KABANATA 10.5:
The World Against Us
Dominic Herrero Special
He was the kind of child that didn't want anything because he thought everything is already enough for him.
He had the perfect family: loving parents, a smart and cute sister, and they had a business that helped them with their family income and perhaps their college tuition in the future.
He didn't have a dream, he just prayed every night that hopefully, this kind of life continues, that hopefully his sister would graduate and grow up finding a man to spend the rest of her life with, her parents retiring and spending more time with each other before their death bed.
He wanted a continuous perfect life yet normal at the same time.
If this kind of routine continues, he doesn't mind it at all.
It was going well. It was supposed to go well.
It was supposed to end perfectly, but why did it have to go this way? To this path?
It was a painful yet traumatic night for him.
His family's house that they've built and planned together for years is on fire before his eyes as the kidnappers punched him back and forth until he couldn't put a fight anymore, he could still hear his sister's scream of agony and pain as she was left and stabbed by these people.
"Alam mo..."
He couldn't understand why this was happening to him, to his family. What had he done wrong to experience this?
"...kung tinanggap lang kasi ng magaling mong ama yung offer na'min, e 'di sana buhay pa yung pamilya mo~"
His father was an honest man.
He was sure he made the right decision by not accepting the offer, he did the right thing, but sometimes when you do the right things there would be others who would hate it.
"Bata ka pa naman... baka may itutulong ka sa pamilya na'min."
The man in front of him then kicked him towards the wall and he immediately felt the pain and the impact all over his body, blood dripped from his lips and the pain was too much for him so he groaned because of it.
"You better do well or we'll dispose you...
...Dominic Villanueva~ hihihi!"
His last name was changed into a Villanueva overnight. He discovered as days, weeks, and even years passed by what he was supposed to do for this Villanueva family.
He was adopted, he's supposed to work for the family to make sure that the family's ways and illegal businesses and ventures won't be out in the public, they didn't want it to happen again.
After Liza and the original three's plans ruined the family... they knew they had to do better to make the family stay out of the public's eyes.
He had to survive, he had to survive for himself but he couldn't help but feel as if he didn't deserve to live.
He'd rather die and just be with his family, he misses them, he misses everything.
Why...? Why him? Why did he have to live?
He suffered under the family for two or three years.
Until the day that the Dixon family found out about the illegal adoptions that a certain family has been doing for a few years now, turns out that they are actually one of the smaller units or pacts that belongs to the Villanueva family.
Dixons saved him.
Dixons found Dominic lying on the floor while kneeling inside the basement that is supposed to be his room with a chain on both of his wrists.
Ah, he finally felt it. What was it... freedom? Is this what freedom feels like?
Pain, sadness, tears?
Emptiness? Because there was nothing left for him out there? Is that was it was?
For him, there wasn't anything left for him.
There was one option, to be adopted by the Dixon family and help him to live a life that he should've had before everything went down to ruin.
But he wasn't sure if he still wants this life, if he still deserves it--if it was even worth it.
He needed answers, he prayed to himself, he wanted to know.
And he got it. He got the answer.
"Tsk, seriously..."
It was her, the girl he had bumped into as he tries to run and find a way into the mansion.
"Look, how many times have I said this, don't just run into--"
Their eyes met and he observed her from head to toe.
Long-dark hair with brown highlights that flaunted her beautiful porcelain skin, her huge bright pair of eyes, and her pink-colored lips that are the same color as her cheeks.
She's undeniably beautiful. She looked as if she was born from a royal family, she was just too beautiful.
He reminded her of the multiple trees that he had seen in the fall season during his trip to another country.
Warm, calm, and yet so beautiful.
"Y-You--"
And to top it off--her cheeks began to grow even redder and it was adorable, she went from being undeniably beautiful to someone charming and adorable.
It didn't take him a day to find out who she was.
She is Aster Geneva Diamante Dixon, the second to the youngest sibling of the Dixons new generation of children.
