His Punishment (5 page)

We could have had it all

Rolling in the deep

You had my heart inside
your hand

And you played it to the
beat

I did not
play with your heart Tara! You weren’t even my girl friend. I wasn’t even
interested in you. What the hell is your problem shouting your anger at me with
your eyes?
James stares back at Tara as if asking her what. He knew he was
trying to be defensive as he stared back but what he didn’t know and didn’t
understand is why.

James did not
notice that the song is already over. Tara removed their eye contact first and
James was back to reality. He looked over at Rhea who has one eyebrow raised
and glaring at him.

“Baby . . .” he
said as he tries to pull her close to him.

“Shut up! Go
meet up with that bitch now and get that project done fast.”

“But we can
still finish the band’s first set.” He was trying to woo his irate girlfriend.

“No!  I want her
out of this island sooner. Or I will talk to the manager and tell her Tara is
stalking us!” Rhea angrily tells him as she stands up leaving him alone at the
table.

“No baby, you
can’t talk . . .” James wasn’t able to finish his sentence when Rhea
interrupted.

“Finish the
project with her tonight and have her leave tomorrow.” Rhea storms out after
giving her the ultimatum.

How can I
tell her she can’t kick Tara out of her own island?
James wondered as he
started walking out of the bar and to the lobby.

“Tara,” she
heard James calling her as she’s heading to the lobby as well. So she turned
around to face him.

“James?” she
looked puzzled. “I told you to meet me at eleven. Where’s Rhea?” she looks
behind him.

“She has a
headache so she went to the room early,” he lied. He doesn’t want to admit that
Rhea was affected by her songs a while back.

“Oh,” she
acknowledges. “Wait, my laptop is in the room, I wasn’t able to get it yet as
you were an hour early.”

“It’s okay.
Let’s just work in your room,” he shrugged. He looked calm for the first time.

They walked
silently. When James noticed that they were heading to his villa, he stopped.

“Where are we
going?” he stopped Tara.

“My villa,
N200HS.”

“What? You mean
your villa is next to ours?” he asked, removing any traces of calmness in his
voice and face.

“Where is
yours?” she asked lying.

“As if you didn’t
know! Did you intentionally ask them to put you beside our villa? You want to
eavesdrop on me having sex with my girl?” he asked angrily holding Tara’s arm
tightly.

“Ouch, will you
let go. Stop overreacting James!” she tries to pull her arm away from his grip.

“What do you
want Tara?!” he exclaims.

“Can we just
enter the villa first and then shout your lungs out there? I don’t want to
create a scene here. And more, I don’t want your girl friend to think were
having a lover’s quarrel outside your own villa!” she tugs her arm lose from
his grip this time and walks briskly to her front door.

She turned the
knob and looked at James still standing where she left him. “What?” she asked.

James started
walking towards her room. He stopped in front of her in the doorway and looked
at her, “LOVERS! Ha! You are pathetic Tara!”

The first ten
minutes, they were sitting in the couch and sipping the coffee that Tara
ordered for room service. The laptop is already turned on, but not a single
word is written yet.

Tara explained
to James what they need for the project and she told him that the business her
family has is a chain of resort and hotels. She asked James if he knows of a
business that could do X-deal with a resort business.

For the first
time James and Tara are talking like adults. James told Tara that his family’s
business is casino operations in Singapore. That explains why James is filthy
rich.

They were
talking about the project for almost an hour already. Their report is almost
half way done, as both of them knew well about their respective company’s
operations. They never thought that this project would be this easy for both of
them. It is likely that they will be done with the proposals by tomorrow and
Tara will be out of the island in time for schedule.

“Would you like
to take a break?” Tara asked.

“Yeah, I would
really need one,” he said and stood up, “patio?” he asked.

“Sure, the
weather is good so the night breeze is really going to be relaxing,” she said
as she opened the sliding door.

“Where are the
other resorts you own?” he asks as he sits in one of the rattan-made seats in
the patio.

Tara saw him
took off his slippers and his feet played in the sand.

He looks like
a child and he seems harmless at this moment.
She thought.

“We have one in
Cebu, in Palawan, in Subic, in Boracay, in Bohol . . . oh, please check the
website!” she laughed.

He laughed as
well. “You know Tara, I never thought you could sing,” he said looking at her.

“Why not?” she
asked.

“I don’t know. I
just didn’t think that you could,” he shrugged.

