TAINTED INNOCENCE

Chapter 17

The clock ticked past midnight.

Tahimik ang buong bahay ng mga Santiago. Ang tanging maririnig lang ay ang mahinang ugong ng air conditioning at ang paminsan-minsang pagkaluskos ng hangin sa mga bintana. Sa kwartong iyon, si Bella ay nakahiga sa kama, nakatalikod, nakayakap sa unan. Nakapikit ang mga mata pero gising ang isip—puno ng guilt, frustration, at pangungulila.

Dominic...

She hadn’t seen him in days.

Simula nang pilitin siyang umalis sa trabaho, kinulong siya ng mga magulang niya sa loob ng mansion na parang wala siyang sariling boses. Parang wala siyang sariling buhay. At ang pinakamasakit sa lahat? Hindi niya alam kung anong ginagawa ni Dominic. Kung galit ba siya. Kung sumusuko na ba ito.

Then—

Click.

Isang mahinang tunog ng bintana ang narinig niya. Agad siyang bumangon, kabado, at lumingon sa direksyon ng veranda. The curtains swayed gently… and then, may aninong gumalaw.

Shit.

Bella stumbled out of bed, panic rising. “Sino ‘yan?” she whispered harshly.

A figure stepped in—tall, broad-shouldered, and familiar. Her breath caught.

“Dominic?”

“Ssh,” he whispered, closing the sliding door behind him. “It’s just me, baby.”

Her heart stuttered. “Anong ginagawa mo dito? Paano ka nakapasok?”

“I never left,” he smirked, voice low and raspy. “Hindi mo ba alam? I’ve been watching you from a distance. Kahit isang sulyap lang, Bella. Kasi kung hindi... mababaliw ako.”

Lumapit siya sa kanya, dahan-dahan, para bang inaamo siyang hayop na takot. Bella backed away, pero huminto nang maabot siya nito. His hands cupped her face gently, eyes locked with hers.

“Namiss kita,” he murmured, forehead pressing against hers.

“Dominic... this is crazy,” she whispered, tears building in her eyes. “Pag nahuli ka, baka barilin ka ng Daddy ko.”

“Worth it,” he replied without hesitation. “Every second beside you is worth the risk.”

Then, he kissed her.

At hindi ‘yong marahan o magalang na halik. It was desperate. Gut-wrenching. Filled with days of longing and pain and hunger. She whimpered into his mouth, clutching his shirt as he pushed her gently against the wall.

His hands roamed her body—slow, familiar, and claiming. She melted.

“Bakit mo ‘to ginagawa?” she asked, breathless.

“Because you’re mine,” he growled against her neck. “At walang makakapigil sa’kin ngayong gabi.”

Tap.

He locked her bedroom door.

The soft sound of the door locking echoed in the room, kasabay ng tumitinding t***k ng puso ni Bella. Parang sinilaban ang dibdib niya—hindi dahil sa takot, kundi sa anticipation. Sa kasalanan na gusto na niyang gawin.

She looked at Dominic. Dilim ang laman ng mga mata niya—pagnanasa, galit, at isang bagay na mas mapanganib pa sa lahat: obsession.

“Dom…” she whispered, voice trembling—not with fear, but hunger.

He took one step closer. Then another. Hanggang sa magkadikit na ang katawan nila. Mainit ang hangin sa pagitan nila. Dominant ang presensya niya, nangingibabaw.

Hinawakan niya ang baba ni Bella, hinagod ng hinlalaki ang ibabang labi.

“Tell me to stop,” bulong niya, paos at mababa ang boses, parang kidlat na gumapang sa balat niya. “Kung ayaw mo, lalabas ako. Pero kung gusto mo ‘ko…”

Hindi na siya sumagot. Bella reached up, grabbed his collar, and kissed him—desperate, deep, demanding.

That was all he needed.

