Novels by Binibining Hiraya

EMERALD'S POV Hindi na maalis-alis sa labi ko ang mga ngiti ko habang pinagmamasdan ang mga gamit ni Trevor dito sa kwarto kung saan siya nag-propose sa akin. Anim na buwan na ang nakakaraan simula noon kaya anim na buwan na rin ang anak namin. Paminsan minsan ay tumatakas ako para makapuslit dito at balikan ang nakaraan namin noong high school pa lamang kami. Hindi ako makapaniwala na halos lahat ng gamit ay naitago pa niya, mula sa mga sulat na ibinigay ko sa kaniya, sa mga litratong sa studio pa namin kinuha, at pati mga resibo ng 7-11 kung saan madalas kaming mag-ice cream noon. Halos hindi na nga mabasa ang nakasulat sa mga resibo dahil nabubura na ang mga naka-imprenta dito. "Nandito ka lang pala." "Ay kabayo!" Napatawa si Trevor dahil sa naging reaksyon ko nang bigla siyang magsalita. Sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin kaya mabilis siyang lumapit at hinalikan ako sa noo. "Ang cute mo talaga kapag nagugulat, Baby," sabi pa niya. "Paano mo nalaman na nandito ako?" pag-

EMERALD'S POV FLASHBACK (9 years ago) "Hoy, Emerald, sasama ka rin sa field trip natin, hindi ba? Kasi excited na ako!" Napatingin ako kay Chloe nakaupo na sa tabi ko. Lunch break namin ngayon at nakatambay lang kami sa loob ng classroom. Kakatapos lang din kasi naming kumain at mas pinili naming hindi na lumabas. Nag-aalala kasi siya na baka makasalubong namin sa labas si Brenna at maisipan na naman ng kapatid ko na bully-hin ako. "Oo. Nagsabi na ako kay Papa. Kasama si Brenna kaya kasama rin ako," seryosong sagot ko naman. "So, kapag pala hindi sumama si Brenna, hindi ka rin sasama? Hay naku, para ka namang anino ng bruha mong kapatid," nakangusong sabi naman niya sa akin. Mahina ko siyang hinampas sa braso. "Huwag ka ngang maingay diyan. Baka may makarinig sa 'yo. Makakarating 'yan panigurado kay Brenna," sabi ko naman. Napairap naman sa akin si Chloe. "Ewan ko ba sa 'yo. Pumapayag ka na ganyanin ka ng kapatid mo. Masyado ka nang naaapi," dismayadong sabi pa sa akin ng

EMERALD'S POV Hindi ko na napigilan ang mga luha ko nang makita ko ang kabuuan ng kwarto. Punong puno ito ng mga stolen pictures ko simula noong highschool pa lamang ako hanggang sa nagtatrabaho na ako. Napakarami nito na halos mapuno na ang buong kwarto. Sa kisame naman ay may mga maliliit na ilaw na siyang nagbibigay liwanag sa buong kwarto. At sa sahig naman ay punong puno ito ng mga petals ng iba't ibang klase ng bulaklak. At nang mapunta ang tingin ko sa lalaking nakaluhod sa may gitna ng kwarto ay napatakip na lamang ako sa aking bibig. Lumuluha na rin siya habang may hawak siyang isang maliit na kulay pulang box at kapag tinatamaan ng ilaw ang laman niyon ay kumikinang ito. "Hi, Baby," nakangiting sambit niya kahit patuloy ang pagpatak ng luha niya. "Trev," ang tanging nasabi ko na lamang. "Hindi ba't sinabi ko sa 'yo na itatama ko ang lahat sa oras na maging maayos na ang mga gulo. And this is the right time to do it. Emerald, please marry me again." Sasagot na sana ako n

