Prologue
CONTENT WARNING:
Under His Possession is a dark romance that features morally gray/black characters, intense power dynamics, and mature themes.
This story contains depictions of:
* Dubious Consent (Dub-Con) and Intoxicated Intimacy
* Intentional manipulation and alcohol-induced impaired judgment
* Obsessive and possessive behaviors
* Emotional intensity and morally gray decision-making
Reader discretion is strongly advised. If you are sensitive to themes involving impaired consent or calculated seduction, please proceed with caution.
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If there was one person on the sprawling campus of St. Jude's Academy whose name could instantly ignite a hushed murmur across the crowded hallways, it was Achaia "Achi" Del Fierro.
She wasn't the typical campus sweetheart who wore floral dresses or giggled behind manicured nails. Standing at a comfortable 5 foot four inches during her senior year—a compact, athletic frame that hinted at the long-legged five foot eight inches beauty she would eventually mature into—Achi was an absolute legend.
Her signature look was painfully simple yet impossibly deadly: a fitted black V-neck polo shirt, dark slacks or mid-leg tailored shorts, and a pair of pristine designer sneakers. She moved with an effortless, boyish swagger that made heads turn regardless of gender. With her sharp cheekbones, piercing eyes, full lips, and a killer, lopsided boyish smile, Achi had a natural charm that acted like a magnetic pull.
"Achi! Nahulog ko 'yung binder ko!" a female freshman squeaked near the staircase, blushing furiously as her papers scattered across the floor.
Achi paused, her clean sneakers pivoting smoothly. She crouched down with fluid grace, gathering the papers in a matter of seconds. Standing up, she handed the stack back, giving the younger girl a playful wink and that signature lopsided grin.
"Ingat ka sa hagdan, Miss," Achi said, her voice smooth and low.
The freshman looked like she was about to pass out on the spot. A few paces away, a group of male varsity players groaned in shared defeat. They had been trying to get Achi's number for two semesters now, only to be shut down with a friendly pat on the shoulder and a cool, "Tropa lang tayo, bro."
That was the mystery of Achi Del Fierro. She moved like a heartbreaker, dressed like the coolest guy on campus, and captivated everyone without even trying. Yet, behind that nonchalant armor lay a secret known only to her inner circle: Achaia Del Fierro was a complete virgin. She had never been in a relationship, had never been kissed, and had zero experience in romance.
Having grown up moving from city to city because of her parents' unpredictable work, Achi had adapted by wearing her boyish persona like a shield. She didn't let people get too close to her heart—until she found her circle of friends.
"Achi! Bilisan mo, gutom na 'ko!"
The loud, dramatic voice belonged to Camilla "Cami" Montenegro. Standing at five foot two inches, Cami was the polar opposite of Achi—petite, glam, dressed in high-fashion pastel tones, and perpetually full of energy. As Achi's girl best friend, Cami was fiercely protective of her, even if she spent half her time trying to force Achi to wear a dress.
Achi chuckled, walking toward their usual spot at the outdoor gazebo. "Excited ka masyado, Cami. Kakarating lang natin mula sa lecture."
Sitting around the stone table were the rest of their tight-knit crew. Enzo Rosales, the group's loud-mouthed varsity golden retriever, was already halfway through a giant sandwich. Troy Salazar, the stoic structural engineering student, sat quietly with his dark-rimmed glasses on, sipping his black coffee while observing the chaos. Beside him was Kira Mendoza, the sweet, soft-spoken interior design major who was gently sketching in her notebook.
"Sabi sa'yo, Troy, pusta ako ng limang daan, may naiyak na naman na junior dahil sa ngiti ni Achi ngayong araw," Enzo grinned, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
Troy didn't even look up from his phone. "Matatalo ka lang, Enzo. Matagal nang marami ang biktima niyan."
Achi slid onto the concrete bench beside Kira, slumping back nonchalantly and resting one leg lazily over the other. "Mabait lang ako sa tao. Kayo talaga."
"Mabait or not, you're driving the whole campus crazy, Achi," Kira pointed out with a gentle laugh, her warm eyes sparkling. "Kahit 'yung mga galing sa Architecture department, ikaw ang pinag-uusapan."
"Hayaan mo sila," Achi replied smoothly, grabbing an apple from Cami's bag. "Mag-aral muna sila bago sila mag-isip ng romance."
"Hay nako Achi," Cami teased, nudging Achi's shoulder. "Twenty years old na tayo, graduating na! kailan ka ba magkaka-crush? Kahit isa lang!"
Achi opened her mouth to shoot back a witty remark, but the words died in her throat.
The atmosphere around the quad suddenly shifted. The ambient noise of chatting students seemed to fade into a dull hum as two figures walked past the gazebo.
One was Jett Elizalde—a familiar face, smooth, handsome, and carrying an easygoing aristocratic aura. But it was the guy walking beside Jett that made Achi's heart slam violently against her ribs.
Achi's eyes locked onto him, her usual composed facade momentarily slipping. Standing at a broad, imposing 6 foot in his college days, Zeke looked like he had been sculpted out of dark velvet and marble. He wore a simple black fitted tee that stretched over a broad chest and powerful shoulders, dark jeans, and an expression so intensely suplado it practically radiated a 'stay away' warning to the entire world.
He had sharp jawlines, dark, unblinking eyes, and a brooding, aloof composure that made him look completely untouchable. He was not the playful, flirtatious playboy type that Achi despised. He was distant, cold, and composed—the exact, precise dream type Achi had secretly harbored in her heart for years.
