Kabanata 2
Intimate
I get it. I get it, alright. I have been in so many scandals since highschool, until now. And just recently, before the cocaine scandal, I was dragged into an ecstasy scandal just because a few of my college friends were in it!
I understand where Roscoe is coming from when he expressed his concern for me. I was photographed dead drunk and so unbecoming at an international party, it circulated so bad with the tagline Rockwell princess in ecstasy. After that, we were in a yacht with my friends, while drunk, and smoking, I was photographed again kissing Zane wildly.
Before all of these, Daddy confronted me and I chose to leave for Cebu after ordering a limited edition Graff diamond watch. He was so mad at me that I made it an excuse to not go home yet, stay in Cebu. Napilitan nga lang akong umuwi dahil sa cocaine scandal ni Zane.
Patuloy ang pag-alo, pagpapaliwanag, at ang pangungumbinsi nila sa akin hanggang sa dumating ang sekretarya at mukhang kailangan si Papa sa conference room. I continued crying and started ranting again but Papa excused himself.
"Mag-uusap ulit tayo mamaya."
Tumayo rin si Royce, tila ba naghihintay sa gustong mangyari ni Papa, at nag-eexpect na kakailanganin siya sa conference room.
"Royce, ako na ang maghahatid sa kanya. Dito ka na lang muna at samahan mo si Sky," Mama said.
I glared at my mom but she didn't notice it. She only looked at Royce before pushing Papa out of the dining table. Nagtagal kasi saglit ang tingin ni Papa sa akin at nagmamakaawa na ako sa tingin pa lang.
I closed my eyes when they left. Tears rolled down my cheeks, I didn't care whatever Royce is thinking in front of me. Nagpunas lang ako ng mga luha nang narinig ang kanyang silya, hudyat na naupo na ulit siya.
I glared at him despite the tears. He only looked at me seriously, the smug look gone.
"You planned all of these?!" I spat.
Nagbuntonghininga siya at umiling. "No, I didn't-"
"Liar! You like me and you're stalking me! Gusto mo akong pikutin!"
He chuckled without humor. "No."
"Shut up!" I said frustratingly. "Hindi ba mahirap ka nga at nagsikap lang na makaakyat sa tuktok kaya ka nandito? At siguro gusto mo talaga ako, kaya nahanap mo ako kagabi, at nagawan pa ng paraan para mangyari ito ngayon! You're disgusting and evil!"
He remained serious as he looked at me. His jaw moved a bit, probably struggling for his control of his own feelings. Sa galit ko, ginusto kong magpatuloy.
"You want to marry me so that you're name will look good! Bukod pa 'yan sa totoong may gusto ka nga sa akin!"
He chuckled a bit and closed his eyes before cutting me off. "Isn't that the other way around? You're marrying me to clean your very stained name?"
Hinahabol ang hininga, hindi ako nakasagot.
"And now that we're in this conversation, maybe we should make things clear for the both of us, shall we?"
Iritadong iritado sa kayabangan niya at sa lahat ng nangyayari sa akin, mariing titig ang ipinukol ko sa kanya.
"I am in great debt to your father. He believed in my potential and he's the reason why I am the person I am now. He asked for a favor, and I cannot take back my word. He wanted me to marry you to save your name, I agreed-"
"You agreed because you like me, you disgusting asshole!"
His lips rose a little bit. "Don't be so full of yourself, I don't like you! In fact, the more we progress in this conversation, the more you annoy me. Obviously, you're a kid. And judging from last night, you're really as immature as you look like."