EMERALD'S POVMabilis na lumipas ang mga buwan. Nanalo kami sa mga kasong isinampa namin kina Tita Haidee at Tita Anna at nahatulan sila ng habambuhay na pagkakabilanggo. Si Brenna naman ay tuluyan nang nawala sa tamang pag-iisip kaya nasa isang mental institution na siya upang doon ay magpagaling. Marami na ring nagbago simula nang matapos ang mga gulo.Ako na ulit ang nagma-manage ng kumpanya ni Papa. Si Papa naman ay nagpapahinga na lamang sa bahay dahil ipinamana na niya ng tuluyan sa akin ang kumpanya. Si Audrey ay bumalik na ulit sa US kasama si Lola Mirasol upang tapusin ang pag-aaral doon. Kami naman ni Trevor ay sa mansion ng mga Carter pansamantalang tumutuloy habang pinapagawa pa namin ang bahay namin. Mas malapit kasi ang bahay nila sa mga trabaho namin kaya doon na rin kami nagpasyang pansamantalang mag-stay.Si Trevor na ang namamahala sa TAC dahil nag-retired na rin si Papa Carlo. Pabalik balik na lamang siya sa US at Pilipinas upang aliwin ang sarili. Malaki na rin an

EMERALD'S POVNapaiwas ako ng tingin nang makita si Brenna na nakatayo malapit sa amin. Nakaposas pa rin ang mga kamay niya at may dalawang pulis ang nakabantay sa kaniya. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay dadalhin na siya sa isang Psychiatrist upang ipa-check up."Brenna, anak," umiiyak na sambit ni Papa habang papalapit ito sa kapatid ko."Anak? Itinuturing niyo pa po ba akong anak? Ni hindi niyo sinabi sa akin na magaling na kayo. Pinaniwala niyo ako na hindi pa kayo nakaka-recover," umiiyak na sabi naman ni Brenna.Naramdaman ko ang paghawak ni Trevor sa kamay ko. Tumingin ako sa kaniya at binigyan niya ako ng isang tipid na ngiti. Alam kong pinapalakas niya lamang ang loob ko ngayon."Ginawa ko iyon para sa ikabubuti ng lahat, Brenna.""Ikabubuti ng lahat o ikabubuti ng anak niyong si Emerald? Sabagay, hindi na ako magtataka dahil siya naman ang paborito niyo.""Hindi totoo 'yan. Pareho ko kayong anak. Kung tutuusin nga ay mas binigyan kita ng pansin noon dahil ayokong maramdaman mo

EMERALD'S POV"Kuya!" Napalingon kami sa kapatid ni Gino nang dumating ito sa ospital. Siya kasi ang piniling tawagan ni Trevor upang ibalita ang mga nangyari. Ang alam din kasi ni Trevor ay nasa ibang bansa ang kanilang mga magulang."Huwag kang OA. Daplis lang 'to," pagpapakalma naman ni Gino sa kapatid."Kahit na! Sabihin mo, sino sa mga tauhan ko ang bumaril sa 'yo?" natatarantang tanong pa ni Charlene."Enough, Charlene. Hindi ako ang biktima dito. It's Emerald."Dahang dahang tumingin naman sa akin si Charlene. Hindi siya makatingin ng deretso sa akin at nilalaro laro pa niya ang mga daliri niya."Sorry. Ang sabi kasi sa akin ni Brenna ay ibibigay ka niya kay Kuya. Akala ko ay tama ang desisyon ko," mahinang sabi niya sa akin."No worries, Charlene. Alam kong si Kuya mo lang ang iniisip mo. But everything is fine now," seryosong sabi ko naman.Wala naman na kasi akong balak na idamay pa ang kapatid ni Gino. Oo't tauhan niya ang ginamit ni Brenna ngunit masyado nang magulo para

SERENITY'S POVTila tumigil na naman ang mundo ko nang makita kong muli ng malapitan si Ethan. Hindi ko magawang igalaw ang buong katawan ko at wala akong ibang magawa kun'di ang mapatitig na lamang sa kaniya. Nabablangko ako at napakabilis ng tibok ng puso ko."So, nasaan ang boyfriend mo?" tanong pa niya sa akin na siyang nagpabalik sa ulirat ko."A ano, kasi, ano."Gusto ko na lamang magpalamon sa lupa dahil hindi ko alam ang isasagot sa kaniya. Wala naman kasi talaga akong boyfriend. Ang mayroon ako ay asawa na hindi ko pa nakikilala."Malayo-layo pa ang bayan dito. Sumabay ka na sa akin," walang emosyong sambit pa niya."A. Hindi na. Ayos lang ako," pagtanggi ko naman kahit ang totoo ay gustong gusto ko nang sumakay sa kotse niya. Isang pambihirang pagkakataon iyon na hindi ko dapat pinalalampas ngunit hindi ko alam kung bakit may pumipigil sa akin na i-grab ang pagkakataong ito."Okay."Mabilis akong napalingon kay Ethan dahil muli niyang ini-start ang kotse niya. Agad naman ako

