Rockefeller Series #1: Wicked And In Love

Chapter 7

Itália Devonaire's Pov

Kahit na nahihirapan akong imulat ang aking mga mata, napilitan pa rin akong gawin 'yon matapos kong maramdaman ang paulit-ulit na pagdampi ng malamig at malambot na bagay sa 'king braso. "Willow Anne, ano na naman bang—Lander." I tried to sit but he stops me.

"Mahiga ka lang. May lagnat ka pa rin." He said it with his unsmiling face. I have the urges to push him away and tell him to stops everything that he's doing but my minds says no for the first time. Somehow, there's this side of me that stills appreciate his effort to get on a plane and fly for 13 hours just to be here. This is the only thing I can let him do for me without getting my pride bruise.

I saw him glances at the bed-side table, staring directly at the bowl of soup and medicines that Willow Anne gave me last night. I didn't take any of it.

"Hindi ka gagaling kong hindi ka iinom ng gamot." Tumayo si Lander. Lumakad siya palapit sa sofa at mula roon ay hinablot nito ang kulay itim na coat. Nilabas niya ang pamilyar na karton ng isang gamot.

Naalala ko 'yan. That's a medicine for flu, the only medicine that I'm willing to take for it's color pink. Hindi ko lang nga alam ang brand niyan at kung saan 'yan binibili ni Lander kaya hindi ko magawang bilhan ng ganiyan ang sarili ko.

Akala ko'y babalik na 'to sa 'kin kaya nang dumiretso siya sa maliit na kusina nitong suite ay napanguso na lamang ako habang hinihintay siya. Ilang saglit pa, namataan ko na ang muli nitong paglapit.

May dala siyang baso na may lamang lychee juice. I know that it's lychee, I always drink that whenever I have a chance. I just love it for mainly for it's color.

"Here." Iniabot niya sa 'kin 'yong gamot at lychee juice. "You wouldn't just stop using this trick to me." He giggles and nodded his head a bit.

"You have your obsession with anything that's pink and is willing to take anything as long as it's pink. I'm glad that this still works on you. Akala ko hindi na."

Pagod kong nginitian si Lander. "Some things about me remain the same." I handed him the glass back after I finished drinking the lychee juice. I pulled the comforter more and hide my body there.

"I know baby. I know that behind your crummy attitude, you still have goodness in you. You're just good at hiding the Itália that I have fallen in love with." Nag-iwas ako ng tingin dito.

"I don't want this kind of talk, Lander, please."

Hindi ito nakinig sa pakiusap ko nang bigla niyang sabihin na, "Baby, what happened to us? Why did we become like this?"

I c****d my head to stare at him. There's an arc of sadness on his lips and suppressed longing in his eyes. I don't know what's that for. Is hs longing for me? Or for the answer to that question.

I sniffs. Slowly, my eyes becomes blurry, before I could even speak, my eyes did it already. I shook my head.

"Lander, at some point we need to stops asking why, we just have to leave it alone. We ended because we're bound to, we supposed and we must." Sandali kaming nabalot na katahimikang dalawa habang nakatingin sa kawalan.

Aside from that, I needed to choose myself so I stop choosing you, Lander. You were lost, so was I. Trust me, I tried so hard to find you but you don't want to be find... that's when I decided that I need to stop, I need to let go, walks out to save myself.

The silence between the two of us stays until I decided to lay back in bed to sleep. That's just an excuse so I wouldn't be trouble trying to avoid his gazes anymore.

Matapos ang halos kalahating minuto nang pananahimik ko at pagpapanggap na tulog. Sinubukan kong imulat ang aking mga mata. Agad 'yon dumapo sa pigura nitong mahimbing na natutulog sa sofa kung saan pilit niya lang pinagkasya ang sarili.

From where I am, I can already see how uncomfortable he is. I was quite hesitant when I decided to get up and come near him.

Maingat at walang kaingay-ingay ang paglalakad ko papalapit kay Lander para lang masigurado ko na 'di ito maalimpungatan. Nang sa tingin ko'y sapat na ang natitirang distansya sa pagitan naming dalawa, naupo ako sa sahig at tahimik na pinagmasdan ang mukha nito.

Those sharp jaws and that pointed nose that I love tracing with my fingers before. His beard is a little bit grown than usual, but still it looks good to him, though. It's just that I prefer him without it. Mas malinis tingnan, mas gwapo sa paningin ko.

"Lander," I whispered to wake him up. I lightly pushes his shoulder, making him groans. Sheez!

"Lander..." Covers of his eyes lifts up, revealing his shrewd eyes. Nang makita ako ay umayos 'to nang upo.

"Do you need anything? Do you want me to take you to hospital?" umiling ako rito bago ko sinipat ang higaan kung saan ako nakaratay mula nang dumating ako ng Pasitano kahapon.

"Do you want me to call the room service so they can change your bedsheet and comforter---,"

"Hindi." I keep a straight face. "D-Doon ka na lang matulog sa kama."

"Tabi tayo? I like that." It made me look in mid-air and rolls my eyes. Assuming.

