MI ODIOSA QUERIDA-CHAPTER SIXTEEN (END)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Camille, I want you to be as calm as you can be, okey?” sabi niya sa dalaga habang inaalalayang umupo sa sofa.

“Why is that?” nakakunot ito nang tingalain siya.

Napagdesisyonan niyang sabihin na sa dalaga ang katotohanan, iyon lang ang paraan para masabi niya ang nararamdaman para rito ng walang takot at pag-aalinlangan. Hindi siya nito maaakusahan ng sinungaling pag nalaman nito ang totoo makaraang magtapat siya rito. It’s the best thing to do.

Hindi na niya ililihim pa ang nararamdaman para sa dalaga, he was so afraid when he thought she was gone, kaya naman magtatapat na siya. Gagawin niya ang lahat maprotektahan lang ito. Even if he had to marry her, well, he already had James’ blessing for that matter.

He squatted in front of her, “Because I’m going to tell you the reason why we’re here, the real reason, and…”

“The real reason?!” nagtaas na ito ng boses hindi pa man siya nakararating sa climax ng istorya niya. Maybe I’ts not the best to tell her the truth after all. “What, are you telling me na gawa gawa mo lang lahat ng sinabi mong dahilan noon?!” she said accusingly.

“Well, not all of them.”

“What do you mean ‘not all of them’?”

“Can you please settle down so I can explain?”

“I’m sorry,” mahinang sagot nito, “I was just shocked. You lied, I can’t accept that.”

“I’m sorry. You can punch me and slap me all night long, but that will be after I tell you the truth, can you promise that?”

Tumingin ito sa kanyang tila binabasa ang isip niya. “Alright,” pagsuko nito.

“You promise not to yell until I finish my story?”

“Yeah.”

“You’ll not going to kick me yet?”

“Sure.”

“You will not accuse me of anything until I’m done with my talking?”

“Oh for God’s sake Rave will you just spill it out and get done,” naiiritang sabi nito.

Ikinwento niya rito ang tungkol sa mga threat na natatanggap ni James, ang pag-uusap nila isang araw bago sila lumipad papuntang Spain.

“The plan was that he will come with you.” pagtatapos niya.

She stared blankly at him. “Then why is he not here? Why are you here instead?”

Her last words stung, but can he blame her to hate him so?

“Why is he still in the Philippines when his life is in danger?” nag-aalalang tanong nito. “He’s trying to save me, doesn’t he?” tumingin ito sa kanya. “He is putting himself out so the bad men won’t go after me. That’s what he’s doing, am I right?” maiyakiyak na sabi nito. Nakatingin ito sa kanya na para bang nakikiusap na sabihin niyang hindi totoo ang mga iniisip nito.

“I don’t know,” sabi niya. “He din’t say a thing, maybe he have some other reasons,” wika niya kahit pareho lang sila ng iniisip ng dalaga.

“And what ‘other’ reasons are those?” she was so close to shedding the tears that are glinting in her eyes.

“Maybe Gale,” mabilis na sabi niya.

Tumingin ito sa kaniya. “Oh, Rave, I wish that’s true,” sabi nito at yumakap sa kaniya.

She cried silently in his arms.

“Hush now, darling, he’ll be here next week with your friend so stop crying,” pang-aalo niya rito habang pinupunasan ang mga luha nito.

“He will?” anitong tumingin sa kaniya.

“Yes, he will,” he said smilling.

Ngumiti rin ito ng tipid, “How many times have I cried in your arms this week, Rave?”

“Hmmm,” umakto siyang nag-iisip. “A couple of times.”

Tumawa ito ng marahan, “Would you mind if I cry again tonight within those arms?”

“I definitely will,” nakakunot na sabi niya.

“Oh,” sabi nitong kumalas sa pagkakayakap niya.

Hindi niya ito binitiwan, instead he tightened his embrace. “I would not want to see you cry, it breaks my heart everytime you do.” madamdaming saad niya.

Niluwagan niya ang pagkakayakap dito para matitigan ang maganda nitong mukha. She looked into his eyes measuring the sincerity of his words.

“Why would my tears break the heart of a guy like you, Rave?” mahinang tanong nito.

“Because the heart of a guy like me was captured by a girl like you,” seryosong saad niya.

“Are you telling me you love me?” manghang saad nito.

“Si, querida,” nakangiting sabi niya. He knows somehow she loves him too, or at least cares for him. “Te amo.” he dipped his head for a kiss. In that kiss he knows for sure she loves him too, her love for him is no less than his love for her.

“I hope you’re not teasing, Rave,” sabi nito nang matapos ang halik na ‘yon.

“I’m not.”

He kissed her more passionately and she trew her arms around him. They kissed and caressed each other sitting on the floor, until finally, he pulled away.

