Chapter 6

MAINGAT akong itinayo ni Clark na nakayuko ngayon. Nanghihingi ng paumanhin ang mga mata nito. I feel guilty. Hindi naman niya kasalanan ito. Bumalik ang atensyon ko kay Ace na inihampas ang lalaki sa pader na para ba itong papel na magaan.

"Before you enter my building, you should know the rules inside.That I don't f*ckin allowed prostitution in my business. Get that man out of here! Now!" mautoridad niyang utos.

I gulped as they carried away the unconscious body of the man. Halos manginig ang kalamnan ko sa takot nang matalim siyang tumingin sa akin.

"I told you to guard her," maiksi nitong sabi ngunit seryoso

"P-pasensya na po, sir. Nalinga—"

"It's not his fault. Kasalanan ko kung bakit nangyari 'to because..." I trailed off.

Anong idadahilan ko?

"You disobeyed me, Audry," matalim na sambit niya.

Hindi ako makapagsalita. Pakiramdam ko alam niya na may ginawa akong kasalanan. Na sinubukan kong tumakas.

I hissed in pain when he takes off Clark's hold on me. Umiikot pa rin ang paningin ko dahil sa lakas ng pagkakauntog ko kanina sa semento. I thought I was falling to the ground but when I saw his face. Hindi pala. He's carrying me bridal style. My heart skip a beat as I look into his emerald eyes.

"Bring the first aid kit in my office."

"I-ibaba mo ko." I tried to get down pero mahigpit ang hawak niya sa 'kin.

Nagpumilit pa rin ako hanggang sa tumitig sa 'kin ang mga mata niya. I was stunned. His face was so close it's giving me the perfect view of his gorgeous face. I just thought one thing.

He is danger!

"Don't move if you don't want me to throw you on the floor."

Umiwas ako ng tingin. Hindi talaga ako komportable na nakatingin siya sa 'kin. Masakit ang ulo ko pero nadaig no'n ang ilang ko sa kanya.

Ramdam ko ang titig niya hanggang sa marating namin ang palapag kung nasaan ang kanyang opisina. He walked confidently in the hallway until he reached his office. He put me down in the sofa na kanina lang namin—nah!Nakakadiring isipin. He walks to his desk and grabbed his phone.

"It's okay. Back to work," rinig kong sabi niya bago pinatay ang tawag.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin nang lumingon siya sa aking gawi. I can feel his burning gaze at me.

"Do you think I'm not aware of what you were doing? You are trying to escape. I'm not stupid, woman! I can see you through the CCTVs! Haven't I made myself clear back at the mansion? The things I don't like and one is disobedience. But you still disobeyed me!"

Nanatili akong tahimik habang ang tingin ko ay paikot-ikot lang sa paligid para isipin ang susunod kong gagawin. Nang may mahagip ang mata ko. My blood boiled when I saw a lingerie.

"—and disobedience deserved punishment."

"Punishment? What kind of punishment are we talking about here, huh? Ravence?! You want to punish me with what? Sex?"

Hindi ko napigil ang sarili ko nang balutin ako ng matinding galit.

I stood up bravely and looked deep in his eyes. He was staring back with too much intensity but I don't care.

"Hindi ako isang babae kaladkarin, Ravence! I'm not like the girls who will gladly open their legs para sa ‘yo! I'm a woman with dignity and respect to myself! You maybe see me there, sa gano’ng sitwasyon pero hindi ibig sabihin noon ay madumi akong babae! That means that I was abused! I was forced! So keep your punishments to yourself dahil hinding-hindi ako susunod sa ‘yo at hinding-hindi ako papayag na maging pagmamay-ari mo! I will do everything to escape because I hate you, because I don't deserve this and I will never ever be yours!”

Tumulo ang mga luha sa pisngi ko pero kaagad ko iyong pinunasan. I don't know what cause me to broke down basta ang importante nasabi ko sa kanya na hindi ako tulad ng ibang babae na magiging sunud-sunuran at luluhod para lang sa kanya!

I turned around and tried to reach the door despite the pain in my head. Nagblu-blurred na ang paningin ko pero wala akong pake! I will get out of here! The hell I care about his punishments!

I was about to reach the door knob when he pulled me in my waist. Napasandal ako sa kanya. His arms automatically wrapped around my waist. Tightening his hold. I tried to take his arm off pero malakas siya.

"You can't escape me, Audry. Dito ka lang. I don't care if you don't like me. You can hate me forever. But you are stuck with me here. The moment I laid upon my eyes on you, you’ve become mine. Hinding-hindi mo na ‘ko matatakasan," he whispered in my ear.

My heart beats so fast inside. Hindi ko alam ang dapat gawin at sabihin. I was too shock. I gasped when I felt his hot breath in my ear.

"You need to take a rest. Gagamutin ko pa ang sugat mo.”

"I-I don't have wounds," pagtangi ko.

"Just follow what I say,” mariin niyang utos.

He loosened his arm around my waist and pulled me towards the door. It revealed a big room kung saan kumpleto lahat. May isang kama sa gitna at doon niya ako pinaupo. Narinig naming dalawa ang boses ni Clark.

"I'll come back in a minute," maikli niyang paalam.

Pansamantala akong nakahinga ng maluwag nang lumabas siya. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa mga salitang lumabas sa bibig niya. Does it mean something or he was just charming me to stay?

I shrugged off the thought at humiga na lang para matulog. Lumalalim na rin kasi ang gabi. I closed my eyes and drift to sleep.

