Chapter 12

"Valentina."

My cousin looked at me, beaming as she twirled in her golden silk slip dress that hugs her slender body. Even for a surgeon who barely have enough time for sleep, she still managed to look so dashing tonight. Dr. Ciervo is effortlessly attractive, and he must know it, having thrown only a navy-blue button down shirt and bespoke khaki shorts.

"Ang ganda-ganda mo!" my cousin said, pulling me into a hug. I chuckled a little and hugged her back before pulling away. I'm only wearing a little black dress with waist cut-outs made by a budding French designer in Paris named Christian. It was a perfect fit and the materials are of high-quality that I didn't really mind if it came from a "no-name" brand, as others would say it.

We were chatting casually on our way to the dining hall, appreciating the freshly-lit torches that guided the stone path towards our destination. I could hear a faint violin music emerging from the tall pillars of the building. My eyes caught glimpse of a shadow moving in the doorway and seconds later, Blake stepped out wearing a white button-down shirt with sleeves rolled to his elbows and black denim shorts. He smiled at us.

"So glad you came."

I gave him a tight smile and walked past him as he entertained my cousin and his friend, Dr. Ciervo.

"So, when are you leaving for Manila?"

"Tomorrow morning." Valentina answered cheerfully. "Salamat sa libreng tour sa resort mo, Blake. Hindi ko ata 'to afford kahit ilang taon pa ang igugol ko sa ospital."

"You're welcome any time here, Valentina. You and Enzo can come anytime."

I caught Dr. Ciervo murmuring something under his breath, especially when Tina squealed in delight and tugged Blake's shirt. Umiwas kaming dalawa ng tingin at nagtungo na lamang sa lamesang ini-reserba para sa amin.

Blake pulled a chair for me before I could do it myself. I shot him a warning glare which he blatantly ignored and seated himself before a young staff came to us, carrying two trays. Inilapag niya ang mga pagkain sa lamesa. I spotted some Japanese premium Wangyu tenderloin beef, rib-eye steak, lobster and Wagyu beef teppan set with some appetizers and salad. It looks like it's been ordered straight from a wordl-class Chinese and Japanese restaurant but I highly doubt it. The trip downtown would take roughly two hours and the preparations would eat more time unless they ordered ahead of time. And I haven't heard of any new restaurants in La Union so my safest bet is Blake managed to hire a renowned and very skilled Asian cook.

Tuwang-tuwa si Valentina habang kumakain. Siya lang ata at si Blake ang nag-uusap sa lamesang ito. Dr. Ciervo and I remained silent.

"Are you going to leave La Union soon, Blake? I heard you're managing your family business, too. I didn't know you were also running an exclusive resort here." Dr. Ciervo, for the first time this evening, finally spoke.

"I have a few business trips in Singapore and Hongkong, but it's nothing urgent." Blake replied, sipping from his wineglass. "Plus, my Dad wants all of his children here. My older brother's wife is about to give birth this month."

"Another clever Sobreval added to the clan." His friend kidded.

"I bet he's going to be cute! Sobreval genes are soooo dominant, am I right?" Valentina said, glancing at me mischievously. "Ano sa tingin mo, Savia?"

I looked straight at him while forking my steak, smiling sweetly. "I'm sure magiging maganda o gwapo ang anak niyo, Blake. That girl looks like she came from a good family."

"Of course—huh? What are you talking about?" he asked, confused.

I shook my head.

"Anyway, I heard Mrs. Ling is in town. I run into her earlier." Dr. Ciervo said. "Still the same as ever."

"Mrs. Ling is here?" Blake asked, the blood draining from his face.

I squinted my eyes at him, leaning closely with a small smile on my face. "Why? Aren't you expecting your soon-to-be mother-in-law here?"

"Savia? Anong sinasabi mo?" si Tina.

I shrugged. "Go ask Blake."

