Nobela ni Darlene Paey

I was dumbfounded. The whole time after that freaking meal, I still couldn’t believe what Alpha Jacob said. I wanted to talk to him right after that, but then Alicia made us go back to our chores after and I didn’t know where Jacob went, so I really didn’t have the time and opportunity to talk to him. I sighed and massaged my head again. My mind was haywire. I didn’t know what to do. Was he really serious about that? Why me?! I’m not really convinced that he really liked my dish earlier. It was just unbelievable. I mean, really? Was he kidding me or something? Tsk. It’s annoying. I groaned and shook my head again. “Calla.” I almost jumped on my feet when I heard that voice. I took a deep breath and let out a deep sigh. “What?” I immediately turned around and there I saw Alicia standing with her arms crossed above her chest. “Are you angry?” she asked as her brows raised on me. My eyes widened. I immediately shook my head. “No! No, uhh, yes? What is it?” My heart was beating s

"Good morning."I almost jumped on my feet when I heard that baritone voice. "Good morning, Alpha," I heard the others respond, while I was still calming myself. Shit. I felt my heart wanting to get out of my chest. I swallowed hard. It was early in the morning and here we are in the mansion’s kitchen as we were preparing for the alpha’s breakfast. Heck, I never thought that he would go down here to check on us! I mean, why would he?I was trembling already and I didn’t know what to do with the dish that I was making. For some unknown reason, I got a mental block! I blinked multiple times as I picked up the meat that I was supposed to chop. My eyes widened. Damn it. "Are you okay, Calla?" I heard one of my colleagues ask, which made me even more nervous. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself so I could focus on no supposed task. I could still feel Jacob's gaze at me. I don't know why but it seemed like he wanted to eat me alive or something. Damn it. I could feel my cheeks

“Hey, do you know how to cook?” My forehead creased at Alicia’s question. “Uhh yeah? Why?”She sighed in relief. “Good, good, then maybe you can cook for the alpha this evening. The omega who’s supposed to cook for him left for an errand in the other town. It might take her until tomorrow before she could come back. Come, let’s go, I’ll show you the kitchen.”I wasn’t able to answer because she immediately dragged me to the mansion. “Hey, hey, what are we doing here?” I asked, starting to become nervous already. Alicia gave out a sigh and placed both of her hands on her waist. She looked at me directly. I bit my lip when I saw how serious she was. “What?” I asked. She gave out a deep sigh again. “Weren’t you listening? I need a cook for Alpha Jacob. Now, can you do it?” I wasn’t able to answer it immediately because I was stunned. “Hey!” I blinked multiple times when she snapped a finger in front of me. “O-Ohh, yeah, yeah!” I bit my lip again as I gave her a sheepish smile. She n

I couldn't look at him. I felt like if our eyes met, I could not control this overwhelming feeling that I have in my chest. I swallowed hard. He was still on his bed while I was standing a few meters away from him. Shit. I couldn't even remember how I got up here. Wow. “So, you know Ravenstone that much, huh…” he said. I arched a brow on him. “What do you mean?” He smirked and shrugged. “I want to know how long you stayed with them.”My forehead creased. “Since birth? I was born there. My parents were pure blooded Ravenstone.”“Where are they now? Why were you banished, then?” I stopped for a moment. He was looking at me intently, while I couldn’t even look in his direction. Damn it. I closed my eyes for a bit before having the courage to speak. “My parents are dead… and I.” I stopped. I don’t know if I should say this. I was scared. What if-"Are you going to speak or what?" I blinked my eyes multiple times. I felt my throat drying up. I swallowed hard. "Uhhh…" I started to spea

“Congrats.” Alicia winked at me. I barely stopped stacking up my borrowed clothes on the cabinet that she gave me. I gulped hard and bit my lip. “Uhh thanks?” I said. She chuckled and shook her head. “Gosh… you’re funny,” she mumbled. My forehead creased at her. What’s funny with that? I gasped and shook my head. This girl is just weird, huh. I went back to arranging my things again. She was still beside me and helping me fix my clothes. When she was done, she just leaned on the wall beside the cabinet and stared at me. I shook my head and finally closed the cabinet. I sat straight and looked at Alicia who was still leaning on the side with her arms crossed on her chest. I creased my forehead at her. "Yes? You need something else?" I asked her. That's when she let out a chuckle. She shook her head on me. "Huh. You're really something…" she said meaningfully. "What?" I asked, confused. She just smirked at me and shook her head again. “Oh, gosh…you’re so dense. It’s nothing. You

