Knight in Shining Tuxedo

Capitulum 001

"Happy birthday, my princess." Ngumiti si Papa at hinalikan ako sa aking noo.

"Thank you, Papa..." I gave him a warm hug with a wide smile plastered on my face.

His smile became wider, "I have a gift for you." May nilabas siya sa kaniyang bulsa na maliit na kahon. It was gift-wrapped. "Open it."

Kinuha ko ito at saka tumango, bubuksan ko na sana ang kahon nang biglang umalingawngaw ang ingay ng sunod-sunod na pagsabog at pagputok ng baril sa paligid namin.

"Lucent, go hide!" Binunot ni Papa ang kanyang baril mula sa lalagyan nitong nakasabit sa kanyang suot na sinturon. I remained rooted on my spot like a cold statue, still could not believe what just happened, Papa looked at me and saw the hesitation in my eyes, "Lucent, I said hide-"

"Lucas. Your time's up." Napatingin kami ni papa sa lalaking biglang lumitaw sa aming harapan. He was just standing at the lobby's doorframe, the entrance of the mansion.

He was holding a gun and it was pointed to my father. Tumingin siya sa akin at ngumisi, "I never thought you'd parent a beautiful daughter, she will be expensive."

"Guglielmo Raffaelle, don't you fucking dare lay your hands to my dau-"

My eyes widened when the man pulled the trigger, the next thing I saw was my father, falling into the cold marble floor, with his blood flowing out.

Minulat ko ang aking mga mata nang naramdaman kong may humaplos sa noo ko, ramdam ko ang pawis na bumabalot sa aking katawan. It was just a bad dream, or so I wished.

Tumingin ako sa lalaking nakatitig sa akin, I blinked. It was the man who bought me for one billion dollar. So, everything that happened wasn't a dream, huh? My father is really gone and his mafia has been annihilated. I have nothing left anymore.

Dahil wala nang maskarang nagtatakip sa kalahati ng mukha niya ay mas naaninag ko ang kanyang kabuuan.

He had long and thick eyelashes that framed the features of his deep killer eyes. Matangos ang kanyang ilong at manipis ang kanyang mapupulang mga labi.

His stone-like face seems to be sculpted from a granite-hard, with his cold expression that made his gaze somewhat penetrating and calculating.

Mas bumaba ang tingin ko sa kanyang mukha, he had a chiseled jaw and an adam's apple. It waved as if he gulped.

Linunok ko ang bara sa aking lalamunan, "sino ka?" My voice was rough, tila ilang araw na akong hindi nagsasalita. I was thirsty too.

Hindi nagbago ang malamig at matigas na ekspresyon ng kaniyang mukha, "you're not in the place to question me."

I bit my lower lip, pinagmasdan ko ang paligid, nasa isang malaking kuwarto ako, tiningnan ko ang sarili ko't napansing may suot na akong damit hindi gaya kagabi.

Dumapo ang kaniyang kamay sa aking noo na tila pinakiramdaman ang aking temperatura.

"You're not sick anymore, follow me." Utos niya at tumalikod na, as if expecting me to follow his instructions just like that, I sighed. Bumangon na lang ako sa kama at sumunod sa kaniya, saan niya ako dadalhin?

Pinihit niya ang busol ng pinto at lumabas kami sa silid kung saan ako nagpagaling, tahimik ko siyang sinundan, may mga lalaki kaming nakakasalubong at yuyuko naman sila kapag lalampasan sila ng estranghero, whoever this man must be really respected and feared.

His regal steps and the way he carries himself was oozing with wealth and confidence wrapped in a cold and chilly façade. Just who the hell is this guy? Only one thing is clear to me-he is very powerful.

Of course, he is. He wasted a billion dollar for me. But that doesn't make me feel special. It makes me feel cheap.

I am supposed to be priceless. And here he comes, with one billion dollar in his pocket.

