CHAPTER 14

I was walking down the aisle. All I saw were women I hated, there were three of them then a man wearing black suit was standing in the middle, I knew him, of course. It was no other than Rake Alicante. He smiled at me while I'm gazing seriously. I couldn't help but give him a smile too, the genuine one.

This wasn't really my dream wedding or should I say, I'd never imagine myself to be married with someone else when I know, I'm not capable of loving wholeheartedly.

Back in highschool, I'm the ice queen, the bitch and the most hated person. Bakit hindi? All I do was to ruined everyone's day. Halos lahat ng lalaki sa eskwelahan ginagamit ko para sa sarili kong kasiyahan, sa sarili kong kapakanan. I loved it when they were begging on their knees, just for me to fucked them, used them and some people wanted to lower my defense. I couldn't, this was who I am.

I truly loved being the woman who overpowered men. I do what I wanted, my plan, my life and my rules. Yes, I'm the dominant type. Even before I promised that I would never let a man control me or this life I had because it only means losing myself, or should I say, this version ---the bitch, the dirty one, sinful yet playful and poweful.

And here I am, walking towards the man I barely knew. He was standing tall and still, he was not my ideal type because he was old, and just like he said earlier, we had a tragic past. It looked like the world was against us. But the look on his eyes, pierce, dark yet contented. It was sufficient for me to said yes and, trust him.

You know, it confused me to what happen with my life. Pero ang alam ko lang, somehow, this man made me feel things. It was enough for me to let him plant a new life inside me.

Nakarinig ako ng malakas na lagabog mula sa likod ko. I continued walking as if, I'm expecting it. My audience froze, may isa pang lagabog na nanggaling mula sa pinto. Binitawan ko ang bulaklak na hawak ko at dahan-dahan lumingon.

"It's time. . ." I whispered to myself.

He was standing arrogantly. His hand on his pocket, smirking like a dog. I loathed this man. Bakit ba hindi na lang siya mamatay, eh, matanda nanaman siya. The world would be a better place without him.

"Well, well, well, just in time, am I?" Just hearing his voice. I hated him more.

Greg the fucking Jimenez. How cool to play his game, right? I remembered him. He was my mentor, my all time lover. He taught me how to fucked properly and how to act like this. I met him when I was a teenager. He was soft back then, pero ngayon, every time I think of him, all I could feel was hatred and I didn't know the exact reasons why.

"You can't remember James, right? He was my son, Ericka. And he was your ex-lover, your submissive." I let out a sharp breath. It sounded like me. The real me. I would do something like that. "You used him for the sake of your own needs. Kinuha mo ang lahat ng pera na mayroon siya, mga pinamana namin ng mama niya sakanya."

Napalunok ako. I'd been hurt before but the look on his eyes, it was undescribable how the pain was stabbing him right now. The love of a parent was eternal, unconditionally that if I were in his position, I would do the same, without a blink I would avenge my child.

"It was more than that, Ericka. I wouldn't mind if you're just after his money. But when he lost you, he loss his life."

I was taken aback. "What do you mean? P-pinatay ko ba siya?" I would never kill someone for the sake of money, unless, my life was in trouble.

He tilted his head and his tight eyes shut. "You did not. But he lost himself, napariwala si James at hinihintay ka niya na bumalik. And then, there was this one afternoon when someone texted him to meet him. He thought it came from you. . ."

My breath was becoming uneven. I didn't have any idea, kung anong nangyari sakanya. But I feel sorry for Rake because it was me who caused his life miserable. It was me, who brought chaos to his life.

He opened his eyes. All I saw was agony, pain and hatred. "He was on his way to that meeting place without knowing it was only a trap and someone sabotaged him. According to police report, someone set up a bomb in his car. Just like that, his life ended, in the middle of nowhere, with no help at all. Pero pinalabas ko na car accident ang nangyari dahil gusto ko, ako mismo ang maghahanap sa may gumawa n'on, and Ericka, the evidences I had was all heading to one person, to you."

"Me?" My forehead was creasing. I shook my head. There was no way! Did I really become so evil to kills someone I used?

"No! I know myself, I, maybe a bitch but I will never do that to a child! Hindi ako ganoon kasama!"

"Alam ko, Ericka. You don't have any option because Greg trapped you."

"What about him?"

"Nalaman ko na siya ang gumawa ng lahat ng 'yon, he planted those evidence to avenge my son. He wanted me to kill you. Nang malaman ko kung nasaan ka, I contacted him, and he told me he was willing to cooperate only with the right price."

"To make this long story short. He sold me." It wasn't a question. I knew him and what he was capable of.

"Yes, and he betrayed you." he took a step forward and held my shaking hand.

"I get it. You wanted me to avenge you, too."

"Yes..."

Kahit may galit ako na nararamdaman sa katawan ko, hindi ako nagpatinag. I am Ericka Quinn for a reason. I wouldn't let someone betray me like that.

