NAGULAT si Helaena nang naging panauhin ng kanyang ama si Blue nang puwede na itong tumanggap ng bisita.
"Blue, It's good to see you, boy! Kumusta ka na?" masayang bati ng kanyang ama rito.
"Ikaw nga ang kukumustahin ko, Carlos. I am so glad you are well now," sinserong turan naman nito.
Tumawa ang kanyang ama. "Marahil ay marami pa akong dapat gawin sa mundo kaya pinahaba pa ng Diyos ang buhay ko."
Kinamayan naman ng binata ang kanyang ina. Siya naman ay sinulyapan nito at ngumiti na para bang masaya itong makita siya. "Kumusta ka na,
Helaena?"
She tried to be civil to him. "I'm fine, Blue," simpleng sabi niya.
Nagkuwentuhan ito at ang kanyang ama na para bang walang nangyaring takeover. They were even talking about playing golf together! Tumatawa ang kanyang ama na para bang nanumbalik na ang sigla nito. Kahit paano ay masaya na rin siya bagaman naguguluhan pa rin. Her father looked okay again. How could he make friends with the enemy?
Sinansala niya ang kanyang pagdaramdam. She had so much to thank for. Ang mahalaga ay ligtas na ang kanyang ama. Tahimik na lang siyang nakikinig sa isang tabi. Ang kanyang ina ay nakisali na rin sa kuwentuhan.
"Carlos, nandito ako hindi lamang para dalawin ka kundi para sa isang importanteng bagay," narinig niyang sabi ni Blue.
"Really? What it is,boy?"
Napansin niya na panakaw na sumulyap ang binata sa kanya bago ito nagpatuloy. "Narito ako para normal na hingin sa iyo ang kamay ng iyong anak. Alam kong hindi ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataong gawin ito noong mga nakaraang araw. But I will do so now, Carlos, I would be honored to marry your daughter."
Ngumiti nang malapad ang kanyang ama. Hindi siya nakahuma.
Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya rito at sa binata. What was he doing?
Saglit na tila nag-isip ang kanyang ama, pagkuwa'y seryosong nagsalita. "Alam mo, Blue, na-realize ko na hindi tama ang ginawa ko. Hindi tama na pinanghimasukan ko ang buhay ng anak ko. It was very selfish of me.
Nag-usap na kami ni Helaena. The deal is off. Hindi mo na kailangang maobligang tumupad sa pangako mo sa akin. Tinatanggap ko na nang maluwag sa loob ko na iyo na ang Worldnet. I know you will take good care of the company."
Nabaghan ang binata, natahimik.
Tinapik ng kanyang ama ang braso nito. "But you're welcome to court my daughter," nakangising dagdag nito.
"But I want to marry your daughter, Carlos. Hindi dahil sa kasunduan natin. I just want to marry her, period."
Natigilan ang kanyang ama, nangislap ang kanyang mata. "Ah, hindi kita masisisi, Blue. My daughter is one lovely young woman. As lovely as her mother. Ganyan din ang naramdaman ko nang makita ko si Paloma." Madamdaming tiningnan nito ang kanyang ina. "The first time I saw her, I knew that I had to have her. Pero hindi ako ang dapat magdesisyon niyan kundi si Helaena."
Lumipat ang mga mata ng mga ito sa kanya.
"Helaena...? Waring hinihintay ng kanyang ama ang kanyang sasabihin.
His face was happy and expectant.
Lord, What I'm going to do?
"Helaena...?" sambit din ni Blue. Dalawang pares na mga mata ang naghihintay sa kanyang sagot.
She did not want to dampen her father's bright mood. Alam niyang iyon ang inaasam nitong mangyari.
"Handa ka na bang mawala ang unica hija ninyo, Papa?" pabirong tanong niya rito, hoping for an escape.
"Hindi ka mawawala sa akin, anak. Bibigyan mo lamang kami ng iyong mama ng maraming apo," anito, saka tumawa. "Di ba, Paloma?" Nilapitan siya ng kanyang ina at inakbayan. Her mother's eyes were encouraging.
