Chapter 1

Chapter 1||5 years

“LISTEN Saphire. I think we should find another place where you could hide safely. Hindi na kayo ligtas diyan," nag aalalang saad ng babaeng kausap nito mula sa kabilang linya.

"I know Ruby. Masyadong malakas ang koneksyon nila. Mabuti nalang at nandiyan ka kaya hindi nila tayo mahanap," Saphire sighed as she looked outside the window. 

They were temporarily staying at a mansion her cousin owns, in Canada for awhile. Habang hinahanda pa ang plane ticket nila.

“Pero kailangan mag doble ingat parin. Mabuti na lamang at naagapan kaagad. Pero hindi parin kayo ligtas sangayon.For now, habang hindi pa handa ang plane ticket n’yo ni Zaffiro ay wag na wag muna kayong lumabas sa tinutuluyan n’yo. Pinaghahanap parin nila tayong tatlo at mainit ang mga mata nila lalo saiyo dahil ikaw ang natrack nila, sa ngayon,” mahabang litanya ng kausap niya.

"How about Emerald?" she asked.

She heard the woman on the other line sighed.

"Emerald is fine Saph, t*nga padin, pero ligtas naman na sa kinaroroonan. Mas dapat kang mag alala sa sarili mo. Muntik narin s’yang ma-track last month, mabuti nalang at nagawan ko ng paraan. Kung pwede ko lang sana kayong maitago dito sa hideout, kaso lang ay delikado din dito dahil sa dami ng kalaban ng organization," the woman heaved a frustrated breath.

"It's okay Ruby. Malaking pasasalamat pa rin at nariyan ka. Baka kung wala ka ay matagal na nila kaming natunton at nagawa ang balak nila saatin,” a slight smile formed on her lips as she said that.

"Tayong tatlo nalang ang magtutulungan Saph. Hindi nila tayo pwedeng mahanap, hindi nila kayo mahahanap, mapapatay ko sila bago mangyari iyon—D*mn! Anyways gotta go Saph may emergency nanaman dito—P*tcha naman oh, kumakain ako eh!" with that, the line ended.

Napahilot na lamang sa sintido niya ang babae.

To: Ruby

Take care of yourself as well Ruby, don't make us worry too much.

Sa texted.

As if on cue. Ay bigla na namang nag ring ang phone nito. Napangiti nalang siya nang makita kung sino ang tumatawag.

“Hi Asul,’ Bungad nito na nag pailing lamang kay Saphire Blue.

"Whatever Lucas, how are you?" she chuckled.

“Heto, hirap na hirap parin sa pagiging gwapo. Naaawa nga ako sa’yo, kasi hindi mo na nakikita ang kagwapuhan ko, nababaliw ka na siguro sa pagka miss saakin," problemadong sabi nito na nagpatawa na lang kay Saphire.

"Puro ka talaga biro, ‘wag mong ipaparinig yan kay Ruby at Emerald. Baka mabura yang gwapo mo kamong muka,” tatawa tawang sabi niya.

“Pinapapatawa lang kita, saka hayaan mo na yang mga kakambal mo, feeling ko crush lang nila ako ehh, kaya pinang gigigilan ako lagi,” halakhak niyang nag pailing nalang kay Saphire. 

Tiyak na talagang pag gigigilan ito ng dalawa, kapag narinig ang kalokohan nito. Sa sobrang gigil ay malalamog ang kaniyang mukha.

“Anyways I heard from Ruby na lilipat na naman kayo?”

"Yeah. . . Again,” saphire sighed.

"Don't worry Saph. after this trip, babawi ako at susundan ko kayo sa lilipatan n’yo. Saan nga ba kayo tutuloy?" She smiled on what he said.

"Kristine offered us a house, rest house niya ‘yun sa private Island. We will stay there temporarily. Hindi naman daw n’ya masyadong napupuntahan at tiyak namang safe kami doon kaya doon muna kami tutuloy,” I explained, I heard him sigh in relief.

"That's good to know. . . Can I talk to Zaffiro? I miss him already. Miss na miss ko kayong mag ina, halos isang linggo narin ako dito sa business trip na to," he sounds tired making her smile

"Ginusto mo ‘yan eh, magdusa ka. Miss ka narin namin nitong si Zaffiro. Lagi kang hinahanap saakin, miss na miss n’ya na raw ang papa n’ya."

