Forcedly Yours

Chapter Sixteen

"M-Mitch?" Di makapaniwalang sambit ko.

He smiled, showing the familiar dimples on the corner of his lips.

He looked different from the boy I knew when I was fourteen years old. He definitely is taller and more muscular and gone was the softness of the youth on his face. But his eyes and smile are all still the same from what I remember.

"What? You didn't see me for seven years and no hug?" he said playfully and I immediately gave him a brief hug.

He squeezed my body against him before letting me go.

"Sit," he gestured on the chair in front of his desk as he sat on the opposite chair. "So, you want to be a nurse?"

Tumango ako. "Yes," tipid na sagod ko. I stared at him still unable to comprehend the situation.

He leaned his arm on the desk. "I was surprised to learn about you interning here as a nurse. Akala ko hindi mo na ulit gugustuhing pumasok ng ospital after what happened to Karina," banayad ang boses na sabi niya.

"Well, ano bang sa sabi nila? Face your fears?" natatawang sagot ko. I guess I can laugh about it now that Karina has fully recovered.

He smiled, staring at my face as if refamiliarizing himself with it.

His eyes followed my hand as I tucked the hair that fell on my face to the back of my ear.

"So, Mrs Rossi now, huh?" His smile was gone and he looked almost sad.

Wala sa loob na napatingin ako sa dalawang singsing na nasa daliri ko.

Marahang hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at tinitigan ang mga singsing.

"He got the opal right, atleast," mahina ang boses na sabi niya. He squeezed my hand a little before letting it go.

He sighed, running his hand through his hair. "How did this happen? Twenty-two ka lang. You're not even done with college yet," nagtatakang tanong niya.

I gave him a sad smile. "It just...happened," sagot ko. I'm not about to tell him everything. I'm too embarrassed.

I always believed that Mitchell was my first love. He was nineteen when I met him in the hospital where we constantly brought Karina. He was kind, and patient and was already a medical student despite his age. I remember him explaining something about an academic accelerated program. He was beyond his years. We lost contact after he went to Harvard to finish school.

I'm not going to make our reunion about me and my complicated marriage.

"How about you? A thoracic surgeon? Alam kong genius ka pero hindi ko alam na super genius ka pala," nakangiting sabi ko.

Familiar ang apilido niya sa akin pero hindi ko akalain na magiging surgeon na agad siya sa edad niya kaya hindi ko siya naisip nang banggigin ni Ms Jill ang apilido niya.

He stared at me for a moment before giving me a dimpled smile. "That's one way to put it," sabi niya. "I was already in my last year of med school when I met you and I went to the US to finish my specialty. Let's just say I worked hard and now we're here."

Tumango ako. "Well, I'm proud of you. I always knew you were going to become someone great."

"Did you really?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya.

"Of course! You've always been smart and great with patients. You were especially great with Karina. I'm pretty sure we both loved you at some point," natatawang sabi ko.

He had a wistful smile on his lips. "You loved me, huh?" Nanunudyong sabi niya.

I rolled my eyes at him, my face red. Gosh.

"Well, you know what I mean."

He nodded and then his face got serious. "Is he treating you right? Are you happy?" tanong niya pagkaraan.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasagutin ang tanong niya.

Was Leyton treating me right? I mean, yeah he's protective and has provided everything I needed.

Was I happy? That made me pause. For some reason, I was. I am happy. I've felt a sense of peace since Leyton and I talked and kind of made up.

I bit my cheek and gave him a nod. "As happy as I can be."

Tumango siya. "That's good," he stared at me for a minute. "You'll let me know if you need anything, okay?"

"Well, right now, all I need is as much OR exposure from you," nakangiting sabi ko.

He chuckled. "You got it."

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Mitchell was exactly what they said he was. He was good and confident as he carefully worked on the patient who had to have open heart surgery due to an atrial septal defect. He even remained composed and calm when we lost the patient for a minute.

Grabe ang kaba na naramdaman ko sa takot na mamatay ang pasyente pero maayos na natapos ang operasyon. The doctors and nurses were commending Mitch for doing a good job with his first surgery operation in the hospital.

Inimbita niya akong kumain ng hapon para mag-catch up. I politely declined and told him Leyton was going to pick me up. He nodded and gave me a tight smile before we said our goodbyes.

Nasa harap na ng ospital sa Leyton paglabas ko. Nagpaalam ako kay Sonia at agad na pumasok sa sasakyan upang hindi maghintay ng matagal si Leyton.

"Hi," nakangiting bati ko bago nilagay sa likod ang mga gamit ko.

Hinawakan niya ako sa batok at hinalikan bago nilagay ang mukha sa leeg ko. He inhaled and I pulled away, embarassed.

"Busy ako today, I probably smell," nahihiyang sabi ko.

Umiling siya at binigyan ako ng mabilisang halik. "I love your smell, wife," he gave me a sexy smirk, making me blush before he started to drive.