My eyes wandered around this 4 walled room that I was in. I bit my lip hard as I hugged my knees to my chest. I actually don’t know where I was. I felt like I was just floating the whole time I was dragged here. I bit my lip and hugged myself tighter. I was just there on my butt, squatting and leaning against the cold walls of an almost empty room. It honestly looked like a prison cell to me. There was just one bed and a bedside table beside it…and nothing more. It was so empty and white, I felt like anytime I’ll just get sick. I closed my eyes tight as I took a deep breath and calmed myself. Damn it. Why did I end up here again? Oh gosh. If they're going to banish me, for the second time, then I'm gonna be a lone wolf again. And shit, I don't think I could do that. Can I? My heart was beating loudly as I reflected on my future in this pack. Shit. What am I gonna do now? Fear and worries suddenly crept through my whole body as I thought about my lonely and fearful nights the moment

“Before we fly to do the procedure, you will be staying here in the mansion because I will need to monitor your health. Habang inaasikaso namin ang background check mo at ang ibang mga papeles para sa paglipad natin.” Tahimik lang si Aira na nakasunod kay Samuel habang tino-tour siya nito sa second floor ng bahay. Mas maganda rito at ang daming mga kwarto. Binuksan ng lalaki ang isang kwartong katapat ng hagdan at tiningnan siya nito. “This will be your room,” anito sa kanya. Bahagyang umawang ang kanyang labi habang inililbot ang tingin sa buong kwarto. Ang laki noon. Mas malaki pa nga yata iyon kaysa sa tinutuluyan nila ngayon ni Janice. Napalunok siya at napatingin sa amo na naka-poker face lang. “Salamat po,” nahihiyang sambit niya. Nanatiling nakatitig lang ang lalaki sa kanya. “This is part of the deal, Miss Peres. Do not worry about it. For now, I will let you go home to get your clothes. Simula ngayon, dito ka na titira. Ipapahatid kita sa driver.” “Po?” gulat na tanong ni

Kinakabahan si Aira nang dumating ang Wednesday. Maaga siyang nagising para hindi ma-late sa meeting nila ni Samuel. Binigyan pa siya ni Janice ng pang-taxi dahil hindi basta-bastang napapasok ang village ng lalaki. “Sure ka na ba riyan?” tanong pa ni Janice sa kanya. Tipid na tumango lang si Aira rito. “Sige, sige, mag-iingat ka, ha?” paalala ulit nito na tinanguan niya lang. Inayos niya ang damit bago tuluyang lumabas ng barong-barong. Hinatid siya ni Janice hanggang sa makasakay siya ng taxi. Habang papunta sa village ni Samuel Madriaga ay hindi niya maiwasang hindi mapakali habang ipinopokus ang tingin sa labas ng taxi. Nang makarating siya sa naturang mansyon ay halos malula si Aira sa sobrang laki noon. “Salamat po,” aniya sa driver at saka bumaba ng sasakyan. Mahinang naglakad siya palapit sa gate ng mansyon. “Sino po sila?” agad na tanong ng guard doon. Napalunok pa siya. “Uhh Aira po ang pangalan ko. May appointment po ako kay Mr. Samuel Madrigal.” Nakagat niya ang labi

“Are you amenable with that?”“Ah O-opo! Opo!”“Good. I’ll be expecting you in my mansion.”Napalunok si Aira habang nakatitig sa lalaking nasa kanyang harapan. Tumango siya rito.“Pupunta po ako…” mahinang sambit niya rito.Tumango lang ang lalaki. Huminga siya nang malalim at saka tumayo na roon. Nag-aalangan pa siya kung magpapaalam ba siya o hindi. Hindi niya naman kasi alam kung paano makitungo sa mga gantong mga tao.Sa huli ay lumunok na lang siya at saka tumalikod na. Nakagat niya pa ang labi at saka nakatungong umalis doon. Abot-abot pa rin ang kaba niya habang pababa siya. Napahawak pa siya sa dingding ng elevator at soon na lang napasandal.‘Jusko. Anong nangyari? Totoo ba ito?!’Tulalang nakatitig lang siya sa sahig ng elevator hanggang sa narinig niya na lang ang pagtunog noon. Bumuga siya ng hininga at napahawak pa sa kanyang dibdib. Pagbukas ng pinto ay agad siyang lumabas.“Hoy! Aira! Okay ka lang ba?” Muntik na siyang mapatalon nang marinig ang boses ng kaibigan niya.

