Chapter Thirteen
S INULYAPAN ni Lance ang babaeng nasa harap. Too beautiful and sophisticated. She was so poised sa pagkakaupo sa settee na kaharap ng mesa niya. Parang mamahaling d resden china na dapat ilagay sa isang shelf upang i-display.
Her long straight hair was charcoal black. Thanks to the expensive hair dyes. The smooth skin tanned from sunbathing. He would have laughed aloud of her subtle efforts to please him kung hindi bumagay rito ang ginagawa. But she could make rags appear like a Queen’s garment. Si Charry de Luna ang pinakamatagal sa mga naging girlfriend niya. Marahil ay dahil hindi ito demanding. Hindi rin emotional.
And Charry was a matured woman. One reason kung bakit kahit kailan ay hindi siya pumapatol sa mga babaeng bata. Chances were hysterical ang mga ito kapag tinatapos na niya ang relasyon. And to give her credit, ginawa ni Charry ang hindi nagawa ng mga naging girlfriend niya: ang i-announce sa publiko na malapit na silang magpakasal.
He admired the guts of the woman kahit na halos maghisterya si Beatriz Navarro nang mabasa sa peryodiko ang announcement ni Charry na sooner they will tie the knots.
“Lawrence, ano ang ibig sabihin nitong nasa peryodikong ipinahayag ni Charry de Luna?” Natutulog pa siya nang bumulaga sa silid niya ang ina. Uncaring kung natutulog siyang nasa birth suit niya, bagaman nakadapa.
Tanging si Beatriz lamang ang may susi sa bahay niya.
Sa inaantok na diwa ay hinagilap ang kumot at itinakip sa ibabang katawan. “Mother... it’s Saturday. Ang aga-aga naman niyan.” i sinubsob niya ang mukha sa unan subalit hindi maawat si Beatriz. Nagmadali itong magpa-drive sa driver dahil naka-off ang CP ng anak. At natitiyak nitong nakatanggal sa plug ang landphone kapag Sabado.
“Lance, it’s nine in the morning. At itinago ko lahat ang mga peryodikong dumating dahil baka makita ng ama mo,” patuloy nito na umupo sa malapit sa ulunan niya. “Will you explain this?”
Napilitang siyang abutin ang peryodiko at daanan ng hindi pa maidilat na mga mata ang ikinaligalig ng ina. Isang inaantok na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan at muling ibinalik sa ina ang diyaryo. Muli ring itinaob sa unan ang mukha.
“`Ma, nabasa n’yo naman diyang siya ang maysabi, hindi ako. You worry over a grain of salt.” n aghikab siya.
“You have no intention of dissolving your marriage with Billie Rose, Lance, have you?” alanganing tanong ni Beatriz sa anak.
Pero tulog na muli si Lance. She sighed at tumayo. Masuyong pinagmasdan ang bunsong lalaki. Pagkatapos ay yumuko and softly touched his dark hair. Inabot ang kumot at itinaas hanggang sa likod ng anak.
“You are just like your father, Lawrence. Iyan ang malaking dahilan kung bakit hindi kayo magkasundong mag-ama. And Franco was so wrong when he married you to Billie Rose. Binigyan ka niya ng lisensiya sa mga kalokohan mo,” umiiling nitong sinabi.
“LANCE, hindi mo na ako sinagot?” ulit ni Charry sa mataas na tono. “Totoo ba ang nakalagay sa peryodiko?”
Bahagyang ipinilig ni Lance ang ulo. Isinandal ang sarili sa highbacked swivel chair. “As a matter of fact, it is, Charry.”
A flash of anger appeared in her eyes. Pero iglap lang iyon at nawala agad that he wanted to think he only imagined it. Lance smiled silently. He couldn’t help but admire the stunning woman before him. She was too composed bagaman alam nitong nagpupuyos sa galit ang dalaga.
“I heard rumors from some people that you married more than three years ago pero hindi ako naniniwala roon. Alam ko ang mga press people pagdating sa iyo. I never thought it to be true not even when I read the papers this morning.” m ay akusasyon sa tinig nito subalit hindi sumagot si Lance.
