FORBIDDEN SERIES 2: THE PRESIDENT'S SECRET (VIP STORY)

Sample Chapter: Kabanata 3

Kabanata 3

RAFAELA couldn't help but roll her eyes when she saw Danrick smirking while checking her out. Nasa hotel room sila kung saan siya inayusan ng kinuha nitong styling team. She's busy adjusting the straps of her body-hugging dress when she noticed Danrick leaning on the wall while watching her. 

There's really something about Mr. President that doesn't sit right with her. He seems . . . very different when he's talking to her whenever they're alone. It's like he's having a different personality that he only shows to her. Kapag maraming tao kasi itong kaharap ay tila ba msyadong kalkulado ang lahat ng kilos at salita nito.

She sighed before she finally looked over her shoulder. Tinaasan din niya ito ng kilay. "What are you staring at? Wondering if spending nearly ten million on my outfit tonight was worth it, Mr. President?"

The corners of his lips stretched a bit wider. "Why don't you call me Rick? Mr. President is asleep anyway."

His words puzzled her. "I don't like Rick. It sounds boring."

He scoffed. Maya-maya ay humakbang palapit sa kanyang likod. They locked eyes through their reflection in the ceiling-to-floor mirror. Halos nakalimutan na rin niyang huminga dahil pinigil niya ang paghinga nang makatayo ito sa mismong likuran niya. 

"Is it boring, Rafaela?" Hinawi nito ang buhok niya patungo sa isang balikat habang kumikislap sa paghanga at pagnanasa ang mga mata nito. "Or you just don't like it because it starts with the same initial as your name?"

Napalunok si Rafaela. God, this side of Danrick is really lethal. He can make her feel the things she knew she's forbidden to feel. She's getting caught off guard whenever he's showing his seductive side. At naiinis isya rito dahil doon!

She tried to compose herself. "Seriously, Danrick--"

"Rick." His jaw clenched but the corners of his lips slightly lifted. "I said call me Rick."

Rafaela sighed. "Are you going to give me more cards if I'll start calling you Rick, hmm?"

He licked his lower lip sexily. "I told you, Ela. I'll watch you burn all my money with a smile."

Her heart jerked while she's staring into his eyes through their reflection. Tila bumigat din ang kanyang mga talukap nang humawak sa kanyang baywang ang isang palad ni Danrick. It was as if he's already having a hard time keeping his hands to himself while Rafaela doesn't know what she has to do now that her heart is banging loudly inside her chest.

Tumagal ang titig niya kay Danrick. She unconsciously studied his handsome face. From his proportional bone structures to his inky brows and hooded eyes with mysterious brown-black strands that are hiding behind his thick lashes, his narrow nose and rosy lips, this man is, without a doubt, one of those lucky people whom God took His time making. 

Napahugot siya ng hininga nang napagtantong napatagal na naman ang pagkakatitig niya kay Danrick. "I told you to stop calling me Ela."

He gently shook his head.. "I don't wanna call you using the same name your husband and everybody else are using." Hinaplos nito ang kanyang tagiliran saka nito pinagmasdan kung paano siyang naapektuhan ng simpleng galaw nito. "So I'm gonna call you Ela whether you like it or not."

She blinked her eyes before she finally turned to face him. Bahagya na ring kumunot ang kanyang noo. She knew he had a few glasses of champagne while waiting for her to get dressed. Dahil ba sa alak kaya parang napakadominante at mapang-akit nito ngayon? This is far from the reserved Danrick people voted to be the newest president of the country!

Rafaela sighed. "You know what? Maybe you should head home now. I'll crash my husband's party on my own, Rick."

Napansin niyang bahagyang dumilim ang mga mata ni Danrick nang marinig ang pagbanggit niya sa asawa niya. They only had a very few face-to-face encounters before but she's sure Danrick will never like a spoiled brat like her. Lalong hindi ito magkakagusto sa taong pwedeng magdala ng malaking eskandalo sa buhay nito kaya hindi niya alam kung guni-guni lang ba niya ang napansin.

