LARO NG TADHANA ✔

KABANATA VI: CHAINED✔

Chapter 6 - Chained

The slow and romantic music had stopped and so the things that keeps bugging on my mind. Tuluyan na ring tumigil ang mga nahuhulog na petals ng rosas mula sa kisame. Unti-unti na rin akong lumayo rito, tila nagising sa katotohanan. It was the most comfortable close distance I've had with him so far, but it has to end.

Ako ang unang bumitaw sa pagkakahawak sa kaniya. Hindi ako makatingin ng deretso rito. I almost forgot how dangerous he is and I let myself be comfortable with his embrace. Hindi ko dapat makalimutan na maaring parte din iyon ng mga plano niya.

"I-I'll go to our table first." Tatalikod na sana ako ng bigla niya akong hinawakan ng marahan sa braso.

"Snow..." Napatingin ako rito. He looks like he wants to tell me something. He opens his mouth but closes it again. He looks uncertain.

"Mr. Gregory!" Pareho kaming napalingon sa taong tumawag sa kaniya. Ang Ama ni Kurt na mukhang natutuwang makita ito rito. I really am the only ignorant who doesn't know his popularity in the business world.

"I'll talk to you later." Muli itong bumaling sa'kin saka ako nito binigyan ng mabilis na halik sa kamay na agad ikinainit ng pisngi ko. I'm not really comfortable into public displays of affection and I can't get used to his sudden sweetness whenever people are around.

"I am sorry I didn't notice your arrival kanina Ace." Nakipagkamay rito si Mr. Dela Cuesta. "I wasn't expecting your connection with my Son's friend Attorney Guererro, not until I saw you dancing with her tonight." Bumaling sa akin ang Ama ni Kurt na may malokong ngiti sa kaniyang mukha. Nagmana sa kaniya ang anak nito.

Hindi naman ako makatingin ng maayos rito. I am really new at entertaining people's interest to my so-called-unexpected boyfriend.

"No. Don't be sorry Mr. Dela Cuesta. My girlfriend wasn't also expecting me to be here." Tumingin ito sa akin na may mga senserong ngiti sa kaniyang labi.

If I didn't know him and his plans, I will surely believe that he really is my loving boyfriend. But it's not.

"Girlfriend? So totoo ngang may relasyon kayong dalawa. Well, I am surprised Attorney!" Tumingin sakin ang matanda na mas lalong ikinatuwa ang narinig nito kay Ace. "I've known Snow to be very dedicated to her career at pihikan ito sa mga lalaki. Bagay na bagay kayo. You two are good to each other." Dagdag pa nito na ikinapula ata ng mukha ko.

"Well, I am the one lucky to have her." Said Ace with a certain smirk on his face na ikinatawa naman ni Mr. Dela Cuesta. How can he be so good at making lies feel so real?

"I-It's a long story. Well I think Ace here knows it very well." Tumingin ako rito na may kaunting sarkasmo sa aking mukha. "I have to go, baka hinahanap na nila ako." Agad na akong bumaba sa entablado habang abala na ang mga itong mag usap.

I can't take all the lies that he's telling to other people. Sumasakit ang dibdib ko knowing that everyone is in dangerous and I'm here still trapped in his chains.

May naiisip na akong paraan para malaman ang mga plano nito ngunit alam kong sobrang delikado din nito. Some part of my heart wants to believe that he's feelings are somehow real. But I immediately shook off that thought.

"Hey there sister." I was startled at a familiar voice of a woman dahil sa lalim ng iniisip ko.

Napatingin ako sa madilim na parte ng isang dome at doon ko namataan si Gabriella na tahimik na umiinom sa kaniyang wine. She called me pero kay Ace siya nakatingin na abala na ngayon sa mga businessmen na kausap nito. Mukhang kanina pa ito narito at tahimik na nagmamasid.

"Gab?" I look at her with a wary face. "What are you doing there?" Bumaling ito sa akin na may mapaglarong ngisi sa kaniyang mga labi.

"Let's talk my dear sister." Hindi pa ako nakakasagot ay bigla na lang niya akong hinila.