Chapter 1

“Thea Watson’s Point of View”

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank everyone who were able to attend in our special celebration. Tonight, I am pleased to announce that my one and only daughter, Thea Watson and my friend’s son, Ace Fruxico are officially engaged,” Nakangiting saad ni daddy.

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa aking narinig. Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig dahil sa kaniyang mga sinabi. Pakiramdam ko ay biglang nagsibagsakan ang lahat ng aking mga pangarap.

I confusedly look at him with a question written on my face, asking about what is happening, but he just raises his hands, telling me to join him on stage. Without thinking, I followed his order, and to my surprise, Ace also went to join us on stage.

“Dad, ano ba ito?” naiinis kong tanong.

Nginitian lamang ako ni daddy at tumingin sa mga bisita, hindi pinansin ang aking tanong. “This is my daughter, Thea Watson and her fiancée, Ace Fruxico.”

The guests applauded as a sign of their joy and support for us. Daddy excused us and led me to a small private room behind the stage.

“Dad, what was that?!” singhal ko.

“Your engagement party with Ace, anak.” Nakangiting sagot nito at itinuro pa si Ace.

Kunot noo ko siyang tiningnan. “Bakit naman po may engagement party? Bakit hindi niyo man lang muna hiningi ang opinyo ko kung payag po ba ako rito o hindi?!”

"Your marriage to Ace will be a great help to our company, Thea," Dad explains. He held my shoulder and looked directly at me. "Your grandmother and Ace's grandmother were best friends. They left money that you can only get if you marry one of your Tito Franko's children, and that's Ace."

Parang panaginip lang ang lahat ng mga nangyayari at sinasabi sa akin ni daddy. Hindi ko matanggap na ikakasal na ako dahil lamang sa pera. Alam naman nila na ayokong makasal sa lalaking hindi ko mahal.

I was about to answer but my mother and Ace’s father, Tito Franko, suddenly arrived.

"What's happening here?" tanong ni Mama.

My face enlightened when I saw my mother. Nagkaroon ako ng pag-asa na tutulongan niya akong hindi maikasal.

Hinarap ko si mama at agad na hinawakan siya sa kaniyang balikat. “Ma, ayokong makasal sa lalaking hindi ko mahal.”

Napabuntong hininga ito. "Pero, anak, kailangan. Para ito sa'yo at para rin sa kompanya."

“Mama, daddy, alam niyo naman po na bata pa lang ay ayokong magpakasal sa taong hindi ko mahal. Alam din po ninyo kung gaano kaimportante ang pagmamahal at kung gaano kasagrado ang kasal para sa akin,” naiiyak kong saad. Hinawakan ko ang kamay ng aking mga magulang. “Please, i-cancel niyo na po ‘tong arrange marriage na ito.”

Ramdam na ramdam ko ang ramdam mga luhang tumutulo mula sa aking mga mata. Hindi ko na kaya ang frustration na nararamdaman ko dahilan upang umiyak ako. Halos naghalo-halo na ang emosyong bumabalot sa akin. All the anger, fear, and pain is flooding into my System.

“I’m so sorry, anak, ngunit ang daddy mo lang ang makakapagdesisyon tungkol sa bagay na ito,” naiiyak na ring saad ni mama.

“Bakit si daddy lang, Ma?! Hindi mo ba ako anak? Para saan pa at nagging nanay kita kung si daddy lang naman pala ang magdedesisyon para sa akin?!” galit na galit kong bulyaw. “Para saan pa po ba ang Kalayaan kung mamanipulahin niyo lang din naman ang buhay ko?”

Walang nagsalita sa kanila natahimik lamang ang buong silid. Lumingon ako kay daddy habang ang mga luha ko ay parang tubig sa gripo na nagsisilaglagan. Bakas ang pagmamakaawa sa aking mukha. “Dad, please stop this engagement.”

Wala akong nakuhang sagot mula kay daddy. The whole room became very quiet and only my sobs could be heard. I don't know how I can stop the wedding from happening because I have done all the begging but still nothing.

Napaangat ang aking tingin kay daddy nang bumuntong hininga ito at tumayo. Seryosong mga tingin niya ang sumalubong sa akin. Sinubukan kong hawakan ang kamay niya upang muling magmakaawa ngunit ang kaunting pagasa ko ay nawala nang umiwas ito.

“My decision is final, Thea.”

I shook my head at him. I couldn't help myself to glare at them before running out of the room crying. I still heard my parents calling me angrily and Ace's worried calls but I didn't bother to look at them anymore and ran straight outside. Hindi ko alam kung saan na ako nakarating ngunit biglang tumunog ang aking telepono. Hindi ko ito sinagot sa pag-aakalang isa sa mga magulang ko o si Ace ang tumatawag.

