Chapter 1

Padabog na isinirado ni Caroline ang pintuan ng kaniyang kwarto pagkatapos niyang nalaman na bumisita na naman si Alexander sa kanilang bahay. Niyaya siya nito na makipag-date at agad naman pumayag ang kaniyang ina. Labag ito sa loob ni Caroline dahil natatakot siya kay Alexander.

"Open the door, Caroline. Alexander is here to visit!" Glenda, Caroline's mother, shouted as she knocked on the door.

"I don't want him, Mom. Yes, he's rich, but he's an addict and a psychopath. I don't want to marry him!" Caroline shouted in frustration.

Alexander Mercedez is the son of one of the wealthiest individuals in the business industry here in the Philippines. He is indeed an addict and a psychopath. He has had feelings for Caroline for a long time, and he has intimidated all of Caroline's suitors. Caroline's parents and Alexander's parents found out about this, leading both families to believe that marriage between the two would be the solution to reform Alexander.

"Alexander loves you, Caroline. Can't you see that? They are wealthy, and the wealthy should be with the wealthy. The poor should be with the poor. He is willing to change for you. You will learn to love him once you become husband and wife," Caroline's mother explained, trying to convince her.

Napaiyak si Caroline nang naisip niya na wala siyang magawa para pigilan ang kagustohan ng kaniyang mga magulang.

"I really don't want him, Mommy! Can't you understand that? I don't like him! I want to marry someone whom I love and who loves me back! Love cannot be measured by someone's social status, Mom!" Caroline shouted, tears streaming down her face. "This is my life, and I should be the one making the decisions!"

"How dare you say that to me? Open the door before I break it down!" Glenda exclaimed, attempting to open Caroline's bedroom door. She cursed under her breath as she continued knocking on the door. "You won't get your inheritance if you don't obey me!" Glenda threatened her daughter.

"Leave me alone, Mom! Send Alexander home. I don't want to see or talk to him! I'm willing to marry someone else as long as it's not him. I don't want to be tied to someone who is addicted and dependent on his parents!" Caroline pleaded.

"I can't do that. You know I made a deal with his father, Mr. Mercedez!" Glenda revealed, her voice filled with frustration.

Nagpakawala ng isang malalim na hininga si Caroline. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang gagawin para magbago ang desisyon ng kaniyang ina. Hindi niya lubos maisip kung paano nagagawa ng kaniyang ina na hayaan siyang ipakasal sa lalaking may record sa pagiging adik.

Ang tanging gusto lang naman ni Caroline ay ang mahalin siya ng totoo. Kahit kailan ay hindi niya nararamdaman ang pagmamahal galing sa kaniyang mga magulang. Lahat ng kagustohan nila ay sinusunod niya dahil natatakot siyang itakwil at mawalan ng mana.

Umupo si Caroline sa sahig at isinandal ang ulo sa gilid ng kama. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin. Natatakot siyang makita si Alexander.

"If you don't come out of your room, I will be forced to block all your ATM cards!" her mother threatened.

Caroline had no choice but to obey her mother. She gathered everything except her money because that was the only thing that provided her with some sense of freedom. Some say that happiness cannot be bought, but for Caroline, happiness can be bought because having money allows her to do things that bring her joy.

"I'll just freshen up," Caroline said softly.

She stormed into the bathroom to wash her face. She stared at her reflection in the large bathroom mirror and noticed that she looked flawless, even without makeup. Tears welled up in her eyes as she gazed at herself in the mirror.

"Caroline, do you know what you're going to do?" her mother repeatedly asked as soon as she stepped out of the room.

Pagod na pagod na siya sa araw-araw na pakikipag-away sa kaniyang ina, makinig sa sermon sa nagdaang buwan at hanggang ngayon. Umiling si Caroline at nagpatuloy sa pagbaba ng hagdan.

Gustong-gusto ng kaniyang magulang si Alexander para sa kaniya. Alam niyang pera lang ang habol ng kaniyang magulang sa pamilya ng lalaki. Kung hindi niya susundin ang kagustohan ng kaniyang mga magulang ay hindi siya bibigyan ng mana at may posibilidad na itatakwil siya.

"Ang tagal ko nang sinabi sa 'yo na sagutin mo na si Alexander! Kahit noong unang unang beses na nagsabi siya na manliligaw siya sa 'yo, hindi ko alam kung bakit ayaw mo pa!"

Bumuntong hininga si Caroline at hinarap ang kaniyang ina. "Stop it, mom."

"Gamitin mo ang kokote mo!" sabay diing turo ni Glenda sa kaniyang anak bago ito tinalikuran para puntahan si Alexander na kanina pa naghihintay kay Caroline.

Tinaponan niya ng masamang tingin si Alexander at naunang lumabas ng bahay nang hindi nililingon ang kaniyang ina.

Tinaasan niya ng kilay si Alexander nang bigla siyang pagbuksan ng pintuan ng sasakyan. Padabog siyang pumasok sa loob at isinandal ang ulo sa upuan ng sasakyan. Ipinikit niya ang kaniyang mga mata.

"Is that how much you hate me?" Alexander asked before starting the car engine.

Caroline didn't respond. She remained silent. Even the sound of the young man's voice frightened her.

