TEMPTING THE BEAST(COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 18

HANNAH

Nang maiakyat kami sa yate ay inasikaso agad na nilagay ni Harley ang tuwalya sa aking balikat upang hindi ako lamigin. Pagkatapos ay minasahe niya ang pinulikat kong binti habang ako ay tulala at ina-absorb ang mga nangyari.

Kung wala roon si Harley ay malamang na nalunod ako. Dahil hindi ako 'yung unang ililigtas ni Apollo at hindi rin alam kung babalikan pa ba niya ako. Umagos ang luha sa aking mata at agad kong tinakpan ng mga kamay ang mukha.

"Hannah, you're safe now. Please, don't cry. I got you, didn't I?" Ako sa akin ni Harley.

Pero hindi ako umiiyak dahil natakot ako para sa aking buhay. Umiiyak ako dahil nasaktan ako sa pinakita sa akin ni Apollo at kung haano kalamig ang turing niya sa akin. Niyakap ako ni Harley at isinandal niya ang aking mukha sa kanyang dibdib.

"I wanna go back. I'm sorry. I don't want to continue this." Saad ko sa pagitan ng mga hikbi. Narinig kong inutusan ni Harley ang operator na ibalik na ang yate.

Lumipat ang aking mga mata sa kaliwa at nakita si Apollo na yakap si Anabel habang kinakalma ito. Wari'y naramdaman nito na may nakatingin sa kanya at nagtagpo ang aming mga mata.

'I'm sorry.' He mouthed. That was the first time I saw him apologize. But for what reason?

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at pumikit na lang. Gusto ko ng lumayo at kalimutan ang lahat. Nang makarating sa pampang ay bumaba na ako at sumalubong sa akin si Giaco.

"Hannah, I'm sorry for the troubles." Paumanhin ni Harley.

"It's not your fault." Kalmado kong sabi at inalis ang tuwalya sa aking balikat.  Binalik ko iyon kay Harley. "Thank you for saving me."

"Hannah..." Malungkot ang boses nito. "Did I do something wrong?"

"I.." Huminga ako ng malalim. "I want to be alone for now. I'm sorry."

"I'm just here if you need me." I thanked him before turning my back. Akala ko'y magkakaroon ako ng kapayapaan sa pagpunta ko rito pero wala rin palang silbi. Natigil ako sa paglalakad nang makita sa di-kalayuan si Apollo at Anabel. He was carrying her like a bride while Anabel's arms are holding onto Apollo's nape.

"I want to disappear. Why am I not enough? I tried to be, but where did I fail?" I whispered and bit my lower lip.

Pumikit ako at nagbuntong-hininga. "Giaco, nasa conference pa ba sila Papa?"

"Yes, miss. He called to check on you while you're at the sea." Saad nito at sinundan ang tiningnan ko. "Should I inform them that we'll leave first?"

Tumango ako. "Let's leave now, I'll pack my bags."

"Alright." Tipid na sabi nito.

Nilingon ko siya. "Can I ask you something? Have you ever cheated before you got married?"

Napalunok ito at batid ko na nag-aalangan itong sumagot. "I.. uhm... I actually cheated twice on my wife."

"Twice?! Giaco, you animal!" Tukso ko at itinakip ang kamay sa aking bibig dahil sa gulat. "What's wrong? Bakit ka nag-cheat? Ano'ng pagkukulang niya?"

Umiwas ito ng tingin. "Miss, I thought we're leaving?"

"Sabihin mo na! Come on, be more comfortable with me. You used to babysit me when I was in high school." Pilit ko sa kanya.

Sandaling nawala sa aking isip si Apollo dahil sa patuloy na pagtukso kay Giaco. Nagtuloy kami sa paglalakad habang kinukwento nito ang nakaraan at ang pamilya niya.

"I got her pregnant and got married because of it. I became a responsible husband and took care of her. But then, she blamed me because the pregnancy ruined her career. We fought a lot, and she had a miscarriage. I was devastated and she continued to blame it on me." Kwento ni Giaco. "That's when I met a girl who listens to my rants. I can be myself around her. And we got caught, and I thought my wife would throw a fit but she didn't. So, I cut my ties with the woman and repair my marriage. But every time we fight, she brought it up."

"And then?"

"Then, I met another woman who is caring and adorable. She was fun and there were no dull moments with her." He sighed and cleared his throat. "Turns out, she was my wife's cousin. We got caught again and, that's the first time I saw my wife cried. I didn't knew that she was pregnant and had a miscarriage again. My fault, there is no doubt."

Ngayon ko lang nalaman ang tungkol sa pamilya nito. He was my bodyguard for 12 years, I think? And I never got close to him because he's to scary and intense.

"Remember when I wasn't around for a year and the Mayor hired a sub?" Tumango ako bilang sagot. "I was busy wooing my wife. She filed an annulment and I don't want to sign it. Because if I do, I will lose her. We had a lot of troubles and fight a lot. But, everything fell into right place when we learned to accept each other's history and flaws."

"Wow." I said, amused. "Pang-teleserye ang buhay pag-ibig mo."

Tumawa ito ng mahina. "We have three boys and two girls now."

"Wow. Five kids, you're really an animal!"

"It's seven. I still consider her two miscarriages as our kids. We can't forget them."

"I hope the best for your family, Giaco." Saad ko at tinapik ang braso nito.

Nakabalik na kami sa hotel at inayos ko na ang mga gamit ko sa bags. At dahil nawala sa dagat ang aking cellphone at hiniram ko muna ang phone ni Giaco para tawagan si Papa.

"Are you gonna be alright, sweetie?" Tanong nito.

"Yes, 'pa. Uhm, nagsasawa na kasi ako sa mga activities rito and I want to go back. I miss our ranch."

"Alright. Just call if anything happens. And I asked my secretary to buy you a new phone."

Natawa ako. "'Pa, I'm a grown woman. I can buy my own phone. I have money."

"Don't mind it. You're my only baby. All of this is yours."

"Okay, okay. I got it." Sabi ko bago putulin ang tawag.

Paglabas ko sa lobby ay nakahinto na ang aking sasakyan sa harap. Binuksan ni Giaco ang pinto ng passenger seat. Napahinto ako sa pagsakay nang marinig na may tumawag sa aking pangalan.

Nilingon ko iyon at nakita si Harley na tunatakbo palapit sa akin. "You're leaving?"

"Yeah. I'll see you around, Harley." I said sincerely.

"Can I at least get your number?"

"I lost my phone at the sea remember?"

Napangiwi ito. "Right."

"But you can still visit me at the ranch if you have time."

Nagliwanag ang mukha nito. "I'll make time."

"Sige, alis na ko." Paalam ko sa kanya.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at na siyang ikinabigla ko. "Hannah, when I saved you.."

"What?" Bigla akong nakaramdam ng kaba. Narinig ba nito ang pangalan na binaggit ko?

"Nevermind. I'm just glad that I was the one who saved you."

I pulled him and gave him a friendly hug. Napasighap ito ngunit hindi naman lumayo sa akin. Tinapik ko ang kanyang likod.

"Me too." That's a lie.

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UPLOADED: 5-31-15
REVISED: 09NOV2020

SK<3