“I can still wait for the wedding,” he said gingerly.

“Wedding?” litong tanong niya. “Sinong ikakasal?”

“We are.”

“I didn’t remember you asking me to marry you,” nakataas ang dalawang kilay nito, at, ipupusta niya ang lahat ng pera niya, kung nakatayo lang ito malamang nakapamewang ito ngayon. He laughed softly at the tought.

“I haven’t heard your ‘I love you, too’ either,” he teased.

“Exactly!” sabi nitong nagpipigil ng pagngiti. “How can you be so confident that I’m going to marry you.”

“Because your suppressing a smile, and imprisoning your ‘I love you too’ in those beautiful teeth of yours,” nakangiting sabi niya habang dinadampian ng maliliit na halik ang mukha nito.

When she said nothing, “Do I have to beg?” tanong niya at tumingin dito na parang batang nanlilimos.

Tumawa ng malakas si Camille na tila aliw na aliw. She cupped his face, “No, you don’t. I loved even before I realized I do. I love you, too,” nakangiting sabi nito. Happiness was in her eyes, true, uncovered happiness, and he was so happy to know he is the reason her eyes are twinkling beautifully.

“Just one more kiss,” he said and kissed her again with hunger, love and passion so thick that they were both out of breath when it ended. “Isa pa,” sabi niya at hinalikang muli ang dalaga, “Hmmm, just one more.”

She chuckled in his mouth. “When is your ‘one more’ be done?”

“When I no longer exist,” sagot niya habang pinapadaan ang mga labi sa labi ng dalaga, not willing to pull back.

“Why don’t you bring me to bed, Rave?” she was seducing him again licking his lips in light gentle caress.

“Hmmm, I don’t think so,” sabi niya still not willing to break the contact.

“Why not? You are obviously aflame with desire already,” she chuckled and looked into his eyes.

“Really? Now we are expert on me, are we not?” he said teasingly.

“Your eyes,” she said looking into his eyes, amusement all over her face. “nag-iiba ang kulay nila pagnagagalit ka, and when you want me,” ipinatong nito ang mga kamay sa balikat niya at inangat ang sarili sa kandungan niya. “Do you want a strip tease?”

“Oh, no, darling, thanks but no, we still have a wedding to plan.”

“Hey!” hinampas siya nito sa dibdib. “You haven’t propped the question yet,” nakangiting sabi nito.

“Fine, here it goes,” huminga siya ng malalim. “Shanaya Camille Montaño, will you marry me and be with me for the rest of my life?”

“Yes!” sigaw nito, hinalikan siya bago nagtanong na may kunot sa noo, “Do you think my brother will agree? Hindi pa ako nagtatapos, not that I care, but James will surely be a major wall to breach.” Bago pa siya makasagot ay nagsalita ulit ito, “Oh, Rave let’s get married tomorrow, I would really want to be your wife, I can’t wait till after college.”

“That is one wish I can’t grant,” he said smiling at her. Hindi na rin siya makapag hintay na makasal dito kaya lang…

“Why?” nagtatampong tanong nito.

Hay naku, babaeng ito talaga hindi lang mapagbigyan nagtampo na.

“Because you are not yet eighteen…”

“Oh, I’ll be eighteen in three days,” putol nito sa sasabihin niya.

“… at darating ang kuya mo sa birthday mo kasama si Gale,” paggtutuloy niya sa sinasabi.

“Masaya ako at makikita ko ulit si Gale pero kailangan kitang tanungin, magpapaalam ka ba kay kuya? I mean about marrying me?” nakakunot ito.

“He will ask it of me, hindi ko na kailangang magpaalam,” kampanteng sagot niya.

“What do you mean?” taking tanong nito.

“Well, I literally moaned and groaned the last time I talked to him on the phone,” he grinned at her.

“Wicked!” she said with a grin as big as his.

“That’s you.”

Tumawa ito, “We will not tell kuya that nothing happened,” he looked at him mischievously.

“We will,” seryosong sabi niya.

“But then he will not allow marriage,” nagpukol ito ng nagtatanong na titig sa kanya.

“I never lied to James,” pag-amin niya.

“Not once?” amusement was twinklingin her eyes.

“Not once,” pangungumpirma niya.

“Okay then, if you are so sure…”

“I’m sure.”

“I love you, Rave,” masuyong sabi nito.

“Te amo, mi odiosa querida,” when he kissed her all his fears and doubts were gone.

He loves this young bitchy, spoiled brat. He will think of his problems, their problems tomorrow but not tonight.

WAKAS

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Thank you very much for reading Mi Odiosa Querida (My Hateful Darling).

I hope you have enjoyed reading my first piece. Sana abangan niyo ang mga susunod pa.

Please wait for the love story of James and Gale