In The Arms Of A Doll Collector (BENZ SERIES I)

Kabanata 27

Insult comes with a consequence

"How can you just seduce her that easily?" Maagap kong tanong saka umiling sa kanya. "Kung kilala ka ng pamilya niya, at nakita ka niya na, she'll just jump onto you and do the other way around, seduce you." Turo ko sa kanya. "Dahil magkamukha lang naman kayo ng lalaking gusto niya."


And I mean one thing. Why push herself to someone who doesn't like him. And why Damon? Obvious naman na si Damien ang mas mabait sa kanilang dalawa. Falling in love with Damien is better. Why she's choosing him?


Nagpatuloy lang kami sa paglalakad. Kahit na ramdam ko ang kaba sa ginawa naming pagkikita ngayon ay gusto kong matawa sa tuwing napapatingin sa kanya ang ibang nadadaanan naming kalalakihan. Even girls finds their way to stare at him. He's got the shiny and sexy legs just like how I want them mine. Ilang beses na ata akong napamura sa aking isipin. I'm not really expecting him to wear in those dress and shimmering accessories. Rinig na rinig ko rin ang tunog ng takong nito.


"You made this meeting so epic. But seriously, ang galing mo. Did you just get a Brazilian wax?"


He chuckled. Gusto namin makapag usap ng matino at mahaba kaya ako ang nag isip na manood kami ng movie sa sinehan. Hindi naman ako pwedeng basta basta nalang tatakas sa mga guards ko kaya iyon na lang ang naisip kong paraan. I don't want Damon to think that something is wrong with me which there is already.


"I didn't. Nagsuot lang ako ng ilang layers ng stocking."


I burst out laughing. He must have a hard time wearing one. But he wore a lot of pieces of panty hose for this meeting. I awe in that. I can't believed him!


Napatakip din agad ako sa aking bibig nang mapatingin sa akin ang mga tao. Oops!


Namili kami ng panonoorin namin. He let me choose what to watch. Habang hinihintay namin ang aming ticket ay sinabi ko sa kanya ang bagong social media account na ginawa ko. I don't want to use a regular number to call or text him. Mas okay ang ganito.


But deep inside, I'm still worried. I remember Damien telling me that Damon is not just someone who can play with any of someone's tricks and the one that I'm doing might be the easiest one for him.


I just want to help and stop him from hurting and controlling people. At kung sakali na mahuli niya kami ay ipapaliwanag ko na gusto ko lang tumulong sa kanya sa paraang alam ko rin, I know he wouldn't listen but I'll prepare myself for it.


After getting the ticket, we also bought popcorn and juice saka dumiretso sa loob ng sinehan para mas makapag usap pa ng maayos. I know Damien is tired walking with those heels on. He's really good at it though. He walks very female.


Ang mga guard ay nanatili sa labas kaya mas nakaramdam ako ng laya.


"Anyway, I must find a perfect time to seduce Hailey." Wika nito pagkaupo namin, with his own voice again this time. "In order for you to help him heal, both of you need to marry each other. In that way, my brother would feel he's safe even with out any guards in the future. He'll think no need for an escape, because finally, you're his wife."


Napasandal ako sa aking kinauupuan at napabuntong hininga. Marrying Damon will make him feel he doesn't need to keep me that hard the way he wants. Marrying him will at least make him feel I am trusted. At sa ganoong paraan niya gustong gumaling. He doesn't need to lie anymore just because he can keep me. Because I am willing to be keep in his arms once we're both settled with his surname. And that would be before this week ends.


"Did the media really think he was my savior from kidnapping na siya naman talaga ang may gawa?"


I saw him nod. Sumipsip nalang ako sa straw ng juice na binili namin kanina.


"Clear cases. No tracks. Clear results. Less evidence."


"Iyong kay Lando?"


Nilingon niya ako. From what I remember, when Lando tried to rape me, Damon was there. He hit him off in the head so he can save me — no, to kidnap me. Alam kong magrereklamo parin si Lando dahil naging biktima siya.


"Damon also shut him off. He won't be in jail as long as he’ll keep silent. Binayaran niya siya para manahimik."


“Damon just trusted him?”


“He’ll kill him if he won’t.”


Napapikit ako dahil sa mga ginagawa at desisyon ng lalaking iyon. Naramdaman ko ang lamig nang magsimula ang movie. Namatay ang mga ilaw at ang nagbibigay liwanag nalang sa amin ay ang screen na nasa harap.


Damon always win.


Katahimikan ang namutawi sa pagitan naming dalawa. Naka receive pa ako ng messege sa kanya at sinasabing mag ingat ako.


"I just want to say, thank you." He whisper.


"For what?" I ask while texting Damon Back.


"Hindi ka dapat damay dito." Sagot niya. "You we're trying to help my brother kahit ikaw talaga ang pinaka biktima dito. You have the every right to leave. To tell everyone you were kidnapped by him when both of you made an interview session, but you didn't."


