"IS THERE A PROBLEM, SIR? MA'AM?" tanong ng isa sa mga nag-iikot ng staff ng The Org.

Nadatnan ng nakaitim na unipormeng babae ang pagtatalo nila ni Jared. Walang pag-aatubiling lumapit ito, nakapagitan sa kanilang dalawa.

Mag-iisang minuto na rin ang presensya ng staff pero hindi naputol ang mainit na titigan ng kanilang mga mata. Lily could still feel her heart pounding hard against her chest. Pagkakataon na niya ito para humingi ng saklolo sa staff, para makatakas mula kay Jared.

But in this short encounter she realized things. Maybe, this is the time for her to just face the consequences of her actions instead of just running away. Maybe, this is the time for her to stop going with the flow just like how she usually does and start proving them all wrong about her.

Maybe, she is not this person who is as bad as she thought she was. Maybe, she's actually good. And it is her choice to either show what she really is or appear exactly like how other people painted her to be.

She should have stand her ground in the past, and refused to have unprotected sex with Oliver just because of his promises. She should have improved her life instead of spending all her life trying to prove her parents wrong. She shouldn't have taken Basil's help for granted. She shouldn't have made a fool out of Jared and ghosted him.

Because her every action has consequences that she should be responsible of.

Lily cannot run away forever.

No matter what, no matter who, people will always find one way or another to hurt her... to break her heart. So who else is supposed to take care of her heart but her alone?

"None," sulyap saglit ni Lily sa babae. "We're just roleplaying."

Nasa mga mata ni Jared ang gulat, pero hindi nawala ang intensidad sa pagkakatitig nito sa kanya.

"I'm the bratty subordinate," Lily explained, her eyes locked on Jared. "My daddy dom is disciplining me."

Nagsalitan sa kanya at kay Jared ang naninigurong tingin ng staff bago umatras ng kaunti ang tumango. Pumihit na ito para ipagpatuloy ang pag-iikot.

.

.

THE DOOR CLICKED CLOSE. Lilingunin sana ni Lily si Jared pero tinulak siya nito sa likuran ng balikat. That forced her to keep facing straight in front. Siyang sulpot agad ng lalaki sa kanyang harapan.

"On your knees," mahigpit nitong wika.

Puzzlement danced in her eyes, bright and sparkling in the yellow, dimly-lit room.

Hinablot ng binata ang kanyang baba. "Sabi ko, luhod."

"Why would I do that?" matapang niyang saad.

"Ikaw na ang nagsabi kanina, 'di ba? You're the bratty sub."

"Exactly. Bratty," she challenged, her eyes shifting back and forth from Jared's strong glare to his tempting lips. "If you want me to kneel, daddy, make me."

"I see," at lumagitik ang tampal nito sa pisngi bago tinulak ang kanyang balikat pababa.

Lily gasped, taken by surprise with that slap, and was forced to drop on her knees. Susubasob siya kung hindi maagap na tinukod sa malamig na tiled na sahig ang mga kamay.

Naramdaman niya ang paa ni Jared sa ibabaw ng isang balikat. Tumukod lang iyon doon saglit bago dumulas pailalim sa kanyang baba.

Fuck it. Even his feet smelled so good, a hint of mint and ice, she could kiss it with no qualms at all.

"Umayos ka ng posisyon. Be in the Ready Position."

Ready Position? Does he know how women do that Ready Position? Iba kasi iyon kumpara sa itinuro niya nitong nakaraan kay Jared. Para sa mga lalaki, nakatayo dapat nang nakahiwalay ang mga hita at nasa likuran ang mga kamay.

And for women like her...

"That would mean, I want to be fucked. I don't want to be fucked—"

Inalis ni Jared ang paa sa kanyang balikat. Doon siya napaangat ng tingin. Pinanood niya ang pagkalag nito sa tabi ng robang suot. His dark, intent eyes caught her wide-eyed stare.

