The Billionaire’s Wrong Bride

TBWB - 15

HINDI SINABI ni Lissandro kung bakit siya biglang nawala kanina. Ang dahilan? Ang taong lumapit kay Kira. It was Samuel Lee, a damn bastard who had always been his enemy.

Panira ito sa lahat ng transaction niya, parang laging may gustong patunayan. Galit ito sa lahat ng meron siya, kaya minabuti niyang umalis nung lumapit ito sa asawa, hindi niya gustong madamay ang babae sa gulo.

Nang makita niyang umalis si Kira at tila hinahanap siya, sinundan niya ito. Nakita rin niya na pinasundan siya ni Samuel sa ilang tauhan na nagpanggap na guests.

"Come on, let's get inside our suite," utos ni Lissandro, kaagad inaya ang asawa sa Royal Suite na naka-reserve para sa kanila. Kailangan niyang siguraduhin na hindi makita ni Samuel Lee si Kira kasama niya. Malakas ang loob niyang natitipuhan ng kalaban ang asawa niya, at hindi niya papayagang mangyari iyon.

Sa loob ng suite, ramdam ni Kira ang kakaibang luxury at privacy. Malawak, elegant, at eksklusibo, kumpara sa karamihan ng guests sa ship.

"Are we going to sleep here?" tanong ng babae, halatang naguguluhan sa laki at ganda ng lugar.

Tumango si Lissandro, matamis ngunit may bahagyang seryosong tingin. "Yes... for tonight. We'll stay here until the ship docks tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow morning?" Napatingin si Kira sa kanya, may konti ang kaba.

Tumango ang lalaki. "We'll leave as soon as the ship docks."

Sandaling nanahimik sila.

Hinubad ni Lissandro ang coat niya at isinabit sa upuan malapit sa pinto.

"D-dito ka rin matutulog?" tanong ni Kiana, bahagyang kinakabahan.

Magkasalubong ang kilay ni Lissandro sa kanya. "Saan ba dapat?" may bahagyang ngiti sa labi, pero seryoso ang tingin.

Napabuntong-hininga si Kiana at nagkibit-balikat. It was the first time they would sleep in the same room as a married couple. Kiana hugged herself, feeling shy and worried that something more intimate might happen between them. Her heart was racing, and every moment seemed filled with tension she couldn't quite understand, an awkward mix of nervousness, excitement, and a little embarrassment.

Naupo si Lissandro katabi ng asawa. "Stay away from that man."

"Sino?" tanong ni Kiana, halatang nagulat.

"The one giving you drinks," sagot ni Lissandro, medyo seryoso.

Tumango si Kiana. "Bakit? He looks kind... and gentlemanly."

Bumuntong-hininga si Lissandro, bahagyang nainis sa dali kung paano nakuha ni Samuel ang loob ng asawa niya. "Seriously? Nginitian ka lang, binigyan ng wine, tapos he's already kind and gentleman?"

Nakatitig lamang sa kaniya ang asawa nang nagtataka.

"I'm asking kung bakit. Wala naman siyang ginawang masama sa 'kin."

Lissandro sighed. "Just please... do what I say. He's not a nice guy."

Tumango si Kira. "Halos lahat ng taong nakapaligid sa 'kin simula nang makilala kita... they're all not nice. Galit ako sa lahat, so don't worry." Kinuha ang bote ng Dom Pérignon na nakapatong sa gitnang mesa. Kumuha rin ito ng baso, pinuno ito ng ginintuang bula, at dahan-dahang ininom. Ang likido ay dumampi sa mga labi.

Nang makita ni Lissandro ang nabasang mga labi ni Kira ay bahagya siyang natakam sa mga labi nito.

Napalunok siya ng sariling laway at tumayo.

Pumasok siya sa shower at naligo, hinayaan ang rumaragasang tubig na bumagsak sa kanyang katawan. Pumasok sa isip niya ang asawa. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na magkasama silang matutulog sa iisang kwarto. Dapat ay balewala ito sa kaniya, pero bakit nakakaramdam siya ng kakaibang init sa katawan?

He resists her beauty.

He doesn't like her... but he's still a man.

Matapos maligo, nagpatuloy siya sa dressing room, pinunasan ang buhok at katawan, ngunit hindi niya maiwasang balikan sa isip ang imahe ni Kira lalong-lalo na sa ayos nito ngayon. She's like a princess.

Her beauty is captivative.

"Stay calm, Lissandro," bulong niya sa sarili. "She's just your wife for a purpose. Nothing more." Pinipilit niyang pakalmahin ang sarili.

Mahigit isang oras din siyang nagtagal sa banyo. Masyado siyang maraming seremonyas at malalim ang iniisip. Pagbalik niya sa silid, naka-idlip na ang asawa, at halatang may tama ng alak.