He was able to observe the siblings that were living under the same roof,
Odelette Karine Diamante Dixon is the future head of the Dixon family for sure thanks to their oldest brother that left and chose to pursue his dream career somewhere else, he abandoned the family.
The oldest of the siblings is Noel Elijah Diamante Dixon, he's never met him before, he was said to be a well-mannered person and he was perfect enough to be the head of the family due to his intelligence and personality, but he didn't want to be the head of the family, unlike Karine.
Gwendolyn Cerine Diamante Dixon is Karine's twin, compared to her she prefers to assist rather than lead, she's also well-mannered and absolutely gorgeous.
Their youngest is somewhere in the province... and Geneva.
Aster Geneva Diamante Dixon was a girl who was completely different from her sisters, from her siblings.
She didn't give off a cold or goddess mood from her sisters, she gave off positive and warm energy. Something that he didn't know he needed.
He didn't want to admit it but he was interested in her.
She loved cactuses, she loves sweets, she loves shopping, her favorite brand is CHANEL and Yves Saint Laurent, and her favorite color is purple and orange.
But he wanted to know more about her, but why is it that he's that interested in her?
She's just one of the siblings he had to serve in return for their family saving him from hell and helping him to return to a life he's supposed to have before.
But it turns out that it's not just himself who is interested in her... it might also be the other way.
He followed her at the garden not knowing what was really going on, he is a bit worried because she's been acting quite odd around him.
"Ms. Dixon, are you alri--"
"Alright? Alright? Paano ako magiging 'alright' dahil sa'yo? Kahapon ka pa! I'm so annoyed, irritated, and upset because of you!"
What had he done to upset her?
He was lost, he was confused, and he didn't understand her and her thoughts.
He was trying so hard to observe her and find out why by just looking at her expression while keeping a serious face at the same time.
"You look so fucking beautiful and so good that I can't just help myself when it comes to you. Yung mga tingin mo, ngiti mo, tapos ngayon acting as if you really care about me is driving me crazy!"
Ha?
Dominic was dumbfounded inside when he listened to her words.
Is he hearing this right? Is this real? Is someone playing a joke to his ears because this is not a good joke, he's actually surprised.
"Namumula ako sa tuwing nakikita kita, 'di kaya ako nakatulog dahil sa'yo! Kakaisip sa'yo! You did upset me, Dominic Herrero."
No, this is true. This is real.
"Big fucking time."
But why?
"I'm upset because I think I've fallen for you when I've just met you."
Why him?
Why did it have to be him?
Out of anyone she could've fallen for, why him? He has nothing, he was nothing, he's just a man who survived and was saved by her family, nothing more.
And so he had to reject her, he tried to be harsh and yet he couldn't do it... he couldn't tell her that he dislikes her.
He couldn't pretend that he dislikes her, because... because... why?
"It's impossible for us... to be together..."
Yes, yes... that is why.
It is impossible for them to be together from the beginning anyway. How could they have a chance when they both belong in two different worlds.
She's a Dixon and she's just a man.
He doesn't have any time for such a thing, for love, for liking anyone, for any relationships.
But why is it that he couldn't stop thinking about it, the way her lips pout and all swollen as she confesses her feelings to him without any hesitation and with just pure frustration due to him?
Shit, she was adorable. She's always been adorable.
But why? Why is he thinking about it again?
He found out a few more things about her. It was the only way to know more about her well as a servant for her in the future, but what he didn't expect is to call her by her second name.
"Also..."
"Yes, Ms. D--"
"Call me Geneva."
Geneva.
Geneva. Geneva. Geneva.
Yes, he had pronounce the name before in front of her but damn it, not even minutes later he couldn't stop himself from calling her name at the back of his head.
He loves it. He loves the way her name fills up his whole head and it always ends with the scene of their first meeting as their eyes met and her cheeks gradually get redder--
Tang ina. He couldn't believe it.
Is he actually blushing just because of the thought of saying her name and the way she'll blush at him with a smile on her lips after?