In one swift move, binuhat niya si Bella, parang wala itong timbang. She gasped, legs wrapping around his waist as he walked them to the bed. Hinalikan siya ni Dominic habang inilalatag sa kama, dahan-dahan pero may lalim ng pag-aari. Then he hovered above her, breathing heavily.

“Wala ka bang idea kung ilang gabi akong nagparaos iniisip ‘tong eksaktong moment na ‘to?” he growled. “You make me f*****g insane, Bella.”

He pushed up her sleep shirt—walang bra. Nang makita ang s**o niya, he paused, just staring at her bare chest like it was art he wanted to devour.

“Tangina,” he whispered, then dipped his head down.

His tongue flicked over her n****e, light at first, teasing. Bella gasped, arching toward him.

Then sinupsop niya ito—wet, warm, and rough. His hand cupped the other breast, fingers pinching and rolling her other n****e. She moaned, unable to hold back.

“Dom… baka may makarinig…”

He looked up, eyes dark and wild. “Then let them. Let them hear how I make you mine.”

He moved lower, trailing kisses down her belly, tongue flicking at her navel. Pagdating niya sa waistband ng panty niya, he hooked two fingers and pulled it down—slowly, deliberately.

Pagkahubad niya, he spread her thighs wide and stared.

“f*****g beautiful,” he said, eyes fixated on her soaked center. “So pink. So wet. Akin ‘to.”

Then he leaned in—and licked her.

Bella arched off the bed with a gasp. “D-Dom—!”

His tongue flattened against her slit, dragging slowly from bottom to top, then flicking hard on her clit. He moaned against her p***y, the sound vibrating into her core.

“God, you taste like heaven,” he growled, then buried his face deeper.

His tongue moved with purpose—alternating slow licks with fast, sharp circles on her clit. Bella’s hands flew to his hair, gripping tight as he sucked, licked, teased her mercilessly.

She was trembling, moaning, panting.

Then—he surprised her.

His tongue dipped lower. Past her dripping hole… down to her tightest part.

“D-Dom… wait, that’s—”

“Ssshhh…” he said, licking her there. “Relax.”

His tongue circled her ass, while two fingers slid into her soaked p***y—deep, curling up as he pumped slowly. Bella sobbed into the sheets, body on fire, overwhelmed.

He rimmed her slowly, filthily, while fingering her with expert precision. His thumb rubbed her clit, his tongue licked every secret inch.

“You’re shaking, baby,” he whispered, still moving inside her. “I love it.”

“Dom—please—I can’t take it—”

“Then c*m. Let me feel it.”

And she did.

Her entire body snapped. Her thighs clamped around his head as she screamed into her pillow. Her walls clenched around his fingers, dripping, pulsing, raw. He didn’t stop. He licked her through it, swallowed everything she gave him.

When she finally collapsed, breathless and soaked, he climbed back up and kissed her lips—deep, messy, letting her taste herself.

Still catching her breath, she watched him peel off his shirt, revealing muscles that rippled with tension. He sucked one of her n*****s again, rougher now. Then he whispered:

“Hinding-hindi ka na makakalimot, Bella.”

She whimpered, half-wrecked.

And he wasn’t even inside her yet.

Nanginginig pa rin ang tuhod ni Bella, habang nakabuka ang mga hita sa ilalim niya—nilalasap ang aftershock ng matinding orgasm na binigay sa kanya ng dila at daliri ni Dominic. Nangingintab pa ang labi nito mula sa kakakain sa kanya.

She looked up at him, flushed and ruined.

But he wasn’t done.

Dominic wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then leaned over her, his eyes burning with heat.

“Hindi pa ‘ko tapos,” he murmured. “Hindi ako titigil hangga’t hindi ko nadirinig ulit ‘yung ungol mo habang nasa loob ako.”

Bella’s breath caught. Her legs trembled with anticipation. She watched as he knelt between her thighs, his c**k—thick, rock-hard, and glistening with precum—standing proud against his abdomen. Hindi ito ang unang beses na nakita niya ito, pero lagi pa rin siyang natitigilan. Intimidated. Aroused.