"I feel nicer, I'll be good. Pupunta ako kila, Aniá. Kaya roon ka na lang sa kama ko matulog." He look at me from head to toe, making me do the same thing. Ilang oras na ba kaming magkasama tapos, naka-robe lang pala ako?

Come, on Itália, it's not as if he haven't seen you bare and naked before. A small voice in my head yells.

"Magbibihis ako bago umalis."

"Bumalik ka agad. Magpapahatid na 'ko ng pagkain para sa breakfast. You haven't eat anything since yesterday."

"Hindi naman ako gutom. I'm on a strict diet---,"

"Kakain ka pa rin, Itália. Dahil kung hindi, ikukulong kita rito. You know what will happen next." I don't know if he's trying to scare or warn me. Alin man sa dalawang 'yon, pareho akong hindi naapektuhan.

Lander is hella horny man but he's decent and respectful. He won't do anything against my will. If we f**k, it'll be consensual, I am sure of that.

Suot ang simpleng dress pagkalabas ng bathroom. Hindi na 'ko nag-abala pang magpaalam kay Lander na aalis na 'ko. Dumiretso na lang ako sa pinto at lumabas.

"Good morning, Ms." One of the hotel staff greeted me as I sauntered my way to my destination. I only gave her a casual look then walks again.

Looking around, my eyes instantly notices the majestic sun from the outside is dominating the sky already, unlike me, Aniá is a morning person. I'm sure that she's awake now if not up on her bed.

Nang nasa tapat na 'ko ng suite nito ay sunod-sunod na 'kong kumatok. Bago pa man ako mainip at mainis ay bumukas na rin ang pinto. Espánia Valeria Herrero-Romanov welcomed me in her room. I was quick to notice the pair of pajama with hello kitty prints on.

I couldn't help but cringe. That's just too childish.

"Magaling ka na?" bago niya pa man maidampi ang kamay sa 'king noo ay umiwas na 'ko. I really don't like getting touch by someone else, regardless if they're my relatives or closest friend. Si Lander lang ang nag-iisang taong malayang  nakakahawak sa 'kin at hindi ko sinusungitan o inaaway—noon.

"Anyway, ang effort ni Lander, a."

I tsked and play with the strand of my hair. "Kung hindi niyo tinawagan 'yon edi sana wala s'ya rito. Hindi ko naman kasi siya kailangan." Espánia drop a I don't believe you look. Suddenly, she burst out of laughter.

"Well, we really thought that you're pregnant. After you get back together last February, don't tell me that you're not f*****g with him?" My cheeks burned. How old is she again? 21? 21 but her mouth speaks bold and scandolously.

She gasped dramatically. "You don't? Oh My Ghod. Why not? Don't you find him attractive? He can't turn you on? I mean, when I look at him, he really looks like someone who'd rock the bed well." I glare at her. She stick her tongue out to irritate me more. Why did I bring her here with me again?

Can I disown a cousin? I so hate people in the world! "Why are we having this kind of conversation, Espánia? I guess, Atlas wrecked your innocence too much." It's her turn to tsk at me.

"Ikaw rin. If you don't f**k with him, I'm betting my life, someone else will."

Kinuha ko ang throw pillow na nasa likuran ko at hinagis 'yon sa kaniya para lang tumahimik 'to. She nods.

"You look finer now," she commented. Finally, she changed our topic. I stayed on a french antique placed near the french door. From here, I can see the balcony of her suite and the sea and sky outside.

Napatango-tango ako. "Yes, I already take my meds."

"Hmm? What kind of medicine, Itália? Lander's hug and kisses?"

Inirapan ko 'to dahilan para matawa s'ya. "Is that the kind of medicine you take when you're sick? Atlas' hugs and kisses." Her cheeky smile faded. The arc in her lips vanished quickly. I already know that I said something wrong but I'm not gonna apologize. Ibinalik ko lang naman 'yung pang-aasar niya sa 'kin.

"Nah. He doesn't care for me unlike your Lander. Atlantis will never left his meeting, board on plane and fly for thirteen hours just to take care of me." Isinalampak ni Aniá ang sarili pabalik sa kama. Dumapo siya roon ngunit nanatili itong nakaharap sa 'kin.

"You're such a bad girl but heavenly father is gracing you with so much blessing." Nangalumbaba ako.

"Ngayon lang naman 'yan. He's trying to impress me because he wants to win me back. Kapag nagsawa 'yan, tatantanan niya rin ako. Pupunta rin yan sa ibang babae." Mula sa pagkakadapa ay naupo si Ania. Kumuha 'to ng unan at pinatong 'yon sa kaniyang kandungan saka siya nangalumbaba rin.

"Ayos lang 'yon sa 'yo?" I tried to laugh out at her silly question to mock but it comes out and sound different.

"Bakit naman hindi?"

She shrugs her shoulder. "Natanong ko lang. Sa 'kin kasi hindi. Atlas and I aren't attached romantically but if I come to think of it, I think he cannot bare to see him with someone else. Akala ko ikaw rin kasi 'di ba? Mahal mo si Lander?"

"Minahal, Ania." Pagtatama ko.