Chapter 25

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Happy reading, everyone. My first ever story will be done vvv soon. This makes me feel a little sad but def happy. Nakatapos ako ng isang story? Imagine that. Naisip ko, natuto rin ako sa mga characters dito. Jean being the freedom sucker and fighting for her happiness. Ah, that spirit. For you my readers, I hope you learn a thing or two. Sana kahit papano ay napasaya kayo ng story na ito. Thank you.

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SHE was on her way to their mansion. Maaga siyang pinauuwi ng kaniyang ama. May importante raw silang pag uusapan. She can't help but to feel nervous. Ganito rin noon, ganito rin niya nalaman na ikakasal siya sa lalaking hindi niya kilala. But this time, whatever it is she won't run. She won't leave. Hindi matatapos ng pag alis niya ang problema niya. Might as well show her beautiful face.

She reached their home. Madilim ang paligid, tahimik, pati ang gate ay sarado. Mukhang wala ring tao sa guardhouse nila sa gilid ng mansion. She parked her car out their house. Balak niyang yayain ang dalawang kapatid na magliwaliw pagkatapos ng kung ano mang pag uusapan nila. Whatever they are going to talk about, surely it will stress them out. Ganoon naman lagi ang ama niya. Nako, kung narito pa ang mama nila for sure sunod sunod na kurot ang aabutin nang ama nila.

"Hey, I'm home." She called out. She's already inside pero wala pa ring tao. She went to where the switch for lights is. Jean turned it on and search their house. Walang sumalubong sa kaniya.

"Pa? Ang sabi niyo may pag uusapan tayo?" Naglakad siya paakyat sa second floor. Baka nasa study ang mga ito. She knocked once before entering. Pagkatapos ay sinungaw niya ang ulo sa nakabukas na pinto. Seeing no one in there.

Nasaan ba ang mga iyon? Bumaba ulit siya nagdesisyong pumunta sa garden. Patay din ang ilaw na nakapaligid sa garden nila. Even the lights around their pool were off. Nagtitipid ba kami ng kuryente? Ganoon na ba katas ang bill namin?

Natawa naman siya sa naisip.

She roamed her eyes, "Lexa? Eleanor? Are you here?" Sigaw niya sa pangalan ng dalawang kapatid.

Nang walang sumagot ay nagdesisyon na siyang pumasok sa loob.

Jean's already one step away from the door when a spotlight opens and it came from her back. Sa hula niya ay nakatutok iyon sa kaniya. Humarap siya roon.

Bad move. The light is too much for her eyes. Tinaas niya ang kaliwang palad at tinapat iyon sa mata niya. Slowly she saw silhouttes of people.

Sino pa ba? Edi ang mga kapatid niya at ang kanilang ama. Wala naman silang inaasahan na bisita.

"What's with this spotlight? Ano bang pag uusapan natin? Ipapapatay niyo 'yan, ang sakit sa mata." She said in annoyance. But no one answered her.

Pinilit niyang sumilip ulit pero gaya kanina ay napapikit lang siya. Imbes na boses ng dalawang kapatid o ng ama niya ang marinig ay boses ng iba ang bumungad sa kaniya.

"It was an accident, really. Or maybe not? Siguro deep down my heart wanted it. I wanted to be with you, to see your smile. To see that alluring pair of eyes. The original plan was to find you at syempre ang bantayan ka. Just to make sure that your dad won't find you. You see? Ambrose may be aloof and cold, as you people said about him. But he loves his girl. He doesn't want to get married to someone he doesn't even know. Someone he doesn't love."

Unti unting humina ang ilaw na nanggagaling sa spotlight. It was now dim. Binaba na niya ang kamay niyang humaharang sa mga mata niya at dahan dahang dumilat.

There he is. Standing in all his might. Looking just like how she remembered, sa jeep. Sa mart. She knows its Androse. Ah, the man she loves. Yes. She still does. Behind her witty and bitchy come back every time he tried reaching out, she still love him. Oh, boy.

Ngayon ata kahit nakapikit siya alam niya kung sino si Androse at sino si Ambrose. Her heart can tell it. Her heart knows its owner. Her heart beats for Androse and him only.

