Chapter Four

Mabilis na bumalik sa kaniya ang mga mata ko, matalim ang mga tingin. “Hinding-hindi ko ‘yan pipirmahan. Hindi ako magpapakasal sa’yo!” Tumayo ako pero hindi ko pa rin siya napantayan. “I will rather die than to tie my life with you.”

I put all my force on my hand and pushed him aside by his chest, I tossed the pen across the room as though I’m having a tantrum. I didn’t care if I was going to make him mad, hell I didn’t even care if I died here right now. Being his wife meant letting go of the hope I had left for freedom. Anong magiging kabuluhan ng buhay ko kung magiging isang alipin lang ako habang buhay ng isang demonyo?

Umalis ako sa silid hapagkainan at dumiretso sa hagdanan upang magtungo sa kwarto ko. Sa dulo ng hagdanan ay naroon si Adam at Sienna, napakipot ang mga mata ko sa paghihinala dahil sa posisyon nila. Kasulukuyan silang magkahiwalay, ngunit bago pa ito ay sigurado akong magkalapit sila at magkahawak-kamay.

Sienna faced me while Adam leaned back on the staircase’s ledge and watched me approached them.

“You both knew the reason I’m here,” I stated. Why would I ask when I already knew the answer?

“Akala ko alam mo na?” She cocked her head to the side, confused. “Hindi ba sinabi sayo ni Master Zaccheus?”

Tumawa ako, hindi makapaniwala. “I’ve been confused this whole time!”

“Akala ko sarkastiko ka lang, malay kong hindi ka pala nagbibiro.”

I threw my hands in the air in defeat, I walked past her and stomped my way to my bedroom. I pushed the double doors shut and paced around the room, holding my head and searching my mind for possible escape plan that would work. I ran to the balcony and seeked my eyes around outside. I heaved myself up over the ledge to get a better look.

I can’t stay here anymore. There was a tiny part of me that considered living here, but that was huge mistake. Kahit na katiting na pag-iisip pa ‘yon, kahit na subconscious ko lang iyon. Malaking pagkakamali.

May nagtangkang nagbukas ng kwarto ko, kasunod nuon ay ang pagkatok nito ng marahan sa pinto. Hindi ako kumibo at nanatiling nakatayo sa ungos, dahil gabi na ay wala akong masyadong makita sa labas. Sabihin na nating may mga nakabukas na ilaw ngunit hindi sapat iyon, hindi ito ang tamang oras para tumakas.

Kumalma ako, bumaba na ako at nilapitan ang pinto. Wala nang kumakatok. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto at sumilip sa labas. Likod ng pigura ni Adam ang nasilayan kong naglalakad palayo. Tinakbo ko ang mga mata ko sa katawan niya, naghahanap ng armas na maari kong manakaw sa kaniya.

“Adam!” I called for him.

He stopped on his track, he spun around to walk back to me. “Mildred— Okay lang na tawagin kita sa pangalan mo, ‘diba?”

Binuksan ko nang maluwang ang pintuan. “I’m not going to be Zaccheus’ wife, so yeah. Mildred lang, iyon lang.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya. “You didn’t read the contract.”

“I’m not interested,” I muttered, gritting my teeth in frustration. “Gusto kong makipagdeal sayo, kapalit nun ay tutulungan mo ‘kong makalaya rito.”

“I don’t mean to offend you—but I am though. Anong meron sa’yo na gugustuhin ko?”

“Duh?” I rolled my eyes. “My body?”

“Anong gagawin ko sa katawan mo?” he entertained me.

I slowly closed the space between us while maintaining eye contact, I tiptoed my fingers on his stomach to his chest then grabbed his collar. I gave it a tug, pulling is face closer to me and breathing the same air he’s breathing.

“You can do anything you want to my body, Adam. Anything you like. Oh, you can also do all your kinks and fantasies, I’ll cooperate. You can fuck my ass if you like, tie me on the bed, grope me, spank me, fuck my mouth.” I whispered, forcing my voice to sound sexy.

I smiled when my lips caught his attention for a short moment. I felt the weight of his hand on my waist, I closed my eyes when he pulled me close to him until our chest were touching. I bit my lower lip seductively, running my palm on his chest while my other went around his nape.

“That’s very tempting, Mildred,” I heard him chuckle in my ear. I moaned from his warm breath tickling the back of my ear. “But no.”

