TERRIFIED

- Chapter Seventeen -

"YOU have to know that Enzo has a tortured soul and a battered heart that's why it's never too easy for him to open his heart again to love," anang kuya Claude niya.

Magkatulong nilang iniimis ang pinagkainan nila. Tanaw mula sa glass wall sa kaliwa nila ang magandang tanawin ng French Riviera. Hanggang ngayon ay nalulula pa rin siya sa narating nang kanyang kapatid.

Nakatira ito sa isa sa malalaking private suite ng hotel kung saan ito nagtatrabaho bilang General Manager ng France branch ng isa sa pinakatanyag na 5-Star Hotel & Resort sa Europa, ang Harlequin Intercontinental.

"Kahit na sa taong tunay na nagmamahal sa kanya?" balik ni Kristen sa kasalukuyang pinag-uusapan nila ng kapatid.

"The people who broke his heart loved him too, pero nagawa pa rin nilang saktan siya."

"Don't compare me with those bitch kuya. Hindi naman ako katulad nila!"

"Taking into account that you're my sister, I believe that you're different from his ex-wives."

Nanahimik siya at nag-isip. May dalawang linggo na mula noong dumating siya sa France. Ngunit sa loob ng two weeks na inilagi niya roon ay walang laman ang kanyang isip kundi si Enzo---ang kanyang asawa.

She had to tell Claude of their situation. Hindi na niya kayang sarilinin ang sakit na nararamdaman. Kung meron mang nakakakilala ng lubos kay Enzo, si Claude iyon. Her brother was sweet enough to fill in the blanks about Enzo. Sinabi nito ang istorya ng buhay ng kanyang asawa para mas maintindihan niya ito.

"Big bro, I'm hurting."

"I know," masuyong tugon nito. "I can see the pain in your eyes. But you know what, pain is one way of learning who you are."

"Learning who I am doesn't matter to me anymore." Nagsimula na namang mamuo ang mga luha niya. "I miss him."

"Then go back to him, baby sis. We both know that you don't belong here. You belong wherever that guy is. Doon mo lang matatagpuan ang bubuo sa puso mo, at siguro pati sa pagkatao mo. Kasama ng lalaking mahal mo."

"But he doesn't love me, kuya." Pinahid niya ang luhang malaya ng bumabagsak sa kanyang pisngi.

"I've known Enzo forever. I know when he's in love and when he isn't. That night, on your wedding day, noong makita ko kung paano ka niya niyakap, I knew then that he's in love with you."

Umiling siya. "Please, huwag mo na akong paasahin kuya."

"Why do you think I've kept quiet about how your relationship has turned out? Na halos ipamigay na kita sa kanya, to the point of giving you consent to seduce the bastard? Go back to him, Kristen. Make him own up to his feelings.

"You deserve honesty, at least. Kapag sinaktan ka n'ya ulit, andito lang ako. Hindi kita hahayaang mag-isa. Pagtutulungan nating buuin ang sarili mo."

NAIINIP NA SI KRISTEN sa paghihintay. Kanina pa siya nakaupo sa madilim na sala ng bahay ni Enzo ngunit hindi pa rin ito dumarating. She did not turn the lights on hoping to surprise him.

Mabuti na lamang at nasa kanya pa ang susi. Kung nagkataon, sa balkonahe siya tatambay kasama ng mga maleta niya.

Hindi na niya nakayanan ang antok habang nakaupo sa sofa. Bumagsak ang kanyang mga mata. Nagising na lamang siya nang may marinig na lagabog at bulungan nang bumukas ang pintuan.

Agad siyang napabalikwas. Idinilat niya ang kanyang mga mata upang sinuhin ang mga dumating. Dalawang bulto ng katawan naaninag. Magkadikit ang mga ito, malamang magkayakap.

Tatayo sana siya para buksan ang ilaw kung hindi lamang nanginig ang kanyang mga tuhod. She already knew what was going on with the two shadows lurking in the dark. Hindi siya makatayo dahil baka bumigay ang kanyang mga tuhod.

"Just so you both know, you have an audience." Siya man ay nabigla sa kalmado niyang boses gayong nanginginig ang kanyang laman sa galit.

Nang marinig ang kanyang boses ay agad naghiwalay ang dalawang katawan. Napansin niyang may isang tumawid sa sala upang buksan ang ilaw. Bumaha ang liwanag sa paligid at nakita ni Kristen ang monumental shock sa mukha ng asawa.

"Kristen!" bulalas ni Enzo. "What are you doing here?"

"Funny, I'm asking myself the same question right now," she said, keeping her cool. "What am I doing here? Maybe, because somehow I was hoping you at least miss me and you're just too chicken to admit it."

Tumayo na siya mula sa kinauupuan. She made a few strides and was surprised to find her knees quite steady. Pinuntirya niya ang babae na kasama nito. It was the waitress from the restaurant. "Out!" she said in her most authoritative voice. Iminuwestra pa niya rito ang pinto.

Mabilis naman itong sumunod. Pabalibag niyang isinara ang pinto nang makalabas ito. Then she spun around to face Enzo.

"How dare you! How dare you bring somebody else here? I'm your wife, this is also my home. We are married!" bulyaw niya dito.

"We're married, yes. Pero sa papel lang iyon. We both know that this whole marriage thing is a façade. Para makuha mo ang citizenship. I'm fine with you using me to get what you want, but please stop pretending. We are not lovers, we never were."

"I know what I felt... what I'm still feeling. Ikaw ang tumigil na sa kaka-pretend na wala lang sa'yo ang lahat ng namagitan sa atin."

Enzo shook his head. "You got it all wrong. Ginawa ko lang iyon to make this set-up bearable. Kristen, what we had was just an act, a charade."

"Hindi ako naniniwala!" mariin niyang kontra. "There is something in the way you kissed me, in the way you made love to me, the way you take care of me. I felt it, Enzo, and you cannot deny it."

"You felt wrong," he said with conviction matching her tone.

She let out a groan of defeat. "If there is one thing that I'm quite certain about me, it is the fact that I'm in love with you. And I know you love me, too. You're just to scared to admit it." Matalim niyang tiningnan ang lalaking hindi nakakibo. "Seems to me na hindi lang ako ang kailangan ng soul-searching.

"The way I see it, Enzo, you needed it, too. And you needed it badly." She paused to catch her breath. "Just so you know, hindi lahat ng taong may kakayahang manakit sa'yo ay gagawin nga ang gan'on sa'yo. You have to trust me. You have to let me inside and show me every single scar in your heart. You have to show me, no matter how it hurts you."

Mabilis siyang tumalikod at nagkulong sa sariling silid. Kailangan niya itong iwan dahil kailangan nitong maintindihan ang bawat katagang binitiwan niya.

She had to give him time to think, give him air to breath... space to move about.

His soul had been broken. He needed to fix it first... to make him whole again.

°°°

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---pÜsa★