AMANDORA - ONE-SHOT FICTION

Fiction 3

Fiction 3: I WILL PROTECT YOU

Dedicated to Chiana<3

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"Why did you hide it from me, Tita?! Nasaan ang mga anak ko?!" Rebecca shouted; her voice echoed around the mansion.

"R-rebecca..."

"You lied to me!" Aurora could feel her heart racing, fear coursing through her veins as she ducked, narrowly avoiding the swing of the blade.

"R-rebecca... let me explain..." her voice pleaded. She just found herself on the floor begging once more. Her hands started to shake when Rebecca took a step forward.

"Speak." Rebecca commanded, her tone leaving no room for hesitation.

Aurora took a deep breath, struggling to find her voice amidst the chaos of emotions. How will she tell Rebecca the truth? How could she possibly tell her the hell that weighed heavily on her heart?

"Speak!" she trembled when Rebecca shouted again; sending a jolt of fear through Aurora.

"Yes, I h-hide it from you, Rebecca. Not because I wanted to but because I want to protect your babies." she finally confessed, tears streamed at the corners of her eyes.

Rebecca's eyes narrowed, anger and betrayal was evident across her face. "You could've tell me the truth—"

"I can't! Rebecca, you are sick! Ni hindi mo kayang alagaan ang sarili mo noon. Paano pa kaya ang mga anak mo?" she cried hoping it would help Rebecca realized a thing.

"Still, you hide it from me!" in a fit of anger, Rebecca gathered her strength, swinging the katana once more in a desperate attempt to silence Aurora.

But just as the blade could reached Aurora, Amando run forward. He struggled to get the katana from Rebecca's hands, his own strength wasn't enough as he fought against Rebecca's unyielding fury.

He struggled against her until he collapsed on the floor when Rebecca hit his notch. He fell on his knees trying to endure the pain.

Just as Rebecca raised the blade again, intent on striking down Amando, Aurora's eyes spotted the delicate flower vase displayed precariously on a nearby table. In a frantic moment of desperation, she grabbed it, swinging it with all her might.

The vase shattered on Rebecca's back, causing the katana to clatter to the ground. Rebecca collapsed, the weight of her emotions crashing down with her. As the echoes of the shattering vase faded, a heavy silence enveloped the room.

Aurora rushed to Amando's side, her heart racing as she knelt beside him, concern etched on her face. "Are you okay?" she whispered, her voice softening in the wake of the chaos. He nodded but winced because of pain.

Aurora shifted her gaze at Rebecca. Amando went near her to carry her back in her room. But, stopped when Aurora started to cry.

Aurora cradled Rebecca's unresponsive face in her palms, gently brushing aside the strands of hair that clung to her forehead.

"I'm so sorry, Rebecca. I'm really sorry." she whispered, her voice trembling with guilt and sorrow.

"Ihahatid ko lang siya sa kwarto niya." Amando said softly, sensing Aurora's distress. He carefully lifted Rebecca into his arms, carried her as if she were the most precious thing in the world, and headed toward her room.

It was almost midnight when Aurora decided to take a stroll outside the mansion. Masarap ang simoy ng hangin, maaliwalas ang paligid maganda ang kalangitan pero ang isang taong natatanaw niya ay kabaligtaran ng lahat.

"Amando?" she called, her voice breaking the serene silence.

"Madam, gabi na, bakit gising ka pa?" his voice was so smooth. Aurora went near him before scanning at his figure.

"Nag-aalala lang ako. Baka kasi may masakit sa'yo after what happened earlier." she said shifting her eyes at the pool in front of them; unable to meet his eyes.

"Wala naman. Ikaw ba? May masakit ba sa'yo?" he asked and noticed the band aid wrapped around her left index finger. "Napano 'to?" without a second thought, he reached for her hand, gently holding it, causing Aurora to flinch slightly at the unexpected contact.

"B-bubog."

"Mag-iingat ka sa susunod, Aurora. Kahit maliit na sugat pwede kang mainfect." his voice full of concern before letting go of her hand.

She nodded as her response before they fell quiet again. It was only the noise around them they could hear; but they couldn't deny the beatings from their hearts.

"I have decided to put Rebecca back on a mental health facility." her voice was calm, but Amando could sense the turmoil beneath.

He shifted his gaze, searching her eyes for a hint of doubt, a flicker of regret, but found only determination.

"Mas mabuti naman 'yon. She won't be able to hurt you again."

"Pero—" he started, but she cut him off, her resolve firm.

"I already made up my mind, Amando."

Amando didn't leave Aurora out of his sight. He was waiting for her to tell the reasons why she decided to put Rebecca back on a mental health facility again. His heart melted when he heard her sniffled; trying her best not to cry.

"If someone tries to harm you, I don't care if they are my family or not. I will make sure they will face my consequences." she whispered; her voice trembling with a fierce of protectiveness.

"Aurora—" he began, but she continued, her concern spilling out like a river breaking free from a dam.

"Amando, I can't bear to see them hurting you. Nasasaktan din ako. What if something worse might happen to you?" she said with concern.

He wanted to reassure her, to tell her that he could handle it, but he knew how deeply she cared especially if it's just the two of them around.

"Kaya ko ang sarili ko, Aurora. Isipin mo ang sarili mo hindi ako." he insisted, though a part of him wished he could take her pain away.

"You've been protecting me since we were kids. Maybe it's time for me to protect you, Amando."

Her voice was soft and the way she held his hand made him feel seen, cared for in a way he had never allowed himself to fully accept.

Aurora reached out and intertwined her fingers with his, holding his gaze with an intensity that set his heart racing.

"I will protect you. Against Rebecca, against Kuya, against my family and even against myself, Amando."

Amando managed a small, timid smile, the weight of the world lifting just slightly. As if drawn by an invisible force, Aurora leaned closer, their faces inches apart, and in a swift motion, their lips met.

The kiss was electric, an explosion of feelings they had both held back for too long. It was as if the world around them paused, the estate's noises fading into oblivion as they lost themselves in the intensity of the moment—raw, passionate, and filled with the promises of strength together.

Fiction 3: I WILL PROTECT YOU