Chapter Twenty Five
Valerie’s POV
I blinked in confusion as I sat up on the bed. The cold air brushed against my naked body, making me shiver. I pulled the blanket up to cover myself and I wrapped it around my body. I felt thirsty so I slid out of bed and made my way to the kitchen.
I was surprised to see Axel sitting on the table in his boxers, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. I thought he had already gone to work and left me here alone. I felt embarrassed as the memories of last night came flooding to me. Ibinaba niya ang dyaryong binabasa niya at tumingin sa akin. His brows shot up. “If you’re going to be watching me, at least join me for breakfast.”
“I’m… I’m just going to get a glass of water.”
“Val, please, sit down.” He sighed. “We need to talk.”
I slowly walked up to the table, pulled a chair in front of him and sat there. There was a few moments of awkward silence between us.
“Just what the hell did you think you were doing last night? You are such an irresponsible little snitch!” He said in an irritated tone.
“I’m not irresponsible! I was just having fun with my friends. I didn’t do anything wrong.” I frowned.
He let out a sarcastic snicker. “Not irresponsible? What would you call it, then? You were drunk! Hindi mo kilala ang ugali ng lahat ng tao doon. Paano kung napagsamantalahan ka. Kagabi nga lang akala mo ahas kung makapulupot sa’yo yung Aaron na yun.” He breathed through his nose.
“He’s my friend. He was just trying to sober me up.” Sabi ko.
“Wala akong pakialam kahit kaibigan mo iyon, lalaki pa rin iyon! Paano kung bigla ka na lang iuwi nun-”
“Hindi lahat ng lalaki katulad mo!” I said, losing my temper.
“Katulad ko? What do you mean by that Valerie? Kahit kailan hindi kita pinagsamantalahan. Wala akong ginawa sa’yo na hindi mo ginusto.”
“Hindi mo ba naisip na pwedeng gusto ko rin kung anuman ang posibleng mangyari sa amin kagabi.” I snided.
His jaw clenched ans his eyes narrowed guardedly at me. I looked at him with equal intensity. It was like a staring contest which I lost. I sighed as I tried to keep my tears at bay. “Bakit ikaw pwede mong gawin kahit anong gusto mo? Pwede kang umuwi kahit kailan mo gusto ng hindi ako pwedeng magtanong kung saan ka nanggaling. You can spend the night with any woman while I’m stuck here waiting for you like a dog for its owner.” I swallowed what felt like a lump in my throat. “I love you but please, don’t keep doing this to me. Nasasaktan din ako.”
His face suddenly soften and quickly changed in to a confused look. “What are you talking about? Sa tingin mo, may kasama akong babae noong isang gabi? I was at a business auction party.”
“Nagpakatanga na nga ako sa’yo lalo mo pa ‘kong ginagawang tanga. You were with Tricia, your girlfriend.”
“You mean Patricia?” His brows lifted in a wry arch. “Yes, I was with her at the party but I was also with my dad and her dad. She isn’t my girlfriend. How did you know I was with her?”
“Tumawag ako sa’yo kasi nga nag-aalala ako.” I answered.
“I swear to God, Tricia is not my girlfriend and nothing happened between us.” He said.
I just stared at him, not knowing if I should believe him or not. Para naman naramdaman niya ang pag-aalinlangan ko. “Look, Val, I have no reason to lie to you.Kung gusto mo tatawagan ko pa siya ngayon.” He got up from his seat, went to our room and came back with his phone. He dialed a number and put the phone on speaker so I could hear it.
“Hi, Axel!” A woman’s cheerful voice answered. Iyon din ang parehong boses na sumagot noong tinawagan ko siya the other night.
“Patricia, while we were at the auction party pinakialaman mo ba ang phone ko?” He asked.
“I can’t remember.” She answered.
“Patricia!” He pressed.
“Okay, okay, sige na. Sinagot ko yung phone mo nung umalis kayo nina dad sa table. May naghanap sa’yo na babae at sinabi kong busy ka.”
“Yun lang ba ang sinabi mo?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Did you also tell her that you’re my girlfriend.”
“I… it was just a joke. Bago ko pa nasabi sa kanya iyon binaba niya na yung phone. At saka bakit ba? Ano naman kung sinabi ko iyon? Marami ka pa naman side chick, right? Ikaw kaya si Atticus Xavier Enrique Lavigne, hindi ka mauubusan ng babae.” She laughed.
He huffed. “Goodbye, Tricia.” He ended the call and looked at me. “Now, do you believe me?”
A smile crept on my lips as I slowly nodded my head. He didn’t have to do that if he didn’t want to. Hindi niya kailangan patunayan sa akin na mali ang iniisip ko. But he did. I saw subtle smile almost spread across his lips as he looked at me.
“Eat up and then go take a bath. I already got warm water ready for you in the tub. It’ll make you feel better.” Sabi ni Axel.