"You're not in the position to call the shots when it's punishment time." Then he repeated sternly. "Now, be on your Ready Position."

She has never been a subordinate. She never had a female sub too. How would she know? Pareho lang ba ang posisyong iyon sa posing mga lalaking submissives?

Nakalahata si Jared.

"Ah, I see, you don't know how it's done?" bitaw nito sa nakalag na tali ng roba. Sumilip tuloy sa awang ng bukas na kasuotan ang kalagitnaan ng katawan nito. Mula sa dibdib pababa sa...

Naalis doon ang mga mata ni Lily nang itulak ng paa ni Jared ang isa niyang balikat. Tinulak siya niyon kaya tumuwid ang kanyang dibdib at likuran. His foot stomped down. To her shock, Lily slightly parted her knees. Bumagsak sa sahig sa pagitan ng kanyang mga tuhod ang paa ni Jared. He watched his foot sweep left and right, knocking her knees to part wider.

He tapped her other knee again, making Lily part her knees wider.

And wider.

And wider.

Nakabuka na siya sa pagkakaluhod, tumalilis ang palda ng suot na roba at nilantad ang bilugan niyang mga hita. Lumantad din ang matingkad na electric blue leather straps na nakayakap sa magkabilang hita niya.

"Itukod mo rito ang mga mga kamay mo," mahinang tapik ng talampakan ni Jared sa sahig bago inalis doon ang paa.

Lily placed her hands there, feeling the coldness of the floor.

Pumatong ulit ang paa ni Jared sa kanyang balikat. Humagod ang ilalim ng paa nito pababa sa kanyang likod. That made her arch her back before lifting her head, looking up to his seriousness, to the dark ardor shadowing in his eyes.

She could not help parting her lips.

She should hate him for not defending her back there in The Org.

But... beyond all logic, her heart chose to trust him. She respected the laws of BDSM more than her own fears telling her to run away from him.

"Ready to please now? Brat?"

Please? Her punishment is to just simply please him? How can she please him this time? Will her pain please Jared? Gaganti na ba sa wakas ang lalaki dahil sa pang-iiwan niya rito noon sa Belgium? Sinadya ba ng lalaki na makahanap ng mairarason para maging submissive siya? Para magkaroon ito ng pagkakataong makaganti?

Hindi ganoong klase ng lalaki si Jared. But if the people who broke her heart has easily turned her into a monster, what more with a man as pure and decent as Jared Guillermo?

"Yes, daddy," pigil hininga niyang sagot dito, nakatingala pa rin sa lalaki.

"Okay," medyo umaliwalas ang mukha nito, pero seryoso pa rin. "Let's talk."

Hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig.

"Gusto mo lang pala makipag-usap! Bakit kailangan pang—" napailing si Lily bago nagpatuloy. "If you want to fuck, let's just fuck! Bakit may usap-usap pa!"

"I am trying my best to meet you halfway here," even his commanding voice earlier was replaced by a soothing gentleness. "Since this, BDSM, seems to be the language you know best, then I'll talk to you in this language. Now, if this is not working, then let me know," malumanay nitong wika.

She could not explain why tears were welling up her eyes. So far, Jared was doing it right. By putting her in the position of a submissive, he successfully managed to make her listen to him. Because in her language, and from what she learned about BDSM, this is what a submissive is supposed to do. Kung hirap na hirap ang lalaki na makausap siya dahil wala siyang sinasagot sa mga tawag nito, sa ganitong paraan, nagtagumpay si Jared na mabigyan ng pagkakataong makausap siya.

"Bakit pinanood mo lang ang pang-aapi sa akin ni Basil?" tanong niya rito. "Of all the people..." napailing siya, pinangunahan ng agam-agam. "Ah, of course! Why would I expect you to defend me? You're not even admitting that you still love me."

Silence sent small tremors to her heart. Lily seeked for assurance by finding Jared's eyes.

"I did not do anything because I was expecting that you'll stand up for yourself."

