CHAPTER 5

WARNING: R18+ Please read at your own risk.

Pagkapasok pa lang ni Zhe sa loob ng kwarto, agad siyang napahinto. Nandoon si Caleb, nakaupo sa gilid ng kama, nakasandal ang isang braso sa tuhod habang ang isa'y nakapatong sa labi na tila nagpipigil ng galit. His dark, piercing eyes locked onto hers the moment she stepped in, sending a chill down her spine.

Napalunok siya.

Alam niya na. Alam na niya kung ano ang naghihintay sa kanya.

"Close the door," his voice was low, dangerously calm.

Gusto niyang tumutol, gusto niyang tumakbo, pero wala siyang ibang choice. Kahit hindi niya gustuhin, sinunod niya ito-dahan-dahan niyang isinara ang pinto, ang kaba sa kanyang dibdib ay lumalaki sa bawat segundo.

Caleb didn't move, but his gaze never left her. Para siyang mabangis na hayop na nag-aabang ng tamang oras para sumalakay.

"With that f*cking man again, huh?" His voice was laced with accusation, resentment dripping from every word.

Hindi niya naisip na sasabihin niya iyon agad. Napasinghap siya, ngunit bago pa niya maipaliwanag ang sarili, bigla siyang nilapitan nito-mabilis, puno ng panggigigil.

Hinawakan siya ni Caleb sa pisngi, madiin, halos baon na ang mga daliri niya sa malambot na balat ni Zhe.

Napakapit siya sa braso nito, pilit na inaalis ang kanyang hawak, pero hindi siya binitiwan ng lalaki.

"Ano bang...?" pilit niyang tanong, pero agad siyang pinutol nito.

"You really don't learn, do you?" Caleb's voice was nothing but a whisper, but it held a weight heavier than any scream. His thumb grazed her lower lip, his touch both possessive and punishing. "You always push me to the edge, Zhe."

Alam niyang hindi ito magpapaliwanag. Hindi niya hahayaang makatakas siya rito.

In one swift motion, Caleb pulled her closer, their bodies pressed together. She could feel his heat-his anger, his frustration, and something darker that made her stomach twist in anticipation.

"Tell me," he murmured, his lips just a breath away from hers. "Did you let him touch you?"

Zhe's breath hitched. Hindi niya alam kung paano sasagot.

Pero hindi rin niya kinailangang sumagot.

Caleb crushed his lips against hers, claiming her in a kiss that was both punishing and desperate. It wasn't gentle. It wasn't slow. It was a warning, a reminder, a claim.

Sinubukan niyang lumaban, pero lalo lang lumalim ang halik. His grip on her waist tightened, pulling her even closer, as if he wanted to erase any trace of the man he thought she was with.

Her mind screamed at her to fight back, to push him away, but her body betrayed her. She melted under his touch, under the weight of his possessiveness.

"Mine," Caleb growled against her lips, his voice rough with need.

"Caleb-" her voice came out in a breathless whisper, but he didn't let her finish.

His hands slid up her arms, fingers wrapping around her wrists before pinning them above her head. His grip was firm, unrelenting.

"You think I don't see it?" His lips ghosted over her ear, his voice low and rough. "The way he looks at you? The way you let him be near you?"

Zhe shook her head, her breath hitching as his fingers trailed down her sides, slow and deliberate.

"Wala akong ginagawa-"

"Liar."

His teeth grazed the sensitive skin on her neck before he sucked hard, leaving a mark. She gasped, her knees nearly buckling.

Napalunok siya. The raw emotion in his voice made her stomach twist.

"Fvck! I hate this," he muttered, his lips grazing her jaw, his hands moving with possessive intent. "I hate how you make me feel."

Zhe gasped as his lips trailed down her neck, his teeth grazing her skin again.

Damn it.

Alam niyang dapat siyang lumaban. Dapat niyang itulak ito, pagsabihan, iparamdam na hindi siya pagmamay-ari ng kahit sino. Pero ang sariling katawan niya ang nagtraydor sa kanya.

