TAINTED INNOCENCE

Chapter 3

BELLA’S POV

“Ugh, ang daming tao,” Bella muttered, habang palihim na lumabas sa ballroom ng hotel. Her heels clicked softly sa marble floor ng veranda habang sinubukan niyang huminga nang malalim. She was tired of smiling, tired of pretending. She just needed one minute—one second—to be alone.

At kahit saglit lang ‘yon, sapat na.

The cold night air hit her skin, sending goosebumps across her arms. Nakasuot siya ng silky lavender gown, elegant at conservative—syempre pinili ng mom niya. Hindi ito ‘yung tipo ng damit na pipiliin niya para sa sarili niya. But that was the story of her life: wearing clothes she didn’t like, playing roles she never auditioned for.

“I thought I’d find you here,” a familiar voice said behind her.

Bella stiffened.

She turned slowly, heart skipping.

Dominic Valencia.

Of course.

Dark suit, no tie, two buttons open. Holding a glass of scotch. Leaning casually against the doorframe like he owned the place.

She hated how easily he looked like he belonged everywhere… even in her thoughts.

“H-hindi ako nagpapahanap,” she said, trying to sound firm.

“Didn’t say you were.” He walked toward her, relaxed. Confident. Dangerous.

Bella took a step back, instinctively.

“You always run away from parties?” tanong niya habang humihinto sa tapat niya.

“I’m not running,” she replied, crossing her arms. “I just don’t like pretending to enjoy things I don’t.”

Dominic chuckled, low and deep. “At least you’re honest.”

She looked away, annoyed that he could make her flustered so easily. “What do you want?”

“Nothing,” he said, but there was a gleam in his eyes. “Just… observing. You’re interesting to watch.”

Bella’s brows furrowed. “Why?”

“Because you’re trapped,” he said simply.

Her lips parted, surprised. “Excuse me?”

“You stand in a room full of people trying to be perfect, and you’re the only one who hates it. You don’t belong there.”

Bella felt like he just stripped her bare with one sentence.

“I do belong,” she lied, voice shaking slightly. “This is my world.”

“Is it?” he challenged. “Or was it just handed to you with rules, expectations, and pearls around your neck?”

“Why do you care?” she asked, frustrated. “You don’t even know me.”

He stepped closer. Too close. But she didn’t move.

“Maybe I want to,” he said softly. “Maybe I see something in you… something real.”

Bella swallowed hard.

“I’ve seen girls like you,” Dominic continued. “Taught to behave, to follow, to say yes without wanting to. You’re so afraid to make a mistake.”

“And you’re not?” she whispered.

He smiled. “Oh, baby, I live in mistakes. And I regret none of them.”

She hated how her heart pounded at the sound of “baby.” She hated how he made her knees feel weak with just a look.

“Come with me,” he said suddenly.

Bella blinked. “W-what?”

“Tomorrow night. Private party. No rules. No judgment. Just… freedom.”

She stared at him.

“You’re kidding.”

“I don’t joke about invitations,” he said, pulling a sleek black card from his coat and handing it to her. “Come if you want to feel alive for once.”

Bella looked down at the card. Simple. Elegant. Sinister.

ECLIPSE.

No location. Just a time. Midnight.

“What kind of party is this?” tanong niya, cautious.

He leaned closer, his voice low and wicked. “The kind your parents would never let you attend. Which makes it even more fun.”

She shook her head slowly, still unsure. “I don’t even know if I want to go.”

Dominic smiled, stepping back.

“You will.”

Then he turned and walked away—leaving her alone again, with her thoughts, her pounding heart…

… and an invitation that burned like sin in her hand.

Kinabukasan

10:02 PM

She was sitting sa gilid ng kama, still wearing her pale pink satin nightgown—ang suot na parang panangga ng inosente, pero sa loob-loob niya, she was anything but calm tonight.

Nasa harap niya ang black invitation card.

ECLIPSE. Midnight. No address. No map. No instructions.

Just one word. At isang lalaking may kasamang delikadong ngiti.

Dominic.

Pinikit niya ang mata niya, trying to push away the image of him standing close —how his scent lingered sa paligid niya, woodsy and expensive. How his voice sounded like a low promise, or a dare na gustong-gusto niyang tanggapin kahit hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit.

Bakit ba ako naaapektuhan sa kanya?

Hindi naman sila close. Barely two conversations. Pero somehow, every word he said clung to her skin.

“You’re trapped.”

“You don’t belong there.”

“You want to feel alive.”

Shet.

