THIRD PERSON

Sachal was bathing in the jacuzzi, enjoying the scented milk and flowers mixed in the water with a glass of red wine in her left hand—allowing herself to relax after a very tiring discipline exercise she gave to someone.

This is how it should be for her, living her best life in comfort. Hindi yung halos one week siyang hindi makalakad dahil sa walang katapusang pag-aararo sa kanya. She can't complain because she could have said no—and she knows he won't force her, but she still agreed because she wanted it.

Or maybe because you already liked him.

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya dahil sa maliit na boses sa utak niya. Like him? Well, now that she thinks about it. Back in the days, no man could get close to her. And no, it wasn't just because her twin acts like her bodyguard. She was allergic to men.

But to think she let him kiss her that time, maybe it already meant something else for her—she just kept on denying it. Kung tutuusin, sino ba naman ang hindi magkakagusto sa kanya kung makikilala siya nang husto.

Quality time. Kahit para itong kabute na lulubog at susulpot sa kung ano mang dahilan, nagkakaroon pa rin ito ng kusang loob para bumawi. This honeymoon week he prepared, he makes sure to spend time without leaving her side at all cost.

Receiving Gifts. Oh to hell with that! Halos maging sugar daddy na nga siya sa kung ano-anong pinagbibili sa kanya.

And words of affirmation? He has comforted her with all her worries. He never fails to give her emotional support whenever she has doubts about herself.

His acts of service are even top-tier. From his simple efforts of opening doors for her, cooking, and washing dishes—to protect her and her family, she couldn't thank him enough.

And let's not even argue with physical touch. No comment mga dzai.

"Am I actually starting to like him?" She whispered to herself.

There's one thing she was sure about him. He just looks cold and indifferent, but in truth, he is actually caring and warm-hearted.

She shook her head and slipped out of the bath to grab a robe and a towel. As she stepped for a walk, she couldn't hide the smirk on her lips. Alas, she could now walk freely. Dalawang araw na pahinga lang pala ang kailangan niya para makalakad siya ng maayos. Bukod doon ay nakaganti pa siya.

She went to the kitchen and started cooking breakfast. "If the world is ending, I wanna be next to you, oh oh oh~." She hummed habang nag s-slice ng ingredients ng arroz caldo na lulutuin niya.

She remembered he once cooked rice porridge for her. She just felt like returning the favor.

Nasa gitna na siya ng pagluluto nang bigla mag-ring ang phone niya. She quickly answered it. Bumungad sa kanya ang pagmumukha ng tatay at ng lolo niya na mukhang nag-aagawan pa kung sino ang hahawak ng phone.

"Apollo! Give me back my phone!" Reklamo ni Fabian nang itakbo ng walanghiya niyang anak ang phone niya.

"This is my phone, I bought it for you!" Binelatan nito ang ama kaya pumulot ng may kalakihang bato ang matanda upang ihagis ito sa kanya.

"I don't give a shit! Give it back!" Hiyaw ni Fabian. Mabilis namang umiwas si Apollo sabay ngisi rito.

"Oh? You seem to give a lot of shit for someone who claims not to give a shit!" He fired back.

Sachal's eyes nearly became a flatline. She looks so done with them. Pati ba naman sa pagtatawag sa kanya ay pag-aawayan pa nilang dalawa? Well, what does she expect anyway? Ni hindi niya nga alam kung paano nila nakakayang tumira sa isang bahay kung halos araw-araw naman ito nagbabardagulan sa kahit anong bagay.

"Anyway, never mind your papá. He's just throwing an elderly tantrum. How's my princess?" He asks, eyes beaming with so much anticipation.

"I've been well, Dad. My uhh. . husband is taking good care of me. We're still in Santorini, but our flight back to Italy is this afternoon. You don't need to worry about me." She assured. "How about you guys? Kamusta kayo ni papá? Si Distaunce ba bumalik na ng Italy?" Nakita niya ang pagrolyo ng mata niya nang banggitin niya ang kambal niya.

"He went back yesterday. He said the company is rushing him to return to work since other ATCs were also on leave for various reasons. We had to thank your husband for that. Kung hindi dahil sa kanya baka natanggal na siya sa trabaho." It's a challenging decision for the company, too.

Kung tatatanggalin nila si Distaunce sa trabaho, they will lose one of the most efficient ATC. However, he did steal the government's fighter jet. He was lucky enough that he was not sentenced to jail.

