A Plan of Seduction
Malalim ang tulog ni Zavie nung maramdaman niya ang paghaplos ng kanyang asawa sa mukha niya. She hummed as she slowly opened her eyes. Bumungad ito sa kanya habang nakangiti nang malapad.
"Good morning," sambit nito sa kanya kaya napangiti siya ng bahagya.
"Good morning, too." Naramdaman niya ang paghalik nito sa kanyang noo at akmang hahalikan siya sa labi subalit mabilis niyang tinakpan ang bibig bago umiling.
"Hey. Don't block the way using your hand. I'm gonna kiss you---hey! Come back here!" Natatawang sigaw nito. Tumakbo kasi si Zavie papuntang banyo dahil sa kahihiyan. Kakagising niya pa lang kaya nahihiya siyang mahalikan ng asawa. She surely had a bad breath kaya wala siyang choice kung hindi ang tumakbo.
"Nakakahiya!" Bulong niya sa sarili tsaka tinakpan ng dalawang palad ang mukha niya habang tiningnan ang sarili sa salamin.
Hindi nagtagal, pagkatapos niyang magtooth brush, naligo na siya. Nagising tuloy ang diwa niya dahil doon. Hanggang ngayon, nahihiya pa rin siya. Pagkalabas niya ng banyo, nakita niya ang asawa na nakaupo sa kama. Halatang naghihintay na lumabas siya.
"Hindi ka pa ba papasok sa trabaho mo?" Umangat ang tingin nito sa kanya at ngumiti ng nakakaloko. Nakalimutan niyang nakatapis pa pala siya nung tuwalya.
"I'm waiting for you if you are done." Lumapit ito sa kanya kaya agad siyang napaatras nang bahagya hanggang sa wala na siyang maatrasan.
He blocked her using both hands at her side. Then, hinapit siya nito sa beywang niya. She tried to look away but he immediately held up her chin to make her look him in his eyes.
"I haven't kissed you yet. Tinakasan mo ako, hindi ba?" Napasinghap siya hanggang sa naramdaman niya ang labi nito sa kanya. She broke the kiss and sighed.
"Y-You know what? Malelate ka nyan," saad niya. Lalo pang napangisi ang asawa niya.
"You're blushing." Bahagya niya itong naitulak at umaayos ng pagtayo.
"You better get going." Napatigil siya nung hawakan nito ang kamay niya.
"You're coming with me at the office today, hmm?" Hindi na siya nakapagsalita dahil hinala na siya nito palabas ng kwarto nila.
"Bakit mo nga pala ako isinama sa'yo papunta sa opisina mo? Anong meron?" Nagtatakang tanong niya habang nasa biyahe. He gently held her hand using his right hand while the other one was on the wheel.
"I have an urgent meeting with Mr. Santiago. And I know he's up into something kaya isinama kita. You will be my secretary for today." Nakangiting saad nito sa kanya. Tumango-tango na lang siya bilang tugon at hindi na nagtanong pa. She trusted him.
Pagkarating nila sa hallway kung saan ang opisina nito, everyone bowed and greeted them as a respect. He firmly tangled his fingers to hers and gave her a reassuring smile. Naghintay sila nang ilang minuto hanggang sa may kumatok. It was his real secretary.
"Come in quickly." Pumasok ang sekretarya nito at yumuko saglit.
"Sir. Your meeting with Mr. Santiago is about to start in a few minutes. Siya na lamang po ang hinihintay sa meeting room, sir." Tumango siya.
"Alright. By the way, Irish. You may take a break. I'm with my wife so she'll be my secretary in the meantime." He stated while still holding his wife's hand.
"But sir---"
"Stop protesting. You may go now." Wala na itong nagawa kaya umalis na lang ng opisina.
"Why did you do that? She's upset and wondering, you see?" She insisted to him pero umiling lang ito sa kanya.
"No. Trust me, hmm? I know what I'm doing and she needs some rest, too."
"I see. Pero anong gagawin ko doon?" Tumayo na ito sa kinauupuan as she dragged her out of his office with him. Dumeretso na sila sa meeting room.
"Just be with me and let me handle this." Umupo na sila pagkatapos habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Mr. Santiago. Naghihintay na rin ang ibang shareholders ng dalawang kumpanya.
After a few minutes, he arrived. Everyone gasped when they saw someone with him. They all stood up and greeted the two.
"Welcome here in CMC, Mr. Austin Hugo Santiago," pagbati ni Stefan dito. Napalingon siya sa kinatatayuan ng kasama nito.
"Why is she here?" He asked. Agad na hinapit ni Hugo ang balikat ni Eirlys palapit sa kanya bago siya nagsalita.