SERENITY’S POV“Hello, guys,” masayang bati ni Ethan sa amin nang matapos niyang kantahin ang song na nagpasikat sa kaniya.Napuno naman ng tilian at sigawan ang buong venue habang ako ay nakangiting nakatitig lang kay Ethan kahit na hindi ko siya gaanong maaninag dahil nga malayo kami sa stage.“I have an announcement to make. Bago pa man ang concert na ito ay maraming bali-balita na ang kumakalat tungkol sa akin,” seryosong sabi niya.Napatango ako. Alam ko ang tinutukoy niya dahil may isang litrato siyang nag-viral. Ang litratong ito ay isang kuha ng hindi kilalang tao. Sa litratong ito ay may kasama siyang isang babae, si Camila Ceres, isa sa mga pinakasikat na mga artista. Malaking balita ito sa lahat sapagkat iyon ang kauna-unahang beses na may na-link na babae kay Ethan. Kaya marami na ang nag-conclude na baka magkarelasyon na ang dalawa. Iyon din kasi ang kauna-unahang beses na makita siyang may kasamang babae.Naalala ko pa ang isang interview noon ni Ethan. Tinanong siya kun

SERENITY'S POV"Paalis ka na ba, Hija?" magiliw na tanong sa akin ni Lola Amanda."Opo, Lola Amanda."Simula kasi kagabi noong nagpaalam ako sa kanila na manonood ako ng concert ni Ethan ay sinabihan na nila akong tawagin ko na lamang silang lolo at lola. Buong akala ko nga ay hindi pa nila ako papayagan na umalis ngayon dahil mukhang bad mood sila kagabi. Ngunit laking gulat ko na wala silang pagdadalawang isip na pinayagan ako. Nakakapagtaka pa nga na parang mas natuwa pa sila na manonood ako ng concern. Ngunit gayunpaman ay hindi na ako nagtanong o nangulit pa dahil baka maiba na naman ang mood nila.Mamaya pa namang 7pm ang simula ng concert ngunit sinabi sa akin ni Cindy na dapat ay maaga pa lang ay nasa venue na kami. Sold out kasi ang tickets kaya paniguradong maraming tao mamaya. Kaya kahit alas kwatro pa lamang ng hapon ay nakagayak na ako. "O siya, mag-iingat ka ha. Sigurado ka bang hindi ka na magpapahatid sa driver mo?" tanong pa sa akin ni Lola.Marahan naman akong umili

SERENITY'S POVPagkarating namin sa loob ng classroom ay pinagtitinginan ako ng mga kaklase namin. Ang iba ay nagbubulungan pa kaya hindi na nakatiis pa si Cindy. Pumunta siya sa harap at malakas na hinampas ang table."Pwede ba? Tigilan niyo na nga 'yan. Bakit hindi na lang kayo mag-aral para may magawa kayong maganda?" mataray na sigaw niya sa buong klase."Bakit pa kami mag-aaral kung pwede naman palang magpakasal sa matandang mayaman para umangat sa buhay?" pasaring naman ni Chloe, ang isa sa mga maldita naming kaklase."Kung umangat nga talaga ang buhay ko, edi sana hindi na ako pumasok ngayon?" sarkastikong sabi ko naman.Hindi ko ugaling pumatol sa mga sinasabi nila sa akin noon. Ngunit hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sarili ko lalo na at pati ang kaibigan ko ay nadadamay. Lumapit ako kay Cindy at marahan siyang hinila paupo sa upuan namin."Huwag mo na silang patulan, Cindy. Hayaan mo na lang," bulong ko pa sa kaniya."So, totoo ngang magpapakasal ka sa isang matanda?" hindi maka

