A Sweet Punishment

ASP 8

Napuno ang buong conference hall dahil sa pananabik sa anumang liliwanin ni Raphael. Kaliwa't kanan ang mga reporter nang mga kilalang network. His manager is here too, Ross Damian Raña, a 30 year old bachelor who owned a chain of hotel in Paris and England. He's an architect too.

A member of Dark Deimos Council.. Yeah, as a frat meron silang senior na tumatayong council. Sila ang nagpapatupad at nagdedesisyon kung papayagan nila ang anumang event na gagawin ng mga leader.

"May I have a minute, Mister Raphael Salvatore?" A young girl reporter approach him. Maganda ito at maputi, may maikling blonde na buhok.

"Sure."

"This is Amy of Channel 22, Is that true that you have a son?" Raphael smiled.

"Yes."

"Is that true that you're son is the only one Dyniosus Rage Flores?" Straightforward nitong tanong.

"Yes."

"Is that true that the mother of the child is no other than you're childhood sweetheart---Gabrielle Ellieson Flores? A rival band's cousin---Lance Armstrong?" Nagbulung-bulungan ang mga nasa loob. Nandito ako sa private room kung saan napapanood ko ang nangyayari sa loob.

"Yes. She is." Anito sa seryosong tinig at bumalik nanaman sa dating aura. The intimidating Danielle Raphael Salvatore.

Agad na pinutol ni Raphael ang anumang sasabihin nito o itatanong. Maayos niyang sinabi na kelangan niyang ipaliwanag ng ayos ang lahat.

The crowd tensed. Halo halong emosyon at sawikain.

"Good evening, ladies and gentleman. I, Danielle Raphael Salvatore is requesting to Gabrielle Ellieson Flores to come here." Nagkagulo na ang mga tao sa paunang sinabi ni Raphael. Intrigang intriga sila. Hindi pa ako nakakakurap ay may mga staff nang narito para sunduin ako.

"Ma'am.." Tawag nila na agad kong tinanguan. Inayos ko muna ang sarili ko bago ako naglakad palabas. Hindi ko sinama si Rage baka magkaroon pa ito ng phobia sa crowded na tao. Saka Gabi na rin.

"This way Ma'am.." Nakangiting sambit ng agency ni Raphael.

I nodded at sumunod lang sakanila. When I open the door. Halos malula ako sa dami ng reporter at mga journalist. Hindi rin nawala ang mga sikat na photographer na panay ang kuha ng picture sakin habang napasok ako.

"Every now and then..you'll meet her." Nagnininging ang mata na sambit nito.

"I believe that one day you'll meet someone who can change you, everything. And be your everything. And I believe that I meet her now....again." Panay ang bulungan ng mga tao sa paligid. Kilig at halo halong opinyon na wala namang masama dahil Panay papuri samin.

"And I want to make it up to her and to all the people out there..that this girl Gabrielle Ellieson Flores is going to be my wife...well, I'm going to asked her now." Hindi ko alam kung pano ako nakakalakad ng may kaba at nanginginig na tuhod.

But I managed to walk straight without inhibit actions.

"I love her since the first I lay my eyes on his Goddess face, I started my own song, our song together when I look at her from afar. I started my dream when I thinking about our future together. I know she's in love with someone else, but I'll never give up on her. I did some terrible things yeah, I admitted it. But I won't regret it. Until this day, when I finally meet her with my little Prince. Now, here I am standing proudly in front of all the people in the world telling my love and fantasy with my note. My favorite rhythms." Huminga siya ng malalim at humakbang palapit sakin. Nang mapansing tumigil ako. Kanina ko pa pala di napipigilang di maiyak. Siguro tears of joy?

"Yeah, everything is fast for all those who think that I'm in loved with Lucy. But you're wrong. Lucy is nothing compared to this girl who caught my eyes and drown my heart with his beauty." People gasped and show amused. Pero ang karamihan ay nangingiti.

"I am proud to tell you and all the people in the world how much crazy I am when its come to you. Hey, don't cry I love you." He said huskily saka ako niyakap sa bewang at hinalikan sa noo. Pinupog ako nito ng halik.

Saka siya lumuhod. Nagulat ako nang may kunin siya sa bulsa ng pants niya. A red velvet box. Binuksan niya iyon at kitang kita ang iba't ibang mamahaling bato na ginamit pang disenyo sa tila nota at palibot ng singsing.

