H INDI malaman ni Michelle ang gagawin. This was no ordinary child’s tantrums. Catherine was getting hysterical.
“Promise her you won’t leave her.”
“W-what?”
“Just promise her.” The voice held command. Pinaglipat-lipat nito ang tingin sa anak at sa kanya.
“But... but I don’t make promises I can’t keep,” naguguluhang sabi niya. Sa likuran ay naririnig na niya ang lumalakas na iyak ng bata na may kasamang sigaw. “You can’t do that to your child, Adrian.”
“I will see to it that you will keep your promise. Now, tell her you won’t leave,” he commanded harshly. Si Catherine ay nakasiksik sa sulok ng upuan habang pasigaw na umiiyak. Her small body was shivering.
She would have asked what he meant by that but she was stunned by the harshness and urgency of his voice. And Catherine’s cry was starting to scare her. Nakikita niyang natataranta na rin si Adrian na hindi malaman ang gagawin sa anak. Pagkuwa’y lumabas siya ng sasakyan at umikot sa bahagi ng bata. Binuksan niya ang pinto at pumasok. She took the shivering girl in her arms and rocked her gently.
“I won’t leave, honey, promise.” Michelle kissed her crown. “And I don’t make promises I can’t keep. Hush now, Catie.”
Hindi sumagot ang bata pero ilang sandali pa’y unti-unting humihina ang pag-iyak nito. But she could still feel the child’s shivering. Mayamaya pa’y tuluyan na itong huminto pero hindi kumawala sa pagkakayakap sa kanya. Adrian breathed a sigh of relief. Pagkuwa’y pabagsak na inihilig nito ang ulo sa headrest. Narinig ni Michelle ang marahang pagpukpok nito sa manibela. She could feel the anguished than saw it.
Mahabang sandaling nanatili silang tatlo sa ganoong ayos. Naguguluhang itinuon ni Michelle ang paningin sa labas ng sasakyan. Patuloy pa rin ang mahinang ambon. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang iisipin o kung ano ang ipinangako niya o kung paano iyon matutupad.
A couple of minutes later, kumawala si Catherine. Umangat ang mukha at hinagkan siya sa pisngi. Panatag na itong ngumiti at pagkatapos ay bumaba ng sasakyan na parang walang nangyari.
“I’ll play at the pool, Daddy... Mommy...”
“Don’t stray, honey,” sagot ni Adrian at nilingon ang anak na lumakad papanhik sa bulubundukin.
Napahawak sa upuan ni Adrian si Michelle. “Umaambon. Besides, she could get hurt!”
Adrian turned, their faces almost touched, and her brain short-circuited as his warm breath fanned her cheek. She couldn’t collect her thoughts. Banayad niyang inilayo ang sarili.
“Mahinang ambon lang iyan at natitiyak kong maglulunoy sa pool si Catherine. Huwag kang mag-alala, walang mangyayari sa kanya. Malimit kami rito kapag may panahon ako. This is her favorite place and she was referring to the pool just a few yards away not the waterfall. May dalisdis ng tubig sa lugar na iyon. Isa pa’y marunong siyang sumunod sa mga babala...”
Her face flushed. Alam niyang ang tinutukoy ni Adrian ay ang ginawa niyang pagtungo sa mga batuhan. Bumitiw siya sa likuran ng upuan nito at sumandal. Sinulyapan ang dinaanan ng bata na hindi na niya matanaw dahil naitago na ng malalagong halamang-gubat at damo. Ibinalik niya ang tingin kay Adrian.
“What was that all about?”
Adrian sighed wearily. “Sa Maynila ipinanganak at lumaki si Catherine, Michelle. Pero malimit siya rito kasama ni Beverly. She was three years old when she saw Fred fall from the stairs and died. A child’s mind is resilient. Madaling makalimot. But less than a year later Bev died in a drowning accident at the resort. Tulad mo ay nagtungo siya sa batuhang iyon at nalimutan ang oras...”
Napahugot ng hininga si Michelle. No wonder he was so angry with her yesterday. Nakadama siya ng bahagyang panlalamig.
