Dangerous Solace

CHAPTER 23

THE MOMENT Neriah excused herself to the restroom, every pair of eyes immediately turned toward Lucien.

Adrian leaned forward across the table.

“So.”

Nagtaas ng tingin si Lucien. “So?”

Adrian smirked. “This is the first time you’ve introduced someone to us…” he gestured toward the direction Neriah had gone. “…and it’s a girl.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Lucien. “Anong masama?”

Nagkatinginan ang mga kaibigan ni Lucien.

Marcus chuckled. “Nothing.”

Leo adjusted his glasses. “It’s just…we’ve known you for almost ten years. You never brought anyone.”

Tumango si Dylan. “Not even to company parties.”

Not even to the company that the five of them had quietly built together. A company that was powerful enough to rival the Verdan Group. One whose existence remained known only to its founder.

To the world, Lucien Hale Verdan was merely the heir of the Verdan Group.

No one knew he was also one of the architects behind its future rival.

Simpleng uminom lang si Lucien ng tubig. “So?”

Humalikipkip si Adrian. “So…” he smiled knowingly. “…she’s important.”

Tumango si Lucien at sumagot nang walang hesitasyon. “She is.”

Natahimik ang lamesa nila at nagkatinginan ang mga kaibigan ni Lucien.

Sumandal si Adrian sa sariling kinauupuan. “I’ve known you since we were nineteen.”

Tumango si Leo. “You’ve always kept people at arm’s length.”

And Dylan added, “You trusted us, but even then, you never really let anyone in.”

Napatingin si Lucien sa sariling cellphone na nakapatong sa may lamesa. And his phone’s lock screen was Neriah. A small smile appeared on his lips.

“Alam ko,” ani Lucien.

Though his friends came from wealthy families, he didn’t tell them about his family’s situation. It was his to carry it, not theirs. At isa pa, ayaw niyang madamay ang mga ito. He didn’t want his friends to become leverage for his father against him.

Napansin ni Marcus ang ngiti ni Lucien. “There.”

“What?” Lucien asked.

“That smile.”

Lucien frowned. “What smile?”

Napailing si Marcus. “The one you’ve been wearing all evening.”

Natawa si Adrian. “You’ve smiled more tonight than you did during our entire final year at the university.”

“Ngumingiti naman ako,” depensa ni Lucien sa sarili.

“No,” halos magkakasabay na sagot ng kaniyang mga kaibigan.

“You smirked,” Marcus said. “Different thing.”

Leo shook his head in disbelief. “Hindi ko akalain na darating ang araw na ‘to.”

Dylan chuckled.

“She became the light in my life,” Lucien said. Muling gumuhit ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi. “The world didn’t feel quite so heavy anymore.”

Walang nang-asar kay Lucien nang marinig nila ang sinabi nito. Because they knew Lucien. They knew how carefully he chose his words. If he admitted something like that… then he had already given Neriah a place in his heart that no one else had ever occupied.

And it did.

Dahil wala nang makakapasok pa sa puso ng isang Lucien Hale Verdan kundi ang isang Neriah Autumn Laurent-Rios lamang.

“But…” hinawakan ni Marcus ang balikat ni Lucien. “…don’t show too much affection in front of us. Maawa ka naman sa aming mga single.”

Tumango ang tatlo bilang pagsang-ayon sa sinabi ni Marcus.

Lucien rolled his eyes. “You people are unbelievable.”

Tumawa lang ang mga kaibigan ni Lucien.

And before they could speak, a familiar female voice interrupted. “Lucien?”

Every man at the table turned.

A woman in an elegant red dress approached with a radiant smile, long wavy hair, a designer handbag, and too much confidence.

Nagtaka naman si Lucien kung sino ang babae. He looked at his friends with confusion drawn on his face. “Sino siya?” tanong niya. Tagalog ang ginamit niya para hindi maintindihan ng babae.

“Hindi mo siya maalala?” tanong naman ni Leo, imbes na sagutin ang tanong ni Lucien.

