Kabanata 5: Letter

TAHIMIK na sumisimsim si Zoren ng kaniyang 25-aged Macallan whiskey habang nakaupo sa kaniyang leather swivel chair na nasa likod ng kanyang faux marble desk kung saan nakapatong ang kopya ng marriage certificate nila ni Renese.

Kasalukuyan siyang nasa loob ng kaniyang private office sa Voss Prime Estate building habang tahimik na pinapanood ang press conference ni Renese kagabi habang nagsasagot ito ng mga sunod-sunod na tanong mula sa mga reporter. His laptop is just on mute because he already heard what she had said yesterday. He just wants to see her face, that is why he’s rewatching the press conference.

It’s been four years since that day. Hindi niya inaasahan na ganito ang magiging epekto sa kaniya ng dalaga. He watched her from a far and he didn’t expect that he’ll go this far. He didn’t expect that he can ruin a billion peso business just for her sake.

Akala niya no’ng una ay mabilis lamang na lilipas ang naramdaman niyang attraction sa dalaga noong araw na iyon. Akala niya ay pagbalik niya sa Pilipinas ay magpapatuloy lamang ang buhay niya na kung saan ay mas magpaparami siya ng pera upang maging isang pinakamayamang bachelor sa buong Pilipinas pero nagkamali siya.

When he returned from Paris, everything about his plans changed. He couldn’t get the girl out of his mind—her beautiful face, her sexy body. All he could think about was her, her, and her. Nothing else seemed to matter.

Naputol ang panonood ni Zoren nang biglang may sunod-sunod na pumasok sa loob ng opisina niya nang walang katok-katok. Alam na niya kung sino ang mga iyon. Sinara niya muna ang kaniyang laptop bago bumaling sa mga bagong dating.

“Hey, bud!” bungad ni Malik at saka pabagsak na umupo sa itim na sofa ng office niya.

Zoren's brow furrowed. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Nyro Halden shrugged. “We just found out something interesting.”

“And what does that have to do with me?” Zoren ask annoyed and drank his whiskey.

“Of course it does! You married the famous fashion socialite, brand ambassador and the most talk woman in the Philippines but didn’t even invite us? That’s harsh, dude,” sabi ni Malik na tila masama ang loob habang nakahawak sa dibdib niya.

Nadako naman ang paningin niya kay Silas na nakangisi ring nakaupo sa sofa katabi ni Malik.

“They asked me,” ani Silas na para bang alam na nito ang tumatakbo sa isip niya.

Si Silas Galvan kasi ang kanilang family lawyer at ang isa sa pinagkakatiwalaan niyang kaibigan. Sinamahan siya nito sa pag-aasikaso ng pagrehistro ng kasal nila kagabi kahit na late na. He used his influence to pull some strings because he wasn’t going to let the day end without them becoming officially married.

Zoren took a deep breath and stood up holding his rock glass.

“Pumunta lang kayo para diyan?” tanong niya.

“Kind of? Gusto ka lang naming i-congtras. Finally, nakuha mo na si Renese Diora Kensington. Buti na lang pala nagka-allergy ako no’ng araw na ‘yon kung hindi baka ako ‘yong in love ngayon kay Rene—”

Hindi na natuloy ni Malik ang sasabihin nang tingnan ito ng masama ni Zoren. “Fuck you!”

Malik laughed at tinaas ang kamay na parang sumusuko. “Chill, I’m just kidding.”

“Ano namang naging reaction niya nang inalok mo siya ng kasal, bud? Impossible namang pumayag kaagad siyang magpakasal sa hindi niya kilala ‘di ba? Everyone known her for being an independent badass,” sabi ni Nyro.

May rumistrong ngisi sa labi ni Zoren nang bumalik sa isip niya ang pag-uusap nila kagabi.

“She was shocked, of course. She actually hates me when she signed our marriage certificate. That’s good. Hate is still an emotion. It means I matter,” sabi niya at nilagok ang alak na hawak.

“You’re fucking insane,” Silas commented.

