CHAPTER 21

NANG makarating si Shun at ang mga kaibigan niya sa Tuscany, kaagad na naghanap sila ng Hotel. At sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ni Shun, isa lang ang kinuhang silid ng mga baliw niyang kaibigan samantalang sobra sampu ang bilang nila.

"Don't look at me." Ani Lash na nakataas ang dalawang kamay sa ere. "Ang mahal kaya ng room sa Hotel na 'to."

Shun gaped at his friends. "Ang yayaman niyo tapos namamahalan kayo?"

Umingos si Ymar. "Ikaw ang mandurugas sa aming lahat kaya sagot mo ang room na 'to."

Itinirik niya ang mga mata. "Ewan ko sa inyo."

Pumasok siya sa banyo at naligo. Nang lumabas siya ay naka-ahit na at guwapo na ulit. He's wearing only a boxer. Ang mga baliw kasi niyang kaibigan, nakalimutang dalhan siya ng damit. Ano ngayon ang isusuot niya? Alang naman naka-boxer lang siya kapag nakipag-usap sa ama ni Themarie?

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay niya ng makitang may hawak na tuxedo si Knight. At mas lalong nagsalubong ang kilay niya ng i-abot sa kaniya ni Knight ang tuxedo.

"Anong gagawin ko riyan?" Nagtatakang tanong niya.

"Kainin mo baka masarap ang tela." Sarkastikong sabad ni Valerian.

Shun flipped Valerian with his middle finger and looked at Knight. "Anong paggagamitan ko niyan?"

"Isusuot mo 'to kapag nakipagusap ka sa Duke. Alang naman denim jeans ang isuot mo at sneakers? Pupunta ka sa palasyo at kakausapin ang ama ng babaeng mahal mo, kailangan magpa-impress ka." Knight smirked. "And this tuxedo is made to impress."

Huminga siya ng malalim at tinanggap ang Tuxedo. Nagbihis siya sa harapan mismo ng mga kaibigan niya na walang pakialam kahit pa yata maghubad siya.

After putting on the Tuxedo, he faced his friends. "Better?"

May inilapag na Italian shoes si Calyx sa sa harapan niya. "Plus that shoes? Much better."

Natatawang isinuot niya ang sapatos at humugot ng isang malalim na hininga.

"Ready?" Tanong ni Dark.

Tumango siya. "As i can ever be."

"Good." May iniabot ito sa kaniyang susi. "'Yan ang susi ng sasakyan na nirentahan ko para magamit mo. Pag-uwi natin sa Pilipinas, babayaran mo ako ng may doble pa sa nirenta ko."

"Okay. Thanks." Tinanggap niya ang susi. Hindi na niya naisip na kinukutugan siya ni Dark. Bahala ito sa buhay nito basta makita lang niya si Themarie.

Shun was about to twist the door open when he heard his friends murmuring 'Good luck' and 'you can do it'.

It was weird but at the same time, it made him feel at ease. Halos kalahati sa mga kaibigang kasama niya ngayon ay pinagdaanan na ang pinagdadanan niya. Nasaktan at nakipaglaban ang mga ito para maging masaya. They lower their egos and pride for the woman they love. And now, it's his turn to fight for his happy ending.

And he will win. No matter what.

ANOTHER day had passed and still no sign of Shun Kim. Araw-araw ay umaasa siya na darating ito pero ni anino nito ay hindi dumating.

Sinubukan niyang tumakas, pero masyadong madami ang body guard na palagi niyang kasama kaya hindi niya nagawa. Sinubukan niyang kunin ang cell phone niya na nasa pangangalaga ng kaniyang ama pero bago pa niya mahawakan ay naunahan siya ng kaniyang ama na binabantayan din pala ang naturang gadget.

She wanted to cry in frustration, but what could it do? Hindi maibabalik ng luha niya si Shun.

Humugot siya ng isang malalim na hininga saka napatigil sa paglalakad ng makita si Terron na papalapit sa kaniya.

"Terron?"

"I have a plan." Hinawakan siya nito sa kamay saka hinila patungo sa opisina ng ama niya.

Sinubukan niyang makawala sa pagkakahawak nito pero bigo siya. "Terron, ano ba, bitawan mo ako!"

"Huwag kang maingay." Anito at kumatok sa pinto ng opisina ng ama niya.

"Come in." Said her father's faint voice behind the door.

Nagtatakang pumasok siya sa loob ng opisina ng ama kasabay si Terron. Hindi pa sila nakakaupo ng may inilapag si Terron na mukhang stick sa ibabaw ng mesa ng kaniyang ama.

His father frowned at the 'stick'. "What is that?"

"A pregnancy test, your grace." Sagot ni Terron at pinisil ang kamay niya. "And it's positive. Therefore, i decline marrying Themarie for she is pregnant with another man's child."

