Hindi malaman ni Hope kung maiinis siya o magpapasensya na lang na dinala ni Kassey si Jasper sa dinner. Worst, she told everyone she was dating the guy. Natural, kahit nangingibabaw ang respeto sa hapagkainan, hindi nakaligtas kay Hope ang pagkagulat ng mga matatanda. Nobody dared to question her 'decision' and Hope hated it that they opted to judge her secretly.
"I thought you have a boyfriend, Hope," parang hindi naman nakatiis sa pananahimik na sabi ni Brianna.
"Ate Hope," Gina corrected her, Brianna just rolled her eyes at her stepmother.
"We broke up," tugon naman niya.
"Like when? Yesterday? And you're already dating???" Hirit pa ng pinsan niyang nakikipag-agawan ng pwesto kanina kay Zoey sa tabi ni Kaden.
Right, Zoey was at the dinner. Beside Kaden, like a real wife and already a part of the family. Hope was already struggling the whole time na 'wag tumingin sa pares. Because it's hurting her deeply.
"I'm sorry--- We're not yet dating," singit ni Jasper na bahagya nang nailang.
Bago pa magkatensyon, Agusto Fontanilla changed the topic.
"So, what do you do for a living?" He asked Jasper.
"I'm a real estate broker, sir."
And the interrogation started.
Hope felt bad for the guy. Pero hindi naman kasi niya hiningi na pumunta ito roon. Tinulungan na lang niya itong sumagot kahit na hindi pa niya ito masyadong kilala just to assure him na makakalabas pa ito ng buhay sa restaurant.
"Thank you, Sir, for allowing me to be part of your family dinner. And if I may, I would like to take this opportunity to ask your permission to take your granddaughter out on a date," magalang na sabi ni Jasper.
Tumango-tango ang lolo niya na wari'y pinag-iisipan ang isasagot.
"I promise you that I will take good care of her."
Before Hope knew it, nakuha na ni Jasper ang oo ng kanyang lolo. Agusto didn't seem to like Jasper very much pero dahil maayos na nagpaalam ang binata ay pumayag na rin naman ang lolo niya. But not without rules, that was a numerous do's and dont's.
"Looks like you found yourself another boyfriend, Hope," Zoey told her, nagpunta siya sa restroom at sumunod naman ito.
"I'm not even dating him."
"Yet," may iba namang hugasan pero sa ginagamit pa niya ito naghugas ng kamay. "Actually, bagay kayo. You have a chemistry"
"If that's your opinion..." saad niyang bahagyang dumistansya, mainam nang umiwas kaysa pumatol pa sa halata namang nagpapakaplastic na si Zoey.
Honestly, namimiss niya iyong Zoey na nakilala niya sa San Gabriel.
"Siguro naman makakalimutan mo na si Rain---"
"Don't mention his name." Tinanggap na niyang pinsan niya si Kaden pero hindi nito kailangang banggitin pa ang pangalang gusto niyang i-preserve sa alaala niya. Because despite the knowledge that what they once had was an illicit relationship, it would forever exist in her memories. And she would treasure it for the rest of her life.
"Opps, sorry," insincere nitong sabi. "By the way, the wedding's in four weeks, 'wag kang mawawala, ha?" Zoey added before leaving her alone.
"Of course," sagot pa rin niya, syempre pupunta siya. Nobody knew about her and Rain maliban sa kanya at kay Zoey.
Besides, kailangan niyang ma-witness iyon because it would mark an important event in her life - losing Rain forever.
Bumalik siya sa mesa and pretended na okay sila ni Zoey. Gano'n din naman kasi ang ginawa nito. Kung makaakto ito ay parang close na close sila at tinukso-tukso pa sila nito ni Jasper.
"Zoey, that's enough," saway pa ni Kaden when Jasper ended up humiliated by one of her jokes.
"Sorry," kulang sa sinseridad na hingi nito ng paumanhin.
"Zoey, hija, how's the gown fitting?" Tanong ni Enriqueta para ibahin ang usapan.
"It's perfect lola. But I am not trying it on. Hindi po ba bawal iyon?"
"Zoey Jimenez believes in superstitious!" Kassey teased but a bit sarcastic.
"You should try it on, Zoey." Brianna said na halata namang ayaw matuloy ang kasal nina Zoey at Kaden.
