His Punishment (21 page)

“But you still got me pregnant!”
she said pressuring him.

“You know I don’t love you
anymore.” He didn’t think if it would offend her or not.

“Rhea!” they both looked at the guy
standing in the door. It was General Alejandro Bernardo III, Rhea’s dad.

“Good evening sir.” James stood up
as he saw him.

“Hi James.” He nodded at him.

“Dad! I lost the baby.” Rhea cried
as her father hugged and kissed her.

“It’s okay honey. Everything will
be fine.” He was sweetly rubbing her back as she continued sobbing.

“But daddy, James doesn’t want to
marry me after I lost the baby.” She acted like a child.

General Bernardo looked at James
who squirmed as if being crushed to the floor because of nervousness.

“He got his girlfriend pregnant and
now he wants to marry her instead. But what about me daddy? I need him.” She
kept on persuading her father.

“James can I talk to you?” her
father walked to him.

He slightly nodded and followed him
in the hallway.

“Do you still love my daughter?” he
asked direct to the point when they stopped at the secluded area at the back of
the nurse’s station.

“Sir . . . we broke up about three
months ago.” He told her dad. He was so itching to tell him why they broke up
but he decided to keep it to himself. He didn’t find it necessary.

“I know about that. What I am
asking is if you still love her?”

“Uhm . . . I already have a girlfriend
sir.” He was finding it hard to directly tell him.

“My question is direct James and I
need a direct answer.” The General’s voice was not faltering.

“No sir.” He looked down as he
can’t face the fury of his ex’s father.

“Did you know how old the baby
was?” he asked James.

“About three and a half months now.
When Rhea told me she was already two and a half months pregnant.” He mentally
calculated.

“No James. The baby is just three
months old, from the report by the doctor here at the hospital.” He handed the
documents supporting his claim.

James was astonished. He didn’t
know what to say to her dad.

“You are not the father of the
baby.” He smiled at him.

“But sir, we had a paternity test
done. It was positive.”

“That is what they led you to
believe.” He irked at the thought of what his daughter has done.

“Sir,” James heard a guy in
military uniform behind him.

He looked around and saw that the
man looked familiar. He was not sure where he met him but he was a handsome
young man enough to be considered an actor.

“James, meet Colonel Patrick Tan De
Silva.” Rhea’s dad introduced them.

The guy shook hands with James and
looked down.

“He is the father of Rhea’s child.
He told me last week about Rhea and him and how they fixed the test result.” He
looked disappointed.

“I am sorry sir but it was Rhea’s
idea to keep it from you.” The guy in uniform threw an apologetic look at him
as well.

“Dr. Tan?” James suddenly
remembered. The handsome young doctor who looked like an actor.

“Amazing how some people can do so much
with power.” Rhea’s dad spoke.

“I know you have feared me for the
longest time, Aguilar. Even when you were still Rhea’s boyfriend. But you must
know I will never do anything in my authority to hurt people and threaten them.
I don’t know why you even agreed to marry my daughter when you didn’t love her
anymore.” He said with dignity.

“I was willing to do it for the
baby sir.” He admitted.

“Was that all?” he was smiling
widely.

“I . . . was . . . afraid of you.”
He stammered at his confession.

He heard the General laugh at his
candidness and felt him tap his shoulder solidly.

“I knew it.” He laughed again. “You
don’t have to marry my daughter James. You don’t marry out of obligation. This
may seem awkward coming from a military man who doesn’t have a wife, but you,
young man, must marry out of love because you will be stuck with her for the
rest of your life.” He sounded like a father to him.

“That is what I intend to do sir.”
He said happily thinking about Tara.

“And you Patrick, I will never ask
you to marry my daughter if you don’t love each other.” Immediate relief was
seen from the Colonel as Rhea’s father faced him.

“Now, if you excuse me, I have a
daughter to attend to.” He shook James’ hands and turned away down the hall to
Rhea’s room.

“I’m sorry,” he heard the Colonel
spoke to him. “I know it was out of line, but . . .”

“Save it! I have respect for you
since you are one of the military guys who fight for our country and all but I
tell you to get the hell out of my way and never show your fucking face in
front of me again. You asshole almost got me married to that girl I now despise
so much!” he clenched his fist trying to control himself from hitting the guy
in front of him.

