2 - The Past

FABIAN MONTERO MORDECAI

“Koen! Where the hell are you?!” Rouge’s voice echoed throughout the hallways of the Mordecai Mansion. His face red as hell as soon as he enters the mansion.

“Anong meron?” Kunot-noong tanong ni Niko nang makalabas ito sa kusina na may bitbit na tasa.

Nakasuot lang ito ng roba—na suot niya sa tuwing pagkatapos niyang makipagtalik sa iba.

Niko or Azrael Nikolai is the second born in the family—gusto ko ding isipin iyon, pero magkaedad lang kami. Anak sa labas si Niko—well of my brothers are. My dad is a cassonova. He fucks who he want to fuck and unfortunately, nagbunga iyon ng limang lalaki.

Next in line is Rouge or Mavros Rouge. Just like his name, Rouge, he’s a rascal. But unlike Niko who’s a cassanova at ginaya ang ugali ng ama namin, Rouge has no interest in woman and so Koen is. Minsan pinag-iisipan pa naming bakla ang dalawa—pero wala lang talaga silang interesado, especially Rouge is having a hard time dealing with his step-sister na walang ibang ginawa kun’di bigyan siya ng sakit sa ulo.

Koen Radleigh, next to Rouge. Pinakamaarte sa aming lahat. Tahimik, but if you start a fight with him, that’s the end of you.

“What the hell is going on?” Luce asked as soon as he stepped into the mansion. Magulo ang kanyang buhok at mukhang kakagising lang.

Luce or Luciano Maverick. Halos kasing-edad lang ni Koen. He looks like an angel, but he’s a devil. Siya itong tipong hindi mo magugustuhang galitin.

And the last is Keeg or Keegan Aviel. The bubbly one in the group.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit kami pinatawag ni Daddy kahit na tinakwil na niya ako bilang isang Mordecai. Why? I defy him over a woman.

Not just a woman. But the one who completes my world. The one who gives me sunshine. Khalessi Mondragon.

“Mabuti naman at nandito na kayo,” dad’s cold voice echoed.

Bumaba ito habang inalalayan siya ng nurse niya—or his play toy? Who cares though. Dad is old. He’s in his fifties. Pero ang dami ng sakit na na dumadapo sa kanya. Karma? Hell yeah. He hurt mom by cheating on her. Dahilan para magpakamatay si mama lalo na nang malaman niyang hindi lang isa ang naging anak nito sa labas, kun’di anim.

Mom couldn’t take it anymore so she decided to end her life. I hate him. I really hate him. Hindi dapat ako nandirito dahil sa pagtaboy niya sa’kin na siyang ginusto ko rin to have my freedom and to choose my life with the woman I loved the most. But I can’t ignore the fact that he’s still my dad.

The room was tense. Dad sat at his desk, his face cold and serious, while Rouge and Koen argued, their words harsh and full of anger.“What the hell did you do to my investor, Koen?!” Rouge’s voice boomed, filled with rage.

“What the f**k are you talking about, Rouge?” Koen shot back, his tone sharp. “What does your investor have to do with me? I’m handling the cosmetics company! Are you insane?”

“You pathetic liar!” Rouge slammed his hand on the coffee table, the sound echoing through the room.

None of us moved to stop them. We were used to this. Arguments like this were nothing new. We’re not that really close, but sometimes we act as a real brother—close, I mean.

Niko sipped his coffee as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Luce kept yawning, clearly lacking sleep, while Keeg was glued to his phone, grinning at whatever was on his screen like a fool.

As for me, I just sat there, watching it all unfold. What was the point of stepping in? It was always the same.

Dad, who has no control over his children, massaged his temple and waited for them to calm down.

“Ano ba kasi ang ginawa ko? I didn’t do anything with your investors!” Koen snapped, frustration clear in his voice.

Rad’s jaw tightened, his teeth gritted as his ears turned red with anger. His eyes burned with fury as he glared at Koen. “I swear, if you did something to my investors, I’ll kill you.”

