Chapter 1

Atasha woke up feeling hungry but she wondered why someone was hugging her. She adjusted a bit because her head still hurt and she also felt the pain in her middle of her tight. Until she came to her senses and immediately sat down because of that. She looked at her side when someone moved there and hugged her tighter. She saw his body without a top so she immediately looked at her body and she was naked!

“What have you done Atasha!” —Atasha whispered softly to herself and held her head. She saw the clothes on the floor so she removed the man's hand from her. She was just careful because the man might wake up. When she did it properly, she immediately stood up even though her womanhood hurt, then she quickly got dressed.

She did not look at the man or even look at his face because of her shame. She ran to the door and grabbed the doorknob then opened it. She suddenly stopped because there was a part of her that did not want to leave. When she turns her head back, she could not see his face because he was now hugging the pillow she used earlier.

She just shook her head and got out of there. When she looked at that hallway it was so vast and empty. It is still dark in her eyes; it is probably dawn. She carefully walked in that hallway and tried to find the way out. Which she did. She saw a magnificent staircase that made her frown.

“The wealth of its owner.” She said and walked there carefully and looked around. A few minutes after she got off, she saw the main door. When she was about to open it she heard someone talking outside so she quickly left there lest she be caught.

She ran to an unknown place then saw the kitchen and smiled because she saw an ordinary door. She first listened if there was anyone outside, she knew that way was going to the back and to make sure there was no one, she immediately opened it and went out.

Grass greeted her with a fragrant surrounding that she knew it was a garden. She is barefooted because she was wearing her heels and that would make a noise. She stopped being amazed at that garden before she was caught so she quickly looked for a way out.

“Why is it so big?!” She whispered because she had been circling there for a few minutes.

“Yes, let's go there and I have something to ask.”

Atasha's eyes widened when she heard the conversation and immediately hid in the grass. Her hand was shaking in fear that she might be caught. But then she wondered why she was afraid? Because she was running away, she was ashamed of what happened especially he took her virginity.

She just shook her head at that thought.

“No. What I did was more embarrassing than embarrassing!”

She peeked through the plant to see the passer-by. It is still dark but the light on the poles that are there serves as a light on the road. Atasha was about to say something but lost her attention when she saw the two men talking next to her.

“Gun?!”

Her eyes widen and sat down on the grass which stunned her. She wondered how they had a gun, but she remembered that she was in a rich man's place and that they were probably guards with guns. She sighs in relief.

When they were far away, she got out and followed them. They were probably going to the main gate and she knew she could get out of there. A few minutes passed when she smiled because she was right. She hid and watched the guards talked at the gate; she had this opportunity to look around. Atasha's eyes wandered and she almost fainted when she saw the many guards there.

“My God! What did I get myself into?”

She looked at the men as they walked away which cheered her up because there was no guard at the gate. Her only problem is how she can go out without anyone noticing her.

She was thinking of a way to get out without being noticed but she was suddenly surprised because an alarm suddenly went off. Atasha was confused but she saw that the guards had left their positions and entered the house so she took advantage of that and immediately ran towards the gate even though she was very scared.

She was very happy to see that the gate was not locked. She is running fast. And because Atasha participated in the marathon when she was still a student, she immediately reached the exit that also had a guard.

She found a way to pass without being noticed by the guard inside the guard house. The opportunity suited her better when she saw someone call and the guard and was busy with the conversation, so she crawled on the floor even though she was wearing a dress. Even though her leg is already injured and her knee is also injured, it will be fine if she can get out of there.

“Woman sir? In a red dress? Alright sir, I will not let my guard down.” Her eyes widened when he heard that as she passed by the guard house. She knows it was her!

She immediately stood up after passing there and ran outside. Without looking back, she ran and ran and she reached the high way she still did not stop running. Until she could not run anymore because she was tired. She held her knees from exhaustion but she gasped when she noticed that her knee was bleeding at the same time, she could feel the pain in her feet.

She looked at the road and immediately get a taxi. After she said where was her house, she leaned against the backrest as she closed her eyes. She did not think that so much would happen in just one night. She remembered that she was in the bar until a man came up and insulted her and then there this man came like a knight in shining armor and they ended up in bed.

She touched her lips as she remembers everything that happened to them. How she moaned because of the pleasure the man was doing. She felt red and shook her head.

“Atasha you are flirting!”

She whispered softly and adjusted herself. That is when she realized that her hair was a mess. She looked at the rear-view mirror and the driver was looking at her earlier.

“Are you okay ma’am? You look like being rvpe.”

Atasha swallowed what the driver said and faked a smile.

“I am fine. I just fell on the grass and injured myself because I am drunk.” The driver nodded because of what she said.

