Chapter 2

"Get off me!" I hissed as I attempted to pull my wrist away but his hold was too gripped, hurting me.

I knew it's wrong to watch them but it's an accident! Malay ko bang nandyan pala sila at may ginagawang kababalaghan!

"What are you doing here?" Mariin ang kanyang pagkakabigkas ng bawat salita, kasabay ng mas lalong paghigpit ng hawak niya sa akin. I felt scared staring at his me his venomous eyes, he even clenched his jaw for multiple times as he gritted his teeth. "You lascivious woman. You're stalking me! Can't forget me, eh?"

Di makapaniwala akong suminghap.

"W-What the fuck are you talking about? Sinusundan ko lang 'yung pusa-"

"Don't deny it. You're just like other woman. Easily to be attracted. Can't get over a man after they did something for them." Rinig na rinig ko ang pang-iinsulto at kayabangan sa boses niya!

I forcefully pulled my wrist away. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at galit na itinuro.

"Hoi! Para sabihin ko sa'yo, I don't give a fuck whoever you are! I don't owe you something after you showed me how arrogant you are last night! If I only knew you are here, fucking your woman, do you still think I would go here? What do you think of yourself, a god I should worship?!"

Wala man lang siyang reaksyon. Ni hindi natinag o nakitaan ng gulat. Tanging ang umaapoy sa galit sa mga lang ang nakikita sa kanyang mga mata.

"Then why are you here? If you're not a stalker as I supposed you are, how can you explain that you are watching us having sex? You're too focused at every thrusts I make, every push, every grunts and moans because deep inside of you..." He stepped closer. Napamaang ako at di agad nakakilos, awang ang mga labi, hanggang sa itinuro niya ang aking dibdib. "You knew you like it."

Napakurap-kurap ako sa gulat, kumibot-kibot ang labi pero walang lumabas na salita.. I looked directly at his eyes. Kitang-kita ko ang galit na hinaluan ng pamamangha ang kanyang mga mata. My sight then went down to his nakedness, specifically the huge monster that's been hard for so long!

Damn it!

Nakalimutan kong wala pa nga pala siyang saplot kahit isa!

"T-Thaddeus.. drive mo home na..  I'm tired.." the woman interrupted us. Di tulad kanina, nakabihis na siya suot ang coat ng lalaking ito. She then glared at me when our eyes met. I levelled the same fury on her eyes.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Thaddeus. He arched a brow, still mad. Itinulak niya ako, hindi naman malakas pero sapat para mapaatras ako dahil masyado nang nanghihina ang aking mga tuhod lalo na sa kanyang mga binitawang salita.

I watched how he devilishly smirked at me, how he ravished the woman's lips again while looking at me. Pati ang pagbuhat niya roon hanggang sa makaalis sila sa paningin ko. All I could do is to watch his sexy butt as I fell on the sand out of weakness.

Hindi ko na matandaan kung paano ko pinilit na maging normal sa kabila ng nangyari. To witness such an event is not what I'd wished. Lalo na ang makita ulit ang ungas na iyon!

He was so damn hot! Gaano ako kainis sa kanya, aaminin at aaminin ko pa rin sa sarili kong para ngang greek god ang lalaking iyon! He was excessively massive and it's still not in its erected size!

Damang-dama ko pa rin ang pamumula ng aking mga pisngi hanggang sa makabalik ako sa bahay ni Daddy. I have to ease my mind by taking a hot bath just so I wouldn't take that particular path on my mind which was occupied by that Thaddeus jerk.

Gabi na nang marinig ko ang phone ko na tumutunog. I was preparing my dinner with the stocks I'd bought, thinking to spend the rest of the night here in the beautiful cozy cabin of my father.

"Kelsey Lafuente, speaking-"

"Hey, Kels. No need to be formal." Tawa ni Jino sa kabilang linya, ang aking agent. I sighed, turned off the stove and removed my gloves. He requested a video call. Agad ko namang tinanggap iyon. "That's it, Kelsey. Kitang-kita ko na ang magandang mukha mo."

Natawa ako. "Fuck you, Julius. Why did you call?"

"Uh, nothing. Just checking on you. You know, baka napaano ka na so.." I arched a brow. He then pouted as if he knew what I was thinking. Umirap na lang ako.

I knew, of all people, Jino likes me. Kahit hindi niya sabihin, nararamdaman ko. Heck, I'm not dumb enough not to notice his changes when I become one of his talents. Sa malaking agency na humahandle sa mga modelong kagaya ko, siya ang naassign sa akin at simula noon naging magkaibigan kami.

