Romancing Dominance [BL][COMPLETED]

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9 - Rush, Rash, Dreams, and Nightmares

Sleeping—God, sleeping is the only escape from this messed-up world I live in. It's the only time I get to close my eyes, feel like I'm safe... and finally understand what peace really means.

It's the one moment I don't have to stress myself out about the endless crap I still have to deal with.

I don't have to pretend I'm okay. I don't have to fix myself. I don't have to lie.

I remember Dad telling me once that he found peace in his dreams. That night, I ran to him, scared out of my mind from a nightmare. His arms were my fortress.

I was just a kid back then.

Too young to process the idea that even in my sleep, I'd be haunted by people who wanted nothing but to hurt me. But Dad was there—warm, firm, reassuring.

Now? I'm here. Alone. In a place that doesn't feel like mine. With people who don't know who I am... who don't care what I stand for.

"Ah, bakla! Salot sa lipunan! You can't go to heaven! Isa kang salot! Anak ka ng demonyo! Ayaw ka naming makasama!"

The hatred—God, the hate in their eyes. Ignorance fueled it. But what broke me more was how even knowledge made them hate me more.

I came out clean, honest... but somehow my truth looked filthier than the mud on my shoe.

It was my choice to come to Maraya.

Was I forced? Yeah. At first. But something's different now.

Something's shifting in me... because of him.

Jakob.

He was the challenge I never expected.

No guy I ever liked had the nerve to reject me—not that I'd make the first move anyway.

But Jakob? He did. He said no.

And I want him.

I want to matter to him. I want to be someone he can't just ignore—someone he consults when he makes a decision.

"How is he, Doc?"

Their voices drifted in, but my mind tuned them out. My thoughts were loud enough—screaming at me to just stay asleep. Don't move. Don't open your eyes.

My throat was dry. My body still crawled with discomfort.

"Gumagana na ang mga gamot sa allergies niya, Mr. Buenavista. Talagang nagulat ang katawan niya sa bagoong. I assume walang nakakaalam na allergic siya sa ganitong pagkain?"

I couldn't care less what Jakob and the doctor were talking about. Alam ko na 'yan. The doctor already briefed me when I woke up.

"I was aware of his allergies. I read it from the personal file his dad gave me. I just... I failed to watch him closely. It's my fault."

It wasn't. He didn't need to carry that.

He should be celebrating. I almost died—one less headache for him.

"It was no one's fault, Mr. Buenavista. Your fiancé is safe thanks to your quick response. Sa ngayon, hintayin na lang natin ang tuluyan niyang paggaling."

They talked for a while. I pretended to sleep. But I was alert. Especially when I heard Jakob's footsteps... slowly approaching my bed.

Truth be told—I was scared.

I was vulnerable. I couldn't protect myself. The only person I could rely on now was Glends.

Jakob had hurt me once. Who's to say he wouldn't again, now that I couldn't fight back?