This is mad. He's gone mad. This is terrible.
But fuck, no matter how hard he tried to stop those thoughts inside his head, there's always going to be something that'll return and drive him crazy instead.
"Ano namang ibig sabihin nang Geneva?"
"Hm... Juniper tree,"
"J-Juniper tree?"
"Juniper tree holds strength, wisdom, and usefulness. Ang daming ibig sabihin sa pangalan ko, basta ang importante espesyal ang pangalan ko, not just me but all of my other siblings too."
Just like what her father had intended for all the names of all the girls in the Dixon family, he couldn't help but think that the names really fit the siblings perfectly.
And Geneva is supposed to be inspired by the fall season, warm, beautiful, and calm. Yet he wanted to say that she reminds him more of the sun, she should've been summer instead of fall.
He looked back at the flower named 'Aster'.
It is quite a flower that attracted him from the moment he entered the flower shop, but he didn't think that its name was the inspiration by Geneva's name.
He wanted it. He'll get it. He'll buy this using his own allowance, it's been a while since he's bought something for himself that he actually likes.
"Dominic."
"Yes, Ms. Dixon?"
"When I confessed to you yesterday... why did you said that it was impossible... for us?"
Why are they back to the same conversation again?
He's already rejected her, he's already trying so hard to stop those thoughts inside his head because it is indeed impossible for the both of them.
So why... why are they back here again?
"Ms. Dixon... I--"
"I am ordering you to tell me why."
She was upset, she was serious, she actually wanted to know the truth. She wanted him to be honest, it was the first time that he'd seen her look upset and yet... she also looked scared.
He didn't want to make her upset anymore... but he had no choice but to be harsh and tell her the reality of her feelings for him.
"Because we belong in different worlds..."
"D-Different... worlds?"
"Ms. Dixon, you are one of the children of Lord Dixon, you are to have a bright future someday together with your sisters..."
Yes. This is right, this is the right thing.
"And I'm... as what you've heard already-- an adopted member of the Villanueva family, a bastard family, a trashy one..."
He was adopted by that family.
He is nothing but also a trash... just like what that family had told him for years. He's never done anything to help his old family, he wasn't smart, he was just nothing that doesn't have anything.
"We're completely different from each other... we belong in two completely different worlds, Ms. Dixon."
But why?
Why does it hurt so much?
"What the fuck are you talking about, Dominic?"
For some reason, he woke up due to her words, he did upset her but he is looking at a completely different version of Geneva that he'd never thought he'd seen.
She's always looked positive and happy, what had he done?
"That's it?"
"Y-Yes..."
"That's fucking it? Because we belong in two completely different worlds? Baliw ka ba? If we belong in two different worlds as you say..."
His heart began to beat fast as she pulls herself closer to him with an angry expression, it was the first that he'd seen her face up close, and she's never looked more beautiful until that day.
God, her beauty is truly something else.
"...why are we even talking to each other? You're right fucking in front of me, Dominic."
She didn't need to make him feel better or anything. He already knew the truth before her. He only said the truth, he only said the reality, why is she still acting like this?
"We're right in front of each other, there is no such thing as different worlds if we're right in front of each other. And... no matter what you say..."
"...ikaw pa rin ang gusto ko, kaya walang imposible... so you better not make such an excuse ever fucking again, do you understand?"
No. He doesn't. He doesn't understand. He knew that she likes him, but she shouldn't have liked him from the very beginning!
But because of her words, he understood what she meant.
Geneva is the kind of person that would always break boundaries, that would cross the borders, that would break the chains...because it's just her.
It's the way she is. And now another thought of two worlds came inside his head, two worlds that are completely different yet... parallel at the same time.
Then he understood one more thing.
She likes him a lot. Fuck. The thought is enough to drive him crazy once more.
A beautiful girl is in love with a man like him, fuck... this is crazy, right?
And it got worse.
He wasn't even trying to stop those thoughts anymore or to avoid her, instead... she was trying to find him every time and become closer to him.
