All Chapters of Forbidden: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Lauren Jade Miller POVMy heart was practically hammering against my ribs as I drafted my response. Under Anne’s intense, unblinking gaze, I typed a message that I hoped would put an end to everything:"Rhea, I’m sorry about last night. The girl who answered my phone... she’s my girlfriend. Serious kami, and I'm really happy with her. Please stop calling me. Let's just keep things professional from now on."I closed my eyes and hit send."Good girl," Anne murmured from above me. I felt the soft brush of her lips against the crown of my head, sending a tiny shiver down my spine.But my relief lasted for exactly three seconds.BZZZ.My phone vibrated almost instantly. Rhea replied. I quickly opened the message, and my blood ran completely cold:"Girlfriend?! Seryoso ka, Lauren? Since when?! Look, hindi ako naniniwala. Knowing you, baka binabayaran mo lang 'yan para tantanan kita. I want to meet her. Ngayong lunch break, sa coffee shop sa tapat ng campus. Kung hindi mo siya isasama, h

Lauren Jade Miller POV Bumalik ako sa campus na lumulutang ang utak. Pagpasok ko sa classroom para sa huling afternoon subject ko, madulas at mabilis kong tinungo ang upuan ko sa bandang likod. Saktong pagka-upo ko, mabilis na bumukas ang pinto ng silid, and the entire room immediately fell dead silent. It was her. Or rather, Professor Montgomery . Literal na napakurap-kurap ako sa tindi ng transformation niya sa loob lang ng isang oras. Gone was the high-society elite in a tight crop top and a dangerous black leather jacket. Professor Montgomery was back in her element. Naka-buntot ang kaniyang madilim na buhok sa isang napakahigpit at malinis na bun. She was wearing a high-neck white silk blouse paired with a tailored charcoal gray pencil skirt and her signature black designer heels. Her silver-rimmed reading glasses were perfectly perched on the bridge of her nose. Her cold, professional demeanor instantly filled the room, making my classmates straighten their

Habol-habol ko ang aking hininga nang dahan-dahang humiwalay ang mga labi ni Anne sa akin. Mabilis kong inayos ang nagusot kong uniporme habang si Anne naman ay kalmado at mabilis na ibinalik ang kaniyang buhok sa isang maayos na bun. She put her silver-rimmed glasses back on, transforming back into the cold, untouchable Professor Montgomery within seconds. Pagkatapos niyang silipin ang hallway para masigurong walang tao, dinala niya ang kaniyang mga gamit at humarap sa akin gamit ang kaniyang tipikal na seryosong mukha. "Head straight down to the underground garage, Lauren," utos niya sa isang mahina ngunit awtoritatibong boses. "Use the service elevator para walang makasalubong na ibang estudyante. Wait for me inside my sedan. Here." Inilagay niya ang kaniyang key fob sa palad ko bago marahas na binuksan ang pinto ng classroom at unang naglakad palayo nang hindi na ako nililingon. Napakapit ako sa strap ng aking backpack habang mabilis na tinutungo ang service elevator sa

Lauren Jade Miller POV The violent storm of passion that had consumed us for the past few hours finally settled into a heavy, breathless quiet. Nakalubog kami sa ilalim ng dambuhalang silk sheets ng kama ni Anne, our naked bodies tightly tangled to each other as if no one—not my father, not the university, not the whole damn world—could ever separate us. Her long, smooth legs were still hooked with mine, and her head was resting heavily against the crook of my neck. The rich scent of our mixed perfumes and sweat completely filled the dim, modern bedroom. I was staring blankly at the ceiling, feeling the slow, rhythmic rising and falling of Anne's chest against my side. Then, without warning, a sudden wave of reality hit me like a physical blow. A sharp sting in my chest quickly traveled up to my eyes, and a warm tear escaped, tracking down my temple. Before I could even stop myself, I burst into soft, silent tears. My shoulders trembled violently under the sheets. The w

Lauren Jade Miller POV Tahimik ang buong paligid ng university library, maliban sa mahinang tunog ng pagtipa ko sa aking laptop at ang panaka-nakang pag-buntong-hininga ng mga estudyanteng kasabay kong naghahabol ng deadline. I was frantically working on the final touches of my thesis proposal, trying my best to make sure every legal argument was airtight, just like how Anne taught me this morning. Pero habang binabasa ko ang screen, ang utak ko ay dahan-dahang lumilipad sa ibang direksyon. I looked down at the matte-black vintage fountain pen resting beside my laptop. The silver Montgomery crest on its cap was shining under the fluorescent lights. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala. I couldn’t process the fact na ibinigay ko na ang sarili ko sa sarili kong propesor—o mas tamang sabihin, sa girlfriend ko. Kusa akong napangiti mag-isa habang nakatitig sa kawalan, feeling like a total lunatic inside the quiet library. My face started to heat up all over again as t