BC # 2: Interim Dalliance (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 40

TIMESKIP
WARNING: R18

Ilang taon na mula noong namatay si Xaia. Hindi pa rin nililibing ang abo nito kasama ang namayapang ina. Hindi alam ni Siri kung saan itutuon ang atensyon dahil maging siya ay hindi pa rin matanggap ang nangyari. Ngunit alam niya na ayaw ni Xaia na nalulungkot at maging pabigat sa ibang tao kaya pinipilit nalang niyang maging masaya kahit nahihirapan siya.

"You need to eat, Meine Liebe." Napatingin siya kay Adam na malungkot na nakatitig sa kaniya. Ilang araw na rin itong condo unit niya dahil nabalitaan ang nangyari.

"I will. Thank you." Kimi siyang ngumiti upang ipakita na ayos lang siya.

"You don't need to fake your smile." Sabi nito habang nagbabalat ng mansanas. Natawa naman siya sa ginagawa nito dahil sanay naman siyang kumain ng mansanas na may balat. "That's more like it."

"Why are you peeling it? I can eat it that way," Kinuha naman niya ang mansanas at malaking kinagatan iyon. "See? You don't need to peel it."

"Oh. I thought I should. My servants peel mine all the time."

"Well, I'm no royalty. I'm just," She battered her lashes and posed like a model. "Beautiful."

"You will be a Duchess because I'm a Duke." Napatanga naman siya sa sinabi nito na para bang wala lang ang pagiging Duchess sa bansa nila. At mas lalong isang Duchess na nanggaling sa Pilipinas. "What are you looking at?"

"Adam, you're aware that you're quite famous, right?" Tumango naman ito bilang sagot sa katanungan niya. "So you're also aware that I am not? Like around the world? Unlike you?"

"You're quite famous. Who said that you are not?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong nito sa kaniya. Gusto man niyang i-claim na famous niya pero hindi naman kasing kilala nitong lalaki sa harap niya.

"I'm not. Compare to you, I'm just a businesswoman." She shrugged her shoulders and continued asking. "You're included on the top 50 most handsome men worldwide. I can't really take that! Like there are really, as in really lots of men! But you're in the top 50?"

"Thanks to my genes?" Humalakhak pa ito bago siya titigan. "It doesn't matter. All I want is to have you. I don't care if I'm included. What matters is that you appreciate me. That's enough."

"Pogi ka naman talaga." Bulong niya. Napakunot naman ang isa dahil hindi naintindihan kung anong sinabi niya. "I said, you're pogi. Do you know what it means?"

"Handsome, of course."

"I want to ask something. I hope you don't mind?" Napatigil naman si Adam at nakapangalumbabang nakatitig sa kaniya. "Don't stare at me like that. Gosh."

"Why? My eyes are cool." Namula naman ang pisngi niya sa biglang paglapit nito sa muka niya. "Aren't they?"

"Yes, yes." Para siyang mauubusan ng hininga sa sobrang lapit nito. "But can you back up a little? I can't breathe, Adam."

"Because I'm too hot?" Tinampal naman niya ang braso nito dahil alam niya na hindi naman talaga ganito kakulit si Adam. Ngayon lang dahil alam nitong malungkot siya. "Anyway, what's your question?"

"You're aware that I like Sidney, right? Moving-on stage?" Tumango naman ito na parang wala lang. "Then, why are you here? Staying with me? There are girls out there. You don't deserve someone like me."

"Hmm. Do you want an honest answer or the sugarcoated one?" Ngumuso naman siya na para bang nag-iisip kung alin nga ba.

"Honest answer, please."

"I can't swallow the fact that you'll beg for him to make you as a mistress. I can't let that happen. You are more than that," Hinawakan nito ang pisngi niya at marahan na hinaplos ito gamit ang hinlalaki. "I don't know what makes him special. I am more handsome and richer than him. But of course, I can't let you be with him. Not in this lifetime."