“Are you sure ma’am? Because if not I will accompany you to the cop.”

Atasha was quiet because of that.

In her mind, yes, what that man did to her was not right, but she also wanted it. Not forced, she even convinced the man to kiss her again.

"Ma’am?" She blinked at what the driver said.

“I promise, I'm fine, don't worry.” She said with a smile so the driver could not do anything but nod and focus on driving again.

Atasha closed her eyes while waiting to reach home. She did not want to think about what happened to her. What she wants is to go home and hug her mom to regain her strength. But she immediately opens her eyes when she remembered her bag! Her wallet is there, she had nothing to pay but what worried her more was that she left it with the man. But she leaned back again when she remembered that she didn't have any business card there and even any identification with her, just money.

She breathed a sigh of relief because of that and she even laughed because her wallet was the only thing that she had on her bag.

“That car!” She shouts and the old man looked at her.

“Ah—hehe, that's a beautiful car I saw pass by.”

She said making the old man smile and nod. She held her breath because of her stupidity. What worries her more is that her car key is there and she is sure that her car is still there.

"But it’s okay because he has two cars, and the one he used last night was his favorite, so he’s really upset about it."

"It’s fine because there’s nothing there that could identify him, but since it was his favorite, he still feels regret."

"He couldn’t understand himself—he just didn’t want the guy to know who he was. Even though he knew the man recognized his face, the only thing he remembered was his scent. Maybe the shame of what he did inside the car—kissing the young man—was weighing on him more."

"He wanted to recall the young man’s face, but no matter how hard he tried to replay what happened between them, his drunkenness made it impossible."

"He snapped back to reality when the taxi stopped in front of a house—they had arrived. He had been lost in thought and hadn’t even noticed."

“‘Manong (driver), just a moment, please? I’ll get the payment inside the house.’"

"Without waiting for the driver’s response, he hurried inside. Luckily, he had a duplicate key to their gate hidden in the garden."

"He rushed in, went to his room, and grabbed money. Despite the pain in his feet, he ran back outside to pay the driver."

“‘Here you go, Manong. Keep the change,’ he said with a smile as the old man stepped out of the car."

“‘Ineng (young lady), are you really okay? You’re covered in wounds.’"

"Atasha winced."

“‘I’m sure, don’t worry,’ she replied, smiling."

“‘Thank you for this, ineng. This is a big amount.’"

“‘It’s nothing. Go ahead so you can get more passengers.’"

"She smiled as the driver left. She had given him a thousand pesos."

“‘Atasha!’"

"She turned when someone called her name and saw her mother. Just the sight of her mother’s face made her feel exhausted, and tears welled up in her eyes."

“‘My child! What happened to you?! I was so worried! You didn’t come home! Why are you covered in wounds?!’"

"She immediately hugged her mother and cried."

“‘M-Ma, I’m sorry,’ she sobbed, startling her mother, who simply rubbed her back."

“‘Hush now, child. Let’s go inside so I can treat your wounds.’"

"Her mother guided her inside and tended to her injuries. They stayed silent the whole time until Atasha finally spoke up."

“‘I went on a blind date, but it didn’t work out because the guy was rude. I was so pressured by your expectations that I went to a bar. I drank until someone harassed me, but a stranger saved me. I don’t know his name. He took me to his place because I was drunk, and… something happened between us—partly because I remembered your wish for a grandchild.’"

"Atasha cried as she spoke, shocking her mother."

“‘I woke up in a stranger’s house. I ran away, which is why I look like this. It’s true—something happened between us. I’m sorry, Ma, for not being careful. I did something that should only be done by married people.’"

"Atasha sobbed."

---

Her name was Atasha Selry (pronounced "Syri," with a silent ‘L’). She was the second and youngest child in their family. She had an older brother, but he and their father died in a plane crash while returning from Davao, where they had gone for business. The news of the crash devastated their family.

Her mother struggled to move on, but with Atasha’s support, she eventually recovered. Atasha promised herself she would never abandon her mother.

Their business failed and had to be shut down. Atasha wasn’t capable of managing it then, and with her mother emotionally broken, they had no choice.

“‘F-Forgive me, child. Because of me, you ended up like this. I never expected this to happen. Don’t blame yourself—it’s my fault.’"

"Atasha shook her head."

“‘Let’s forget about it, Mama. I… I wanted it too,’ she admitted shyly, making her mother pause before finally smiling."

“‘Child, do you have feelings for him?’"

"Atasha frowned."

“‘Ma, we just met—I don’t even know him!’"

"Her mother nodded."

“‘But why did you run away? Shouldn’t the normal reaction be to scream at him?’"

"Atasha fell silent. Her mother was right. But the truth was simple: she had wanted it too. That’s why she didn’t react the way most women would."

