The Empire Series 5: Vanna Lei Shrewd

Chapter 25: Coward

Vanna was awakened by a soft touch on her cheek. Agad pa siyang napabalikwas. Napatingin siya sa paligid at bahagyang natuliro bago naisip na nasa loob siya ng bahay ni Cloud. It was him who woke her up.

"I prepared dinner, kumain ka muna bago ka matulog." Nakatayo ito sa tabi ng kama. Nakasuot na ito ng puting sando at sweat pants.

Before she could answer, he already walked towards the door. In a second, he already disappeared from her sight.

Napatitig na lamang siya sa nakapinid na pinto. Ngumiti siya ng tipid nang mag-sink in ang sinabi ni Cloud.

I prepared dinner.

Kumain ka muna bago matulog.

A part of her being felt better that he didn't threw her out while she was asleep. Well, if he did, he wasn't the Cloud she knew eversince.

Napatuwid siya ng upo nang muling bumukas ang pinto. Napalunok pa siya nang makita ang kunot sa noo ni Cloud.

"Lalamig 'yong pagkain," sambit lang nito bago muling tumalikod at nawala sa paningin niya. The door automatically shut.

Tumayo na lamang siya at sumunod dito.

He was at the dining table in front of the kitchen counter when she went out. Inilalagay nito ang isang bowl ng fresh cut mixed fruits sa mesa. The bowl is transparent kaya kita niya ang laman.

The dining table has four chairs around. Umupo siya sa silyang nakaharap sa kitchen counter. She expected Cloud to sit in front of her but he opted to sit on the chair at her left.

She looked at the table. Mayroong buttered veggies, asparagus stew, pork steak at chicken salpicao. Cloud knew how to cook. Mas marunong pa nga ito kaysa sa kanya. Magaling lang siyang kumain pero hindi ang magluto.

"Klein," agaw niya sa atensyon nito nang makitang naglalagay na ito ng pagkain sa plato. He stopped what he was doing and stared at her with a dark expression. Bahagya pang sumikdo ang puso niya sa kaba. Good thing, his expression softened after a few seconds.

"Let's just eat," he said almost whispering. He spooned some food and started eating.

Hindi niya magawang kumuha ng pagkain. Cloud's cold treatment gives her chills. Hindi siya sanay.

"Klein we need to talk," lakas-loob niyang saad.

"What is there to talk about?" malamig nitong tugon.

Huminga siya ng malalim at tiningnan ito kahit na hindi ito tumitingin sa direksyon niya.

"Pumapayag na akong tumira dito sa bahay mo ng isang taon. I am giving us a chance to consummate our marriage," she stated before she could lose all her courage to speak.

The clanking of Cloud's spoon and fork on the plate resonated. It was followed by an utterly deafening silence. Pakiramdam niya ay tumigil ang pag-ikot ng mundo nang tumitig ito sa kanya.

Her heart started beating erratically fast and it's numbing her entire senses. Hindi niya inasahan ang ganoong reaksyon mula sa sarili. She never knew she would feel that way. Ngayon lang kasi niya tuluyang hinarap ang usapang ito. Noon kasi ay pilit niyang itinatanggi sa sarili. She doesn't even want to talk about it. If it enters her mind, she immediately shrugs it off.

Ang gusto niya lang dati ay mabura ang records ng kasal nila ni Klein na pareho nilang hindi alam kung paano nangyari.

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She was in Vietnam when she discovered about the marriage entry. Nandoon siya para sa isang misyon at na-tripan lang niyang i-check kung may pangalan o kapangalan siya sa records ng bansang iyon. That's when she discovered about it. Hindi na sila magkasama noon ni Cloud dahil tinanggap na nito ang promotion bilang head ng IF-Ph.