SHE woke up late. Hindi siya inistorbo ni Killian sa pagtulog dahil wala siyang pasok ngayon, what she needs to do today was her lesson plans na hindi na naman niya naasikaso dahil sa katamaran at may lumalanding asungot sa kanya. At para na rin malibang siya at mawala sa utak niya ang nasaksihan kahapon.

Killian was nowhere to be found, pero may iniwan itong pagkain na iinitin nalang niya.

Pagkatapos niyang kumain, tumambay lang siya sa sala at doon ginawa lahat ng gagawin niya. Inabot siya nang hapon at nakalimutan na kumain ng lunch dahil walang Killian na nagpaalala sa kanya, kahit na may nag deliver naman ng pagkain kanina galing sa restaurant ni Yves.

Krizzia stretched her arms and back after she finished all her works. It was exactly 6 pm when she looks at the wall clock placed above her television.

"Maybe, I'll eat first." Bulong niya sa sarili habang tinitignan ang mga kalat niya sa sala.

She was preparing her food when she heard her unit door open. Hindi na siya nag-abala na tignan 'yon sa pag-aakalang si Killian ang pumasok. But fear consumed her when she saw her mother, her arms were crossed over her breast, wearing a black designer dress.

"Iwan mo na 'yan at mag-ayos ka. Isuot mo 'to!" Utos nito sa kanya at ibinato ang isang paper bag sa lamesa.

"W-why?" Nauutual na tanong niya rito.

Krizzia began to feel afraid. Her mother presence especially when she's angry can make her body tremble, pati ang paghinga niya ay kinakapos.

Kayrille Marquez walk towards her, hindi na nag-abala si Krizzia na umatras dahil hindi niya maihakbang ang mga paa sa panginginig. Her mother brushed her hair using her fingers and tucked the strands behind her ears.

"You should be happy, Krizzia. Go, don't test my patience. Take a shower and wear this dress. I'm sure it will fit perfectly to you." Her mother said calmly but Krizzia can sense danger.

She pursed her lips and forced her self to obey her mother once again. Many things can happen and she will avoid it as possible as she can. Nakikita niya noon kung paano pagbuhatan ng kamay ng ina niya ang kakambal. It was painful to watch, what more kung siya na mismo ang makaranas?

Madali lang ang pagligo na ginawa niya. Krizzia sighed when she saw the design of the dress, fitted na naman ito at litaw na litaw ang likod niya, at ang pinaka ayaw niya... May collar na naman ito na naka konekta sa may parteng dibdib ng dress.

She didn't bother to style her hair, sinuklay niya lang ito at hinayaan na nakalugay ang buhok. Maski ang make-up niya ay hindi gaanong kinapalan. She's taking her time, silently praying that Killian will be home. Pero mukhang mahina siya kay Lord ngayon dahil pagkatapos niyang mailagay ang gamit na dala niya sa hand bag, hinila na siya ng mommy niya palabas ng unit.

Napaigik siya dahil sa higpit ng pagkakahawak ng mommy niya sa braso niya.

"M-mommy, nasasaktan ako!" She hissed and tried to remove her mother hand.

"Masasaktan ka talaga sa akin kapag nagpabagal bagal ka pa! Nasa restaurant na ang ipapakilala ko sayo! I promise him we will be there on time. Pero dahil sa kabagalan mo mali-late tayong dalawa!" Her mother hissed back.

She forced her to enter the elevator.

"Your phone?" Her Mom asked.

"H-huh?"

"Your phone. Give it to me." Ma-otoridad na sabi ng Mommy niya at nakalahad ang palad sa harapan niya.

Umawang ang labi niya at itinago sa likuran niya ang bag. No, not her phone. Killian might call her and that's her only chance to get some help. Hell, she doesn't want to come.

At this time, Krizzia wanted to believe that she's strong. She used to be strong. Matabil ang dila at walang preno sa panlalait. Pero kapag nasa tabi na niya ang ina, bumabalik lahat ang takot sa katawan niya. The only person who can. trigger her PTSD without doing anything.

Pasakdal na binitawan ng mommy niya ang braso at pilit na kinukuha ang bag na hawak hawak niya. She was on the verge of crying but she force her self not to. Hindi dapat iniiyakan ang ganitong sitwasyon. She just need to protect her bag and her phone.

"Give it to me, Krizzia!" Sigaw ng mommy niya.

Napapikit sa sakit si Krizzia nang tapikin ng malakas ang kamay niya, dahilan para mabitawan niya ang bag na dala dala. Wala siyang nagawa dahil sa sakit ng kamay niya. She looked down at her wrist and saw that it was now bright red that will surely turn into bruise later.

