Made For Him

Chapter 24

Vanessa Jasmine's

"First thing that came up in my mind was you, Jasmine. Ikaw lang naman ang kilala kong Vanessa. But how would I know if it was you? Napakaraming Vanessa ang pangalan, maybe I'm just overthinking. So I set it aside" She paused and look at me. "But here you are. Being held captive by that person."

"Jasmine..." Sabi nito saka hinawakan ang kamay ko na nakapwesto sa binti ko."...you know Christopher, right? He lend you his bussiness card, use that." Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nito.

"What? What are you saying?" Naguguluhang tumingin ako rito. "How did you know?"

"At first, I want to bring you back. To where you should be. To enjoy your youth pero Jasmine. Ikaw na lang ang huling taong pwedeng tumulong sakanya. Please, please help us." Dumiin ang hawak nito sa kamay ko.

"Help us convince him to go to Rehab, Jasmine. He's not well. Chris talk to me and your mother after he saw you in the mansion where he held you captive. Sa umpisa hindi kami pumayag dahil alam naming mahihirapan ka but it's our only way. Please, we are desperate. Marami ng taong nagsakripisyo para sakanya, marami ng taong sumubok pero ni isa wala siyang pinakinggan. We want him well. We want to see him happy like he used to." Naluluhang tumitig siya saakin.

"Why? Why it has to be me? What's happening? Wala akong naiintindihan sa sinasabi mo. Do you even know what's happening to me inside that mansion?" Pabulong na sabi ko.

Hindi ko alam kung anong nagyayari. I just want to go back the way I live my life. Where I'm free to choose where I want to go. I want to see my mother and the old house. Why is this happening?

My mom. Did she knew Rio before I knew him? How? Where? Bakit ako na lang lagi ang dehado sa decision nila? Are they really this selfish?

Napatawa ako. Is this really the path they want for me? I don't want to accept it. I want to go back. I don't want to stay in that house. 

Pero bakit sa tuwing iniisip kong umalis, ibang klaseng sakit ang dumadaloy sa puso ko? Am I defying myself? Why?

Isang malakas na tunog ang narinig ko sa pinto ng kwartong kinalalagyan namin.

"Open this goddamn door, Aliza Romero." Nanlalaki ang matang bumalik ang tingin ko kay Ali.

Nanginginig ang kamay na inagaw ko ang kamay ko rito. Nanghihinang tumayo ako at saka naglakad palapit sa pinto.

Ngunit bago ko iyon buksan ay muli akong nagsalita. "Hindi mo alam kung anong nangyayari saakin sa loob ng isang buwan, Aliza. Hindi mo alam kung gaano kasakit at kahirap tanggapin ang mga nangyayari sakin. But it's okay." Humarap ako rito saka siya ngitian.

Ramdam ko ang pagdaloy ng luha sa mga mata ko. With that smile and tears, I show her how I was struggling to this predicament. How I want to twist everything and turn back time.

Before I turn my back on her I saw how she was stunned by that look. And as I open the door, her sound of cry was enough for me to be relieve that even just a little, she cared.

Inayos ko ang mukha ko saka ko binuksan ang pinto ng kwartong kinalalagyan ko. As I stood there, in front of Rio, I smiled. A happy smile. I hid him the talk I had with Ali.

And he smile back at me. "Hello, sweetheart." Saka ako nito niyakap. The angry tone he had when he knocked the door was gone yet turned into a sweet and gentle Rio.

Niyakap ko siya pabalik at madiin na idinikat ko ang mukha ko sa dibdib nito. "Let's go back to the VIP room. Hindi pa kita napapakilala sakanila." Saka niya ako iginaya pabalik roon.

Ilang beses akong tinanong ni Rio kung ano ang nangyari at pinag-usapan namin ni Ali pero ang taning sagot ko lang rito ay ngiti. Hindi na siya muling nagtanong dahil siguro ay alam niyang hindi ko siya sasagutin.

