His Punishment (19 page)

“Tara!” he can’t wait any longer
and knocked on the restroom’s door.

He heard the bathroom door open but
Tara didn’t go out. He found her leaning at the bathroom wall. Her eyes were
closed and tears were flowing down her cheeks. He went to look for the strip
but it wasn’t in the bathroom.

“Where is it? What did it say?”
he embraced her.

He felt Tara’s hand move up and
stretched her hand to him. He took it and saw the result. One line.

He didn’t know how to react. He
just hugged her. He had been so wishful it was positive. He can’t help but
think that when it was Rhea’s result, he wanted a negative. Now that he is
hoping for Tara’s positive it comes out negative. He cried. Why are the odds
always against him?

She was trying to be in control
and pushed James gently away from her.

“Why? Test one more time.
Please?” he was pleading with his wet eyes.

“James, let’s just face it. We
can never be together,” she was crying as she said the words.

“No. Tara. No!” he was crying so
hard in her shoulders.

“Marry Rhea. It’s the original
plan.” She kept crying and still trying to let go of James but he wouldn’t.

“I want you not her,” he was
trying to hold on to her.

“You already have an obligation
James. With Rhea. Not with me.” She finally pushed him and escaped.

She sneaked out of the room
making sure that if Miguel was at his room, he won’t hear her. She gently
closed James’ door as tears slid down her cheeks.

End of Flashback

Miguel walked closer to see her
face was flushed with tears.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “What did
he do to you?” the reaction on his face and the sudden movement to James’ door
was like an indication that he wanted to slam it open and strangle James. But
she stopped him from moving nearer.

“Not now Migs. I want to be alone.”
She said and entered her room.

She went straight to the coffee
table and viewed the dark sky outside her. There were no stars, just dark
clouds with the moon hiding behind it.

She collapsed on the floor and sat.
She hugged her knees as she continued pouring all the tears for her and James.

She slid her right hand in her
robe’s pocket and got the strip. She cried harder after staring at it again.

Two lines. It was the truth but he
can never know. She loved him too much to put his life in danger. It will
forever be her nasty little secret and she was determined to keep it that way
‘til her last breath.

It was hard for Tara to face James
after finding out she is pregnant with his child. But she tried to act
professional towards him and he does the same. Their fathers left them that
Sunday and asked them to work on the expansion.

The sadness in their eyes was very
evident. It was good that none of their parents are there to witness it or they
will surely ask.

It was only Miguel who noticed but
he has been awfully busy with his own work that he didn’t have enough time to
stay with Tara. He comes to her room every night though to see how she is
doing. He didn’t know anything about her pregnancy. All he knew was that her pent
up emotions was just because she still loves James and though he was within an
arm’s reach, he is still unreachable.

He went straight to his room one
night after seeing Tara still gloomy and depressed in her favorite spot, the
pool side at sunset. He didn’t bother to question her. She has told him a dozen
times that she really wants to be alone and this time he let her be.

“Hello.” He said once he heard the
girl answer on the other line when he called through his mobile phone.

“Hi. How’s everything?” the cheerful
voice asked.

“James and Tara are at Subic
Intercontinental. Did you know?” he asked.

“What? Til when?” the girl asked.

“Indefinitely.”

“How come you just told me now?”
the girl’s voice rising.

“There’s one more thing you should
know,” his voice trailed.

“What?”

“I can’t do this anymore Rhea. I’m
already in love with her,” he started confessing.

He heard her laugh so happily.
“That’s good to hear my money didn’t go to waste with you Miguel. I knew you’re
perfect for the job.” She sounded more than pleased.

“Shut up. I’m giving you all your
money back. I don’t need any of it anymore you slut!” He became mad as she
emphasized the words of her money.

“You never complained in my hotel
room darling!”

“I pity James for having to marry
you. God knows how many guys have entered your fucking overused hole!” he felt
disgusted.

“Admit it! You loved every minute
you were inside me!” she mocked him.

“Fuck you! Just get over here and
get James out of our sight!” he was so irritated with her that he just ended
the call without warning.

Once he placed his cell on the
table, he felt miserable and looked outside his bedroom window.

Yes he was paid by Rhea to do the
dirty job of making Tara fall in love with him. It was just because she was
pregnant with his child. She admitted she didn’t love him anymore, but she had
no choice because the baby she was carrying was his. At first they weren’t
sure, but a few days after Miguel arrived at Boracay, she called him and said
it was confirmed by the paternity test.

They met at the Centuria when she
checked in with one of her “boyfriends” but was surprised when she flirted with
him and lured him to bed. She was a hot chick and it was hard for any man to
resist. She became his bed partner before he moved to Boracay Plaza to work. He
ended things with her when he was called by the company.

