His Punishment

by Pia Marie

  Then, of all the moments, Rhea called me.

  “James, we have to talk.”

  “Not now Rhea.” I know I sounded mad and I was puzzled she didn’t quit.

  “This is important.”

  “Let’s just talk tomorrow.” I told her before hanging up.

  “Lyn, please help me. I have to find Tara.” I pleaded.

  At first she didn’t want to talk. But after a few moments of my pleadings, she gave in.

  “OK, she went to Boracay Plaza.”

  “Thank you Lyn! Thank you!” I hugged her in delight. I have to go see Tara the soonest I could. We have a lot to talk about. I figured she didn’t believe me when I said I loved her, so I’m determined to prove to her that I really do.

  I booked a flight to Boracay for the following day right that instant. I didn’t care that the airfare was priced 3x the normal rate. I had to see her.

  The following day, I still kept calling Tara, but her phone was still off. I didn’t feel giddy about it anymore because in a few hours time, I will be with her.

  I was getting ready to leave for the airport when Rhea stopped me in my tracks.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked her still hurrying to the car.

  “I told you we have to talk,” she said.

  “I know. But can’t that wait?” I asked her eyeing her suspiciously. I feel she is deliberately trying to hold me from my departure. Does she know I’m going to Tara?

  “It can’t James. It is very important.” She tried to grab my arm to stop me from my brisk walking.

  I turned to look at her and she seemed uptight.

  “OK, tell me in the car.” I urged her to ride. I thought she should just talk to me on the way to the airport and the driver could drop her back after I’m dropped off.

  “No.”

  “What?” I asked getting agitated. I am two and a half hours away from my flight. Our house is about thirty minutes from the airport. I know I still have a couple minutes to spare, but I was excited to go.

  “I want to talk to you in private.”

  “OK!” I just consented as arguing may take more time. I lead her to the porch at the side of the house. I sat at the bench near our pool.

  “Shoot! What is it?” I asked again after I glanced at my wrist watch.

  “I don’t know how to say this . . .” she looked down and then I looked at my watch again as I purposely make her feel that I want to be out of here as soon as I can.

  “I’m pregnant.” She blurted.

  “That’s not mine.” I told her. Obviously. The last time we slept together was around two and a half months ago.

  “I am three months pregnant James,” she explained further.

  I was stunned but I still hesitate to believe a thing she is saying.

  “I had my doctor’s appointment yesterday and he confirmed it.”

  “How sure am I that you didn’t have sex with someone else when we’re together?” I asked angrily.

  I felt her palm in my right cheek. It was painful. I’ve never been slapped in the face this forcefully.

  “You may all call me a slut, but I never slept with anyone when we were together! You knew that well. I was very loyal to you James! I loved you! So bad it hurts! I turned away from my old slutty life because of you!”

  I was still shocked and I didn’t know what to say.

  “What’s your plan?” I finally asked.

  “What do you mean what’s my plan? Are you trying to tell me you want to get rid of my baby?” she sounded hurt.

  “No. I’m asking you, what’s your plan?”

  “You know what will happen if my father knew about this right?” she threatened.

  I kept still. I looked at my watch. There is no way I could go to the airport to catch my flight. This conversation will take longer than I could imagine.

  Her dad is in the military. I would be easy to dispatch him from the face of the earth if he wanted to. I don’t know what trouble I have put myself into this time. I looked at her and she was already smiling. I know what’s in her head now. She feels that she won. But I won’t give in that easily.

  “OK. So what do you want?” I asked her, knowing what she would answer.

  “Marry me.” I twitched at the sound of her voice. I knew that’s what she would say, but I was prepared for it.

  “I will, after we find out that the kid is really mine. We will have DNA testing after you give birth.” That’s the secure way of knowing the truth.

  “And, if you tell your father that I don’t want to marry you, I would tell him the reason why I am waiting for paternity tests. So don’t go threaten me to marry you a.s.a.p.” I threatened her back.

  Flashback ends

  Now here I am with Tara. This could have been since last Sunday if Rhea hadn’t barged in with her awful news. Yes, I still find it terrible. I still have to wait for six more months to know if I am really the father. I am not confident to claim its mine. Nor am I optimistic about it.

  “James.” Christian called to me as we were ready to come ashore. The whole ferry ride, I couldn’t look at Tara and the guy beside her. I don’t even know how to approach her. I don’t know how to tell her. There’s a lot for me to talk to her about, I know. But I just don’t know how to start, maybe because I don’t want it to end.

  I am not yet ready to let go of her. But I don’t want her to raise hopes up. What if I really am the father of Rhea’s child? I don’t want Tara to be hurt like that. It would be better if I stay away a bit. But not until we’re done talking. I still have to make her understand that I really do love her. I am still determined to make her feel that.

  Then my eyes narrowed on the tall figure of the man guiding her down the boat. That Miguel! Who does he think he is?! He can’t dare touch even the tip of my Tara’s hands.

  I can’t just look. I stood up and rushed to Tara and swept her off her feet. I carried her bridal style to the shore to make sure her feet won’t get wet.

