The pain he never knew (Book 1)

9

Chapter 9

"Ms zephy? Pinapatawag na pa kayo ng daddy ninyo" katok ng katulong na nagpataas sa kin ng tingin pero binalik din kaagad iyon sa ginagawa.

Without breaking my focus on what i was doing, I shouted back "sandali lang! Ano daw kailangan?"

"Kakain na daw po kayo ng breakfast" she replied making me sigh. I stared on the portfolio na ginagawa ko at hesitantly and boringly na tumayo na.

"Susunod ako. Sandali lang. mauna ka na"

And with that ay narinig ko na ang mga papalayong yabag niya. I freed my hair from being tied recklessly and stared at myself for a second on the mirror. I was wearing an oversized shirt and a short shorts na kung alin ay hindi gaanong kita dahil natatabunan ng mahabang shirt na suot. It was my normal outfit dahil nandito lang naman ako sa bahay. Not that I'm expecting someone.

"Your old man's hungry you know. You shouldn't have kept him waiting" ani ni daddy nang makababa na ako. He was all settled, ako na lang ang hinihintay. Lumapit ako sa kaniya then i slightly kissed him on the cheeks before sitting beside him.

"What took you so long princess? At kanina ka pa pala gising? Bakit hindi ka pa lumabas?" He raised a brow.

"I was just finishing up some things" i replied minimally.

"Things like what?"

"Just my portfolio. I need to finish it sooner dad" Ani ko at sunod-sunod ng sumubo, nagmamadali.

"Slow down zeph. That thing can wait." Aniya at nagsimula na ding kumain. "So how's school?"

"School is school. The same all boring events happen. Pero titiisin ko na lang since graduating na din naman ako."

"The same old plans when you graduate?" He asked casually.

Tumango ako. I hummed as a yes. "Uhuh. Still the same. But of course.." tinaas ko ang tingin ko at ngisian siya. "In able to pursue that, i would need a financer"

What I've said made him chuckle and shook his head.

"Like your husband?" He teased making me groan.

"Fiancée" pagtatama ko. "And when i said financer, i mean you." May diin kong sabi. Natatawa lang siya sa iritado kong mukha. "Even though we will be wed, I don't want to spend much of his money. If possible, not even a cent"

"Uhuh? Let's see about that princess. That boy has a thick bank account, i tell you." ngisi niya bago bumalik na sa pagkain.

Umirap lang ako dahil alam ko na ang ibig niyang sabihin. I know I'm a spender, i spend a lot. I burn money like it wasn't a big deal. But if i swore that I wouldn't touch kage's money, i wouldn't. I swear to my mother's grave.

Nang matapos kumain ay agad na akong umakyat. Dad on the other hand, went to his office. Since last week, he decided na bumalik na sa trabaho leaving me here alone with the maids.

I continued doing my unfinished work. I leaned on the chair of my study table as i threw my head backwards, stretching, rotating it in circles. In hours of working, ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng ngalay.

Napamulat ako ng mata nang may narinig na kumatok.

"Sino yan?" I know it was a dumb question dahil kami lang naman ng mga maids ang natira dito. Who else could that be?

Napaayos ako ng upo at napataas ng kilay ng walang sumagot sa kabilang side. I rose up and was about to walk towards the door when it suddenly opened. The first thing that welcomed me is kage's manly scent and from what he was holding, presenting on his arms.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito? What is that?" Halukipkip ko. He didn't move from where he was standing. He remained unmoving, cooly.

"Katulad nung ginawa mo no'ng isang araw, I'm barging in unannounced." hindi ko nakitaan ng anumang expression ang kaniyang mukha. Nakataas ang kilay na lumapit ako sa kaniya.

I licked my lower lip then i gently bit it. "What is that? Bakit may ganyan ka?" The recent was another dumb question. I obviously knew what it is.

For a few seconds, he looked down at it. And with unexplainable expression, he offered me the flower he was holding, with hesitation and...nervousness? Written on his face.

"What's this?"

"You asked that question too many times already zy. Then if your clueless, let me tell you, it's a flower zy. It's a flower" he said in an obvious tone.

"You're making me look dumb kage. I know it's a flower" irap ko. "Ang tanong ko, bakit mo ako binibigyan nito?"

He shove his veiny hand in his pocket making me gulp.

"On my way here, napadaan ako sa isang flower shop malapit dito, just a few blocks away. And then when i saw these flowers, and how the lady described and presented it to me.." tumingin siya sa mga mata ko, making me concious. "I suddenly thought of you"

Mas lalo akong kinabahan nang dahan-dahan siyang lumapit sa akin, never leaving his eyes on mine.

