#LGS1Innocence #LGS1Chapter36 #LaGrilla1 #LaGrilla

***

THERE were students laughing boisterously among their own groups scattered in the study area's tables. Leo watched them with his lifeless hooded eyes as he seated alone by a table under the shed.

The students looked so carefree. So . . . innocent.

Despite trying to act all responsible and matured in high school, the students' innocence could still be seen. . . .

Their innocence was still with them.

And for that, Leo could not help being gnawed by envy.

Innocence, of course, doesn't depend on one's virginity. But whatever innocence he got left years ago, it was already lost ever since Melissa began using his body for her own vain purposes.

Leo donned a well-fitting blue striped white pants, black silver-buckled belt, and a button-down short sleeved white polo. He had to be well-kempt and dressed maturely because Melissa required it ever since their involvement started. He did not argue because he didn't know what hell she could promise to bring to his life for disobeying, and he didn't want to find out, too.

Ilang saglit pa at natanaw ni Leo si Ava na kalalabas lang mula sa huli nitong klase. She was walking along with her three other girl friends when they all saw Leo, giggled among themselves, and bickered before bading goodbyes.

Nang makalapit sa kaniya si Ava ay tumuwid siya ng pagkakaupo bago tumayo.

Kapwa graduating students na sila—si Ava, sa high school, at siya naman, sa college. Kaya kung may ipinagbago siya, ganoon din ito.

Ava became more self-conscious with her looks at this point. She always tied her wavy hair in a high ponytail with a wavy side fringe. She used this limited-edition blush-tinted baby powder on her face and a lip gloss for her lips. Mamahalin din ang pabango na lagi nitong gamit. Her uniform from the first class to the last, maintained its pristine look—very few wrinkles, clean, and floral scented.

"Let's go," he sighed in a flat tone.

Ava cocked her head to the side and walked alongside him.

"Kuya Leo," anito, "may itatanong lang ako."

"Just call me 'Leo.' What is it?" aniya, deretso sa harap ang tingin habang nakapamulsa ang isang kamay.

"Huwag mong masamain, okay? I'm just asking for my peace of mind."

"Shoot."

"Hindi ka ba naaasiwa sa pagsundo mo sa 'kin palagi?"

"Hindi. May nakakaasiwa ba ro'n? E, parang kuya mo na 'ko, 'di ba?" walang-emosyon niyang sagot.

Ava pouted, readjusted her shoulder bag, and looked to the front. She shrugged and seemed to choose to keep her thoughts to herself. Leo wasn't that oblivious to the possible reason behind Ava's question, so he clarified things for her.

"Iyon ba ang pinagbubungisngisan ng mga kaibigan mo?"

Ava groaned. "Please, don't be mean to them again."

"Nainis lang ako sa kanila dahil hindi sila tumupad noon sa usapan. Ang sabi nila, 'di ba, bago maghatinggabi, ihahatid ka na nila sa bahay no'ng nag-junior prom kayo?"

"Come on! Medyo nakalimot lang kami, because we had so much fun that night!" Then, Ava gave him a sharp side-glance. "Bakit ba kasi sunod-sunoran ka kay Mom? Pati itong pagsundo sa 'kin, ginawa mo pa, which you didn't really have to do! 'Yan tuloy, iniisip ng friends ko na pumoporma ka sa 'kin!"

He remained straight-faced but deep inside, he felt like choking out of shock. "Ava, hindi ako interesado sa 'yo. You're just a sister to me, kaya kadiri 'yang idea ng mga kaibigan mo."

"Kung makakadiri, parang actual na sister ang tingin mo sa 'kin at incest ang magkagusto ka sa 'kin!" she blurted, laughing.

He cringed to affirm, which made Ava laugh louder.

"Bakit? Weird naman talaga na kapatid na ang turing ko sa 'yo—for three years—'tapos bigla akong magkakagusto sa 'yo?" He made a playful throwing-up gesture that made her laugh

In return, Ava just made funny faces that made him chuckle too.

"Seriously. I feel less lonely because of you, Ava. Nawalan ako ng kapatid, si Pol, alam mo 'yan. Pero nang maging magkaibigan tayo, parang binigyan ako ng Diyos ng panibagong kapatid."

"Ang drama, ha?" tawa nito.

Natawa na rin siya. "Now get in the car. May lakad pa 'ko pagkahatid ko sa 'yo sa bahay mo."