"Hey, I want you to know how much I want to be with you.. So, here I am..." He smiled. Nangingilid na din ang luha. But still he look so handsome.

"Gabrielle Ellieson Flores, even if loving you is a suicide.. Still I want to marry you. Will you marry me?" Napasinghap ang mga tao. Lahat sila tuwang tuwa. Everyone cheered for him. Everyone admired him even more. Everyone dream to have a person like him.

"Mama, don't make Papa's wait. C'mon! Say YES." Nagulat ako at ang lahat ng tao nang biglang sumulpot si Rage sa may gilid namin. Walang nakapansin miske isa.

Napakaguwapo nito, suot ang katulad ng suot ng ama. He look more handsome with it and his gesture is cute dahil nakangiti ito habang nakataas ang kilay.

"Uh...

Yes... I'll marry you. Not because Rage said so. But of course I love you with all my heart. I am yours, Forever."tila nabingi nanaman siya at di na kumibo. Natulala nalang. Samantalang tumitili at naghihiyawan na ang mga tao.

"Can you repeat again?"napangisi ako dahil nabingi nanaman ho ang aking mahal na hari.

"YES! I'll marry you." Ulit ko. He got my hand and put a ring on my ring finger saka mabilis na tumayo at niyakap ako.

"Whoa!" Tuwang tuwang napanganga si Rage. Everyone laughed at his cute reactions.

Dumating si Alexander, Raphael childhood best friend. Agad nitong tinakpan ang Mata ni Rage when Raphael held me on my waist and kiss my lips passionately. Mas lalong nag ingay ang mga tao sa nasaksihan..

"What are you doing?

Why are you leaving?

Why do you always say sorry?

How about my feelings?

How about me?

When you're gone

When you left me behind

When I found out

that I'm not in your arms

When I found no trace of you around

When I felt so sad and all I can do is to cry.." Dumagundong ang maingay na tunog ng electric guitar at ang malakas na pagkanta ni Tranz, nagsesecond voice naman ang iba pang miyembro.

"Are you ready to face the future

without me?

without my hug?

without my kiss?

without my comfort?

are you going to be happy when the only

person that make you happy is already

the one you lost.."si Raphael ang chorus. Gosh! Nakakainlove talaga ang boses niya. Nandito kami kasama si Rage sa concert nila sa New York.

Halos mapuno ang buong coliseum sa dami ng nanonood.

"Do you think that having all you want,

all you need, all the money and friends

will save you from a

broken heart?

When you found no one

to replace me in your heart

will you survive in your

Everyday life?" Tranz and Pacifico..they're voices look good together.

"Without the reason

why you still breathe in and out for life?

baby, do you know the consequences of letting go?

do you know?

Do you know how to face the reality without the one who make you alive in this world that full of lies and darkness..." Kasabay na nila si Wayne at Hiro..damn ang galing nila mag gitara.

"Are you ready to face the future

without me?

without my hug?

without my kiss?

without my comfort?

are you going to be happy when the only

person that make you happy is already

the one you lost.." Silang lahat kasabay si Alexander. They rock the whole coliseum halos mabaliw ang mga tao sa pag sabay sakanila.

"Do you think that having all you want,

all you need, all the money and friends

will save you from a

broken heart?" Si Raphael at Alexander na sabay kumanta.

"When you found no one

to replace me in your heart

will you survive in your

Everyday life?" Tranz and Alexander.

"Without the reason

why you still breathe in and out for life?

baby, do you know the consequences of letting go?

do you know?

Do you know how to face the reality without the one who make you alive in this world that full of lies and darkness.." Hiro, Tranz and Wayne.

"Are you ready to face the future

without me?

without my hug?

without my kiss?

without my comfort?

are you going to be happy when the only

person that make you happy is already

the one you lost.." Randall sing this stanza together with Tranz. Ang angas ng boses nila.

"Do you think that having all you want,

all you need, all the money and friends

will save you from a

broken heart?

When you found no one

to replace me in your heart

will you survive in your

Everyday life?.." Sabay na silang lahat.

"Without the reason

why you still breathe in and out for life?

baby, do you know the consequences of letting go?" Si Tranz at Hiro naman.

"do you know?