“I’m really sorry.” He bowed his
head in shame.

“Sorry your stupid guts for
standing up too late. My girlfriend almost had a miscarriage because of all
this mess! You thank the heavens she didn’t lose my baby or I will come after
you even if you hide in hell.” James angrily said in between his teeth.

He started walking away and dialed
his mobile phone.

“Dad!” James was so happy to call
his father who is still in Singapore.

“Yes son? You seem so happy.” His
father greeted him as cheerfully.

“You bet I am.” His voice almost
singing.

“What is it about?” his dad asked
eagerly.

“Can’t you take a surprise?” he
joked at his own dad.

He just heard his father laugh.

“When are you coming back?” he
asked excitedly.

“Tomorrow morning. Why? What’s up?”
He replied and tried to urge him to speak.

“Okay. I will see you tomorrow.” He
said not bothering to answer the questions thrown at him. “Can you and mom head
straight to Subic Intercontinental and please bring Mr. and Mrs. Salvador with
you, okay?”

“Wow. This looks like wonderful
news.” His dad was referring to the business venture. Very little did he know
that it was about his son’s future.

“Yes! Definitely! I’ll see you
tomorrow for lunch. Take care.” He said before hanging up when his dad said
goodbye.

Before he called his dad, he talked
to the nurses to ask if the doctor gave a discharge slip for Tara already and
he was in bliss when they said she was okay to go the following morning.

He went back to Tara’s room and
heard she was talking to Miguel.

“I’m back!” he said as he went
straight to gather Tara from the bed and kissed her lips hungrily not even
thinking Miguel was there.

“Okay! What was that?” Tara asked
as their lips finally parted. She was blushing knowing that someone saw their
greedy lip-locking moment.

“I talked to General Bernardo.” He
said happily.

“And?” she was so eager to hear the
rest of the story. She looked at him checking if he still got all his body
parts intact.

“I’m okay. He’s not that bad after
all. But he’s really scary!” he said not joking.

“Well? What happened?” she asked
him again.

“Colonel De Silva is also Dr. Tan who
signed the paternity test.” He smiled widely.

“What do you mean?” Miguel asked.

“Everything was a lie. There was
really no Dr. Tan, Colonel De Silva portrayed as a doctor to fake the results.
Connections . . . damn connections.” He was so irritated at how that colonel
used his power to twist the truth.

“So, you mean?” Tara asked waiting
for a positive answer from him.

“I am not the father of the baby.”
He exhaled deeply heaving a sigh of relief after what seemed to burden him for
years.

“Who is?” Miguel and Tara asked in
unison.

“The colonel and the fake doctor
himself.” He exclaimed.

He heard the two gasp in shock.

“Oh God!” she pulled James towards
her and hugged him tight.

“What did the general say?” Miguel
asked.

“He told me to marry the woman I
love and I told him I surely would.” He bent down to kiss her again but she
hesitated and looked over at Miguel.

“Uhm . . . There’s still one thing
you should know.” He started talking.

Tara and James sat straight and
looked at him with frowning foreheads. They were hesitant to hear that there
might still be something more to be uncovered.

“I was once Rhea’s sex partner.”
Miguel spoke.

It was James’ turn to gasp. Tara
didn’t let out a single sound but her jaw dropped open at his confession.

“When she knew that I was hired by
your company,” he looked at Tara. “She offered me a job to break the two of you
apart.”

James instinctively punched his
face.

“James!” Tara shouted. “Let him
finish.”

Miguel stood up as he fell from
James’ fist pummeling his jaw. It wasn’t as strong but he was caught off guard
that he got off balanced. James backed off after hearing Tara’s voice and stood
still beside her. But he was ready to give Miguel another hit if he won’t like
what he would say.

“I agreed. Then I backed out a
little. She offered to pay my sister a huge amount of money if ever I will
agree.” He looked at the two of them while still holding his jaw that James
hit.

The two were not talking and Tara
was holding on to James’ hand as if trying to control him from throwing another
blow at Miguel.

“I accepted because being the
player that I was, there was nothing to lose. When I laid my eyes on you at
Boracay, it all became perfect for me. A hot chick and I am being paid for the
job. I am definitely enjoying myself. I called my sister to ask Rhea when she
is paying me.” She looked at Tara. “Then my sister called Rhea and found out
you are having the paternity test result that day.”

