I fully anticipated myself wreaking havoc in that dining room. Ang balak ko sana ay pagkapasok ko ay hahampasin ko ang mesa at saka babatuhin ng mga ma-a-anghang na salita ang lalaki. Surely, I'm not born with this kind of attitude but after I get out of my father's house, that’s where I discover the real me. Not the reserve, perfect and almost not true human being.
Iyong hindi naman pala masama ang magalit. Ang mawalan ng kontrol sa sarili paminsan-minsan. Ang maihayag ang mga saloobin ng walang pag-aalinlangan. Mga bagay na matagal kong kinimkim habang nasa poder ng ama.
Nang tuluyan akong makalayo sa ama, I felt like I was free from my chain. It felt like I had broken free from the chains that had held me down for so long. I've never remembered being happy after I left that house. Truly, being born rich is not enough to pacify our needs and wants because sometimes, all we really need is happiness, and that trumps all our other needs and wants.
As I entered the dining room, ready to cause a scene, I found myself speechless in front of the man and his young son, who looked to be around 6 or 7 years old. The man and the boy looked almost identical, which only added to my confusion and bewilderment. They both look at my sudden entrance.
I feel like melting as the man’s liquid brown eyes burn into my skin like a flame. His lips were set in a rigid line as if a grin had never touched them. And oh, he was staring at me as if I were the evil person, and he was only waiting for me to enter the dungeon before punishing me.
As my eyes scanned his features, I couldn’t help but notice his bright red lips and his sharp, pointed nose. While looking at that, I Imagine his nose slowly sliding into my neck, in between my breast, my stomach, my legs and my—oh my gosh! What the fuck I was thinking?
Tumikhim ako at pinamulanan ng mukha. I try to push away the unbidden thoughts that had invaded my mind. Really, I don't expect attraction with opposite sex could be this humiliating.
Obviously and literally, I am a woman of myth. At the age of 25, I still don't do the deed. I had boyfriends but no one really makes me hot enough to make us end up in bed.
And right now, I felt like a thirsty animal as I caught a glimpse of Adonis who obviously had already his own family. The urge to pounce on him like a thirsty animal and assault him with my desires was almost overwhelming.
But I quickly shook my head to dispel such inappropriate thoughts. What was wrong with me, lusting after a man who was already committed to someone else? I felt disgusted with myself and wished I could slap some sense into my own head.
"Mommy! You're home!" Tumayo ang bata at tumakbo palapit sa akin. Yumakap siya sa mga binti ko ng mahigpit. Hindi ko naman malaman kung ano ang gagawin.
I look over at his father, who appears completely relaxed, casually sipping his water. However, despite his calm exterior, I sense a deep-seated anger brewing beneath the surface. His unyielding gaze and stern expression tell me that he's not taking any bullshit from me anymore.
Sa ganitong sitwasyon, paano ko naman isisingit ang tunay kong katauhan kung tila isang maling salita ko lang ay parang kakatayin na ako ng ama ng batang yakap ako. Tila ba nagaabang siya ng mali sa akin at kapag may sinabi akong hindi niya nagustuhan ay katapusan ko na.
As I ponder how to proceed in this perilous situation, I am acutely aware of the need to authenticate my identity without raising any suspicions. With every passing moment, the tension in the room becomes more palpable, and I can feel my heart racing.
Just how the heck did I get myself into this?!
I rack my brain, desperately trying to recall the sequence of events that led me here.
"Son, go back to your seat. Let's start our breakfast." Oh shit! That baritone voice!
"Yes Daddy," saad ng bata at bumalik na muli sa upuan.
Ako naman ay nagdalawang-isip kung saan uupo. Pang-apatan na tao ang mesa. Naglakad ako sa upuan na katabi ng bata at katapat naman ng ama nito.
Tumikhim ako bago pinaghila ang sarili ng upuan. Okay, this is awkward. Kailan ko kaya masasabi na hindi ako ang asawa niyang si Veronica?
Tahimik ang almusal at halos ang nagsasalita lamang ay ang bata. He seemed delighted to see me, and his father’s interactions with him were warm and affectionate. His father was gentle every time he looks at his son. Pero kapag nadadapo ang tingin sa akin ay kulang na lang ay ibitin niya ako ng patiwarik! Napapaiwas na lang ako ng tingin at napapataas ng kilay.
