BINI IMAGINES

BINI SERIES - Chained by Desire #6| MIKHA

Y/N’s POV

Jay and I pulled up to the villa’s gates, the old stone walls towering over us. It had been years since I’d been here, and even now, just seeing it stirred something in me. Memories, some good, mostly bitter. Jay, beside me, gave a small, reassuring smile.

“Lakas ng loob natin, no?” he joked, but there was a hint of nerves in his voice.

“Wala tayong choice,” I replied, trying to match his smile but feeling my stomach twist.

We stepped out of the car and made our way inside.

The main hall was exactly as I remembered, elegant, pristine, but heavy. Portraits of relatives lined the walls, their eyes watching us as if to remind us of everything we owed to them.

Jay was silent beside me as we entered the dining room, where our grandfather sat at the head of the table, his eyes sharp as he watched us approach.

“Mabuti naman at nakarating na kayo.” he said with a tone that was almost a greeting.

“Good evening, Lolo,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral.

He just nodded, his gaze flicking between me and Jay.

Dinner began, I felt the tension building. Lolo didn’t waste time, either. Within minutes, he started talking about the family matters, his plans for our future, his hopes that we’d take over certain roles.

He looked at me, his voice taking on a familiar firmness.

“Y/n, Are you planning on stepping up again? You know we need you, right?” he said, his gaze unyielding. “May talento ka, hindi mo dapat yon sinasayang lang sa mga walang kabuluhang bagay.”

I felt a spark of irritation flare up. "Lolo, I’ve told you before. My life… it’s my choice. Besides, may rason naman ako kaya ako umalis.”

He set down his fork, his eyes narrowing. “At ano? Mas mahalaga pa ba yang rason mo kaysa sa pamilya natin?”

A flash of memories hit me.

My mother, choosing my father over a man she never loved, and the way our grandfather had shut her out, the way he’d tried to control every part of her life. I clenched my fists under the table, keeping my tone steady.

“It’s a choice, Lolo. The same choice my mother made.”

Silence fell over the table. Jay looked at me, his expression pained but supportive. Lolo's eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he’d let the topic go. But, instead, he leaned forward, his voice soft but loaded with meaning.

“Malaking pagkakamali ang nagawa ng iyong ina. At naging dahilan yon kung bakit siya nakahiga at walang malay sa ospital. Na hanggang ngayon ay hindi parin gumigising. Don’t be like her, Y/n. Think carefully about what you’re giving up.”

His words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. I looked down, gripping my fist tightly, willing myself to stay calm.

I hate this.

Just then, the dining room door opened, and I turned to see someone I hadn’t expected. My heart skipped a beat.

“Kuya?”

My older brother, someone I hadn’t seen in years, stood in the doorway, looking just as surprised to see me.

He entered with another figure beside him, a woman with a poised, confident presence.