“How could you?” Tara asked him
unable to believe the words he was saying.

“I know you will hate me for this,
but I have to tell you because the guilt is killing me. I fell in love with you
when we came to Manila. I know you had been special to me since we were at the
beach, but I just shrugged it off. I was a player and didn’t know how loving
someone feels like. It was all very new to me. Perhaps I loved you even earlier
than I realized, but I was just stupid to recognize the feeling because it came
to me for the first time.”

Tara was starting to cry.

“Please forgive me, I really fell
in love with you and even before, all the care I have shown was genuine.”

“Genuine? You call that genuine?
How much did Rhea pay you for this?” James was really furious.

“I don’t know. It’s with my sister.
I will return it.” It was for the first time that Miguel felt himself so low
and he knew there was no one to blame but himself.

“Spend it! Spend every single
centavo of it. That’s just how much you’re worth!” James yelled at him.

“I’m really sorry. I wish you the
best for your future.” He lowered his head and slowly went to the door.

“Miguel,” Tara called to him.

He looked back and saw James
scowling at him.

“I expect your resignation papers
with the HR first thing tomorrow morning.”

The following morning, Tara was
discharged from the hospital. They were chauffeured by the hotel’s limousine
service.

When they arrived, they were
greeted by the hotel staff who were happy to see her back on her feet and
looking extremely happy as he held her by the waist while walking. They were
all greeting both of them with grins that reach their ears. Tara and James
reciprocated with eyes that beamed of love and happiness.

They walked to the elevator and he
looked at her. He saw how bright her aura was that morning. It was very
different from the girl he had been seeing the past few days. He felt so
pleased to see her like this again, just as they were in Boracay.

He held her hand and intertwined it
in his before he kissed the back of her palms.

“I love you wifey.” He looked at
her after his lips touched her hand.

She smiled back so sweetly and
kissed his lips lightly.

“I love you as much.” She didn’t
hesitate to profess her love for him though there were people waiting with them
for the elevator.

“I would have never guessed that we
will be this happy again.” He spoke softly enough for only the two of them to
hear then hugged her so tight.

“Me too, I thought I’d be raising
our little one all by myself.” She hugged him back.

“You know, I still can’t believe
that you kept that from me. Didn’t you think that I would find out sooner or
later?” he asked in disbelief.

“I wasn’t thinking about that. All
that was important to me was that you are safe.” She knows she told him about
this already, she knew even how many times she repeated it and the fear that
once washed over her before would never be gone. She loved this guy more than
herself. She was very willing to sacrifice her own happiness for his
well-being.

“Awwww wifey.” His smile seems to
reflect the happiness in his heart, as if hearing her words for the first time.

“I don’t know what I would do if
something bad happened to you.” He felt her fear is still in her voice.

“I will never be gone. I will
always be here. I will cherish you ‘til my last breath.” He tried to comfort
her with his loving words. “Besides, it turns out General is a noble man.”

They heard the elevator ring and
open in front of them. They went in with a couple more passengers and they
remained silent until they reached their floor.

James led the way for Tara when
they went out of the tenth floor. He held her hand tightly as they walked
slowly before stopping in front of their rooms.

He opened the door to his room and
she just stood there as if asking if he got her room key too. But he pulled her
carefully to enter his room.

“What?” he asked when he saw that
she was a bit uncertain.

She kept still and unsure as she
glimpsed inside the open door.

“You’re staying in my room from now
on. Let’s have the housekeeping transfer all of your things to my room and let
them clean it so it would be vacant for other guests.” He slid his arm on her
shoulder to urge her to come inside.

She still didn’t want to move and
stood frozen.

“Don’t you want to stay with me?”
he sounded hurt.

“I do. But . . .” she didn’t know
how to tell him. “But not in your room. Can we stay in my room instead?”

He suddenly smiled and glanced back
at his room. He saw Rhea’s red suitcase in the middle then looked at her. Now
he knows why.

“Anywhere with you.” He locked the
door again and opened the door in front of his room.

Tara didn’t have to be dragged in,
she went inside and sat at the divan near the window and looked at James who
closed the door behind him as he entered. He walked to where she was and sat
behind her taking her to lean back on his chest and hugged her.

