In Bed with The Governor (R+18 English)

Chapter 2

“Oh? Is this your daughter? She is absolutely beautiful,” an elderly woman said as she stepped out of the kitchen.

“Aling Bulma, please take care of Adrianna. I still have some things to do,” my mother said. The elderly woman nodded, and my mother smiled.

“Anak, stay here for now, okay? I have a lot of work to finish. Aling Bulma, I'll leave her in your hands.”

“Yes, I'll take care of things here,” she replied, offering me a grin. My mother left, and Aling Bulma approached me. I froze in place under her intense gaze.

“I-Is there a problem?” I asked nervously. She only smirked in response.

“You are a very beautiful girl, Adrianna. Your beauty makes you look so pure, like a virgin. Are you really Emma's daughter?” she asked. I felt put on the spot, unsure of how to answer.

“Yes,” I answered softly.

“Are you shy around me? Sus! Just call me Manang Bulma. If that sounds too formal, just Bulma is fine. Forty-eight isn't exactly ancient, right?” she chuckled. I scratched my head awkwardly.

“Have you eaten yet? Come on to the kitchen. I cooked earlier. I thought Gov was going to eat here, but apparently not. And your mother is far too busy,” Bulma said.

We walked into the kitchen. I felt quite self-conscious under her watchful eyes. She served some food, and I started eating.

“Don't go out of your room when Gov is around. Actually, it's best if you avoid him altogether whenever he's in the house. Did your mother also tell you not to pry into the things happening inside this home?” she inquired. I shook my head. I was about to take a bite when she spoke again.

“Then again, based on your posture and the impression you give off, you seem completely different. Innocent and from the province,” she remarked, shaking her head.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“You're in danger around Yoa's eyes. You're a beautiful girl. Even though he's your mother's husband, I know exactly what kind of dynamic those two have. Be careful; you look like a trouble magnet.”

A sudden wave of anxiety washed over me.

“Are you saying my s-stepfather is a bad person?” I asked. She paused, contemplating.

“Not really, he's just alright. Just don't mess with his sleeping egg and tamarind and we won't have any problems,” she said.

“Is that so? Do you have a tamarind tree here? I promise I will never touch it. Or your eggs here in the house,” I replied quickly, taking her words literally.

Bulma blinked in surprise before bursting into a loud laugh.

“I forgot you grew up in an orphanage raised by nuns. I meant something completely different,” she laughed.

“What exactly did you mean?” I asked, curious.

“Do you really want to know? Don't regret it, okay?” she warned. I nodded.

“I mean, don't touch his weapon and bullets.”

This left me even more confused.

“It's not just tamarind and eggs? He has weapons and bullets too? Oh my God! Don't worry, I would never do that. I don't want to die yet,” I answered.

She stared at me and shook her head.

“W-Why?”

“Nothing, just let it be. It's best if you just avoid him, alright?” she asked. I nodded and continued eating. Bulma sighed deeply and poured me some more food.

“What did your mother tell you earlier? I'll bring you to your room in a bit, though you might get bored out of your mind there.”

“I'll be fine,” I replied.

Bulma nodded and escorted me to my room after I finished eating. When I stepped inside, I was amazed by how beautiful it was. The furniture was expensive and made of wood—pieces I knew I wouldn't be able to afford even if I worked until I was old.

“So beautiful,” I gasped in awe. I sat on the bed, silently admiring my surroundings.

“Adrianna, don't forget to lock your door, okay?” Bulma reminded me. I nodded. “If you need anything, just call us.”

I nodded again and thanked her. Once she left, I locked the door and lay down on the bed. It was incredibly soft, as if it was cradling me to sleep. In all my life, this was the first time I had ever lain on such a plush bed. It felt like I was dreaming, right up until I drifted off to sleep.

I was jolted awake by a soft knock on my door.

“Adrianna? It's time to eat. Come downstairs,” I heard Bulma call out from outside. I glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table; it was already almost seven in the evening. I hadn't even noticed the time passing.

“I'll be right there,” I called back, quickly fixing myself up.

I tied my long hair and stepped out of my room. I froze when I saw a man standing a short distance away. He was wearing an expensive suit, his back turned to me. I swallowed hard when he turned around and our eyes met. His strict, piercing eyes felt like a punishment just for staring at him. I quickly averted my gaze and rushed downstairs.

When I reached the kitchen, Bulma was already preparing everything.

“Is there anything I can help with?” I asked. She just smiled.

“Go on, have a seat. Let's just wait for Gov, he just arrived. Did you see him upstairs? He said he was just going to change,” Bulma said. I nodded quietly. I sat down at the table, feeling incredibly restless.

“Your mother probably won't be home until early tomorrow morning.”

“What? She's not coming home tonight?” Bulma shook her head in response. I had no idea what my life was going to be like here, especially since my mother barely stayed put.

“Your mother is often out with her friends at the casino,” she explained.

“Doesn't my stepfather stop her?” I asked. Bulma merely smiled.

“That's what puzzles me too, but that's just how they are. They seem to have an understanding about other things, so I guess it's fine. Even if your mother is a wanderer and a gambler, she isn't selfish, and she's actually quite kind. It's just that she has her vices,” she replied.

