Lies and Deception ✔ (Haciendero #4)

Ikatatlumpo't Anim na Kabanata

Kabanata 36

Handa na ako...

It felt surreal.

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa napanood. Ilang minuto akong tulala matapos ang live coverage ng press conference ng boyfriend ko. The world knew the story by now. It doesn't matter if they believe it or not, but the truth is out.

Bumalik ako sa realidad nang mag-ring ang phone ko. My heart pounded inside my chest seeing my boyfriend's name on the screen. I was sure they were helping him in order to call me.

"Hey, love..." He greeted on the other line softly.

Nakarinig naman ako ng hagikhik mula sa kabilang linya.

"Where are you?" seryosong tanong ko.

"We're near na, love. Don't be mad. I'm sorry, I didn't tell you about the press conference today. I was planning about that even before the accident... it should be a consensus decision between us, but I moved on my own..." Narinig ko ang kanyang malalim na buntonghininga.

"I can't take it any longer. I can't take how they are trashing your name. You're being crucified because you were protecting me..." His voice was soft. "I'm sorry, love. It's totally understandable if you're mad at me. Pinangunahan din kita, I shamelessly introduced myself as your boyfriend in public."

Tahimik ko siyang pinakinggan sa kabilang linya. Hindi ko alam na tumutulo na ang aking luha.

"You stole that from me. It should be me introducing you to the world, but it's okay, baby." Pinahid ko ang luhang dumaloy sa aking pisngi.

Umiling ako. "I'm not mad at you. I'm worried. Are you okay? Pinayagan ka ba talaga ng doctor kahit hindi ka pa magaling?" My voice cracked. "I will be waiting for you on the entrance."

Nagpaalam ako kay Michelle na bababa upang salubungin ang boyfriend ko. They held the press conference in the hotel nearby. Kaya mabilis naman silang nakabalik ng hospital.

It was the whole gang with my man.

His brothers... cousins... friends...

Sinalubong ko siya at niyakap sa wheelchair. Iniabot naman sa akin ni Lorenzo ang phone ni Raius. Mukhang siya ang may hawak noon habang magkausap kaming dalawa kanina. Sa kanilang lahat, ito raw ang pinaka-tsismoso.

Ako ang pumalit sa pagtutulak ng wheelchair niya sa hallway ng hospital.

"Are you okay, love? Walang masakit sa'yo? I will call the doctor to check on you," saad ko pa. "I was worried. No one was answering my question earlier. They were telling me just to see your doctor. I thought something bad happened."

"I asked the doctor to tell you what was happening so you wouldn't be worried," sinabi niya. "I'm sorry, love."

Dumating kami sa kuwarto, nagpatulong ako kay Rambo upang ilipat si Raius sa bed. Kagaya ng sinabi ko, nagpatawag ako ng doctor upang i-check ang kalagayan ng boyfriend ko.

The doctor assured me everything was fine, I didn't need to worry. Iniwan naman kami nilang dalawa sa kuwarto para makapag-usap kaming dalawa. Naupo ako sa gilid ng kanyang kama.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at yumakap sa kanyang dibdib. Narinig ko ang mahina niyang paghalakhak.

"Oh, I missed caressing your hair, your back, and most especially your face." Nag-angat naman ako ng paningin at ngumiti.

Hinaplos ko ang kanyang mukha. "I missed you doing it, too. For now, ako na muna ang bahalang gumawa noon. Your task is to heal faster, okay?" Pinisil ko ang kanyang pisngi.