Chapter 13
1282 Words
"OH MY GOD!" Lorraine exclaimed.
Napatayo ako dahil sa 'biglaang' pagsagi ni Lorraine sa wine glass. Natapon ang laman nitong wine sa aking gown.
"Are you okay, Lesly?! I-I'm so-sorry!" aniya. It's as if she's actually worried. But no, sinadya niyang masagi ang wine glass.
So this is what she's up to.
Nakatingin ako sa aking gown na ngayon ay may mantsa na. This gown is expensive... yet she just spilt wine in it.
"It's okay," I said nonchalantly.
"Lorraine!" It was Mom.
"You should be more careful! What if mabubog ka? Come here, are you hurt anywhere?" Mom asked.
Blangko akong nanonood sa kanila.
"Mom, I'm fine. I d-didn't mean to do that. It was a-accidental... I'm sorry," she said, making herself pitiful. Nakakasuka.
"Lesley, forgive your sister. It wasn't international," Mom said.
I'm not blaming her yet, Mom.
Sa halip na sagutin si Mommy, humarap ako kay Vallen. But I was startled and at the same time, I got chills just from looking at him.
He looks mad. As if he's emitting such intense aura wherein you could already tell that you're in danger.
"Vallen," tawag ko sa kaniya. Humarap siya sa akin. Although I'm afraid, I just smiled at him. "Can I changed my clothes?" I asked.. Naghintay ako sa kaniyang sagot pero tanging titig lamang ang natanggap ko sa kaniya.
Kalaunan ay inalis na niya ang titig sa akin. And he's still hasn't given me an answer.
"Mr. Lambrente," he called my Dad. Hindi na niya ito pinagsalita at sinabing, "Get out of here."
Nagulat ako. Mas lalo si Daddy. Why? Bakit?
"Mr. Alejo! What's the meaning of this!?" Gulat niyang tanong. Sinong hindi magugulat? Kahit ako, nagulat sa biglaang sinabi ni Vallen.
"I won't agree on your contract and terms unless your precious daughter, Lorraine Lambrente, kneel in front of my wife." Seryoso niyang sabi.
Naoakurap ako ng ilang beses at pilit na ina-absorb ang kaniyang sinabi.
...
What?
WHAT?!
"W-WHAT?!" Lorraine exclaimed out of shock. "Why would I do that?! I would never do such thin,g!" She said. Even in times like this, she never forgets her pride.
"Mr. Alejo!" It was Mom. Of course, if Lorraine's in danger, Mom is sure to the rescue. "Why would my daughter have to kneel if front of Lesley?!" She asked.
Mapait akong napangiti. Please don't let me feel like I'm not your daughter, Mom. I said in my mind.
"She was being rude to my wife," he said coldly.
Vallen... To think that you're actually worrying about me...
"I wasn't! Didn't you see what happened was accidental?"
Lorraine sure is thick-skinned and gutsy. She never forgets to be prideful.
"Ivan." Vallen called for Ivan na kanina pa palang nasa aming likuran. May hawak siya isang basong tubig. Ngumiti siya sa'kin at binigay ang isang basong tubig at sinabing uminom ako.
"Young Master,", aniya pagkabigay sa'kin ng baso at yumukod.
"Make her kneel before my wife." Utos niya Vallen sa kaniya.
"Will do, Young Master," sagot naman ni Ivan.
"No! I'm not gonna kneel before her!" Lorraine said.
"V-Vallen," pagtawag ko sa kaniya. I don't know why he's doing this but he doesn't have to.
Tumingin siya sa'kin. My whole body flinched right when he looked at me with those deep black eyes.
I'm scared.
"Y-Y-You don't have to d-do this.. though..." Pabulong kong sabi. Nakagat ko ang aking ibabang labi. Paano kung sa akin naman siya magalit?
"You're an Alejo now," he stated. Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay. "So you do not have to ge afraid of anyone anymore," he added.
My heart beats so fast. With his words, why do I feel so reassured and secured?
"LET GO OF ME! I SAID I WILL NEVER KNEEL IN FRONT OF HER! NO WAY!" Nabaling ang tingin ko kay Lorraine na ngayon ay sapilitang pinapaluhod ni Ivan at ilan pang bodyguards.