Dr. Ciervo, sensing the tension, laughed nervously. "Mrs. Ling is really a handful, Tina. She's.... a different woman. Nung mga bata pa kami ni Blake, kapag nababalitaan naming dadalaw siya sa amin, kanya-kaniya kaming layas sa mansion para maglaro sa labas. Tito Cristophe must be putting up with her out of politeness."

"Oh, then you must be very close with Sorenne, Blake."

"Not really." He answered, his jaw clenching.

"Well, that's a problem, don't you think, Blake?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tina moved and then whispered to Dr. Ciervo. "Alam mo, pinsan ko si Savia pero minsan hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang sinasabi niya."

Marahas na bumuntong-hininga si Blake at tinitigan ako. I cocked an eyebrow at him, taunting. His eyes were getting darker and a hit of anger went in and out before emotions clouded his orbs. "Anna, can we talk?"

"I wish I could, but I am very busy. We need to leave first thing in the morning as I have to go over some papers with my lawyer. I believe we can't keep these two talented surgeons in our little town, too. The hospital needs them as soon as possible."

"Hindi mo ako mapagbigyan kahit ilang minuto lang?" he asked, venom dripping from his voice. He looks like I accused him of murder right now.

I smiled sweetly. "Some other time, Blakey. I have more important things to do."

"Blakey? Pfft—" nagpigil ng tawa si Dr. Ciervo at inabot kaagad ang baso ng tubig para uminom. Tiningnan naman ako ni Tina, halatang nag-aalala. I gave her a reassuring smile and continued eating my food.

Blake's lips went into a thin line and focused on his food instead. I smiled, silently proclaiming my win. My inner peace didn't last long when I accidentally elbowed the young waiter bringing a tray of wineglasses to our table. Napatili siya. Kaagad naman akong tumayo. Some patrons eating at the dining hall turned to our direction.

"M-Ma'am, sorry po. Sorry!" paulit-ulit niyang sinabi habang pinupulot ang mga bubog na nagkalat sa sahig.

"Don't touch it. You'll get hurt!"

But the young waiter didn't listen to me. He looks like he is about to cry and seeing Blake made him more tense.

"S-Sir, babayaran ko nalang po 'to. Kahit kunin niyo nalang sa sweldo ko sa tatlong buwan." He stammered.

"What nonsense are you talking about? It was an accident. No one's paying anything." Blake said calmly.

"See? It's okay. Wag mo nang pulutin," ani ko at yumuko para kunin ang kamay niya. He panicked a bit and tried to let go while still holding the broken glass that scratched against my skin. I yelped due to sudden pain and pulled my hand away.

The glass pricked my hand, drawing some blood. I watched the red spread on my skin as the young waiter almost kneeled in front of me, apologizing repeatedly. Tumayo si Blake at galit na hinablot ang kamay ko.

"Let's go."

"I'm not going anywhere—"

"Don't be so stubborn, Anna!" he growled in so much restraint. Rage lit his eyes as he glowered at me. The young waiter almost fainted when he glanced at him briefly to dismiss him. "Let's go."

I pouted in defeat while Tina looked at me worriedly. I mouthed I'm okay and allowed Blake to drag me outside the dining hall, entering one of the many side doors and passing through hallways. Every staff who spotted us froze and tense at his arrival, greeting with their heads lowered until we reached our destination.

The room is small, much like an employee's quarter but my suspicion dissolved when I saw some of Blake's things neatly piled in the desk. The queen-sized bed is covered in white, fluffy sheets, pillows, and blanket in the same shade cloudy tone. Inupo ako ni Blake sa kama at mabilis na binuksan ang drawer na tila may hinahanap. The room is completely bare, so different from the villas he handed to us. There's not a single décor here that would hint it was the room of the resort's owner.

"This is your room?" hindi makapaniwala kong tanong sa kaniya. "You sleep in the same building with your workers?"

"Why not?" he glanced at me, still ravaging the contents of the drawer.

