Boss Lady #4: Laws in Love

I. What Now

Before you keep on reading this story, just a trigger warning that there will be sensitive scenes involving violence, harassment, and abuse.

Olive's story will be the heaviest story I will be writing by far. She is the character that represents women who were/are victims of domestic abuse. Their voices need to be heard, their stories need to be told, and Olive will serve as their voice.

If you are not comfortable with those kinds of scenes, I suggest that you stop reading this.

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"HAYUP ka talaga!" bulyaw sa kanya ng kanyang walang hiyang asawa, sabay nilapatan ng malakas na sampal ang kanyang pisngi.

Pinigilan ni Olive ang sarili na humikbi pa lalo sa kabila ng sakit na nadarama. Kung lalo lang siyang iiyak, lalo lang din magagalit si Gio at lalo lang din siya nitong sasaktan.

"Gio, please, tama na," pagmamakaawa niya habang hawak ang pisngi na sinampal ng asawa.

"Sinira mo na nga ang buhay ko, hanggang ngayon eh tatanga tanga ka pa rin sa kusina!" muling bulyaw nito. "How stupid can you be, Olive?! You can't even fucking cook a decent dish!"

"S-Sinabi ko na kanina, hindi ako marunong magluto ng pinaluto mo. I tried my best b-but you don't have to h-hurt me," she explained, whimpering in pain.

Her parents never taught her how to go around the kitchen and cook, and she has relied on their house helpers when it comes to the food they eat. She wanted to learn but her parents insisted to her and his brother that because they are rich, they do not have to do chores they can pay someone else to do for them.

Sinubukan niya namang matuto noong nagpakasal sila ni Gio at natuto rin siya ng basic cooking skills, pero hindi pa rin niya kaya ang mga komplikadong putahe na lutuin.

Sinabi na niya sa asawa noon pa na mas mabuting meron silang mga house helpers para tumulong sa kanila pero ayaw nito. Gio insisted she cooks at home because according to him, cooking is a woman's job.

"Sasagot ka pa talaga sa akin, Olive? I don't fucking need your explanation," he dismissed her. "You're a good for nothing wife. Napaka walang silbi mo."

Kinuha nito ang bowl ng niluto niyang ulam saka binuhos lahat ng iyon sa garbage bin. It was not actually in bad taste, nakain naman niya 'yon kahit medyo maalat, sadyang kahit maliit na bagay lang ay nagagalit na agad si Gio sa kanya.

Gio picked up his plate and utensils and placed those in the sink then left the dining area. Nagulat pa si Olive dahil hindi nabasag ang plato nito kahit marahas ang paglagay nito sa lababo. Bumuntong hininga na lamang siya saka pinunasan ang mga luha saka niligpit ang mga nakahain sa mesa.

She quietly cleaned the table and washed the dishes. Matapos niyang gawin ang mga 'yon ay kumuha siya ng yelo mula sa freezer, binalot ito sa bimpo, at nilapat sa kanyang pisngi na unti unti nang namamaga. That was not the first time Gio slapped her cheek. That was definitely not the first time he hurt her physically. Himala na nga lang kung hindi siya nito sasaktan kahit isang beses sa isang araw.

Olive sat at the lounge near the pool of their residence as she basked in the peace of the evening. Madilim na ngunit ang liwanag ng buwan ang nagsisilbing ilaw sa paligid. Ang mga pagkakataon na ganito'y sadyang sinusulit ng dalaga dahil minsan lang niya ito maranasan simula nang ikasal siya.

Tears formed in her eyes as she felt pity for herself and her situation. Buong buhay niya, hindi niya sukat akalaing mapupunta siya sa ganitong relasyon. Being hurt and abused almost every single day was not a part of her dream life for herself, and Olive cannot help but cry because of how helpless she feels.