Chapter 2

Just like the plan, we got married but not in the church or grand wedding like my dream. He's just quiet, he's only looking at me that makes me uncomfortable.

His parents aren't even there. Do they care? His son is marrying someone and they are not here. But that's not for me to think anymore. Niccolo wanted me to live in his mansion right away.

I was even surprised when my things in my room weren't there anymore. But it's a big surprise when I saw Hunter sitting in my bed.

I gasped and started to sob. I open my arms wide, welcoming him to hug me. I smiled when come to me right away.

"Hunter! I missed you so much!" I cried and kissed him. He's big now.

He barked at me trying to hug me. I chuckled and tried to carry him but I couldn't. He's already big so I can't.

"Hunter! How are you? Are you okay now? Mabuti naman at magaling ka na. Naka-uwi ka na rin sa'kin sa wakas."

Just by looking at him makes me happy. Ang kulay puti niyang balahibo ay napaka linis. He's a White Siberian husky, 4 years old.

Malungkot akong ngumiti at pinagmasdan siya.

"Do you want to come with me? I'm not going to live here anymore, Hunter. Sa iba na ako maninirahan. Come with me so I'll never be lonely, Hunter." I whispered. He barked. I smiled and nodded.

"Good boy." My smile faded when I realised that I needed permission first. Kailangan kong magpaalam sa may-ari ng mansion.

"For now, Reed will take care of you. You're not alone there. You'll make friends there, Hunter."

***

Nagtungo na ako sa lugar kung nasaan ang mansion ni Niccolo Vasquez. I gasped as I looked up at his mansion. I sighed in relief. Paniguradong hindi namin makikita ang isa't-isa dahil mas malaki pa ang mansiyon niya sa amin.

Sinalubong ako ng mga kasambahay. They welcomed me with a wide smile. I just simply smiled and nodded.

"It's nice to see you, Madame! Masaya kami na narito ka na." They all looked so excited.

"Kami po ang mga kasambahay. Handa po kaming pagsilbihan ka," masayang sabi ng isa.

"Napaka ganda niya… kaya pala mahal na mahal ni–"

Nawala ang atensyon ko sa dalawang nagbubulungan nang may sumulpot sa harap ko. "Good to see you, Madame. Samahan na po namin kayo sa kuwarto ninyo?" I nodded.

I guess it's not that bad. Parang mabuti pa rito dahil wala si Mom and Dad na laging itatama ang mga kilos ko. Kay Niccolo naman ay hindi ko na alam. I hope he doesn't care about me and just ignores me. I will be more comfortable with that. We're just married because of business after all.

As we entered my room, namangha ako. It's a really huge, parang master bedroom.

Pero bigla akong napaisip dahil sa disenyo ng room. Parang lalaki ang may-ari ng kuwarto dahil sa kulay nito. It's grey. Even the smell, it smells like a man.

Nilingon ko ang maid. "Is this really my room? Iba siguro ang kuwarto ko at hindi ito."

Umiling ito. "Hindi po. Ito po ang kuwarto ninyo."

"Are you really sure? Saan ang room ng amo ninyo?" I asked, still looking around at the room. The bed is pretty comfy. Hinaplos ko iyon.

"Sigurado po ako. Ang room po ni Sir ay dito rin kasama ninyo," anito.

My eyes widened. "What? This room is his?" She nodded and looked down.

"Opo. Iyon po ang utos sa amin, Madame. Ang gamit mo po ay maayos na sa walk-in closet ninyo."

I sighed and turned to her. "This is not my room. Lilipat ako ng kuwarto, nagkakamali kayo–"

"They're not."

Natigilan ako at napalingon sa pumasok na si Niccolo Vasquez. "You will sleep here in my room. In our room," he said.

I noticed the tiredness in his eyes.

Tiningnan niya ang maid. Tumango naman ito at naglakad paalis. My eyes widened and wanted to stop them. I don't want to be alone with this man. I was about to walk out when he towered me. He's so close to me.

"Where are you going, huh?"

