This is a work of fiction. All rights reserved. I do not allow my work to be used or adapted in any way without my permission.

Also, this story is written in the Third Person Point of View. Marami po kasing sides ang story na ito, at tingin ko mahihirapan ako kung naka-usual na First Person POV po siya like my other stories. I hope you will like this, too! Enjoy reading!

TW: Abuse

Simula

Wedding

She was still scared as she made her grand entrance inside the beautifully decorated church. It was her own wedding day...

Belle can still remember how she begged her Papa to not let her marry the man who's still a stranger to her. She had met Captain Sam Lazaro years ago when he stayed in their home in Tarlac for a while before he entered the Philippine Military Academy. But they never really talked to each other before. She just knew him as the son of her deceased mother's best friend in the province, her grandmother's favorite boy servant, and her Papa's sponsored student whom the military General had sent to Baguio to enter military. Other than that Sam was still a stranger to Belle...

"I-I'm sorry, P-Papa... I'm sorry, po... I p-promise I will be a better d-daughter to y-you... I will work harder so that I can make you p-proud... Forgive me, b-but please don't make me marry that man—" Despite being frightened of her own father Belle still tried to speak up for herself, for the first time in her life as she never really talked back to her Papa before.

Halos mabingi naman siya sa isang malakas na sampal na ginawad sa kaniya ng sariling ama. Belle's tears automatically fell down her already wet cheeks from crying. Alam niya naman na wala siyang karapatang magsalita nang ganito sa kaniyang Papa. Bata pa lang siya ay alam niya nang dapat ay sumunod lang siya na walang sinasabi sa kahit na ano. Hindi pa ba talaga siya nadadala sa mga pagdidisiplina sa kaniya noon pa man ng kaniyang Papa? At na kailangan pa niyang gawin ito ngayon na sumagot siya. But she had to do it!

Because she have dreams for herself, too...

At hindi pa kasali sa mga pangarap niya ngayon ang pagpapakasal at pag-aasawa.

Gusto pa niyang maging kagaya ng kaniyang Tita Margaret na ngayon ay isa nang doctor sa ibang bansa...

"Estupida!" dumagundong naman ang boses ng kaniyang Papa sa apat na sulok ng kaniyang kinalakhang kuwarto sa malaking bahay din nila rito sa Tarlac. "You will never be a better daughter and you will never, ever make me proud with your worthless self!" Her father heartlessly said this to her.

Nakahawak pa siya sa kaniyang pisngi na nasampal, when her Papa painfully pressed his fingers against her small and fragile chin. Umaray siya sa sakit na nadama sa marahas nitong hawak sa kaniya. "Magpapakasal ka kay Captain Lazaro." pinal na anang kaniyang Papa bago siya nito marahas na pinakawalan. Mariin pa siyang napapikit nang makitang muntikan nang lumapag muli ang mabigat nitong kamay sa kaniyang pisngi.

She's actually used to it... She's used to her father hurting her physically sometimes and emotionally, too... Pero kahit ilang sakit pa ang maibigay sa kaniya ng ama ay parang hindi pa rin talaga siya tuluyang nasasanay... Dahil sa bawat pananakit nito sa kaniya parang lalo lang din humahapdi at lumalala pa sa bawat beses na napagbubuhatan siya nito ng kamay...

But Belle never really told anyone...

Hindi na rin siya nagsalita pa pagkatapos noon dahil sa takot na baka mahampas pa uli siya at mas lalong lumala pa ang magawa sa kaniya ng ama.

Galit na umalis ang Papa niya at lumabas na rin ng kwarto niya pagkatapos. Nanghihina naman siyang napaupo sa kama niya, at may masakit na pisngi dahilan ng pagkakasampal sa kaniya kanina ng kaniyang Papa... In the end she just cried helplessly inside her quiet bedroom...

The Priest started greeting the guests, until he proceeded to start with the wedding ceremony. Nandoon na nakatayo pareho sina Belle at Sam kaharap ang Pari na magkakasal sa kanila ngayong araw. At sa huli ay wala na rin nagawa pa si Belle sa kagustuhan ng kaniyang Papa kundi ang magpakasal na lang din sa taong estranghero pa rin para sa kaniya.

"I do..." Belle answered to the Priest.

Then the Priest turned to Captain Sam Lazaro. "Repeat after me."

"I, Samuel Lazaro, take you Isabelle de Leon, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part..."

And then they were asked to place the ring—Belle felt anxious as his hands touched her habang sinusuot nito ang singsing sa daliri niya. Mabilis lang din naman iyon na tinapos ni Sam at agad na binitiwan din ang kamay niya.

Then the Priest smiled at the two of them. "You may now kiss the bride."

Belle felt more nervous. And Sam just left a gentle and simple peck on her lips na mabilis lang din muli nito na tinapos. After that they faced everyone who's now clapping their hands of congratulations after witnessing their wedding and vows...

After that their first night together as husband and wife followed. Belle was aware that she's married to the Captain now. And part of being a married woman was to give yourself to your husband...

That was what the old maid and their Mayordoma told her. That it's her duty and responsibility as wife to him now.

Although she was still anxious and scared. She haven't done anything like this before. And she never even had a boyfriend as well. Wala pa ring lalaki na naging malapit sa kaniya noon. Kaya hindi rin niya alam kung paano umakto around her now husband.

Kaya kinakabahan siya nang marinig niyang bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto niya. At sumunod na nakita niyang pumasok si Captain Lazaro. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa pero nag-iwas din ng mga mata niya si Belle sa lalaki.

Even if they're married now, hindi pa rin sila nagkaroon man lang ng pagkakataon noon na kilalanin muna ang isa't isa. At least for her to have even a sense of familiarity with him now after they got wed.

Pero walang nangyaring ganoon. Kaya naman may takot at kaba pa rin siyang nararamdaman sa lalaki na hindi naman talaga niya gaanong nakilala.

"You're still awake..." He spoke.

And it made Belle look at him again.

"It's getting late now. It's best if you would sleep at this hour and rest. I know that it was a tiring day for you, too." The Captain rather said.

Bahagya naman bumuka ang bibig ni Belle. Hindi niya inasahan na ito ang sasabihin nito sa kaniya at gagawin. After all they just got married and they must consummate their marriage...

"How... about you?" Sa mahinang boses ay tinanong niya ito.

He looked at her as well. "I'll be fine. If you're uncomfortable... I can sleep on the sofa." He said.

And they both turned to the sofa in the room. Bumaling muli si Belle kay Captain Lazaro at unti-unting tumango rito...

And that night she was able to sleep well and be at peace after everything that had happened. And she thought that the Captain wasn't as bad as she thought of him. Hindi siya nito ginalaw sa unang gabi nila. And rather Sam respected her...

Hinayaan lang siya nito na matulog at makapagpahinga nang gabing iyon. While he also rested on the room's sofa. Even if the small sofa was a bit uncomfortable for his tall and huge man frame. But he did it as to not make Belle more uncomfortable. Because he was aware that she was anxious... So he didn't want to add to her nervousness.

And he just let her sleep in peace on the bed.