Hindi niya alam kung gigisingin ito o hindi. She looked tired, but... she hadn't changed her clothes or washed herself yet.

Marahan siyang lumapit. Tumayo siya sa tabi nito at hindi niya napigilan ang sarili na pagmasdan. Nasasanay na siyang pagmasdan ito palagi.

She was now lying on the sofa, sleeping peacefully, her cheeks slightly flushed from the wine.

Lumuhod siya sa sahig at inilapit ang mukha sa kanya. "Kiana... you need to wash and change," he whispered in her ear, gently trying to wake her up.

Kiana stirred, her body wiggling a little as if resisting sleep. "Mmm... five more minutes..." she mumbled, slurring her words slightly.

He chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "No, now. You need to freshen up."

Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, still groggy and a bit unsteady. "Huh...? Already?" she slurred, blinking as she tried to focus.

"Come on," he coaxed, his tone gentle but firm.

Kiana yawned at medyo wobbly habang sinusubukan tumayo. Mabilis na niyakap ni Lissandro ang baywang ng asawa para alalayan. "Careful," he murmured, soft but firm.

She's tipsy... hindi ko puwede siya pabayaan. She might slipped or worst bump her head.

"Alright," Kira mumbled, bahagyang nakasalalay sa kanya. Ang mga pisngi nito ay namumula partly sa wine, partly sa hiya.

Marahan na inalalayan ni Lissandro papunta sa banyo. "You need to change, you can't sleep with your gown."

Tumango si Kiana, medyo unsteady pa. "Thanks..." she whispered, almost half-asleep.

Tinutulungan niya itong umupo sa gilid ng bathroom stool habang tinatanggal ang sandals, keeping his hand close. "Take your time," he said softly. "I'll be right here."

Kiana leaned back slightly, closing her eyes for a moment, feeling safe in his presence despite her tipsy state. Lissandro kept silent, but every small movement she made made him tighten his grip slightly, he'd never admit it, but he wasn't about to let her fall.

Inalalayan ni Lissandro ang asawa makapasok sa bathroom. "Slowly..." he murmured, keeping his hand at her back for support.

She giggled softly, half tipsy. "I... I can do it myself." Kiana set down her slippers habang nagkukusot ng mga mata. "I feel... weird, I'm still tipsy..."

Lissandro nodded, keeping his gaze polite and averted. "It's fine... just wash quickly. I'll wait here," he said, voice low. But his eyes kept flicking toward her, shy.

Kiana paused, noticing him staring just a little too much. "Eh... don't look." Pinamulahan ng magkabilang pisngi si Kira.

He cleared his throat. "I'm not," he muttered, though his slight flush betrayed him.

Why am I like this?

She shook her head, yawning. "Okay," ani nito at nagsimula nang maghubad at maligo. He stayed near the door, pretending to focus on the counter, but his attention never left her.

Even shy and slightly tipsy, Kiana felt a weird warmth.

Hindi malaman ni Lissandro kung bakit niya ito ginagawa. Nararamdaman niya lang na kailangan niyang alalayan at bantayan si Kiana ngayong araw.

He's getting too protective now... Is it because of what his dad and mom told him, or because of the danger he brought her into? Or... is this just guilt talking?

He clenched his jaw, trying to ignore the flush rising to his face whenever she wobbled or leaned on him. I shouldn't care this much... I told myself I don't... but why does it feel like I can't let her out of my sight?

Patapos na si Kiana pero bahagya pa ring nanlalambot ang mga tuhod. Halos hindi din naman nito nalinisan nang maayos ang sarili. Gusto nang mahiga at magpahinga. "I'm done," she said. As she stepped out of the shower, she nearly slipped on the wet tiles.

Napatili si Kira. "Wah!!!"

Without thinking, driven by urgency, Lissandro reached out and steadied her, holding her gently by the waist.

In that split second, his eyes accidentally caught a glimpse of her bare body. His cheeks flamed instantly. Lumunok siya ng sariling laway. Hindi na maalis ang mga matang nakatitig kay Kira.

Damn it... I shouldn't be looking... but I can't... I just can't.

Kira blinked her eyes, flustered and slightly tipsy. Pulang-pula ang nga pisngi nito. Para bang huminto ang oras sa kanilang dalawa at magkatitigan lamang. Hindi ma-imagine ni Kira ang hitsura nilang dalawa. Hubo't hubad ang babae habang yakap-yakap ni Lissandro ang baywang nito.

He cleared his throat, trying to look away, but something inside him, the pull he couldn't resist, made him lean closer. Bago pa man makapag-isip si Lissandro ay hindi na napigilan ang sarili na siilin ng halik ang mga labi ni Kira na kanina pa siya natutukso.

He was so tempeted!

Kiana froze for a moment, then blinked, her cheeks turning even redder. She didn't pull away, but her tipsy daze made her unsure how to react.