Novels by Nhaya15

THIRD PERSON POVAng unang naramdaman ni Samantha ay ang bigat ng kumot—malambot, mainit, maayos ang pagkakatakip na para bang may siguradong ayaw siyang ginawin. Sumunod ang amoy sa malinis na linen at ang crisp na cologne. At bahagyang usok—yung uri ng samyo na dumidikit sa mamahaling suit at mga lihim na hindi kailanman nabanggit. Struve. Pumikit-sumikat ang kanyang mga pilik mata, dahan-dahang bumukas sa liwanag ng araw na lumulusot sa sheer na kurtina.“Where the hell am I…?” bulong niya, garalgal pa ang boses. Pumikit siya muli, sinubukang balikan ang nangyari.Ang bar.Sina Thania, Jacob, Noah.Siya.Yung halik.Tapos—wala na.Umupo siya, dahan-dahan, habang nag-aadjust pa ang paningin niya. Malaki ang kama at sterile ang paligid. Mamahaling paintings sa pader, pero walang emosyon. Parang hindi bahay, kundi modelo ng bahay. Perfection. Silence. Control ito ang mga salita to describe the place.Hindi sa kanya. At doon niya nakita.Ang shirt. Itim, crisp at malaki sa kanya. Nakal

THIRD PERSON POVThe air outside was cool, almost cruel as it kissed her flushed cheeks. Samantha fumbled with her clutch, keys jingling louder than necessary. Her heels clacked on the pavement, echoing against the stillness of the near-empty lot. Her balance was… suggestible, thanks to the cocktails and shots that had chased her anger like gasoline to fire. After thirty minutes, she actually got out from the bar, following that order from him. Damn her! She's too stupid to follow him.“Where the hell—” she muttered, squinting at her car. And then she saw him. Leaning against the hood of a sleek black SUV. Hands in his pockets. Expression unreadable.Struve.Samantha froze, nausea and fury swirling in her gut.“You stalking me now?” she called out, sarcasm loud in the open night. “Because if this is your way of flirting, it's still disturbing.”Struve pushed off the car slowly. Unhurried. Controlled. That typical predator calm.“I’m making sure you don’t kill yourself—or someone else—

THIRD PERSON POVThe fourth song had already turned into background noise. Samantha sat cross-legged on the velvet booth seat, nursing her second mojito. The others were laughing over an old university story—something about Noah fainting during a cadaver lab and Jacob documenting it for blackmail. Typical med student chaos.“Tell me again,” Samantha said, voice dry, “why you three voluntarily signed up to bathe in blood and memorize Latin terms for five years straight?” Thania tossed her hair over her shoulder dramatically.“Because our parents threatened to cut us off if we didn’t.” she laughed dryly. But at the back of her mind, she loves to be like her dad--a surgeon.Jacob snorted. “Speak for yourself. I chose this path.”“You chose med because you’re addicted to academic stress,” Noah said. “Your love language is failing gracefully and then passing by 0.5.” He laughed at Thania, trying to annoy her. Samantha smiled. God, she needed this. Laughter. Friends. People who didn’t trea

Samantha's POVThe hallway outside the CEO’s office was quiet—too quiet. I adjusted the cuff of my blazer, eyes locked on the frosted glass door ahead of me. My heels echoed with every step, calm and steady. I refused to show the slightest hesitation. Not today. Not in front of him. Kaharap ko lang siya kaninang umaga, pero heto ako ngayon, kung kailan malapit na ang uwian saka niya ako pinatawag. Maybe he just wanted a time alone with you. Ang isang bahagi ng isip ko. No, way! He hates me!The receptionist barely looked up when I gazed at her.“You can go in, Ms. Mijares.” Of course I can. He summoned me. She opened the door, and I walked in. Struve stood by the windows, back to me, the cityscape stretching behind him like an oil painting. He looked the same—sharply dressed, shoulders squared, posture like steel. He didn’t even turn when I entered. Classic Struve. Palaging hindi nakatingin. Palaging naka-talilis.“You wanted to see me?” My voice was cool. Measured. Crisp as the after

Samantha's POVPresent time...Tumunog ang heels niya sa polished marble floor ng C&C Hotel Corp main headquarters. 25th floor. Boardroom. 8:40 AM. She was never late. Not today. Not when he was coming back. Pagpasok niya sa room, tahimik ang mga board members. Nakaupo na ang Daddy Miguel niya sa dulo ng mesa—composed, powerful, and proud. Sa kanan nito si mommy Mirabella, ang aking stepmother, graceful as always in her cream Chanel suit. I sat two seats away from my father. I didn’t want to be beside her, or him. My fingers played with my pen, my back straight, my heart louder than I wanted it to be. Parang wala lang ang time na iyon sa akin, an ordinary day. He’s coming back. After six years. After that one night, after he ran away again two years ago ng magkita sila sa kasal ng kanyang mga magulang. After everything.8:59 AM. The door opened. I didn’t look right away. But the tension in the room shifted. Kahit hindi pa ako lumingon, alam kong siya na iyon.Struve.Back from his sel

THIRD PERSON POVSix years agoAng daming tao sa mall, pero somehow, Samantha still felt alone. Bitbit niya ang shopping bag na may laman lang naman na bagong lip gloss, sketchpad, at 'yung librong matagal na niyang gustong basahin. Small things, pero para sa kanya, freedom 'yon. Finally, she thought. Walang yaya, walang bodyguard, walang mata ng daddy niya sa likod niya. Samantha rolled her eyes just thinking about her dad. Lagi na lang overprotective. Baka raw may mag-kidnap sa kanya. Like that would ever happen. Nag-decide siyang maglakad muna around the second floor. The view from the glass railings calmed her—people moving, unaware, normal.Her phone buzzed. Unknown number. She stared at it, saglit na nagduda, then declined the call. She turned toward the escalator—pero parang may something off. Sa peripheral vision niya, may lalaking naka-itim sa upper floor. Still. Parang bantay. Another one was walking behind her, not close enough para obvious, pero… why was her skin tingling?