NINONG: My Silent, Forbidden Desire

Lingering Night

I remained silent throughout the entire ride back to the Gomez mansion with Ninong, while he kept his eyes fixed sharply on the road.

Neither of us wanted to speak. I wanted to ask him about the message I read on his phone earlier, but I was afraid he might get angry at me.

I followed Godfather inside the living room. I was immediately met by Aunt Emilia's sharp, piercing gaze.

Godfather noticed how I swallowed hard and tried my best to avoid her stare.

"Mom, what's wrong?" he asked, drawing her attention.

She coughed fakely, then shook her head.

Aunt was acting strange, while Uncle sat quietly holding a cup I knew was filled with tea.

"Where did you sleep last night, Aira?" Uncle asked in a cold tone.

I wished the ground would just swallow me whole. I wasn’t used to lying, but I certainly couldn’t tell Uncle and Aunt what really happened between Godfather and me.

"A classmate of Aira called me, Dad," he spoke up. "She told me Aira slept over there because of their practice."

I glanced at him, but he acted as if it was nothing. Practice? Maybe a different kind of practice.

"Aira?"

"I’m sorry, Aunt, Uncle. I wasn’t able to inform you because I left my cellphone in my room yesterday," I answered softly.

What I said was true—I did leave my phone in my room because I was in such a rush yesterday.

"Very well. Go change your clothes, then come to my room later. We have something to talk about."

I simply nodded before heading to my room.

I didn’t want to keep Aunt waiting, so right after changing, I went straight to her chamber. I found her sitting quietly, staring out the window while holding a comb.

"Aunt?"

She looked at me, and there was something different in her expression. Does she know something?

"Aira, you didn’t lie to me, right?" she asked.

I nodded slowly at her.

"Aira, I know you and your Godfather Ethan are not blood-related. And I know the time will come when you will have to settle down and live your own life," she stated, placing the comb on the couch. "Ethan has been a father to you, Aira. He took on the responsibility that your own father was supposed to fulfill."

I fell silent at her words. She was right—Godfather had been my father figure ever since my real father abandoned me, and until now, I hadn't heard a single word from him.

"If you don't mind... you are already of age, and so is your Godfather Ethan. Can you support him if he decides to get married someday?"

I bit my lip hard. It felt as if a sharp knife had just been stabbed right into my chest.

I felt tears welling up in my eyes, but I couldn’t let her see them. I forced a smile.

"Of course, Aunt. Besides, I feel ashamed because since Godfather Ethan took on the role of being a father to me, he hasn't been able to focus on his own life."

She held my hand and guided me toward the bed to sit.

"Aira... you will find a man who is meant to be with you in the future."

Tears streamed down my face the moment I entered my room. I thought it was okay for things between Godfather Ethan and me to stay the way they were, but after hearing Aunt Emilia's words, I felt like I just wanted to disappear to escape the pain and aching in my heart.

Weak and trembling, I sat on the edge of my bed. Everything around me became blurry through the tears blocking my vision.

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Clara.

"Clara..."

"What happened to you? Why are you crying?" she asked immediately, noticing how broken my voice sounded.

No words came out of me. She just let me cry it all out.

Slowly, the pain I was feeling began to fade a little.

"Aira, what happened? And why did you disappear the other day?" she asked.

"I’ll explain everything when I go back to school."

"But why are you crying?"

I told her everything Aunt Emilia had said to me. Clara already knew about my secret feelings and fantasies for Godfather.

"After hearing everything from you, I can say that your Aunt is right. I used to think you just had a crush on your Godfather Ethan, but Aira... it really doesn't look good if you pursue that kind of relationship."

I shook my head. "I can't help it!"

"You can do it, Aira. Besides, what if your Aunt Emilia really finds out? She’ll only get even angrier at you."

Maybe she was right.

I couldn’t continue this relationship, especially since Godfather's reputation and future were at stake.

It would be better if I just loved him from a distance.

"Good morning, Mom, Dad, Aira," Godfather greeted as he entered the kitchen.

Uncle and Aunt responded, while I just smiled at him—the same smile I used to give him back when I wasn't in love with him yet.

It was painful and hard inside, but I had to endure it.

I continued eating my breakfast, all the while feeling a pair of eyes glancing at me from time to time.

"Aira, my dear. If ever you can’t come home, please tell us beforehand so I won't worry about you!" Aunt Emilia said.

