Gael Belmonte's Runaway Bride - Vanessa

Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

NATUKLASAN ni Gael na hindi siya nag-iisa sa silid, o sa kama nang magising. Naroon si Shanice and she was naked. And just as consciousness was spreading through him, the woman slid down the bed and licked her lips.
"Shanice—"
"Relax. Last night you were too tired to do anything else. But you know my little miss, she's not happy being ignored. So I came over."
Natutop ni Gael ang kanyang ulo. Sa loob ng ilang sandali ay inisip niya kung pababayaan ang babae sa ginagawa. What she said was true. Kagabi ay dinala niya ang babae sa isang hotel. He planned on satiating his desires discreetly. May dahilan siya kung bakit iyon ginagawa—tatlong magkakasunod na gabi ang dumaan na wala siyang madamang kahit na anong pagnanasa para sa ibang babae. Nag-iisa lang ang gusto niyang makapiling—isang babaeng sa kung anong dahilan ay pakakasalan niya bagaman tila hindi kailanman susuko sa kanya, si Audrey.
It was ridiculous to be thinking too much about a woman. Hindi na niya maalala ang huling pagkakataong ginawa niya ang ganoon. Maybe when he was young and had not explored his appeal to the opposite sex.
The thought that a woman had that power over him drove him mad. Scared even. Wala siyang intensiyong mag-uwi ng babae sa kanyang bahay, kasabay noon ay nais niyang patunayan sa sariling lalaki pa rin siya. He called Shanice and told her to meet him in a suite.
And he could not perform.
It shocked and scared the living daylights out of him. Sa labis na pagkabigla ay umalis siya sa hotel, nagdahilan kay Shanice na masama ang kanyang pakiramdam. In truth, he was too stunned to stay and talk. Anyway, they had never been good at talking. Umuwi siyang may kaba sa dibdib, ngunit sa huli, naisip niyang marahil labis lang siyang napagod sa lahat ng nangyayari. Transition phase din ng kompanya. He had to take care of a lot of things there, make sure everything was going smoothly. Wala siyang balak na magkaroon ng kahit na kaunting maipupuna ang kanyang ama. No. More than anything, his goal was to make the old man see he was worthy.
Alam ni Gael na matagal nang nag-aalinlangan ang kanyang ama sa pagpapasa sa kanya ng pamamahala ng kompanya kaya kahit noon pa ito maaaring magretiro ay hindi nito ginawa. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang dahil kung bakit lalong lumawak ang agwat nila ng ama nang pumasok siya sa kompanya. Kahit ano ang patunay niya sa ama na kaya niyang dalhin sa mas mataas na lugar ang korporasyon, tila hindi ganap ang pagtitiwala nito.
Who the hell knew what will make the old man trust another person? Gael worked so damned hard for it. Full trust was never given to him. And maybe, the old man was right to think that he can never trust his only son. For Gael will only sell that bullshit company anyway. He had been working all his adult life to reach that ultimate goal. Iyon ang pinaghirapan ng kanyang ama buong buhay nito, ang dahilan kung bakit bata pa lang siya ay binubugbog na siya.
He will not stop until he sees that company buried deep—like his soul, his own personal dreams, his life, his mother's life. Kung ang pinakamatinding pagsubok upang mapunta sa kanya ang kompanyang balak niyang wasakin ay ang pagpapakasal sa isang babae, bakit hindi? He had never believed in love so it was not a sacrifice at all. Nagiging sakripisyo lang nitong nakaraang ilang buwan dahil sa attitude ng kanyang fiancée.
Ayaw maalis sa isip ni Gael ang magandang mukha ni Audrey. Hayun na naman ito at tila nanunudyo. Tila sinasabi sa kanyang "You're insisting we spend our honeymoon in Paris when you can't even perform?"
But he was sure he can. With her. Fuck, this was the nightmare of every man in the world. This right here, his limpness, even with Shanice's expertise.