“Did you make all these?” I asked, looking at the food on the table. There were hash browns, toasted bread, scrambled eggs and fresh fruits.
He didn’t answer and pretended not to hear it. He looked down like an ashamed little boy. It was so cute.
I felt so much better after eating and I decided to soak myself in the tub while Axel used the shower. We were getting used to each other’s nudity but I still couldn’t help but stare in awe as I watched him through the glass wall that surrounded him. He had a beautifully sculpted physique, slender and muscular. He had not an ounce in his body, you could clearly see 6 packs on his abs, just pure muscles. He turned and saw me looking at him, I quickly looked away embarrased. Pinatay niya ang shower and he opened the glass the door.
He reached for the towel on the towel bar and dried himself with it before wrapping around his waist. “Hindi ka pa ba tapos?”
“Tapos na din ako. Magbabanlaw na lang ako.” I said.
“I’ll just get dressed.” Sabi ni Axel. I nodded my head.
I got out of the tub after a few more minutes and when I got to our room, Axel was already in his brown cargo pants and white tees.
“Hindi ka ba papasok sa trabaho?” I asked.
“I just called my secretary. I took a leave today.”
“Bakit?”
“We’re going away. Pack up your things.”
“Saan tayo pupunta?”
“Don’t forget to take your swimsuit with you.” He simply said.
I kept asking Axel where we were going but he never answered my question. After a two hour drive his car stopped in front of a house made of brick and wood with glass walls. It stood right beside a quiet body of water and was surrounded by trees. Lumabas si Axel mula sa kotse at sumunod ako sa kanya. He started unloading his trunk with our bags. Isang maliit na travelling bag lang ang dala ko (of course, it had to be pink) and he brought his own too and carried it both. Kung maganda ang labas ng bahay, mas maganda ang loob. My shot open when he opened the door. The dark wooden floor complimented the ivory white wall, it had high ceiling a a lot of large windows framed with brown wood overlooking the lake. It was so grand yet so simple and cozy.
“God, this is so beautiful.” I said as I was walking in.
He turned his head and smiled at me. Something about his smile made me want to melt right where I was standing. “Do you like it?”
“Are you kidding? This place is breath taking.”I said, my eyes wandering around the house. Tumayo ako sa harap ng bintana where you could see the lake. Right in front of it was a long dock extending to the water and a shiny black motor boat at the end of the dock. “Pwede ba tayong sumakay doon?” I excitedly asked, pointing at it.
“Of course.” He answered. “That’s why I told you to bring your swimsuit.”
I followed him upstairs to the bedroom where he placed our bags. We both changed into our swimwear, I wore a pair of black two piece bikini and a loose white cover up dress while Axel wore a white swimming trunks. Parang batang nagmamadali akong bumaba at tumakbo papunta sa lake. Sumunod sa akin si Axel, bringing along a bucket of fish bait.
Inalalayan niya ako paakyat sa motorboat at saka siya sumakay. He went in front of it and started the engine. Within minutes, we were cutting across the water. He sped it up, making the motorboat jump like a flying fish. I screamed in excitement and a rush of adrenaline. Hininto niya ang boat sa gitna ng lawa. I leaned on the rail and took in a deep breath. I smiled at the sight of the rich, brilliant blue water and its beauty. Then I felt a warm body pressed on my back. He, too, held on the rail and imprisoned me between his arms.
“Like the view?”
“I love it…” I sighed.
“I knew you would.” He was so close to me I could feel his breath on my nape.
“Why did you bring me here?” I asked, curiously.
“Just because.” He chuckled.
Tinanggal niya ang mga kamay niyang nakahawak sa rail and I could no longer feel the heat of his body against mine. Parang gusto kong habulin ang init ng katawan niya. I wanted to feel it for a few more minutes. He suddenly jumped from the boat to the water.
“Axel!” I screamed.
He just let out a careless laugh. “Come on, jump in.” He urged.
“I’ll just stay here.” Sagot ko.
“Why would you want to stay there. Mas masarap dito, malamig ang tubig.”
“I don’t like swimming in deep open waters.”
“Ako’ng bahala sa’yo. Come on.” He reached his hand up to me. I slowly took his hand and sat at the edge of the boat. I carefully slid my body down the water and panicked when I couldn’t feel a solid ground beneath my feet. Hinawakan ako ni Axel sa magkabilang baywang. My arms wrapped around his neck like I was holding on to my dear life. I felt his arms curling around my waist, pulling me against his body. I closed my eyes and rested my head on his shoulder. I felt more intimate with him that I ever had habang magkasama kami sa iisang bubong.
Is this what boob job does to men? I should start giving it to him regularly. He was no longer stiff and stoic. He was suddenly laid back and carefree. He was no longer holding back. I saw him smile and laugh today. An aura of ease rolled off him. We stayed in the water for a couple more minutes. He taught me how to float on water and then we both got tired we climbed back up the boat.
