Gael Belmonte's Runaway Bride - Vanessa

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

GAEL thought it was an odd question coming from Audrey. Ano raw ang dahilan kung bakit siya pumayag sa kanilang magiging kasal? Hindi iyon isang kaso ng pagpayag o pagtanggi. Isa iyong obligasyon. At inasahan ni Gael na alam iyon ni Audrey. After all, they were in the same situation.
Pinagmasdan niya ang dalaga. She had very lovely features, sweet ones, wholesome. Matagal na niyang kilala ang babae bagaman kailanman ay hindi sila nagkaroon ng pagkakataong magkausap sapagkat iisa man ang mundong ginagalawan nila ay iba ang kanilang mga priyoridad sa buhay.
Nang sabihin kay Gael ng kanyang ama na kailangan niyang pakasalan si Audrey ay hindi na siya nagtanong kung bakit. It was something he needed to do for the sake of the company so why not? Hindi siya naniniwala na kailangan niyang mahalin ang isang babae para makasama ito habang-buhay. What was love anyway? He did not believe in it at all. It was something that poets and romance novelist invented to create an illusion that there was something extra special about being with a partner. Sa paniniwala ni Gael, ang kasal ay isang kasunduan lang. Kaya nga mayroong marriage contract. Isang kontrata, isang kasunduan.
Of course, marrying someone had its benefits. Sa kaso nila ni Audrey, isang malaking benepisyo ang magaganap marahil gabi-gabi. He had to silently smile at the thought. The woman was beautiful. Was she going to be a sweet girl in bed, too? May nagsasabi sa kanyang hindi sapagkat ngayon pa lang ay tila ipinapakita na ni Audrey na hindi ito tulad ng sinasabi ng iba. She had a fiery nature that was hidden from plain sight. Marahil mas tamang ibalik niya ang tanong sa babae.
"What made you say yes to this, Audrey?" ani Gael sa dalaga.
"I was asking you that question." Tumaas ang isa nitong kilay. Mabilis mabasa ang emosyon ng dalaga sa pagtingin pa lang sa mga mata. She was infuriated. He wondered if she had ever seen a naked body before. Marahil. Sa modernong panahon, mayroon pa bang babaeng kasing-edad ni Audrey na hindi pa nakakakita ng kahubdan ng isang lalaki? How old was she again? Twenty-eight?
"It's a business decision. It happens all the time. And you?" ani Gael.
"The same," tugon ni Audrey, bagaman mayroong nagsasabi kay Gael na hindi iyon ang buong katotohanan.
"So let's talk about what you came here for, if that's all right with you."
"Fine." Inilabas ni Audrey mula sa bag ang isang malaking sketchbook. She flipped through its pages and showed him the things she drew. She was an excellent sketcher. Nais bumilib ni Gael. "I was thinking of using plum and mint for our color motif. Are you all right with that?"
"Anything you say, honey."
"Please don't call me 'honey.' My name is Audrey. I'd appreciate it if you just call me Audrey."
Nais mapangiti ni Gael. Naunawaan niyang may namumuong curiosity sa kanya tungkol sa mapapangasawa. Aminado si Gael na hindi siya kailanman naging interesado sa babae sapagkat naisip niyang hindi rin ito magiging interesado sa kanya sa paraang mas malalim pa sa paimbabaw na pagsasama bilang mag-asawa.
"I was thinking we can hold the reception in The Peninsula Manila. We'll get married in Santuario de San Antonio. These are the flowers that I like and this is the cake that I will bake." May ngiting gumuhit sa mga labi ng babae.
"You will bake our wedding cake?"
"Yes."
"You will bake this seven-tiered cake?"
"Yes."
"How long will it take to make one anyway?"
"A week, maybe two. The sugar flowers I will make by hand at least a month before. There will be at least two thousand sugar flowers."
"You're kidding." Kumunot-noo si Gael. "Why not pay someone to make the cake instead? I can afford it."
Naging matalim ang tingin ng mga mata ni Audrey. "I know you can. I can, too. But I will make the cake myself. My father will probably disagree so I need you to say yes to this simple—very simple—request, Gael."
How can he refuse when she seemed about ready to scratch his eyes out? It amused him that a lady found it this important to bake her own wedding cake. "All right. All right, Audrey. No problem with me as long as you won't be too tired on our wedding."
"No. I intend to finish the cake at least two days before our wedding day. What flavor would you like the cake to be? I'm making it all edible so you can choose."
Was she serious? Muling napakunot-noo si Gael. Ilang saglit siyang nag-isip kung ano ang tamang itutugon. Maybe it was the weirdness of it all that made him doubt if he heard her correctly. "You're asking me about cake flavors?"
"Yes. It will be your cake, too. Or do you prefer your own groom cake? I can make you one, if you like."