"Shanice, you just can't come into my house like this. I'm getting married in five days. You and I both know that." Hinagip ng kamay ni Gael ang isang roba. He slept in the nude.
Hindi nahihiya si Shanice sa kahubdan nito. He used to look at her and get an instant hard-on. Now, it felt as if he was looking at a regular object. Tumaas ang isang kilay ng babae. "You didn't say you were getting married last night. In fact, you were the one who called me up. Or have you forgotten?"
"Shanice, I'm very tired."
"We used to do three rounds at night, one in the morning. Every round was hot."
Sa halip na sumagot ay nagtungo sa walk-in closet si Gael. Isang bahagi niyon ay naglalaman ng sarisaring panregalo sa mga babae. Little tokens of appreciation. He took a boxed bag and gave it to Shanice. "It's been a very long day for me, Shanice. I hope this makes up for the trouble."
Ngumiti ang babae, tinanggap ang regalo. "I would've preferred your hard cock though."
I'd have preferred that, too. But as you have just seen, my thing doesn't like you tonight and I doubt if he ever will again.
"Goodnight, Shanice," wika ni Gael, saka siya tumuloy sa banyo. He took a cold shower and looked down his body. "Damn that little witch," sambit niya, laman ng isip si Audrey. Bakit hindi niya ito magawang malimutan? What was it about her that made him want to please her and treat her like the delicate flower she seemed to be? Wala siyang oras para sa mga ganoong klaseng babae. Kailanman ay hindi siya nagkaroon ng atraksiyon sa mga ganoong klaseng babae. He liked women who knew exactly what they wanted.
Audrey was telling him what she wanted him to think she wanted. Hindi pa rin naunawaan ni Gael kung ano ang nagtulak sa babae upang pakasalan siya, gayunman ay nais niyang alamin. Maybe after they were married.
Scheduled intercourse? He did not think so.
At ngayon, unti-unti niyang nauunawaan na ang pinakamalaking dahilan kung bakit nagkakaganoon siya ay guilt. He was feeling guilty when it was clear that they had an agreement that she was allowing him to do it, as long as it would be discreet. He was never the type to ask for anyone's permission. Isang tao lang ang kailangan niyang kausapin para doon—ang kanyang ama. And he had long forgotten they were related by blood.
Madaling kalimutan ang ugnayan sa dugo. Sa bawat unday ng kamao ng kanyang ama sa kanyang katawan, sa bawat sipa sa tadyang, binti, o braso habang nakagulapay siya sa sahig, kusa nang nakakalimot ang isip sa mga ganoong uri ng katotohanan. He hated the blood that ran through his veins, hated the fact that it came from that man. Ilang ulit siyang dumura ng dugo mula sa pananakit ng ama at isinumpa ang dugo sa lababo, sa sahig, o sa sarili niyang mga kamay na nagmula sa kanyang bibig.
Ilang ulit bang isinumpa ni Gael na wala nang ibang makakahawak sa kanya sa ganoong paraan? No one can control him again, ever. No one can have that much power over him anymore. Not since he became a man, no longer needing his father. The thought that Audrey had so much power over him was something he was not ready to accept. Hindi ba at magiging balintuna kung ang dahilan upang ganap niyang makuha ang pamamahala ng korporasyon ay siya ring magiging dahilan upang mawala sa kanya ang kontrol sa sitwasyon?
Did his father bargain with the devil to make his life miserable forever? Somehow, that would not be too absurd.
"Audrey," sambit ni Gael, nakapikit ang mga mata, habang nakataas ang mukha sa maligamgam na tubig mula sa dutsa. He wondered what the lady was doing that very moment. Bakit bigla ay nais niya itong makita kahit nitong nakaraang ilang linggo ay iniwasan niya ang babae. It seemed to him that he was getting more and more curious about her and he did not like that.