"Aw," she frowned playfully, "walang Math tutorial today?"

"Oo. Araw ng entrance exam ko ngayon sa Law school, remember?"

She gasped. "My gosh! You should have reminded me! Tara, bilisan na natin para may time ka pa mag-review!"

Leo sighed and smiled at Ava fondly as she hurriedly sat in the passenger seat.

"And it's already lunch time!" tingala nito sa kaniya. "Before your exam, kain-kain din, ha? Alam ko, idol mo si Bamboo, pero 'wag mo na idamay ang katawan mo sa pagiging bamboo!"

He smiled. "Makikikain ako sa inyo bago umalis. Don't worry."

"Great!" Ava smiled. "Close the door now. Umuwi na tayo!"

Leo smiled back and obliged.

***
Warning: 🚫
Graphic depiction of Abuse

"AYOKO na, Melissa," Leo hesitated after taking off his shirt. It was another day, another time being Melissa's bunny.

"So, ayaw mo na mag-aral?" ani Melissa sa bagot na boses. Her body was only covered in leather belts that revealed a lot of her skin, and all the private parts of her body.

"H-Hindi sa gano'n . . . Hindi ko na kaya."

"Bakit? Nandidiri ka ba sa 'kin, Leo? Ang kapal ng mukha mo para mandiri sa 'kin! Is this because I'm getting older? Huh?"

"H-Hindi . . ." pagsisinungaling niya kahit ang totoo, nandidiri siya sa mga pinagsasasabi nitong bastos tuwing inaangkin siya. Nandidiri siya sa mga ginagawa nito sa kaniya. "Hindi, Melissa."

"May videos ako, Leo. Hindi ba, pinanood ko pa sa 'yo para maniwala kang may videos ako? If I am not going to get what I want, then I might as well, tell John and everyone else the truth! Even to your poor family!" She whacked her black sex whip on the footboard of the bed.

"Please, huwag."

"Good. Dahil ano na lang ang mangyayari kapag nakaabot sa Law school na papasukan mo kung anong klase kang puta?"

Napatiklop siya ng masakit na katotohanan at napayuko ng ulo.

"Ano pa ang hinihintay mo? Take off the rest of your damn clothes now, Leo, and let me fuck you!"

Leo shakily took off his pants.

"What the fuck is this, Melissa?!" John suddenly barged in.

Gulat na napatingin sila sa asawa ni Melissa, si John Milano. It seemed like he had been planning to catch them red-handed for days, because his timing was impeccable and he brought the spare key of the guest room with him!

"You have no right to be mad. You're neglecting me! Kaya bakit hindi mo hayaang punan ni Leo ang mga pagkukulang mong hayop ka!"

"Anong punan? Papatayin ko yan!" amba sa kaniya ng kamao ni John.

"Huwag po!" iyak ni Leo habang nakahubad at nakasuksok sa isang sulok ng silid. He curled his body and hid his face with his arms.

Naghintay siya sa suntok o tadyak ni John, pero nang makahalatang hindi niya iyon matitikman ay dahan-dahan siyang nag-angat ng tingin. He saw that John was already facing Melissa.

"Get your shit together, Melissa," duro nito sa babae pagkatapos ay sa pinto ng banyo.

"No—"

"Now!" he roared.

Melissa did not even throw a single glance at him. She just glared at John before she headed to the bathroom.

Nanumbalik ang takot ni Leo nang harapin uli ni John. "You. Get dressed."

Natakot pa siyang kumilos pero nadala siya sa nanlilisik na mga mata ng lalaki. Leo picked up his clothes and quickly got dressed. Yukong-yuko ang ulo niya dahil sa sobrang kahihiyan.

"Ipinangako ko sa sarili ko, na kapag nahuli ko ang lalaking kumakalantari sa asawa ko, walang-pagdadalawang-isip ko s'yang papatayin sa bugbog," nagtitimpi nitong wika. "Tama lang 'yon dahil tanggap 'yon sa batas! But damn, I never knew isang totoy ka pala!"

Iniwasan niyang tumingin sa dismayadong lalaki. Bukod sa siya ang may kasalanan dito, nahihiya rin siya dahil kung ikukumpara siya rito ay nakaaangat nang milya-milya ang ginoo mula sa kaniya. John was respectable and powerful. He was stylish in his brown button-down shirt, shiny, black leather shoes, and black slacks. His hair was slightly disheveled, but it was obvious that it used to be a sleek side-swept hairstyle. Titiklop ang kahit sino sa maawtoridad nitong presensiya.