"No, no. Of course not. No need for a groom cake—"
"How about..." Ngumiti si Audrey at kinuha ang sketchbook at isang lapis mula sa bag. "What is it that you like?"
"What for?"
"For the cake, of course. The groom cake. Alam kong hindi tradisyon sa atin na magkaroon ng groom cake pero siguro panahon na para simulan. We'll make it about everything you like."
Nagdalawang-isip si Gael kung igigiit kay Audrey na hindi niya kailangan ng cake ngunit ayaw niyang mawala ang ngiti sa maamo nitong mukha. Nagkibit-balikat siya. "I like..." Natigilan siya. Bakit hindi niya magawang sagutin ang tanong? What was it that he liked?
"I know. You like art. Your house says it."
"Yes. Of course."
"Paintings, sculptures?"
"Paintings. I like paintings."
"I knew it. I like that one, by the way." Itinuro ni Audrey ang isang painting sa pader. His heart suddenly swelled with pride. He made that one. Ang tanging natira sa lahat ng kanyang ginawa ay itinapon na ng ama. Marahil sampung taon siya nang iguhit ang isang simpleng painting na iyon—ang kanyang aso. Napaka-amateur ng pagkakagawa niya, ngunit naitabi iyon ng kanyang ina at ngayon ay kabilang sa mga naka-display sa pader. "You like dogs?"
"No. Only that dog in particular." Regalo kay Gael ng ina ang aso sa painting. Nang magkasakit ang aso at mamatay, hindi na uli siya binilhan ng kanyang ama. Ang sabi nito ay hindi maganda ang naituturo ng pagkakaroon ng alaga. The man said it formed an attachment that was a complete waste of time.
"A Golden Retriever? Hmm... tricky to make, a challenge. I love a good challenge," sambit ni Audrey habang patuloy sa pagguhit sa sketchbook. Nang matapos ay ipinakita ng dalaga sa kanya ang iginuhit. Isa iyong rectangular cake design na mayroong malaking aso sa gitna, hawak sa bibig ang isang painting. "What do you think?"
"It's great. Are you sure you can attend the wedding though?"
Hindi iyon pinansin ni Audrey. "How about sports? What do you like?"
"My father likes golf."
"This is not your father's cake, is it? What about you?"
"Basketball. But I haven't played in a very long time."
Tumango si Audrey, naglista sa sketchbook. "All right. I think I've got it. Now..." Itinabi nito ang sketchbook, saka humarap sa kanya. "Gusto kong malaman kung ano ang mga expectation mo sa kasal na ito."
"The event itself?"
"No. Our marriage."
"I'm expecting you to be my wife, that's it."
"You have such high expectations," sarkastikong tugon ni Audrey.
"Listen, Audrey, I understand that we have different priorities in life. I want you to understand that this marriage will not change any of those. I will not bind you to me in a manner in which you will no longer be able to do what you want. I will be courteous enough to give you freedom to decide for your own life. I expect you to give me the same courtesy."
"Will you sleep around?"
Matagal bago nakatugon si Gael sapagkat hindi niya naisip ang bagay na iyon. At ngayong binanggit iyon ni Audrey, hindi niya alam ang itutugon. He lived a certain kind of lifestyle that was ideal for bachelors. Natural na wala siyang planong ipahiya ang kanyang asawa, ngunit hindi niya inaasahan ang mangako sa dalaga nang ganito kaaga sa kanilang relasyon. "Are you planning on doing that?" balik-tanong niya.
Mukhang nainsulto ang babae. "What?"
"Let's be honest, Audrey. You and I are not in love. You might find yourself needing the company of men you find interesting and if truth be told, I will not appreciate it at all. However, if you want to set ground rules about it, I'm willing to listen and have my say as well."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Audrey. "You're a jerk, do you know that?"
"I am only being honest."
"Then be honest one hundred percent. Are you going to sleep around?"
"I haven't thought about it yet."
"You haven't...! I'm sorry." Tumayo si Audrey. "But if you can't even decide at this moment whether you will stay faithful to your wife, you have just turned into the most arrogant bastard I have ever met! You expect me to marry you?"
Mainit ang ulo na napatayo na rin si Gael. "You requested honesty, I obliged."
"True. And this is me being honest as well—I don't like you, Gael. I don't think I ever will."
"Fair enough."
Matalim ang tinging ipinukol ni Audrey sa kanya. Kailangang aminin ni Gael na hindi niya alam kung paano pakibagayan ang isang babaeng tulad ni Audrey. He was used to women who were easy to talk to—not asking for too much, knew there was a limit to what he can offer them. Marahil mayroong ilusyon si Audrey na magiging tulad ng normal na mag-asawa ang kanilang samahan, kung mayroon mang "normal" na kategorya iyon. She failed to see something that was clear to Gael: marriage was overly romanticized to the point of being ridiculous.