"Sa ibang room na lang ako," I said. He sighed and shook his head.

"You will sleep here," he said with a mark of finality.

"But that's uncomfortable," I demand.

"You mean you'll be uncomfortable?" he asked gently. His eyes look so soft and gentle, so different from the man I'm with when we first met and when we got married. But now that we are alone in his room he is so different.

I looked up at him. His eyes are really making me drawn. But he's still scary for me. He's a big man, kayang-kaya niya akong saktan nang hindi siya nahihirapan.

I didn't respond. My decision isn't mine to make. This is his property. Nakikitira lang ako kaya dapat ay hindi na ako mag-complain pa.

Why do we even need to sleep in the same room? I thought I'm going to have a peaceful stay here. D*mn.

"I'm sure you'll be uncomfortable too," I said, still trying.

"I will not. I'll be even more comfortable with you than being alone in this big room." My forehead furrowed. This is not really good.

The small space between us disappeared. He's now very close to me. Sa malapad na dibdib niya lang ako nakatitig. My eyes widened when I felt his big hands on my waist. He's caressing my waist.

I stiffened when I felt his warm hands on my body. He's now smelling my hair. I tried to push him in his chest but he's too strong. He caged me in his arms.

What the heck is wrong with this guy? He's creeping me out.

"Finally," I heard him whisper to himself. I can feel his nose near my ear. Mabuti na lang at may kumatok. Pagkakataon ko 'yon na makalayo. I heard swearing.

I walked out of the room right away. He's making me really uncomfortable. I glanced at the maids who's waiting for me.

"Handa na ang dinner, Madame. Maupo na po kayo," anito.

"Nasaan po ang iyong asawa, Madame?" she suddenly asked. I suddenly choked while drinking juice because of what I heard.

Agad naman akong nilapitan ng ibang maid at pinagsilbihan. I raised my hand, stopping them. "I'm okay. You can go now."

"Sige po. Tatawagin ko lang po si Sir."

I sighed. I never imagined that I'll eat with him. Ang akala ko ay hindi ko siya makakasabay sa hapag-kainan dahil nga busy ito lagi. Like everyone says, he's a busy person. He's a workaholic. Siguro ay ngayong araw lang naman.

Just now please.

Mas minadali ko ang pagkain nang dumating siya. His forehead furrowed at me.

"Slow down, Doll. I'm not going to do anything. I'm sorry about earlier," he said in a low voice.

I didn't listen to him. I still eat fast but I didn't make it so obvious. The silence between us is making it more awkward. But I'll not mind it as long as he'll not talk to me. Mabuti at narito pa rin ang mga kasambahay, kahit paano ay may kasama ako.

"I want you to stop working, Doll," sabi nito. Nanlamig ako sa narinig.

My eyes widened as I realised what he just said. He wants me to stop modelling?

"What? No! Why would I stop modelling?" I muttered.

His eyes narrowed. "Because I want to. I don't want you to work."

"Then what will just happen to me? If I don't work, hindi ako magkakaroon ng pera. I can’t buy what I want and need." And that's my dream. How can I just let go?

"I'm here for that. I'll provide for you. You don't have to work, you'll just tire yourself. Don't worry. I'll give your whims, your needs. I'll buy everything you want. I'm your husband. You don’t have to worry.”

Marahas kong binitawan ang kubyertos dahilan na magtamo iyon ng malakas na ingay. His eyes dropped at my plate. His forehead furrowed to my sudden act. I gasped when I realised what I've done. May lumapit na kasambahay para linisin ang natapon. Napatayo ako at nakaramdam ng takot na sasaktan niya ako o sisigawan dahil sa ginawa ko.

I looked down. My hands are trembling. If my parents are not here to scold and punish me, then this scary man will.

"I-I'm sorry. I will not do it again. I'm sorry," I mumbled. Bago ko pa matanggap ang galit nito ay tumalikod na ako at tumakbo paakyat sa kuwarto.