Napakurap-kurap siya at napatanga kay Terron. Ano daw? Buntis siya? Dumako ang tingin niya sa 'stick' na nasa ibabaw ng mesa ng kaniyang ama. Sigurado siyang hindi siya gumamit niyon, kaya saan 'yon nakuha ni Terron?

Nang tumingin sa Themarie sa kaniyang ama, para itong tinuklaw ng ahas sa sobrang gulat. Her father face was pale. His lips parted in shock. He was immobile.

"Terron!" Themarie hissed at the man beside him.

Humihingi ng paumanhin ang mga mata ni Terron ng tumingin sa kaniya. "That's the only way, Themarie." Pabulong na sabi nito sa kaniya.

Themarie let out a frustrated sighed and looked at his father. "Dad, are you okay?"

Her father's icy cold eyes stared at her. "Who is the father, Themarie?"

Napakagat labi siya at hindi sumagot. Ayaw niyang magsinungaling sa ama niya. Si Terron ang sumagot para sa kaniya.

"Themarie told me that it was Shun Kim."

Bago pa makapagsalita ulit ang ama niya, pumasok ang head ng security guard sa gate ng kanilang bahay at nagsalita.

"A man named Shun Kim is outside the gate and he wants to talk to you, your grace. And he also said that," tumikhim ito at naiilang na tinapunan siya ng tingin bago pinagpatuloy ang sasabihin, "he is Lady Themarie's beloved boyfriend."

Kumurap-kurap ang ama niya saka huminga ng malalim. "Terron and Themarie, you are dismissed. You may leave." Tumingin ito sa head ng security guard. "Bring Mr. Shun Kim to me. Now."

Halos lumuwa ang mata ni Themarie sa gulat. Her heart was hammering inside her chest as the thought of Shun coming back swirl inside her head. Bumalik ito? Para sa kaniya? Pero bakit gusto nitong makausap ang kaniyang ama at hindi siya?

Her heart was bouncing in so much happiness. He's here! He's back. The man that she loves is back!

A wide happy grin stretched over her lips. "Shun came back."

"Yes." It was Terron.

Nakalabas na sila ngayon sa opisina ng kaniyang ama at nasa harden sila. Hindi nga niya namalayan na iginiya siya patungo roon ni Terron. She was lost with the thought that Shun is really here!

For me!

Pero bakit si Dad ang gusto niyang kausapin at hindi ako? Parang may kumurot sa puso niya. Narito ba talaga ito para sa kaniya o baka sa ibang kadahilanan?

Nagpakawala siya ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga saka pinukol ng masamang tingin si Terron na nakaupo sa bench, sa tabi niya.

"Ano sa tingin mo ang ginawa mo? Terron! I'm not pregnant!"

"I know." He gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. Iyon lang kasi ang naisip kung dahilan. I don't want to marry you as much as you don't want to marry me. You know i love you and I'll do anything for you. You are like a sister that i never had, Themarie." Niyakap siya ng binata. "Willing akong pakasalan ka noon kasi alam kung wala tayong choice, but now, you have a choice. Shun Kim is your choice of happiness, sweetheart. Kung hindi siya babalik, ako ang maghahatid sayo sa kaniya."

"But he's here now." She said softly.

"Yes, he is." Hinagod nito ang likod niya. "Magiging masaya ka sa piling niya."

Sana nga... sana nga narito siya para sakin.

KINAKABAHAN si Shun Kim ng pumasok siya sa isang silid kung saan naroon ang ama ni Themarie. Inayos niya ang tuxedo na suot at nag-angat ng tingin sa lalaking nakaupo likod ng mahogany table at nakaupo sa swivel chair.

The man looks intimidating and he was intimidated. Pero hindi niya pinahalata ang nararamdaman. Lumunok siya at humugot ng isang malalim na hininga bago nagsalita.

"Good afternoon, Sir." He didn't know how to address a freaking Duke! Shit!

Matiim siyang tinitigan ng Duke, hindi ito kumukurap. Kapagkuwan ay hinagod siya nito ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. The way he's looking at him, Shun feels like he's a Rat and the Duke is the Lion.

He gulped.

"Take a sit." The Duke said in an intimidating tone.

Mabilis na umupo si Shun dahil pakiramdam niya ay nanginginig ang tuhod niya. It's official. Themarie's father is intimidating and scary as hell!

"So," halata ang English accent nito sa pagsasalita. "Who are you and why do you want to talk to me."

This is it! Help me, oh, Lord. "I am Shun Kim, half-Filipino, half-Korean and half-Japanese. I am here to talk to you about the woman i love, your daughter."

The Duke grunted and then leaned back on his swivel chair. "My daughter is getting married in three days' time, Mr. Kim."

What the fuck?! "And I'm here to stop it."

He chuckled coldly; it made the hair of his back rose. "Really? Funny. And how are you going to do that?"

