For Love and Blood (Monte Vega Chronicles #1)

Chapter 8

"The Hernandez and the Hermosas agreed to postpone the wedding until you fully recovered. I've also changed your therapist para mas matutukan ang paglalakad mo." Hinaplos ni mama ang pisngi ko. "I'm sorry my love. Your mother failed to protect you."

I smiled at her. "Ma, it's nothing. I survived. Asahan mo na kayang-kaya ko na uling mangabayo pagkatapos ng ilang buwan mula ngayon."

It's been two months since the incident happened. Gaya ng inaasahan, hindi natuloy ang kasal. Ang ipinagbubunyi ko pa ay tumulak papunta sa Brazil si Jude. Siguro ay para maghanap ng Havaianas. Good for me.

"But still, I should have been more attentive to you. Ikaw ang nag-iisang babae at bunso ko. Cahil, I suggest you stop being too adventurous, my love. Kinausap ko ang kapatid mo. Bigla ka na lang daw nawala sa bahay niya nang hindi nagpapaalam nang araw na iyon. Hindi mo dapat ginagawa sa Cerro Roca ang mga ginagawa mo rito sa Monte Vega. That is an uncharted place compare here."

Tumango na lang ako kahit wala naman akong balak sundin ang ina. Ilang linggo na rin kasing paulit-ulit niya itong sinasabi sa akin kaya wala akong choice kundi sumang-ayon na lang. It happened because I let it happen. No way that Luke could have injured me if I didn't let him.

"Alright. I'm happy to hear that. Sige na. You take a rest. Push the emergency button if you need me," tukoy nito sa pulang button na ipina-install pa talaga nito sa tabi ng kama ko.

"Alright. Goodnight mom."

Inayos nito ang kumot saka pinatay ang lamp shade. She kissed my head and walked out of the door.

That's the time when I stood up and made sure that my room is locked. Kumuha ako ng dalawang lata ng alak sa fridge saka paika-ikang nagpunta sa terrace kung saan kanina pa naghihintay sa akin si Nathan.

"Ang aga mo ngayon a. You missed me that much?"

I gave him the can and sat at the chair, my gaze not leaving the man who is leaning on the railings. The moon's light shining on his chiseled jaw and silver eyes. Suot na naman nito ang paborito nitong black leather jacket.

"I didn't see you for two weeks," he said and drank at the can while still looking at me.

"Oh? Two weeks na ba iyon? I thought it's only like two days?"

I had a hard time opening the can so he had to come up and open it for me.

"Thank you. Will you be staying here again tonight?" tanong ko ng mawalan na ito ng imik. Nakatitig lang ito sa akin habang nakatalungko sa harapan ko.

Noong na-discharge na ako sa ospital ay sinamahan niya ako rito buong magdamag at gusto ko sanang maulit iyon ngayon.

"No," sagot nito at inilapag sa upuan ang lata nito. "I need to be back to Cerro Roca before midnight. Alcindra is waiting for me."

"Ganun ba? When will you be back here? Can I expect you next week? Or maybe next month? I think makakapangabayo na ako niyan. Let's race again."

Masyado nang matagal ang isang buwan pero okay lang basta ba makakuwentuhan ko lang ito. I could spend the days mingling with my friends and family while my night will be exclusively with him.

"Don't be silly. Nagpapagaling ka pa. Get your a*s off your horse until you complete your therapy sessions."

Mahinang pinitik nito ang noo ko.

"Aray!" angil ko rito at tinadyakan ito sa tuhod gamit ang isang paa.

Natatawang tumimbuwang ito sa sahig at hindi na bumangon. Itinaas nito ang mga kamay sa ulo at tiningnan ako.

"Ang lakas mo pa ring sumipa kahit pilay ka na."

Ngumisi ako. "Siyempre naman. You still remembered how I kicked your bum when we had that judo match? Ah! Tumatawa pa rin akong mag-isa kapag naaalala ko ang mukha mo noong nahulog ka sa sapa. Unforgettable."

