Chapter 4

How far are you willing to go for the sake of love?

Back then I thought I would never get the chance to meet him again but destiny prevailed. On one of the charity events I attended, there I saw him again. I was told I had to wear a semi formal dress so I did. I didn't even bother putting on heavy make up, and just settled with my nude lipstick.

I never knew he was that famous in the world business owning food chains and restaurants all over the country.

Sa loob ng ballroom ng hotel ginanap ang event. Gold and black balloons were seen outside on the corner, and a red carpet for the guests.

"Good evening, Ma'am. May I see your invitation?" Untag ng babaeng nakatayo pagpasok sa reception area.

I gave the envelope to her.

"Ma'am sa back stage po kayo," anito.

"Huh? Why?" Nagtataka kong tanong.

Papa just told me to come because our family was one of the investors of the foundation.

"It's for the date auction, Ma'am."

Mas lalo akong naguluhan sa sinabi niya.

"What?"

Napatingin ako sa podium kung saan nasa gitna ang emcee at mga bidders. Base sa pagkaintindi, I'd be in the middle where people would raise their bids for me. Inis kong kinuha ang cocktail drink nang may dumaang waiter.

Hindi man lang sinabi ni Papa sa akin. My Mother won't be around because of hospital duties. I'm the representative of the family because my Father won't also be here.

The girl with the uniform assisted me to go the backstage.

"Thank you," sambit ko. Ramdam ko ang panlalamig. Napatingin ako sa mga taong nakaupo. Some of them were old, some were young pero iilan lang. What if an old man asked me for a date? What if he's married? Napapikit na lang ako sa naisip. Pero isang gabi lang naman. I'm sure I'd be able to get through.

Pinagmasdan ko uli ang paligid. I don't even know someone here. How would I be able to survive the night?

The emcee finished her introductory statement then she proceed with calling names.

Iniisip ko na lang na sana ako ng huli. Kinuha ko na lamang ang Iphone ko para malibang.

"Next, let us all welcome, the daughter of the Saavedra clan who is one of the most trusted members of the foundation, Ms. Velleria Feah Saavedra!"

Napatayo ako nang marinig ang pangalan ko. I could hear applause when I went on the stage. I gulped hard seeing so many people looking at me.

"Twenty thousand!"

The bidding started.

"Anything higher?" The emcee asked.

"Fifty thousand!"

"One hundred thousand!"

Sinuri ko ang paligid. It seems like I'm a person with a worth. Really? One hundred thousand for me? I'm priceless!

"Five hundred thousand." The baritone voice from the corner said. Half a million?

"One million." Nanlaki ang mata ko sa narinig. Shit! That was a huge amount.

"Any amount higher than that?"

"One point five million."

What the hell?

They would spend that amount for me just to date. What the heck was wrong on their minds?

"A counter bid anyone?" The emcee inquired.

"Three million." The cold and baritone voice said earning screams from the audience went forward. A wave of shocks settled the hall. And there I saw the familiar eyes I saw last time, asking me for a date.

"Zachariel..." I uttered.

"Congratulations! Sold to Mr. Buenavista for three million!"

Wala na akong marinig. Ang tanging nararamdaman ko ay ang patuloy na paglakas ng tibok ng puso ko.

I found myself with him in the elevator. He pressed the button. I should've not worn a sleeveless dress. Nilamig ako nang sobra nang nasa itaas na kami bandang balcony.

There was a table draped with red cloth, and wines on it. A romantic music could be heard.

"We met again," he said when he sat. Iminuwestra niya ang kanyang kamay para umupo ako. I sat down. I felt uneasy with his stares. Napansin niya ang panginginig ko sa lamig. I was surprised when he took off his coat and put it on my shoulder.

"T-Thanks," sambit ko sa nanghihinang boses.

"Why did you spend that much for me?" Lakas loob kong tanong.

"Let's say, you caught my attention. I'm interested in you."

I don't know how to react with what he said so I just drank my wine to calm my mind.

"Don't you have anything to say?"

"Wala namang sasabihin," sagot ko. Sabay naming tinanggal ang silver cover ng aming plato. Fortunately, the dark night helped me conceal my feelings.

"Where are you going after this?" He asked to make the conversation alive.

