CONSEQUENCE OF TEMPTATION

Chapter Ten

After a few drinks and talks with my uncle, I went straight home. Tahimik na ang buong penthouse nang makauwi ako at madilim na din. Dumiretso ako sa kuwarto at nakita si Bela na natutulog. Naka-yakap ang isa niyang kamay kay Zach na mahimbing na din ang tulog. I sighed and walked towards her side slowly. Her beautiful face looks peaceful as she sleeps. I can stare at this all night and think about our future. Me, her and my son.

'Pag nasasaktan ka, nagmamahal ka na...' Uncle's voice echoed in my mind. I admit I'm really hurt. It was so damn painful knowing the woman I love has someone else and that's not me. Bakit naman kasi ngayon pa ko tinamaan ni kupido? At sa taong may mahal na iba pa ko nahulog?

I caress Bela's hair as I stare at her. Naupo ako sa gilid ng kama at tinitigan siya. This is perfection. This is all I want right now. I just want her to stay with me like this.

"Zeph?"

"Yeah?"

"Nandyan ka na pala." She said and sat on the bed.

"I'm sorry I woke you up. I just can't help caressing that beautiful face." I whispered not wanting my son to wake up.

"Naka-inom ka ba? Mag-shower ka na tapos mag-pahinga ka na. You want something to eat?" She asked and was about to get off the bed when I stopped her.

"Why do you have to be this sweet and thoughtful, Bela? You're killing me." I painfully said.

"Zephyr..."

"Magpahinga ka na. I'll just take a shower." I stood up and removed my polo before entering the bathroom. I let the cold water run through my body and I stayed there for good thirty minutes. Nang lumabas ako ay wala si Bela sa kama kaya lumabas ako ng kuwarto. I inhaled the aroma of coffee and walked to the kitchen.

"Tinimplahan kita." Aniya nang makita ako.

"You don't have to. Matutulog naman na ko." Sagot ko pero ininom ko din naman. Katahimikan ang bumalot sa'min kaya napatingin ako sa kanya, "Have you been in love?"

"O-Of course. Why did you ask?" I shook my head.

"How does it feel?"

"Masaya." Saad niya at ngumiti, "I feel contented to that person just by looking at him from afar. Kahit hindi niya ko kilala noon ay masaya ko na makita siya at titigan ang mga picture niya. The idea of him that pops in my mind is enough to give me inspiration to end my day and start a new one."

"Hmm." I nodded and looked away.

"But he rejected me in the past. 'yun na ''yung pinakamasakit na nangyari sa'kin. Pero kahit gano'n, mahal na mahal ko pa din siya." Dagdag niya pa. She was rejected? Magnus rejected her? Anong klaseng gago ang lalaking 'yun? "But now I'm happy with him. Nga''yung magkasama na kami ulit." She added and I was dumbfounded. Right, it was in the past.

"Pag nasasaktan ka, nagmamahal ka na." I murmured enough to let her hear it.

"Yeah, I guess that's true. I love him so much and it hurts me." She whispered. If I can just snatch her from the person she loves I'll do it. Pero hindi ako desperado para gawin 'yun. I can sense the happiness on her voice as she talks about him. Ayokong sirain ang kasayahan niya dahil lang sa mahal ko siya. I'm already contented with this. Me and her, fucking.

"Let's sleep." Saad ko at naunang tumayo. Nakasunod naman siya at pagpasok namin ng kuwarto nahiga kami sa kama. Pinapagitnaan namin si Zach. I stared at Bela until I fell asleep.

—•—

The crying of Zach woke me up in the morning. Dumilat ako at nakita si Bela na nagtitimpla ng gatas. Agad naman akong naupo sa kama at nilapitan si Zach sa crib nito.