Heartless Romance

Prologue

“WHEN I say I want you to spread your legs for me, then spread your legs for me.” I flinched the moment he touched my lips seductively. His finger traced the curves of my face from the top of my nose to my lips.

All I can feel right now is my throbbing heart. How did we end up like this?

About four years ago, he courted me. Ilang taon din siyang nagsumikap para mapansin ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sa dinami-rami ng lalaking nagtangka na manligaw sa akin, siya pa ang sinagot ko. Maybe he’s that persistent enough to pursue me. After two long years, I became his girlfriend. Sa buong pagsasama namin, pinatunayan niya sa akin kung gaano niya ako kamahal. He treated me like a fragile thing anyone couldn’t touch.

Until that day happened. Magdadalawang taon na dapat kami next month, but everything turned out to be unexpected. He changed his treatments to me, kasalanan ko rin naman kasi kaya wala akong karapatang sisihin siya.

“I own you, Belle. You’re fucking mine.” He coldly added.

He didn’t spare a second, he brushed his lips to mine; harshly, deeply and coldly—I can’t sense anything but lust.

Wala na ang dating Claude na minahal ko. Wala na ang dating Claude na pinakainiingatan ako.

I tightly closed my eyes while he’s savouring my lips. Hinayaan ko siyang gawin ang gusto niya.

I know, this is no longer relationship, but ownership. That thought makes me want to cry for the nth time.

Unconsciously, naitulak ko siya palayo.

“Wala na ba talagang natitirang pagmamahal sa puso mo?” Nilakasan ko ang loob para magsalita. I tried my best not to stutter, but damn, I can’t even look at his eyes.

Nangibabaw ang kaba sa buo kong sistema, I’m not sure kung pati siya naririnig na rin ang malalakas na pagtibok ng nagwawala kong puso.

He just laughed at me, and that laughter broke my heart. Why did I even ask? Alam ko naman na ang sagot. I only made myself look like a fucking desperate bitch—well, I really am. Mahal ko, e.

“Do I look like I care about your feelings, hm?” Muli ay inilapit niya ang mukha sa akin.

Sa sandaling iyon ay hindi ko na napigilan pa ang mga taksil kong luha. I bit my lower lip to suppress my sobs. Hindi ko na kinakaya.

I looked away as if I could hide my tears and the sadness I’m feeling right now.

“In my eyes, you’re nothing but a slut; a doll I can play with whenever I want to.”

I thought my heart was already broken, ngunit hindi ko inakalang may mas ikadudurog pa ito.

Gusto ko siyang sampalin, gusto ko sana siyang murahin at ipabawi sa kaniya ang mga katagang binitiwan niya pero para akong nanghina. Besides, ano ba ang karapatan kong magreklamo? Kasalanan ko naman ang lahat ng ‘to.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal na umiyak sa harapan niya. While he’s just in front of me, staring, not even giving a single fuck. Sinabi niya naman na kasi, ‘di ba? Wala na siyang pakialam sa akin. I’m just his toy.

Miss na miss ko na ‘yong Claude na handang manakit ng tao kapag naaagrabiyado ako. Ngayon kasi, siya na ang nanakit sa akin.

“Fine.” I managed to talk after a long silence.

Nang makahuma ay pinahid ko ang mga luha na siyang walang hinto sa pagtulo.

“I’m giving you back the freedom you’ve lost.” I know I’m just killing myself. Pero ito na siguro ang oras para magparaya. I suffered more than enough. “I’m setting you free, Claude.” I smiled bitterly.