TAINTED INNOCENCE

Chapter 14

Tatlong araw na.

Tatlong araw na mula nang nakita niya si Celine sa condo ni Dominic.

Tatlong araw na rin siyang hindi nagre-reply.

Hindi sa wala siyang natatanggap.

In fact, sunod-sunod ang messages ni Dom mula noong gabing ‘yon.

Dom: Bella, let me explain.

Dom: Don’t do this.

Dom: Answer me.

Dom: Isa lang. Please.

Pero lahat ng ‘yon? Seen. Walang reply. Walang emoji. Walang kahit ano.

Deadma.

Tumititig lang si Bella sa screen ng phone niya habang nakahiga sa kama.

Namumugto ang mata. Namamanhid ang dibdib.

Binubura niya na agad bawat message pag nababasa niya.

Ayaw niyang matuksong mag-reply.

Ayaw niyang marinig ang excuses.

Ayaw niyang bumalik sa sakit.

Napapikit siya nang mariin, pilit pinipigil ang sariling i-type ang…

“Sino si Celine?”

“Bakit siya nando’n?”

“Ako lang ba talaga?”

Pero hindi. Hindi niya bibigyan ng karapatang masagot pa ‘yon si Dominic.

Hindi na siya ulit magiging marupok.

"Bella..."

Mahina ang boses ni Trisha habang tinatapik ang balikat niya.

Nasa kama pa rin siya, hindi pa rin naliligo, nakasuot pa rin ang oversized hoodie ni Dom na naiwan sa unit niya.

“Girl, hindi ka na kumakain. Puro iyak ka. Tama na.”

Hindi siya sumagot. Tumingin lang siya sa kisame.

“Toxic na ‘yan, girl. Hindi mo deserve ‘to. He doesn’t deserve you.”

Napahigpit ang yakap ni Bella sa sarili.

Pilit pinapalitan ang memorya ng gabi nilang magkasama ng real-time pain.

Yung lambing.

Yung init.

Yung mga salita.

“You’re mine.”

“You’re safe with me.”

Lahat. Bullshit.

Gabi-gabi, umiiyak siya bago matulog.

Tahimik lang, nakatalukbong ng kumot.

Pero ang unan niya, basang-basa.

At ang puso niya? Unti-unting naglalakad palayo sa lahat ng alam niyang totoo.

Hindi siya sumasagot. Hindi siya tatawag.

Hindi siya babalik.

Kahit pa ilang beses pa mag-text si Dominic.

Kahit pa magmakaawa siya.

Because this time, Bella chose herself.

Alas dos na ng madaling araw.

Tahimik ang buong unit.

Tanging tunog ng orasan at hina ng paghikbi niya ang maririnig.

Nakatalukbong siya ng kumot, naka-fetal position, yakap-yakap ang isang unan.

Hindi ‘yon basta unan—punda pa lang, alam mong kay Dominic ‘yon. Amoy pa niya.

Yung paborito niyang scent. Masculine. Musky.

Yung tipong kahit idikit mo sa mukha mo, mararamdaman mo pa ring safe ka.

Pero ngayon?

Yung amoy na ‘yon ang pinakamasakit.

Dati, comfort.

Ngayon, trauma.

“Bakit ganon, Trish?” bulong niya isang gabi habang naka-speaker sila. “Akala ko okay kami. Akala ko… special ako.”

Trisha sighed on the other end of the call.

“Because you loved him more than he deserved, Bella.”

Napakagat si Bella sa labi.

“Hindi naman ako naghahanap ng fairytale. Gusto ko lang ng honesty… ng respect.”

“Hindi lahat ng lalaki marunong umrespeto. Yung iba, marunong lang magpakilig.”

“Pero after makuha nila yung gusto nila—”

“—they pull away. Just like that.”

Tuwing gabi, ganito siya:

Hubad ang kaluluwa, sugatan ang puso.

Umiiyak hanggang sa mawalan ng boses.

Hanggang sa mamaga ang mata.

Hanggang sa mapagod na lang at makatulog na lang sa gitna ng sakit.

Natatapos ang gabi na walang closure.

Walang sagot.

Walang explanation.

At pag gising niya?

Pareho pa rin ang cycle.

Minsan, habang nakatitig sa phone niya, tinatype niya pa rin yung message na ayaw niya namang isend:

"Ba’t mo ako ginanito?"

"Bakit si Celine?"

"Akala ko ako lang."