“You’re so wet,” he said, running the tip along her folds, teasing. “Kahit ‘di na kita dalirin, kaya mo na kong tanggapin.”

“Dom… please,” she whispered, desperate.

He smirked, eyes locked with hers. “Anong gusto mo, baby?”

“Gusto kong… ipasok mo na.”

That was all he needed.

He grabbed her hips, aligned himself, then slowly pushed in—walang condom, walang harang. Ang init ng laman niya ay parang sumisipsip sa kabuuan niya.

“f**k,” Dominic growled. “You always take me so well, baby. Parang sinanay ka lang para sa’kin.”

Bella gasped as he filled her up, inch by inch, hanggang sumagad siya sa kailaliman niya. She could feel him pulsing inside her.

“Ang sikip mo pa rin,” he muttered, jaw clenched. “Lagi kong nakakalimutan kung gaano kasarap ‘to.”

He paused for a moment—then started moving.

Slow at first. Long, dragging thrusts na parang sinasadyang maramdaman ni Bella ang bawat pulgada ng tigas niya. Napakapit siya sa balikat ni Dominic, humihingal, ungol ang tanging lumalabas sa bibig niya.

“F-f**k—Dom—”

He leaned down and caught her mouth in a kiss—wet, wild, and hungry. Then he pulled her legs up over his shoulders and started to move faster—rougher. The bed rocked beneath them. The headboard thudded against the wall.

“You like that, huh?” he growled against her skin. “Yung sagad na sagad?”

She moaned, helpless, as his c**k slammed into her over and over again, bruising her thighs with every thrust. Parang binabayo ang kaluluwa niya, hindi lang ang katawan.

“Dom—too deep—s**t—”

But she didn’t ask him to stop. She loved the way he lost control. The way he worshipped her through his roughness.

He bent forward, sucking on her breast, swirling his tongue around her n****e habang hindi pa rin tumitigil sa pagkantot. “Lasa ka pa rin ng t***d mo,” he whispered between licks. “Lasa ng pagmamay-ari ko.”

Then he moved lower—kissed down her torso, hinugot ang b***t niya saglit, then flipped her onto her stomach.

“Hands on the headboard, baby,” utos niya. “I wanna see this ass bounce.”

Bella obeyed without thinking.

He spread her cheeks apart, and without warning, his tongue slid down—wet and hot—between her ass. She gasped, shaking. “D-Dom?!”

“Relax,” he murmured. “I want all of you.”

He rimmed her slowly—eating her out from behind while his fingers teased her clit. Bella felt like she was going to explode again.

Then he gripped her hips—and entered her again from behind.

This time, there was no teasing. Just raw, furious need.

The slap of skin against skin filled the room. Bella’s moans turned to cries. Her walls gripped him tightly with every thrust, and Dominic grunted, fighting to stay in control.

“You feel that?” he said, voice hoarse. “That’s me wrecking you.”

She nodded, tears in her eyes—too much, too good.

“Say it,” he demanded. “Sino ka?”

“I’m yours,” she cried. “Sa’yo lang, Dominic!”

He pulled her up by the hair, her back pressed to his chest, while still inside her, pounding relentlessly. His hand reached around, rubbing her clit in tight, fast circles.

And just like that—she broke.

Her whole body locked, then trembled violently as another orgasm overtook her. She screamed his name, collapsing in his arms.

That was the end for him.

With a deep, primal growl, he shoved in hard one last time and spilled everything inside her—warm, thick, claiming.

They stayed like that—fused, breathless, destroyed.

Dominic pressed a kiss to her nape. “You’re mine. Walang iba.”

Bella turned her head, lips brushing his cheek. “Alam ko…”

Then silence.

Heavy, intimate, dangerous.

Because they both knew… this wasn’t just lust anymore.

This was obsession.

Tahimik sa loob ng kwarto.

