Forcedly Yours

Chapter Eleven

"Reid," Leyton gritted his name as if warning him. With what, I'm not sure.

His eyes were narrowed at his friend who gave him an innocent smile.

"There's my best friend," he said in a vibrant tone. "I was just keeping your wife company seeing as you disappeared and all," nanunuyang sabi nito.

"I'll make you disappear if you don't shut the f**k up," Leyton answered, anger evident in his tone.

What was wrong with these people? And they consider themselves best friends?

Nagkitbit balikat ang kaibigan niya. "f*****g Chavez was on his way to her, asshole. So, you're welcome," he gave him a smirk before he walked away.

Leyton glared at his back before looking over his head to a group of men.

Sure enough, one of them was looking at me and it's probably safe to assume he's the person Reid was referring to. He looked like a p*****t and a person who likes drugs. I recognize an addict when I see one.

Leyton turned his attention back to me and stared.

"Saan ka galing?" tanong ko bago ko napigilan ang sarili ko.

He clenched his jaw, ignoring my question. "Who told you to wear this?" may bahid ng disgusto ang boses na tanong niya.

Napatanga ako sa kanya. I know he didn't like it. He made it clear earlier. He didn't have to be an asshole about it though.

"Why not? I like it," I said defiantly.

Yes, hindi ako magpapatalo sa'yo. Akala mo ba.

He gave me a mocking smile, "Oh yeah?" I stopped breathing when he leaned closer to me, his breath hot on my ear. "You like looking like my slut?"

I should feel insulted. It was an insult. But the way he said it against my ear, using his seductive voice made me clench my thighs involuntarily.

"But you made it clear you don't want that, didn't you? So stop dressing like one," he said before stepping away from me and sitting down on his seat beside his father's intended seat.

Napilitan akong umupo nang nagsimulang magsalita ang MC.

Everyone stood up and clapped as Leyton's parents made their entrance.

His mother looked beautiful in her white maxi dress while his father wore an apricot-colored suit.

They danced, twirling and laughing obviously still very much in love after many years of marriage.

I found myself looking at them with a wistful smile, my heart twisting painfully knowing I would never experience such raw and pure love.

They stopped dancing and went to the stage a moment later.

"Good evening everyone! Thank you for coming," Leyton's Dad greeted smiling widely at the crowd and people clapped their hands.

"Well, I invited all of you tonight because I wanted to share the love that my wife and I have for the past thirty years of marriage," He then looked at Mom, love visible in his eyes. "I know I've been a pain in the ass sometimes and I'm more than grateful to have a very understanding and strong woman like you in my life. I can't think of another way of spending the rest of my life in the world than to be with you," nagpunas ng luha ang mommy ni Leyton. "We may get old but my love for you will always be fresh, babe. I love you," He winked playfully and kissed her on the forehead.

There was a collective 'aww' from the guests.

"I remember those times when I would deliberately push you away because you were so annoying. You were the bad boy in our high school who stalked me big time," natawa ang mga bisita. "Well, here we are decades later and you're still my bad boy. But guess what? I'll always be your good girl. If you know what I mean," gumanti siya ng kindat sa papa ni Leyton.

Everyone chuckled and asked them to kiss.

I sniffed, wiping my eyes carefully before my gaze locked with Leyton's.

Agad na nag-iwas ako ng tingin.

I know my emotions are visible all over my face and eyes. Ayokong mabasa niya 'yon.

I decided I was done letting him hurt me for the night.

Leyton's parents went to sit with us at some point. Katabi ko ang mama niya habang nasa gilid siya ng tatay niya. Nakaharap ang mesa namin sa mga guests and maliit na stage kung saan nag-perform ang ibat ibang artists.

Tita Liza chatted with me briefly before her husband stole her attention and now they are dancing again leaving me and my husband sitting with two chairs between us.

Napangiti ako nang buhatin ni Tito Sando si tita at umikot. The band played Rumba and some of the guests joined and danced on the dancefloor.

"Do you want to dance?" Leyton asked in a detached tone. Almost like he wanted me to say no.

I would take it as a challenge if I had the energy but I just wanted to go home.

"No, thank you," pinantayan ko ang tono niya.

He didn't say anything before standing and walking to the door leading to the toilet rooms.

Nagbago ang tugtog at pinalitan ito ng slow music. A pianist stands on the side playing Can't Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley while some of the guests dance swaying slowly.

Sumulyap ako sa upuan ni Leyton at napansing halos 20 minutes na siyang di bumabalik. I received a text as if on cue.

UNKNOW NUMBER: Want to know what your husband is up to?

May nakaatach na picture ng pamilyar na pinto at napagtanto ko na nakita ko 'yon nang nag-ayos ako ng buhok kanina.

Nanginginig ang kalamnan na tumayo at pinuntahan ang nasa larawan. Malakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko nang nasa harap na ako ng pinto. I could hear voices on the other side and immediately recognized Leyton's baritone voice.

Nanginginig ang kamay na inabot ko ang doorknob at pinihit 'yon. I pushed the door and saw Leyton's back.

Sumakit ang tiyan ko na parang masusuka sa nakita.

He was pinning the girl on the wall, his hand on her throat. Agad na nakilala ko ang babae na siya ring kasama ni Leyton kahapon sa Leviste Mall.

She looked at me with no surprise on her face before giving me a taunting smile. Inangat niya ang kamay sa batok ni Leyton bago ito hinila papunta sa mukha niya.