Gusto ba niyang maranasan ‘yun?

Gusto ba niyang makawala kahit isang gabi lang?

She stood up and started pacing the room.

Pag nalaman ‘to ni Mama, patay ako.

Pag nakita ako ni Papa sa ganyang klaseng lugar, I’m finished.

Pero... pag hindi ako pumunta… hindi ko malalaman.

At ‘yon ang mas nakakatakot—ang manatiling ignorante.

She stared at her closet.

Nariyan pa rin ‘yung mga damit niya—lahat approved by Elena Santiago. Closed necklines. Boring shades. Perfect daughter uniform.

Pero ‘yung mata niya, napako sa isang maliit na box sa ilalim.

She pulled it out.

Inside: a pair of black heels she bought in secret, at isang dress na never pa niyang nasuot. Manipis ang tela. Hugging every curve. Forbidden.

Trisha would kill me if she knew.

Pero wala si Trisha ngayon. Wala si Mama. Wala si Papa.

Ngayon lang, si Bella lang.

She sat back on the bed, hands trembling, phone in one hand, the invitation card in the other.

Tumingin siya sa oras.

10:17 PM.

Pwede pa akong umatras.

But the truth was… her curiosity was already louder than her fear.

Bella Santiago was about to make her first real decision.

And this time, no one was going to stop her.

10:31 PM

She stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing herself.

The black dress clung to her body like second skin—silky, low at the back, at may hiwa sa hita na masyadong mataas para sa standards ni Elena Santiago.

Her hair? Loose waves.

Her makeup? Soft but sultry.

Her lips? Red—‘yung klase ng red na bawal.

Huminga siya nang malalim habang sinasara ang closet, ang kaba niya parang bomba sa dibdib.

“This is crazy,” bulong niya sa sarili, but her hands didn’t stop. “Pero andito na ako. Wala nang atrasan.”

Tumigil siya saglit. Narinig niya ang mga hakbang ng ama sa hallway—papunta sa office niya sa ibaba. Her mom was still downstairs, naka-night robe pero may hawak pang iPad, probably reviewing sales reports before bed.

Perfect timing.

She grabbed her phone, opened her group chat with Trisha, and typed:

Bells: Cover me.

Trisha: OMG. Are you really going?

Bells: I’m already dressed. Help me out?

Trisha: HAYOP KA. But fine. I got you, b***h.

Ngumiti si Bella kahit na nanginginig ang loob niya. She opened the bedroom door quietly and stepped out barefoot, heels in hand. Paakyat sa taas ang ilaw ng hallway, kaya dumaan siya sa likod na hagdan, ‘yung hindi ginagamit ng mga bisita—gawa sa kahoy, medyo maingay, pero pamilyar.

She took a deep breath and crept downstairs.

Pagdating sa may main door, bumungad ang housekeeper na si Yaya Mimi.

“Ma’am Bella, saan po kayo pupunta?” bulong nito, medyo gulat.

Bella forced a sweet, practiced smile. “Kay Trisha po. Sleepover. Kinausap na po ni Mama kanina.”

Nagkibit-balikat si Yaya Mimi. “Ah ganun po ba? Akala ko may pasok kayo sa boutique bukas?”

“Work from home po muna,” sabi ni Bella, palusot. “Creative block.”

Paglabas niya sa gate, andun na si Kuya Rey sa sasakyan, mukhang inaantok.

“Ma’am Bella,” bati niya. “Kay Trisha po, tama?”

Bella nodded. “Yes po, sa condo nila. Thank you, Kuya Rey.”

Habang umaandar ang sasakyan, kinagat ni Bella ang labi niya. Her palms were sweating. Liar, bulong ng utak niya. But at the same time, it was… thrilling.

First time niyang nagsinungaling sa mga magulang niya.

First time niyang lalabas ng hindi alam ng kahit sino.

At ang mas nakakakaba?

Hindi pa siya sure kung dapat siyang matakot…

o ma-excite.

12:08 AM

Pagkaparada ng sasakyan sa harap ng isang nondescript na building sa Makati, nagtaas agad ng kilay si Bella.

Walang signage. Walang red carpet. Walang waiting paparazzi.

But the bass? Ramdam niya sa loob pa lang ng kotse—bum-bum-bum, like a heartbeat trying to seduce her.

“Ma’am, sure po kayo dito?” tanong ni Kuya Rey, half-turning in the driver’s seat.

Bella swallowed hard. “Yes po. Dito lang ako. Thank you, Kuya.”