She was there and she heard
everything. Her eyes lit up when she knew about it. She discovered not long ago
of the chain of hotels that Tara’s family owns and she thought he was the best
accomplice to hurt her.

He wasn’t even hesitant. He was a
player and never thought that he would settle down in the future, much less
fall in love. When he saw her, he got even more excited to see a pretty and
sexy woman with a great personality.

 Miguel knew he had to come out
clean after all this. He now wanted to be honest with Tara about everything. He
was just wishing she could forgive him and give him the chance he wanted.

He really desires to take care of
Tara and love her for the rest of his life. He was sincerely in love with the
heartbroken girl. Ever since James left Boracay which gave him a chance to work
and enjoy with Tara, he felt he’s starting to feel something for her. It was
his first time to fall in love and he was sure it was Tara who has awoken the
dormant feeling in his heart.

Now after seeing Tara sulking
almost every day, he knew he had to do something to help her. He was determined
to be the man to help her see sunshine again.

***

Miguel knocked on her bedroom door
after dinner the following day. He thoroughly prepared himself for the night.
He knew he had to face Tara’s anger at first, but he was hopeful it will all be
well after he has explained.

“Tara?” he called to her as he
lightly knocks on her door again.

“Migs!” Her voice didn’t come from
inside the room as she was just getting back in from her dinner at the dining
hall.

“There you are.” He smiled not
teasingly but politely.

“Yup.” She smiled back though her
eyes looked like it’s saving some more tears. “Here I am.”

“Can we talk?” he asked nervously.

“Okay.” she saw he was tensed and
opened her bedroom door and let him come inside after her.

“What’s up?” she asked worrying
once they were inside the room.

“Tara there’s something I have to
tell you,” he finally looked up to meet her eyes.

“What is it?” she asked patiently.

He tried to say the words that he
practiced over and over in his room. The honesty speech he prepared. But he
found it harder to say.

“I love you.” He said instead.

She stood still. She wasn’t ready
to hear anyone confess his love to her at the moment, or even til next week or
next month. She knew she can’t accept anyone yet.

“Migs, I’m sorry,” she started.

“No sweetie, please, let me take
care of you. Let me love you. I never want to see any tears in your eyes.
Believe me, I have never loved anyone. Just you,” he confessed.

“But . . .” she hesitated after
hearing him.

“Please . . . I will make you
forget him. I will do my best to make you love me back,” he starts to plead.

“You don’t understand,” she shook
her head and looked down.

“Why? Why can’t you let go?” he
stood in front of her and lifted her chin for her to face him back.

“No Migs, I have let him go. But .
. .” she defended herself.

“Then be with me. I will make you
happy.” He continued on with his promises.

“I’m pregnant.” She resigned to the
truth.

“What!” he exclaimed. Surprised.

“I’m pregnant,” she said again.

“Yes I heard you.” He didn’t know
what to say, the only girl he was willing to walk down the aisle with is
pregnant with another man. “What did he say?”

“He doesn’t know. He shouldn’t
know.” She told him.

“But you have to tell him.” He
frowned at what she just said.

“Please Migs, I know what I’m
doing,” it was her time to plead, “please, don’t tell anyone. Especially
James.”

He went beside her to hug her and
she cried. He didn’t know what to do but stroke her back and let her pour her
heartaches.

He was a coward for not talking.
But after Tara admitted her condition, he knew it wasn’t the best time to tell
her.

***

The following day was bright and
sunny. James and Tara were at the patio of the hotel’s restaurant, discussing
the delivery of the ordered slot machines and tables for the Casino. The other
suppliers are also meeting with them.

It was good they have maintained
their composure and professionalism.

“Baby!” a girl’s voice rang in
their ears and they all looked to check on who it was.

“Rhea!” James immediately stood up.

“You didn’t tell me you’d be here!”
she pouted her lips as if she found herself cute.

“I’m in a meeting,” he stated the
obvious.

“Oh hi Tara. I see you’re my
husband’s new business partner.” She placed all emphasis on the word husband.

Tara just smiled.

“Fiancé” James corrected her.

“Oh it’s the same baby, in less
than two months I’ll be the only Mrs. Aguilar.” She looked at Tara with mockery
as she put emphasis on the word only.

“Congrats in advance then,” Tara
said and tried her best to smile genuinely so the suppliers won’t see their
banter.

“You go up to the room and rest a
bit. I will be with you,” he lightly pushed her away.

“Key?” she asked.

