VALENTINO SERIES 2: TO TAME HIS HEART

Kabanata 31

Georgia

Kuya Israel left to stop Boyd. I still didn't get any update from them even after the family driver came to pick me up at the hospital. For some reason, Dad asked Rocco to do something so I came home alone with the driver.

"Manong, wala pa rin bang reply si kuya?" tanong ko sa driver habang nasa daan kami pauwi.

Hindi ako mapakali. What if Boyd found Ron and his friends? I know my boyfriend. He's a very good man but he could throw his morals out of the window once someone does something horrible to me.

Kung siya ay parang ayos lang kahit na kutyain siya o saktan. Pero pagdating sa akin, alam kong magagawa niyang dungisan ang mga palad niya maiganti lamang ako.

That's what I am terrified of. Boyd doesn't deserve to be pictured as a violent man just because he wanted to avenge me.

"Wala pa rin ho, Ma'am. Susubukan ko na lang pong tawagan pagkarating natin sa bahay."

Napabuntonghininga ako. My body feels sore but I couldn't take a nap while we're on our way home. Naroon pa rin ang takot sa dibdib ko, idagdag pang hindi ko alam kung nasaan na ba sina kuya Israel at Boyd.

I dropped my phone earlier when Ron and his friends dragged me inside the van. Hindi ko alam kung nasagasaan ba ang cellphone ko o may nakapulot na. Hindi ko rin tuloy matawagan si Boyd ngayon.

I tried to shut my eyes and calm myself. I don't want to worry more people. Baka kung makita nilang nanlalambot pa rin ako sa takot ay mag-alala silang lahat. Dad might even forbid me from going out. I don't want that to happen. Sigurado rin namang hindi nila patatapakin si Boyd sa bahay.

Ilang minuto na akong nakapikit nang marinig ko ang pagtunog ng cellphone ng driver. I became alert, hoping that it's my brother.

"Sir Americus? Oho, pauwi na ho kami ni Ma'am. Okay naman po ang scans at ibang tests sabi no'ng nakausap kong doktor. 'Yong ibang dokumento kailangang si Sir Israel ho ang--" Natahimik siya. "Saan ho?"

Nilingon ako ng driver habang salubong ang mga kilay niya. I know he's listening to my Dad's instructions right now. Nang tila natapos si Daddy sa sinasabi ay narinig kong bumuntonghininga ang driver.

"Sige ho, Sir sasabihin ko kay Ma'am Georgia."

Tumikhim ako. "What is it about?"

Inilapag niya ang cellphone niya matapos maputol ang tawag. "Sa resthouse sa Bulacan daw ho kayo iuwi. Susunod daw ho roon ang Daddy n'yo."

Nalukot ang aking noo. "Bakit doon?"

"Para raw ho hindi kayo kulitin ng media. Nasa balita na raw ho 'yong nangyari."

Hindi ako nakaimik. Yes, that's pretty reasonable considering that my Dad owns one of the best airlines in the country. Perhaps in South-East Asia but my gut tells me that something is quite off. Hindi ko lang matukoy kung ano ngunit imbes na magtanong pa ay nanahimik na lamang ako.

I thought I was just paranoid because I literally nearly got abducted and sexually assaulted a few hours ago. Hindi ako umalma noong iniuwi ako ng driver sa resthouse namin sa Bulacan. We don't usually use it. Minsan ay si kuya Israel lang ang nagpupunta roon tuwing Summer kasama ang ilang kaibigan niya. Wala ring ibang tauhan sa lugar maliban sa caretaker na tuwing umaga nagtutungo sa property para magdilig.

"Please tell my Dad that I need a new phone. Maybe he can bring me Rocco's spare phone."

Tumango ang driver. "Sige ho, Ma'am."

Tinawagan niya ang Daddy ko para sabihing naririto na kami. Maya-maya ay nagpaalam siya sa akin dahil pinauuwi na raw ni Daddy.

"Pero wala po akong kasama," natatakot kong sabi.

"On the way na raw ho si Sir. Mga trenta menutos ay nandito na ho siya."

Wala na akong nagawa pa. I locked the doors and became alert while sitting on the couch. Ang likot ng mga mata ko at nagpapawis ang mga palad ko dala ng takot na baka may bigla na lamang pumasok. Saka lang ako umalis sa aking pwesto noong narinig ko ang pagdating ng sasakyang gamit ng Daddy ko.

"Daddy," bungad ko.

My Dad whom I rarely see locked me in his arms, yet instead of feeling safe because he's my Dad, my body felt the same chills I felt earlier because of Ron.

Inisip ko na epekto lamang iyon ng trauma na ibinigay sa akin ng nangyari. I didn't want to think anything bad towards my Dad because he's my dad, right? Dugo't laman niya ako.

"Ano ang nangyari?" tanong niya nang makaupo kami sa sofa. I was next to him. Nakaakbay siya sa akin habang ang mga mata ay nakatitig sa aking mukha.

I tried to tell him what happened. Naiyak ako sa kalagitnaan ng pagkikwento. I was so focused on my emotions that I didn't realize that there was no ounce of sympathy in my father's eyes. All he did was stare at my lips while his fingertips were busy touching my arm.

"And now I don't know where Boyd and kuya Israel are," pagtapos ko sa aking kwento.

Daddy inhaled a sharp breath. "You look so much like your mother when she was your age. Same lively eyes, luscious lips, big boobs. I can't blame that man who tried to have you, because he just showed you what a man can do kapag gustong-gusto ang isang babae."

My body froze as I felt chills down my spine. Napatigil ako sa akmang pagpunas ng luha dahil sa narinig. "W-What?"

He smirked. "You're very beautiful, Georgia. I miss your mother so much, but since you are here and you look a lot like her, maybe you can ease away Daddy's loneliness."

Nagwala sa takot ang aking dibdib. My body froze and my tears streamed down my cheeks when I saw the expression written in my own father's eyes. Pakiramdam ko ay nakipagtitigan ako sa isang demonyo. Ni wala akong nakitang awa o simpatya sa mga mata niya. All there is . . . was his carnal desire as if what happened to me had turned him on.

"D-Daddy?" nahihintakutan kong tawag.

He smiled and tried to move his hand higher on my thigh. Nanlaban ako sa takot. I tried to run but he slapped me until I fell on the floor.

My tears streamed down the sides of my face as I watched my own father remove his shirt.

This is not my Dad.

This is the monster no one has ever warned me about . . .