Behind His Mask

Chapter 8

Kinusot ni Wyndell ang mata niya bago siya umupo sa kama at nagmulat ng mata. She yawned as she roamed her eyes around the room then she saw Riley, sitting on the couch habang may kausap ito sa cellphone at nakadekwatro pa ang binata.

"Well.." Riley stated tapos ay pumikit ito at sumandal sa likod ng couch. "Dad, stop bugging me. Ayaw ko nga sabi. Just have a new son, bata ka pa naman, kaya mo pa 'yan." Anito kaya napakunot ang noo niya.

What is this man saying?

"Ayaw ko. Just with the title that I have, sobrang dami ko nang ginagawa, huwag niyo nang pataasin pa ang pwesto ko. Ang dami ko nang inaasikaso. And don't even bring up the idea of marriage, sumasakit ang ulo ko sa sinasabi niyo." Sambit nito kaya napanguso si Wyndell.

Is he getting married?

Nagmulat naman ng mata si Riley at nagtama ang tingin nila ng binata. Wyndell just watched as Riley stood up then the man walked towards her before he planted a soft kiss on her forehead tapos ay inilayo nito ang cellphone na hawak nito.

"Good morning." He greeted her with a smile tapos ay tumalikod ito sa kaniya at muling nagsalita kaya napanguso na lang siya. 

Feeling close talaga.

"Dad, bibigyan ko kayo ng apo, huwag kayong mag-alala. Huwag niyo lang akong madaliin." Riley stated as he sighed tapos ay hinilot niya ang sentido niya. "Or what? Do you want me to impregnate a random woman, then run away with the kid para lang matahimik na kayo?" He sarcastically asked and Riley can imagine his father's angry face.

"Riley Thomas! Hindi kita pinalaking ganiyan! Why the heck did you grow up to become this hard headed? Fuck, you were a cute child, bakit ba naging ganito ang anak ko? Oh lord." Riley laughed at his father's words.

"The world carved who I am." Kibit balikat na sagot niya kahit na hindi naman siya nakikita ng ama niya. "Basta, hindi ako uuwi diyan, at hindi ako sasama paparyan kahit ipasundo niyo pa ako. Plus, no. I don't want to be the one to rise up to that seat." He added with finality in his voice and Riley can see the image of his father, clenching his fists inside his head.

"Bye dad!" He said with a grin. "Hey! Riley-" Hindi na pinakinggan ni Riley ang sasabihin ng tatay niya dahil pinatay na niya ang tawag tapos ay lumingon siya kay Wyndell, only to see her stretching her body beside the bed.

Iimik na sana si Riley nang may kumatok sa pintuan ng kwarto kaya napalingon sila sa direksyon niyon and when it opened, sumilip si Light. "Oh, good morning." Bati nito tapos ay tumingin ito kay Wyndell. "Wynds, maligo ka na tapos bumaba ka sa sala. We'll be going to a salon after breakfast para magpaayos, naliligo na ang kapatid mo." Sambit nito and Wyndell answered with an 'okay' tapos ay isinara na ni Light ang pinto and Riley's eyes landed back on Wyndell.

"Magpapa-ayos pa kayo?" Riley asked at hindi na siya nagulat nang taasan siya ng kilay ni Wyndell. Well, he already knew why, but he didn't know what to say kaya sinabi niya na lang 'yung unang pumasok sa isip niya para makausap niya ang dalaga kahit pa mainis ito sa kaniya.

"Its a party. Duh. Malamang." Pagtataray nito sa kaniya and Riley just laughed at her sassiness. 

Then a pillow came flying towards him at kaagad niya naman iyong nasalo. "Don't kiss me again, you bastard. Hmp." Mas lalong napatawa si Riley habang pinapanood niya si Wyndell na nagmamartsa patungo sa banyo.

Riley was busy playing with the kids when he heard the door of the hall open kaya napatunghay siya ng tingin. His eyes automatically landed on the woman wearing a simple silver colored dress that hugged her curves. 

Damn, she looks like a fucking bride. She's looking more and more like a princess in my eyes, goddamnit.

Riley didn't even know kung kailan siya nagsimulang maglakad papalapit kay Wyndell. Ang alam niya lang, basta nagsimulang gumalaw ang paa niya patungo sa dalaga. And when he stood in front of her, kaagad siyang ngumiti dito.