Chapter 17: Flee
"How 'bout him? He wanted to marry you, right? He won't ask for your hand for nothing, Jess."
Bumagsak ang kanyang mga mata sa alak at basong nasa mesa nila. Hindi niya kayang sagutin iyon. Hindi niya kayang sabihin ang totoong nararamdaman, dahil ang totoo ay natatakot siya sa kanyang ina. Wala siyang laban sa mga ito. They are way smarter than her. No matter how hard she tried to give chance for Paulite, Blaire can do anything to take him back from her. So, it's better to give up.
"Hindi dapat ako umiinom. Baka hindi magkasya sa akin ang damit."
Mariin ang titig sa kanya ni Thaysky. "Alright. Come. I will show you, your outfit." Dinala siya sa taas. Sa pribadong working place nito. Maraming mga hindi pa tapos na damit at may ilang pang-finishing nalang. Magulo sa labas pero sa karugtong na pinto ay namangha siya sa nakita.
It's a skin tone mermaid lace with deep V-neck line that surely emphasized her rounded tits.
"Don't say anything," agap sa kanya nito. "You know that I had a separate pattern mannequin here that had the same vitals of you. So if you gain butts and boobs." Hinampas nito ang tinutukoy. "Your friend is a fashion designer."
Teary, she initiated a warm hug. "Sky, thank you so much."
"You know, Jessica never be afraid to fight for what you have. Forget those unimportant accessories on your life. Because they are not important. Even if you threw them out of your life, you will see that you can survive, more efficiency. Don't fall on the tricky problems. Don't hesitate to let go of what's unnecessary. I made a lot of hard decision greater than what you have right now... yes, it's definitely difficult, and you knew it. Think, Jess. Believe me, it's all worth it."
She stayed on their guest room. While counting stars she is thinking all those words that Thaysky just fed her. What are the unnecessary to necessary? She laid on the bed still not moving on the category. She found those difficult to think of. Nakatulugan niya nalang.
In the morning she took a spa with Lawrence. A quiet thirty minutes of yoga to balance her spirit, heart, and mind. She goes back in Zedrick's Lair by four. She made a short bonding with their cute son. She played with his curled long brown hair.
"Fall is handsome once he grew up," she said.
"I don't want him to grow up, Jess. I wanted him to stay my baby." She squatted in front of her son and kissed him on the lips.
The kid is playing basketball. He doesn't get any of Zedrick's feature because he had a playboy atmosphere that surely Thaysky had when she was young. The maid arrived together with her Auntie Clarine.
Mula sa pagkakasalampak sa sahig ay napaahon siya at humalik sa pisngi nito.
"The team hasn't arrived yet?"
Saktong bukas ng pinto kaya napakindat nalang siya rito.
"Mauna na kayo guys. Susunod ako," she said. Pulling her Auntie on the near couch and asked any news.
"I am not interested with Claudio's will, Claudia is the same but we argue why you didn't have any of his property," galit na panimula nito.
Thaysky arrived with a cup of tea on the tray and a cinnamon roll.
"Auntie, hayaan na po natin ang pasya ni Daddy—"
"No. Claudio is getting unfair. Why was he like that? Noon pa man, alam niyang nagagalit ako kapag sinasawalang bahala ka. Mula noong makasal ako, siguro ay grade five ka noon ay nalaman kong pinatigil ka sa university. Dugo at laman ka pa rin niya! Sinabi rin sa akin ni Claudia na hindi ka pala sinama sa Los Angeles." Napapikit ito sa sobrang inis.
Lumapit si Thaysky rito upang pakalmahin.
"Because I am a daughter of dad to his mistress."
Gulat na napalingon si Thaysky sa kanya. "What are you saying, Jess?"
"Anak ako sa labas ni daddy sa ibang babae kaya noon pa man hindi nagpakita ng interest sa akin si mommy." That's why she always treated me unbiased because I am the product of his husband's failure. "I wonder who could be my mother. Is she alive? Does she knew that I am her daughter?" Huminga siya nang malalim. "I think no."
She heard Thaysky muttered some curses. "Don't say that. You and your mother must be the victim here."
"Excuse me, Jessica shall we start?" one of the team intruded them.
Another more hour she was done and ready. Majesty and her Auntie Clarine were the same, though Majesty is more lavish while she is demure and looking untainted. Someone you should respect in any aspect. Zedrick and Mr. Swizz arrived too and they drove all together going to the said event.
