Chapter 3

Ang bawat salitang binitiwan ni Javier para sa kaniyang toast ay parang kulog na yumanig sa buo kong pagkatao.

“To new beginnings. And to claiming what has always been mine.”

Lahat ng tao sa hapag-kainan ay nag-cheers at uminom mula sa kani-kanilang wine glasses, oblivious to the dangerous subtext behind his words. Pero ako? Parang nagbara ang lalamunan ko habang pilit kong inuubos ang alak sa baso ko. Sa ilalim ng mesa, naramdaman ko ang dahan-dahang pagpisil ng mga daliri ni Javier sa kamay ko bago niya ito huling hinawakan at dahan-dahang binitiwan.

“Aba, Javier! Sino naman 'yang sinasabi mong claims mo?” masayang biro ng tito niya. “Huwag mong sabihing may nakatagong girlfriend ka pala sa ibang bansa?”

A small, mysterious smile crossed Javier’s face. “Wala sa ibang bansa, Tito. Nasa Pilipinas lang.”

Napa-ubo ako nang bahagya dahilan para mabilis na kumuha ng table napkin si Bea at ibigay sa akin. “Joy, dahan-dahan lang! Nag-mamadali ka naman masyado sa alak,” tawa niya habang tinataptap ang likod ko.

Hindi ko magawang tumingin kay Javier. My face was burning, and my pulse was hammering against my chest. All throughout the meal, every subtle shift of his body next to mine sent electricity straight down my spine.

Pagkatapos ng hapunan, lumipat ang pamilya sa may lanai para sa kape at dessert. Mapaglaro talaga ang tadhana dahil habang abala si Bea sa pakikipag-usap sa kaniyang ina tungkol sa family business, napilitan akong lumabas sa may garden balcony para lang makahinga nang maluwag.

The cool, night breeze hit my face, bringing with it the damp smell of fresh rain and wet soil. Ang ganda ng tanawin ng skyline ng Manila mula sa mansyon nila Bea, pero hindi 'yon sapat para patahimikin ang nagwawalang emosyon sa loob ko.

“Giniginaw ka.”

Isang warm, heavy coat ang dahan-dahang pumatong sa mga balikat ko. The distinct scent of expensive sandalwood and masculine warmth immediately wrapped around me.

Napalingon ako nang mabilis. Javier was standing right behind me, his hands resting casually inside his trousers' pockets, his burgundy shirt sleeve rolled up to his forearms revealing his toned wrists and a multi-million-peso Patek Philippe watch.

“Javier...” bulong ko habang kinukuha ang coat niya para ibalik sa kaniya. “Ano ba 'tong ginagawa mo? Bakit mo ginawa 'yon sa ilalim ng mesa kanina? Pano kung nakita tayo ni Bea o ng mama mo?”

Instead of answering, Javier took a step forward, closing the space between us until his shadow completely enveloped me. He placed one hand on the balcony railing beside my head, effectively trapping me against the cool balustrade.

“Then let them see,” he said softly, his deep voice carrying a dark, magnetic undertone.

“Nababaliw ka na ba?!” kinakabahan kong bulong, glancing back at the glass doors leading to the living room. “Tita Teresa and Bea respect me. Kaibigan ako ng pamilya niyo! At isa pa, limang taon ang agwat ng edad natin. Ikaw, nakatayo ka sa tuktok ng mundo habang ako—”

“Habang ikaw ano, Joy?” pagputol niya sa akin. His dark eyes flashed with an intense emotion—part anger, part desire. He reached out and gently rested his hand against the side of my neck, his thumb caressing my pulse point. “Habang ikaw ay ang iisang babae na paulit-ulit kong iniisip bawat gabi sa loob ng limang taon habang nagpapakamatay ako sa trabaho abroad?”

Napatigil ako sa paghinga.

“Nung umalis ako ng Pilipinas, alam kong wala pa akong maipagmamamalaki sa 'yo,” patuloy niya, stepping closer until our chests were almost touching. “Ayaw kong maging bata lang sa paningin mo. Ayaw kong ituring mo lang akong 'nakababatang kapatid ni Bea.' So I promised myself I would come back as a man who could protect you, feed you, give you everything you ever wanted, and keep you safe from every pain this world brings.”

“Javier...” Tears pricked the back of my eyes. No one had ever spoken to me like this. Sa gitna ng broken heart ko sa ex ko at sa pressure ng pamilya ko na magpakasal na at maging 'successful', eto ang isang napakamakapangyarihang lalaki na lumuluhod sa harap ko sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang mga salita.

“Don't use our age or my money as an excuse to push me away, Joy,” Javier whispered, his eyes dropping down to my lips before locking back onto mine. “The only thing that matters right now is if you feel this too.”

He leaned in slowly, giving me every chance to push him away. But as his breath brushed against my lips, I found myself paralyzed—not by fear, but by the sheer, undeniable gravity of him.

Drip. Drop.

A sudden drizzle started falling from the sky, dusting us with tiny drops of cold rain. Pero hindi iyon inagaw ni Javier. With a swift, possessive movement, he cupped the back of my neck and pulled me in, pressing his lips against mine.

The kiss was deep, slow, and utterly intoxicating.

It tasted like rich red wine and raw, pent-up passion that had been buried for half a decade. Every doubt in my mind melted under the heat of his mouth. My hands instinctively found their way to the lapels of his shirt, clinging to him as the rain began to fall harder around us.

Nang dahan-dahan siyang humiwalay sa akin, pareho kaming hinihingal. Javier’s forehead rested against mine, his eyes wild and dark with emotion.

“Joy!”

The loud voice of Bea echoed from the glass doors of the lanai. “Joy, nandyan ka ba? Bumubuhos na ang ulan!”

Shock hit me like a bucket of ice water. I quickly pushed Javier back, my lips still tingling from his kiss. Javier merely smiled—a dangerously satisfying smile—as he adjusted his suit jacket as if nothing had happened.

“Oo, Bea! Papasok na ako!” sigaw ko habang pilit kong inaayos ang buhok ko at ang kaniyang coat na nakapatong pa rin sa akin.

Humarap ako kay Javier, my heart hammering against my ribs. “Maling-mali 'to, Javier...”

Javier leaned in one last time, whispering dangerously close to my ear. “Wrong or right, Joy... you’re mine now. And I’m never letting you go.”