"She's with me. And she's the one who we'll discuss for today." Lalong nangunot ang noo niya sa sinagot nito.
"Tsk. Anyway, let's begin this meeting." pagsinghal niya dito.
It was obvious that he was bored while Hugo was discussing everything about Eirlys. It should be about the dealings about the companies and not her. Zavie stayed calm as she listened to everything Hugo said. Nakaramdam ng inis si Stefan at tumingin nang masama sa nagsasalita sa harapan.
"Will you stop discussing useless things about the woman with you, Mr. Santiago? If this isn't about our dealings, we should end this meeting. You were just faffing us around." Napatikhim ang lahat but Hugo just sneered at him.
"You were so impatient, Mr. Clinford. Anyway, let me tell you about the deal I'm about to discuss. This woman with me, Cressida Eirlys Greystone is gonna be your substitute secretary to your recent one." Nagpintig ang tainga niya sa narinig. Naiyukom niya ng madiin ang kamay dahil doon. He hit the desk hard as everyone gasped.
"I'm turning down your deal, Mr. Santiago. You don't have to offer me another one because I have my own f*cking secretary and she's my wife! So stop it. I'm not going to accept that." He stated out of mind. Pagalit na hinila niya ang asawa at akmang aalis na subalit napatigil silang dalawa sa sunod na sinabi nito.
"I'm not done yet, Mr. Clinford. You haven't heard what will be the consequences if you turn it down. Once you do, I can get the 80% part of your company. You know what's gonna happen next, right? You may lose it. So, are you gonna accept it or not?" Hugo threatened him in front of everyone in the meeting room. Nagtiim-bagang siya at seryosong lumingon dito.
"That will be useless, Mr. Santiago. And that will never happen. Besides, my decision is final. You can't do anything about it."
"Useless? How about your wife, Mrs. Clinford? What do you think? You know exactly what my company can do to your company, Mr. Clinford. I'm not kidding around."
"Don't you dare involve my wife into this matter, Mr. Santiago. This is between my company and yours. Oh yeah. I'm not kidding around either. So cut it down your stupid offer 'cuz I don't gonna need it. My wife is more crucial than this. We're leaving. I apologize for my faffing around this meeting." He dragged his wife with him and left that meeting room. Napamura sa hangin si Hugo. They absolutely failed for their Plan A of stepping into seduction. But they are quite planning for the next plan.
Kinabukasan, hindi na naisama ni Stefan ang asawa niya sa opisina dahil sa nangyari. At masarap pa rin ang tulog nito kaya hindi na niya inistorbo pa. Ayaw na niyang madamay pa si Zavie sa ano mang kaguluhan. Pagkaalis niya, saktong paggising ni Zavie. Saglit siyang umunat at inayos ang higaan. Nagtungo na siya sa banyo para maligo. Expected na niyang hindi siya gigisingin ng asawa. She knows him. Pagkababa niya ng hagdan, nag-iwan ito ng note kung saan pinagluto siya nito ng almusal. After that, binuksan niya ang tv para manood. Maaga pa naman kung maglilibot siya nang ganitong oras sa parke.
Lumipas ang ilang oras, hindi na niya namalayan na alas-kwatro na pala ng hapon. Inaayos niya muna ang sarili at pinatay ang tv bago nagdesisyong maglakad-lakad na. She wants to roam around the park near here sa village nila. She gets bored when he's not around that's why she wants to take some fresh air. She knows he always reminds me that she's not allowed to go outside unless she's with him. But he has work to do and she doesn't wanna bother him. Minsan nakakasakal pero alam niyang gusto lang siyang protektahan nito.
And the people here are not familiar with her as well as she was to them. So she suppose they're not gonna recognize her after all. She smiled a bit. She's hoping no one could recognize who she was. Siguradong lagot siya nito kay Stefan kapag nalaman niya.
She prepared for her disguise. Yes, disguised again. She doesn't want anyone to recognize her so she'll disguise herself.
Minsan nga napapaisip na lang siya kung talaga bang natapos na ang mga nangyari sa nakalipas. Hindi niya alam pero kadalasan, nararamdaman niya ang pangamba nito sa bawat pag-alis nito para magtrabaho at siya lang ang naiiwan dito. Masaya na sila pero andoon pa rin ang pangamba at takot nilang mag-asawa dahil walang silang kasiguraduhan na nagwakas na ang labanan o pansamantala ang lahat ng ito. Dapat na mga ba silang mapanatag o kinakailangan pa nilang maghanda para sa bagong kapahamakan?
