SHE was scared when she heard his statement. At bawat salitang sinabi ng estrangherong lalaki ay naghahatid ng takot at pangamba sa puso at isipan niya. She bravely summoned enough strength and answered him.
"Ano bang problema mo? Kung galit ka sa pamilya ko, di magpakilala ka at lumaban ng patas. Sa palagay mo, palalampasin ka nang tatay at kapatid ko sa ginawa mong ito? Hindi nakakatuwa ang laro mong ito, pauwiin mo na ako dahil wala kang mapapala sa kalokohang ito. Ikakapahamak mo lang ang pagtangay mo sa akin,"
"Oh, you think they could easily kill me, with you around? I doubt it. I don't think they will risk your life and make an abrupt plan without making sure of your safety. And oh, tch… sad to say, I will not let your fiance, Doctor Carl Cruz, have you. Your body and soul only belongs to me," he roared. Kasunod ng sinabi nito ang malakas na tawa na may kahalong pang-uuyam ang naririnig ni Denise.
Lalo lamang siyang binalot ng takot at pilit na isiniksik ang sarili sa sulok na kinaroroonan niya.
"You're insane! You're a lunatic!" She said while clenching her fist.
Sa halip na sumagot, bumaba ng kama si Reymond at lumapit sa kinaroroonan niya. He could feel her trembling reaction. He knew she moved to another location when she sensed his presence heading towards her.
Sa madilim na paligid ramdam ni Denise na papalapit ang yabag ng taong kausap niya kaya't mabilis siyang gumapang sa kaliwang bahagi ng sulok na kinaroroonan niya kanina. Ngunit kabisado ng taong ito ang buong kwarto na pinagdalhan nito sa kanya dahil lalong lumalapit ang mga yabag nito sa kanya. She had no other choice but to curl herself and waited for his action. Kailangan niyang lumaban kapag nagkataon na hawakan siya nito. Ito ang tumatakbo sa isipan niya ng mga sandaling ito. Panganib ang naghihintay sa kanya ngunit di siya makakapayag na mahulog lamang siya sa mga kamay ng kung sinuman na hindi lumalaban.
Reymond stood next to her and said, "Wala pa nga akong ginawa sayo, maka- react ka wagas. Tumayo kana dyan, di ako mamatay tao," naaaliw nitong tugon.
Nakiramdam ang dalaga ngunit di siya sumagot kay Reymond. Ilang minutong katahimikan ang lumipas at walang tugon mula kay Denise kaya't umupo si Reymond sa mismong harapan nito.
"Princess, your acting too much. Hindi ka pala dapat vlogger kundi artista. Daig mo pa inapi," marahang tugon niya.
Denise could smell his ocean-fresh cologne, and it lingered into her mind. She is eager to know how this lunatic looks like and why he targeted her instead of her father and brother.
Reymond raised his hand and patted her head. "Please, stand up, we need to…."
Malakas na tinabig ni Denise ang kamay nito na dumapo sa ulo niya. She began to scream again. "Leave me alone! Leave me alone!"
Reymond could feel her anger, and he heard her broken voice. Nainis siyang bigla sa inasal nito dahil di pa rin ito nagbabago, ito pa rin ang dating teenager na nakasalamuha niya noon.
"Stop it! I didn't even harm you. Save all your energy and scream louder when the moment I began to torture you!" Mga salitang binitawan niya dala ng inis na nararamdaman. Wala siyang balak na pagalitan ang dalaga ngunit sa inasal nito, tila naubos ang pasensya niya.
Mabilis na inangat ni Denise ang mukha at hinila ang kamay nito. Nang mahawakan ang isang kamay nito muli niya ito kinagat ng malakas at lakas loob niyang tinulak ang binata. Sa labis na gulat at di napaghandaang sitwasyon, nawalan ng panimbang si Reymond at namalayan na lamang niyang mabilis na dinaganan siya ng dalaga habang kinagat nito ang kanang kamay niya.
He didn't scream despite the pain he felt. He wanted to slap her to stop her violent attack, but he doesn't have the heart to hurt her physically. Nakahiga rin siya sa sahig at nasa ibabaw niya ang dalaga ng sunud-sunod na sampal ang dumapo sa mukha niya mula kay rito matapos nitong pakawalan ang kamay niya na kinagat nito ng mariin.
He didn't expect that she would react too fast. Hindi niya malaman kung paano salagin ang bawat atake na ginawa nito.
"I hate you! I hate you! I will not let you harm me. I will not let you harm me!" paulit-ulit na sigaw ni Denise habang sunud-sunod na mabibigat na sampal at suntok sa mukha nito ang ginawa niya.
Reymond manages to catch her wrist and firmly push himself up and flip their bodies. "Maldita ka pala ha, naghahanap ka talaga ng sakit ng katawan," aniya. "Daig mo pa Tigre kung umatake, ginulat mo ako!" He quickly pinned her arms upward and lowered his head. He claimed her lips and bit it. Wala siyang balak na parusahan ito ngunit nahamon ang pang-unawa at pasensya niya dahil sa biglaang atake nito.