“You never told me anything,” patuloy ni Charry. He heard a faint sob in her voice. Sinasadya o hindi, he couldn’t tell. He couldn’t believe for one moment that Charry could afford to shed a single tear.
“There’s really nothing to tell.” He swiveled his chair backward at itinaas ang mga paa sa dulo ng mesa. “It was an arranged marriage.” i yon ang kauna-unahang impormasyong binitiwan niya tungkol sa kanila ni Billie Rose.
“And?”
Nagkibit ng mga balikat si Lance. Wala siyang balak dugtungan ang impormasyong iyon. Tumango ang babae. She had no wish to push him. Alam nito kung paano pakibagayan si Lawrence Navarro.
“I thought about it on my way here.” b inuksan nito ang bag at kinuha ang cigarette case and slim lighter, both designer’s label. Humugot ng sigarilyo at nagsindi. Puffed it and seductively blew the smoke ceilingward at muli siyang tinitigan.
“Pero hindi ko maisip kung paanong nangyaring ikinasal ka and still live like a bachelor...”
He smiled faintly pero hindi sumagot.
“What does she want?” patuloy ni Charry.
“An annulment.”
Kumislap ang mga mata ng babae. “Really?” Muling nagkibit ng mga balikat si Lance. “Then give it to her fast, Lance. Let the Navarro connections process the legalities.”
“Yeah,” sagot niya sa tinatamad na tono at muli ay nakita niya ang kislap sa mga mata ni Charry bago nito pinatay ang hindi pa nangangalahating sigarilyo sa katabing ashtray. Tumayo ito at lumakad patungo sa kanya. Sat on his lap at ikinawit sa leeg ang mga braso.
“Hindi na ako magtatagal. I know you’re busy, darling,” wika nito. Nasasamyo mula rito ang halimuyak ng mamahaling pabango. “Hihintayin kita sa pad ko mamaya, okay?”
He sighed, ibinaba ang mga binti sa mesa. “I don’t know my schedule yet, Charry—”
“Oh, Lance, please,” malambing nitong sinabi, pressed her body closer.
Doon bumukas ang pinto at sumungaw si Dulce. “Sir, si Mrs. Navarro, ho—” n anlaki ang mga mata ng sekretarya. Hindi nito nakitang pumasok si Charry sa kuwarto ni Lance. She must have used the private door. At kasunod nito si Billie na napahinto rin sa pagpasok.
“Eh, m a’am—” h indi malaman ni Dulce ang sasabihin at gagawin.
“It’s alright.” n ginitiang pilit ni Billie ang sekretarya. “Thank you.” Agad na bumalik sa puwesto nito si Dulce. Si Billie ay tumingin kay Lance while Charry took her time separating from Lance.
“I... I guess I arrived at the wrong time.” k ung may tinig na lumabas sa bibig niya ay hindi niya alam. Hindi rin niya alam kung ano ang dapat na maramdaman. Hindi niya gustong pakinggan ang may tila kudlit sa isang sulok ng dibdib. Magagawa ni Lance ang gusto nitong gawin.
Hindi nga ba at siya man ay may boyfriend na rin at kaya nga siya narito sa Pilipinas ay upang hingin ang kalayaan niya.
She cleared her throat. “I’ll come back later,” wika niya sa pinakakalmanteng tinig. Akma na siyang tatalikod nang magsalita si Lance.
“Walang dahilan para ipagpaliban ang kung anumang sadya mo sa akin, Billie,” wika nito na wala kahit na anong guilt na nararamdaman. “Charry is about to leave.” Nilingon nito ang dalaga. “I want you to meet my wife, Billie. Billie, si Charry de Luna. Anak siya ng isa sa mga business associates ng FNC.”
“Hello,” she smiled politely.
Ganoon din si Charry na tinitigan siya mula ulo hanggang paa in a mixture of curiosity and satisfaction. Ngayon nito natiyak na hindi gusto ni Lance ang pagpapakasal sa kanya.
So ang Mrs. Navarro na ito ay napakabata. Oh, well, beautiful but unsophisticated. At higit sa lahat, Amerisian. Mula ulo hanggang paa. She could have been sixteen when they married.
