Prologue

It was silent. But not that quiet. It was the eerie kind of silence.

I opened my eyes that felt so heavy. I immediately heard a ringing in my ear which made me squint my left eye. Where am I? tanong ko sa isip. Doon ko napagtanto na maliban sa hindi pamilyar na kwarto kung nasaan ako, hindi ko rin magalaw ang aking mga kamay at paa. When I looked down, I realized I was tied up.

Ginalaw ko ang mga ito upang malaman kung ga’no kahigpit ang taling nakagapos sa ‘kin. Mabuti na lang, hindi ito gaanong mahigpit. Nilingon ko ang paligid upang alalahanin ang nangyari. That’s when it all came back to me. I was with Lucas when some random men in suits dragged me and knocked me with something.

Lucas! sigaw ko sa aking isip. Naalala ko ang nobyo ko. Worry slowly crept in my system. I was in an unknown place, with no Lucas around. For the first time, I felt scared – not because of the situation I was in but scared of the thought that Lucas might be anxious at the moment knowing I was here, alone.

Sa pag-aalala ko sa kasintahan, nakalimutan kong intindihin ang sakit ko. Hanggang sa naramdaman ko ang paghigpit at pagkirot ng aking d****b na agad ko rin ininda. Bago pa ‘ko gumalaw ulit, narinig ko ang ingay na nanggaling sa bakal na pinto ng kwartong nagdulot ng nakakatakot na tunog. Mula rito ay isang matangkad at sopistikadong lalaki na may magandang tindig ang pumasok at naglakad patungo sa ‘kin.

Undeniably, the man in black suit was oozing with such charisma and money the same way Lucas gave off. However, for me, my boyfriend looked more gorgeous than this man who’s slowly sitting on the bed where I was crawled in.

“Finally, you’re awake,” sambit ng lalaki at kahit na hindi ga’no kalapit ang pagitan ko mula rito, amoy na amoy ko ang mamahaling pabangong suot nito.

“Who are you?” I bravely asked in my firm, solid tone despite my weak body.

The man softly scoffed and leaned towards me, making the luxurious scent harass my nose. “I just want to say my proper greetings to the Green Eye. Mukhang, hindi niya ata nakuha ‘yong mensaheng gusto ko iparating sa kanya nung nakaraan.”

Napaurong ako nang makitang akmang hahawakan ang aking mukha, ngunit dahil sa mga nakagapos kong kamay, hindi ako makagalaw at makaiwas kaya lumingon na lamang ako at naramdaman ang kamay ng lalaki na inayos ang aking buhok.

The man gorgeously smirked, “Lucien will definitely turn hell upside down for such a precious flower like you.”

After those words, he softly pinched my chin and motioned my face to front him before he devilishly planted a soft, teasing kiss on my forehead. I immediately pulled back and glared at the man, feeling disgusted.

“Nagkamali ka ng akala. I’m just a mere fling to him. Kaya kahit ga’no mo pa ‘ko katagal ikulong dito, Lucas will not come for me.” I gritted my teeth and clenched my jaw to show my disgust at the man holding me hostage.

Biglang tumawa ng malakas ang lalaki. His masculine voice bounced in every corner of the room.

“Shall we see then?” His voice was mocking. Saka nito kinuha ang kanyang cellphone mula sa kanyang bulsa and may pinindot mula sa screen. Wala pang limang segundo, narinig ko na ang galit na boses ni Lucas mula sa speaker ng telepono.

“SEBASTIAN!” Lucas roared from Sebastian’s phone screen. His face flashed a troubled, and livid expression.

“Lucien. Lucien. Calm down. You’re scaring the beautiful lady on bed here with me,” sambit nito.

Pagkatapos bigkasin ang mga katagang ‘yon, mas lumapit ito sa ‘kin at pinakita ako sa camera.

“Zoe…” Lucas gasped when he saw me, agitated at my current situation.

“Sebastian. If you dare lay your filthy finger on her, I swear, I’m going to kill you.” The man on the screen clenched his jaw while he threatened my abductor.

I just know that those words from Lucien even fueled Sebastian’s desire on inflicting anger and pain on his enemy. So, he intentionally brought our faces together, leaving not even a single hair strand distance between our cheeks and victoriously grinned on the camera.

“Hmm… what a soft skin.” Sebastian teased.

Kitang-kita ko mula sa mukha ni Lucas ang galit, gigil, at pag-aalala kaya agad akong nagsalita, “Lucas! Wag kang mag-alala. I’m fine. I’m not scared. Just… don’t do anything stupid, okay?”

Taliwas sa aking nararamdamang takot, nilakasan ko ang loob ko para sa kanya.

“Aw, how sweet. Don’t worry Lucien, I’ll take good care of your flower. I’ll be gentle.” Sebastian looked to my side and sniffed on my cheeks to which I eagerly tried to avoid.

Kitang-kita ko sa mga mata ni Lucas ang galit at sakit na makita akong nakagapos at walang magawa habang kung anu-ano ang ginagawa sa ‘kin ng bago niyang kalaban. Bago pa man siya makapagsalita ulit, ngumiti lamang si Sebastian at biglang binaba ang tawag.