They didn’t speak and stood like
that for almost an hour when he felt her head drop on his arm. He peeked at her
face and saw that she was asleep.

Standing up carefully, not letting
her go, he scooped her up in his arms and laid her down on the bed. He covered
half of her body with the blanket and stared at her. He was ecstatic. She
looked so beautiful even while sleeping. Her face radiated happiness and
contentment and he couldn’t help himself from lowering his head down and
kissing her lips softly.

He stood up and looked at his
watch, it was ten in the morning. Good thing they were discharged early at the
hospital. He had enough time.

The notepad and the pen are beside
her bed and he scribbled a note for her in case she wakes up and doesn’t find
him there. He grabbed his mobile phone and silently left the room.

“James? Where are you?” she called
him when she woke up and found his note.

“Oh, you’re awake. I’m just here at
the lobby. Will you have lunch with me?” he asked happily.

“Of course. Where will I meet you?”
she replied as cheerily as he sounded.

“Just come down. You’ll find me.”
He laughed and hung up on her.

She looked at her phone taken
aback. But stood up from her bed and changed into a more comfortable dress. She
wore her purple sleeveless maxi dress. She was in no mood for make-up and she
didn’t mind. She was so relaxed with James that it didn’t bother her how she
looked.

After a couple more minutes, she
went to ride the elevator and pushed the ground button.

The look of the only guy standing
in front of her was mesmerizing. He wasn’t able to sleep last night for
guarding her at the hospital. It was evident from the grayish circle under his
eyes. But his eyes itself, they didn’t speak of exhaustion. It glows with
ecstasy and it matched his wide smile that makes her heart increase its beat.

“I thought angels come from the
sky, not from the tenth floor.” He said as he stretched his arm to take her
hands.

She blushed at what he said. “Oh
James, didn’t know you got yourself packed with those mushy pick-up lines.” She
chuckled.

“That is not a pick up line!” he
said defensively. “That is the most honest remark I have made for you. You
truly look like a pure angelic soul especially without make up.”

“Thank you.” She blushed once
again.

“Can you give me a minute?” he
asked when he reached for his phone.

She nodded and he dialed. He walked
a couple steps as if not wanting her to hear his conversation. She was looking
at him but stood at where he left her. He kept glancing back at her.

Tara looked at the cathedral
windows in the lobby and saw some leaves falling down. She stared at it as she
saw there were more falling down. Then she felt James’ hands on her elbow.

“Let’s go.” He asked smiling.

“Okay. Where are we eating?” she
asked turning her back from the window.

“Poolside.” He led her as they
walked through the tall French doors that lead to their lunch.

Once she stepped outside, she saw
the ground had little yellow petals of all sorts of flowers. He looked at James
and he smiled at her. More petals were falling down on them as they continued
walking. She glanced up and saw their company owned helicopter dropping the
petals over them. She looked at James again who still kept leading her to the
poolside.

She wanted to stop him and ask what
all this is about but she sensed he didn’t want to answer any of her questions
and he seemed excited to reach their table. She looked at where they were
headed and she saw both of their parents standing near the table at the
poolside looking at them walking like fairy tale characters on a dreamy trail
now almost covered with yellow petals.

Her parents enveloped her in an
embrace when they finally reached their table and she felt the helicopter left
as the wind was no longer as strong as it was when they went out of the hotel.
None of them talked, they just hugged her tight.

“Tara,” he heard James’ voice and
turned around after letting go of her parents’ embrace.

She was shocked when she saw him
kneeling down in front of her with pleading eyes and striking smile.

“With both our parents’ permission
and blessing, will you share forever with me?” he asked as he took her hand
with one of his.

She was too stunned to reply. It
was like a daydream.

“Please, take me as your legal
hubby.” He kissed the back of her hand.

She looked at her parents then his
and she felt some tears trickling down her cheeks. This was exactly what she
wanted him to realize a few years back. And she is in heaven now that her dream
is about to come true.

He looked at her still kneeling. He
didn’t realize how stubborn he had been that the woman he wanted for the rest
of his life has been stalking him all along. He was so confident that his life
would be perfect after she agrees to marry him.

“Yes!” she finally exclaimed and
bent down to cup his face and kissed him.

He stood up and reached for the
table. She was excited. She knew it would be her engagement ring. She was so
delighted at what is happening and she can’t hide her excitement to see her
ring.