But like what I'm always saying, I'm not interested. Wala sa pagkakaroon ng nobyo ang atensyon ko. Sometimes I even think I'm an asexual!

"Ano ba talagang ginagawa mo diyan, Kelsey? Is it really important that you didn't bother to tell me you're leaving?" This is what I hated about him as a friend. He acts like he owned me, something I can't fathom.

"I said I'm on vacation. Mahirap bang intindihin iyon?" Medyo nairita ako. Napapahiya naman siyang itinikom ang bibig. "Isa pa, I'm fixing my Dad's problems here. I can't just runaway and bury all of that."

"Sa dami ng pamilya niyo, bakit ikaw pa? I mean, I knew you're his daughter but what about your mom? Can't she handle all of that?"

Pigil akong inis na bumuntong-hininga. "You knew my mother. She's not interested in this kind of thing. Baka nga wala pa iyong alam sa pagbabayad ng utang. She could make it worst, you know!"

"Fine. I know you wouldn't listen to me." I smirked when I heard his defeated voice. "But I just wanna know something... did something bad happened to you?"

I catched my breathe at his question. It caught me off guard that made me wonder how did he knew. Marinig ko pa lang ang kuryoso sa kanyang mga boses habang nakikita ang pagkaseryoso ng mga mata, pilit na lang akong ngumiti. Suppressing to make this conversation longer.

"Actually, no. I'm definitely okay here. Bakit mo naman naitanong?"

He remained serious. "Check your social media accounts. There's a rumor you got into an accident. Mayroon pang nagsabi na kinidnap ka daw. Nasaan ka ba kasi? Alam mo kung gaano ka kasikat kaya hindi pwedeng pakalat-kalat ka lang d'yan!"

"Hey! Calm down!" Natatawa kong bigkas pinipigilan ang pagkunot ng noo.

I opened my accounts on my iPad. Napaawang ang labi ko nang makitang totoo nga ang sinasabi ni Jino. I was tagged in so many articles and posts, some celebrities messaged me directly. Bumalik ang tingin ko sa kanya, tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

"What do you say? Huh?"

"Well... there's no proof something happened to me. Those who claimed they saw it probably just making up stories. Kilala mo naman ang mga tao ngayon, gagawa't gagawa ng kung ano-anong kwento basta lang may mapag-usapan.." I lied.

As far as possible, I don't want anyone to know that I was nearly abducted. Especially him. He would freak out! Isa pa, kaya nga ako umalis ng Manila dahil gusto ko munang matahimik. Buoin ang sariling nawasak dahil sa pagkamatay ng ama.

"You're sure you're fine? I can tell if you're lying, Kelsey."

"Of course! Ayos na ayos lang ako dito. Thanks for the concern, Jino." Ngumiti ako't hindi na siya hinayaang magsalita sabay patay ko ng tawag.

I also deactivated some of my accounts, for peace of mind purposes. Ang dummy account ko lang na ako lang ang nakaaalam na mayroon ang pinanatili kong active.

It's been rough for me. Today, I found out my father's gambling problems. I also found out the house he made for his self and my mother. Nakakalungkot lang isipin na wala na siya ngayon.

Tumayo na ako at nagsimulang kumain. Mag-isa. Dinadama ang pangungulila. I shook my head and ate more, then washed the dishes after before I went to the free room I'd occupied.

Well, I guessed the best thing to do right now is to move on. My remorse and grief won't bring him back.

Pero habang nakahiga, di ako makatulog. I was thinking... what that man's doing there? Sa beach pa talaga sila gumawa ng kababalaghan. Not that it matters but... in any place, bakit doon?

I'm certain he's rich enough to afford such a room, either a hotel. Naaawa ako doon sa babae. She got fucked him the seashore. Kung ako iyon, hinding-hindi ako papayag na doon lang. Gusto ko sa kama talaga.

My cheeks burned when I'd realized what I just said. Damn you, Sefira Kelsey! You're just proving him right by what kind of pervert you are! Anong kung ikaw iyon, e hindi ba galit na galit ka sa lalaking iyon? Ayusin mo nga buhay mo!

Ipinilig ko ang ulo at pinilit ang sariling makatulog. Gaano ko man iniisip ang lalaking iyon. Maya-maya lang ay nahulog na rin ako sa malalim na pagtulog.

Kinabukasan, maaga akong nagtungo sa mansion. I forgot to tell them I'm staying somewhere else. Kaya naman todo sermon ang inabot ko kay Lola Andela habang ang mga pinsan ko ay pinapanood lang akong pagalitan.

