Programmed Wife

Chapter 27

"Sir Shawn please, 'wag niyo po sanang biglain si Mr. Rui. Baka po hindi pa siya ready na pag- usapan 'yon!" Leyla did her best to walk as fast as she can, for her cute little legs to catch up to the long legged actor. 

"What the heck, I did not expect him to rush out," she whispered to herself. Pilit na iniisip ni Leyla kung ano ba ang binabalak nitong lalaking ito. Kanina lang ang sabi nito sa kan'ya, tama na hindi niya binigla si Rui, pero ngayon siya naman itong hindi mapakali hanggang sa makaabot sa office ng kaibigan. 

"Please!"

"Don't worry, I won't shock him. 'Wag kang matakot masyado!" Pasigaw nitong sagot bago tuluyan na tumakbo para mas mabilis na makaabot kay Rui. 

"Rui!" Shawn being the best actor of the year, did a very special scene to perform in front of the CEO. 

"Hmm? Where were you? Anong sinabi mo kay Leyla?"

"'Yon naman eh! Akala ko naman kung anong itinataas ng kilay mo d'yan. In fairness ha, bilib ako sa taste mo. Talagang sa kan'ya ka lang naging palagay, siguro kasi perfectionist ka?" he teased. 

"Perfectionist? Come on, do you think if I could pick someone that I'll be immune to, hihintayin ko muna na dumating si Leyla? I would have picked someone years ago. I'm twenty eight d*mn it."

"Huh sabagay, ang dami nga namang iba na patay na patay sa'yo. May mga artista pa nga... tapos si Kira, 'yon siguro ang pinakamalakas ang saltik. Halos isanla na no'n ang kaluluwa niya kay Satanas para lang masungkit ka," Shawn played it off as a joke but he can see how Rui's expression turned dim. His eyes were filled with horror, his foot started to slowly tap on the floor. 

Being together with Rui for years, he knows what he's doing. He is trying to fidget with his fingers, and distract his brain by tapping at the floor. Rui gave him his best try on a reassuring smile, "None of them appealed to me, really." 

"Huh, ang taas talaga ng standards mo. Kung ako ha, iisipin ko sa unang tingin... puwede na si Kira-"

"No!"

He got what he wanted. Finally Rui's cover was broken, he failed to cover up his horrified voice. 

"Rui, bakit?" Shawn rushed to hold him by the shoulder, trying to make him stop feeling unsafe. "Anong nangyari? May ginawa ba sa'yo si Kira?" 

Rui knew that when he decided to keep this to himself, eventually he will be forced to admit that it did happen, that he failed to toughen up and protect himself. He knew that he will be disappointed to himself again, but keeping it in kills him. He always wanted to tell Shawn about it or even Leyla, but he couldn't find the courage to make himself feel as the poor victim again. He hated pity, and that's what he got most of his life. 

"She-my-she-" nanginginig ang boses ni Rui at 'di malaman kung anong mga salita ang gusto niyang sabihin. Nawawalan na siya ng pakiramdam sa mga labi dahil sa lakas ng pagkakakagat niya rito. 

"If you don't want to tell me, it's okay. I just want to know if you're fine?" Shawn softly said. He has always seen Rui as his little brother. Alam niya ang lahat ng kamalasan at paghihirap na pinagdaanan nito sa buhay. Alam niya na ang nangyayari ngayon, mahirap para kay Rui. 

"I- got home- she- bed," nauutal na sabi ni Rui. He looked at him and said, "She tried to do something when I was about to faint, I- I ran... and then Leyla was there."

Shawn felt Rui's shoulder slightly trembling. He's mustering up the courage to tell him his side of the story even though just thinking about it makes him want to disappear. He once again tapped Rui's shoulder, "You did great! Don't be scared, you did great this time okay? Anong gusto mo, upakan ko kaya kaagad si Kira kapag nakita ko?" 

Pilit na binibiro siya ni Shawn pero hindi niya mapigilan ang unti- unting pagbilis ng t***k ng puso niya. Just thinking of that night... that girl in his bed... ang mga kamay nito na pilit siyang hinahawakan. Suddenly he's not in control. 

"Rui?" Shawn called. 

Instead of answering to him, Rui's left hand forcefully slammed at his desk. His other hand immediately went to grab his own hair.

"Rui! Anong ginagawa mo! Stop it!" Walang nagawa ang malakas niyang paghatak kay Rui. He still managed to escape from his embrace and started to aggressively scratch his arms and neck, right where he felt Kira's hands. 