Si Billie ay pilit itinago ang pagkailang. Her untamed hair hanging loosely on her shoulders. Walang makeup maliban sa brown matte lipstick. White jeans and a striped navy blue long sleeves shirt. White sneakers na walang shoelace. She looked like an American navy brat kumpara sa kaharap.
Charry is wearing an old rose tailored blouse and miniskirt. In slim, beige high-heeled shoes. Her dark hair in tight bun. Tall and statuesque. Must be a year or two younger than Lance. And dear, she liked her tan.
“Nice meeting you, Billie,” she said smiling coldly at nilinga si Lance. “I’ll call you.” And walked out of the door in a very dignified fashion.
Si Billie ay sinundan ng tingin si Charry. Nalalanghap pa niya ang pabango nito sa ere. Ibinalik ang tingin kay Lance. Ipinagkrus niya ang mga braso sa dibdib and smiled at him teasingly.
“So that was your girlfriend, huh?”
“And she amused you?” wika nito sa nagsasalubong na mga kilay.
She made a face. “Not her personally. She’s very beautiful and epitomizes your kind of woman. Bagay kayong dalawa.”
Lance smiled lazily as he surveyed his wife. “And what is my kind of woman?”
She rolled her eyes. “As if...”
“C’mon,” he urged playfully. “Gusto kong marinig mula sa bibig mo.”
“Tall, dark, and exotically beautiful,” she said pouting her lips.
“And you are none of the above?”
Bahagyang tumaas ang kilay ni Billie. “I ain’t tall, ain’t dark and exotic...”
“I’m dying to hear the ‘but’. ” h e chuckled at the twang she used.
“But, baby, I’m beautiful.” s inamahan niya iyon ng curtsey. And with a twinkle in her eyes she looked straight into his eyes. “But not the kind of beauty you preferred.”
Nakangiting tumayo si Lance. He felt light and young. “Preferences can be changed.” Naupo ito sa dulo ng mesa.
She made a face. “That’d be the day!”
“Come here, Billie Rose,” he commanded na biglang nagpapormal kay Billie.
Hindi inulit ni Lance ang pagtawag pero nakatitig ito sa kanya, his eyes urging her to walk closer which she did as if hypnotized. Huminto si Billie sa mismong tapat nito. But Lance raised his hand and pulled her closer. Nakulong siya sa gitna ng dalawang binti nito. His arms around her. Suddenly, she was alarmed.
“W-w-we... can t-talk without... your arms around me.” n agkakandautal siya. Though she hated the thought na nakatingala siya rito, her heart started to turn over for some silly reason. And just the same, she couldn’t stay away from those dark penetrating eyes.
“But I want you in my arms.” i tinaas nito ang isang kamay and caressed her hair. “Wives are supposed to be in their husbands’ arms, don’t they?” he whispered, pinaglipat-lipat ang tingin sa buhok, at mukha, at mga labi niya. “And don’t wives kissed their husbands when they come to the office unannounced?”
She felt her stomach tighten strangely as his eyes caressed her face. May pakiramdam siyang naninikip ang dibdib niya. That she might faint any moment.
“What—are you saying?”
Hindi sinagot ni Lance iyon, sa halip, he pulled her closer and bent and teased the corner of her lips. And something warm and hot, sweet melting within her. Something she had never experienced before with Luke.
“Kiss me back, Billie Rose,” he murmured and in that instant she parted her lips and gave his tongue access to delve.
Gusto niyang malunod sa mga halik nito. She revelled at the pleasure of being in his arms. Gusto niya ang sensasyong lumulukob sa katawan niya. Pero may isang bahagi ng isip niya ang nagsasabing hindi tama, she promised to marry Luke once na maayos ang annulment.
Hindi niya kayang pakibagayan ang isang tulad ni Lance Navarro. Lance was a master in seduction and what she felt for him at this moment was lust. Hindi niya kailangan iyon. Luke can provide her that when they’re married. He loved her and she loved him.
Itinulak niya si Lance at mabilis na kumawala mula rito.