“Well, I got the
talent from my mom. Every time Sweepers, the band tonight, is here and timely
that I am too, I really sing with them. Mitch was my next door neighbor, before
they moved to another place. We were close so I am almost always in their house
jamming with her band. They asked me to join them a couple times already but I
just keep turning them down,” she narrates.

“I like your
voice,” he stares at her.

Tara was
speechless. James liking her voice? That was too much to hear. She
unconsciously blushed at his compliment.

“I love music,
but I’m not into it. I’m more of the outdoor, sporty type as you know.” James
quickly changed the topic when he saw her blush and lightly felt his hot cheeks
glowing in shyness for what he just admitted.

“Well you got
great talent there. I hope you win again in your last season for UAAP.” she
wished him good luck.

“Thanks,” he
smiled, “Do you watch our games?”

“Will you kill
me for being honest?” she asked.

He laughed a little,
“Of course not.”

“Well, I watched
every game. You know. Me. Stalker.” she said. Pointing at herself repeatedly
for the last four words she said.

He laughed
again, then became serious.

“I’m sorry for
calling you a stalker Tara,” he apologized and looked down at his feet, “I just
hate it when girls are sooo aggressive.”

“I’m not
aggressive. I never asked you out or anything. I asked you to be my escort, but
that’s just that.” she complained.

“If I didn’t
threaten you, I think you would have asked me somewhere else. . .” he said his
voice trailing and looking for an answer.

“Okay, got me.”
She blushed as she honestly declared the truth to him.

She looked cute
and James saw that. “But you know I have a girl friend already Tara. She loves
me and I love her too. So you know why we can’t be together. Right?”

“Yup.
Understood.” she says and looks at him with a smile. “We should have talked
like this before you know.”

“Yes, we
should’ve,” he extends his hand to her, “we’re okay now?”

Tara extends her
hand to take James’. “Yes. Friends.”

“Friends. No
Stalking.” he said still shaking her warm hand and looking at her eyes.

“Yup.” she
agreed and smiled.

James took his
hand from her and frowned again, “But I am still warning you, if you do these
little nasty things of following me around acting as if you didn’t plan any of
it... you’re dead.” he smiled.

“But I really
don’t plan stuff James. It just happens. Like this, it wasn’t really me who
volunteered. I was late for class and you were out. So naturally everybody was
taken.” She tried to explain herself one more time.

He just looked
at her.

“The only
stalking I did to you was following you when you’re out with friends and
texting and calling you three years ago.” She blushed again.

“Even if you
look cute when you blush, don’t do any of it again.” he stood up.

She blushed even
more when he said she looked cute when she blushed.

“Hey! You’re
thinking maliciously again?” he asked when he noticed she was fixed on her
spot.

“Let’s get back
to work?” she asked changing the topic and stood up.

“I can’t believe
I’m in vacation and you’re having me do all this work here! You’re more of a
slave-driver than my father!” he jokes and closes the sliding door after Tara
entered.

Tara looked at
him while they were both standing at the door of the patio.

“Sorry,
workaholic present!” she raised her hand and walked back to the couch.

James can’t help
but laugh to himself. Tara seems a cool person, a cheerful and fun person. For
the first time, he realized she isn’t that bad as he thought.

“Hey! I will
deduct from your salary the two minutes you’re standing there if you don’t come
here!” she heard Tara interrupting his thoughts.

“I can’t help
being workaholic.” Tara speaks again

“Why?” he asked.

“Well, how can I
really go on vacation? Most of the vacation spots I know are where my work is.”
she pointed out to their beach resorts.

“So, what would
be your idea of a real getaway?” he asked eyeing her through the corner of his
eyes.

“I don’t know,
that’s one tough question . . . I guess, I’ll go up the mountains. Baguio, the
nearest. No water. No beach. Wow!” she says with her hands on her cheeks.

He laughed
loudly. “Other people would be envious of you having to spend every second near
the beach!” he said.

“Not me. When I
see the beach, I see work.” she shrugged.

“Don’t you like
your work?” he asked.

“Are you
kidding? I love it. But I want to do something easier on the side . . .” she
had her sentence hanging.

“Like what?” he
asked interestedly.

“Hmmm . . . like
singing. I could be the hot singer at the bar!” she giggled.

“Crazy bitch!”
he teased. She doesn’t know he’s looking at her from peripheral vision.

“Bastard
asshole!” she replies smiling as she can’t remove her vision from the cute guy
beside her.

James sits
beside her and starts typing on Tara’s laptop, it’s his turn to polish his
side, the casino operations.

