hiiiii! Kumusta ang last updateee? Na-enjoy niyo baaaa? HHAHAHHAH masaya na sila sa mga kaganapan malay niyo sa susunod hindi na, chariz!

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CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

ILANG oras din ang tinagal namin ni Kazi rito sa flower shop para pag-usapan ang iba pang mangyayari. Tapos naman na kasi siya, kaya lang wala pang official opening na nangyayari, wala pa ring pangalan ang shop dahil hinihintay niya raw akong magdesisyon.

Naka-upo ako sa mahabang couch sa loob ng opisina sa shop.

Hinaplos ko ang buhok ni Kazi na naka-unan sa 'king mga hita. Nang maupo kasi ako rito sa couch ay sumunod ang lalaki at nahiga. Gusto raw niyang magpahinga sandali kaya hinayaan ko.

"Kailan mo ba gusto mag-open itong shop?" mahina kong tanong sa kanya.

Nakapikit si Kazi kaya malaya kong mapagsawa ang mga mata kong makasalanan sa kaniyang mukha.

"Kung kailan mo gusto, dove. It's your decision," he answered without opening his eyes.

Napa-isip ako lalo dahil sa sinabi niya. "Kazi, what if this week na lang din? Para isahang pagod na lang tapos next week magwo-work na rin ako rito."

"Yes, it can be. Then what day? Today is Monday, you have four days to choose kung kailan ang opening."

"Wednesday?"

"Okay. I will clear my schedule on Wednesday to be with you. How about the name of the shop? Have you already think of it?"

I pouted my lips.

I have already choices in my head. Pero hindi ko lang sigurado if maganda ba siyang pakinggan. My first choice is MaZi pinaghalong pangalan namin ni Kazi. Second is ZiYa's like from our combined names again, and lastly is Paradise's Flower Shop. Dahil kada lilingon ako sa paligid ay para akong nasa langit dahil sa mga bulaklak.

"I have three options, Kazi."

"Let me hear it then."

Huminga ako ng malalim habang patuloy sa paglalaro sa kaniyang buhok. I slowly traced his prominent features.

"First choice is MaZi and second one is ZiYa's, it came from our combined names, Malaya and Kazi. Last one is Paradise' Flower Shop."

Kazi smiled, "I like our combined names. What if make it like MaZi's paradise flower shop?"

"Kinda long, but I like it," ani ko. Iminulat ni Kazi ang mga mata niya at deretsong tumingin sa 'kin.

"So, that's final, dove?"

"Yes."

"Okay, then, I will call people who can make it so they can put it tomorrow. And do you want to have a private party after we open this up?"

Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata. "That is too much, Kazimir! Ang dami-dami mo ng nagastos! This shop, Liza's unit, and the tarpaulin for the name, the opening—"

"And that's nothing, dove. You deserves that, baby. You deserve this. Besides, I will spoil my woman, always. Walang kaso ang pera," matigas nitong ani sa 'kin.

Tinitigan ko siyang mabuti. He looks scary dahil walang kaemo-emosyon ang mukha niya but his eyes are looking at me softly.

Damn this man for putting so much effort in our relationship.

My heart began to feel heavy. This man is so pure. Really love me, giving me this things pero . . . eto ako, hindi totoo sa kanya. Maybe that's why he is spoiling me too, to give me a good life since I didn't have it in my life before.

I feel guilty.

Parang hindi ko deserve ang ginagawa niya sa 'kin ngayon. Lahat ng binibigay niya parang hindi ko deserve dahil hindi naman ako nagpapakatotoo sa kanya.

Sinapo ko ang kaniyang pisnge. I'm starting to feel guilty . . . I want to . . . I suddenly have this urge to tell him the truth about me, since I know, malalaman at malalaman din niya. One way or another. His cousin . . . mukhang nakilala niya rin ako from somewhere, and hindi malabong si Kazi rin.

I should tell him already.

If I want this relationship to last, I should be honest. Like how I've been honest with Liza.

Maybe he feel that I ooze to cloud nine that's why he went up and hold both of my cheeks. I blinked couple of times before I looked in his eyes again. I pushed myself to give him a smile.

Sinalo ko ang kamay niyang nakasalo sa 'king pisnge.

"Kazi, thank you," mahina pero sincere kong ani sa kanya. "Thank you for giving this to me. I love you," I whisper before I hugged him. Isiniksik ko ang mukha ko sa pagitan ng leeg at balikat niya.

