Chapter 1

I woke up panting heavily and gasping for air. I patted my chest frantically hoping it would ease the discomfort I feel. But I couldn't. My hands were both tied and as I try to look around I was greeted by a blinding darkness. My eyes are covered but I could still clearly hear the heavy footsteps coming closer.

It was not a dream.

Nagsimulang bumilis muli ang tibok ng puso ko as I realized that I was really kidnapped. This wasn't the first time. I had multiple encounters with kidnappers simula pagkabata as the heiress of a multimillion corporation. It was a traumatic experience and something no one can get used to even after experiencing it multiple times.

My body hurts so much because I was layed down in an awkward position. Sinubukan kong umayos ng pwesto to relieve myself even just a bit ngunit mas lalo lang itong lumala.

I groaned in discomfort. Agad kong pinilit mag-steady sa aking pwesto nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto.

"Anong sabi ni boss? Anong gagawin natin sa babae?" narinig kong sabi ng lalaki sa kasama nito. It was very clear kaya naman sigurado akong nasa malapit lang ang mga ito.

"Utos ni boss, kapag nakuha na natin yung pera pwede na nating despatyahin pareho ang mga bihag." a man with a deep voice responded.

"Sayang naman kung didespatyahin agad natin. Tipo ko pa naman yung babae. Maganda, makinis, mabango at mukhang hindi pa nabibinyagan."

Pagkarinig ko no'n ay mas lalo akong kinabahan. These bastards! Mas lalo akong kinilabutan nang maramdaman ang paghawak ng lalaki sa aking hita at tsaka ito bahagyang pinisil. I wanted to scream and prostest! Nakakadiri ka, walanghiya!

Rinig ko ang nakakabinging tunog ng puso ko. Wari mo'y parang lalabas na mula sa aking dibdib dahil sa mabilis na pagtibok nito. I was silently praying na sana hindi ito marinig ng lalaki.

"Ikaw talaga napakahayok mo. H'wag mong gagalawin yan habang wala pang utos si boss kundi pareho tayong malilintikan."

Naramdaman kong umangat ang paghawak ng lalaki sa aking mukha kaya napapikit ako nang mariin at sinugaradong walang ingay na magmumula sa akin kahit pa gusto ko siyang itulak at murahin! I pretended to be asleep dahil baka anong gawin nito sakin kapag nalamang gising na ako.

I gritted my teeth in disgust when I felt him lick my face at tumawa pa ito bago umalis. His breath smells disgusting! Gusto kong punasan yung mukha ko pero nakatali ang mga kamay ko.

Ilang minuto pa ang nakalipas ay narinig ko ang muling pagsara ng pinto. At doon na nagsimulang tumulo ang luha ko.

I bit my lower lip upang mapigilan ang aking paghikbi but it was to no avail. I cried hard silently.

"Mom, dad! Please save me." I pleaded even though I know that they won't hear me. Why did I have to go and sneak out that night?

Ni hindi ko alam kung ilang oras o araw na akong nawawala. Kung hinahanap na ba ako o kung hinahanap ba talaga ako.

I went out to unwind and to relieve myself from being heart-broken because of my cheating bastard fiancé. I thought mababawasan ng alak ang mga iniisip ko even just for a moment kaya naman tinakasan ko ang mga bodyguards ko so I could be alone.

Little did I know that I'll be swept with something dangerous. Mas malala pa pala ang mangyayari kaysa sa pinoproblema ko.

"Argh!"

Naalarma ako nang may marinig akong parang namimilipit sa sakit.

I can hear his heavy breathing beside me. Bigla kong naalala yung lalaking kasama ko sa bar no'ng gabing 'yon.

I immediately notice him among the crowd when I entered the bar. He was drinking in the counter alone. He gives off an aura that screams danger kaya naman wala halos nagtatangkang lumapit sa kanya.

He was the epitome of an alpha. Like a ruler emanating a dominant aura that wards off intruders from crossing his personal space. I took occasional glances out of instinct. Hindi mo lang talaga mapigilang mapatitig sa kanya like it was the most natural thing to do. Moreover, I have to admit he's totally my type even if he gives off the vibe of serious and possessive type.

Ngunit agad ko rin naman itong winaksi sa isip ko. Selene, you're here para mabawasan ang iniisip mo at makalimutan ang manloloko mong fiancé hindi magdagdag ng bagong problema at pamalit sa kanya. I mentally scolded myself.

Some guys tried to strike a conversation with me pero wala ako sa mood.

That night gusto ko lang uminom at malakimot. I went to the bathroom pero pagbalik ko nadatnan ko yung lalaking nasa counter kanina na nakatayo sa pwesto ko, looking intently at my drink. We didn't talk the whole time we are sitting beside each other. It's as if we had a silent agreement of not stepping into each other's bounderies. Kaya naman nagulat ako nang bigla niyang kinuha ang inumin ko at saka 'yon ininom.

