Tempted Heart (FREE TO READ)

Kabanata 12

KABANATA 12

MY throat was so sore when I woke up in the morning.

Wait! M--morning?

Napatitig ako sa ceiling at kumukurap na bumangon kahit nanghihina ang katawan ko. My back hurts so much, I don't know how long did I sleep.

Pilit kong inaangat ang kamay ko pero hindi ko iyon magawa. I panicked when I tried again but nothing happened. I bite my lips nervously, dumadagundong ang dibdib ko ng maingat kong kinuha ang kumot na nakatabon sa kanang kamay ko. Namilog ang mata ko nang makita ang matigas na metal na iyon sa kamay ko. My hand was handcuffed. Agad nag-init ang kalamanan ko sa nakita.

Am I kidnapped? Oh God!

The last thing I remember was I am in the van, then I don't know what happened next. Everything was blurred.

Marahas akong lumingon sa malapit na drawer. I tried to reach it with my left hand but my legs were also tied up separately. I groaned inwardly never minding the pain, I need to reach it. It's good thing that my left hand was not tied. The bed creaked when I tried to swing the handcuff again. Kahit masakit na ang binti at kamay ko ay pilit ko pa ring inaabot iyon. The key must be in there! I know it's stupid, but I can't judge myself for now.

Please, God! Help me. I'm not ready to die yet.

The room was not hideous but still, I can't be at ease.

I jumped nervously when I heard some loud noises and footsteps outside the door. Nagmamadali kong kinuha ang kumot at unan. The door then immediately opened. I was about to throw it to the man when I realized who it is. My mouth parted, masakit na tumibok ang puso ko.

I hopelessly stared at him. Tumitig siya pabalik sa akin at napakislot ako ng naramdaman ang galit sa kanyang mga mata. His lips twitch in a malicious manner when he saw me. Hinayaan kong maglakbay ang paningin niya ng bumaba ang tingin niya sa katawan ko.

"What is this, Achilles?" Mahinahon kong sabi sa kanya.

Kahit masakit ang puso ko dahil doon, hindi ko maramdaman na magalit sa kanya. Six years is enough for me to forgive him.

Hindi siya sumagot sa akin. With his emotionless face, he walks towards me. I whimpered at the sight of his dagger eyes.

"So you do really remember my name now, huh?" He eyed me sharply. Walang buhay siyang umupo sa kama. Nakatutok lang ang mga mata ko sa kanya habang pinipirmi niya ang tindig.

"A-anong ginagawa ko dito?" I asked him again in the hope that he will answer me truthfully this time. "Bakit ako nakatali? This is illegal!"

Hindi siya sumagot sa akin. Bumaling ang mata niya sa kamay ko na may posas. May pasa roon, madali kong kinuha ang kumot at tinakpan iyon. His jaw clenched in an angry manner. Hindi siya ganito dati. His eyes were always gentle not like this. Kahit ang kaunting pagkunot ay napakabigat. He irratatedly turned his eyes on me.

"Achilles..."

"Stop calling me like that!" He barked suddenly at me. Napakislot ako doon. I knew his angry, but does he have to treat me this way? I'm way too weak for his own good. I hope he realizes that. I smiled bitterly. I then slowly hide my trembling hands on the blanket.

Napaangat ako ng tingin ng maramdaman ang haplos niya sa binti ko. Kinuha ko ang kumot para sana takpan iyon pero pabalya niyang binangga ang kamay ko ng malakas. I winced in pain when it reaches to my bone.

"Don't you dare hide what's mine!" Hindi humina ang boses niya. Mas lalo itong tumaas. Napapikit ako dahil sa intensidad noon.

"I was never yours! Hindi mo ba naalala na hindi ako ang babaeng dapat mong angkinin?!" Sigaw ko sa kanya.

He gritted his teeth. "You don't know that."

Nangangalay na ang binti ko at masakit na rin ang banda na may tali. I felt a leap pain when he touch me again.

"You will live here with me from now on. Hindi ka lalabas ng walang paalam ko."

I grip to the pillow harder.

What?

"H---ha?" Hindi iyon marehistro sa utak ko. "W-why? Wala akong responsibilidad sa iyo." Parang tangang tanong ko sa kanya.

Lumapit pa siya lalo sa akin kaya bahagya akong napatigil. Hinaplos niya ang pisngi ko. His breath brushed over my face, it smells so nice.

"Your gray eyes is the evidence, baby." He paused and stared at my face wholly.

