Romancing Dominance [BL][COMPLETED]

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8 - Weight of Clouds and Expectations

The clouds sway with the weather, like my fragile heart after Jakob ignored me for a week. Life has taken its cruel, unfair toll on me. Just like those clouds, I look gracefully free, but inside? I am a caged bird singing a tragic kundiman!

I am burdened by everyone's oppressive expectations. Bratinela—the label they slap on me like a cheap market sticker. Is this really my destiny?

Pero ano nga ba ang kaibahan ko sa iba? Look at me now, in a place unknown to me, walang ni-isang pumapansin sa pangalan ko. It all ended with the idea of being a 'fiancé' and 'ikakasal' sa isang Buenavista. I am not even known for being myself.

No one cares about the real me. All they see is the idea that I will wear a century-old ring for the sake of this loveless marriage, not the ache in my soul! Did it hurt my ego? HMPH! Of course! Does a trapo crumble under the rain? Of course, it stings! As someone who has done nothing but please others, I am bruised by how irrelevant I feel in this place.

"Oi sir, baka naman naiinitan ka na d'yan! Magkasinat ka pa! The sun is blinking up in the weather pa naman!" Ang sigaw ni Glends mula sa 'di kalayuan.

Glends and her tragic English—like a drunk Google Translate. I looked past my shoulder and gave her a ridiculous look.

Rolling my eyes and deciding not to respond. Looking at her, I saw past her bobo choice of language— she cares for me. Genuinely. How can I be a bitch to someone who cares for me?

I can. Instead, I beat the idea and gave her a small smile. Not a pretentious one, but a gentle and assuring smile.

This time, I'll respond before she combusts from concern.

Umiling na lang ako, "No! Okay lang ako, Glends! Pagpatuloy mo lang 'yan!" Ang sigaw ko sa kaniya pabalik.

But honestly? The sun is brutal today. My delicate skin will suffer! I returned to my work and mentally slapped my dad for thinking I could survive in this arena called promdi.

Nandidito kami ngayon sa bukirin. Mula sa pagkakayukod, umayos ako ng tayo at pinahiran ang sarili mula sa pawis. It is exhausting—but I shall endure! For the aesthetic of surviving. Even though I honestly feels like I am in the newest edition of Jurassic World.

Hinanap ng aking mga mata kung nasaan si Glends, and of course, she's already 95% done, while I... struggle like a fish out of water.

Why must farming mock me?

Nalaman ko na kaya pala umuwi siya ng nakaraan ay dahil kailangan niyang tulungan ang tatay niya sa bukid. Baka raw kasi atakihin sa alta-presyon kung masyadong mabilad sa araw.

Wala namang problema sa akin 'yun. In fact, simula ng sumikat ang araw, nandidito na kami. Pinasama ko rin ang mga security at pinatulong sa pagtatanim. Thinking of pagatatanim, I remember someone who usually do these kind of things with no kaartehan.

Jakob.

I saw him once helping the farmers as if he were one of them. He is one of them. Ako lang naman siguro ang nag-iisip na pang-mayaman siya. It's a hard pill to swallow, but I know deep within me that Jakob does belong here. He's not pretending and hindi siya napipilitan. It's as if his soul is crafted in the soft soils of Maraya.

It had been a week since I last saw Jakob after our argument, and I still hadn't encountered him again.

Ang kambal at si Margaret lang ang bumibisita sa akin. Sabi naman ng Tita at Tito na busy sila sa pagbabakasyon kaya 'di nakadalaw. I don't really need their attention; I can entertain myself with my own company.