  I looked down in her face as I laid her feet in the sand. She really has this mesmerizing effect on me. Her eyes are still full of expressions. I know it says she missed me. And those inviting red lips. I want to smash my lips on it at the moment. But I have to keep my head on level. We talk first.

  “Thank you.” I heard her say when she’s standing on her own.

  I can’t help it any longer. Her voice sent shivers all over my body. God I missed her so much. I hugged her tight and kissed her on the neck. I am no saint and it was so hard to be in control around her.

  “I missed you Tara.”

  ***

  Tara can’t explain her emotions. She was happy that James was here with her at Boracay. But she feels that James is a bit drawing back from her. Yes he had been sweet to her and caring and she feels the jealousy he’s having towards Miguel, but it’s not as she expected. She expected more. Didn’t he admit he loved me? How come he’s not as possessive as he was?

  It was the day after they arrived. They had planned to go diving today. She was so excited. She put on her white and black striped strapless two-piece and eyed herself in the mirror. She knew she looked real appealing and sizzling in that pair. She was eager to see James’ reaction once he sees her.

  She applied sunblock and some waterproof sheer make up and she was completely pleased at how she looked.

  She started to head down to the lobby as they all agreed to meet at eight in the morning.

  When she emerged in the lobby, only Lyn and Christian were there. She looked around to see if James is somewhere but he is not in sight.

  “Hon! He’s outside making a phone call.” Lyn knew what she was wandering around for.

  “Oh.” She blushed a bit when she gave away her emotions too much.

  “You look stunning Tara!” Christian faked wiping his forehead.

  “Hey! I’m here!” Lyn joked at her boyfriend faking her jealousy. She is not a jealous person. Most especially with Tara. And she absolutely knows that her best
friend only has her heart beating for James.

  “You’re going to dive?” Tara turned to see Miguel approaching them.

  “Yeah,” she answered.

  “Wow!” it was all Miguel said after he saw her front view.

  Tara blushed again, “Would you like to join us?” she asked her friend.

  “Is that okay?” Miguel asked.

  “Yeah, why not? The more the merrier.” Lyn encouraged and Christian nudged her elbow.

  “Are you sure?” Miguel asked again.

  “Yes. Of course.” Tara answered.

  “Go up.” She heard James’ voice directed to her.

  “What?” she looked at him.

  “Put something on top of that.” he ordered.

  “But . . .” she tried to protest.

  “Here hon, I have my sarong, go put this on.” Lyn offered to end the argument.

  Tara took it and draped it over her shoulder but still exposing some parts of her skin.

  She saw James stare at her. It was hard to decipher what that look was, but she saw that his eyes were blazing. She smiled at him and he smiled backed finally. He took her hand to walk beside him and enveloped her waist from the side with his arm. It’s as if claiming that she is his. Tara felt happy.

  “Let’s go.” He said and started walking to the boat that will take them to the dive spot.

  They had fun playing under the sea. Though their protective gears and oxygen tanks were a bit heavy at first, they all got accustomed to it and went feeding the fish.

  Good thing Tara brought her waterproof camera to take pictures. They were all enjoying and posing for the camera.

  James was always hugging her and carrying her even in the water. They swam in the depths of the ocean holding each other’s hands most of the time. Tara was having the time of her life.

  They have not talked about what happened the night she stormed out. But she was determined to clear it out tonight.

  After an hour, they are done diving and back in the resort. They decided to have lunch at the divans in the sand. James requested they be seated separately.

  “Tara, I really missed you.”

  “Me too, James. I’m sorry for storming out on you last time. I know it was wrong, I should have talked to you seriously about it.”

  James was not looking at Tara. He was just viewing the beach from their spot. He was so nervous he didn’t know how to start talking.

  “I was just confused. I mean, from what has happened with us since the start. I can’t believe that you will come to love me.” She kept talking.

  James looked at her when he heard her acknowledge that he loved her.

  “Do you believe me now?” he asked her seriously.

  Tara did not respond directly but instead kept talking.

  “When you started stalking me . . .” she was cut mid-sentence when she was interrupted by him.

  “Hey, I was not stalking you!” he defended himself.

  “Oh really? Following me to the mall, flooding my inbox with your messages, sticking by my side like glue, parking in my space at school . . . OK, you’re not stalking.” she smiled sweetly.

  “Fine! But it wasn’t as bad as you did!” he teased her.

  “Not as bad but as annoying!” she laughed loudly.

  “It annoyed you?” James asked hurt.

  She looked at her intently and spoke, “No.” She held his hand.

  He went nearer and cupped her face. He planted a smack on Tara’s lips. He felt her hands move up to his cheek. He removed Tara’s sunglasses as he did his. He wanted to see straight into Tara’s eyes.

  “You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on. You’re eyes are so hypnotizing. You got me under your spell.” He planted another soft and quick kiss on her lips again.

  Tara just stared straight into his eyes. She frowned as she saw his eyes a bit sad and teary.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” she asked worried.

  “Tara . . .” he stopped.