ACE opened the door and it revealed Clark. He was still annoyed dahil sa pagpapabaya nito sa dalaga. Kitang-kita niya sa CCTV kung paano ito tumakas kanina habang ito ay nakatingin lang sa baba.

"Sir, ito na po yung first aid kit," kinabahan inabot ni Clark ang kit.

"Dismissed," Ace commanded before closing the door.

Bumalik siya sa kanyang private room. Tulog na ang dalaga pagpasok niya. She sleeps too fast. Napatingin ang binata sa orasan at doon lang napansin na hating-gabi na pala. He walked closer towards the sleeping woman bago sinimulang gamutin ang sugat sa ulo nito at braso. Kumuha na rin siya ng yelo para ilagay sa namamaga nitong ulo.

Earlier, he didn't really expect the lady to burst out. It was his first time to see a lady scream at him, right at his face specifically, with no fear. Her words hit him as if they were knives.

‘I'm not planning something bad for you. It's not the kind of person I am’

Nang matapos ang ginagawa inilapag niya ang kit sa bedside table. He stared at the woman beside him for a moment.

‘You're a kind of woman I least expected to encounter’

"You mean trouble to me, Audry," he whispered.

I SLOWLY open my eyes. Napatitig ako sa lampshade na nasa tabi ko. This is my room. Nasa bahay na ako? Sinong naghatid sa ‘kin sa kwarto? What time is it again?

Bigla akong bumangon para tingnan ang relo nang biglang sumakit ang likod at ulo ko. Napahiga uli ako sa kama. Nanatili akong nakatihaya hanggang sa mawala ang sakit ng aking ulo.

Bumangon ako sa pagkakahiga at pumasok sa banyo at naligo. I choose to wear a simple dress na nakita ko sa walk-in closet na nandito and get out from the place I called room afterwards.

Napakatahimik ng mansion nang lumabas ako sa kwarto. I walked calmly in the hallway nang may bumulaga sa akin. Na-out balance ako at napaupo sa sahig.

"Oops. I didn't mean to hurt your butt.” It was Tristan.

He smiled mischievously at me before offering his hand. Hindi ko tinanggap iyon at inirapan soya. Pinagpagan ko ang puwetan ko at naglakad pababa. I'm secretly wishing that Ace isn't here. Hanggang sa marating ko ang kusina nakasunod pa rin si Tristan sa akin.

"Ano bang kailangan mo?" mahinahon ngunit may riin kong tanong.

"I'm here to see Ace but he’s not here. Anyway, I'm going now. See ya!"

Tumango na lang ako sa kanya. Bumalik ang tingin ko sa ref. Naghalungkat ako ng pagkain ng may kumalabit sa akin. Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Ano yun?"

"May pagkain na pong nakahanda sa inyo, ma'am," magalang niyang imporma.

Medyo naasiwa ako sa pagtawag niya sa ‘kin ng Ma'am. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi dapat. Sino ba ako rito? Aside from I was kidnapped and bought by their boss, I am nothing. Ngumiti na lang ako at tahimim siyang sinundan.

WALA akong ginawa buong maghapon kundi tumunganga. Dahil sa ka-boring-an nalibot ko na ang buong mansyon at masasabi kong it was really huge. Classic and grand. Every single thing inside of this house screams money.

Nasa garden ako ngayon habang inuugoy ang sarili ko sa swing na nakita ko rin dito. Thoughts in my head. They keep rolling and rolling. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang patay na si mama at nandito ako ngayon sa bahay ng isang lalaki na hindi ko naman kilala. Napalingon ako sa sliding glass door papunta sa kusina nang makarinig ako ng busina ng hindi lang isa kundi ilang kotse.

He's here…

Minuto lang ang lumipas bago ko naramdaman ang presensya niya sa aking likod. I ignored him and continued swaying myself in the swing. Honestly, I don't know exactly to act matapos ko siyang pagsisigawan kagabi sa opisina niya.

"Let's talk.”

I looked at him curiously. Kalmado at walang emosyon ang pagkakasabi niya no’n. Even his aura is of void emotion. He was just standing there looking at me. Napalunok ako. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ko bang ikabahala ang pagbabago niya o ikasaya. Parang may kakaiba sa kanya ngayon.

"Anong pag-usapan—”

"I won't cage you here in my mansion. I'm not that cruel to prison you here. You can go anywhere you want or do whatever you want as long as it has my consent. But when you step out of this area, you must have a bodyguard with you. There's a phone in the vanity table inside your room. It has my number and Tristans‘. It's for emergencies. Do not lose it,” paliwanag niya.

I stood up and looked at him pero bumaba rin ang tingin ko nang hindi ko makayanan makipag-eye to eye contact sa kanya.

"Pwede ba akong magtrabaho?" tanong ko sa kanya.

It takes a few moments for him to answer the question, "If that's what you want, then yes. Just always remember where you belong and don't try to escape again, Audry.” Tumalim ang mga mata niya "Because if you do, I won't be this lenient to you.”

Iniwan niya akong nag-iisip doon. Nainsulto ko siya kagabi? Sa mga sinabi ko sa kanya? Well, even I. I'm still shock sa mga sinabi ko. Hindi ko sinasadyang magsalita ng ganon but anger overtook me nang makita ko ang lingerie na yon sa office niya. I sighed at pumasok sa loob.

I still have one question kung pwede bang makipagkita ako kay Celine but nevermind. I'm contented now na pinayagan niya akong makawala sa bahay na ‘to na akala ko hinding-hindi ko na magagawa.

I'm still thankful to him anyways.