"We can build on that, honey," Gael lazily said. He had nothing more to say to her if she will insist on pretending theirs was going to be a normal marriage. Sa katunayan, sa tingin ni Gael ay mas mainam ang wala masyadong expectation sa isang relasyon. It was paralyzing. It was horrible. It was not very smart. Sa buhay na ito, tanging sa sarili lang kailangang umasa ang isang tao. Put your hopes in another person and your faith will destroy you.
Tila gigil na gigil si Audrey nang isukbit ang bag, tiningnan siya, saka sinabing, "You're a jerk!"
"I apologize. I was... being honest, like you asked. I am asking you to please take note that ours will be a corporate marriage."
"Right. Because I totally don't get it!" sarkastikong turan ni Audrey, pumihit at umalis na.
Gael sighed. Hindi naging maganda ang una nilang pag-uusap. Maybe next time he will try a little harder to make this easy for the lady. Lies. She was one of those who preferred lies, he remembered.

ISANG puting vintage-inspired dress na may disenyong maliliit na pula at asul na bulaklak ang isinuot ni Audrey para sa paghaharap na iyon, ang pormal na pamamanhikan ng mga Belmonte sa mga Esparza. Alam ng dalawang pamilya na isa na lang iyong pormalidad. She could not understand why everyone bothered.
Nakatanim sa isip ni Audrey ang naging pag-uusap nila ni Gael nang nakaraang araw. Mainit pa rin ang kanyang ulo tuwing maaalala ang tila walang pakialam na attitude ng lalaki. Kung ganoon pala, kaya niya itong sabayan. Gayunman, napakaraming tanong at isipin ang bumagabag sa kanya.
Una, walang balak si Audrey na magkaroon ng higit pa sa isang asawa, kasabay niyon ay nais niyang magkaroon ng mga anak. Pangalawa, paano siya mabubuhay sa isang relasyon kung ang kanyang kapareha ay parang hindi pa man ay nagbabanta nang mambabae?
Hindi pinayagan ng pride niya ang hindi paghandaan ang okasyon. Tiniyak niyang magiging masarap ang hapunan, walang mairereklamo ang lahat. She even prepared a delicate ganache cake and some strawberry shortcake for Mrs. Belmonte. Iyon daw ang paborito ng ginang.
Nang dumating ang pamilya Belmonte ay nakahanda na ang lahat. Animo isang totoong pamilya ang batian ng lahat. Para bang inaasahan ng mga magulang ni Audrey na aakto siyang kilala na nang lubos si Gael. Simple at sibil na ngiti lang ang naibigay niya sa lalaki na tipid lang din ang naging pagngiti sa kanya.
Napag-usapan ang magaganap na kasal anim na buwan mula sa araw na iyon, maging ang listahan ng magiging miyembro ng maliit na entourage. Kung may ipinagpapasalamat si Audrey, iyon ay ang katotohanang sinabi ni Gael, "I would like it if my fiancée will be in charge of the wedding. We have talked about the details and I like all of her ideas."
Madali naman palang kausap si Gael. Sa sobrang dali, nagiging komplikado ang lahat para kay Audrey. Katulad na lang nang mag-usap sila. Walang habas ang pagiging makatotohanan ng lalaki na hindi man lang nito naalalang maglagay ng sapin sa lahat ng saloobin. Sadya bang ganoon ito, parang negosyo o deal ang lahat? Wala bang halaga kay Gael ang mga bagay tulad ng kasal at pagsasama ng mag-asawa?
"Well, why don't you two go and talk in the garden while we, the old ones, discuss some of the things we need to talk about," wika ng ama ni Audrey.
Tumayo si Gael, hinawakan siya sa siko. Pinagbigyan niya ito ngunit nang makalabas na sila ay agad siyang lumayo sa lalaki. "Thank you for telling them I wish to take care of all the wedding details." Tinuruan siya ng kabutihang-asal ng kanyang mga magulang kaya sinabi niya iyon.
"You're welcome. Is there anything else you would like to discuss?"
Hayun na naman ang businesslike na tono ni Gael. How she hated it. Gayunman, yaman din lang na nais na nitong pag-usapan ang lahat sa ganoong paraan, bakit hindi? Umupo si Audrey sa isang silya at pumuwesto si Gael sa tapat niya, mayroong bahagyang kunot sa noo na nagpapahiwatig na naghihintay ito sa kanyang sasabihin.
"I would like to have children," ani Audrey. Halos hindi siya makapaniwalang inilalahad niya sa ganoong paraan ang bagay na iyon. "Two will be ideal."
Ngumiti si Gael. "That's fine by me."
Naunawaan ni Audrey na higit-higit niya ang paghinga habang nakatitig sa guwapong mukha ng mapapangasawa. It was astounding what a little smile can do to that handsome face. Parang bumata si Gael ng ilang taon. Naunawaan niya na higit na magiging madali ang lahat kung parating ngingiti ang lalaki.
