Chapter 4 - Only possession

Chapter 4

“What do you want?” he asked casually while looking at the menu, as if they were just two ordinary people meeting for lunch and not two individuals bound by an arrangement that would soon tie their lives together.

Muli tuloy tumitig si Natalia sa kanya.

Seryosong-seryoso agad ang aura nito, parang wala man lang awkwardness sa pagitan nila.

Natalia stared at him again before glancing around the restaurant.

Napansin niyang may ilang babae sa kabilang mesa na palihim na nakatingin kay Emilio, whispering, stealing glances, clearly admiring him.

Hindi naman na siya nagulat. Masyado naman kasi itong gwapo at malakas ang dating, kaya nga nagtataka na siya kung bakit pumayag ito sa kasal na magaganap sa kanila gayong makakahanap pa ito ng mas magaganda pang babae.

Hindi agad nakapagsalita si Natalia kaya napaangat ng tingin si Emilio at bahagyang tinaas ang kilay nito. He met her gaze directly, unflinching.

“What?” tanong ni Emilio at ibinaba ang menu sa mesa. “You don’t like it here?” dagdag pa niya, as if one word from her would make him stand up and transfer them to another five-star restaurant without hesitation.

Imbes na sagutin siya, tinignan ni Natalia ang menu at agad na pumili ng pagkain. She told her order to the waiter immediately and softly said thank you. Napaayos naman si Emilio ng pagkakaupo at ibinigay na rin ang order niya in a calm, controlled tone.

When the waiter left, bumalik ang tingin ni Natalia kay Emilio.

“Bakit ka pumayag?” Tanong agad niya, this time with seriousness in her eyes.

"What do you mean?" He asked back, without answering the questions.

“This is some arranged marriage our lolos planned when they were still alive. You could’ve said no. Looks like some women would gladly marry you even if you don’t do anything,” sambit niya sabay sulyap muli sa mga babaeng nagbubulungan sa kabilang mesa.

Hindi agad sumagot si Emilio, ni hindi nito nilibot ang tingin sa paligid na para bang hindi na kailangan yun. He leaned back slightly, studying her face as if weighing how much he should reveal.

“I just think that… it’s convenient,” he finally said, calm and indifferent.

Umawang ang labi ni Natalia. “Convenient?” ulit niya, disbelief clear in her voice.

“And also… for the company,” he added smoothly.

Napailing si Natalia. “This is marriage we’re talking about here, Mr. Valderrama. What if you suddenly find someone you’ll love in the future?”

“That’s not gonna happen, Mrs. Valderrama,” he said without hesitation, a slow smirk forming on his lips because he waited this to happened, to be with her.

Natigilan si Natalia. The way he called her that...Mrs. Valderrama...sent a strange chill down her spine. Hindi pa nga sila kasal, unang pagkikita pa lang nila, pero parang sigurado na siya sa magiging apelyido niya ito at tanggap na nito na siya ang paglalaanan nito ng apelyedong yun.

“You can’t be sure about that,” she insisted, trying to regain control.

“I’m sure,” mabilis na sagot niya, voice firm and final.

Napainom si Natalia ng tubig dahil parang may bumara sa lalamunan niya. The confidence in his tone was unsettling.

“How about you?” Emilio suddenly asked, eyes never leaving her eyes.

“Huh?" tanging tanong ni Natalia kahit na naintindihan naman niya ang tanong nito.

“Bakit ka pumayag?” he pressed. “That guy… he was supposed to be your groom, right? Are you using me to move on, Natalia Sofia?” He deliberately used her full name, slow and clear.

Hindi agad nakapagsalita si Natalia.

Because he was right.

She was using him.

Napalingon siya sa kabilang direksyon, avoiding his intense stare. Narinig niya ang mahinang tawa ni Emilio.

“What’s funny?” she asked, irritation flashing in her eyes.

Dahan-dahang umiling si Emilio. “Nothing,” he murmured, then reached inside his coat and pulled out a thick envelope. Napatitig si Natalia sa envelop na yun, nagtataka kung ano ang ansa loob non.

“I thought these pictures might help you move on,” he said casually. “Ayokong pinapasarap kita sa kama tapos ang iniisip mo ay ang lalaking ’yon.”

Nalaglag ang panga ni Natalia.

“What the fvck—”

“Shhh.” Bahagya siyang yumuko palapit sa kanya. “I hate bad words, Mrs. Valderrama.” His voice was low and controlled. “Itago mo ’yan at tingnan mo kapag nakauwi ka na. Don’t open it here. I don’t like dealing with hysterical women crying over trash men.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Natalia sa insulto, pero bago pa siya makapagsalita, may inilapag si Emilio sa mesa.

Isang maliit na kahon.

She slowly opened it.

Inside was an elegant diamond ring...simple yet powerful. The kind that silently screams wealth and permanence.

Nakagat niya ang labi habang nakatitig doon. Naalala niya ang engagement nila ni Darius. Engaged sila, oo...pero hindi man lang siya nabigyan ng singsing. Wala man lang simbolo ng pangako.

Now here it was.

Real. Solid. Undeniable. At galing pa ito sa lalakeng ngayon lang niya nakasama, nakausap at nakilala.

“Wear that,” Emilio said. “And let’s start organizing the wedding.”

Tumingala si Natalia sa kanya.

“Wala akong pakialam kung gamitin mo ako para kalimutan siya,” he continued, his voice dropping lower, darker. “But do it properly. I don’t want to hear you shouting and m0aning his name while I’m inside you.”

Nanigas si Natalia sa kinauupuan niya. Napasinghab siya ng malakas at hindi makapaniwalang tumingin sa kanya.

"What?" Natawa ulit si Emillio habang kagat na ang labi niya.

"Masyado pang maaga para pag-usapan ang tungkol diyan. Am I marrying a manyak---"

"Nah! You are the one who said that this is marriage. Makakasal na tayo sa buwan na to tapos maaga pa para pag-usapan? Are you still a virgin, huh? If yes, ang bagal naman pala ng gago mong ex," he said.

Muling suminghab si Natalia at napaayos sa pagkakaupo nang maramdaman ang paa ni Emilio sa baba ng lamesa na hinaplos ang paa niya paakyat.

"Emilio---"

"I'm serious... Don't ever m0an his name while I was inside you because I might fvck you hard that usual." Parang nanuyo na ang lalamunan lalo ni Natalia at para atang humina ang aircon sa paligid.

There was no teasing in his tone now.

Only possession.

Only warning.

His eyes traveled slowly over her face, then down to her lips, then back to her eyes. The look wasn’t just lust.

It was something more dangerous.

Something territorial.

The air between them suddenly felt heavier.

Natalia swallowed hard, bigla na lang kumalabog ang dibdib niya ng subrang lakas. Sa subrang lakas ay halos mapalunok na lang siya.

Hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang magalit, matakot, o kiligin sa kakaibang intensity ng lalaking nasa harapan niya.

One thing was certain.

This marriage wasn’t going to be simple.