TNRS I: To The Bone (Ongoing)

Chapter 41: Tied and betrothed

Unlike the other men inside the room, he is standing out with his clean white polo underneath his black tuxedo suit, no necktie but only two buttons unbuttoned, and stray hair falling down his brushed back hair making it a little bit messily attractive.

I looked at axel, trying to not look more anxious than I am now. With my heart beating loudly, I held my breath when his hand found its way to my waist and firmly held it while my left hand rested on his shoulder.

I let my body follow the rhythm of his lead without slipping my eyes off of him. He gave me a slow little turn before leaning forward to me.

"Say something, please..." He whispers. I have been staring at his face for quite some time now. Unconsciously. 

"How have you been?" Axel looked quite taken a back for my questions. Dahil sa mga unang araw na pagkikita namin ay the only thing coming out of my mouth are words pushing him away. 

He stressfully chuckled, turning his face over to the side, biting his lips. "Missing you," eyes started to get tired and pitiful. "That's how I've been for the last five years."

"I see." I nod.

"Bout you?" 

"Getting married before the end of the year." I replied,

"Fuck." Malutong na mura niya sa mababang boses. The anger is evident in his eyes but soon got clouded with longingness when he says my name, in a softly manner, begging. "Rai... Please..." 

"I waited for you..." I look up at him, mirroring the same emotions in his eyes. "God knows how hardly I prayed that you'd follow me enrage and sweep me away from all of the madness, as I was ready to ran away with you the second you take me with you." 

"Rai-"

"But all is too late now... may mga oras na hindi na naten pwedeng maibalik. I am already tied, Axe..." I wiped the tears falling down my cheeks. "So, please... I want you to stop chasing after me." 

"No. Break-up with your fiancé and marry me instead." His eyes became serious all of a sudden and there was determination in his tone as he walks towards me. "Instead of an engagement ring you never really wore, wear my ring and become mine." 

"It's too late for that now." Umiling ako. "My hands are already tied with the Montesors and I do not plan on betraying my fiancé's kindness. And you also can't just approach me and say such vulgar things like that when I am already about to be wed. It's a matter not of courtesy but of respect."

"I am ready to risk all that I have if that's what it takes to have you back into my life, rai." The weight of his words and the look in his eyes made me worry.

I left him and ran out of the room but he followed me till we reached an empty balcony. Hinarap ko siya and looked at him with such emotions. Balling my fists. 

"I left you for a reason. However selfish it may seem to be sayo, it was my resolve." Hot tears started to roll down my cheeks. "Why can't you just hate me for what I did? I wish you would just hate me. It would've been better that way."

"I can never hate you, Rai. Kahit sirain mo pa buhay ko, baliwin mo ako for the second, third-ilang beses pa man yan! Basta't gusto mo! I will never feel hate towards you, rai, instead it'd only make my love for you become stronger each time you hurt me." 

Napayuko ako. Ayan na naman siya. Frustration got the best of me. I realized that no matter what I'd do or what I'd say it'd be of no use once axel puts his mind into it, he was like that even then.

This side of him scares me but not in the sense that it would endanger me, it was actually the opposite of it. It is the side of him that puts me in a position to be selfish for my own benefit which is something that I'm not capable of kahit noon pa man but...

He was that kind of love. But I am afraid tita lily was right, that not all great love is worth the sacrifices.

If I had chosen to stay with him back then, I wouldn't be where I am standing now and there was no certainty that we will still be able to maintain ownership of the company if I hadn't accepted TJ's hand back then.

When I lifted my head, I met his eyes. Looking deep into those beautiful dark eyes of him, my favorite hypnotic asset of him. 

Oh, how i wish, I could stay in those eyes. 

I tiptoed to reach him, pulling his coat down so I could drop a kiss on his lips, leaving him before he could even open his eyes.

I went straight ahead to the exit because I couldn't find my way back to our table dahil sa dami ng tao at sa medyo pagbu-blur ng paningin ko from crying.

Because I couldn't see clearly ay muntik na akong mabundol ng waiter whose serving drinks, mabuti na nga lang ay may humila sa braso ko, saving me from falling on my face.

"Raizza! Are you okay?" It was TJ. "Where have you been? Kanina pa kita hinahanap." He worriedly tends to me.

"Oh. I-I'm sorry." 

"It's okay. You had me worried there. Are you alright?" He held my cheek, but I instantly looked the other way.

"Can we go home?" I asked in lieu.

TJ studied my face before sighing and later on nodding. In his car, silence ruled over, but I didn't quite notice it as my mind is somewhere else.

"Hey,"

"Huh?" In thoughts I looked at Terrence.

"We're here..." Aniya. "Are you sure you're okay? Kanina ka pa parang wala sa sarili, rai." TJ looked at me confused and concerned.

"I'm fine." I responded in full.

TJ looked a little suspicious of me, so I looked directly into his eyes to make him believe me and he did. I'm good at things like this. I'm good at masking my true feelings with my straight face.

He sighed. "Okay, I'm sorry for inconveniencing you tonight, you must be so tired of work."

"No, no. Don't say that. It's one of the least things I could do for you." I smiled.

Nakokonsensya namang napangiti nalang siya and reached to cup my left cheek in which I felt a little pinch of discomfort, but I didn't put mind to it and just waited for him to take it back.

"Sige. You must be tired too." I encouraged.

"Okay... Goodnight." TJ gave me one more sweet smile before letting me go.

I got out of his car and watched it drove away from the villa's gate bago ako pumasok sa loob ng bahay.

I don't know why but I felt so tired while climbing up to my room. The whole night was just so tiring for me even though ilang oras lang naman ako doon.