It started because of the time they went outside to shop.
"Your words reminded me of my classmates, they said the same exact thing and I despised it. So... to hear it from you..."
At that time he felt bad for reminding her of her past classmates with his words, he shouldn't have said it, but he didn't know.
There are always going to be consequences in anything, even if you belong to a wealthy and powerful family.
"...of course I was more than upset. Gusto kaya kita, Dominic. Gustong gusto, tapos yun ang sasabihin mo sa'kin? 'Di naman magandang rason yun?"
He thought it was the best reason to use, the best excuse. But he had hurt her with his words. He didn't want that, he just wanted to keep seeing her smile and all happy as always.
"Kahit sinong tanungin mo 'di talaga magugustuhan ang sagot mo. Kung ayaw mo sa'kin dapat sinabi mo na lang na 'di mo talaga ako gusto, we just met too you know!"
"Pero..."
But they do belong in two different worlds.
"Iba naman kasi talaga ang mundo na'tin, Geneva."
It was the truth.
And yet...
"'Di naman sa ayaw ko sa'yo... I think that you're pretty."
God, pretty wasn't the word he wanted to say. He wanted to say how beautiful she actually is, she's always been the most beautiful girl in his eyes from the moment their eyes met that day.
"You were different from your sisters, you were truly something else. You were also caring towards us and you have this smile... this smile that would completely melt off any--"
"Nope, nope..."
Shit. He almost confessed it.
He almost said something that he's not supposed to say. He's not ready for it. He's not ready to say it yet, he doesn't even know what this feeling is but he knows it's something good because it's from her.
"I'm saying that there is nothing to not like about you, Geneva.
There is nothing to not like about her and it was another truth that Dominic knew too.
She's perfect in his eyes, she's something else, she's... his sun. She's his flower, she's... everything to him.
He's learned his lesson. He's learned it. He already knew that he didn't have to think about their worlds, he just wants her inside his head, he just wants her to fill up his head full of her and her only.
Without realizing it, he's also been taking care of her cactuses and the flowers he's gotten from the flower shop. He just thinks it's one of his duties as her guardian but really... he finds it special to take care of something she loves so much.
He imagined her smile when she looks at her cactuses, calling them her babies, wow... it is quite a sight inside his head.
He thought she was just a girl that he admires, yes, that might be it.
"Damn it, Dominic."
But maybe not.
"It's so hard... no, your life is so hard! Damn it! Why do... why did you have to suffer like that?"
He's seen her smile, her anger... but not her crying.
"You didn't deserve that shit, you didn't! And those stupid Villanuevas just... just... hurt you! I know I should not be talking to you about this kasi baka masaktan ka pero heto ako, binabalik yung nakaraan mo. Bwisit na Nakamoto! Bwisit!"
Of course, she knew about his past with the Villanuevas.
He just never thought she'd be hurt by it, that his past would bring her so much pain to the point of crying.
He wondered why she had to cry like this for him?
He was just nothing... he was supposed to be nothing, so why is it that someone that he admires and thinks of as someone precious is in pain all because of him?
He didn't even want to think about his past, he greatly despises that family, he wanted to forget, so he didn't cry every time he thinks about them.
"Bakit ganun? Bakit ganun, Dominic?"
But now... he wants to cry because of her. He wants to punch the Villanuevas that hurt her, he wanted to kill them, he'll do everything just to wipe those tears from her eyes.
"You're too nice, you're just too nice, Geneva."
This girl is too nice for him. This girl is too good. Too perfect.
He didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve her.
"Thank you for caring about me, thank you for just everything."
He didn't deserve her tears, he didn't deserve her smile, he didn't deserve her affection for him, he is nothing compared to her.
But shit.
"Thank you for crying for me even if I don't deserve any of your tears. I'm just a guy born from a family who's lucky enough to earn a few money and live a normal life. My past is something I'm still upset about, but... I'll be okay, Geneva. I promise you that. That was my past, this is now my present and this, us..."