"Apollo! Look at this!" Nanlaki ang mata ni Apollo nang makitang may bitbit na ahas ang tatay niya. "This is the longest worm I've ever seen!" Nakangisi nitong wagayway sa anak.

"Old man! That's a fucking snake!" And he was scared of snakes. Kaya bago pa man maisipan ni Fabian na ihagis ang ahas sa direksyon niya ay pinatong niya ang phone sa mesa sabay atras.

"Say hello, this is my new pet Linguini!" She grimaced when her grandfather flashed the camera in front of a slender yet long white snake. "Linguini?" He nodded.

"A noodle snake to keep that dumbass away!" Napabuntong hininga na lang ang dalaga. Whatever. It doesn't look venomous anyway.

"So, how's my favorite grandchild?" Bahagya siyang natawa sa sinabi nito.

"If Distaunce heard that, he would never help you mess around Dad anymore." He shrugged his shoulders and let Linguini crawl over his arm while looking at the camera.

"Are you cooking? Don't you have maids to help? Where is he? Inasawa ka ba niya para gawing yaya?" Sunod-sunod nitong tanong nang mapansing naghahalo ng niluto ang apo niya.

"Papá, we're on honeymoon week. I just happened to wake up early." But he doesn't look convinced. Ang totoo ay naiinggit lang siya dahil ibang lalaki na ang pinaglulutuan ng apo niya.

"Anong oras na bakit hindi pa siya gising?" Napasulyap sa wall clock si Sachal.

"Alas otso pa lang ng umaga rito, papá. Just let him rest, he's—" Naputol ang sasabihin niya nang may marinig siyang kalabog sa likuran niya. Nanlaki na lang ang mga mata niya nang paglingon niya ay naabutan niyang natumba si Kage sa harapan ng pintuan.

She turned off the stove and immediately ran in his direction without ending the call. Napakagat ito nang labi nang mapansin na naka boxer short lang ito. May namumulang bakat ang leeg at pulsuhan nito na para bang tinali ito nang pagkatagal-tagal.

His collarbone were full of purple marks and nail scratches. Hindi rin nakaligtas sa paningin niya ang magulo nitong buhok at namumungay mata na para bang hindi pa ito nakakabawi sa mga kaganapan nitong nakaraang araw.

She breathed. Gusto niyang matawa sa hitsura nito pero nanaig pa rin ang pagkaawa niya. She went to the bedroom and grabbed him a white robe. Sinuot niya ito sa binata bago suklay-suklayin ang buhok niya, at habang ginagawa niya iyon ay mataman lang nakatitig sa kanya si Kage samantalang umuusok naman ang ilong ni Fabian sa nakikita.

"Can you stand up?" She cursed in her mind. That's a stupid question. Matutumba ba siya kung makakatayo siya nang maayos?

So she helped him stand up and guided him to sit in the same wheelchair she had used days ago. Tinulak niya ang wheelchair nito habang pilit na pinipigilan ang sariling tumawa.

"What happened to you? Bakit naka-wheelchair ka? Huwag mo sabihing gagawin mo talagang yaya ang apo ko para alagaan ka?" Napalingon sa kanya si Kage nang marinig ang pagalit na boses ni Fabian.

"Papá, it's not like that. Naaksidente lang siya noong nakaraang araw. He sprained his ankle, that's why he needs to rest more. Isn't that right, love?" Mariin na napapikit si Kage.

"Isn't that right, stupid dog?"

"Y-yeah. I will be okay for the next few days." After saying those words, Sachal talked to her grandfather briefly. Samantalang si Kage naman ay nanatiling nakaupo sa wheelchair sa tapat ng lamesa, nakatulala lang sa kawalan.

What did she do to him, you ask? It was traumatic.

May nilapag na bowl ng arroz caldo ang dalaga sa harapan niya, pero imbis kainin ito ay tinitigan niya lang ito. He was staring at her and the food, as if he was asking permission from her if he could eat.

"Come, eat." Aniya sabay lapag ng toasted bread. Parang may bumara na naman sa lalamunan niya.

"Did I tell you to cum?"

Napasinghal ito nang mapaso ang dila niya. Damn, those words kept on repeating in his mind like a broken tape! "Are you that hungry? Take it slow." She reminded him before handing him a glass of water.

"Are you that impatient? Do you want me to take it slow?"

