Tear of Vengeance

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2


Aslan Hardecera. The Owner of Marionette Chain of Hotels and creator of Safe Haven booking application. He was born with golden spoon on his mouth so he can retire as early as he can but no, he believed that he's going to be one of carnivorous business tycoon in the Philippines. So, having a chance to merge his name with the Marbello family which is one of the oligarchs in the country will strengthen his power. That is how ambitious he is.

Hindi naman siya basta lamang pumayag sa request ng pamilya Marbello, everything is going well according to his plan.

He knows everything. Alam niya kung bakit minamadali ni Don Mariano ang pagpapakasal ng apo nito sa kaniya. Aside from strengthening the trust of stockholders of their company, he will save the company's reputation.

The Marvelous company's stock is dipping since the prices of their cigarettes are getting more expensive. Kaya iyon ang naging chance niya para i-acquire ang shares at makapag-isip ng innovative plans sa kompanya nito. Aside from that, he checked the background of the don's family members. And one of them is standing in front of him.

Miss Pristine Marbello, the hidden gem of the family. Nagulat siya nang ipaalam ng private investigator sa kaniya na sa sobrang protective ng pamilya sa dalaga ay hindi ito na-expose sa mata ng media so what he did is he enrolled to the woman's private classes.

Lagi niya itong pinagmamasdan sa online classes nito. He's only watching Pristine's way of strumming the harp and he had a small conversation with the woman... if that's what call a conversation is called.

"I can see one of you is not opening the camera. Mr. Marionette? Can you please open your camera so I can see if you're following with us?"

"I guess he's not on the background right now, anyway, consider strumming of every string as a form of an art..."

Iyon ang unang encounter niya sa dalaga. He was just watching her, he's always amazed as to how her instrument changes his mood. That he thinks that he's in front of her, playing the harp in a big theatre stage.

"You are Aslan?"

Ngayon ay nasa harap niya na ito, mas kakaiba sa pandinig niya ang mahinhing boses nito. Para siyang nahihipnotismo. Pero kailangan niya iyong itago, ayaw niyang matakot ang dalaga sa kaniya.



"Nice to meet you, Pristine," He gave her a lopsided smile. Hindi siya makangiti ng buo dahil nangininig ang buong kalaman niya kaya nauwi sa pagngisi ang ginawa niya. God, this is the first time that he felt so conscious!

Bumalik si Pristine sa kinatatayuan niya kaya marahan din siyang naglakad papunta rito.

"We need to talk," she said. Soft-spoken as ever.

"Ano naman ang pag-uusapan natin?" taas kilay niyang tanong.

"It's about the marriag-"

"Our marriage," he smirked again. Napasinghap si Pristine sa pagputol niya rito.

"Matagal mo bang alam 'to, Mr. Aslan Hardecera?"

He shrugged. "All I know is that your grandfather went to my office and offered me a proposal two weeks ago."

Her eyes widened and looked at her side. She's gasping again as if she felt deceived.

"And why did you agree?"

Tinitigan niya nang matiim si Pristine. "You know, we can talk a bit more in the nearest café. Para tayong tanga rito sa gitna ng daan." Akmang hahawakan niya ang braso nito nang bigla itong umatras.

"No. We can talk here."

"I insist, Pristine," madiin niyang sambit. Sa sinabi niyang iyon ay napatigil ito at matamang tumitig sa kaniya. He felt her tensed eyes gazing at him. Pero hindi niya iyon pinansin at hinila ito papunta sa kaniyang sasakyan.

Sa kabilang banda, kinakabahan si Pristine dahil nakikinita niya na ang galit na mukha ng kaniyang lolo. Kaya ng nasa harap na siya ng sasakyan ni Aslan ay tumigil sya at humarap dito.

Nagtatanong ang mga mata nitong tumingin sa kaniya.

"Si lolo... hindi niya alam kung saan ako pupunta," kinakabahan niyang pag-amin. Nang tumingin siya sa lalaki ay nagtama ang kanilang mga mata at tila may kinuha sa bulsa ng slacks.