Gago... ang gwapo talaga niya, Achi thought, her pulse racing wildly beneath her calm exterior.
Her mind briefly flashed back to last year, when Ezekiel "Zeke" Alcantara had first arrived as a transferee. Because he turned out to be Cami's cousin, he was quickly brought into their inner circle, seamlessly expanding their group into the 'Circle of Seven.' But even after a year of knowing him, seeing him like this still managed to throw her completely off balance.
As if sensing her gaze, Zeke paused in his tracks. His dark eyes sliced through the crowd, sweeping past Enzo, past Troy, past Cami—until they locked directly onto Achi.
For three agonizing seconds, neither of them moved. The air between them felt suddenly thick, charged with an invisible, suffocating static. Zeke's dark gaze was heavy, predatory, and unblinking, tracking her every feature with an intensity that sent a violent shiver down Achi's spine.
Achi forced her boyish composure back into place. She raised two fingers in a casual, cool greeting and flashed him a brief, lopsided smirk.
Zeke's jaw tightened. He didn't smile back, but his dark eyes darkened further before Jett clapped a hand on his shoulder, drawing his attention away as they continued walking toward the administration building.
Achi let out a slow, silent breath, her fingers tightening around her apple. Tangina. Lord, bakit naman may gwapo at supladong tulad niya?
—
They were all sitting inside a quiet, air-conditioned campus café after their late afternoon classes. Enzo and Troy were arguing over a football match on Enzo's laptop, while Kira was showing Jett some color swatches for a project. Across the long wooden table sat Zeke, his broad frame leaning back, a cold iced Americano resting near his large hand.
Achi was pretending to review her architectural drafting notes, but every few minutes, her eyes secretly strayed toward Zeke. He was so quiet, so aloof. He rarely spoke unless spoken to, yet his presence dominated the entire table.
Suddenly, Cami leaned over, grabbing Achi's arm and dragging her closer toward the corner of the booth. Cami's face was pale with theatrical drama, her eyes wide.
"Achi... promise me you won't tell anyone," Cami whispered frantically, her voice barely audible over the café's jazz music. "Super secret 'to. Kahit kina Enzo, huwag mong sabihin!"
Achi adjusted her fitted polo, keeping her expression completely cool. "Ano 'yon? Bakit parang pumatay ka ng tao?"
Cami glanced nervously toward the other end of the table where Zeke and Jett were quietly discussing something over a shared blueprint.
"Si Zeke..." Cami whispered, leaning even closer until her lips almost touched Achi's ear. "Bading siya, Achi. Sila ni Jett!"
Achi froze. The pen in her hand nearly snapped in half.
"Ha?" Achi blinked, her brain momentarily short-circuiting. "Ano'ng... ano'ng sinabi mo?"
"Silang dalawa ni Jett! Lovers sila!" Cami insisted in a hushed, urgent tone. "Tingnan mo kung paano sila magkasama lagi! My tita hinted about it before, and look at them—Jett doesn't even look at other girls, and Zeke is totally immune to everyone! Sabi ni Mama, ayaw lang nila ipag-ingay kasi gusto nila ng privacy. So please, behave ka sa kanila, ha? Respect their relationship!"
Achi turned her head slowly, looking across the table.
At that exact moment, Jett was leaning in to point at something on Zeke's tablet, and Zeke was nodding, his dark face stoic and focused. To an outsider who didn't know better, they looked undeniably close, locked in their own private world.
A heavy, suffocating weight settled right in the center of Achi's chest. Her heart, which had been wildly hammering for the past week every time Zeke entered a room, felt like it was being slowly crushed.
Bading pala...
Sayang, Achi thought, a bitter, hidden ache blossoming behind her ribs. Yung kauna-unahang lalaki na nagustuhan ko nang ganito... may boyfriend na pala. At tropa ko pa. Fuck!
Achi took a slow, deep breath, burying her heartbreak deep beneath her boyish armor. She forced her signature, carefree laugh, slumping back against the leather booth and tossing her head back nonchalantly.
"Gago ka talaga, Cami. Bakit ko naman ipagkakalat 'yan?" Achi chuckled, keeping her voice light and unbothered. "Buhay nila 'yan. Respect lang tayo."
"I know, right!" Cami sighed in relief. "I'm just telling you kasi ayaw kong magkaroon ng awkwardness sa group at baka napapansin mo na rin!"
"Wala 'yan sa 'kin," Achi said smoothly, giving Cami a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Ligtas sa 'kin 'yang secret nila."
Achi picked up her coffee cup, taking a sip to hide the way her lips slightly trembled. She looked back across the table, silently promising herself right then and there: Itatago ko na lang 'to. Hanggang kaibigan na lang talaga. Hindi ako maninira ng relasyon.
Across the table, Zeke's dark eyes flicked up, meeting hers with a slow, heavy intensity that made the air in her lungs vanish. Achaia forced a cool smirk and casually looked away, completely convinced of the lie that would keep her guarded, safe, and distant.
She had no idea that every step she took backward was a move he had already calculated. She didn't know that his silence wasn't indifference, but a patient, dangerous restraint.
Achaia thought she was choosing to step back to protect a secret. She had no clue that she was playing right into his hands—or that nine years later, Ezekiel Alcantara would finally come to collect what had always been his.
To be continued..
