Loving Ria

Chapter Twenty One

Zach

I needed to wake up early because of my commitments and engagements. I have lot's of meetings to attend and I also need to sign some paperworks, my schedule is fully loaded. Staying in San Nicholas is my very reason to be with Ria but I can't stay any longer because I also have business to work on.

I looked at the woman who is sleeping peacefully beside me. I made her tired. I made love to her and I can't remember how many times, I lost count. I can't get enough of her. I can feel her warmth, the softness of her skin and even her breathing. It makes me calm.

I can't find the right words to explain what I felt when he gave herself to me. I know how much she hated me. I know how much she hated my marriage proposal but it doesn't matter anymore. All I can think about is her with me. She is mine and she is my happiness.

I kissed her before getting out of bed. I'm still sleepy and seeing her in my bed it makes me wanna ditch my meetings and just lay beside her. I took a bath first and had my morning coffee.

I chose to wear my Armani Black Suit today. I should look presentable after my long weeks of hiatus.

I'm just finishing my morning coffee when Ria came out of the room. She looks so perfect. I saw how she reacted when saw me. Nagwapuhan sakin ang asawa ko.

"Good Morning Love."

Pagkalapit nya sakin agad ko syang siniil ng halik. My morning kisses tastes so good.

"G-good Morning. Aalis ka na ba?"

"Uhm. Just call and text me when you leave Love."

"Tatawagan ko muna si Camille. I'll text you kapag aalis na ako."

"Alright. I have to go Love."

And I again I kissed her and she returned my kisses. So much for a good morning kiss.

I headed to my Maceratti. I'll drive my way to one of my offices.

Nang dumating ako sa office hindi na naman mapakali ang mga empleyado ko. Hindi naman ako masungit at lalong hindi masama ang ugali ko pagdating sa mga nagtatrabaho para sakin, but I always get this kind of attention and treatment whenever I'm around, like my presence makes them uncomfortable.

"Good Morning President." Bati saken ng secretary ko na si Celine. She is my trusted secretary because she is very efficient and goal oriented.

"Morning Celine."

Umupo ako sa swivel chair at agad binuksan ang laptop ko.

"Cup of coffee Sir?" She asked.

"I had my coffee." Tiningnan ko ulit ang schedule ko ngayong araw.

"Let's get started para makauwi agad at makita ang asawa ko."

"Everyone around?"

"Yes Sir! They are waiting for you in the board room."

"Alright. Let's go."

"Copy Sir!"

At pagdating ko sa board room, everyone is comfortably sitting on their chairs and just waiting for my arrival. They shifted on their seats when I came and seated on my chair.

"Let's start the meeting." I announced. And one of the presentors stand up infront of us for the presentation.

During the meeting I got a lot of messages from Ria, nararamdaman ko kasing nagvavibrate ang phone ko. I have this rule of no phones during meetings and it was implemented to all my offices. I refrained myself from checking my phone and focused my attention in the meeting.

After my first meeting another meeting was set. I need to attend those because I was away for how many weeks.

Just when I about to step inside the conference room, a message popped up on the screen of my phone. It was Red's message. I read it first and then dialled Red's number.

"What's your problem Dude?"

"Where are you?" Red asked.

"Office, BGC."

"I'll be there. Make some time for me. This is f*****g urgent and it's making me crazy Zach."

I chuckled. "Whoahh! The mighty Atty is in trouble!"

"f**k You Zach!"

"Easy man. Pumunta ka nalang dito. Mahaharap kita after my 2 meetings. I'm fully loaded today."

"I'll be there."

"See you Atty."

After matapos ng mga meetings ko I feel so exhausted and drained. Pagkalabas ko ng conference  agad kong tinawagan si Ria but to my dismay she is not answering my calls. I sent her messages to but still not a single message from her.

Hindi na ako nagulat ng makita ko si Red na prenteng nakaupo sa sofa sa loob ng opisina ko at nagkakape pa.

"Done with your meetings?"

"Yeah. I'm dead tired."

"Tagal mo kasing nawala. Natambakan ka tuloy. Tss."

"Oh ano naman problema mo? Gano kalaki at kabigat?"

He went stilled. And he then he heaved a deep sigh. Tumayo sya at umupo sa may upuan sa harapan ko still holding his cup of coffee.

"Baka hindi ka makatulog nyan mamaya Red, kape kape ka pa."

"Hindi talaga ako nakakatulog dude. How many f*****g sleepless nights I had. f*****g great."

"Ano bang problema mo Red?" I asked him.

I saw how he glared on his coffee and looked lost for a moment. Natulala pa yata si Red. Hinayaan ko nalang sya muna. He heaved a deep sigh again.

"I-ineed to see Camille."

Agad tumaas ang kilay ko sa sinabi nya. Isang Camille lang ang kilala ko sa buhay nya.