"We're going to have dinner with my friends," rinig kong sabi niya kalaunan. "the guys wanted to spend time and catch up a little bit." Paliwanag niya.

Bahagyang napatingin ako sa sarili. Naka-scrubs suit pa ako.

"May oras pa ba tayo? I have to change first. I was assisting with an open heart surgery kanina. I don't think I should walk around wearing these," sabi ko sa kanya.

He looked at my scrubs. "We can go home so you can freshen up," he offered.

Tumango ako kahit nasa daan ang mga mata niya. "Okay lang ba na isama mo'ko? Baka all boys lang ang usapan niyo," bahagyang natawa ako sa sinabi ko.

'Boys' is not a word people would use to describe him and his highly accomplished friends. They were all men, rich and powerful men.

"Kai is back and I want you to meet him," he smiled and glanced at me sideways. "I trust you not to blush at him this time, wife," he said jokingly but there was an edge in his voice.

Umirap ako. "Can't promise that I wont," natawa ako nang sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. "You know you're the best looking among all of you, right?" Sabi ko.

"I'm glad you think so, baby," nangingiting sabi niya. "But Calum has always been the pretty boy and well, you haven't seen Kai yet."

"I don't want a pretty boy," ganti ko.

"Yeah?" he said giving me a slow and sexy smile. "What do you want then, wife?"

"Stop fishing for compliments," namumulang sabi ko.

He chuckled. "It won't be the end of the world if you admit you want me."

"You already know the answer," sagot ko.

"I want to hear the words," Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at dinala sa labi niya. "Tell me," he murmured against my skin.

"It's y-you I want," namumulang sabi ko.

He smiled, his face lighting up before giving my hand a soft kiss again.

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I decided to wear a pale blue maxi dress and paired it with white high-heeled shoes. I pulled my high into a slicked-back ponytail, finishing the look with a white ribbon. I did my best to clean up as much as I could, wanting to look presentable for Leyton.

"This dress might just kill me," sabi ni Leyton bago ako halikan.

I turned my face away not wanting him to ruin my lipstick. His lips landed on my neck where he licked and sucked on my skin. Bahagyang tinulak ko siya nang maramdaman ko ang kamay niya sa pwet ko.

"Male-late na tayo," saway ko.

He chuckled and gave me a soft kiss before holding my hand as we went out of the house and went inside his car.

"I guess I can have my dessert later," he winked and laughed when he saw my red face as he started the engine and drove.

Agad na nakita ko si Reid pagpasok namin sa restaurant ni Calum. He was sitting with another man at the very corner away from all of the other tables. I'm mildly surprised that they didn't go for the VIP rooms like Leyton and I did the first time we went here.

Tumayo si Reid paglapit namin. Both him and the other man gave Leyton a manly sidehug.

"Hi, Kristina," Reid said, giving me a small and polite smile.

I smiled back at him, "Hi, Reid. Please call me Tina."

"I'm glad to see you're safe," he said before giving a meaningful look at my husband.

I momentarily flushed in embarassment. Naalala ko bigla ang search and rescue team na pinatawag nila para hanapin ako.

"Ah, yes, thank you," napapahiyang sabi ko.

I looked at Leyton and saw him staring at me. I hope he doesn't think I'm blushing because of Reid. He squeezed my hand before introducing the other man.

"This is Malachi," Leyton said gesturing his hand to his friend. "Kai, this is my wife, Kristina."

My husband was right when he said that this friend was a 'pretty boy'. Matangkad siya, halos kasing tangkad nila Reid and Leyton. He was also lean and not overly muscular. His inky black hair was styled in a classy and messy way and he had a 'pretty' face. Singkit ang mga mata niya at napaisip agad ako kung may lahi siyang Korean or Chinese, perhaps? Looking at his eyes though is like looking at an abyss. It was almost empty and vacant.

Where on Earth did Leyton find these people?

Hindi rin nakaligtas sa mga mata ko ang tattoo sa dibdib papunta sa leeg niya. He was wearing a dress shirt with three loose buttons. Was his body covered with them? Hindi ba masakit 'yon?

Malachi or Kai nodded his head. "It's nice to finally meet you," his warm words contradicted his neutral tone. "Finally got what you want, huh?" He smirked and laughed when he saw Leyton glared at him in warning.

What did he mean by that?

"Uhm. Hi," nag-aalangan na sabi ko bago kami umupo sa round table.

Leyton sat on my right while Kai sat on my left. Reid sat beside Kai, leaving two chairs on Leyton's left side.

Magdadala ba ng girlfriend si Calum?

Agad na nasagot ang tanong ko nang pumasok si Calum kasama ang kambal niya.

Nicola looked gorgeous, wearing a tight tube pale red dress that ended on her mid-thigh. She paired it with a pair of red shimmery high heels that had straps twirling around her ankles to her mid legs making her petite body look tall. She looked like a doll.

