Adoring Your Soul

Kabanata 20

Kabanata 20

 Owned

Sometimes when he turns the car, I am gazing at him. Kahit na umalis na sa Palmos, naroon pa rin ang isipan ko. Sa mga sinabi ni Nate. I know I don't have to be scared because I personally know him. Pero katulad ng sinabi ko, may mga tinatago kaming hinanakit sa mundo. I'm sure he still hides something from me. 

Nag-iwas ako nang mapansin niyang tinititigan ko siya. Muli kong naalala na ayaw niyang mapag-usapan ang ex-fiancé niya. Until now, it's still a misery for me. Kung hihingi man siya ng impormasyon tungkol sa mga naging nobyo ko dati ay wala akong maibibigay. I didn't have a boyfriend. Alam kong masabi ko na sa kanya 'yon. He is my first... and I don't even know if he will be the last. Niloloko ko lang siya at kapag nalaman niya 'yon, sigurado akong papalayasin niya ako sa mansion. 

"Thinkin' something, Ma'am?" he said without looking at me. 

Umiling ako nang hindi lumilingon sa kanya, kinakagat ang daliri. "No. It's nothing. Malayo pa?"

May nakikita akong iba't ibang resorts na magkakasunod. Kung minsan, may burol at malaking lupain. I don't know if they owned some of the places here. Ngunit kahit hindi ko itanong, tiyak na pagmamay-ari nila ang iba. 

I sighed and wondered again. Malawak ang koneksyon nila kaya bakit parang nahihirapan silang hanapin ang mga San Diego? Malaki ba ang atraso sa kanila no'n? I can't ask about their family history. Baka ma-turn off lang siya sa akin at ipatapon ako kung saan. Napangiwi ako sa naisip at medyo natakot. Kung sakali ngang papatayin ako at itatapon na lang, ano kayang headline title ng balita? 

A seventeen-year-old girl was murdered because she failed to fuck her fiancé. 

Tumaray ako at umisip muli ng bago. It sounds so like me! Pupuwede ba iyon sa balita? And will Archer kill me if I don't fuck him well? Paano ba? 

"Share it?" He stretched his lips while looking at my smiling lips. 

"N-Nothing." Inayos ko ang upo ko at muling pinigilan ang pagngiti. 

Who smiles about the thought of their death?! Or maybe I was just nervous about dying, so I'm coping with it like this. Hindi naman sinabi ni Nathan na pumapatay ang mga Mercedes. He just said that they were hunting down the people that had shattered their family! But partly, Lohana. What if he kills me if he finds out my plans? May mas masakit pa ba sa kamatayan? 

"We're almost there. Palaging hindi bababa sa limampung minuto ang biyahe kapag lalabas ng Nasugbu. We can still travel throughout Nasugbu or the outskirts of it before the engagement." Tiningnan niya ang daliri ko. 

I crumpled my fist and nodded. Pinaglaruan ko ang singsing at tinitigan ito. I had no desire to take off my engagement ring. It symbolizes agreement. And it means he legally owns me.

I knew I didn't want to be owned by anyone, but when I agreed to Tita Alicia's proposal and wore this ring, I was already his. I can't even deny or avoid it. Gustong-gusto ko iyon. Archer Thaddeus owns me.

This arranged marriage instilled something in me that I don't want to lose.

Bumaba na ako ng sasakyan nang itabi niya ito. I didn't wait for him to open the car door for me. Nang makalapit sa akin, hinagkan niya ako at hinalikan. I looked at my wrist watch. It's already nine in the morning. Halos isang oras ang biyahe. Nakipagkuwentuhan muna kasi si Lola Retina bago kami paunahin. 

We've arrived at Fortune Island Resort. As usual, I am astounded because, after my parents died, I was unable to travel. There are so many opportunities while staying here in Nasugbu. 

Sinipat ko ang bangkang sasakyan namin. I looked up at him when I realized that he was the one who'd be managing it. 

"You know how to...." Naka-awang pa rin ang aking labi.