She stared into his eyes. Totoo man o hindi ang sinasabi ni Jared, maloloko pa rin siya ng lalaki. His eyes always have this magic that make her want to believe in anything. She felt so helpless it crushed her heart with pity for herself.

And it was all her fault, putting her heart into this situation. Being so madly in love with him turned her into a fool who will bite every word he'll shove to her.

"You said you want to be heard. That time is the perfect moment for you to use your voice. I waited, and I have to admit, more of anticipated it. But no, you ran away."

"I bet you're disappointed. Dahil hindi ko sinagot-sagot si Basil," iyon na lang ang kanyang nasabi.

"I believed in you."

Gumuhit ang gulat sa mga mata ni Lily. Gusto niyang ulitin ni Jared ang mga sinabi, pero hindi naman siya bingi. Alam niya at sigurado siyang iyon ang mga sinabi nito.

I believed in you.

"And I still believe in you," patuloy ng lalaki. "It's just that... haven't you learned enough from domming me? Hindi pa ba sapat 'yon?"

Tumalim ang kanyang mga mata. "So that's what it's all about. At kaya ka lang pumayag sa BDSM na ito ay dahil sa issues ko? To make me feel empowered and confident enough to speak my mind?"

He just stared. Of course, Jared wouldn't admit it.

"So can you make it cleart? All this time, what am I to you? Lily or a patient?" hasik niya rito, siyang paghinang ng kanilang mga mata. Her eyes sparked defiantly. "O baka naman isa sa social experiments mo?"

Taliwas sa panunumbat sa kanyang tinig ang pagiging kalmante nito.

"Nung una pa lang, malinaw ko nang sinabi sa'yo na kapag kasama kita, hindi ako isang psychologist. I am Jared."

Lily looked away. "Hindi ko na alam kung maniniwala pa ako sa'yo."

She knows him. He has the tendency to only say what other people wants to hear. Either that or he chooses silence. Jared always makes it a point to leave his opinions only to himself. Nakasanayan na nito, eh.

That's why even if Jared hurts her, Lily prefers it when he says painful things. Because for her, those are the most certain factors that tells her he's being genuine. That he's not holding anything back for the sake of not hurting anyone's feelings or avoidance of biases.

"Goodness, Lily. What do you want me to say?"

Wala siyang sinagot. Napunta sa sahig ang kanyang mga mata. Naghihintay siyang dugtungan ni Jared ang mga sinabi. She waited for him to declare it already that he still loves her as strongly as he ever did before, right at the very beginning.

But he managed to take hold of his reins. The rush in his breathing calmed down.

"Did he scare you?" masuyo at malumay nitong wika. "O tulad lang ng dating gawi? Na pinapanindigan mo na lang kung ano ang binibintang sa'yo ng ibang tao para lang maasar sila lalo?"

Hindi niya alam ang isasagot. Pareho kasing sumapul ang mga iyon sa kanya. At kung aaminin niya iyon kay Jared, baka lalong madismaya ang lalaki sa kanya.

"Gusto mo bang ipagtanggol kita sa tuwing nalalagay sa ganoong mga sitwasyon?" He took in a deep breath. "Hindi ba ako makakasira sa mga plano mo kapag nanghimasok ako? I'm powerless unless you give me the right to do things fo ryou. All this subby can do for his domme is to obey her. I am being this way dahil ayaw mong pinapangunahan ka ng ibang tao, tama ba ang intindi ko? Or am I wrong?"

She bit her lower lip before responding.

"Tama bang iyon ang ginusto kong gawin mo nung mga oras na 'yon?" Hinahatak ng malalim na mga paghinga ni Lily ang nag-aambang mga luha. "Is it right that just for once, I hoped that someone will defend me? Hindi 'yung lagi na lang ako ang nagtatanggol sa sarili ko? Ako ang laging nagpoprotekta sa sarili ko?"

Dama niya ang pagkakatitig sa kanya ni Jared kahit nanatili siyang nakayuko.