Gusto kong magpatianod at ngumiti sa sinabi niya pero kaagad nawala ang emotion sa kanyang mga mata.

"You are mine!" He savagely said. Napaatras ako pero hinigit niya ang buhok ko. He held it gently. I held my breath when he slightly grip my hair to the left side of my neck.

Mas lalo akong hindi nakakilos. "Achilles..." I beg. I panicking right now and I don't know what to do and feel. I felt betrayed and hurt.

Bakit niya ako ginaganito?

I felt his nose rested on my exposed neck while his other hand slowly caressing my waist. Madaling kumilos ang kamay ko at pinigil siya. No one had touched me there before.

Tumigil siya sa kanyang ginawa at tiningnan niya ako ng masama. "Take off your hands on me or you will regret it, my Braises." He gritted. He just can't order me like this

I inhaled sharply.

I trembled. He was still on his expensive suit and it makes him more dominating.

I felt his light kisses. I jumped. I was startled, pilit kong iniiwas ang leeg ko sa kanya pero hinigit niya uli ako. Mas lalong naramdaman ko ang kanyang agresibong halik sa leeg ko. I felt butterflies on my stomach.

"Achilles...No!" I said, horrified. I urge to turn back my senses away.

Hindi siya nakinig. Mas naging mapusok ang halik niya sa leeg ko. He licked me so aggressively. Idiniin niya ang katawan sa akin at mas lalo pang hinapit ang beywang ko. Kontrolado niyang hinapit ang beywang ko.

"Stop..." I pleaded more.

Mabilis niyang inalis ang nakaharang kong kamay sa aking katawan. I tried my best to sway my body away from his hungry kisses. I tried to move, but it felt as if my body were tied down by invisible threads. I turned my head away from him. Kinuha niya ang isang kamay ko at mas idiniin ito sa taas para malaya niyang magawa ang gusto niyang gawin. Maiyak-iyak ako at kahit anong klaseng hikbi ang gawin ko ay hindi siya nakikinig, bagkos ay mas pinag-igihan pa niya ang kanyang paghalik sa akin.

Achilles was half shadow, every muscle on his torso flowing from the light into the dark. With a well-toned and muscular body, i'm sure his physique was admired by the opposite s*x. I had the most ridiculous strength to weight ratio of his grip strength.

Nanginginig akong nagpakawala ng buntong hininga.

"P-please..D-don't do this to me, Achilles."

Tumigil siya sa kanyang mga halik sa akin at bahagyang lumuwag ang hawak niya. His dark eyes meets mine. Malamig iyon habang nakatingin ng pabalik sa akin.

His jaw clenched. I thought I might faint or vomit, but I didn’t.

Lumapit ang mukha niya sa akin. Nataranta ako at mas lalong hindi mapirmi ang lakas ng puso. He blew gently into my ear. He nudged my legs apart with his knees, spreading me as he gripped my hips, tugging them up.

"No!" I snapped at him but he just glared on me.

"Shut up. I'm not going to f**k you yet." His voice was so dangerous. His words brought pain to my heart. Parang nabingi ako sa sinabi niya, paulit-ulit itong nag-rereplay sa utak ko.

He'll do worse than this? The thought of him, doing that to me, makes me trembled in so much fear. Mas sumama ang pakiramdam ko dahil sa sinabi niya. His words make me question everything, all the years that we’ve been through. Wala na ba akong halaga para lamang makuha ang pagpapatawad niya, kahit kakarampot lamang? I disgraced my own self by leaving him hanging. Of course, in my part, I will know that he’ll get mad.

But not like this! Na kakainin niya na ako dahil sa sobrang galit. I didn’t regret anything, I already accept the consequences long time ago.

“W-what?”

He smirked evilly. Inilibot niya ang paningin sa buong mukha ko. “You are really beautiful, my Bree.” Kumuha siya ng ilang hibla ng buhok ko at dinala iyon papunta sa kanyang ilong. He sniffed it sensually, halos mangilabot ako. “You make me crazy finding you. All this time, nasa Surigao ka lang pala.”

Impit akong napahiyaw ng lumapit na naman ang mukha niya sa akin. Pawis na pawis na ako kahit umaga pa lamang dahil sa ginagawa at pinaparamdam niya sa akin. Takot na takot ako para sa sarili ko. Ang taong nasa harap ko na ngayon ay hindi ko na kilala. I don’t think I remember seeing him like this.

Holding me like this..

Speaking to me like this.. Like I’m nothing.

Well, I’m no one in his life now.

How will I know what he will do next? Will he torture me?