"Do you know the name of that flower zy? What's it called?"

"H-hindi. Ano?"

"According to the lady, It's called rain lily. Also known as Zephyranthes rosea" he said smoothly.

Bahagyang napaawang ang aking mga labi. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kaniyang hawak. The flower looks ordinary, na parang kahit saan mo lang ito mapipitas. But when i get to know it's name, how it's similar to mine. His little efforts touched my heart. Like it stirred up something inside me.

The alternative color of pink, white and amethyst painted a smile on my face. With soft sweet eyes, i looked at him at dahan dahang humakbang palapit sa kaniya.

My lips rose up nang inabot ko iyon. "This is cheesy" i said so that i can test his reaction. And i did get the reaction i was expecting. His face was showing a sign of shock like he didn't expect to receive such response from me. Irritated, like he was slightly offended of my chose of words.

Tumikhim siya. "Cheesy? Really zy? You find this cheesy?" He said in a deep baritone voice.

Tumango ako, "uhuh. Cheesy. But at the same time, it's cute" ngumiti ako sa kaniya which took him back. "It's cheesingly cute...and sweet. I did not know that you have such side like this Mr. Arguelles"

"Better get used to it future Mrs Arguelles." Aniya ng makabawi.

Natigilan ako, pero hindi ko iyon pinahalata. I secretly but my lower lip.

"So..anong ginagawa mo dito? Sinong sadya mo? Si dad ba? Do you have some business to discuss? Technically, he's not here. Kakailis niya lang papuntang office"

"No, ikaw ang sadya ko."

"Why?" I raised a brow.

He didn't answer. Bagkus ay bumababa lang ang tingin nito sa akin. Like a trance, napatingin din ako sa sarili. Completely horrid, bumalik ang tingin ko sa kaniya at nakita kong nakatitig pa din siya sa akin wearing his dark and brooding eyes.

"s**t!...it's not what you think! I have shorts" natatarantang binaba ko ang bouquet sa aking kama at tinaas ng bahagya ang suot na shirt revealing my shorts. "See.. i don't wear panties. I mean! I do wear panties pero hindi panty. Lamang. Ano..." Napabuntong hininga ako nang marinig ko siyang tumawa ng mahina. "I should stop saying the word panty right?"

"Yeah. Maybe you should. At pakibaba na din ng damit mo. Your showing too much skin." He said, supressing a smile.

Mas lalong akong napamulagat nang matukoy kung anong nginingiti niya. Binitawan ko ang hem ng aking shirt and i let it flow down, covering my tummy that was showing.

Sinapo ko ang noo. "Ang awkward nito"

"It's okay." he chuckled. "Where are you going?" Nagtatakang tanong niya nang magsimula na akong maglakad papuntang walk in closet.

"Magbibihis" simpleng sabi ko bago may kalakasan na sinara ang pintuan.

Agad akong napasandal sa pintuan sabay sapo ng magkabilang pisngi nang marinig ko siyang tumawa sa kabila.

"Maybe you should really dress up completely zy!" narinig kong sigaw niya sa labas na nagpakunot ng noo ko. Nilingon ko ang pintuan.

"What do you mean?"

"We're going out. Dinner. Make it fast baby!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at padabog na binuksan pintuan. I found him leaning on the wall outside while crossing his arms. Lumingon siya sa sakin.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi kaagad!?"

"Na ano?"

"Na may lakad pala tayo! Bakit hindi mo sinabi?!"

"It's no big deal zy. Just dress up then we'll go"

"Anong hindi big deal? You should've ring me up earlier na may plano ka pala!" I groaned. "Saan tayo pupunta? Anong susuotin ko? And for your information, we girls, don't do fast when it comes to dressing up! So deal with it. Maghintay ka!" Irap ko bago malakas na sinara ang pintuan.

"Matagal pa ba yan? We're kinda running late" he said in a bored tone and for the countless times, he looked at his watch.

Tiningnan ko siya gamit ang repleksyon sa salamin. I chuckled secretly when i saw him looking cute while seating, crouching on my bed silently na parang bata na naghihintay sa kaniyang mommy.

"Katulad ng sinabi ko kage, deal with it. Ngayon alam mo na kung anong gagawin mo sa susunod" at tinuloy na ang paglagay ng make up sa mukha.

"Noted baby" simangot niya at tuluyan nang binagsak ang sarili sa kama. Tuluyan na akong natawa.

"And...I'm done!" I announced happily after i put on my nude lipstick.

I heard him whispered something but I didn't quite caught it. He sat up then gaped at me for a couple of mintues bago naglakad na papunta sa akin and he slowly snaked his arms on my waist. Confused, pero pinabayaan ko siya. Instead, I smiled cutely at him.

