CHAPTER 17
1309 Words
CHAPTER 17
“Is there a problem, love?” Jaxon immediately holds my hand that is currently resting on my lap after he pulled over. “Ang tahimik mo buong biyahe.”
“I-It’s nothing,” I answered, my head still bending down.
“Hey,” mula sa kamay ko ay hinawakan niya ang baba ko at marahang ikiniling ang aking ulo sa direksyon niya. His right hand found my cheeks and stroked it gently with his thumb. “I know there’s something bothering you, I can feel it. You can share it with me.”
Huminga ako ng malalim, “It’s about Aldrich.”
Nakita ko ang pag-iba ng ekspresyon niya, seryoso ang mukha niya. “May ginawa ba siya sayo?”
Mabilis akong umiling, “No—I mean, y-yes.” I hesitate a bit with my confession, but Jaxon needs to know what happened earlier. I saw his left hand clench into a fist, my breath hitched as I saw him do that.
I reached for his face and cupped it with my hands, “Calm down, love. Hindi naman niya ako sinaktan, may iniwan lang siya na bulaklak sa mesa ko pero tinapon ko naman ‘yon. I’m just worried because there's gossip spreading around the office that Aldrich and I are having an affair. Eh, hindi naman totoo.”
He looks irritated, “Hindi mo ba sinabi sa kanya na we’re officially together?”
“I didn’t tell him at once, he stopped me by saying we’re just pretending. Natatakot ako na baka dahil sa fake news na ito, suspension ang aabutin ko or worst matatanggalan ako ng trabaho.”
A tear fell from my eye, and as if on cue, his expression softened. “Come here,” he pulled me closer and enveloped me in his arms. Somehow, I’m feeling at ease with him by my side.
“I love you, Jaxon. I’m so thankful that you’re here.”
“I’ll always have your back, Sophia. No matter what happens, nandito lang ako. I love you more than you’ll ever know.” He pulled back slightly and pressed his soft lips against mine.
***
Dumaan ang ilang araw, panay pa rin ang pag-iwan ng bulaklak ni Aldrich sa mesa ko. ‘Di ko ito binibigyan ng pansin, ngunit ang sitwasyon ay mas lalong bumabagabag sa aking isipan.
Nalalapit na rin ang birthday ng pinsan ko, and it turns out to be her debut with a Bridgerton-themed ball. My gosh! Bakit late na nila ako na-inform? And here I am, kahit gusto ko nang umuwi, nagkukumahog akong pumunta ng mall upang maghanap ng isusuot. Good for Jaxon dahil mas madaling hanapin ang mga suit. I didn’t bother to text him dahil busy siya, magpapasundo na lang siguro ako mamaya.
Sa pagmamadali ko ay may nakabangga akong babae at natapunan ang damit niya ng kapeng hawak niya.
“I’m sorry!” Nilapitan ko siya at akmang punasan ang damit niya gamit ang tissue subalit natigilan ako ng makilala kung sino siya. “Laica?”
“The one and only,” there’s a hint of mockery in her voice. Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang kanyang damit, “Ugh! Look what you’ve done, Sophia!” She sneered, her eyes narrowing as she attempted to wipe the coffee off her dress, her irritation clearly evident. “Hindi ka na nga nag-iingat, hindi ka pa deserving kay Jaxon.”
Umangat ang kilay ko sa narinig. “I already said sorry, pero bakit kailangan pang idamay si Jaxon? Ganon ka na ba kadesperada para magparinig sa akin?”
“How dare you! Manipulative slut!”
“Say it again to her, or else I’m going to forget you’re even a woman,” a low, dangerously calm voice interrupted, drawing our attention to the man who had just arrived. Jaxon’s eyes were narrowed at Laica.
We were in the middle of the mall, and people were beginning to stare. Jaxon looked tired, but even in his weariness, his handsomeness was overpowering.
Laica’s smirk faltered but quickly recovered as she tossed her hair back with a scoff. “Oh please, Jaxon. You’re defending her? Pathetic. Besides, you’re too confident and in love with this woman,” tinignan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. “Have you really introduced who you are?”
I looked at him with curiosity, but he didn’t even flinch at Laica’s words. Jaxon stepped closer, his voice steady and unwavering, “I don’t care who you think you are, Laica, but if you disrespect Sophia again, you’ll regret it. This isn’t about us anymore. She deserves your respect, and you will give it to her.”
Tumawa siya ng malakas, “Oh, darling. Seriously? Well, let’s see how long that respect lasts once she knows the real you, Jaxon. You’re so confident now, but we both know you’re not as perfect as you pretend to be.” She smirked again, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Good luck keeping up that act, sweetheart," she added, her gaze shifting back to Sophia with a mocking smile.
He turned his gaze back to me, his expression softening instantly. “Let’s go, Sophia. We don’t need to waste any more time on this.” He gently took my hand, leading me away from the tension, leaving Laica standing there, seething.
***
“Love, okay naman tayo ‘di ba?” tanong niya sa akin pagpasok namin sa condo. This week, since Micah isn’t home yet, Jaxon is staying with me. Umuuwi lang siya para kumuha ng damit at bumabalik dito.
Nakatalikod ako sa kanya at hindi ako umiimik. Bigla niyang niyakap ang aking baywang at inilagay ang kanyang baba sa aking balikat. Huminga ako ng malalim dahilan upang higpitan niya ang pagkakayakap, at naramdaman ko ang init ng kanyang katawan sa likod ko.
“Is it about what Laica said earlier?” tanong niya, ang boses ay puno ng pag-aalala. “Don’t listen to her please, she is manipulative. She is just jealous seeing us happy.” Naramdaman ko ang mga pag-aalala at pagmamahal sa bawat haplos niya. “Please look at me, Love.” may pagsusumamo sa boses.
I turned around and stared at him. I tried to hold back my tears, but they betrayed me and escaped my eyes. He gently brushed them away. “Jaxon, are you being honest with me? Why does it feel like Laica knows something about the real you? Hindi lang ba sa pagpapanggap na may relasyon ang kaya mong gawin kundi ang pagtatago na rin ng totoo mong pagkatao?”
It was clear that he was taken aback by my words, so I slowly pulled away. It seemed I had already received my answer, but he held onto my hands tightly. “Don’t pull away from me, Sophia. It feels like my life is slipping away.”
“So, may tinatago ka ba sa akin?” garalgal na ang aking boses.
“I’m sorry,” he said. I looked down as tears began to fall uncontrollably. He gently held my chin, lifting it so he could search my eyes. When I looked into his eyes, all I could see was hurt and regret. “Let me explain, please. Hear me out, Love.”
Tumango ako, at iginiya niya ako patungo sa kalapit na upuan. Hinawakan niya ang aking mga kamay at inilapit ito sa kanyang mga labi, kung saan hinagkan niya ang aking mga daliri.
“If you remember the charity gala,” he started, gazing into my eyes, “I wasn’t actually supposed to attend that event but I needed to since our company is one of the major sponsors.” Inaalala ko ang nangyari noon and eventually realized something.
“V-Vinta Properties,” I whispered. I saw him nod slowly.
“I’m the owner and CEO of Vinta Properties, Sophia.”
WTH?
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