4. Do Not Go Upstairs

“Your stepbrother, Amara.”

Napatingin agad ako sa pagitan ng mga hita ko bago ako napamura nang mahina.

This was so embarrassing.

Paano kung umuungol pala ako sa panaginip at narinig niya?

Mabilis akong bumangon at inayos ang silk sleepwear dress ko habang pilit pinapakalma ang mabilis kong paghinga.

“W-What do you want?” bungad ko agad pagkabukas ng pinto.

Bahagyang bumuka ang labi niya na parang may sasabihin sana, pero tinikom niya bigla ang bibig niya.

Dahan-dahang dumulas ang gray eyes niya sa katawan ko. Mula sa magulo kong buhok, pababa sa mga hubad kong binti, hanggang sa manipis na straps na halos kumakapit na lang sa sleepwear dress ko.

I suddenly felt too exposed.

Napababa agad ang tingin ko sa sarili ko at doon ko lang na-realize na halos lumuluwa na pala ang su*so ko sa sobrang baba ng neckline ng suot ko.

Shit.

Pasimple kong hinila pataas ang strap ng damit ko.

I cleared my throat awkwardly. “Nagpunta ka lang ba rito para tumitig?”

A slow smirk appeared on his lips.

“Careful, Amour,” he murmured lazily. “You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

Kumunot agad ang noo ko. “No one calls me Amour.”

“Then consider me special.”

“Why would I?” I crossed my arms defensively.

Saglit na bumaba ang tingin niya sa dibdib ko bago dahan-dahang bumalik sa mukha ko.

“You tell me.”

Napaiwas ako agad ng tingin nang maalala ko na naman ang panaginip ko.

The way he filled me with his big d*ck. The tingling pain and good sensation he gave me. The heat. 

Bigla kong naisip kung gano’n ba talaga siya kalaki in real life.

“You really are curious, aren’t you?”

Napakurap ako. “Huh?”

His mouth twitched slightly. “My eyes are up here, Amour. Not down there.”

Mabilis akong napatingin sa mga mata niya.

“Delusional ka talaga ‘no?” Mabilis kong sagot kahit muntik na ’kong mautal sa lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko.

“If you wanted to look at my bulge, you could’ve been less obvious.”

“Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo.” Pagmamatigas ko. 

Nagkibit-balikat lang siya.

“You don’t have to admit it yet,” he said with a smirk. “I can wait.”

Napaawang ang labi ko sa kapal ng mukha niya.

“Nagpunta ka lang ba rito para asarin ako?” taas-kilay kong tanong.

“Father wants everyone downstairs.”

Biglang naging bored ang tono niya, parang nawalan agad siya ng gana.

“Okay,” mabilis kong sagot. “You can go now.”

Pero hindi pa rin siya umalis.

I was about to close the door nang magsalita ulit siya.

“Did I wake you?”

Napakurap ako at uminit ang buong mukha ko.

I wanted to scream. Because technically? Yes.

He interrupted the filthiest dream of my entire life.

“No,” mabilis kong sagot. “Patulog pa lang dapat ako.”

I almost told him, I just dreamed about losing my virginity to you.

Thank God napigilan ko ang bibig ko.

His gaze stayed on me for one long second. Parang may binabasa siya sa mukha ko.

Then finally, umatras siya.

“Sleep carefully tonight, Amour.”

My stomach tightened.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

His smirk deepened slightly.

“You dream too loudly.”

Nanlaki ang mata ko.

“WHAT?!”

Pero nakatalikod na siya habang naglalakad palayo sa hallway.

I quickly shut the door and napasandal ako rito habang mabilis ang paghinga ko.

Oh my God.

Oh my God.

Narinig ba niya?

I wanted to disappear. Humiga ulit ako sa kama at mariing tinakpan ang mukha ko gamit ang unan.

Pero kahit anong pilit kong magalit—

My body still remembered the weight of him in my dream. The sound of his voice against my ear. The way he whispered ‘breathe for me’ habang unti-unti niya akong pinupuno.

I pressed my thighs together hard.

This island was going to ruin me.

Pagkababa ko sa first floor, tahimik na ang buong mansion.

Karamihan sa mga ilaw ay dim na, maliban sa napakalaking chandelier na nakasabit sa entrance hall.

Mas malamig tingnan ang buong lugar kapag gabi. The hallways looked darker. The silence felt heavier. Even the portraits on the walls suddenly seemed like they were watching me move.

Nakita ko agad si Eli nakaupo sa grand staircase habang kumakain ng strawberries direkta mula sa crystal bowl.