Nang makalabas ng banyo ay sinipat ni Gael ang relo. Alas-nuwebe ng gabi. Ilang sandali siyang nagpalakad-lakad sa silid, nakatapi ng tuwalya. Sa huli, nagpasya siyang pagbigyan ang sarili at tinawagan ang dalaga.
"Hello?" sagot ng malamyos na tinig ni Audrey pagkaraan ng ilang pag-ring. Maingay sa kinaroroonan nito.
"Where are you?"
"My bachelorette party."
"Bachelorette party?" Parang gustong mag-init ng kanyang ulo. "You didn't inform me of any bachelorette party. If you had, I wouldn't have allowed it."
"Wouldn't have allowed it?"
Hindi agad tumugon si Gael sapagkat nag-iinit ang ulo niya. A bridal shower he would've probably said yes to immediately, but a bachelorette party with male stippers? "I never thought you'd have one!" Tumaas ang kanyang tinig. There he was, not being able to get a stiffy, while the little witch was probably watching naked men dance and maybe even grind themselves against her! He was suddenly fuming mad. "Where are you?"
"What? I can't hear you. Please speak louder."
Narinig ni Gael ang masayang tilian sa background at ang pagtsi-cheer ng, "Audrey, Audrey, Audrey!"
"I'm asking you one last time, Audrey. Where the hell are you?!"
"Oh, the girls and I are here in Criselle's place."
"Where is that?"
"You know Bellefast Towers? Yeah. I have to go now—"
Hindi na natapos ni Audrey ang sinasabi at naputol na ang linya. Muli niyang tinawagan ang dalaga ngunit hindi na ito sumasagot. Kung ano-ano ang pumasok sa imahinasyon ni Gael. At batid niyang nagiging makitid na ang kanyang isip ngunit hindi niya maiwasang makadama ng galit. Mabilis siyang nagbihis at nagmamadaling lumabas ng bahay. Agad siyang sumakay sa SUV at pinasibad iyon na tila isang kriminal na hinahabol ng mga pulis.
So what if he was being unfair?! He did not care anymore! He had every right to stop those probably disease-infested male whores from touching his fiancée! He was fuming mad, his blood rushing to his head.
"You little witch," sambit ni Gael, laman ng isip ang mapapangasawa.
Tinawid niya ang kahabaan ng EDSA sa SUV na rumaragasa ang takbo. Pagkaparada niya sa tapat ng Bellefast Towers ay agad niyang tinanong sa front desk kung saan naroon ang unit ni Criselle. Nang hindi pumayag ang guwardiya ay idinaan niya iyon sa intimidasyon. He had to. Soon, he was inside the elevator, headed for the tenth floor.
Nang makarating doon ay mabilis na nakita ni Gael ang unit. He wanted to barge in but the door was locked. Napilitan siyang gamitin ang ringer at bumukas iyon pagkaraan ang ilang sandali. Hindi na siya nag-abalang magpakilala sa babaeng nagbukas ng pinto at agad nang pumasok. Parang umusok ang kanyang tainga nang makita ang kanyang fiancée sa gitna ng nagtsi-cheer na lupon ng kababaihan, nakapiring ang mga mata habang may isang lalaking nagsasayaw sa harap nito—halos hubad na.
Malalaki ang mga hakbang na nagtungo si Gael sa gitna at hinawakan ang braso ni Audrey. "Come with me."
Tumigil ang mabilis na tugtugin. Inalis ni Audrey ang pagkakapiring at halatang nabigla nang makita siya. "Gael! What are you doing here?"
"I should be the one asking you that question."
"I told you, it's my party!"
Naunawaan ni Gael na hindi iyon ang tamang lugar para magtalo sila kaya sinabi niya sa dalaga, "Let's go. We'll talk about this in the car."
"But—"
"What seems to be the problem here?" tanong ni Criselle. He hated the woman. Noon pa mang una niya itong makilala ay nahalata na niyang hindi siya nito gusto. The feeling was mutual. Walang disenteng babaeng magbibigay ng bachelorette party sa matino nitong kaibigan.
