Our conversation shifted to the upcoming surprise birthday for Mom tomorrow. I also found out that Thaliana is one of those who took care of it.
"Rozz..."
I turned to Klari when she called me. I sighed, almost forgetting that she's with me. Earlier, she hardly left my side, but when Dad talked to me and came here, she stayed in the hut.
I said goodbye to Luther and Dad as I was heading home.
"Take care, son. Tomorrow, go straight here before going to the venue."
"Yes, Dad."
Luther stood up and approached me. He gave me a man hug.
"Thaliana will stay here tonight, brother..." he whispered. His tone was teasing.
What the hell?
"Bye, take care, Cyron!" he said as he moved away from me.
He's testing my patience!
So when we said goodbye to Mom, I didn't go straight to Tagaytay. I dropped off Klari at the bus station.
"R-Rozz..."
I waited until a bus arrived, and when one stopped, I looked at Klari.
"Get inside. I have something important to attend to."
"At this hour? Where?"
"Are you getting on?" the driver asked.
"Yes," I replied, then turned to Klari.
"Get on. I'll leave now."
I returned to my car and drove away.
"Rozzean!" Klari shouted.
I went back to my parent's house. Luther was really getting on my nerves. He was teasing and irritating me. I headed to Taki's room, hoping Thaliana might be there. I saw earlier that Taki didn't want to leave her, so I thought she might be here.
"She's not here."
But I still approached Taki. I sat on the bed and adjusted his blanket.
"M-Mommy..."
He woke up and started crying. When he saw me, he came closer.
"Shh... stop crying, Taki."
"D-Daddy... M-Mommy..."
I patted her back several times. Slowly, I felt his deep breaths, a sign that he fell asleep again. I carefully laid Taki down and tucked his in. I kissed his forehead and stroked his hair.
"I will get your Mommy back..."
"Daddy will get her."
After saying that, I left Taki's room and headed downstairs where the guest rooms were. I noticed a room with an open door and lights on. I went inside and saw Thaliana's bag from earlier.
"She's here," I said, looking towards the bathroom upon hearing the sound of running water.
I closed and locked the door and turned off the lights. When I saw Thaliana come out, she looked up and pointed the lights. Damn. She's so drunk.
"Thaliana," I called out to her.
"Rozzean?! W-what are y-you-- hmmp..."
But I didn't let her speak further. I kissed her on the lips, holding her tightly so she couldn't escape. She tried to push me away at first, but because of my firm grip, she remained in my embrace.
Fck. I miss her so much.
My kiss was deep and needy. I lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around my waist. I would make sure tonight that we would rekindle what we had, and she wouldn't be able to escape from me anymore.
"Ohhh..."
"Damn it... I miss you so much, baby..."
But I thought that after what happened between us that night, everything would be okay. I was wrong. It hurt when she told me she was just drunk and didn't know what she was doing.
I thought we could be happy again together.
But no...
She's furious with me. She looks so tired of me...
"I hate you."
It felt like a dagger stabbed into my chest.
"I will forget you. Everything about you. Thes is right; I can find another man who will see my worth. Not like you who's more-- hmmp!"
I kissed her forcefully in response to what she said. She tried to break free from me. When our lips parted, I looked at her seriously. I was angry. I felt anger not towards her but towards myself.
"You can't forget me. You love me. You love me so much, and you won't forget me."
"No! I can! I can forget you!" she screamed.
"You are mine, only mine. You won't go to another man."
"I'm not yours! I-I won't be yours anymore! I hate you! I hate you s-so much!"
"I-I hate you!"
"L-Let me go!"
Enough...
"I hate you so much, Rozzean! Let go of me! I hate you--"
"I love you," I whispered in her ear. I felt her pause. My face was against her neck as I held her tightly.
I couldn't wait for her to turn away from the engagement. I didn't care even if I broke the agreement with her father.
"I love you."
"I love you, Thaliana..."
But just when I thought we could talk and settle everything, Klari appeared and ruined it. Luther told me that Thaliana was jealous of Klari, but I couldn't do anything because here she was again.
Her family was invited. I didn't invite her to come, but from the way Thaliana looked at us, she must have thought Klari and I were together.
I didn't get a chance to talk to her again. Many people approached me when Mama's party started. Everyone was happy, and I was in the corner looking at her. I couldn't even get close.
"Brother, you look pathetic there," Luther said to me.
"Fck you."
"You scored last night, but you're lonely now."
I glanced at Luther.
"Help me talk to her. I need to make it clear that there's nothing going on between us and Klari. I need to explain everything that happened."
He tapped me on the shoulder.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked.
I told him my plan. Luther nodded, and he said he would try. I also hoped that Thaliana would believe him. When the party ended, Mr. Dela Vezca approached me.
"Rozzean."
I forced a tired smile upon seeing Thaliana's father.
"About my daughter..."
I lowered my head, biting my lower lip as my chest tightened. I remembered how she shouted that she hates me.
"Maybe she really won't accept me anymore."
"Thaliana is really angry with me."
He nodded. I saw pity in his eyes.
"I got angry with you because of what happened to my daughter, but both of you made mistakes."
"I saw that you are both hurting each other. The engagement doesn't matter anymore because I can see that my daughter's true love is you, not Luther. Your father and I talked about it. I will not make it hard for you, Rozzean. Go and get Thaliana. I know my daughter loves you deeply, and what you both need now is to talk privately."
"Mr. Dela Vezca--"
He turned away from me.
"Do everything to get her back, Rozzean. I want no one else as my son-in-law but you."
I smiled at his words.
"Yes. I will surely get her back."
That was our last conversation with Mr. Dela Vezca.
Now, I was holding Thaliana so close. Her eyes were squinted as she looked at me.
"Let go of me! Why are you here? Where's Luther? my parents? Tito Royce and Tita Cynthia?"
Thaliana pushed me away and scanned the entire yacht. I was calm, not chasing her because there was nowhere else she could run. I smiled while watching her. She entered the yacht, and I followed. She was looking for our families.
"W-Where are they?!" she shouted.
"It's just the two of us, Thaliana," I told her.
"What? Why? Luther told me it's a family vacation, but why--" she paused and touched her forehead.
I was about to approach when she raised her hands.
"Don't come near me; I'm annoyed with you!" she shouted and looked around. We were far from the port, and my yacht was still moving.
"Take me back, Rozzean!"
I shrugged and stared at her while she angrily glared at me.
"We are going to talk. I won't bring you back until you hear what I have to say."