Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Nakahalukipkip akong naka upo sa sofa nila. I still didn't removed my black shades. My arms are crossed on my chest while I am sitting with my legs crossed. Naiinis akong hinihintay siya habang may kinukuha sa itaas. We are still not in his house. Nasa mansion pa nila kaming magpipinsan.

I am still fuming in anger, thinking what happened and how he dragged me earlier. He was never like this. Hinahayaan niya lang akong mag desisyon noon at hindi niya pinapakiki-alaman 'yon.

He was the reason why I left. If I clearly remember siya ang nakipag break matapos ang nangyare noon. I was left with no choice, my mother was very angry at him, too. That's why we flew to Germany.

I rolled my eyes to dismissed the thoughts. Stop accusing him. You're both at fault. But I am not at fault, that's what I know.

“Excuse me but who are you?” napalingon ako dahil sa ma arteng boses na biglang nagsalita.

I tilted my chin up. Kahit naka shades ako ay napataas pa rin ako ng kilay.

Bago pa ako maka sagot ay dali-daling nilapitan ng katulong ang babaeng matangkad.

“A-Ah Miss Xia, wala po si Sir Rhysand ngayon. Kaka alis lang po papuntang trabaho.” i heard the maid said with her trembling voice.

Tumaas ang kilay ng babae at ngumiti naman ng matamis pagkatapos. She then walked herself out the mansion.

“Tsk. Desperada talaga.” the maid murmured under her breath but I still managed to hear it.

Hindi ko na sila pinansin at patuloy na hinihintay ang lalaki. It's been 10 minutes but he's still upstairs!

“Let's go,” nilagpasan niya ako at mabigat ang mga hakbang na lumabas.

I aggressively grabbed my bag and followed him. After forcing me to come with him, gaganitohin niya ako? Ang kapal ng mukha. Hindi naman guwapo.

“Act like my wife—”

Pinutol ko siya sa pagsasalita. “Excuse me? Baka nakalimutan mo na hindi ang pagiging asawa mo ang pinirmahan ko sa kontrata.”

He cleared his throat and proceeded to walk. I smirked in triumph.

“Mommy!!” sinalubong ako ng matinis na boses at matamis na yakap ni Vanilla.

She is holding her doll in her left hand. May blue ribbon sa buhok niyang naka bagsak. She's also wearing a Gucci dress paired with a white doll shoes.

Lumuhod ako para mayakap din siya pabalik. I caressed her hair. I felt an electrifying sensation when she kissed my cheek. Ngumiti ako at hinawakan ang mga kamay niya.

“I'm going to swim! Swim with me, mommy!” hinila ka agad niya ako kung saan ang pool nila.

“I-I don't have swimming wear, love.”

Napatitig siya sa akin at kalaunan ay ngumiti. “It's okay, daddy bought clothes including swimming wear for you, mommy.”

Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro na ibinigay niya sa akin ang swimsuit na one piece. It's like this is planned. Pinaghandaan niya talaga ito. And what? Rhysand bought clothes for me? Since paano niya nalaman ang size ko?

“Bihis kana po mom. I'll wait po!” pagkatapos niya sabihin 'yon ay ka agad siyang tumalon sa pool.

I smiled at her 'till she started swimming and floating. Nakita kong nilalaro niya ang mga tubig kaya tumalikod ako at hinarap ang tatay niya. Inirapan ko 'to at dumeristo sa cr dun sa kitchen nila.

Tiningnan ko ang sarili sa salamin. I am wearing a white one piece swim suit. May butas sa sa bawat tagiliran ko. It fitted my body really well. I tied my hair before ako lumapit sakanila.

Nang makalapit ako sakanila ay napatingin ako kay Rhysand. He's looking at me intently. I saw how his adams apple move up and down. Tinaasan ko siya kilay bago lumapit sa anak niya. Umigting ang kaniyang panga at iniwas ang tingin. Umahon siya sa pool at umupo sa lounge.

“Let's swim mommy!” Vanilla grabbed my hand. Nabasa ako ng tubig kaya napatawa nalang ako.

I splashed the water at her and she returned what I did. Pagkatapos ng ilang oras ay bigla nalang siyang gininaw kaya umahon na rin kami. Rhysand was there all the time, watching us playing and teaching Vanilla how to swim.

After that, Rhysand is preparing food for our dinner. He looks a official father while skillfully slicing the onions, garlics and carrots. Hindi ko rin alam ang lulutin niya. I didn't bother asking though.

Lumapit ako sakaniya at inilapag ang bowl na kakailanganin nito. Dinistansya ko ng kaunti ang sarili ng mapansing masyado lang kaming malapit.