Nang maramdaman kong may tumatawag sa aking telepono, kinuha ko ito at upang patayin dahil alam kong ang mga magulang ko lang ang tumatawag. Natigilan ako nang makita ang mga tawag at texts ng aking matalik na kaibigang si Zee. Ipinaalam nito sa akin na nasa bar sila.

I didn't think twice and took a taxi to go to where they were. I was immediately greeted by the loud sound of music and the screams of people enjoying the music inside the bar. As soon as I entered, I saw Zed and Jai immediately. They're both my best friends.

“Oh, Thea!” hiyaw ni Zee nang makita ako.

Iginaya niya ako sa couch kung saan naroon ang iba pa naming mga kaibigan at kakilala.

Narinig ako ang hagikhik ni Jai. “Mabuti naman at nakarating ka bago pa malasing ‘yan.”

I just grinned and shook my head. Suddenly the waiter put down a hard drink, I drank it straight away. There is nothing I want right now but to forget what happened earlier. Gustong gusto kong ilabas ang galit ko pero hindi ko alam kung paano kaya ang magpakalasing na lang ang paraang tanging alam ko.

"Thea, masyado nang marami ang nainom mo," suway sa akin ni Jai. "Tama na 'yan."

I just smiled at her but I felt tears fall from my eyes. Mabuti na lang at hindi masyadong maliwanag dito sa bar dahil sa iba’t-ibang kulay ng mga ilaw.

"Hindi, kaya ko pa naman," saad ko. Napatingin ako kay Zee na mukhang bagsak na. "Solve na ba 'yang kaibigan natin?"

"Mukha, eh," natatawang sagot naman nito. "Ay, teka! Ayoko naman na ihatid siya pauwi kaya pupuntahan ko lang si Kuya Thunder para maipahatid ko na siya pauwi."

"Sige lang."

Muli kong itinuloy ang pag-inom. Sunod-sunod kong inubos ang mga alak na nasa aking harapan habang tinatanaw ko ang mga kaibigan kong paalis. Hindi ko maiwasang matawa dahil hirap na hirap si Jai sa pag-alalay sa aking lasing na kaibigan.

I feel like I'm too tired to have fun. I just want to drown myself in alcohol right now. Hindi ako makapaniwalang darating ang araw na sisira sila sa pangako nilang kay tagal na panahon kong pinanghawakan. I couldn't help but smile bitterly as I remembered the promise they made to me.

"Kasi, anak, siguro ayaw niya na maikasal," sagot naman sa akin ni Mama.

Kumunot naman ang aking noo, nagtataka dahil sa mga sinabi niya. I want to get married with the man I love someday.

"Bakit ayaw po niyang makasal?" inosenteng tanong ko.

"Baby, ganito kasi 'yon, si Kuya Sandro mo ay ipapakasal para mas lalong lumago ang business natin," paliwanag sa akin ni Daddy.

Suddenly my eyes widened and I suddenly felt scared. I even heard my parents laugh.

"Don't be afraid, Princess," malambing na saad ni Daddy.

"But, Dad, ayoko po na matulad kay Kuya Sandro."

Nagkatinginan ang aking mga magulang at buong galak na ngumiti.

"H'wag kang mag-alala, Princess, hindi ka matutulad sa Kuya Sandro mo," saad ni Daddy.

"Promise, Daddy?" buong galak kong tanong.

Nginitian ako nito. "Promise!"

"Promise me too, Mom," nakanguso kong saad.

"Promise, sweetie!"

Nabalik ako sa reyalidad nang maramdaman ang mahinang haplos sa aking pisngi ng kung sino. Hindi ko namalayang lumuluha na pala ako habang inaalala ang wala namang kwentang pangako.

"Problem?" tanong nito.

Suddenly, the noise of music and people's screams disappeared from my hearing. I could no longer see the people drinking and dancing around me because my vision and trance only seemed to focus on him.

"I…Ice?" utal-utal kong tanong upang masigurong siya nga ang lalaking kaharap ko sapagkat hindi ko inaakalang ang lalaking matagal ko nang mahal na si Ice Puntavega ay ngayon nakatingin na sa aking harapan nang may pag-aalala.

Bumilis ang tibok ng aking puso dahil nang iniangat ko ang aking paningin bumungad sa akin ang lalaking mula bata pa lang ay hinangaan at minamahal ko na. I almost want to shout that here in front of me is the person I used to admire and now I love. Suddenly my heart beat faster when I raised my eyes, the face of the man who had my heart beat fast since I was a child appear.

