Arranged Marriage To My Boss

Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22:

"You seem too excited today" Komento ni Zach.

"It's because I'm going to see my family after so long months"

Kanina pa ko nag aayos ng mga damit na dadalin ko papunta samin kahit one day and one night lang kami dun kailangan padin mag dala ng madaming damit in case of emergency. Haha. Babae nga naman.

"You miss them that much?" Saad niya at niyakap ako mula sa likod.

Now, I got distracted hindi na ko makapagconcentrate sa ginagawa ko. I can smell him, His smell the Zachary Levi addictive smell.

Isinara ko ang mga mata ko "Yes.. too much" I answered breathlessly.

Lalo naman humigpit ang pagkakayakap ni Zach sa bewang ko at hinalikan ang balikat ko.

"You know maybe we should practice first. Bago tayo humarap sa kanila Mrs. Esqueza" He whispered to my ears, goosebumps all over my body.

Hindi pa nga ako nakakamove on sa mindblowing-angry-jealous-misshim-missme-s*x last night heto nanaman kami. Kaya bago ako madala sa ginagawa niya I zipped my bag at lumayo sa kanya baka kung saan pa kami mapunta.

I raised one finger "No no. Not now Mr. Esqueza"

He laughed loudly Oh, I love the sounds of his laugh.

"I'll show you another unexpectable talent of mine. You don't like that?" He teased.

"Very tempting Mr. Esqueza. Pero kailangan na natin umalis ngayon bago pa tayo malate at pagalitan ni daddy"

Tumawa siya ulit at kinuha na yung bag na naglalaman ng damit ko.

Hinawakan naman niya ang kamay ko "Okay you won this time. Off you go Mrs. Esqueza and please try to be a good and responsible wife" Sabi niya habang naglalakad kami papunta sa sasakyan.

I raised my eyebrow "Ganun ba ko kasama na asawa?"

"Nope. Not when you're making me jealous"

"Jealousy is one of your nature Zach" I pointed out.

"No. I've never been jealous before not until I met you"

I blushed so deeply. Yumuko na lang ako ang galing niya talaga magpasok ng nakakakilig na linya sa isang usapan. Ganito din kaya siya sa mga X slaves niya?

"Here we go" Sabi niya nang makapasok kami sa kotse.

Hmm, he sounds a little excited o naghahalucinate lang ako? Well, I don't mind.

* * *

2 hours and 30 mins. na kami sa byahe 45 mins na lang before lunch. What! Ayaw pa naman ni daddy nang nalalate talaga!

"45 minutes to go" I reminded him.

Hindi naman sumagot si ZAch but did I just saw him smirked? Nagulat ako nang biglang bumilis ang takbo ng sasakyan. Damn!

"Slow down!" I screamed. Mamatay kami sa sobrang bilis ng pagmamaneho niya!

"Don't you trust me Mrs. Esqueza?" Natatawang saad niya.

"It's the car and the road I don't trust! Crap! Zach slow down!" Mas lalo lang naman bumilis ang takbo nito. Nagpapanik na ko! "You'll be the death of me! Oh oh crap crap crap!" I said again and again habang nakahawak na sa handle ng pinto.

"I was a race car driver back when I was in college" He said, assuring me. "But mom and dad didn't know that dahil alam kong hindi sila papayag. They are very protective when we're young"

Wow. Another information from him siguro dun niya namana ang pagiging over protective niya? Pero ngayon I just can't imagine this! Zach the rule breaker! Buti na lang tinted yung sasakyan niya dahil kung may media na makakilala sa kanya. Patay na!

I closed my eyes. Magcoconcentrate na lang ako sa sinasabi niya "So isa din yan sa mga talent mo? Ang dami sigurong babae ang nagkakandarapa sayo nung college ka" It's not a question because I know the answer.

Kung sakaling naging schoolmate o clasmate ko si Zach nung college. Aba! Ang swerte ng school namin! At ang swerte namin dahil may gwapong magiinspire samin na pumasok araw araw pero malas lang namin dahil hindi nangyari yun.