"Por pabor, Kelsey! Aba't aatakihin ako sa puso no'ng nalaman kong hindi ka umuwi!"

I pouted. "Sorry na, 'La."

"Sorry, sorry. Alam mo bang ipinahanap ka ng Lolo mo sa buong Palanan sa kanyang mga tauhan?!" Napayuko na lang ako. Rinig ko ang hagikgikan nila Dave at Johndel, ang aking mga pinsan. I glared at them. "Mabuti na lang talaga nalaman ko kay Ruby na tinawagan ka niya at ayos ka naman daw! Kung hindi, aba, kanina pa ako nag-amok dito."

"Lola, let Kelsey rest. Mukha siyang pagod na pagod, o." Si Janine. She smiled at me.

"Oo nga, 'La. I heard Lolo Samuel's summoning you on his office upstairs. May pag-uusapan pa raw yata kayo." Pilyo, maloko ang pagkakasabi ni Johndel na nakipag-apir pa kay Dave.

He winked at me. Ngumisi naman ako.

"Stop stressing Lola Andela, ano ba?! She's old and have many wrinkles so don't stress her!" Maarteng saad ni Ate Cindy bagay na ikinatawa naming lahat.

"'Yan! D'yan talaga kayo magagaling! Mga anak mga kayo ng inyong mga ama't ina." Naiiling na umalis siya sa sala at nagtungo sa ikalawang palapag.

I was shocked when Janine held my hand, smiled sweetly. "Are you okay, Kels? We heard what happened."

I nodded. "I'm perfectly fine."

"Gusto mo ba upakan na namin 'yung mga ungas na 'yon? Aba, hindi pwedeng ginagan'yan-gan'yan ka lang nila." Si Dave. I laughed.

Sumabat si Ate Cindy. "Geez! Ang violent mo talaga, Dave!"

I told them what happened. I could feel their sympathy for me. Sinabi ko naman ang nangyari kahapon, simula sa pagkausap ko sa laywer ni Daddy para sa kanyang last will hanggang ang pagkakatuklas ko ng bahay niya. I excluded the part when I'd seen a live show, though.

Hindi sila makapaniwala.

Ate Cindy gulped. "You're so rich na, Kelsey! Not that you're not already... but your father loves you so much! Akalain mong sa'yo pa ipamana lahat ng ari-arian niya."

Ngumiti ako. "Hindi rin. I still have debts to pay and things to fix. Kakaunti na lang ang shares niya sa kumpanya kaya di ko alam kung paano ko mababawi iyon.."

"Why don't you ask your mother for help? We all know she's skilled at this thing.." ani Janine.

"I don't think so. Tita doesn't know the house your father built for the two of them, does she? When are you planning to tell her, Kels?" Si Dave.

"Ano ka ba? Do you really think Kelsey wants Tita to know that? You knew she hates her mother so much! Hinding-hindi niya sasabihin iyon kay Tita Mackenzie."

My forehead creased at what Ate Cindy said. Well, I hate my mother but the way she describes it... parang hindi tama.

"Hate is a strong word, Ate Cindy." Nagbabantang turan ni Janine bago nagpokus sa akin. "What's your plan now, Kelsey?"

Kahit ako hindi ko rin alam kung saan ako magsisimula. I left the city to relax, to move forward from the terrific truth. I had left the life and the world I'd created and started a new one here. Sa ngayon, ang gusto ko magkaroon ng kaunting dahilan ang buhay ko kung bakit ako patuloy na nabubuhay. I wanted to find a purpose.

Natapos ang pag-uusap namin roon nu'ng umakyat ako sa kwarto. I learned that my Mom went out of town, probably spending few days with her new husband. Ayos lang. Wala naman akong pakialam. She has all the control on her life. She can do whatever she wanted.

Gayunpaman, habang nakahiga ako, nabulabog ako sa ingay sa ibaba. Nagkakagulo. Bubuksan ko na sana ang pinto nang tumambad sa akin ang aligagang kasambahay na di alam ang gagawin.

"W-What happened?"

Kinagat niya ang mga daliri sa niyerbos. "N-Nandito po ang mga Trimarco, Maam Kelsey! Inutusan po ako ni Señora para puntahan kayo rito at sabihang mag-ayos."

"Trimarco? Who are they?"

"Hala, Maam! Hindi mo ba sila kilala? Sila po ang pinakamakapangyarihang tao rito sa Palanan! Sila ang may-ari ng halos lahat ng barko dito!"

"And how my family got involved with them?" Kunot-noo kong tanong.

Trimarco? As in the one Tito Raymond named the man who saved me? Ano nga ba ulit pangalan no'n?

