C10 10

Hindi alam ni Shelly if magpapasalamat siya or maiinis dahil after the incident that night Jake sort of stopped pestering her.Wait! di ba dapat nga ikatuwa niya yun?Ito naman ang gusto niya di ba?Ano ngayon ang inaarte niya? Okay, okay,sa yummy naman talaga ni Jake kahit sino sigurong babae maadict dito.Pero hindi ba nga ayaw niya kay Jake na numero unong babaero,mayabang arogante at napaka-possessive? Kung ano-ano na ang naiisip niya as she waits for her turn sa photo shoot ng isang well-known brand ng whitening soap.

She is wearing a white sleeveless top with white shorts that hug her creamy and smooth thighs.Her hair is tied in a ponytail.Her face has the lightest touch of make-up.Her lips look sexy with a tint of a nude colored lipgloss.She is sitting on a couch na nasa small dressing room ng studio 2 sa Herrera Building.

The door opened which made her look up."Miss Shelly in 15 minutes daw you're on na." sabi ni Fanny na assistant ng photographer.Shelly nodded to aknowledge what the assistant said.It was then when her cellphone started ringing.

Kapag minamalas nga naman siya.It's her stepmother.She doesn't want to answer the call but she has no choice. “Tita? “

"Buti naman at sanay na sanay ka na sa mga lalake at pati ang magiging boss ni Lorie ay mukhang nasiyahan naman sayo.I called you not to thank you but to inform you na maguumpisa na si Lorie sa trabaho niya bukas." Sabay baba nito ng telepono.She's not the evil stepmom for nothing.So hindi na ikinagulat ni Shelly ang kabastusan ng madrasta niya.Nagpasalamat siya sa hangin na after nung nangyari eh tumupad naman sa usapan si Dominic.

---

The Herrera brothers are in their natal house that Sunday night.They are in the verandah while the men drink whiskey and the women have coffee.Kakatapos lang nilang maghapunan.They make it appoint na may family day sila once a week kahit lahat sila ay busy.

"Jake,I heard meron ka na naman bagong gf?" sita ni Thomas ang panganay at asawa ni Kim.

Lahat ng mata ay natutok sa kanya.Mukhang hindi na nasorpresa ang pamilya niya kasi nasanay na sila sa bilis niyang magpalit ng babae.

"Hmm,totoo ba ito anak? Pano na si Trish?"tanong ng mama niya."I thought you guys are getting more serious.Palagi kasi makadikit sayo ang isang yun from what I read and hear."

His family had never met any of his bed warmers cause he had never brought them home.

"Anak hindi naman sa pinagbabawalan kita.But you need to be more careful.Baka mapikot ka." Seryosong sabi ng papa niya.

"Naku Pa, don't worry about Jake.Mabilis pa sa palos yan.Hindi yan mapipikot.Di ba bro?" William winked at him. "Baka hindi pa lang pinapanganak ang babaeng seseryosohin mo." Dagdag pa nito na nakangisi.

Kim couldn't contain herself,so pasimple niyang sabi while throwing Jake a teasing glance,"Hmmm,basta ako I can't wait when the Mr.Yummiest of the Herrera brothers falls in love."

"Darling,I think you shouldn't have said that.Hindi ba ako ang dapat bansagan mo niyan?" may himig ng pagtatampo na sabi ni Thomas while he looks at his wife sitting next to him.

Kim touched her husband's knee to pacify him."Darling,I only said that because Jake is eligible and you're not.Si William engaged na kay Sandra."

Mukhang nakumbinse naman niya ang asawa so Thomas just shrugged his shoulders and laughed lightly.

"Seriously Jake, I think you really should stop womanizing and start searching for the right woman." Jake's dad suggested.

Kim chose that instance to stand up and mysteriously said,"Well, just brace yourself family.Because I can sense that there will be a lot of changes in Jake's life really soon!" nakangiting sabi nito while her eyes sparkle. Gusto sana magkomento ni Jake but his cellphone began to ring.

"Hay naku hijo isa na naman siguro sa mga girlfriends mo."his mom joked.

Belmonte is calling so he excused himself."Sorry ma, it's one of my employees.I have to get this."

Nung medyo nakalayo na siya sa pamilya niya,he answered the call.

"Sir," bungad ni Belmonte."Nandito ako ngayon sa isang orphanage sa Quezon City.Nandito si Miss Shelly.Hindi ako pwede basta pumasok medyo mahigpit sila sa mga taong pumapasok."

"May kasama ba siyang nagpunta diyan?" tanong niya habang nakakunot ang noo.

"Wala sir."maikling sagot nito.

"Okay,basta ikaw na ang bahala.I-report mo lahat sa akin." Utos niya.

Pabalik na sana si Jake sa loob ng makita niya ang hipag na nakamasid sa kanya.Medyo nakataas ang kilay pero may panunukso ang mata.

"Uy! Sino ang pinapasundan mo kay Belmonte ha?Sa pagkakaalam ko wala naman tayong prospective business partners na pwede mong pasundan.So, sino yang pinababantayan mo ha? "Kim asked curiously.

