CHAPTER 40

The Starbucks outlet was filling up with its usual afternoon crowd, mostly the young and hip set from the surrounding residential towers. Young women wearing variations of the latest trend in fashion–ripped or skin-tight jeans and cropped tops–paraded before him but not even one caused his eyes to flicker behind his dark eyeglasses. Angelo Montoya, a known connoisseur of women, did not even deign to acknowledge the hopeful looks being thrown his way.

He’d chosen to sit at the farthest corner of the spill-out area not only to avoid the perusal of some of the female clientele inside but also to smoke, his latest vice. He’d never been a heavy smoker (in fact, he’d never really smoked outside of his drinking binges with friends), but he’d somehow taken on the habit ever since Gabriel and Louisa’s engagement had been formally announced. And it seemed it would stay until he’d figured out what to do with his feelings for Louisa.

It’s been five days–five tormenting, sleepless, foodless-days–since he’d last seen Louisa. He’d been living mostly on coffee (in the morning), booze (at night), and cigarettes (morning, noon, and night) since he left Louisa with Gabriel in Tagaytay. He grabbed a few bites here and there, but he’d not had a decent meal since then. His body was already protesting from this self-imposed fast, yet he really couldn’t bring himself to ingest any food right now. Food reminded him of Louisa.

It was a strange association for sure but somehow, whenever he saw food, he could not help but think of her. Probably because most of their time together revolved around food–their lunch dates (meetings, more like), the pizza she brought when she visited him–even their last night together involved food! So, how could he bring himself to indulge his stomach if his innermost parts hungered for something else? How could he be satisfied by something as trivial as food when he’d had a taste of heaven? Even if it also came with a bitter sampling of hell as well.

And it really was like he’d descended to hell when Miguel forcibly dragged him away from the hotel room. Well, actually, it was Miguel’s threat that forced him to leave. He was bigger than his brother and if they’d engaged in any physical wrangling, he would’ve easily overpowered Miguel. But Miguel had whispered the words he’d dreaded to hear: “If you don’t leave now, I’ll make sure you never get to see her again, ever!” He would’ve put it to the test if he wanted to, but the gravity of his older brother’s voice proved Miguel would make good his threat if he was defied. Miguel knew something that could jeopardize his stand with Louisa. And it alarmed him.

Angelo grabbed his cigarette pack, plucked one, lit it, and took a deep drag as he recalled the conversation he had with Miguel when they reached the Montoya resthouse. He could barely remember what had transpired after they had left the room, but he was not really surprised when he found Miguel driving through the Montoya compound. He’d half expected to see the formidable figure of his father glowering down at them from the driveway and was greatly relieved upon learning that only the regular staff was in residence.

Miguel was agitated himself because he immediately went for their well-stocked bar and poured himself a stiff drink, which he downed in one quick swallow before turning to Angelo in full fury.

“What were you thinking, Angelo? Why, of all places, did you have to take Louisa to a hotel? Didn’t you even think of the scandal it would’ve created if anyone outside of our family even got wind of it? Why, for heaven’s sake, didn’t you just take her home?”

He wanted to explain his side of the matter, but Miguel was too furious to listen. He just threw himself on the couch and stretched out his long limbs, feigning sleep by covering his eyes with his arm, hoping it would stop his brother’s tirade. But Miguel was too riled up to even notice his charade.

“What were you trying to do, Angelo? Why are you antagonizing Gabriel? Now, don’t deny it, please! I know it was you who set-up that meeting between Gabriel and Isabella. What on earth did you do it? Gabriel is our brother! You should’ve gone to him first before sending that harridan to ambush him!”

Miguel’s accusation pricked at his pride. He didn’t like being portrayed as the villain, especially when he was just protecting the woman he loved.

“Gabriel was playing Louisa false! He made her believe that he was going to marry her when he knew he was no longer free! What was I to do, Miguel? Warn him that his duplicity was about to be exposed? Why? So, he could keep on misleading Louie? I care for Louie, Miguel, and I won’t stand idly by while Gabriel makes a fool of her.”

Miguel’s shoulders slumped as he slowly shook his head. His sharp, dagger looks were replaced by sadness and pity. The former, Angelo could take, but he bristled at the latter. He didn’t need his brother’s pity, what he needed was his understanding.

“And that will be your undoing, Angel. Louisa belongs to Gabriel and she will be his wife. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“She can’t be his wife! Not anymore! He’s already married to Isabella, for heaven’s sake!”

“Gabriel didn’t even know about that. Isabella had somehow tricked him into it. And even if their marriage is real, and that is a very big IF, mind you, Gabriel can always get a divorce. They were, after all, married in England, where divorce is very legal.”

“And what about their child?”

“If there really is a child, another very big IF, then arrangements can be made for that, too.”

Angelo was very close to strangling his brother. Miguel had blithely shot down every argument he presented without batting an eyelash and it frustrated him. He should’ve known that Miguel would take Gabriel’s side. There was nothing he could say or do to change his elder brother’s mind or loyalty. He swung his legs to the side and looked up at Miguel who was pacing before him like a caged tiger.

“But why is Gabriel suddenly set on marrying Louisa? You said he was only doing it out of duty. Papa will understand his new situation. He’s always been a stickler for propriety, I’m sure he won’t let Gabriel abandon his wife and child just to honor an agreement made years ago.”

“You still don’t understand, do you? Gabriel is no longer marrying Louisa ‘out of duty’. He really wants to marry her! And based on Louisa’s reaction to Isabella’s news, there is a big possibility the feeling is mutual.”

Angelo’s world came crashing down on him. It was bad enough that Gabriel was now willingly marrying Louisa but for Louisa to be willingly marrying him as well was just too much to take.

