Adler's Legacy #1: Subtle Romance

Chapter Fifteen

"VALENCIA!"

The volume of Shien's voice increased as he tightened his grip on her arm. Valencia paused her retreating steps. She had no interest in hearing his response at all. She vowed that she would never again subject herself to this level of suffering. Valencia acknowledged that Shien still had feelings for Arianne. There was nothing she could do to stop it.

"Please stop walking away from me!" His voice was filled with frustration.

Valencia was twitchy. "L—Let me go," she whispered as her tears rolled down her face. She wanted to go somewhere else. She wished to reclaim her peace.

If loving Shien was going to be this difficult, she never wanted to put herself through this experience again. Hindi na niya alam kung kakayanin niya pa ang ganitong klase ng sakit. She was too dumb to believe in what Jayra told her. Alam niya sa sarili niya na hindi siya kayang gustuhin ni Shien.

"Kailangan ba talaga nating mag-usap?" tanong niya kay Shien. Pinipigilan niya ang sarili niyang humagulhul.

"Yes, we need to."

"Why?" she asked him. Unti-unting lumuluwag ang pagkakahawak ni Shien sa kanyang braso. Narinig niya ang malalim na pagbuntong-hininga nito sa kanyang likuran. Hindi niya napigilan ang sarili na harapin ito. She was feeling heavy inside.

"A—Anong dapat natin pag-usapan?" muli ay tanong niya.

Shien gazed at her with a fire that burned so brightly in his eyes. As if she were the only lady in the world, he gazed at her intently. Valencia's confusion grew. Even though she knew Shien was interested in Arianne, she was surprised by how intensely he was staring at her now. She couldn't bear the intensity in his eyes.

"Are you really so dense, baby?" he asked her in that endearing way that made her swoon in an instant. "Do I really have to explain everything to you?" He shook his head.

Muli siyang hinawakan ni Shien sa kanyang mga kamay. Hindi na siya nagpumiglas pa. Naramdaman ni Valencia ang pagbundol ng kaba sa kanyang bibig. Paano kung pinapaikot lamang siya ni Shien sa sarili nitong mga palad? Nakagat niya ang kanyang ibabang labi upang pigilan ang sarili sa pag-iyak muli.

"Shien, gusto kong malaman kung ano ba talaga tayo? I wanted to have my peace back. Alam ko naman sa sarili ko na si Arianne ang gusto mo but why do I have this little feeling na gusto mo rin ako? Bakit nararamdaman ko ito? Are you just playing with me or you just love making fun of—"

Hindi na niya natapos pa ang kung ano pa man ang litaniya niya. Her heart throbbed wilder when she felt his warm lips land on hers. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang marealize kung ano ang posisyon nila ni Shien ngayon. Naramdaman niya ang pagpulupot ng kamay ni Shien sa kanyang bewang. She stiffened. After a few minutes, Shien let go of her mouth.

"S—Shien..."

Napamaang na lamang siya sa kay Shien.

"Do I really need to demonstrate and explain everything to you, Miss Valencia Vega?" tanong ni Shien. Shien held her tightly. Mabilis siyang nagpumiglas dito.

"B—Bitawan mo ako. Hindi ka dapat basta-basta nalang nanghahalik. Kailangan nating mag-usap."

"I will never let you go this time, Valencia."

Naalala na naman niya ang mga titig ni Shien kay Arianne noong isinugod nila ito sa ospital. He was really worried about her. Bakas sa mukha nito ang pag-alala para sa dating kasintahan. "Why would you kiss me? Si Arianne diba ang mahal mo? You can already start making your own family with her. She was the reason why you used to get drunk every day. Hindi naman siguro pwede na saktan mo ako nang paulit-ulit dahil nagkagusto ako sayo. Shien, you can always choose Arianne over me." Gumaralgal ang boses niya.

Shien didn't let go of her, but she was already crying. Valencia couldn't stop her tears from falling. "What made you think that way, my Valencia?"

Naguguluhan si Valencia. "Then what is it, Shien? Sa dalawang taon kung nagtatrabaho sa'yo, nakilala kita at alam ko na kung anong klaseng sakit ang iniwan sa'yo ni Arianne," sabi niya.