“‘Ma, like I said, I wanted it. And I was too embarrassed to face him, so I ran.’"

"Her mother sighed."

“‘Ma,’ Atasha said seriously, making her mother look at her."

“‘What is it, child? Is there another problem?’"

“‘I’m hungry.’"

"Her mother scowled playfully."

“‘You scared me!’"

“‘Haha, Mama, come on, cook for me!’"

---

ATASHA

“‘What did you say?! You had a one-night stand?!’"

"I immediately threw something at Grace because she was so loud. Good thing we were in my office—otherwise, I would’ve ripped her hair out!"

“‘Your mouth is unbelievable, Grace!’ I snapped."

"Grace was my best friend, Ellen Grace. We’d known each other since high school and were still close."

"Of course, I loved her—even if she annoyed me half the time."

“‘Sorry, hehe. But seriously?’"

"I glared at her."

“‘You’re asking again?’"

"I sighed and looked at the papers on my desk. My business was wedding coordination—I organized weddings for couples."

"Oh, the irony. I arrange marriages while I’m left behind. But it’s fine because I’d rather take care of Mama."

“‘OMG!!! Besh, you’re not innocent anymore!’"

"I rolled my eyes. Grace had always teased me about being clueless about men. Joke’s on her—I still hadn’t had a boyfriend."

“‘I don’t care,’ I said without looking at her."

“‘Tell me everything! Was he hot?! Was it good?! Was he big?!’"

"I felt my face burn at her questions."

“‘Grace, you’re impossible!’"

"She laughed."

“‘Haha, what’s the big deal? We’re both adults, but you act like a kid. Hello, we’re almost 28!’"

“‘That’s next year!’ I shot back."

“‘I know, but come on, Sha-sha, be practical.’"

"Sha-sha was my nickname—what Mama and even my coworkers called me sometimes. I sighed."

“‘Fine, tsk. He was big, it was good, but as for looks… I don’t remember.’"

"Grace squealed. This friend of mine was so loud."

“‘OMG!! It’s the end of the world! My friend Sha-sha is finally a woman!’"

"I shook my head. She wasn’t wrong—I’d never cared about men before."

“‘But seriously, you didn’t see his face? How will you find him?!’"

“‘Why would I even look for him?!’"

“‘Dummy! What if you’re pregnant?! Did he use protection?!’"

"I froze. Now that she mentioned it… He hadn’t. And he finished inside me. My eyes widened."

“‘Oh my God! Don’t tell me he came inside?!’ Grace gasped. I nodded."

“‘OMG!! I’m gonna be an auntie!’"

"I almost fell off my chair. This crazy friend of mine! I thought she’d be angry at the guy or scold me for being reckless!"

"My God, I have a lunatic for a best friend!"

“‘Grace, you’re not helping! I’m already scared I might be pregnant!’"

"She looked at me seriously."

“‘Girl, what are you afraid of?! You have a thriving business. Plus, your mom wants a grandchild! And let’s face it—you’re falling behind in life! Renz even said you’d end up an old maid! I chewed him out for that—if it comes true, I won’t marry him!’"

"Renz was her boyfriend—fiancé, to be exact—but they weren’t planning the wedding yet, just saving up."

"I thought about what she said. She was right—I could fulfill Mama’s wish."

"I placed a hand on my stomach."

"If there was a baby, I’d accept it because that night wasn’t a mistake."

"For me, it was the happiest moment of my life."

"Whoever that man was, I knew I felt something for him—but I was too ashamed to face him."

"So if we had a child, I’d raise them alone and fill their life with love."

---

~One Month Later~

A month had passed, and life went on as usual. I was always at the office, especially now with so many weddings booked—our schedule was packed.

As for the baby possibility… nothing. I monitored myself, but there were no signs—no morning sickness, no cravings, just constant dizziness from overwork.

“‘Hey, Sha-sha! Alizha told me you haven’t eaten since morning! If you neglect your child like this—!’"

"I raised a brow. Child? I should kick her."

“‘Grace, stop. I’m already dizzy from work. I don’t have time for your jokes.’"

“‘Sha-sha, you’re no fun. I’m just worried! You’re dizzy, and you haven’t eaten—it’s already noon!’"

"I looked at her. Right, Alizha was my secretary. When I wasn’t feeling well, she handled everything."

“‘Grace, I know it’s noon. I have a lunch meeting later, so I’ll definitely eat.’"

"She studied me skeptically."

“‘You sure? What if that’s just an excuse?’"

“‘I’m sure. Now shoo. Thanks for visiting, but I’m busy.’"

"She sighed."

“‘Are you really sure you’re not pregnant?’"

"I glared. She kept asking me that."