"Home," I answered.

"The night is still young. Do you want to come with me after?"

"Uhm.. Why would I?"

"To get even?" He said, unsure. "Come on, I drove you last time." He wiggled his brows.

"O-Okay..."

"You're coming with me?" He confirmed like he couldn't believe I agreed. I nodded my head.

He smirked. "Very well." Tinanggal niya ang kopita sa bote ng wine saka nagsalin sa akin tapos ay sa kanya.

"You're beautiful," anas niya.

"You're flirting with me." It wasn't a question, rather a statement I told him.

"Am I?" Nagmamaang maangan niyang tanong.

"Does that bother you?"

Umiling ako. "No. I mean, it's too fast. We just met last time."

"Time doesn't matter. That's why there's a saying that you could fall in love in three seconds."

"You mean love at first sight?"

"Yes."

"I didn't peg you as a romantic guy."

"I'm not."

"But you're saying otherwise."

He chuckled lightly. "You're funny."

We ate in silence. Nang matapos ay tumayo siya. His strides were confident when he went near to me. He raised his hand and I gladly accepted it. Napangiti siya.

How far will you go for the sake of love? It was a question I pondered on. Because after that night, I became a person I never imagined I could be.

When we got inside his car, he was fast to claim my lips. He wasn't my first kiss. I've had a fair share of men I dated. One was when I was in highschool and the other one in my first year college. But nobody has made me feel this way. No body has kissed me this way. I've tried to summon oxygen because I couldn't properly breathe as his kisses were making inside my system occupying every bits of me.

And I must admit. I like it. No, I love it.

I shouldn't let him do this. We're not even close, but my mind was screaming of his touch. Hindi ko na inisip kung ano ang mangyayari. Hinayaan ko na lang ang damdamin ko na maging masaya kasama siya.

"Open your mouth," he said. I was about to protest. It was his cue to delve his tongue inside my mouth. The taste of the cherry wine on his lips made it sweeter. Nang tumigil siya ay kapwa kami naghihingalo. He was looking intently at me. Ang mga braso niya'y nasa bewang ko.

He tucked the strand of my hair behind my ear. "So pretty," he murmured.

"Zachariel..." I breathed.

"Call me Zach." He cupped my face. Hinaplos niya ang aking pisngi pababa sa aking leeg.

"Mine."

"Zach..."

He attacked my lips for the second time. I almost moaned when he bit my lower lip.

"Nakakagigil ka," aniya. "Let's go to my condo."

"W-Why?"

Ngumiti siya. "You'll know."

Mabilis niyang pinaandar ang sasakyan hanggang sa makarating kami sa building ng condo unit niya. My mind was in haywire as he was driving but the heat I had a while ago consumed me. He firmly held my hand. And when we got inside, he pushed me on the wall and aggressively kissed me. Mahigpit akong napakapit sa kanyang leeg.

"You know I'm attracted you the first time we met. Your eyes, I can't forget it. I think of you all the time. What did you do to me, huh?" Hinaplos niya nang marahan ang pisngi ko.

"Zach..." tanging pangalan niya lang ang nasambit ko dahil wala akong lakas. It felt like he took over every energy I have.

His kisses went on my neck. "Fuck..." he uttered. His hands moved its own, and now it found its way to my breast. Nagsitindigan ang mga balahibo ko. I was still wearing my clothes, but the ecstasy I was feeling right now won't be replaced by anything.

Mabilis niyang nahubad ang dress ko. I was left with my underwear. Pinagmasdan niya ang kahuburan ko kaya nakaramdam ako ng hiya. I covered it using my hands.

"No. Don't. You're a masterpiece."

He took off my hand, and kissed me again. This time it wasn't as harsh as it was a while ago. It was tender and soft like he was savoring it.

Marahan niya akong binuhat niya ako kaya mas lalong humigpit ang kapit ko sa kanya. He wasn't still breaking the kisses when I found myself inside his bedroom. He slowly put me on his bed. He took that opportunity to remove his clothes. He was only left with his pants.

Inatake niya ang gitna ng dibdib ko habang marahas na hinawakan ang kabila. He bit my nipple that earned a moan from me.

