Elysian Secrets

Kabanata 42-2nd Part

Author's Note: Bitin ulit! Wait for the next part bago magbasa. Pagpasensiyahan na ang installment na pagpu-publish ng isang chapter. All I have these days are nakaw na mga sandali para magsulat. 

Pagpasensiyahan na ninyo ang raw version na ito. Super duper draft. Don't expect much dahil walang edit whatsoever na nagaganap dito. Just word vomiting whatever comes to mind directly on the page 😣

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Napatuwid nang tayo si Raphael at napalingon habang hawak pa rin ang isang palad ni Niccolo sa isang kamay at ang tablenapkin naman sa kabila. Papalapit na nga sa kanila si Lia at nakahinga siya nang maluwag.

"Where have you been, hija?" tanong ni Sra. Grace. Hindi na nga nito nahintay na tuluyang makalapit sa kanila ang babae at sinalubong na ito. "I've been looking all over for you."

Lia keeps a reserved, professional distance between them that sets Raphael's teeth on edge. That pushes him to haul her closer and forces her to invade his personal space. He craves her in his space. Always have, always will. 

In an effort to keep up a public persona as his secretary, Lia avoids looking at him directly in front of an audience. She's not doing that now. In fact, her eyes are drilling holes into his face. That rings alarm bells in his mind. 

"Sa Riviera Gallery, Sra. Grace," magalang na sagot ni Lia habang nakatingin pa rin diretso sa kanya. "Sa portrait room."

Sra. Grace visibly winced. "Oh, dear." Those two words dripped with guilt. 

Raphael's fuck-up radar is screaming at him now. 

"Oh, dear?" ulit niya. "What do you mean, 'oh, dear', mom?"

"Oh, dear," ulit lang ng senora. Napatutop ang isang palad nito sa sariling bibig habang ang kabilang kamay naman ay napameywang. A clear sign of distress on his mother's part. 

In this state, wala nang makukuhang matinong sagot si Raphael mula sa ina kaya si Lia ang binalingan niya. "Guiliana? What's wrong?"

The woman shrugged as if nothing's wrong. He could have believed that if not for the ice in her eyes. "I dunno, Sir Raphael. Or do you prefer 'Maximilian'?  You tell me what's wrong."

"Oh, dear..." Si Sra. Grace ulit. 

'Oh, fuck' would be more like it.

Nagpalipat-lipat ang namimilog na mga mata ng senyora mula sa matigas na mukha ni Lia at sa nagtatagis niyang bagang. The photographer looks torn between running away and staying put to watch the drama. Niccolo, bless his child's heart, took advantage of everyone's  inattention and sneakily swiped another cake. 

"Keep our guests entertained while Ms. Madrid and I talk."

Tila natauhan ang ina sa narinig. "T-talk? Now? Raphael Maximilian! We have guests!"

"This couldn't wait. Could it, Guiliana?"

"We're just going to clear up some things, senyora. We won't be long. Please take care of Nico. Don't let him eat all the cake. We need at least one standing for his wish."

Hindi na hinintay ng babae ang sagot ng kanyang ina. Tumalikod na ito at naglakad palayo, fully expecting him to follow. Like a dog.