Lost In Love

CHAPTER 4

MAGTATANGHALI na ng umuwi si Armand sa kanilang mansion, because he spend his night and morning in his condo alone.

At sa hindi niya inaasahan, ay sinalubong siya ni Bettina na ikinagulat niya.

"Armand!" She headed towards him and automatically claimed his lips. "I missed you so bad!"

"Bettina..." Bahagya itong tinulak ni Armand, he didn't even bother to respond her kiss.

She frowned. "Where have you been? Magtatanghali na, saan ka ba natulog at ngayon ka lang nakauwi?" She asked while smiling.

"May ginawa lang ako... Ikaw, akala ko ba next week pa ang uwi mo? Ba't napa-aga?" Walang ka-ekspresyong tanong ni Armand habang nagtungo sa kusina, nakasunod naman si Bettina.

"I just want to surprise you, actually kahapon pa ako nakauwi."

Napakunot-noo si Armand habang binubuksan ang nakatakip na nakahain na pagkain sa lamesa. "Where's Mama and Papa?"

"Nasa plantation, pinapasama nga ako nila... Kaso I wanted to see you, kaya hinintay nalang kita." Sagot nito at lumapit kay Armand. "I cooked that for you, your favorite afritada. Medyo lumamig na nga lang, because that is supposedly your heavy breakfast."

"You cook?" He curiously asked while staring at the afritada.

"I'm still learning it actually since when I had a free time in U.S. Try it Armand." She put the plate on the table.

Naupo naman si Armand at kumuha ng kanin para sa kanyang plato. He stared eating.

"How was it? Ayos na ba?" Bettina asked adorably.

Armand nodded. "It's good."

Bigla namang bumusangot ang mukha ni Bettina. Kilala niya kasi si Armand kapag hindi masarap ang luto niya which she always try hard to cook, ay ganun ang reaksiyon nito.

She rolled her eyes. "I know it's not."

Armand laugh, kinabig niya ito so she could sit on his lap. "But thanks for your effort."

Bettina finally smile as she wrap her arms around his neck and she kiss him softly.

Armand respond a bit. But he pull immediately, saka tumayo kaya napatayo si Bettina.

"I'll just change my clothes.. Pupuntahan ko sina Papa sa hacienda."

"I'll come with you."

He sighed. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Ofcourse."

   

ARMAND focused his attention with father, habang nagmamando sa mga trabahanteng nag-hahakot ng tubo. He decided to himself that from now on, he will start to learn how to manage their plantation and ranch.

Halos nakaligtaan na ni Armand na kasama ang kanyang girlfriend na si Bettina na ngayo'y kausap na lamang si Donya Margaret.

"I think you are now starting to be responsible, son." Sabay tapik-tapik ni Don Anselmo sa balikat ni Armand. "I'm glad na napili mo nang matutunan ang pagmamaneho ng negosyo natin, para saan pa't ikaw lang naman ang magmamana nang lahat ng ito... Pati nang magiging apo ko sa inyo ni Bettina."

Napakunot-noo si Armand sa huking sinabi ng kanyang ama.

"Kailan ka ba mag-popropose ng kasal kay Bettina?"

"Pinag-iisipan ko pa ho Papa."

Sarkastikong natawa ito. "Ang tagal niyo nang mag-kaibigan at mag-kasintahan, tapos pag-iisipan mo pa lang Armand?" Napailing-iling pa ito. "Bettina will stay here for good. Kung ako sayo Armand, pag-planuhan mo na ang pagpapakasal kay Bettina. She's already a graduate, and so you. This is the perfect time to propose her. I can see that you will have a beautiful family with her."

Napatungo lamang si Armand habang nag-iisip sa mga sinasabi nito na tila sinisink-in pa ni Armand sa kanyang utak. Dahil sa totoo lang ay wala pa siyang balak na mag-sarili ng pamilya, and definitely not with Bettina.

"Tumatanda na kami ng Mama mo, at hindi naman pwedeng hindi kami hihiling ng apo sa nag-iisa kong anak." He tap Armand's shoulder again.

Napasulyap si Armand kay Bettina. She smile at him from afar. "I'll think of it Papa." He said.

Napatango-tango ito. "Huwag mo na sana'ng patagalin pa Armand."

       

"ANG LALIM yata nang iniisip mo?" Bungad ni Clara nang lapitan niya si Armand na seryoso at tulala, tila may malalim na iniisip habang umiinom ng alak.

"Kapag ba ikaw, ipagpipilitan sa taong hindi mo na gusto... Anong gagawin mo?" He suddenly asked. It's not that he didn't like Bettina at all, of course he loved her.

Clara frowned. "Ewan ko ba. Hindi naman ako nagka-boyfriend kaya hindi ako makaka-relate sa problema mo."

Armand look at her unbelievably. "You didn't have a boyfriend? Should I believe that?"

"Hindi nga. Tsaka wala na akong pakialam kung hindi ka naniniwala."

Armand chuckled. "I just can't believe it... Kahit ba noong teenage years mo?"

Saglit na nag-isip si Clara. "Uhm.. nung high school ako, meron naman. Pero mga nanligaw lang, hindi ko naging boyfriend kahit isa."

"Well that's just the same. You got admirers."

Clara laughs. "Pero matagal na yun." Kalaunan ay bigla ulit sumeryos ang kanilang usapan.

"Bakit, ano bang pino-problema mo?" She asked again.

"I already asked you." He seriously said.

"Ahh.. oo nga pala." She chuckled a bit.

"But let's not talk about it anymore." Sagot ni Armand at kinabig ang inuupuan ni Clara kaya mas lalong napalapit ito sa kanya.

"Paano malulutas iyang problema mo kung ayaw mong pag-usapan?"

Napailing-iling si Armand habang inuubos ang isang baso ng beer. "Let's not talk about it." He reminded again and slowly sniffing on her shoulder.

Nanigas si Clara sa kanyang inuupuan ng maramdaman ang kamay ni Armand sa kanyang hita papasok ito sa kanyang maselang bahagi ng katawan. She hold his wrist. "A-armand..." She groan a bit and roam her eyes around the people inside the bar. "Dito talaga?!" Saway niya.

Napangiti ng nakakaloko si Armand. "In my condo..." He immediately stand and grab her hand.

"Sandali kukunin ko lang ang gamit ko."

He nodded. "Go on."

    

KAHIT sa elevator pa lamang ay tila hindi na makapag-pigil si Armand. He keep on touching clara's private part na panay naman ang saway ni Clara.

'Til they finally reach his condo. As the moment that they entered the door, he automatically grab her for a torrid kiss and gently pinned her on the wall.

Halos sanay na sanay na si Clara kay Armand. Na pati ang mga naituro sa kanya ni Angie tungkol sa pagpaligaya ng lalaki ay nagagawa na niya. But to Armand only who happened to be the only man who owns her body.

       
ARMAND was now caressing her hair, nakatagilid siya ng higa habang nasa likuran niya ito. They were fully naked inside the white sheet and just done from their intense session.

"Uuwi kana ba?" He asked. Because of the usual routine of Clara, na pagkakatapos nitong makapag-pahinga saglit ay uuwi kaagad ito.

"Mamaya."

He sniff her neck and his hand goes to her stomach. "Can you sleep with me tonight?" Tanong niya na parang naglalambing.

Napalunok si Clara sa sinabi nito. Tila biglang may kumalabog sa dibdib niya sa tono ng tanong ni Armand. She sighed deeply. "S-sige."

Bahagya siyang kinakabig ni Armand, just for her to face him. Kaya hinarap niya ito. They smile each other before they sealed their lips with a kiss again and again.

            

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