Loveless Marriage

Chapter 15

Third Person's POV

Athena immediately answered the call as soon as she saw her father's name displayed on the screen of her phone. Akala ko ba mamaya pa siya tatawag?

"Hello, dad?" aniya nang masagot ang tawag ng kaniyang ama.

["Hello there, Celestine. Are you busy? Kamusta?  Did you already found a husband? You only have four days, Celestine. Make sure na matino 'yan at may maipagmamalaki."]

Napakagat sa labi si Athena at napa-irap na lamang sa hangin dahil sa tanong ng ama. Really? He called her para lang kamustahin siya at magtanong kung nakahanap na ba siya ng asawa?

"Are you serious, dad? You really called me this early para lang kamustahin ang paghahanap ko ng asawa? You're the worst, Dad. And don't worry, I already have a girlfriend and I'm just waiting for her to say yes to my marriage proposal," naiinis na sagot niya sa ama.

Dinig niya mula sa kabilang linya ang pagsinghap ng ama niya. ["What!? You already found one? I want to know hi— wait... It's a woman!? I thought... I thought it's a man, Celestine! I'm asking for you to find a husband!"] Napalitan ng galit ang boses nito, tila hindi makapaniwala na babae ang nahanap at pakakasalan ng anak niya. All this time, akala niya ay lalaki ang karelasyon nito kaya nagpakampante siya.

"Yeah, it's a woman. Wala sa deal natin na lalaki ang hahanapin kong asawa. Ang sinabi mo lang sa'kin noon na maghanap ako ng asawa, pero hindi mo sinabi kung lalaki o babae. And you know that I'm attracted to girls, yet you still keep on pushing me to the sons of your business partners. Keep your promise to me, dad. You don't know what I can do if your break our deal. Gonna end the call now. Babalitaan na lang po kita kapag pumayag na siya, bye," seryosong sambit ni Athena. Hindi na niya hinintay pa ang sagot ng ama at kaagad na pinatay ang tawag.

Athena let out a heavy, deep sigh. Napasandal siya sa swivel chair at napahilot sa kaniyang sentido. She looked at her secretary who's staring at her.

Napakunot ang noo niya rito. "Why are you looking at me like that, Patrice?" Athena asked.

Napabalik sa sarili si Patrice nang marinig ang tanong sa kaniya ng boss niya. "N-nothing, ma'am. Nag-wander lang po 'yong utak ko saglit. Balik na po ako sa table ko, pasensya na po," aniya bago nahihiyang naglakad papunta sa pinto. 

Athena just watched her weirdly as she walked to where the door is. Patrice opened the door and bowed her head at Athena before she finally went out.

Nang tuluyan na itong ay makalabas ay saka ulit napahinga si Athena ng malalim. She turned her swivel chair to the big window behind her and stared at the buildings and the blue-ish sky outside. She unconsciously touches her lips then, suddenly remembered the kissed that Zehra and her shared earlier.

Saglit lang 'yon pero tila sobrang tagal para kay Athena. Alam niyang nagulat si Zehra sa ginawa niya kanina pero wala siyang pakialam, she's too focused on the taste and softness of Zehra's lips earlier. Hindi nga rin niya alam kung bakit niya ginawa 'yon. Nawi-weird-uhan siya sa sarili.

Ang nasa plano niya lang kanina ay asarin ito ng kaunti sa pamamagitan nga ng pagyakap sa baywang nito at paglapit ng mukha niya sa mukha ni Zehra. She just wanted to tease Zehra, but unfortunately, her plan to tease her failed when her eyes accidentally went on Zehra's lips that is a little dry. She got tempted by Zehra's lips and unconsciously placed her lips on hers.

It's been a month since she first felt Zehra's lips on her, at sa fitting room 'yon nangyari. Napangiti na lamang si Athena habang nakatitig sa kawalan. She will never forget their first meeting.

She can still clearly remember how Zehra repeatedly hit her with her shirt when she suddenly barged in the fitting room where Zehra is changing. Sobrang lakas no'n, feeling niya tuloy ay hindi damit ng ipinapalo nito sa kaniya at isang matigas na bagay. She also remembers how her eyes suddenly went on Zehra's chest when she came inside the fitting room to hide. Sakto pang magsusuot pa lang ito ng bra kaya hindi na niya maiwasang mapatingin sa walang saplot na dibdib nito.