“Has mother been doing this for a long time, Bulma?” I asked. She winced dramatically.

“Gosh, calling me 'Aling Bulma' makes my joints ache. Just call me Bulma, or even B,” she whined. A smile crept onto my face.

“I'm sorry,” I said.

“My goodness! If you weren't so beautiful, I'd pinch you. But you look like a saint, so I'll pass—I don't want to commit a sin,” she joked, making me smile again.

We fell silent the moment Yoaquin entered. His eyebrows were knit together, and he sat down quietly. He shot me a brief glance, and we began to eat.

“Bulma, aren't you going to join us?” he asked.

“I had some snacks earlier. I'm still full, so I'll eat later,” she answered. Yoa let out a fake cough, immediately silencing both of us.

“What’s your plan?” he asked coldly. I could barely find the words to speak because of how awkward and uncomfortable my stepfather made me feel. I couldn't bring myself to look him in his strict eyes.

“P-Pardon?”

Yoa stopped eating and looked at me, letting out a dry, incredulous laugh.

“Pardon? Really?” he murmured, as if unable to believe what he was hearing.

“Well, Gov, she was raised in the province. She's polite and clearly well-behaved,” Bulma chimed in. He just shook his head and kept staring at me.

“Do you want to continue your studies? I heard you stopped right after you graduated high school,” he noted. I nodded softly.

“Yes. I dedicated my time to looking after the children at the orphanage,” I replied with a small smile, remembering the kids who had basically become my entire life.

“What’s good in that?” he asked mockingly. I couldn't answer. I didn't know what to say, especially since he seemed to be in a terrible mood.

“What do you mean?” I asked him. He just stared at me and didn't say another word. I could see the sheer contempt on his face. Even though I hated it, I just let it go. It felt like he was looking down on the work I did with the children.

Bulma and I exchanged glances. She quickly gestured for me to zip my lips. I complied and quietly finished my food. Afterward, Yoa stood up and left. It was only then that I noticed how incredibly clean his plate was. His utensils were neatly aligned on the side.

“He's always like that. Extremely organized. Everything has to be at the perfect angle with nothing out of place. It bothers his eyes when things aren't neatly arranged,” Bulma explained. I nodded in understanding.

Once we finished, I immediately helped Bulma clean up. She tried to refuse, but I insisted since I had nothing else to do. After finishing, I decided to head upstairs to sleep early. I planned on helping Bulma with the household chores while I had nothing else to occupy my time.

As I was heading up the stairs, I spotted my stepfather out on the side veranda. He had his hands in his pockets and was on a phone call.

“Yeah, I already told them about the fund. That’s bullshit! I already told them not to. Carry on, just help them. Whatever, just help them out. Don't you have any pity? Show some goddamn mercy, you i***t!”

I heard Yoa say. He sounded furious, judging by his calm yet incredibly heavy tone. He paused when he noticed me.

My heart leaped into my throat. His brows were furrowed, and he was clearly angry. He approached me, and I felt the strength drain from my legs. He completely towered over me.

“Didn't the nuns teach you that it's rude to eavesdrop on other people's conversations?” he snapped. I swallowed hard and looked away.

“I-I didn't mean to hear that. I-I'm going to my r-room now,” I stammered. His jaw clenched, and I could tell he was livid.

“You have to learn to set some boundaries here. Or I will punish you myself, understand?” he said, the anger and irritation vibrating in his voice. I nodded quickly, fighting back tears of sheer terror.

Yoa let out a heavy sigh, looking down at me as I trembled. His brow furrowed at the sight of my fear.

“You look like a wet cat,” he muttered before walking away.

I blinked and took a deep breath, repeating it several times until I finally calmed down.

“Anak!”

I gasped, my knees giving out as I sank to the floor when my mother suddenly appeared. She rushed to my side immediately.

“What happened?” she asked, worried.

“Where have you been?” I asked her. She helped me up and looked around.

“Come on, let's go to your room. I bought so many things for you,” she said. I simply followed her.

“Look at this, anak, this will definitely look good on you. And this one too, and this.” I watched her dig through the contents of the paper bags.

“Ma, are you really happy in this house?”

My mother paused, the smile instantly fading from her lips as she looked at me.

“Why, anak? Don't you like this house? It's like a palace. It's huge, luxurious, and something you can show off to everyone you know. We are incredibly lucky. Is there a problem?”

“Ma, even if we didn't have money, even if we were struggling, I would be fine. I can work for the both of us. As long as it's just the two of us, I can make it happen,” I pleaded.

My mother took my hand gently.

“Anak, I can't live without money. And I can't bear to see you living in poverty either. It hurts me to hear this from you. I'm sorry if you had to go through hard times before. I know you're just worried about me, but I'm fine. I'm happy with my life. I can do whatever I want, and your stepfather is good to us. Even if he's a bit grumpy, he has never fallen short when it comes to taking care of me. He gives me everything I ask for. Besides, with the election coming up, he's always like this. He seems unapproachable because he's so focused on his plans,” she explained.

I chose not to argue with her any further, letting the matter rest.