Mafia King's Innocent Bride [PUBLISHED UNDER IMMAC PPH]

DINNER WITH THE HASTING BROTHERS

Sophie's POV

Salitang tumingin si Lance sa akin at kay Vincent. Magkasalubong ang mga kilay niyang tinanong si Vincent. "V, anong ginagawa mo sa bahay ng estudyante ko?"

"Student?"

"Yes, Sophie is my student. Nag-aaral siya sa uiversity kung saan ako nagt-trabaho bilang doctor."

Tumingin naman sa akin si Vincent kaya kaagad akong nag-iwas ng tingin. Napakalakas ng tibok ng puso ko. 

Bakit ko pa kasi hinayaan si Lance na magpunta rito?

"She's my wife." pagd-deklara ni Vincent.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Lance. "W..Wife? Are you kidding me? Ang bata pa ni Sophie para ikasal."

"She's my wife, you can even ask her." sabi ni Vincent saka tumingin sa akin. 

Napakagat naman ako sa ibabang labi ko habang nag-iisip ng tamang mga salitang sasabihin. Tumingin sa akin si Lance. "Totoo ba 'yon, Sophie?"

"O..Oo..." halos pabulong kong sagot.

Napanganga si Lance.

Siyempre naman magugulat siya matapos malaman na ang nakababata niyang kapatid ay kasal na sa estudyante niya. 

Hinintay ko siyang may sabihing masama sa akin pero imbes na gawin iyon ay isang ngiti ang gumuhit sa mga labi niya. "You two are so unfair. Bakit hindi niyo man lang ako in-invite sa kasal ninyo? Ako dapat ang best man mo!" aniya sabay tapik sa balikat ni Vincent.

"Because I know there are more important things that you are doing." sabi pa ni Vincent.

"But you are the most important person to me! Mukhang nakalimutan mo na ang kuya mo, huh?"

Nakatingin lamang ako sa kanilang dalawa. Noong una, akala ko malayo ang hitsura nila sa isa't isa, pero mali ako. Hindi mo nga maitatangging magkapatid sila.

"Can I come in to your house?" biglang tanong ni Lance habang nakangiti sa akin. 

Tumingin ako kay Vincent na siya namang tumango lamang kay Lance. "Let's have dinner together."

"Ha?"

Pareho silang lumingon sa akin, nagtataka kung bakit ganoon ang reaksiyon ko. Umiling na lamang ako saka pilit na ngumiti sa kanila. "W..Wala. Tara na sa loob?"

"By the way, Sophie. Naiwan mo ang phone mo sa loob ng kotse ko." sabi ni Lance sabay abot sa akin ng phone ko.

"Thank you."

Vincent's POV

"It's been really a long time since the last time we saw each other, V. I often go to your pad but someone told me that you already moved out. I even thought that you already flew to Australia." Lance said while we were eating our dinner.

Lance is my older brother. We've been so close to each other when we were just kids and I respect him so much. He's the only one who's been so good to me in our family that is why I respect and look up to him more than I do to my father.

"So, you are the one who teaches my wife how to play chess, huh?" I said.

I glanced at Sophie and she almost choke but Lance immediately handed her some water.

So basically, Lance is the man that Sophie admires.

"Oh, so you are the reason why she asked me to teach her how to play chess?" Lance said.

"Yes. And she never wins against me."

"Dahil professional chess player ka." Sophie almost mumbled.

I looked at her. "But my brother is way better than me when it comes to playing chess."

"Well, hindi na ngayon. Masyado na rin kasi akong naging busy sa trabaho ko. Baka nga kapag naglaro tayo ngayon ay matalo mo na ako."

"That's not true."

Lance is way better than me in everything. He's kind, responsible, smart, and talented. That's also the reason why he is the favorite child. But despite being favored the most, he never treated me as someone who is inferior to him. He was always the one who defends me from our parents.

"By the way V, how have you been now? I mean, aside from being married to my favorite student, what do you do for a living?" he suddenly asked.

I drank some of my wine before speaking. "I'm a mafia boss and a CEO."

"Oh, I see. I'm so glad that you finally found something that would make you happy."

"How about you? Do you still have a connection with our parents?" I asked him.

"Yes, I always go to their house whenever I have time. Actually, why don't we go there together some other time? For sure dad would love that."

"But mom won't," I replied which stopped him from speaking for a while.

He heaved a sigh. "By the way, I have something to tell you, V."

Sophie suddenly stood up. "E-Excuse me... Papanhik lang ako sa taas. Salamat sa dinner..."

I followed her with my eyes until she finally disappeared with her flushed face.

"What is it that you're going to tell me?" I asked Lance.

He looked straight at me. "I know you may not care about it anymore but she already came back."

"What? Who?"

"Monica."

The moment that she mentioned that name, my heart started beating so fast. The name that I haven't heard for five years. The name that I already wanted to forget.