Tanging tunog ng mabigat na paghinga nila ang naririnig. Nakahiga si Bella sa dibdib ni Dominic, hubad, pawis, at tulala. Ang katawan niya ay pagod pero busog. Ang puso niya, kabado. Ang utak niya, magulo.

Dominic gently stroked her back, tracing slow circles on her skin. “You okay?” bulong niya.

Bella didn’t answer right away.

She closed her eyes, hoping the silence would swallow her thoughts. Pero hindi. The guilt came rushing in—like cold water after a scalding shower.

“What did we just do?” mahina niyang tanong, barely a whisper.

Dominic tilted her chin up, eyes searching hers. “We gave in,” he said, voice low. “And I don’t regret it. Not even for a second.”

Pero si Bella? She wasn’t so sure.

“Dom…” She sat up, clutching the blanket to her chest, eyes glassy. “This was wrong. What if… what if may nakarinig? What if Bianca tells? What if—”

He sat up too, placing a firm hand on her cheek. “Look at me. No one saw. No one will know—”

“Hindi mo alam ‘yon,” she cut him off, voice trembling. “We did it… dito. Sa bahay ko. Sa kwarto ko. Habang tulog ang buong pamilya ko, Dominic!”

Her lips trembled. Then the tears fell—slow at first, then like rain.

He reached for her, but she pulled away. “You don’t understand,” she said, wiping her cheeks roughly. “Hindi ikaw ang pinapaalis sa trabaho. Hindi ikaw ang pinagagalitan. Hindi ikaw ang binabantayan at kinukulong sa bahay. Ako. Ako lahat, Dom!”

“Bella…” His voice cracked slightly. “I’m sorry. I never wanted this to hurt you.”

She looked at him—really looked at him. The man who made her feel alive. The man she was starting to fall in love with. But also the man who broke down all her walls without warning, and now… left her exposed to a fire she couldn’t escape.

“I love you,” she whispered, more to herself than to him. “Pero ang sakit.”

Dominic's expression shifted. Pain flickered in his eyes. “You love me?” he asked, voice soft.

Bella nodded through her tears. “Pero hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko ‘to.”

He pulled her into his arms—tight, like he could hold all her pain. “Then let me fight for you,” he said fiercely. “Let me carry it. All of it. Kahit masaktan ako, basta ‘wag kang bibitaw.”

“Dom…” she sobbed, burying her face in his chest.

“We’ll figure this out, baby,” he murmured against her hair. “Kahit buong mundo pa ang kalabanin ko. Basta ikaw, ako ang kakampi mo.”

And as the night grew darker, and her sobs slowly faded into exhausted silence, Bella clung to Dominic like he was the only thing keeping her from drowning.

But deep inside…

She already was.

Kinabukasan.

Tahimik si Bella sa hapag-kainan. Wala siyang gana sa almusal. Wala rin siyang tulog. Paulit-ulit lang sa isip niya ang mga nangyari kagabi. Ang bawat halik, bawat ungol, bawat desisyong binalewala ang lahat para lang sa sandaling makasama si Dominic.

At habang tahimik siyang nakayuko, napansin niyang may nakatitig sa kanya—si Bianca.

Yung tingin na parang may alam. Yung half-smirk na parang… may bala na naman sa bulsa.

Pagkatapos ng breakfast, habang paakyat na si Bella sa kwarto, sumunod si Bianca.

“Ate.”

Napahinto si Bella sa hagdan. Kinabahan agad siya sa tono ng boses ng kapatid.

“Anong kailangan mo, Bianca?”

Hindi sumagot si Bianca agad. Umakyat siya ng isa pang hakbang, hanggang halos magkatapat na sila ng mukha.

“I saw him.”

Nalaglag ang puso ni Bella. “Sino?” Kunwari pa siya.

Ngumisi si Bianca. “Huwag ka nang magkunwari. I saw Dominic... sneaking out of your window at 4AM. Shirtless. Halatang pagod.” Tumawa siya ng mahina. “Hot, actually.”

