Caught in Shambles

CH 2. KEANU ALEXEI

Third Person’s POV

Keanu just came back at home from his movie premiere. He feels icky and dirty and just wants to dive right into his tub.

His manager bugged him about being paired with one of the most paid supermodel in the country right now kahit nung nagpe-prepare pa lang sila sa event kaninang umaga. Keanu eventually got fed up and closed his condominium's door right at her face and not letting her enter inside dahil magpapatuloy ang maingay na bibig nito at hindi sya makakapag-relax.

Luckily, he’s smart enough to snatch the key card in Trina’s bag long before he stormed off from the van para di nito mabuksan ang pinto ng condo niya.

His manager Trina knocked the door harshly many times and commanded him to open the door pero nagmatigas sya. What’s the loss in waiting for her to give up in a matter of minutes than hear her talk for hours? Like what Keanu expected, she gave up minutes later at baka sumakit din yung kamao nya kakakatok.

What’s all that hype anyway? He thought.

When Keanu no longer hears Trina’s loud mouth, kinuha nya ang maliit na box ng sigarilyo sa bulsa nya at kumuha ng isang stick. He's a singer and cigarettes can potentially damage his vocal chords but he doesn't give a f*ck. He's tired and he needs to relieve some of the stress.

Whoever the f*ck Trina is talking about earlier... he doesn't care if that person is on top or leading the industry because he already expected to be paired with them in the first place. Sa sobrang sikat ba naman nya magtataka pa ba ang mga tao? Even his first drama main role made him skyrocket to fame. He never got to experience being the supporting role or an extra. He was just too damn good in this field.

Naligo din siya pagtapos humithit ng sigarilyo. It was freaking filthy being around that leech sabi pa ni Keanu sa isip-isip nya remembering that his leading lady was all over him. Kinuskos niya ng sobra ang sarili niya gamit ang scrub. Gia is sexy, talented and all but he's not interested in her. She barely even passed his standards. There's only one person in his heart and that would never change.

If his heart is not occupied or he’s not hoping for his feelings to be reciprocated by the woman he loves… he would’ve liked Gia and might’ve spent a night with her.

Nakatulog naman agad si Keanu pagkahiga na pagkahiga niya dahil bukas bubulabugin na naman siya ng maaga ni Trina for meeting and contract signing with Ignite— the most luxurious local clothing brand as of the moment.

Finally, morning came and Keanu immediately went to shower. Even if he's a jerk to some of his co-actors because they do not meet his level. Still, he's serious about his work pa rin. He hates being late and dislikes people who make people wait. If you want work to come to you, then come to work early.

Keanu arrived at Ignite’s building exactly 5 minutes before the given time, the only person he's waiting for now is the girl he would work with.

Now that he remembered, who was the girl Trina kept mentioning yesterday? He forgot.

10 minutes na ang nakalilipas pero wala pa rin ito. He's getting impatient at may pupuntahan din siya pagkatapos ng meeting na yon.

An hour passed and still no sign of the woman. Keanu decided to leave as it wasted his time and his crew agreed. Even Trina is in rage. Hindi siya makapaniwalang pinaghintay ng mga taong ito ang artist nya. Raya— (Sadie’s manager) tried to make up for it and told Ignite’s higher ups to give Sadie another chance and they did gave her a chance which made Keanu angrier than he already is. Keanu lost his cool. "If she doesn't come before me tomorrow. I won't do this anymore. Understand?" Keanu stood up and looked at Raya in the eye.

"U-Understood" Raya stammered. She didn’t know if she exactly felt fear or she just got stunned by Keanu’s face.

-

Sadie happily combed her hair because it's another work day! Her favorite clothing brand— Ignite is recruiting her to be their model. Who wouldn't feel ecstatic about that?? Sadie thought it was another normal day dahil ang ayos na ng dating nya at paalis na sana sya…

However, someone drunk came inside his room and that someone collapsed on the floor. "Lynch????” takang tanong nya ng makita ang mukha nitong plakda sa sahig nya. “Umagang-umaga! Why are you drunk?!" nag-alala si Sadie sa kondisyon nito kaya inalalayan nya muna para humiga sa kama. Sadie was shocked and concerned. The last thing he expected to be here is Lynch dahil gabi-gabi lang naman siyang pinupuntahan nito.

"Please tell me what's happening" natatarantang sabi ni Sadie sabay kuha ang maliit na basin at ang malinis na towel para punasan ang mainit na katawan ni Lynch. Hindi pa rin nagsasalita si Lynch at mukhang nawawala lang ito sa huwisyo. Naibagsak na nga rin nito ang iniinom nya at humihinga na lang ng malalim habang nakatingin sa kisame. "Lynch, i swear to god! This better be important!" dagdag pa ni Sadie dahil napapatingin sya sa orasan from time to time kasi she really needs to be in Ignite’s building by 10:30am.

