All Chapters of Playboy's Contract: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Clyde’s POVTahimik si Athena sa biyahe pauwi.Hindi yung tahimik na walang laman. Mas malala iyon. Tahimik siya na parang pinipigilan niyang maramdaman ang lahat nang sabay-sabay. Nakatingin siya sa labas ng bintana, pero hawak pa rin niya ang maliit na cape ni Cloud sa palad niya.Hindi ko alam kung napansin niyang hindi ko pa binitawan ang kamay niya.O baka napansin niya, pero hinayaan niya lang.“Masakit ba?” tanong ko.Napalingon siya. “Alin?”“Kamay mo. Mahigpit yata ang hawak ko kanina.”Tiningnan niya ang kamay namin. Only then did she seem to realize na magkahawak pa rin kami. I expected her to pull away.She didn’t.“Hindi,” sabi niya. “Okay lang.”I nodded, pero hindi pa rin ako bumitaw.Hindi ko alam kung para sa kanya iyon o para sa akin.When we reached home, Cloud was waiting near the stairs, sitting on the third step like a tiny judge who had lost patience with the court.“You’re late,” he said.Athena immediately softened. “Sorry.”“Did you win?”She looked at me for

Clyde’s POVHindi ko inakalang magiging ganito ang pakiramdam kapag nakuha ko na ang gusto ko.For years, inisip ko na kapag nakuha ko ang shares, kapag napigilan ko ang mga pinsan ko, kapag nasunod ko ang will ni Lolo, makakahinga ako nang maluwag. I imagined victory would feel sharp and satisfying, like signing a deal no one could take away from me.Pero habang nakaupo ako sa study, hawak ang confirmation mula kay Atty. De Vera, wala akong naramdamang tagumpay.Ang tanging nakikita ko ay si Athena.She was sitting across from me, quiet, her hands folded around her moon mug. She smiled when I told her the shares would be released, pero hindi umabot sa mata niya. I knew why. I would have to be blind not to.Now that the conditions were satisfied, she was wondering where that left her.Where that left us.“Stop thinking,” I said.Her brows lifted. “Excuse me?”“You’re thinking too loudly.”“That’s not a thing.”“It is when you do it.”She looked away, pretending to drink from her mug.

Clyde’s POVHindi ko inakalang magiging ganito kaingay ang bahay dahil sa dalawang bata at dalawang robot.Cloud and Anthony had taken over the living room like tiny generals. May cushions sa sahig, may kumot na ginawang base, at may lamesang ginawang “robot headquarters.” Si Manang Rosa ay ilang beses nang nagbantang itatapon ang mga kalat, pero hindi niya ginawa. Sa totoo lang, mas mukhang natutuwa pa siya kaysa naiinis.Athena sat on the carpet with them.That was the part I couldn’t stop looking at.She was still wearing the simple dress she had changed into after lunch, hair loosely tied, sleeves pushed up while helping Anthony fix a loose wire on his toy. Cloud was beside her, explaining battle rules like it was a legal contract. Athena listened seriously, nodding at the right moments.“Wait,” she said, holding up one hand. “So bawal umatake kapag nasa blanket area?”Cloud nodded. “Safe zone.”Anthony frowned. “But what if emergency?”Cloud looked offended. “Robots respect rules

Clyde’s POVHindi ko nagustuhan ang katahimikan ni Athena sa biyahe pauwi.Hindi iyon katahimikan ng taong galit. Mas mabigat iyon. Parang pagod na pagod siyang hawakan ang sarili niya sa harap ng mga taong minsan niyang tinawag na tahanan.Her last words to her mother kept repeating in my head.Hindi pa. Pero mas malaya ako.I should have been satisfied. Freedom was the point, wasn’t it? I married her so she could step out of that house without being dragged back. I paid the debt so they could no longer use it as a leash. I stood beside her so she would not have to face them alone.But hearing her say she was not happy yet bothered me more than it should have.“Stop looking at me,” she said, eyes still on the window.“I’m not.”“You are. I can feel it.”“You have impressive detection skills.”“I live with you now. I adapted.”That should have amused me. Instead, I heard the weight behind I live with you now, like she was still testing if the words would hold.“Are you okay?” I asked.

Athena’s POVHindi ko inamin kay Clyde na hindi ako nakatulog.Hindi rin niya inamin na ganoon din siya.Kinaumagahan, nadatnan ko siya sa dining area na hawak ang cellphone, untouched ang kape sa harap niya. Si Cloud ay abala sa cereal niya, habang si Manang Rosa naman ay tahimik na naglalagay ng pandesal sa plato. Normal ang lahat sa itsura, pero ramdam ko ang bigat sa hangin.Brianna.Hindi ko pa siya kilala, pero parang may pwesto na siya sa bahay bago pa man dumating.“Anong oras ang dating niya?” tanong ko.Clyde looked up. “Nine-thirty.”“Susunduin mo?”He paused. “I was going to send a driver.”“But she asked you to come.”Cloud looked up from his cereal. “Who?”Clyde’s expression softened. “An old friend.”“Girl?”“Yes.”Cloud frowned. “Is she nice?”Clyde did not answer fast enough.That told me enough.“She was,” he said finally.Was.Hindi ko alam kung bakit kumapit sa akin ang salitang iyon.I picked up my moon mug and tried to act like my chest wasn’t tightening. “You sh