"Ahh... Zach..." Nagsalitaan ang pag-atake niya sa magkabilang dibdib ko. He grunted and kissed me harder on my lips. Pababa nang pababa ang kanyang halik hanggang sa aking puson. Mas lalong nagwala ang sistema ko nang bumaba ang halik nito sa aking gitna. I could feel his breath even with my last underwear on. Tiningnan niya ako saglit bago niya unti unting tinanggal ito.

"You taste so heaven."

His lips moved to my bossom, and he licked me. I held on his hair. Nanggigigil niyang pinalalim ang kanyang dila na tila may hinahanap.

One flick of his thumb almost made me come. Ipinagpatuloy niya ang pagbabaliw sa akin hanggang sa maramdaman kong lumabas na.

Nanghihina akong tumingin sa kanya. He was gently looking at me while he was removing his last cloth. Nang natanggal na niya ang kanyang boxer brief ay napanganga ako. There I saw his... His hardness. He looked so divine. A blessing from the earth. I almost laughed with what I thought of. He knelt and spread my legs.

Should I really give myself in? Napansin niya ang pagdududa ko.

"I'll pull out," aniya. Napapikit ako nang maipasok niya na ang kany sa loob ko. Napadaing ako sa sakit. Parang hinihiwa ang buong pagkatao ko.

"Ah..." halinghing ko.

"Don't worry, you'll like this."

When he finally put it inside, I lost my mind.

"Shit! You're a virgin?"

"Go on. Move," sabi ko.

"There's no way I'm going to stop this." He breathed as he continued to move.

"Zach... Hmmm...."

"Baby, I can't get rid of you."

His movement became faster. Hindi ko alam kung saan ibabaling ang ulo ko. I came but Zach wasn't finished yet.

"Slow down. Ahh... slow down! Zach! Ahh!"

He was too fast and rough.

"Not sorry for that." He continued to move when he picked his pace until I could feel the hot liquid inside me.

Inside? That was when realization hit me.

"You told me you're going to pull out?!"

"I'm sorry. Can't help it. We'll buy medicine later."

He cleaned me up and laid beside me. "What a nice fuck, baby," he said.

Hindi ko na masyadong maintindihan dahil dinala na ako ng antok.

Kinabukasan ay hindi ko siya nakita. There was a soup on the bedside table and a note.

Hi. Sorry. I have to go. Put your number here.

-Zach

When I finished eating, I got up and dressed up. I hailed a taxi when I found one. I went to the nearest drug store and bought a pill. I don't want to get pregnant.

I received a call that evening. I knew it was him.

"Hi," his baritone voice welcomed me on the line.

"Hello."

"I didn't wake you up. I'm sorry."

"Okay lang. You have a job," sabi ko.

"Can you go to my condo again tomorrow?"

"For what?"

"We'll watch?"

"Really?" Nanuya kong tanong.

He chuckled.

"Yeah."

"N*****x and chill." Tuluyan na rin akong napangiti.

The rest of my nights were spent in his condo. My parents were on their business trips that's why I could sneak out. I knew Manang Sally won't say anything.

We would often satisfy each other with our bodies. Tulad ngayon parehong nag-iisa muli ang katawan namin. It felt good when he was inside of me. He completes my being. Every time we did it, I felt loved, worshipped and adored. Unlike the first one, we used condom for protection.

Hindi ko alam kung anong meron kami ngayon. Ang alam ko lang ay masaya ako.

When we were both finished, he said he's going to take a shower. Naiwan ang phone niya at wallet sa gilid. Out of curiosity, I stared at his wallet and I found out a picture of a woman whom I've realized I'd never win against.

Samantha.

"What are you doing?" Mabilis kong ibinalik ito sa gilid. Dinaluhan niya ako sa kama at muling hinalikan.

"I like you, Zach."

He didn't respond, instead he showered me with his kisses again.

From that moment on, I've realized I would never enough to someone who don't love me the same way I do.

Nabalik ako sa realidad nang muling humarap sa salamin. Today's the wedding. Time went by so fast. Everyone's busy because of the event. I was done with my make up and my dress.

As I was making my way inside the church, with my father beside me. I could see Zach on the corner with his brother beside him. He was looking at me. There, I realize that today was the greatest mistake I've ever done.

Marrying him.