Without waiting for a response, Rad stormed out of the study, his heavy footsteps echoing through the room. The air was thick with tension, but no one said a word.

Dad glanced at me, then shifted his gaze to my brothers. He let out a deep sigh before speaking. “I’m dying.”

“Good to know,” Niko said casually, not even looking up from his coffee.

“Wala bang bago?” Koen scoffed, rolling his eyes.

Luce, usually the most composed, snapped. “You’ve been hiding for years in this sh*tty mansion of yours just to f**k your woman, and now you’re telling us you’re dying? What do you expect us to do then?”

His voice was loud, filled with frustration, and I couldn’t blame him. Who wouldn’t lose it? We were just kids when Dad dumped his responsibilities on us, forcing us to run his businesses so he could have the freedom to do as he pleased.

“Fabian,” Dad said, ignoring Keeg and turning his attention to me again.

“Take over the Mordecai Group,” he ordered, as if he hadn’t disowned me and stripped me of my inheritance just because I chose to love someone he didn’t approve of.

I let out a bitter scoff. “No, thanks. I have no plan to be your successor.”

I stood up, ready to leave this house that was once filled with love, warmth, and happiness but had long since become cold and empty.

Before I could take another step, Dad spoke again, his voice firm. “Marry that woman, and be the head of the Mordecai Group.”

Wala sa sarili akong nakasakay sa sasakyan ni Niko para ihatid ako sa apartment namin ni Khalessi. Yes. We’re living together.

“Don’t you like dad’s offer? You’ll be the head, Fab, not just that, you’ll have the chance to marry Khalessi.”

“Is not easy, Nik. Alam mo kung anong takbo ng isip ni daddy. You can’t fall into his trap,” I replied, but my hands are shaking.

The offer was actually good. I can now spoil Khalessi with all she wants. Hindi ko kasi magawa iyon sa kanya ngayon dahil sa pagtanggal ng mana ni daddy sa’kin.

All my fortune was taken away from me. The position in the Mordecai Group as an heir, my luxurious life, the cars and cards. I left the mansion with nothing. So I had to work hard to give Khalessi what she wanted.

Working as a waiter. Dad has connections everywhere. Good thing I had a friend who owns restaurant and let me work there secretly—but I know dad has spies everywhere. Maybe he just let me work there quietly since I am a disgrace to the family.

Nakarating ako sa apartment namin and Khalessi is laying down on the bed, sleeping. Hinubad ko ang sapatos ko at ang suot kong jacket bago ako tumabi sa kanya tsaka ko siya mabilis na niyakap mula sa kanyang likuran and planted a small kisses on her shoulders.

May mga papel pa sa kanyang gilid at may hawak na papel. She’s reading some scripts, maybe for an audition. She really wanted to be an actress. And I let her do what she wanted.

“Hmm,” napaungol ito at gumalaw.

And I continued to plant her small kisses on her shoulders, neck and face.

“Fabian,” she moaned.

I love her moans. It’s fvking turning me on.

Instinctively, my hands roamed under her shirt and roam around her stomach, making her arched her body on me.

“Fab, hindi ako pwedeng mapagod bukas,” she whispered. I chuckled because her body is responding to my touch.

“Yeah? Your body tells otherwise, baby.” I tease.

My hand reached her soft boobies and I roughly massaged it. A soft moan escaped from her lips but I immediately pressed my lips on her and savoured her.

She moaned in every touch and I’m getting harder and harder.

Hindi ko mapigilang ibaba ang kamay ko sa gitna niya at pinasok sa loob ng kanyang undies. Pinatong naman ni Lessi ang isang hita sa katawan ko, spreading her legs widely.

“Ahh,” she moaned. Napasabunot pa siya sa buhok ko but I liked how she loses control over my touch.

“This is mine forever, Lessi.”

Tinignan ko ang mukha niyang nasasarapan sa bawat haplos nag ginagawad ko sa kanya. Her face expressions say it all and I fvking want to claim her now.

“Oo, ahhhh! I’m fvking yours, Fabian,” once again her body arched at the intensity of my movements as I played her folds.

