His Punishment

by Pia Marie

  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.

  “This came from the graphic artist, he has already added my comments and did the adjustments, maybe you can check them tonight so we can have it published in the paper and the new tarpaulins must be ordered from the printer soon.” She was definitely acting professional.

  “Okay. I will check them tonight and send them back to Eric early tomorrow.” He mentioned the artist’s name as he took the envelope from her hand. It accidentally touched her skin and he instantly missed holding her.

  “Oh, by the way, we have a meeting with HR tomorrow for final listing of the slot machine attendants and dealers.” She reminded him as she got her hand back in her pocket to shrug off her feelings from the swift brush of James’ hands on hers.

  “What time will it be again?” he asked sighing in agony of missing her.

  “It’s all set at one in the afternoon. Take Rhea on an early lunch so you won’t be late.” She winced at the sound of her name in her own ears.

  “When will we sit down for the finalization of the Membership Rules and Guidelines?” he asked her to make their conversation longer as seeing her is the only happiness he could get.

  “Perhaps after the meeting with HR. I can arrange a meeting with Patty.” She took a mental note to call the Marketing Manager here to discuss the membership after the HR meeting.

  “Baby . . .” Tara heard Rhea’s voice as she teases James with what she thought was an enticing tone.

  She closed her lids for a moment to release her annoyance and then breathed deeply before she looked at James who is still staring at her.

  “I’ll see you tomo . . .” her sentence was cut when his fiancée peeked in the entrance and saw the two of them talking.

  “What are you doing here biyatch?” She heard her and she didn’t answer back. She just turned and left. She was in no mood to start a repartee with Rhea. Her disposition is foul at the moment and she knew she might not be able to control herself.

  “You don’t turn your back away from me!” she heard Rhea’s stomping angry feet coming after her but she wasn’t afraid. She knew James would somehow stop her so she just continued walking back to her room.

  She was surprised when he wasn’t able to get a hold of her swift movements. She was already at Tara’s back and trying to pull the ends of her hair.

  “Rhea stop it!” James was pulling her from Tara.

  “Ow!” Tara was squealing and trying to get herself lose from Rhea’s hands.

  Miguel stood up from the divan quickly and went to the corridor. He saw what Rhea has been doing to Tara.

  “Go away Rhea!” Miguel pulled Tara from her tweaking.

  “I’m not done with you bitch!” she keeps following her though she isn’t in her grasp anymore. James was trailing behind her as she surprisingly gathered much strength from her anger.

  “What do you want?!” Tara turned around when she was already near the edge of her bed and she realized Rhea is just at her back. Her patience was all gone after hearing her call her bitch for the second time.

  “I want you to back off!” she was trying to push her but she can’t reach because James was stopping her from getting nearer.

  “What are you talking about? You paranoid slut?!” Tara started getting so upset for she is being accused of still following James. She can’t believe she still seemed like a stalker to her.

  “Who are you calling paranoid?” she was trying to kick her but James was holding her by the shoulders.

  “Fuck Rhea can you stop this!” James was trying to stop the commotion by continuously pulling Rhea away.

  “Who’s accusing me of things?!” Tara didn’t stop as she feels her anger rising up.

  “I know what you are trying to do! You can never replace me! Not in James’ bed and never in his heart!” she keeps on shouting obviously her blood boiling hotter.

  “Just get her out!” Miguel roared at James to take Rhea.

  James was trying but she was very strong as her rage is growing.

  “Get out of my room!” Tara ordered, “All of you!!!!” she screamed this time. The noise is getting in her nerves. She just wanted peace and quiet.

  “No! I want this over and stop following James!” Rhea won’t stop.

  “I am soooo not following him! For Christ’s sake Rhea! We are business partners and we have transactions and obligations to this company that we must discuss! Are you that stupid to not understand?” she can’t believe how dumb this girl was. Her sudden need for silence
was immediately replaced by frustration to make Rhea comprehend the whole situation.

  “I am not stupid you whore!” her arms are stretching to grab Tara again.

  “Don’t call me a whore when you know who the real one is in this room!” her blood is already boiling inside her and she isn’t stopping from commenting back.

  “Stop it!” they didn’t know who spoke but Tara suspected it was James.

  “No! You tell her to stop!” Tara told him.

  “She’s pregnant. You can’t make her angrier!” James defended.

  “So, it’s all about Rhea? You don’t care if she hurt Tara?” Miguel asked now mad too.

  James looked at Miguel then at Tara and back at Miguel again.

  “You don’t understand. I just want my baby well,” speaking reasonably. He was just thinking it was not healthy for the baby if the mother was this mad and physical.

  “Just get out! Please!” Tara screamed again. She is now very exasperated. James was thinking of his baby’s condition, not knowing there are two babies in the two wombs of the women in front of him.

  Rhea didn’t speak. She just stood still. When James saw that she isn’t trying to come near Tara again, he decided to be the first one to leave thinking that she will follow as she seemed to simmer down from the protesting she was doing awhile ago when he was controlling her.

  Miguel let go of Tara as well as both girls stopped with their catfight.

  “Fuck you bitch!” they were surprised that Rhea was all over Tara in bed so quick and started to tweak her hair.

  “Get off me!” Tara screamed helplessly as she lies down beneath Rhea on her bed.

  Miguel immediately pulled Rhea from her grip and Tara squeaked in pain as her strands were pulled tighter from her head. Rhea kept slapping Tara’s cheeks.

  James came back running to get Rhea as well and was fortunate to grab her away from Tara.

  They saw Tara crying in bed and clutching on her stomach half-screaming in pain.

  “Are you okay?” Miguel was so nervous and scared to see Tara squirming on the bed. He went to her side moving her face to look at him but she didn’t answer and continued touching her flat stomach while weeping.

  Rhea stopped and frowned at Tara’s hurting. She wrestled with her hair and face not her body. She was confused but she thought she was just overreacting to get the two guys’ attention.