"But you were the one who saved me from my misery. You were the one who taught me to be myself again. Tinuruan mo akong muling magmahal at magtiwala, Valencia. Your crazy antics made their way into me."

Mas lalong naguluhan si Valencia sa sinabi ni Shien. "What do you mean by that, Mr. Adler?"

"Jeeze, babe! Do I really have to explain everything to you?" natatawang saad ni Shien sa kanya. Mas lalong pumulupot ang mga kamay nito sa kanyang bewang.

Nakahawak na si Valencia sa dibdib ni Shien. She was staring at him intently. Naging masuyo ang mga mata ni Shien sa kanya.

"I need words. Ano ba talaga tayo?"

"I love you—I am so damn in love with you," diretsong saad ni Shien sa kanya. Inaamin niya na bigla siyang nabigla rito. "You wanted straightforward, and that's what I am giving you now. I am in love with you, Valencia Vega. I don't know when it actually started, but you grew on me, baby. You grew inside of me. You made me feel like a human again." Shien was caressing her cheeks while talking fondly to her.

"I thought Arianne was—"

Shien shook his head. Tumaas ang gilid ng labi nito. "Sa tingin mo anong rason kung bakit pabalik-balik ako sa bahay ninyo? I always made sure to buy all your products para hindi ka na magtinda pa. I even talked to your father. What do you think is the reason why I did all of that?"

Sumimangot siya. "Pinagtritripan mo lamang ako."

Shien groaned. "God! Valencia!"

"May trust issue ako."

Shien laughed at her. "Grabe naman trust issue mo, Val."

"Grabe talaga!" Inigosan niya ito.

"Val, just believe in me, please..." Shien pleaded. "Kahit may trust issue ka, hindi rin naman kita tatantanan. I will keep on pestering you until you finally believe in me. Si Arianne ay parte na ng nakaraan ko, Val. I learned a lot from her. Arianne gave me one big lesson. At ikaw, Valencia Vega, you are my now and tomorrow. Ikaw ang gusto kong makasama nang matagal. Ikaw ang gusto ko na makasama sa lahat ng bagay. I always see the best version of myself when I am with you. I will never let you go, Val."

Hinalikan siya ni Shien sa noo matapos ng mahabang litaniya nito. Ang mga luha niya ay tumutulo na naman.

Ngumiti si Valencia at nag-angat ng tingin. "Mahal mo talaga ako?" she asked him again one more time. Tumango si Shien. "Mahal din kita, Shien. I'm always thinking about you. I can't help but look at you every time you're working. Tinatanong ko ang sarili ko kung bakit ko ba 'yon ginagawa? Bakit ba ako nagtitiis na sunduin ka at inuuwi ka kapag nalalasing ka," natigilan siya dahil natatawa siya kapag naalala niya ang mga pinagdaanan niya kapag iniuuwi na niya si Shien ng lasing. She vividly remembered everything. "I was never in your world, Shien. You were too busy mending your own broken heart. Araw-araw pinapanalangin ko na sana maging maayos ka na. I was too concerned about you. Hanggang sa napamahal ka na sa akin."

There was a soft smile on his lips. "Valencia, don't make me cry," he said jokingly. "I thought I would never be happy, but one day I realized I needed someone to hold me, and that someone was you, my Valencia. You are the person who made me change. The woman who kept me from being hopeless. The woman I wanted to spend every second of every day with. My Valencia, you are every woman in the world to me," masuyong saad ni Shien sa kanya.

Valencia softly smiled. Tumulo na naman ang kanyang mga luha. Hinaplos niya ang mukha ni Shien at walang abog na dinampian ito ng halik. "Kanta naman 'yon, e."

Shien chuckled. "And I dedicate that song to you."

"Shien..."

"Let's be together, my Valencia."

Tinitigan niya si Shien at nginitian. "Yes, Shien. I would love to stay every minute of the day with you."

Sinalubong ni Valencia ang mga tingin ni Shien. Kapagkuwan ay pumalatak ito. "God! This woman is my fantasy and my reality at the same time. Thank you!" anang Shien.

Muli ay naramdaman niya ang mainit na mga halik ni Shien sa kanya. Who would have predicted that she would eventually end up with Shien Castiel Adler?