At fifteen
minutes past one in the morning, the project was almost finished. Just a few
more polishing and it’s done. Tara said she will finish the work at home.

They were both
surprised they were able to finish the project in a couple hours. ALMOST
FINISHED. If they only knew that the project would be this easy for them, Tara
could have saved her time, energy and resources than follow him here.

“Good night
James. I will see you in Manila.” Tara said as she opened the door.

“Manila?” James
wondered.
Why not see you tomorrow?

“The chopper is
just on standby in the city, and since were almost done, let’s just wrap up on
Wednesday when you get back.” She smiled at him again.

James stared at
Tara. She looked lovely with her hair dangling below her shoulders. He couldn’t
understand what he is feeling. For the first time, he is seeing her in a very
different way and he couldn’t stop himself from admiring what he is seeing.

Tara looked at
James. She saw some disappointment in him but just for a second.

“Okay, that
sounds good, see you in school.” He suddenly said.

“Have a good
vacation. Tell Ms. Anne if you need anything.” She reminded him.

“Thanks VIP.” he
smirked then closed the front door behind him.

He left her
villa with his very graphic vision of how she looked and how her pretty smile
is with those red luscious lips which complimented her flawless face. He wanted
to go back and knock on her door to kiss her goodnight. He was seriously disturbed
at how his heart throbbed at the moment. He shuddered at his own thoughts and
remembered he had a girlfriend waiting for him at their villa.

He can’t help
but feel a little guilty. He just cheated on his girlfriend in his imagination.

The following
morning, James and Rhea woke up late. Not really late, just in time for the
breakfast buffet. They were already at the gazebo near the main lobby.

Rhea and James
are both enjoying their breakfast. The food is really great. It’s not the usual
breakfast just serving normal bread, hotdogs, bacons, eggs and fruits. They
were having different kinds of cheese, a couple roasted beef and pork. The
selection of breads is different and really delicious.

Still, amidst
the delectable meal served on the buffet table, James keeps wandering off
thinking about Tara. It’s a bit surprising for him to find his thoughts where
it is now. He’s thinking if she had her breakfast already and if she is now
safe back in Manila. He doesn’t even know what time she left the resort. He was
tempted to ask Anne but he opted not to.

“Baby, are you
okay?” Rhea asked him.

“Yes. Why?” he
asked.

“You just seem
preoccupied,” she sounds a little hurt.

“Sorry Baby. I
will make it up to you tonight,” he winks at her.

Last night after
he got back from Tara’s villa, nothing happened between them. He was surprised
to see that she was already asleep when he got back. And what astounded him
even more, he can’t sleep because he was thinking about Tara. He was feeling
hot, he could feel it. But another revelation was it wasn’t for the woman
beside him in the king size bed. It was for the woman sleeping beside their
villa.

Today, when he
woke up a few more surprises are catching up with him. He is constantly
thinking about Tara. And he feels he is missing her. Missing her voice
actually. He can’t stop thinking and imagining her voice and the way she
sweetly sang the acoustic version of “Just the Way You Are”.

He can’t
understand what’s happening to him actually. It was like he was mesmerized by
Tara’s voice. Hypnotized may be a better word.

“What are we
doing today baby?” he heard Rhea asked him.

“I don’t know.
What do you want to do?” he asked.

“How about
riding the banana boat and the fly fish?” she sounded excited about it.

“Okay. Sounds
good to me,” he said.

James suddenly
wondered. Rhea has not been flirting with him today. Naturally, this sensual
girl would ask him to go back to the villa and play with fire or something, but
definitely not today. She is acting as weird as he is.

Is she still
mad at me?
But it doesn’t look like it because she’s even offering to do
the water sports that she knows he loves. Aside from the fact that she is
talking to him, Rhea is not hard to read, when she is mad at him, she doesn’t
talk to him at all.

***

Rhea and James
were having fun at the beach like two teenagers. They rode the banana boat
twice and the fly fish with the other guests of the resort and they were all
laughing. They made friends with the other people there and they all had lunch
together. And then they were invited to an afternoon beach volley by the group.
They happily said yes.

After lunch, the
couple went back to their villa and sipped pineapple shakes at their patio.
James keeps looking at the adjacent patio. It’s empty of course. It was Tara’s
villa and he knows that she has already left.

They were both
lying down in the hammock. She felt Rhea was tensed while lying down beside
him.

“What’s wrong
baby?” He asked her.