"Bakit?"

Tiningnan nya ako at bumuntong hininga na naman sya.

"It's f*****g complicated. No, scratch that, she is complicated Dude."

"What's going on between you and Camille?"

"She is making me crazy."

And he started to tell his story.

Natulala din ako sa mga sinabi ni Red sakin. Nagets ko na kung bakit mukha syang depressed at desperado. Napailing na lang ako sa kanya.

"Oh ano, ang sabi mo sakin hindi ka tatamaan kasi magaling kang umilag. Anyare sayo ngayon?"

"Shut up Zach. I didn't expect this to happen. I was drunk back then. It was a spun of the moment, it happened in the wrong place at the wrong time. f**k!"

"But never the wrong person dude. Kilala kita Red. Alam kong gago ka pero hindi ka naman ganon kagago pagdating sa babae."

"Makagago ka naman."

Nginisian ko nalang sya.

"Let's face your fear dude. I'll fetch Ria in her place. Come with me."

Tiningnan muna nya ako saka napailing pa.

"I'll go. Makakatikim na talaga sakin ang babaeng yun."

"Pasalamat ka kaibigan sya ni Ria. At pasalamat ka dahil kaibigan kita."

"Salamat."

Napailing nalang din ako sa problemadong Atty na to.

"Seeing you like this is indeed entertaining. Gone the mighty and ruthless Atty. Jared Clemente." Nginisian ko pa sya.

"f**k you Zach. Thank you for being supportive. I appreciate that."

"My pleasure." Tumayo ako tinapik sya sa balikat.

"I can't believe that this is happening to me! It's making me crazy! That woman!"

"Kalma Red."

"f*****g how?"

"Let's go. Puntahan na natin yang problema mo para lalo kang mamroblema." At tinawanan ko sya. And I felt his punch on my arm.

On our way to Makati, hindi ko padin makausap ang asawa ko. She is not answering my calls or replying to my messages. Anong ginagawa nila ni Camille? Napasulyap ako sa katabi kong si Red na seryosong nakatingin sa daan at nakakunot ang noo.

"Just because your lovelife is doing well now it doesn't mean you can laugh your ass off at mine."

"I'm not laughing. But seriously dude you have your lovelife now? I really can't tell."

"Shut the f**k up Zach."

Tinawanan ko nalang sya. Nang magring ang phone ko akala ko si Ria na ang tumatawag.

"Hey Bud!"

"Where are you?" Matthew asked.

"Otw to Makati. Why?"

"Are you with Ria?"

"Not at the moment. I'm with Red."

"Ohh. You swing that way too?"

"f**k you Matt." Red answered.

Matthew chuckled. "Anyway, make some time on Saturday for the audition."

"I will. Tell that to Chivas."

"That asshole. Tss." He hang up.

"What audition? Looking for singers?"

"Yeah. Keith refused to sing for a while. He refused to perform now and Matthew will look for a new singer."

"Apply kaya ako."

"Try mo."

"Hindi na, madiscover pa ko dun. Sikat naman na ako."

"Daanin mo kaya sa kanta si Camille."

"Tss. Pain in the ass."

Tinawanan ko nalang sya at sinamaan nya ako ng tingin. Hindi padin ako makapaniwala sa nangyari sa kanya at kay Camille.

Nakarating kami sa Makati na madilim na because of the traffic.

Pagkapark ng sasakyan ko sa tapat ng apartment na tinutuluyan ni Camille nauna pang bumaba si Red at tiningnan ang paligid ng apartment. Maayos naman ang lugar at ang apartment but not as good like a condo.

Nauna na akong naglakad at kumatok sa pinto. And Camille opened the door. Sinalubong nya ako ng ngiti.

"Come in Zach."

Agad kong nakita ang asawa ko na nakaupo sa sofa kaharapa ng isang laptop at mga notebooks.

"You're not answering my calls and messages." Agad kong  pahayag.

"Busy kasi kami Zach. Magtatayo kasi ng Cafe ang asawa mo." Camille answered in defense.

Tiningnan ko si Camille at nginisian.

"I have company."

Agad kumunot ang noo ni Camille at nakita ko ang pagawang ng kanyang labi ng makita kung sino ang nasa likuran ni Zach.

"Hello Atty." Bati ni Ria sa kanya. And Camille froze on the spot.

I saw how Camille smile vanished into thin air and how she looked coldly at Red.

And Red is also staring coldly at her.

"I can feel the tension."

Tumayo naman si Ria at lumapit sakin. I snaked my arms around her waist and kissed her temple.

"Bakit magkasama kayo?" Tanong nya sakin.

"He has some business to settle with someone." Tiningnan ko si Camille na nanahimik na at umupo sa may sofa. "Ano bang ginagawa nyong dalawa?"