"It's just... just odd."

"There's nothing odd about it. How else am I going to teach my workers the essence of hard work if I don't mingle with them?"

"I think your presence just makes them nervous." I mumbled under my breath.

Blake ignored me and snatched what he was looking for—a roll of sterile bandage and a bottle of petroleum jelly.

"Wash your hands in the bathroom." He demanded.

I stared at him for a long time, not moving an inch. Blake sighed and ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

"Just wash your hands first, Anna, and you can yell at me all you want."

I got up from the bed and went to his bathroom. It's remarkably clean and filled with basic supplies. Pinaagas ko ang tubig at hinayaang tangayin ang dugo hanggang sa maging malinis na ito. I washed it with mild soap to disinfect the affected area before going out.

"Come here."

I sat in front of Blake and even before I could talk, he snatched my hand to examine my wound. It isn't really big nor deep, there's nothing alarming about it. Had I been a writer or a surgeon, I would've panicked at the sight of it. But I am a prima ballerina. I would've cared more for my legs and feet.

Ramdam ko ang init mula sa kamay niya habang hawak niya ang akin. Inabot ni Blake ang petroleum jelly at ipinahid sa sugat ko. He was very gentle yet every stroke sent me into shivers. I tried not to make a face or make it too obvious that I am very much affected by his touch. I refused to act like a teenager. I'm already 23, for god's sake!

Nang matapos ay ibinalot niya ang kamay ko sa sterile bandage. Mahigpit niya itong itinali at nag-angat ng tingin sa akin.

"Do you want some painkillers?"

I scoffed bitterly. "What do you think?"

Blake held a long, steady gaze with me and sighed. "I think you don't."

I nodded and placed both my hands in my lap. "Well, thank you so much for playing doctor with me but I have to go back to my villa."

"Anna, about Sorenne—"

"I need to rest, Blake." I said in a firm tone, standing up and snatching my purse. Blake sat at the bed, watching me leave. I gave him a small smile before I stepped out of the room and found my way out.

Later on that night, I lay still in bed after doing my night regimen and combing my hair. Tulala lang akong nakatitig sa kisame habang tahimik na pinaparusahan ang sarili sa ginawa kanina. I should've been more patient and listen to what he has to say. I literally spent half of my lifetime with that man. First as a friend, then a lover, and now he's slowly becoming a stranger to me.

Umusog ako at ipinikit ang mga mata, pinipilit ang sarili na matulog. I wanted my brain to shut up about Blake already. Taking a deep breath, I let myself slowly doze into sleep.

"You should've killed me."

My eyes snapped open as shivers ran down my spine. I knew that voice to well to be mistaken.

"You should've killed me, Savannah."

My body started shaking as her voice lingered inside the room. I knew it was coming from behind, so I gathered all my courage and turned. My eyes widened when I saw Valerie, standing at the edge of my bed looking at me with so much anger.

"You should've killed me instead of letting me rot in that filthy prison!"

A scream left my mouth when she lounged and tried to attack me. It was so deafening and sharp that my own voice left my throat as I tried to make out of her raging image in the dark. I could feel her red claws closing in on my throat, squeezing the air out of my body as her eyes turned a few shades darker due to anger.

"Anna!"

I jolted my eyes open, panting heavily. My entire body is still shaking and in shock but I was relieved to see Blake's face instead.

"Anna..."

With my lips trembling, I clutched unto his shirt and sobbed like a baby. Malakas na hagulhol ang namayani sa loob ng villa habang mahigpit akong yakap ni Blake.

"Ssh... Anna, it's just a dream."

Cold fear ran down my spine as Valerie's disastrous image appeared in my head again, seconds after waking up from that nightmare. I couldn't stop my hands from shaking as tears poured from my eyes.

"It's okay, Anna. You're okay. Nandito lang ako..." he whispered to my ears, holding me closer.

"Let go." I said weakly.

