Kabanata 3

Napaangat ang mukha ko nang hawakan niya ang baba ko. Tinitigan niya ako nang mariin pagkatapos ng pambibitin niya sa akin.

"A-Anong gusto mo?" hinihingal na tanong ko habang nilalaro niya ang tinggîl ko.

​"The price is simple, Asefeh," he whispered, his thumb slowly tracing my lower lip. "While I’m in this house, you belong to me. You will eat with me, you will talk to me, and you will sleep in this room. No more Anton in your head, and definitely no more of his hands on your skin."

​Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig. "P-Pero... asawa pa rin ako ni Anton. A-Anong sasabihin ng mga tao? Ng mga kasambahay?"

Napapikit ako ng mariin sa sarap nang diinan niya ang pagkakahagod sa pagkababàe ko. "L-Lander... ugh, p-please..."

​Lander chuckled. "I don't care about people, and you shouldn't either. He calls you trash, but I see a masterpiece that’s been neglected. My price is your loyalty... and your complete submission."

​Hindi ako makahinga. It was a dangerous offer. Sa kabilang banda, alam kong siya lang ang makakapagligtas sa akin sa impyernong dulot ni Anton.

​"And if I refuse?" lakas-loob kong tanong, kahit nanginginig ang boses ko.

​His grip on my waist tightened, pulling me against his hard, muscular chest. "Then you go back to being his punching bag. You choose, Asefeh. Do you want to be broken by a coward like him, or be owned by a man who can actually protect you?"

​Ramdam ko ang init ng katawan niya. My mind was screaming no, but my heart, shattered and lonely, was begging for the safety he was offering.

​"I... I don't want to be hurt anymore," I whispered, tears finally blurring my vision.

​Lander’s expression softened for a split second before he leaned in, his lips brushing against my forehead. "Then the deal is sealed. Simula sa araw na 'to, akin ka. Walang magmamay-ari sa'yo kundi ako lang. And I promise you, Asefeh... hinding-hindi ka na makakatikim ng sakit mula sa kanya."

​He didn't wait for my answer. He claimed my lips in a deep, authoritative kiss that tasted like whiskey and power. Inabot niya ang zipper ng suot kong dress, and as it slid down, I knew there was no turning back.

​I was no longer Anton's victim. I was now Rylander's obsession.

Nang tuluyang bumagsak ang suot kong dress sa sahig, tila kasabay nitong nawala ang lahat ng sakit na dala ko. I stood there, exposed and trembling, not because of the cold but because of the man in front of me.

​Lander didn't move immediately. Inobserbahan niya ang katawan ko, ang bawat peklat at bakas ng pasa na iniwan ni Anton. Nakita ko ang pagdausdos ng panga niya at ang pagdilim ng kanyang paningin.

​"He did this to you," he whispered, his voice thick with suppressed rage. Hinawakan niya ang isa kong pasa sa braso na may pag-iingat. "The world thinks he’s a gentleman, but he’s nothing but a coward."

​"Lander..." mahinang tawag ko.

​"Hush," sabi niya bago ako binuhat.

Inihiga niya ako sa malambot na kama, isang malaking kaibahan sa malamig na sahig kung saan ako madalas iwanan ni Anton.

​This night felt different. Noong kasama ko si Anton, bawat hawak niya ay may kasamang takôt at sakit. But with Lander, every touch was a demand for me to wake up. Hindi niya ako sinâsaktan, he was worshiping the very parts of me that Anton tried to destroy.

​As he moved over me, he kissed me with an intensity that made me forget my name. It was hungry, yes, but it wasn't cruel.

Pakiramdam ko mahalaga ako sa kanya.

​"Look at me, Asefeh," he commanded. I opened my eyes, meeting his soft gaze. "I want you to remember this. Remember that from now on, I am the only one allowed to touch you like this."

​The room was silent, save for the sound of our ragged breathing. At nang sandaling pumasok siya sa akin, napakapit ako nang mahigpit sa kanyang balikat. It wasn't just physical pleasure, it was a release of all the years I spent being "trash."

​I felt his strength and for the first time in a long time, I felt protected. Sumabay ako sa bawat pag-ulôs niya, hinayaan ang sarili kong umungôl sa sarap.

"Ahh... L-Lander..." daing ko habang pabilis nang pabilis ang pagbayô niya sa akin. "A-Ang sarap!"

Nakatingin siya sa akin, sabay dakma sa magkabila kong susô at binilisan lalo ang pag-ulos sa loob ko.

"Fvcking warm, Feh!" he groaned, fvxking me harder and deeper. "Ang sikip mo."

Awang ang bibig kong umuungöl, dama ang paglabas-masok ng pagkalalakî niya sa loob ko, tuloy-tuloy, sagad na sagad.

"Uhmm, L-Lander... ahhh! Ahhh!" Halinghing ko. "S-Sige pa-ohh! Ibaon mo pa-ahhh ahhh!" Halos mabaliw ako sa sarap.

I watched him fvcking me as he moved with a powerful thrust. "Feh, oh..." Dumagan siya sa akin at lalong binilisan ang pagbayô sa loob ko.

Maya-maya pa ay sinubo niya ang kaliwang utông ko at nginabngab 'yon na para bang sarap na sarap siya doon.

"Ang sarap mo, Asefeh..." ungôl niya bago muling bumirá ng malakas na siyang ikana-ungöl ko ng malakas kasabay ng pag-indayog ng katawan ko.

"Ahhh! Ahhh! Ahh!" Darang na darang kong ungôl, namimilipit na sa sarap.

I moaned his name, crying in a mix of pleasure and relief. At nang marating namin ang rurok, niyakap niya ako at bumulong, "You're not a trash, Feh. And I will prove that to you."

​Matapos ang lahat, habang nakahiga kami at magkayakap sa ilalim ng kumot, hindi ako makapaniwala. I was in the arms of my husband's uncle, inside our own home, while my husband was miles away.

​"Tulog na," Lander murmured, kissing the top of my head. "Tomorrow, a new life begins for you."

​I closed my eyes, feeling safe for the first time. But at the back of my mind, a small voice whispered, what happens when Anton comes back?