Napangisi nalang ako at umiling. "Kahit sabihin ko 'yon, hindi parin lalabas. He can pay everyone. And you still be needing more evidence na hindi niyo rin maiharap sa korte.”


"I'm really sorry." He just said. I smiled at him. Tinapik ko nalang ang braso nito at umiling.


"I know you just want to protect Damon too."


"Right."


Nagpatuloy nalang kami sa panonod ng movie. Pero alam kong wala doon ang focus ko. Nakatitig ako sa malaking screen nito pero hindi ko talaga naiintindihan ang takbo ng kwento. I'm thinking about myself and I just realized something. Hindi ko akalain na ganito pala ako kalakas. Na ganito pala ako lumaban. The truth is I want to go home. Not to Damon. Not to old my old house. But to my family. I'm so sick. I felt so lonely. Parang ang lamig na hindi ko maintindihan. Parang magulo ang nasa paligid.


Hindi ko namalayan na tumutulo na pala ang luha ko. Damien heard me sniffing na siyang ikinalingon niya sa akin. He fastly offered me his handkerchief. Napatingin ako doon at marahan na kinuha sa kanya.


"Are you okay?"


"Oo naman." Ang sagot ko na lamang, ang boses ay pilit na inayos. Ginamit ko ang kanyang panyo para punasan ang luha ngunit natawa rin ako nang mapatingin ako sa kanyang mukha.


"What are you laughing at?"


"Sorry." I laugh again. "Napaisip lang ako kung ikaw ba nagmake up sa sarili mo. You're good at it."


"I've been in a lot of under cover. Hindi mahirap 'to para sa akin. But I must admit, we need to be extra careful because it's Damon." Anito. He then get something to his fancy bag. A small transparent spray container. Ibinigay niya ito ng patago sa akin. "You can spray that into a new soft fabric."


"But how can I use this?"


"Once he's asleep, idikit mo nalang sa ilong yung fabric or kahit anong panyo. Once he sniff on it, It'll make him sleep longer and deeper."


Bigla akong inatake ng kaba nang titigan ko ito. Nakaramdam din ako ng guilt. Bakit ngayon ko na naman ito naramdaman? It'll not kill him. Come on, Cresia. You can do it.


"Cresia, this drug is not given free. And I'm not allowed to also give it to you. But I trust you on this. Please use it wisely and when needed only."


Tumango ako sa kanya. "Thank you for trusting. Hindi ko nga alam kung kaya ko nga ba itong magamit sa kanya."


"It will always be your choice."


I just heave a sign to let my nervous out. Nang matapos ang movie ay bumalik ang feminine voice nito dahil nakaharap na ang mga guards sa amin.


I want to burst out laughing when I saw Damien wink at one of my guard. Tumingin na lamang ako sa ibang direksyon para hindi ipahalata ang ganong reaksyon ko.


"Until the next time." He said and waive his hand for goodbye saka ito sexy na naglakad palayo. Muli akong napailing sa huling pagkakataon bago nanguna palabas ng mall.


Ipinagbukas ako ng guard ng pinto but before I could get inside, someone approaches. Mabilis na lumapit sa akin ang guard ko pero madali ko rin silang sinenyasan na okay lang ito.


"Cresia."


Isa itong babaeng may katandaan na. She really looks expensive. She has pearl necklace and bracelet as well.


Nagtaka ako dahil alam nito ang pangalan ko.


"I'm Jenna. Hailey's mother."


Hindi ko mahanap ang salitang dapat bigkasin. Why she's here? What does she want from me? Why now? Hindi pa ba sila titigil matapos nang ginaw ng anak nito sa akin?


"I would appreciate it if you spare me some time." Anito na may konting ngisi. She then walk away. Napabuntong hininga ako. Deep inside of me wants to know why she’s here. I want to know why she wants to have a conversation with me. She's part of my plan anyway.


Sumunod ako sa kanya papasok muli ng mall at naghanap ng malapit na coffee shop.


"Anong kailangan mo sa akin?" Tanong ko agad. Parang wala lang sa kanya iyon. She's chill. Ipinatong nito ang bag sa ibabaw ng mesa at umupo sa upuan doon.


"Take a sit first." Imwinestra niya ang upuan sa kaharap nito.


Seriously, I'm not feeling good about this. And it will never always will. Naupo ako sa kaharap nitong upuan. The waiter approach and gave us both the menu.


"What do you want, my treat."


"No-"


"I don't take no for an answer. It's not in the menu, either."


I don't want to look rude in the eyes of everyone's here kaya naman sumunod ako sa gusto nito.


She ordered black coffee and I ordered chocolate.


Nang umalis ang waiter ay saka ako hinarap ni Jenna.


"So, what do you want?" Diin ko sa ikaapat na salita.


