PINATAY ni Kylian ang makina ng sasakyan at napasubsob sa manibela. He had never been this exhausted before. Right now he just wanted to take a rest without his dad bothering him. And there’s only one place he thought he could go to.
He took out his phone from his pocket and called the first person in his contact. Nakaka-dalawang ring pa lang ay agad din sinagot ang tawag niya. “Hey,” bati niya. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
Lexie chuckled softly on the other line, “Why, of course no. You know I’ve always looked forward to your calls.”
Napangiti siya sa sinabi ng kasintahan. For a moment he was silent at nanatiling nakatitig lang sa gate.
But his sudden silence made Lexie worry, “Kylian, are you still there? Did something happen?”
“No, nothing,” he replied, shaking his head. “I… I’m in front of your house right now.”
“Wait, you are?”
“Yes.”
Ibinaba agad ni Lexie ang tawag niya. Ipinatong naman niya sa ibabaw ng dashboard ang phone niya. He closed his eyes, leaning back against the headrest. Still feeling exhausted, he huffed out a breath.
Ilang sandali rin ay nakarinig siya ng katok sa bintana ng sasakyan. It was Lexie. He immediately rolled down the car window.
“Hey there,” he spoke almost softly. He caught a quick frown on her face, perhaps of concern.
“What happened? You look so exhausted.”
He shook his head and smiled, “Will you give me a kiss then?” Nang hindi ito kumibo at tinitigan lang siya ay nagpatuloy siya. “I just need some energy,” he added.
Lexie stuck her head inside the car and gave him a peck on his lips. “There you go, lover boy,” she teased. “Got your energy back now?”
He chuckled and nodded. Anuman alalahanin niya ay biglang naglaho. He felt at ease now that Lexie was here. “Can I stay here tonight?”
“Did you have an argument with your dad again?” she asked. Bakas sa boses nito ang pag-aalala.
He let out a deep sigh. Sapat na ang katahimikan niya bilang sagot sa katanungan ng kasintahan.
“Let’s get inside.”
He got out of his car and followed Lexie inside her house. Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nakapunta siya sa bahay ng kasintahan. He’d been here for a couple of times and would usually come and stay the night here every time he and his dad would argue—the reason mostly was Lexie.
“I bet it’s about me again, right?”
Naupo siya sa tabi ng kasintahan at nahiga sa kandungan nito. “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he said with an apologetic smile.
“Hey, there’s no need for you to apologize,” anito at marahan hinaplos ang buhok niya. Her face smiled but her eyes didn’t. “I guess, kahit anong gawin ko, hindi na talaga ako magugustuhan ng ama mo.”
Natahimik siya bigla. Hindi niya kayang sabihin kay Lexie ang tungkol sa nangyari kanina. It would upset her even more. And there was no need for him to worry about his dad’s scheme. Hindi rin naman siya papayag makasal sa kung sino-sino lang. At malinaw rin naman niyang sinabi iyon sa babae kanina.
“Are you sure about me?”
Naputol ang pag-iisip niya ng marinig ang tanong ng kasintahan. “Why, of course, I am,” mabilis niyang tugon. “I wouldn’t propose to you kung hindi ako sigurado. And right from the start, I already knew that you’re the person I want to spend my whole life with. So please stop having those unnecessary worries, okay?”
Yumuko si Lexie at hinalikan siya nito sa noo. “I couldn’t help it. You know those tv dramas, yung mga magulang na tutol sa kasintahan ng anak nila. They would do whatever by any means, mailayo lang ang anak nila sa kasintahan nito. I’m surprised that your dad hasn’t done anything, knowing how much he is against me.”
Humugot siya ng isang malalim na hininga at umayos ng upo. He had a troubled look on his face. Napansin naman nito ang pananahimik niya. She took his hand and squeezed it.
“There’s something wrong. May hindi ka pa sinasabi sa akin. What is it? Tell me, Kylian.”
Umiling-iling siya. Hindi siya nagpunta dito para pag-usapan ang tungkol sa ginawa ng kanyang ama. Hindi muna sa ngayon. This time he just wanted to spend the rest of the night with Lexie ng walang alalahanin.
He rested his forehead against hers. “I’m okay,” he whispered against her lips. “Let’s just not talk about that.”
Lexie placed her hands gently on his cheek, the pad of her thumb caressing his skin. “I love you, Kylian. Always remember that.”
A smile worked across his face. He dipped his head down and pressed his mouth to hers. She parted her lips and he took the advantage of the divine invitation, slipping his tongue deep into the sweet cavern of her mouth. A low moan vibrated from her throat, her arms wrapping around his neck. He could feel the rapid beating of her heart and the warmth of her body pressed against him.
He drew away, still holding her. “Let’s get to bed,” he whispered. Ang mga mata ay hindi inaalis sa kasintahan.
Lexie, still catching her breath, just simply nodded. Hinalikan niya ito sa noo at saka binuhat patungo sa kwarto.
ISANG malalim na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ni Kylian bago bumaba ng sasakyan. Umaga na siya ng makabalik sa bahay niya. He already called the office to inform na hindi muna siya makakapasok ngayon araw na ‘to. Wala siya sa wisyo para makapagtrabaho ng matino ngayon araw.
“Buti umuwi ka pa.”
Labis na ikinagulat ni Kylian nang marinig ang boses ng ama. Kalmado itong nakaupo sa mahabang sofa at hula niya ay kanina pa siya nito inaantay.
“Let’s talk.”
“We don’t have anything to talk about,” he answered coldly. Dire-diretso siyang naglakad paakyat sana ng kwarto pero napahinto ulit siya ng marinig ang sumunod na sinabi ng ama.
“The hotel,” his dad began. “Plano kong ibigay ang pamamahala nito sa iba.”
His brows drew down in a scowl as he looked at his dad. “Are you kidding me? You know how much I’ve worked hard para sa Palace Hotel. Inihahanda ko ang sarili ko para sa pagdating ng araw na pamamahala ko rito. And now you’re telling me na basta-basta mo na lang ibibigay sa iba ang pamamahala nito?”
“I agree. I saw your dedication in your work and how serious you are in taking over the hotel.” Huminto ito saglit at marahas na napabuga ng hangin. “But I already made the decision, Kylian.”
“Why?” he asked through gritted teeth. “What made you decide that? Alam kong hindi ka basta-basta mag-dedesisyon ng ganyan ng walang malalim na dahilan.”
“If you seriously want the Palace Hotel then I could give it to you. But of course, on one condition.”
Naikuyom niya ang mga kamay. Tila may ideya na siya sa hihingihin nitong kondisyon at alam niyang hindi niya magugustuhan iyon.
“Marry Zariyah.”
“No!” mabilis at may diin niyang sagot sa ama. “I already made it clear last night. Hindi ko sasakyan ang kalokohan niyo. I won’t marry that stranger!”
His dad rose from his seat. Kalmado lang ang mukha nito nakatingin sa kanya. “Suit yourself. Hindi lang naman ikaw ang tanging nakikitaan ko ng potensyal.”
“You can’t do this.”
“Oh yes, I can,” matigas na sabi nito. “So if you don’t want your efforts to go to waste, Marry Zariyah.”