Secretly Yours

Chapter 4— Claiming What's His

Chapter 4

⚠️ R-18 | SPG WARNING

The next day maaga parin akong nagising kasi may lalakarin daw na importante si Lucae, and I have to do my duties as a wife. Nakakahiya naman kung nakikitira at nakikikain na ako dito sa bahay e hihiga lang ako ng hihiga.

Those past few months na dumaan sobrang daming nangyari. Sobrang daming changes between me and Lucas. Sobrang dami kong nakikitang mga pagbabago niya, and of course in a good way.

Pagkatapos kong maghilamos at magsipilyo ay agad na akong bumaba sa pinaka-main kitchen nitong bahay kung saan ay madalas family lang ni Lucas ang gumagamit, iba lang kasi yung kitchen ng maid at dirty kitchen.

Nang makarating ako doon ay agad kong inihanda ang mga lulutuin.

After almost an hour ay natapos na akong magluto at maghain sa mesa.

I cooked some fried rice, hotdogs, bacons, tapos nagtimpla din ako ng coffee para pampagising ng diwa ni Lucas.

"Naku, ma'am Brielle! Bakit po kayo ang nagluto at naghahain diyan. Dapat ipinaubaya mo nalang po sa amin iyan," naghi-hysterical na sabi ni Nay Solidad, siya yung matandang mayordoma dito sa bahay ni Lucas.

Nginitian ko lang siya. "Nay Solidad, gusto ko lang naman pong magluto ulit, at gusto kong paglutuan si Lucas. Medyo maaga pa naman at wala naman akong gagawin. Tsaka wag niyo na po akong tawaging ma'am, Brielle nalang po." Nakangiti ko paring sagot dito.

"You cooked this?" Napalingon ako sa may likuran ko at nakita ko si Lucas na nakatingin sa mesang may nakahain ng mga pagkain.

"E-eh kasi sir. Hetong si Brie- este Ma'am Brielle, nadatnan ko nalang na nasa kusina at naghahain na." Kinakabahang tugon ni Nay Solidad.

"Naku ano ka ba, Nay Solidad. Okay lang yun." Sabi ko at humarap kay Lucas. "Atsaka, I just missed being in the kitchen, so I prepared the meal myself. You don’t mind, do you?”

"Let's eat." Sabi lang niya bago naunang umupo sa isa sa mga upuan sa dining table. Binalingan ko nalang si Nay Soledad na gulat parin bago kinindatan.

Bago ako umupo ay kinuha ko muna yung plato niya at sinandukan ng kanin, I also put hotdog and bacon in it.

Hindi ko pinansin ang mga titig niya sakin at inilapag na muna ang pinggan sa harapan niya bago umupo sa kaharap nitong upuan.

Nagsimula na din akong magsandok ng akin at sumubo ng pagkain.

"Eat up, Lucas. Hindi ka mabubusog sa kakatingin sakin," sabi ko sakaniya nang mapansing hindi niya parin ginagalaw ang pagkain niya.

Napatikhim naman siya bago nagsimulang kumain. Palihim kong tinitingnan ang magiging reaksiyon niya sa lasa ng pagkain.

Di ko alam kung bakit ako kinakabahan sa magiging dating ng panlasa nito sa kaniya.

Ipinagpatuloy ko nalang ang pagkain nang makitang mukhang nag-eenjoy naman siya sa kinakain.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas ay natapos na kaming kumain at nakaalis na din si Lucas.

Nang matapos maligo at magbihis, nagpasya akong gamitin ang ibinigay niyang susi. Nilibot ko ang ikalawang palapag. Sa dulo ng koridor, may isang pinto na laging nakasara at madilim sa parteng iyon. Dahil sa curiosity ko, ginamit ko ang susi.

Pagbukas ko, sinalubong ako ng maalikabok na amoy at pinaghalong lumang papel at pintura.

It was a room filled with memories, old books, photo albums, and in the center, a cabinet full of sketchbooks. I picked one up and opened it. I was amazed they were drawings of landscapes, portraits of the household staff, and paintings of the sky brimming with emotion. He was so talented.

"His skill was incredible, yet why did he hide this?" pabulong kong tanong sa sarili habang nakatingin sa mga paintings and drawings.

“Maganda, hindi ba?”

Napalingon ako at nakita ko si Nay Soledad na nakatayo sa hamba ng pinto.

“Hindi ko po alam na may ganito siyang talento,” sabi ko habang dahan-dahang isinasara ang libro. “But why did he hide all of this?”

“Dahil po sa kanyang ama,” paliwanag ni Aling Soledad habang papasok sa kwarto. “Noong bata pa siya, gustong-gusto niyang magpinta. Pero ang tingin ng ama niya, mahina raw ang lalaking gumagawa ng sining. Wala raw silang puwang sa negosyo. Kaya pinilit niyang itago ang lahat ng ito. Hanggang sa naging ganito siya kalamig, walang emosyon, at takot magpakita ng kahinaan.”

Naramdaman ko ang hapdi sa lalamunan ko. Imagine the pain of being forced to hide the very thing that makes you feel alive.

I wanted to get to know that boy, the Lucas who was deprived of the freedom to express himself.

“Kayo lang po ang nakakapasok dito ngayon, Ma’am Brielle,” dugtong ni Aling Soledad. “Kahit si Sir Lucas, matagal na siyang hindi tumatapak dito. Pero mukhang nagtiwala siya sa inyo nang lubos para ibigay ang susi at ipakita ang bahaging ito na pinaka-importante sa buhay niya.”

Bandang hapon, while I was resting in the living room, Lucas arrived, earlier than expected. Nakita niya ang susi sa mesa at ang isang old book. Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit at umupo sa tabi ko.

““You saw the room,” It was not a question, but a statement. “And the sketches, I should have locked them away.”

