Chapter 6

Hindi makagalaw si Karolina.

Parang nanigas ang buong katawan niya habang palipat-lipat ang tingin sa dalawang lalaking nasa kusina.

Pareho silang nakatayo na parang likas na ipinanganak para magdala ng takot. Parehong matangkad. Parehong malapad ang balikat. Parehong may matitigas na panga at maiitim na matang kayang patahimikin ang kahit sinong makasalubong.

Kung hindi lang magkaiba ang ekspresyon nila, iisipin niyang nawawala na siya sa katinuan.

One looked cold enough to pull a trigger without a flicker of emotion.

The other looked amused, like he had already figured out how this scene would end and was simply enjoying every second of her confusion.

Pareho silang may mukhang imposibleng hindi mapatitig. Sharp features. Dark, unreadable eyes. Lips that always seemed one breath away from a smirk. Hindi iyon klaseng gwapong nakakapagpakalma.

It was the kind that warned people to stay away. The kind that came with blood on its hands.

Pareho nilang dala ang aura ng paborito niyang actor na si Michelle Morrone—tall, intimidating, effortlessly expensive-looking. The kind of men who could command an entire room without saying a single word.

Pero may malaking kaibahan.

Michele Morrone only existed on movie screens. These men… They were flesh and blood. And somehow, that made them far more terrifying.

Unti-unting sumikip ang dibdib ni Karolina. Halos awtomatiko niyang niyakap ang sarili.

Ngayon lang niya lubos na naramdaman ang ayos niya. Oversized shirt lang ang suot niya, manipis na underwear sa ilalim nito, at magulo pa ang buhok na halatang kagigising lang. She had never felt this exposed before. Lalo na sa harap ng dalawang lalaking magkapareho ang mukha.

Walang nagsalita.

The silence stretched so long that even the faint ticking of the kitchen clock suddenly sounded deafening. Hanggang sa ang lalaking nakasandal sa kitchen counter ang unang kumilos.

Marahan siyang tumuwid bago ngumiti, isang ngiting nakakarelaks sa unang tingin ngunit may kung anong nakakabahala sa ilalim nito.

"Relax," he said calmly, almost amused. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Stop talking to her." Malamig ang boses ni Alejandro.

Hindi man lang lumingon ang lalaki. He simply let out a quiet chuckle before casually slipping both hands into his pockets, as if the tension inside the room didn't exist.

Mas lalo lang bumigat ang hangin.

Karolina swallowed hard. "W-What is happening?" halos pabulong niyang tanong. "Who... who are you?" Napakaliit ng boses niya.

For a heartbeat, nobody answered.

The stranger merely tilted his head, studying her with quiet curiosity, as though he were examining a rare piece of art. Then, finally nagsalita na ito.

"I'm Aldous." Bahagya itong ngumiti. "Alejandro's twin brother."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Karolina.

Twin?

Parang biglang huminto ang mundo. Lahat ng maliliit na bagay na hindi niya maintindihan noon ay sabay-sabay na nagdugtong.

The resemblance. The voice. The eyes. Even the way they carried themselves.

It wasn't a coincidence. It wasn't imagination.

They were identical.

To anyone else, they were the same man. At alam niyang siya ang unang magkakamali. Pakiramdam niya, isang maling lingon lang... baka hindi na niya malaman kung sino ang asawa niya at kung sino ang kapatid nito.

The thought alone sent a chill racing down her spine.

"Alejandro never told you about me?" Aldous asked, unable to hide the amusement in his voice.

"She doesn't need to know anything about you." Mariing putol ni Alejandro.

His jaw tightened as he stepped forward, placing himself almost instinctively between Karolina and his brother.

A silent warning.

One that Aldous understood perfectly. But he only smiled wider.

The tension immediately turned heavier.

Parang may matagal nang galit na tahimik na nakaupo sa pagitan nilang magkapatid. Hindi iyon simpleng inis. It looked personal. Deep. Rotten.