His past trauma was awaken, and Shawn could not do anything about it. Sinusubukan niya na pigilan si Rui sa pamamagitan ng paghawak nito sa kan'yang mga kamay pero walang nangyayari. 

"Rui I'm sorry! I shouldn't have asked you-"

"Sir!" Leyla barged inside the room only to find Rui completely out of it while Shawn is doing everything to stop him from harming himself. 

"Rui please stop hurting yourself! Leyla call his doctor please!" Shawn started to panic. He knows that any moment, Rui is just gonna collapse. This is so familiar to him, his nightmare. 

But in the middle of Rui's attack and Shawn's loud orders, Leyla calmly stood at the  door, closing it behind her. She took a deep breath and prepared herself. 

"Mr. Rui," she called so sweetly. She managed to put on her usual sweet and soft smile. 

Rui briefly stopped before continuing to claw his arm, leaving a wound on it.

"Mr. Rui I'm here, look at me," tawag na naman ni Leyla sa kan'ya habang dahan- dahan itong naglalakad papalapit.

Mahigpit pa rin ang pagkakayakap ni Shawn sa lalaki pero ang kaninang madiin niyang pagkalmot sa sarili ay biglaang nahinto. He's still trembling, but he managed to look at  her. 

As soon as they locked eyes, Leyla could tell... he's terrified. Instead of acknowledging his fear, she proceeded to slowly walk up to him, giving him her brightest smile.

"Sir, anong ginagawa mo? Nasugatan ka na tuloy, patingin nga." She reached out her hand and Shawn was astounded to watch Rui's trembling hand slowly reached out for her's. 

He couldn't believe what he just witnessed, "He's calm? Tama nga si Albert," he thought to himself. Rui is still in the middle of his anxiety attack but holding on to Leyla's hand, Shawn could tell that he wont hurt himself again and let him go. 

Leyla could feel how much Rui's hand was shaking, she leaned in closer to make him smell her perfume, she knows how the smell of lavenders work for him. But she did not expect him to throw himself at her and hug her tightly. 

She could feel his hot breath on her neck. Leyla have seen him have these episodes before, but she never saw him harm himself, not to that extent at least. Hindi niya mapigilan ang malungkot dahil sa nakita niyang takot. 

"What did she do? Why are you this scared?" she wanted to ask, but she held it in. And instead, she hugged him back as she was covered by his warmth. She was just lowering herself to be at his level while he's sitting at his chair and she did not expect him to just attack her with his full body and rest his weight on her. 

"Sir, matutumba tayo," she giggled a bit. Inalalayan naman siya ni Shawn para hindi sila matumba. Ilang sandali pa ay umayos sa pagkaka-upo si Rui kahit na nakahawak pa rin ang dalawa niyang kamay sa braso ni Leyla. 

"Rui-" Shawn worriedly called out. 

His eyes were closed, but his breathing and his emotions are now back to normal. Rui can even talk to him clearly, "I'm fine Shawn. Don't worry," he said. 

"Are you-"

"Mr. Shawn, he's fine, trust him." Leyla gave Shawn a meaningful look, she wanted to give Rui the attention, ayaw niya na ipakita kay Rui na may mali sa kalagayan niya, alam niya na lalong nakakasama lang ito kay Rui. Kaya naman as long as she can, she will stay calm during his attacks.

"Your hand is bleeding tho, sandali lang Sir ha? Kukunin ko 'yong medical kit."

Akmang tatayo na nang tuwid at aalis si Leyla pero pinigilan siya ni Rui. He pulled her closer, making her stand in between his legs. Her eyes widen because of his bold movement but she managed to reason out with her own overthinking and malicious brain. 

Shawn's mouth was wide open, he did not expect to see Rui making these moves in this lifetime, but he just did. 

Parang ayaw paalisin ng lalaki ang kan'yang sekretarya. He even hugged her small waist and rested his head on her abdomen. Leyla smiled, she can finally feel that he's a hundred percent calm. 

"Mr. Shaw, can you please help me?" she joyfully asked the amazed actor. Tinuro niya ang pintuan papunta sa C.R. "Puwedeng pakikuha po 'yong med kit?" she looked down at Rui and back at Shawn. 

Alam na ng lalaki ang ibig niyang sabihin,"Ah! Yes, ako na ang kukuha," he giggled. Hindi niya mapigilan na matuwa sa nakikita niya, Leyla is softly rubbing Rui's back at mukhang walang balak na bumitiw si Rui dito sa dalaga. 

As he walk towards the comfort room he heard her soft voice ask, "Anong gusto mong almusal bukas?"

"Will you cook for me again?" parang batang tanong ni Rui. 

"Of course, what do you want to eat?"

"Sopas please."