Bride Switch

Chapter 5

HUMILA SI KRIZSTIAN ng isang puting t-shirt sa closet at mabilis nito iyong isinuot. Matapos ay tumingin sa kanya. Hindi ito kakikitaan ng kahit anong emosyon sa mukha habang siya ay parang gusto nang tumalon ng puso palabas.

"Stay here. Titingnan ko muna kung sino ang nasa baba."

Tumango siya kahit alam naman nila pareho kung sino lang ang mga maaaring naroon.

Hindi niya alam kung ilang minuto siyang nakatingin lang sa kawalan nang muling bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa si Krizstian. Hinanda na niya ang sarili sa pagpasok ng asawa nito para sugurin siya at sampalin ngunit mag-isa ito nang isinara ang pinto.

His face is serious. But his eyes are blazing. Tila galit sa kung saan at pilit itinatago iyon sa kanya.

"Uhm..." tumingin ito sa kanya na tila hindi alam ang dapat itawag. Doon niya naalala na ni hindi niya nasabi ang pangalan niya!

"JL... Jessa Luz Galleza."

"You prefer JL?"

Dahan-dahan siyang tumango. She find it weird na ngayon lang nila iyon pinag-uusapan. Nauna pa ang mga bagay na... dapat ay huli.

"So, JL..." lumapit ito sa kanya at tumigil nang nasa tapat na niya ito.

Nakatingala siya upang titigan ang malalalim na mga mata nito. Alam niyang may malaking problema sila pero hindi niya parin mapigilan maisip kung gaano ito kagwapo.

He sighed. "They're downstairs."

Napapikit siya at napayuko. She knows who he's reffering to when he said 'they'. Kaya niyang harapin si Randall. Kaya niyang tanggapin ang kahit anong insultong ibabato nito sa kanya. She knows how mad he is right now. Na pagkatapos ng lahat ng ginawa nito para lang makuha siya, still, he didn't succeeded entirely. Ang hindi niya kayang harapin ay ang asawa ni Krizstian. Hindi kakayanin ng konsensya niyang makita ang lumuluhang mukha nito. Babae din siya. Alam niya kung gaano iyon kasakit.

"Hey. It will be okay, hmm?" He said using that soft voice again. Kahit na parang galit ang mga mata nito.

Naglahad ito ng palad ngunit umiling lang siya. Parang hindi tama na lumabas silang ganoon. That's another slap to those people outside.

He sighed again then look at her as if making sure she's fine. Tinalikuran siya nito at naunang lumakad palabas. Nakatungong sumunod siya dito. Pinaglalaruan niya ang sariling mga daliri at hindi alam kung saan ibabaling ang tingin kung sakaling magkakaharap na sila. Napapikit siya nang umabot sila sa grand staircase. Dahil nga nakatungo siya ay diretso niyang nakita ang mga tao sa baba. Ngayon ay mas lalong 'di niya alam kung saan babaling. Mas minabuti niyang titigan ang bawat baitang ng hagdan.

Napansin niya ang maya't-mayang pagtigil at paglingon sa kanya ni Krizstian. Kahit ito ay ni hindi na niya matingnan. Tila ngayon lang nagsink-in ng tuluyan lahat lahat sa kanya. Kung gaano kalaking kahihiyan ang nangyari!

Tumigil si Krizstian nang makababa sa huling baitang. Nakayuko siya sa likod nito ngunit nakita niya ang pagtayo ng ilang tao sa sala sa gilid ng mga mata niya.

"JL Nuesco." Madiin ang pagbanggit ni Randal sa sariling apelyido nito na ikinabit sa pangalan niya. Sa tono pa lamang ng boses nito ay hindi na siya magugulat kung ang nais na lang nitong gawin sa kanya ngayon ay sakalin.

"What in the f*****g world did you do?!"

Mula sa gitna ng sala ay tila umalingawngaw sa buong kabahayan ang puno ng pigil na galit na boses ng lalaki.

Habang siya ay ni hindi parin makuha ang lakas ng loob na iangat ang tingin. Yes, she gave in to this partly to get back at Randal. For forcing her to this marriage. But how is she going to say that? Like, 'Oh, what did I do? Nothing. I just had a really satisfying, toe-clenching and mind-blowing s*x to a stranger on our wedding night, honey. Nothing to worry about.' Just like that? Hell no!

