Most Wanted [To Be Published]

Chapter 17 - unedited

Sulli's

I kissed his right cheek. "Dad."

He did not react as he sat on his recliner. As usual, I found him in his library where he decided to occupied it as his office. I took the seat at the far corner. Nakapagitan sa'min ang table niya. Napailing ako sa isip ko. Sure this is no heart to heart talk.

"Why did you call me?" Diretsong tanong ko. Kilala ko siya. Hindi niya ako basta ipapatawag kung hindi importante.

There are lots of family issues hanging that he doesn't seem to mind. He is heartless. I do wonder why Mom married him. Or maybe I just hate him this much. I grew not knowing them, really. Ni hindi ko maintindihan yung point ng pag-adopt nila ng magiging kapatid ko noon. Siguro kasi babae ako? I don't really care.

"When are you planning to settle down?" He looked at me.

That look─cold, direct and empty. When I was young, I used to avoid his gaze because it gives me the chills which aren't comfortable to even feel. "What do you mean?"

"Getting married."

I remained calm, even though there's an urge to frown. "I'm too young for that matter."

"You need someone to accompany you."

I sighed. "Hindi ko kailangan ng kasama. Nabuo ko ang company ko ng ako lang. I even managed to help your company as well."

He's degrading me. I am not just a woman. I have my fucking brain and connection. I made my company known in the business world so there's no way that my lack of having someone to accompany me will affect my work.

At isa pa...I already have my eyes to someone.

"You're familiar with Mr. Adriatico, yes?" He continued like I didn't say a thing. "I had a little chat with that man. He told me he's trying to pursue you but you keep on rejecting him."

I wanted to roll my eyes at him but I can't be just rude. On the other side, I want to punch the man's coward gut. Stupid.

"I don't like him." I wanted to add some more but I want to end this nonsense conversation soon. I'm slowly losing my mood.

"Maybe you guys both need to know each other intimately. Don't you think it'll be great advantage for us if you marry him?"

"I'm done." He watched me as I stood up. "Go marry him yourself."

"Sulli!"

I didn't  even dare to look back. Basta na lang akong lumabas ng silid niya. Napaismid ako. Minsan na nga lang ako mapadpad sa bahay na 'to, iyon pa ang mapapala ko. He's so obsessed in manipulating my life. Kaya nga ako nagtayo ng sariling kumpanya, kaya ako bumukod ng maaga. Gusto kong takasan yung ganitong pangyayari. This bullshit path.

I'm thankful when he didn't dare to follow me. I don't know what I might do once I lost my cool.

One of these days I'm going to confront that Adriatico guy and tell him how much an asshole he is. Kapag hindi niya nakuha ang punto ko sasagasaan ko siya ng sasakyan ko.

Pagbaba ko ng hagdan ay napahinto ako nang makita ko siya.

"A-anak," she barely whispered, "you're here."

Unti-unti akong naglakad palapit, though I still maintained the distance between us. I'm happy to see her, but...I guess, there are things which are hard to change. Masyado nang malayo ang loob ko sa kanya.

She took her step forward along with her braveness. Slowly, I felt a pair of warm arms. Embracing me. Her scent...just like before. "I missed you."

Mom. I wanted to ask you since then...why do I belong in this kind of family? I wanted to ask you, but I don't have the guts to tell.

"Aalis na po ako." Mahinang sabi ko. It took almost all of my energy para lang lumayo sa kanya. Wala na rin naman siyang nagawa. I avoided her gaze. Ramdam ko yung lungkot sa mata niya.

Kailan nga ba kami naging masaya ng matagal?

"Take care of yourself." She said. She smiled when I met her gaze though it didn't reach her eyes.

I nodded. Tumalikod na ako at tuluyang nilisan ang bahay na minsan kong tinirhan. Na kinalakihan ko na rin.

Take care of yourself, too, Mom─always.

Sumakay na ako sa sasakyan ko at pinaandar ito. The security guard opened the huge gate for me at malaya akong nakalabas, ngunit kakalagpas ko pa lamang ng gate ay kaagad akong napahinto dahil sa naaninag ko. Buti na lang ay walang nadaang sasakyan kaya nagawa ko pang bumaba. The gate soon closed but I didn't mind.

Lumapit ako sa taong nakita ko. Weird. My heart beats so fast. "Se...September?"

She smiled. Lumapit siya sa'kin at hinawakan ang kamay ko. Nagpatianod na lang ako nang maglakad kami papalapit sa sasakyan ko.

Nang makapasok sa loob ay saka ko lang muling nahanap ang boses ko. "B-bakit nandito ka? Paano mo nalaman 'tong lugar na 'to?"

She chuckled childishly. "Sinabi ko na sa'yo, 'di ba?" Kinindatan niya ako at binigyan ng mabilis na halik sa labi. "I have my connections."

Nang ma-compose ko ang sarili ay saka ko siya inirapan. "What are you, a stalker?"

"Nope. Your secret admirer."

Nakakatuwa talaga sumagot. Hindi ko na siya pinansin at nagmaneho na lang. Para naman siyang sira na pakanta-kanta, grabe. Parang wala siyang problema sa buhay.

"You looked tired." She said. Bahagya pa akong napatingin sa kanya. "Let me rephrase it. You looked emotionally stressed. What happened?"

"Wala."

"Weh?"

"Wala nga."

"Liars go to hell." Pakantang sabi niya. Babaeng 'to, nakakasira talaga ng ulo, eh.

"You go to hell."

"No thanks, I'm already hot."

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up."

"Totoo naman, eh."

Hindi na ako sumagot.

"Ikaw, ang bad mo." sabi naman niya.

"Alam ko." Walang gana kong sagot.

"Ayaw mo pa kasi ako sagutin." Nagsimula na siyang magmaktol, "Tapos sinabi mo pa kay Vanessa na hindi kita girlfriend."

"Hindi naman talaga." I retorted. It's not yet the right time to talk about it.

"But you said you love me, too!"

Nagsimula na siyang magpadyak ng paa. Ako naman ay naramdaman ko na ang pag-init ng mukha ko. This woman! Why does she have this effect on me? Stubborn woman. I should think again why did I fall for her.

"Shut up."

"You love me, eh!" I can see in the mirror that she's pouting right now.

"September!" Goodness! Mauubusan talaga ako ng dugo sa babaeng 'to.

"You love me."

I sighed. "Okay."

"You love me."

"I already said okay."

"You love me!" Napakunot na ang noo ko nang pumadyak ulit siya. Para siyang bata.

Iginilid ko ang sasakyan sa kalsada at huminto. I glared at her but she's just pouting, looking at me like a kid who wants her candy.

"Ang sakit mo sa ulo." Napailing ako.

Magre-react pa sana siya nang kabigin ko ang batok niya palapit sa'kin. Our lips touched and again, it felt like the first. Corny it is, but true. Anyone can shoot me for all I care. After a few seconds, I parted my lips away from hers. I wanted to prolong it but we're at the road.

"I love you," I whispered.

Pinaandar ko na ulit ang sasakyan. Pasimple ko siyang tiningnan at nahuling namumula ito.

There. Tumahimik din.

_____