COLD STEEL

CHAPTER 41

LUMABAS ng bahay si Tasia para magpahangin. Masama pa rin ang loob niya dahil sa sinabi ni Chad na ibalik niya ang dati niyang ayos.

Nagagalit siya dahil para na rin sinabi ng binata na ang minahal nito ay ang mapagpanggap na Tasia at hindi ang kung sino talaga siya at kung ano talaga ang pagkatao niya.

Anastasia Soriano was no old fashioned woman at all. She was almost like her twin sister in a different manner. She was also hardheaded woman, fierce and has the motto of never˗give˗up.

Hindi siya manang at mahinang babae. She was gentle, yes but not that conservative type. Moderno at bukas ang isip niya sa maraming bagay pero selfish siya at hindi basta˗basta sumusunod sa kung kani˗kanino. At nagrerebelde ang loob niya sa oras na iyon dahil kay Chad.

"Baliw na lalaking 'yon," anas niyang nakahalukipkip sa harap ng hardin. Wala pang alas otso ng umaga at hindi pa masyadong masakit sa balat ang sikat ng araw, salamat na lang din sa mga punong nakatanim sa garden ng bahay ni Jude.

"Tasia." Boses iyon ni Chad, sigurado siya.

Hindi niya ito nilingon. Sa halip ay nanatili siyang nakatalikod sa direksyon nito. Mula sa kinatatayuan ay narinig pa ni Tasia ang pagbuntong˗hininga ng binata.

"So, this is what you really look like," he said as he stand beside her.

Tasia simply moved her head to where he was standing, and then moved back her head to her front without saying anything. She saw Chad's cool stand as he put his hands on his back as if someone on the higher ranks were in front of them─ head is up as his chin.

"I am scared," Chad said again. And like what she was doing, she didn't talked back. "Mas mapapansin ka na ng mga lalaki ngayon. Noon pinagkainteresan ka ng adik na ka˗date mo, ngayon malamang hindi na lang mga adik ang magkakainteres sa 'yo. Kaya sana maintindihan mo ang naging reaksyon ko.

"Look at you now, wearing a sexy dress as you have that fair white skin and pretty face plus the fact that you always have that sweet smile on your face, I am sure that every man will go for a battle to get your heart. Paano naman na ako?" litanya ni Chad na gustong ipaunawa sa kanya ang sitwasyon nito. "Siguro, hindi mo alam pero, nag˗aalala akong may makita kang mas higit sa akin dahil alam kong meron naman talagang mas higit sa akin."

Napabuntong˗hininga si Tasia at humarap sa lalaki. "Chad─"

"Let me finish first," he cut her words. "We both know that I have unhealed wounds inside, Tasia. And I really have to do things for the justice, for my late wife. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung kaya mo 'kong tanggapin o kung okay lang ba talaga tayo pagkatapos mong malamang naikasal na ako noon. At bago ko maharap ang relasyong mayroon tayo kailangan ko munang makipaghiwalay sa 'yo at ayusin ang mga dapat kong ayusin. But what if you can't wait for me?

"You were like a diamond that worth millions and more. Paano ko maa˗afford 'yon? I'm sorry about my words earlier, I'm just scared of loosing you to other men. I'm crazy, I know that," he said as he sighed again and again.

Nang hindi na magsalita uli si Chad ay si Tasia naman ang napabuntong˗hininga at pinagmasdang mabuti ang guwapong mukha ng binata. "At least alam mo na may pagkabaliw ka," aniya. Napalingon naman sa kanya si Chad at naiiling na napangiti.

"Yeah, I really am," sagot nito.

"Sino ba ang may problema sa ating dalawa? I told you to share your pains with me, pero hindi ko sinabing pati ang insecurities mo sasaluhin ko. But thank you for telling me, at least I know," sabi ni Tasia. Muli siyang humarap sa mga bulaklak at dinama ang init ng araw na unti˗unti nang nagiging masakit sa balat. "If you are afraid to loose me, then prove that you are worthy to have that precious diamond that you were talking about.

"Prove that you can do everything to have it and owned it. Sabi nila mas masarap makuha ang isang bagay na pinaghirapan mong mabuting maabot. Maybe you have your own wounds, yet that diamond also has scratches because of some situations and you're the only one who knew it, yet you still want to have it.

"Pero nakakainis ka rin. Lumabas na iyong totoong ganda ng diamond tapos gusto mo pa uli itago sa loob ng maruming lagayan, hindi ba parang unfair naman 'yon? Hindi ka naawa o hindi mo na naisip kung ano ang kalagayan niyon. It's not a diamond for nothing, yes yu have to keep it because it is precious, but you also have to show it to the world as if you are proud of having it. And Chad," she called him and they look to each other, "you're the one who notice that diamond when it was intend to hide, I believe you're the right person to own it when it shines the most."

A tear fell from Chad's eyes as he left her eyes and turned to the blue bright sky. "Palagay mo?"

"Yes. Naalala ko pala, I love you. I am willing to wait for you to heal. And I'm going to stay while you are in the process of curing your wounds," she spoke with all her heart. And then she walked back to the house. But before she entered, Tasia called him again, "May kailangan tayong pag˗usapan. Alam kong cool˗off pa tayo, pero feeling ko hindi naman kaya kailangang mong malaman."

Nilingon siya ng binata at pasimpleng pinunasan ang bahagyang nabasa nitong pisngi. "Tungkol saan?"

"Just come in the study room. For sure, hinihintay na tayo nina Jamie at Jude," aniyang naunang pumasok sa loob ng kabahayan. At bago pa siya makarating sa study room ay nasa tabi na niya si Chad na kaagad na humabol sa kanya. Ito na rin ang nagbukas ng pinto niyon. "Thanks."

"Nasabi mo na ba sa kanya?" bungad na tanong ni Jamie pagkapasok pa lang nila sa silid.

"Not yet," she replied.

"Ang alin?" tanong ni Chad.

Bumuntong˗hininga si Tasia. Ni hindi na niya inabala ang sariling maupo. Nakaupo sa sofa sina Jude at Jamie. Umupo naman si Chad sa study table habang nakatingin sa kanilang lahat.

"Alam mo ba ang tungkol dito, Jude?" tanong ng binata.

"Jamie told me just now," Jude said, sighing.

Kitang˗kita ni Tasia ang pagsasalubong ng mga kilay ni Chad na bumaling sa kanya. "What is it?"

"Babalik na ako sa mansyon─"

"No!" mabilis na kontra nito.

"Yes, Chad. I will."

Nagtagis ang mga bagang nito habang nakatingin sa kanya. "Hindi ka babalik sa mansyon. Paano kung mapahamak ka."

"I'm not. I am going to ask for body guards."

"That's not enough," Chad said.

"You can't stop me," she glared at him.

Naglaban ang mga mata nila at hindi nagpatalo si Tasia hanggang si Chad na ang kusang nag˗iwas ng tingin.

"So, this is the real Anastasia Soriano, huh?" he irritably said.

"Yes, I'm stubborn," she agreed.

"No, I didn't say that," he disagreed. "You're tough."

"You two, please get a room!" sabi ni Jude na binato pa sila ng mga throw pillow.

She didn't know that Chad would surrender to her just like that. And she really like it, yet she was scared.

I am afraid that I'll be the death of him...

Author's Note: Thank you for reading and for the reacts (star) as you read this novel.
Palambing naman po ng comments regarding to the story, critiques or your reactions sa kuwento/komento sa characters at bilang pa-thank you kapag may nag-comment, I will post three chapters bukas din ng hapon. 🥰

Hope to find yours on the comment section. Thank you po. Have a great day ahead!

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