Tainted Kisses (Landegre Series 1)

Chapter 17

2015

Amber stayed on the least occupied space of the hall. Ayaw niyang nasasapawan siya at uncomfortable sa paligid lalo pa't maraming celebrities ang nakisali sa wedding night. She is not fond of this kind of occasion and in addition to that she barely know the newlyweds. Pumunta lamang siya bilang respeto dahil magkakilala ang parents niya at ang bagong kasal. At gustong-gusto niya nang umuwi. She should've come with Harold, her cousin.

Pinagmasdan niya ang mga bisitang nagki-kwentuhan. She was left alone, but that's what she preferred. Dinampot niya ang basong may lamang fruit punch at sumimsim doon nang mahagip ng kaniyang mga mata ang bagong dating na bisita. His striking and arrogant build had dominated the whole place. She was flabbergasted at a moment. Paano nito nagagawang magbigay ng ganoong klaseng reaksyon sa lahat?

Her eyes followed him, unconsciously. Sinalubong ito ng groom at nagpalitan ng greetings at ibinigay ang garter sa lalaki pagkatapos. Ibig sabihin lang n'on ito ang magiging partner nang sino mang makakasalo sa bouquet mamaya. She got interested to join the line up. Umalis siya sa upuan at nagtungo sa mga nagkukumpulang babae sa gitna.

"You're dead, chairman," pilyong sabi nong groom.

"Should I asked for a substitute?" seryoso nitong tanong.

"Of course not."

Tumalikod ang bride sa kanila at walang pasabing inihagis ang bulaklak sa ere. Naging alerto siya at ininuhan ang ibang kasama. Hinila niya ang dress pataas at tinalon iyon. She's in an advantage kasi nasa likuran siya nakapuwesto at medyo malakas din ang pagkakahagis ng babae sa bulaklak. She smiled when she finally caught the bouquet, pero agad din iyong nawala nang ramdam niyang babagsak siya sa sahig.

Her eyes automatically closed and had no other choice but to wait for what's gonna happen next. However she felt an arm catched her waist. Dahan-dahang bumukas ang kaniyang mga mata at muntik nang mapasinghap nang makita ang mukha ng lalaki.

"Are you okay, Miss?" he asked. Even his voice makes her heart gone crazy. Is it cliche to say that he got her twisted in just a swift moment?

"I'm Margarette Amber Salcedo..." aniyang wala sa sarili. Pinamulahan siya ng pisngi nang ma-realize niya ang sinabi.

His eyes squint a bit. "I think I should bring you to the hospital."

Ngumiti siya ng pino nang alalayan siya nitong makatayo ng maayos. The time had finally comes, she found the man that she ever wanted. Love at first sight do exist.

That's how everything started. She fell in love, hard. Ginawa niya lahat para lang makilala ito. She take a lot of risk. Nagpakabaliw siya. Nagpakatanga sa pag-ibig. Pero sa kasamaang palad hindi pa rin siya ang pinili nito. He can't see her effort and every sacrifices she did ruined her.

Pinagmasdan niya ang pangalan ng babaeng naka-ukit sa lapida. She killed the woman he choose to be with without remorse. Subrang saya niya halos magtatatalon siya sa tuwa. Sa wakas at masasabi niya ring siya ang nagwagi. No guilt. Why would she felt that way? Ginawa niya lang tama.

"Hi, Ash. It's been a month, right? How are you? You know what, I've been living in peace right now. Nawala ka na means a lot to me, really," sambit niya nang nakangisi. "If you didn't came out of the picture, you won't die this early, darling-"

Bumungad sa kaniya ang malamig at nakakasilaw na paligid nang magising. She had no idea where she is right now, though she didn't care about it. Dahil laman ng kaniyang isipan ang panaginip na ilang araw na siyang binabalikan. It felt so real. Na parang gusto niya nang hindi magising at manatili na lamang doon, pero hindi nangyayari. That dream had been showing her a different settings. Sa realidad, hindi siya ang nanalo. Hindi siya ang masaya. Iyon ay isang ilusyong kahit kailan hindi niya makukuha. Siya ang sira na. And what's the point of feeding her with those infuriating lies?