SERENITY’S POV Dahil sa mga rebelasyon kagabi ay wala akong sapat na tulog. Hindi ako masyadong nakatulog dahil sa napakalaking twist sa buhay ko. FLASHBACK “Hija, alam kong nalilito ka sa mga kaganapan. Ngunit kasal ako at buhay pa ang asawa kong si Amanda kaya imposibleng sa akin ka ikakasal. At isa pa, mahal na mahal ko itong si Amanda at wala na akong balak na maghanap pa ng iba.” “Ano na namang kapilyuhan ang sinabi mo at bakit iniisip ng bata na ikaw ang papakasalan niya?” singit ni Donya Amanda. “Hindi ko kasi sinabi sa mag-asawa na sa apo natin ipapakasal ang anak nila.” “Ibig sabihin ay sinadya niyo pong hindi sabihin kina Papa Julio na sa inyong apo dapat magpapakasal si Samantha?” gulat kong tanong. Ngingiti-ngiting tumango si Don Armando. “Hindi naman kasi sila nagtanong, at isa pa, sila na mismo ang nag-isip na sa akin magpapakasal ang anak nila.” May punto naman si Don Armando doon dahil kaya ko lang din naman inakala na sa kaniya ako ikakasal ay dahil iy

SERENITY’S POVKatulad ng sinabi sa akin ni Papa Julio ay hindi na niya ako hinayaang pumasok pa sa school. Paniguradong tinatawagan na ako ni Cindy ngayon ngunit hindi pa rin nila ibinabalik sa akin ang cellphone ko. Sa ngayon ay nakasakay na kami sa Black Limousine na katulad no’ng sumundo sa kanila kahapon. Nakasimpleng dress lamang ako ngunit pinaayusan pa ako ni Mama Mercedes, bagay na unang beses nilang ginawa sa akin.“Ayusin mo ang mukha mo mamaya, Serenity. Huwag na huwag mo kaming ipapahiya kay Don Armando,” nagbabantang sabi pa sa akin ni Mama.Hindi ako nagsalita. Wala rin namang saysay ang boses ko sa kanila dahil buo na nag desisyon nilang ako ang ipambayad nila sa utang nila sa Don Armando na iyon. Makalipas ang halos kalahating oras ay nakarating na kami sa isang mamahaling restaurant. Habang naglalakad kami papasok ay napakabilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Hanggang sa makita ko ang isang matandang nakangiti sa amin. Naka-wheelchair siya at halatang mas maedad nga siya kay P

Sierra's POVI couldn't sleep. It was already 1:00 in the morning. I am just looking outside the window of my room. The moon still shines bright and how I wish I could shift right now. But unfortunately, I can't feel my wolf.I was about to lie in my bed but I saw Asher. He was standing beside a big tree, and he was looking at me. I felt my heart beating fast. I missed him so much, and supposedly, we should be celebrating now. But it didn't happen. I am not his mate and it is breaking my heart into pieces. How can I see him marrying my best friend? How can I continue my life living in this kind of irony?Asher wears a pleading eye as if he's saying to me that we need to talk. I didn't want to talk to him but my heart said I should. This might be the last time we would talk about ourselves.So, I quickly grabbed my jacket and put my hair in a ponytail. I silently walk outside the house. My parents should be sleeping right now and I don't want them to wake up. As soon as I walked out of

Sierra's POVAfter the incident, my parents and I went home. They didn't give me a chance to talk to Asher. They said that it is for the better. They didn't want to cause any scene since Asher had accepted my best friend, Shelly, as his mate. "How are you feeling, dear?" my mother asked me the moment we entered the house.I gave her a weak smile. "I didn't shift and my boyfriend is mated to my best friend. I don't know what to feel.""Sierra, you know that some of us had the incident of not shifting the moment we turned 18," my father said.I shook my head. "It was just written in the books. I haven't met one."I thought Shifting was only written in the books. I thought it was only fiction. In my 18 years of existence in this world, I never met any wolf who didn't shift at the right age. So, I don't know what to believe. I can't explain my feelings right now."Sierra, can we go to your room?" my mother pleaded.I just nodded and we headed to my room. The moment I opened the door, I s