“Just go to the reception and ask
for another one. It’s room 1020.” He said before sitting down. “Now where were
we?”

They talked for more than an hour
after they adjourned their meeting. When the suppliers left Tara and James, he
wanted to speak to her alone. So he got up and held Tara’s arm as she was
getting ready to leave.

“What?” she looked at him.

“Can we talk?” he asked.

“What about?” she didn’t have a
clue.

“I didn’t know how she found out
I’m here.”

“It doesn’t matter James. She can
be here if she wanted. She’s your fiancée, remember?” she reminded him as if he
didn’t say it a while back.

He remained silent not knowing what
to say.

“I better go. I will just give you
the proposed lay out of the brochures and membership guidelines.” She meant the
one she was in charge to fix for the upcoming launch of the Casino.

He watched her leave. He is
surprised at how she can manage to keep her cool around him. He was definitely
having a hard time doing so. Even harder now that Rhea decided to follow him
here.

I wish I’d die soon.
He
thought to himself.
Who am I kidding? I already died when Tara left me after
finding out I’m the father of Rhea’s child.

***

“Tara!” She heard knocks on her
bedroom while she is having her siesta after taking her lunch alone.

She was trying so hard to relax her
senses but the scene early this morning comes back flashing in her mind. Rhea
coming and giving emphasis on her “fiancé” was getting in Tara’s nerves. She
could have blamed her pregnancy hormones but she knew better. She hated her
ever since she knew her, more so at her annoying comments the night of their
graduation ball at the hotel.

She opened the door and saw Miguel
with a brown envelope in his hand.

“Hi Migs.” She tried to fake
cheerfulness. It was all showing in her eyes that she is far from being happy
or even cool at the moment.

“It’s me sweetie. You don’t have to
pretend.” He smiled as he hugged her, trying to comfort her.

She felt relaxed with Miguel all of
a sudden. Pretending was never her best attribute. She has always been
transparent and honest about things except her pregnancy. But she had the best
interest at heart why she did that.

Even she was so surprised at her
result. She had her period after what happened to her and James. But then she
remembered her aunt having her menstruation for two months the first time she
got pregnant, so she thought those bleedings may have something to do with
hormonal imbalance at early stage of pregnancy.

“I think we have to talk,” she told
him.

“Anything wrong?” he asked.

“No, but I am going to be honest
with you Miguel. I don’t think I will ever be able to reciprocate your
feelings.” She was trying very hard to be gentle with rejecting him, but there
was no easy way.

He was sweet and caring since she
met him and it was hard for her to turn him down but she knew she can never
force herself to love him. She likes him but just as a friend.

He wasn’t able to speak back but he
just continued looking at her intently.

“I will have to admit that I still
love him. I know it doesn’t count anymore, but I will just feel guilty if I led
you on. I know I agreed to give you a shot but my heart won’t budge. It’s best
if I tell you this early.” She smiled in misery.

“I don’t know. As much as I want to
convince you I will be good enough for you or that I could promise to take care
of you and the baby, I don’t want to be selfish.” He speaks softly.

“Thanks. I know you would somehow
understand.” She meekly replied.

“No, but you don’t understand. I
will never leave your side Tara. I will continue loving you even if you can’t.
It’s the first time I ever felt something as wonderful as this. Though you
can’t love me back, I love loving you and making you smile.” He grinned as he
professed his feelings.

“You deserve someone who can love
you the way you do. I will soon be a single parent and I can’t drag you into
this mess.” She shook her head ashamed.

“Don’t feel dishonorable sweetie.
You are an amazing person. I am sure you can raise the baby well. You will be a
great mom as you are an ideal person. I will be here to be your friend all the
way. And you just don’t know how imperfect I am.” he assured her and half
remembering what Rhea and him plotted to do.

“What’s that?” she asked when she
remembered the envelope he was holding when he went inside.

“Oh, yeah I forgot to give it to
you. It came from the graphics dep. They asked me to bring them over.” He said
handing her the parcel.

“Thanks.” She opened them and
checked each piece. “I’m just going to hand them over to James. He’s expecting
this.”

“You want me to bring it for you?”
he offered.

She laughed.

“He’s just across my room. I can
manage.” She started walking to the door.

“Keep the door open,” he told her.
He felt in himself that he had to protect her to the best of his abilities.

She continued walking and knocked
on James’ room.

“James . . .” she called to him.

From afar, Miguel can see her
fidgeting on James’ door. He knew she is nervous facing James because of her
guilt.

“Tara.” James opened the door for
her.

She peeped inside the room as if checking
if Rhea was inside.

“She’s in the bathroom.” He knew
instantly that she was looking around for Rhea.