Karolina slowly looked between them, trying to understand what the hell was happening.

Pero imbes na luminaw, mas lalo lang nagulo ang isip niya.

Aldous let out a quiet laugh. "You married her without telling her the truth?" he asked, looking at Alejandro with genuine amusement. "That's cruel... even for you."

Sandali siyang tumingin kay Karolina bago muling bumaling sa kapatid.

"You didn't even bother telling her you have a twin brother. So how exactly were you planning to tell her the real truth?"

Nalaglag ang sikmura ni Karolina dahil sa narinig.

The real truth? May mas malala pa? Mabilis siyang napatingin kay Alejandro.

"What truth?"

Hindi ito agad sumagot. Sa halip, lalong tumigas ang panga nito.

"Enough."

"No," Aldous replied calmly. "I think she deserves to know."

"Fine." Biglang putol ni Alejandro. His voice dropped into something dangerously cold. "I'll give you my private island in Singapore. Just get the fuck out of here and leave her alone."

Napakurap si Karolina.

Ha? Private island? Ganun lang kadaling ibigigay? Parang normal lang na, "Eto, kunin mo na lang 'tong isla ko."

Napailing iling siya at napabaling ulit ang tingin kay Aldous. May mga tao palang nagsu-suhulan gamit ang buong isla. At siya naman... iniisip pa kahapon kung mahal ba ang avocado sa grocery.

Aldous's grin only grew wider. "You really do know what I want." Marahan niyang tinapik ang balikat ng kapatid.

Pero agad ni Alejandro iyong tinabig. "Get out."

Aldous clicked his tongue. "So hostile. I came all the way here to meet my sister-in-law."

"You came here to piss me off."

"Well..." Aldous shrugged innocently. "That too."

Napapikit si Karolina nang mariin. Okay… Isa pa lang ang nalalaman niya, may kambal pala ang asawa niya. Ngayon naman ay may "real truth" pa.

At mukhang normal lang sa pamilyang 'to ang mamigay ng private island kapag naiinis.

Pero bago tuluyang umatras si Aldous, bumaling muna ito kay Karolina. His gaze lingered on her longer than necessary. From her messy hair... to the oversized shirt hanging loosely over her body... down to her bare legs.

Parang isa siyang bagay na tahimik nitong sinusuri. The smirk on his lips slowly darkened.

“Aldous,” Alejandro warned again, his voice dropping into a chilling tone. “I swear to God, walk away. Now.”

Pero lalo lang lumawak ang ngiti ni Aldous. Then he looked straight into Karolina's eyes.

"Ask him," he said, his smile sharpening into something almost cruel. "Where his last woman is now.”

He paused just long enough for his words to sink in. At tuluyan na siyang naglakad palabas.

Nang tuluyang mawala ang tunog ng mga yabag nito, tila biglang bumigat ang buong bahay.

The silence wasn't peaceful anymore. It was suffocating. Nanuyo ang lalamunan ni Karolina.

The last woman? What happened to her? Ano'ng ibig niyang sabihin?

"What the hell was he talking about?" mariin niyang tanong habang unti-unti siyang umaatras palayo kay Alejandro.

"Answer me."

Pero hindi ito nagsalita. Lalong tumigas ang ekspresyon nito. Mas lalo lamang siyang kinabahan.

"Alejandro—"

BAM!

Isang malakas na suntok ang dumiretso sa kanyang tiyan. Napasinghap siya nang mawalan ng hangin. Parang may sumabog sa loob ng sikmura niya.

Agad siyang napayuko, nanginginig ang buong katawan habang napapahawak sa bahaging tinamaan. Hindi siya makahinga. Hindi siya makasigaw.

Tanging hikbi lang ang kumawala sa kanya habang kusang pumatak ang mga luha sa kanyang pisngi.

Every breath burned.

Every inch of her abdomen screamed in agony.

Nanlalabo ang paningin niya habang pilit niyang hinihingal ang bawat hininga.

