Chapter 3

"You tired? You can take a nap," Logan said, destroying the silence between us. Tinitigan ko siya na nanatiling kalmado at naka-focus sa daan. "I said don't stare at me. May neck pillow sa likuran, kunin mo lang."

Para na rin akong bata na sinunod siya. This person is kinda serious.

"Gisingin mo na lang ako kapag malapit na tayo, okay lang ba?" I rose my brows.

He nodded and keeps on driving.

But every time I closed my eyes, palagi na lang si Larson ang lumilitaw at ang empaktang si Minuette! Sarap ihampas! Mga taksil!

Ibinaling ko ang tingin ko sa labas. I felt ease while watching the rain that keeps on pouring. Maganda rin kung gano'n, medyo nakakaginhawa ang puso ko.

Bahagya kong sinara ang aking talukip at tanging mahinang tikhim na lamang ni Logan ang naririnig ko.

Beep!

Nagising ako sa malakas na busina.

"Did I awake you?" Logan looked at me. His eyes twinkled Iike a stars that I admired.

I shook my head. "Where are we?"

"Sa bahay," aniya at habang naghihintay na pagbuksan ng gate. "This is my home. It is not my intention to wake you, but I just beep so that our maid will know that I'm here."

"Nahihiya ako sa parents mo. Do'n na lang ako sa apartment at baka hinahanap na ako ni Kristine." Nanginginig ang labi ko sa kaba. "At may trabaho pa ako, Logan."

"'Kita mo naman ang linya ng sasakyan at madilim na," aniya. "Ihahatid kita bukas. And for your work? I'll talk to your manager. Hindi naman yata ma-bankrupt ang kompanya niyo kung isang gabi ka lang wala."

May point naman siya. Besides, mabait naman 'yong manager namin. I am working as an assistant in Gatsby Company.

Sa ganda ng bahay, manghang-mangha ako. Bahagya akong napangiti nang makita ang mga ibon sa ibabaw ng terrace. Two storey ang bahay nila pero kasinglaki ng isang plasa.

"Good morning, sir!" Bahagyang yumuko ang babaeng may suot na black and white na damit. "Sorry sir, may bisita kasi sa loob kaya natagalan ako."

Logan looked at me. "Let's go?"

Hinuli niya agad ang kamay ko at nauna nang naglakad sa maid.

"Is she your girlfriend, sir?"

"Minerva, shut up." Strikto niyang inirapan ang maid.

May ganitong side rin pala ang lalaking 'to. Napangiti na lamang ako sa ginagawa niya. But still, kinakabahan ako.

Ilang pasilyo ang nilakbay namin ni Logan. In fairness, sobrang lapad at linis ng bahay niya. May magagarang dekorasyon at kagamitan. Lalo na 'yong chandelier nila at ang dinadaaanan naming hagdan; kumikintab sa kinis.

Nang makarating kami sa sala, inalukan ako ni Logan ng upuan. I savored the moments to stare at him walking away from me.

Kung hindi lang siya umalis no'n, e 'di masaya sana ako ngayon. Umalis pa kasi, eh!

I think tinawag niya ang parents niya. Bigla kasi siyang nawala sa paningin ko no'ng nagpaalam siyang umalis muna.

Narinig ko ang mga yapak sa hagdanan at nang makita ko kung sino ang nandito, nagulat ako.

"V-Viviane?"

My eyes widened and my feet wanted to run away. Why the fuck is he here?

Is Logan lying on me? They know each other already?

"Who took you there? It's good to see yo—"

"Who's that, babe?" Empaktang babae! Nandito rin siya?

Para akong ipinako sa sahig nang makita silang dalawa.

Larson staring at me like he was sorry of not attending our anniversary.

Minuette's eyed me to run. But it won't scared me.

"Are you here to take him with you, Vivianne Layne Pariscova?" Her brows waved and suddenly, he went over to Larson and snaked her hands around his waist.

"Vivianne, go back! Remember that we are just playing games! We are daring to fake our feelings, right? Why are you here?" Uminit ang buong sulok ng mata ko sa narinig at parang may luha na namang dadaloy ro'n.

"I wasn't there for you...Larson," I said and hardly gulped. "Especially to you, Minuette."

She hissed. "Then why are you here?"

"I-I... I was there because..."

"Because I brought her here," a man spoke behind me. Lumingon ako at nakita kong nakahalukipkip si Logan sa frame ng pintuan. "Anong problema niyong dalawa kung nandito siya?"

"Don't you fucking interfere our relationship, Logan! Adopted ka lang!" Dinuro ni Larson si Logan at umambang pagbuhatan 'yon ng kamay nang bigla na lamang umayos ng tayo si Logan.

"You are the wealthiest person I have ever known, Larson. But the poorest definition in terms of being a...man," Logan calmly said.

Si Minuette ay nakakapit sa braso ni Larson habang matalim akong tiningnan. Siguro sa utak niya, minumura niya na ako.

"At hindi naman sana ako mangingialam, kung inayos mo lang." Logan smirked. "I let her go because of you. I went away because of you. 'Cause I thought that you would take care of her. You would treat her like how I treat her. But what did you do?"

"You don't understand, Logan!" Akmang lalapitan ako ni Larson nang hinarangan siya ni Logan.

"Don't dare to come with her again, Larson," may diing bigkas ni Logan at ibinuka ang dalawa niyang kamay. "You don't know how she shed enough tears for you. You fucking asshole!"

Halos mabingi ako sa sigawan ng dalawa kaya mariin kong tinakpan ang aking tainga. I tightly closed my eyes so that I can't see their furious faces.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed me and imprisoned me with his body. 

Namayani ang katahimikan at nakita ko na lamang si Larson na tinapunan ng suntok ang mukha ni Logan. I saw a blood that runs through Logan's nose which leads me to lose my consciousness. The last thing I saw was Logan hugging me so tight , covering me from Larson's fists.