"What is going on in here?" Isabella's voice called out from a short distance away. I instantly pushed Wayne away as soon as his grip on me loosened. I could hear my sister's footsteps coming closer.
"Ate, he was just asking me something," I replied quickly, taking a few steps back from Wayne, trying to put some distance between us.
"Hon, did you get lost or something? You said you were just going to get the dessert from the fridge," Ate Isabella questioned as she reached us, her eyes flicking between the two of us.
"Yes, he got lost and asked me for directions," I responded, forcing a smile. "Excuse me, I need to go to my room." I hurriedly made my exit, my heart pounding in my chest. God, my heart almost burst out of my chest.
"Let's get going, hon," I heard Isabella's voice from outside my door as I leaned against it, trying to steady my breathing. The sound of their footsteps gradually faded away.
After a moment, I took a deep breath, walked over to my bed, and threw myself onto it, face down. I grabbed a pillow, covered my face, and screamed into it, letting out all the pent-up emotions I hadn't been able to express. The suffocating feeling of frustration and confusion overwhelmed me. How am I supposed to endure this? My feelings for him, these inappropriate, fucking feelings, were starting to resurface.
"I don't know if I can still manage to control myself the next time he gets close to me," I murmured into my pillow, the words muffled but heavy with the weight of my emotions.
Reluctantly, I got up and reached for my phone in my bag. I texted Mamang, telling her I planned to head home, hoping to escape the suffocating situation. But before I could even put my phone down, she replied, insisting that I stay for the wedding preparations, reminding me that tomorrow was the fitting for the wedding dresses. I quickly texted back, telling her I had work and needed to leave, but before I could finish my thoughts, my phone started ringing. It was Mamang, and I knew I couldn't ignore the call.
"Yes, Mamang?" I answered, my voice lacking any enthusiasm.
"You're staying here whether you like it or not. Don't make me say it twice!" she shouted, her voice sharp and unyielding, cutting through any hope I had of reasoning with her. She ended the call abruptly, leaving me staring at the screen, dumbfounded.
Why do I feel like life is totally unfair? Even though I've tried to achieve success and carve out my own path, I still have no control over my life. What went wrong? Where did I go wrong?
I sat on the edge of my bed, the weight of everything pressing down on me. The walls of the room felt like they were closing in, suffocating me with the burden of expectations and the life I never wanted. I stared at my reflection in the mirror across the room, wondering how I ended up here—trapped in a life that didn't feel like mine.
I quickly dialed Hazel's number, and she answered on the first ring. "Hazel, I need you to take immediate action regarding my Mamang's business. Work with the management and financial teams. Find a solution, whatever it takes."
"Yes, Miss Amarra," she responded without hesitation, her voice steady and professional. I hung up, feeling a small sense of relief. At least I was doing something to regain control. There was no way I was going to be forced into a marriage with someone I neither knew nor loved. I had to fight for my own life, and saving Mamang's company was the first step.
I stood up, changing into something more comfortable—casual clothes that felt like armor against the chaos outside. I moved to the large window and glass door that led to the veranda, drawing the heavy curtains closed. The room plunged into darkness, a welcome escape from the relentless brightness of the day and the unwelcome pressures it brought.
Exhaustion pulled at me, a bone-deep weariness that had nothing to do with physical exertion. It was the kind of tiredness that seeped into your soul, weighing down every thought and emotion. I crawled back into bed, letting the darkness envelop me. Sleep was the only refuge I could think of, a way to shut out the world and all its demands, if only for a little while.
//////
"Ate Amarra," a soft voice called out, accompanied by a gentle knock on the door. I stirred, stretching my arm and glancing towards the locked door of my room. Someone was outside, calling for me. Judging by the voice, it was probably my sister, Seraphina. I yawned and got up, sluggishly walking to the door. When I opened it, I found her there, her hand poised to knock again.
"Yeah?" I asked, my voice still thick with sleep.
"Dinner time," she said simply before turning to walk away. I closed the door behind me and followed her. This house... it always felt so suffocating, like the air was thick with unspoken tension. I was constantly tired, sad, and trapped within these walls.
"Sit down now, let's eat," Mamang's voice rang out as we reached the kitchen. She was seated in the middle of the long table, flanked by my mom, dad, and grandma on one side, and Caspian, Ate Isabella, her fiancé Wayne, and Seraphina on the other. I was about to sit next to Seraphina when she suddenly stood up, giving me a look that made me pause.
"You can sit here. I'll sit next to Grandma," she said nonchalantly.
I furrowed my brow. "Why? It's the same seat. Why do you have to move?"
"Because," she shrugged, moving towards Grandma and taking a seat beside her. I shot her a glare, but there was nothing I could do. Reluctantly, I sat down next to Wayne.
"Sit down already, Amarra. What are you doing?" Mamang's voice cut through my thoughts, and I mentally rolled my eyes in frustration. As I took my seat beside Wayne, I couldn't ignore the discomfort that settled over me. Just the thought of being so close to him made me uneasy, stirring emotions I wished I could bury. I hated how different everything felt now.
Here's a revised version of your text with improved grammar, additional descriptions, and more natural dialogue:
He suddenly held my hand, gently pressing it, and I gasped in surprise. But before I could pull away, he let go. I turned to look at him, but he was already facing my sister, whispering something in her ear. I had to mentally roll my eyes in frustration. Why did he even do that? Damn him.
After finishing my dinner, I quickly stood up to excuse myself. As expected, Mamang was displeased since they were still eating, but I didn't bother looking back. Before, when she paid for everything—my school, my expenses—I would've never dared to leave the table like that. But now, being older, I was bolder, determined to show her that she no longer had control over my life like she once did. I walked away without glancing back and headed straight to my room.
I spent the next few hours scrolling through my phone, trying to distract myself from everything. When I noticed it was already 10 PM, I got up, grabbed my small bag, and silently opened the door. I tiptoed down the dimly lit hallway, knowing Mamang was likely already asleep at this hour. This was my chance to get the hell out of this mansion.
As I made my way down the corridor, I took in the quiet beauty of the night outside the mansion. Just as I was about to open the gate, someone grabbed my arm.
"Wayne?" I whispered, startled. He quickly covered my mouth with his hand, signaling for me to be quiet. After ensuring I wouldn't scream, he let go.
"Why are you following me?" I asked in a low tone, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Because I knew you were going to do this," he replied calmly.
"Then mind your own business! Why do you keep meddling in mine?" I hissed, careful not to draw any attention.
"I told you, I still care about you. If you'd just let me help, you wouldn't be in this situation right now. And didn't we agree to face the past? To confront what went wrong and figure out how we ended up here, so we can move forward?"
"Agreed? If I have to remind you, I said I'd think about it," I snapped back.
"Why won't you give us a chance to find closure?" he asked, his expression softening as he looked at me.
"Closure? You two were ex-lovers?" We both turned, startled, to see Seraphina standing there, her eyes wide with shock.
"That's why I saw you earlier in a compromising position? Are you two trying to get back together behind Ate Isabella's back?" she shouted, her voice echoing through the quiet night. My heart pounded as panic set in.