Chapter 2- Jensen's POV

It's been two weeks, pero wala pa rin akong kahit na anong balita kay Louise Jane. She left me at the resort without any notice. I was just right there, and she was just going to get blankets and food—we were supposed to watch the sunset.

But it ended with just me, alone, longing for her.

I watched the long hand of the clock point at the number eight. It was past eight in the evening, and I am still here waiting for her in the cabin we rented.

I shrugged, drinking a glass of scotch. I know I am definitely losing my mind right now. But I can't help it I needed her, I wanted her, and I missed her so bad.

I clenched my fist, thinking about how she abandoned me. How can she do this to me? Didn't I take good care of her? I am so fre@king insane to trust her and give everything that I have. Hindi ako nagtira nang para sa sarili ko.

D@mn it, Jensen!

Inihilamos ko ang dalawang palad ko sa aking mukha. Napatingin ako sa kabuuan ng silid. Nothing changed after she left; wala akong ginalaw na kahit anong detalye rito. I even paid for the whole rent of this cabin, with an extra f*e for maintenance, hoping she'll come back one day.

Pero mukhang umaasa lang talaga ako.

"You f@cking promised, Louise Jane. You're not gonna leave me. But you did!" I couldn't help it. I got too attached to her in a very short time.

Papaanong hindi? I couldn't resist her charm—her eyes that melt my soul whenever she looks at me, her sweet smile that turns my world upside down, and her kisses that make me want to linger with her more.

Siya ang kabilang dulo ng magnet na kailangan ko.

"D@mn it, Louise Jane, where are you?" I longed for her, clasping her keys on the side table. I looked at them, hindi ko alam kung bakit niya iniwan iyon, o baka naiwan niya lang. I don't know.

But this key is the only connection we have right now. Kailangan ko siyang mahanap. She is the woman I want to spend my whole life with.

Ngunit ang lahat ng dalamhati ko ay nawala dahil sa isang tawag. It was John, my trusted assistant.

"What?" malamya kong tanong rito.

"Sir, nakakuha na ako ng lead sa babaeng pinapahanap niyo."

"Really?" Nabuhayan ako ng loob. "Pick me up here, pupuntahan natin siya," dugtong ko pa sabay t***n ng susi sa aking bulsa't tumayo na.

"But sir, I think you need to know something."

"Know something? What is it?"

"Sir, that woman is your brother's ex-girlfriend. And according to my source, she was dumped by your brother, who then married her sister."

Hindi ko makuha ang punto niya ngayon. I don't care kung ano pa ang status niya. All I want is her.

"What a coincidence. So pick me up here and we'll go."

"Pero sir, mas kailangan niyo pa pong malaman."

Nangunot na ang noo ko sa mga sinasabi ni John. "Ano na naman ba 'yon, John? Sobrang importante ba niyan ngayon, huh?"

"I've gotten in touch with her friend, and evidence of their plans was there. I saved call recordings and everything pointing out that the woman you're looking for planned everything to get to you, sir. I will send you the files."

"What?" naiusal ko, ngunit naibaba na ni John ang tawag nito, at ang sumalubong sa akin ay mga mensahe mula rito.

There were pictures of me in different places—like restaurants, airports, hotels—just me standing somewhere. Pero ang nakapagtataka, sa lahat ng pictures na iyon ay naroon si Louise Jane. The photos were taken from CCTV footage, but they were clearer than water.

The next one I clicked was the recording. Pinag-isipan ko pa kung papakinggan iyon o hindi. Pero dahil gusto kong malaman ang totoo ay ginawa ko pa rin.

[... I know, I am near the target. Nasa isang cafe siya, maybe for a meetup? Okay sige, babalik na ako riyan.]

I knew that voice. Napangiti pa nga ako nang marinig iyon. Na-refresh sa sistema ko ang boses niya na muntik ko nang makamutan sa loob ng dalawang linggong nakalipas.

Ano bang mayroon sa recording na iyon?

Then I clicked the next one.

[I'll make sure na malalaman ni Jarred na hindi niya dapat ako basta niloko—at sa kapatid ko pa talaga? Well, if that's what he wants, then I'll give it to him. Hindi ko maibabalik sa kaniya ang ginawa ko pero sa kapatid niya ko ipaparamdam lahat.]

My knees started to stumble. Is this her voice, too? Baka naman nagkamali lang si John nito, or this is fabricated? No.

[I got to him, Beth. Narito na kami sa resort. Successful ang ginawa kong pagsayaw ng daring sa bar kanina. I told you I could do it.]

[It's our second day here, Beth, and so far ay okay naman ang lahat. Kailangan ko lang na tutukan siya nang maigi. Anyway, don't worry about me, ayos lang ako.]

[Beth, I think hindi na kailangang umabot ng one month ito. I can leave him right now. I can see that he is falling for me... through his eyes. I can say that my plan of seducing Jarred's brother is working. But you know what...]

I dropped it. Hindi ko na kayang makinig pa sa mga laman niyon. It's just that I can't get it—bakit niya gagawin sa akin 'yon? Meaning everything was planned? She wants revenge for the betrayal my st@pid brother did to her?

She may be right. She was indeed hurt, and that move was so reckless... but how about me?

Her plan worked so d@mn hard on me. I am such a shit for letting her break my heart.

What can I do? I want her.

Ibinato ko ang cellphone, kinuha ang baso't nagsalin ng alak bago isahang tinungga iyon. Isa pa, at isa pa ulit hanggang sa hindi ko na namalayang nakahawak na ako sa aking dibdib.

Masakit.

Then, knocks came across my door. I hesitated to open it until I heard a familiar voice.

"L-Louise Jane?"

Isang pigura nga ng babae ang bumungad sa akin, ngunit dahil sa tama ng alak ay medyo malabo ang nakikita ko.

I grabbed her, locked the door, and started kissing her everywhere. Isa-isa kong inalis ang kaniyang mga s@plot, kasunod ang sa akin. Hindi ko na siya hinayaang makapagsalita pa ayaw kong marinig ang mga sasabihin niya. Tonight, I'm going to punish her, too.

I became too bold and hard with her, I didn't think any passionate kiss would suit her.

But I was so dumb not to notice it. Kinabuksan, napagtanto ko na lang na ibang babae ang kasama ko.

It was Anna, the woman my parents wanted for me. Pero paano niyang nalaman na nandito ako?

Ohh. Nakahawak ako sa aking ulo, sobrang sakit niyon.

"Jensen?" tawag nito sa akin habang isa-isa kong ibinabalik ang aking damit.

"Ipapasundo kita rito. Magbihis ka na."

"But I want to take a shower first," anito. Pababa na ito sa kama nang pigilan ko siya. Wala siyang dapat na galawin rito, tama na 'yong gumamit siya sa kamang ito.

"Magbihis ka na, Anna. Ngayon din."

"Jensen, ano ka ba? After what we did last night, ganyan pa rin ang asal mo sa akin? Nakuha mo na ako, so I insist you take the wedding with me, or else I will tell them that you violated me."

Binitiwan ko siya. I looked at her intently. Wala rin siyang balak na sumuko ng tingin sa akin. Bakit ba kasi nandito siya? Sinusundan niya ba ako?

"Fine," I said. "Let's do the wedding."