She could feel his kiss as a way of punishment. "Ahhh….bitaw, bitawan….bitawan….".
He trapped all her words with his devouring kissed. "You wish, no!!!!! Sumusobra ang ugali mong ito," He said while biting her lips and making way inside her mouth.
Reymond's kiss drained all her strength and energy. She wanted to resist him, but the man has his way to manipulate her emotions. She was losing self-control and began to respond to his passionate kiss.
"Carl!...Carl!..." She uttered Carl's name while savoring Reymond's kiss.
Tila binuhusan ng malamig na tubig si Reymond at mabilis na kumalas sa mga labi ng dalaga. Ang lumalalim niyang halik dito ilang minuto lang ang nakaraan na tinugon nito ng paunti-unti ay biglang pinalitan ng sama ng loob at selos. At pakiramdam niya ang labi ni Denise ay parang nakakapasong apoy na siyang nagpabalik ng katinuan niya na pansamantalang tumukas mula sa bahagi ng kanyang isipan. He feels so much pain, hearing the loud evidence of Denise's love for her fiance.
A mocking loud laugh roared, "Hahaha...Yeah, that's it, did I satisfy you? Did I make you lose self-control over a short period of time by giving you a passionate kiss? Too bad, Miss Santillian, I am not your fiance, but your nightmare!" Reymond stood up quickly and went straight to the bathroom.
When he closed the bathroom door and opened the light, he clearly saw his reflection on the mirror full of sadness and pain. He felt exhausted and ashamed at the same time.
"Reymond, you're the same stupid man who fell in love with that woman," He scolded himself. "Ang tanga mo, hindi ka si Carl Cruz na siyang minahal niya. You can never make her stay because she falls for someone, and she's the daughter of your family's enemy. Loosen up man, loosen up! She doesn't deserve your love,"
Tears fall from his eyes, and he punched the wall several times until his hand was bleeding. He immediately sobers himself; he walked towards the shower room and took a quick shower. Bakas sa mga kamay niya ang sugat mula sa pagsuntok sa pader at ang mga bakas ng ngipin ni Denise.
He grabbed the clean bath towel and wrapped it around his body then head outside. Water was dripping his masculine and sexy body. Added with a fresh scent, it caught Denise's attention again. Naroon pa rin siya sa sulok na pinagsisiksikan niya sa sarili. Hindi pa rin niya maaninag ang mukha ng lalaki dahil sa madilim ang buong paligid. Huminto ang mga hakbang nito ilang distansya mula sa kanya at narinig niyang nagsalita ito.
"Take a shower so you could change your dress. Ilang oras mo ng suot iyan. Pumasok kana sa banyo at ihahanda ko ang damit mo. Iiwanan ko sa ibabaw ng kama dahil bababa ako para magluto ng pagkain,"
Sa narinig niya, nasisiguro niyang wala na sila sa loob ng pribadong silid ng hotel kundi sa mismong pamamahay ng taong ito.
She growled and said, "Let me go and allow me to go back home! Wala kang karapatan na ikulong ako dito sa pamamahay mo,"
"Didn't I tell you earlier that you can't go back to your family? I will drag you to hell!" malakas na tugon ni Reymond at bakas sa boses nito ang galit. Tumalikod na siya at patungo sa pinto ng muling tumili ang dalaga.
"Pakawalan mo ako dito!!!... Uuwi na ako!!..."
Napahinto siya saglit habang nakahawak ang isang kamay sa doorknob ng pinto. "Ubusin mo man ang lahat ng boses mo kakasigaw, di ka makakauwi. You belong to me, as debt payment. Kulang pa ang buhay mo na kabayaran sa lahat ng kasalanan ng pamilya mo sa akin,"
He quickly opened the door and slammed it hard behind him. Narinig niyang binabayo ng dalaga ang pinto at sumisigaw ito sa loob ng kwarto. Nakasandig pa siya sa nakasarang pinto at naririnig ang mga sinasabi nito.
"Asshole, let me go! Let me go! Papatayin kita kapag di mo talaga ako palalayain dito,"
Napapailing si Reymond ng marinig ang mga binibitawang salita ng dalaga. He knew she was stubborn, and the Santillian blood runs through her vein, as the arrogance and sharp words slip from her mouth.
"Maldita! Tingnan natin kung di ka ba mapapagod!" bulong niya sa sarili at mabilis na nagtungo sa kabilang kwarto para magbihis. Si Denise naman ng mga sandaling ito di malaman kung ano ang gagawin. She feels that the man was determined to trap her inside his house.
Napadausdos siyang pababa sa mismong nakasarang pintuan. "Carl, please honey, save me!" paulit-ulit na tugon niya habang umiiyak. When she felt tired, she stood up and walked towards the bed. She curled herself into a ball and began to cry. She gradually loses consciousness and falls asleep.