemed to have no air of being a rich man. Elliot had already undressed his coat, hung it on the backrest of his chair, and his white sleeves were already folded up to his elbows. Tinanggal na rin nito ang suot na necktie.

Elliot seems now to be an ordinary guy who’s eating barbecue with her.

Did I really misjudge him? Is he different from other rich people?

Kapagkuwan napadako ang tingin ni Isabelle sa labi ni Elliot. She blushed when she remembered how they kissed passionately that night. She still remembers how soft his lips are.

Isabelle swallowed. Hindi niya alam kung anong masamang espiritu ang dumapo sa kaniya dahil parang gusto niyang ulitin ang halikan nilang ‘yon.

She quickly looked away. My thoughts…

Napailing siya at pilit na iwinaksi sa kaniyang isipan ang tungkol sa halik na ‘yon.

Pero bumalik naman sa kaniyang isipan ang tungkol sa sitwasyon niya.

Ano nga ba ang gagawin niya?

Hindi niya alam?

Hazel had once told her that she needed strong backing to get away from her family.

Who could it be?

Sa kaniyang iniisip, napatingin siya kay Elliot na maganang kumakain sa kaniyang harapan. Right… It’s him. Elliot was rich, and she’s sure he has connections.

If I can ask him for help… but no.

Siguradong may kapalit ang pagtulong nito sa kaniya. At wala siyang pambayad sa tulong nito. She had her own dignity.

But right now, she really didn’t want to marry James.

So, she doesn’t have a choice.

“Elliot.”

“Hmm?”

Mabilis na nag-angat ng tingin si Elliot.

“Tutulungan mo ba ako?”

Ngumiti si Elliot. Uminom siya ng tubig saka kumuha ng tissue at pinunasan ang kaniyang kamay.

“Of course.”

“Paano mo ako tutulungan? I’m telling you; I don’t have money to pay you, but I can work for you. Pero inuunahan na kita, I’m not paying you with my body.”

Literal na napatunganga si Elliot kay Isabelle. Then he chuckled. “I’m not a p*****t,” he said.

Isabelle was indeed a beautiful woman. And since that kiss, he was looking forward to kissing her again.

Yes, he had some inappropriate thoughts about her.

But he would take it slow. Hindi nga lang niya alam kung hanggang kailan niya kayang kontrolin ang kaniyang sarili.

“I’m just being honest.”

Napailing si Elliot. “I can help you. I can help you to get rid of your parent’s shackles. Kung wala ka na sa poder nila, ipinapangako ko na magagawa mo ang lahat ng gusto mo. No one will dare to stop you, including me. But my method might scare you.”

“What method?” tanong ni Isabelle.

“Promise me not to get scared.”

Umiling si Isabelle. “Can’t promise. Sabihin mo na lang.”

Elliot looked directly into Isabelle’s eyes.

“Marry me.”