"You know what Mrs. Esqueza let me tell you a secret I only had one girlfriend back then"

Napadilat naman ang mga mata ko "One girlfriend?"

Zach being stick to one? I wanted to laugh.

"Yes"

"Who is she?"

"Don't ask that" Sa tono ng pananalita niya hindi naman sa ayaw niyang sabihin mukang ayaw niya lang ako magselos.

"Say it Zach"

"No"

He wants me to beg? "Say it. Please?"

"No" He said again.

Gusto ko malaman ang tungkol sa past niya. Si Zach na teenager, paano siya maghandle ng babae before, pano siya makipagbreak umiiyak din kaya siya? at etc etc etc. Ngayon ko lang napansin ang tanging alam ko lang tungkol sa kanya is yung present niya.

"Sige na sabihin mo na. Ikkwento ko din sayo yung history namin ni Jake" His jaws tightened ng marinig nito yung pangalan ni Jake "Or even Miggy kung bakit kami nagbreak at bakit ako nafall out of love sa kanila. You know Zach maybe this is the time na makilala pa natin lalo ang isa't isa"

His brows creased, eyes still focous on the road. Then after awhile finally he smile.

"Hmm, tempting enough Mrs. Esqueza. Ladies first then"

"Oh no Mr. Esqueza you go first. Well, it was my IDEA"

"Yes it was your idea so you go first" Still not giving up. -_- dahil alam ko na ako din naman matatalo sa huli nagparaya na ko.

"Okay Jake's first?"

"Yes. Make it short coz I don't like that guy"

"Okay. Okay" Bumalik ng kusa ang isip ko sa panahon na nagbreak kami ni Jake.

"It was 2-3 years ago when I saw him kissing another girl in the public place. Kami pa nun so I confornted him righ away nagulat pa nga siya ng makita niya ko" I laughed iniimagine ko kasi yung itsura ni Jake ng mga panahon na yun "Alam mo ba kung ano yung sinabi nung babae sakin? Na pinagpustahan lang daw ako nila Jake at ang mga kaibigan niya at alam mo ba noong mga panahon na yun pinapili siya nung babae kung sino samin dalawa ang gusto niya makasama. Because I'm not lucky enough pinili niya yung b***h at nakipagbreak siya sakin"

"Yeah. after nun kinagabihan pumunta si Jake sa office na nagawa niya lang daw yun dahil malaki ang utang na loob ng pamilya nila dun sa magulang ng babae. Very cliche isn't it? Hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin ko nung mga oras na yun he's my first heartbreak and m---"

"That bastard. I wanna rip his stupid head off and kic--"

"Shh" Suway ko sa kanya. "Shh Mr. Esqueza this is my story. Mine to tell no side comment, Please?"

"Go on" He said, face serene. Ang galing niya din magtago ng emosyon niya minsan.

"He's my first love, my first boyfriend. I still remember back when we are in college isa siya sa mga hearthrob ng school. The playboy hearthrob. My ultimate crush"

Zach looks at me with disbelief.

"Come on. Don't look at me like that I was a teenager that time at lahat naman ng teenager my ultimate crush diba?"

"Okay, I don't want to hear his story anymore Mrs. Esqueza"

"Sure just let me add this one. Guess what? I slapped the girl and kick Jake's ass. Ha!"

"I'm too proud of you for kicking that bastard ass" Sabi niya at umiling "His lost coz he let go of you. If I we're him that time I will never do that to a beautiful extraordinary woman like you"

I blushed again. It's a pleasure would you believe? The Legendary Zachary Levi Esqueza is telling I'm beautiful?!

"Ow--kay. So next is Miggy"

"No need for that"

"Huh?"

"Alam ko na ang storya niyo"

I was shocked my mouth went open "Paano mo nalaman?"

"Research" He smirked.

I can't believe this! Pati ba naman yun?! Paano? Ni hindi nga ako nagkkwento sa ibang tao ng tungkol sa love life ko?

"Thay Miggy guy is crazy Iris. I will tell you again for a hundred and fifty times. Stay away with your crazy ex and stay away from your bastard ex. Understood?"