********

AFTER we stayed on the shop for more hour we already went home. I know I should be tired since I helped the maids to clean some part of the shop, plus we went to a restaurant where our food will came from, but I don't feel it right now.

Excited pa nga ako dahil first time ko 'tong magkasariling business. Ang dami ko na agad naiisip na ways to make it more kilala sa mga tao.

Kaya nga pagka-uwing pagka-uwi ko ay naglinis lang ako ng katawan, nagbihis ng pantulog at nagpaalam na agad akong bababa muna sa unit ni Liza para ibalita sa kanya ang nangyari ngayong araw. Besides, I want to know if she enjoy working at the company. If she didn't I will asked her assistance na lang sa shop para magkasama pa rin kami.

I give him a goodbye kiss before akong tumakbo palabas ng penthouse.

I'm humming my favorite song inside the elevator while waiting it to open. Nang bumukas ay tinakbo ko ang unit ni Liza, and I was about to knock when I see the door bit open. Kumunot ang noo ko. Did she forgot to close her door properly?

As I walk toward the door to push it open cold sweats starting to wet my body.

Napahawak ako sa tapat ng puso ko.

What the hell is happening?

Is there something wrong happened with Liza?

In that thought I move faster. Marahan kong tinulak ang pinto. Pumasok ako sa loob, 'di na ako nag-abalang isarado ang pinto para kung kakailanganin kong tumakbo ay makakatakbo kami palabas. Ngunit naglaho lahat ng iyon sa isip ko ng marinig ko ang dalawang boses na nag-uusap.

And gamó.

Those are familiar voices.

Nahigit ko ang hininga ko ng makita si Liza na may kausap na lalaki. Nakatalikod ito sa 'kin. Nakasuot ng itim na suit katulad ng sinusuot ni Kazi . . . at pamilyar na pamilyar sa 'kin ng boses niya. His thick deep voice laced with authority.

"Sinabi ko naman na sa 'yo, 'di ba? Hanggang bar lang ang relasyon natin. Nang umalis ako roon ay natapos na rin ang lahat sa 'tin!" mariing sambit ni Liza.

"No, no agápi. I'm the one who will said if this relationship stop. Not you, not anyone else. You left without telling me and leave your house. Kung hindi pa ako nagpunta roon hindi ko malalaman! I will look like ilíthios!"

"Pwede ba! Masyado ka na kasing clingy! Sinabi ko naman sa 'yong ayokong makipagrelasyon, 'di ba? Pumayag kang fuck buddy lang tayo!"

"Óchi—"

Nanginginig ang buong katawan ko habang nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa. I want to run. To hide. Pero napako na yata sa carpeted floor ang mga paa ko dahil hindi ako makagalaw. Sa paraan nila ng pag-uusap ay parang matagal na silang magkakilala. Parang naging costumer ni Liza sa bar?

"Malaya?"

When Liza called my name, I noticed Ares or Makisig . . . slowly look back at me. And there our eyes locked. His eyes widened when he realized that it is me.

"Aya!"

Napalunok ako.

Before I could do anything he is already in front of me. Hugging me tightly.

"Gamó! Móno edó boró na se do!" he said frantically. (Fuck! Dito lang pala kita makikita!)

Basang-basa na ang pisnge ko sa luhang bumabagsak mula sa 'king mga mata. Para akong nabibingi sa boses ni Ares. Tiningnan ko ito at saka tumingin kay Liza na ngayon ay nakaawang ang labi na nakatingin sa 'min. From the look in her face parang may kung ano siyang napagtanto.

Dahil sa sunod-sunod na paramumura ni Ares ay napabalik ako sa reyalidad. Marahas kong tinulak si Ares kaya napahiwalay siya sa 'kin. Namumula ang mga mata nito kasabay ng pagbagsak ng ilang butil ng luha.

I want to lie. I really do. To ensure I will escape this situation. But somehow I know it will not work since my brother is a smart man. Mauubusan ako ng palusot at kasinungalingan pero at the end, mahuhuli niya rin ako.

"A-Aya . . . i-its been a long time," anito sa mabagal na boses.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kanya. I looked down and played with my fingers.

"A-Ares," I take a deep breath before I have a courage to look at him again. "C-can you leave? I-I will not come back . . . take this as our goodbye—"

Ares expression hardened.

