Chapter 26

Naulinigan niya ang mga nagtatalo sa labas mula sa nakaawang na pinto nang magising siya. Boses ni Langdon at ng isang babae ang naririnig niya.

"You are being unfair with me Langdon. I'm your wife. Kakatapos lang ng kasal natin kanina. It's supposed to be our first night together but look where you are now. You decided to be with that woman instead of fulfilling your duty on me."

"I thought you've agreed on everything that has been said during the meeting of the families. We're just married in paper, Yvonne. You can't boss me around not when your family is dependent to my family now," balewalang saad ni Langdon.

"Ah so that gives you a reason to mistreat me? For your information, it's a joint cooperation. Hindi lang kami ang makikinabang sa kasal na ito. Your family has been entangled with many scandals for the past years and marrying one of your kind to my family will help ease your bad image. I could use this information against you to justify what the people has been thinking about you."

"Do it and I'll expose your older sister and brother's doing for the years that we have been together. Your siblings committed incest. This marriage barely manages to hide the gossips around that incident, Yvonne. I wonder what would happen to your brother's political career and your family business once that goes out. Sa ating dalawa, mukhang ang pamilya mo ang may kailangang mukha na itago."

Wala siyang narinig mula kay Yvonne sa loob ng ilang sandali.

"Your parents know about that and yet they are the ones who pushed the wedding to happen. Dala ko na ang apelyedo ng isang Asturia. Parte na ako ng pamilya niyo kaya alam kong poprotektahan ako ng mga kapamilya mo. They won't let that happen."

Marahas ang pinakawalan na tawa ni Langdon.

"You don't know how ruthless my family can be, Yvonne. 'Wag kang madala sa ipinapakita nilang kabaitan sa inyo. They could even kill their own blood and flesh so why can't they do the same to a practically outsider like you. That's how we thrive for decades. We're so good at politics, of infighting. We've managed to crawl into the three branches of government. Hindi ka ba nagtataka kung bakit sa lahat ng mga Asturia ay sa akin ka ipinakasal? There's Luca, Sergio, and Ymir. And then there's me who's not even active in the family affairs, who's considered the black sheep of the family. Kahit alam iyon ng mga magulang mo ay pumayag pa rin sila na ipakasal ka sa akin. That should at least make you think."

"I don't care! And I picked you myself. To be blunt, I liked you first even though you are my sister's boyfriend. Step aside. Tuturuan ko lang ng leksiyon ang babaeng iyan. Hindi siya marunong lumugar. No one messes with me. Binalaan ko na siya pero hindi pa rin siya nagtanda."

"My limit of patience is running out, Yvonne. Leave before you witness for yourself how violent I could become."

"You can't possibly kill me. You're only good at talking without actions. Hindi ko hahayaan na sinu-sinuhin mo lang ako. I am your wife, Langdon! Your wife! I've been told that you Asturias prized all your wives so you should do the same to me!"

Langdon laughed ridiculously. "You may be my wife in the eyes of everyone but you will never be one in my eyes. You're just a placeholder, Yvonne. Replaceable."

Tunog ng isang sampal ang nakapagpaupo sa kaniya sa kama. Alerto ang mga matang tumitig siya sa pinto. Yvonne shouldn't provoke Langdon any further.

"Totoo nga siguro ang mga bali-balita na patay na patay ka pa rin sa babaeng matagal nang patay. There's an urban story going around Monte Vega about the two of you. I pity you, Langdon. No, I pity myself more. Ayokong makihati sa isang taong patay na. That is disgraceful and I could never swallow the fact that I have to compete with just a pile of bones! If only that bitch is alive!"

"Don't you dare call her that way! You are nothing compare to her!"

She heard a grunt and a thud on the door so she immediately got up.

"Langdon! What are you doing? There are eyes around!"

She froze on her feet and hurriedly went back to the bed upon hearing the familiar voice. Agad siyang ng nagkumot sa takot. An elder Asturia is here. Hindi siya nito pwedeng makita kahit anong mangyari dahil makikilala siya nito.

"Yvonne is your wife for god's sake! Stop doing this to her. Ipinagkatiwala siya ng pamilya niya sa atin para alagaan at hindi saktan! What are you thinking my son?"

"I made my end on the bargain, ma. Iyon na lang ang kaya kong gawin para sa inyo. It's the last thing I can do for you as your son. Take Yvonne with you. May pasyente akong nagpapahinga," ani Langdon.

"Alright. I'll go. But please, come to our home one of these days. Your father is very pleased of you so he plans to give you an offer."

"I'm not interested. Go."

Mabilis siyang nagpanggap na natutulog nang marinig niya ang mga papasok na yabag ni Langdon. Itinago niya ang kalahati ng mukha sa pamamagitan ng pagsubsob sa kama at huminga nang malalim.

Naramdaman niya ang pagtigil nito sa paanan ng kama bago niya narinig ang pagbukas-sara ng pinto. Unti-unti siyang nagmulat ng mga mata

Muntikan na iyon. Kung sakaling natuloy ang pagpasok nila sa silid ay baka nabuking na siya. Langdon's parents cannot miss her face, that's for certain.

The door opened and the big frame of Langdon came in. May dala itong baso nang umuusok na gatas na inilagay nito sa side table.

"Drink before it gets cold."

Naupo ito sa tabi niya at inalalayan siya sa pag-upo. Inayos din nito ang unan sa likod at ulo niya. Nang hindi na siya makatiis ay hinawakan na niya ang kamay nito.

"Okay ka lang, Lang?"

He paused to give her a suspicious look.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

"Para kasing may bumabagabag sa iyo. Gusto mo hati na lang tayo sa gatas para makatulog ka rin?"

"Hmmm." He crossed his arms and smiled at her. "I'm good." Pinagmasdan siya nito saka itinuro ang mukha niya. "You lost your glasses. How can you say that I'm disturbed?"

Kinapa niya ang mata at nagkamot ng ulo. "Hula ko lang."

"Let's buy one after you get discharged. Ah, Cin. I'm going for a long ride. You up for it?"

Matamis siyang ngumiti dito at excited na tumango. "Gusto ko iyan. Sasama ako sa iyo."

"Kailan ka ba tumanggi." Ginulo nito ang buhok niya at umalis sa kama para mahiga sa katapat na sofa. "Right, remind me to stop by in a convenience store for your chocolate."

Naging malapad ang ngiti niya. "Okay, Lang."

"Hmmm."

Habang iniinom niya ang gatas ay tinititigan din niya si Langdon na mahimbing nang natutulog.

"You're exactly doing the opposite of what you're saying, Lang," she whispered while shoving all the blinking red warnings to the back of her mind on how wrong it is to continue to want him despite all.