Ngumiti rin si Nathan. "How can I forget it? It's the first time I experienced a woman as savage as you. Malay ko bang malakas ka sa liit mong iyan."

"Wow! You dared to insult me. Pinatumba lang naman kita. And that memory never fails to make me smile because that's where our friendship starts." Natahimik ako nang limiin ang nasabi. "Did it?"

Nagkibit-balikat ito. "I don't know."

"But seriously, what are we, Nate? Can we categorize ourselves as friends? Lovers? f**k buddies?"

"We're good as we are now, Cahil. Anyone of us can always end it. Kung gusto mo, tapusin na natin ito ngayon din."

I fell silent for a few minutes before expelling a laughter. "Tapusin ang ano? Oh gosh Alcantara! Kilala na natin ang isa't isa. We both know we're just having fun. You know sometimes it's thrilling to go against your own family. Nakaka-excite na labagin ang mga batas nila. For years, I wondered why did you become our enemies and that wonder quickly became a sort of a challenge. You know, I ask myself how would it be like to talk to an enemy."

Bumangon ito at kinuha ang paa ko at ipinatong sa hita nito para masahiin. "And how did it go?"

"It's good. Exceeded beyond my expectations." My heart fluttered before finishing what I wanted to say. "Gusto ko na yatang ituloy ng totohanan."

Pinanood ko kung paano magbago ang mukha nito. Nawala ang buong emosyon sa mukha at natigil ang paggalaw ng kamay nito sa paa ko. Nathan looked at me straight in the eyes.

"You knew," malamig na turan nito.

Tumango ako. "You're not that hard to figure out. And I saw your collection of paintings and photos of me. You are obsessed with me, Nathan."

Akala ko ay magre-react ito ng medyo hostile. He'll deny it and then flip the situation but instead of doing that, he just shrugged as if what I had discovered is nothing.

"I can always feel it— obsession and love, but it doesn't mean I can act on it or would choose to act on it. And I don't think I would act on it. No."

Napakurap ako nang mabilis nang makaramdam ng pinong kurot sa dibdib. "Ouch! Unang beses yata ito na may lalaking nagawa akong tanggihan," wika ko para hindi masyadong maipakita na nasasaktan ko. I also try to sound so unaffected like we were just talking about some regular things. "But if our families were never enemies, would you act on it, Nate?" I persisted.

Sinalubong niya ang mga mata ko at walang pag-aatubuling tumango. "Yes, I would instantly marry you Cahil. You're exactly what I need. Strong, independent. A woman of my scale. A standard of a wife I need to have."

Need. He needs me. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa o maiinsulto. The way he said he needs me feels like I am just an object of his desire. Nothing more.

I want love. Devotion. Isa man akong Asturia pero isa rin akong tao na nangangarap makaranas ng kahangalan na tinatawag nilang pag-ibig. I may be rowdy at times, unladylike to many, and a rogue princess to everyone but I'm still a woman at the core. I want love. I want to experience it.

"Talaga ba?"

Nginitian ko siya para itago ang disappointment sa mata pero huli na dahil alam kong nabasa na niya ito patunay dahil kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinalikan ito. Pero hinila ko pabalik ang kamay at tinaasan ito ng kilay.

"You're obsessed with me but you won't act on it? Bakit Nate? Takot ka ba sa mga konsekwensiya? Can't handle me, silver man?"

He reached for my hand again and kissed it. "The power of a man lies on his ability to control his emotion. If you'll be a slave to your emotion, then you're as good as your emotion. You can easily be manipulated." He moved backwards and slowly let go of my hand while standing up and picking up the beer can. "You're a good distraction, Cahil. Who wouldn't be obsessed with someone I can see myself in? Your potential, your strength, your intelligence, it's like I'm seeing myself in you."

Tumawa ako at naiiling na uminom ng alak. "Oh now you're Narcissus. Did you think about yourself every time we f**k?"

He smiled and scratched the area below his nose. "No, of course not. You're too hot to ignore and it felt so good while I'm inside you."