"Alam mo ba kung ano ang iisipin ni Basil kapag pinagtanggol kita? Baka isipin niyang magkakutsaba tayo. Baka pati ako idamay ng kapatid mo sa mga pinagdududahan niya. How can I help you, your brother and Variant? Kung pati ako mapapaalis din doon? It is very vital for me to have an access somehow to your family's company."

Bit by bit, things are becoming clear for her.

"This is my way of protecting you. This is how I can help you. This is how I can defend you," Jared's tone was gentle but heavy with conviction. "I have to maximize every chance possible to make things work, Lily. I know, what's happening is hurting you, but every wound has to hurt in the process of treatment before it heals. All I can simply do is just hope you'll understand."

Lily wanted to make sure before about things. She wanted to see both sides.

"And if I don't?"

"Then you don't." Jared gave her a sad smile. "And it's alright."

It's okay with Jared if she doesn't understand him, if she rejects his explanations, if she takes none of his words seriously...

Why?

Is that how much Jared respects her freedom to think for herself? Or does he simply not care at all?

Alam daw ng binata na ayaw na ayaw niyang pinapangunahan siya. Pero bakit parang ang lumalabas ngayon, walang pakialam ang lalaki kung tanggapin niya ang paliwanag nito? Wala itong pakialam dahil itutuloy pa rin nito gawin sa sariling pamamaraan ang kailangan nitong gawin para matapos ang trabaho sa Variant?

Para makatulong daw sa kanya?

"Now, let's fuck," hablot nito sa kwelyuhan ng kanyang roba para mapatayo siya.

"Can't you just be gentle?" she blurted and was silenced when Jared grabbed her by the throat, pulled her close to him and smashed her lips with a torrid kiss.

Mabilis niyang tinugon ang halik ng lalaki. She needed this release. It had been a very hard week for her. Her hand trembled, she needed the dose of pleasure to sweep away her worries and fears. She needed Jared and all that only him alone can give her.

How could she be this pathetic? Isang halik lang ng lalaki, napunta na sa likuran ng kanyang isip ang mga agam-agam dito? Ang mga pinagtalunan nila? Nabalewala ang isang linggo niyang pagtitiis na huwag makipagkita rito o sagutin ang mga tawag.

Lahat napunta sa wala. Dahil mas lalo lang siyang nanabik dito.

At ang pananabik niya sa lalaki ang nagpahina sa kanyang pundasyon.

Ito ang nagparupok sa kanya sa oras na napunta siya sa mga bisig nito.

Why can't things be as simple like this? Why can't she and Jared just kiss forever?

She wouldn't mind staying like this with Jared for eternity. Let the world around them keep going. Basta sila, nandito lang... At mananatiling nandito, naghihinang ang mga labi.

"Gentle?" he pulled back, cupped her cheeks and soldered her eyes with his gaze so dark and strong. His emotions pooling and it infiltrates her. "My feelings for you... are too wild to be gentle."

Feelings... what exactly are you feeling for me now, Jared?

He grabbed her hair at the back of her head.

"All my heart and feelings want is to be set free, then come home to you."

Hinila siya ng lalaki. Hindi nasabayan ni Lily sa una ang mga kilos nito, kaya halos makaladkad siya nito patungo sa isang malinis na pader. He spun her around to face that wall, positioned behind her and let his warm palms run, rubbing from her shoulders down to her arms like a trail of blaze. Then his hands reached her hands, enveloped them with warmth before putting them up against the stone-cold wall.

Umatras si Jared, hinila pa-atras ang kanyang balakang. Lily felt the skirt of her robe flung up, exposing her bare ass to the chill of the room. She felt so bare since her electric blue lingerie provided her with a very skimpy thong, almost invisible as it was hidden and squeezed in by her thick buttcheeks. She seethed as Jared's palm smacked her bouncy flesh.

Paulit-ulit siya nitong pinalo.

