Chapter 3.1
1982 Words
Chapter 3.1
"Rise and shine, Clarissa!" pang gigising ni Zea sa kanyang kaibigan. It is past 8 am already, but she is still sleepy. She has been getting insomia attacks lately and she can't sleep without the help of sleeping pills.
"Zea, mamaya na. Inaantok pa ako e" at nagbaluktot pa siyang muli sa kanyang kama.
Binuksan ni Zea ang kurtina sa kanyang kwarto. Sakto naman na tumama ang sikat ng araw sa mukha niya. Direktang timaan ang kanyang makinis na pisngi. "Ano ba naman Zea! Patulugin mo ako please." pagmamakawa nito.
"Hindi ka ba interesadong malaman kung sino ang bisita mo sa baba?" pagbubunyag ni Zea. She usually does not visit the mansion, but here she is. But why would she visit her?
Nang marinig ni Clarissa ang mga tinuran ng kaibigan ay nagising ang kanyang diwa. It seems like it caught her sleepy attention on that visitor. Who would visit her so early in the morning?
Naghilamos na si Clarissa upang maghanda para sa kanyang charity day. Matapos nun ay binabalak niyang magtungo sa kanilang hotel sa makati para makita niya ang lagay ng operasyon doon.
Kailangan niyang libangin at gawing abala ang sarili niya sa trabaho para maiwaksi na niya sa kanyang isipan ang mga stressful na nangyari sa kanya.
Saglit lang ay nakahanda na siya upang umalis.
She walked straight to the dining area upang magpaalam sa kanyang ama.
Gayunpaman, nagiisip pa rin siya kung sino itong "bisita" na tinutukoy ni Zea - na ngayon ay kasama ng ama at nag-aagahan na rin.
From the staircase of their mansion, there is only a little portion of the dining table that is visible from where she is standing. And that part of the dining table is where her dad was seated. Bakas sa mga mukha niya na nakikipagtawanan siya sa kanyang kausap bukod kay Zea.
Hindi na inalintana pa ni Clarissa na pumasok sa dining area upang makapagpaalam na siya.
Upon reaching the dining area, she was greeted by her dad. Unknown to her who the visitor was, she immediately turned her sight at the man who is seated behind her.
She swallowed a lump load when she saw the presence of the man. Sweat automatically run down her cheeks. Even if all the air conditioning unit in the dining area are on, she still felt a sudden burst of fervent heat.
"Clarissa, good that you are here." pagbati ng ama niya sa kanya. She can't react with the presence in front of her.
"Please. Join us." his masculine voice echoed in her ears.
"Pasensya ka na, at hindi ko na nasabi sa iyo na Bernard will join us for breakfast" batid ng ama niya.
Walang salitang maibigkas si Clarissa. Pakiramdam niya ay hindi na magiging tahimik ang kanyang buhay. What if she just return to Venice? A lot of thoughts is circling her mind right now. Hindi na nga niya namalayan na tumayo si Bernard and he reached for a vacant chair and offered it to her.
"Napaka gentleman mo naman pala, Bernard!" nakangiting sabat ni Zea. Isa pa itong bestfriend niya. Akala ba niya ay kakampi niya ito? Bakit tila ay umaayon na rin siya sa nais ng ama nito.
"It's just normal for me to offer seat to a woman." pagesplika niya. He then looked intently at Clarissa.
"Clarissa?" and he offered the seat. As he looked at him, he wears that sly grin again. Noon din ay napansin niya kung anong suot nitong lalaki. He is wearing a fit white shirt that shows how well his body is built was and a full fit black slacks that reveals his long slender masculine legs.
"Uy, Clarissa. Natameme ka dian? Breakfast na tayo at baka mahuli tayo sa flight natin!" bulalas ni Zea
Hindi siya sigurado kung tama ba ang narinig niya at kaagad niya itong kinumpirma.
"Flight? Anong flight?" she asked them. There is nothing in her appointments this week that includes a trip overseas or locally that would require a flight.
Napatikhim si Zea sa mga tanong ni Clarissa. Tila maraming alam ito sa mga nangyayari sa kanila.
Nilapitan siya na ama niya.
"Iha. Ipinagpaalam ka na sa akin ni Bernard. You, together with Zea will go to a part vacation part job." pagpapaliwanag ng ama niya.
What? A vacation? With him?
Naguguluhan si Clarissa. Nais niyang maintindihan ang mga nagaganap. Sa lahat ng lakad niya, siya lamang o kaya ang sekretarya niya ang umaasikaso.
"W-what is going on? This is not part of my plans? Dad?" hindi niya maiwasan kwestyunin ang kanyang ama.
"Zea? Alam mo din lahat 'to?" dagdag niya. Tumikhim ito at nagpanggap na kumakain.
"Clarissa. We have been expanding our foothold with our recent partnership with Bernard. And part of that is to survey the area where our future hotels will be built. But in order for us do that, you have to do an ocular visit and to experience the place. And the ones who is fit to that is of course the future owners."mahabang lintanya ng ama.
"But, Dad! I have so many work to do here sa manila. I can't abandon our offices here!" pagkokontra niya sa nais ng ama.
"Clarissa, anak. Calm down. Everything is in control. I have trusted the operations of our hotels to some of the executives. And I am always a call away from them, should they need my help." depensa ng ama niya.
"What about mommy? If you aren't here who will look after her? Dad alam niyo naman na kakagaling lang ni Mom sa operation." she added.
Mula sa di kalayuan ay naroon ang kanyang mommy na nakikinig pala sa kanilang pag uusap.
"Clarissa, iha." sambit na ina niya na ngayon ay tulak tulak ng kanilang kasambahay.
"Mommy. Good morning" at humalik ito sa ina.