I was taken aback for a moment pero nakabawi rin ako agad. I wanted to confront him pero dinaanan niya lang ako at nagmamadaling naglakad palayo.

I grab a couple of paper bills from my purse and left it on the counter before leaving and following that guy.

Nakita ko siyang mabilis at malalim ang paghinga kaya naman tinawag ko siya. Nang makarating kami sa parking lot ay nawala ito sa paningin ko. Nilibot ko ang aking mata sa kabuuan ng parking lot pero wala na ito. Kaya naman naisip kong hayaan nalang ito at hinanap ang aking kotse.

Papasok na dapat ako nang bigla akong lagyan ng piring ng kung sino man. He was standing behind me and I could feel the warm air in my nape coming from him as he breathes heavily.

I tried to pull myself away from him but he grabbed my hand and pushed me to enter the backseat. Gusto kong manlaban pero naestatwa nalang ako at tila nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig nang maramdaman ko ang matulis na bagay sa aking tagiliran.

This man is seriously gonna kill me if I try to do something funny.

"You shouldn't have followed me. It's your fault so you have to take responsibility." mahinang sabi nito malapit sa aking tenga at saka ako hiniga sa upuan ng sasakyan. He threw away the thing that he was pointing at me. A freaking credit card? Fuck!

Then again maybe I could die if he slits my neck with it, right? I ponder.

Amoy ko ang magkahalong scent ng kanyang pabango at ang tapang ng alak sa bawat paghinga niya. It was intoxicating. Mas lalo kong naramdaman ang pagkahilo. I was already tipsy earlier dahil sa dami na rin ng nainom ko kaya naman nagbanyo ako to freshen up. Pero mas nalalasing ako sa amoy ng lalaki sa harap ko.

I can guarantee that he's the person earlier.

"P-please you don't have to do something you'll definitely regret when you sober up" I pleaded and tried to persuade him pero patuloy lang siya sa pag-alis ng damit ko. Kaya naman nagpumiglas ako at pinigilan ito.

He tried to hold my wrists together and put them up pero bago niya pa yun magawa ay hinablot ko ang telang ginamit nito pampiring sakin.

There I saw him with a bloodshot eye. He's heavily panting infront of me unlike the man I saw earlier who's calmly seated on his throne, the person infront of me eyed me fiercely.

Kinuha nito ang telang nakapiring sakin kanina, doon ko napansin kung ano 'yon. It was his tie and now he's using it to restrict both of my hands.

"Why are you doing this!" I cried but instead of answering me, he kissed me hungrily as if it's the only thing that keeps him sane.

It was horrible!

How unfortunate my life was?

Nakakatawa lang na yung fiancé ko niloko ako, meanwhile, there's me getting rape. Feeling ko ang malas-malas kong tao. Gano'n na ba ako kasama para paglaruan ako ng mundo?

My tears fell like a stream while the stranger continues to lick and bite every part of me. Our eyes met and for that brief moment I saw... regret?

He stopped.

Umalis ito mula sa pagkakaibabaw sakin at tsaka pinulot ang kanyang coat. He threw it on top of me at saka lumabas ng sasakyan.

That moment I cried so loud. I cried my heart out. I cried all my frustrations away. Wala akong pakialam kung may makarinig sa'kin mula sa labas.

I was scared, tired but relieved.

Nakita kong umilaw ang phone ko and saw another bastard's name. Here I am molested almost got rape tapos siya nagpapakasasa sa babae niya.

I laughed and cried at the same time na para bang nababaliw na ako. Siguro nga nababaliw na ako. Sino bang hindi mababaliw after that kind of thing happened her?

I tried to calm myself at tsaka inayos ang sarili ko kahit papano. I looked at the man's coat na iniwan niya sakin.

Acting like a gentleman in the last minute? Akala niya ba mabubura no'n ang mga ginawa niya sakin?

To think I actually admired someone like him for a moment when we were at the bar.

Selene, you really suck at choosing people! If it's not a cheater, it's a rapist!

Sinuntok suntok ko yung coat while imagining na it's that man. I did the best that I could kahit na alam kong hindi niya rin ito mararamdaman hanggang sa wala na akong lakas.

After debating if magpapasundo ako sa driver or magdadrive nalang pauwi, I chose neither. Magtataxi nalang ako at magi-stay sa hotel tonight. I can't show myself like this sa bahay. Isa pa wala na rin ako sa katinuan para magdrive. After everything that happened? Who the hell can remain sane?

Bago ako lumabas ako ng kotse ay tinignan kong muli ng masama ang coat na ngayo'y mistulang basahan na ang itsura.

I walked my way out at papara na dapat ng taxi sa kalsada nang matisod ako bigla.

Wow, what a life---

"Ah!" I screamed in horror.