"Relax, beauty. I'm just here to say I'm sorry in behalf of my daughter, Hailey."


I smirked with that. "And?"


"And you deserve it..." Saka siya ngumiti. "Not me apologizing. But you being pushed." She said in sarcasm.


Nakaramdam ako ng matinding inis. Dumating ang order naming dalawa na agad niyang ginalaw.


"Mas okay na iyon kaysa si Hailey ang malaglag doon. You know, she's pregnant. With Damon."


"Seriously, what do you want?"


"I want you out of his life."


Ako naman ngayon ang natawa. "So you can marry Hailey to him and take everything from the Silver brothers?"


"What do you know?"


Hindi ko siya sinagot. I just know that they're big part of the Benz company. Hindi ganon kadali na patalsikin sila dito.


"I know everything." I lied.


"Oh! Baka naman kakapiranggot lang ang mga nalalaman mo?"


Nadako ang tingin ko sa aking kape. I'm trying to read her mind. What would be her next line to lure me, to make me feel I'm weak in front of her.


"Gusto mong malaman ang nalalaman ko?" I asked and sip a little on the chocolate.


"Then tell me, if you really do know a thing about everything."


Umikot ang mga mata ko sa kanya at tumayo matapos ibalik sa mesa ang tasa. "It'll not be fun anymore if I tell you." Then I pretend laughing na tinigil ko rin agad at itinumba ang tasa ng kape. Dahilan ng pag agos nito sa table.


She immediately stood up at sumigaw sa gulat.


"I'm sorry. That was my mistake." I said with a very concern. I get some tissue that was on the small transparent container para punasan ang table. Hindi ang bag niyo. Agad naman kaming nilapitan ng mga crews para linisin ang kalat.


The expensive dress of Jena is in messed at kung makapag react ito ay akala mo, napaka dumi ng kape na dumikit sa kanya.


"How dare you!" Sigaw nito sa akin.


"Sorry po talaga." Itinungo ko pa ang aking ulo. 


I didn't know that this evil side of me would rise. Hindi maganda ang ginawa ko. Sinadya ko ang pagtapon ng kape dahil sa inis ko. She doesn't deserved that. But I also don't deserve to be pushed and get insulted after.


Ang ibang customers ay napatingin sa amin. They started whispering. I can hear my name and what I am to Damon.


His fiancée.


Nang matapos malinisan ng mga crew ang kalat ay napatitig sa akin si Jenna.  They're apologizing for what happened. Ang mga guards ko ay lumapit na sa akin.


"You did that in purpose."


Tumungo ulit ang ulo ko at lumapit sa kanya.


"Insult me again and I'll do worst the next time I see you." I whisper at mas yumuko pa para lang ipakita sa tao na nagsisisi ako habang may ngisi sa aking labi. Saka ako lumabas ng coffee shop na iyon at ng mall.


I hate her! I hate them!


Dali dali akong sumakay ng kotse at tinitigan ang dalawa kong kamay na nanginginig. Ang bilis din ng tibok ng puso ko at ramdam ko ang pamamasa ng aking mata.


I didn't know I can pull that side of me in front of Jenna. Ni hindi ko nga kayang ipagtanggol ang sarili ko noon sa tuwing may umaaaway sa akin. Magsasalita palang ako ay napapangunahan na ako ng takot.


Kailangan ko bang ikatuwa ito?


"Okay lang po kayo, ma'am?" Tanong ng isa kong guard.


"Let's go home." Ang sagot ko na lamang. Ibinaba ko ang bintana ng sasakyan para makalanghap ng sariwang hangin.


I was still shaking when the car stops. Para akong bata na sumisinghot dahil sa mga luha. Nasaktan ako ng sobra sa insultong iyon ni Jenna. At naalala ko kung gaano kasakit ang ginawa ni Hailey sa akin.


Pag pasok na pag pasok ko sa pinto, nakita ko agad si Damon. Nagulat din ako doon. He's wearing his formal attire again. With a dark corset on his waist. May hawak itong glass na naglalaman ng alak. Hindi natuloy ang ginawa nitong pag inom matapos akong makita.


His forehead knelt with a concern look on the face. Inilapag niya ang hawak at lumapit sa akin.


"Who made you like that?" He asked. Pinawi ko agad ang mga luha sa aking pisngi. Sa uri ng pagkakatanong niyang iyon ay parang isang threat na kailangan kong sagutin. Kung ang ibang babae siguro ay matatakot sa kanya at sasabihin ang totoo. But I know him so well now.


Umiling na lamang ako. His expression change. He looks understanding. How I wish he understand his own feeling. How I wish he’s aware of that.


His finger touches my left cheek hanggang sa maramdaman ko ang mainit nitong palad sa aking batok. Nadatnan ko nalang ang ulo kong namamahinga sa kanyang dibdib. Sa ganong paraan ay mas naging emosyonal ako.