"You're still shaking—"

"Please! Let go of me!" I begged while still crying.

Confused, Blake detached himself from me and watched me in the middle of the bed, crying and shaking.

"Get out."

"Savannah—"

"I said get out!" I yelled through gritted teeth. I spotted that the front door is open so he must've busted himself in when he heard me crying in my sleep.

"I'm not going anywhere, Anna. I promised your parents that I will always protect you no matter what." He said firmly.

"What am I, then? A fucking charity work you fancy yourself with?" I spat bitterly.

"That's not it."

"How can you say you're not going anywhere, that you're going to stay by my side if you're going to marry someone else, you bastard!" I shouted angrily at the brute. He looked shock for a second, before he collected himself and spoke to me calmly.

"I'm not marrying anyone, Savannah Brielle."

"You're not just a fickle, you're a liar too! Mrs. Ling herself told me that you're going to marry her daughter, Sorenne!"

Blake angrily looked at me, showing no restraint because of the endless accusations I am throwing at him. Bigla ko nalang nakalimutan ang masamang panaginip at ngayo'y galit nalang para sa kaniya at sa sarili ko ang nararamdaman.

"Tinanong mo ba ako kung pakakasal ako sa Sorenne na yun, ha?" he fired back.

"Why would I need to ask, it's so obvious that you're marrying her. The Lings are wealthy and powerful—"

"I am not marrying anyone if it's not you!"

I stared at him, dumbfounded. Punong-puno ng emosyon ang sigaw niya habang nakatitig sa akin. I could see, at the mercy of the soft moonlight touching his body, that his chest is heaving up and down.

"Mas pinaniniwalaan mo pa ang ibang tao kaysa sa akin." he said in almost a whisper. "Don't you think how much it hurts every time you push me away? Every time you act like you don't care about me at all?" Blake chuckled bitterly. "Or maybe you don't. I'm just fooling myself that one day you'll go back to me. That you'll see me past my mistakes and shortcomings and as a man who had loved you from the start."

Hot tears streamed down my face as I listened to him said those words in a broken voice.

"Tangina, pagod na pagod na ako Anna. Pero hindi kita sinusukuan! I know from the start that it's not going to be easy. You're always doing things on your own and you have grown up to be this competent, amazing woman who does not need anyone in her life. Heck, no matter how hard I work I know you're richer than me. Your family came from the old money. And I have to work every day of my life just to put up a name and a reputation. So that I could be deserving of you..."

"That's not true." I averted my gaze away.

"Is it not?" he rubbed his temples. "Kasi yun yung nararamdaman ko, eh."

"You can't handle me, Sobreval." I pulled my knees up to my chest and hugged them.

"This isn't even about whether I can handle you or not!" he barked at me, clearly frustrated. "This is about my willingness to stay with you even when I can't handle you anymore!"

I looked away, for I cannot stand to see him hurting this much knowing that the reason for his predicament is me. I am still confused and struggling and desperately wanted a moment of silence so I can dissect my thoughts one by one and think about it.

"I need answers, Savannah. God, I desperately need answers. I didn't know it would be this hard but you're starting to slip away from me again and it would be so selfish of me to keep pursuing you if what you really wanted is to be alone and see the world. Because if that's the case, I'm not going to stop you."

"What do you want me to say?" I asked stubbornly, wiping my tears away.

Blake placed a knee on my bed and clutched both my shoulders, shaking me to the core as if to snap some senses back into me.

"The entire fucking world knows how much I love you except you! Limang taon na ang nakakalipas pero Savannah Brielle, mahal na mahal pa rin kita!" he shouted at my face, letting me feel all of his frustration and sadness. Blake rested his head against the crook of my shoulder while my entire body tensed in shock. His shoulders broke and started shaking as he sobbed silently. "Walang araw na tumigil ako sa pagmamahal sa iyo, Anna..."

"Blake..."

"Come back to me, please..." he whispered.