Nagpatuloy si Adrian. “Sa pamantayan ko at ng iba ay maaaring hindi naging mabuting ina si Beverly kay Catherine. But she was still her mother. Nang mamatay siya’y naroon si Harriet para kay Catherine. Sa maikling panahon ay napalapit sa isa’t isa ang dalawa, higit sa pagiging malapit nila ni Beverly.
“Harriet had been mother and grandmother rolled into one and spoiled my daughter rotten.” Amusement and weariness laced his voice. “Then... three months ago Harriet disappeared and Catherine was once more devastated. She took it too hard this time. May mga gabing sumisigaw siya sa pagtulog at hinahanap si Harriet.”
Deaths and disappearance. Paano ba kinakaya ng isang musmos ang sunod-sunod na pagkawala ng mga mahal sa buhay? Confused and worried, she went out of the vehicle. Cool and fragrant air and drizzles caressed her skin.
She shivered a little. Sumilong siya sa lilim ng isang puno na tumubo di-kalayuan sa bangin at sumandal doon. Narinig niya ang pagbaba ni Adrian ng sasakyan.
ILANG hakbang mula sa kinatatayuan ni Michelle ay huminto si Adrian at pinagmasdan ito. At first glance you would thought her plain. Only when you had taken a closer look that you would see that she had something that made her so pretty. She appeared so princess- ish .
Ang buhok nitong tila corkscrew ay inililipad ng hangin at pilit nitong sinusupil palayo sa mukha. She had a small pert nose, and a lush mouth that seemed to invite men to kiss her.
She had skin as soft and warm as her smile. And after last night he knew he wanted her more than just easy and fast sex. Hindi siya nakatitiyak kung ano iyon, but he was damn sure going to find out and enjoy it.
Her eyes sparkled like a thousand-watt fluorescent when she smiled. Pero naka-off ngayon ang kislap sa mga mata nito. She looked bewildered. Confused. And he was responsible for that.
“You made me promise not to leave her, Adrian. Don’t you think she would be emotionally shattered once I—”
“She would be if you leave,” he said from behind and walked toward her.
Humarap ito sa kanya. Her eyes were clouded. “Adrian, kailangan ko nang umuwi ngayon—”
Muli ay pinutol niya ang sinasabi nito. “Saan ka uuwi, Michelle? Wala ka nang mga magulang. Wala ka na ring boyfriend. Ano ang babalikan mo sa Maynila?”
“Adrian, contrary to what you think, I am not a rich woman,” she said in bewilderment. “Having a new car doesn’t make me wealthy. Between me and poverty is more or less seventy thousand pesos in the bank. A little knowledge of the law got me my mother’s Nissan X-Trail. My... my father’s lawyer promised me a job as soon as I get back. And there are also things that I need to attend to.”
“Let me ask you this, Michelle, and please answer me honestly. Kaya mo bang mahalin ang anak ko?”
Lalo nang lumalim ang kunot sa noo nito sa tanong niya.
“A-ano ang ibig mong sabihin?”
“Sagutin mo nang totoo ang tanong ko.”
“I... am an only child, Adrian. I have always longed for a sibling. Pero hindi na nagkaanak pang muli si Mama dahil sa... sa isang aksidente. Loving Catherine would be easy. And I love her already and that is why I don’t want to hurt her. At wala kang karapatang papangakuin ako sa anak mo nang ganoon.” May bahid ng galit ang tinig nito sa huling sinabi.
“Gaano kahalaga ang pagpipinta sa iyo?”
“Adrian, ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng mga tanong mo? Ano ba ang kinalaman niyan sa pag-alis ko? Of course, I love my painting. Nangangarap akong maging isang mahusay na painter balang-araw at makapagtayo ng sariling gallery at magkaroon ng exhibits.”
Adrian stared at her for a long time. Then, “I will offer you a job that would allow you to paint, Michelle. Trabahong magagawa mo ang lahat ng gusto mong gawin at kasabay niyon ay malaya kayong dalawa ni Catherine na mahalin ang isa’t isa. I could even create a small gallery for you at the hotel for your paintings. Or if you want, sa Olivar building, sa sandaling may matapos na kontrata sa mga umuupa sa ibaba.”