Ngayon ang bossy nanaman niya.

"Yes....Suuuuuur"

"Good"

"Hmp! So your turn Mr. Esqueza? Tell me about her"

Huminga naman ng malalim si Zach tila inaayos pa ang sasabihin niya.

"It was Ericka. She's my first" He paused.

I interrupted him "As in first on everything?"

"Yes and no"

Damn. Here it go again. The mysterious side of Zach.

"She was Ashley's bestfriend and my childhood friend"

Pakiramdam ko na may dahan dahan na sumasakal sakin ngayon. I want to hear their story pero nagseselos ako. Seriously childhood friend? Ang tagal na nilang magkakilala!

"Lagi kaming magkasama" Pagpapatuloy ni Zach "She's depending on me, always. Like she can't live without me"

Crap crap. Inhale Iris. Exhale.

"So why did you guys broke up?" Thank God. See? I can still manage to ask question.

Nagdadalawang isip naman ngayon si Zach kung sasabihin niya ba o hindi. I can see it on his face.

Finally, he sighed deeply "Because she loved me"

Naguguluhan ang utak ko. What?! Dahil minahal siya ni Ericka kaya sila nagbreak? I look at him. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Dahil mas ineexpect ko maybe dahil sobrang selosa si Ericka kaya nagsawa siya. O baka naman naiintimidate siya kay Zach dahil sobrang gwapo at successful nito. Duhh, Ikaw na magkaboyfriend ng isang Zach Esqueza. I'm sure gusto mo na lang siya ikadena magdamag para wala nang babae aaligid sa kanya.

I sighed, But love? Hell no. Ayun talaga ang rason?

"Are you okay Iris? You look so pale" Nag aalalang tanongni Zach.

"I'm okay" I reassured him "So kung nagbreak kayo dahil minahal ka niya ibig sabihin ba nun may rules and punishments na nung naging kayo?"

Hindi sumagot si Zach at mismo ang isip ko na ang sumagot sa sariling tanong ko.

She's my first.

Crap that first.

"At siya lang ang nag iisang slave at the same time girlfriend mo? The rest slaves na?"

He nodded silently. Kung hindi pa ko nagfofocus sa kanya hindi ko maririnig. Mas lalo naman bumibigat ang pakiramdam ko. She's that special to him.

Peor kung special si Ericka kay Zach. Why would he let her go like that? Should I ask him? Teka, nawawalan ata ako ng lakas ng loob ngayon.

I reminded myself that this is one in a lifetime chance. Nasa mood siya ngayon so I better ask him.

"B-but y-you d-did you l-love her?" Kinakabahan na tanong ko.

Zach laughed bitterly "Love? Never. I don't think its love. I never thought of love. I never knew what love is Iris and I never want to figure it out" He exhales sharply "But this past few weeks. I feel really different Iris like there is something new I never felt before in my life. It is maybe sort of disoriented dahil hindi na sumusunod ang katawan ko sa sinasabi ng utak ko but it felt nice. Somehow.."

Ayoko mag assume pero sana please Dear Lord sana it is because of me. I know medyo natatakot siya aminin sa sarili niya na ang nararamdaman niya ngayon ay pagmamahal. Maybe someday..

"Wow" I said gasping "Pero bakit nung nagbreak kayo ni Erikca sobrang naapektuhan ka?"

Tiningnan niya ko tila hindi makapaniwala sa tanong ko.

Umiiling naman siya ns sumagot sakin "I don't know maybe because she was my first? I don't know how to go on with my life without her. Dahil hindi ko alam kung may babae pa bang kaya ibigay ang gusto ko na kayang sumunod sa mga rules at punishments ko at" He paused.

"And?" I said.

"I was wrong. Dahil may mga babae pa palang kayang sundin yun too bad hindi nila nasusunod ang pinaka huling rules sa contract"

Awtomatikong pumasok yun sa isip ko. Do not fall for him Yes, I wanted to cry right now. Pero no! Ayoko na maging emosyonal pag dating sa mga ganitong bagay. I'm tired. Too tired.

