CHAPTER 2: THE CATCH

Nagising ako sa isang hindi pamilyar na kwarto.

Madilim ang paligid ngunit makikita mo parin kung gaano ito kalaki. Ang tanging nagbibigay lamang ng liwanag ay ang lampshade na nakalagay sa gilid ng kama kaya hindi ko maaninag kung ano ang bumubuo sa paligid ng malaking kwarto. 

Sinubukan kong iupo ang sarili ko nang maramdaman ko ang malamig na bagay na dumampi sa hita ko, kinapa ko ito at napansing isang kadenang bakal pala ito na nakagapos sa kaliwang binti ko.

Pinilit ko itong tanggalin pero kahit anong lakas na gawin ko ay hindi ko kayang sirain ang bakal na nakapulupot sa paa ko.

“Suko na agad?” 

Tumayo lahat ng balahibo sa katawan ko nang marinig ko ang isang malalim na boses na nagmumula sa loob ng kwarto. 

“S-sino ka? Bakit mo ko kinadena dito! H-hindi ako natatakot sayo!” pinilit kong patigasin ang boses ko upang magtunong matapang pero halatang takot ang nangingibabaw dito.

Narinig ko siyang tumawa na nagpataas uli sa mga balahibo ko. It sounded like a low growl of some sort pero di ko maipaliwanag dahil kaba at takot lamang ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.

“Right…you don’t sound scared at all” 

Sinundan ko ang boses niya at doon ko nakita ang pigura ng isang lalaking nakaupo sa pinakamadilim na bahagi ng kwarto malapit sa mga libro. 

I couldn’t see his whole figure but I could clearly see how his eyes glistened like a predator waiting for its prey.

“Anong kailangan mo sakin, my family is probably looking for me now, pakawalan mo na ako bago pa lumala to at makulong ka” banta ko kahit na ang totoo ay walang pamilya ang maghahanap sakin.

Nanatili siyang tahimik at nakatingin lang sa direksyon ko ngunit maya-maya pa ay tumayo siya.

“Are you threatening me Ms. Ramirez?” Unti-unti siyang lumapit sa dulo ng kama at umupo sa dulo nito habang nakaharap sa akin. Hindi ko mabasa ang ekspresyon sa mukha niya na tila ba wala siyang kaemo-emosyon.

Tanging kabog na lamang ng dibdib ko ang nararamdaman ko dahil sa takot sa maaaring gawin niya sa akin. Dumagdag pa rito ang nakita kong baril na nakasuksok sa shoulder holster sa loob ng suit niya.

“Please let me go, I’ll do anything” I pleaded with all I can because this might be my last chance to negotiate.

“Anything?” he moved closer to me

“Yes, just please…let me go” I tried to move back farther but I felt the headboard of the bed against my back

Yun na lamang ang tanging nasabi ko bago tumulo ang luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko at pinilit kong pakalmahin ang sarili ko.

Suddenly, I felt something warm pressed on my lips. That’s when I realized what was happening.

He is kissing me. 

My head went foggy for a moment when something slimy went inside my mouth and I felt electricity go down my spine. I went frigid and couldn’t move for a second.

“You shouldn’t do that, I am weak to tears” He smiled gently matapos niyang kumalas sakin.

Hindi pa ako nakakabalik sa realidad nang maramdaman ko ang marahan niyang paghaplos sa binti ko na nakaangkla sa katawan niya.

“FUCK! LET GO!” I demanded.

Pinilit ko siyang sipain ngunit nahuli niya ang paa ko at hinawakan nang mariin kaya napasinghap ako sa sakit. 

If my hands weren’t bound in shackles this would’ve been much easier.

I tried punching him but it didn't do much damage dahil nakaposas ang kamay ko.

“You know, I can only tolerate so much” his tone suddenly got serious and then just like a paper he was able to flip me over and went on top of me.

Shit ang lakas niya, I can’t even move in this position while he is on top of me.

Hindi ko na mapigilan pa ang umiyak dahil sa nangyayari. He can overpower me enough na hindi ako makakalaban.

I suddenly heard a familiar sound of a zipper being opened.

Naiiyak akong nagpupumiglas because I can only imagine what is going to happen.

“Shh, relax” he whispered in my ears and for a second I felt the electricity go down my spine again. 

NO, I AM NOT GOING DOWN THIS WAY!

“MFUCKNGYUU! MMAMTY KA NNG!” I tried cursing him but because my face is buried in the pillow I cannot say it clearly.

I gasped for air when he suddenly flipped me over while sitting on the side of the bed. I was frantic and crying and looking for anything I can use as a weapon nang bigla siyang may iniharap na isang pirasong papel sa mukha ko.

BACKGROUND CHECK.

“Will you stop crying, it turned me on earlier but now it’s just plain annoying” iritado niyang sabi sabay hablot ng papel at doon nakita ang isang squared bag na may lamang mga papeles sa gilid ng kama.

He stood up and for a minute I thought lalabas siya ng kwarto but he only turned the lights on which blinded me.

“Alliana Ramirez, 23 years old, graduate of Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English” he said while reading a paper he got from the the folder inside the bag”

“No family or relatives, just friends from school and work” he added while flipping the paper over.

“There’s no use in lying Ms. Ramirez, my men already did the research. Walang maghahanap sayo dahil wala kang pamilya” he said expressionlessly

Parang lason ang mga salitang binitawan niya na nagpapakirot sa puso ko. Tama ang bawat katagang sinabi niya.

“This is none of my business and I don’t really care much about your story. However, I care about money and I bought you for 50 Million kaya di ako papayag na wala ako mapapala” He looked at me and our eyes met. The same vicious eyes that looked like it’s looking for its prey.

“I’ll tell you what, I am looking for a wife. I needed someone that has no background at walang sabit. I can make you an offer to clear that 50 million and give you more money as long as you agree to my terms” 

I am so confused right now.

Kanina lang I was sold in an auction, then woke up in an unfamiliar place. I thought I was going to be raped then killed and now I am being offered a marriage contract.

What the fuck is happening?

“You look confused ,Ms. Ramirez” he said and took another paper from the folder and put it down on the bed.

MARRIAGE CONTRACT.

“Nakalagay diyan lahat ng bagay na dapat mong malaman patungkol sa terms and agreement kung sakaling papayag ka sa inaalok ko. However, if you choose to refuse, I don't have any other options but to get my money back, and you don't wanna know how I'll do it” 

May halong pagbabanta sa boses niya at isang bagay lang ang pumapasok sa isipan ko kundi maaaring ibenta niya uli ako sa ibang tao at hindi ko alam kung maoofferan pa ako ng ganito. 

Hindi ko alam kung bakit nakikipagtalo ako sa sarili ko sa isang desisyon na hindi ko naman dapat kaharap. 

“Time is ticking Ms. Ramirez and my men is waiting for you outside of this door”

Fuck he is cornering me.

“Give me the gist” I said, which made him smile devilishly.

“For three-years, you'll be my wife. We’ll go through the whole wedding shenanigans and look like a perfect couple. All you have to do is come with me to different occasions, galas and  parties and I'll give you everything you desire, just name it.” He said flauntingly.

“After that, we’ll divorce”

“What’s the catch?” I asked

Hindi ako naniniwalang yun lamang ang kondisyon niya. I can tell from the way he talks and him being in that very auction means he is part of something bad. 

He could make me do something illegal or God knows what.

He sat in a chair facing the bed, just a little father but enough to have a proper conversation.

“The catch is you will be a mother to my son”