“The swimsuit fits my body well. How did you know my size?” tanong ko habang pinipitaas ang lettuce.

“I've touched and roamed my hands on your body before. Every inch of your body.” he scanned me from head to foot.

Uminit ang mukha ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

“Normal lang na malaman ko.”

That was before! Lumaki ang katawan ko!!

We ate dinner together. Tatlo lang kaming nasa bahay niya. Wala silang katulong. He's the one who's doing the chores the whole day. But of course, tumutulong naman ako baka sabihin niya na umaasta akong senyorita.

“Escabeche!!” Vanilla squealed when she saw the viand.

Rhysand smiled while preparing the food on the table.

Magkatabi kami ni Vanilla habang kumakain at nasa harap naman namin si Rhys na palihim na tumitingin sa amin.

I noticed that Vanilla is removing the carrots. Inaalis niya ito gamit ang maliliit niyang kamay.

“You don't like carrots?” I softly asked her.

Lumingon siya sa akin at tumango.

“I hate it. Daddy knows that I hate carrots. Hindi ko alam bakit may carrots sa food.” she pouted.

Napatingin ako sa lalaki na ngayon ay tahimik na kumakain. He looked back at me. Tinasaan niya ako kilay niyang makapal. I am not assuming that he put carrots in the food because he knows that I also hate carrots. Hindi naman sa sinasabi ko na sinadya niya iyon para inisin ako, baka nga nakalimutan niya na na ayaw ko non.

I started helping Vanilla removing the carrots on her plate. Inilagaya ko 'yon sa isang platito na walang laman. I also removed mine.

“You also don't like carrots, mommy?”

Ngumiti ako ng tipid sakaniya. “Yes... well not really. I just hate carrots when it's cooked.”

Her eyes brightened. “Me too! Gusto ko na hindi ni cocook the carrots!”

“Maybe you're really my biological mother, mommy.” natatawang sabi niya sa akin.

Napatigil ako sa sinabi niya. I just smiled and looked at Rhysand. Umiwas siya ng tingin at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

After eating I offered to wash the dishes. Para naman may ambag ako sa pamamahay na 'to.

Lumapit sa Vanilla sa akin. Sumiksik siya sa gilid ko kaya mahina akong natawa. I started reading her a bed time story again. Pero wala pang isang minuto ay nakatulog na siya. She must be really tired. So I slowly and without a noise a left her sleeping in her room.

Pumasok ako sa kabilang kwarto. Rhysand is sitting at the bed while reading a book. His hair is wet, halatang kakagaling lang sa ligo. Nakasuot na rin siya ng pajamas. The comforter covered his lower body.

“Doon ka sa sofa.” sabi ko sakaniya habang nakapameywang.

He looked at me using his bored eyes. Tiningnan ko ang kabuohan ng kwarto niya. Wala nga.

“I don't have a sofa.” sagot niya at nag simula ulit na mag basa.

How come he doesn't have a sofa in his room?

“Then sa sahig ka matulog!”

“Wala akong extra bed and comforter.”

Na irita ako sa naging sagot niya lalo na ang mukha niyang walang emosyon! How come wala siyang extra bed? What if may bisita sila tapos dito matutulog?

“Fine. Doon ako sa kwarto ni Vanilla matutulog.” mariing sabi ko at hinablot ang isang unan.

I was about to go when he stopped me by saying something.

“Ayaw ni Vanilla na may kasamang matulog.”

I frowned that gained him rosing his lips. He obviously planned this! Hindi pwedeng magkatabi kaming matulog! What if gagapangin niya ako? Omy gosh, nakakadiri kung ganoon nga!

“We can sleep together. Don't worry hindi kita gagalawin kung ganon ang iniisip mo.”

Padabog na humiga ako sa tabi niya. I don't have a choice but to sleep beside him. Wala akong matutulogan kung mag iinarte lang ako.

Nilagyan ko ng unan ang pagitan namin para ma sigurado ko na hindi niya ako gagapangin. And so that he can't touch me.

Funny to think that I hate him for what he did. I hate him for forcing me and for what happened years ago. Nakakatawa pakinggan na ayaw kong may mag desisyon sa buhay ko pero ito ako at hinahayaan siyang mag desisyon sa akin. I don't like it. Or maybe, I do.

I wasn't here for revenge. I was here to finally let go and forget the past so I can heal. And to finally forget Rhysand Velarde. But things turned upside down. He's doing this because he is still living in the past. He's doing this, probably, because I left him.

I let him manipulate me. I am at fault too.