I vaguely saw Leyton turning his head before someone pulled my arm and yanked me outside.

"s**t," Reid said when he saw his reddening handprint after releasing my arm. "I didn't mean to hurt you," he said remorsefully.

Sunod-sunod na tumulo ang luha ko. Ramdam ko ang kirot sa braso dahil sa pagkakahila niya sa'kin pero mali siya nang sinabi niyang nasaktan niya ako.

It was what I saw that hurt me.

Sabay kaming napalingon nang lumabas si Leyton, natigilan siya at napatitig sa mukha ko. His eyes widened slightly before shaking his head once and he had the audacity to look as if he was in pain.

Him. In pain? Gusto kong matawa.

How dare he?

The girl went out behind him while fixing the top of her dress. She smiled when she saw us and let out a fake gasp.

"Nicola," Reid growled in warning.

Leyton gritted his teeth in annoyance. "Take her away, Reid."

Walang sabi-sabing gumalaw si Reid at kinaladkad ang babaeng tinawag niyang 'Nicola' palabas at hindi pinansin ang mga reklamo nito.

"It's not what it looks like."

Yeah, right. Wala ako sa mood pakinggan ang mga dahilan niya. Tinalikuran ko siya at naglakad palayo.

I didn't get far of course. He yanks my wrist before bringing me into the same toilet room. Agad na nanginig ako sa galit.

"Bitiwan mo'ko!" sigaw ko sa kanya.

Her smell still lingered in the small space. Oh, God. I could still smell her here.

He ignored my protests and pinned me on the sink.

"Shh," pag-aalo niya at hinawakan ang mukha ko gamit ang dalawang kamay. He rubbed his thumbs on my cheek, "Calm down, wife. Breathe, you're okay."

I heaved, my stomach threatening to vomit everything I ate. My mind went back to the way he pinned her on the wall just on my side.

"Talk to me," he murmured softly while my head shook back and forth. "Kitten,-"

"Let me out of here! I want out of here!" naghihisterikal na paulit-ulit kong sabi.

Bahagyang nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang dinala niya ako sa labas. His hands still running up and down my arms attempting to comfort me.

I started to panic again as I recalled how those hands were just on her.

"P-please let go of me," nanginginig na sabi ko.

"Shh, I got you."

"Let me go! Let me go!" histerikal ulit na sabi ko.

Leyton reluctantly did as I asked, his jaw clenching when he saw a few people glancing at us curiously.

"Fine, we'll talk about this at home. Wait for me here," banayad na sabi niya bago naglakad patungo sa mga magulang niya.

Hindi ko siya hinintay. Nanginginig ang tuhod na naglakad ako palabas. My heels screeching on the floor as I tried my best to get as far away as possible.

Nanghihinang napaluhod ako sa gilid ng kalsada.

I grabbed the phone from my purse and called Sonia with shaking hands. After calling her a few times with no answer, I called the only other person who I could rely on.

"Hello," nagtataka ang boses na sagot ni Aiden.

I sobbed when I heard his voice. I need him. I need a friend. I need someone.

"Tin? What's wrong?" napalitan ng pag-aalala ang pagtataka sa boses niya.

"P-please Aid, help me.." umiiyak na sabi ko.

Narinig ko ang pagtayo niya. "Na'san ka? I'm picking you up," anunsiyo nito at narinig ko ang pagkuha niya ng susi.

"Tin? Focus. Where are you?" nagmamadaling tanong niya.

I looked around disorientedly and realized I was a few hundred meters away from my in-laws' property.

"I-I don't know...s-sa resthouse nila Leyton sa Rizal," there was a pause and I know he was thinking. Wondering why I called him. "Aid, please j-just get me out of here. Kahit hanggang sa sa city lang or kahit saan na may masasakyan ako. Please-"

"Share you location with me and stay there," sabi niya bago pinutol ang tawag.

Agad na sinunod ko ang sinabi niya at nakita ang pag-galaw ng icon niya maya-maya para ipaalam sa'kin na papunta na siya.

I hid on instinct when I saw Leyton's figure running out of their property. He looks around the deserted road frantically looking for me. Four men followed behind him and I saw Reid pointing to the road in my direction.

Humiwalay ang apat na body guard sa kanila at tumakbo sa kabilang direksyon habang pumunta si Reid at Leyton sa direksyon pagawi kung nasaan ako.

Kinakabahan na siniksik ko ang sarili sa likod ng mahalamang bahagi ng gilid ng kalsada. I froze and almost stopped breathing when they neared me.

"Kristina!" paulit-ulit na sigaw nilang dalawa.

"f**k, where is she?" I heard Leyton's panic-filled voice.

"What the hell were you thinking leaving her alone after what she saw?"

"Shut the f**k up, Reid. Just shut up."

Crickets filled the silence.

"FUUCKKK..." nafru-frustrate na sabi ni Leyton bago pasigaw ulit na tinawag ang pangalan ko. "f**k, I should have planted a chip in her."

"You didn't? Not even a GPS on her phone?" nasosorpresang tanong ni Reid. I heard a 'tsk tsk'. "That should have been the first thing you did when you married her," Reid said in a reprimanding tone.

"You are not f*****g helping, idiot." Nawawalan ng pasensyang sagot ni Leyton.

Bumuntong-hininga ang kaibigan niya. "We need to make sure she didn't fall somewhere on the cliffs. I'm going to call for a search and rescue team."