Forcedly Yours

Chapter Four

Aiden didn't take the news well. In fact, he's staring at me like I grew two heads.

Matapos ng pag-uusap namin ni Sonia ay napagpasyahan kong e-text si Aiden para makipagkita. Sonia was right, I shouldn't prolong the inevitable. But she was wrong when she said Aiden would understand.

"What.The.Fuck?" he enunciates every word and steps away from me. Bahagyang napalingon ang mga naglalakad sa parke sa amin.

"Aid-"

"No. Wala na bang ibang paraan? I can't believe you agreed," dismayadong sambit niya.

Umiling ako. "Wala akong choice." nanghihinang sagot ko bago nag-iwas ng tingin.

Pareho kaming natahimik ng ilang sandali. He stares at the floor, pulling his hair in frustration.

"So you're selling yourself," napailing siya. "I can't believe you right now. Who are you?"

Di ko maiwasang masaktan sa sinabi niya. "Aid, it's Karina. My parents. You were there when we had it worst. You of all people should underst-"

"How long have you known?" malamig na tanong niya.

Napalunok ako. "Aid-"

"You agreed to be my girlfriend. You knew and you-"

"H-hindi ko pa alam 'non. Nalaman ko lang pagka uwi ko ng bahay."

He stares at me as if in disbelief. "So all those times...our dates..." I wince when I see the disappointment on his face. "You were using me to rebel." galit na pag-aakusa niya.

Hindi ako nakasagot. I avert my gaze, unable to see his angry face. The first time I see my carefree, happy-go-lucky friend in anger and it's directed at me. Gusto kong maiyak.

"I'm extremely disappointed in you, Tin," umiling siya. "This is too f****d up for me."

Naramadaman ko ang unang pagtulo ng luha ko. "I'm sorry. Aid, please...please I need you right now. Can't we go back to being friends? You're one of my best friends. I-I can't lose you now.."

He looks at me incredulously. "Tangina, Tin. You're so selfish. You do know how selfish you sound right now, don't you? You-"

Humakbang ako palapit sa kanya at hinawak sya sa kamay. Wala sa loob na sinundan niya 'yon ng tingin.

"P-please, Aid..."

"Friends? Friends?" Marahas na pinalis niya ang pagkakahawak ko sa kanya. "f**k you, Tin. Have a good life." sabi niya at dali-daling tumalikod at naglakad papalayo.

I let out a sob, my eyes briefly wandering to bypassers curiously looking at me. Napapitlag ako nang biglang nag ring ang cellphone ko. I wiped my tears and composed myself.

"Hello?"

"Ate, nasan ka? May kailangan daw kayong puntahan ni mama."

"Pauwi na ako. Nabanggit niya ba kung saan kami pupunta?" kunot-noong tanong ko.

"Makikipagkita yata kayo sa mga wedding organizers," sagot niya.

I let out a tired sigh. "Sige, Kar. Pauwi na ako."

Wala sa loob na napatingala ako.

God, give me a break.

I can't even spend the rest of the day mourning the loss of one of my best friends.

The rest of the day was a blur.

Nakipagkita kami ni mama sa mga wedding organizers. They asked if I had a wedding theme preference. If I wanted a color motif. The flowers I liked.

I just found myself nodding and agreeing to every suggestion they gave me.

Madilim ang bahay pag-uwi ko. Nagpaalam si Karina na lalabas kaya alam kong nasa mall siya kasama ang mga kaibigan niya. It's still 6pm and she won't be home until 8. Dumiretso naman si mama sa ER pagkatapos niya akong ihatid sa bahay. May emegency raw sa hospital at walang kapalitan ang nurse na incharged.

"Pa?" mahinang tawag ko bago binuksan ang ilaw sa loob at labas ng bahay.

Pagod na nagsimula akong umakyat sa taas papunta sa kwarto ko nang wala akong narinig na sagot. Baka nasa opisina pa si papa. He's been very busy lately. May promotion daw kasi siyang hinahabol ayon kay mama.

I just want to lay in my bed, drained from everything today.

Napahinto ako nang biglang tumunog ang doorbell.

Kunot-noong bumaba ako ng hagdan at naglakad para buksan ang pinto.

Agad na napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko."L-leyton?" hindi makapaniwalang sambit ko.

Mabagal na tiningnan niya ako mula paa hanggan ulo bago tinitigan sa mukha. He looks...unhappy.

"Are you not going to invite me inside?" bruskong tanong niya.

I blink and open the door wider. Hindi na niya ako hinintay na magsalita at agad na pumasok sa bahay. I look around in panic for any visible trash.

I sighed in relief, satisfied as our house seemed to look fine.

Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang bahay namin bago binalik sa akin ang tingin niya.

"Where were you today?" walang serimonyang tanong niya.

I chew on my cheek. "W-we met with the organizers."

He narrows his eyes, unhappy with my answer. "Is that all?"

Umiwas ako ng tingin bago bumuntong-hininga. Is he having me followed?

"Pinasusundan mo 'ba ako?" naiinis na tanong ko.

That's the only explanation why he knew about the kiss and today.

"Don't answer me with a question, Kitten."

Ugh, I guess I have to tell him.

Feeling drained, I ask him to sit down, gesturing on the sofa. "Umupo ka muna. Magbibihis lang ako and we'll talk," mahina kong sabi.

Or you can go. I wanted to add but chose not to. God knows how far his temper could go. Hindi ko na siya hinintay na sumagot at naglakad na papunta sa kwarto.