Pero laging nauuwi sa delete.

Dahil natutunan na niyang ang tunay na dignity… ay minsan, katahimikan.

Isa, dalawang gabi.

Lumipas ang linggo.

And she was still crying.

But less.

Still hurting.

But stronger.

And slowly… she was beginning to remember who she was before him.

DOMINIC'S POV

Tatlumpu’t limang unread messages.

Dalawampu’t tatlong missed calls.

Hindi galing sa kanya… kundi para sa kanya.

Pero wala.

Walang sagot mula kay Bella.

Dominic stared blankly at his phone, hawak-hawak niya na parang kung tititigan niya nang matagal, bigla na lang itong magri-ring.

Pero hindi.

Tahimik.

Cold.

Exactly the way he was… noon.

Now? Siya ang iniwan sa tahimik.

He slammed the door of his condo.

Sinipa ang jacket na nakakalat sa sahig.

“f**k,” he muttered, halatang iritado. Halatang… nalilito.

Bakit ba siya hindi mapakali?

He took a glass and poured himself a drink—whiskey, straight.

No chaser. Just pain.

Sinubukan niyang i-distract sarili niya—mga business meetings, gym, ilang babae na nag-aalok ng company.

Pero kahit sino pa ang kasama niya…

Wala.

Walang kagaya ni Bella.

Her laugh.

Her soft “Hi, Dom…” sa boses niyang laging mahina pero makirot.

Her skin na parang kape sa umaga—init na gusto mong balikan.

Binalikan niya lahat sa utak niya.

Yung first time niya itong halikan.

Yung kaunting pilantik ng ngiti nito kapag nahihiya.

Yung paraan ng paghinga nito sa leeg niya nung gabing iyon…

He groaned.

"Putangina," he whispered to himself, paluhod sa sahig, palad sa mukha.

He missed her.

He f*****g missed her.

Pero hindi niya kayang iamin.

Kasi kung aamin siya,

ibig sabihin natalo siya.

At sa mundo ni Dominic Valencia…

hindi siya natatalo.

Kahit pa puso niya ang presyo.

“Girl, hindi p’wede ‘to. Ilang araw ka nang hindi lumalabas. You’re turning into a heartbreak zombie,” Trisha groaned habang inaayos ang buhok ni Bella.

“Trish, okay lang ako…” Bella whispered, bagsak ang boses. Suot pa rin niya ang oversized na hoodie ni Dominic—parang balot ng sakit na ayaw niyang alisin.

Trisha rolled her eyes. “Girl, that hoodie needs to go. Hindi mo siya ma-move on kung amoy niya pa rin ‘yang suot mo.”

Bella looked away. Her eyes were swollen, red, and tired. Pero wala pa ring luha. Ubus na. She cried everything out the last night habang yakap ang unan, nagbabasa ng old texts ni Dominic na akala niya sincere.

“Sige, kung ayaw mong kumilos, ako na ang kikilos para sa’yo.”

“Trish…” she warned, but Trisha held up a hand.

“I’m not asking permission. I'm saving your life, girl.”

The next day, Bella found herself sitting sa isang outdoor café sa BGC. Fresh air. Afternoon breeze. Sunlight dappling through the trees.

And across from her was a man.

Ethan.

Hindi siya Dominic. Walang intense stare. Walang aura ng panganib. Pero may something.

May warmth.

“Bella, right?” Ethan smiled, offering his hand. “Trisha’s told me about you.”

Bella managed a polite smile. “Good things, I hope?”

He chuckled. “Only good. And she’s right—you really do glow. Even when you look sad.”

Bella blinked.

Hindi siya sanay na may nakakapansin sa sadness niya nang hindi siya tinatanong kung ‘okay lang ba siya.’

With Dominic, she had to hide it. With Ethan… parang pwede siyang huminga.

Nagtagal ang usapan nila. From coffee to early dinner. From awkward small talk to genuine laughter.

He wasn’t trying hard.

He wasn’t playing games.

He was just… present.

“So… do you believe in second chances?” tanong ni Ethan habang pinipisil ang dulo ng baso niya, eyes curious.

Bella paused.

Napalunok siya.

Kasi kahit ang bait ni Ethan… Dominic pa rin ang laman ng isip niya.

Pero saglit siyang ngumiti.

“I’m learning to.”

Later that night, habang nasa loob na siya ng car, Trisha texted her:

TRISHA:

And??