She forced her eyes to look ahead and see the fury she just kept on hearing on Randal's tone. But what really wrenched her guilt is that woman's teary and full of hate and agony eyes. She's sitting at a far end of a sofa, clutching a handful of handkerchief. It didn't took a genius' mind to know this is Krizstian's bride.

Napaiwas siya nang tingin nang magtama ang mga mata nila. She can't take seeing her so broken. And because she a mindless b***h!

Naitutok na lang niya ang tingin sa malapad na likod ng lalaki sa harap niya. She freakin' want to hide on his back and just wait for the world to end.

"Again, woman. What did you do?"

She was forced to look at Randal and gave him a brave look. Even though brave is the last thing she feels at the moment.

"What do you want me to say?" She asked in surprisingly calm and steady voice. She's ashamed of what she did, yes. But she just can't help feeling a bit of satisfaction seeing his face now.

She saw his jaw clenched and his hands formed into a fist. He breathe long and deep as if to calm himself. Napansin niya na pabalik-balik ang tingin nito sa shirt na suot niya. Matapos ay inilipat nito ang tingin sa lalaki sa harap niya. Tumaas ang gilid ng labi nito.

"So what is this? You've been seeing this man all along? Some kind of a plan? That you'll agree to this marriage then ran away and w***e yourself to another man at our wedding night!" Nagtatagis ang mga bagang nito at habang unti-unti ang paghakbang palapit sa kanila.

"That's not true!" Mariin na protesta niya.

"Then what? You just found yourself inside this house in the morning, wearing another man's clothes but nothing happened? I'm not stupid JL. I know how did a f****d woman looked like!" Then he advanced another angry step while looking at her with full of hate and disgust.

Napansin niya ang mabilis na paggalaw ng apat na pigura sa loob ng bahay. Ngayon niya lang napansin na nandoon ang dalawang bodyguard-c*m-driver ni Randal na agad na tumayo malapit sa lalaki. Maging ang dalawa pang lalaking mabilis naman na lumapit sa kinaroroonan nila ay mukha ring mga bodyguard sa built ng katawan. Agad niyang nakilala ang driver na naghatid sa kanya doon na isa sa dalawang lalaki.

As if sensing the growing tension, both pair of bodyguards stood up straight. They didn't approached their boss though. Afraid of bruising their egos she guessed.

What was when she noticed how tensed Krizstian's back muscles are. As if he's restraining his anger.

He's angry? What—why? For her?

Pinagsalikop ni Krizstian ang mga braso nito sa dibdib. Hindi niya makita ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito.

"We can talk about this calmly and—"

"Calmly?" Randal cut him then let out an irritating, I-can't-believe-you-said-that laugh. "Man, did this woman f****d your brain out so bad you forgot you have your own wife? And that w***e behind you, is mine."

Everything happened so fast that even Randal didn't saw Krizstian's fist coming. Nakita na lang niyang nakaharang na ang tatlong bodyguard sa pagitan ng dalawa. Habang ang isa ay tinutulungan na makatayo si Randal mula sa pagkakasadlak sa marbled floor.

Ngayon ay nakatagilid na mula sa view niya si Krizstian. Doon ay nakita niya ang kalmadong ekspresyon nito. As if he just didn't punch someone. The only thing that betrays his fury is his raging muscles.

"I said we can talk and settle this calmly... or bloody. You choose." Krizstian said cooly. Using that authorative yet soft voice.

"She's still my wife. Yes, you got a first taste but she's my wife. And she's going with me now." Randal said, wiping a drop of blood at the corner of his mouth. He's eyes full of rage. And to prove his point, he walk towards her. Only to have his way blocked by Krizstian's massive built. Yes, Randal has a large body but compare to Krizstian's, he should really think better. Krizstian is even two to three inches taller than him.

"You're not taking anybody here aside from your own ass and your boys. And as far as I knew, you have no wife here. You can now get out of my property before I decided to file a case."

Maging siya ay napakunot ng noo sa sinabi nito. Oo, ayaw niyang sumama kay Randal. At hanggang ngayon, hindi niya parin kayang isipin na asawa niya ito. Pero wala naman silang magagawa sa katotohanan na kasal sila.

"May I remind you again, that woman," Randal said, pointing a finger on her, "is my wife. And I'm taking her home now." Mariin ang bigkas nito sa bawat salita.

And yes, she should go. She'd caused enough trouble. Ngunit sinong gugustuhin na sumama matapos ang lahat?

"And again, I'm telling you, you have no wife here. That woman, is mine. You can go now." Krizstian said in an icy tone that sent a shiver down her spine.

