Since Nine Book 3: Shattered

Stockholm Syndrome

CHAPTER 24

VICTORIA

“I gave you my heart and you chose to break it. I gave you all of me, but you chose to let me go. This ends here. Hindi na kita hahabulin pa. Goodbye, Victoria.”

Paulit-ulit na umaalingaw-ngaw ang mga salitang iyon ni Ramcel sa isip ni Victoria habang tahimik na lumuluha at pinagmamasdan ang sunod-sunod na kidlat sa labas ng bintana. Pagkatapos syang iwan ni Ramcel, hindi muna sya umalis sa loob ng opisina dahil baka traydurin sya ng sarili at habulin ito.

She desperately wanted to tell Ramcel but she couldn’t risk it, for she knew Hector was just listening outside the door. One wrong move on her part, and it would cost all their lives.

Bumukas muli ang pinto ng opisina. Hindi na nya kailangang lingunin kung sino iyon dahil nakita na nya ang repleksiyon ng lalaking may kagagawan ng lahat sa salamin.

“Kailangan mo na akong ilayo rito, Hector. Kilala ko ang asaw…” Victoria told herself to stop referring Ramcel as her wife. Nawalan na sya nang karapatan rito the moment she broke her heart. “…kilala ko si Ramcel, she doesn’t easily give up. Umalis man sya ngayon, sigurado akong babalik sya para habulin ako.”

Higit sa lahat, gusto nyang ilayo si Hector sa pamilya nya. Titiisin nyang makasama ito basta alam nyang malapit lang ito sa kanya at malayo kay Ramcel. Paniguradong kamumuhian sya ng lahat sa ginawa nya kay Ram pero hindi na importante pa yun. If she wouldn’t survive hell, hindi na mahalaga ang iisipin ng iba.

Sunod nyang tinawagan ang Mama nya. She told her she broke up with Ramcel due to differences. Alam nyang maraming gustong itanong ang Mama nya pero pinili nitong manahimik. Nakinig lamang ito sa kanya. Her mother just asked if she was okay at kung gugustuhin ni Vi, lilipad ito patungong Pilipinas para samahan sya. She said no of course. 

She told her mother she’d continue with her Culinary Arts class but she would fly back to New York before Christmas. It was an empty promise but she couldn’t let her mother worry about her. Hindi ito pwedeng pumunta sa Pilipinas dahil malalaman nito ang totoo. She also asked her not to communicate with the Villarances. They wouldn’t want anything to do with her anyway after what she did to Ramcel.

Mabuti na lang at hindi pa naibebenta ang bahay nila sa New York kaya may tahanan pa rin ang Mama nya. At kung sakaling makatakas sya sa sitwasyon nya, she would still have a home.

“Okay, let’s go home then.” Bakas sa boses nito ang galak. Sinikap ni Victoria na huwag iwaksi ang pagkakahawak ng lalaki sa balikat nya. She needed to play his game.

“Game on,” Victoria told herself then wiped her tears as she faced him “Okay,” she said softly.

“Matagal pa ba yan? Gutom na ako, Baby eh. Nagagalit na yung three-headed dragon sa tiyan ko,” reklamo ni Ramcel habang nakapangalumbaba sa kitchen counter.

Natawa na lamang si Victoria rito at ipinagpatuloy ang pagluluto ng fried rice. Antok na antok pa si Ramcel dahil late na itong nakauwi kagabi galing shooting. Pinilit nitong gumising kasabay nya dahil gusto nitong samahan syang mag-grocery.

Mas gusto sana nyang magpahinga na lang ito sa bahay at bumawi ng tulog but Ramcel insisted. Babawi raw ito sa kanya dahil halos two weeks itong hindi nakauwi.

“Ikaw na lang kaya ang breakfast ko?” Bulong ni Ramcel sa teynga nya. May gumapang na kuryente sa buong katawan nya. Nakalapit na pala ito sa kanya at niyakap sya nito sa beywang. “What do you say?” She added seductively and bit her neck. Victoria gave involuntary moan.

