Your Honor: Love in the shadows

Chapter 39

Alice's POV

As I opened my eyes, the events of the previous night brought a smile to my face. But before I could fully wake up, a sharp knock on the door shattered the tranquility, waking Ms. Risa.

Panic surged through me. "Ms. Risa, si Baste po." I whispered, my voice trembling.

She took a deep breath, her calmness contrasting with my rising fear. "Okay, don't panic."

The knocking grew more insistent, and we could hear Baste's muffled voice through the door. "Alice, gising ka na ba? Open the door!"

Ms. Risa squeezed my hand reassuringly. "You open the door, I'll hide under the bed. Just stay calm, okay?"

I nodded, my heart racing as she quickly slipped out of bed and crawled underneath. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself before walking over to the door and opening it.

"Baste, good morning." I greeted him, forcing my voice to be steady but soft.

"Good morning?" His voice was laced with irritation. "Bakit ang tagal mong buksan ang pinto? Bumalik ako ng maaga kasi may schedule tayo ngayon para sa kasal."

I could feel Ms. Risa's presence just under the bed, and I prayed Baste wouldn't look down. Mustering a small smile, I tried to explain, "Sorry, Baste. Kakagising ko lang kasi."

"Oh, bilisan mo nang mag ayos."

"S-seryoso ka ba sa kasal natin?"

"Mukha ba akong nagbibiro, Alice?"

"H-hindi, pero pwede bang sa susunod na lang? I rescheduled na lang."

"At bakit?"

"M-medyo masama ang pakiramdaman ko."

He grunted."No. Magbihis ka na. I'll wait in the living room. Ayusin mo lahat at nagmamadali tayo."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the door open behind him. I closed it softly and leaned against it, my hands trembling.

"Ms. Risa, I'm so sorry po." I whispered, my eyes filling with tears.

She quickly crawled out from under the bed and pulled me into a tight hug. "It's okay, Alice. Everything's going to be fine. Just get ready, and we'll figure this out."

Nodding, I took a deep breath to steady myself. I gathered my clothes and headed to the bathroom to change, my mind racing with thoughts of how to handle this situation.

Minutes later, I emerged, looking composed but still anxious. "K-kailangan ko na pong umalis, Ms. Risa. Babalik po agad ako, mag ingat po kayo."

"I will." She assured me, giving me a reassuring smile. "Go on, and be careful."

I nodded and left the room, closing the door softly behind me. I found Baste pacing in the parking lot, his impatience palpable.

"Alice, bilis." He said, his tone is sharp.

"I-ito na." I replied, trying to keep my voice calm.

As we headed out, my heart was heavy with worry. The fitting for my wedding dress today felt like a stark reminder of the reality I was trying to escape.

In the car, I stared out the window, the city passing by in a blur. My thoughts drifted back to Ms. Risa, her calmness and support gives me strength. No matter what challenges lay ahead, I knew we would find a way to overcome them. Our love was worth it. It was only a matter of time.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

The fitting was a blur. I went through the motions, trying on gowns and nodding at the designer's suggestions, but my mind was elsewhere. Each dress felt like a prison, the weight of the impending marriage pressing down on me. When it was finally over, I couldn't wait to get back to the hotel to see Ms. Risa, to find comfort in her presence.

As I entered the room, my heart sank. She wasn't there. I searched everywhere, calling her name, but there was no trace of her. Panic set in until I noticed a letter on the nightstand. My hands shook as I opened it.

"Alice, I went back to Manila dahil may emergency at may kailangan akong gawin. Please wait for me. Please don't marry Baste. I love you always."

Tears streamed down my face as I read her words. The pain of her absence was overwhelming, but I knew I had to understand. Ms. Risa had responsibilities and a life outside of us, and I had to respect that.

Clutching the letter to my chest, I vowed to wait for her, to find a way for us to be together despite the challenges. Our love was worth fighting for, and I wouldn't give up on it.

After composing myself, I decided to take a shower, hoping the warm water would soothe my frazzled nerves. The steam enveloped me, and I let the hot water cascade over my tense muscles. For a moment, I found a small measure of peace, the sound of the water drowning out my worries.

I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around myself. As I opened the bathroom door, I was startled to see Baste standing in the room, his eyes fixed on me.

"Baste." I said, my voice wavering. "What are you doing here?"

He stepped closer, his gaze intense. "I was waiting for you, Alice. I wanted to spend some time with my future wife."

A sense of dread filled me as he approached. "Baste, pagod ako. I just want to rest."

He didn't seem to hear me, his hands reaching out to touch my shoulders. "We need to spend time together to know each other, Alice. We're getting married soon."

I took a step back, my heart pounding. "Please, Baste. W-wag ngayon."

His expression darkened. "Wag mo akong tanggihan, Alice."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I backed away further. "Baste please. Hindi ko kaya. I just can't."

His grip tightened on my shoulders, and I flinched. "Kaya mo. You're my fiance. This is what we're supposed to do."

Desperation surged through me, and I tried to push him away. "No, Baste. Please, just let me go."

For a moment, he hesitated, seeing the fear in my eyes. Then, with a grunt of frustration, he let go and turned away. "Fine. But don't forget, Alice. We're getting married whether you like it or not."

As he stormed out of the room, I collapsed onto the bed, shaking with sobs. The weight of the situation felt unbearable, but I knew I had to stay strong. For Ms. Risa, for our love, and for myself.

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Good Luck sa school tomorrow guys! Enjoy your class! 𖹭