"I heard everything, kid. Kaya napigilan ko pa ang sarili ko. Pero hindi ibig sabihin no'n ay absuwelto ka na sa konsekuwensiya ng ginawa mong ito."

Naguguluhang nag-angat siya ng tingin dito. A mix of concern and disappointment could be seen in John's deep-set eyes.

"Kaya wala akong gagawin sa 'yo. Hindi kita bubugbugin. Hindi kita gagantihan. Pero hindi ibig sabihin n'on ay tutulungan kita. Ikaw ang nagpasok sa sarili mo sa sitwasyon na 'to, kaya ikaw ang maglabas sa sarili mo rito."

Paalis na ito nang umiral ang kaniyang lakas ng loob. Mahirap pero ito na lang ang huling pag-asa niya.

"T-Tulungan mo ako!" makaawa niya sa nanginginig na boses.

John turned to give him a pitiful gaze.

"S-Si Melissa . . . Hindi ako makakawala sa kan'ya dahil may mga video siya . . . May utang akong pera . . . S-Sir! Kaya n'yang baligtarin ang k'wento. Ayokong makulong! Ayokong malaman 'to ng mga magulang ko!" umiiyak niyang makaawa habang nananatili sa kaniyang kinatatayuan. Sa sobrang panghihina ay hindi man lang siya makatakbo sa lalaki para makaluhod sa paanan nito.

John kept his eyes on him while slowly shaking his head. "I can't help the man who helped my wife hurt me."

Hindi siya nito binigyan ng pagkakataong makasagot. Nilisan nito ang silid at malakas na isinara ang pinto.

Nanatiling nakatulala si Leo sa pinto.

He was already nineteen, but his three years of suffering within Melissa's clutches made him feel as helpless as a child.

'P-Pero, sir . . . paano ako makaaalis dito? Ano ang laban ng isang batang katulad ko sa kan'ya?'

***

"LEO!" yakap sa kaniya ni Ava nang sunduin niya ito sa school nito. Kasabay ng pagyakap nito ang pagbaha ng mainit nitong luha. "Hiwalay na sina Mom at Dad! My dad cheated on my mom!"

Leo consciously looked around and internally groaned at the looks they got from the students in their proximity.

"Ava, huwag natin pag-usapan 'yan dito."

She just hugged him tighter, wetting the chest of his shirt.

Leo felt so crushed deep inside because Ava was too young to deal with this stress from her parents' separation. Worse, this happened because of him!

Leo took Ava in his car and as he drove her home, he lent his ears to her as she poured her heartaches out. Habang dinadamayan ito, nangako siya sa sarili na babawi rito at sa lahat ng sakit na idinulot nila ni Melissa kay Ava at sa tatay nito.

***

LEO managed to stay around after John discovered his involvement with Melissa. It was because it was John who decided to move out of the mansion and stay away from everyone.

Hanggang sa wakas, dumating na rin ang kompirmasyong ga-graduate si Leo sa kursong Political Science.

Bago ang graduation day, sinadya niyang bumili ng pankulay ng buhok. He dyed his hair blond. Alter ego helps, at least, that's what Leo believed in. And for him, it was easier to be something . . . or someone else by changing one's hair color.

After rinsing off the hair dye and waiting for it to set in, Leo looked at himself in front of the mirror.

'I won't let her ruin who I am, and who I can be,' he thought as he admired the new person in the mirror.

Leo smiled.

He got dressed—stylish in his white pants, brown pointed shoes, and blue-striped white button-down shirt. It was April, a rather humid day, so he had the top four buttons of his shirt left undone. Pinasadahan pa niya ng suklay ang bagong kulay na buhok pagkababa ng kotse, habang naglalakad papasok sa mansiyon ng mga Milano.

Sinalubong siya ng katulong na walang-kamuwang-muwang sa koneksiyon niya sa hiwalayan nina Melissa at John.

"Aba! Ang g'wapo naman ng bagong kulay ng buhok na 'yan!" masiglang bati ni Thelma sa kaniya.

Dahil mula first year high school ay home tutor na siya ni Ava sa Math, kilalang-kilala na siya ng mga katulong dito. Hindi rin siya naging kaduda-duda sa mga ito dahil idinadahilan nila ni Melissa na ginagamit niya ang guest room para magpahinga habang hinihintay ang pag-uwi ni Ava galing sa eskuwelahan para sa home tutoring nito.

