Chapter 13- Disappointments
1048 Words
Two hours. That’s how long Vivienne stayed with Alonzo at the quiet, hidden deck overlooking the vast sea.
Hindi niya namalayan ang oras, ang alam lang niya ay humupa kahit paano ang bigat sa dibdib niya. Alonzo didn’t ask for more than she was willing to give. Tahimik lang itong nakikinig habang kinukuwento niya ang kahit anong maisip niya. And somehow, that was more comforting than any sweet word.
When she finally decided to return to her villa, the stars were already scattered across the sky. Alonzo offered to walk her back, and she nodded. Hindi na siya tumanggi.
Pagdating nila sa harap ng villa, parehong may ngiti sa labi nila kahit pareho silang tahimik.
“Thanks for tonight,” she said, stealing a glance. “I didn’t realize how badly I needed to breathe.”
Alonzo smiled, hands tucked in his pockets. “Breathe all you want. I’ll be around if you need a walking escape next time.”
She chuckled lightly and turned the doorknob.
Pagbukas niya ng pinto,nabura ang ngiti niya. There she found Nicholas sitting on the couch, one elbow resting on his knee, his stare sharp and unreadable. Napatingin ito agad sa kanya, then his eyes flickered past her shoulder. Alonzo.
Vivienne instinctively stepped forward, partly blocking Alonzo from view.
“Nicholas? Anong g-ginagawa mo dito?” Gulat na tanong niya dito. Hindi na niya kailangang itanong kung paano ito nakapasok, obvious naman na pinagana nito ang koneksyon sa resort.
“I waited,” he said flatly, standing up. His tone was low, masyadong kalmado para hindi delikado.
“Waited?” she echoed, brows drawing in. “For what?”
“For dinner,” he answered, his stare tightening. “You forgot?”
She blinked, stunned for a second. “Ah… you waited?” There was a pause, then she tilted her head, her voice softer but no less pointed. “Akala ko kasi may iba ka nang ka-dinner, so I figured I’d leave you to it.”
His jaw tensed. Tila may biglang naalala ito kaya bahagyang nagbago ang ekspresyon. “That’s not what you think.”
Vivienne let out a bitter laugh. “Then what is it? Enlighten me. Kasi sa pagkakaintindi ko, niyaya mo ako mag-dinner, and then I find you letting some woman kissed you torridly.” Hindi nalang niya sinabi na nag-effort siya dahil baka kung ano pa ang isipin nito.
He stepped forward. “It wasn’t like that.”
“No?” She raised a brow. “Then tell me, Nicholas. Ano ‘yon? Some social experiment? Let’s see if I will gets jealous’ type of crap?But I know you know the answer to that." Aniya, nais ipaalala na palabas lang ang lahat ng ito.
He didn’t respond. Mas tumalim ang tingin nito at tumagos sa nasa likod niya. “So you left with him?”
Alonzo, who had stayed silently by the doorway, raised his brows. “I didn’t force her. Maybe she just needed someone who knew how to treat her properly.”
Nicholas glared at him. “So you're playing the hero now? As if you’re not used to breaking hearts?” Maanghang na balik nito kay Alonzo na nakapagpairita lalo sa kanya. Ito pa talaga ang may karapatang magalit ngayon?
Alonzo chuckled, but his tone turned cold. “Better a heartbreaker than a man who doesn’t know what he wants.”
“You don’t know anything about us,” Nicholas snapped.
“I know enough,” Alonzo said. “Like how you had something real standing right in front of you and still let someone else kiss you.”
Vivienne’s eyes shifted between the two men. Natatakot siyang baka kung saan pa umabot ang sagutan ng dalawa. The last thing she wants is to see them punching each other's face because by looking at Nicholas, she can say that he's was just restraining himself.
“Stop it,” she said firmly. “I don’t need a fight over me. This isn’t some ego match.”
Nicholas turned back to her. “You don’t get to act like you're the one mad, when you were out all night with another guy.”
“Tangina! Ano bang gusto mo Nicholas? Panoodin ko kayong maghalikan kanina, tapos bigyan ko kayo ng tissue pagkatapos? Then what? Then we'll have dinner? Yun ba ha? Yun ba dapat ang ginawa ko?" Hindi napigilang tanong niya sa lalaki. Kahit sa sarili niya'y nagulat siyang nagawang sabihin ang mga salitang naglalaro sa utak niya kanina pa.
Nakita niya ang paglambot nito ng ekspresyon..pero sinamaan lang niya ito ng tingin. Binalingan niya si Alonzo sa likuran niya. Tahimik lang ito. She felt sorry for him, wala naman itong kasalanan dahil sinamahan lang siya nito kanina.
Alonzo shifted his weight, when he noticed that she was looking on him “Mauna na ako Vivienne. Thanks for the company.” then threw a final glance at Nicholas. “Maybe next time, try not to waste what others wish they had.”
And with that, Alonzo left. She stood still for a moment.
Nicholas took a step forward. “Vivienne…”
She raised a hand, stopping him. Her eyes met his—calm, clear, but no longer soft.
“You waited? Great,” she said. “Ngayon alam mo na kung anong feeling ng naghihintay."
He swallowed hard. “Where are you going?”
Tinalunton niya ang daan papasok ng kanyang kwarto. Balak na niyang magpahinga dahil napapagod siya ng husto. Ayaw na din niyang kausapin pa ang lalaki dahil ayaw na niyang humaba pa ang away nila.
“Magpapahinga na ako, Nicholas. Magpahinga ka na din.” Her voice was low but firm. “Pasensya ka na sa mga nasabi ko. And don’t worry, next time, I'll try to remember that our deal is still on. I know where I stand. And kung feeling mo pinaghintay kita, then that’s on me. But next time, make sure na sabihin mo kung ano ba talaga ang gusto mong gawin ko.”
“Tao lang ako, Nicholas. Binayaran mo nga ako, oo. Pero sana, kahit kaunting respeto, ibigay mo. I’m not demanding anything from you, because I know this—whatever this is—is temporary.”
“Maybe next time, it's better to set clear boundaries."
- Writer