“Nothing, I’m
just a bit tired from the rides. I think I will go take a nap first so I’d do
well in the beach volley later,” she said slowly rising from the hammock.

“Okay.” James
said a little confused.

He is not used
to Rhea being distant and cold.
Maybe she’s still mad that I had to go to
Tara last night. I was there for three hours I guess. I was back at the villa
at around 1:30. No wonder she is still annoyed.

James decided to
make it up to Rhea by following her and then he lied down beside her. She saw
that Rhea’s breath is still heavy, an indication that she is not yet asleep.

He touched her
back and then sweetly stroked it. Rhea’s back is turned towards him. He gently
pulled her to face him. She faced him as he played with her hair behind her
ears. He kissed her on the lips but she didn’t respond.

“What’s wrong
baby?” he asked.

“Nothing, I’m
really tired. Let’s just take a nap.” she said hugging him.

He can still
feel Rhea’s muscles tensed while they hug each other. He can feel that there’s
really something going on. But he doesn’t want to ask again, he just let her
sleep in his arms.

After about two
hours, James woke up and found the other side of the bed empty, he stood up and
looked for Rhea in the bathroom but did not find her there. He then searched
for her outside the villa. The patio was empty too. He roamed his eyes across
the shore, but of course it is impossible to find her there as she is very
conscious with her complexion. Surely she would not want to burn under the heat
at this time that the sun is at its peak.

He decided to go
to the lobby instead and asked the reception if they saw her. He asked the guy
at the reception when he arrived but he said he did not see her.

James looked at
the pool area, though not convinced that she would be there. When he reached
the pool, he didn’t find her which didn’t surprise him at all.

He tried the
entertainment hall, the one with the billiards and the table tennis, but he
just saw the group of guys from last night.

He didn’t know
where to look for his girlfriend anymore, so he just decided to go back to the
villa and wait for her there.

After another
hour, he heard the door open. He looked up from what he was watching and saw
her coming in. She was sneaking inside the room and was surprised to find him
awake and watching television.

“Where have you
been?” he questioned.

“I walked
around,” she said going straight to the bathroom.

After a few
minutes, she’s back and she had showered.

“Baby, is there
anything wrong? Are you mad at me?” he asked her puzzled. Rhea is a natural
flirt. So he was surprised to see Rhea done with bath and not even offering him
to join her.

“Why would I be
mad?” she sounded guilty.

“I don’t know,
you seem different. So I thought maybe you’re mad for last night?”

“Last night? Oh
no. It was okay. You really had to meet with her for your project. So it’s
really cool.” She laughed a bit.

He didn’t talk.
He was just looking at her as if finding some answers. Then she talks again.

“Are you ready
for the volley?” she changes her mood to being excited.

“I’ll be in a
few minutes,” he entered the bathroom and took a quick bath. Surely, he can’t
ask her to shower with him again.

***

The day had been
a drag. It was already ten pm and they all decided to head back to their
villas.

They spent the
day with their new friends. They played beach volley and ate dinner together.
They were all having fun. But Rhea asked to be excused. James followed her.

“Baby? Would you
tell me what’s happening?” he asked grabbing her by the arm.

“Nothing! Why do
you keep insisting that something is wrong?” she answered irritated.

“Because you’re
acting so weird. Tell me honestly, are you mad?” he asked again.

“OK! OK! I am
mad! I am mad that you went in at 1:30 in the morning after you went with
Tara!” she squealed.

He was shocked.
She is not the jealous type. Definitely! She had always been so sure of herself
and her confidence level is even higher than the hotel building at the back of
the island.

“What did you do
with that bitch for four hours?” she asked as if trying to make it sound like
James is a player.

“What?! What are
you saying? I didn’t do anything! You know I hate those types of girls,” he was
trying to defend himself though he knew he wanted to kiss Tara last night. But
of course he chose not to confess that at the moment.

“Then what took
you so long to come back?” she asked with hands on her waist.

“We were doing
the report!” he said now in an angry tone.
How can Rhea think I’d do what
she’s thinking?

“Whatever! Just
leave me alone for now James, I want to be alone. You go back to the villa and
I’ll just walk around.” Without even waiting for James’ reply, she left him.

He saw Rhea
disappearing. He’s mad that she’s thinking otherwise. He just headed to their
villa and called the reception asking if the entertainment hall is still open
at this time. He doesn’t know what to do tonight so he thought he’d just play
darts alone.