He then realized it at the moment that the moon shone on her, and her eyes looked as gorgeous and shine brightly as the moon itself with the tears escaping from her eyes and her oh-so-swollen lips that he wanted to lean into and give them a taste...
...that this is more than just an admiration.
"...you, are my future."
And he wants it. He wants to be with her.
It is a dream that he didn't think he'd want to achieve but now he does.
He wants a future with her.
Sometimes when you have a dream and you want to reach it, there would be times where someone wants to try and take it away from you... or so what Dominic thinks when he met Silas Nakamoto.
He's already met him before, he's one of the people that saved him, he was a man who is known for his looks and deceptive energy when it comes to business.
He's not a fraud, he's not a liar, he just knows his way to deceive people about what they think he is which he actually isn't.
And Dominic hated it. He hates that he's trying to deceive Geneva into his words, trying to make her fall for him the way he'd done the same thing to other girls before.
Silas is a playboy, the ultimate player, and Dominic was scared that he might take his dream away from him. He didn't want that, and Silas knew that well and of course the man wanted to play a bit with him.
Even back then, he wasn't the kind of person who would be upset over someone holding something that's supposedly his, but hell... this is a first for him.
It's as if someone else is picking a flower in his garden, a flower that's simply a flower yet holds so much importance to him. It's his, it's his and his only.
"Hey there."
"Ah... hello, my lady."
The woman stood right in front of him with a suspicious smile... somewhat reminding him of someone.
She was beautiful but not as beautiful as the girl who is sitting right next to the man that he hates.
"You must be new here, hm?"
"I am only a guardian, a servant of the Dixon family for tonight."
Dominic is not naive or innocent.
He knew what the woman in front of him was trying to do.
Even back then he had experienced it whenever girls or perhaps women older than him tried to flirt with him to get his attention and make him fall for them.
"You must be Dominic Herrero."
"Yes, and you must be...?"
The woman smiled at him.
"Keira. Keira Nakamoto."
Of course, that's why she reminded him of Silas because she is indeed a Nakamoto, he wondered how they are related to each other.
"Medyo boring dito 'no? Do you want to go somewhere?"
Ah, a Nakamoto, of course. The woman is smiling but she wasn't really smiling because she's happy, she wants to do something that's beyond just 'going somewhere'.
He didn't like it one bit, he isn't interested.
He gave her a smile as a few chuckles escaped from his lips.
"My apologies but I'd rather stay here and--"
"Dominic Herrero!"
He was ready to reject Keira until his name was called on the second floor by a familiar voice, he was caught off-guard and looked up at the girl standing on the second floor next to Silas with a smile on their face.
"I love you!"
"Geneva... oh my--"
"I've been in love with you from the moment we met, I just knew I had to have you. I want you, I like you, but I love you much!"
"Please get my sister out from the second floor, right now!"
She is not in control of herself, this is not entirely Geneva, she's drunk, she's acting drunk. Dominic's eyes widened and he was shocked by her words.
He knows that she likes him but love? And she's confessing her feelings for him in front of everyone, and worst is with the other important people too inside this celebration party.
He was shaking, he didn't know what to do.
"And because I love you... I will marry you!"
This is the girl he admired.
The girl he is attracted to from the very beginning.
The girl who broke the barriers, who crossed the borders, who broke the chains and let them fall apart... and she did all of that with a smile.
And she's drunk.
Fuck.
"So... Dominic Herrero... marry me!"
God, she is incredible.
She's already undeniably beautiful, amazing, perfect... and now she is incredible.
Dominic wanted to laugh, he wanted to scream and tell the whole that this girl is an amazing person.
That she is his flower, his everything, his sun, his dream.
Maybe, maybe she was right.
Maybe there is no such thing as two worlds.
And even if there is such a thing, then from now on he will do everything to bring it down.
To bring the world that's against them if that's the only way for him to be with her, to be with the only person that he likes.