#2:

I stepped out of my room, the soft click of the door echoing in the quiet hall. Making my way from the second floor to the living room, I spotted a maid diligently cleaning.

Narinig nito ang mga hakbang ko kaya awtomatikong umangat ang mukha nito mula sa paglilinis nito.

"Good morning," I greeted her politely, a smile brightening my face.

Ngunit, sa pagbati ko dito ay hindi man lang ito tumugon, binawi nito ang mga mata akin saka ipinagpatuloy ang paglilinis.

Napasimangot ako, pero mas pinili ko na huwag na lang din itong pansinin, nagpatuloy ako sa paghakbang at nagtungo sa kusina para maghanda ang aking agahan o agahan pa bang matatawag gayong halos tanghalian na. Mag aalas dose na ng tanghali.

As I opened the refrigerator, the same woman from earlier glanced my way, her brow furrowing as she scolded me.

"Huwag ka basta hahawak ng mga bagay sa paligid, hindi mo ba alam kung gaano kamahal ang mga iyan?"

Kunot ang noo ko na bumaling dito na gusto ko sanang sagutin ng pabalang ngunit kinalma ko ang sarili ko.

Hindi ako nagsalita o sumagot sa sinabi nito. Nakatayo lamang ako na matamang nakatitig dito.

Sa tingin nito ay tila ba minamaliit lamang niya ako, as if her eyes were mocking my right to exist freely within the confines of this vast house. 

My heart sank, but I quickly turned my attention back to the refrigerator, hoping to find something to cook that would distract me from the tension in the air.

Just as I reached for the handle, she suddenly slammed the refrigerator door shut, her sharp eyes piercing through me like daggers.

Nakaramdam ako ng pagkairita sa ikinilos nito.

"What's wrong with you?" I snapped, hindi ko na maitago ang pagkainis ko dito.

"Sinabi ko sayo na huwag ka basta hahawak ng mga bagay dito sa loob ng bahay, hindi ka ba nakakaintindi?" Pabalang din na sagot nito sa akin, her tone laced with anger as she pushed me away, leaving me stunned and feeling even more adrift in this hostile space.

Sasagot pa sana ako ng muli niya akong itinulak. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay mas malakas ang naging pagtulak niya sa akin, hindi ko napaghandaan kaya hindi ko nabalanse ang aking katawan, alam ko na sa mga oras na ito ay babagsak ako sa sahig.

Mariin na lang akong napapikit at hinintay na lang ang pagbagsak ko.

Ngunit, sa hindi ko inaasahan, isang malaking kamay ang mabilis na humawak sa pulso ko, hinila ako at tuluyang napayakap ang braso niya sa akin.

I opened my eyes to find Sir Kendrick had caught me. One of his arms was firmly secured around my waist, and his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity na muling nakapagparandam sa akin ng kilabot sa buong katawan ko.

“S-sir,” I stuttered, caught off guard.

Ang katulong na siyang nanulak sa akin ay hindi maitago ang kaba sa biglang pagdating ni Kendrick, nanginig ito sa takot.

Without breaking his arm from me, Kendrick turned toward the maid, his expression unreadable.

“Leave,” he commanded in a tone that brooked no argument.

Hindi na nakasagot ang katulong sa takot, kumaripas ito ng takbo palabas ng bahay.

Once alone, Kendrick shifted his attention back to me, helping me regain my footing.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na mapatitig sa kanya sa pagkalito. Why had he returned when he claimed to be on a business trip for two days? He was supposed to come back tomorrow.

“I didn’t leave you here to be bullied by others,” he stated, his voice deep and steady. “Remember this, no one else should bully you but me. Do you understand?” 

“Y-yes, sir,” I replied, nodding, a strange mix of fear and comfort washing over me.

Silence hung heavily between us for a few moments, as if the world around us had paused.

He seemed to be waiting for me to make the first move, and his deep eyes bore into mine, unblinking.

"S-sir, is there dirt on my face?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, the question spilling out before I could think.

Kunot ang noo niya, hindi nagustuhan ang naging tanong ko.  Ano ba ang hinihintay niya na gawin ko?

"I guess you've forgotten what your obligation is?"  Sabi niya na mas lalong nakapagpalito sa akin.

"Huh." I could feel the weight of his unspoken expectations. 

"What does a wife do when her husband comes home from work?" he asked pointedly, his words cutting through the tension like a knife.