"Since when did you start being nosy my dear sister-in-law?" he asked her while crossing his arms across his broad chest.

"Since you met Shelly." Walang kakurap-kurap na sagot nito.

Napailing si Jake while throwing her a grin before walking past her."Your imagination is getting wild, Kim.Stop watching those late night soaps.Let's go back inside."

---

Ewan ni Shelly kung paano siya napapayag ni Paul na sumamang magkape dito baka siguro dahil gusto muna niyang kalimutan ang gwapong mukha ni Jake na hindi mabura-bura sa isip niya.Samahan pa ng maapoy na halik nito sa kanya kagabi.

Ipinilig niya ang ulo niya to listen to Paul."Sorry Paul,what did you say?"

Th doctor cleared his throat and smilingly said,"Wala naman sabi ko it must be my lucky day."

Titig na titig ito sa kanya.Magandang lalake si Paul pero kahit na titigan siya nito ng gaya ng titig ni Jake,hindi siya apektado.Unlike pag ang aroganteng lalake na yun ang tumingin sa kanya,para siyang napapaso.

"Sabihin na lang natin na gusto kitang pasalamatan kasi hindi ka nagsasawa sa pagtulong sa ampunan."nakangiting sagot niya.

"Masarap sa pakiramdam pag nakakatulong sa kapwa,Shelly.Yun ang isa sa misyon ko sa buhay.I am so blessed with what I have so the least I could do is give back." Mapagkumbabang tugon nito.

Naisip ni niya na napakaswerte ng magiging babae sa buhay nito.Sigurado siya na he will give her all his love and he'll be a devoted and faithful partner.Hindi kagaya ni Jake na hindi yata mabubuhay na walang babae.

Ay erase! Erase! Hindi niya dapat iniisip ang antipatikong yon! Kaya nga siya sumama kay Paul di ba?

"Paul,this doesn't mean na palagi na ako sasama lumabas sayo ha?" medyo nahihiyang sabi niya.Ayaw niyang paasahin ito.Mabait,disente,gwapo,propesyonal at galing sa magandang pamilya.Ano pa ba ng hahanapin ng isang babae di ba?Pero hindi lang siya talaga handa pang makipagrelasyon.Naisip niya na that could be a lie. Baka naman si Jake ang gusto niya?

NO! As much as possible ayaw niyang i-entertain ang isiping yon.What the heck? Nahalikan lang siya nito ng ilang beses nagkaganito na siya? She did her best to shake the thoughts of Jake from her mind.She managed to do just that after a few minutes dahil magaan kausap si Paul as she expected.At madami ding tao ang napapalingon sa kanila.They make a good pair.They are both very attractive and they seem to be enjoying each other's company.

Iniisip ni Belmonte kung irereport pa niya kay Jake ang nakikita niya.Alam niya hindi ito magugustuhan ng amo.Ayaw din naman niyang magkagulo pa ngayon dito.Nung huli siyang nagreport na may ka-date si Shelly sumugod ito sa restaurant. Pero iba dito.Mall ito,baka mas malaking gulo ang mangyayari .Mukhang nag eenjoy pa naman ang dalagang nagugustuhan ng boss niya.Pero para naman siyang nagtraydor dito pag nanahimik siya.Sasabihin na lang niya sa amo pag alam niyang paalis na ang dalawa at hindi na makakahabol ang binata..Ayaw din naman niya na masangkot sa gulo ang boss niya.May iniingatang pangalan ang pamilya nito.

---

"WHAT? Saang lugar yan?" Jake gritted his teeth as he listened to Belmonte.

"Sir mukhang paalis na din naman sila.Parang pinagbigyan lang ni mam Shelly yung lalake.Hindi ka na din aabot sir." Malumanay na sabi ni Belmonte.

"Shit!" napamura si Jake."Kuhanan mo ng litrato para malaman ko kung sino ang gagong yan!"

Parang gusto niyang pumatay ng tao.Nananadya ba talaga si Shelly?Parang hindi niya ito pinagsabihan.Mukhang kailangan niya ng ipakita ang kung ano pa ang kaya niyang gawin.He is trying to hold back his anger as much as possible pero mukhang sasabog na talaga siya.Bahala na kung tuluyan na itong matakot sa kanya.She will see his evil side.

---

She dropped her tired body on the couch.Napagod siyang makipaglaro sa mga bata ng halos maghapon but she is happy.Gumagaan ang pakiramdam niya pag nakakasama niya ang mga ulila,lalo si Mika at Moymoy.She also got to know Paul more.He has a good sense of humor.Good boyfriend material kumbaga.But of course hindi sila pwede kasi may gf na ito and she's not ready yet to get into another relationship lalo sa may nobya na.

May napansin siya ngayong maghapon.Mukhang tahimik yata si Jake.He hasn't called or texted her.It's not that she misses him, (Charot!) nagtataka lang siya.I hope he is not up to something.Mabilis din niyang binura ang naisip niya.She should be grateful at tahimik ang mundo niya..but not for too long.She heard the doorbell rang continuously.As if walang balak bitawan ang button whoever is outside her door.She instantly stood up and opened the door.

