Love Was Never Part of the Plan

Chapter 10

Viktoria’s POV

”Let’s go home…” Aya na ni Elijah sa akin.

Nakaupo pa rin ako sa mga hita niya hanggang ngayon.

“You have a lot to review and approve of.” Pangusong turo ko sa mga folder na nakapatong-patong at mga emails na pending. “I also still have a lot to do for the day it’s only 1pm.”

“We can both do those tomorrow. Skipping a few papers won’t be a burden for just a day.” Ngising sabi niya.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. “I hate being irresponsible like that. I am not like that, Elijah.” Ngisi ko at tumayo na mula sa hita niya. “Pumunta lang ako rito para suyuin ka noh!” Tinulak ko siyang pabiro pasandal sa upuan niya.

“Kung sabihin kong ‘di pa ako nasusuyo?” Ngumisi siya pabalik.

“Bahala ka na sa buhay mo.” Natatawang sambit ko at bumusangot naman mukha niya. I smiled then kissed his cheek before marching out his office.

Kabalik sa opisina ay back to work na rin ako kaagad. Hindi napapansin ang oras ay patuloy pa rin ako sa laptop ko. Ngayon ay nag rerevise ako ng mga plans na kung saan ise-send ko niyan sa planning team after.

From: JessLiWong

Hello, Architect! I would like the revisions by tomorrow.

Nanlaki mata ko sa message na yon. Mabilis kong hinanap yung folder sa drawers ko that contains all my personal clients at nang makita pangalan niya ay kinuha ko kaagad yon.

Binuksan ko ang folder to look at the on-going project na mangyayari at nakitang ito pala yung 3-storey commercial building na pinapagawa ni Mr. Wong.

“Fuck.” Stress ko kasi hindi ko pa pala nagawa dahil and original plan ay next week Monday pa ang presenta ko sa kaniya ng revisions. Kaso bigla ay in-adjust niya!

I have no choice but to overtime then. Hinanap ko ulit sa laptop ang cad file na yon at nang makita ay sinimulan ko na ulit.

“Hey,” Tawag ni Elijah sa akin at nakita ko siyang nakadungaw sa pinto ko.

“Hey… I’ll just take a cab home.” Sambit ko kaagad.

“Hm? Why?”

“I have to work overtime. There’s a sudden change of plans. Si Mr. Wong kasi-“

“JessLi Wong?” Taas kilay niyang tanong.

Nagulat naman ako sa sinabi niya. “How did you know?” Taka ko.

“He’s a demanding son-of-a-bitch.” Elijah rolled his eyes at natawa naman ako.

“Ewan ko ba. Nagulat ako sa message niya na gusto na niya yung revisions by tomorrow! Eh hindi ko pa nagagawa kasi nga ang usapan is Monday next week ang next presentation ko sa kaniya. Ta’s bigla bukas na.” Rant ko.

“Then tell him that. The more he sees that he has control over you, the more he’ll take advantage of you. Napansin ko ‘yon sa kaniya noong demanda siya nang demandang padaliin ang construction sa isang commercial building niya sa Makati.”

“So, you’ve worked with him na rin talaga.” Tumango ako. “This was my first. Panibagong commercial building ulit sa may Manila naman.”

Tumango si Elijah. “Tell him that.”

Ngumuso ako. “Paano?”

“You want me to create a sentence for you?” Offer niya at tumango naman ako.

“Okay, where’s your phone.” Hingi niya sa phone ko na agad ko naman binigay. Mabilis lang siya nag type at binalik na ulit sa akin ang phone. “There, now let’s go home. It’s almost 8pm.” Aya na ulit ni Elijah sa akin.

I looked at my phone and saw the message.

To: JessLiWong

Hello, Good Evening! Thank you for your message regarding the presentation of revisions schedule. However, I would like to respectfully request that we proceed with our originally agreed schedule on Monday next week. Rest assured, I am fully committed to delivering a comprehensive and well-prepared presentation by our original date.

Tumango naman ako bilang sang-ayon sa naging message kay Mr. Wong.

The car ride home was quieter than usual and I think it’s because of the kiss earlier. We both haven’t talked about it. After 1 whole month we kissed. Again. Our last kiss was on our wedding day itself and now, just earlier…

Tahimik lang kami pumasok sa bahay. I can really sense something’s difference within our atmosphere at hindi ako tanga para hindi isipin na dahil ‘yon sa halikan namin kanina!

Naliligo ako ngayon. Hindi na kami nag dinner dahil ang napag-usapan namin kanina ay pareho kaming hindi naman nagugutom.

Nang matapos maligo ay natatakot ako lumabas ng banyo pero no choice naman ako. Alangan sa banyo ako matulog.

I went out and immediately went to our walk-in-closet at doon na nagbihis. Nasanay na rin naman na ako.