"You better behave tonight, Krizzia. I finally found a man that will suit you better than that man! Ano ba ang mapapala mo sa lalaking 'yon? Matagal na nitong tinapos ang career niya! Business my ass. Sa palagay ba niya ay may maniniwala sa kanya?" Her mother scoffed.

Her mother was insulting the wrong man.

She new better how financially capable Killian is. Hindi lang naman ang agency at media company ng mga magulang nito ang bumubuhay sa lalaki. Mukha lang tambay sa kanto ang isang 'yon, pero mas madami pa itong kinikita kaysa sa mga lalaking ipinapa-date ng mommy niya.

Again. Krizzia choose to be silent. Praying to God and to those two people who's very close to her heart to save her from her wicked mother.

Nakadagdag pa sa panghihina niya ang gutom, kaya madali lang siyang nahihila ng mommy niya. Habang nasa biyahe sila papunta sa restaurant na sinasabi nito, unti unting sumisilay ang ngiti sa labi niya. Lucky!

Pero agad din nawala ang ngiti niya nang hilain na naman siya ng mommy niya palabas ng sasakyan at papasok sa Restaurant. Tila tinakasan siya ng kaluluwa nang makita kung sino ang sinasabi ng mommy niya.

"N-no, M-mommy... Ibalik m-mo a-ako sa unit ko, p-please! H-hear me out j-just this o-one!" Nauutal na pakiusap ni Krizzia sa mommy niya. People were looking at them because her mother was literally gripping her wrist tight. At kulang nalang ay isubsob siya nito para lang maka upo siya sa tabi ng lalaki.

"It's nice to see you again, Krizzia. I told you, mapapasa'kin ka din." The man flashed a smile. Krizzia felt chills all over her body. Damn it! Hindi niya alam kung paano siya makakatakas sa ganitong sitwasyon. "Ma'am, thank you for granting my request. Ako na po ang bahala sa anak niyo, mapagkakatiwalaan niyo po ako." Ngiti ngiti nitong sabi sa mommy niya.

Her eyes widened when her mother just nod her head and leave. Nakita na niya ito dati... Ganitong ganito 'yon. Her heart hammered inside her chest. Kinakapos siya ng hininga dahil sa mabilis na pagtibok ng puso niya.

"What do you want to eat? Or if you like we could taste each other first? I like the second one." Nakangiting tanong nito sa kanya.

Krizzia flinched when she felt his hand on her thighs, caressing her. Walang ibang naramdaman si Krizzia kung hindi pandidiri.

"Stop touching me!" Pabulong na singhal niya rito.

Inilapit nito ang mukha sa mukha niya, "make me, Krizzia. I know your weakness, right now I'm guessing that you're already trembling with fear. Don't worry, It will turn to excitement later." Bulong nito sa kanya.

He's right. Her panic attack was becoming severe while he's touching her. A lot of flashbacks played on her head again.

"Yves..." She whispered when he saw him came out, wearing a white dress shirt.

Tumaas ang kilay nito nang makita siya na iba ang kasamang lalaki. With her pleading eyes and with all the remaining strength she have.

"Help me..." She whispered as if maririnig nito.

TUMIGIL SA pagta-trabaho si Killian nang makitang tumatawag si Yves sa kanya. With her brows furrowed he answered him. Then the call turned into face time.

Nandilim ang paningin niya nang makita kung paano halik halikan ng isang tarantado si Krizzia sa balikat. That old woman was really testing his patience!

"RAYZE! I'm out! Tell those motherfuckers to meet me next week!" Sigaw niya at basta nalang umalis sa opisina niya.

"Hoy! Paano yung mga pipirmahan mo dito?!" Pasigaw na tanong ni Rayze sa kanya pero hindi niya pinansin.

Killian was now seeing blood. That man will taste what hell feels like!

He slid himself inside his car and manoeuvre it towards Yves restaurant. He's surpassing the speed limit but the hell he cares if some police car might follow him! He pressed the number 9 to call Ryker. Lahat yata sila ay nasa emergency contact ang isang 'to.

[I'm busy!] Agad na singhal nito.

"I need your help." He said and that made him shut his grumpy mouth.

[Hernandez, baka nakakalimutan mong nag resign na ako? Kung may ipapahanap ka o ipapa imbestiga, mag hire ka ng private investigator.] Killian scoffed when he heard his voice dripping with bitterness. Hindi pa rin nakaka move on sa biglaang pagre-resign nito.