"Hey, Thea, problem?" ulit na tanong nito.

Hindi ko pinansin ang tanong niya dahil bigla akong nakaramdam ng hindi maipaliwanag na init na biglang bumalot sa aking buong katawan. I looked at him from his eyes to his piercing nose down to his red lips. Ibinalik ko ang aking paningin sa kaniyang mga mata. Wala akong emosyon na mabasa rito.

I couldn't stop myself and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulled his face closer to me and eagerly grabbed him for a kiss.  He didn’t even bother to refuse.

Hindi ko na naisip kung may mga tao bang makakakita sa amin o wala. Nakalimutan ko na lang na nasa publiko kaming lugar at maraming tao ang makakakita sa ginagawa ko sa kaniya.

Nakaramdam ako ng sakit nang iwasan nito ang aking halik. Ngunit hindi ako sumuko, muli kong hinawakan ang kaniyang mukha at sa pagkakataong ito ay hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak saka siya sinunggaban ng halik. Noong una ay hindi nito sinagot ang halik ko ngunit kalaunan ay nakisabay na rin.

In the middle of our kiss, I couldn't help but feel hurt when he grabbed my shoulder to push me to break what we were doing gently.

"Ano ba ang problema mo!?" galit na sigaw ko.

Seryoso ako nitong tiningnan. "Ayokong mag-take advantage sa'yo, Thea. Nirerespeto kita dahil kapatid ka ng matalik kong kaibigan."

"Wala akong pakealam!" hiyaw ko. Hindi kalaunan ay nagpapaawang tumingin ako sa kaniya. "Hayaan mo na ako."

"Isipin mo muna ang magiging resulta ng gagawin mong 'to!" galit na pangaral nito sa akin.

I ignored him and kissed him again. I made him feel my love, sadness, and excitement for him. I liked him even more when he didn't refuse, he even kissed me back. What was once aggressive has now become serious and cautious.

Pinutol niya ang halikan naming dalawa. I didn't even think about where my friends were when he led me to the second floor of the bar and took me to a private room there. The room is the same as the hotel, well equipped with a bed and a sofa.

Muli niya akong hinalikan. Pinaparamdam ko sa kaniya ang aking pagmamahal sa pamamagitan ng paghalik sa kaniyang mga labi. I feel like the kiss between the two of us is full of love but maybe I'm the only one who thinks so.

I was surprised when he lifted me up without interrupting the kiss between us. I became even more aggressive in kissing him. I felt him climb the stairs. Our kiss stopped as he opened the bedroom door. He immediately leaned me against the wall while my two feet were wrapped around his waist. As we continued our hot kiss, he slowly took off my clothes so did I to him.

When we successfully removed each other's clothes, his hand immediately moved to different parts of my body. Our kiss continued and I just felt my back against the bed. He stopped kissing me and stared at my whole body. I simply covered my chest and femininity because I was ashamed of his stare.

He kissed me passionately again. He cupped my breast and massaged it gracefully. His kiss went down from my neck to my breast. He stopped there then glanced at me quickly and looked back at my breast.

"They're beautiful," he said and immediately grabbed my breast.

I flinched because of the pleasure I felt when he caressed the other side of my breast while his mouth sucked on me like a child thirsty for milk. His hand dropped to my womanhood. I moaned when I felt his hand on my wetness. He touched himself and gently inserted it into me. My forehead furrowed because of the pain he felt as he slowly entered his manhood. There helped tears from my eyes. I feel like my heart is breaking.

"Should I stop?" malambing at punong-puno ng pag-aalala niyang tanong.

Kaagad akong umiling. "No, please. Just be gentle."

He kissed me tenderly on the lips as if distracting me from the pain caused by his manhood entering me. What he did was effective because I again drowned in the taste of his kiss on me.

"Ah!"

I cried out in pain when he suddenly fully inserted his manhood into my womanhood. He repeatedly whispered some sweet words as he gave me small kisses on the neck and face.

When I was able to adjust to his length, I moved slowly myself. Soon, his movements suddenly quickened. I could feel his tough manhood inside me. I could also feel the grip on his movements as he plunged back and forth.

I felt something in my stomach that seemed to explode because of the taste of Ice's quick stab. I started to moan to let him know I was about to leave. When he got what I wanted to convey, he accelerated the stab even more until we both came out. I felt the heat of his juice in my will. He did a few more sloopy thrusts before pulling out his manhood and lying down next to me.

"Let's sleep." Hinalikan niya ako sa noo bago kinulong sa kaniyang bisig.