“Wow,” she said habang pababa-baba ang tingin sa akin. “You look traumatized.”

Napailing ako habang lumalapit sa kanya.

“Nasaan si Mama?”

“Still with Dad.” She popped another strawberry into her mouth. “Wedding discussions.”

“Until this late?” I asked.

Eli shrugged casually. “That’s how things work here.”

My brows furrowed. “Mukhang hindi ka fan ng wedding.”

Her eyes briefly flickered toward me before she looked away.

“It’s not the wedding.”

“Eh ano?”

Hindi agad siya sumagot.

“People change when they stay on this island too long.”

May gumapang na lamig sa likod ko.

Before I could ask another question—

Footsteps echoed from the hallway.

Enzo appeared wearing black sweatpants and a loose white shirt this time, dark hair still slightly damp like he had just showered.

He looked even hotter.

His gray eyes landed on me immediately. 

Heat exploded across my face nang maalala ko na naman ang panaginip ko.

The way he buried his di*ck inside me.

The way he groaned against my mouth.

Even if it wasn’t real— My body reacted like it was.

“What’s up, sisters?” he said casually.

Gumapang sa isip ko ang boses niya sa panaginip ko saying ‘I’ll be careful’. My thighs almost pressed together automatically.

Before I could answer—

A loud crash suddenly echoed somewhere upstairs.

Napatalon si Eli.

Then—

A woman screamed.

“What the hell?!” napamura ako.

Another loud sound followed. Glass shattering. Tapos bigla na lang tumahik. 

My chest tightened immediately.

“Stay here,” Enzo said sharply.

Pero bago pa siya tuluyang makalakad—

Another scream echoed through the mansion.

This time clearer.

A woman crying.

“Please—!”

Napahinto ako.

There was real fear in that voice.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Eli habang mabilis nang umaakyat si Enzo sa stairs.

“Kuya—” Eli called after him.

“Stay downstairs.”

His tone left no room for argument.

Parang may invisible string na sabay na hinihila at binabaluktot ang sikmura ko habang pinapanood ko siyang lumayo. 

Gumapang ang lamig sa balat ko nang hindi ko na matanaw si Enzo. 

Something was wrong. Really wrong.

Eli cursed softly under her breath. Then she noticed me staring toward the second floor.

“No,” she said immediately.

“What?”

“You’re thinking.”

“Eli, sino iyong sumigaw?” Imposibleng si Mama iyon. Alam ko ang boses niya. 

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga. “Amara, just don’t go upstairs.”

“Why?”

Her jaw tightened slightly. Hindi siya nakasagot. 

Dahan-dahan akong napatingin ulit sa madilim na hallway sa taas. Huminga ako nang malalim bago tuluyang umakyat.

“Amara!”

I ignored Eli and climbed the staircase anyway. Nakakabingi na ang katahimikan. Hindi ko na narinig ulit ang babaeng sumigaw kanina. 

Only the sound of my heartbeat filled my ears habang papalapit ako sa hallway.

Then I noticed a door slightly open sa pinakadulo ng hallway. May mainit na ilaw na tumatagas mula sa maliit na siwang nito.

And somehow… I could hear breathing. 

Kumabog ang pulso ko sa lamig na gumapang sa balat ko.

I stepped closer carefully until my fingers touched the door. Then slowly— I pushed it open.

Tinikom ko ang bibig ko at dahan-dahang nilibot ang paningin ko sa buong kwarto.

Parang hindi ito ginalaw ng panahon. 

Cream curtains swayed softly dahil sa hangin mula sa bahagyang bukas na bintana. May mga old perfume bottles na maayos na nakahanay sa vanity. Fresh white roses sat beside them, buhay na buhay pa, as if someone had just replaced them this morning.

Then my eyes landed on the massive portrait above the fireplace. Ang babae mula sa larawan sa baba. Valentina Montemayor.

And standing beneath it was Enzo. Nakatalikod siya sa ’kin, tense ang malapad niyang balikat. One hand rested against the edge of the desk habang bahagya siyang nakayuko, his breathing slow and heavy like he was trying to control something inside him.

Biglang humigpit ang dibdib ko. Hanggang sa bumaba ang tingin ko sa sahig. There was a shattered wine glass on the floor. 

My eyes widened.

“Enzo…”

Mabagal niya kong nilingon. And gosh, his gray eyes looked terrifyingly dark tonight.

“Didn’t anyone teach you how to follow instructions?” he hissed.