"I actually need your lady guard, she's an FBI agent right? I wonder why she's now your guard may kaso ka ba na hindi namin alam?" Killian joked.

[Hindi na. Resign na din 'to, at isa pa... Malinis ako tangina mo!] Ryker hissed. Umiling nalang si Killian, iba talaga ang nagagawa ng stress sa trabaho sa tao.

"Well, if you know a police officer na hindi babagal bagal. Tawagan niyo na at bilisan niyong pumunta sa restaurant ni Yves bago pa ako makapatay." He said and dropped the call.

He mean it. Papatayin niya talaga ang lalaking 'yon.

"COME ON, you should be enjoying this! Wipe your tears, Krizzia!" He hissed while kissing her shoulder and his hand was placed above her thighs.

Pinipilit nito na mas itaas pa. She crossed her legs, para hindi nito maabot ang pagkababae niya. She wants to fight but her hands won't just move! She can't move!

"You maniac! Get off me!" Nanginginig ang boses na singhal niya rito. But the man just chuckled and continue what he's doing. She's hugging her breast so he can't grope her breast.

"Hi, I am afraid to tell you that my restaurant is not a motel. And I will not allow you either to force a woman." Yves said with a smile plastered on his face.

"Then we're going to a hotel!" The man answered and forced her to get up.

"Mukhang hindi mo narinig ang huling sinabi ko. Then I'm going to repeat it. I said I will not allow you to force a woman. Especially, that woman." Nakangiti paring ani nito pero may diin.

"Who are you? It's none of your fucking business!" He yelled.

"I'm that woman's man good friend. And he'll be here any moment from now— Oh, he's here." Yves said with a mocking tone and take a glance at the entrance.

"Hold him." Her eyes widened when she heard Killian's voice. His face was impassive. His eyes held anger.

May isang staff ng restaurant ang humila sa kanya sa tabi at agad siyang inabutan ng tubig. But instead of drinking she watched how Yves expertly hold that man both arms and Killian fist connected to his face. Sunod sunod ang suntok na pinakawalan ni Killian at puro igik lang ang naririnig niya sa lalaki. Ni hindi ito makailag at makalaban dahil hawak hawak ito ni Yves.

"Let him fight now Yves." Killian said and smirk. Pero bago pa makatayo ang lalaki sinipa na ito ni Killian sa dibdib, causing the man to fell on the floor. "How dare you touch my woman?" Killian asked and picked him up, gripping the collar of the man's shirt.

"Her mom give me the consent to touch and even to impregnate her." Nanghihina man ay nakuha pa nitong makasagot.

Her hands trembled with anger. That woman, was supposed to be gentle and caring mother, not the other way around. All her life, she didn't feel the love. Ang tanging naririnig niya lang mula sa ina sumula bata pa sila ay dapat makapangasawa sila ng mayaman. Because her father started from a scratch, and his business was just blooming that time.

"Edi sana 'yung matandang 'yon ang minanyak mong hayop ka!" Killian hissed and punched him again in the face.

Krizzia gasped when the man spit blood. But Killian continued to throw hard punches, ni hindi man lang siya pinigilan ni Yves.

"Stop him..." She weakly said.

"Ayoko. He deserves it." Yves answered and watched Killian almost killing the man.

"Okay that's enough. Leave him to us." Ani nang isang lalaki a dumating at hinila si Killian sa kwelyo.

Killian fixed his stance. Inabutan pa siya ni Yves ng puting table napkin para ipang punas sa kamao nitong napuno ng dugo, his knuckles were swolen, pero parang wala lang 'yon sa kanya.

Ang babae na kasama ng lalaki ay ngumiti sa kanya bago pinulsuhan ang lalaki na nakahandusay ngayon sa sahig.

"Nice, sakto lang dating natin. Buhay pa." The tone of her voice was relieved but her face says otherwise. Mukha itong dismayado.

"Kaya mo na 'yan. Bring him to my car, I'll check the CCTV." Ani ng lalaki na ikinasimangot nito.

Killian walk towards her and kneeled. "I'm sorry, you have to witness that... Okay ka lang ba?" He asked softly that made her cry.

"I hate your mother." Killian whispered while fixing her hair. "I hate her for forcing you to date a scumbag when I am just here. I'm capable of giving you all you need and wants." He added.

"Krizzia? Bebi... I've had enough of her games. Let's get married?" He asked and smile innocently at her.

Bahagyang natawa si Krizzia. Killian asked her to marry him after punching a man to death.

"Yes, let's get married!"