Her frown deepened as she gazed at him. Then the frown ceased and slowly, a smile curved her lips. Tulad sa isang bulaklak na unti-unting namumukadkad.
“A nanny! You want me to be Catherine’s nanny.” She wrinkled her nose, sandaling nag-isip. Nilinga ang buong paligid. Patuloy ang mahinang pag-ambon na tila hindi nila namamalayan gayong mamasa-masa na ang mga katawan nila at kasuotan.
Muli itong humarap sa kanya. May mga mumunting patak ng ambon sa hibla ng buhok nito at kumikislap na tila liquid silver. “You are right. Maliban sa ilang dapat ayusin sa Maynila ay wala naman talaga akong babalikan. And I very much like the thought that I could paint and have a gallery of my own. That is very tempting, Adrian. Well, just let me think about it tonight. I will call my father’s lawyer and—”
“I am not offering you a nanny job, darling.”
“You are not?” Nagtatanong ang mga mata nito. “A tutor then?”
“I am offering you to be my wife and Catie’s mother.”
Her eyes went wide. “A wife!”
“Marry me today, tomorrow, no later than a week. At kung ano man ang dapat mo pang ayusin sa Maynila ay ipaubaya mo sa akin. My lawyer will take care of everything.”
MICHELLE couldn’t have been more shocked if he told her to jump over the ravine. He was offering her to be his wife! Sa tonong nag-aalok ito ng isang normal na trabaho sa isang kuwalipikadong empleyado.
Pero hindi ba at sinabi lang ni Adrian na iyon ay isang trabaho? Ang tanging kaibahan ay magpapakasal sila. And he was doing it for Catherine. He was willing to sacrifice his freedom for her daughter.
She had never experienced a father’s love. And the thought that Adrian was willing to sacrifice his freedom for his daughter touched her heart that tears burned her eyes.
“It is only a job, Michelle. And you need it right now. I don’t think someone would offer you a better job than the one I just offered you. Unless having your own gallery doesn’t appeal to you.”
“Arrogant as you may sound, I do agree with you,” aniya na bahagyang nakabawi sa pagkamangha. She blinked her tears away and smiled at him. “You really love your daughter, don’t you?” Her face softened and she wasn’t even aware of how pretty she looked.
“She’s the love of my life, Michelle. Gagawin ko ang sa palagay ko’y makapagpapaligaya sa kanya. And as I can see it, ikaw iyon.”
Bumalik ang kalituhan sa mukha nito. “But why me, Adrian? Why not Norien? Sa pagkakaintindi ko ay ikaw ang gusto ni Mrs. Belarmino na mapangasawa ng anak niya. Nabanggit niyang mga bata pa kayo’y ipinagkakasundo na kayo sa isa’t isa noong nabubuhay pa ang papa at mama mo.”
“I don’t want people to decide what is and what is not good for my life, Michelle,” he said with a little edge in his voice. “Well, my daughter is another matter. Kung sinabi ni Catherine na gusto niyang maging mommy si Norien, then I would have offered for her a long time ago. Walang problema. That would make everybody happy...
“But as it is, my daughter’s happiness counts the most. Lalo na sa kalagayan niya ngayon. And it is obvious that she cares for you. Bagay na hindi niya ipinakita kanino man maliban sa Aunt Harriet niya.”
She was speechless. Muli siyang napatingin sa dagat na tila ba hinahanap doon ang mga kasagutan sa sirkumstansiyang kinakaharap. Tahimik ang dagat, naaaninag niya ang bahagyang galaw ng tubig sanhi ng mahinang ambon.
“Hindi mo makikita sa karagatan ang kapasyahan, Michelle,” he said amused, accurately reading her thoughts.
“What does marrying you entail?” she asked quickly.
He grinned triumphantly. At hindi siya makapaniwalang nahinto ang paghinga niya nang dahil lang sa ngiti nito.
His eyes took a slow, lazy trip down her body, lingered a while on her breasts and went back to her face that heat suffused through her body.
“The job I am offering you is a wife, Michelle. So it entails everything. Most importantly, the bed part,” he said huskily as his eyes kept on staring at her lips.
