[COMPLETED] My Sister's Keeper

Book 2 - Chapter 4

Picture: Credits to the owner

Wherever life takes me.

Bata pa lang si Donny ay sunud-sunuran na siya sa gusto ng mga magulang niya. They have already built an image for him that he should follow for the rest of his life. Even the woman he wanted to marry. When he fell in love with Shar, he rebelled against his parents. For the first time in his life, he found a person worth fighting for. Only to lose everyone in the end...including her.

Naalala niya ang tanong niya kay Shar noon. Katulad niya ay nakakulong din ito sa gusto ng mga magulang nila. "If you had the chance to choose the life you would like to live, where would you go?"

"Wherever life takes me." Iyon ang sagot ng nobya. Kung hindi lang nakatatak sa utak ni Shar na utang na loob ang pag-ampon sa kanya, siguro ay kaparehas sila ng buhay ni Cassandra.

"Hey, gorgeous. What are you thinking about?" Naramdaman niya ang pagyakap ni Cassandra sa likuran niya. Tanging kumot lang ang nakabalot sa katawan nito. After leaving Cafe La Boheme, they ended up in Kawaguchiko. The stayed at a hotel with a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji.

Humarap siya dito at hinalikan ito nang mapusok sa labi. The last three days were amazing. "Thinking of many ways how to make love to you."

Binuhat niya ito at dinala sa kama. "Donny, it tickles!"

He caressed her face lovingly. He missed this face so much. Pinugpog niya ito ng halik.

"Wait. We need to eat. I want to tour you around." Tumayo ang dalaga at kinuha ang mga damit upang magbihis.

"I'm already fine here in the hotel exploring your body." He winked naughtily. Matagal na din nang huli siyang may nakasama sa kama. It was before he and Sharlene were together. Ngunit sa bawat pagniniig nila ni Cassie ay hindi niya mapigilang hindi isipin ang dating nobya. It should have been her. He knew it's unfair ngunit parehas nilang gusto iyon ni Cassie. They were two consenting adults. No strings attached. She made it clear that she just wanted a fling. And she's aware that he wants her because they share a resemblance with Shar.

"Isn't it majestic?" Cassandra stared in awe at the sight of Mt. Fuji. Nakaupo sila may gilid ng lake at tinatanaw lang ito. "You're so lucky you were able to see it."

Nakayapos siya sa bewang ng dalaga. Kinagat-kagat niya ang balikat nito. "You're my lucky charm." He whispered seductively in her ear.

Kinurot siya ng dalaga. "C'mon. Let's go. More places to discover." They climbed to Chureito Pagoda. The view was breathtaking. Tinatawanan siya ng dalaga dahil hingal-hingal siya. It's 400 goddamn steps!

"Maganda ka sana kaso masama lang ang ugali mo." Bulalas niya dito.

"What did you say? Talagang maganda ako. Marami kayang naghahabol sakin dito."

Napalingon siya sa dalaga. "Marunong kang mag-Tagalog?!!!" What does this mean?

"Hey Mr. Stalker. I thought you researched about me. My Mom is a Filipina. At nag-stay ako sa Pilipinas nang maghiwalay ang mga magulang ko. I just returned to Japan to take over my Dad's business."

"All this time, pinagod mo ako na mag-English eh marunong ka palang magTagalog?" Pagmamaktol niya.

They went biking around Lake Kawaguchiko afterwards. Napilit siya ni Cassie na magkimono para kumuha ng mga larawan sa Iyashi no Sato Nenba, isang traditional village with thatched roof houses.

"Is my pose okay?" Game na game si Cassie na nag-pose habang naka-kimono. He was mesmerized by her beauty. Hindi maipagkailang sobrang ganda nga nito at alam nito ang anggulo sa camera. Contrary to Shar who was very shy kapag kinukuhanan niya ito ng litrato.

Magkahawak ang kamay nila nong naglalakad na sila pauwi ng hotel. "So, did you have fun Mr. Cojuangco?"

Pinitik ni Donny ang ilong ng dalaga. "I told you it's Donny. And yes, I had fun. You're the best tour guide."

***

"Uwi na tayo bukas." Deklara ng dalaga sa kanya habang nagdidinner sila sa hotel.

"I thought we're staying for 7 days?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Donny. That was their plan. To forget the world and enjoy each other's company for a week. May kinausap ang dalaga sa telepono kanina so it must be the reason. Kinausap din nito ang receptionist sa lobby bago sila pumasok sa restaurant.

"Tumawag si Mommy. She needs me in the office." Hindi alam ni Donny kung nagsisinungaling ito o nagsasabi ng totoo.

"Baby." Sabay silang napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Isang matangkad at singkit na lalaki ang lumapit sa kanila. He looked familiar to him. Lalo niyang ikinagulat nang yumuko ito at hinalikan si Cassie sa labi.

"I dropped by your condo. You were not there. Your assistant told me that you're here." Napatingin ang bagong dating sa kanya. "You must be Donny." Very territorial ang tono ng boses nito. "I'm Cassie's fiancee, Justin. Justin de Dios."

Parang binuhusan siya nang malamig na tubig sa mukha. Hindi niya alam na engaged na pala ito. He wanted to storm out of the room. But he had to maintain his composure. "Hi. Nice to meet you. Cassie has been telling me stories about you." Tumingin siya nang makahulugan sa dalaga.

Sinenyasan ni Justin ang waiter at binigyan ito nang upuan sa tabi ni Cassie. Kilala niya si Justin by name. Who wouldn't? He's a superstar in the Philippines. Matagal nang usap-usapan sa showbiz circle na may fiancee ito na heiress at high school sweetheart nito. And it turned out to be Cassie.

Justin wrapped his arms protectively around Cassie. "Really? What did you tell him, baby?"

"She said that you were highschool sweethearts and you proposed to her in France." Inulit lang ni Donny ang narinig niya sa mga kaibigan niya from showbiz. Who would've thought magagamit niya ito sa isang awkward situation?

"Yes. We've been together for twelve years." Diniinan nito ang salitang twelve years. "How about you, man? Wala bang ibang pwedeng sumama sa'yo dito at kailangan mong guluhin ang schedule ng fiancee ko?"

Bago pa siya makasagot, sinalo na siya ni Cassie. "Baby, Donny is the main artist for my exhibit. I just wanted to show him around. Anyway, I thought you're busy for preparing your upcoming album."

"We finished early so I decided to surprise you." He pinched her cheeks affectionately. Donny felt like an idiot at that point. Cassie played him like a fool.

She smiled at him. "Nasaan na ba ang mga gamit mo?" Donny panicked internally. Justin would find out that they are sharing a room! He darted a warning look at her.

"Nasa kotse pa. I'll ask the staff to bring it up after we finished eating."

Room 102. I already asked them to transfer your luggage. Relax.

Nakahinga siya ng malalim nang makita ang pinadalang mensahe ng dalaga. They looked like thieves sending cryptic signals to each other when Justin wasn't looking.

"Guys, I'm sorry I have to go ahead. Medyo inaantok na kasi ako." He needed to get out of the situation. "Have a great night. It was nice meeting you, Justin." He shook his hand ngunit naramdaman niya ang makahulugang pagpisil nito sa kamay niya. More like a warning. Dali-dali siyang dumiretso sa bago niyang silid.

My God! Why am I in this mess? It's because of her!