"Yvette...” he mutters her name. Sadie would be lying if she says she’s not jealous na sya ang kasama pero ibang pangalan ng babae ang sinabi. “She’s… suspecting that i'm cheating. In the past few years.... w-we're hiding s-so well... how could she..?" nauutal utal na tanong nito dahil lasing nga. Natigilan si Sadie syempre. She thought Yvette could forever be dumb and oblivious about this. Nanginginig tuloy ang kamay nya at pinagpawisan sya ng malamig. No, this is not happening!

"Does she have a lead? Or does she know it's me?!" Tanong ni Sadie. For the first time, natakot siya dahil sa pinaggagagawa nilang kalokohan ni Lynch. She never had this MUCH remorse. Wives can be really scary when cheated on. Sadie can’t picture in her mind how angry Yvette would be dahil mabait talaga ito at buntis pa ito.

Imagine how betrayed she would feel…

"I don't know how much information she knows... we need to be c-careful— f*ck! My head hurts!" Napahawak si Lynch sa ulo niya at parang onting pitik na lang ay iiyak na ito dahil naghalo-halo na ang problema niya sa opisina at sa asawa. Sadie was stunned to see this scene unfold. "She threatened me Sadie” His voice is shaky. “She threatened to take my child away if she catches us" pinipigilan ni Lynch umiyak pero ramdam ni Sadie ang takot niya. Yung takot niyang mawala yung anak niya. "But i can't let you go Sadie…

I love you…

I need you..." he emphasized.

I know wrong timing 'to but she finally heard the assurance and sign that she needs kung itutuloy nya ba ang pagiging kabit dito. Somewhere in herself, her heart leaps in joy. Even with Lynch being a father to that child is undoubtedly at stake... Lynch won't let her go no matter what.

In return, to show her happiness with what Lynch had said, she hugged and comforted him.

She completely forgot about Ignite... and that famous celebrity.

Soon, the two started to aggressively make love na para bang hindi sila nawindang sa pagsususpetya ni Yvette. Lynch reeked of alcohol smell pero hindi inalintana ni Sadie yon dahil masyadong masaya ang puso nya nung marinig niyang mahal at kailangan sya ni Lynch.

Nakakatanga talaga ang pag-ibig…

Nang matapos ang ginawa nila, kinuha ni Sadie ang cellphone niya dahil kanina pa ito nagri-ring. She stood completely naked while her hand was still intertwined with Lynch's hand na nakatingin naman sa kaniya with his captivating eyes na maiging sinusuri ang buong pagkatao at kabuuan niya. His eyes alone makes Sadie fall head over heels for him. After what they did, Lynch have slightly sobered up.

Sadie answered the call and she was met with Raya's frustrated rants from the other line dahil di sya dumating. "Asan ka na?! Kanina ko pa sinasabi na dadating ka. Napahiya ako kasi after all that HINDI KA PALA TALAGA DADATING!" panenermon nito.

Narinig ito ni Lynch pero natawa lang ito ng mahina. Dahil sa mapagbirong reaksyon ni Lynch na para bang tinatawanan pa siya dahil nabubungangaan siya, inirapan na lang siya ni Sadie sa inis. How could this guy laugh at me for being yelled at? She asks herself.

Sasagot na sana at gagawa ng palusot si Sadie pero bigla syang hinila ni Lynch kaya nahulog siya sa dibdib nito. Hindi ito na-kuntento sa paghila at hinalik-halikan pa siya sa leeg. "Well uh.. uhm... i sprained my foot kasi ugh! ah! oh my god! a-aray ang saket! naitapak ko yung sprained kong paa!" F*CK SHE MOANED! nahanap kasi ni Lynch ang sensitive spot ng leeg niya at inabuso so she reacted that way. She even attempted to push Lynch’s head away from her neck pero hindi nya maipwersa ang pagtulak dahil ang isang kamay nya ay may hawak na cellphone. Damn, Lynch knows everything about her damn body!

"s-sorry natapilok lang! o-oh! ouch ang s-saket.." sinampal ni Sadie ang kamay ni Lynch na bumaba na sa puwitan niya at pinisil-pisil pa ito while wearing that playful smile.

Whatever they're doing right now actually thrills the both of them.

"You need to go here tomorrow ASAP! Kapag hindi ka sumipot uli, you'll lose Ignite! Pinangarap mo ito noon pa! Don't let it go to waste!" Raya ends the call and she was huffing in anger. Sadie could only care less. Pinigilan lang niya tumawa throughout the call but as soon as she dropped the line, she laughs loudly with Lynch.

Lynch admired the beauty laughing hardly in front of him. Agad ding na-conscious si Sadie sa pagtawa niya sa harap ni Lynch kaya tumigil siya. "Why did you stop?" malambing na tonong tanong ni Lynch sa kaniya. Humigpit pa ang hawak nito sa kaniya tila ayaw siyang pakawalan hangga't hindi niya sinasagot ang tanong nito.