Tumitig siya kay Blue. His eyes were surprisingly devoid of any sarcasm. He looked actually expectant, like her father. Her mind raced for a quick decision.
"Pa, 'Ma, puwede ba kaming mag-usap nang sarilinan ni Blue sa labas?" Ngumiti na parang kinikilig ang mga ito. "But off course,hija," anang kanyang ina.
Nagkasarilinan sila ni Blue sa hallway ng ospital. Hinila niya ito sa dulo ng pasilyo.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" impit na sigaw niya, nag-aapoy ang mga mata sa galit.
Ngumiti ito. "I want to marry you, Helaena."
"Why!? Hindi na kailangan! Nasa 'yo na ang Worldnet! Ano pa ba ang gusto mo? Why are you doing this to me!"
Nagkibit-balikat ito. "I want you. Hindi naman nabago 'yon. I would still have you kahit walang kasal. Alin ang mas gugustuhin mo? Ang maging asawa kita o maging kerida ko?"
Gustong umusok ang mga tainga niya. "You arrogant---!"
"Save your breath sweety. Gusto mo bang bumalik sa suite at tanggihan ang inaalok kong kasal? Go ahead. Be my guest. But know this. I will still have you, Helaena. Either way, I will have you, do you understand?" She stamped her foot in frustrated anger. "Damn you! You put me on the spot! My father is still recovering at alam mong hindi siya dapat bigyan ng sama ng loob! Sinadya mong ilagay ako sa alanganing sitwasyon!"
Ngumiti ito, walang pagsisisi sa mukha. "So I did,"
"God, I hate you! You're a monster, del Rosario! Pagsisisihan mo ang pamba-blackmail mo sa akin!" angil niya rito.
"Really? What are you gonna do, baby?"
He looked so smug that she wanted to strike his arrogant face again. God, this man brought out the worst in her! Pero pinangibabaw niya ang malinaw na pag-iisip. He actually thought he had her in his palms, dancing to his time? Hah, time to change tactics, Lena. Alam niyang pinaglalaruan siya nito. Pero alam din niya kung ano ang kahinaan nito.
Bastard, she would bent him at his own gama!
"I want to make a bargain with you."
He cocked an eyebrow, amused. "You are not in a position to do so,
Helaena."
"You want me to come to you willingly?"
"You already did."
"But I could be better, Blue, Much, much better. You haven't had the best of me yet," she said seductively.
He eyed her with speculation, then sneered. "You mean I haven't had the best of whose in you yet?"
She refused to be hurt by his crude words. "Exactly."
Pinadaan nito ang isang daliri sa pisngi niya. The light touch awaked every nerve ending in her body.
"Tell me what I haven't had yet, baby," he said huskily, letting his finger trace her pouty lips.
Her tounge darted out and licked his fingers slowly.
She heard him inhale sharply. She smiled and took his whole finger in her mouth, sucking it slowly.
His eyes dilated with unconcealed lust. "Tease." He removed his finger from her mouth as if burned.
She tossed her hair and laughed. "So, darling, are you open for negotiation?" she purred.
"What do you want, Helaena," he said with barely controlled anger. "I want fifty percent of Worldnet in my name and a vice president position."
He looked incredulous. "Woman, you're over the top!"
Nagtaas noo siya at iniliyad ang kanyang dibdib. "So I've been told, darling."
"Binili ko ang Worldnet nang six hundred-fifty million sa papa mo. Babayaran ko pa ang santambak na utang ng kompanya at milyun-milyon ang gagastusin ko para ma-overhaul ang operasyon, tapos, gusto mong ibalik ko sa 'yo ang kalahati n'on at pakasalan pa kita?! Are you out of your goddamn mind?!" His voice rose with every world.
She smiled sweetly, batting her eyelashes at him.
"What can I say? This body is very, very expensive, darling."