"You look beautiful" his words made me smile.

"Why thank you!"

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa suot ko. His face slightly darken. He glared at it.

"What's wrong? May mali ba sa suot ko?"

"You look beautiful"

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Yeah, you already said tha—"

"Too beautiful and worth a second glance. This..what you're wearing, is giving me a hard time baby."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" Tawa ko.

"Kailangan bang ganito ang suot mo? The straps are too thin, the hem is too low. This..this dress. This is a work of a devil!"

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo? Of course that's how this dress works! It should look like this since it's a corset dress! It's normal." I argued unbelievably.

"You know what? Damn corset! Cover up." He said in a tone of finality.

"Ano bang problema mo? Okay, what is this all about kage?" I chuckled.

"Just...cover up. Pull up a cardigan or something" aniya at inenspect na ang aking closet.

"Are you serious? Hindi babagay ang cardigan sa dress ko!" Bumaba ang tingin ko sa aking suot. "No, we should go. Seriously. Forget cardigan. We're leaving. We're running late ika mo nga kaya tara na" aya ko pero hindi niya ako pinansin. Patuloy pa din siya sa pag isa-isa ng mga naka hanger ko na damit.

"You're messing up the arrangement kage! Stop that. Tara na" napasimangot ako nang hindi pa din siya tumigil.

"Isa kage! Kapag hindi ka tumigil diyan, hindi na ako sasam—"

"I said cover up, dammit! Your breasts are showing up so pull up a God damn cardigan now!" Aniya sa mataas na boses na nagpaawang ng mga labi ko.

Maybe he saw my slightly shocked and horrified face kaya unti-unting lumambot ang mukha niya.

"s**t! I'm sorry zy. I'm sorry"

Nagulat ako nang bigla niya na lang akong hapitin palapit sa kaniya. He pulled my by the waist as he hugged me tightly, burying his face on my neck making me ticklish.

"Seriously kage. We need to go. Tara na" tawa ko at sinusubukang kalasin ang pagkakayakap niya. He groaned on my neck.

"Sorry for shouting at you. Hindi ko na uulitin. I'm not usually like that, I assure you. It's just that..damn!"

"It's okay kage. Halika na. Nakapag paalam na ako kay dad. He said we should be home 'till seven so basically, we have a short time left so i think we should leave"

Hindi pa din siya kumalas kaya napabuntong hininga na ako.

"Baby...kage? Kalas na please?" I whispered in a sweet, peaceful tone.

Naramdaman ko ang unti-unting pagkalas nga mga kamay niya sa aking beywang. He slowly renewed his face on my neck and his eyes met mine. I can't help but chuckle at his expression.

"W-what did you say? What did you just called me? S-say that again."

Aniya sa mahinang boses. Shock and amazement was written on his face. Ang mga mata niya ay hindi mapakali.

"Kage?" I teased.

Umiling siya, "no, the other one. Say it again...please"

"Oh! Baby? Baby... Is that it?" i smiled.

His eyes looked down at my lips bago mariing pinikit ang mga mata and it was followed by a string of curses making me laugh.

"Damn! f**k!" He threw his head backwards. "I shouldn't be feeling this. This is gay! Fuck...shit!" Tumingin siya sa akin. "Seriously zy you should..! You should stop doing that"

"I'm not doing anything baby" may mapaglarong ngiti sa aking mga labi. Mas lalong nadagdagan ang pagmumura niya.

"Oh come on. Leave now, act like a p***y later. Let's go!" Ani ko at hinila na siya palabas at pasakay sa sasakyan niya.

"So..anong gagawin natin dito?" Tanong ko sa kaniya nang makarating na kami sa mall. Tumingin ako sa aking relo. "It's just 3 in the afternoon, maaga pa for dinner."

"Then what do you suggest us to do?"

Saglit akong tumigil para mag isip-isip bago ngumiti ng malapad. Tumaas ang kaniyang kilay.

"What do you have in mind?" Humarap siya sakin.

"How about we go shopping?" I shrieked and clapped excitedly. "Matagal-tagal na din akong hindi nakabili ng bagong damit At bags. Siguro mga 1 month na"

"Grabe, and tagal huh?" Bulong niya na nagpasimangot sa akin.

"Sasamahan mo ba ako o hindi? Dahil kung hindi, mauna ka na doon sa ipagdi dinneran natin. You'll wait there for hours. I swear, mabo bored ka" halukipkip ko.

He stared at me for a couple of minutes bago bumuntong hininga. His sigh made me smile.

