Smitten To A Benjamin (4th Gen #16)

Chapter 24

"What?! I can't put myself in shame right now!" Her father lowly hissed at the men.

She sighed and held her father's arm.

"It's okay, Dad. I'll find a way---"

"No! I'll handle this." Mariing saad ng Daddy niya at muling bumalik sa sentro ng stage at kinuha ang mic sa MC. Muli itong ngumiti sa harap ng tao.

"My daughter disagree about the arrange marriage just now, she said she's already in love." Her father announces.

Napasinghap siya sa narinig. Pasimple niyang pinandilatan ang ama pero wala sa kanya ang atensyon nito at nanatili lamang sa bisita.

"But she has a good taste and she picked the best man. So, hijo..." Her father trailed off and faced Hakob's direction and motion him to come closer.

Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya. Seryosong naglakad lang palapit si Hakob papalapit sa kanya. She can't read what's going on his mind but would she pay attention on what was he thinking when it's her mind who's in turmoil right now?

"This is Cyra's love of her life, Hakob Benjamin." Nakangiting balita ng ama.

Nagpalakpakan ang naroon sa tuwa. Cali and Benjamin will merge and it'll gonna be the biggest deal ever. Maraming magugunaw na mga negosyo. Maraming mawawalan ng trabaho. But her father agreed with this because he is greedy for power and money.

Hakob's arm encircled on her waist. Napalunok siya at halos hindi na makahinga sa bilis ng tibok ng puso niya. Alam niyang nakatitig lang ang binata sa kanya, habang siya ay nanatili ang tingin sa unahan at hindi makapagsalita sa takot na mangatal ang labi.

Inabot ng ama niya ang mikropono kay Hakob, napasunod naman siya sa mikroponong hawak nito, medyo nainggit ang kamay niya.

"I'm grateful that finally my girl has the strength to introduce me to everyone. She likes keeping it a secret," then Hakob chuckled.

That makes everyone laughed. Namula ang pisngi niya sa sinabi nito. Not because it is true but because of it's a sweet lie. Ang galing talaga nitong makisabay, hindi halatang peke lang ang mabilisan ang lahat ng 'to.

"We'll be working our wedding soon, we'll just announce the later date." Dagdag pa ni Hakob at muling binalik ang mikropono sa ama.

Her eyes widen in shock, nagulat rin ang ama niya sa sinabi ni Hakob, hindi inaasahan na ganoon ang sasabihin ng binata.

Natawa ang kanyang ama na bakas ang pagka-ilang.

"Y-yes, yes! We'll announce the date soon." Sang-ayon ng ama.

Hakob pulled her to exit the stage, napasunod naman ang ama hanggang sa narating nila ang suloo na walang tao.

"I didn't instruct you to say that, Benjamin!" Galit na bulyaw ng ama.

Kalmado pang si Hakob, hindi natinag at wala man lang pagsisisi sa mukha. Mukha pa itong gustong-gust9 ang nangyayari!

"The guest are doubting you, Mr. Cali. At least I did save the both of you from embarrassment." Hakob said with a bit of arrogant.

He can't believed this man! Where's the humble Elias Betlogan she knew?! This is him being a Benjamin? Now, she hates that he's a Benjamin. Benjamin are arrogant in nature. She just want her Betlogan back.

Mahinang napamura ang ama niya. Sinamaan si Hakob ng tingin at dinuro silang dalawa.

"Both of you need to stick together until the issue about you cool down, after that we'll announce your break up and Cyra will proceed to marry her fiancé which is not you, Hakob." Sabi ng ama niya.

Hakob's jaw just clenched but he didn't speak. Siya naman ay napalayo dito kanina pa pala nakahawak ito sa bewang niya.

"Dad, ain't we supposed to be away from each other so that they assumed we're not in good terms?"  She suggested.

Nakita niya ang mabilis na paglingon sa kanya ni Hakot at kinunutan siya ng noo. Her father seems to agree bit Hakob quickly speak.

"In that case, people would really assumed that we're pretending. We should at least show them that we are together." Hakob said.

Her father fell silent. Kalaunan ay napatango din.

Dad!

"Okay. But you're still her bodyguard and not her fiancé." Sabi ng ama niya at iniwan silang dalawa para muling bumalik doon para makipag-usap sa ibang tao.

Inis na napalingon siya sa binata.

"Why do you have to do that?! You could have just deny nor walk away! Now we're trap in this situatiomln." Inis napahayag niya at akmang aalis ng haklitin nito ang braso niya.

"Let's talk, Señorita." Pigil nito.

Inis na binawi niya ang braso at sinamaan ito ng tingin.

"You're just my bodyguard, Hakob. And there's nothing to talk about." She spat angrily.

Tumiim ang panga nito at humakbang palapit sa kanya. Napasinghap siya ng bigla na lang nitong kabigin ang batok niya at siniil siya ng halik. Nanlaki ang mata niya sa gulat.

But the warmth of his lips made her close her eyes. Namimiss niya ang labi nito, ang halik nito.

She slowly kissed him back. Mas lalo siyang hinapit ng binata ng biglang may kumislap na ilaw sa kanipang direksyon.

Media!

The foreigner photographer smiled while looking at his camera. He's probably looking at the photo he captured.

"Hmm. You're truly in love with each other. It'll gonna be a big news." The photographer slash a known journalist on the country said before walking away.

Nag-init ang noo niya at tinulak ito. Nagmartsa siya pabalik sa mesa.

How dare him! How dare him kiss her! Dahil ba nakita nitong may media kaya hinalikan siya? Argh! I hate you Hakob!

Wala na si Kuya Hendrix sa upuan nito kaya naupo si Hakob doon. He even pull her seat closer to his kaya naglapat na ang braso nila.

Napatingin siya sa ama na nakatayo sa may kalayuan. Pasimple siya nitong sinamaan ng tingin dahil sa posisyon nila ni Hakob pero nagkibit balikat na lang siya at inabot ang wine glass sa harap niya.

"You're not allowed to drink, Señorita." Matigas na pigil ni Hakob.

Kinunutan niya ito ng noo.

"You're just my bod---"

Hinalikan siya muli nito ng mabilis para patigilin siya sa pagsasalita. Napasinghap siya.

"What--"

"Hmm. Do you want them to hear that I'm just your bodyguard, Señorita?" Bulong ni Hakob sa kanyang tenga.

Napalunok siya at napalingon sa mga taong nasa malapit sa kanila na nakangiting nakatingin sa kanila ni Hakob.

Muli siyang napatingin sa binata ng hawakan nito ang baba niya at ipaharap dito.

Hakob smiled.

"I'm your fiancé now, Señorita." He said and placed a kiss on her lips again.

Napatugon na lang siya.