Marahas siyang napatingin dito at hindi niya alam kung kanino nanggaling ang mas malakas na singhap. Sa kanya ba o sa babaeng nakaupo sa dulo ng sofa. Sa gilid ng mga mata niya ay napansin niya ang nanginginig na pagtayo ng babae.

Akmang aamba naman ng suntok si Randal ngunit mariin na hinawakan ng isa sa bodyguard nito ang braso. Pinalis naman ni Randal iyon at pinigilan ang galit na nagliliyab sa mga mata nito.

"Krizst..." she spoked. The woman at the far end spoked in that broken voice that also shattered her. Silent tears are also streaming down the beautiful woman's face. And this is his wife. Krizstian's wife.

How can say that? And what is he saying?! They're talking about her right? What—

Mariin na lang siyang napapikit sa biglang tila pagpintig ng kung ano sa sentido niya.

"You can't just do this to me, Krizstian! How could you?" The woman said in an agonized tone.

He just regarded her with a cold stare. He kept looking at her as if deciding how to discard the woman! And that's just not right!

Hindi niya alam kung paano ba magre-react. Kung ano bang dapat sabihin o kung mayroon ba dapat. Bawat salitang sasabihin niya ay maaaring magpalala sa sitwasyon. Ayaw na niyang sumama kay Randal. Pero hindi rin naman tama na manatili siya rito at mas hindi tama na palitan niya ang asawa ni Krizstian sa dapat ay lugar nito.

"We'll talk to my office, Trina. Now you may go, too." Krizstian said on that cold, ruthless tone again.

She saw how the girl called Trina almost swayed from shock and hurt. Is this really the man she gave herself to? Ngayon ay hindi na niya alam kung pagsisisihan ba niya ang nangyari. Dahil sa nakikita niya ngayon, para siyang tumakbo palayo sa kumunoy para lang mahulog sa bangin. Because anyone who can treat a woman like that is definitely an ass.

Krizstian indicated Trina by his chin to one of his drivers. Agad naman na tumalima ang lalaking naghatid sa kanya doon at pilit na inalalayan palabas ang babae. She knows she's currently on the receiving end of her hateful glares but she just doesn't have the guts to face her.

"Well, I don't eat another person's left overs, anyway. I hope you're ready for the consequences of this action though, JL. And remember this day while visiting your father behind bars."

Her head snapped in shock. Ngayon niya lang naalala ang maaaring gawin ni Randal sa dad niya! She so stupid! And so selfish! Dapat ay inisip niya muna ang mga magulang bago gumawa ng hakbang para lang sa makasariling dahilan. Was that satisfaction worth having in exchange of his father's peaceful life?

Tila siya nagising sa isang panaginip nang marinig ang tunog ng bawat hakbang ni Randal.

"No! Randal, no!" Nagmamadali siyang humabol ngunut pinigilan siya ng pares ng dalawang malalakas na braso.

"JL," She heard Krizstian whispering on her ears but all can she see is his father lying alone in a dirty jail cell.

"No, let me go!" Pilit niyang tinatanggal ang mga brasong nakapalibot sa baiwang niya ngunit ubos na ubos na ang lakas niya. Nagsimula ang muling pagbuhos ng kanyang mga luha at wala na siyang pakialam!

"Randal, please, don't do this! Dad doesn't know. It's entirely me! This is my fault! Randal!" She begun to sob when Randal didn't even turn his back on her.

She heard Krizstian hushing her and whispering everything's going to be fine but she can't be fooled, no!

Nang tuluyan nang makaalis ang lahat, atsaka lamang lumuwag ang mga braso nito. Agad niya itong hinarap at tiningnan ng masama. She pushed his chest and hate that he wasn't even moved a bit.

"What did you do?! Are you out of your mind? You just made everything worst! Worst than marrying that asshole! Now my father's still going to jail for something he didn't do, and I'm still married to him! I sacrificed myself for nothing!"

Nanghihinang napaupo na lang siya sa pinakamalapit na sofa habang sapo ang mukha. She cried her heart out. Narealize niya na ngayon lang ulit siya umiyak ng ganito. She's been crying silently all her life! And it really feels good to just sob your heart out, too.

She felt him sat beside her but didn't tried to touch or comfort her anyhow. He just sat there.

"I'm not lying when I said everything's going to be alright, you know? I'll make this right. I know I always do."

And she didn't heard any boasting on that, really. Like he believed about it so much, he's too sure. She wanted to believe that, too.