“Bianca, please—”

“Wow. First name basis na talaga kayo, ha?” tinuloy ng kapatid niya. “Ate, grabe ka. Virgin ka pa last week tapos ngayon—s*x in your own room? Bold move.”

“Stop it,” pabulong pero matalim ang tono ni Bella.

Pero hindi siya tinigilan ni Bianca. “You know, I could just tell Dad. Show him the CCTVs. Or maybe tell Mom you’re the reason she’s losing sleep sa stress.”

Napasinghap si Bella. “Walang CCTV sa kwarto ko—”

“But there’s one sa hallway. And I saw the time stamps when he came in and out. Hindi ko pa pinapakita sa kanila... yet.”

Tahimik. Tumigil sa paghinga si Bella. Nanlalamig.

“So what do you want?” tanong niya, halos pabulong.

Bianca crossed her arms. “Simple lang. Ayoko sa kanya. He’s toxic. He’s trouble. Pero since halatang mahal mo siya, I won’t ruin it for you…”

Bella’s eyes narrowed. “Then why are you blackmailing me?”

“Because I can,” sagot ni Bianca, diretso. “And because I want something.”

Bella closed her eyes, deep breath. “What?”

Ngumisi si Bianca, devilish and sure of herself.

“Your car.”

Napakurap si Bella. “What?”

“Yup. I want the white one. Yung binigay ni Mom sa’yo when you started working. Ikaw naman, hindi ka na pinapaaraw. Wala ka na ring work, so you don’t need it. Deal?”

“Bianca, that car is—”

“Your freedom?” sabat ng kapatid niya. “Exactly. If you want me to keep quiet, give it up.”

Bella was silent.

Then she nodded—slowly, painfully. “Fine.”

Bianca smiled sweetly. “Good girl. You may be stupidly in love, ate... but at least you’re still obedient.”

Then Bianca walked away—victorious, leaving Bella standing there, humiliated and helpless.

And for the first time since Dominic touched her…

Bella felt completely dirty.

“Hindi ka na sumasagot, Bella.”

Yun ang unang sinabi ni Trisha pag-upo nila sa bench sa garden ng bahay ng mga Santiago. Pinatawag siya ni Bella. Pagod na kasi siya. Pagod sa tahimik na giyera sa bahay. Pagod sa guilt. Pagod sa pagmamahal na hindi niya alam kung dapat ba talaga niyang ipaglaban.

Napatingin siya sa kaibigan. “I’m sorry. Ang dami lang talaga.”

“Alam ko,” sagot ni Trisha. “Pero hindi ka pwedeng manatiling ganito. You look like you’re slowly drowning.”

Bella looked down, fingers twisting each other. “I feel like I am.”

Tahimik si Trisha sandali. Then she leaned forward, voice soft but strong.

“Bella, you need to take control of your life.”

Napatingin si Bella sa kanya.

“Hindi pwedeng puro iyak ka sa kwarto. Hindi pwedeng nagpapaikot ka na lang sa paligid nina Dominic, ni Daddy mo, ni Bianca, ni Mommy. Where’s the Bella I know? Yung matapang, yung may pangarap, yung may utak?”

Bella’s throat tightened. “She’s still here. Pero parang hindi na ako yun ngayon.”

“Then get her back.” Trisha leaned closer, eyes sharp. “Kasi kung hahayaan mong kontrolin nila buhay mo, you’ll wake up one day and realize... you’re living someone else’s version of you.”

“Trish, mahal ko siya—”

“I know. And I’m not saying iwan mo si Dominic. What I’m saying is, don’t lose yourself in him.”

Bella looked away. Naluha ulit ang mga mata niya.

Trisha took her hand. “Look, I’m your best friend. I’ve seen you fall, pero ngayon lang kita nakitang ganito ka... broken.”

Bella sniffed. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Then let’s start small,” Trisha said. “Una, ayusin mo sarili mo. Next, face your fears. Don’t let Bianca own you. Don’t let your parents put you in a cage. At higit sa lahat... don’t let a man, kahit pa gaano mo siya kamahal, define who you are.”

