Chapter 10 - In the Dungeon
[Warning: SPG]Together we walked down to his basement. Noong unang linggo rito sa mansyon, at bilang mag-asawa — sinabi niya nga na mayroon siyang malawak na basement. Tila isang mall iyon sa laki.Pero hindi ko alam kung paano niya ako parurusahan. Ikukulong niya ako rito at hindi hahayaang makipag-usap kay Guzman at sa ibang tao? No. That's not it."Nervous?" he asked.Hawak-hawak niya ang baywang ko, ginagabayan ako at tila takot pa na baka tumakbo ako at kumawala."Why would I be?"Yung tapang ko, dahil lang sa kape. Pero ang totoo, iniisip ko pa lang ang mga gagawin niya — nanghihina na ako."Hmm, tryna be strong, huh? I can sense.""Nase-sense mo pala bakit nagtatanong ka pa?""Just wanted to play with you.""Well, I'm not playing.""Nah, you don't make the rules here." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at hinarap akong maigi sa kanya.Chapter 11 - Dress"You can walk, right?"Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Ander. Inalalayan niya ako paalis sa mesa kanina at ngayo'y pinauupo sa kama. Nilagyan niya ng roba ang katawan ko at marahang inayos ang aking buhok.His fingers gently combed my hair. He parted it between my shoulders and slowly — he tucked my hair behind my ears.His eyes won't leave me. I can sense that there's a tinge of guilt in his eyes but I couldn't face it. I can't... Because while I was on that table... I felt something. I felt that I am completely surrendering myself to him. To trust him.At alam kong delikado 'yon. At delikado para sa akin, sa kalagayan ko, at sa lahat ng mga plano ko."Are you okay now?""Hmm," I grunted as I forced myself to sit on the edge of the bed.Sobrang lambot nito, ang sarap sa katawan. Naaalala ko ang pakiramdam habang naroon ako sa mesa kanina.Exciting naman... At inaamin kong ginanahan at
Chapter 12 - Unexpected VisitFirst thing in the morning, ang wardrobe ko nga ang pinagdiskitahan ni Ander. We are having breakfast by the balcony when a parade of cars and SUV parked in our garden. Hindi kami nagkikibuang dalawa. Not that I want to talk to him. He's also busy with his paper works as well, and I heard he's planning to have another visit in Naples, Palermo, and Rumini. Something about transfers of firearms and another gang wars. Pinagmasdan ko ang pagbaba ng mga tao mula sa sasakyan at hinawi ang buhok. I'm still dressed with my silver night gown, and a velvet white robe. I looked at Ander and saw him watching his people as well, like a god from Mount Olympus. Only that he's hotter, harsher, and more manipulative."They're here to fix your wardrobe."He glanced at me. Nang makitang matalim ang tingin ko sa kanya ay agad niya ring binawi ang tingin niya."You're really pushing this, huh?""Yeah... Your clothe
Chapter 13 - The Ex-Girlfriend"Mommy,"I am still shocked that my mother's here. Her unexpected visit added tension in my weary emotions. First, because of Ander and all my thoughts about him and this arrangement... My feelings. Then now, she's here.Why is she here?Bakit may nararamdaman akong iba? Don't get me wrong. I love seeing her. I always love being with her, but her visit is slightly off. Considering her state, her supposed vacation...the time.At nasaktuhan pa na nag-aaway kami ni Ander... at nakainom pa ako!Ander gently held my elbow, urging me to greet my mother. I sighed and went to her.Niyakap ko ang ina. Sa likuran niya ay napako ang mga tingin ko. Naroon ang kanyang mga bagahe. Ibig sabihin ba ay hindi siya tumuloy ng Paris?"What are you doing here, Mommy?""Did you drink?""We did, Tita." ani Ander.I glanced at him. Hindi ko kailangan na iligtas niya ako rito. Alam naman n
