Chapter Twenty Seven

Iginala ni Xander ang mga mata sa loob ng coffee shop na iyon, looking for a particular person. It was the same coffee shop they always used to go to, back in college. The smell of the coffee aroma and the ambiance takes him back in time -  to when Beatrix would meet him there with a huge smile painted on her lips.

Hindi nagtagal ay nakita niya ang hinahanap. She was sitting at the very corner, sa isang tagong spot na may pang dalawahang upuan. Muntik na niya itong hindi makilala sa malaking shades na suot nito na halos tumakip sa kalahati ng mukha nito, idagdag pa ang suot nitong summer hat sa ulo.

He smiled quietly, she was probably trying to disguise herself upang hindi makilala ng mga tao, gayon pa man ay hindi pa rin maiwasang makakuha ang babae ng atensyon ng ilang mga naroroon. No matter how simple she dresses, she screams of beauty and sophistication, hindi ito ang klase ng babaeng karaniwan mong makakasalubong sa daan.

Nilapitan niya ang kinaroroonan nito at naupo sa tapat ng babae. Napatingin ito sa kanya, at bagaman hindi niya masyadong makita ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito ay nabakas niyang tila ito nagulat sa kanyang pagdating.

"Am I late?" tanong niya as he sat down at the chair opposite hers.

"N-no..." bahagya itong umiling "Medyo napaaga lang ako"

"Can't you remove your sunglasses? I want to see your face" malambing niyang wika, nakita niyang bahagyang namula ang pisngi nito. Yes, she's no longer the 17 year old teenager who was head over heels in love with him, but some things really don't change, kagaya na lamang na mabilis pa ring mamula ang pisngi nito kapag tinutukso niya.

"Hmp! masaya ka! buti nga at nakipag meet pa ako sa'yo eh!" tila batang lumabi ito. She removed the hat from her head.

Tumawa siya "I think ikaw kasi ang may kailangan sa akin, Mrs. de Silva"  sinenyasan niya ang waiter at umorder  "one cappuccino and an iced caramel latte please" he smiled at her.

"I would have ordered black coffee if you asked me"

Umarko ang kilay niya pataas "ows? your preferences have changed that much? you hated black coffee."

Beatrix smirked "you are gravely mistaken if you think you still know me"

Tumango tango siya "anyway, have you decided to accept my offer? I'm assuming that's why you asked to meet me today?"

Pinuno ng dalaga ng hangin ang dibdib at tila naghahanap ng lakas ng loob bago siya sinagot "C-can I offer you something else?" may dinukot ito mula sa dalang bag at inilapag sa lamesita at iniusog palapit sa kanya "I can give you more if you want... j-just name it"

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya at tinignan ang papel na inilapag ng babae. He picked it up at bumulaga sa kanyang paningin ang nakasulat roon: 5 Million pesos. Cash.

Agad ang pagragasa ng mainit na dugo sa kanyang ulo, his grip tightened on the cheque bago sa nagtatagis na bagang ay pinunit iyon sa dalawa at inilapag sa tapat ni Beatrix. His pride, ego at ang buong pagkatao niya ay nainsulto sa chekeng iyon! Talaga bang ganito kababa ang tingin sa kanya ng dalaga to try and pay him to sign those annulment papers?

"I will pretend that I didn't see that cheque, Beatrix" he said, trying to control his anger

"J-just name your price Xander. I'm willing to pay however much you want. Just please, set me free" nagsusumamo ang tinig nito.

His chest heaved sa kinokontrol na galit. Ganito na lang ba ang pagnanais ni Beatrix na makalaya mula sa kanya upang magpakasal sa iba? Is she in love with that son of a bitch?! Lalong nagtagis ang mga ngipin niya sa kaisipang iyon.

But you are mine, Beatrix! Walang ibang lalaki ang pwedeng mag may-ari sa iyo!

