LOGINLorraine's POV "Hmmm, it's been a while, Lorraine. What about we do it again?" My eyes twitched. "Siraulo ka ba?!" mariing tanong ko sa kanya hindi siya kaagad sumagot at nginitian lamang ako. Ilang sandali pa ay umangat ang kamay niya, dahan-dahan iyong gumalaw hanggang sa tuluyan itong dumapo sa aking balikat na agad ko namang winaksi. "Lumabas ka, Mark..." utos ko. "Ayoko." "Sinabi ng lumabas ka!" pabulyaw kong pag-ulit at doon siya muling napangisi.Mula sa mga mata ko ay bumaba ang tingin niya patungo sa aking katawan. I saw him staring at my body, especially on my chest for seconds before he lifted his gaze up—back to my face."Paano ako lalabas kung ganito ka ganda ang tanawin rito sa loob?" banat niya sabay iminuwestro ang katawan ko. Hindi ko alam kung ano pa ang dapat kong sabihin para mapaalis niya...kaya bago pa man ako tuluyang masiraan ng bait at mabilis akong tumalikod sa kanya, dala-dala ang pajamas na kinuha ko sa closet at dumiretsyo sa loob ng banyo up
LORRAINE’S POV The headache started before I even left the office. Maybe because of the meetings. Maybe because of the investors. Or maybe because Mark had successfully ruined my peace again earlier. I loosened a tired breath while gathering the last few documents on my desk before slipping them inside my bag. Outside the glass walls of my office, the city was already glowing beneath the evening lights. Habang nasa opisina ako...iniisip ko kung ano na naman ang maabutan ko mamaya sa bahay pag-uwi ko? kaya minsan talaga ay gusto ko na lamang rito manatili sa opisina, kaysa umuwi roon at mas lalo lang sasakit ang ulo ko. But eventually, I still found myself walking through the mansion doors nearly an hour later. The house was quiet again. And for some reason, that silence made me lower my guard slightly. I removed my heels near the entrance before rubbing my temple tiredly. God… I just wanted water. Then sleep. Nothing else. Without bothering to turn on more lights, I he
MARK’S POV The moment I stepped downstairs, the faint sound of movement immediately led me toward the kitchen. Soft lights illuminated the marble counters. And sitting casually on one of the stools near the island was Flora. Mag-isa lang siya roon at maya-maya pa ay unti-unti siyang napalingon sa akin ng mapansin niya ang presents ko. Then slowly...she smiled, sweetly at me. Kagaya ng kung paano niya nginingitian si Brando kapag nakikita niya ito. “Well…” mahina niyang sambit habang inilalapag ang wine glass na hawak niya. “Looks like I’m not the only one still awake.” I ignored the tone in her voice and walked straight toward the counter instead. Honestly, I wasn’t in the mood for her games tonight. I grabbed a glass from the shelf before pouring myself water. But before I could even take a sip, I suddenly felt movement beside me. Then warmth. Flora casually wrapped both hands around my arm and leaned against me without hesitation. Close enough that I could f
MARK’S POV By the time I got back to the house, it was already past 9:30 in the evening. I stepped out of the car and glanced toward the massive mansion standing beneath the dim outdoor lights. Usually, at this hour, I’d already hear something from inside. Pinaghalong halakhak ni Flora at Brando, kasama ang mga bisita nila. Pero ngayon ay masyadong tahimik ang paligid. I loosened a breath before walking toward the entrance and unlocking the door myself. And the moment I stepped inside, silence immediately greeted me. No footsteps. No conversation. No sound from the television. Even the living room lights were dimmed. My brows furrowed slightly. “Either they’re asleep…” bulong ko habang unti-unting hinuhubad ang relo ko. “Or doing something disgusting upstairs again.” Honestly, with Brando and Flora? Could be both. I tossed my car keys onto the center table before walking toward the staircase. A faint exhaustion sat heavily on my shoulders now. Visiting Gabriel always did
MARK'S POV(... Continuation) I could still remember the sound of that explosion....it still lived somewhere inside my head no matter how many years passed. I blinked once before looking away from the pictures. Gabriel noticed me. “You’re thinking too loudly again,” he muttered while tossing me bottled water. I caught it easily. “Didn’t know that was possible.” “With you? Very impossible..." asar niya, ngumisi lamang ako. I twisted the bottle cap open before leaning against the kitchen counter. Then finally asked, “How have you been?” Gabriel shrugged once.“Therapy helps....bukod doon ay masyado ring makukulit ang mga inaanak mo kaya kahit papaano ay hindi ko na masyadong naiisip ang senaryong iyon," aniya, mababa ang boses ngunit may bahid ng ngiti sa kanyang labi. And that answer alone told me enough. PTSD never really disappeared. Not after Iraq. Not after losing the people who become a part of your life...your journey. You just learned how to carry it wit
MARK’S POV The moment I stepped out of Lorraine’s company building, the smirk on my face slowly faded. Not completely. Because despite how entertaining it was to tease her there was still something sitting heavily at the back of my mind. Something I couldn’t ignore. I loosened a breath as I unlocked my car and slid into the driver’s seat. Then a few seconds later, the engine roared to life. The city blurred past me quietly while one hand rested against the steering wheel. Traffic. Noise. Sunlight reflecting against glass buildings. Masyadong normal ang araw na ito sa isang katulad ko na sanay sa magulo at maingay na kapaligaran. Kasi ang salitang katahimikan ay nakakatakot kapag nasa militar ka. Pero ngayon ay iba...kasi tahimik nga ang paligid, pero hindi naman ang utak ko. I kept replaying Lorraine’s face inside that office. The way she looked at me when I cornered her against the wall. The way she froze when I told her I’d willingly submit to her instead.
Lorraine's POV “Hello, Lorraine,” he said smoothly, his gaze locked onto mine.Napalunok ako. Hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita. "Why are you here?"Ngumiti siya at humakbang nang isang beses papalapit sa akin. Dumukwang siya sa aking mukha dahilan upang mapa-atras ako ng bahagya. “As I live and
Lorraine’s POV I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my face half-done....foundation smooth, lips bare, eyes… already betraying me. Red. Swollen. Halatang pagod na pagod at puyat. I took a deep breath. Then another. Pero hindi pa rin sapat. Because the moment I blinked.. a tear s
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 fa
Lorraine's POV "It's Mark, baby..." bulalas niya habang isa-isang tinatanggal ang butones ng suot kong damit. Ilang segundo pa lamang ang nakalipas ng kanyang inilayo ang labi sa akin. Pero muli ko siyang hinila sa kanyang batok, at ako na mismo ang humalik sa kanya. "F*ck!" he cursed while







