(KABANATA) 02

Lorraine’s POV

The moment I stepped inside the house...I knew.

Isang nakakabinging katahimikan ang sumalubong sa akin, ngunit hindi ko iyon ikinatuwa. Dahil alam ko na kapag ganitong katahimik ang bahay ay na dito silang dalawa.

My grip on my bag tightened slightly as I walked further in, the faint sound of voices reaching my ears.

A laughter.bA woman’s laughter.

Light. Sweet. Fake.

My chest tightened, but my steps didn’t stop.

Not anymore.

Hindi na ako ‘yong babaeng uurong.

Not after everything they did to me.

When I reached the living room...there they were.

Exactly where I expected them to be. My husband… comfortably seated on the couch like he owned the world and beside her was my stepsister.

Nakakapit sa ito sa Asawa ko na para bang pagmamay-ari niya ito at ako ang extra sa love story nilang dalawa.

Her arm wrapped around his, her body leaning against him like she belonged there.

Like I didn’t exist.

Then slowly, his eyes landed on me.

And then he smirked, when he found me already looking at them.

“Well, look who finally decided to come home,” he said casually, as if I had just been out for groceries instead of disappearing for the night.

I didn’t answer.

I just stood there.

Watching.

Taking it in.

Memorizing every detail I used to pretend I didn’t see.

My stepsister’s lips curved into a mocking smile.

“Oh, ate,” she cooed sweetly, tilting her head slightly. “We were starting to get worried about you,"

Halos muntik ng kumawala sa aking bibig ang isang sarkastikong tawa ng marinig ko ang sinabi niya.

“I doubt that,” I said calmly. "Baka nga ay mas matuwa kapa kung may mangyaring masama sa akin."

My husband chuckled, his arm tightening slightly around her waist.

“Careful,” he said, his tone laced with amusement. “You’re starting to sound bitter.”

Parang may kung anong kumalabit sa loob ko.. but instead of breaking me...it steadied me.

I took a step closer.

Then another.

Until I was standing right in front of them.

“Should I not be?” I asked quietly.

His smirk didn’t fade.

If anything, it deepened.

“You’re the one who couldn’t keep up,” aniya, pinapaalala sa akin ang bagay na ayaw kong gawin. “Don’t blame us if someone else can give what you can’t.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Sharp.

My gaze slowly shifted to my stepsister.

She didn’t look away.

Hindi na siya nahihiya. Mukhang mas proud pa nga siya sa sinabi ng sarili kong asawa.

“Mas magaling iyong babae na dinala kanina ni Brando..we did have a threesome and it was great,” she added softly, her voice almost teasing. “You should’ve just agreed. At kung ginawa mo iyon ay hindi sana umabot sa ganito.”

Something cold settled in my chest.

Not pain.

Something else.

I nodded slowly.

“Yeah,” I said.

Both of them seemed slightly caught off guard.

Not by my words, but by how easily I said them.

How calm I was.

I glanced at my husband again.

Then smiled. Not sweet. Not soft.

But sharp enough to make something flicker in his eyes.

“You’re right,” I continued. “I couldn’t give you what you wanted.”

A pause.

Then I tilted my head slightly.

“But don’t worry,” I added, my voice dropping just enough. “I found someone who could give me what you can't..."

That did it.

The smirk on his face faltered..just for a second.

But I saw it.

I saw the shift.

The crack.

“Excuse me?” he asked, his tone no longer as relaxed. Mukhang hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinabi ko.

I met his gaze directly.

Unflinching.

“Didn’t you say I was lacking and boring because I couldn't join you in your fun?” I continued. “So I fixed that.”

My stepsister straightened slightly beside him.

Tension creeping into her posture.

“You’re bluffing,” agad niya.

I looked at her.

Then smiled again.

“Am I?” I asked. "I don't think so."

Silence.

This time.. they were the ones who didn’t know what to say.

I adjusted my bag on my shoulder.

Then stepped back.

“I’m tired,” I said simply. “I’ll be in my room.”

Hindi na ako naghintay pa ng sagot mula sa kanya. Ngunit ng ilang hakbang na ang layo ko sa kanilang kinaroroonan ay narinig ko ang isang malakas na kalabog mula sa aking likuran.

Ilang segundo lang ay napahinto ako sa paglalakad ng naramdaman ko ang malakas na pwersa na nakahawak sa aking balikat.

"Wag na wag mo akong tatalikitan, Lorraine..." mariing sambit ni Brando, marahas akong hinila paharap ulit sa kanya.

Nang nagtama ang mga mata naming dalawa ay wala akong naging reaksyon. At dahil doon ay mas lalong tumalim ang kanyang tingin sa akin.

"Hinding-hindi ka magpapagalaw sa ibang lalaki, Lorraine. Sa akin ka lang dahil asawa kita!" mariing asik niya, at doon ay hindi ko na mapigilang kumawala ang halakhak sa aking bibig.

Huminga ako nang malalim at marahas na binawi ang aking balikat sa kanyang pagkakahawak.

"Mula ng dinala mo ang babaeng 'yan dito sa bahay natin. At nang itinali mo ako sa upuan upang ipakita sa akin kung paano mo siya angkinin...ay wala ka ng asawa, Brando! Kaya h'wag na h'wag mong gagamitin sa akin ang linyang iyan dahil nakakasukang pakinggan--"

*Slap*

"Put*ngina kang babae ka!!" bulyaw niya sa akin matapos lumapat sa aking pisnge ang kanyang palad.

Hindi pa man ako nakakabawi ay malakas niyang hinila ang aking buhok. Sapilitan niya akong ipinaharap muli sa kanya.

"Asawa kita. At kahit ilang babae ang iuuwi ko sa bahay na ito...at kahit na kung sino man ang angkinin ko sa harapan mo ay wala kang pakialam! Hindi mo maibigay ang simpleng kahilingan ko. Kaya ngayon ay wag kang mag-iinarte?" mariing sambit niya at ngayon ay nakahawak na sa aking panga.

"Naiintindihan mo ba ang sinabi ko?!" pasigaw niyang dugtong, at nang hindi ako sumagot ay pabato niya akong binitawan. At napaupo ako sa sahig.

Napahawak ako sa aking pisnge ng maramdaman ko ang hapdi niyon. Tumiim ang bagang ko, muling tumingala sa kanila at gusto kong masuka ng makita kong naghahalikan na naman silang dalawa sa mismong harapan ko.

"Can we have sex again, honey?" mapanuksong sambit ni Flora...at paminsan-minsan ay lumilingon siya sa akin habang nakapaskil sa kanyang labi ang isang nakakaasar na ngisi.

"Of course, honey. Should we do it here...or to our room?" tugon ng asawa ko.

Humalakhak ang stepsister ko, at ilang sandali pa ay mabilis itong tumalon sa bisig ng Asawa ko.

"Here...and I want Lorraine to watch you us fucking.." aniya.

Agad na sumulyap sa akin si Brando..at hindi nagtagal ay nagsulputan ang tauhan niya at sapilitan akong pinaupo sa isang silya.

"Tie her properly...make sure she can't leave that f*cking chair, not until my woman said so.."

TO BE CONTINUED....