"Bussiness partners po yata. Pasensya na, Ma'am, wala po akong alam sa mga ganiyan."

Tumango na lang ako. Nag-ayos rin ako ng sarili. Took a bath and chose a simple black dress before I went down. Natagpuan ko sila Lolo at Lola na may kinakausap sa sala. Naroon rin ang mga pinsan ko, ang mga tiyuhin at tiyahin.

"You know the rules, Andela. We have a deal. We give you time to take gather all of your workers in the farm and order them to leave the half of it since we are taking over the said land within a month. We have the title, we own it and we're just being patient with your terms."

I was about to walk when Thaddeus eyes and mine met. I stopped, level the same intensity of his green eyes, gritting my teeth. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay bago sinuyod ang aking buong katawan sa paraang nakakainsulto. He devilishly smirked afterwards.

Pigil akong inis kong naglakad palapit.

"K-Kelsey.. anong ginagawa mo dito?" Kinakabahang sambit ni Tita.

Nagulat ako. "Wait, you called me here, right?"

"You're wrong timing."

Napatingin sa akin ang dalawang tila anghel na lalaki at babae. They are oozing with sex appeal, elegance and class. Tulad ni Thaddeus Trimarco, they looked ruthless. 'Yung tipong walang kinatatakutan, sanay na ang mga tao ang nagpapakumbaba sa kanila.

The woman raised a brow at me. Napapahiya naman akong ngumiti at tumabi kay Janine na kasalukuyan ding nakatayo sa gilid. Kamalas-malasang nagawi ang tingin ko roon sa nakakairitang lalaki, na ngayo'y nakangisi na sa akin habang madilim ang mga mata.

"And you are?" The older man asked in a monotone.

"K-Kelsey Lafuente po-"

"I don't know who you are." Walang pakialam na putol nito sa akin sabay humithit sa kanyang tobako. Rinig ko naman ang paghagikgikan kahit pa ng mga pinsan ko.

Thaddeus looked at me intently, though.

"Cliona, Sage, let's proceed." Si Lolo Samuel.

They started discussing regarding the partnership of their own companies. I just realized that the Trimarcos owns HEinRIch, a German shipping line providing shipping services across the Europe and Pacific, recorded as one of the world's biggest shipping line.

Ni hindi ko nga alam na may port pala sila rito sa Pilipinas.

Wala akong gaanong naintindihan sa mga pinag-usapan nila. All I understand is.. my family's ten hectares farm belongs to them. Rinig ko'y dahil daw iyon sa pagsangla ni Lolo nu'ng lupa sa mga Trimarco hindi pa man daw kami naisisilang. The Trimarcos kind enough to let us use the land for our own benefits for decades. But now they're taking it, giving us a time limit before they will finally dominate.

"We're wrecked.." si Tito Piolo.

"This is impossible..."

Halos lahat sila nadidismaya. Ako lang itong di alam ang magiging reaksyon, lalo na't kanina ko pa nakikitang nagagawi sa landas ko ang paningin ng binatang Trimarco. It was as if he was staring at something really amusing. Hindi ko matukoy kung ako ba iyon at ano namang nakakatuwa sa akin.

"Though, as friends, Andela and Samuel, I'm actually inviting you on my upcoming birthday two days from now. I hope you won't take this seriously, bussiness is bussiness." Ani Cliona Trimarco sa aking Lola.

She laughed. "It's nothing, Cliona. Kami pa nga ang dapat magpasalamat dahil pinagamit niyo sa amin ng ilang dekada ang lupang sa inyo dapat."

Tinignan ko ang aking mga kamag-anak. They're not happy about it, however my grandma shows it's fine with us. But no, it's not. Ang lupang iyon ang pinagkukuhanan ng aming pamilya ng kabuhayan. From the eggs, poultry, cattle, we are able to survive and be recognized as one of the most successful family in the country.

Kaya ang mabalitaang kukunin sa amin ang kalahati ng lupain ay di makatarungan.

"Mabuting nagkakaintindihan tayo, Andela at Samuel." Tumatango-tangong saad ni Sage Trimarco. He gazed his son. "What do you think, Thaddeus?"

He darkly looked into my eyes. Di inaalis, tila ba natutuwang naiipit sa ganitong sitwasyon ang pamilya ko. I glared at him as I remembered what happened yesterday.

"I wouldn't give them some time before I take the land, if I were you. How are we sure they are going to follow the terms? We have the land title, it's easy to cast them out."

Agad akong nakarinig ng bayolenteng reaksyon sa aking pamilya.

"B-But one month's still not enough! Now you're saying you would take our land immediately?" Si Tita Amanda.