Habang naglalakad kami ay pinanood ko siya mula sa kaniyang likod.

He walked gracefully for a man, each stride was stiff and measured, halata sa kanyang pagdadala sa sarili na hindi siya basta-bastang lalaki. He was giving off an intimidating impression I've never encountered before. He had the same air around him like my late father, the only difference is that I find his aura attractive.

It's not like I know a lot of guys, madalang lang akong lumabas sa mansion noon, ang mga kakilala ko lang na lalaki ay mga tauhan ni Papa, I've been homeschooled all my life.

I have no good experience outside my father's world because being the daughter of a mafia boss is dangerous-a lot would kill to get me and use me against my father. He has a lot of enemies who threaten my safety.

All my life, I've been hiding in my father's shadow. Now, he is no longer here and there is nowhere to hide from anymore.

Papa's gone. Pakiramdam ko'y pati ang mundo ko'y naglaho na. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. I've been too dependent and reliant on him.

"Walk faster." He demanded with his cold voice.

Hindi man lang siya lumingon pero alam niyang lumalaki ang agwat namin?

Hindi naman sa mabagal akong maglakad, sadyang mas matangkad lang talaga siya sa akin ng ilang pulgada at ang kaniyang hakbang ay mahahaba.

I went back to my impressions on him as I silently followed his order.

I am not used to being bossed around, but when it comes this guy... This stranger who saved me (I don't know if it is safe to assume that he did), I don't know... I simply follow his command without a question.

Maybe it is because I am intimidated and perhaps I am intimidated because it is my first time to be with someone who is not a part of my father's mafia-the mafia I thought would become mine one day.

And all of it faded away... slipping through my fingers. This is the fault of Raffaelle Mafia. Hindi ko maiwasang magalit dahil sa sinapit ng aking pamilya.

Tumigil siya sa harap ng isang pinto at binuksan ito, halos mabangga ko nga siya dahil sa bigla na lang niyang paghinto. Ilang pulgada na lang ay tatama na ang mukha ko sa kaniyang matikas na katawan.

Dahil sa lapit ay naamoy ko siya. How do I say it? He smelled good. There's nothing that can compare on how good he smelled!

Lumingon siya at sinenyas na pumasok ako sa silid.

Sumunod ako sa kaniya, nang nasa loob na kami ng silid ay sinara niya ang pinto.

"Tell me your name." Seryosong utos niya.

"Lucent Lotus Amourteirre..." Kinakabahang sagot ko, hindi ko alam pero hindi ko matukoy kung bakit parang natatakot ako sa lalaking ito.

The way he speaks is full of authority and it demanded a straight answer, it was somehow similar to Papa when he orders his men to do something like killing. But the only difference? This man was just cold. Pure cold. Nothing more.

The thought of Papa made me sad, wala na siya... Parang kailan lang ay masaya naming pinagdidiwang ang kaarawan ko. Hindi ko matanggap. Hindi ko alam kung matatanggap ko pa ba.

Thinking about those people behind this, nagagalit ako. Gusto kong maghiganti. Gusto ko ng hustisya.

But there's no use watering dead plants.

He won't come back no matter how many tears I shed.

"That's not your name anymore." Sabi ng lalaki, bumalik naman ako sa huwisyo. Ano ang ibig niyang sabihin?! "You are now Lucent Lotus Guillermes, my wife."

I blinked, did I hear him right?

"Ano ang ibig mong sabihin? Paano akong naging asawa mo?! I mean, we never had a wedding?"

"I bought you." He snapped, "that means I own you and I can do anything I want with you, that includes making you my wife, now you will not speak unless I say so."

Lumunok ako, "I never wanted to be auctioned-"

"Do you understand?" He cut me off, mas lalong lumamig ang tingin niya sa akin, hindi ko maiwasang kabahan, I gave him a silent nod. It seems like my protests didn't matter... Because it actually didn't.

"Good. Now sign this paper."