Chapter 14 - FoundApparently, Serena — Ander's ex-girlfriend and Ander's parents are staying for a longer period in Manila. Ander insisted that they must stay in their own mansion, and never, on his own words: interfere with out married life.Somehow, it appalled me."You could have let them stay here you know..." Ginala ko ang tingin sa aming sala.We were just about to go to Casino Real. Make appearances, and he'll drop me off to Rockwell for my meeting with Selena.We're both dressed of navy blue tops. Naka puting mini skirt at thigh high boots ako at nagdala ng Dior saddle bag."Huwag na." he answered."Why?"Nilingon niya ako. Seryoso at mapagmatiyag ang mga tingin — halos tila nang-uusisa ito at binabalak na basahin ang isipan ko. Sandali pa niya akong tinignan at humalukipkip. Nagtaas ako ng kilay at ngumiti pero agad ring napawi nang magtanong siya."Do you seriously want to live with my ex-gir
Chapter 15 - Some ConsequencesWhy did my brother ended up dead? Who killed him? And why?Bumuhos ang mga tanong sa isipan ko habang nasa biyahe kami papunta sa condo. May parte sa akin na iniisip na baka kasalanan ko. Ako ang nagpadakip sa kanya. Ako ang nag-umpisa nito. May iba nga lang na tumapos.Pero ang tanong, sino?Galit kong tinignan ang telepono ko. Kanina ko pa tinatawagan si Selena at ang mga tauhan namin pero ni isa walang sumasagot. Every second, I grew impatient and anxious. My brother just died... Possibly murdered. But by who? Tauhan ba namin? Ni Ander? O may iba pang kalaban?"A-ander... We need to go and see them-""Stay right there, per favore." aniya at pinigilan ako sa pagtayo.I heard he told his bodyguards to keep the building secured. Pinacheck niya rin si Mommy at pinapadala na niya rito. He called a few people on his phone and talked to them in various languages I couldn't understand and grasp.
Chapter 16 - The Wake"Sleep tight. I'll fix this. I promise." That's what Ander told me before he went out of my room.Hindi na ako umimik. Sobrang daming gumugulo at bumabagabag sa akin. Kahit ang sarili kong konsensya ay tinatalikuran talaga ako. Paulit-ulit kong sinasabi sa sarili na dapat malungkot ako sa nangyayari. Pero wala akong maramdaman na. Hindi ko alam kung namamanhid ba ako. Ang tanging nararamdaman ko lang ay pagkabahala at takot na mahuli ako nina Mommy sa ginawa ko. Because God knows they won’t let this slip away. They can disown me.I sighed. Tinitigan ko ang kisame at naramdaman ang tuluyang pagsarado ni Ander sa pinto ko.Ni hindi na ako nakapagpasalamat sa kanya. But God knows how grateful I am because of him. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba nasa isang mababang punto ako ng buhay ko ngayon kaya masyado ko siyang na a-appreciate.I tossed and turned around
Chapter 17 - AssuranceKung sinampal ko kaya 'to si Serena? Tutal deserve naman niya?I stared at the altar in front of me. My mother is talking, but I couldn't make out everything she's saying. All I can hear is my erratic heartbeat, the peddling noise outside that I couldn't even understand. The flashes across the room, and the slow burning murmurs of the people around us as they agree to what my mother is saying."Corelle," Marahang hinaplos ni Ander ang siko ko. Napatingin ako sa kanya.Sa sobrang paglalakbay ng isip ko, halos wala na akong matinong maisip. I can't afford to lose my cool now. I can't let anyone see how chaotic and messy my life is right now.For sure, they'll question everything and everyone around me. Ang unang sisi rito ay kay Ander. Siyempre, siya ang asawa ko... Siya ang unang-unang titignan ng mga tao."What?" I mouthed.He looked at me — his eyes are overshadowed with questions. I kne
Chapter 18 - F Day[Warning: SPG]"And you managed to prepare dinner?" I peered inside our kitchen. When we came home, he told me to take a warm bath — and I did. Ngayong pinabababa na niya ako, naabutan ko siyang naghahanda ng pagkain namin.He didn't call for our chef. He's doing it. Ander style. With his black apron on, a white shirt underneath and a black gym shorts. He looks very casual. Very different from his facade in the outside world."Parang natatanggal na talaga ang angas mo ah?" I smirked tauntingly.Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang mga ginawa niya para sa dinner namin. I am not very familiar with what's on the table, but I figured it's everything Italian. "I thought we're just going to fuck tonight?"Nilapitan niya ako pagkahubad niya ng apron at pagkalapag ng dessert. "We'll do that.""After this?""After this," He nodded and licked his lower lip."Oka