“B-Baby…b-baka mapaso ka…” Pinilit humarap rito ni Victoria. Ramcel was grinning naughtily. “Ram, behave!” Natatawa nyang saway rito. “Sandali na lang ito.” Marahan nya itong itinulak pabalik sa kinauupuan nito. “Stay still!” She said sternly but Ramcel just winked at her playfully. She even stole a quick kiss on Victoria’s lips before settling down.

Naiiling na lang rito si Victoria. Kung alam lang ng mga tao kung gaano kakulit si Ramcel kapag silang dalawa lamang, magugulat ang mga ito. Nag-iiba ang aura nito pag nasa trabaho. Very strict and intimidating. That’s why Victoria enjoyed every moment she get to spend time with Ramcel.

“Why do you always request fried tuyo? I can make you fluffy omelette or waffles,” tanong ni Victoria kay Ramcel, na abala sa pagnguya.

“Because its uncomplicated. You just have to fry it. Masyado nang kumplikado ang buhay,” tugon nito then Victoria saw how Ramcel was suddenly lost in her own thoughts. Malamang may nabuo na naman itong idea sa isipan.

“Come back to me, Baby.” Marahan nyang hinaplos ang pisngi nito hanggang sa magfocus ang mga mata nito sa kanya.

Ramcel smiled. “I love you.”

She smiled back and felt her cheeks reddened. “I love you too.” Hindi pa rin mapigilan ng puso nyang tumibok nang malakas sa tuwing tititigan sya ni Ramcel.

“You seem to be in a good mood.” Victoria heard a man said. “What are you thinking?”

Ramcel’s beautiful smile suddenly vanished and was replaced with Hector’s. Napansin nyang medyo basa ang suot nitong puting t-shirt at may ikinukubli ito sa likuran.

Gaano na nga ba sya katagal sa isla? Hindi na nya namalayan dahil tumigil na sya sa pagbilang ng mga araw at sandali.

“I am actually thinking about the colorful roses in the garden. They are in full bloom. Balak ko sanang kumuha at ilagay sa vase.” Nginitian nya nang matamis ang lalaki.

“You are lucky today,” Hector said smiling.

“And why is that?” She asked curiously and paused from chopping the onion leaves she’d used for her Arrozcaldo later on. It was Hector’s request and one of his favorites. Nagsimulang umulan kani-kanina lang kaya sakto ang niluluto nya.

“Because, I already picked them for you,” masuyo nitong sabi at ipinakita ang mga kinuha nitong rosas na may iba’t-ibang kulay.

“Wow, they are beautiful.” Victoria beamed at him.

“Not as beautiful as you are,” malambing nitong sabi.

She gave him a shy smile. “Tigilan mo ako dyan sa pambobola mo,” kunwari inis nyang sabi. “Why don’t you change your shirt? Baka magkasakit ka pa nyan.”

Hector chuckled and placed the long stemmed roses in a large flower vase. She’d just arrange them later. She could put some in her room. She could give some to Monica too.

Lumapit ang lalaki sa kanya at titig na titig sa mga mata nya. Hinaplos nito ang pisngi nya. “Thank you.”

“For what?” She asked.

“For giving me a chance to show you how much I love you. Sabi ko naman sayo, maghihintay ako kahit matagal, mahalin mo lang ako. I’m yours Victoria just like you are mine. I will burn the whole world just to get your heart,” he whispered. “Hindi natin kailangan magmadali.  We have all the time in the world, Victoria. A world where there’s just you and me.” She smiled. “I’ll just take a bath and change clothes. I’ll be back.”

Tatalikod na sana ang lalaki nang hawakan ito ni Victoria sa braso para pigilan. She kissed his cheek. Hector was a bit surprised with her gesture. “Thank you. For the flowers.”

Maluwang ang ngiting iniwan sya nito sa kusina at ipinagpatuloy  nya naman ang ginagawa. Bumalik naman agad si Hector pagkatapos nitong makaligo at mapagbihis. Napuno nang mabangong masculine scent nito ang buong kusina. Hindi tumutol si Victoria nang hapitin sya nito sa beywang at niyakap nang mahigpit. Mukhang masayang-masaya ito. Maybe it was because of the kiss she gave him.

“Sandali, Hector. I stink,” natatawang sabi ni Victoria.