He seems different. Different from Rio I first knew. Am I really sure to choose this path? Napatawa ako sa isip sa sariling tanong. I don't have any choice though but I can escape.

Nang makabalik kami sa kwarto ay lumapit saakin ang tatlo pang kaibigan ni Rio. Hinawakan ng dalawa nitong kamay ang kanang kamay ko. "Hi! I'm Lance Dela Nueva, Ali's boyfriend." He then flash his cute smile as if glad that he met me. "Please, give me your blessings."

Naguguluhang tingin ang isinukli ko rito. Tumawa ito saka binitawan ang kamay ko. "It's for the future marriage of mine and Aliza." Tumalim ang tingin ko rito. "No."

"Ohohoho. You just got busted, Lance. Whatta lame way to ask for blessings. By the way, I'm Candotte Sylvestre Marti, signora. You can call me Silver for short.  E' un piacere conoscerti, Signora." Pleasure to meet you, Maam. Saka nito hinalikan ang kaliwang kamay ko.

"What the fuck?" Rio mumble. Stunned at his friends gesture. "Are- Are you an Italian? You look like one." I said ignoring Rio's cursed word.

He chuckled. "Yes and I get that a lot. I was raised in Italy but I grew up here. In short, I'm Italian but Filipino at heart, Signora" Saka nito ako kinindatan. "Nice to meet you too." Sagot ko rito saka ko siya ngitian.

Tumawa itong muli saka lumapit pang muli sakin. Leaning in and whispered. "Do you wanna date me, Missy?" He flauntly said while Rio is right behind me. Bravely looking at me in the eyes.

Nawala ang ngiti ko at sinimangutan ito. Bago pa mahawakan ni Rio si Silver ay tumatawang lumayo na ito at bumalik sa kinauupuan nito. He really is a playboy. He looks like it in first glance. I'm glad he likes the Philippines though.

Rio and I keep on standing near the door. And this last guy, shorter than the others with a gentle look. He is cute for a guy. "Hi!" He said.

Unlike the other two, he keep his distance on me. Para bang ayaw nitong hawakan at lapitan ako. "I'm Niklaus Anthony Arrueva, the tattoo artist. As cliché as it is, I don't like girls and women. But I like you since you're Rio's girl. Just don't be near my personal space and don't tell me I'm cute. Sayonara. Hajimemashite." Bye. Nice to meet you. He said and give me bow before he leave us taking a seat beside Silver.

I was stunned for a minute. Ni hindi man lang ako nito pinagsalita. And I'ts like he threathened me or something.

Muli akong umupo sa pwestong iniwan ko kanina. Aliza is still not back yet and Lance leave the room after he introduced himself. Rio's circle of friend are weird.

Masayang bumalik sila sa kwentuhang naputol ng umalis kami ni Ali. Inaya ako ni Nik na uminom pero inilingan ko ito dahil umiikot ang sikmura ko sa amoy ng alak. I just drink Apple Juice that Rio ordered for me.

I just sat their in silence thinking about the choice I made. Thinking about the things I need to sacrifice and need to do to make this all stop.

And I can't help but look at Nik. He is really cute that I can't take my eyes off him. Napansin ata nito ang pagtitig ko rito kaya maliit itong ngumiti saakin.

I smile wider giving back the smile he showed me. But then he glared at me. I was shocked. Lumipat ang tingin ko kay Rio.

"He glared at me." I said on low tone. Tumawa ito saka ako saglit na hinalikan sa noo.

"He's uncomfortable at your gazes, Sweetheart. Stop it." He then placed his hands on my waist.

Napabuntong hininga ako saka pinagpatuloy ang pag-inom mg apple juice at strawberry cake na nasa harap ko. The sound in the room is a remix that makes the room noisy. The different kinds of lights inside and outside the room makes me dizzy.

Isinandal ko ang ulo sa sofang kinauupuan ko. I closed my eyes and my mind wonders on the choices I made.

Is this really the path I need to choose? To help Rio? For what?

-Makahiyaya-

A/N. What's wrong with Rio?

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