A Setback Beauty

Kabanata 47: THE EXPECTED REVELATION

The Expected Revelation.
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Warning: Emotions and feelings may confuse you.

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      I FELT the sudden shiver that raced down my spine the moment the elevator door opened—tanda na nasa ground floor na ako.

Sa paghakbang ko palabas, sumalubong sa'kin ang nakakabinging katahimikang bumalot sa halos madilim na basement parking. My car is not here. Iniwan ko 'yon sa Marina Del Rey Hote since Kieselle insisted we had to use her car to get to MIT Solutions.

I started walking in search of him. He didn't say anything when Kieselle asked after he said he was going somewhere. May pakiramdam lang ako na dito ko siya makikita.

Speaking of Kieselle…we went down together from Kade's private office, but she went to the front space parking area because that's where we left her car.

An emergency call came up with her, so I told her to go and not worry about me. Though she suggested she would call their hotel and send someone from there to pick me up and bring me back to Marina Del Rey Hotel, I declined. That phone call is more important than me kaya sinabi kong tatawag na lang ako sa Casa. Ipapakuha ko na lang ang naiwan kong sasakyan at magpapasundo sa tauhan ko.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad hanggang sa maabutan ko sa unahan ng basement parking ang bulto ni Kade. 

I moved toward him quietly, but when I saw him holding his phone in his right ear, I stopped.

"Hihintayin kita rito."

Ang kaninang plano ko na lapitan siya ay naglaho na sa isip ko sa mga oras na iyon. Pinangungunahan ako ng malakas kong kutob na si Cleah ang kausap niya.

      NANATILI ako sa pinagtataguan ko habang nakamasid sa kanya na nakasandal na sa isa sa mga poste sa basement parking.

Ten minutes had gone by since he stayed in his spot, yet he still looked calm with his arms crossed over his chest while simultaneously tapping his fingers on his biceps.

He really meant it when he said he'd wait.

Nalipat ang tingin ko sa entrance ng basement parking nang marinig ko ang tunog ng paparating na sasakyan. Isang itim na Lexus RX ang namataan ko. Tumigil ito sa tapat ng kinatatayuan ni Kade.

I'm right.

Awtomatikong gumalaw ang mga paa ko para itago ang sarili sa gilid ng isang sasakyan nang bumaba mula sa sasakyan na iyon si Cleah.

With a wide grin on her lips, she rushed towards Kade. "What's up with those calls, Babe?" bungad niya kay Kade na sapat na para marinig ko dahil ilang metro lang naman ang layo sa kanila ng pinagtataguan ko. 

"The meeting isn't over yet, but you keep calling me. Miss me already?" rinig kong tudyo niya na ikinaliit ng mga mata ko, lalo na nang umangkla pa siya sa braso ni Kade! Parang gusto ko na siyang kaladkarin palayo kay Kade!

"I need to tell you something, Cleah."

Natuwa ako nang marahang inalis ni Kade ang kamay ni Cleah mula sa kanyang braso. Bahagya itong nagpakunot sa noo ni Cleah na agad rin niyang pinalis.

"What is it? Tell me." Cleah forced a smile.

Kade stared at her with his eyes slowly becoming more intense...then his mouth opened...

Handa na rin sana akong pakinggan ang mga sasabihin niya kung hindi lang sa ingay mula sa makina ng katabing sasakyan!

It didn't just interrupt my eavesdropping, but also my sight of Kade and Cleah nang dumaan pa ang sasakyan 'to sa harapan ko!