"It doesn't matter if you try it on or not. As long as you love each other, no superstitious belief is going to stop your wedding. And I know that your love is enough to conquer hindrances," Hope said na matamang nakatingin kay Zoey na mukhang nasorpresa sa suportang ipinahayag niya.
"Well thanks," tumahimik na ito pagkatapos.
Kaden on the other hand just looked at her intently but refused to give away his emotion.
Natapos ang dinner at nakahinga si Hope nang maluwag. Maliban sa tensyong kagagawan ni Kassey, everybody agreed na kaya niyang ibangon ang Isabella's. And it was a huge thing to boast her confidence.
It had been a long night.
*****
NAGISING si Hope dahil nauuhaw na siya. Kaya kahit tinatamad bumangon dahil sa pagod, she dragged her feet down to the kitchen.
"I can't believe you did this! How inconsiderate of you, Kassey!" It was Kaden scolding his sister.
"Hope is an adult. She's lonely. Masama bang tulungan ko siyang humanap ng makakapagpasaya sa kanya?" Pagtatanggol ni Kassey sa sarili nito.
But what surprised Hope was the fact na siya ang pinag-aawayan ng magkapatid. Kaden was worried na hindi niya nagustuhan ang ginawa ng kapatid nito. Tama naman ito but there's no need to tell Kassey about it.
"You don't know, Hope!"
"Do you?" Hamon ni Kassey.
"I've known Hope even before you found her as Isabella!"
"Were you close?"
"No. But I know her enough to tell na hindi siya masaya sa ginawa mo!"
"Stop it, Dr. Aragon. I know what I am doing. And I sincerely wanted to see her happy. Now, if you don't have any more to say, please, I badly needed some rest!" Impatient nang sabi ni Kassey.
"That does not give you the right to force her into dating someone she doesn't like!"
"I didn't force her. Besides, at least I'm doing something for her that I'm sure she would be thankful for later. Unlike you. And by the way, why are we fighting over this matter?"
"Because I care for her too, Kassey."
"Brother, need I remind you that you're getting married?"
"What do you mean?"
"You cannot start caring for Hope. She shouldn't know, right?"
Anong sinasabi ni Kassey? Hope knew that she shouldn't be eavesdropping. But she couldn't get her feet to move.
"Don't even go there, Kassey."
Hindi niya nakikita ang dalawa but if Kaden's voice was any indication, galit ito.
"Fine. But don't give me a reason to think that you're crossing the line. You will never be ready to face the consequences, kuya." No response from Kaden so Kassey continued. "I'm going to sleep."
Dahil madilim, hindi siya nito nakita. Nagtuloy-tuloy ito sa pag-akyat.
She stayed where she was for a good five minutes. Hinihintay niyang lumabas si Kaden pero nanatili ito sa loob. She thought of going back to bed when he spoke.
"Get out from there, Hope."
What? He knew she was there?
Magpapanggap sana siyang wala siya roon but that would be useless. Sigurado siya na kapag 'di siya lumabas, ito ang pupunta sa kinaroroonan niya. So she chose to be obedient.
"Kaden, I---"
"I'm sorry for what Kassey did."
She found Kaden leaning against the counter with a glass of wine in his hand. Hindi ito nagbukas ng ilaw but the light from the window was enough for her to see his figure.
"I'm not mad at Kassey if that's your concern, Kade," she tried to navigate in the kitchen through the dark.
"She's still immature and does a lot of things without thinking first."
"It's alright. Your sister meant it for my good. I'm not mad or anything. So don't worry." Okay, so she needed the light para makakuha ng tubig kaya pumunta sa switch para i-on iyon. But as she did, Kaden beat her to it. Pero hindi nito iyon sinindi. He just covered it so she couldn't switch it on. "It's too dark," reklamo niya para iwala ang kakaibang pakiramdam habang nasa tabi niya ito.
Hindi niya alam kung paanong bigla itong nauna sa kanya sa switch gayong nasa kabilang bahagi ito ng kusina kanina. But there's one thing she was sure of, his proximity made her smell what he have been drinking a while ago. He was too near. His breath on his face made her knees weak.
"Keep it dark," he whispered.
"Kaden--" akma siyang lalayo but he grabbed her waist and pulled her close to him. "What are you d----!"
"Please, just let me, Hopie." Ibinaon nito ang mukha sa balikat niya while hugging her so tight she thought her bones would break.