Umiling si Lucien.

The woman stopped beside Lucien. “It’s really you,” she said, beaming. “I can’t believe we met again after all these years.”

Lucien’s expression remained perfectly blank. “Who are you? I don’t know you.”

Lucien’s friends were looking at the scene in front of them like they were watching a drama.

Sandaling nawala ang ngiti ng babae, pero agad din itong bumalik. “It’s me. Ella.”

Nakakunot ang noo nang tumingin si Lucien sa kaniyang mga kaibigan. “Wala akong maalala.”

Tumawa si Dylan. “Paano mo maalala? Hindi mo naman siya pinapansin noon.”

“Isa lang naman siya sa mga admirer mo,” saad ni Adrian na natatawa pa.

“What are you talking about?” Ella asked.

Umiling si Leo. “Nothing,” he said.

Without warning, Ella leaned down, intending to kiss Lucien on the cheek.

Lucien effortlessly leaned away. His voice turned cold. “Stay away from me.”

Muling natahimik ang kanilang lamesa.

Even Adrian stopped smiling.

But Ella merely laughed awkwardly. “Oh, you’re still as cold as ever.”

Ignoring his obvious rejection, she pulled out a chair and sat beside him. “Lucien, I missed you. It’s been years since I last saw you.”

Lucien didn’t move an inch farther toward her. Instead, he shifted slightly away.

Sa totoo lang, hindi pamilyar sa kaniya ang babae. But the way she acts towards him, mukhang kilala nga siya nito.

But he doesn’t care.

“Lucien.” Ani Neriah na kababalik lang.

Napatigil pa siya nang makitang may babaeng nakaupo sa tabi ni Lucien.

Agad naman siyang napansin ng babaeng nakaupo sa tabi ni Lucien.

Ella looked at Neriah.

And Neriah just calmly walked over.

“Who are you?” tanong ni Ella kay Neriah.

Neriah placed one hand gently on Lucien’s thigh beneath the table. Her quiet gesture of being possessive.

Lucien instinctively covered her hand with his own.

Tumingin si Neriah kay Lucien. “Sino siya?” tanong niya at hindi pinansin ang babae.

Matapat na sumagot si Lucien. “Someone I don’t have any interest in.”

Ella’s smile stiffened. “What?” She frowned. “Lucien, you don’t have to be so harsh.” Tumingin siya kay Neriah. “And why are you holding his hand?”

Matamis na ngumiti si Neriah. “I have every right.”

Ella let out a small laugh. “Oh. And who says you do?”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Neriah. She cupped Lucien’s jaw and leaned in to kiss him.

It was a warm, affectionate kiss that spoke louder than any explanation ever could. And when they pulled apart, Lucien smiled in a way his friends had never seen before.

Napailing na lamang ang mga kaibigan ni Lucien.

“I think we’re witnessing history,” Marcus said.

Dylan chuckled. “Our Lucien actually smiled after being kissed.”

Napatitig si Ella sa dalawa. She was speechless because she had spent years chasing Lucien’s attention before—during their university time. Years of trying to earn even a fraction of the warmth he had just shown another woman.

Tumingin si Lucien kay Ella. “I think I don’t have to introduce you. But I wanted to.” Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Neriah. “This is Neriah.” He smiled proudly. “The woman I love.”

Neriah turned toward him, her eyes widening slightly. “…Love?”

Lucien squeezed her hand. “I was planning to tell you somewhere more private.” Aniya. Namula ang dulo ng kaniyang tainga. “But I suppose now is as good a time as any. And I don’t want you to misunderstand.” His gaze never left hers. “I love you.”

Neriah was surprised. Hindi siya agad nakasagot.

Adrian leaned back in his chair with a satisfied grin. “Well...” he picked up his glass. “Now that’s an introduction.”

The rest of the table burst into laughter, while Ella quietly realized there was no place for her beside Lucien anymore.

Not because she’s lost to another woman. But because Lucien had already chosen the one person he wanted to stand beside for the rest of his life.