Her cheeks pinked. She started when Adrian’s hand reached for her nape and pulled her against him. “I believe this will make you decide faster.” His mouth closed the distance between them and came down on hers.
Her blood was racing, her heart beat a thousand miles a minute as Adrian’s mouth did a gentle exploration. Unlike last night, his kiss was slow, languorous. As if they had all the time in the world. Na para bang nasa loob sila ng isang silid at nakatayo sa gilid ng kama sa halip na sa gilid ng isang matarik na bangin, sa gitna ng marahang ulan, in the middle of earth and sky.
At the first feel of Adrian’s tongue parting her lips, Michelle’s heart beat triple time.
Dexter had kissed her many times already. Dexter’s kisses had been a little bit arousing, pero nagagawa niyang kontrolin iyon. Nagagawa niyang pahupain ang ano mang namamagitan sa kanila.
Paanong tila kakaiba pagdating sa lalaking ito? Paanong hindi niya gustong huminto si Adrian? The heat that consumed her seemed to be out of control, scorching her.
Itinaas niya ang mga kamay sa leeg nito at tumugon ng halik. Expertly, his hand positioned her head at just the right angle for the most powerful impact. His tongue explored the inside of her mouth and kissed her with controlled hunger, taking his own sweet time.
The process seemed to torture her. She realized Dexter was a novice compared to this man. Tulad kagabi, Adrian made her feel as if his mouth, his tongue, were her life source and she very much wanted to cling to them to survive.
The scent of him, musky, intoxicating, filled her senses. The feel of his rough, unshaved cheeks against the soft skin of her face made her blood flow through her veins like liquid fire.
Michelle raised her hands and curled them around his neck, wanting more than just his kisses. She wanted his hands on her breasts. Wantonly, shamelessly, idinikit niya nang husto ang katawan sa katawan nito. Pushing her breasts against his chest.
She felt the vibration of his laughter against her chest. Embarrassed, the thought of pushing him came to mind, pero bago niya nagawa iyon ay tinig ni Catherine ang umalingawngaw sa kapaligiran.
“Daddy... Mommy! What’s taking you so long?!”
Pareho silang biglang kumawala sa isa’t isa at nilingon ang pinanggalingan ng tinig, inaasahang nakita ni Catherine ang ginagawa nila. Pero hindi nila ito matanaw. Itinatago ito ng makakapal na damo.
Ang kaseryosohan sa mukha ni Adrian ay bumalik nang titigan siya. Gustuhin man niyang umiwas ng tingin ay hindi niya magawa. Tila may magneto ang mga mata nito at mahigpit na nakahinang sa kanya.
“Mommy...” he said in a gruff voice. He reached out and let his fingers drift across her lower lip and touched the wetness there. Just a simple touch, at muli nitong sinindihan ang apoy sa katawan niya na gumuhit patungo sa may ibaba ng tiyan niya. Sinikap niyang huwag mapaigtad.
“My daughter’s comfortable in calling you ‘mommy,’” he said. “I can only hope you won’t be offended if she calls you that in public... kapag kasal na tayo. Catherine’s a couple of months over four years old and people would think you must be nineteen when you had her.”
“I... I knew some classmates who got married at fifteen, a mother at sixteen, and—”
“Is that a yes?”
She frowned. “W-what?”
“Will you accept the job I offered you?”
She blinked. “Oh, yes, the job.” Her body still tingled from his kisses. At kung iisipin niyang muli ang ipinaghahalimbawa niya rito kanina—his kisses seemed to be her life force—she thought then that she couldn’t live without them.
“L-let me sleep on it...” she said huskily. “Tomorrow, you’ll have my answer.”
He grinned sexily. “In the meantime, mamaya pagbalik natin sa cottage ay ibigay mo sa akin ang mga necessities para sa pagkuha ko ng marriage license.”
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. Ibig sabihin ay hindi siya binibigyan ni Adrian ng panahon. “But—”
“Mauna ka nang puntahan si Catherine. I’ll take out the picnic basket.” He turned his back and walked toward the back of the pickup truck.