"Please. I don't want to comeback. I will not marry someone I don't know," mahina ngunit puno ng pagsusumamamo kong ani.

But he didn't bulge. I saw his fist balled.

"Forgive me, sister, but I will not," he said coldly. "We. Will. Go. Home," he said, he looked back at Liza. "And were not done talking!"

After that namalayan ko na lang na nakapahawak na ang kamay nito sa 'king braso at parang bakal na humihila sa 'kin palabas ng unit ni Liza. Fear eaten me up when I see the elevator door. Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Ares na nakahawak sa 'kin at sinubukang alisin ang pagkakahawak niya.

"Ares! P-please! Parakaló! Let go of me! Let go!!!" naghuhumiyaw na ako't panay pigil ko sa kanyang maglakad para lang huwag kaming makarating sa elevator. In this moment I want someone to see us to help me.

"Stop it, Malaya! You are going home then we're going to talk about the stunt you pulled and every shit happened! You little witch! Uuwi ka na para makita ni Mama!" anito sabay hila sa 'kin ng buong pwersa sa loob ng elevator.

Mariin akong umiling.

I cannot be married to anyone but Kazi! I can't leave! I can't go home!!

"HELP!! HELP ME!!!" I shouted in fear while trying to pull my arm away from his grip.

Mas lalo lang dumilim ang mukha ni Ares dahil doon. Hindi siya makapaniwalang nakatingin sa 'kin.

"Don't make me mad, Aya! No one will help you now," he said in cold voice before pushing the ground floor button.

Marahas ko siyang tiningnan. "Leave me alone, Ares! I'm not the old—"

"Shut up. You will come with me. Katalavaínete?"

"Óchi, tsimpíste! Áse me ísycho! Parakaló voithíste me! Kápoios!" I shouted. (No, you prick! Leave me alone! Please, help me! Anyone!)

He didn't even look at me. Inilabas lang nito ang kaniyang telepono at may tinawagan, and I think that's his driver sa paraan niya ng pakikipag-usap.

"Yes, be ready at the ground floor we're leaving right away!"

Naalarma akong lalo dahil wala pang nakakakita sa 'kin o tumutulong. I looked in the CCTV camera at the corner, they will report to Kazi that I'm being taken against my will, correct? I shouted again and again hanggang sa makababa na kami ng tuluyan sa ground floor. Hila-hila pa rin niya ako.

The people are shocked to see me being pulled like a rope by this unknown man since they know me as Kazimir's girlfriend.

And I saw from the glass wall of this condominium that his car door is already opened and waiting for him to get in. Mabuti na lamang at hinarang kami ng isang guard bago kami makalabas ng building.

"Sir, pasensya na po pero bakit niyo po hila-hila si ma'am? Kaano-ano niyo po?" magalang ngunit nangingilatis na tanong ng guard.

"She is my sister and I'm just bringing her home," he said like its nothing.

I shook my head and look at the guard pleading, "no! Please! Tulungan mo ko, manong. Hindi ko gustong umuwi. Tell to my boyfriend that I'm here! Please! Call Kaziii!!"

Gusto kong magngangalngal sa nangyayari. Para akong masusuka.

"Eh, ma'am—"

"Don't follow her orders, she's just in hysteria because I found her. Please, let us leave. Or you want to talk to my lawyer for delaying us?" Ares uses his fucking authority now.

Wala tuloy nagawa ang pobreng guard kundi senyasan ang isang kasamang palagpasin na kami. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng hilahin ako palabas ni Ares.

"NO! PLEASE! HELP ME! KUYA! PARANG AWA MO NA!! HUWAG NIYO KONG PASAMAHIN!!" Humawak ako sa kamay ni Manong Guard para hindi ako mahatak ni Ares, napakahigpit ng hawak ko, ngunit walang ginawa ang guard para tumulong. He just let my brother remove my hands into him and pulled me.

Parang bata akong ipinasok ni Ares sa backseat ng kotse. Halos ipalupot na rin niya sa 'king katawan ang seatbelt para masiguradong hindi ako makakatakas. After that he locked the door in my side and went to another. I was about to remove it when he enter the car.

"Don't be a brat, Aya. I know you can fight but I'm better than you," he said while removing the button in his coat and looking at the driver. "House. Immediately."

Parang naubusan na ako ng lakas. Wala na akong takas. I'm already doom.

I only watch the condominium building gets smaller habang papalayo kami.