AOT: Captivating His Manacled Heart (Completed)

Chapter 1

Everette drank first her shot and looked at her friends before walking towards the man sitting alone on the left wing of the counter.

"Alone?" tanong niya sa binata pagkaupo sa tabi nito ngunit hindi man lang siya nito tinapunan ng tingin.

Nagkibit balikat siyaʼt umorder ng vodka sa bartender.

"Hey..." pagkuha niya ng pansin nito. Yet, he still didn't give her a look.

Umusog siya palapit sa lalaki at hinawakan ang baba nito upang paharapin sa kaniya. Walang buhay na tiningnan lang siya nito.

"I'm Maureen," pagpapakilala niya sa lalaki. "How about you?"

"Leave me alone," malamig na sagot nito sa halip dahilan para magsitayuan ang lahat ng maliliit na buhok niya sa batok.

"Hello, Mr. leave-me-alone, nice to meet you." Inilahad niya ang kamay sa harap nito habang nakapaskil sa kaniyang mga labi ang pamatay niyang ngiti, iyong tipo ng ngiti niyang kinahuhumalingan ng mga kalalakihan.

Sa pagkakataong iyoʼy tinapunan nito ng tingin ang kaniyang nakalahad na kamay. "Tss . . . Stupid," he mumbled.

Nagsimulang mag-init ang tainga ni Everette dahil sa pakikitungo sa kaniya ng lalaki. This was the first time that a man ignored her beauty. But thinking about her car and the Island made her think sanely.

"So . . . Are you alone? Or just waiting for someone?" napapahiya at naiirita man ay sinikap niyang itanong.

"Will you shut up? I'm not interested in you or with anyone."

"Oh, come on!" she whispered in his ear while leaning on his shoulder.

His sudden move made her flinch. He grabbed her wrist to distance his body from her. She's not used to any man's touch, yet, this guy in front of her gave her the feeling that she wants to be touch by him more.

His sharp eyes darted at her, almost seeming to pass through her soul.

"Move away or I'll punish you," he warned.

Napangisi si Everette sa inis at muling inilapit ang katawan dito lalo na ang kaniyang mukha. She needs these flirty moves for the sake of her car and to win Avery's island in Batangas.

Bumaba ang paningin ng lalaki kay Everette, especially on her plump red lips.

"I'm not interested in women, especially those who have that attitude like yours."

"Wait, are you telling me that you're gay? hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya sa lalaki.

"I'm even more uninterested in men," he defended coldly. Bagay na ipinagsawalang bahala ng dalaga. Ang mahalagaʼy kinakausap siya nito.

"Let's have a deal, get my cellphone number and I'll give you the peace that you wanted," she offered him.

Isang napakatalim na tingin ang dumapo sa kaniya mula sa lalaki. "Don't test my patience, miss. Leave me alone and find another man who's willing to have a one night stand with you," nauubusan ng pasensiya na turan nito sa kaniya.

"How dare you!" nakangiti nang pilit at napakariing anas niya sa lalaking kaharap. Inis na inis na siya ngunit hindi niya ipinahahalata sa mga kaibigan niyang ngayoʼy nanonood mula sa kanilang puwesto.

"I'm not into fuck buddies, miss."

"Shut up!" Her teeth gritted in too much anger. "Just get my fucking number and we're done. I can't afford to lose my Porsche now," pagsisiwalat niya sa katotohanan. Tuluyan nang naubosan ng pasensiya.

Nag-igting naman ang panga ng lalaki at mariin siyang hinawakan sa baba. "Ayoko sa lahat ay iyong pinaglalaruan ako, miss," galit na sambit nito pagkatapos ay nilamukos ng halik ang kaniyang mga labi.

The kiss was rough, deep and punishing that she even tasted the rusty taste of her blood.

Pagkatapos siyang halikan ay tigagal siyang iniwan ng lalaki roon.

"What happened?!" Avery and the other approached her as soon as the man left .

"What's with the kiss?" Lewis asked with his knitted brows.

Tila naman doon pa lamang natauhan si Everette.

"Did he... Did he just steal my first kiss?!" nanggagalaiting tanong niya dahilan para magtawanan ang apat.

Bumalik sila sa kanilang table at hindi siya tinigilan ng mga kaibigan niya sa katatanong kung anong nangyari.

"Based on my judgment, you didn't succeed in making him get your number," said Avery.

"Because he kissed me!" she hissed. The man went to her nerves.

"So what is the final result? Did she win or not? I guess she's not," Ram asked.

"What?! But the man kissed her, isn't that a success?" Denise protests.

"Our deal is the man needs to get her number, not kiss her," Avery disagreed.

"The thing is, it seems unfair to Everette," Lewis said.

"Yeah!" sang-ayon ni Denise.

"Just change the target, guys," suhestiyon naman ni Ram.

"I'll give you the car keys," wala sa sarili na sabi ni Everette upang huwag nang magtalo-talo pa ang mga ito. Hindi niya matanggap na natalo siya sa unang pagkakataon sa pustahan nila ng kaibigan. But the deal is a deal.

Tahimik lang si Everette nang magpatuloy ang kanilang night hang-out, hindi niya ipinahahalata sa mga kaibigan na apektado pa rin siya sa ginawa ng lalaki kanina. Hindi iyon maalis sa isip niya dahil pakiramdam niyaʼy walang awang tinapakan ng lalaki ang kaniyang ego.

'Damn him! Anong karapatan niya na tanggihan ako?! Na halikan at pagkatapos ay iwanan na lang basta?! I am Maureen Everette! A Vallejo! Tinitingala at pinapantasiya ng mga kalalakihan! I swear I'll make him pay for what he has done to me!'

Sigaw ng isip ni Everette kasabay nang nagpupuyos niyang damdamin.

Pilit niyang kinalma ang sarili.
Sa puso niyaʼy nabuo ang dalawang magkasalungat na kahilingan.

First is to meet again the guy and make him pay for hurting her pride. Second, she wishes their paths not to cross again.