Chapter 5
1505 Words
"How's your feeling?" Vallen asked for the nth time already. He keeps checking on me kahit mukhang busy siya.
Hindi ako sumagot bagkus ay ngumiti lang ako sa kaniya kahit halos mapunit ang labi ko sa sobrang pagkatuyo nito.
He stared at me for a moment. Kaagad din niyang kinuha ang isang basong tubig at inabot sa akin. "Here, drink some water," aniya. Uminom naman ako. He also helped me to drink.
Binalik niya ang baso sa side table at muling tumitig sa akin.
"Aren't you busy?" I asked. He's Vallen Garrett Alejo so it's no doubt that he's a busy person. But then he's taking care of me. Hindi naman na niya kailangang gawin 'yun. He should've asked one of his maids to look after me.
"I can set aside all my work," he answered. Why?
"You don't have to that," nahihiyang sabi ko.
"But I want to do that," he said firmly. I pulled the blanket to cover the half of my face because I feel like I'm blushing because of what he said. I also avert my gaze from his.
"O-Okay..." I stammered. Who wouldn't?
"Do you want to do anything?" tanong niya. I shook my head. Wala naman akong ibang gustong gawin. Actually, mababa na ang lagnat ko. He comes here every hour to check on me nga, and he also helped me to wipe my body with wet towel. Balot na balot pa ako ng makapal na kumot kaya ayon.
"Are you sure?" asked he. Tumingin ako sa kaniya at tumango. "Alright. If you get bored or if you want to do anything, just ring the bell and a maid will come to serve you. If you still feel tired, then sleep more. I will come back here by dinner to bring you food," he stated. Nilagay niya ang kamay niya sa ulo ko. He then ruffled my hair.
Nag-init ang aking pisngi kaya hinila ko ang kumot para mas matakluban pa ang aking mukha. Aking mata na lamang ang kita.
"Hmm, 'kay," I mumbled.
He called for Ivan who was waiting outside of our room. Ivan came inside, greeted me first, and went behind Vallen. Nagpaalam si Vallen sa akin bago tuluyang umalis ng kwarto tulak-tulak ni Ivan.
Nang makalabas na sila, doon lang ako tila nakahinga. It's hard to face Vallen. Hindi pa rin ako sanay at hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na siya ang mapapangasawa ko. And it's also unbelievable to think that he's such a caring person. Contradict to what I have known about him from rumors. Anyway, rumors are just rumors. Never trust heresy they say.
Bumuntong-hininga ako. Tumingin ako sa kisame at pinakiramdaman ang aking sarili. All this happening is still not sinking in my head. I feel like I'm floating. Dala ba ito ng sakit?
Kahapon lang.. nasa bahay pa ako. Tapos bigla siyang dumating at pinalaya ako sa bahay naming tila naging isang kulungan para sa akin.
I hope they are happy now. Now that I'm gone. Will they see my worth once my presence is no longer there?
"..."
I snapped.
I pinched myself.
Hindi ko na dapat iniisip pa iyon. I will just end up disappointed kasi for sure, nandoon man ako o wala, wala silang pakialam.
But I wish.. they care for me even a little....
Tomorrow is Monday. I wonder if Vallen will allow me to go to school? Ilang buwan na lang kasi ay makakatapos na ako.
Then what about our wedding? He wants to make it happen as soon as possible, doesn't he?
Ikakasal talaga ako kay Vallen? Sa isang Vallen Garrett Alejo? For real? Totoo na?
Muli kong pnisil ang aking pisngi. It hurts. So totoo nga? I'm not dreaming?
I shut my eyes tightly. Fine. Let's get this marriage done. Gaya ng sinabi ko, I will marry any guy who will get me out of that hell at last role ko na ito, 'di ba? As a Lambrente...
Mapait akong napangiti.
My bitter smile faded as I slowly drifting to sleep. Right, now that I can have plenty of sleep, lulubos-lubusin ko na.
-
"Lesley..."
A soft yet cold hand is gently tapping my left cheek. It's cold yet it's unknowingly giving me warmth. I held his hand and caress it on my face.
"Just like a cat," I heard him say that. A cat? Who is he referring to?
And who is he by the way?
"Lesley..." muli niyang tawag sa aking pangalan. "It's time for dinner," dagdag niya.
"Young Master Garrett, mukhang kailangan pa niya ng pahinga," I heard another voice but the name he mentioned is what made me open my eyes.