“Wala kang mapapala sa akin.” Medyo kampante ko nang saad, pinipigilan na ang sarili na umiyak pa.

He chuckled after that. “Are you sure, Braises?”

Tumitig ako sa mga mata niya. I wanted to find my bravery while staring at him and gladly my own body oblige.

“A-ano ba ang ibig sabihin nito?” I tried to move my hands. Nangangawit na ang mga binti ko at pati na ang kamay kong nakaposas. May kaunti akong hapdi na nararamdaman dahil sa posas na nakalagay sa aking mga kamay kaya mas lalo akong hindi makagalaw.

“You will do me a good favor now, Bree.” Malamig niyang saad at mabilis siyang tumayo sa akin na parang nangdidiri.

“This time, you won’t get away anymore.”

Nagtataka akong napatingin sa kanya. What is he doing? Binuksan niya ang malaking drawer na nasa tapat ng kamang kinalalagyan ko at may kinuhang malaking brown envelop doon. Tumungo siya malapit sa akin at bumalik sa pagkakasandal sa pader. Binuksan niya ito at ibinaba sa harap ko ang maraming papel na laman niyon.

Nagtataka akong naglipat ng tingin sa inilapag niyang mga papel habang siya ay tumalikod sa akin ulit at tinungo ang malaking bilog na mesang kahoy. Nakita kong may bote ng alak na nandoon.

He poured a little on the wine glass. Inikot niya ang baso ng ilang segundo bago tumingin sa akin.

He arched his brows. “Aren’t you gonna read that?” Suplado niyang tanong.

Kumunot ang noo ko at sinunod ang sinabi niya. I tried reaching the papers by my left hand, I winced when my right hand move because of that. Mabilis kong binasa ang nakasulat sa mga papel. Wala ba siyang balak pakawalan ako?

This is kidnapping!

“Uh..W-what is this?” I thoroughly examined it, baka namamalikmata lang ako. “Titulo ito ng lupa namin sa Surigao?” Naguguluhan akong nag-angat ng mukha sa kanya.

Tumango siya.

Binuklat ko pa ang ilang mga dokumentong naroon at lahat ng iyon ay ang mga importanteng papeles na nagpapatunay ng aming ari-arian sa probinsiya. Kahit ang mismo ang mansiyon ay nandoon rin.

“Anong ibig sabihin nito, Achilles?!”

Wala akong makitang emosiyon sa kanyang mga mata. Paano ito lahat napunta sa kanya? Si Tito Claudio dapat ang may hawak nito..

I felt like I’m flying, and I don’t think I have time to land. I looked like a bird, lost in my own nest.

I frustratedly sighed.

Mas lalong namilog ang mata ko ng makita ang huling papel. “A marriage certificate?”

I parted my lips. “W-what is this?”

He cockily tilted his head like it was a funny thing, when seriously it’s not. “It’s a document that shows social union or a legal contract between people that creates kinship.” He mocked me.

Agad akong nagalit sa sagot niya. “I know what this is. Huwag mo akong gawing tanga.” Nagpupuyos na ang galit sa puso ko. My vision blurred. “Sagutin mo ako ng maayos.”

Nawala ang mapaglarong ngiti sa kanyang labi at napalitan ito ng galit. He immediately drinks his wine. His jaw clenched, darkly.

“That..” Tinuro niya ang hawak kong mga papel. “Only means….I’m the new owner of all of your beloved assets.”

“What?!!!”

“Yes, baby.” He smiled, not genuine and still mocking me.

“Hindi ako naniniwala sa iyo. This is absurd! How could it happen?” Natatawa kong saad. “This document must be fake, I’m sure of it.”

Umiling siya. “Uh-uh.”

“No! You are just joking.” Nanghihina akong nakatingin sa kanya.

Galit siyang tumingin sa akin. “You knew me, Braises. Hindi ako nagbibiro.”

Napaluha ako ng tuluyan dahil doon. I saw him stilled when he saw my tears flowing in my face non-stop.

His lips parted.

Para siyang nasasaktan habang nakatitig sa akin. Then he glanced at my handcuffed wrist.

Agad siyang may kinuha sa bulsa niya at mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong kinuha niya ang posas sa kamay ko. Napatigil ako sa pag-iyak ng mapansin siyang nakatingin sa mga kamay ko na may mga bahid ng dugo. Magdamag akong nakaposas. I’m not a one-position sleeper, kaya malay ko kung ano ang ginawang hatak ko sa mga kamay ko ng tulog ako at walang malay.