“No, no! You’re wrong. Louie was very much against their betrothal. She just didn’t know how to get out of it without dishonoring her father. This, Gabriel’s marriage to Isabella, will give her enough reason. She will surely renounce their engagement now.”

“And what if she doesn’t?”

He was so sure Louisa would be backing out of her engagement to Gabriel that he did not even entertain any other notion. Still, he would not be intimidated by his brother.

“Then I will go directly to Papa and tell him about Gabriel’s situation. He will not condone this sham.” He really wouldn’t do such a thing, not until it was his last and only resort, anyway.

“And what if I also tell Papa about your role in this fiasco?”

“What role are you talking about, Miguel? I didn’t force Gabriel into marrying Isabella!”

“No, you didn’t, but you arranged that meeting behind Gabriel’s back. Papa would see it as blatant disloyalty to our family. Then, to make matters worse, you absconded with Gabriel’s fiancée and sequestered yourself with her inside a hotel room. How do you think Papa will view that?”

He didn’t believe Miguel would be bold enough to squeal on him. He would not do anything to aggravate their father’s condition. Especially since it would also force him to divulge Gabriel’s situation with Isabella. Now that would really pose a threat to their father’s health.

“Or, perhaps I should go to Louisa and tell her that you had been playing her false, too.”

His blood ran cold at Miguel’s insinuation. “What are you talking about? I never did such a thing!”

“Really? Are you sure? Well, then, let’s see now. You’ve known about Isabella for quite some time, even before she came here, yet you did not warn Louisa about it. You knew about the meeting, even arranged it yourself, still, you did not warn her. I wonder what she’ll say if she learns about it. She thinks you’re her friend but in truth, you’re just waiting for her to become vulnerable enough so you can be her savior and get your foot through the door,” Miguel paused, his sharp eyes boring into Angelo, a cynical smile twisting his lips. “Now that I think about it, it's why you took her to the hotel, right? You were planning on seducing her, weren’t you? Oh, my dear Angelo, what a diabolical mind you have,” Miguel said, halting before him. “Well, tell me then, baby brother, did you get lucky?”

Angelo was instantly on his feet, pinning Miguel’s body against the bar, his knuckles turning white from the force with which he was clutching Miguel’s shirt.

“Don’t you dare say that, Miguel! Louie is not that kind of woman!” He growled at Miguel.

He would’ve easily admitted to Miguel’s accusation about him (the thought of seducing Louie really did cross his mind) but he would not tolerate any slur at Louisa’s honor. He was really seriously pondering on where best to hit Miguel when he heard his brother’s soft chuckles as Miguel slowly disentangled his shirt from his vise-like grip.

“Relax, bro! I was only testing you. At least now I know for sure nothing happened between you and Louisa. But you did try, didn’t you?”

When he didn’t answer, Miguel sighed and shook his head again. “So, what stopped you?”

He could’ve lied, he could’ve dismissed the question. But his heart could no longer bear the weight of his tortured emotions. “I love her, Miguel and I just couldn’t do that to her. I couldn’t take what she wasn’t offering. Believe me, every cell in my body was screaming for it, but I just couldn’t. I didn’t plan on doing any of these! I know she already belongs to Gabriel and I probably deserve to be damned for wanting her in spite of it. But I’ve never felt like this in my entire life, Migz. And I just don’t know what to do about it,” his voice broke as his tenuous control also broke.

Then, pain, sorrow, and sympathy registered in his brother’s eyes. Miguel understood. And for the first time in his adult life, Angelo broke down right in front of his elder brother. All the grief, frustration, and helplessness he’d been feeling was expunged in a torrent of tears. Miguel, in his wisdom, did not utter a word while his strong arms reached out and offered the comfort only a brother could. Angelo clung to Miguel while he emptied himself of everything that was tormenting him.

Angelo crushed the butt of his cigarette on the ashtray before him, his mind and body as frayed and frazzled as they had been that dreadful day. He didn’t see or even talk to Louie the following days after. She sent text messages, but only to thank him for being there for her and to update him on her progress at the hotel. Last night, when he finally got tired of waiting for anything more from her, he decided to visit the Almendrez home in Alabang. But when he drove by her house and he saw Gabriel’s car parked at the front, he turned around, went home, and drank himself to sleep. Now, his body was screaming for sustenance and rest, but his mind was still too restless to offer any respite. He tried to bury himself in his work but even that offered no release.

Fed up with himself, Angelo canceled all appointments, turned off his phone, and joined the anonymous throng of caffeine addicts looking for a quick fix. The constant activity around him, men and women walking in and out of the nearby mall entrance, distracted him long enough to catch a much-needed breath of air. When it started drizzling, his mood was lightened considerably. He’d always been partial to lazy, rainy afternoons.

Then, just as he was leaning back in his chair to enjoy this rare bit of inner peace, a handsome couple coming out of the mall caught his eye. The man was tall, attractive, obviously cultured and, curiously, vaguely familiar. He was smiling tenderly down at the woman who was clinging possessively onto his arm. There was also something very familiar about the woman. Angelo had always been good at remembering people, not just faces. He could identify people by the way they walked, or stood, or even by their seemingly unnoticeable mannerisms–the way they flipped their hair, the way they slouched, the way they tilted their head. And he was confident he knew the woman casually walking past him. Then, she laughed, and his suspicions were confirmed even before she turned and revealed her profile to him.

As he’d figured, she was someone he knew very well. For the woman who was now unashamedly showering her affections on another man, just a few meters from where he sat, was the woman claiming to be the ‘legal’ wife of his brother Gabriel.

Isabella Castillejos.