"This is for running away from me." Bawat atraso niya rito ay tinumbasan ng binata ng salitang palo sa magkabilang pisngi ng kanyang puwitan. His tone was cool and low, close to stoic. He casually recounted all her mistakes. "This is for ghosting me. This is for not applying what you learned. This is for fucking other men after me."

All she could do was wince, listen to crisp sound of his palm slapping against her buttcheeks. When it stings, she only drew in a few sharp breaths. Dumoble ang hapdi kay Lily dahil kasabay ng pagpalo ng lalaki ang pagbanggit sa mga pagkakamali niya— mga bagay na nagpapaalala sa kanya kung gaano siya kalaking disappointment sa mga tao sa paligid niya.

He never stopped until her skin turned into a shade of bright pink.

Hinablot siya ng lalaki sa balikat, pinihit siya paharap dito. Jared effortlessly pulled her robe apart, exposing her lingerie-clad body as the satin clothing dropped around her feet. His mouth slightly dropped open, pulling in a sharp breath. The very view of her body excited him, her beauty astounded him.

Lily successfully caught his eyes. "Ang dami ko palang atraso sa'yo. If I'm such a disappointment to you, why do you even want to fuck me?"

Hinawakan siya nito sa pangahan, medyo inanggulo ang kanyang ulo patingala para mas maglebel ang kanilang mga mata.

"Because everyone makes mistakes, Lily. I'm never disappointed in you. What's maddening is, when you make a mistake, ikaw 'yung nauunang madisappoint sa sarili mo. That has to change."

Jared dragged down his eyes, hinatak nito pababa ang mga staps ng unang layer ng bra para matanggal ang parte niyon na tumatakip sa kanyang mga dibdib. What's left was the second layer of her bra which were holed and the only purpose is to hold and support the roundness of her breasts.

He pinched each of her nipples and pulled her with him through that.

"Ah, Jared!" she moaned as his pull only jolt her awake, make her more alive than tortured. "Ah, ah, ah..." daing niya habang sinusundan ng mga paa kung saan siya hinihila ng binata.

He lead her to the bed. Imbes na headboard ang nasa uluhan ng leather bed, isang malaking salamin ang makikita roon.

Jared climbed on the bed and pulled her by the hair to follow.

She has never felt so low, stooped this low for a man. He pulled her hair like how an owner would to the leash of their pet dog. Lily is learning from Jared at this very moment. That this is what happens to women who refuse to stand up for themselves, who refuse to rise above from their mistakes.

They are treated like shit.

And there's a reason why he accepted to be the Daddy and her the Brat in this scenario.

Nang maramdaman ulit ang hila ni Jared sa kanyang buhok, hinilig niya ang ulo bilang protesta. He gave her a sharp look then tugged harder.

Muli niyang hinila ang sariling ulo palayo sa direksyon nito.

"Dito ka!" he yanked, making her move forward and land on his lap.

Hinawi agad ni Lily ang dulo ng robang suot ni Jared. She clutched his cock into a hard squeeze.

"Ah, shit!" he hissed and gave her a slap on the cheek. "You haven't asked for my permission yet!"

Her respond to that was a naughty smirk. "I don't care about anyone's permission."

Sasagot pa lang ang binata nang mapasinghap. Dinuraan niya kasi ito sa ari, kinalat iyon ng pagtaas-baba ng kanyang kamay sabay sunggab ng subo rito.

"Lily!" another gasp from his lips and as she sucked him thoroughly in a slow, dragging motion, his hands grasped for her shoulder and hair.

She felt his thighs harden, his cock coming to life as it stretched inch by inch with each dip in her mouth. Napatingala si Jared, malaki ang pagkakaawang ng mga labi habang bumababaw ang paghinga.

Lily could read his mind, the way his body reacted to her.

Jared just could not believe the kind of power she holds over him.

This power.

And as long as she has this power, being the sole person who has his pleasure in her hands, Jared will remain... under her rule.