"Magtatayo kami ni Cams ng business. Yung cafe, nareresearch pa kami eh. I'm sorry hindi ko nasagot mga tawag at messages mo." She explained.

"It's ok, you're with me now."

"Ang cheesy nyo. Uuwi na ba kayo?" Tanong ni Camille.

"Yeah. Iuwi ko na asawa ko Camille."

"Ok, usap nalang tayo Juri sa mga details pa. At ako naman ang pupunta sa condo nyo hah."

"Sure. Anytime Cams." Tiningnan ni Ria si Red na tahimik lang na nakasandal sa may pinto. "Ikaw Atty, are you coming with us?"

Tiningnan ni Red si Camille saka tumingin sakin. Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay para ipaalam ang mga napagusapan namin. Napabuntong hininga na naman ang gago. Gusto ko na naman syang tawanan.

Tiningnan nya ulit si Camille na mukhang dinidedma ang presence nya.

"I'll be staying. Camille and I need to talk."

Napatingin sa kanya si Camille na salubong ang kilay at mukhang puno ng pagtataka ang mukha.

"Ahh. Cams alis na kami. Thank you sa time."

Nagyakapan pa ang dalawa, muli kong tiningnan si Red.

"We're going dude. Goodluck!"

"Go to hell." He answered.

At umalis na kami ni Ria, naiwan na ang dalawang may kelangan pagusapan.

"San kayo nagkita ni Atty, Love?" Ria asked, were on our way back to my condo.

"Sa office, pinuntahan nya ako kanina."

"Ahh ok. I think may something talaga kay Cams at kay Atty. Masasabunutan ko tong si Camille hindi nagsasabi sakin." She even pouted her lips. I felt kissing her right now but I refrained myself from doing that, maybe later tho.

"Let's have dinner Love. I'm famished."

"Me too. San tayo kakain?"

"Anything you want to it?"

"I want tempura and teriyaki."

"Japanese food it is."

She smiled at me at it felt like I reached the heaven already. That's her effect on me.

"Pano buksan yun radio Love?"

"Let me."

At pagopen ng radio saktong kanta ni Ed Sheeran ang tugtug. Tamang tama din ang pagbukas ni Ria ng radio dahil mukhang matatraffic pa kami. At sinabayan ko nalang ang pagkanta ni Ed Sheeran while tapping the steering wheel.

The club isn't the best place to find a lover

So the bar is where I go

Me and my friends at the table doing shots

Drinking fast and then we talk slow

Come over and start up a conversation with just me

And trust me I'll give it a chance now

Take my hand, stop, put Van the Man on the jukebox

And then we start to dance, and now I'm singing like

I looked at Ria and gave her one swift kiss. Nagulat pa sya sa ginawa ko pero ngumiti naman sya after.

Girl, you know I want your love

Your love was handmade for somebody like me

Come on now, follow my lead

I may be crazy, don't mind me

Say, boy, let's not talk too much

Grab on my waist and put that body on me

Come on now, follow my lead

Come, come on now, follow my lead

I'm in love with the shape of you

We push and pull like a magnet do

Although my heart is falling too

I'm in love with your body

And last night you were in my room

And now my bedsheets smell like you

Every day discovering something brand new

I'm in love with your body

Oh—I—oh—I—oh—I—oh—I

I'm in love with your body

Oh—I—oh—I—oh—I—oh—I

I'm in love with your body

Oh—I—oh—I—oh—I—oh—I

I'm in love with your body

Every day discovering something brand new

I'm in love with the shape of you...

Para nadin kaming nagcarpool ng asawa ko.

"tu est chaude." Umiiling na pahayag ng asawa ko.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Ria. I know a few words of french but I have no idea what she just said.

"Pakitagalog nalang Love o kaya pakitranslate."

"No. And I won't repeat it Love."

"What the..?" Tiningnan nya akong nakataas ang isang kilay nya. "fuck." I cursed in mind. "Fudge?Fuzz? Fox?"

"Vous êtes beau"

"What??"

Napailing nalang ako. "You're sexy as hell Love when you speak in French."

"Restons ensemble amour."

"I understand amour, but the rest, I have no idea. You're killing me Love."

I was stunned for a moment when she leaned on me and gave me a quick kiss. I was taken aback by that. She wrinkled her nose and plastered a sweet smile while staring at me.

"Oh good heavens. This is so gay but kinikilig ako."

Nang huminto ulit ang sasakyan namin dahil sa traffic. Ako naman ang humalik sa kanya. I brushed my lips into her giving her a slow and passionate kiss. She returned my kisses and that's when I lost control and deepened the kiss.

Huminto lang ako ng itinulak na ako ni Ria dahil gumalaw na naman ang mga sasakyan.

"Istorbo ang pota. Gusto ko na tuloy ang traffic."

I mentally grinned and stared at my wife na nagreretouch ng kanyang lipstick.