“D-don’t waste your time seducing me, Lance,” aniya sa nanginginig na tinig. Umupo sa sofa, hindi niya kakayaning nakatayo. “I c-came here to talk about the annulment. Tatlong linggo lang ang hiningi kong bakasyon sa opisina. At iyon din ang alam ng mga customer ko sa ranch. Pag-usapan natin nang maayos ang tungkol sa annulment nating dalawa. Have you talked to your lawyers about it?” tuloy-tuloy niyang sinabi para maalis ang tensiyon.
Isang malalim na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ni Lance at tinitigan ang asawa. “Wala akong intensiyong makipag-usap sa abogado ko tungkol diyan, Billie. At lalong wala akong intensiyong ipa-annul ang kasal ko sa iyo,” he announced firmly.
“But why?” naguguluhang tanong niya. “Sa pagkakatanda ko ay kinasusuklaman mo nang labis na nakasal tayo...”
Kahapon, pagkatapos nilang mag-usap ay umalis ng bahay si Lance. Ni hindi niya namalayan ang oras ng pag-uwi nito. When she woke up this morning, nasa silid na niya ang mga gamit at wala na ang lalaki. Tinawagan niya rin si Luke sa apartment nito upang ipaalam ang pag-iba niya ng tirahan subalit walang sumasagot.
“As a matter of fact, kahapon ko lang na-realize that I like being married to you...”
“You like being married to me!” Bahagyang tumaas ang tinig niya. “That’s ridiculous. Earth wasn’t created in one day, Lance Navarro. You can’t possibly tell me that gayong noong isang araw lang tayo nagkita matapos ang tatlo at kalahating taon!”
“Do you love this guy, Wendell?” tanong nito na ikinagulat ni Billie. Ilang sandali muna ang lumipas bago sumagot.
“Y-yes.” h indi niya matiyak kung nagdaan sa lalamunan niya iyon.
Tumiim ang mukha ni Lance. “I’m sorry to disappoint you and your lover, Billie. Hell will freeze over bago kita pakawalan!”
She opened her mouth to speak pero muling nagsalita si Lance. “Bukas ay ihahatid kita ng Sto. Cristo. You will stay there with my grandmother dahil aalis ang mag-asawang Alvaro at Kristine patungong Houston para sa annual board meeting.”
“Hindi ako sasama sa iyo!” Tuluyan nang kumawala ang pagpipigil niya.
Isang nakakalokong ngisi ang pinakawalan ni Lance. “Do you want a bet?”
“I don’t understand you at all, Lawrence Navarro!” galit niyang sigaw. “I think you’re mad!” Pagkasabi niyon ay nagmamadaling lumabas ng silid si Billie.
Naiwan si Lance na tinititigan ang pintong dinaanan ng asawa. Isang matalim na paghinga ang pinakawalan.
Perhaps she was right and he was mad. Sa loob ng mahigit kuwarenta y otso oras na nakasama niya si Billie ay napukaw nito ang lahat ng uri ng emosyon mula sa kanya.
She made him smile, she was capable of making him angry, she aroused from him such tenderness feeling that no woman ever did maliban sa tatlong babae sa buhay niya. His grandmother, his mother and his sister.
And of course, Jewel. He loved her, adored her, and admired her because of the kind of love she had for Bernard. But Jewel never made him angry. Jewel didn’t confuse his emotions.
And hell, kahit nagagalit siya ay nararamdaman niya ang kakaibang sensasyon tuwing nalalapit sa kanya ang asawa. He wasn’t that sex-starved na tila teenager.
And Billie’s easy to be with kung hindi niya gagalitin. They could be friends if he could only get hold of his damn temper pagdating sa babaeng iyon.
And to hell with the Navarro traditions and beliefs, sinira na ni Franco ang isa roon, and he could divorce or annul their marriage if he wanted to.
But... he didn’t want to.
At may palagay siyang wala siyang pakialam kung anuman ang pinaggagawa nito sa Colorado. It was probably his fault if she dated a lot of men. And damn Nick for not taking caring of his little cousin!
Dinampot niya ang intercom at diniinan ang buton sa sekretarya. “Dulce, place an overseas call to Nick. Try his apartment. It’s midnight in Texas at this time.”