"By telling you that i can love her more than anyone in this world. Sir, i love your daughter, from the top of her hair to the tip of her toe. I cannot function without her. When i left, my world just shut down. I need her to live. Yes, now, I'm alive, but I'm not happy and my happiness is Themarie. My world is bleak without her, i may not die physically, but my heart is already withering, losing its will to live."

Tumingin siya sa mga mata ng kausap. "Sir, your daughter is lovely, amazing, smart, funny and i know that a man like me doesn't deserve her. She is like a Goddess and i am just a commoner who loves her more than anything. My name doesn't have a title but even though I'm no Prince, Duke or King, Themarie is my Princess, my Duchess and my Queen. She's my world, Sir. She's everything to me. Please, let me marry her instead."

Mataman siyang tinitigan ng ama ni Themarie na para bang pinag-aaralan siya at ang mga sinabi niya.

"If and if, i let you marry my daughter, would you do these following for her?"

"Say it and I'll do it." Puno ng kompeyansang aniya.

"My guards will beat you up for three hours."

Napalunok siya. "I accept." For Themarie.

"You will be submerged into a swimming pool full of large ice cubes."

"I accept." For Themarie.

The Duke grinned wickedly. "You will clean every inch of this Palace with no help. And i want it spotless."

For Themarie. "I'll do it."

"I want you to jump off a cliff."

"Sure." Walang pag-aalinlangang aniya. "But i suggest I'll do it after the other tasks. I might die."

Tumango ang lalaki. "Good. But i do have a question before i let you do those tasks."

Hindi siya umimik at hinintay lang na magsalita ulit ang kausap.

"When did you deflower my daughter?" His voice return to its menacing sound. "And did you know that she's pregnant? With your child?!"

Tinakasan ng dugo sa katawan si Shun. Nanuyo ang lalamunan niya at halos lumuwa ang mga mata niya. "Oh, God."

"Yes, oh, God." Tumayo ang lalaki. He was big, buff and scary. He looks like a Viking ready to kill a freaking Dragon. "I should kill you for deflowering my daughter! I should kill you for getting her pregnant!" Lumapit ito sa kaniya ay kinuwelyuhan siya. "What can you say about that, Shun Kim?!"

Wala na ang takot sa katawan niya. He's already in blissful heaven because of the news.

"I'm a Dad? Really?" A grin spread his lips. "Hell! I'm now a father!"

"Yes." The Duke grunted and glared at him. Kung nakakamatay ang tingin, inu-uod na siya ngayon. "And why should i let you marry my daughter and be the father of her child? Answer me, boy!"

Sinalubong niya ang nakakamatay nitong tingin. "Because, Sir, i love your daughter and i worship the ground that she walked on."

The Duke sneered at him. "You better not change religion, because if you will, i will kill you with my bare hands."

His chinky eyes widen a bit. "What? I'm a Christian, Sir, i would never change my religion—"

Pinandilatan siya nito. "I though you worship the ground that my daughter walk on? What happened to that?"

His mouth agape and then he blinked twice. Iyon pala ang tinutukoy nito. Dahil sinasamba niya si Themarie, dapat hindi siya magbago ng relehiyon.

Shun chuckled. "Yes, Sir."

"Good boy." Hinawakan siya nito sa braso saka walang sabi-sabing hinatak siya palabas ng opisina at patungo sa ikatlong palapag ng bahay na iyon.

Panay ang hatak sa kaniya ng ama ni Themarie hanggang sa makarating sila sa isang pamilyar na silid.

It's Themarie's room.

What on earth?

The Duke shoved him inside the room. "If you hurt my daughter, i will kill you in more ways than one."

Akmang tatalikuran na niya ito ng magtanong siya. He needs clarification.

"Did i stop the wedding?" Shun asked carefully.

Pinukol siya nito ng masamang tingin. "Should i give you a memorandum saying that you are to be wed with my daughter?" Puno ng sarkasmo ang boses nito.

Happiness swell inside him, pero may gumugulo pa rin sa isip niya. "Why? I thought it's her responsibility to marry a soon to be Duke and rule Tuscany."

"Yes, it is." May kalungkutan sa mga mata nito. "But it is my responsibility to make her happy, and you are her happiness so I'm blessing the union between you too."

Isang malapad na ngiti ang kumawala sa mga labi niya. "Thank you." Hindi kayang ipahiwatig ng salitang 'masaya' ang nararamdaman niya sa mga oras na iyon.

God did bless him.

"Thank you, Sir." Ulit na sabi niya.

"I will send my daughter to her room and i expect you to be here, waiting, and make her happy." Bumalik na naman ang intimidating nitong aura. "Or else, i will—"

"You will kill me. I know."

"Good."

The Duke left him inside Themarie's room.

A/N: Who wants some effing memorandum to marry one of the Possessive men? Haha. I want one!