Her fingers curled around his shirt, gripping it tightly. "Caleb..."

His lips hovered just above hers. "You're mine, Vivienne Zhe. I'll make you remember that."

And then, he kissed her.

Hindi malambot, hindi banayad.

It was a rough, claim, a punishment, a desperate reminder that no matter how much she tried to run-she would always be caught in the storm that was Caleb Vasquez.

But then she responds, making him smirk. He pushed her to bed and undress her after taking off his own clothes.

Zhe didn't protest, her brain screaming to push Caleb away, pero kasalungat nun ang gusto ng katawan niya.

Her lips parted when Caleb's kiss travel to her jaw down to her neck.

He pinned her wrist above her head and his free hand roams around her body making her let out a soft moan.

His control shattered, Caleb growls primitively, slamming his lips to hers in a brutal kiss swallowing her moan, his tongue dominating her mouth. "You're fucking mine," he snarls against her lips.

His hand reach her panty, walang ano-anong pinunit niya ito.

He slid his finger inside her, he move slow further, his fingers moving deeper, slower, more deliberate. He's claiming her, marking her inside. His lips find her neck, again sucking and biting possessively while finger fvcking her.

"Aaahh!"

He then pull out his finger, and enter his c*ck inside her without warning making her scream.

He thrust deeper and harder.

"Fvck! Aaaah!"

"Scream it, Zhe! Scream it! Scream my name. Scream 'Caleb'" he growls against her ear, his other hand reaching down to rub her cl*t hard.

"Fvck! Aaahhh! C-caleb!"

"Fvck!" He rubs her cl*t hard in time with his thrusts making her toes curl.

"Aaahhh! I'm cumming!"

"Jesus..." Caleb's voice breaks as he feels Zhe's orgasm milking him. He drives into her, faster, deeper, totally losing control. His hot seed explodes against her. "Fvck...fvck..." He manage to whisper on her lips before taking them in a brutal kiss.

_________

Zhe lay still, her body trembling from exhaustion, her mind clouded with a whirlwind of emotions. The room was silent except for the sound of their heavy breathing, the air thick with the remnants of what just happened.

Caleb lay beside her, one arm draped over his forehead, his chest rising and falling steadily. But the warmth between them was already fading, replaced by the inevitable coldness that always followed.

Then, he moved.

Without a word, Caleb pushed himself up from the bed, the mattress dipping as he stood. He grabbed his robe from the chair nearby, slipping it on with practiced ease before running a hand through his tousled hair.

"Get dressed," he said, his voice low, unreadable.

Napalunok si Zhe, her heart twisting at the sudden detachment in his tone. He wasn't even looking at her.

She sat up slowly, pulling the sheet around her, fingers gripping the fabric tightly. "Caleb-"

"Don't," he cut her off, finally turning to face her. His gaze was cold, distant. "Just leave."

Parang biglang nanikip ang dibdib niya. Alam naman niyang darating sa ganito, but somehow, it still hurt.

She forced herself to move, gathering her scattered clothes from the floor with trembling hands. Kahit gusto niyang magsalita, wala siyang lakas para gawin ito.

Caleb remained by the window, his back turned to her. He didn't offer her a second glance, as if he was already done with her-like she was nothing more than a fleeting indulgence.

When she finally reached the door, she hesitated, her hand gripping the doorknob.

She turned slightly, hoping-foolishly-that he would stop her.

But he didn't.

"Don't make me repeat myself, Zhe," his voice was clipped, firm. "Go."

Napapikit siya saglit, swallowing the lump in her throat before opening the door.

As she stepped out into the dimly lit hallway, a cold gust of air greeted her, making her shiver. The door shut behind her with a quiet but final *click.*

And just like that, she was alone again.

The moment Zhe closed the door to her own room, her knees buckled. Napasandal siya sa pinto, ang mga balikat niya ay bahagyang nanginig habang pinipigilan ang mga luha na kanina pa niya gustong ilabas.

But she couldn't hold it in anymore.