"I don't need any money"

"Then what do you need? anything, huwag lang yung tatlong buwang gusto mo..."

"Is the idea of being my wife again that repulsive to you?" seryosong tanong niya, may pait ang mga katagang namutawi mula sa kanyang mga labi.

Beatrix bit her lower lip, hindi ito nakasagot.

He smiled cunningly  "if you don't like that idea... then what about being my booty call for three months?" naghahamong tanong niya.

"Excuse me?!" Beatrix exclaimed, her voice was laced with disbelief and anger.

"You heard me" kibit balikat niyang sagot  "you have 2 choices - either be my wife again for 3 months....or be the woman who fucks me anytime I want"  brutal niyang sabi.

He intently looked at her eyes behind those sunglasses, at alam niya, hindi man niya makita ang mga mata nito ay paniguradong nagbubuga ng apoy ang mga iyon sa sinabi niya. He never wanted to say those harsh words to her, ngunit sinusubok ng dalaga ang pasensya niya.

Beatrix gasped. Her face, even her ears turned red in embarassment from the profanity she heard him say.   

"Bastos!" nanggigigil na singhal nito sa kanya. Akma pa itong may sasabihin ngunit dumating ang waiter at inilapag ang mga inumin nila.

He calmly took his coffee and sipped "I gave you a decent offer in the first place Beatrix, but you were not willing to accept it and I on the other hand, am not interested with your money"  inilapag niya ang tasa   "to be frank...ikaw lang ang interes ko" his lips twitched up into a smile.

*******

Muling napasinghap si Beatrix sa ngiting iyon. Matindi ang pintig ng kanyang puso, it's like all her senses were heightened kapag kaharap ang lalaking ito. Moreover, she could still feel her ears warm dahil sa pagkapahiya at shock sa narinig niyang sinabi nito.

Bastard! How could you say something like that?!  Parang nanayo lahat ng balahibo niya sa katawan sa tinuran ng binata!

"D-define being your wife..." lakas loob na tanong niya. Inabot niya ang inumin at humigop.

Xander cleared his throat "you know how it was to be my wife. Have you forgotten?"

No ,damn you! I haven't forgotten yet, and that's one of my problems! Gusto niyang ihiyaw sa mukha nito.

"y-you don't mean...w-we will be sharing the s-same... bed?" lumunok siya, tila nalulunod siya sa tindi ng kabog ng kanyang puso.

Mahinang tumawa ang binata "wasn't that a big part of our marriage? don't you remember when we used to do it even in the shower?" nanunukso ang tinig nito, kasabay ng pagkislap ng mga mata.

"stop!" she raised her hand to stop him from what he's saying "I- I don't think I can do that Mr. de Silva. Una, I already have a fiancee and that won't be morally correct, second, hindi na tayo talagang mag asawa so it's not natural anymore and third -"

"Una..."  putol ni Xander sa sinasabi niya  "you're still married so having another fiancee is what's morally and legally unacceptable. You should be thanking me that I am not sueing you for bigamy, considering that your engagement to that buffoon was public!"  hindi nagtaas ng tinig si Xander ngunit may diin ang bawat salitang binitiwan nito "Second, we are still married... asawa pa rin kita Beatrix, whether you like it or not. Until I sign those papers, YOU.ARE.MINE."  halos matupok si Beatrix sa nag aapoy na tinging ibinibigay nito sa kanya.

"Still... I will only agree to your condition, Mr. de Silva, kung walang physical contact" taas noong sabi niya. She won't back down from him this time! Bahala na!

Walang sabing dinukwang siya ni Xander from accross that small coffee table "don't be hyprocrite, princess. Your kisses the other day didn't lie" he sarcastically said, nakakaloko siyang nginitian nito.

"oh don't be too full of yourself Xander! yes, I admit, you are a master seducer that's why! Pero huwag mong ipagkamali ang naging reaksyon ng katawan ko sa kung ano pa man! I'm human, I'm a woman, normal lang ang naging reaksyon ko" singhal niya. She's aware na lalong nangamatis ang mukha niya sa pamumula! This man sees through her! Kayang kaya pa rin nitong bulabugin ang puso at pagkatao niya!

