Protecting What's Hers

𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐱

Katherine Evans

"Did I heard you right?"

"You clearly did. It'll be a win win situation, Katherine. Uusog 'yong bintang kay Felicity at pati yong sayo."

Iniling ko ang ulo dahil sa narinig. Chastity is with my mom right now. Nandito kami ngayon sa private room na hindi ko alam kung nasaan.

It's not a jail. Yet still, I am held captive in these four walls with armed men outside the room.

Dad bribed the higher officers not to have me locked down in a dirty, smelly cell na parang ilang taon nang hindi nililinisan.

And those bastards quickly accept the money in an exchange for my own comfort.

Yet, I still hate him for doing that. Ginagamit na naman nito ang pera para maka - manipula.

"I don't want to do an interview regarding my relationship, Chastity."

"And Brendan won't stop. Alalahanin mo naman 'yang estudyante mo, Katherine. My god I didn't know you'd commit such an act." I rolled my eyes towards my mom who's now bawling her eyes out at hinahagod na ng pinsan ko ang likod nito.

"We're both consenting adults mom. For Pete's sake, did you really think I can do such thing?"

The report is stating that I have breached my ethics and professionalism by having a sexual relationship with one of my student. But it's not written there the age of the student's involved.

That's why dad wants me to have an interview with the media together with Brendan to deny the allegations.

They want me to lie, and announce to them na hindi ako ang babaeng iyon.

"If it's not for you, just for Felicity, Kath. They've been harassing the younger woman ng bumisita ako. Kung hindi lang siguro hinalikan —."

"Hinalikan nino?"

"Huh? I didn't say anything about kissing."

"Mom, will you please give me and Chastity some privacy? May pag uusapan lang po kami."

My mom nodded her head and went out of the room for some time after she embraced me. "Honey, just think about it okay? We're not here to force you," I only nodded my head in response.

"Don't play coy with me, Chastity. Hinalikan nino?"

Umatras ng kaunti ang pinsan ko sabay kuha ng unan sa sofa na siyang inilagay sa harapan nito. As if she's shielding herself from me.

"Wala namang meaning yun eh. It's just to stop the allegations in your girlfriend, Kath."

Hinilot ko ang sintido dahil sa narinig. Iba't ibang emosyon ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.

"I'm asking you who kissed, Chastity."

Napalunok naman ang babae bago pinikit ang mata at sumenyas na parang nagdadasal bago tumingin sa akin.

"Daniel kissed Felicity," agad na napatayo ang pinsan ko ng makita akong sinugod ang pinto para lumabas.

That guy! He took advantage of the situation. That opportunistic man.