Forbidden Desire

Prologue

Prologue

“No fucking way!” Hinampas ko ang aking office table at sinamaan ng tingin si mommy. “Pumayag na akong pakasalan mo siya, but please have respect to my father! Huwag mong dalhin ang lalaki mo sa bahay namin ni papa!”

“Keith Gil!” galit na sigaw ni mommy at tumayo. “I didn't come here for your approval. I'm here to let you aware that we already moved into your mansion.”

“Mayaman naman si Leslie, 'di ba?! Bakit 'di kayo bumili ng sarili niyong bahay?! You can even move out of the country and leave the fuck of me alone! Lubayan niyo na ako!” Iritadong balik sigaw ko.

Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni mommy. “Do you really hate me that much?”

“No,” I replied and chuckled nonchalantly. “Hate is the understatement of what I feel for you. I loathe you. Magmula nang mamulat ako sa mundong ginagalawan ko, ayoko na sa'yo. Pinapakisamahan lang nga kita kasi ikaw ang ina ko.”

Hindi na ako nagulat pa nang umikot siya sa mesa at sinampal ako. My head tilted a bit due to the impact of her slap. She slapped me again.

“Ang kapal-kapal ng mukha mo! Hindi ka mabubuhay sa mundong ito kung wala ako!” she yelled in front of my face.

I tucked some strands of my hair behind my ears and look at her without emotions. “Alam mo kung ano ang pinagsisihan ko? 'Yun ay ang maging anak mo, Kimberly Germosa. Nagsisisi akong ikaw ang naging ina ko.”

I saw her get taken-aback with my words and blinked several times. “A-anong sabi mo?”

Pabagsak ako sa'king kinauupuan at pinulot ang ballpen. I began flipping pages of the marketing sales report as I say, “Leave my office, mom. Walang akong sinasabing pinapayagan ko kayong manirahan sa bahay ko, so don't expect me to treat you nicely.”

“Kaugali mo talaga ang ama mo, Keith,” mariing saad nito na hindi ko na binigyang-pansin.

I'm acting like I'm reading while waiting for her to storm out of my office. Nang makalabas ito ay nanghihina akong napasandal sa'king office chair at binitiwan ang ballpen. My eyes darted on the picture frame at the right part of my table. It was me and my father's only picture before he passed away.

Mariin kong kinuyom ang aking mga kamao habang nakatitig sa frame. Hot tears forming on my eyes as my left hand raised to touch my cheeks. I feel like it was burning heat. Malakas ang pagkakasampal ni mommy sa'kin na hindi na rin bago para sa'kin.

“I'm sorry, Dad,” mahinang usal ko habang nakatitig sa litrato naming dalawa. “Hindi ko napigilan ang emosyon ko.”

He loves her so much, and if ever he's still alive, he would probably  scold me for talking back to my mother. He's that kind. Sa sobrang bait, pinagloloko na ng ina ko. Nakakagago.

A knocked on the door interupted my deep thoughts. “Miss Gil, your meeting together with the board members would start any moment.”

Napatikhim ako at pasimpleng pinahiran ang aking mga mata. Inayos ko ang aking suot na corporate attire bago sumagot. “Yes, Gemma. I'll be there. Just a minute.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Tumayo ako at dumiretso sa human sized mirror ko rito sa loob ng opisina. I glanced to myself and found out that my cheeks were really red. Ganoon kalakas ang sampal ni mommy na mananatili ang bakas nito sa balat ko.

Bumuntong hininga ako at nagkalkal ng pressed powder sa'king handbag. Matapos ay nilagyan ko ang aking pisngi para hindi mahalata ang pagkapula nito. I also painted my lips with candy-apple lipstick. Inayos ko ang pagkakatali ng buhok ko bago muling sumilip sa salamin.