"Ah, you're still a man after all. Still a slave of pleasure, my friend."

"Minsan lang," hirit nito.

Mas lumaki ang ngiti ko. "Okay. Sabi mo e."

Ilang minuto ring naghari ang katahimikan bago ako humugot ng hininga. Tiningnan ko si Nathan na nasa barandilya at malayo ang tingin.

"Nate, I don't think we should be seeing each other for the time being. Wag mo na akong puntahan dito."

Nahinto ito sa pagdala ng lata sa bibig. Natigilan muna ito saka bumaling sa akin. Kita ko ang pagtutol sa mga mata nito.

"Why?" he asked even though he knows what I mean.

"Just don't."

Naghikab ako saka nagpatulong dito sa pagtayo. He snaked his arms on my waist and pulled me closer to his body. He helped me walk to my bed and lift the covers for me.

"Inaantok na ako. Ikaw na lang ang magsara ng pinto, okay."

Pumikit ako matapos yakapin ang unan saka tumagilid ng higa. I can feel his eyes on me but I didn't open my eyes again.

"Babalik ako bukas dito. Same time. Goodnight, Cahil," anas nito pagkalipas ng ilang sandali.

I can feel his breath on me but I didn't feel his lips. I continued pretending until I heard him leave. Doon pa ako bumangon at ginising ang ina.

The next day, I packed my bags and went to Poland for a month-long vacation with my guards. My pride is bruised so I need time to heal it. I shopped like crazy in my wheelchair and went to every tourist spot and restaurants I could think of. Nagpunta ako sa mga kastilyo nila, museyo, at sa mga underground galleries. I took my time to distract myself.

Iniwan ko ang cellphone sa Pinas kaya naman nagtaka ako nang sa pangalawang araw ko sa Warsaw ay nakatanggap ako ng isang overseas call mula sa isang unknown number. I didn't pick it but later I received a message from the man.

"Don't get your leg broken again."

Naiinis na nagmaktol ako buong gabi. That brute! Hindi ba niya alam na puso ko ang napilay kaya kailangan kong tumakas ng isang buwan? I didn't even mind that I can barely walk! I didn't heard anything from him after that message and I didn't dare to reply.

Pagkatapos ng isang buwan ay umuwi rin ako. When I went home, I was in for another shock because of the fresh news.

"Hello, Sabrina. It's been a long time," ang simpatikong bati ng isang lalake sa akin paglabas ko sa airport.

Agad siyang lumapit sa akin mula sa tapat ng kotse nito at inalalayan ako. Umawang ang bibig ko at hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita. Ano ang ginagawa nito rito? For years, I didn't see him since that day and now he'll just appear one day like nothing happened?

Inagaw ko ang braso mula rito pero hindi niya ako binitawan. "What the f**k are you doing here?! Where's mama?" pagalit ko na tanong.

The man just smiled at me and carefully nudged me inside his car but I didn't go inside. Instead, I fisted his collar and glared at him.

"I'm asking you?! Where's mama? And why are you even here?"

He smiled again and his dimples show. Darn that dimple! I want to stab it so that it'll never show on his face again!

"Tita asked me to get you here because she needs to iron things out with mama. I am speechless, Sabrina. I didn't expect to receive such a warm welcome from you, mi novia. I never knew you to be this hospitable."

Dahan-dahan ko siyang binitawan sa narinig. Para akong nabingi sa ibig iparating ng titig nito.

"A-Ano ang sinasabi mo?"

He opened the car door for me before answering. "Jude backed out from the wedding so I'm stepping in, Cahil. I'll be your groom again for the second time, Sab. We're scheduled to get married this month."

Ibinuka ko ang bibig para magsalita ngunit wala akong makapa ni isang sasabihin. It didn't quite register in my mind but I know he's not kidding. After all, this Khayne Hermosa, one of the heirs of the Hermosa estate, the guy I was originally betrothed to years ago. He didn't even kid back then when he said he'll left me on the altar on the day of our wedding.