"Yes."

Slowly, Aunt Emilia's cheerful demeanor returned.

We talked about many things while eating, and Uncle Rodolfo just laughed listening to us both.

Godfather joined in the conversation occasionally, but I paid him no attention; only Aunt Emilia responded to whatever he said.

Aira had already left before I headed to the company.

The massive building of Gomez Corporation stood before me. Guards greeted me, while women giggled and pretended to act innocent in front of me.

What a bunch of sluts.

"Good morning, dude. What’s with that face?" Zabber asked as soon as we got inside my office.

"Nothing."

He laughed. "Don't lie to me, dude. I know you better than the back of my hand. What happened? You look like a demon again."

Nothing happened, except for the fact that Aira was completely ignoring me.

Damn it.

"Dude..." he called out, but I remained silent. "Is it about your goddaughter—Aira?"

I looked at him, expressionless.

"I knew it!" he said, shaking his head.

"Just shut up, Mondragon!"

He laughed even harder, clapping his hands like a maniac. Abnormal.

"It’s too obvious, man. Even before, every time you looked at her, it was like you wanted to claim her as yours completely. Come on, dude."

I had no choice. Zabber knew me better than anyone else here.

I told him everything—every single detail. Even about that sinful night Aira and I shared together.

"The f*ck, dude. For real?" he asked, eyes wide open in shock.

"Yeah."

"But it’s too complicated. In your situation... it’s unlikely you two will last long like this."

I ran my hands down my face. I know. But I can’t stop myself from claiming her again and again. My body heats up automatically just seeing her breasts and thighs.

"So why do you look so miserable if last night you were together in bed perfectly fine?"

"I don't know. But the next day, it was like the innocent goddaughter I knew returned. She ignores me. It’s like she’s avoiding me. I tried to speak to her while she was with my mother, but it was as if I was invisible to her!"

"Court her. Do everything you can to get her attention back..." he suggested. "Maybe it’s just awkwardness between you two taking over, that’s why she can’t bring herself to acknowledge you. I mean, who wouldn’t feel awkward? You’re her godfather, and yet you claimed her completely."

Several days passed, and Aira treated me exactly the same way. I did everything—even things I never intended to do in my entire life.

Just like earlier...

(—)

I cooked breakfast, especially since I knew Mom and Dad had left the Philippines for business, leaving just the two of us at home.

Aira arrived in the kitchen, but acted as if I didn't exist. She went straight to the dining table quietly.

I tried to talk to her, but she just nodded. If not a nod, her answers were only one or two words long.

(—)

Exactly 7:00 PM, Aira arrived home.

"Good evening. I’m sorry I’m late," she said softly, before walking upstairs toward her room.

I felt like I was going crazy.

"Aira, can we talk?"

She stopped at the foot of the stairs and faced me with an innocent expression.

"What is it, Godfather?"

Damn that word—Godfather.

"Did I do something wrong?" I asked her directly.

She shook her head. "Nothing."

"Are you avoiding me?"

She was surprised by my question, but quickly returned her expression to that innocent look again.

"No."

She excused herself to go up to her room, so I followed her.

She was about to close her door when I suddenly stepped inside, pushed her against the wall, and kissed her fiercely.

She tried hard to push me away, but I wouldn't budge. My hands began wandering again, moving from her thighs toward her most sensitive part.

"Godfather!"

"Shhh..."

I tore her clothes off. I touched her intimately—she was already soaking wet just from my touch.

I pushed one finger inside her, matched by her delicious moan. Within minutes, it became two, then three fingers deep.

My lips never left hers, exploring her mouth, sucking on her tongue while soft moans escaped from her lips.

She pressed herself harder against my hand as I moved in and out of her core—fast, hitting the deepest spot.

"Damn you, Aira. You make me f*cking crazy over your body."

Her inner walls tightened—a sign she was close to her climax. I pulled my fingers out abruptly, and she gasped breathlessly.

"Damn you!" she cursed, and I smirked at her reaction.

I pulled her closer, laid her flat on the bed, and slowly revealed my throbbing, hard length.

I was right at her entrance, feeling the heat radiating from her.

A knock on the door stopped me, followed by shock as we both recognized the familiar voice from outside.

Aira pushed me away and quickly forced me to hide inside her closet. Damn it... My lower stomach is already aching with need.