“Hoy! Okay ka lang?”Napakurap-kurap si Aira nang sundutin siya ni Janice.“Ah h-huh? Bakit?” Napakamot siya sa kanyang ulo.Kinunutan siya nito ng noo. “Anong bakit? Tulala ka, sis. Malapit na tayo, o,” sabi pa nito.Bahagyang napaawang ang kanyang bibig nang makita ang kanilang linya. Napaayos pa siya ng tayo at pinagpag ang kanyang damit. Napanguso pa siya saglit.‘Ano ba kasi iyon? Ang weird naman!’Ipinilig niya ang ulo at saka itinuon na lang ang atensyon sa harapan. Kinakabahan na siya lalo pa at palapit na palapit na talaga sila sa harapan. Ilang saglit pa ay may lumabas na isang staff sa kwartong pinaghi-held-an ng interview.“Attention, everyone,” tawag ng staff sa atensyon nila. Kinalabit niya pa si Janice dahil nakikipagdaldalan na ang loka. “We will need to half you for the interviews. Iyong mga maka-cut, please proceed to the second floor and you will have your interview there. I-a-assist na lang kayo ng mga tauhan, okay?”Napanguso si Aira at saka tumango katulad ng iba

Napapangiwi na lang si Aira habang nasisingot ang napakabahong kanal na nasa gilid lang ng kanilang barong-barong. Isama pang naghalo-halo na ang mga udok ng sigarilyo, amoy ng ng alak at mga panis na pagkain. Mariing napapikit siya bago bumalikwas ng bangon. Nag-inat-inat pa siya habang inililibot ang mga tingin sa buong paligid nila. Natanaw niya mula sa kanyang bintanang kakarampot na tela lang ang harang ang panibagong sikat ng araw. Napabuntong-hininga na lang siya.“Bagong araw na naman…”Napailing na lang siya at saka umalis na ng papag. Kahit naman ayaw niyang bumangon ay kailangan. Ang mahirap dapat gumagapang kahit nahihirapan.&ld

Hindi alam ni Jade pero tumagos sa kanya ang sinabi ni Jared noong meeting na iyon. Hindi na siya nagsalita pa habang nasa dinner. Sobrang kumikirot ang kanyang dibdib ng mga oras na iyon at ni hindi na siya gumagalaw para lang hindi tumulo ang mga nagbabadyang luha sa kanyang pisngi. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinabi ng lalaki. Ganoon ba siya nito kaayaw? Bakit parang pakiramdam niya iniisip nitong hindi siya apektado? Pareho lang naman silang naiipit sa sitwasyon, ah. Hindi niya rin naman ginustong magpakasal sa lalaking ni hindi niya kilala pero para sa pamilya niya, gagawin niya. Natapos ang dinner na iyon nang hindi kumikibo si Jade. Ni wala siyang naintindihan sa mga sinasabi ng mga matatanda. Miski si Jared ay hindi na rin umimik pa pero ramdam na ramdam niya ang pagkadisgusto ng lalaki sa usapan. Nang pauwi na sila ng kanyang pamilya, nagkatinginan pa sila ni Jared. Agad na bumulusok ang kaba sa kanyang dibdib. There was something in his stares that was making her scared ev

“You two are very late. Saan ba kayo nagsusuot, ha?” Iyon agad ang bumungad kina Jade at Josh pagkatungtong nila ng mansion. Nasa bukana pa lang sila ng pinto ay iyon na agad ang bungad sa kanya ng kanilang ama.Napayuko na lang si Jade. Narinig niya ang pagtikhim ng kanyang kuya.“Sorry, Pa. We were just stuck in traffic. I treated Jade somewhere,” palusot pa nito. Napabuga ng hininga si Jade habang naghihintay ng sagot.“Bueno,” sagot ng ama niya. Doon siya nag-angat ng tingin dito. Nakatingin ang ama sa kanya. “We’ll have a one – on – one meeting with Jared Ong this coming Wednesday, so free your s

