The Chef | Alyanna

Kabanata 18

The interview was so tiring that I ended up sleeping after finishing all of it. The hotel was so kind to give me enough comfort and gave me my privacy.

As usual sa mga interview na nangyayari, I was asked why I disappeared so suddenly and if it's really true that I have cheated with my husband. I answered all of their questions with all truth. I don't want to lie. And I didn't ever lied. I also never wanted their attention but it cannot be helped since I am one of the most renowned chef in the whole world.

Napatingin ako sa langit habang yakap ang sarili dahil sa lamig na umakap sa balat ko.

Nasa labas ako ngayon, I'm alone in this big city yet it doesn't bother me. I just want to think. Lalo na ngayon...

Hindi ko alam kung kamusta na ang mga anak ko. Babalik rin naman ako sakanila kapag tapos ko na ang problema ko dito. I just hoped that they're fine.

Nakaramdam ako ng kaunting pagod kaya umupo muna ako sa isang bench na nakita ko. The place is still crowded even though it's kinda late now. I can also see many couples side by side, 'di ko mapigilang isipin ang nangyari sa'min ni Archer.

He's oblivious of what he has done. I know that he just wanted to explain but I didn't, I couldn't let him speak a single words because I'm afraid that if I let him, I'll end up hurting again.

But now, that I have a time for myself, I could think straight and think of tge things that has to be done. After a few days, I'll be back again, facing my inner demons that I'd lile to hide yet I cannot.

Napagdesisyunan kong umalis na at bumalik sa hotel noong naramdaman ko na ang sobrang lamig sa balat ko. The hotel is just few blocks away kaya nilakad ko na lang.

After I arrived, I greeted the guards and entered the hotel so that I could rest already. I went to my room and immediately jumped to bed at ipinikit ang mga mata.

The next day was not that messy and tiring, I just had a breakfast interview na hindi naman masyadong mahirap sagutan. Some were just personal Stuffs about me and how is my life right now. So far so good, no one asked about my family which is good because I can't really answer it right now. Lalo na ang kambal, people doesn't know that me and Archer had twins. Hindi pa namin naisapubliko, but I know that the people already had an idea.

I was having my afternoon coffee inside a starbucks while reading something from online when I felt someone staring at me. It's weird, I know but the hair in my nape stood up so suddenly.

Napalinga naman ako sa paligid and my lips parted why when I saw a familiar man looking at me intently with his serious and domineering eyes. Even from this angle, I can still see how his jaw clenched as he continues staring at me.

Nagmamadali ko namang isinarado ang dalang laptop at nagmamadaling umalis sa lugar na iyon. Mabilis naman akong nakarating sa hotel room ko kahit na ramdam na ramdan ko ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ko.

He's here! He's freaking here!

I don't know what game he's playing right now and I don't want to be involved with it.

Umupo ako sa kama ko habang pinapakalma ang sarili. I shouldn't act this way pero hindi ko mapigilan. I don't know how to face him right now.

Napapitlag ako ng may biglang kumatok sa pintuan ng room ko. Bigla naman akong kinabahan. Tumayo ako at lumapit doon ng kaunti.

"Who's there?" I asked, just to make sure.

"Food service, ma'am."

Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag. Sa pag-aakalang hindi siya iyon ay binuksan ko ang pintuan, only to be shocked again habang nakatingin sa taong nasa harapan ko ngayon.

"Surprise, wife." aniya ng nakangisi.

"Archer..." I gasped.

Hindi ko na namalayang napa atras na ako dahil sa pagpasok niya bigla sa kwarto ko. I can't even ask how he got my room number dahil na rin sa pagkabigla ko.

I saw him closed the door and locked it bago lumapit sa'kin habang ako'y naliliyo pa rin sa nangyayari.

"Why are you..." My voice trailed of as I saw his expression.

His face was void of emotions yet his eyes speaks otherwise. It has an emotion that I couldn't speak.

"Bakit ka nandito?" sa wakas at nahanap ko na rin ang boses ko.

His lips formed into a straight line. "I came here to take you back, Alyanna."

Napailing ako. "I told you what I wanted, Archer. Hindi pa ba iyon sapat sa'yo-"

"I didn't cheated. I never did." he cut me off.

Nabigla naman ako sa sinabi niya.

"Stop telling me lies, I saw you with her that day..." the day when I was about to tell you about the baby inside me.

"I never cheated behind your back and I never will, Alyanna. You know how much I love you." He sighed. "She just barged in into my office and kissed me that's why I was out of guard. But I swear to you, I immediately pushed her away na hindi mo siguro nakita. But I swear in my life, I would never cheat on you."

"How can you be so sure?"

"There is a CCTV inside my office. I installed it for safety purposes, but I never thought that I could use it this way."

Napakagat labi ako. I don't know what else to say. I know that he did not cheat–well my heart does, but my brain says the opposite.

"Show it to me." I said.

Hindi naman siya nagbibironat kaagad niyang kinuha ang dalang laptop. Binuksan niya ito at ipinakita sa'kin ang isang video. There was a date on it. It was exactly five years ago, the day I saw him kissed a her.

Tahimik lamang ako habang nanunuod. I showed no reaction when I finished the whole clip. He was telling the truth, he immediately pushed her away after she kissed him which is I did now see because I couldn't stand to watch and ses that some other women kissed my husband except for me.

Tahimik lamang siya sa tabi ko. Nakikiramdam. I didn't utter any word. We just let silence fill us. No one dared to talk, no one dared to break the silence. Kahit nga ang pagtibok ng puso ko ay naririnig ko. Or is it his?

"Alyanna..." he stopped.

Tiningnan ko siya. I saw pleading in his eyes that it hurts me to look at him. Kaagad akong nag iwas ng tingin at napayuko.

"Let's talk tomorrow."

"No." Matigas na tanggi nito na ikinailing ko na lang.

"Please, Archer-"

"I won't let another day passed na hindi mo ako kinakausap at hindi pa tayo nagkaka ayos, Alyanna. Running away is not the right away. Let's talk about us right now." Matigas ang bawat pagkakabigkas niya sa kanyang salita.

Inangat ko naman ang tingin ko at sinalubong ang kanya. Napalunok ako ng makita ko na wala na talaga 'tong atrasan. That I should give in today.

"Archer, this is not the right time!" I said frustratingly.

"And when is that, huh? Kung aalis ka nanaman? Magtatago?"

"I'm not going to hide nor leave..." mahina kong sabi pero puno ng sensiridad.

"Even if that came from that sweet mouth of yours, I won't believe you. I'm sick of you running away from me, Alyanna Marie. And if you won't be persuaded to do this with a talk, then I'll do this my own way."

With that he pulled me by my wrist and kissed me savagely while his tongue entered my mouth and played with my tongue.

STONE MIKAELSON