"Oh, for fuck's sake!" Mura niya bago sapakin ang sarili. Nagulat naman ang dalaga dahil sa ginawa nito.

It was her fault. She drained him clean. She was the reason why he ended up limping. She choked him, tied him, rocked his world upside-down—she made him plead to stop and beg her to let him cum.

"Ayos ka lang ba talaga?" Nawiwirduhan nitong tanong.

He looks at her, bewildered. Talagang siya pa ang may ganang magtanong kung ayos lang siya matapos ng lahat ng ginawa niya? How could she act like nothing happened?

"Look at what you've done to me." He raised his arms and looked at his knees. "At this point, my enemies could easily kill me." He pointed out. He couldn't even stand firm without falling.

"I'm sorry?" She said unapologetically. "Now you know what it feels like to be hopeless." She leaned her arms on the table and gazed at him mischievously.

"By the way, do I need to call a doctor for you? I noticed it slightly swelling this morning. Baka next time dugo na ilabas niyan?" Pagbibiro niya pa, pero imbis matawa ay napasinghap na lang si Kage.

"May I beg your finest pardon?"

ೃ⁀✈.ೃ⁀✈.ೃ⁀✈.

Walang maapuhap na salita si Keegan habang tulak-tulak ang wheelchair ng amo niya pababa ng private jet. After four hours of flight, they finally arrived in Italy. At sa loob ng apat na oras na yun ay kating-kati na siyang magtanong kung ano ang nangyari at bakit siya naman ang naging baldado ngayon.

"Pfft!" Napatakip ng bibig si Leticia. Kahit hindi siya magtanong ay mukhang alam na niya kung ano ang nangyari.

Arlecchino is agile and strong, he don't easily get hurt. Mas lalong hindi naman ito tatanga-tanga para matapilok o hindi kaya kinulang sa potassium kaya nanghihina ang tuhod.

Pinasidhan niya ng tingin ang babaeng nasa unahan niya. She was wearing a white dress and a pair of white sneakers with her hair tied into a messy bun. Now she knows his typpa girl. His wife, Aviatrice Sachal Coronia—or is it Salvatore now?

Bigla naglaho ang ngiti sa labi niya nang may maalala. Having the surname Salvatore in the form of marriage is easy, but to prove that she deserves that surname— she will have to earn it no matter how Kage spoils her.

"Deliver the luggage to the main house." Utos ni Kage sa mga bagong dating na kalalakihan.

"Keegan, let me talk to him." Napatigil sa pagtutulak ng wheelchair ang binata at napalingon kay Leticia. "Go help her with the luggages." Nguso niya kay Sachal na tinutulungan ang mga lalaking magbuhat ng bagahe.

"I don't know what's running in your mind, but are you really planning to introduce her to the family?" Sumeryoso naman ang ekspresyon sa mukha ni Kage dahil sa narinig.

"I married her. Of course, I will introduce her." She scoffed. He must be out of his mind.

"Marrying without the approval of the elders of the family is normal. You don't have to introduce her." Giit pa nito. Naniningkit mata siyang nilingon ni Kage.

"She will become the madam of the family, the mistress of Salvatore." Matigas nitong wika. The conviction in his voice was scary enough to make her gulp.

"She will die, Arlecchino!" Hindi niya mapigilang pagtaas ng boses niya. She can't let anything happen to a sweet girl like her.

"No. She will survive." Kung pwede niya lang sana itulak ang wheelchair nito at ibunggo ito sa pader ay ginawa na niya. But she knew better than to try to provoke him even more. His words will always be the law.

"Have you forgotten how she died because you forced her to enter the Ancestral Mansion?" Nagtitimping anas ni Leticia. "If you love her, don't let her set a foot in that house!" May diin ngunit puno ng pambabanta nitong paalala.

Akmang magsasalita pa ito nang biglang lumapit si Sachal upang alalayan tumayo si Kage papasok ng sasakyan. Umupo sa driver's seat si Keegan at katabi nito si Leticia, samantalang nasa likuran naman ang mag-asawa.

"Are we going straight to the main house, sire?" Nagkatitigan sa rear view mirror si Keegan at Kage. It's like their eyes were having that silent communication na sila lang ang nakakaalam.

"To the Ancestral Mansion." Tahimik na lang na tumango si Keegan at hindi na nagtanong pa.

Sa gitna ng katahimikan na nanaig sa kanilang apat, nanatiling kalmado ang isip ni Sachal. She had no idea about the peril she had to face the moment she stepped a foot in their destination.

