Bound In Secrecy 🚩

Chapter 1

Bumusina ako at agad naman binuksan ng guard ang gate para makapasok ang kotse ko. Gabi na ako nakauwi. Matapos kasi ang eksena sa restaurant ay nagpasya na akong umalis at iniwan ko ang mga kaibigan ko duon dahil gusto pa daw nila kumain.

Umuwi ako kanina sa bahay pero hindi naman ako nag tagal dahil nababanas ako sa sarili kong pamilya. Ginagawa ko naman ang lahat ng gusto nila pero hindi talaga lagi sapat.

It's funny na akala ng lahat ako ang pinaka paborito sa pamilya dahil ako ang bunso, pero hindi iyon totoo. Kahit twenty two na ako ay hawak pa din nila ako. Bawal akong mag desisyon ng sa akin.

They want me to mature according to their way of raising me. They want me to become the best like my siblings, but they're keeping me from discovering my full potential as a person.

"You're late. Where have you been?"

Napahinto ako at napabuntong hininga. Inabot ko yung bag ko sa maid na lumapit sa akin at lihim akong napairap nang mapansin ko sa peripheral vision ko ang paglapit ni Quinn.

She's in her silk night robe, and I know underneath she's only wearing her revealing nighties. I can smell her scent as she approaches me and closes the distance between us.

She's about to give me a kiss, but I look away and step back, still wearing my passive expression.

Umayos sya ng tindig at sinuklay ang malambot nyang buhok gamit ang mga daliri nya habang tumatawa at naiiling.

"Still not a sweet girl, I see..." - she muttered, crossing her arms. "Have you eaten? If not, I'll ask them to--"

"Don't bother," - I said coldly, and I walked past her but halted because I wanted to say more. "Stop acting like a wife to me, Quinn. Let's just keep being strangers to each other like what we are outside."

"Hmm, you're mad again, which is wrong. Okay, I'll drop the act and let's talk about what you did today."

Nilampasan nya ako at pinasunod papuntang sala.

"What I did today was none of your business," - I said, causing her to stop walking. She slumped down on the nearest couch and put her legs over the other. She lean her head on her palm and lazily cast her eyes on me.

"You've been my business since that day, Kenny," - she replied, examining her newly manicured nails. "I thought you're studying well while I'm away, but I guess I'm wrong. Don't you want to graduate on time?"

"Ngayon lang naman nangyari 'yon. At saka hindi naman ikaw ang nag papaaral sa akin." - malamig na sabi ko.

"Pero may ambag ako sa allowance mo." - giit nya at pinag krus ang mga braso. "At simula ng ikasal tayo, ako na ang naging guardian mo kaya...tama lang siguro na mag expect din ako sa'yo?"

Nanatili akong walang kibo at napakuyom nalang ng kamay dahil totoo naman iyon. Kahit sinasabi ko na sa kanya na wala akong pakealam sa pera nya nilalagyan pa din nya ang bank account ko. Kaya naman kahit labag sa loob ko ay may utang na loob talaga ako kahit wala naman dapat.

Arrange marriage lang naman itong relasyon na meron kami dahil na din sa kagagawan nya. Kung pa pipiliin ako mas gusto ko pa din na single sana ako para malaya akong mamili ng taong dapat kong mahalin.

"If you don't have anything else to say, then I'm going upstairs."

She stood up and came closer to where I was. Her hand reached my shoulders and caressed my clothes to flatten the ruffled surface. My eyes linger on her perfect-looking face; she's always had this seductive look, and if I were in love with her, I might melt, knowing that she's in front of me and looking at me.