"Where are we going?" Caroline asked when she noticed that they had already left their house.

"Where do you want to go?" Alexander asked, glancing at Caroline. She still had her eyes closed. "How about a bar?"

Idinilat ni Caroline ang kaniyang mga mata at tumingin sa binata. "Okay." Maikling sagot niya at muling isinandal ang ulo sa upuan ng sasakyan.

"We're here!" Nakangiting sabi ni Alexander at pinark ang sasakyan sa tapat ng bar.

Mabilis bumaba si Caroline at naunang naglakad papasok ng bar. Ayaw niyang makasama si Alexander lalo na't marami siyang kakilala na palaging nasa bar.

"Wait for me!" sigaw ni Alexander at nagmamadaling habulin ang dalaga.

Caroline rolled her eyes at mabilis na binawi ang kaniyang kamay nang naramdaman niya ang paghawak ni Alexander sa kaniyang kamay.

"Huwag mo nga akong hawakan!" pagsusungit ni Caroline sa binata. "Leave me alone. Alam mong ayaw ko sa 'yo pero dikit ka nang dikit sa akin!" galit na singhal ni Caroline at iniwan si Alexander.

Walang nagawa si Alexander kundi sundin ang sinabi ng dalaga. Mas lalong mapapalayo ang loob ng dalaga sa kaniya kung pipilitin niya ito. Naisip ni Alexander na kailangan niya ng mataas na pasensiya kapag si Caroline na ang kaharap niya. Gustong-gusto niya ang dalaga kaya napagdesisyonan niyang magbago nang nalaman niyang ipagkakasundo sila ng kanilang mga magulang.

Umupo si Caroline sa isang table malapit sa dance floor. Palihim niyang tinitingnan si Alexander na umiinom ng alak sa kabilang table kasama ang mga kakilala nito. Gusto niyang takasan ang binata at umalis ng bar pero natatakot siya na baka magsumbong ito sa kaniyang mga magulang. Magkasama silang umalis ng bahay at dapat magkasama rin silang uuwi.

Dire-diretso niyang ininom ang isang bote ng alak bago siya tumayo at nagpunta sa dance floor. Gusto niyang sumayaw at kalimutan ang lahat ng kaniyang problema. Gusto niyang makalimutan ang mga sinasabi ng kaniyang mga magulang at nagbabasakaling magbago pa ang desiyon nila.

Sumayaw siya nang sumayaw na para bang huling araw niya na ito. Muli niyang tiningnan ang table kung saan nakaupo si Alexander. Ngumiti siya nang nakatalikod ito at hindi nakatingin sa kaniya. Pumunta si Caroline sa maraming tao at ipinagpatuloy ang pagsayaw. Gusto niyang i-enjoy ang gabi at pansamantalang kalimutan ang mga problema.

She took two glasses filled with alcohol from the waiter and drank it all. "This is so good!" she whispered as she savored the taste of the alcohol.

Caroline paused in her dance when someone suddenly held her waist.

"You're a good dancer," the man whispered in her ear. She smiled when she realized it wasn't Alexander. "And... you're so hot!"

She slowly turned around to see who it was. "Thank you," Caroline softly said, placing her hands on the man's waist.

The man leaned down and looked at Caroline intently as she danced. She's so sexy while dancing. He matched every move she made.

The man's gaze lowered to Caroline's thin, red lips. Her lips were enticing, and he couldn't resist himself from kissing them.

Hindi pumalag si Caroline sa ginawa ng binata. It was not her first kiss pero parang naaadik agad siya sa halik nito. Gusto niya rin itong halikan.

Ipinulupot ni Caroline ang kaniyang mga kamay sa leeg ng binata bago ito siniil ng halik. Wala siyang pakialam kung makikita sila ni Alexander. Gusto niyang mag-enjoy ngayong gabi at ngayon niya rin naisipan na ibigay ang sarili sa taong hindi niya kilala.

Caroline's lips parted as the man suddenly stopped kissing her. "Let's get a room," the man whispered to her and quickly pulled her away from the dance floor.

Caroline swallowed and suddenly felt nervous. But she thought that this was what she wanted to do. Despite her nerves, she still went along with the man.

The man supported her as they walked because she was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol. He still had his hand on her waist. She couldn't help but smile. She was afraid of Alexander's touch, someone she had known for a long time, but she wasn't afraid to go with this man whom she had just met.

"Let's go straight to my condo," Caroline said after the man started the car engine.

"Are you sure?" the man asked, and Caroline immediately nodded. "Where is your condo?" the man asked her huskily.

"Can I drive?" Caroline asked him. The man didn't answer her immediately. "Don't worry. I'm not drunk. I can still drive," she assured him.

The man smiled and planted another kiss on her lips. "It's a no, baby. Just tell me where your condo is, and we'll go there."

Caroline bit her lip before pointing out the way to her condo.

"What's your name?" Caroline asked, unable to contain her curiosity as they neared her condo.

"I'm Miguel, and you?"

"Caroline."

Miguel glanced at Caroline. "Your name is as beautiful as you are," Miguel said, then returned his gaze to the road.

Palihim naman na ngumiti si Caroline. Hindi na iyon bago sa kaniyang pandinig. Alam niyang may itsura siya.