Kabanata 1

Isang linggo na ang lumipas simula no’ng mailipat ako sa kumpanya ni Linden. Maraming naging proseso bago ako tuluyang nakalipat—breach of contract, legal papers, and everything. Pero nagtataka ako kung bakit hindi man lang kumilos ang pamilya ko para pigilan ang pag-alis ko. In the end, I disregarded it. Mas mabuti na ang ganito, hindi na ganoon ka-pressure ang paligid.

​Everything went smoothly since I got here. Madali akong naka-adapt sa mga sumunod na buwan, at halos naging close ko na ang lahat. However, I didn’t see my boss, Linden, during those months dahil sa sunod-sunod na business trips. Sabi ng mga katrabaho ko, ganoon daw talaga siya, laging nasa malayo.

​The company is currently expanding, adapting from South Korea since doon talaga nakabase ang main source ng clothing designs nila. Pero ang mas interesting ngayon, hindi na lang sila sa tela nakabase kundi pati sa animation. They want to give life to the designs.

​"Babalik na si Boss ngayon! Be ready! Ise-check ang mga sketches niyo at may meeting tayo pagkatapos!" sigaw ni Brandon sabay kindat sa akin. "Ready yours, Miss Pretty. I’m sure mapipili ‘yang sa’yo!"

​Tinawanan ko lang siya, pero deep inside, bumalik ang kaba ko.

After months of not seeing Linden, he’s finally coming back. Fresh pa rin sa isip ko ang huli naming pagkikita sa dati kong trabaho.

​Hapon na nang dumating siya. Sinadya kong magpahuli dahil sa sobrang kaba. I’m confident with my work, pero sa sarili ko? Fifty-fifty, lalo na’t makakaharap ko na naman siya.

​Nang turn ko na, huminga ako nang malalim. Pagpasok ko, nakatalikod siya sa akin habang may hawak na baso ng alak.

​"You still don't remember, do you?"

​Bigla siyang humarap, at pakiramdam ko ay tumigil ang mundo ko nang magtama ang mga mata namin. He looked more mature, more handsome... and then I saw it. The scar under his eye. Bakit ngayon ko lang ‘to napansin?

​"Hindi mo ba talaga maalala, Lellah?" malamig niyang tanong.

​"Hindi ko po kayo maintindihan," kinakabahang sagot ko.

​"I was the stranger who took your virginity that night."

​Natulala ako at nabitawan ang hawak kong folder. All the papers scattered on the floor, but I couldn't move.

Bakit ngayon lang niya ito sinabi? He could have told me earlier! But now I’m under his company. Paano ko siya matatakasan?

​"I was drunk," sabi ko, hindi pa rin maproseso ang lahat. "I couldn't remember."

​"You were drvgged that night, that's why you didn't remember who you gave your virginity to. You played with me. And now that I know you’re married, paano mo ako pananagutan?"

​Panagutan? Nabuntis ko ba siya? Inaasar ba ako ng lalaking ‘to? Pinagti-trip-an?

​"I didn't play with you," mariin kong sabi. "At bakit ngayon mo lang sinasabi ‘to?"

​"I gave you enough time to remember, but you didn't, Lellah."

​Bumigat ang dibdib ko. Bakit pakiramdam ko ay magsu-suffer ako sa pagbabalik niya?

"I don't remember, Sir. The face... it was blurry. All I know is someone took my virginity."

​"You took my virginity, too," he coldly said. "You were the one who seduced me."

​Natahimik ako. Wala akong maalala sa mga pinaggagawa ko noong gabing ‘yon.

​"So... I planned to make your life a living hell here as punishment."

Napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Ang mga sketches na pinagpuyatan ko ay nakakalat sa paanan niya, pero mukhang wala siyang balak na hayaan akong pulutin ang mga ‘yon.

He took a slow sip from his glass, his gaze never leaving my face.

​"Living hell?" ulit ko, halos pabulong. "Bakit? Pareho tayong biktîma ng gabing 'yon, Linden. If you knew the truth, bakit kailangan mo pa akong kunin sa kumpanya ni Cynthia? Bakit kailangan mo pa akong ilapit sa'yo kung gagawin mo lang palang miserable ang buhay ko?"

​He stepped over my sketches, slowly closing the gap between us until I could smell that same woodsmoke and mint scent again. It was the scent of that night. My breath hitched.

​"Because I don't like losing control, Lellah," he whispered, his voice echoing in the silent room. "That night, you made me lose everything, my principles, my composure. I searched for you, only to find out that the woman who begged me to stay is actually someone else's wife."

​He reached out, his thumb brushing the scar under his eye.

"This? I got this because I was too distracted thinking about you that night. You're a distraction I need to eliminate, or perhaps... a debt I need to collect."

​"I'm married," paalala ko sa kanya. Iyon lang ang tanging naisip kong palusot para hindi ko siya mapanagutan. "May asawa ako, Linden. My parents will—"

​"Your parents?" He let out a dark, mocking laugh. "Sino sa tingin mo ang nag-ayos ng paglipat mo rito nang walang reklamo? I bought your contract, Lellah. I bought you."

​Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Kaya ba walang imik sina Mama at Papa no'ng umalis ako?

​"Starting tomorrow, you won't be staying in your apartment anymore," he continued, turning his back to me as if the conversation was over. "You'll be staying in my place. If you want to keep your career and your family's name intact, you'll follow every command I give. No questions asked."

​"You're crazy," I hissed, my tears finally falling.

Mas lalo akong nanlamig ngayon at kinabahan na parang lalabas ang puso ko.

​He glanced at me over his shoulder, his eyes cold and devoid of any mercy.

"Maybe. But you started this fire, Lellah. Now, you’re going to burn in it with me."