Sierra's POVI didn't shift. I quickly looked up at the sky and closed my eyes. I need to shift. This can't be happening to me right now.'Moon Goddess, please let me meet my wolf. Please.'"Sierra, I think you need to go to your parents," I heard Alpha Julius.I opened my eyes and saw the Alpha and Luna sadly looking at me. I can't do anything but cry. When I turned my gaze to my parents, they were intently looking at me. Just like me, they were also confused."Why didn't Beta's daughter shift?""We expect that she will be our future Luna.""She's one of the strongest in their generation, but she doesn't have a wolf."All the people witnessed that I didn't shift. And now they were talking about me. I can't move my feet because all of them are now looking at me. I want to explain myself but how? How can I answer their questions if I don't even know what is really happening to me?"Please be quiet. It's not fair to judge quickly. We know some of our people who shifted days after their

SIERRA'S POVIt's already 6:30 in the evening when we arrive at the front yard of the pack house. I just sent a text message to Asher informing him that my family and I were already here."Seems like everybody is excited for the future Alpha," my mother commented as she looked around the front yard."Of course. Everybody is looking forward to seeing how great Asher would be once he shifted," my father said wearing a big smile on his face.I just nodded. It's true. This might be one of the greatest events in a pack. Alpha Julius is a great leader and he maintained the peace and harmony within our group. He also built a group of great warriors that protects us from rogues. That's why sometimes, Asher felt pressured as everybody was expecting that he would become a great leader also. As for me, I do not doubt that he will become successful also. He was trained and born to be a great Alpha.I took a glance at my phone when it started ringing. I smiled when I saw the name of Asher on my sc

SIERRA'S POVI am almost ready for Asher's birthday party. Since he is the Alpha's son, all of us in the pack need to be there to witness his shift. And since it is my birthday also, Alpha and Luna are willing to share the celebration with me.It's already 5:30 in the afternoon. The party will start at 6 pm, and the moon will light the sky at 7:00 in the evening. Once the moon shines, Asher and I will shift into our wolf form.I quickly grabbed my phone when it suddenly rang. I frowned when I saw the name of Shelly on the screen. I wasn't expecting a call from her since we decided to meet at the packhouse later."Shelly," I said as I answered her call."Sierra, I am really sorry. I think I can't make it in time. I have a lot of things that I need to finish here," she answered in a disappointed tone.Shelly is working part-time in a restaurant in the city. She said that she needed to go somewhere from time to time, so she could meet her mate. And doing part-time in different restaurant

SIERRA’S POV“Are you ready for your birthday?”I took a glance at my friend, Shelly, who was more excited than I was. My eighteenth birthday will be held in 2 days' time. And I am a bit nervous about what will happen that time. I will shift to a werewolf form and I will be able to meet my wolf. That time also, I might be able to meet my mate. In which I hope there will be Asher, my boyfriend of two years already. He is my first love, and, of course, he is the Alpha’s son, and me, Sierra Marie Finnegan, the Beta’s only daughter. Since it was obvious that Asher and I had a romantic relationship, everyone was expecting that we would be mates. Everyone believes that we are perfect future leaders of this pack.Asher and I have the same birthday also. We were born on the same day that makes our parents believe that we are really meant for each other.“I am ready, as always, but a little bit nervous,” I answered Shelly.Shelly has been my friend since grade school. She was one year older an

THIRD POV"Really? My sister seems to be enjoying the attention you're giving her a little too much," Lexi said in a deep tone after Chase ended the call.Chase smiled slightly. "Let her be. It's actually better that she trusts me," he replied.His wife rolled her eyes at him and placed her spoon down. They were in the middle of their meal, as Chase had just returned to the house where he was hiding with Lexi."Wasn't it enough that you spent hours together at the bar? She didn’t even think about the possibility of someone seeing you two together, knowing that you’re her brother-in-law," Lexi said, shaking her head.Chase's smile widened. He was amused to see his wife annoyed at his plan to get closer to her sister, Shiela. He didn’t intend to tease her, but he couldn't help himself."Well, she’s actually not bad to talk to. I mean, she’s not like before when she was desperately trying to get my attention."Lexi abruptly stood up, causing Chase to rise as well. She glared at him, maki