“You’re fucking in love,” Malik added.

“You’re fucking dangerous,” Nyro said as well.

He shot his friends a deadly glare. “Can you get the hell out of here? Don’t you have work to finish?”

“My company can have a billion pesos in revenue without me, dude,” Malik said arrogantly, his foot casually resting on top of his center table.

“Same here,” segunda rin ni Nyro na nagtaas pa ng kamay.

Hinilot na lamang ni Zoren ang kaniyang sintido. Nanatili pa doon ng kalahating oras ang mga kaibigan niya bago ito tuluyang umalis na lihim niyang pinagpapasalamat. When he was finally alone in his office, he stood by the glass wall and gazed out at the skyline.

Inangat niya ang kaniyang kamay at tiningnan ang singsing na kapartner ng singsing na binigay niya kagabi kay Renese. Hindi niya mapigilang mapangiti.

“You belong to me now, Renese. Even if no one knows. Even if you deny it. Even if I have to ruin heaven itself just to keep you mine,” he whispered to himself.

𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆ 𓂃 ₊ ⊹

“RERA may nagpapabigay na naman sa’yo,” nagkangiting sabi ni Vilmie kay Renese habang papasok ito sa loob ng opisina niya habang may dalang mamahaling bouquet ng Pink Juliet Rose.

Mabilis na bumilis ang tibok ng puso ni Renese dahil sa nakita. Even though she hadn’t touched it yet, she already had an idea of who it came from.

“A-Akin na,” aniya at tumayo para kuhanin ang bulaklak mula sa kaniyang manager.

“Ikaw ah. Apat na araw nang may sunod-sunod na nagpapadala sa’yo ng mamahaling bulaklak ha. Umamin ka nga sa’kin, may sinagot ka na sa mga manliligaw mo ‘no?”

“What? Of course not!” she defensively answered.

“Oh, kalma ka lang. Masyado ka namang defensive. Kung hindi ‘yan galing sa boyfriend mo, kanino galing ‘yan aber? My gut is telling me that there’s only one person sending you such extravagant flowers these past few days,” Vilmie said, while staring at the flowers she was holding.

Renese gulped and quickly took the dedication letter secretly. “I don’t know. Wala ulit nakalagay kung kanino galing,” she lied.

Napangiwi naman si Vilmie. “Ang torpe naman ng nagpapadala niyan. First time na may secret admirer ka ah. Madalas bulgaran kung magpakita ng pagkakagusto sa’yo ang iba eh.”

“Oh, sa’yo na lang,” sabi niya at inabot ang bouquet sa manager niya.

Vilmie's brow furrowed. “Na naman? Kulang na lang magpatayo na ‘ko ng flower shop sa apartment ko dahil sa dami ng bulaklak na nakatambak doon, Rera. Ayoko na! Hindi ko na kukunin ‘yan,” tanggi nito.

“Sige na, kunin mo na. Ang choosy mo naman. ‘Tsaka wala naman akong gagawin sa mga bulakbulak na ‘yan,” she insisted.

Vilmie shook her head. “No, ayoko na. Sabihan mo na lang ‘yang manliligaw mo na pera na lang ibigay niya sa’yo para ibigay mo rin sa’kin iyon na lang ang tatanggapin ko ha? Okay, bye!”

Dali-dali itong lumabas ng opisina niya. Kaya naman wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ang ilagay sa ibabaw ng lamesa niya ang mamahaling bulaklak.

She rolled her eyes and then slumped down onto her swivel chair.

Honestly, Pink Juliet Rose is her favorite flower. Walang ibang nakakalam nakakaalam nito. Not even her manager and friends kaya nakakapagtaka kung paano nalaman ni Zoren na favorite niya ‘to… or was it just a coincidence.

Huminga ng malalim si Renese at saka muling kinuha ang tinago niyang dedication letter bago iyon buksan para basahin.

For my wife,

A beauty as rare as these roses.

PS. I’ll pick you up to your office at 8PM.

-Z