"Tara na! Let's go! I'm so excited!" Hila ko sa kaniya, wala na siyang nagawa kundi magpatianod.

"Ito na ba ang huling shop na pupuntahan natin?"

Dahil sa pag-imik ay napalingon ako sa kaniya. I smiled. There he was, frowning like he can't do anything but to carry a handful of paper bags on his hands.

Tumango ako.

"Yep, it's the last one"

He let out a harsh breath at pagod na umupo sa pahabang bench sa tapat ng shop na tinutukoy.

"Kung pagod ka na, hintayin mo na lang ako dito. I promise, I won't be that long. Sandali lang to, promise"

He didn't reply, instead, he just looked up at the huge lighten logo on the shop's entrance. It was an international make up store, it was mac. Ilang minuto siyang tumitig doon bago tumingin pabalik sa akin.

"Sigurado ka na madali ka lang." tumingin siya sa relong pambisig. "We're an hour away from dinner. We can't be late. I reserved a seat"

"Oo, sigurado ako. And come on! It's not like your reservation would be cancelled kapag na late tayo." Irap ko. "Besides, you're you. I'm sure you can do something about it" huling sabi ko bago siya iniwan doon.

When i walked in, my eyes sparkled because of the colorful packages of make ups arranged in shelves. I astonishingly walked to one of them.

Oblivious of the time, I was busy swatching the different shades of lipsticks on my hand, testing kung alin ang mas bagay sa skin tone ko.

"Good evening ma'am, What can i help you with? Ano po bang hinahanap niyo?" Napataas ako ng kilay nang may lumapit saking sales lady.

At first, hindi ko siya pinansin o dinapuan man lang ng tingin. Thinking that she would just go away and figured our that I don't need any sorts of assistance. Pero sadyang makulit nga ata ang lahat ng sales lady sa mundo.

"Are you looking for a lipstick? Matte or shimmer? Can i suggest something ma'am?" At tuluyan na nga akong nainis.

"Do i look like someone who needs assistance?" I snapped but half whispering so that only that two of us can hear. I maybe a b***h but i do know how it's felt to be humiliated in public. My sudden snapping made her shocked. "Do i have a sign on my forehead saying that i need help?"

"P-pasensya na po ma'am. Akala ko po kasi kailangan niyo ng tu—"

"You see, that's the problem of sales lady, hindi niyo ba naiisip na we don't need someone bugging and irritating the hell out of us while buying?"

"M-ma'am, sorry p—"

The poor lady was caught off mid sentence again when someone snaked his hands on my waist. Ang kaninang nahihiya at namumutla niyang mukha ay biglang lumiwanag just by looking at the man behind me.

"I'm sorry about her. You see, my wife is pregnant" ani ni kage sa likod ko at bahagya pang minasahe ang aking tiyan. Nahihiwagaang napatalikod ako. I didn't notice that he was resting his head on my shoulder so i ended up kissing him on the cheeks. Naramdaman kong natigilan din siya tulad ko pero pinagpatuloy pa din ang pagsasalita.

"So she's really moody and short-tempered at the moment. She didn't mean everything that she just said. In her behalf, i deeply apologize."

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo!? I'm not pre—" napatigil ako sa pagsasalita ng minasahe niya ulit ang aking tiyan. His fingers drawing circles sent unexplainable sensation to me.

"M-mag-asawa po kayo? Este..okay lang po. N-naintindihan ko po." After kage apologized for the second time, he politely dismissed her at nakatungong umalis naman ang babae na tila dismayado pa.

Nanlilisik ang matang hinarap ko siya. Nang makaharap ay agad ko siyang hinampas sa balikat na nagpaigik pero nagpatawa din sa kaniya.

"Anong buntis ang pinagsasabi mo diyan? Quit spreading false rumors, will you!? Para kang bakla!"

Napawi ang ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi at matalim akong tinitigan.

"Who's gay? Me? Oh no Baby, how about i prove to you right here, right now how much a man i can be? Hmm?"

I tsked sabay simangot.

"Ah basta! Sana hindi mo sinabi yon. What would that lady think? Na ang aga kong nabuntis?"

"Bakit ba napakaimportante sayo ng mga sinasabi ng ibang tao patungkol sayo?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako, "Bakit? Sayo ba hindi? Isn't your image important to you? Kasi sakin oo. I don't like it when someone talks about me behind my back, it's just downright immature."

Hindi siya nagsalita kaya nilingon ko siya, nakatitig lamang siya sakin.

"At hindi ako buntis. Pano ako mabubuntis eh wala pa ngang nangyari sa'tin"

"Ano 'yon?"

Bigla akong kinabahan. s**t! Baka narinig niya yung pagbulong ko!?

