A/N: Hi! MIA ako, I know. Hahaha! I'll change the contents of Viper2 from CH10 to the current, as well as may madadagdag na chapters doon. Maglalagay na lang ako ng Author's Note sa mga chapter na nabago para may heads up din.
And the title for Viper 2 will be changed from Mon Bonheur to Other Universe. Oo na, ako na pabago-bago ng isip. Sorry na. Hahahaha! I'll start the change asap, maybe today. Thank you!_______________________
Lloyd Vincent
Out of all the wrong things I've done in my life, I didn't know I'd be doing what just happened. I thought I was better than this but here I am; a hypocrite piece of shit.
Naiwan ako dito sa platform ng infinity pool, nakahiga habang tumatawa. I used to not understand any of this. Why spend a stolen time with another when people could just let go of their spouses and be with each other? Now I know it's not as easy as it sounds.
Kissing her was not in the plan nor the confession. Akala ko magtutuloy-tuloy ang galit niya o ang pagmamakaawa ko. It was supposed to be filled with clarity on her part but that hug, I didn't anticipate that. Nor did the one where she responded to my kisses.
I was so ready to peel off her dress and make love to her until the morning but I couldn't do it. I know she'd be crying and blaming herself for what I did the next day. Unlike her brother, Alice can never betray those she values.
It's not easy to say no to her, even harder to make her leave when I really wanted her to stay in my arms. Kung kaya ko lang bawiin ang desisyon kong umalis noon, I'd prefer that hell than this tasteless haven.
Inabot ko ang cellphone sa ibabaw ng bedside table at tumawag gamit ito. "Aileen?"
Ito ang unang pagkakataong tinawagan ko siya at halatang nagulat ito base sa boses nito "Yes, Vincent? Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Pwede bang ngayon na ako lumipat dyan sa ancestral home? I don't think I could sleep here tonight."
"Of course, sabi ko anytime hindi ba? Anong oras kita ipapasundo dyan?"
"Okay lang ba kung ngayon na? Are you home?"
"I'm at the hospital but I could send someone there."
"Thank you."
Tapos ng tawag, tumayo na ako. I grabbed a box of cigarettes na naiwan ko sa bar counter saka ito sinindihan.
☙☀♚☀❧
"A Zaldivar?" Annie was in awe, papasok pa lang kami ng ancestral house.
"Alexander Kiel Zaldivar Buenaventura. It was finalized just a few days ago." The past week has been busy. Aside from the family preparing for this welcoming party, I had a reacquisition of Philippine citizenship, making me a dual citizen holder. Changing my name in the valid IDs, both in the Philippines and UK. I was set to fly pabalik ng Oxford three days from now para ayusin ang mga papeles doon; meaning, presence ko na lang ang kailangan to finalize everything.
Processing all of this in a week including oath taking, it felt like the Zaldivars were giving me a glimpse of what they can do.
"Wait, for real?" Hirit pa niya. "What will I call you then?"
"Hindi ko pa alam."
Nakangiti kaming sinalubong ni Albert at Aileen sa foyer pa lang. Nakadipa ang palad ng huli bago inabot ang braso ni Annie at hinila ito para sa beso-beso. Lumipat ang tingin ng kasama ko kay Albert at tinanggap ang kamay nitong naghihintay na makamayan.
"I've been waiting to meet you, Annie."
"It's a pleasure Mr. and Mrs. Buenaventura."
"Just call me Tita Aileen and my husband Tito Albert."