It dawned on me then.

Yes, of course.

It was clear what he desired; I simply needed to embody the role he envisioned for me. Doubt crept into my mind, but despite the uncertainty, I took a breath and acted.

Hindi ko ipinahalata na pilit lamang ang mga ngiti na napaskil sa aking mga labi, upang hindi siya magalit sa akin ay umakto ako ng natural lamang kahit sa loob ko ay nanginginig na naman ako sa takot sa kanya.

Slowly, I raised my hand, fingers trembling slightly as I reached for the nape of his neck. I leaned in close, tumingkayad pa ako para maabot ko ang mukha niya, mabilis ang pagtibok ng aking puso. Dahil sa tangkad niya ay ang kamay ko na nasa batok niya ay hinatak siya and pressed my lips against his, a gentle kiss that was both a question and an answer all at once.

After I gave him a quick kiss on the lips, my heart raced as I quickly retracted my hand from his neck, para kasing may boltahe ng kuryente na kumalat sa mga ugat ko sa pagkakadikit lamang ng labi ko sa mga labi niya.

But before I could completely distance myself, he acted with surprising swiftness, wrapping an arm around my waist and drawing me back into him with a sense of urgency that sent shivers down my spine.

Ang kanyang palad, humawak sa batok ko para hindi ako makaiwas, hinatak din niya ang pagkaka yapos sa baywang ko kaya mas nagdikit ang katawan namin.

Our breath mingled in the fleeting moment before his lips crashed against mine, kissing me with a fervor that was almost primal.

Tila siya nagugutom sa paraan ng paghalik niya sa akin. Sucking my lips as if he was eating me. Kinilabutan na naman ako. Halos magsitayuan lahat ng balahibong pusa ko sa katawan.

It consumed me completely, halos mawalan ako ng hininga sa tagal ng pagkakalapat ng labi namin.

Magkakasunod na paghugot ko ng hangin sa baga ng pakawalan niya ang labi ko. Ngunit sandali lamang iyon at muli niya akong hinalikan.

His tongue traced the contours of my mouth, exploring with a fervency that caught my own tongue, his playful yet possessive suck drawing me deeper into a whirlpool of desire.

My pulse quickened as the kiss deepened, and just when I thought I would suffocate beneath the weight of his passion, he finally pulled away, releasing my lips again with a slow, deliberate motion.

His eyes, dark and intense, locked onto mine, searching for something unspoken as he lingered in that charged silence for a few heartbeats before finally letting me go.

He stood up, the movement fluid yet slightly awkward as he adjusted the rumpled suit he wore, evidence of our earlier entanglement.

"I'll send another maid to be with you," kaswal niyang sabi na para bang walang mainit na halikan na namagitan sa aming dalawa.

"N-no need." Nautal pa ako ng tanggihan ko ang sinabi niya.

Kung inaalala niya ang gawaing bahay ay kaya kong gawin iyon sa sarili ko.

"I can do the housework." 

Napatitig siya sa akin. Para bang inaaral ang sinabi ko kung mapapanindigan ko ba iyon. Blanko lang ang ekspresyon ng mga mata niya na nakatitig sa akin.

"D-don't worry. I won't forget my obligation to you. So don't hire a maid to come with me to the house."

He didn't reply; instead, he just stared at me, his eyes piercing through the air, until he exhaled deeply, a sigh of resignation.

He adjusted the end of his shirt sleeve, his movements meticulous, then nodded slightly.

"Do as you like," he said, his voice cold and distant, a stark contrast to my racing heart. "I'll go back to the company, and before I return later, make sure to get yourself ready for tonight."

Parang may bumara sa lalamunan ko sa sinabi niya. Marahas ang naging paglunok ko dahil wala akong karapatan na tumanggi dahil yun ang nakasulat sa pinirmahan kong kontrata.

"Y-yes, sir."

"Very well. See you tonight," he said, and before I could utter another word, he turned and walked away.

I watched him leave, my heart heavy with unspoken words and lingering emotions.

When the door shut behind him, I exhaled deeply, trying to steady myself.

Refocusing, I pushed aside my swirling thoughts and turned my attention to the tasks at hand. With purpose, I approached the refrigerator, determined to find ingredients for tonight's meal.

A wave of anticipation washed over me as I considered what to cook, knowing I wanted to prepare something special for Kendrick—something to serve him when he returned.