"Our land, you mean." He mercilessly stated with baritone voice, emphasizing the first word. "That's just my suggestion, though. It's still up to my father to decide."

"Hmm..."

Mabilis akong sumegunda. "W-Well, tatanawin ko pong isang utang na loob kung bibigyan niyo ng palugit ang aking pamilya, Mr. Sage Trimarco. My family's been through a lot so I suggest to gobe us one month. It's all we need."

"This talk is for adults, not for young girls, kid." Pang-iinsulto sa akin ni Thaddeus kaya halos mag-usok ang tenga ko sa galit.

I glared at him. Iyon lang naman ang magagawa ko sa harapan ng kanyang mga magulang. Baka kung ano pang masabi ko na ikalala lang ng sitwasyon!

I can't recall how desperate my family that moment. Ngayon ko lang nakita na ganoon ang pamilya ko, tila nanglilimos ng kaunting pasensya mula sa mga Trimarco.

I have to excuse myself and went to the garden, leaving them seriously talking. Hindi ko kinakaya kung gaano katense ang atmosphere doon! Everyone was so frigging serious!

I stared at the dark starry sky, looking so celestial. As the bright moon shines, it drive me at ease right away. Giving me the true essence of calmness, tranquility, peace.. Kung may isang bagay man akong pinakanagugustuhan, iyon ang ang buwan. When I was a kid, I sometimes desired to be its ruler. It was as if I can summon it with my hands, pretending I'm the goddess of the moon.

"You're reaction's priceless everytime you're pissed."

Napadilat ako sa malalim na boses na iyon. As what I'd expected, it was the dark and dangerous Thaddeus Trimarco, possessing arrogance in its maximum level!

"Pakialam mo." I  grimaced at him. I left there so I wouldn't see his annoying face. Ngayon naman sinundan pa ako dito. "Thaddeus Trimarco. Psh, you're still the man I'd caught fucking his woman on the shore. Nakakahiya."

"What did you say?" His forehead creased, jaw's clenching.

Ngumisi ako. If he followed me here to annoy me, well, cards reversed. Siya na ang iritado ngayon.

"Bakit hindi ba? You fucked your woman in the seashore! Are you that horny you can't afford to bed her and just bang here in that dirty and sandy-"

"Don't speak as if you know me." Mariin na sabi niya sabay hawak sa aking palapulsuhan. For a moment, I felt frightened. I could feel the pain caused by his grip, could see the rising fury through his eyes, making me so little as he stepped closer, intimidating me. "Is it your way to get my attention? You witch. Just because I saved your life, you're now crazy over me? You're disgusting."

Those words was thrown directly at my hearts. Kahit kailan, wala pang nagsabi sa akin ng ganoon. I felt the sudden pain rushed inside my chest, my lips parted but can't utter even a single words. Sinubukan kong kumawala sa kanyang gapos pero masyado siyang malakas para sa akin.

I'm speechless.

"Perhaps you want me to fuck you? If that's the case, no problem. I will fuck you until you beg me to stop."

He then ripped my dress off. Napatili ako ngunit agad niyang tinakpan ang aking bibig. I punched him, kicked him and scratched his face but in one hold of his veiny hand, he made me vulnerable. Kitang-kita ko kung paano niya titigan ang aking katawan na para bang tuwang-tuwa siya sa nakikita. I fight for myself and bit his hand that covers my mouth before I screamed so loud for help, making him growl.

"Ouch!"

Sinubukan kong tuhurin ang kanyang tiyan ngunit nasangga niya iyon. He forcefully pulled my dress down as I struggle to fight. Napaiyak na lang ako at nagmamakaawa sa kanya habang pinapanood siyang tinitigan ako ng mariin.

"P-Please... don't.. please, don't.. I-I'm begging you.." I sobbed.

I feel terribly weak under him. Wala akong magawa. He was too strong. I know this perticular moment would hunt me for years but atleast I could tell myself that.. I fighted him. I tried to resist.

I closed my eyes and waited him to take me, just like what he said. Tanging ang paghagugol na lang ang nagawa ko. Pero hindi ko inaasahan na sa pagdilat ng mga mata ko, nakita kong natigilan siya. He was staring at me for so long, shocked, as his green eyes drifted to my visible tears.

Nagulat ako ng umalis siya sa aking ibabaw. My lips then parted when he stepped back, still stunned, before he walked away. Leaving me crying no matter how I shed my tears.

Nanghihina akong tumayo na parang walang nangyari at naglakad pabalik ng mansion ng may mabigat na puso.

Shandreev