Velvet Rose (COMPLETED)

Chapter Thirty Five

-Mari-

Nasa loob ako ng opisina ko sa Velvet Rose with Nanay Remy, Nerea and Ida in attendance. This is due to my change of plans especially my sudden engagement to Raphael. I kept pacing around thinking what I really should do while naiinip sila.

"Marizella! Can you stop pacing around please? You're giving me a headache!" Reklamo ni Ida kaya napatingin ako bigla sa kanila.

"Sorry Ida. I am just pissed as you are with the turn of events. All along akala ko ibibigay niya kay Lady in Red ang pera!"

"Duh! As if bibigay niya dun ang pinaghirapan ng mga parents mo. Sana hiningi mo na lang diretso so we can spare all these trouble di ba?" Ida retorted while still checking her iPhone.

"Iyon nga di ba?! I asked pero may isang kundisyon at iyon ang pakasalan siya!" I replied exasperated.

"Napapansin kasi ni Raphael na naging mailap ka na Mari. Hindi manhid ang tao para hindi maramdaman ang pagkawala mo nang amor mo sa kanya." I stared at Nanay Remy because she stated what I was dreading to hear.

"I just can't stand him! Lagi niya akong tinatawagan saka pinupuntahan sa bahay. Nasasakal na ako sa kanya!" I lamented.

"Well noon gusto mo siyang makita lagi saka makasama tapos ngayon ayaw mo na?" Pagbibiro ni Ida pero I know it was true.

" Alam ko pero nagbago na ang lahat. Anyways we're getting off topic na. Raphael promised me six months para ma-annul ang kasal nila ni Cristela then he will give me the inheritance after our wedding. Once I have my hands on it, we will start the plan we made originally. Burn Velvet Rose and make it look like a murder with Raphael and Cristela as the perpetrators."

"Hindi na po ba magbabago ang isip mo iha?" Tanong ni Nanay Remy.

"Oo nga Madam Mari. Sure ka na ba talaga? I mean mahal mo pa naman si Sir Raphael di ba?" Nerea butted in.

"Raphael asked me that so many times that I can hardly say yes because somewhere along the way, I had forgotten what love feels like. All this pain and regret surpasses all the love I've felt for him. So I don't know if I still do." I said truthfully which made me sad somehow.

"I wish things were it used to be before, Mari. I missed the old you." Sabi ni Ida saka niyakap ako.

Do I miss the old me?

I asked myself the question all night as I lay in bed knowing Raphael was a few doors away.

The old me who is head over heels in love with Raphael? The one who yearns for his love, attention and be his world?

Hindi ko namalayan na lumabas na pala ako sa aking kwarto saka naglakad patungo sa harap ng tinutuluyan ni Raphael.

Humakbang ako pabalik ng aking kwarto nang bumukas ang pinto. Nakita ko ang pagtataka sa mukha ni Raphael nang makita ako.

We stared for almost a minute when Raphael reached and cupped my face then kissed me.

This kiss was different like the usual kisses on the lips he gave me for the past few days.

It was a kiss of desperation as if he was trying to rekindle a love lost.

"I missed you so much baby." He rasped but his lips never wanted to leave mine, as if afraid I will let go.

"Make me remember why I loved you..." I said suddenly but unable to bring the words back.

Raphael need not reply as he lifted me into his arms and carried me inside.