Got Me Captive (Got Me #1) | ✓

46

TW: Death

***

My father's eyes widened in thunderstruck. Natikom ang bibig niya na mas lalong ikinatayog ng namumuong poot sa loob ko. I can tell myself that I heard it wrong but my father's reaction says otherwise.

"I asked you, what did you say?"

My heart is now in frigid state as I look directly into my father's eyes. It rages me more to think it reflects my own eyes. Mahihimigan na ang galit sa boses ko at parang sumisingaw iyon sa buo kong katawan.

My brows furrowed. "Do you know the reason of Nonno's death?"

Father frayed his eyes. "What can you do? No one will believe you. I hold the power—"

"I will ask you one last time, did you kill my grandfather?"

"He destroyed me as if I wasn't his son. He cannot blame me for turning like him, like how ruthless he is. I don't see why he adored you so much when all I see about you is unfitting. He doesn't deserve his position," parang demonyo niyang sagot.

Para akong masusuka. Sa hangin na parehas naming inaamoy. Sa lapit ng distansya ng taong may dahilan ng pagkawala ng lolo ko. His. . . son.

"Tell me you didn't," malamig kong sabi. "Tell me you didn't!"

Nanginginig ang buong pagkatao ko habang nagsisimula nang mamasa ang mga mata ko. My lips quivered as my eyes started to pool with tears. All I can feel was rage towards the man who contributed to my existence. Fuck!

"You will be punished for this, Liamandra. For your iniquities," maawtoridad niyang banggit. "Don't you even dare touch Victoria if you want your precious head attached to your body, child."

My head twitched in nonchalance. All of this for his mistress? I cannot believe the devil in him. Hindi ko alam na nasa iisang bubong lang pala kami ng kadiliman.

Wala na akong ibang mausal roon. Utos ng utak ko na umalis na roon nang hindi ko na kayanin ang paligid. Para akong nilalamon niyon sa kadiliman. I was holding the emvelope in my hand when I remembered what that was.

Nakita kong tumulo ang luha ko roon nang hindi ko namamalayan. I wanted to scream my heart out. I took the envelope and shifted my direction to my father who was now proudly looking at me. Sa mata niya ay parang wala na siyang tinuturing na anak sa loob ng kwarto. Nanghihinang inihakbang ko ang mga paa ko palapit sa kaniya tsaka inabot ang envelope.

"I will accept the punishment you were saying," I bleakly uttered. "But I need you to get away from here as soon as you accomplish making me suffer. Run with your mistress. Because you have nothing in here after that."

His eyes crumpled. "What are you—"

He opened the envelope and read the papers in it. Kita ko ang paghigpit ng kapit niya rito nang makita kong mabilis niyang binasa ang papeles.

"This isn't real! How dare you falsify your grandfather's will?!"

"Then, confirm it yourself," maduway kong sabi. "Rest assured, I will have this kingdom. This is our family's kingdom. After they learn about your atrocity, they will disown you right after your own family does. You can rot in this room as you ponder life with your remaining time. . . Father."

Tinalikuran ko na siya tsaka napagpasyahang lumabas. I opened the door and to my demise, I saw my mother in front of the room. With her eyes completely widened and filled with tears. Humigpit ang kapit ko sa seradura ng pinto habang palipat-lipat ang tingin sa nanay at pinsan ko.

Parang bumagsak ang puso ko sa malalim na sulok ng tyan ko nang makitang nanginginig ang labi ng nanay ko. Para akong sinasaksak ng libong karayom sa dibdib nang makita kong pinilit niyang ngumiti.