Leo simply smiled at Thelma. "Salamat. Si Ma'am Melissa po, narito?"

"A, oo. Nasa 'taas." Luminga-linga pa ito sa paligid bago bumulong. "Kanina pa sa bar room. Hindi lumalabas. Kasama yata 'yong boylet n'ya. Tawagin ko ba?"

Medyo kinabahan siya. Leo didn't know how John and Melissa settled their problem, but he was pretty confused how they managed to keep their house staff unaware of his involvement in it.

"Opo sana. Importante lang."

Tumango si Thelma. "Sige. Wait lang."

Nagmamadaling umalis ang katulong. Excited siguro magkaroon ng tiyansa na masilip kung sino ang third party sa relasyon ng amo nito.

Ilang saglit lang at dismayadong sinundo siya ng katulong. Dismayado dahil wala raw kasama si Melissa sa loob ng bar room. Pagkadala nito sa kaniya sa bar room na si Leo ay nasolo na nila ni Melissa ang isa't isa.

The woman sat on the bar stool in a pair of jeans and red fitting scoop neck shirt. She was pouring beer from its expensive bottle into a low ball glass.

"Nagpapatawa ka ba?" aburido nitong saad pagkatapos pakinggan ang dahilan ng ipinunta niya rito.

"Take it or leave it, Melissa," matatag niyang saad. "Mananahimik ako kung ipapangako mo na walang makakaalam sa nangyari sa 'ting dalawa."

She smirked at him, belittling him. "Nabaligtad yata? Isn't that my offer three years ago? Ayaw mong may makaalam na kahit sino, kaya kapalit ng pananahimik ko . . . ang pagpapaligaya mo sa 'kin!"

"What is the use of keeping this a secret? Alam na ni John ang lahat. Sooner or later, everyone else will know. Hindi n'ya 'to palalagpasin. I'm sure he'll take action. Hihintayin ko na lang anumang reklamo ang isampa n'ya laban sa 'kin, sa 'tin. Ang tanging magagawa ko na lang para maging karespe-respeto pa 'ko sa harap ng hukuman kung sakali, ay ang masabi kahit papaano na itinigil ko ang kalokohang ito."

Gumuhit ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito. "Pero ikaw na lang ang natitira sa 'kin, Leo. Iniwan na 'ko ni John, dahil sa 'yo, remember? Sino na lang ang pupuno sa mga pangangailangan ko kung ititigil natin 'to?"

"Kung nahihirapan kang kamutin ang kakatihan mo nang mag-isa, e, 'di maghanap ka na ng ibang lalaki," matapang niyang saad. "Iniwan ka na ni John. So, I guess, you don't need to fuck other men in secrecy anymore. Enjoy it while we're not yet behind bars."

Hindi naituloy ng babae ang pag-inom ng alak. Matunog nitong ibinaba ang baso at tuluyang ipinihit ang sariling pagkakaupo paharap sa kaniyang direksiyon.

"I'll sue you—"

Leo came prepared. He took an envelope from his back pocket and tossed it on the floor, close to Melissa's feet. She glared at it and at the money bills that slipped out of it.

"Sue me for what? 'Yan na ang bayad ko sa utang ko sa 'yo. Binabayaran mo ang katahimikan ko sa bawat pagbaboy mo sa akin, 'di ba? E, 'di tiniyaga kong mag-ipon, para mabayaran ko na ang kalayaan ko."

Melissa scoffed and stomped on the money with her high heeled open-toe sandal.

"You can't accuse me of rape, too. Dahil nagtuloy-tuloy ang nagyari sa atin. Kukuwestiyonin ka sa reklamo mong pinagsamantalahan kita no'ng lasing ako kung itinuloy-tuloy mo naman 'to sa loob ng tatlong taon."

Lalong sumama ang timpla ng mukha ng ginang.

"At ipapaalala ko lang, si John lang ang may karapatang magdemanda rito. Hindi ikaw."

"Fine. I'll stop fucking you then! Sawa na rin naman ako sa 'yo. Wala kang kalatoy-latoy sa kama. Palagi pa kitang kailangang itali at ipitin ng mga hita ko para lang maipasok kita sa 'kin," mapait nitong reklamo bago lumagok ng alak.