Luckily the
entertainment hall is still open until twelve midnight. It was just a few
minutes past ten in the evening and he could still swing in for two hours. So
after he had coffee at their villa’s patio, he went to the entertainment hall.

The lights were
out.
Perhaps they were conserving energy.

He went inside
and switched the lights on and wished he never did.

There on the
billiards table, he saw Rhea naked with a guy he doesn’t know lying on top of
her. Both of them covered in sweat.

“FUCK!” that was
all he said and stood there for like an eternity. He was too stunned to move.
He couldn’t believe his own eyes seeing his girlfriend having sex with another
man.

Both Rhea and
the guy were hurriedly picking up their clothes.

After the two
were dressed, James, like a robot, walked to the guy and punched him in the
face.

“Asshole! You
can have my ex-girlfriend for all I care!” he wasn’t able to control his anger
and turned to look at Rhea then back at the guy again.

“Baby!” she
stopped his arm when she saw that he was going to throw in another punch.

“And you!” he
turned to Rhea, “I should have listened to them that you are a real slut!”

He was trying so
hard to control himself from hurting her. He just pushed her away when she
tried to hug him after coming near him. She bounced into the other guy’s arms.
The guy held Rhea when he caught her.

“Don’t you get
your slutty hands near me!” he felt like throwing up.

“I’m sick at how
you looked at Tara last night! She sang our song and you were drooling!” she
said defensively.

“I don’t care
what you say whore!” he said.

“If it wasn’t
for that bitch stalker, I wouldn’t have gone out and seen him. It was her fault
I cheated on you. If she didn’t take your time away from me then none of this
could have happened!” she was trying hard to put all the blame to Tara.

“You are just a
cheater!” he hollered back.

“I don’t care
what you think! I am better off with him.” She said pointing out at the guy she
was just having sex with a few minutes back. “Last night was the best!”

“Last night?” he
asked now his face very red.

“Yes, it was
wonderful. Far better than what we have. I am so tired of fucking you James! Go
try having sex with that frigid woman!” she said.

James was really
hurt with Rhea’s words. But he still can’t hurt a girl even when his palms are
twitching. He wanted to hit her so bad.

Trying to calm
himself amidst it all, he exhaled one long breath and left the room still a
gentleman.

***

“Tara, we’re
selling the condominium at Transpacific,” his father told her while eating
dinner.

“Really? Who’s
buying it?” she asked while forking some of her buttered broccolis and carrots.

“Remember the
professors renting it?” he asked.

“Yes. The ones
from St. Mary’s?”

“Yes, those
Profs. Well, one of them is getting married and he called me earlier to ask if
the unit is for sale,” he said.

“Actually Tara,
we bought that for you but you didn’t want to use it that’s why it was rented.
All you use is the parking slot.” Her mom butted in.

“Yup. I like to
go home and it’s not that far, just a bit traffic though. But I still prefer
driving back home every day,” she explained.

“We know that
dear,” her mom said.

“Since you’re
graduating, we were thinking of just selling it. The rent is not that big
really, so I think it would be more profitable to sell it instead.” Her father
said once again.

“Yeah, I agree,”
she said.

“They are paying
us tomorrow and the parking of course is sold with it. They will use it so you
might have to look for a slot in one of the public parking areas around
school,” her mom said.

“Oh, no worries
mom,” she said. “May I be excused? I’m done with dinner.”

“Okay, go
ahead,” her dad said.

She stood up and
kissed her mom and her dad. “Goodnight.”

“Oh Tara, when
does school end?” her mom called to her.

“April 3
^rd
mom,” she hollered.

“Can you fly to
Boracay for your orientation on the 4
^th
?”

“Okay mom, do I
start working immediately? Can Lyn come with me?” she asked looking back.

“Of course
honey. You can start working after she leaves,” she said.

“Thanks mom. I
think I’ll just have her stay for the weekend.”

***

It was already
Thursday and she had to find a new parking slot so she left the house earlier. 
It has been five days since she last saw James and from what she remembers,
James was supposed to be back last Tuesday from his vacation and yesterday he
was supposed to be in school but he wasn’t.

Now that she
feels that they are friends, she’s a bit excited to see him. Their projects are
almost done. It just needs a little polishing then proofreading and it’s ready
to be submitted.

She decided to
check the parking area at the street across the school, just behind their old
condo. This is where Lyn parks when she brings her own car to school. There are
already a few cars parked. She called the parking attendant to check if the
parking is not fully reserved yet and luckily the parking attendant gave her a
slot.