Magkakasabay silang bumaba sa red carpet. Nakakasilaw ang walang kamatayang flash sa kahit saang dako, hanggang sa may dumating na bagong sasakyan. Nasa ikalawang hagdan na sila nang makita niya kung sino ang mga iyon. Paulite, Oswold, and Shawn Friis effortlessly captured everyone's attention. Lumapit sa kanila si Zedrick dahil sa tudyo ng ilang media.
They are all blessed on their looks. No need to try hard, because they had it on their body as if they were cursed for being a good looking guy. Especially that sleek on his skin tone inner button-down shirt. Did he do it on purpose? They had the same touch of color tonight.
He cockily glanced on her way and didn't showed any reaction. Until Lawrence called her and asked for a reaching out photos. Kahit papaano nawala ang pangamba niya sa prisensiya ng kanyang mga kaibigan. Natatawa niyang binigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga media na kuhaan ang back view niya.
The boys are coming through, their eyes met. She saw the disapproval on his eyes. He doesn't like her showing skin, but this is her job.
Majesty pulled her inside. She introduced her with her entourage. Ibat-ibang prominenteng tao ang mga naroroon mula sa ibat-ibang kategorya. Nakita rin niya si Candava at kaibigan nitong natatandaan niyang matinik sa larangan ng pagsasayaw.
Ibinigay sa kanya ni Lawrence ang calling card ni Chloe at Von. "Hindi ka na nila ginambala noong despedida nila. Pero hihintayin daw nila ang pasya mo."
"Thank you so much, Lawrence."
"I know you very private person. But Jessica always remember that my doorstep is open for you. Okay?" Niyakap siya nito. "Wala man ako noong mga eksena na 'yon, magpasalamat si Blaire at 'yang impokrita mong... hay basta. Baka napaaway na ako."
"That's why I chose you to stay." She giddily drew a teasing smirk.
"Kutob ko na 'yan." She handed to her a glass of wine. "For your bravery there."
She smiled and took it. She clinked their glass and sipped it. She wasn't thirsty but suddenly she did. Naubos niya ang laman bago kumausap ng panibagong kakilala.
Few more socializing with different high people she was called for her award. This time she was appraised for her broad project. She mentioned how she was grateful for her blessings now. Those people who stayed with her and supported her. Nang makababa ay bumugso ang kanyang damdamin. Sinikap niyang huwag banggitin ang tungkol sa pamilya niya dahil ayaw niyang buksan sa media kung gaano kadumi ang buhay niya.
If only she can escape from all of this. Renew her life without barriers or anyone's condition. Without label or anyone's property. She will just live peacefully.
Huminto siya sa paglalakad at tinitigan ang pares ng binting nakaharang sa daraanan niya. Huminga siya nang malalim. Did I took the wrong path? Pag-angat niya nang tingin ay napaatras siya. Hindi niya makita ang mukha nito, pero nakatitiyak siyang lalaki. She shook her head when she felt dizzy. She looked down, she felt the ground is shaking and unbalance. Para siyang lasing na umaatras-abante hanggang sa hindi niya na maramdaman ang kanyang binti at mawalan ng malay.
Daig niya pa ang kakaahon lang sa tubig ng biglang magising. Hinihingal. Akala mo'y tumakbo siya ng walang hinto. Nanghihina ang kanyang katawan habang lumilinga. She's in an unfamiliar bedroom. But the atmosphere is refreshing and safe, weird could it be but where is she? She glanced on the open window and watched the dancing curtain. From there she could hear the crashing waters.
An ocean? Bumaba siya sa kama at dahan-dahan na sumilip sa bintana.
There were coconut trees piled beautiful. A well-cut wood fences tainted by white color. There were bushes and some flower. She inwardly breathes. There smelled good. She smiled at the color of the infinity pool, it's the same on the far view of beachfront. The sand looked fine and inviting. She bit her lower lip at the sight of the waves and the man who's sitting on the small boat.
Paulite?
Dali-dali niyang kinuha ang roba. Pumunta siya sa kinalalagyan ng lalaki. Mukha itong nasa malalim na pag-iisip. Nakakrus ang mga braso at malayo ang mga tanaw.
"Lite?"
His back stiffened, and that was his only reaction. She tried to look around but there is no neighborhood. Only this huge house and that three kinds of four wheels and covered parking space. She wondered what's inside the woods.
"Where am I? Why did you bring me here?" Muli siyang tumingin dito. Nahigit niya ang hininga nang makitang nakatingin na ito sa kanya. Pinapanood ang kanyang bawat galaw. Hindi ito sumagot. He just closed their distance and hugged her tighter.
"Lite. Let go!" Sinubukan niyang itulak ito pero mas lalong pang humigpit ang yakap nito. Mabigat ang bawat paghinga. Mainit at takot.
"Never. I will never let you go. No more."
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