He chuckled and went back to his seat "I doubt it you will respond to any man like you do to me, princess. You are still attracted to me, like I am to you"

"hah! you wish!"

Xander laughed. The devil is really enjoying this little game of his!

"So it's settled then. Susunduin ko kayo ni Mico next week to go home to San Gabriel"

Lalo yatang tumaas ang blood pressure ni Beatrix sa narinig. Mico?! Wala sa usapang madadawit ang anak niya rito!

"Wait...wait.." she impulsively removed the shades from her eyes, uncaring kung may makakilala sa kanya. Naniningkit ang mga mata niyang tinitigan ang kaharap "Mico? wala sa usapan nating masasama ang ANAK KO sa kasunduang ito!" she said, giving emphasis sa katagang 'anak ko'.

"well, are you willing to leave him for 3 months?" inosenteng tanong nito

She paused. It's true that Mico's used to being with his grandparents when she needed to shoot overseas, at kung minsan ay inaabot din ito ng ilang linggo, but if she has a choice, natural na hindi niya gustong iwan ang anak. She already feels guilty sa maraming pagkakataong busy siya sa trabaho at hindi maibuhos ang oras at atensyon kay Mico.

"see?" untag ni Xander sa kanya "isa pa, gusto ko ring makasama ang bata"

Muli niya itong matalim na tinignan "wala kang karapatan para gustuhing makasama ang anak ko! You are not his father! how many times do I have to tell you for heaven's sake?!"

"Huwag kang mag- alala, princess. I will make sure to find out kung ako nga ba o hindi ang ama ni Mico. But for now, I want to get to know him. I sincerely adore that little man" anito na napangiti pagka-alala sa bata.

Lalong sumidhi ang takot at kaba sa kalooban ni Beatrix. Ito ba ang lukso ng dugo? Is that why Xander feels that way towards Mico kahit pa sinabi niyang hindi ito ang ama ng bata? What if Xander takes Mico away from her kapag nalaman nito ang totoo?

Lihim niyang ipinilig ang ulo. No! hiyaw ng kanyang isip. She won't let anyone take her son away from her! Mamatay muna siya bago niya hayaang mangyari iyon!

Muli niyang isinuot ang shades at tumayo "I need to talk to my manager first to set-up things bago ako mawala ng tatlong buwan. I also need to make an alibi for my parents. Kailangan ko ring makausap si Daniel..." her voice trailed off.

"You better call off your engagment, sweetheart" may warning sa tinig ng binata.

"I don't need to. Daniel will surely understand. I'm doing this for us anyway" malamig na tugon niya. Kumulimlim ang mukha ni Xander sa sinabi niya, bagaman hindi nito pinansin iyon.

"10 days." he said flatly at muling itinuon ang mga mata sa kanya "I'll give you 10 days. Then you, Mico and I will head home to San Gabriel" pinal na wika nito.

She didn't answer. Alam niyang pointless ng makipag argumento pa sa lalaki, hindi na rin naman niya mababago pa ang isip nito. Tumalikod na siya at nilisan ang lugar na iyon.

Just what is it that's waiting for her in San Gabriel? Though she sometimes misses the place, hindi niya kailanman inisip na babalik pa siyang muli roon, lalo na sa bahay ni Xander! That place holds so many memories for her na pinilit niyang ibaon sa limot sa nakalipas na mga taon. Worst, paano niya tatagpusin ang tatlong buwang kasama sa iisang bubong ang lalaki? Everytime they meet, they clash! Huwag nang isama pa ang panginginig ng mga tuhod niya at paglukso ng puso niya sa tuwing nariyan ang presensya nito!

Damn you, Xander! Damn you for shaking my world like this all over again!