With You

Chapter 22: Changed

Chapter 22: Changed

Harrison

It was her idea about that stupid contract... At pumayag lang din ako, because I find it interesting...

The first time I saw her, I caught her eavesdropping on me and her sister's assistant whom I only got acquainted with because I needed some information about the De La Cernas...

I knew that she was young. It was obvious in her looks. And that look of innocence in her eyes... So I didn't expect her to be so bold as to offer me such a contract that included marriage...

And she was the one who proposed the rules to me including of her not interfering with my affairs... Tsk.

I know that I had such a reputation... with women. But that was a long time ago now. Because since I married her she became the only woman...

At habang nagsasama kaming dalawa bilang mag-asawa at sa iisang bubong... I realized many things while I was with her...

I realize that I was actually happy to be with her. Dahil nakakangiti na ako kapag nand'yan siya. Hindi ko na nga maalala kung kailan ba iyong huling naging masaya ako at tumatawa pa, probably when my family were still alive.

Both my parents passed away when I was barely graduating from the university. And then my sister was the only one I had left of my family until she's also gone...

I remember my last moments with my older sister...

"I'm pregnant, Harri..." she just smiled at me after saying it. Nakahawak na rin siya sa tiyan niya na noon ay hindi pa halata.

While I was shocked of her sudden news. I didn't even know that she had a boyfriend. Dalawa lang kaming magkapatid at mas matanda lang din siya sa akin ng halos dalawang taon. And when our parents passed away, she tried to take care of our family's business.

And when I asked her about the father of the unborn child, she didn't give me the right answer...

"What are you doing?!" I shouted at her to put some sense on her because she just attempted to hurt herself while pregnant and her belly had grown now.

She looked at me with tears in her eyes. "Harri... He promised me that he will leave his family for me and our child..." she shook her head. "But he just told me not that he couldn't do it anymore!" she cried miserably...

Umawang naman ang labi ko habang nakatingin ako sa kapatid ko. Hindi na siya pumupunta pa ngayon sa office at hindi ko na rin siya pinagtatrabaho dahil malaki na nga ang tiyan niya. At galing pa ako sa company ngayon. I just had business meetings here and there and there was a load of paperworks in my office desk. Pero pag-uwi ko sa bahay ay madadatnan ko pa siyang ganito. I tried to calm myself down. Ayaw ko rin na magalit sa kaniya. She's my only family left. At ang gusto ko lang ay maging okay siya kahit dalawa na lang kami ngayon.

And then she gave birth... But right after that, she ended her own life...

The doctor said that she was depressed. At pakiramdam ko ay wala akong nagawa para sa kapatid ko. I couldn't save her.

And since I was already handling our family business, doon ko na rin nalaman kung sino ang lalaking sumira sa buhay ng kapatid ko. He only used my sister to gain the support of our company in his own business. I gritted my teeth. And that's when I swore I will make that man pay...

But everything changed after I got to know my wife...

She's completely different from her devil of a father. And she too had suffered from his own father's doing. Anak siya sa labas at pinabayaan lang sila ng ama niya. She lost her mother at an early age. But she stood for herself and made a way for her to get away from her own family. Kaya naiintindihan ko na ngayon kung bakit niya gusto noong magpakasal na lang sa akin ay para makawala rin siya sa mga De La Cerna.

But then she misunderstood... No, she was actually right...

I truly planned my revenge on her family, on her father. And she found out about it.

I was guilty so I let her be...

"She's always seen with one of our company's employees, Sir. Araw-araw niya 'tong nakakasama sa trabaho..." Diego reported to me.

I turned to look at him. Aside from being my executive secretary, kababata ko rin siya at halos sabay kaming pinalaki. His parents were loyal to my family, the Abellas. And his mother was also my nanny back then when she was still living, too. They had worked diligently for our family. And Diego's the most loyal to me now. At alam din niya ang binalak ko noon na pabagsakin pati na ang pamilya ng taong sumira sa kapatid ko.

So he also didn't understand why I would agree to marry a De La Cerna, but I already told him that Vienna was different...

"It's just for work..." sabi ko lang na parang nawawala rin sa sarili. Binalik ko lang din ang tingin ko sa mga document na nasa harapan ko.

But Diego doesn't seemed to agree. And I know that he was only concerned about me as someone who works for me, and also as someone who's already like a family to me.

"She found out about my past plan..." I told Diego.

Nakita ko ang pag-awang ng labi niya. At pagkatapos ay wala na rin siyang sinabi pa...

At kung totoo man ang mga usap-usapan ng iba...

I sighed to myself.

Bata pa si Vienna. And if she really falls in love with someone else that's not me... then, I guess it would also be fine...

After everything, I just want her to smile again. Because I hurt her, kaya kasalanan ko rin kung bakit lumayo na ang loob niya sa akin ngayon. And I've witnessed how she smiled while she was conversing with that employee...

"This is so unlike you, Sir." Diego said.

I only smirked at him. Bakit, hindi ba bagay sa akin ang maging mapagparaya?

I don't know either, but, I know for sure that I only think of Vienna and what would be good for her...

I already learned to care for her...

Kaya kahit na... alam kong totoo at sobrang nagugustuhan ko na rin siya...

Kaya ko rin na magbigay... para sa kaniya at sa ikasasaya niya...

And I tell you that I didn't expect this coming from myself either. When I look back to my past self I know that this just wasn't me.

Because I was hardened by life experience, and after all my family were gone... Wala na akong ibang maisip noon kung hindi ay ang manira rin ng buhay ng iba...

But how could I now? When just the thought of ruining her or hurting her it already pains me more. I cannot imagine her crying and miserable...

Dahil alam ko na rin ngayon na maaapektuhan pa rin siya kapag may nangyari sa pamilya niya. Dahil ganoon siya. She's pure and has a good heart. And she taught me kindness, too...

And I changed.

I changed myself because of her...

And now I wonder why she's crying in front of me...

Was she that touched because I prepared a party for her graduation day? Well, that's already expected. And she deserves it for studying hard until she graduates. At maliit na bagay nga lang naman itong ginawa ko ngayon para sa kaniya.

Or maybe because... I also invited her whole family in this celebration? Well, I can do anything for her... Kahit pa ang tanggapin ang pamilya niya sa buhay namin...

Because I know that they're already a part of her, too. And I accept everything about her.

"Why are you crying, Vienna?" I gently asked her as I wiped her tears away as well.

She thought that I was mad at her. But how could I be mad at her...

Mas galit pa nga ako sa sarili ko kasi pakiramdam ko na pinaiyak ko na naman siya...

And frankly, I just want to ditch this damn party now that I prepared for her. Maybe we can celebrate her finishing college some other time?

Because honestly right now I just want to bring her to our bed and continue to comfort her more...