I went to my side of the bed at si Elijah ay sumunod nang pumasok sa banyo para maligo na rin. Hinintay ko siya matapos para sana pag-usapan… Ayaw ko naman mag back to square one kami! Naggiging close na kami, eh… Ayaw ko naman mawala ‘yon dahil lang sa…

“Ej,” Tawag ko sakaniya at halos matahimik ako nang lumabas siya sa banyo na nakabalot lang ng tuwalya ang buong ibaba niya. His hair was damp and damn that body.

“Hm?” Sagot lang niya habang pumasok sa walk-in-closet.

Hinintay ko na lang siya matapos magbihis at pumunta sa kama.

“What is it?” Tanong niya ulit nang makaupo na sa kama.

“I have tendency to overthink things…” Panimula ko at umupo ako nang maayos para maharap ko siya. “I’m sorry if… lumabag sa kalooban mo ‘yung nangyari kanina… Na hindi ko nahingi consent mo…”

“Consent? What are we 16?” Agap niya. “Baby… Damn it.” Nagulat ako nang hilahin niya ako palapit sa kaniya. “Lumabag sa kalooban ko? Hindi. I should be the one who’s sorry, baby… I was the one who initiated that kiss. I want to tell you a secret, Viktoria…”

“Hm?”

“I can’t resist you.” Bulong niya at unti-unti siyang humalik sa pisngi ko. “I actually can’t stop thinking about the kiss not because of the reason you’re thinking but because I need more. I need to taste you more…” Parang nanggigil siya. “Ako nga ‘yung nakaisip na lumabag sa kalooban mo, eh. I’m your husband and you’re my wife and it feels like it is illegal to do the things we’re supposed to-“

”You do know that I’m yours for the taking?” Singit ko. “We’re not kids anymore, Elijah…” Bulong ko.

He pushes me towards the bed and he’s leaning on me now.

“I’d already asked enough of you… by making you marry me that I couldn’t afford to ask for more, baby.”

“Oh, Elijah…” Umiling ako at natuwa bigla ang puso ko dahil… hindi naman ako tanga na pareho kaming hindi nate-tempt sa isa’t isa. We’re under the same roof and sleeping on one bed. We all have our desires and needs…

“But it doesn’t mean I didn’t want it.” Ngumisi siya sa akin.

Ngumisi ako pabalik kahit ang t***k ng puso ko ngayon ay sobrang lakas dahil sa kaba.

Sinubukan kong bumangon nang kaunti pero nagulat ako nang itulak niya ako marahan dahilan para mapahiga ako ulit sa kama.

“Can I have another taste, baby?” Bulong niya at tumango naman ako.

I groaned as soon as our lips met. Both of our hands are roaming over each other’s bodies and it made me felt an emotion I haven’t felt before. My body with the same need he’s feeling right now. I moaned when I felt our tongues collided and the way his tongue tangles with mine, I was about to lose it.

He groaned. “Tovi…” he whispered against my lips. I looked at him and saw how swollen his lips are due to our kiss.

As he was about to kiss me again, he groaned when I pushed him due to a ringtone meaning someone’s calling me.

“The f**k is that?’ Parang bwisit niyang tanong at natawa naman ako.

I soon as I saw the caller ID ay natawa ako. It was Mr. JessLiWong.

“That fucker.” Galit niyang sabi.

“Hey!” Bawal ko sa kaniya at sinagot na ang tawag. “Hello, good evening, Mr. Wong.” Nag loud speaker ako para marinig din ni Elijah.

“As much as I appreciate your response earlier, Architect Pineda, I want to…” Tinignan ko naman kaagad si Elijah nang marinig ang apelido ko imbes na apelido niya. Mas lalong nakabusangot mukha niya ngayon. Hinintay ko matapos ang sinabi ni Mr. Wong ang pinaka naintindihan ko lang ay gusto niya pa rin bukas.

”If you like the revisions by tomorrow then you won’t be getting any from me. By the way, Mr. Wong, to inform you it’s Architect Viergo now…” Tumingin naman si Elijah sa akin at isiniksik ang mukha niya sa leeg ko. “If so by your demands and won’t follow any of my schedule because Mr. Wong you’re not the only client I have. I won’t hesitate to give you away to an Architect where their attention is only to you and your project. So, would you like your revisions be tomorrow or next week Monday?”

Natahimik nang kaunti ang linya.

“Next week, Architect Viergo.” Sagot niya at tinapos ko na ang call.

”Now, can we continue?” Agad sabi ni Elijah na kung saan natawa ako. “Before we continue puwede bang paki on ang do not disturb sa phone mo?”

Humalakhak naman ako roon at natigil na lang nang halikan ako ulit ni Elijah.