BELLA:

He’s… nice.

TRISHA:

Nice is good. Nice is stable. Nice is not Dominic.

Bella stared at her screen, heart slowly tightening.

Hindi ba 'yun naman ang gusto niya dati?

A guy who treats her right? A guy who makes her laugh without making her cry?

Then why…

Why does her heart still ache?

Little did she know, from a car parked just across the street, a pair of eyes watched them.

A clenched jaw.

A fist curled tight on the steering wheel.

A low, threatening whisper:

“Sinong gago ‘yon?”

DOMINIC’S POV

Putangina.

The moment he saw her—his Bella—nakaupo sa tapat ng ibang lalaki, tawa nang tawa, parang hindi siya halos mabaliw sa kakaisip sa kanya these past few nights, something inside him cracked.

She was wearing white. Light, soft, glowing under the sun. Her hair tucked behind her ear. Her lips curved into a small smile.

That smile used to be his.

And now?

Binibigay niya sa iba.

He gripped the steering wheel tighter as he watched them across the street from inside his car, windows tinted just enough. Sapat para hindi siya mapansin. Sapat para makita niya lahat.

The guy leaned forward—too close. Tumawa si Bella. Yung tawa na minsan lang niya marinig noon. Yung parang mahiyain, pero malalim. Hindi pilit. Hindi peke.

His blood boiled.

Who the f**k was that?

And what was he doing with her?

Sinong gago ‘yon?

It took everything in him not to get out of the car and drag her away.

Pero hindi. Hindi siya p’wede. Hindi siya dapat.

‘Kasi wala naman na kayo, ‘di ba, Dominic?’ he mocked himself.

Ikaw ang umalis.

Ikaw ang nagpaalis.

At ngayon?

Ngayon gusto mong habulin siya dahil may iba nang tumitingin sa kanya?

His jaw clenched, temples pulsing.

Ethan—yan daw pangalan. Jules mentioned him once, casually, as someone Trisha was close to. Stable, smart, clean-cut. Walang bahid ng gulo.

Exactly the kind of guy who gets picked by fathers for their daughters.

Exactly the kind of guy Bella’s family would approve of.

But not the kind of guy who knew her.

Hindi siya ang unang naka-kiss sa leeg niya habang nakapiring siya.

Hindi siya ang unang pinakawalan ng ungol ni Bella habang nanginginig ang binti nito sa ilalim ng mga daliri niya.

Hindi siya ang unang sinabihan ni Bella ng, “I trust you.”

Putangina. Hindi siya.

Dominic slammed his fist against the steering wheel, the sharp sound vibrating in the small space of his SUV.

What the f**k was she thinking?

She looked okay.

Too okay.

Like she was moving on.

While he—

He couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t work. Couldn't breathe without checking his phone, hoping for a message that never came. Every scent reminded him of her. Every song, every damn coffee shop—

And now this?

She moved on?

No.

Not that fast.

Not after everything they shared.

She was his.

He told her that.

Did she forget?

Or was she trying to make him jealous?

Was this a f*****g game?

The thought made him grind his teeth.

He pulled out his phone, stared at her name.

No messages. No missed calls. Wala.

She really wasn't coming back.

Not on her own.

He threw the phone onto the passenger seat, eyes still locked on her.

She was laughing again. That soft, breathy laugh he once thought only he could bring out of her.

He wanted to ruin it.

Ruin him.

Who the f**k gave that man the right to touch her world?

Dominic took a slow, deep breath, fighting the urge to explode.

He wouldn’t make a scene.

Not tonight.

But this wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.

She could pretend all she wanted.

But he knew the truth.

No matter who made her laugh now, no matter who sat across from her, shared coffee, or gave her clean, polite smiles—

He was the one who knew how to make her fall apart.

And he wasn’t done with her yet.

BELLA’S POV

Tumatawa si Bella habang hawak ang iced coffee, pinagmamasdan si Ethan na animated habang nagkukuwento tungkol sa pagkalito niya sa online dating.

“Promise, I matched with a bot. Tinanong ko lang ng ‘kumain ka na?’ sinendan ako ng crypto link.”

Napatawa siya. Genuine. Mahina pero totoo.

For the first time in days, she felt… light.

Then something shifted.

Biglang nag-iba ang hangin. Like gravity just snapped.

Parang may bumalot na lamig sa likod ng batok niya, an instinct she couldn’t explain.