"Ah, lemme see, a pussy worth billion a pesos? Ano 'yan yari sa ginto?" Nagsimula itong tumawa at lalo pa iyong lumakas. "Kalkulahin natin. If every fuck would cost me ten thousand pesos, which is the current price of the best geisha, and I mean a geisha who knows all the tricks in pleasuring a man, matagal na akong patay ay hindi pa nag-ROI ang investment ko. And it's not even guaranteed that the sex remain great for as long as I live." Muli itong nagtatawa. "You are funny, Helaena. Really funny."
"That's the deal, Blue. Take it or leave it."
"I can have any other woman for far, far less than that amount, sweetheart."
Sinuklay niya ng mga daliri ang kanyang buhok. "Yes, I know. But you don't want another woman. You want me, darling."
He stared at her, his eyes suddenly unreadable.
Nagkibit-balikat siya. "I will marry you only on my terms, Blue. Otherwise..." Muli siyang nagkibit-balikat.
"It had been great fucking you, but it will never happen again." Tinalikuran na niya ito at naglakad pabalik sa suite ng kanyang ama. Ilang metro pa lamang siyang nakakalayo nang magsalita ito. "Twenty percent of Worldnet, Helaena. Take it or leave it."
Huminto siya pero hindi lumingon.
"And the vice presidency," dagdag nito.
Noon niya nilingon ito.
YOU'RE a fool, del Rosario! sigaw ng utak ni Blue pero nakatutok ang kanyang konsentrasyon kay Helaena na mistula na yatang obsesyon ng kanyang katawan. He wanted her like he had never wanted any other woman before. And she was driving him nuts.
Lumakad ito pabalik sa kanya. Huminto sa kanyang harap. Tumiyad ito at inilipat ang mukha nito sa kanyang mukha, ang bibig ay halos dumikit sa kanyang mga labi. "I want it in black and white, Blue," anito at nalanghap niya ang mabangong hininga nito. He felt himself grow hard, wanting so badly to kiss her senseless.
May dinukut siya sa kanyang bulsa at isinuot sa isang daliri nito. It was a ring. "Whatever you want, Helaena."
Tiningnan na nito ang singsing. Her full sensual lips formed into a radiant smile. His heart did a somersault. His insides seemed to melt like cream. The feeling was extremely weird, mixing with his physical arousal. But he couldn't help it. He was a slave of his lust for this woman. And then she pressed her lips to his tenderly and whispered, "Consider the deal sealed darling."
He knew from that moment that he would have difficulty letting her go.
Bumalik sila sa hospital suite ng ama nito.
"Pa, 'Ma, tinanggap ko na ang offer ni Blue. Magpapakasal kami," pagbabalita nito sa mga ito.
Lumarawan ang galak sa mga mukha ng mga magulang nito. "Oh, hija, we are so happy for you both," anang mama nito at niyakap nito ito. Ipinakita pa nito rito ang suot nitong singsing. Napasinghap ang mama nito. "Oh, how lovely!"
Nagkamay sila ni Carlos.
Niyakap naman siya ng asawa nito. "Hijo, you will be my son-in-law but you will not call me 'Mama' yet. Just 'Paloma', okay? Saka mo na ako tawaging 'Mama' kapag sixty na ako.
Natawa siya. "As you wish, Paloma." Pagkuwa'y tiningnan niya si Helaena. They smiled at each other. It was silent truce. Nang magpaalam na siya ay inihatid siya nito hanggang sa lobby ng hospital. "Kailan makakalabas ng ospital ang papa mo?"
"Maybe within this week."
"I want us to get married before the month ends."
"That soon?"
Tinitigan niya ito. "Having cold feet, Helaena?"
"No, of course not."
"Good." Dinukot niya sa kanyang bulsa ang mobile phone at ibinigay niya iyon dito. "Iyan ang gagamitin mo magmula ngayon para madali kitang ma-contact at ganoon ka rin sa akin. I am always moving around at maraming numerong puwede mong tawagan para makausap ako. My house, my office, some key people who work for me. The numbers are all in that phone. Call me up anytime."
Tinitigan nito iyon, pagkuwa'y tiningnan siya nito.
He smiled and kissed her lips lightly. "I'll call you up later."