Dumapo naman ang isang kamay ni Lessi sa pagkalal*ki ko at pinasok iyon sa short na suot ko para paglaruan niya rin iyon.

“And this is mine, Fab.”

“Yours forever, baby.”

Matapos namin gawin iyon ay nagpapahinga ngayon si Lessi sa dibdib ko habang yakap ako. The feeling is so unreal. Having the woman I loved living with me under the same roof is so surreal.

Les and I have been in a relationship for two years now. She was still in college when I courted her, while I am training as the Mordecai Heir—though, Less doesn’t know my origin. She hates rich kids. Para sa kanya ang mga rich kids ay hambog, walang ibang ginawa kun’di ipagyabang ang pera ng mga magulang. They don’t need to work hard para makuha agad ang mataas na posisyon sa kompanya.

Ang unfair daw ng gano’n. If only she knew. It wasn’t that easy. Especially for us the Mordecai Brothers. Since highschool, we’ve been training hard to be the next heir. We don’t have a life to be a kid. To experience a happy life. Bata pa lang, bugbog sarado na kami sa mga trabaho. Mahirap. Dahil sobrang bata pa namin to understand the principles of business. But we have to, if we want his luxury life to be passed on to us.

But then, everything changed when I met her. Fighting with some guy in the bar where I was in. Binabastos siya. For that moment, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She really caught my attention.

“May boyfriend ako! Bitawan mo ako!” Sigaw nito sabay sipa sa bayag ng lalaki, at nang namimilipit sa sakit ang lalaki ay agad niyang hinampas ng kanyang bag ang mukha ng lalaki dahilan para mapahiga ito sa sahig.

“You fvking whore!” He stood up and was about to hint at her when I immediately shielded her and grabbed his wrist and pushed him hard to make him stumble on the ground.

Since then, Les and I have become close. Until I courted her and said yes. Ang dami kong nalaman sa kanya. She’s from a poor family, who’s currently living in Bohol, but she chose to live in Manila to chase her dreams. To be an actress. Unfortunately, her efforts were wasted because she couldn’t have been chosen. She’s studying Media and Arts to improve her skill, and she’s really a good actress.

Muntikan na niya akong mapaniwala na namatay ang papa niya at kailangan niyang umuwi para puntahan ito. I was so dmn worried because she has no money. I wanted to help her but it’ll be suspicious. Ang alam niya ay galing ako sa mahirap na pamilya kaya hindi ko siya ma-spoil sa mga gusto niya. But sometimes, I spoil her with a limited amount. God knows how much I like to purchase the whole goddamn restaurant for her every time she craves food.

Eventually, I purchased the license of being the owner of her favorite fast food resto until dad caught me and took away all of my fortunes and even status for defying him. And I left with nothing.

Les ranted about her roommates of being loud and noisy, and how they couldn’t take care of their trsshed almost everyday. So I borrow money from Nikolai and secretly bought an apartment for us to stay—she agreed on one condition. We’ll split bills. Her happiness is too simple and that’s what I loved about her the most.

Until one day, umuwi itong pagod na pagod while I cook dinner for us. Wala siya sa sarili. At hindi ako pinapansin. Noong una ay hinayaan ko lang dahil nga pagod lang talaga siya. She has auditions and a part-time job as a waitress. But she’s avoiding me for days.

Hindi niya ako iniiwasan ng gano’ng katagal and it seemed like her sunshine has gone away. Puno siya ng ulan at kidlat na hindi ko alam kung bakit. And when I confronted her to comfort her she told lies in front of me.

“Hindi na kita mahal, Fab. Let’s break-up,” her voice was cracking.

And at first I thought she was just acting dahil halos napapaniwala niya ako sa mga aktingan niya, but this one is different. She couldn’t look me straight in the eyes unlike her acting before.

Nanginginig ang katawan kong napaupo sa harapan niya at hinuli ang kanyang mukha para mapatingin sa’kin, pero hindi niya magawa. I can’t read her. She’s too cold. Hindi tulad dati na puno ng kinang ang kanyang mga mata.