Do you know how to face the reality without the one who make you alive in this world that full of lies and darkness..." Randall and Wayne..hanggang sa matapos ang kanta. Nagpalakpakan lahat ng narito sa paghanga.

Madaling araw na natapos ang concert nila. Still kahit na mga pagod ay di iyon nakabawas ng kagwapuhan nila kahit na namamawis. Their fan girl went wild kanina. Buti nalang at may mga nakaassigned na umawat sa mga ito. Naharassed nanaman si Alexander at Pacifico.

"Hey. Rage is sleepy, you should take him on your suite."napatingin ako Kay Randall na seryosong nakatingin Kay Raphael. Binuhat naman nito ang anak. He nodded.

"we should go.."aya nito. Tumango lang ako at sumunod na sa mag ama. Hiro wave his hand, tumango lang ang iba.

Pagdating sa suite ay mabilis akong nagtungo sa CR para magpalit saka inasikaso agad si Rage na nakatulog na sa bisig ng ama. Raphael put him down saka ako na ang nagtanggal ng suot nito para palitan ng pantulog.

We stayed for at least one hour bago makatulog. He kissed me before I sleep.

Maaga akong nagising kinabukasan para asikasuhin ang mga gamit namin. Babalik na kami ulit ng London since tapos na naman ang concert. Nakapag gala na rin kami sa mga tourist spot dito sa New York bago ang concert kaya ayos na.

Rage is excited to go home. Kaya sobrang ligalig nito. Panay ang pagpapakarga sa ama.

At kuwento sa mga nadiskubre niya noong nag gala kami.

Nasa chopper na kami nang antukin ito sa sobrang pagod. Sobrang likot kasi. Kinalikot ko naman ang dlsr niya na punong puno na ng memories dahil puro mga picture namin at nang mga nagustuhan niyang bagay o scenery sa New York. His really good at this. My son is a prodigy after all.

Kumain kami bago umalis buti nalamang at di nagsuka si Rage sa sobrang dami niyang kinain.

Raphael look handsome with his shade. Damn it.

"Are you tired? You can sleep here." He tapped his shoulder. I nodded. Saka dumantay sa balikat niya.

Nagising na lamang ako nang makarating na kami. Its so tiring kung kaya't pagdating sa condo niya ay nakatulog na kami ulit.

"Mama wanna play chess." Bitbit ang malaking chess board ay lumapit sakin si Rage. His father is out. May practice pa kasi sila.

Saktong may nagdoorbell kaya I excused to him. He pouted and I chuckled.

Sinilip ko muna ito sa monitor then I am dumbfounded and starstruck with the two handsome men.

I immediately open the door and found them patiently waiting.

"Good morning..Ellie..." Baritonong boses ni Ares ang unang umalingawngaw. Hindi mababakasan ng kahit anong pag ngiti sa gwapo nitong muka. His features was rough and a bit harsh pero alam kong ganito na talaga siya since birth.

"Good morning, Ellie." Sergio greeted too. Pilyo ito gaya ni Raphael at masayahin. Pero bawat salita nito ay tila may mas malalim pang kahulugan once na makausap mo o makakuwentuhan. He's more sensical in a different ways.

"Come in." Una kong sabi. Pumasok naman sila at sinalubong ang aking anak. Its the first time na nakita sila ni Rage kaya kunot ang noo nito at nakanguso nanaman.

"Sino sila mama?" Ngayon ko lang din napansin na kapag nagtagalog si Rage ibig sabihin naiirita ito.

"I am Ares Rouge.." Pakilala ni Ares.

"Sergio, young prince."

Sumama ang muka ni Rage sa narinig. "Oh? The leader of the famous Light Hedone band?" Suplado nitong sambit. Napanguso ako roon. "C'mon, Rage have some manners." Saway ko. Inirapan lang ako nito.

"And why would I do that?" taas kilay nitong turan.

"Coz Ares Rouge is your father's elder brother. Have some respect.."sambit ko na nakapagpatigil sakanya at gulat na bumaling sa lalaki. Napayuko ito at tila nahiya bigla sa inasta.

Ares Rouge Salvatore Laughed. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Masyado itong natuwa sa pamangkin. I smiled at him. Kinarga niya naman si Rage at pinitik sa noo. "Blessed?"nilahad niya ang malapad niyang palad at nagbless naman sakanya ang bata.

What Why How When by Hershey Mae Mendoza