"Well... you stare so much..." Sadie shyly responded. God, he makes her tummy feel butterflies. There’s nothing soothing for Sadie than having their naked bodies close to each other.

"So what? Aren't you mine?" Lynch asked.

“But you're not completely mine” counters Ellis in his head. Nang maramdaman ni Lynch na nanahimik ito dahil sa binitawan niyang salita. He placed a kiss in her forehead and looked at her in the eye, "I might be hiding you Sadie but you're one of the good things that ever happened to me. Mahal kita. Please never forget that." paalala nito.

It's making Sadie emotional BIG TIME. Kinagat pa ni Sadie ang labi niya para di umiyak. "I'm losing faith in you these past few days you know that? You're close but feel so far. Di ko na alam tumatakbo sa utak mo. Pakiramdam ko hindi mo 'ko mahal and you're sticking around with me just for my body. It's like anytime... you're ready to leave and completely settle it down with Yvette. Hindi ko kakayanin. Hinding-hindi" pag-amin ni Sadie. Ang mga luha ay nagbabadya ng pumatak.

Lynch was surprised of course. He knows Sadie is the type na kinikimkim ang feelings niya. It made him realize na sobra na nga nya talagang nasasaktan si Sadie kung nakakapag-open up na ito sa kaniya ng ganito.

"I'm sorry. I know gasgas na yung rason ko pero if only we are accepted by the world... i would flaunt you. I will kiss you everywhere. Make sure everyone knows we're together. Show you how proud i am about you. It's just so unfortunate that we had to live considering people's opinion of us. Kasal ako” pag-explain nya. Looking closer at Sadie’s eyes that are now brimming with tears. "You know how my parents are. I'm an only child too. They expect too much of me. They want me to marry someone that fits our status. I would gladly go against them for you kung hindi lang sana ako yung nag-iisang inaasahan nila." Dagdag pa niya. Nilapit niya ang ulo ni Sadie sa dibdib nya habang nagsasalita kaya umiiyak na ito sa dibdib niya. He wipes her tears and held both of her hands. "Don't ever question your worth. You know that i choose you everyday." pagtatapos nito.

Sadie was like in the clouds. She just wants to hear his voice all day. Wanting to know how he feels about her all day. It's like Lynch is falling in love with her all over again, or so she thought.

These words melted Sadie’s heart so much that they cuddled all afternoon talking about random things and of course, their relationship kung paano nila itatago when they figured out Yvette is suspecting that Lynch is having an affair until it turned dark outside and Lynch is about to go home. Nalungkot si Sadie obviously but with the words and the moments she had with Lynch today... she’s contented and of course, the more reason she can’t let go of him.

Little did Sadie know...

Lynch arrives at home and he immediately rushed in to backhug his cooking wife because his mood immediately lifted up with the thought of seeing his wife after that confrontation yesterday BUT Yvette didn't seem happy with him at all. Women’s instincts are accurate and he could smell someone else’s odor on his husband. "Where have you been? Bakit ngayon ka lang umuwi?" tanong nito. Mahinahon pa siya sa lagay na yon.

Yvette was actually a shy girl when they met and even after they married. What Lynch liked about her was her innocence and yes... Lynch DOES like her wife so much or maybe he even loves her. He was just spouting pure lies when he told Sadie he didn't see her that way.

Their s*x... they both wanted it. It's not because of some stupid inheritance like what Lynch had said as an excuse to Sadie when he got her pregnant. He was even the one who initiated it because he wants a baby with her. No, scratch that... Lynch said he only wants Yvette to be the mother of his children. "You're cheating on me i know! Iba yung amoy mo!" pagpilit ni Yvette.

"No wifey. I just changed my perfume. Epekto lang yan ng pagbubuntis kaya kung ano-ano iniisip mo..." he reasoned. Yvette didn't seem convinced with his dumb reasoning kaya inalis niya ang kamay nito na nakapalupot sa kaniya at tinitigan si Lynch ng masama.

"STOP BLAMING IT ON MY PREGNANCY LYNCH! Malalaman ko din yon! Mawawala kami ng anak mo tandaan mo yan!" sigaw niya sabay akyat sa taas. Masama pa din ang loob nito. Akala niya'y kapag iniwan niya ito saglit ay magiging okay ang lahat. Hahabulin na sana siya ni Lynch ngunit baka magkasunog dito sa bahay dahil iniwan ni Yvette ang niluluto niya. In the end, Yvette locked the door on him dahil di nya naabutan and he was forced to sleep on the living room.

Napaupo na lang si Lynch dahil nanghina siya sa sinabi ng asawa. He can't afford to lose her... specially the child. He can't lose the family. He will do everything to reduce her assumptions and at the same time, have Sadie to stay by his side.

It might sound selfish but he can't lose both.