"Iha, I will be fine. I have my nurse and our maids naman here to assist me with my needs. I will be fine, anak. I promise." at nginitian siya nito. Tila pati ang ina niya ay nais din na siya ay sumama sa kakaibang lakad na 'to.
"Oh see, anak? Everything is fine. Wala naman masama if you will be out for a week" dagdag ng daddy niya.
"But?" napatigil siya sa kanyang pagkontrang muli. She can't think of any other alibi to escape this mess.
"Monsieur, it seems that your daugther does not want to go with us. I would understand if -" napatigil siya.
"No, I will go. I'll just ready my things." pakli ni Clarissa. She has to do it. This os a business afterall.
"Ok, so everything is settled then" nakangiting turan ni Don Ismael.
"Thank you, anak" dagdag pa nito.
Exactly 1 pm when they arrived at Villamor airbase. Dito sila lilipad patungo sa Alteresia. Isa itong private island malapit sa isla ng Jomalig sa Quezon. Alteresia ang ipinangalan ni Bernard sa islang ito buhat ng ito ay mabili niya. Kahit na maituturing na itong isang pribadong isla, may mga nakatira pa rin mga mamayan roon.
The island is surrounded by serine white sand beaches and beautiful coral formation. The corals are the same as what can be seen in Tubataha reefs. It is indeed a good spot to build a Hotel Resort as number of tourist prefer quiter islands to stay. Boracay is a crowded place and some guests prefer less crowded places, like Alteresia.
Isang private plane ang nakahanda para sa kanila. It was a plabe owned by the Valderamas.
Nakapasok na sila sa eroplano. Seated beside her is Zea. Bernard and his friend Yael is seated at the back.
After the take off, Bernard unbuckled his seatbelt and reach for a glass of champagne.
"Hi, care for a drink?" he offered Clarissa his famous 1959 Don Perignon wine.
She does not want to be rude. She may not like the man, but she would not make scandal while on the plane.
"Thanks." she coldly said. She took a sip of it.
"So, let me formally introduce myself. We have been on too much conflicts on our encounters so.." at muli ay napatigil siya.
"Ok na. I know you, so we are good." at lumilitaw muli ang pagiging bitchesa niya.
Tumikhim si Bernard at muli itong bumalik sa kanyang kinauupuan. He is still pursuing to know her. Well, they have the whole week of being together and his plans are all well and executed. He just needs to be as nice to her para mas mapadali ang pag angkin niya sa dalaga.
"Nasungitan ka tuloy." natatawang asar ni Yael sa kanya. Nakatulog na si Carissa habang nasa flight.
"Bro, hindi uubra sa akin yan. I promise you, you'll see before this week ends, I will have her." desididong sagot niya.
Napa-iling na lamang ng ulo si Yael. Kahit kailan ay hindi na ito nabilib sa kaibigan. Well, he does believe him, but this time he is taming a stone heart mare. And he is sure that it will be a heck of challenge for him.
"Pare, paano kung sa pinaggagawa mo yan, eh ikaw ang karmahin?" lintanya ni Yael.
"I know that you are the most sought bachelor, kahit na mas gwapo naman ako sayo, pero this is wrong bro." pagpapatuloy niya
Napatawa siya sa tinuran ng kaibigan. Well he is Bernard Valderama and he will not just simply do accomplish things without him winning for it.
"Don't worry, brother. Anyway, siya din naman ang magiging fiancé ko, and I just want to get my interest in advance." he retorted.
He is simply unstoppable. What Bernard wants, Bernard gets. That is his motto now. He will not invest into something he will not get something from. And besides, Clarissa isn't just something. She is a total package. Her so sexy body and a beauty to drool of, everyone would surely fall for her majestic charm.
She is a beauty worth risking. And Bernard does not care how strong her resolve is.
"Dear Guest, we are about to land to Alteresia. Please do fasten your seatbelts as we are ready for landing" announcement mula sa flight pilot.
Bernard checked if everyone is on their seatbelts. Ugali na niyang gawin to to make sure safe ang lahat. Lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat, he studied Tourism and taking care of passengers is what he trained before.
As he checked, Clarissa's seatbelt is still not fastened. She is still sleeping peacefully. Tulog din ang kasama niyang si Zea.
Matimang pinagmasdan ni Bernard ang maamong mukha ni Clarissa. Her soft cheeks and that blends well with her semi blonde hair. She also has that pointed nose, that is so far the perfect nose he has ever seen.
Hindi mai-alis ni Bernard ang pagtitig niya sa dalaga.
She really is Beautiful. aniya sa isipan niya.
Nawala lamang ang kanyang pagtingin ng muling tinawag na piloto ang kanilang attensyon.
Sa pagkakataong iyon ay nagising na si Clarissa. Nakita niya kung paano nakatitig si Bernard sa kanya. Kapwa sila umiwas ng titig sa isat isa na parang biglang nahiya.
Tumikhin si Bernard. "Ahmm, yung seatbelt mo kasi. Lalapag na tayo, ayusin mo na lang." sambit niya sa dalaga.
"Thank you." she replied.
Matapos lamang ng ilang minuto, nakalapag na ang eroplano sa mini airport ng isla.
Inilibot ni Clarissa ang kanyang paningin sa buong isla. It was indeed a beautiful scene. Alteresia is a perfect island for couples. Mas lalo niya tuoy naalala si Andrew, her ex. May mha plano sana silang mag honeymoon sa Jomalig, ngunit lahat ng yun ay bunga na lamang ng nakaraan.
How she hopes she would experience this vacation with someone whom she would love for the rest of her life. But that is impossible. Andrew is still painted in her heart and she still loves him.
Dumating sana ang panahon na makalimutan niya si Andrew upang mabuksan muli ang puso niyang naging bato. Sana dumating na. Sana...
*to be continued
- Writer