"LET GO OF MY DAUGHTER!" And here's Mom who keeps stopping them from doing what they're doing.
Unconsciously, napatingin ako kay Dad. Malalim ang kaniyang iniisip. Tapos bigla siyang napatingin sa akin.
I was startled but I didn't let it show.
"Choose, Mr. Lambrente," ani Vallen. "Which is more important, this contract or your daughter?" Vallen playfully asked.
"D-Dad!" Lorraine says her pleas.
"Hon! Lorraine's hurting!" Mom said.
Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin niya kay Lorraine at kay Vallen. In the end, he sighed and looked at Lorraine.
"Lorraine, go and apologize to your sister," sabi ni Daddy na kinagulat ni Lorraine at Mommy.
It is so nice in the feeling seeing Lorraine looking dumb. Hindi niya siguro inakalang hindi siya ang pipiliin ni Daddy.
"D-Dad..." she's almost crying.
"But, Hon!"
Umiling si Dad. "We'll go bankrupt if we didn't close the deal with Mr. Alejo. Now, choose," sabi ni Mommy kay Daddy. I know for sure na this time, sasang-ayon si Mommy kay Daddy.
"I... I'm sorry, sweetheart..." sabi ni Mom kay Lorraine.
Nakanganga si Lorraine, gulat na gulat pa rin. Tapos ay tumingin siya sa akin ng masama habang tumutulo ang luha.
"Lower your eyes or do you want me gouge your eyes out for you?" Vallen said. It wasn't a sarcasm, he's being serious. Napayuko si Lorraine.
Hawak-hawak siya nina Ivan and with Vallen's order, pinaluhod nila si Lorraine.
"Remember this, Lesley. Whenever you're in trouble, use my name and your position as my wife. You are very free to do so," sabi niya sa akin. "Don't be afraid because you now have me by your side." Dagdag pa niya.
Napangiti ako. "Yes, thank you," sabi ko.
"Now, apologize to my wife." He ordered Lorraine.
Umiiyak na ngayon si Lorraine. So how's the humiliation you're feeling right now, Lorraine? Is it fun? Is it embarrassing? Is it enraging? Feel all of that, Lorraine because that's what you've given me so far.
"I... I'm sorry..." Umiiyak niyang saad.
Magsasalita na sana si Vallen pero inunahan ko siya. "I didn't hear you." I said.
Tumingin sa'kin si Lorraine. Sa mga tingin niya, parang gusto niya akong patayin.
"I'm so-sorry..." pag-uulit niya.
"Please louder. I can't hear you enough," sabi ko. I saw her clench her fists and grit her teeth. Right, go and feel all the embarrassment. Hate me right now and show your true colors.
"I'M S-SORRY!" Humagulhol siya. "I'M SORRY! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!" sabi niya.
Natahimik naman ako. I looked around and saw all of our guests are watching. I almost forgot na nasa reception kami. I also saw the three, Tyson, Liam and Cohen, clapping at me.
They're crazy. Tyson even gave me a thumbs up. What was that for?
Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Lorraine. Tapos tumingin ako kay Mom na umiiyak. Napatingin siya sa'kin at kita ko ang galit sa kaniyang mga mata. Dad is just there, tahimik lamang.
Tumingin ako kay Vallen. "I'm tired," mahina kong sabi.
Vallen kissed the back of my hand. "Okay. Go head inside and change your clothes. Rest as well for a while. Leave the rest to me," aniya.
Ngumiti ako. "Salamat."
Tumawag siya ng isang maid na makakasama ko pagpasok sa loob.
The day has yet to end but I feel more tired than usual.
Now all I want is to just rest, badly.
Bago tuluyang makaalis sa reception, binigyan ko pa ng isang tingin sina Mom, Dad at Lorraine.
Anong pakiramdam ng mabaliktad ang sitwasyon, Lorraine? I'm not a good person so I wish you could feel despair to what happened to you.
Good luck facing Vallen Garrett Alejo. Please feel the fear you should be feeling for he is no ordinary man.
Inalis ko na ang tingin ko sa kanila at tuluyan nang pumasok sa loob.
I have to change my clothes.
So troublesome.
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- Writer