THIRD POVChase pulled the car to a gentle stop in front of the Castillon residence. The night had stretched longer than expected, but neither he nor Shiela seemed to mind.“Thank you, Chase,” Shiela said with a warm smile as she turned to face him.Their conversation at the bar lasted nearly three hours. Shiela had taken the opportunity to talk with him extensively, grateful that, for the first time, he seemed open and willing to share parts of himself. She had not drunk too much and was careful to stay sober enough to savor their time together. Chase, too, had limited his drinks, knowing he had to drive. When he offered to take her home, she gladly accepted, leaving her car in the care of her friend, Jenny, the bar's owner.Chase exhaled before speaking, his tone serious. “Shiela, I don’t want to rush things. My wife just passed away. I don’t want to give you false hope.”Shiela shook her head gently. “I’m not in a hurry, Chase. What matters to me is that you’re finally talking to m

SHIELA'S POV"Shiela, that's enough. You're drunk," Jenny said seriously, trying to stop me from drinking anymore.I shook my head slowly. Right now, alcohol is the only ally I had. I had no idea how my life had come to this. I thought everything would finally fall into place once my half-sister was out of my life, but it turned out to be the opposite. My father became even more distant, and my mother seemed to care for nothing but the company.And Chase? He felt even more out of reach. If there had been a wall between us before, now it feels like he had built an entirely different world—one I had no place in. The chances of him noticing me had become even more impossible."I don't know if you're celebrating or mourning," Jenny muttered, shaking her head.I let out a bitter smile. "If you think about it, I should be happy that Lexi is gone. I thought I would finally get everything I wanted. But I was wrong. My life has only become more miserable, Jenny.""Well, it's never that simple,

THIRD POV"Chase, I'm sorry that Grandma and I just got back now," Chelsea said, crying as she hugged her brother tightly.It took them a while to return home because Chelsea had an upcoming exam, so she had to take it before coming home. Their grandmother came with her since she, too, was deeply affected by Lexi’s sudden passing."Get some rest first; you must be tired from the trip," Anna told the grandmother and granddaughter.Mirasol immediately shook her head. "I want to visit my granddaughter, Lexi. Chase, come with us to see her," she said authoritatively.Chase gave a silent nod, showing no emotion. Carlo let out a sigh as he observed his son's behavior since Lexi’s passing. Chase showed no emotions and remained quiet most of the time. Although he hadn't neglected TAC, the drastic change in him was noticeable. He practically lived in his office and had only come home to the mansion now because his sister had arrived."I'm worried about him, Mama. He makes it seem like he's oka

THIRD POV“Where is Chase?” Carlo asked the moment he arrived in the dining area of their mansion. He found Anna already seated, waiting for him.“I called him, and he said he would be working overtime at the office,” his wife replied seriously.Carlo let out a deep sigh. He no longer knew what to do with his only son. Ever since his wife passed away, Chase had become distant, shutting everyone out. He was always at the office, and Carlo rarely saw him anymore. At first, he gave his son space, allowing him time to grieve, but now he was beginning to worry about his behavior.“Just give him some time, Carlo,” Anna said as she began serving herself some food.“Until when? He can’t be like this forever,” he said, shaking his head.“He loved Lexi dearly, but he would eventually move on. He’s still young, so he will surely find someone else to love. If only Lexi wasn’t Shiela’s sister, I would have suggested once again that we arrange for them to be together,” Anna added.Carlo turned to h

THIRD POVDinner was quiet, almost eerily so. Minda and her daughter, Shiela, sat at the dining table, sharing a meal for the first time since that morning. But the silence between them was heavy, filled with unsaid words and lingering tension."At least Chase chose to stay out of the company’s affairs," Minda finally broke the silence, her voice carrying a sense of relief.Shiela scoffed, her tone laced with sarcasm. "You don’t have to worry anymore. You’re still the CEO, after all."Minda frowned. "Shiela, instead of standing with me, why does it feel like you’re turning against me? What exactly do you want?"Shiela sighed, shaking her head. "Honestly? I don’t even know anymore. The company? Chase? Papa? I have no idea, Mama. Lexi may be gone, but it feels like she’s still haunting me."Minda froze, her fork slipping slightly from her fingers. Her eyes widened as she turned to her daughter. "She’s haunting you too?" she asked in disbelief."I mean, she’s not truly gone because I sti