Hideaway [Completed]

Chapter 7

Miguel also just arrived in Aspen's condo. He was just in a plaid blue shirt and white shorts. Halatang handang-handa na itong mag-sail. 

Aspen opened the door for his friend. "Hey," he greeted.

And Miguel casually strolled inside. Nakita niya kagad na naroon sina Gio at Katrina.

Aspen immediately introduced everyone dahil nakita niya kagad ang pagkunot ng noo ni Miguel. "This is my friend Katrina."

"Friend?" tanong ni Miguel, looking at her from head to toe in just a pair of boxers and white shirt. 

"That was my same question," naiiling na wika ni Gio.

"Hi, I'm Katrina," she greeted shyly and waved at him. Nanliliit siya sa tabi ng mga kaibigan ni Aspen. They all look like they come from very affluent families with the way they dress and talk.

Miguel just stared hard at Aspen. "You have a girlfriend we don't know about?" 

"No, it's not like that. It's complicated," pigil ni Aspen sa iniisip nito. 

"Then what?" Miguel probed again. "Dito ka ba natulog kagabi, Miss?"

Katrina looked at Aspen and didn't answer. Bakit ba siya naiipit sa gitna ng mga kaibigan nito ngayon?

So Aspen answered for her. "Yes, she slept here."

"Don't you have a... fiance to worry about?" seryosong tanong ni Miguel. "Does Dahlia even know about this?" madilim na tanong nito.

"It's not an official engagement yet," sagot ni Aspen. "Besides, I know ikaw ang unang tututol once Dahlia and I make it official."

Miguel just stared hard at him while Gio remains oblivious with what Aspen was talking about. "All I'm saying is huwag mong lokohin si Dahlia. If you're fooling around with someone else, make sure she's aware of who you really are. And you, Miss, he's engaged with my friend. You can now leave dahil hindi tama ang ginagawa mo sa-"

"Shut up, Miguel," pigil ni Aspen. "You both should leave. You have no right to talk to her like that." Hinila ni Aspen si Katrina papunta sa likuran niya. "I can perfectly sail without both of you today."

Gio intervened between them. "Bro, chill! It's not the end of the world. Dahlia and Aspen are still not officially engaged."

"Ipapahiya mo si Dahlia sa ginagawa mo," pigil muli ni Miguel. It was now obvious that he was against every bit of this idea.

"I'm going sailing so leave, you two!" sigaw ni Aspen.

"Pagsisisihan mo 'to. Makakarating ito sa Papa mo," pagbabanta ni Miguel before turning his back.

And before Katrina's eyes, she saw how Aspen quickly moved to pull back Miguel and slam him into the wall. 

"What the fuck did you say!" galit na galit na wika ni Aspen sa kaibigan.

"Bro!" sigaw ni Gio. "Can you just both fucking chill?" Namagitan na ito sa dalawa.

"You're still the same scaredy cat I know," wika muli ni Miguel. "So are you really throwing away everything you've worked hard for the past three months for this girl? And what about Dahlia?"

"She's all yours, kung iyon ang gusto mong marinig. Just don't fucking blackmail me with my own father," Aspen spat on his face before letting him go. "Now, leave."

*****

It was a whole day of silence. Umalis at naiwan lamang mag-isa sa penthouse na iyon si Katrina. Hindi niya alam kung saan nagpalipas ng buong araw si Aspen. He looks pissed off nang umalis ito basta kaninang umaga matapos dumating ang mga kaibigan nito.

Well, sino ba siya para mag-alala dito? She's not his girlfriend. Tama naman ang sinabi ng mga kaibigan nito kanina. He has a fiance so she has no place in this house and in his life. All she needs from him is financial support dahil hindi niya kayang buhayin ang baby nila ng mag-isa. 

Ayaw niya ng gulo. Lalong ayaw niyang makaaway ang kung sinumang Dahlia na pinag-uusapan ng mga ito.

It was already 9PM nang magbukas ang front door, revealing a drunk Aspen. 

"Gising ka pa?" iritang tanong nito as he walked passed the living area to the stairs. 

"Hinihintay kasi kita. Saan ka nanggaling? Gabi na, ah. Kanina ka pa umalis." Dali-dali niyang inalalayan ito pataas ng hagdan. Pero tinulak lang siya nito palayo. 

"I don't need your help." At dire-diretso ito pataas. "At hindi ko kailangang hintayin mo ko. You're not my girlfriend even."

Katrina was taken aback by his hostility. Bakit galit na rin ito sa kanya ngayon? 

He missed a step at natakid ng konti so Katrina quickly came to his aid. He just looked at her quietly and whispered, "You're going to ruin my life..." And then his eyes descended down to her lips. "You tricked me for my money... right? I am such a fool... Tell me the baby's not mine."

She kept her mouth shut and refused to answer. Inisip na lamang niya na baka lasing na lasing talaga ito at hindi nito alam ang sinasabi. She tucked him into bed and unbuttoned his shirt para makatulog ito ng maayos.  And true enough, lasing na lasing nga ito kaya't mabilis itong pumikit pagkahiga ng kama.

As soon as he fell asleep, Katrina's tears fell. Hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili pero nasaktan siya sa mga sinabi nito. Yes, she had sex with him for money. But it was a tough time at hindi niya na alam ang gagawin! But she's not a prostitute at hindi rin niya plinanong magpabuntis just because he's goddamn rich! 

Now, she feels more alone than ever. Well, matagal na siyang mag-isang nabubuhay dito sa Maynila. Paminsan-minsan lang naman siyang umuwi sa probinsya nila. And now na buntis siya at hindi niya alam kung paano sasabihin sa pamilya at mga kaibigan niya, umaasa siya na makakahanap siya ng karamay kay Aspen.

But she was wrong. 

He hates her.

Tumayo siya at lumabas na sa kwarto nito para makapagpahinga na rin sa kwarto niya. But all she did that night was cry. Hindi niya alam na ganito pala ang mangyayari ng dahil lang sa isang gabing iyon. 

It was the worst decision of her life. One she vowed never to do again - have sex with that selfish man! 

*****

Hello, guys! Happy weekend. Here's a little something for you all. :) I hope you liked this new chapter. 

Pandemic pa rin pero malapit na ang Pasko. As a pre-Christmas gift, maguupdate ako ng mas malimit. Feel free to send me messages or thoughts on how you want the story to progress. Salamat sa mga patuloy na sumusuporta!