"You know what the problem is," tugon ni Gael.
"We're just having a little fun."
"This is too much fun. Naked men dancing in front of my future wife is no fun for the groom-to-be."
"Oh, come on! We're just having some fun."
Sinulyapan ni Gael si Audrey na nakatingin sa lalaking kanina ay nagsasayaw. Tutop ni Audrey ang bibig, marahil walang ideya na isang kapiranggot na underwear na lang ang suot ng lalaki.
"W-we're going, Criselle. Please, continue without me," ani Audrey sa kaibigan at naglakad na rin palabas ng unit.
Hanggang sa makasakay sila sa elevator ay tahimik lang si Audrey. Nakikiramdam si Gael. Walang indikasyong nagsasabing alam ni Audrey ang pinasok nito. In fact, she seemed embarrassed. Pulang-pula ang mukha nito. Nang sumara ang pinto ng elevator ay saka nagsalita ang dalaga. "I didn't know she hired a stripper."
"Oh, yeah? You seemed aware someone was dancing in front of you. Even I knew there will be a stripper."
"But I told Criselle I was okay with a bridal shower! How was I supposed to know she was going to hire a stripper? Fine. I knew there will be a guy when they started giggling as I was being blindfolded. How was I supposed to know he will be almost naked?!"
"He's a damned stripper!"
"I know! But can't he just take off his shirt?! Besides, I was thinking that Criselle would never ever make any guy-for-hire strip naked. I mean, not totally naked or almost naked! I mean... I was thinking it was okay to touch the guy's chest, I guess. Even the abs, maybe?"
"You are not touching any stripper's chest or abs."
Umirap si Audrey. "There's nothing wrong with that! Don't act like a Republican all of a sudden." Bumuntong-hininga ito, saka biglang nalukot ang mukha. "Eeww. Did you see his butt just hanging out there?! Disgusting! He even has a pockmark on the left butt cheek! Totally, totally disgusting! How can Criselle do this to me?"
Marami pang nais sabihin si Gael kung hindi lang siya biglang natawa. Audrey's face was contorted in a manner that told him exactly how revolted she was. He was suddenly very much amused. Nagpasya siyang tudyuhin ang dalaga. "You seemed to be having such a good time."
"I was until... Did you see that pockmark at all?!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't inspect his butt cheeks closely."
Mukhang may sasabihin pa rin ang dalaga nang bigla itong matigilan at matawa. Nang bumukas ang pinto ng elevator ay nagtatawanan na sila. And man, it felt good. It felt really good. Kailan ba siya huling nakatawa nang ganoon kalaya?
"Audrey, you are driving me mad," sambit niya.
"Well, you too. And how dare you barge into my bachelorette party! Now everyone's going to think you're a jerk."
Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "Don't they think of me that way, already?"
"Not all of them." Humagikgik si Audrey. "Some of them actually think you're hot. I don't agree, but we're all entitled to our own opinion."
"You don't agree?"
"Not really, no," anito, bagaman may gumuhit na munting ngising tila agad na sinupil sa mga labi ng dalaga.
"You know, my butt cheeks are smooth. And you are allowed to feel my chest, my abs, and everything else."
Namula ang mukha ni Audrey. "Gael!" Nagmartsa ito palabas ng gusali. "I'm going home."
"I'll make sure you get home. Get in," ani Gael na binuksan na ang SUV na nakaparada sa mismong harap ng gusali.
"Pero nakakahiya sa mga bisita ko, Gael. Oh, my God, my college professors are there!" Biglang tumakbo si Audrey papunta sa elevator.
"Audrey! You're not getting back in there!"
"Says who?"
"Says me. There's a stipper with an ugly butt in there, in case you've forgotten."
"Then let me just call Criselle and tell them we're going to a nice place or something. Maybe me and the girls can go dancing. And, Gael, please. You're being such a jerk. This is my night, after all."
Lihim siyang napabuntong-hininga, saka tumango.