I took my dress off and I was just about to take my bra off when I met his gaze through the mirror.

I shriek. Natatarantang hinablot ko ang kumot galing sa kama para takpan ang sarali ko.

I turn to glare at him.

What is he doing there watching me? At bakit hindi ko siya narinig pumasok?

My mind was busy flying somewhere else.

"W..what do you think you're doing?" pagalit na tanong ko. "Hindi ko sinabing sundan mo'ko dito. Hindi mo ba alam ang salitang privacy?"

Hindi siya nagsalita. He casually walk towards my bed like he owned my freaking room.

Napaatras ako at napahigpit ng hawak sa kumot habang napatanga sa kanya. What on earth is he doing?

Umupo siya sa kama ko. My bed looked so small with him on it, I notice.

Kaswal na inilibot niya ang tingin sa maliit kong kwarto. My walls, my bedside table, my bedsheets, my closet, and even all the picture frames were blue.

His eyes zoom in on the picture beside my bed. Kinuha niya ito. It was a picture of me on my 15th birthday. That same day, sinugod namin ulit sa hospital si Karina. His eyes linger on my smiling face. Karina was hugging me from the back and I was smiling at her while she laughed. We were so happy, we didn't know we'd be in the hospital a few hours later.

Hinablot ko ang litrato sa kanya at niyakap ito sa dibdib ko. I closed my eyes.

Breathe in, breathe out."Can you please go out para makapag-bihis ako?" mahinahon kong sabi.

The last thing I want to do is argue and have a fight with him in my freaking room with me almost naked.

He made a show of lying down, propping his arms below his head, and stared at me as if I was being ridiculous.

"Why? You're mine. You don't have anything I wouldn't see." he said, coolly.

He's crazy if he thinks I'll willingly take my clothes for him. No matter how good-looking he was.

"You're delusional if you think you can ever see me naked."

Fighting back is futile. And even I know my words don't matter. I will eventually have to give myself to this horrible human being.

I shivered. Not from fear but because I think it wouldn't be so bad.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Sa lalim ng iniisip ko, hindi ko namalayan na hinila niya na pala ako. We both landed on my bed, him on top of me.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Tiningnan niya ako ng matagal sa mata bago pinag-aralan ang mukha ko.

I was clutching the blanket and breathing a bit heavily. I can feel myself panicking. He's good-looking, but seeing him this close? It's almost too much. Not to mention I can feel his weight on me.

His eyes landed on my lips, tracing it with his thumb.

Still looking at his thumb on my lips, he murmurs, "Now, tell me where you were today and think twice before you lie again."

"S-sasabihin ko, okay? Umalis ka muna sa..sa ibabaw ko." namumulang asik ko.

He smirks, "Ah, but I like watching you squirm."

"Then you're not gonna hear anything from me," I answer in a defiant tone.

He 'tsk tsk'. "You still think you have a choice, Kitten. It's cute."

Nagpupuyos na sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

He smiles darkly. "That would be the last time you see him. I won't be so lenient next time." madiin niyang sabi.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang galit ko. Sino siya para diktahan ako?

"Damn you! Aiden is my friend! I will see him when and where I please," paangil na sagot ko.

"Stay away from that boy." he spits out.

"I will only ever want Aiden. Kahit pa ikasal tayo, si Aiden lang ang gusto ko."

Not sure where the words are coming from. I'm pretty sure I don't mean it but I'll be damned if I, at least, don't put up a fight.

In a matter of seconds, he was gripping my chin, his soft touch betraying his furious face."You don't want that boy. He can never give you what I can."

My tear slips, "I don't want anything from you."

Galit na sinundan ng mga mata niya ang mga luha ko. He cursed then let go of me, leaning on his palms, still hovering me.

"Why don't you give the both of us a favor and stop all of this nonsense? We obviously can't stand each other. I don't see you as a guy who just marries anyone, anyway." I said, suddenly feeling tired about all this. Can't I have a normal life?

I saw his jaw clenched. Ilang minuto rin kaming natahimik pareho. The question hanging between us. He is good-looking. He can have whoever he wants and he knows it.

What does he want from me?

"You will marry me. You know you will. End it with your little boyfriend."

He doesn't know I already did. Good.

Sinasagad talaga ng lalaking 'to ang pasensya ko.

"No," galit na sagot ko.

He glanced at me and gave me a cold look. "Did it sound like I was asking?" aroganteng sagot niya. "Stop acting like a brat." dagdag pa niya.

Tiningnan ko siya ng masama. Ano in-expect niya?

That I would welcome him with hugs and kisses?

"I'm not a brat. I just don't like you."

His lips twitch, "Oh, you will." His face turns serious, "But for now, break it off with him. I want him out of your life. If I have to f*****g throw him out of your school, I will."

Napasainghap ako. "You can't do that."

His smile looks evil. A beautiful one at that. But still evil. I knew he could do just what he said. I felt helpless. How can I fight this guy?

Naiiyak na umiwas ako ng tingin. "He's my friend." pag-ulit ko.

"He wants you, so no, he is f*****g not."

Bago pa ako makasagot, binaba niya ang mukha niya sa mukha ko. As if letting me know he's done with the conversation.

And...Oh God. He was licking my lips, his eyes staring at mine, daring me to fight back. I shuddered from the possessiveness I saw in them. He then bites my lower lip, making me groan before licking it gently.

I was squirming, breathing heavily when he released me, got up, and left me in my room more confused than ever.