“No, hindi ako makikipaghiwalay sa’yo, baby. Don’t do this, hmm.” I pleased and kept kissing her hands pero mabilis na hinila iyon ni Khalessi.

“Pagod na ako, Fabian. Please leave me alone! Ayoko na! Hindi na kita mahal—no, I don’t really love you. I just loved the thought of being with you.”

It broke my heart. To pieces. Did she really mean it?

“You’re just acting, baby. Com’on don’t prank me.” I murmured nervously.

I was about to reach her face when she shoved me away. She stood up and walked away from me.

“Ayoko na sabi, Fabian e. Hindi kita mahal. Just leave me alone o ako ang aalis? Choose.” Her voice was cold and stern.

My whole body is shaking. Still not sure what to react. For me it was goddamn acting. But now her voice, her eyes tell different? Did she really mean it? Does she never loved me once? That all of what happened in between us was just nothing?

Wala ako sa sariling napatayo mula sa pagkakaluhod ko sa sahid. I’ve done nothing. Akala ko mapipilit ko siyang bawiin ang lahat. But no. She’s decisive as soon as she packs her things.

“I’ll leave and you will stay, Les. I’ll be back, hoping this is just part of your pranks.” I chuckled nervously.

Umalis ako ng apartment namin nang hindi man lang siya nakikitaang umiyak. My heart shattered the moment I stepped out of the building.

She didn’t chase me and tell me that it was just a prank, that she was just acting. No.

Bumalik ako kinabukasan para ligawan siya. Still she shoved me away. I did that for days until one day, wala nang nakatira sa apartment. The landlady told me that Les is leaving. Hindi alam kung saan.

I visited her address in Bohol, pero wala. Hindi ko siya mahanap. I’m running out of funds and I don’t know how to find her.

So I begged Dad. I fucking begged him to return what was supposedly mine.

He finally relented, but not without a condition—a price I didn’t expect. "Marry the daughter of the Everhart family," he said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

I agreed, though my mind was already set. I had no intention of going through with it. No matter what, I wasn’t going to let anyone dictate my life like that.

But fate, or perhaps sheer luck, intervened in my favor. The Everhart daughter vanished into thin air, without a trace.

I used every ounce of my power to find Khalessi, but she seemed to have disappeared completely.

The desperation ate at me, clawing at my sanity, until two years later, there she was—displayed on the big screen as the lead female in an upcoming movie. It was her debut as an actress.

She looked incredible. Radiant. Blooming. Expensive. It was as though she had been reborn, shedding every trace of the Khalessi I once knew.

I wanted to approach her, to call out her name, but I couldn’t. If I did, all her hard work—the new life she built for herself—might crumble. I feared that my presence might ruin her success, her happiness. Worse, I feared she’d hate me even more.

So, I let her be.

I let her chase her dreams, watched her shine from afar, and supported her in silence. I anonymously invested in her projects, sending her gifts, sent food trucks to her sets, and ensured she felt supported—even if she never knew it was me.

I became her number one fan, quietly cheering for her through the years. She was happy, and that was enough for me. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

Hanggang sa hindi ko na kaya pang magtago habang hinihintay siya. I couldn’t bear it anymore—the endless waiting, the constant pain of watching her from the shadows.

I get jealous every single time she kisses someone on-screen, every time she has an intimate scene with her co-stars.

I know it’s just acting, but the doubts gnaw at me. I don’t know what’s happening behind the camera. Did they take things further? Did they f*ck in her dressing room? In her van? In her tent?The thoughts are consuming me, each one stronger than the last.

"I’ll invest. Half a billion pesos. Just make me her lead man," I declared with finality, my voice firm and unwavering.

This upcoming project of hers, filled with its rumored intensity in bed scenes, was something I couldn’t allow another man to partake in—not with her. Not anymore.

Seven long years. That’s how long I’ve been waiting.

Watching. Hoping. And now, the moment has come to claim what should have been mine all along.

You’re mine, Khalessi. You’ve always been mine. Forever.