"Good evening, Mr. Marbello," simula nito nang may tinawagan sa telepono. "I just want to inform you that I'm with Pristine right now... Yes, and we're going to the nearest café to talk... Sure..." inialok nito ang phone sa kaniya at sumenyas na sagutin ang tawag.

"H-hello, lolo?"

"Pristine... Behave and treat Mr. Hardecera well, okay?"

Napatungo na lamang siya sa sinabi nito at malungkot na sumagot. "Yes po, I will."

Binigay niya ang phone kay Aslan at nang makapasok na sila sa sasakyan ay tahimik lamang siyang nakamasid sa labas. Honestly, this is the first time na nakasakay siya sa sasakyan ng ibang tao, kapag lumalabas siya ng hacienda nila ay hindi siya pinapalabas ng sasakyan ng kaniyang mga magulang.

Hindi niya pa nararanasang makapasok ng restaurant, café o kahit man lang makakita ng dagat. Kaya iniisip niya na sa isang salita lamang ni Aslan sa kaniyang lolo ay madali itong nagtiwala at pinasama sa lalaki.

"You seem preserved," Iyon ang bungad sa kaniya ni Aslan nang makaupo na sila sa loob ng café.

"I'm just honestly anxious... I'm not used to a crowd like these."

"But there's only a few people here." She just smiled at him.

"Hindi ako sanay humarap sa mga taong hindi ko kilala." He stared at her.

"Well, don't consider me as one of them." Nagtama ang mata nila ni Aslan. Hindi niya mawari pero sa sinabi nito ay natawa siya dahilan para matawa rin ito. "What's funny?"

"I agree, why would I get anxious with a man that will be with me for the rest of my life?" She snorted.

"That's better, Pristine. Huwag kang matakot sa akin. I'm not that bad as you think." Napatigil siya sa pagtawa at iniba ang usapan.

"Why did you agree to marry me?" ulit niya sa tanong kanina. "Do you trust yourself that I'm gonna be a good wife to you?"

Ilang segundo muna bago sumagot ito sa kaniya. "You need to trust yourself more. Are you gonna be a good wife to me?" he clapped back at her. Her question was backfired at her and that made her uncomfortable.

"I don't know," malungkot na tugon niya.

"Look at me," he said. When she looked at him, his eyes are dead serious, making her wobble inside. "Bago ako magsabi ng conclusion sayo, sa pamilya mo, isipin mo muna na maganda ang intention ko."

Saglit silang tumigil nang dumating ang pagkaing inorder ni Aslan para sa kanila. "I know you're scared. And it's pissing me off," he continued. "Tell me, how can I gain your trust?"

Malungkot pa rin ang mga mata niya at ibinaba niya ang hawak na kubyertos. Nawalan na siya ng gana. "Hindi ko alam Mr. Ardecer-"

"Aslan. Call me Aslan."

Tumikhim siya at nagpatuloy. "A-Aslan. This is my first time that I saw a man outside our mansion. And the fact that I'm gonna marry him tomorrow..." She stopped. Kapag nagpatuloy siya sa pagsalita ay baka lumabas ang hikbing itinatago niya.

"Will you trust me when I say that I always see how great you are when you're playing your harp?" Mabilis siyang napalingon kay Aslan at nakita niya ang perpektong mga ngipin sa ngiti nito.

"Y-you're one of my students?" He didn't answer. He just playfully shrugged.

"I trust myself that Ms. Pristine Marbello is a woman that is easy to connect with. You should trust yourself too."

Sa sinabi nito ay may kakaiba siyang naramdaman. Mas bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya at hindi niya namalayan na tumatawa na siya sa harap nito.

"Hindi mo lang ako nakikita sa harap ng camera. Pero lagi akong uma-attend ng online lessons mo para mapagmasdan ka.I want you to remember that I am always transparent. I'm always true to myself, and when I say I'm interested with you, it's all true."

He's dead serious. She can see it in his eyes. And it's making her drown, she's gasping for more air because her heart is beating so fast.

Mapagkakatiwalaan niya ba ito? Maling tanong... Mapagkakatiwalaan niya ba ang sarili para maniwala sa mga sinasabi nito?