Minulat ako ang mga mata ko, nagtataka ko siyang tiningala. Impit akong sumigaw nang buhatin niya ako para itapon ako sa kama. Kinuha ko ang unan na una kong naabot at malakas itong hinagis sa kaniya.

“Fuck you all!” I screamed. I crawled to grab the lamp on the nightstand and threw it at him. He evaded and lunged at me, he pulled a pistol gun behind him and aimed it to me. The muzzle touched my forehead and I glared at him.

“Deal.”

“What?” My brows knitted.

“But I’m not interested in your body. I have a girlfriend,” he said while pulling something inside the pocket of his white shirt. “Alam mo ba kung ano ‘to?” Pinakita niya sa akin ang isang maliit na bote na isang pulgada lang ang laki.

Dahan-dahan akong umiling. “Hindi ko alam kung ano ‘yan. What game are you playing?”

“It’s a drug we sell. Anyone who consume this will lose consciousness, a single drop is enough. It’s like a sleeping pill but a lot stronger and faster to get into your system,” he explained. “Ibibigay ko sa’yo ‘to.”

“Wha… what?”

“Ikaw na bahala kung anong gagawin mo d’yan. Aalis kami bukas nang maaga ni Zac kasama ang bang tauhan niya. Pagkakataon mo iyon para tumakas.” Binaba niya na ang baril.

“What exactly is our deal? Kung hindi mo gusto ang katawan ko, what the fuck do you want then?” I was skeptical, I couldn’t trust a guy I brely know.

“Kapag nakatakas ka, kapag napagtagumpayan mong makatakas, tutulungan kita sa labas at poprotektahan. Hindi ka na babalik sa club, at pati na rin dito… that is, if you escaped.”

“Bakit kita paniniwalaan?”

“I will also give you this gun.” Pinakita niya sa akin ang hawak niyang baril, inabot niya ang kamay ko at nilagay rito ito. “You can check if it’s loaded. I trust you know how to use a gun?”

Tumango ako habang nakababa ang tingin sa baril na hawak ko. I knew how heavy a gun is if it was loaded so I didn’t ask him further more questions.

“Hindi ko alam kung anong mapapala mo sa kasunduan natin pero hindi na ‘ko magtatanong pa. If I find that you’re lying and playing with me, I will fucking come for you. I will kill you.” Tinutok ko sa kaniya ang baril, nilahad ko ang kamay sa harap niya para hingin ang droga. Nakangisi niyang binigay ito sa akin.

“What’s your plan?”

“I have two plans, actually. Plan A is a secret, but Plan B will be my backup plan if Plan A won’t work out. Hindi ko sasabihin sa’yo dahil wala akong tiwala sa’yo.”

He looked at me suspiciously. “What’s your Plan B?”

I smiled innocently.

Kill Zaccheus Gonzales.

…

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong nagising sapagkat maaga rin akong nakatulog kagabi. Hindi ko inasahan sa pagbangon ko ay tatambad kaagad sa harapan ko ang lalaking huling gusto ko na makita. Si Zaccheus ay nakasandal sa nakasaradong pinto sa likod niya, agad sa sumama ang tingin ko sa folder na hawak niya sa kanang kamay.

Maayos akong umupo, ang comforter ay nakatakip sa ibabang parte ng katawan ko.

“I’m still not going to sign the contract, Mr. Zaccheus,” I said sweetly, smiling and eyes half-hooded.

Inirapan niya ako, muntikan pang lumaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa naging respunde niya sa pang-aasar ko. Lumapit siya sa akin habang pinaglalaruan ang folder ng kontrata sa kamay niya, pinaiikot at pinapalo-palo ito sa kabilang kamay.

“Bakit hindi mo subukang basahin ang kontrata?” tanong niya. “No matter what you say, you’re still going to end up signing everything in this contract.”

“I said no, baby. Ang ayoko sa lahat ay ang hindi makatanggap ng simpleng sagot. Naiintindihan mo naman siguro kung anong ibig sabihin ng ‘no,’ ‘diba?” Nilandas ko ang mga mata sa kabuuan niya.

Was he wearing the same clothes as before? No, he looked so neat and tidy compared last night. His hair looked smoother, like he’d taken a shower not long ago. Was Adam really not lying to me about them leaving early?

“You’re leaving?” I asked in a mutter, and then laughed. “After you just proposed to me last night? Hindi mo ba naisip na baka gusto lang kitang paluhurin at bigyan mo ‘ko ng engagement ring.” I showed him my left hand and wiggled my fingers.