"If you plan to sleep around I will appreciate a medical report before we do the deed." Itinaas ni Audrey ang mukha. Sa palagay niya ay resonable ang kanyang hiling. Kung maraming babae ang lalaking kanyang pakakasalan, natural lang sigurong humingi siya ng katibayan na hindi siya mahahawa ng kahit na anong sakit. Naisip na rin niyang ang kanilang pagsisiping ay dapat na eksakto sa petsa nang sa gayon ay hindi nila kailanganing gawing regular iyon.
Nabura ang ngiti ni Gael. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, I am."
"Then there's no need to get tested. I use protection."
"You can never be sure."
"Fair enough. I would need your test results, too."
"But I am...!" Nag-init ang ulo ni Audrey ngunit hindi nagawang ituloy ang sasabihin. She was still a virgin! Gayunman, hindi na kailangang malaman pa ni Gael ang bagay na iyon. "Fine."
"Anything else?" He sounded bored.
"We'll have intercourse to have children and only for that reason."
Tumaas ang isang sulok ng mga labi nito. "We'll see about that."
"What do you mean exactly?"
"We'll cross the bridge when we get there, honey."
"I told you...!" Napabuntong-hininga si Audrey. Mukhang walang mangyayari kahit sabihin niya kay Gael na huwag siyang gamitan ng endearment. "That's my decision and if you force me, you know what that'd be."
"Sure." Tumango ito, tila naiinip na.
How Audrey abhorred him. Tumayo na siya at humakbang pabalik sa bahay ngunit hinawakan ni Gael ang kanyang kamay. Bahagya siyang napapitlag, hindi inasahan ang init na dulot ng kamay ng lalaki. He pulled her near. Napaupo siya sa kandungan ng binata. She smelled his aftershave. And it smelled so good—masculine, gentle, and... seductive.
"G-Gael, what are you doing?"
Lumapit ang ilong ng binata sa leeg ni Audrey. Hindi lumapat sa balat niya ang ilong nito ngunit sapat na upang gapangan siya ng kung anong kiliti. "Smelling you. I've been wondering if you smelled as sweet as you looked. You do."
Napasinghap si Audrey. Nag-init ang kanyang mukha at ilang beses siyang napalunok. Kailangan na niyang tumayo ngunit parang nawalan ng lakas ang kanyang mga tuhod.
"Do you know what else I've been wondering about?"
"G-Gael, please—"
"I was wondering if you tasted as sweet as well."
Pinigilan ni Audrey ang mapasinghap. Gael's lips grazed the side of her neck. Nagtayuan ang balahibo niya sa katawan. He then whispered in her ear. "I would really love to know." Dumampi ang mga labi ng binata sa gilid ng kanyang mukha na marahang nagtungo sa kanyang mga labi.
Before she knew it he was kissing her. She was too stunned to move. Ngunit higit sa lahat ay nabigla siya sa lakas ng impact ng halik na iyon. He gently sucked on her lip. His lips tasted rich and were very warm. His kiss reminded her of fresh, warm honey.
For the life of her, Audrey could not explain why she suddenly felt an urge to press her body against his so he can kiss her better. Nakalulunod ang pakiramdam na iyon ngunit parang sirena ng ambulansiya ang babala sa kanyang isip. Agad siyang tumayo.
"How dare you!" ani Audrey, dama ang panlalaki ng mga mata.
Gael grinned. "What? It was lovely. Your lips are lovely. Very sweet indeed."
Agad siyang pumihit. Kumakabog ang kanyang dibdib. Nagsalita lang si Gael ngunit para nang may naglulundagan sa kanyang dibdib at may mga paruparo sa kanyang sikmura. What the hell was wrong with her?! Tuloy-tuloy siya sa loob ng bahay at muntik nang makabanggaan ang isang kawaksing may dalang tray ng inumin.
"Ma'am, ipinapadala po nila Ma'am sa inyo ni Sir."
"I need to go to the bathroom. Take it outside. Nandoon si Gael." Nilagpasan na niya ang kawaksi at tumuloy sa banyo. Pulang-pula ang kanyang mukha. Tuwing maaalala niya ang halik, lalo siyang namumula. It must have taken her fifteen minutes to calm down. Nakita niya si Gael na patagilid na nakasandal sa pader malapit sa banyo nang lumabas siya.
"Are you all right?" Nasa mga labi pa rin ni Gael ang isang ngiting tila nanunudyo. What an arrogant devil!
"Do not kiss me again, Gael."
"No kisses, scheduled intercourse. What other impossible things are you going to ask of me, my lovely wife?"
"How about shutting up now?" Nilagpasan ni Audrey ang lalaki na hindi siya pinigilan. Muli ay bumilis ang tibok ng kanyang puso. Damn that man!