He took out two fishing poles and handed one to me. Umupo kami sa gilid ng boat. He sat behind me, his legs spread so I could fit between it. Our feet were both draped in the water as I leaned back to his soft chest. We quietly sat there waiting for a fish to bite. The sun was reflecting through the water, making it glisten with its warm glow. The silence between us was intense. No words were said but I could feel his heart thumping against me. For some reason, I could feel our hearts beating at the same time, on the same rhythm. It felt like nothing could break through the forming conversation, the forming feelings, whatever was forming between us at this very moment.
Axel’s POV
“Ang laki ng nahuli kong isda.” Valerie bragged as we were walking on the deck back to the lake house. It was already dusk when we decided to go back to land. Pinanood pa kasi namin ang sunset.
“Not bad for a first timer.” I snickered.
“Ano’ng not bad? Mas malaki kaya nahuli kong isda kaysa sa’yo.” Her brows crumpled.
“Begginer’s luck.” I replied.
“Hah! You just can’t accept the fact that I’m way better at fishing than you.”
“Whatever you say.” I chuckled before my arm snaked to the small of her waist. We headed back to the lake house. We brought the fishes we caught and decided that that would be what we were having for dinner. I caught a catfish and Valerie caught a huge chinook salmon.
Si Valerie ang nagluto ng dinner namin. She baked the salmon with ginger, lemon, garlic and olive oil. No matter what Valerie does, she just looks exquisitely beautiful. My eyes raked over her form, slowly up and down her length, while she was busy making our dinner. She was the first woman I had ever brought here. I never even brought Guiles here. This place was special, not only to me but to my parents. This place was where we had the happiest days of our lives. We spend the whole summer here, just the three of us, every year when I was a kid.
I smiled as I imagined spending every summer with Val here in our lakehouse with our child. Shit!
I quickly pushed the thought away. What was I thinking? With Guiles, I never thought that far ahead. I never even remembered wanting to have a child with her.
“Dinner’s ready.” Sabi ni Val habang hawak ang isang tray ng baked salmon. It smelled delicious. My mouth started to water. She placed it on the table and we both ate together. Pagkatapos namin kumain nakita ni Valerie ang mga photo albums namin. She started going through it even though I told her not to.
We sat in the living room. She was cuddled up on my side while my hand rested on the back of the couch.
“Oh my god! Is that you?” She chuckled, pointing at a picture of me when I was a little boy. “Ang chubby mo pala noon. Ang sarap pisilin ng pisngi mo.”
“Okay, that’s enough.” I felt embarrassed and tried to get the album from her.
“Sandali lang, tinitignan ko pa.” Inilayo niya sa akin iyon para hindi ko maabot. “Ang cute mo kaya.”
I sighed, letting out an annoyed groan.
“Aw this is so cute. The first fish you caught. How old were you in this picture?” She was looking at a picture of me with my dad next to me holding up a fishing rod while I hold up a big rainbow trout by the tail. I remembered it was my mom who took that picture.
“I think I was around 6 or 7 at that time.” I answered. She flipped through page and pages. And when she was done with the album she moved on the to other one.
“Your mother’s so beautiful. She kind of reminds me of Audrey Hepburn.” She said, looking at the photo of my mother posing by the lake with black beach hat. “She looks… regal.”
“She is.” I agreed.
“Your mom and dad look so cute together. Bakit wala ka sa photo album na ‘to?” She asked.
“It was their first honeymoon.”
“So you mean, dito sila naghoneymoon?” She asked, wide-eyed and mouth shot open.
“Yeah.”
“Oh my god, really?”
I nodded my head.
“Maybe we could have our honeymoon here too.” She giggled.
I avoided her gaze by looking out the window, staring out at the lake. Suddenly I could feel tension between us thicken.
“I was just kidding.” She let out a nervous laugh.
The discomfort in the air didn’t go away. We decided to hit the sack after she looked through another photo album. Kahit na maraming kwarto ang lake house, we decided to stay together in one room. Nasanay na akong katabi siya. She was in my system now. Her warmth, the smell of her, her sound and her movement.
We quietly layed together in bed. Half of the room’s roof was made of glass, the glow of the moon illuminating the dark room. Hindi pa rin tulog si Valerie. What was happening was different from what I planned. I felt contented with her by my side. Peace settled in my bloodstream along with the lust I always felt for Val. I had learned to control my need for her.
This shouldn’t be happening and I shouldn’t be feeling this way. I couldn’t let my feelings turn into something serious. All hell would break loose if that happens.
But in the back of my mind, I knew at some point Tristan and Jaime would find out. A part of me looks forward to that conversation. The guilt I was carrying was getting way too heavy.
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