She handed him a big box the size
of a bond paper and it was about two inches thick.

She got more thrilled. She loved
jewelry and she knew even without seeing what’s inside the box, that it will be
her favorite set but her jaw dropped when she opened the box. She closed it
immediately wishing that none of their parents saw what he gave her.

She hugged him instead and
whispered to his ears. “You. You’re such a wicked man.”

“Sorry I didn’t get the chance to
get you a ring yet.” He whispered back. ”But I promise I will as soon as we are
back in Manila. In the mean time, please wear that tonight.” He grinned at her
before kissing her cheeks.

Tara’s cheeks were flushed at his
words and the picture of the Victoria’s Secret sexy red lingerie inside his
“engagement present”.

“Oh my gosh. My baby is getting
married.” Tara’s mother interrupted her blushing as she hugged her once again.

“You better take care of our
princess, James!” her father said.

“I will do sir. I will make sure
her smile won’t leave her face forever.” James said sweetly as he glanced at
his own father whom he can see is confused as he knows Rhea’s situation.

“It’s not my child.” He whispered
to his dad and saw his father’s eyes glitter in delight and hugged him tight to
show him how happy he felt that his son is free from the terrible obligation.

“Is Tara the lady you told me that
you loved?” he whispered at James’ ears. “The one you were sulking about when
Rhea told you about the test?”

“Yes. The one and only.” He
admitted as he smiled at his dad.

“Come here, you pretty one.” His
mother hugged Tara. “I am so happy I will have a lovely daughter in law like
you.” She kept looking at her as if she won the jackpot or something.

“Thank you auntie.” Tara smiled
back and hugged her too.

“Oh, don’t call me auntie anymore.
Call me mom!” she declared and heard their other parents laugh.

“Isn’t that too soon?” Tara
blushed.

“No! We’re getting married next
week!” James interrupted them.

“What?!” Tara could not believe
what he said. She was excited to get married to him but she never expected that
she got one week left of her single status.

“I could have been more selfish and
got the Mayor to wed us right here on the spot, but I want to give you the
grandest wedding you deserve.” He kissed her very red cheeks.

“It doesn’t have to be that grand
James!” she objected.

“Wifey, you deserve the nothing
less.” He hugged her by her waist.

“Anytime you want son! I could have
everything sped up for the two of you.” His mother told him.

“We have a wedding to plan!” her
mom exclaimed at her daughter and new son.

The two mothers exchanged happy
glances and excitement is written all over their faces.

“There’s still something we want to
tell you.” James spoke again as he looked at Tara for approval. He saw her nod
at him and he held her hand.

“Would you like your first
grandchild to be a boy or a girl?” he asked their parents.

They all laughed and thought it was
what he meant to say but Tara corrected them.

“I’m pregnant.”

She heard gasps from all of them
when the words left her mouth. Her father was really shocked and didn’t know
what to say. Her mother had her hand cover her open mouth. His father just
smiled as if proud that his son is a fast worker and his mother blushed and
looked at her mom. After a couple more seconds, Tara was sandwiched by their
two mothers.

“Oh my God!” they both exclaimed at
her ears.

“Now we really have to speed up
this wedding.” Her mom said.

“I am happy with your news
children, but I wish it would have come after you got married.” Her dad
honestly told them.

“Oh, shut it darling, at least we
don’t have to wait too long.” Her mom hit her dad’s arm lightly.

“I’m gonna be a grandma!” his
mother cried out.

“Another Aguilar! Please let it be
a boy.” His father slid his arms on both Tara’s and James’ shoulder.

“I pray it’s a girl, don’t you
Tanya?” his mom called to her mom for second the motion.

“A granddaughter! That would be
sweet.” Her mom held his mom by the hand as if praying together.

“It’s going to be a grandson.” They
heard her dad this time.

James pulled a chair for Tara to
sit down as they happily gaze at their parents guessing their child’s gender.

He looked at her and saw the happy
eyes beaming at the unfolding scene. He held her hand and she looked at him.

“What do you want hubby? A son or a
daughter?” she had to know.

“Honestly, I couldn’t care less.
What matters is you are the mother of my child.” He kissed her lips and
suddenly there were no more questions that she needed to ask.