Sa ibabaw niya, narinig niya ang mabigat na paghinga ni Alejandro. His fists were still clenched. His eyes were cold.

"Stop asking stupid questions," he said in a voice so frighteningly calm it made the pain feel even worse.

“Tanga ka ba?” Alejandro snapped, roughly grabbing her arm. “Bakit ang tigas ng ulo mo? I fucking told you to stay in that fucking room!”

His chest heaved with every breath.

Galit na galit siya. Hindi na iyon simpleng inis. It was rage... laced with sheer panic.

“Do you even realize what almost happened?” he hissed through gritted teeth. “That bastard almost got his hands on you. He was one step away from fucking you.”

Natigilan si Karolina.

He was right.

Masyado siyang na-focus sa katotohanang may kambal si Alejandro na tuluyan na niyang nakalimutan ang nangyari ilang minuto lang ang nakalipas.

The way Aldous cornered her. The way he looked at her. The way his fingers grazed her skin as if he had every right to touch her.

Kung hindi dumating si Alejandro… Hindi na niya alam kung ano ang maaaring nangyari. The thought alone made her stomach churn with fear.

“But no,” Alejandro continued bitterly. “You just had to leave that room.”

Napatawa siya nang mapakla.

“You act like you'll fucking die if you can't throw yourself into trouble for five goddamn minutes. Hindi ka ba marunong sumunod sa simpleng utos?”

Parang huminto ang mundo ni Karolina. Hindi dahil sa sakit ng suntok. Kundi dahil sa paraan ng pagsasalita nito sa kanya.

Dahan-dahan siyang napatingin dito, disbelief filling her tearful eyes.

At dahil doon, may kung anong tuluyang nabasag sa loob niya.

The shouting, the anger, the helplessness. Biglang bumalik ang lahat. The dark apartment, the smell of alcohol, the sound of shattered glass against the floor. The same terrifying look in a man's eyes moments before he raised his hand against her.

Her ex.

The father of her first child.

The man who always whispered I'm sorry after every bruise… Only to leave another one the next day. The memories crashed into her all at once. So violently that she almost forgot where she was.

Napapikit siya habang nanginginig ang buong katawan.

She hated this. Hated how fear could rip open wounds she had spent years trying to bury.

Nang muli niyang iminulat ang mga mata niya at tumingin kay Alejandro, saglit siyang natigilan. For just a second… May dumaan na guilt sa mukha nito.

A flicker of regret.

Parang gusto nitong umatras. Parang gusto nitong bawiin ang ginawa. But it vanished just as quickly.

The coldness returned.

Without another word, Alejandro stepped closer. Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang baba ni Karolina, pinilit siyang tumingin diretso sa kanyang mga mata.

“Look at me.”

Awtomatikong napaurong si Karolina. Mas humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Alejandro sa baba niya.

“You listen to me carefully.”

His voice was low but controlled. At iyon ang mas nakakatakot.

“Whatever my brother told you...” yumuko ito nang bahagya hanggang halos magdikit ang noo nila. “Forget it.”

“FUCK YOU!” Halos mapunit ang lalamunan ni Karolina sa pagsigaw.

Isang segundo. Iyon lang ang itinagal ng katahimikan. At doon, umalingawngaw ang sigaw din ni Alejandro sa buong kusina.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

Napasinghap si Karolina at kusang napapikit. Pagdilat niya… Tahimik na ulit. Pero ang katahimikang iyon ay mas nakakatakot kaysa sa sigawan.

Dahan-dahang ipinatong ni Alejandro ang noo niya sa noo ni Karolina.

Napanginig siya. Hindi dahil sa lapit nito. Kundi dahil hindi na ito sumisigaw. He was calm. And calm Alejandro was far more terrifying.

“Just do what I told you... or else.”

Napalunok si Karolina. Nanginginig ang buong katawan niya, pero may natitira pa ring galit sa dibdib niya. May natitira pa ring pride.

“...Or else what?” she asked, her voice shaking.