Nanlaki ang aking mata ng makitang si Vallen at Ivan ang aking nasa harapan. Pero mas lumaki pa ang aking mata sa gulat dahil hawak ko ang kamay ni Vallen at nasa pisngi ko.
Kaagad ko itong binitawan at nabalikwas ng bangon. "I... I-I'M SO-SORRY!" Malakas kong sabi. I even bowed. Gosh, Lesley, nakakahiya ka. Paano kung magalit si Vallen?! He's terrifying!
"I d-didn't mean t-to do th-that! I'M SORRY!" Naiiyak na ako. Nai-imagine ko pa lamang na magagalit siya, natatakot na ako. There are a lot of rumors about him when he's mad!
"Lesley."
Nanlamig ako at hindi nakakilos. Ito na, magagalit na siya... Napalunok ako. Ang lakas pati ng t***k ng puso ko. Kailangan ko nang ihanda ang sarili ko.
"Look at me," aniya. Mabilis kong iniling ang aking ulo. Paano ko magagawa 'yun kung natatakot ako sa kaniya? And besides, I don't want to see his reaction.
"Why?" he asked.
I swallowed a lump in my throat before answering him. "Be-because I'm a-afraid..." I answered honestly.
"Afraid of?"
Of course! "You," sagot ko.
"Lesley," tawag niya ulit sa akin. "Just look at me," dagdag niya. Hindi ako kumilos, ni hindi rin sumagot. Silence fell in every corners of the room. Ni hindi ko rin tinataas pa ang aking ulo at nanatiling nakatungo pa rin ako.
Mayamaya pa ay narinig kong bumukas ang pinto at sumara. Was it Ivan? Mukhang sinenyasan niya itong lumabas.
I heard him sigh. "Lesley," once again, he called my name.
"Don't be afraid and just look at me," You're saying that but how could I not be afraid of you? If you're Vallen Garrett Alejo?
"You know that I dislike repeating myself, don't you?"
Nakagat ko ang aking labi. Naluluha na talaga ako. Baka mas lalo pa siyang magalit kung hindi ako tutunghay at titingin sa kaniya.
I slowly lift my head.
But as soon as I lifted my head, a soft lips quickly brushed in my lips.
My eyes widened in shock. I wasn't able to react because of how fast he was. Inalis niya rin ang labi niya sa aking labi. "You can do whatever you want to do with me. I'll be your husband after all," sabi niya at muli akong hinalikan.
This time around, he make his way inside my mouth.
Naramdaman ko ang paglipad ng mga paruparo sa aking tiyan. It's a sensation I haven't felt for a while now and completely forgotten.
Pero may naalala ako kaya bigla ko siyang naitulak. Nagulat pa yata siya sa ginawa ko. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. "I still have a fever. Ayaw kitang mahawaan," halos pabulong kong saad.
I glanced at him and saw his lips formed a little smile pero mabilis ding nawala. "I understand," aniya. Hinawakan niya ang isang kamay ko at dinala sa kaniyang labi. He kissed it while he's looking at me!
"Then I'll wait once you've recovered," aniya.
Napalunok ako. He's dangerous. I'm no kidding, he's a dangerous man! I feel like he's going to devour me any time if I do not have this effin' fever.
"T-That's..." I don't know what to say. Nag-iwas na lamang ako ng tingin.
"Let's eat."
Hindi niya binatawan ang kamay ko. A rolling tray table with food is beside him. Inilapit niya ito sa kama.
He's not giving me any food... I guess he's going to feed me again.
And I'm not mistaken. He really is going to feed me. "I can e-eat by myself—"
He cuts me off. "No," he said firmly. Natikom ko agad ang aking bibig. Okay. Fine. Sige po.
"But what about you?" I asked. Kasi syempre, baka hindi pa rin siya nakain. Tapos susubuan pa niya ako. Ang sama ko naman kung gano'n.
"We'll share the food," sabi niya. Ah, so that explains why there's a cutlery for one person only.
"Okay..." 'yan na lamang ang nasabi ko at hinayaan na siya. Anong laban ko sa kaniya?
Pagkatapos kong kumain, siya naman. Hindi rin siya maarte, 'no? Ayos lang sa kaniya na mag-share kami sa isang kutsara. And yes, he is still holding my hand with his other hand.
Now that I think about it... This doesn't feel bad. I come to see different sides of him... I wonder... why is he so nice to me?
Is it because I will be his wife?
Or is it because of something else?
- Writer