“Bella?” Ethan asked, brow furrowed. “Okay ka lang?”

She didn’t get to answer.

A shadow loomed over the table, blocking the sun.

And then she heard the voice.

Low. Dangerous. Familiar.

“Tumayo ka.”

Bella froze.

That voice.

That voice that lived in her bones, in her dreams, in her goddamn bloodstream.

Dominic.

Her eyes shot up.

And there he was.

Disheveled. Dangerous. Eyes dark like a brewing storm.

"Dom?" she croaked.

“What the—” Ethan stood, confused, trying to read the situation.

But Dominic didn’t even glance at him.

He was staring straight at her. Piercing. Possessive. Unblinking.

“I said, tumayo ka,” he repeated, voice like steel. “Ngayon na.”

Bella’s pulse skyrocketed. “No. Dominic, what are you—”

He didn’t wait.

In one swift movement, he reached for her wrist—firm, unrelenting, but not hurting—and pulled her up from the chair.

“Hoy!” Ethan barked. “What the hell do you think you’re doing—”

Dominic turned to him, voice dangerously calm. “Touch her and I’ll break your f*****g hands.”

“Dom, let go!” Bella tried to pull away, but he was already dragging her toward the street, his grip tight.

People were starting to look.

She stumbled after him, heart pounding, voice stuck in her throat. “Anong ginagawa mo? Nababaliw ka na ba?”

He didn’t answer—until they reached Dominic's car.

“Get in the car,” he barked, shoving the passenger door open.

“No—Dominic, we are not doing this again!”

“Bella. Get in the goddamn car.”

His tone was too sharp. Too dangerous.

And against her better judgment—she obeyed.

He slammed the door shut and stalked around to the driver’s side. The second he slid in, silence fell between them. But it wasn’t peaceful. It was thick. Heavy. Like a thunderstorm about to break.

She crossed her arms, breathing hard. “You have no right.”

He didn’t look at her. “Shut up.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said shut up before I lose the last bit of control I have.”

“Control?” She let out a short, bitter laugh. “That’s what this is about? Losing your toy? Getting jealous kasi may ibang lalaki na lumalapit sa’kin?”

The car swerved slightly as his knuckles went white on the wheel.

“You don’t get to call me that,” he muttered.

She glared at him. “I’ll call you whatever the hell I want. You dragged me out of there like I’m some possession—”

“Because you are!” he exploded, slamming his palm on the steering wheel. “You’re mine, Bella!”

“No, Dominic. I’m not. Not anymore.”

“You think that boy can replace me?” His voice dropped to a low growl. “You think he knows you? Knows what you sound like when you fall apart in my hands? Alam ba niya kung paano ka manginig sa isang tingin ko pa lang?”

Her face flushed with rage—and something else she didn’t want to name.

“F*ck you.”

“I wish you would,” he hissed.

They pulled into the private underground parking of his building. He didn’t wait.

He got out, slammed his door, and yanked open hers.

“Get out.”

“I’m not going in there.”

“Bella, get. Out.”

She stared at him—defiant, angry—but her feet moved anyway.

He took her wrist again, gentler this time but still possessive, and led her to the private elevator.

They rode in silence. Elevator music playing absurdly calm in contrast to the tension crackling between them.

When they reached the penthouse floor, the doors opened—and he pulled her inside.

She yanked her arm back the moment they entered the living room. “What do you want from me, Dominic?!”

“I want you to stop pretending like you don’t feel this anymore!” he barked, spinning to face her.

“Feel what, huh?” she shouted back, stepping toward him. “The confusion? The heartbreak? The obsession?”

“The connection!” he growled. “The pull. The fire. The f*****g truth between us.”

Her hands balled into fists.

“You can’t just disappear for days, show up out of nowhere, and drag me away from someone who’s actually nice to me!”

He laughed bitterly. “Nice? That’s what you want now?”

“Yes!” she shouted, chest heaving. “I want peace, Dominic!”

“But you don’t want him,” he snapped.

She froze.

His eyes were wild. Shining with something sharp and real.

“You can lie all you want, Bella,” he whispered, stepping close again. “Pero ‘yung katawan mo—‘yung puso mo—hindi mo ‘yan kayang lokohin.”

Her lips trembled.

“You’re mine,” he whispered again, softer now. “Always.”

She stood there, breathing hard.

Between fury and ache.

Between denial and surrender.

And for a second—just one—she hated how much she wanted to believe him.