  “Do you really love me James?” she asked helping him, feeling nervous all over again.

  “Yes. I do. So much. I never thought I would. It took me by surprise.” He admitted still looking directly at her.

  “You know I do too right? So what’s wrong?” she asked troubled. She knew there was a but coming in after his sentence.

  “I don’t want to be unfair to you.”

  “I don’t understand what you are saying James!” she’s starting to get irritated. She doesn’t know where this conversation is going to.

  “That night at Christian’s house, I wanted to ask you to be my girlfriend.”

  “Is . . . that . . . You fixed the room for the effect?” she came to senses and held her temples. She realized she judged him so wrong. She hugged him tight. “I’m sorry.”

  “Well you can ask me again.” She teased him as she departed from the embrace.

  She heard him heave a deep sigh.

  “I’m sorry Tara,” he separated their bodies and looked at her eyes.

  “I don’t get you.”

  “You must know, that up to now, I still want to ask you to be my girl friend, but I can’t.” He was starting to confess.

  “What?!” she exclaimed upset.

  “The day after you left, I was supposed to come after you. I was on my way to the airport, but Rhea stopped me.

  “Rhea!” she is so lost at his recounting.

  “She told me she is pregnant.” He was finally able to say.

  “But, it has been two months . . .” she was shaking her head as she thought of the time the two broke up.

  “She said she is three months pregnant.”

  Tara was not able to respond. She felt like falling to pieces. She had long waited for him to love her back and now, THIS! She can’t believe it. He tried to take her hand but she didn’t allow him. She was hurt. She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t notice her tears are falling down her cheeks.

  “Tara!” James immediately wrapped her in his arms and hugged her tight. She isn’t talking still and she remained as hard as a rock even while he was already cuddling her.

  “I plan to have paternity tests after she gives birth. But until then, I can’t lead you on. I don’t know if it’s mine or not. I don’t want you to get more hurt if . . .” he stopped, he felt pain at the last unspoken words he was about to say.

  She hugged him tighter but spoke softly, “Her father is in the military James. He might hurt you if you don’t . . .” she can’t continue her words.

  “No. Rhea and I had an agreement. I won’t ma . . . ma . . . marry her unless it’s proven.”

  “Marry . . .” she let go of James and cried in her hands when she heard his words. She can’t believe this is happening. She felt her world colliding. She looked up to check on Lyn and Christian and they were busy eating and enjoying. She felt alone in her cruel world.

  “They don’t know a thing yet,” he told her.

  She looked back at him. “Is that why you came here?”

  “No. I came here to be with you . . .”

  Hot tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably. She felt awful and dead inside. She felt him hug her so tight not letting her go and wiping her tears with his other hand.

  “Please, let’s be together . . . even if it may be for the last time.”

  She looked up at him.

  “Please?” he pleaded with his still teary eyed. She envied him trying to be composed in a situation like this.

  She just nodded as her wild disobedient tears continue flowing.

  Chapter 12

  It’s already Saturday. Two days after James confessed to Tara his ridiculous situation. They have agreed that they will enjoy the rest of the days that they are together. They tried pushing the state they are facing at the back of their heads. It was working until now. It was James’ last night at Boracay with Tara.

  Tomorrow morning, he is leaving. Tara knows the possibility that it might be for good. Not unless some miracl
e happens and it is not James’ baby that Rhea is carrying. But how hopeful can she be?

  She could pray to all the churches, but still, the truth will come out. And they are both afraid it might wreck their hearts even more. So their set-up now, it’s the best bargain they could get.

  “Tara! Are you done?” she heard James’ call to her.

  Everyone would find it funny to know that they are in the same room since the day he made his confession to her, but nothing happened between them. They found it wrong to spend intimate moments together when they know a huge dilemma is in store for them.

  But yes they kissed, they touched, they devoured each other but nothing went beyond that.

  Flashback

  Last night they were both drunk. They drowned themselves in alcohol and had fun at The Legend, the most popular bar in the island with a lot of celebrities flocking at night.

  “You are more gorgeous than them!” James whispered in Tara’s ears loud enough for Lyn and Christian to hear.

  “You are more devastatingly handsome!” she replied back.

  “Quit it!” Lyn said. The couple knows of their condition already. At first, they were so heartbroken by the news, but seeing the smiles on the lovebirds’ faces made them green with envy.

  Ironically, they find two people madly in love with each other as if there is no tomorrow and no past. They seized the day like it was their last because they know it is somehow bound to end.

  Tara laughed when she heard Lyn’s malicious remark. She kissed James on the lips passionately and he responded.

  “Eeeew . . . Get a room you two!” Lyn said nastily.

  Christian can’t help but laugh. He has never seen James this expressive and passionate. He knows for a fact that he met his match. He kept praying Rhea is lying. Actually, they were all hoping the same.

  After the fervent and obsessive kiss, their lips parted. They felt like they were invisible and didn’t care at all of the other people around them.

  James stood up and asked Tara to do the same. He felt like dancing to Jennifer Lopez’ “On the Floor”. Tara obliged and stood up with him and started dancing.