The Billionaire's Trap

Chapter 1

Isang malakas na sampal ang aking natanggap mula sa aking ina unang tapak ko pa lamang sa loob ng aming bahay.

Halos mabingi ang aking tenga at mamanhid ang aking kaliwang pisngi sa lakas nito.

"YOU UNFILIAL DAUGHTER!"

She's raging. Alam ko, alam kong sa mga oras na ito ay may nagawa na naman akong mali sa mga mata niya. Kahit hindi ko alam kung anong ginawa ko at kahit wala naman akong ginagawang masama.

"I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM DYLAN! HE'S LORRAINE'S FIANCÉ!" Malakas niyang sigaw na halos maririnig sa bawat sulok ng bahay.

Ngumiti ako kahit mahapdi ang aking pisngi at tumingin sa galit na galit kong ina. Napansin ko sa kaniyang likuran ang aking kapatid na si Lorraine na tila nasisiyahan sa kaniyang nasasaksihan.

So it was about him.

"M-Mom.. what d-did I do?" Naguguluhan kong tanong. She's getting mad me for who knows what reason was.

"Lorraine told me everything! She saw you talking with Dylan!"

Saw me with Dylan? He was just asking... how do I do...

"H-He's asking m-me w-w-where Lorraine w-was!" sagot ko. Covering up what the truth is. Kasi alam kong gugulo lang lalo kung sasabihin kong nagpunta siya sa'kin para kumustahin ang kalagayan ko.

After all, he's...

"LIAR! I SAW YOU TRYING TO FLIRT WITH HIM!" sabat ni Lorraine. She made her expression as if she's hurt and hurled up with Mom.

It pains me seeing how she's enjoying this. It pains me seeing her doing things like this, framing me up and spouting lies to mother just to side with her.

Why?

Anong ginawa ko? I didn't even do anything against her. When she first same here in our household, I was very happy that finally I had a sister.

She's my Mom's daughter with her first husband. She hid her away because Mom's afraid that Dad would be upset if he knew that she had a daughter. But later on, she told Dad the truth and take back Lorraine to our grandparents.

Lorraine...

I took care of her, feed her and play with her. The happiness I felt when we were together is indescribable. The loneliness I felt, being alone and always stuck at home, faded the moment she came in our home. She made our family smile together and laugh. She brought light in my dark life.

But it all take a turn when she met my fiancé...

"B-But—"

Muli ay nakatanggap ako ng isang malakas na sampal.

...but he was my fiancé first.

Dylan was my originally my fiancé. He's handsome, gentleman, thoughtful and caring. The perfect ideal type of every woman. I met him as my official fiance four years ago when Dad set up a meeting with his friend, Dylan's Dad.

Mabilis kaming nagpalagayan ng loob. We already met a few times when we were young when Uncle Cael visited our residence.

It was an arrange marriage but we're both okay with it since we have a mutual feelings towards each other.

But then...

Lorraine met Dylan.

That was when my nightmare started.

"SHUT UP! I DON'T HAVE A DAUGHTER LIKE YOU! FLIRTING WITH DIFFERENT MEN?! HINDI KA BA NAHIHIYA?! KAHIT PARA NA LANG DIN SA AMIN NG DADDY MO! MAGKAROON KA MAN LANG NG KAUNTING KAHIHIYAN! YOU ALWAYS COME HOME LATE! WHERE WERE YOU?! THERE AT THE BAR, DRINKING, DANCING AND FLIRTING!"

Those accusations aren't true. They're all made up. Masakit marinig ang mga sinasabi ni Mommy pero mas masakit isipin na gano'ng klase babae ang tingin niya sa'kin.

Yes, I'm always outside and come home late. Yes, I'm always at the bar. But that's only because I'm working there!

Ever since Lorraine started to make my life a living hell, pulling her schemes and frames, my Mom and Dad cut my allowance short. Kulang na kulang gayong nag-aaral pa ako sa college.

They never believed me once.. even if I explain myself. Sa totoo lang, napapagod na ako. Sa tuwing umuuwi ako, puro sigaw at sampal ang nakukuha ko kay Mommy. Habang si Dad, kinalimutan na ako. He always ignore me whenever he sees me.

Masakit. Sobra. I feel like a thin air. My presence can be felt, but can't be seen

And all the time.. I'm here.. but I'm out of place... and every time I feel I don't belong, my shattered heart became even more shattered.

I'm always asking myself... why? What did I do? Every time Mom slaps me, calling me names and yelling at me, I ask myself; what is it this time? What did I do this time that I'm not even aware of?

Lorraine... Lorraine started all of this...

Wala naman akong ginagawa.. but then why?

"Para hindi ka na magdala ng kahihiyan sa pamilyang ito, mas mabuti pang ipakasal ka na lang namin!"

My eyes widened. Did I hear it correctly? W..What? Ipakasal?

"Be grateful that someone still wants to marry someone like you." Mom said.

"M-Mom! Y-You can't—"

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS TO REFUSE! YOUR DAD AND I ALREADY AGREED ON IT! MAGPAPAKASAL KA GUSTUHIN MO MAN O HINDI! NAIINTINDIHAN MO AKO?!"

I felt my knees loses its strength. Napaupo ako sa malamig na marbol na sahig. Gusto kong umiyak pero wala nang niisang luhang pumapatak.

"Think of it as helping our family. After all, you're a Lambrente." This is the last words my Mom said before she left with Lorraine.

Ito na lang ba ang pakinabang ko sa kanila? Do they really don't love me anymore? I stayed quiet all this time kasi ayokong mas gumulo pa ang magulo ko nang buhay. I did everything I can do gain their trust and love one more time. I obediently follow what they ask me to and never ever complain for what they do to me.

Lahat ng sakit na dinanas ko, physically and mentally, I endured it all. Kasi naniniwala akong balang araw, babalik sila sa'kin. Balang araw muli silang titingin sa direksyon kung saan nila ako iniwang mag-isa. Na balang araw, muli nilang hahawakan ang aking kamay at mabubuhay kaming masaya.

Hindi ako nagreklamo.. kahit nasasaktan na ako. Hindi ako gumanti.. kahit hirap na hirap na ako.

Kahit ganito ang trato nila sa'kin, ginampanan ko pa rin ang role ko bilang anak at kapatid.

Pero.. pero ito lang ang matatanggap ko?

Sa lahat ng sakripisyo ko? Sa lahat ng pasakit ko? At paghihirap ko?

Ito?

Ang mga luhang hindi pumatak kanina ay nagawa nang makaalis sa aking mga mata.

Ang sakit-sakit ng puso ko. Ang durog kong puso ay mas lalo pang nadurog. Hindi ako makahinga.

Ayoko na.

I immediately wipe my tears off. Dali-dali akong tumayo at tumakbo papunta sa kwarto ko. I locked the door, get on the bed and cover myself with a thick blanket.

There, I pour all my sorrows. I have no one's eyes on me and the only witness would be my pillow. I cry my eyes out. I pour everything as I cry. I don't care anymore. I won't care anymore.

My last hope.. it's getting thin.. and almost fading.

Kapag ba nqgpakasal ako, muli ba akong mamahalin ng pamilya ko?

Kapag ba nawala ako, doon ba nila mapagtatanto ang halaga ko?

Mapait akong napangiti. I don't have a choice, do I?

As a Lambrente, and for helping my family, I will get married. I hope this time around, they'll see my worth and accept and love once again.