The Empire Series 1: Vander Lewis Rushed

31: Take It Slow

Sometimes before you splurge, you gotta gather your breath, slow down and feel the calmness of your heart. – jazlykdat

Aubrey

It took her few minutes before she earned the courage to pick up her robe and wore it.

Vander still loves her. Ayaw lang siyang masaktan ulit nito.

Tumimo iyon sa utak niya. Nabigla siguro ito sa ginawa niya. Nababagalan na kasi siya sa nangyayari. She wants everything to be okay between them.

Agad siyang nagbihis at pumunta sa kuwarto ni Vander. They need to talk.

Nag-alangan si Vander nang mapagbuksan siya ng pinto.

"You said you still love me, Vander." She said straight.

"I did," Vander nodded. Nanatili lang itong nakatayo sa may pinto at hindi niluluwagan ang bukas nito.

She inhaled deeply and blinked her eyes. It's now or never.

"Gusto ko lang malinaw ang sitwasyon natin kasi mahal pa rin kita. I realized that when we were in L.A." Hayag niya.

Bigla itong natuliro. Pumasok ito ng kuwarto at hindi nagsalita. She took that opportunity to get inside his room. She saw Dirran sleeping tightly on the bed.

Ibinalik niya ang tingin kay Vander. Nakatitig din ito sa kanya. They stood across staring at each other.

"Do you still want me as your wife, Vander? Because I still want to be yours..." she said courageously. Wala na siyang pakialam kung ano ang iisipin nito.

Vander crossed their distance and hugged her tight. She thought he'd kiss her but he just hugged her close.

Yumakap siya sa asawa. It's been a long time since they shared a hug like this. It feels nostalgic but surreal. How contradicting?

"You will always be my wife, Aubrey. I would never want anyone replace you. But I don't want to repeat the same mistake again." He whispered in her ear. They are so close that she could even feel his heartbeat.

"Ayoko din namang balikan ulit ang mga pagkakamali ko. I perfectly understand na hindi mo kasalanan lahat ang mga nangyari noon. I had a part, too." Tears escape her eyes. Kanina pa niya ito pinipigilan. Vander hugged her tighter and kissed her hair.

"I wasn't a good wife. Hindi kita sinuportahan at inalagaan na dapat ginagawa ng isang asawa. I'm sorry."

Vander held her face and smiled.

"You don't have to say sorry. We are going to start over, alright?" tugon nito. Napangiti siya. She tiptoed to kiss him pero natatawa itong humalik sa magkabilang pisngi niya bago siya niyakap ulit ng mahigpit. Yumakap din siya ng mahigpit sa asawa.

"Let's take it slow." Vander murmured in her ear.

Siguro nga ang mali nila noon ay minadali nila ang lahat-lahat.

Hindi na dapat iyon maulit.

If he wants to take it slow.

So, be it.

___

She was surprised to see Vander at the office during lunch break. Medyo malayo ang opisina nila sa building ng mga Filan. They are renting a space along Magallanes while the VLF building is at Dela Rosa St. in Makati.

"Bakit? I mean what brought you here?" tanong niya sa asawa.

"How about a lunch with my wife?" He smiled and handed her three stems of lilies of the valley.