Lumabas siya ng kotse with her clutch and confidence on shaky legs. Two tall bouncers stood by a sleek black door. Walang pila, walang welcome desk. Isa lang ang tanong ng guard sa kanya:

“Name?”

She cleared her throat. “Bella. Bella Santiago. Invited by… Dominic Valencia.”

Agad nagkatinginan ang dalawang bouncer. The taller one pressed a button on his earpiece.

“She’s in,” sabi nito, sabay bukas ng pinto.

Pagpasok niya, para siyang sumabak sa ibang mundo.

Music loud. Lights low. Bodies close. Heat everywhere.

Hindi ito ordinary club. It felt more like a private jungle for the rich and bored.

Chandeliers made of black crystals.

Neon signs that said No Rules Tonight.

Smoke floating in the air—scented, sweet, maybe something stronger.

Girls in glittering dresses danced on glass tables.

Men in suits—and some without shirts at all—laughed with drinks in hand.

A couple was kissing hard sa isang corner booth, halos wala nang pakialam kahit may ibang tao.

Bella froze.

Anong pinasok ko?

She tried to steady her breath. Pinagpapawisan na ang likod niya. This wasn’t the kind of party her parents warned her about.

This was worse. And she liked it.

May biglang lumapit na server at inabot sa kanya ang isang glass of red liquid. “Welcome, Miss Santiago. From Mr. Valencia.”

Of course.

Tinanggap niya ang inumin, though she didn’t drink it right away. Her eyes scanned the crowd, hoping—or fearing—na baka makita na niya si Dominic.

Instead, what she saw left her both amazed and shaken.

A girl on the dance floor dropped to her knees in front of a man—right there, sa harap ng lahat. Some people clapped, others just kept dancing, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Her cheeks burned. Her thighs pressed together.

This is too much, bulong ng isip niya.

But her body? Her body wasn’t sure if she wanted to run…

or stay.

12:35 AM

The music pounded harder than her heartbeat, but Bella barely heard it anymore. Her heels clicked against the slick, dark floor as she walked deeper into the room—like she was moving in slow motion.

She didn’t know if it was the drink or the adrenaline, pero para siyang lumulutang.

“Dom…” she whispered under her breath, scanning the sea of bodies.

And then, she saw him.

Nakatayo si Dominic sa second-level lounge ng club, sa isang VIP mezzanine na naka-overlook sa buong party. He looked untouchable. Masculine. Calm, confident, lethal.

He wasn’t dancing.

He wasn’t smiling.

He was just… watching.

Watching her.

Tumigil ang mundo ni Bella for half a second. Their eyes locked—just for a moment—and her breath caught in her throat.

And then… she saw her.

A tall girl in a slinky gold dress sa tabi ni Dominic. Her hair was dark and glossy, curled to perfection, and her hand was on his chest.

Bella's stomach dropped.

The girl leaned in, whispering something sa tenga ni Dominic. He didn’t pull away. He didn’t look uncomfortable.

He smirked.

And then it happened—like a slow-motion car crash you couldn’t look away from.

The girl kissed him.

Not a light, polite, sosyal kind of kiss.

It was dirty.

Her hands gripped his shirt like she owned him. Her mouth devoured his like she had done it a hundred times before.

And the worst part?

He kissed her back.

Hindi 'yung tipong nakikiride lang.

It was passionate. Deliberate.

Like he wanted Bella to see it.

Her throat tightened. Her vision blurred. Pero hindi luha agad ang bumagsak—shock muna. Like her heart didn’t know whether to beat or break.

What did you expect, Bella? Na ikaw lang ang babae sa mundo niya?

Parang natauhan bigla ang katawan niya. Her grip on her clutch tightened as she looked away, trying to act like she didn’t care. But inside, she was screaming.

This wasn’t just jealousy. It was humiliation.

She came here, snuck out of her house, lied to her parents… for what?

To see him?

To be part of his world?

Turns out, she was just another wide-eyed girl in the crowd.

“First time?” tanong ng isang random na guy sa tabi niya, holding a drink.

She nodded numbly, not looking at him. “Yeah.”

“You look like you're about to pass out.”

“No,” she whispered. “I just realized something.”

“What’s that?”

She looked up at Dominic again—still kissing the girl, still gripping her waist like he owned the night.

Bella swallowed the lump in her throat.

“I was never supposed to be here in the first place.”

And with that, she turned around, heart crumbling inside her silk dress, eyes stinging but dry.

No tears. Not here. Not now.

If he wanted to play games, he just made the first move.

And she had no idea whether she’d run away forever…

…or play harder.