A Love Unforseen

ALU7

I woke up with a start, disoriented for a moment. As my eyes adjusted, I saw Don sitting beside me, lost in thought. I stretched, feeling a slight ache in my neck.

"Hey" Don said softly, noticing my wakefulness. "How are you feeling?"

I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the sleep. "A bit stiff, but okay. What time is it?"

"four am sharp" Don replied. "We should get some rest. You can take my bed; I'll sleep on the couch."

I nodded, still trying to clear my mind. As I stood up, naramdaman ko ang hapdi sa pagkababae ko. "F*ck!" daing ko sa sakit.

"Why? are you okay?" nag-aalalang tanong niya.

Our eyes met, and for a moment, the complexity of our situation hung in the air.

"I-it hurts.." nahihirapan kong wika.

His eyes plastered in shock. "It's your...first time?" he asked, hindi makapaniwala.

"He never touched me before. Kahit noong bago palang kaming ikinasal. That's why..." I explained.

He nodded. "I understand." my tears can't escape, sunod-sunod itong tumulo na ikinaalarma niya.

"F*ck, f*ck! I'm sorry, Bella Mia. Please don't cry..." He wiped my tears and then he planted a kiss on my forehead.

Our eyes met. I looked at him, trying to read his mind.

Why is he acting like this?

"What do you mean... about, Donny Rossi?" pag basag ko sa katahimikan.

"Donato Rossi, was my... late fathers' name. Don Donato Rossi." I looked at him with confusion.

"I'm Donny Rossi. His one and only son. Ginamit ko ang pangalan niya to continue our legacy...and revenge." pagpapatuloy niya.

"Revenge?" takang tanong ko.

"It was my plan. Ang mag higanti kay Alezanthriel Montero. Ang mag higanti sa asawa mo." He glance at me, as if his eyes is trying to say something.

"And you used me as your leverage?" I asked.

"Issabelle... it's not like that." he protests.

"Then what? Donny?"

"I love you, Bella."

I laughed sarcastically. "Huwag mo na ulit ako subukang paikutin pa, Donato, Donny, or whoever you are!" my tears began to fell.

He tried to cup my cheeks pero tinabig ko iyon. "Hindi kita pinapaikot, Belle. That's the truth, I love you." aniya. "I'm not using you para mag-higanti sa asawa mo."

"Paano ako maniniwala, Donny? Paano mo masasabihig mahal mo ako?" I faked a laugh.

"We already met before, in highschool." he said. I tried to recall my highschool memories. I tried to remember his name. "Ibang pangalan ang pinagamit sa akin ni dad, dahil tiyak na ako ang pupuntiryahin ng mga kalaban niya. It's Rafael Dane"

Rafael?

I didn't say anything and let him continue. "Nag transfer ka sa ibang paaralan pag tungtong natin ng college. Hindi na kita nakita mula noon... I was in fourth year college, when my father díed. Pag uwi ko sa mansion, napaka tahimik. And then... I s-saw him lying on the floor, kasama ang mga tauhan niya. m-maraming tamá ng b*ril..." mahaba niyang alintaya habang lumuluha.

I'm out of words. Shoul I believe him?

I looked at his eyes, pero lungkot at hinanakit lang ang nakita ko. "He didn't want me to be part of his gáng, para maging ligtas ako. He didn't allow me to know his ill*gal doings. But when he d-dîed... Nag imbistiga ako after I graduated. And I found out that your h-husband and his family...they're the one who took my father's life!"

Shock plastered on my eyes because of the revelation.

"A-alezanthriel? h-hindi niya magagawa 'yon..."

"Nagawa niya nga ang i-sakripisyo ka, iyon pa kaya?" I shook my head, I can't believe this...

"Y-you're R-rafael that I met in highschool?" I asked.

"I am." walang emosyong aniya.

"Y-you said you love m-me. Totoo rin ba i-iyon?" humihikbing wika ko.

Lumapit siya sa akin, he wiped my tears using his thumb and then kissed my forehead. I just let him do it.

"It is... I love y-" May sasabihin pa sana siya when suddenly, his phone rang. Sinagot niya ito.

"Time's up." I heard Zanthriel's voice on the phone.

"Ihahatid ko siya mamaya. Kailangan niya munang magpahinga." deretsong aniya.

I insisted. "No, okay na ako- Ahh!!" daing ko nang biglang sumakit ang ibaba ko nang tumayo ako.

"Just rest, okay? o gusto mong dagdagan ko pa ang hapdi niyang..." I glared at him in disbelief.

"You son of a b*tch! huwag mong subukang hawakan ang asawa ko!" rinig kong sigaw ni Zanthriel sa telepono kaya inilayo ito ni Donny sa kaniyang tainga.

"Yeah, I'm a Son of a B*tch." wika niya at idiniin ang huling salita. "Don't worry, Alezanthriel. I won't hurt Belle, sa katunayan ay saráp pa ang ibinibigay ko sa kaniya." pagak itong natawa. Hindi ako nakapag-salita.

"Walang hiyá ka!" rinig ko ang panggigigil ni Zanthriel sa kabilang linya.

"Don't over react, Alezanthriel. Remeber, isinuko mo ang asawa mo. Hindi kita pinilit..." may bahid ng pang-aasar sa kaniyang tono.

Totoo naman. Ginusto ito ni Zanthriel. Ang isakripisyo ako for his own gain.

Kaya ngayon, bakit kung umakto siya ay parang hindi niya ginusto ang mga ito?

Ibinaba na ni Donny ang tawag at sandali akong tinignan.

He turned his back. "Rest, now. Ibabalik na kita sa asawa mo, pag gising mo." aniya bago tuluyang nilisan ang silid.

'Ibabalik na kita sa asawa mo.'

'Ibabalik na kita sa asawa mo.'

'Ibabalik na kita sa asawa mo.'

His voice cold and detached. I feel a stab in my heart. The words echo in my mind like a cruel mantra.

Suddenly, the room seems to shrink, and the shadows close in. I'm trapped in a nightmare.

Isang laruan lang ba ang tingin niya sa akin?

Inihiga ko ang sariling katawan sa malambot na higaan. Hinayaan ang sariling umiyak nang umiyak hanggang sa kusang mapagod ang aking mga mata.