"Hey, love." Pag-aagaw ng pansin ni Kage sa katabi. "I have an emergency meeting to attend, do you mind if mauna ka na sa bahay?" Simpleng tumango lang si Sachal. She see no problem with it.

"But before that, take this." Kumunot ang noo niya nang itaas ni Kage ang dulo ng dress na suot niya. Mabilis siyang napatingin sa gawi ni Keegan at Leticia.

"What are you—" He grabbed her left thigh and tied something around it. A thigh holster with a 45 caliber gun and a sharp dagger.

Binaba niya kaagad ang dress nito sabay halik sa tungki ng ilong niya. "You will need it." Napa-ha? na lang siya sa kanyang isipan. Gusto niya sana magtanong kung ano ang ibig niya sabihin pero inalalayan na ito ni Keegan para lumabas ng sasakyan.

She saw someone else guiding him after Keegan returned to the dirver's seat. She was left in the backseat thinking about his last words hanggang hindi niya na namalayan na nakarating na pala sila sa sinasabi nilang Ancestral Mansion nila. Keegan opened the door for her.

Paglabas niya ay sinalubong siya ng nakahirelang sampung maids at sampung lalaking attendant. The attendants on the right were wearing a typical all black suit, while the maids were wearing an old fashioned black and white aproned dress.

"Welcome, madame." The head maid greeted. She was around 60, and her hair was all white. Hindi niya alam kung anong klaseng emosyon ang nasa mata nito. She doesn't look happy that she's here. They don't look approachable at all. Lahat ay may blankong tingin sa mga mata.

"She's the head maid, Donatella. She will give you a tour around the mansion." Nilinga niya ang mga ito nang mapansing hindi ito sumunod sa kanya. Keegan smiled at her.

"We will wait for you to come back." Wala siyang nagawa kun'di sumunod sa matanda.

Outside the mansion was an old fountain with a statue of an angel—but it wasn't working anymore. Kung titingnan din mula sa labas ay nakakalulang apat na palapag na bahay bubungad sayo. They call this a mansion? It looks like an old manor in ancient medieval period.

"You should leave while you can, madam." Rinig niyang bulong ng matanda habang naglalakad paakyat ng hagdan.

"Huh?" Donatella opened the massive door and gave her an eerie smile.

"This mansion is a cage. That man is a monster. You must escape." Naramdaman niya ang pananayo ng balahibo niya dahil sa sinabi nito.

"What do you me—" It was too late. The door closed, and she's now inside.

"Welcome to Salvatore's Ancestral Mansion, where you are cautioned that the only way out is to survive through the night." A man's voice announced. Luminga-linga siya sa paligid. No one's here.

"In 24 hours, you need to ensure your survival without dying in the hands of twenty elite fighters scattered around the mansion to hunt and kill you." Nanlaki ang mga mata niya.

"What?!"

Bigla niyang naalala ang baril at dagger na binigay sa kanya ni Kage kanina. Wala sa sarili itong napasinghal. Did he set this up? Is he planning to kill her with this stupid hunting game?

Kung kelan kino-consider na niya na baka may gusto siya sa lalaking yun dahil sa pagiging green flag nito ay saka naman siya magpapakita ng ganitong side niya?

"Whoever you are, I didn't sign up for this! Let me out!" Sinubukan niyang buksan ang pinto pero naka-lock na ito.

"You should have expected this when you married the consigliere." She should have expected this? No one told her about this! Hindi siya na-orient!

"This is the Ancestral House, and all the mistresses of the family have to survive a night to prove that they are worthy of being a Salvatore. You are no different." Mapanglokong anunsa ng kung sino mang lalaki. She gritted her teeth.

"Or will you be like the last woman who stepped afoot here? She only survived for at least 3 hours." Naningkit ang mata ni Sachal.

Another woman?

Tiim bagang niyang hinugot ang baril na nakatago sa hita niya bago ito itutok sa pinakamalapit na speaker. Walang hisitasyon niya iyong binaril.

Survive for a night? Ha! Pasabugin ko pa 'tong punyetang mansyon na 'to!

𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐎 𝐀 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄
ᴮʸ ᴳᵒˡᵘᶜᵏʸᶜʰᵃʳᵐ
P.S. KagexSachal's 7 days sexcapade in Santorini will be published separately (Since I don't want this book to have detailed steamy scenes).