All Chapters of Forbidden: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Pumanaog ang nakabibinging katahimikan sa mga sumunod na araw pagkatapos ng halik na iyon. Noong una, inisip ni Lauren na baka normal lang na mangapa muna sila sa bago nilang dynamic. Pero lumipas ang pangalawang araw, at sumunod pa, hanggang sa tuluyan nang dumaan ang tatlong araw na walang kahit anong paramdam mula sa kaniyang propesor. Doon na napansin nang malinaw ni Lauren ang marahas na pagbabago kay Anne. Umiwas ito nang tuluyan. Sa tuwing may ipapasa si Lauren na mga bagong structural research o archive blueprints, hindi na siya pinapapasok ni Anne nang matagal sa loob ng opisina. "Just leave it on the edge of the table, Miss Miller," malamig at maikling utos ni Anne sa kaniya noong ikatlong araw. Nakatitig lang ang mga mata nito sa kaniyang computer screen. Hindi man lang niya tinapunan ng tingin si Lauren, kahit isang mabilis na sulyap lang. Ang pamilyar na bango ng vanilla jasmine sa silid ay parang naging amoy ng isang abandonadong gusali—malamig, pormal, at walang

Tinitigan ni Lauren ang propesor. The heavy silence of the underground parking lot pressed down on them, punctuated only by the distant, low hum of the exhaust building. Her chest heaved, but slowly, the raging fire of frustration in her eyes cooled down into a flat, detached emptiness. Napakurap si Lauren, letting the unshed tears dry up before they could even track down her face. Inayos niya ang pagkakasabit ng mabigat niyang backpack sa kaniyang balikat. Her wall—the defense mechanism she used whenever she felt entirely defeated—slammed shut. "Fine," Lauren said, her voice dropping into a flat, deadpan whisper. "Kung para sa 'yo, malaking pagkakamali 'yun... edi sige." Anne froze, her eyes scanning Lauren’s suddenly emotionless face, looking startled by the abrupt shift in the younger woman's demeanor. "Ako na ang iiwas," Lauren continued, looking straight at Anne without any trace of her usual playful teasing or stubborn defiance. It was a blank, hollow stare. "Hindi

Nang marinig ni Anne ang pag-amin ni Lauren—na ginagamit lang nito si Rhea upang takpan ang sakit at burahin siya sa isip—tila may kung anong bahagi ng kaniyang pagkatao ang tuluyang gumuho. Ang kaniyang pormal na tindig ay nawalan ng lakas. Lumakad siya palabas mula sa likod ng desk, marahang binabaybay ang maikling distansya patungo sa kinaroroonan ni Lauren. Hindi na siya ang kinatatakutang Dr. Anne Clair Montgomery. Siya na lang si Anne—isang babaeng takot, nasasaktan, at desperadong ibalik ang oras. "Then stop, Lauren..." basag at halos pabulong na pagsusumamo ni Anne. Lumapit siya hanggang sa isang hakbang na lang ang agwat nila, ang kaniyang mga mata ay basang-basa na rin ng luha habang nakatitig sa tila batong mukha ng estudyante. "Please, stop using other people to erase what happened between us. It won't do you any good in return. Nasasaktan mo lang ang sarili mo, at... at pinapatay mo ako sa selos sa bawat segundong nakikita kitang kasama siya." Napakurap si Lauren,

Lauren Jade Miller POV Isang sarkastikong tawa ang pilit na lumabas sa mga labi ko matapos marinig ang kaniyang anunsyo. I looked at her as if she had completely lost her mind—because she honestly did. "You want me to stay here tonight? I'm sorry, Professor, pero nabibingi ata ako," bulyaw ko sa kaniya, my voice dripping with pure venom as I took a menacing step forward. "Sino ka ba sa tingin mo?! You just dragged me out of the university against my will! Anong tawag dito, kidnapping?!" Anne didn't even flinch. Nananatili lang siyang nakatayo sa harap ng pinto, her broad shoulders squared and her arms crossed over her chest. Her gray eyes were completely unreadable, looking at me with that calm, infuriating stoicism. "I am protecting you from making a massive mistake, Lauren," she replied, her voice smooth and unbothered. "You were going to sleep with Rhea just to spite me. I won't allow that." "At ano naman sa'yo kung gawin ko 'yun?!" I screamed, the frustration finally b

Lauren Jade Miller POV"It doesn't have to be a lie, Lauren. The night is still young. And you are already here."Ang mga salitang 'yon ang tuluyang bumasag sa kung anong natitirang katinuan ko. My mind completely snapped. Overwhelmed by her proximity, her toxic words, and the sheer audacity of what she just did to Rhea, I couldn't take it anymore."I hate you! Sobrang sama mo!" I screamed, using all my remaining strength to push her back.But Anne didn't even budge. Her grip on my waist remained as solid as iron, holding me flush against her body. Frustrated and crying out of sheer helplessness, I started hammering my fists against her shoulders, desperately trying to hurt her, to make her feel even a fraction of the chaos she was causing inside me."Bitawan mo ako, Anne! I said let me go!" I choked out, my voice cracking as tears finally streamed down my cheeks."No," Anne ground out, her breathing turning heavy as she easily captured both of my wrists with one hand, pinning them fi