“You don't need to hide it, Lucas,” sagot ko nang mahinahon sa kaniya. “Ang galing mo nga e. Sobrang ganda pa ng mga gawa mo. Bakit ka nahihiya?”

Bumuntong-hininga siya at tumingin sa malayo. “In the world I move in, vulnerability is like showing your wound to the enemy. I learned early on to protect myself by closing off. Pero ikaw, you walk in here, fearless, kind, and unstoppable."

Humarap ako nang tuluyan sa kanya. “I am not afraid of you, Lucas. And certainly not of your past. These things, the wounds, the dreams you hid away, they are part of who you are now. And I accept every part of it.”

Tinitigan niya ako nang matagal, parang sinusuri kung totoo ba ang naririnig niya. Ramdam ko ang paghupa ng tensyon sa katawan niya.

“How does a woman from the province do this?” he whispered. “You are changing everything I believe in. You are making things possible that I once thought were merely dreams.”

“Because I did not pretend to be anyone else,” I replied. “And because I do not care for your name or your money, I care for you, the person you truly are.”

Nang gabing iyon, we decided na kami na ang magluto ng dinner . Pumunta kami sa kusina, right there, in that simple space, he showed me how to prepare his favorite recipe, which he had picked up during his studies overseas. We made quite a mess, flour dusted everywhere, and our laughter rang out in a way never heard anywhere else in the house.

“Namiss ko lang naman magluto kaya ako na yung nagluto,” biro ko habang inaayos ang plato. “You won’t mind, do you?”

Ngumiti siya, this time, a genuine smile “I would never mind anything you do, Brielle. As long as you are by my side, then there's no problem with anything you do."

Nang maupo kami para kumain, tumahimik siya saglit habang tinatitikman ang pagkain. Tumingin siya sa akin nang may pagtataka.

“Is the food not to your liking?” tanong ko, nag-aalala na baka may mali sa timpla.

Umiling siya agad at hinawakan ang kamay ko sa ibabaw ng mesa. “No, it is perfect. It tastes like, home. Something I haven’t truly felt in a very long time.”

"Ang grabe mo naman, adobo lang yan e." biro ko pa pero ngumisi lang siya.

Kahit ang totoo ay napahinga ako nang maluwag sa narinig ko.

Matapos kaming kumain at maglinis sa kusina, hindi agad tumayo si Lucas. Nanatili kaming nakatitig sa isa’t isa, bigla akong nakaramdam ng hiya sa paraan ng pagtitig niya sakin.

My heart was beating fast and heavy, like it had a will of its own and was trying to jump right out of me.

Dahan-dahan niyang inabot ang kamay ko at hinawakan ito nang mahigpit.

“Brielle,” he called my name, this time his voice was deeper and huskier. “I can no longer bear us sleeping apart at night. From now on, I want you to sleep in my room. Right beside me. I do not want to wake up and see an empty space, nor worry if you are resting well in another room. You are my wife. And I want you to fully understand what that truly means.”

Kumalabog ang dibdib ko sa magkahalong kaba at excitement. Napahinga ako nang malalim, parang huminto ang mundo sa paligid namin.

Tumango ako nang dahan-dahan, at naramdaman ko ang pag-init ng pisngi ko.

"Uhm, okay? I mean, if that's what you want then I agree."

Jusko naman Brielle. Kailan ka pa naging marupok?! At talagang ibibigay mo agad ang katawan mo sa kaniya?!

Teka! Hindi naman sinabing "ano" agad diba?!

A quick spark flashed through his eyes, one mixed with relief and joy.

And for the second time he claimed my lips like there's no tomorrow. We kissed until we reached his room.

Pagpasok namin sa kwarto, dali-dali niyang isinara niya ang pinto .

The thought of being entirely alone with him in his room made my heart race even faster.

“Let me take care of you.” bulong niya sa tenga ko, mas lalong nagtaasan ang balahibo ko dahil sa init at bango ng hininga niya.

“Don’t be scared. I won’t continue unless you say yes. But I hope, you feel how much I value you.”

I nodded as I looked up at him, my gaze full of trust and hope. "I want this, Lucas. I want you."

Slowly, he unbutton my dress, one by one, with such care and respect as if he held the world’s most precious jewel. With every inch of my skin revealed, I felt his gaze upon me, dark, intense, and filled with pure admiration. He kissed every newly exposed part, from my neck down to my shoulders, each touch marking me undeniably as his.

When I was totally naked, he pulled me into a tight embrace, he hugged me tightly, it was warm and full of love.

“You are so beautiful, Brielle. Every inch of you is perfect,” bulong niya habang naglilikot ang mga kamay sa likod ko. “I never expected a woman who would affect me so deeply. Scared that I might hurt you, but desperate to claim every part of you.”

I kissed his jaw. “You will not break me, Lucas. And now, I want you to show me how you love me. How you protect me, even in this way.”

I felt every breath he took, every groan he suppressed deep in his throat as he struggled to balance his desire with his gentleness toward me.

His hands explored every inch of me. While kissing me passionately.

"Brielle," he breathed, "You are the only one capable of calming the monster within me."

I matched his every movement, giving myself without hesitation, letting him feel that I was whole and was ready to surrender every inch of myself to him.

When things finally quieted down between us, we stayed holding one another, resting our tired muscles while he gently stroked my hair and my hand. His breath was warm and calm against my skin.

"Thank you for trusting me. I know this was not easy. Promise me, from this moment on, no one will share this intimacy with you but me. No one else will ever touch you like this. You're mine, Brielle." He whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

"I promise, Lucas. And you're mine, too."

Hinalikan niya ako sa noo nang matagal at banayad, bago hinila ang kumot para takpan kaming dalawa. That night we sleep peacefully.

SECRETLY YOURS!