Bella was silent.

“Kung sasama ka sa kanya,” dagdag ni Trisha, “make sure it’s your choice, not because you have nowhere else to go.”

“Pero paano kung... kung siya lang ang nagpaparamdam sa’kin na ako ay... ako?” tanong ni Bella, tinig ay halos pabulong.

“Then prove na you can love him without losing yourself in the process.”

Trisha pulled her into a tight hug. “Gisingin mo ang sarili mo, Bella. You’re worth more than the secrets, the blackmail, the guilt. And definitely more than being some rich boy’s hidden addiction.”

Bella let herself cry into her best friend’s shoulder.

And in that moment, something shifted.

A quiet kind of strength…

starting to rise inside her.

Gabing-gabi na.

Tahimik ang buong bahay ng Santiago. Tahimik… maliban sa kabog ng puso ni Bella habang nakatayo siya sa veranda ng kwarto niya, malamig ang hangin, pero mas malamig ang nararamdaman niya sa dibdib.

Hindi na siya makatulog.

Hindi matapos-tapos ang gulo sa utak niya—si Bianca, ang parents niya, ang trabaho, ang guilt, ang cravings sa mga halik ni Dominic, at ang desperasyong makawala sa sarili niyang mundo.

Napapikit siya, huminga nang malalim.

“Bella.”

Napalingon siya bigla sa tinig na pabulong. Sa dilim, nakita niya si Dominic, nakatayo sa lilim ng puno sa ilalim ng veranda.

Nakadamit lang ng itim na shirt at dark jeans, parang anino sa gabi. Pero ang presensya niya… palaging parang bagyong hindi mo alam kung sisirain ka o ililigtas.

“Anong ginagawa mo dito?” bulong niya, nanginginig ang tinig.

“Hindi na ako makatiis,” sagot ni Dominic, dire-diretso ang tingin sa kanya. “Kailangan kitang makita.”

“Dom, what if someone sees you?”

“I don’t care.” Humakbang siya palapit, hanggang halos ilalim na siya ng veranda. “I’ve already lost so much of you, Bella. Hindi ko na kaya.”

Bella felt her throat close up.

“Kailangan mong makaalis diyan,” he said, voice low but intense. “Kailangan mo nang huminga. I can see it in your eyes—this place is killing you.”

She swallowed, her voice barely audible. “I don’t know what to do anymore…”

Dominic raised his gaze to meet hers. Eyes burning. Desperate.

“Then come away with me.”

Nanigas si Bella.

“Halika na. Kahit ngayong gabi. Wala kang kailangang dalhin. Just you. Sumama ka lang sa’kin.”

Her heart thundered in her chest.

“Dom…”

“I’ll take care of you. I’ll protect you from all of them. Hindi mo kailangang matakot. Hindi mo kailangang magtago. You deserve to be free. You deserve to live.”

Tears sprang to her eyes.

“But what about everything I’m leaving behind?”

Dominic’s voice cracked just slightly. “Bella, sometimes… you have to burn the cage to remember you have wings.”

Tahimik siya. Umiiyak. Kinakabahan. Gustong tumalon pero takot.

Then he reached into his pocket, pulled something out—a key. Small. Simple. Gold.

“I rented a place outside the city. Tahimik. Malayo sa gulo. It’s yours, if you want it. You can stay. We can start over. Walang ibang rules kundi satin lang.”

Bella took a shaky breath.

The weight of her world pressing against her chest.

But also—hope. For the first time in a long time… a door. Open.

Her fingers gripped the railing tightly as she looked down at the man who ruined her world and was now offering her a new one.

“I can’t promise anything,” she whispered.

Dominic nodded. “I don’t need promises. I just need you.”

Silence fell between them. But in that silence, a decision was starting to take root.

And though she hadn’t said yes yet...

Her heart already had.