Akala niya ay makahihinga na siya nang maluwag, pero hindi. Pagkababa uli ni Melissa ng baso nito ay dinugtungan nito ang mga sinabi.

"Pero, dalawang pabor ang hinihingi mo, Leo—ang pananahimik ko at pagpapalaya sa 'yo. Kaya hindi p'wedeng pananahimik mo lang ang mapakinabanganan ko mula sa 'yo."

"Sige. Hindi naman ako katulad mo, kaya magiging patas ako sa 'yo. Ano pa ba ang kailangan mo?"

Melissa smirked at him with a knowing glance. "Anytime I'll need help, especially once you become a lawyer, you should be at my beck and call."

"Help for what?" paninigurado niya.

"With anything. Except sex, of course."

He took on a deep breath. "I'll only help when it involves Ava."

Melissa narrowed her eyes and gave it a thought.

"Deal?" he prodded impatiently.

The woman roughly sighed. "Fine. Deal."

Tumalikod na si Leo at iniwan ito.

Mula noon, pinagsabay na niya ang pag-aaral ng Law at ang pagpa-part-time job bilang admin staff sa isang maliit na kompanya. He got the part-time job, thanks to his diploma for Political Science.

Isinantabi niya ang natural na pagiging tahimik at suplado niya. He made friends, particularly with the students he met by offering tutoring services in the university where he graduated in Political Science. There was Cherubim first, who eventually became his mentee because he wanted to be a student tutor, too. There were also Juxe, Tyrel, Claude, Zeus, Zoref, Xenon, and from the last batch of students he tutored, the youngest among them, Craig.

Leo gave his best in his studies and realizing that each day was a step closer to his dreams brought back the hope in his chest. Hindi kasi sapat na gusto niyang ipagtanggol ang sarili. Dapat ay may kakayahan at kaalaman din siya kung paano ipagtanggol hindi lang ang sarili kundi maging ang mga taong nangangailagan nito.

The only downside to it? Habang padami nang padami ang natututuhan niya tungkol sa batas ay palinaw nang palinaw sa kaniya kung paano siya napagmukhang tanga ni Melissa.

Na hindi totoong puwede siya nitong ireklamo sa kasalanang 'rape,' na kung tutuosin ay siya nga dapat ang magsuplong sa babae dahil sinamantala nito ang kalasingan niya.

Na hindi totoong puwede siya nitong kasuhan dahil sa mga pera na ipinahiram nito sa kaniya.

He almost lost it when he read Articles 337 and 338 of Act No. 3815, and Article 266-A of Act No. 3815 under R.A. 11648.

Mabuti nga at kinaya niyang umakto nang normal sa classroom noong pinagdiskusyonan na sa klase ang mga batas na ito tungkol sa 'rape' at 'seduction.'

At habang palapit na nang palapit ang pagiging ganap niyang abogado ay panipis nang panipis ang pag-asa niya na makakamit ang hustisya.

First, Leo had an image to keep once he passed the Bar Exams. He could not push through with getting justice, and risking being misjudged by revealing the type of involvement that he had with Melissa.

Worse of all, there was a three-word chance for him to lose the case even if he was the victim—age of sexual consent.

Sabihin nang pinairal ni Leo ang kaduwagan, pero sa paglipas ng mga taon ay naupos ang apoy ng pagrerebelde sa kaniyang dibdib.

Nang lumaon ay naging simple na lang ang kaniyang mga pangarap, katulad ng malalaman niya sa hinaharap tungkol kay Imee na nang hindi nakapagkolehiyo ay hindi na magiging ambisyosa.

Nang maging abogado, isang payapa at tahimik na buhay na lang ang ninais ni Leo para sa sarili. Ayaw na niya ng magulong buhay.

He chose the safest route for him, because all these years, he had been yearning to feel safe, to sleep soundly at night. He missed how it felt like! After what he went through, didn't he deserve to finally feel safe? At peace?

And since Leo got his own body back, and the freedom to choose what to do with it, he fucked as many women as he needed as an attempt to erase his memories with Melissa.

Akala niya, matatanggal niyon ang pandidiri niya sa sarili.

He threw away the old Leo and everything that would remind him of who he used to be. But he could not find the right person to take that feeling off of him.

Not until he fell in love with Imee.

***

A scene from this chapter is removed to comply with Wattpad's content guideline:

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La Grilla Series #1
Copyright Registered: 2024
R-18, General Fiction, Sexy Romance, Drama

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