The first thing she noticed is Jake's grim expression.Madilim na madilim ang mukha nito.Unconsciously, she just stepped back to let him in.Maybe she knows that this is not the time to be gutsy.Naalarma siya sa hitsura nito.

He unceremoniously went inside banging the door behind him.

"W-what are you doing here?" ninenerbiyos na tanong niya.

He looked at her without blinking.His nostrils are flaring.

"Where have you been the whole day?" he asked her in a very low voice."Don't tell me pack of lies kung ayaw mong maubos na ng todo ang pasensya ko Shelly."

Naisip niya na whether she likes it or not,Jake feels that he has all the rights to know her whereabouts all the time.

"L-Look Jake,we are not a couple so please stop acting this way." She pleaded.

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer.

Gritting his teeth,he menacingly said,"This is the last time I will say this.Listen well and listen good.You are mine! I will not let anyone get in the way.Akin ka! Better put that in your pretty little head.So never think that you are not committed to anyone because you are committed to me!"

"You can't own people.Hindi ako gamit na pwede mong sabihing sayo.I belong to myself." Sagot ni Shelly na pilit pinatatag ang boses.

Jake said something incoherent and she didn't dare ask him to repeat cause she feels it's something nasty.

"If you don't succumb to what I want,you leave me no choice then.I don't want to say this but I will do something you wouldn't like to people you care about."pagbabanta nito.

Sa narinig nabuhay ang tapang ni Shelly,"No! You can't do that!"

"Try me babe.I know who you care for.I know you go to Little Angels Orphanage.You are very fond of the kids there especially Mika and Moymoy."

Nagulat si Shelly pano nya nalaman yun? Pinapaimbestigahan ba siya nito? The thought of someone constantly following her gave her the creeps.

Hindi niya alam na tama ang hinala niya.Pagkatapos nalaman ni Jake kay Belmonte ang orphanage na pinuntahan ni Shelly,niresearch niya ito.Luckily,isa yun sa mga organizations na sinusuportahan ng ina niya.He doesn't want to use that to make Shelly do what he wants,pero wala siyang choice.Gagawin niya ang lahat para maging girflriend ito.

"Pagbalik mo dun tanungin mo sa mga madre dun kung sino ang primary sponsor nila."nakangising sabi nito.

She doesn't have to ask them.For sure alam na niya ang sagot. It's his mother of course.And she knows what he is talking about.The orphanage can't survive without his mother's support.

"You are despicable!" pagalit na sabi niya."Pati mga bata idadamay mo just because you can't get what you want?" sumbat niya.

But it's like talking to a brick wall.Hinapit nito ang bewang niya.Dikit na dikit ang katawan nila.Nakatingala siya at pilit niyang tinutulak ang dibdib ni Jake palayo sa kanya but as expected masyadong malakas si Jake.

"Saan ka galing? Sino ang kasama mo?" nagpipigil ng galit na tanong ulit nito."Huwag kang magsisinungaling!." he said angrily.

"Okay,I'll tell you but please pakawalan mo muna ako." pakiusap niya

.Hindi siya makapag-isip ng mabuti kapag ganito kalapit ang katawan nila.Nagbaba siya ng tingin ng hindi na niya makayang makipagtitigan dito.Naramdaman niya na unti-unting lumuwag ang hawak nito sa bewang niya pero hindi pa din siya tuluyang pinakawalan.

"Bakit babe? Can't you control what your body desires?"tila nanunudyong tanong nito."Okay,we can do something about that later.But for now,I want to hear where you were and who you were with." Pagkasabi nun,binitawan siya and umatras ito ng mga dalawang hakbang away from her pero titig na titig pa din sa kanya.

Shelly tried to compose herself and sighed."Galing ako sa Little Angels Orphanage kaninang umaga." Pagtatapat niya without looking at him.

She didn't hear any reaction from him.Ng tignan niya ito, matiim itong nakatingin sa kanya as if his eyes are telling her to go on.

"A-after that I went to the mall." Shelly doesn't know if she has the guts to tell him na kasama niya si Paul. Hindi niya gustong malaman kung ano ang gagawin o sasabihin nito pag nagkataon.Saksakan ito ng seloso and nakakatakot magalit.

"With whom?" Jake asked gritting his teeth.

"With a friend." Sagot niya sabay iwas ng tingin.

Jake cursed. "Tell me everything dammit! Next time you speak ,give me all the details or I would do something we'll both regret!"

That got her.She has to tell him everything bago gawin nito ang banta.

."His name is Paul.Volunteer doctor siya sa orphanage.We just had coffee."

Hind niya matignan si Jake.She could hear him breathing heavily.Alam niyang he is trying to control his rage.

Finally he said."That would be the last time you see that loser! Sa susunod na malaman ko na magkasama kayo,I will make sure that he'll never have the chance to practice medicine again!"his voice was threatening.

She knows kayang-kaya ni Jake gawin ang sinabi niya.Napatango na lang siya.

"Pack your things.Tomorrow my driver will pick you up at 8 in the morning.You'll move in my condo."