My heart pounded in my chest as his son finished his meal and stood up from the table. That concludes the morning breakfast. It was time for me to reveal my true identity.
"Bye mommy! Bye daddy! I'm going to school now. I love you!" oh, what a sweet boy. Humalik ang bata sa pisngi ko pati sa ama bago umalis ng dining area.
Nang makaalis ang bata ay huminga ako ng malalim para sa pagsasabi ko ng katauhan. Magsasalita pa lamang ako ng mauna na siyang magsalita habang patuloy pa rin sa pagkain.
“Don’t do anything stupid. If you try to leave this house, I’ll fucking kill your other man. Don’t test my patience. If you want to get out of this predicament, then suffer. You don’t deserve to be happy after what you did to this family.” Punong-puno ng galit ang boses ng lalaki.
Hindi naman ako natatakot sa mga pagbabanta niya dahil hindi naman ako ang asawa niya na nanloko sa kanya. Pero hindi ko rin maiwasang kabahan lalo pa at buong akala ata ng lahat na ako si Veronica!
"Do you understand? Hindi ka pwedeng umalis ng bahay na ito ng walang kasamang bodyguard. I will cut your all your cards. No shopping and salon for you. You are not allowed to go anywhere by yourself unless it's an emergency. Don't try to escape. I will know." He breaks down all his rules and punishment without mercy.
Hindi ako agad nakapagsalita dahil sa gulat. Pinipigilan ko ang tumawa dahil hindi ako naniniwala na hindi niya nakilala na iba ako sa asawa niya! Did I really resemble his wife so much that he mistook me for her?! This is unbelievable! And ridiculous!
Nagtagis ang bagang niya ng napansin siguro ang natatawa kong ekspresyon.
Napailing ako sa sarili dahil sa kahibangang nangyayari. Everything was a mess, and I couldn’t believe myself feeling different emotions. Binaba ko ang kutsara't tinidor sa plato at nagpunas ng bibig gamit ang mantel. Nag-angat ako ng paningin sa kanya pagkatapos.
“First and foremost, sir, I want to introduce myself. My name is Kassandra Ympress, and there are three things you should know about me,” I said, trying to remain calm. “First, I am not your wife. Second, you have mistaken me for your wife, and I don’t understand why you couldn’t see the difference. And third, I understand the source of your anger. Your wife has done terrible things, and it’s natural for you to be upset. However, taking it out on someone who isn’t your wife is unjust.”
“I was about to show you my identification to prove that I am Kassandra Ympress, but my wallet seems to be missing. If you don’t believe me, you can call my father, and he will confirm that I am his daughter,” I stated solemnly.
Hindi siya sumagot pagkatapos ng sinabi ko. Sa halip ay tinitigan niya lang ako na para bang puzzle ang mga sinabi ko.
Biglang umangat ang gilid ng bibig niya sa panunuya. Hindi ko maalis ang tingin ko sa bibig niya. Because of the water he had just consumed, it was gleaming. It had a bright crimson color to it. Sumandal ako sa upuan ko at nag-iwas ng tingin. What exactly are we discussing again?
“We’ll do that,” he said with disappointment. “But to be honest, I no longer believe your lies. And let’s not forget what happened last month.”
I could feel the anger radiating off of him as he spoke.
“I’m not lying. I’m not your wife!” I protested, pero mabilis kong inayos ang sarili ko ng mapansin ko ang nagyeyelong ekspresyon niya.
“Look, let’s just call my father and get this over with,” I suggested, standing up from my seat. Pero, natigilan ako nang ituro niya ang upuan ko habang papaalis na ako.
“Return to your seat. We’re not done yet,” he said. I give him a death glare before rushing back to my seat.
“Are you worried you’ll be wrong, and I’ll be right?” I asked, smirking. “Did you know that I have the right to sue you for kidnapping me? You don’t even know who I am!”
“Seriously, Veronica, why are you doing this?” he questioned his patience wearing thin.
“Please, call my father so we can sort out this misunderstanding and I can leave,” I urged, feeling a sense of urgency to clear up the situation.
I didn’t run away from my father just to be held captive by someone I don’t even know.
.... 
𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚙 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎😘 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞!