CHAPTER 4

Nang ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kanya sa pareho intesidad ay tsaka niya lamang binitawan ang braso ko at hinayaan akong kumilos. Doon pa lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag.

That's too scary. He is.

Habang inaayos ko ang mga gamit ko, unti-unting pumapasok sa isip ko ang itsura ng lalaking kanina lang ay dahilan ng kaba ko at ang mabagal kong paghinga.

Tss.

Sa kabila ng lamig na ipinapakita niya at mga diretsahang banta niya, 'di mawala sa isip ko ang mga mata niya. Bakas dito ang pagod kung pagmamasdan mo ng matagal. His eyes looks exhausted. He looked like a man who had been fighting his own battle alone for too long.

Umiling na lang ako sa mga pumapasok sa isip ko. Ano naman ngayon, kung pagod. Choice niya hindi magpahinga, pakialam ko ba.

I heard my phone's notification sound.

New message. Nakita ko sa notification banner na galing ito sa papa ko, marahil gusto ng update.

Tinapunan ko lang ng tingin tapos ay ipinagsawalang bahala na lang ang nakita.

Napansin ata ni Cadmus ang naging reaksyon ko, pero wala naman akong pakialam.

Sumandal siya sa pader malapit sa headboard ng kama. He crossed his arms.

"But as long as you play your part, no one in this house, not even my mother can bully you. You are under my protection. Just don't engage on petty fights. That's tiring."

"Will try."

"Tsk." ayon na lamang huli kong natanggap na reaksyon bago siya tumayo ng maayos ulit at naglakad palabas, pero bago niya tuluyan isara ang pinto, lumingon siya.

"And Miss Bustamante, you look fine. You don't have to change anything from your routine."

Naiwan akong nakatulala sa gitna ng kwarto. My heart was a mess of confusion and a strange disbelief. Anong pinagsasabi niya? Narinig ba niya ang sinabi ng nanay niya tungkol sa akin being not feminine enough? Tss. Ang gulo.

Mr. Aleksandr was indeed cold man, but in this mansion of uhh monster? Bullies? He was the only one who didn't look at me like I was nothing but a contracted wife. He looks confused and it feels like he's observing me but it's still fine. Mas mabuti nang tingnan ako as badass or bitch, atleast he doesn't see me as weak... because I am not.

Pagkatapos ko mag-ayos ng gamit ay nagpalit na rin ako ng damit. Isang komportableng pajama lang sinuot ko at tsaka sumalampak sa kama.

Nilabas ko ang laptop ko at ni-review ang mga documents na kailangan kong ayusin para sa trabaho. Hays. Kahit sa trabaho under parin ako sa pamumuno niya.

Hayaan na nga atleast may trabaho. Hindi ako aasa sa iba sa mga bagay na kaya kong gawin at lalong hindi ko iaasa sa ibang tao lalo na sa lalaking 'yon ang mga bagay na gusto kong bilhin.

Mas maganda parin ang may sariling pera ang babae. Para anytime na mangangailangan siya ay may magagamit siya at hindi basta maghihingi sa iba. That's not slay!

I keep on scanning the documents, at sineseparate ko yung mga kailangan kong ireview mamaya. Yes, I have to be a wife and had a child to conceive then a family to save, but I wouldn't let this gilded cage turn me into a bird.

Ilang oras ata akong nakababad sa laptop ko at hindi ko namamalayang pagabi na. I skipped lunch because I don't feel like eating today. Ang dami kong iniisip, kanina pa tawag nang tawag si mama kahit na sinabi ko na sa kanila na ayos lang ako rito at hindi na rin sila dapat mag-alala pa sa problema nila sa pera at sa kasong kinatatakutan nila pero gusto parin ng update. Anong sasabihin ko, eh umupo at naglaptop lang naman ako boung araw. Hindi ko na rin na nakita kahit na anino ng lalaking 'yon.

Saktong pagsara ko ng laptop ko ay nakarinig ako ng katok mula sa pinto ng kuwarto ko. Ilang sandali pa ay bumukas ito. May ilang maids na pumasok na may dalang iba't ibang tela at boxes na sa tingin ko ay mga papel ang laman.

Para saan 'to?

Magtatanong na sana ako kaso natanaw ko rin ang lalaking seryosong naglalakad papasok sa kuwarto.

"Ano ang mga 'to? Don't tell me, basement na rin ang kuwarto ko? Storage room?" Kunot-noo kong tanong sa kanya.

"Starting from now, I'll be sleeping here. We'll be sleeping in one room," malamig na sagot niya.

Napaayos ako ng upo, halos mabitawan ang laptop ko sa gulat. My jaw practically hit the floor.

Is he serious?

"Excuse me? Isang kwarto? Isang kama? Are you out of your mind? You know this all for show. Why bother? Ang laki-laki ng mansion na 'to, Aleksandr. Puwede naman sa manatili ka na lang sa kuwarto mo. Why here?" mahinang tanong ko para hindi marinig ng mga kasamahan namin sa kuwarto.

He didn't even look at me. He gestured for the maids to place his things near the walk-in closet before dismissing them with a sharp flick of his wrist. Once the door clicked shut, he turned his gaze toward me, his expression as unreadable as a redacted document.

"Don't be delusional, Bustamante," he said, his voice dropping into that deep, authoritative baritone. "I have zero interest in sharing a bed with you for the sake of intimacy. This needs to be done."

"Needs to be done? Spending the night with me is a must now?" I shot back, crossing my arms over my chest. "Alam ko naman na eventually kailangan natin magsama pero puwede naman isang gabi lang, kapag kailangan lang. Hindi tayo totoong mag-asawa, hindi natin kailangan magsama sa iisang kuwarto."

He stepped closer, the scent of expensive sandalwood and cold rain trailing after him. He loomed over the edge of the bed, forcing me to look up.

"Everyone in this house especially those who works for my rivals has eyes and ears everywhere in this house. If we sleep in separate wings, they're surely will talk. If they fucking talk, and the board hears about it. Ano na lang mangyayari? If the board hears that this marriage is a hollow arrangement, my position will be compromised, and your family’s safety net—the one I am currently providing will surely disappear too. Do you follow the logic, or do I need to draw you a map?"

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "So, kailangan nating magpanggap kahit sa loob ng kwarto? That's too much. Pwede namang magpanggap na lang tayo sa harap nila."

"It's called being thorough," he countered, leaning against the dresser. "In this world, perception is reality. If the world sees us as a doting couple sharing a private sanctuary, no one will questions about our relationship. But let’s get one thing straight..."

He paused, his eyes traveling slowly, from my messy bun down to my faded, oversized pajama set with cartoon prints. A smirk, faint but incredibly insulting, danced on his lips.

"If I had a choice, you are the last person I'd want to share a breathing space with, let alone a bed. You're so plain, you're defiant, and frankly..."

he gestured vaguely at my outfit,

"Your choice of evening wear is tragic. You have absolutely nothing to worry about. You aren't exactly my type."

I felt a sting of annoyance. But I didn't let it show. The audacity of this man!

"Oh, wow. Gasgas na 'yang linyahan na 'yan, Mr. Aleksandr. And for your information, this 'tragic' outfit is called comfort. Sorry naman kung hindi ako naka-silk lingerie para sa paningin mo. Hindi ko naman kailangan, like sino ka ba? deserve mo ba makita ako sa gano'ng ayos? Ang mahalaga may suot!"

He licks his lips and smirks.

"Legally, I am your husband, and soon, you'll end up with no choice but to strip in front me, show everything you are hiding in that thin clothes and you'll be left with no choice but to satisfy me. You might even beg for my touch, missy."

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya. Sapat lang ang height difference namin para magawa kong paglapitin ang mga ilong namin pero hindi magkadikit. Amoy na amoy ko ang fresh mint na tingin ko'y mouthwash niya. I smiled seductively.

"Sigurado ka? Baka naman baliktad..."

Mabagal kong hinaplos ang mukha niya.

"Wag kang magsalita ng tapos, Mr. Aleksandr. Baka ikaw ang biglang... magmakaawa para lang mahawakan ako."