I looked at him straight in the eyes. I'd never been this angry all through my life. But the timing was right. Rake Alicante came for me, we could be a good team against Greg.

"You don't have to ask me twice, Rake," I seriously said. "Tell me what am I going to do, I'll follow without a doubt."

Lumalakad siya papunta sa'kin, his body guards were beside him, protecting him. He was still smiling. All I wanted to do was to punch his nose to death.

"Ericka Quinn Lopez, my dear Ericka. You look so lovely in that wedding dress. . ."

Wala na siyang lakas. Para siyang madadapa sa bawat lakad niya. This man was old, and he stinks. Nabura ang lahat ng maganda alala na mayroon ako sakanya. How could he do this to me. Bakit niya ako pinagtaksilan?!

I kept my posture and crossed my hands. "Aw, thanks, Gregy, hindi ko nga in-imagine na ikakasal ako. Who would have thought, right?"

He stopped walking and stared at me confusingly. "Oh," he pointed his hand at me, his mouth was hanging open. "The seventeen," he laughed.

He knew about this? Ang hindi ko pagkakaalala sa mga nagyari sa'kin? How dare he! May alam ba siya kung bakit ako nagkaganito?

"I guess I am? So, bakit ka andito? To join the wagon? I bet you are. Come." I swayed my wedding dress.

Naramdaman ko naman ang presensya ni Rake sa gilid ko. His hand snakes on my waist. Hindi ako gumalaw. Ngayon ko lang naramdaman kung gaano kapangyarihan ang kamay niya para manigas ako sa ganitong sitwasyon.

Mukhang hindi naman nagustuhan ni Greg ang nakita. Sumeryoso ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito. "You always find your way back to him, aren't you, my dear Ericka?"

Dumiin ang pagkakadantay ng kamay ni Rake sa bewang ko. "Why wouldn't I? He's the love of my life."

Tumawa bigla ng malakas si Greg. "You don't know how to love. H'wag mong niloloko ang sarili mo. You'll always find a way too, how to destroy him again and again."

Ramdam ko ang galit ni Rake mula sa gilid ko. Just like me, he wanted to kill this man. Only if we could.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Destroy him? Okay. He knows that before this and that happen, Gregy. And don't you remember what you told me? Love can save me afterall."

Umiling si Greg. "Not that kind of love, my dear Ericka."

I saw Rake's jaw clenched. "You don't have a place here, Greg. Kahit hindi pa maalala ni Ericka ang mga nangyari sakanya, alam mo na babalik at babalik siya sa'kin."

"Aahh, Rake Alicante," tumingin si Greg dito. "Nice to see you again, too. After how many years? I lost count." he winked.

"And you're not welcome here, Greg."

"After all this time? Pagkatapos ng lahat na ginawa ko para sayo?" pinagpatuloy nito ang paglalakad hanggang sa malapit na ng tuluyan samin ni Rake.

My heart beat was becoming uneven. It was because of anger. Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Rake na unti-unting nanginginig. He had to control himself if he wanted this to end.

"Don't worry, Ericka Quinn. I know how you hate surprises---"

"No, I hate you is the right term," I answered raising my eyebrow.

He didn't seem to mind my sarcasm. "I came here for both of you, ikakasal kayo ng wala man lang ako na maibibigay na kaunting regalo?"

Bumukas ulit ang pinto at may narinig ako na malakas na hiyaw. Maya-maya may isang bata na tumatakbong papunta sa'kin.

"Muuuummmehh!" the boy chimed with excitement.

I was caught off guard. Dahil una sa lahat, hindi ko siya maalala kung sino. But his face. . .his bright grayed eyes, his dark hair. . .it resembled him, Rake.

Naramdaman ko ang pagkagular niya sa gilid ko. Napatingin ako sakanya, he was staring at him, his eyes were shocked and confused.

"Ericka. . ." bulong nito.

I bit my lip. "I know, I know, but I didn't know about him. Wala siya sa alaala ko, Rake."

Bago pa makarating ang bata sa pwesto namin, hinawakan agad iyon ng bodyguard ni Greg. The boy cried, extending his hand to mine. Palapit si Rake sa kanila nang itaas ng isang bodyguard nito ang baril sa direksyon ng bata. Nanlaki ang mata ko at napahinto si Rake.

"Mummmeeh! Mummmehh! Tell them to let me go! They're so annoying! I want to kick them in the ass so badly!"

Lumakas ang tawa ni Greg sa iyak na bata. Wala akong nagawa kundi magulugan sa nangyayari. Dalawa. Dalawa ang anak ko? With Rake? Tumingin si Greg kay Rake, hindi nawawala ang ngisi sa labi nito.

"Rake Alicante, this may sound a little bit of cliche. But if you were to choose between Ericka and your son, who would it be?"