Undercover Bride (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 21.1

"Did you had fun?" Hunter asked me nang makasakay na kami ng sasakyan niya. Forcefully, I nodded at agad na rumehistro sa labi nito ang isang malawak na ngiti. "I am glad that you enioyed the dinner."

Inalalayan niya ako sa pagkabit ng seatbelt but to my surprise, he kissed me on my lips nang maikabit niya ang seatbelt ko. I moved along with his lips hanggang sa tumigil ito.

"I don't understand the feeling that you're making me feel but thank you, Nathalia," aniya. He caressed my face habang ang mga mata nito ay diretsong nakatingin sa mga mata ko.

"Thank you for?"

"For being with me," he said. "I have this feeling inside me that I am hoping against hope that you won't be in love with someone else while I am still fixing myself with the adjustments that I have to do and decisions that I have to make because I badly want to make this work," he added.

"Are you...in love with me?" tanong ko rito. He smiled and distanced himself.

"I don't know how that word feels like," he uttered. "I couldn't even fathom myself falling in love with someone, but I could give it a try since you're here, you're a part of my life."

A subtle smile flashed on my lips. Hindi na rin ako sumagot dahil sa sinabi nito. Binuhay na niya ang makina at tuluyan na kaming umalis ng mansyon nila. Walang nagsasalita sa amin sa buong byahe. Hindi ko rin alam kung ano ba ang dapat kong sabihin o kung may dapat ba akong sabihin sa kaniya bilang tugon sa ideya nito.

"What's your idea of marriage?" he asked out of nowhere na siyang pumutol aa katahimikang bumabalot sa amin. "I was thinking of something like a contract marriage. You know, where we would benefit with each other without being that involve with each other. Like we're getting married just for the benefits but without the idea or need of falling in love."

Natigilan ako sa suhestiyon nito. Ni hindi ko inaasahan na sa kaniya ko maririnig ang mga salitang iyon. Parang sinasabi na rin nito na itatali ko lang ang sarili ko sa kaniya para maging parausan niya at kung sakali mang magsasawa ito sa akin, pwede rin siyang tumikim ng iba at iwan ako sa ere. It's not that I am hurt about the idea, but knowing that a man like him exist, I want to punch him straight on his face.

"Whatever you want, Hunter," I said at saka ipinikit ang mga mata ko. Ayokong makipagtalo rito sa kabulukan ng naiisip niya dahil knowing him and man like him, paniguradong wala sa bokabularyo nito ang matali sa kahit na sino. Commitment is what they hate the most. All they want is fun and that's it. Kapag tapos na sila sa 'yo at sa katawan mo, kapag nailabas na nila ang kailangan nilang iraos, tapos na ang ganap mo sa buhay nila.

Hindi ko siya kinausap hanggang sa makabalik kami sa condo niya. Nauna rin ako sa paglalakad but when I got inside the elevator, he pinned me to its walls and kissed me. Hindi ako gumanti sa halik na ibinigay nito, maging sa naging paghawak niya sa akin. When he noticed that, he stopped at saka ako tinignan nang diretso sa mga mata ko.

"You're pissed," he said. "About what I said earlier—"

"I am not asking for a commitment, Hunter," I said plainly. "But I am not asking you to disrespect me on that level. Let's cancel this wedding—"

"No, babe, no," tila natatarantang aniya. Tinignan ko ito sa mga mata niya at agad nitong sinapo ang pisngi ko. "We won't cancel the wedding. I'm sorry for what I said, baby." Pinagdikit nito ang mga noo naming dalawa. I saw him closing his eyes. "Let me try, okay? I am not used to this but let me try."