“You don’t.” He nuzzled against her hair then he eventually let her go. “Sorry. I got carried away.”

“It’s fine.” She playfully pinched his face.

“It’s because you are irresistible.”

“Hmmmn, ayan na naman yang pambobola mo. Umupo ka na nga lang dyan at kumain na tayo.” Ngingiti- ngiting dumulog si Hector sa mesa. She served him with a large bowl of Arrozcaldo with a lot of toasted garlic and onion leaves on top.

He ate it with so much gusto. He kept complimenting how tasty it was and how beautiful she looked on her white knee length dress that he bought himself the last time he got off the island.

“Aalis ka na naman ba bukas?” Victoria asked pouting.

“Oo. I have meetings with some investors,” sagot ng lalaki.

Napasimangot si Victoria. “Ilang araw ka na namang mawawala,” medyo nagtatampong sabi nya at hinalo-halo unconciously ang Arrozcaldo nya. Napatitig sa kanya si Hector. “B-Bakit?”

“Bakit parang ayaw mo kong umalis?” Tinapunan sya nito nang nanunuksong ngiti.

“Ayoko nga,” mahina nyang sabi at yumuko.

“Why is that?”

Matagal bago sumagot si Victoria. “Kasi…” Tumitig sya sa mga mata ng lalaki. “…kasi mami-miss kita,” nahihiya nyang amin sa mahinang boses.

Hector’s dark eyes twinkled in delight. “R-Really?”

Victoria nodded. “Pwede bang saka ka na umalis? I want to spend time with you outside tomorrow if the weather is fine. We can have picnic in the garden. Or we can swim in the pool. Magpe-prepare ako ng mga paborito mong miryenda. Just stay with me,” nagsusumamo nyang sabi rito.

Hector studied her face then he reached for her hands and held them. “I really have to go dahil importanteng business ang kailangan kong isara. I will be back as soon as you know it. Babalik ako agad. I promise.”

“Okay,” medyo nadismayang sabi ni Victoria.

Maya-maya ay inilabas ni Hector ang cellphone sa bulsa saka ipinatong sa harap ni Victoria. “You have to call you mother. Let her know you are okay. Ayokong mag-alala sya.”

She recognized her own cellphone. “Okay.” Victoria gave him a quick smile and took it. She called her mother. Nagkamustahan sila nito. Tahimik lamang na nakikinig si Hector habang kumakain ito. “I won’t be able to celebrate Christmas with you as planned. I’m going to spend it with Hector in France. We’ll check kung makakapunta kami dyan before going back to the Philippines.”

Sinabi na nya sa Mama nyang boyfriend na nya si Hector at ipapakilala ang lalaki in person kapag may time silang magbakasyon sa New York. From time to time, hinahayaan sya ni Hector na kausapin ang Mama nya para ipaalam ritong nasa maayos syang kalagayan at ganun din ang ginagawa nya kay Maristela, na syang pinakaconcern sa kanya.

Kinagabihan, naghanda si Victoria nang masarap na medium rare steak. It was a candle light dinner set up at the back of the mansion beside the pool. She wore an elegant long red dress which emphasized her perfect figure. Hinayaan lamang nyang nakalugay ang kanyang alon-along buhok. She also wore the diamond earrings and necklace that Hector bought for her.

Napatulala saglit si Hector nang makita sya. He looked handsome himself in his tux. They enjoyed the evening talking while sipping expensive champagne. Hector had his turntable set up outside and they danced under the stars as Moon River filled the air.

The moon light reflected on Hector’s dark eyes which gave him striking and very mystic effect. Victoria stroked his gorgeous face. She could see how much he loved her. Hindi na sya tumutol nang hinagkan sya nito sa labi na tinugon naman nya.

“I love you, Victoria.”

Victoria gazed into his dark, dark eyes. “I love you too.” Kita nya sa mga mata nitong gumuhit ang kaligayahan. “I’m yours just like you are mine,” she whispered. “I’m all yours. Make love to me, Hector.”

“Are you sure?” There was hesitation in his eyes.

“Yes.”

His eyes eyes turned darker than the night with desire.

Victoria smiled at him lovingly. At sya na mismo ang humalik sa labi ng lalaki.