“Are you sure about this, Jade? You know what Dad will do to you once he found out about this!” hindi mapakali si Josh habang nililibot ang tingin sa buong parking lot.Nakagat ni Jade ang kanyang labi at saka siya mariing napapikit. Nahilot niya pa ang kanyang sentido habang nalilito rin kung itutuloy pa ang kanilang plano. Nandito sila ngayon sa parking lot ng kanyang campus at katatapos lang ng klase niya.She was supposed to meet Jermaine today because she couldn’t find a way yesterday, not after what happened with her and her family. Nang makauwi sila kahapon ay hindi na sila nag-usap pa. She went back to her room immediately while his father went to his office, too. Wala na siyang alam kung anong ginawa ng daddy niya dahil sobrang pre-occupied na niya sa mga nangyari.Hanggang kaninang umaga nga ay parang wala siya sa wisyo. Ni hindi niya nga alam kung paano niyana-survive ang buong araw at

‘Oh my gosh! Iyan ba iyong boyfriend ni Mesty kanina?!’Hindi makapaniwalang napatitig si Jade sa lalaking dumating. Palipat-lipat ang mga tingin niya lalo pa noong tumayo ang mag-asawang Ong para salubungin ang lalaki.“Jared, hijo,” ani ng babaeng Ong.“Hi, Mom.” Bumeso iyong Jared sa ina.Mas lalong nalaglag ang panga ni Jade. Napakurap-kurap pa siya habang nakatitig sa mga ito.‘Mesty’s boyfriend is our family friend?’She still couldn’t digest the thought. Then she remembered why the guy was familiar. Kamukha ito ni Mr. Ong na nakilala niya kagabi!‘Oh my, kaya naman pala!’“And this is my daughter, Jade, Jared.” Nabalik lang siya sa wisyo nang lumapit ang ama sa kanya at itinuro siya. Mabilis n

The day after was tiring for Jade. Halos madaling araw na kasing natapos ang party dahil ang dami pang kuda ng mga matatanda tungkol sa negosyo at kung ano-ano pa. Wala naman siyang choice kundi ang manatili dahil pagagalitan siya ng Papa niya. Ang resulta tuloy ay pagod na pagod siya ngayon. Weekday pa naman at may pasok siya.Isang mahinang pag-ungot ang kanyang ginawa nang bumangon sa kama. Para siyang mahihilo sa sobrang antok. Halos hindi niya nga maibuka nang maayos ang kanyang mga mata. Nakatukod ang dalawang kamay niya sa kanyang magkabilang gilid habang nakatungo. Gusto niya pang matulog. Gusto niya lang matulog buong araw, sa totoo lang, pero alam naman niyang hindi pwede at bukod sa mapapagalitan siya ay ma-a-absent siya. Nasa huling taon na siya sa college kaya hindi pwedeng magpabaya siya. Hindi lang naman kasi ito para sa pamilya niya kundi para rin sa kanya.

“Please welcome our birthday girl, Miss Jade Sy!”Isang masipang palakpakan kasabay ng isang musika ang sumalubong kay Jade habang pababa siya ng mahabang hagdan nila. Bumungad sa kanya ang napakaliwanag na living room na napapalibutan ng mga gold na palamuti. Kinakabahan si Jade habang marahang bumababa sa kanilang grand staircase. Ramdam na ramdam niya ang tinginan ng mga tao sa kanya na tila ba hinihintay lang siyang magkamali.Huminga siya nang malalim para pakalmahin ang kanyang sarili. Baka mamaya matisod siya at mas lalo lang siyang mapahiya. Pinanatili niya ang kanyang ngiti sa mukha. Halos mabingi na siya sa lakas ng palakpakan. Nang dumating siya sa pinakaibaba ay sinalubong siya ng kanyang Ahia Josh. Nakangiti ang panganay na kapatid sa kanya. Inilahad nito ang isang kamay na magiliw niya namang tinanggap