ANMELDENR18+Third Person's POVDahil dito ay mas lalong nag init ang pakiramdam ni Clyde, sinunggaban niya si Athena na tila ba isang gutom na gutom na aso.He slowly but surely left lot of marks in her neck, visible enough for her parents to see. His kisses went down to her navel, Clyde's tongue slide to her underwear.Dahan dahan itong ibinaba ni Clyde gamit ang kanyang ngipin habang malalim na nakatining kay Athena na pinapanood siya."Beautiful," nasabi na lang ni Clyde nang makita ang pagkababae nito."It's pinkish... and wet," sabi pa nito dahilan para makaramdam ng hiya si Athena at agad na isinara ang dalawang hita na agad namang napigilan ni Clyde."Don't, it's perfect," sabi nito.Wala nang nagawa si Athena kung hindi mapakagat na lang sa labi. Dahil sa naging reaksyon niya, mas lalong nag-alab ang pakiramdam ni Clyde.Agad itong lumuhod at nag umpisang tikman ang pinkish na pagkababae ni Athena."Ohhh-- fuck!" halinghing ng dalaga nang mag umpisang paikot ikotin ni Clyde ang kany
Third Person's POVAthena nodded. “Rules.”Clyde raised a finger. “Rule one: discretion. Walang leaks, walang drama.”“Agreed.”“Rule two: my son stays out of this,” sabi niya, voice low.Athena paused, then softened. “Cloud.”Clyde stiffened at the name. “Yeah.”“How old?” tanong ni Athena, maingat.“Six,” sagot niya. “Turning seven.”Athena blinked, something tender flickering. “Ang liit pa…”Clyde’s jaw tightened. “That’s why I’m doing all this.”Athena nodded. “I won’t hurt him. I won’t touch your custody, your parenting, anything. Promise.”Clyde studied her like he was deciding whether to trust her.Then he nodded once. “Good.”Athena lifted her own finger. “My rules.”“Go.”“Rule one: mabilis. Before my parents push their plan,” Athena said.Clyde exhaled. “Within the week.”Athena blinked. “Within the week?”Clyde shrugged. “Money and lawyers make time bend.”Athena scoffed. “Must be nice.”Clyde smirked. “Rule two?”Athena’s mouth tightened. “You settle their debt—enough to s
Third Person's POVClyde: “Tomorrow, I’ll call my lawyer. Then we’ll see the earliest schedule.”“Pangalawa,” dugtong ni Athena, “you pay the debt. Not… lavish lifestyle. Just enough para matigil yung forced marriage plan.”Clyde tumango. “Okay.”“Pangatlo,” Athena’s voice softened, “no humiliation. Kahit contract ‘to, I don’t want to be treated like… transaction.”Clyde tinitigan siya. “You won’t.”May katahimikan ulit, pero this time, iba—parang may nabubuong desisyon.Tumayo si Clyde at lumapit ng dalawang hakbang, pero huminto para respetuhin ang space niya.“Listen,” sabi niya. “I’m not going to take advantage of you tonight. You’re still not okay.”Athena napatigil. “I’m okay.”“No,” firm ni Clyde. “You’re not. We will talk again in the morning when you’re sober. If you still want this… then we proceed.”Athena’s eyes searched his face. He can see a man with sense of responsibility and respect, hindi ang lalaking nasa chismis na playboy daw.“Okay,” mahina niyang sagot. “Tomrrow
“Yeah,” bulong ni Clyde. “Business.”“Sir?” tanong ng abogado.Clyde nag-clearing throat. “I’ll handle it. Just… prepare the paperwork. If I find someone, you do your job.”“Understood,” sagot ng abogado. “And one more thing—about your son.”Naging matalim ang tingin ni Clyde. “What about him?”“Your grandfather’s investigators,” sabi ng abogado. “They left a note. They know. The will’s first condition, as stated, is to bring him back.”Clyde napapikit. “I already plan to.”“Good,” sabi ng abogado. “Call me tomorrow. We need a plan.”Click.Pagkababa ni Clyde ng phone, hindi agad siya humarap. Parang biglang bumigat ang hangin.“Plan,” bulong niya. “I need a plan.”Sa likod niya, may mahinang kaluskos.Akala niya ay nakatulog na ang lasing na lasing na dalaga.Pero nang lumingon siya, nakita niyang nakaupo na ito—nakabalot ng kumot, gulo ang buhok, nanginginig nang bahagya. Dilat ang mata, bagama’t halatang hilo pa.Narinig niya.“Marriage?” tanong ni Athena, mahina pero malinaw. “Kai
Third Person's POVSa loob ng sasakyan, tahimik. Maliban sa mahinang music sa radyo at sa hinga ni Athena na mabigat.Tumingin si Clyde sa kanya, at sa isang iglap, nakita niya yung sobrang bata pa—pero may bigat sa mata.“Driver,” sabi ni Clyde. “Nearest decent hotel.”“Yes, sir.”At habang papalayo sila, sa kabilang dulo ng gabi, pareho silang hindi alam na ang pagkikitang ’to—isang simpleng “pagligtas”—ay magiging simula ng kasunduang babaliktad sa buhay nila.Pagdating sa hotel, bumukas ang pinto, at sumalubong ang maliwanag na lobby.“Sir Harrison,” bati ng receptionist, halatang kilala siya.“Room,” sabi ni Clyde. “And make sure… safe.”“Yes, sir.”Habang papunta sila sa elevator, biglang bumulong si Athena, halos walang lakas.“Clyde…”“Yeah?”“Don’t let them take me.”Napahigpit ang panga ni Clyde. “No one’s taking you tonight.”Bumukas ang elevator.At doon nagtapos ang unang gabi.Hindi pa nila alam, pero nagsisimula na ang gulo.Pagbukas pa lang ni Clyde ng pinto ng hotel r
Third Person's POV“Miss—” tawag ng bartender, nagulat. “Okay ka lang?”“Yeah,” sabi ni Athena, medyo slurred na. “I’m… amazing.”At naglakad siya papunta sa stage.Habang nasa entablado siya, parang nawala ang lahat. Yung takot. Yung galit. Yung pakiramdam na wala siyang kontrol.Sumayaw siya—hindi perpekto, pero may tapang. May lungkot na naging galaw. May pain na naging rhythm.May mga whistle. May mga palakpak. May mga lalaking nakatingin nang sobra.“Woo!” sigaw ng isa. “Go, baby!”Napangiti si Athena, pero blurred na ang mga mukha. Umiikot ang ilaw. Umiikot ang mundo.May lumapit sa gilid ng stage, isang lalaki. “Hi,” sabi nito. “You’re hot.”“Thanks,” sagot ni Athena, tumatawa.May isa pa. “Come here, dance with me.”Humawak ito sa ankle niya, parang hihilahin siya pababa.Doon siya napahinto.“Hey—” bulong niya. “No.”Pero parang hindi nakinig yung lalaki.Sa kabilang banda ng bar, may isang lalaking nakaupo mag-isa, tahimik, hawak ang baso pero hindi halos umiinom. Suot niya