"Pero bakit ayaw mong nagpapahawak?"

"Hindi lang ako komportable" He snapped, irritated to my question.

"P-pero si Ericka pwede?"

He stared at me for awhile. Hindi niya akalain na madami na din akong alam tungkol sa kanya.

Umiwas naman si Zach ng tingin "Ashley" He said almost to himself. Yes it was Ashley who told me.

"Zach?" I ask again.

"She knew me well. How truly dangerous and hideous I am. Why I don't want to feel that word love. Yet still in the end she decided to tell me what she feel which I don't like to hear in the first place. That's why I let her choose either I'll broke up with her or she'll broke up with me and to save her ego she've chosen the latter and told everyone it's her fault why we didn't work out. End of story"

I was so speechless. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa narinig ko. Poor Ericka I feel bad for her dahil nagalit sa kanya si Ashley kung si Zach naman pala ang nagdesisyon makipag break to be a gentleman he gave her a choice. But in the other side I feel happy dahil hindi naman niya pala minahal si Ericka. Pero ang daming tanong padin na naglalaro sa isipan ko.

"Zach can I ask one more question?"

"One"

"Alright. When you said she knew you very well. What do you mean very well?"

He sigh na tila napapagod na sa paulit ulit na tanong ko.

"My dangerous and hideous side Iris"

Bakit ba ang sama ng tingin ni Zach sa sarili niya? He's not that bad. I don't want him to feel that way. I want him to feel love he deserves. I can't just tell him that I love him but for now my action should still speak louder than words.

"You're not dangerous and hideous okay? Don't think of yourself that way Zach. Because you're not"

"I am" Look who's stubborn right now.

"You're not"

"Stop it Iris. Stop making me feel like I'm a fvcking hero in this world"

Lumiko naman si Zach at ngayon ko lang din napansin medyo malapit na kami. Huminga kami ngayon pareho ng malalim. Hindi ako titigil hangga't hindi ko napapakita sa kanya kung gaano kaswerte ang mundo dahil pinanganak siya.

"You really are Zach" I said again "How about because you save my stupid-boring-wasted life?"

Hindi ko alam kung totoo but I think I saw him smile. Nagiba na din ang tono ng pananalita niya. He relax a little.

"It's a tie love"

I rolled my eyes "See? We're even good with each other"

"Oh Mrs. Esqueza you amaze me again with your smart tounge, with your words"

"Smart really?" Natawa ako.

Naalala ko kasi yung katangahan ko nung una namin pagkikita. Ha! I knew it gumagana ang utak pag kinakailangan.

"Yes, you're smart in your own unique way. Ikaw lang ang nakakasagot sakin ng ganyan"

"Well the pleasure is mine Mr. C.E.O, so are we done fighting?"

"No. We're done talking"

I rolled my eyes again. Talking is his right term.

"We're here wife of the C.E.O" He said in a teased tone. Whoa, the butterfly in my tummy is flying again.

Really? Wife of the C.E.O? Sounds good. I love it.

"Lovely" He said nang makalabas na kami.

Sinundan ko ang mga mata ni Zach and there it is my family old house. Ang bahay kung saan ako lumaki bago kami lumipat sa city. I can feel the fresh air, isa ito sa pinaka magandang lugar kung gusto mong magbakasyon tahimik na at marerelax ka pa.

I look at Zach hindi na ko nagtataka kung bakit alam niya ang daan papunta dito kung yung kay Miggy nga alam niya lugar pa kaya kung saan ako lumaki? Napapailing na lang ako.

"What?" He asks, curious.

"Thank you" I whispered.

He smiled, Now his shy smile. "You are the most welcome love. I will do anything just to make you happy, Anything" He kissed my forehead and held my hand for the second time today.

So this is it. Zachary Levi Esqueza will going to meet my family. I'm excited, happy and scared at the same time. He squeezed my hand naramdaman niya din siguro ang kaba ko. I squeezed it too, I know, I know as long as he's with me. Makakaya namin ito.