Chapter 5: Fiancé

Mariin kong pinikit ang mga mata at saglit na napako sa kinatatayuan dahil sa malamig niyang boses. Hindi ko man ito harapin ay nakatitiyak ako kung sino ito.

I don’t think I still have the face to show because of the things I said last night. Lasing ako, pero naaalala ko ang lahat ng pinagsasabi at pinaggagagawa ko. That’s even more humiliating! Mas mabuti pang nakalimutan ko ang lahat ng nangyari.

Lalo pa ngayong nakagawa na naman ako ng panibagong kahihiyan. Hindi nga palabas ng kuwarto ang pintong nabuksan ko, papunta ito sa malaking balcony. Sa dami ba naman kasi ng pinto rito, malay ko bang hindi ito ang daan palabas? Puwede naman akong tumalon na lang sana sa balcony pababa.

“I...” I inwardly sighed and slowly turned my head. Ramdam ko ang pag-init ng pisngi nang tignan siya. “I just want to get some fresh air.” Pilit akong ngumiti.

“How are you feeling?”

As usual, I couldn't see any expression on his face as our eyes met. Saglit na bumaba ang tingin ko sa kaniyang suot. He’s wearing gray pants paired with a simple white shirt but it fits perfectly on his well-sculpted and masculine body. Agad din akong nag-iwas dahil baka isipin niyang tinititigan ko ang katawan niya.

I took a deep breath once again and I cleared my throat, “I apologize for what I had done yesterday. I just... couldn’t hold alcohol."

Hindi siya nagsalita kaya muli ko siyang tinignan.

“Wala namang nangyari sa atin, hindi ba?” Diretso at walang paligoy-ligoy kong tanong kahit na kinakabahan ako sa maaari nitong isagot.

The side of his lips curved in amusement, clearly didn’t expect me to ask that.

“Naninigurado lang,”  dagdag ko.

I bit my tongue inside my mouth to refrain myself from blurting things out again.

“Don’t worry, I’m not that kind of man,” kinuha niya ang isang mangkok na nasa tray sa ibabaw ng mesa saka inabot iyon sa akin.

“Take a hangover soup to lessen your hangover before taking a shower. My grandfather is waiting for us downstairs, gusto nila tayong kausapin.”

Parang bumilis ang daloy ng dugo ko sa katawan nang manumbalik sa akin ang hitsura ng lolo niya kagabi.

Hindi ba niya sinabi ang totoo? I was just joking yesterday.

“I have work. Bakit kailangan pa akong kasama?” Lying. I just want to escape from him.

He frowned, draping the towel over his damp hair and gave me a questioning look.

“Because everyone already knows you’re my fiancé.”

Naiwan akong tulala nang talikuran niya. Dali-dali kong hinanap ang cellphone ko sa bag, sa kasamaang palad ay low battery iyon. Binuksan niya ang isang pinto na tingin ko ay palabas ng kuwarto kaya sinundan ko siya.

To my surprise, this is not the exit door of his bedroom—but the door of a living room.

Gaano ba kalaki ang silid na ito? Walang-wala rito ang laki ng bahay ko.

Kinuha niya ang remote ng napakalaking TV. Nang bumukas iyon, bumungad ang balita patungkol sa nangyari kagabi. I held my breath as I saw Viscenzo and I on the screen. That was the time when I lost consciousness, binuhat niya ako papunta sa isang magarang sasakyan at iniwan ang lolo niyang naguguluhan sa nangyayari.

Bakit hindi ko naisip na may midya kagabi? It was a reunion of a well-known family after all. Tiyak akong maraming tanong ang bubungad sa akin mamaya.

“Why don’t you just tell them the truth? Tell them I was drunk that time and I didn’t know what I was doing...” I unconsciously blurted, voice slowly fading. My mouth started to get dry from nervousness.

“If I’d do that, I wouldn’t have brought you here.” He looked at me.

I hate this feeling every time our gazes meet.

“Besides, I’m taking responsibility.”

My brows furrowed.

“What responsibility?” I asked, puzzled. He raised an eyebrow.

But as soon as I remembered what I told him last night that he should take responsibility by captivating me, my cheeks started to heat up. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin.

This freaking mouth couldn’t just keep shut whenever I’m drunk!

I just wish I could disappear in front of him and never see him again.

“Let’s say I kidnapped you and kept you as my captive,” his eyes remained fixated, I couldn’t tell if he was being serious or playful, “I’m taking my responsibility to keep you safe from people who might hurt you until it’s settled.”

I remained puzzled, trying to sink everything in.

“For now...” He stepped closer, catching me off guard. I couldn’t take my eyes off his gaze as if it was claiming me again. Maya-maya ay may binuksan itong maliit na box na hindi ko alam kung saan galing at kinuha ang kamay ko. Sinuot niya roon ang isang hindi pangkaraniwang singsing. Natigilan ako.

“Be my fiancé for the meantime until we fix everything.”

—

Tahimik ang buong dining area mula sa pagbaba namin ni Viscenzo hanggang sa makaupo kami sa bakanteng silya. Nagulat ako dahil akala ko ay lolo lang niya ang narito, pero hindi ko aakalain na narito rin pala ang ilan niyang malalapit na kamag-anak na nakita ko rin sa reunion kahapon.

Their eyes are following me as if studying me, or rather, silently judging me the moment I arrived.

Starstruck siguro sa morning look ko.

They all look refined in their luxurious clothes, para bang nanonood ako ng isang kompetisyon sa kung sino ang mas mayaman sa kanila dahil sa magagara nilang damit at alahas. Ganoon naman talaga sa mga magkakamag-anak, hindi ba? Pasikatan sa kung sino ang mas nakaaangat sa buhay.

I’m not familiar with all of them, but I recall a few because I’ve watched them on the news.

Halata ang karangyaan sa kanilang suot samantala ako, simpleng long sleeve polo lang na pagmamay-ari ni Viscenzo at malaki pa sa akin. Nagmukha tuloy iyong dress dahil natatakpan ang shorts ko. Hindi ko alam na mapupunta ako rito kaya wala akong dalang damit, eh ’di sana nag-ukay muna ako.