A quiet sob escaped her lips as she slid down onto the cold marble floor, hugging herself tightly.

She felt empty. Used.

Hinayaan niya na namang mangyari iyon. She let Caleb consume her, ruin her, only to be discarded right after-like she meant nothing.

But wasn't that exactly what she agreed to?

Her stomach twisted painfully at the thought.

Bakit ko nga ba tinanggap ito?

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to find an answer-something, anything, to justify her choices. Pero kahit anong pilit niyang kumbinsihin ang sarili, alam niyang walang rason na kayang gawing tama ang sitwasyon niya ngayon.

Alam ko namang hindi niya ako mahal... Alam kong wala akong ibang halaga sa kanya kundi ito. Then why... why did I let myself become this?

A bed warmer.

Her throat tightened, a fresh wave of tears spilling down her cheeks. She clutched at her chest, as if she could physically keep herself from breaking apart.

She should hate him.

She should hate the way he controlled her, the way he made her weak with just a look, a touch, a word.

Pero bakit ganito? Bakit kahit ilang beses na siyang sinaktan, isang titig lang mula rito at bumibigay na naman siya?

She bit her lip hard, trying to silence the sobs that threatened to consume her.

I have to stop this.

Pero paano? When every time she resolved to leave, he would pull her right back into his orbit, trapping her with his touch, his kiss, his possessiveness?

And worse-why did she keep letting him?

Why couldn't she walk away?

She buried her face in her hands, her body trembling.

Tonight, she let herself grieve again.

To cry for the love she could never have.

To mourn the girl she used to be, before she became nothing but Caleb Vasquez's bed warmer wife.

__________

Zhe wiped the last traces of her tears and forced herself to stand. Huminga siya nang malalim, pilit na binabalik ang kontrol sa sarili bago siya tuluyang mabaliw sa mga iniisip niya.

Her body ached, a stark reminder of what had transpired in Caleb's room. Pero wala na siyang magagawa doon. It had already happened, and there was no taking it back.

She needed to move.

Dragging herself to the bathroom, she turned on the shower, letting the warm water cascade down her body. She closed her eyes, hoping the water could wash away the lingering touch of Caleb on her skin-the ghost of his lips, the bruising grip of his hands.

Pero kahit anong kuskos niya sa sarili, hindi niya iyon mabura.

Minutes passed before she finally stepped out, wrapping a towel around her body. She changed into a fresh set of clothes-an oversized shirt and pajama shorts-before stepping out of her room.

The house was silent, almost eerily so.

Bumaba siya papunta sa kusina, ang lalamunan niya ay tuyong-tuyo. Pagdating niya roon, nadatnan niya si Judy, na abala sa pagliligpit ng hapag-kainan. The sight of untouched food on the table made Zhe pause.

Walang kumain?

Judy glanced up at her, a hint of surprise flashing across her face. "Ma'am Zhe, gising pa po kayo?"

Zhe nodded before shifting her gaze back to the table. "Bakit hindi nagalaw 'yung pagkain?"

Judy let out a small sigh as she gathered the plates. "Maaga pong umuwi si Sir Caleb kanina, tapos nagpaluto po siya ng dinner. Pero hindi naman niya kinain."

Zhe's brows knitted together. "Hindi siya kumain?" Aniya at kumuha ng isang basong tabig.

"Hindi po." Judy hesitated for a moment before adding, "Inantay ka po niya."

Her breath hitched.

He waited for me?

She swallowed hard, pushing down the unexpected pang of guilt in her chest.

"Umalis po kasi siya, sabi niya pupuntahan ka raw niya sa café kasi ang tagal mo raw umuwi."

Zhe stiffened, her fingers tightening around the glass of water she was holding.

He had gone to look for her?

But why?

A thousand questions filled her mind, but she had no answers. Only the memory of Caleb's earlier anger, his possessive touch, and now... the thought that he had waited for her.

Her chest tightened.

She didn't know what to feel.

"Pagbalik nga po niya, hindi na maganda ang mood niya para po siyang papatay."

Napalunok siya.

Caleb