Isla De Fuego Series 1: Deception (EROTIC-ROMANCE)

Chapter Eighteen: A Fruit Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree

Chapter Eighteen: A Fruit Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree

NAMILOG ang mata ni JM nang makitang walang bawas ang mga pagkaing dala nila. Maliban sa maagang umalis ang mag-asawa dahil sa kaunting iringan sa pagitan nila Lex at Rick ay wala nang natirang kakain doon ng mga pagkain kundi sila ni Lex.

"Tawagin ko ba si Mang Ernie? Baka gutom na siya——"

"Mang Ernie will join us. May ipinasundo lang ako sa kanya."

"Sinong pinasundo——"

"JM!" Naputol ang kanyang sasabihin nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses ni Corinne na tumawag sa kanya. She threw a glance at where she heard the latter's voice. Tanaw niya si Corinne at kasama nito si Nick at Logan. Nasa likuran ng mga ito si Mang Ernie at tila hapong-hapo sa palalakad. Masayang tumakbo si JM patungo sa direksyon ng magkakaibigan at sinalubong ng yakap si Corinne. Iginiya ni JM ang mga ito sa cottage at inanyayahang saluhan sila ni Lex na kainin ang mga nakahain sa mesa.

"Em," Nick approached her. "I'm sorry about last time. Alam kong pinoprotektahan mo lang ako."

She smiled and pinched his cheek. Napangiwi naman si Nikos sa ginawa niya. "Alam kong concerned ka lang. Sorry rin."

Lumamlam ang mga mata ni Nikos bago siya nito yakapin. "I was worried because I left you. I'm so glad that you're okay now."

"Ikaw rin, Nikos. Nag-mature ka na. Hindi ka na marahas kagaya ng dati." JM remembered back then when Nick was brute and all. Ito ang tipo ng lalakeng ayaw magpatalo. Kung umasta ay para bang miyembro ng unyon. She giggled at the thought.

Nang maghiwalay sila ni Nikos ay napansin niyang nakatingin ang lahat sa kanila maging si Mang Ernie na ngayon ay may subong fried chicken. Nagtataka marahil ang mga ito kung bakiit sila ganu'n ka-close ni Nick. Maging si Nick ay napansin iyon.

In her peripherals, she can see Lex's familiar deadly gaze set on Nick. Kung nakamamatay lang ang tingin ay malamang kanina pa nakahandusay ang patay na katawan ni Nick. Nag-iwas ng tingin si Lex at nabukas na lamang ng beer na inalok ni Logan.

"Close pala kayo ni Nick?" Lumapit si Corinne sa kanila. "And you called him 'Nikos'! Is that an endearment?" Nanunuksong sinulyapan ni Corinne si Nick.

"Endearment niya sa'kin 'yan kahit break na kami."

Napahagikgik sila ni JM at Nick. That was a silly relationship they had. Naging boyfriend lang niya si Nick nang manalo siya sa pustahan nila sa larong 'poker'. Maangas pa ang dating ni Nick noon at siga kaya kahit nag-uumapaw ito sa sex appeal ay walang babaeng naglalakas-loob na lumapit rito.

"So, you had a history with a Beltran, Nick? I thought you despised them?" Biglang tanong ni Lex. Hindi namalayan ni JM na nasa tabi na niya pala ang binata. His jaw clenched that made his face structure refined. It just made him look upset and terrifying.

"That was just a fake relationship, anyways, We didn't take it seriously, Lex. Pustahan lang 'yon. And after that, JM and I became good friends."

Lex has this look on his face that shouts frustration all over it. Maging si Mang Ernie at Corinne ay naramdaman iyon kaya nagdesisyonn ang dalawa na lumabas muna ng cottage.

"I see. You're a victim of her hustling, huh?"

Nanlamig si JM sa kinatatayuan. That part of her past was long forgotten. Hindi na niya muling binalikan 'yon. Kaya nagtataka siya kung paano nalaman ni Lex ang bagay na 'yon.

"Lex, please. Spare JM out of this. Hindi mo——"

"No need. I knew everything about her and her stupid grandfather. Kung ano man ang rason ay wala akong pakealam."

JM felt her heart clenched. Naikuyom niya ang kamao dahil sa sinabi ni Lex.

Totoo naman ang sinasabi nito. She used to hustle. Her grandfather used to mock her with that. Wala siyang nararamdamang pagsisisi na ginawa niya 'yon. She used to think that it annoyed her grandfather so might as well continue doing it.

Pero iba na ngayon. She wanted to erase that background. Ayaw niyang maging kalait-lait sa harap ni Lex.

"That was all in the past, Lex. Tinalikuran na ni JM iyon. I should know."

Lex laughed with sarcasm. "A fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, Nick. You might knew her but who knows?"

Mabilis na tumakbo si JM palabas ng cottage at diretsong nagtungo sa village. She can't stand the fact that Lex is badmouthing her right in front of Nick.

Lex changed evrsince she talked to Nick. Galit ang anyo nito at tila papatay. Was he averting his anger at her? May pinag-awayan ba sila? Why is he acting like that all of a sudden?

Whatever his reasons are, it didn't change the fact that he had hurt her. Ang buong akala ni JM ay okay na sila ni Lex. She's not expecting any empathy from him. Ang gusto lang naman sana ni JM ay ang makasundo man lang niya ito dahil hindi alam ng dalaga kung gaano pa siya katagal mananatili sa lugar na 'yon. But why is she bothered by Lex's point of view about her?

ISANG malakas na suntok ang iginawad ni Nick kay Alexander matapos tumakbo ni JM paalis. Kaagad na pumagitna si Logan sa kanilang dalawa habang si Corinne naman ay pilit na nilalayo si Nick mulla sa kanya.

"How dare you say those things to her?!" Dinuro siya ng kaibigan. Mnasahe ni Lex ang kanyang panga na napuruhan ng kamao nito. He flexed his jaw to atleast relax the sore muscles of his jaw.

"Her grandfather introduced her to illegal gambling at a young age, Lex. Natuto siyang mandaya sa sugal at magbilang ng baraha. Ginamit siya ng lolo niya para kumita pa ng pera para sa pag-aaral niya. Now, give me one reason why I shouldn't have punched you in the face."

Naikuyom ni Lex ang kamao. He never intended to hurt JM. Hindi niya mawari kung bakit biglang kumulo ang dugo niya kanina kay Nick at sa dalaga. He was angry and this is the first time he felt that towards a friend, especially Nick.

"Her grandfather treated her as a trash. Gagamitin lang pagkatapos ay itatapon ulit. She's recyclable only when her grandfather found a way to use her again. Pagkatapos no'n ay itatapon ulit siya. JM endured that life as a Beltran." Nagtagis ang bagang ni Nick. "Isipin mong habang nagdudusa ang pamilya mo mula kay Marino ay may batang nagdurusa sa likuran niya. She was a kid and doesn't have a fucking clue about society's standards. Gusto lang niyang makapagtapos ng pag-aaral at ipakita ang halaga niya."

That explains why JM's too straightforward. Everytime she talks, she asks about what's her purpose in his island and to his plans. Nasanay na itong tinatrato nang gano'n.

Kung pwede lang suntukin ni Lex ang sarili ay ginawa na niya. Good thing Nick already did that. How could he be so harsh to her? Bakit bigla siyang nainis sa dalaga? At hindi lang 'yon. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng inggit nang makitang close si JM kay Nick. Not to mention that Nick was JM's ex-boyfriend. Having the thought of that sends his thoughts in turmoil.

Hindi siya mangmang para hindi maunawaan ang nararamdaman.