"I agreed right away, Ambrose will give me the rights in exchange. Tutal naman daw hindi talaga niya gustong pamahalaan ang kompanya namin. He didn't know what I did. Hindi niya alam na hindi lang pagbabantay ang ginawa ko. It wasn't planned. Hindi ko planong mapalapit sayo at lokohin ka. Hindi ko pinlano pero siguro nga ginusto ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pangalan niya ang lumabas sa bibig ko. Hindi ko alam." She can see the sincerity in his eyes. Na para bang kahit hindi siya kabitang ng lie detector test ay makasisiguro siyang totoo ang mga sinasabi nito.

Before she can even open her mouth he continues talking, "Before you saw me in the jeep I was looking out for you for days. Ipinahanap kita, I hired someone. He gave me your address at kung saan ka nagtatrabaho. He even showed me photos of you. And right at that moment I forgot to breath. I paid him, sabi ko ako na ang bahala. Wala akong panahon na bantayan ka oras oras kaya ang balak ko magbayad ng taong magbabantay sayo. But when I saw you, your photos to be exact. Ang unang pumasok sa isip ko. Dapat kitang makita. I have to see you with my own eyes. Kung ganoon din ba ang magiging epekto mo sa'kin." Androse stopped and showed her his charming smile.

"I was wrong. Hindi gaya ng nasa isip ko ang magiging epekto mo. It was deeper than I anticipated. I don't know. Crazy at first sight?" He softly laughed. "Nang nakita kita hindi ako nakatulog. Hindi ako mapakali. There's something about you that's pulling me. I became in denial. Sabi ko ganoon talaga kasi ikaw ang susi para mapunta sa'kin ang kompanya. Pero sino ba ang niloko ko? Ambrose didn't asked me to court you. Hell, hindi nga ako marunong. Pero isa lang sigurado ko. I want to be with you. You're like a vacuum. You absorb all the negative feelings I have. I feel alive and light when I'm with you. It was never my intention to deceive you, Jean. I swear."

She's now weeping. Mga luhang akala niya ay ubos na. Ito na naman ang pag-ragasa ng sakit at ala-ala sa kaniya. Nandoon na naman ang pamilyar na paninikip ng dibdib niya. Ang panginginig ng mga kamay at kalamnan niya. Pero bakit ngayon pakiramdam niya totoo lahat ng lumalabas sa bibig nito.

She saw him behind her tears, naglalakad ito palapit sa kaniya. Marahil napansin nito ang pagtulo ng mga luha niya.

"Hush, love. I'm sorry. I really do." Marahan na umangat ang kamay nito at pinalis ang luha sa kaniyang pisngi. Androse placed a peck on her lids. Drying her tears.

Huminga ito nang malalim at nagsalita muli, "Starting this day, at this hour, all the things that I will do and say are true. With that, I admit. The marriage certificate? I was the one who filled the other form. Not Androse. I wanted us to marry instead. Gusto kong pakasalan ka. Gusto kong makasama ka lagi, sa bawat paghinga ko mukha mo ang nakikita ko. Eleanor discovered what I did. She put it on hold. Ang sabi niya ayusin ko muna raw tayo at tsaka niya ipapaproseso. Pero naisip ko. Magiging masaya ka kaya? Na for the second time malaman mong niloko kita? No. Kaya sabi ko hayaan na lang niya. Hihintayin ko ang oo mo. And also your forgiveness."

She felt Androse' lips on her forehead. Planting soft kisses. Unconsciously she closed her eyes. Savouring the warm feeling it brings. Androse' forehead kisses are the best. Para bang totoong totoo iyon. Parang ingat na ingat ito. Parang mahal na mahal siya nito.

Parang.

"Y-you lied. Hindi mo ko minahal. Hindi mo ko mahal." Surprisingly nakayanan niyang sabihin ulit iyon.

"No, that's not true. Sabi ko diba lahat ng sasabihin ko sayo simula ngayon ay totoo? Now, Nathalie Jean Commando, are you ready to hear me confess my heart out?" Itinaas niya ang mukha upang tingalain ang mukha nito.

Gusto ba niyang marinig? Gusto ba niyang malaman? Handa ba siyang makinig dito? At makakayanan na ba niyang maniwala sa binata?

Masakit pa rin, pero hindi gaya noon kaya na niya. Bukas na ang isip niya para pakinggan at intindihin ito. Panahon na siguro para ayusin din ang gusot nila na pilit niyang tinakbuhan nitong nagdaang buwan.

With that in mind, she lightly nods her head. And she let her arms embrace him.

COMMANDO 1: Nathalie JeanWhere stories live. Discover now