“f**k!” He muttered under his breath. “f**k! f**k!”

Napaigtad ako ng magsunod sunod ang mura niya. Marahan niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko at sinuri iyon ulit, hindi pa siya nakontento ay mabilis niyang hinawi ang kumot na nakatabon sa mga binti ko. Inalis niya kaagad ang tali ron. Mamula-mula iyon at may ilang bahagi na ng binti ko na nagcolored violet.

Mas lalo siyang nagalit sa nakita.

Mahigpit na kumuyom ang kamao niya. He picked up his phone on his pocket.

“Lucas!” Madilim ang mukha niya at galit na galit habang may kausap sa cellphone.

He glanced at me, still angry. Then to my wrist, mas lalo siyang nagalit ng magtagal ang mata niya roon.

“Who's the f*****g retarded asshole tied my wife?!” Dumadagundong ang boses niya sa buong kwarto.

What the! Wife? Sino?

Ako ba? Mas lalo akong natigil sa aking pag-iyak.

“I told you to use some silky soft blanket, not this f*****g groping rope. You even handcuffed her, you fouled old git!” He paused, trying to relax. He looks livid. Kahit ako ay napapahinto dahil sa galit na galit niyang ekspresiyon. Hindi ko kailanman nakitaan na ganito siya magalit dati. “I even told you to not touch her and you use gloves—"

“I want you to be here now.” He said and ended the call. “Piece of shit.”

Mariin siyang pumikit. Umupo siya sa tabi ko at tiningnan uli ang kamay ko.

“This won’t happen again, my Bree.”

Still puzzled, I answered him. “Then let me go.”

Nagalit siyang nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. “Don’t be stubborn.”

Tumayo siya. His way was to the door. Akmang tatayo ako pero pinigil niya ako sa pamamagitan ng pagpukol sa akin ng masamang tingin.

“Huwag kang lumabas at dito ka lang.” Lumapit siya sa akin kaya napaatras ako. “Don’t try to disobey me, Bree. You won’t like what I will do.” He dangerously said.

I nodded, I’m afraid. “S-saan ka pupunta? At bakit mo ako iiwan?”

He smirked, looking amused at my reaction.

“Your husband has some matters to deal with. I’ll be back before you know.”

“You’re not my husband.”

Umiling siya. “Yes. I am. You saw it.” He seriously said.

“I don’t believe it.”

May panunuya siyang tumingin sa akin. “Let’s see.”

He pulled his face closer to me and planted a quick kiss on my lips. Mabilis na bumulusok ang init sa aking pisngi.

“Now, stay here. Ipapadala ko ang pagkain mo dito.” He said and left me breathless.

It took me hours to finally bring back my senses.

Mabilis akong bumalik sa kama at inabot ang huling papel na binasa ko. Halos malito at mabaliw ako ng makita doon ang pirma ko.

Paano nangyari iyon? Wala akong maalala na may pinirmahan ako? Calm down, Bree. This is not true. I’m not married to him! What the! Mabilis ko iyong pinaypay sa sarili ko, walang pake kong importante pa ito.

I need some air.

Nanlumo ako at hinayaang mahulog ang sarili sa kama. I put my hand’s back in my forehead. Mabilis ang mga pangyayari at masiyadong nakakabigla. Nakakawala ng ulirat..

It was just years ago, that I didn’t wanted to see him but now.. Siya na mismo ang humanap sa akin at nagtali sa kanya ng tuluyan. I know from the start that being with him will be a great deal. It was such a great and big deal, indeed. A lot has changed in him, both physical and emotional.

Ngayon, mas lalo kong napatunayan sa sarili ko na hindi ko kayang magtapat at maging matatag sa harap niya. Na ako pa rin ang babaeng palaging napanghihinaan ng loob sa harap niya. I have been battling this kind of thoughts in my mind and I ended up always undecided, and worst..lost in my own thoughts.

I yawned. It is still maybe not ten in the morning yet but I still felt sleepy. I felt so tired, and all I just wanted to do is to sleep peacefully.

Hours had passed, I felt someone poking my face. I snuggled in when I felt a warm touch to my face afterwards. Ayaw ko pang magising dahil masakit pa rin ang binti ko at hindi nakikisama ang katawan ko.

“Sleep well for now, my Bree.” A whispered came to my ears.

Then I felt a warm hand on my waist tugging me closer to someone’s body. Mas lalo akong inantok ng maramdaman ang init na nanggagaling doon dahilan kong bakit guminhawa ang aking pakiramdam.

“I’m sorry..”