Biglang tumahimik si Alejandro. Parang pati hangin sa paligid nila ay lumamig. Mas lalo pa itong lumapit hanggang maramdaman niya ang mainit nitong hininga.

“Or else... you'll end up exactly where she did.”

Napatigil ang paghinga ni Karolina.

The last woman… Oh God… Siya ba ang tinutukoy ni Aldous?

“And then,” he continued, his voice frighteningly calm, “you'll start wondering what happens to your son.”

Parang tumigil ang tibok ng puso ni Karolina.

Her son.

Hindi na siya makahinga. Lahat ng natitirang tapang sa katawan niya ay tuluyang nawala. Pure terror replaced every ounce of defiance.

His grip tightened slightly. “And I won't stop there.”

Bahagya itong ngumiti. Hindi iyon ngiti na masaya, kundi babala iyon.

“I'll make sure your daughter suffers the same fate.”

Parang may kung anong tuluyang nabasag sa loob ni Karolina. Nanlamig ang buong katawan niya. Hindi niya kayang isipin ang mga anak niya. Lalong hindi niya kayang isipin na kayang banggitin ni Alejandro ang mga ito nang ganoon lang kadali.

Unti-unting binitiwan ni Alejandro ang baba niya. Pero hindi nabawasan ang takot. Mas lalo lang itong lumalim.

Huminga ito nang marahan bago muling tumingin sa kanya.

“Don't provoke me, Karolina.” His voice was barely above a whisper, but the quietness only made it more terrifying.

“For fuck's sake... just do what I tell you.” His jaw tightened as he took a slow breath, struggling to keep his temper in check. “If I tell you to stay your ass in that fucking room, then you stay your ass in that room. You are not going anywhere. You stay there. Do you understand me?”

Humakbang ito palapit at muling nagsalita.

“When you're in a situation where I'm the one holding everything by the throat… This isn't a discussion anymore.” Tumigil ito sa mismong harapan niya. “It's survival.”

Hindi sumagot si Karolina. Gusto niyang sumigaw. Gusto niyang suntukin ito. Gusto niyang tumakbo. Pero hindi gumalaw ang mga paa niya.

Dahil sa kaibuturan ng isip niya… Naniniwala siyang kaya nitong gawin ang bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig nito.

“And if you're smart...” Mas lalo itong lumapit. “You don't fight me. You don't question me. You don't test me.”

Halos wala nang espasyo sa pagitan nila.

“You just obey me, Karolina.”

The way he said her name made her stomach twist painfully.

“Because the moment you stop being someone I'm trying to protect...” Saglit itong tumigil. “You become a problem I need to remove.”

Parang huminto ang oras.

Hindi makapaniwala si Karolina na may taong kayang magsalita nang ganoon kahinahon habang nagbabanta.

“And, Karolina...” His voice dropped to a whisper, so quiet it was almost gentle. “In my world, problems don't get second chances. You know that.” His gaze never left hers. “You've seen it more than enough. Don't make me give you a front-row seat when it's your turn.”

Tahimik nitong pinagmasdan ang bawat reaksiyon sa mukha ni Karolina.

“You're lucky I gave you one chance. Because you're special to me. Pero huwag mo naman abusuhin. Don't expect a third fucking chance. Don't push your luck. Because I'll rip everything you think you are apart... and I'll make sure there's nothing left of you to put back together.”

Tahimik na bumagsak ang mga luha ni Karolina. Hindi na niya iyon pinunasan. Wala na siyang lakas.

“And I won't even look back.”

At pagkatapos no'n… Tumalikod si Alejandro. Walang sorry. Walang paliwanag. Walang lambing.

Wala lahat.

Basta na lang siyang naglakad palabas ng kusina. Iniwan si Karolina sa kinatatayuan niya na nanginginig at galos hindi makahinga.

At sa unang pagkakataon mula nang makarating siya sa Puerto Rosario… May isang bagay siyang lubos na naunawaan. Hindi siya asawa.

Isa siyang bihag.