"Anong ano?" Tumikhim ako. "By the way, ano palang ginagawa mo dito? Aren't you supposed to be outside? Waiting for me?" I shifted the topic.

"Yun na nga eh. Maybe you lost track of time so let me remind you. Malapit isang oras na ang lumipas simula nung pumasok ka dito. Isang oras zy!" binaba niya ang tingin sa mini basket kong dala. "Yet still, wala ka pang napili ni isa. Is it that hard to choose a product?"

"Easy for you to say, you're a man, you know nothing about cosmetics"

He tsked then rose from his seat.

"I would be lying if i say take your time, so please zy, pakibilisan. You already consumed hours on your shopping spree. Isn't that enough?" Turo niya sa mga paperbags na nakalapag sa leather seat.

"Hindi sapat yon. Besides, magkaiba ang damit at make up. Kung gusto mong mabilis akong matapos dito, wag mo kong kausapin. Bumalik ka na doon" i shooed him away.

"Ano ba yan? Let me see" he said in a tone of impatient.

Nangingiting hinarap ko sa kaniya ang isang shade ng lipstick.

"It's a lipstick. At siguro alam mo naman kung para saan to diba?"

Minutes of just putting every shade that my eyes would feast inside the basket, i turned to him. He looked back at me uncooperative.

"Which one is better for my skin tone? This one? Or this one?" Pagpipili ko, both were held towards him.

Kunot ang noong tinitigan niya ang mga iyon.

"Are you serious? Eh magkaparehas lang naman yan ng color eh" he stated boringly.

Umingos ako. "It's not! These are two different shades! Come on, just pick one!"

"God! why did i do to deserve this?" He whispered at napipilitang tinuro ang nagustohan.

His pick put a frown on my face.

"Seryoso ka? Ang panget niyan! This one's better. Tama! Ito na lang kukunin ko"

"You got to be kidding me? So bakit mo pa ako pinapili!?" He asked amused.

"Wala lang! and your taste sucks anyways. I wouldn't wear that, no..yuck!"

"You know what? Whatever, just...let's get this over with. I'm hungry"

"Sandali, last one" wala sa sariling napatingin ako sa babaeng saleslady kanina, she was at the counter. But someone blocked my view.

"Don't even think about picking a fight zy. Just put everything in that damn basket para makaalis na tayo!"

Napanguso ako.

"Hindi naman talaga" bulong ko.

"23,498 pesos po lahat ma'am"

"Just for lipsticks?" Napairap ako nang umepal na naman si kage sa likod ko.

"It's not just lipsticks, it's mac!" Ani ko sa Maarteng boses.

He sighed dramatically as he took out his wallet from his back pocket at aakmang ilalahad sa counter ang kaniyang card nang pigilan ko siya.

"Just like the recents. This is mine, i bought it so ako ang magbabayad." Yung itsura niya ay tila gusto pang makipagbangayan.

Katulad kanina nung bumili ako ng mga damit, wala siyang nagawa kundi hayaan ako. Besides, he wouldn't stands against my will.

After the paper bag was handed to me, hinawakan na ni kage ang aking kamay and was about to head outside the store nang may maalala ako. I stopped which made him confused.

Kinapa ko ang loob ng paper bag at lumapit sa counter na kung saan ay nandoon ang sales lady na sinungitan ko kanina. Walang atubling inilahad ko sa harapan niya ang dalawang lipstick at isang pallet, nagulat naman siya. Talagang hindi inaasahan ang paga approach ko.

"A-ano po y—"

"Here, take it. It's for you"

"S-sakin po? Naku ma'am! Okay lang po. Wag na po. Nakakahiya naman"

"Hindi, okay lang. pang sorry ko na din dahil sa pagsusungit ko kanina. Besides, hindi babagay sakin ang shade na yan kaya kung may plano kang hindi tanggapin ay hindi ko naman yan gagamitin. I picked it just for you. It suits your skin tone"

"Ah-eh. Sige po. Naku maraming salamat po. Salamat" may pag-aalinlangan pero tinanggap pa din naman niya. Medyo nanginginig nga lang ang kamay.

"No problem. Enjoy" i smiled at her at tumalikod na para lumabas. Naramdaman ko namang nakasunod lang sa akin si kage.

Ang buong akala ko ay nasa likuran ko lang siya pero nagulat ako nang bigla niya na lang akong akbayan. Bahagya niya pa ako hinila palapit sa kaniya. Tumaas ang tingin ko sa kaniya. I saw him looking back at me amusingly and fascinated.

"That's my girl. I'm proud of you zy" he said as he kissed the side of my head.