Humugot ito ng malalim na hininga. Maya-maya ay humakbang ito palayo at tinalikuran siya. Pinanood lamang niya ito habang tila humihikab. Maya-maya ay napatigil ito bago tila naguguluhang pinasadahan ng tingin ang paligid.

He continued looking around until his gaze met hers. Napansin ni Rafaela na tila bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata nito bago muling sumeryoso ang mukha.

Napakunot siya ng noo. "Are you . . . okay?"

Danrick cleared his throat as he looked away. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." He sounded more gentle and . . . very different compared to the Danrick who was flirting with her earlier. 

Lalong nalukot ang noo ni Rafaela. "Well, you don't look like you're okay."

Napahugot ito ng malalim na hininga. "I'm fine," he replied in a breathy way before he rubbed his palms on his face. Nakapinta rin sa mukha ang pagkalito at tila . . . inis. 

Naguguluhan man ay dinampot na ni Rafaela ang clutch bag niya. "Let's go then before Geisler assumes that I'm gonna give him the freedom to flip the tables."

Kumunot ang noo ni Danrick. Tila naguluhan sa kanyang sinabi. Nang tila nahalata nitong nagtataka na siya sa ikinikilos nito ay umiwas na ng tingin saka lumunok.

"Yeah." He sighed. "L-Let's go but . . . I'm not gonna stay at the party for too long. I remembered I need to discuss something important with my advisors."

Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. "You're weird. Kanina ikaw 'tong gustong-gustong sabay tayong pumunta ng party nang mabuwisit si Geisler. And now you're planning to leave me on my own?"

Danrick looked away. "Sorry. I'm really sorry. I must've . . . forgotten about my schedule today. I barely get enough rest since I became president. I kind'a forget a lot of stuff due to stress."

Tinanguan na lamang ito ni Rafaela bago siya naglakad patungo sa pinto. Ayaw rin niyang pilitin pa ito kung hindi naman talaga pwede, kahit pa medyo nainis siya sa biglaang pagbabago ng isip nito. 

"Don't worry about me, Rick. I'm one bad bitch Geisler will regret messing with so go ahead and--"

"Wait, what did you call me?" matindi ang pagkakakunot ng noong tanong ni Danrick.

Tumaas muli ang kilay ni Rafaela. "Ano ba? Pinagti-trip-an mo ba ko, Danrick Galchengco?"

His lips pursed as he looked away. Tila nai-stress na ito at hindi alam kung ano ba ang isasagot sa kanya. "I'm sorry. I . . ." He sighed. "Forget it." Dinukot nito ang phone sa bulsa bago nito pinihit ang knob. "I really have to go, Rafaela."

Napasunod na lamang siya ng tingin kay Danrick habang gulong-gulo siya sa mga pinagsasabi nito. Is he trying to mess with her mind? 

Her lips pursed when she realized something. Hindi kaya may plano ito at si Geisler? Hindi siya nito nakumbinsing kumuha ng therapist. What if Danrick is manipulating her to make her look like she's lost her mind? 

Paano kung plano ng magpinsan na pagmukhaing baliw siya para mas madali siyang mahiwalayan ni Geisler oras na hindi na siya kailangan ng asawa niya? After all, Danrick and Geisler grew up really close. Bakit nga ba niya naisip na mas kakampihan talaga siya ni Danrick?

Her expression turned cold. Nagpatuloy siya sa pagsunod ng tingin kay Danrick. She saw him put his phone in front of his ear before he went inside the elevator. Bago sumara ang pinto ay narinig pa niya ang sinabi nito sa kausap sa phone. Siguro ay hindi nito napansing nakasilip siya rito.

"Find me a psychiatrist. Don't let anyone find out--"

Hindi na niya narinig ang karugtong ng sinasabi nito dahil sumara na ang pinto ng elevator, ngunit sapat na ang mga salitang lumabas sa bibig ni Danrick upang makabuo ng haka-haka si Rafaela.

Her grip on her clutch bag tightened as her face turned red out of anger. Mukhang hindi lamang si Geisler ang kailangan niyang mapatikim ng galit niya . . .