I'm hoping that he'll not going hurt me. I covered my face with my palm as I sat at the edge of the bed. Nang bumukas ang pintuan ay napaatras ako, hanggang sa nasa headboard na ako ng kama.

"I'm sorry. I'll not do it again. I-I didn't mean to do that, don't be mad–" I can hear my voice trembling, takot na maaaring may gawin siya. He hushed and walked towards me. Umupo siya sa kama at hinawakan ako.

"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not mad, Doll. I'll never get mad at you. Calm down," he said gently. Inalis niya ang kamay ko sa aking mukha.

"I didn't mean doing that. I-I'm just shocked. Please don't tell my parents."

His eyes softened while watching me in fear. He looked pained while watching me. He let out a breath and touched both of my waist so he could make me closer to him. Agad akong lumayo at humiga, nakatalikod mula sa kaniya. Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata.

He sighed. "I'm sorry. Don't be mad, Doll. But I can't let you work. Just stay here in our home," he said, almost whispering.

Naramdaman kong umalis ito sa kama at lumabas. My heart is still beating fast. I forced myself to sleep until I finally got to sleep.

I woke up feeling exhausted. It's already morning and I still feel sleepy. Though, my sleep is really nice. His bed feels warm and smells good because it's his manly scent. I looked around and there's no traces of him. Maybe he did not sleep here. Oh, I don't care.

Bumangon ako mula sa kama at nag-shower na. After an hour I stepped out of the bathroom and wore a white sleeveless bodycon fitted dress, my curves and half of my back are visible. Nagpatong pa ako ng Coat.

I looked elegant. As always.

My shoulder fell when I remembered that I can't work. I walked towards my vanity mirror. I looked down at my makeup set. Kulay silver na may glitter ang vanity mirror ko, and the table. Even the chair. The makeup container. It's all glittery. I'm in love with glitter.

But I don't know when and where he knew this from. Maybe from Mom.

No more runways and photoshoots. Okay na sana, eh. Malapit ko na makamit. And this happened?

I sighed and walked out of our room. Bumaba ako at agad na may sumalubong sa akin na maid.

"Madame. Handa na po ang pagkain ninyo." I shook my head.

"I don't want to eat, Jesel. May pupuntahan ako," I said. Ngumiwi ito.

"Malalagot po kami kay Sir kung hindi ka kakain. Sinabi niya na dapat kumain ka po," anito.

"Just tell him na ayoko kumain."

"Eh, saan po kayo pupunta? Alam po ba ni Sir?"

Hindi ko siya sinagot at umalis na. I hope naroon sila Mom at Dad so I can tell them na pinagbabawalan ako ni Niccolo na magtrabaho. As I entered the mansion, the maids were too stunned when they saw me.

“Where's Mom and Dad?” I asked. “Si Madame po ay nasa office niya."

Agad akong nagtungo sa opisina niya.

“I have something to tell you, Mom.” Her brows increased, surprised to see me.

“What are you doing here? You are supposed to be in your husband's mansion. What brought you here?”

I took a deep breath and walked towards her. “Mom, do you know what Niccolo told me? He’s insane! He wants me to end my modelling. He doesn’t want me to work–”

“Tone your voice down. You’re at it again. Uncontrolled at your behaviour. And what about that? He wants you to stop working then so be it,” she said, like she doesn’t care about my career.

My mouth fell open. “I-I thought, you want me to be a model, Mom? Then what’s with you today?” She's really unbelievable! She’s the one who witnessed all of my hard work just for this! I did everything, because this is what she wants and also mine.

I pursued modelling because that's what I thought I am suited for. I didn't even mind being controlled by her since then and now. I really didn't mind her controlling me because that’s for me to enter into modelling society.

She got up from her chair and walked towards me.

“I should ask you that. What’s with you today? I thought you don’t want modelling? And now you will sulk because he wants you to stop? Sadie, you’re even lucky because Niccolo doesn’t want you to work. It means he only wants you to be at home, resting. He cares for you, Sadie. That’s what wifes should do. You need to take care of him. Wait for him until he comes home. Serve him.”