"Kaden," sambit niya.
"Don't speak."
Wth?
Nag-init ang kanyang mga mata. She couldn't cry again... She shouldn't.
"Let go."
Hindi ito tumugon. Bagkus ay hinigpitan nito lalo ang yakap sa kanya.
"Kaden, this is not funny. Let go!" Mariin niyang sabi. Hindi ba at nakiusap na siya dito na tigilan ang pagiging malapit sa kanya? What's he doing then?
"Just a moment, Hopie," anas nito. There was pleading in his voice.
"This is not what we have agreed." She started pushing him pero hindi ito nagpatinag. "Cut it out, Kaden."
"I didn't agree," he reminded. "I don't even know why the hell am I doing this. I'm confused!" Pabigla siya nitong binitawan at agad na sinapo ng dalawang kamay nito ang ulo nito. He looked pained. Hindi pa 'to nakuntento at inuntog-untog pa nito ang ulo nito sa dingding.
"Kaden!" Worried na pigil niya. "Are you alright?!"
Hindi ito sumagot. Bagkus ay tumigil ito at tumingin sa kanya. At kahit madilim, alam niyang matiim ang pagkakatingin nito sa kanya.
"Tell me, are you always like this?"
"What do you mean?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong.
"Are you always trying to charm everyone?" He moved closer to her.
"What?!" She exclaimed. Charm who?
"Because if this- if you trying to drive me away is your way of getting me," he grabbed her wrist to stop her from going away when she attempted to step back. "Then you already got me." Bago magsink in sa kanya ang sinabi nito, Kaden suddenly bent down, cupped her face, and harshly claimed her totally unexpecting lips!
For a while, Hope thought her world stopped spinning and she was transported back to the time she had wished a thousand times to return to. Pakiramdam niya sumabog ang puso niya sa iba't ibang emosyon at sensasyong naramdaman niya sa pagkakahalik sa kanya ni Kaden.
It was exactly how she remembered it. Only that, his kiss now was more like desperate and unsure. It was like his lips moving against hers was exploring a new yet familiar territory.
Hope felt the strong urge to kiss him back. She could feel tears flowing down her cheeks. Kaden was kissing her and yet she couldn't even kiss him back. Because it's wrong to do so.
Hope gathered all her strength and pushed Kaden bago pinakawalan sa mukha nito ang isang malakas na sampal. She didn't want to do it but she had to.
"Hindi ba ito ang gusto mo?" He asked looking at her while his hand held his left cheek.
"How dare you!" His words hit a nerve. Iyon nga ang gusto niya. Heaven knows that was what she had always wanted since seeing Rain again. But it was also the last thing she wanted to do since knowing that he was her cousin.
"You succeeded, Hope. What do you want me to do now, huh? You planned this, didn't you? Even when you know that I am getting married!" May paghihirap sa boses nito.
Muling umigkas ang kamay niya para sampalin sana ito pero nasalag nito ang kamay niya. Sa halip ay hinawakan nito iyon nang mahigpit at hinila siyang muli.
"Are you happy now?"
Mariin siyang napapikit. Nasasaktan siya sa mga sinasabi ni Kaden. He was inlove with her? But he made it sound like the biggest mistake of his life.
Well, it really was a mistake. Because him falling for her is forbidden. And she wasn't happy at all.
"I doubt now if Rain did really exist," puno ng pagdududa ang tinig na sabi nito.
"Please," yumuko siya sa tindi ng sakit na pumunit sa puso niya sa sinabi nitong iyon. "Don't ever say that again."
"What? Na gawa-gawa mo lang si Rain?"
"All the while I thought that if there's someone who understands me, it would be you." She fought back her tears. "Hindi totoo ang sinasabi mo. I would never ever try to charm my own cousin, Kaden. If there's one thing I'd be given a chance to change, it would be you sharing the same face as my beloved." Sinalubong niya ang tingin nito. "I would never want to remember my Rain through the face of a relative. Now, let me go!"
Natameme si Kaden dahil hindi ito nakasagot agad. She felt his grip loosened. Sinamantala niya iyon para kumawala sa pagkakahawak ng binata.
She hadn't made three steps when he spoke again.
"We're not cousins, Isabella."
Four words and that was enough to stop her in her tracks.
What did Kaden say?