CHAPTER 5: BLYTHE

"MI AMOR"

THE DEAFENING silence that's roaring between the newlyweds since they went home from the hospital is starting to make Blythe crazy, as well as the anger breaking in his face earlier was enough cue that he's mad of what she has done. Truly that what she did is a violation of their agreement, and violation means punishment or chastise. Blythe would understand it but as to what Attorney Vizmanos doing— he was just calmly walking ahead of her, both hands were inside his pocket and his head was up as if he's boasting over someone. 

Wala ba itong pakialam sa nagawa niya? Ayos lang ba ritong tumakas si Blythe at lumabag sa utos nito? 

If so, what were the rules for? 

"Attorney," she called out after an audible sigh. Her chest can't hold it back anymore. "Pasensiya na po sa nagawa ko, hindi ko naman gustong labagin ang rules mo pero hindi ko lang kasi mapigilan, e. Miss na miss ko na si mama at—" 

"But I'm also telling you that my house isn't like your university where you could just cut class whenever you want to, I didn't come up with my rules just to be violated..." Authoritative as they say, his deep baritone voice alone can make someone shiver plus that ruthless stare that used to arrest her heart. "In the field where I am working, dangers were like monsters lurking around for their chance to get me and kill. There are plenty of them that I don't have a single idea of which is which, and I can't control their minds to find out when they are planning to attack or who they are planning to attack."

Slowly, he turned his body towards her, and just like the old times, Blythe only shivered with the way he looked at her... t'was mysteriously dark and ice cold!

"Just to remind you, Blythe. You are part of my life now, so you should expect more dangers and threats to come along our way..." There was something in his eyes as he looked at her. "That's why I'm keeping you out of their sight. But if you will continue being careless and impulsive towards your decisions, then I don't think you would finish the contract. . .alive."

Damn! Profanities showered her mind, this is what she's talking about! This ruthless man in front of her is one hell of a great lawyer, he's at the pinnacle of his career and when you are at that surely many will envy you and will try to bring you down. Lalo sa kaso ni Attorney Vizmanos na ang karamihan sa mga pinababagsak nitong kalaban ay iyong mga higante, mga kayang manakit at pumatay. 

And he's very right about that, maaari siyang idamay ng mga kalaban nito kung sakali mang hindi siya mag-iingat... 

Nagpatuloy ang dalawa patungo sa loob ng tanggapan. Nagsihinto ang abalang mga kasambahay nang malingunan nila ang binatang parating, nagsiyukod ang mga ito at wala ni isa ang nangahas na tumingin sa magaganda nitong mga mata. 

Should she do that as well? Wala naman iyon sa kontrata nila pero kung ganito ang tamang asal sa harapan ni Attorney Vizmanos ay iyon ang masusunod. 

"Señorito," anang isang tinig mula sa kanilang likuran. 

Kapwa natigil sa paglalakad ang dalawa at sabay na hinarap ang noo'y naka-yukod nang si Valentino. Ilang segundo itong nasa ganoong posisyon hangga't hindi siya pinatutuwid ni Attorney Zandro. 

"Narito na po siya," anito at sabay na inilahad ang bulwagan kung saan mula roon ay hila-hila ng dalawang lalaking naka-itim ang driver na siyang naghatid kay Blythe kanina sa hospital.  

"Huwag po, maawa kayo sa akin," he keeps on begging but the two men holding him were pretty much like their boss— they are like stones. "Señorito, patawarin mo ako!" 

Namilog ang mga mata ni Blythe nang bigla ay walang kahirap-hirap itong sinikmuraan ni Valentino nang hindi ito nililingon o sinisilip man lang. 

"Huwag kang magtataas ng boses kay señorito, pangahas!" wika nito sa mababa ngunit striktong boses. "My apology for that, señorito. This guy right here is a newly hired driver, he was enlightened of the rules but he still broke them." 

Pinanood lang ni attorney Zandro ang pag-iyak ng binata sa kaniyang harapan, hindi ito gumalaw maski na kumurap. Kapagkuwan ay namulsa itong muli sabay tumalikod na para bang wala itong pagmamakaawang naririnig. 

"If that's the case, then I'm sure he's aware of the punishment as well. Go and do what he deserves, Val." 

"Of course, señorito." 

Kasunod nang panghihila ng mga ito sa binata ay ang pagpalahaw pa nitong lalo. Balisang pinanood ni Blythe ang kaganapan, nais niyang habulin ang mga kalalakihang may dala sa binata ngunit tiyak siyang mas pakikinggan ng mga ito si Attorney Zandro, kaya naman ito ang sinundan niya para pakiusapan. 

"What is it, Mi Esposa?" he asked in furrowed brows when Blythe blocked his way towards the grandiose staircase. 

What he just said stiffened her for a brief moment. Blythe isn't that fluent in speaking Spanish language but one of her subjects in college required them to at least research about the country before and that includes their language. According to her little knowledge, Attorney Zandro called her "my wife", did he? 

"Is anything bothering you?" he asked further. 

Despite her surprise, Blythe pushed herself to speak for the young boy she just pushed into danger. Na-iintimida pa rin siya sa kahanga-hangang berde nitong mga mata ngunit pinaglabanan ni Blythe ang kaniyang nararamdaman, binuo niya ang kaniyang loob at maski na ang boses niya.

"A-ano kasi, s-si Luiz..." 

"Luiz?"  

"Oo, iyong driver." Sabay turo sa nilabasan ng mga ito kanina.

Tumango-tango ang binata at mariing pumikit na tila siya naiirita sa kanilang pag-uusap na dalawa. The view of his bow-like-red lips makes swallowing her own saliva hard like there's a lump on it. Ano ba ang iniisip niya? 

Disbelief crossed his eyes. "You are calling him on a first-name basis, yet you can't call your husband by his name? Should we make another rule about that, Mi Esposa?" 

Disbelief froze Blyth that it left her staring into his handsome face for a little while, it bewitches her like a witch casted a spell on her and her thought fled away, including her reason for calling him.

"Ano ba ang gusto mong itawag ko sa'yo?" nahihiya niyang tanong dito. Hindi niya magawang tingnan ang mata ng binata. "Hindi kasi ako sanay sa ganito, e. Pasensiya na." 

"Paano..." he corrected her. 

Gulat na nag-angat ng mukha si Blythe sa binata. "Paanong 'paano'?" 

"Mi Amor..." he said without leaving her eyes. "In a sweeter and more realistic way. Can you call me that, Mi Esposa?" 

Mahigpit na na-palunok si Blythe sa intensidad ng mga titig nito. Sinubukan niyang ibuka ang kaniyang bibig subalit kinikilabutan siyang tawagin sa gano'ng paraan ang binata. 

"M-mi A-amor," it came out broken. 

"Say it again. Clearer this time, would you?" 

"Mi Amor," she repeated, getting smoother than the first one. "Mi Amor."

A smirk flashed from his lips. "Great! Now, train your tongue to call me that way. I don't want other people to find my wife weird because she's too formal with her husband... And sooner, the judge I was talking about will have his vacation in my house. I don't want him to build any doubt about my relationship with you..."