Passionate Encounter

CHAPTER 1

KABABAGSAK lang niya ng telepono ng muli iyong tumunog. She picked up the phone and furiously snarled, “I will never come home. Let him die alone!” She was so angry she wanted to crush the phone ng sa gayon ay hindi na iyon tumunog pa at hindi na rin siya matatawagan. Matagal na siyang nananahimik ngunit ngayon ay muli na namang ginugulo ng mga tauhan ng ama.

“Go home to your father or else I will drag you home, brat!”

Bahagyang napapitlag si Yehlen ng marinig ang malalim at baritonong boses na iyon. Bahagyang sumikdo ang kanyang dibdib. But she was so furious with her father that she can only accommodate hatred. Kung anuman ang mahiwagang damdaming pinukaw ng baritonong boses na iyon ay agad niyang itinaboy.

“At magkano ang ibinayad ng Papa sa iyo to convince me to come home?” Sarkastikong turan niya habang mataas pa rin ang timbre ng boses. “I can pay you double than that even in US Dollar’s figure,” she stressed the currency, “just leave me in peace!”

Katatapos lang niyang makipag-usap sa assistant ng ama and she said her strong conviction not to come home. Subalit makulit ang assistant at nagmakaawa pa to convince her. Sa sobrang inis ay binagsakan niya ito ng telepono.

Ang kausap niya kanina ay babae. Ngayon ay lalaki na naman ang kausap niya. At iba ang ginagamit na paraan nito. Kung ang babae kanina ay kulang na lamang ay lumuhod sa pagmamakaawa umuwi lang siya, ngayon ay napakaarogante ng lalaki. He was using the opposite tactic, tinatakot siya nito! At ano ang palagay nito sa kanya? The then seventeen year old helpless girl?

Hindi na siya katulad ng dati. She has a stable life now. Malayo na ang kanyang narating after her mother’s death. Sukat doon ay bahagyang nalambungan ang kanyang mga mata subalit tinatagan niya ang dibdib. Ang tanging bagay na nakapagpapalambot ng kanyang puso ay ang naging malungkot na kamatayan ng ina. Namatay itong nangungulila sa pagmamahal na ipinagdamot ng kanyang sariling ama.

From San Diego, California three years ago ay lumipat siya sa Hawaii para makalayo sa impluwensiya ng ama. The restaurant that she put up two years ago in Maui, Hawaii was doing pretty well. And she’s making herself live a stable life. She’s not used living in luxury at ang perang naiwan sa kanya ng ina ay iningatan niya at ginamit sa tamang paraan. And the hardwork she ventured in putting up “Beach Cirque,” the name of her restaurant which was inspired by beautiful beaches in Hawaii was paying off. And she’s planning to put up her second branch soon.

“Eat your dollars out sweetheart,” the voice was undeniably male. His teeth gritted at malinaw iyong narinig ni Yehlen sa kabilang linya. “Pack your things now or I’ll drag you home tomorrow.” He said with full authority.

“Ows?” Nag-isang linya ang kanyang mga kilay sa narinig. He sounded like a king! But the endearment he used made a way inside her snob heart. But she threw that away sharply. Walang puwedeng makabasag sa matigas na pader na inilagay niya sa pagitan ng sarili at lahat ng taong may kinalaman sa kanyang ama.

“Oh sweetheart,” she spat the endearment spitefully “you can die with my father-“

“We’ll die together then!” He hissed impatiently, cutting her off.

The harshness in his voice made the hair in her nape stood. There was a sense of authority in his voice that was indeed kingly. And she’s getting pissed off. Sino ang taong ito upang utusan siya ng isang bagay na hinding-hindi niya gagawin sa tanang buhay niya? Sumumpa na siya sa puntod ng ina, at hinding-hindi niya babawiin ang sumpang iyon. Period!

“Hey! Who do you think you are —“

“I’ll break your neck if you continue resisting a dying man’s wish!” Mas lalong nadagdagan ang galit at pagkaaburido sa boses nito.

Napasinghap si Yehlen. Subalit hindi siya nagpadala sa sinabi nito. “He can use his money to buy his life!” Buong pait na turan niya. “And he won’t die so don’t worry yourself too hard!” She said bitterly and bit her lower lip to control her raging temper.

Isang malalim na buntong-hininga ang narinig ni Yehlen sa kabilang linya. There was silence for sometime. She was groping for appropriate words, more cunning and bitter if he will throw her another statement again.

“I’m giving you 48 hrs to decide,” he said in a flat voice. “Give your father a ring within 48 hours. And expect the worst if you resist. I’m serious, I’ll drag you home if that’s necessary.” He said the threat solidly and the line went dead.

Napasinghap si Yehlen sa narinig. And she can feel that whoever that caller was, he has the nerve to do the threat. And she became more furious. She will bow to no one. Sa loob ng sampung taon ay namuhay siyang nag-iisa and nobody ever dared subdue her. Even her father did not succeed in getting her forgiveness.

Napakibit siya ng balikat at malakas na ibinagsak sa cradle ang telepono. As if she cares! No one can make her go home to her father. Nakapangako na siya sa puntod ng namatay na ina na kamumuhian niya ang ama. Na hindi na siya babalik dito. Na pagdadamutan din niya ito ng pagmamahal gaya ng ginawa nito sa asawa. Na ipaghihiganti niya ang sinapit nito.

——- CHAPTER 2 WILL BE POSTED IN A FEW DAYS ——-