Chasing Fire (Completed)

Chapter 20

Love

"I don't fucking want to marry him Dad!" Ulit ko.

Namumuo na ang luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko because of frustration. I want to go to my room immidiately but I want to tell Daddy I am against all of this more.

"At kailan ka pa natutong magmura Vienna? Just marry that damn boy! Bakit? Bakit ayaw mong magpakasal sa kanya? Because you have a boyfriend? May gusto kang iba? Tell me who is it so I could kill that bastard!"

"Dad!" Tawag ko. "Kill? You will really go that far?" Hindi makapaniwala kong tanong.

I can't believe him! Just imagining Marco being killed by Dad hurts me like being persecuted.

"Yes Vienna! So tell me, sino?!"

"I don't have a boyfriend Dad! Ano ba! I am your daughter! Hindi mo ba inisip kung ano ang mararamdaman ko?" Tuluyan ng tumulo ang luha ko at agad ko iyong pinunasan.

Wow. I just can't take it. Kung nandito lang si Mommy, hindi niya hahayaang ipakasl ako sa hindi ko gusto. Kung nandito lang si Mommy, papayagan niya ako sa gusto ko and give me freedom. Hahayaan niya akong magdesisyon para sa sarili ko. I miss her. I miss her so much.

"This is for your own good Vienna! Our company is failing and you need to marry that Alexander to save our asses! That's their condition! Mahirap bang gawin 'yon? Our company is in debt Vien! Babagsak na ang negosyo! You cannot buy all your caprices without it!" Daddy snapped.

Oh. Kaya pala. Tama pala talaga ang hinala ko. That this is for business. Daddy is selling me to the Maravillas to save his failing company. Wow.

"If this is because of the company, then mas ayoko! Wala akong pakealam kung bumagsak yan! I can live without it!"

Nagtaas ng kamay si Daddy ang turned it into a fist tsaka nag iwas ng tingin sa akin like he is stopping himself from hurting me. His face is full of anger and frustration towards me.

"Really Vien? You will let your Mom's company to just turn into ashes? Hindi mo ba nirerespeto ang Mommy mo?"

What? Hindi nirerespeto?

"I never said I don't respect Mommy Dad! And yes! I will let it fail! Dahil kung si Mommy ang nandito? Hindi niya ipagpapalit ang kasiyahan ko sa kompanya! She would choose me over the company unlike you! You are so selfish Dad! Sana si Mommy nalang ang nandito! Sana siya nalang yung kasama ko! Sana ikaw nalang ang umalis! I hate you! I hate you so much! Kaya ka siguro iniwan ni Mommy dahil ang selfish-"

Isang malakas na sampal ang naramdaman ko sa aking pisngi. Napabaling ako sa kanan at hindi ko halos maramdaman ang pisngi ko nang hawakan ko ito. Bumuhos ang luha ko at nanatili sa ganoong ayos habang unti-unting nararamdaman ng sakit.

This is the first time Daddy lifted a hand at saktan ako physically. I bit my lip to stop myself from sobbing.

"I'm-I'm sorry Vien." Narinig ko mula kay Dad at sinubukang hawakan ang magkabilang balikat ko upang tingnan ako.

I pushed him away at hindi ko gaanong makita ang kanyang ekspresyon dahil sa luhang nagbabadya sa aking mata.

"I hate you." I said in trembling voice bago mabilis na tumakbo paakyat ng kwarto ko at malakas na isinarado ang pinto.

I laid on my bed and cried. I wish Mommy was here. I wish she's here with me. Dahil kung nandito siya, I know she wouldn't make all of these happen. I know she will think about my happiness. I wish Mom was here with me.

Bahagyang napatigil ang pag iyak ko nang makarinig ng tawag sa phone ko. It was Marco. But I'm too tired to answer and argue with him. Because I know he would be mad about this. Hindi pa ako handa sa magiging ekplanasyon ko kaya nagpatuloy ako sa pag-iyak while my phone is still ringing. It was then followed by a text from him.

'Please anwser my call.'

Nag ring ulit ng phone ko dahil sa tawag niya kaya wla akong ibang nagawa kundi sagutin iyon.

"Hello?" Kahit pilit kong tinatago na umiiyak ako, hindi nakawala ang pagkabasag ng boses ko.

I readied myself from his anger kaya't pumikit nalang ako habang hinihintay siyang magsalita.

"Is my baby okay?" I cried more when I heard how gentle his voice is.

I thought he would be mad at me. But then he's here, calling me with a gentle voice na para bang mabibiyak ako kapag lalakasan niya ang boses niya.

I didn't speak. I know my voice would be so cracky or whatever so I chose to stay silent.

"Ayaw mo bang pag-usapan? Where are you?" Sobrang gaan parin ng boses niya na halos mapapikit ako sa bawat bigkas niya sa mga salita.

"Room." I answered, isinawalang bahala ang unang tanong niya.

I heard him sigh heavily.

"What are you doing?" He asked in his bedroom voice. I think he's now in his room like me.

Hindi ko gustong sabihin na umiiyak ako though it is so obvious dahil naririnig niya ang mahinang paghikbi ko.

"I will just take a hot bath then sleep."

"Okay then. Call me when you're done okay?"

Pagkatapos ng tawag niya ay pumasok na ako sa bathroom at tinimpla ang tubig sa tamang init na gusto ko. Tonight was tiring. I hope this hot bath would at least make this pain disappear, even just a little bit of it.

Halos makatulog ako dahil sa tagal kong nagbabad sa tubig. But then the pain is still there.

Pagkatapos kong magbihis ay humiga na ako upang matulog but then I remembered Marco so I called him.

"Open the door to your veranda." Napabalikwas ako nang sabihin niya ito.

Why what's the matter?

Agad akong tumayo at binuksan ang pinto to find Marco standing in front of me. He smiled gently the moment our eyes met then he closed the distance between us to give me a tight hug.

Paano siya nakapasok sa gate? How is he here? Am I imagining? Paano siya nakapasok?

"W-Why are you here?" My voice was strained because of crying earlier.

"I just want to see you real bad." He whispered and caressed my hair softly.

Damn.

"I'm sorry." Mahinang sabi ko na halos ako lang ang nakakarinig.

"Shhh... Do you want to sleep already?" He asked soflty.

Tumango lang ako bilang sagot.

Kumalas siya pagkakayakap kaya pumunta na ako sa kama at humiga. Tinabunan niya ako ng kumot ang kissed my forehed.

"Good night." He whispered like a lullaby that made me more sleepy.

"Good night." I answered.

"I'll lock the doors for you." Sabi niya nang paalis na siya and I nodded.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin habang papalapit sa pinto ng veranda at nakatingin rin siya sa akin. He locked the doors and I thought he would leave but I heard him sigh.

"I'll stay with you."

Naghubad siya ng sapatos at damit, leaving only his boxers on. Kung nasa tamang wisyo lang ako, kanina ako kinilig sa nakikita but I'm too tired to even do that.

Tumabi siya sa akin and hugged me tightly as he showered small gentle kisses on my head.

"I love you, Vien." He whispered against my hair.

And just that, medyo nawala ang bigat na nakadagan sa dibdib ko. I love you more Marco. No one could ever change that.