Betrayal and Redemption (Completed)

37

I make a few steps until I am a few inches away from his bed. I didn't know that I was smiling already while staring at his handsome sleeping face. I examined his clothes. He's wearing a casual clothes. Just a proper attire for a family dinner.

"Hey, aren't you going downstairs?" I asked him even when I knew that he's not going to answer me because he's asleep. But, I was wrong.

"Who are you?" I heard him asked.

So, he's not asleep? Just pretending to be asleep?

"My name is Rashia. You're Akiro. Right?

"Yeah."

"By the way, I want to personally greet you a happiest birthday, Akiro," I greeted him while smiling sweetly.

"Thanks." He muttered.

I giggled. "Let's go down together. They're all waiting for you at the dining hall." I said urging him to get up from his bed. And he did.

My breath hitched when I met his eyes. Wow, he got a blue eyes!

"How old are you?" He asked out of nowhere. I didn't expect that he'll going to asked me about my age. But I answered him anyway.

"Uhm... I'm nine." I honestly answered. I saw him nodded. He stood up and now he's towering me with his height.

"Let's go." He said and walked towards the door. I followed him. His manly scent invade my nostrils when he walked passed me.

"Oh, he's here," Tita Celestine said when she saw Akiro entered. "And he's with your daughter, Amiga. Hey, Rashia, are you the one who called him upstairs? You went to his room?" Akiro's mother asked. I shyly smiled at her and nodded.

"Oh, thank you, iha. I'm pretty sure that my son is lazily laying on his bed and won't mind to come down to join us tonight." Tita Celestine said. "You're welcome po, Tita."

"Mama, ano po ito? Masarap po ba 'yan?"

A little and innocent voice caught all of our attention. Our eyes landed to my cousin whose looking up to her mother as if waiting for answer. I secretly glanced at Akiro's direction whose just sitting across mine. He's in the opposite side of the table and beside him is Tita Celestine. And Tito sat at the middle wherein the head of the family supposed to sit.

While my family is sitting at the other side of the table. My dad is sitting near Tito Ares and beside him is my mom next to mom is me and next to me is Athaliana and next to her is her mother and Tito.

"King crab ang tawag diyan, anak." Tita answered.

"Po? King crab? May queen crab din po ba?" Athaliana innocently asked. I sent her sharp gazes but she wouldn't notice it because she's facing her mom.

"Omo, she's so cute, Is she your daughter?" Tita Celestine asked.

"Yes po, Mrs. Torrelba. Nag-iisa ko po siyang anak. Si Athaliana." Sagot ni Tita.

Sinulyapan ko ulit si Akiro. Napasimangot ako nang makita siyang nakatitig sa pinsan ko. He seemed amused while staring at her. Inis kong sinulyapan ang katabi ko.

"She's beautiful and too innocent. Nakakaaliw siyang panoorin." And when I heard what Tita Celestine said bigla akong nawalan ng gana sa family dinner na 'to.

Mas lalong namuo ang galit ko kay Athaliana nang makita ko siya isang araw kausap si Akiro. Sa mismong garden nila.

"Girlfriend? Gusto mo 'kong maging girlfriend?" I heard Athaliana asked.

Napatakip ako sa bibig ko nang dahil sa narinig mula sa kaniya. Tama ba iyong narinig ko? Akiro wants her to be his girlfriend?! How about me?!

"Yes. Ayaw mo?"

Agad tumulo ang ilang butil ng luha ko nang marinig ang sinabi niya. So he really wants her? Pero ako ang nauna sa kaniya!

"Pero bata pa ako para mag boyfriend sabi ni Mama." Mas lalong nadadagdagan ang inis ko sa kaniya sa tuwing naririnig ko ang nakakainis niyang boses.

I heard Akiro chuckled. I hate him!

"I'll go back to Sicily next week."

Napatitig ako kay Akiro nang marinig ko iyon sa kaniya. Aalis na siya? Babalik na siya sa Italy?

"Aalis ka na? Hindi na ba kita makikita, boyfriend?" Tinapunan ko ng masamang tingin si Athaliana nang dahil sa itinawag niya kay Akiro. Boyfriend? Ano siya? Sinisuwerte?

"Boyfriend, huh?" I saw how Akiro's lips rose up.

"Ayaw mo ba?"

"Of course. I want it."

"I love you, boyfriend." Agad akong tumakbo palabas ng mansion ng mga Torrelba. Iyak ako nang iyak nang pumasok ako sa kotseng nagdala sa 'min sa dito.

"Manong, let's go." Utos ko kay Manong Rogie. Our family driver.

"Pero wala pa po si ma'am Athalia-"

"Manong, I said let's go! Hayaan mo siyang umuwi mag-isa!" I burst in anger. Nang mapansing nagdadalawang-isip pa siyang umalis. "Manong, what are you waiting for?! I said hayaan mo na siya!"

Wala na siyang nagawa kundi ang tumango at paandarin ang kotse. Iyak lang ako nang iyak habang nasa daan kami pauwi. Ang bata ko pa pero sobra na akong nasasaktan. Ako dapat ang nasa posisyon ni Athaliana! Ako dapat!

I met him first. I met Akiro first before her! Bakit siya pa! Bakit ang pinsan ko pa!

When Akiro left I followed him to Italy of course. Lumipat kami nina Mom at Dad sa Italy when I turned ten at doon na nanirahan. Doon na rin ako lumaki. And I met Akiro again. We became friends and became a couple. Until he proposed to me.

I know I should've moved on dahil sa 'kin parin naman bumagsak si Akiro. But, no. I want to get even with my cousin. I want her to feel the same pain I felt when he stole Akiro to me when we're just kids. At hindi ko na hahayaan pa na makuha niya ulit sa 'kin si Akiro.

I know Aki loves me. Tutuparin niya ang pangako niya sa 'kin. Sasaktan niya si Athaliana. He'll break heart until she couldn't able to handle the pain. And I can't wait for it to happen.

I love Akiro from the start. I love him even when I found out that he's belong to Mafia.

....