His eyes narrowed, though he didn’t look mad. It appeared to me that he might only be trying to read me. “You’re stupid, darling. I’m not going to propose and go down on one knee for someone as low as you. What makes you think you’re that special?”

Nasa dulo na siya ng kama ngunit malayo pa rin siya sa akin dahil sa malapad ito.

Pinagkrus ko ang braso ko, dahan-dahan akong umusog nang palapit sa kaniya habang titig na titig sa mga mata niyang madilim. “I want to use your kitchen today.”

Confused about the sudden change of topic, he tilted his head to the side. “For what?”

I shrugged. “I’m gonna cook? Hello?”

“I though you said you’ll burn the kitchen down if you cook.”

“I don’t remember ever saying that,” I defended.

His eyes hardened. “You did,” he said confidently.

“Well then it’s a figure of speech. I’m not going to literally burn your kitchen down, stupid. I know how to cook but I’m not good at it. I’m going to practice, just in case na magustuhan ko kung anong mang nakasulat sa kontrata.”

“You’ll sign it?” he asked but his face remained stoic.

“No, I’ll read it first.”

“You’ll sign it.” He was so confident, wasn’t he? That only made not want to read it because I didn’t want to consider anymore.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Ibigay mo na sa’kin ang kontrata.”

He tongued his cheek as he ran his eyes over my appearace, then his gaze lowered down to my upper body. I wore the silk spaghetti night dress I found inside the closet. One strap had fallen down my arms and my hair was tied in a messy bun.

Dinilaan ko ang ibaba kong labi, unti-unti kong inangat ang katawan at lumuhod. Ang comforter na nakatakip sa hita ko ay bumaba, mapang-akit akong nakangiti habang umaabante para lapitan siya. Dahil mataas ang kama ay naging magkapantay ang taas namin, ilang pulgada nalang ang layo ng katawan at mukha namin sa isa’t isa.

Although his face remained expressionless, I was still confident that I had the affects on him considering that his breathing became sharper than normal. I tiptoed my fingers on the folder he’s holding and my fingers brushed against his. I smirked, pulling the contract from his hold and discarding it on the bed behind me.

“Mamaya ko na babasahin, hm?” malambing kong saad. “So what would it be? Papayagan mo ba ‘kong gamitin ang kusina mo?” Binaba ko ang katawan at naupo sa takong ng mga paa ko, nakatingala sa kaniya at bahagyang nakaawang ang bibig.

Sa unang pagkakataon ay tumaas ang gilid ng labi niya, inangat niya ang isang kamay niya at alertong sinundan ito ng tingin ko sakaling gamitin niya ito para saktan ako. Pinalibot niya ang kamay sa leeg ko, napalunok ako at binalik at tingin sa mga mata niyang nakayuko.

“Gusto mo ba ‘kong samahan?” pinagpatuloy ko ang paglalambing.

His hand around my throat tightened, but not enough to prevent the oxygen from infiltrating my lungs.

“I would if I could, darling, but I’m a busy man. I have transaction waiting at the port.”

I smiled inwardly. “Don’t you wanna mess around in the kitchen? Eat me or maybe screw me on the counter?”

“Hmm,” he hummed and unwrapped his hands around my throat, then his thumb started to rub circles around my adams apple. “Do you live for sex, Mildred? I didn’t think you’d be this slutty.”

Mahina akong tumawa. “I love sex, baby, but I don’t live for it.”

“Ilang lalaki na ang gumalaw sa’yo?”

“More than I can count.”

His jaw clenched and his eyes became darker. “Filthy.”

“’Diba dapat maging magaling ka sa trabaho mo? Iyon ang ginagawa ko. Mas magiging magaling ako sa trabaho ko kapag marami na ‘kong karanasan. But it doesn’t bother me, Mr. Zaccheus. As I said, I love sex and I enjoy it.”

“That’s not your job anymore, so stop behaving like a fucking whore.”

Gaganti pa sana ako pero tinulak niya ‘ko sa leeg at tumilampon ako sa kama.

“I will have Sienna to accompany you to the kitchen. I have CCTVs around my house connected to my phone, Mildred, the only unsecured places inside the house are the bedrooms. If I see you do something stupid, you won’t like what I’ll do to you.” Matigas ang naging tono ng pananalita niya, ultimong nililinaw niya ang bawat salita ng sinasabi niya.

Natatawa akong bumangon habang hinihilot ang leeg. Nakatalikod na siya at palabas na ng kwarto, dumagungdong ang pagsarado ng pinto pagkalabas niya.