"Punishment?"
He cast a look at me. "If you do something reckless again, you will get punished."
His hair was wet from the shower. Two of his shirt's top buttons were undone, revealing his toned chest.
"Severely punished."
My lips tugged up. "N-naiintindihan ko."
Ipinatawag niya ako sa kwarto niya para lang pagalitan ako. Akala ko pa naman kung ano na ito. Kinabahan tuloy ako.
He told me to leave pero nanatili ako. He's scanning through some papers. When he noticed na hindi pa ako umaalis ay ibinaba niya ang mga ito.
"What is it?" his eyes lifted to meet mine.
"K-kanina..." ikinuyom ko ang kamao ko para maiwasan ang panginginig. "Pasensya ka na."
He raised an eyebrow. Magsasalita na sana nang magsalita ako.
"And thank you!" kaagad ko siyang tinalikuran at isinara ang pinto.
I let out a long sigh. It feels like I'm on a battlefield. Nakakatakot ang awra niya.
But as long as he's on my side, I can survive. No— I will survive. Just like what I always do.
Weeks have passed at nakalimutan na ng lahat ang nangyari. Nandito ako ngayon sa pavilion. The master wants to see if I have improved. And so he invited guests from a prominent family.
"Your bride turns out to be a lovely woman, Frodo," nakangiting sambit ng babae na nasa forties.
"You're lucky and blessed to have her," dugtong niya pa.
"Mom!" suway sa kanya ng babaeng katabi niya. "If you keep on praising him, lalaki ang ulo niya."
Tumawa sila. Even their laughter sounds so elegant. Habang ako naman ay nakikibagay lang sa kanila.
Naramdaman kong hinawakan ni Frodo ang baywang ko kaya napatingin ako sa kanya na nakatingin din sa akin.
"Yes, I am lucky and blessed to have her."
Kaagad na uminit ang aking pisngi at agad na napaiwas ng tingin. I was flustered. Bakit ba nagbibitaw siya ng mga salitang puwede kong lagyan ng maling kahulugan.
"What a lovely young couple."
Mukhang nag-e-enjoy naman ang lahat sa tea party ko. Umalis sa tabi ko si Frodo, to entertain some guests from a prominent family.
Naiwan akong kasama si Felicity, ang babae kanina na ka-edad ko lang. Kasama ang iba pang babae na hindi ko kilala. Nakaupo kami ngayon sa mahabang mesa.
"Is it true? galing ka raw sa red-light district?" pag-usisa pa ng isa.
Sinamaan naman siya ng tingin ni Felicity. "Your manners, Faye."
BINABASA MO ANG
Under the Red-Light District
General FictionNesrin is the wildrose in the red-light district, a prostitution house. She grew up and spent her childhood in isolation. One night, she was caught by the manager and was forced to charm the customers by dancing. Because of her enchanting beauty, sh...