Napatigil siya sa paglalakad at nakita ko ang bahagyang pamimilog ng mata niya nang makita niya kami. Or rather, when she saw...Kai.

Is this what Leyton was talking about?

She continued walking towards us again with her chin in the air. Her face was slightly pale behind her exquisite makeup. She looked at Kai briefly before her eyes landed on me beside him. She averted her gaze before clenching her jaw.

Leyton gave my hand a gentle squeeze and I squeezed it back to let him know I was okay. In fact I was more okay than ever.

He told the truth about Nicola. And I could not help but feel sorry for her.

Reid smirked as if he enjoyed the tension suddenly filling the air while Kai was quiet on my side.

"Hey, you guys!" Masiglang bati ni Calum. "Kanina pa ba kayo? Why is everyone so tense? Are we too late or something?" natatawang sabi niya.

"Just take a goddamn seat, Cal," sabi ni Kai sa gilid ko.

Calum chuckled as Kai stood up and gave him a manly side hug.

"My man, glad to see you're back," Cal patted Kai on the shoulder. "Hopefully for good this time?"

"We'll see," simpleng sagot ni Kai bago sila umupo.

"Calliope," Kai addressed Nicola as if to acknowledge her.

Calliope?

Nicola gave him a tense and toothy smile. She almost looked like she was annoyed. "Malachi," she gritted out before starting to sit beside Leyton who narrowed his eyes at her in a warning.

I also felt Kai tensed beside me and I know Reid also did because our eyes met before he glanced at his friend's face and smirked, enjoying the situation.

Something was very, very wrong with these people.

Nicola rolled her eyes at Leyton before sitting next to Reid instead.

Calum sat beside Leyton and started sharing about his new menu right away, oblivious to the tension around him.

Kumain na kami nang dumating ang pagkain na ipinahanda ni Calum. Nabanggit niya na bagong menu 'yon at gusto niyang kami ang unang tumikim.

"How's Europe, pare? I heard the girls there are hot," nanunudyong sabi ni Cal kay Kai mayamaya.

Nicola looked up and stared at Kai.

Kai shrugged. "You talk as if you've been with a lot of European girls," he smirked at him.

"I don't kiss and tell," ganti ni Cal.

Kai chuckled. "Right. And here I thought you've been a virgin for the past seven years."

Kai obviously struck a nerve because Calum's smirk was gone in an instant.

"How would you know when you haven't been around all these years?" Reis intervened as if coming to Cal's rescue.

"Still sad I left you?" natatawang sabi ni Kai.

Both Nicola and Calum were quiet for a long time before Calum slowly came back to his normal self.

They also began chitchatting and talking about business, effectively eliminating the tension in the air. Napag-alaman ko na may malaking law firm ang pamilya ni Reid kung saan din niya pina-practice ang pagiging corporate lawyer. Calum's family are more on the Food and Beverages side of the business while Kai's family owned hospitals.

"They also own St Agatha Medical Hospital, Kitten," sabi sa akin ni Leyton pagkaraan.

I raised my brows, my lips forming a small 'O'.

"Talaga?" medyo shocked na tanong ko.

Leyton smiled, "Yes. I can ask Kai to give me access to the CCTV cameras if I want to," naunudyong sabi niya.

I shivered slightly. I'm not sure I want that, especially with Mitchell in the hospital. I don't want Leyton to take my friendship with him out of context.

"Why would she be in St Agatha's?" neutral ang boses na tanong ni Kai.

"It's where she's doing her internship," paliwanag ni Leyton.

Kai nodded before focusing his dark eyes on me. "How is it so far?"

"I like it, I'm enjoying it a lot," nakangiting sagot ko.

He smirked, "Ah, so then this means your wife is going to work for me after all, Ley?"

Nicola briefly glanced at him before glaring at her food and stabbing her steak using her fork.

"f**k you," natatawang sabi ni Leyton. His hands are on the back of my chair. "No wife of mine will work for you."

Kai raised his eyebrow, "Why? You heard her. She likes it there," he told my husband, egging him on.

Ganito ba talaga silang magkakaibigan mag asaran?

"Shut up, dumbass," sabi ni Leyton. "Why, are you back for good?"

Kai shrugged. "I don't know. I guess it depends," he said.

"Depends on what?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Calum.

Kai smirked at him before glancing at Nicola. I wonder if his friends noticed how his eyes lingered on her. "Depends on how clingy you'd get. You like to get my attention a lot, after all."

May pakiramdam ako na hindi na si Calum ang tinutukoy niya. Tumawa si Cal at binato siya ng table napkin.

"You were the clingy one, you fucker," Cal said and they began to banter.

They were discussing business again when I felt Leyton's hand on my leg.

"I can't wait to go home, wife," he whispered in my ear making me blush. "I'm ready for dessert."