Maghapon siyang naglibot sa parke, kakaunti pa lang ang mga taong nakatira dito. Gayunpaman, masaya siyang makita ang mga bata na masaya na naglalaro at nag-eenjoy. She could feel the fresh air touching her skin. She sat in a bench and watched the sunset. Gosh...it's breathtaking. It's so beautiful. She gently closes her eyes, reminiscing all about my past. Although it's been a year, it feels like it only happened yesterday. All the pain and sacrifices.
She was so innocent at those times that she had no idea what was happening around her and the truth behind all about her. She misses her family. She's always longed for a complete family. But her parents had to sacrifice themselves to save her including the twins. She always thought that her parents were happy to see what they've reached now. If Stefan and her start to build a happy family, what will be their reactions? *sigh* She hasn't seen her mom ever since she died. She doesn't even have any idea what she looks like. But her Dad told her, we were identical twins. She misses them so bad mostly, her mom.
"Excuse me, miss. It's already dusk. Masyado na pong delikado dahil kayo na lamang ang nag-iisang naiwan dito sa parke," biglang salita nung lalaking lumapit sa kanya. Agad siyang napadilat tsaka tumayo.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't even notice. Thanks for informing me." She was about to walk away when he spoke.
"You're new here in our village, right?" he asked. She slowly nodded at him.
"Yes."
"Well, this is the first time I saw you here. By the way, I'm Austin Hugo. Just simply call me, Hugo," he introduced as he offered her his hand to shake it with hers. She gladly accepted it without thinking twice.
"Zavanya but just call me, Zavie." He furrowed hard.
"Zavie? You seem familiar to me. You're Mrs. Clinford, am I right? Voss Stefan Clinford's wife?" he curiously said as she nodded.
"Yeah. I'm his wife."
"Oh, I thought I was just mistaken that you're married," he chuckled.
"You thought I was single? No, my husband won't let me be single again." Natatawang sambit niya.
"Oh yeah?" they both laughed but her phone suddenly rang. She looked at who the caller was and her heart began to beat fast because of nervousness when she saw it was Stefan.
"I'm sorry. I have to go home now. He's going home and he can't know that I'm not home right now. Anyway, it's very nice to meet you, Hugo. Bye!" She said goodbye to him and didn't let him speak. She quickly ran to their house from the park. Thank goodness, hindi niya pa naabutang dumating ang asawa niya. She almost caught her breath and panting heavily.
She calmed herself down, and fixed her disguise. She had to change her clothes before he even got home. Tinakbo niya ang comfort room sa kwarto nila at halos madapa siya sa kakamadali. He can't notice that she went outside without even his permission, damn! Paniguradong pag-aawayan nila ito pag nagkataon. Nagpapalit na siya ng damit nung may narinig siyang busina ng kotse. He's here. Inaayos niya ang sarili, nagsuklay, at nagsuot ng pantulog na damit para mamaya. She felt nervous when he called her name after he entered.
"Baby girl? I'm home. Where are you?" he called out. Hindi siya nito maaaring mahalata kaya kumalma siya tsaka ngumiti ng malapad sa salamin.
"He won't notice, okay?" She told herself. She was about to open the door when he appeared in front of her. She gasped.
"Are you okay? You look pale," he stated.
"Y-Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." She's trying to smile. Nakakunot ang noo nito at para bang hindi kumbinsido sa sinagot niya.
"Are you sure? You seem nervous. What's wrong?" She immediately shook her head and hugged him tight.
"I'm fine, don't worry." She looked at him. He suddenly steps aback.
"Zavanya, tell me. Did you leave this house?" he asked seriously.
"I-I uhm..." She couldn't find any words to say.
"You left this house without my permission?" he asked once again. She couldn't find the courage to tell him the truth.
"Y-Yes, I'm sorry." She admitted as his face darkened. Napayuko siya nang huminga ito ng malalim.
"I told you you're not allowed to go outside because we're not even sure if the danger in the past is already done," he said as he hissed in frustration.
"I'm so sorry. Gusto ko lang naman magpahangin tsaka maglibot-libot dito sa village," giit niya.
"At hindi natin kilala ang mga tao dito, Zavanya. Baka isa sila o may iba sa kanila ang nakakakilala sa atin pero hindi lang tayo aware doon."
"S-Sorry talaga," utal na paumanhin niya dito.
"Do you think I won't monitor you even if I'm working? Do you think I won't notice the way you acted lately? You've done this so far, Zavie. And I know what you're planning to do. You're my wife now and someone out there might put you again in danger." He held her shoulders firmly. Nanatili lang siyang nakayuko. He held her chin up and made her look directly at him.
"I-I'm sorry," she apologized as her eyes began to swell. He wiped it gently using his thumb.
"Shhh. I'm not mad. I'm just worried about you. Just please don't do that again, okay? We never know what the sequel is to this." He hugged her tight.