"Eh ikaw, Hindi mo ako miss?" he sounds like a kid while saying that on the other line, Saphire giggled.

"Ikaw pa ba? Malakas ka sa’kin eh! Oh s’ya, kausapin mo muna si Zaff at miss na miss ka na nito," nakangiting tinungo ni Saph ang anak na mukang concentrate na concentrate sa pakikipagtitigan sa alagang pusa habang nakakunot noo pa ganoon rin naman ang pusa.

"Zaffiro,” she spoke softly and handed her four year old son the phone.

"It's your papa,” nakangiting saad nito. His eyes widened as he accepted the phone with a wide smile plastered on his face.

"Papa!" he greeted him happily.

Napailing nalang itong tinitigan ang anak na masayang masayang nakikipag usap kay Lucas. Saphire again just sighed. 

Just by looking at Zaffiro makes her remember that night.  That one mistake she will never regret. . .

***

Napahilot si matteo sa kaniyang sintido habang subsob nanaman sa trabaho. 

Five years since that night happened and for some reason, that woman never left his mind. And every time he closes his eyes, all he sees is that woman's face.

And every time he falls asleep, all he dreams about is that night and it's making him insane.

He became bored of other women and that woman is at fault for every sleepless night, without pleasuring himself imagining her.

‘It's her freakin fault!’ napapikit nalamang ito ng mariin. 

It's not like him. . . Hindi siya ang tipo ng taong mababaliw nang ganoon para lamang sa isang babae. A woman whom she just met once to be exact. Hindi siya ang tipong mababaliw sa pagnanasa dahil lang sa kakaisip sa babaeng nang iwan sa kaniya matapos nang gabing iyon.

At first he thought he'll eventually forget her.

Pero dumaan ang ilang buwan ay nakatatak pa rin sa kaniya ang muka ng babaeng nakaniig sa gabing iyon. At hindi niya maipaliwanag kung bakit nangyayari iyon sa kaniya at hanggang ngayon ay ito pa din ang hinahanap hanap niya kahit anong tanggi nito.

Siya ang dapat nang iiwan! Pero mukhang hindi lang s’ya nito basta iniwan at nakuha pang nakawan. 

She stole his sanity, she stole his peace of mind with her. Matteo clenched his jaw, he swore to make that damn woman pay for leaving him. . . He suddenly grinned at that thought. 

A sweet punishment she will never forget. . .

He wants her to be frustrated as he is. 

Mula kasi nang mangyari ang gabing iyon ay hindi na siya matahimik. 

He constantly wanted to see her again, he craves for her. He tried to ignore it, but it only made it worst.

"That woman will regret messing up with me,” nakakuyom ang kamaong saad nito saka nagsalin ng alak sa baso ng mini bar sa opisina nito saka sumimsim rito. 

As if on cue, ay nagbukas ang pintuan at walang sabi sabing pumasok ang isang lalaking may pares na berdeng mga mata saka pabagsak na umupo sa couch ng mini bar niya.

"You seem frustrated,” saad nito, di nalamang niya iyon pinansin at nagpatuloy lang sa pagsimsim ng alak. 

It's Tyson Martin, One of his friends and the CEO of the one of the most well known technology companies in Asia, TY.M Tech.

"How about you? What brings you here?” malamig na wika niya. 

Tyson shrugs his shoulders then went to his direction. Kumuha ito ng vodka at dire diretsong ininom iyon na parang tubig lang saka napangiwi na lamang nang maramdaman ang pagdaloy ng alak sa kaniyang lalamunan.

"Problem?" Matteo asked while still focused on his liquor.

 Tyson clenched his jaw. His eyes were sharp as he drank another shot. 

Nang maubos nito iyon ay ibang alak naman ang napiling tirahin. Napailing na lamang si Matteo sa kamiserablehan ng kaibigan. Mukhang hindi lang s’ya ang nababaliw ngayon sa babae. At mukhang mas malala pa ang nararanasan ng kaibigan.

"Is it about that young lady?" kunot noong tanong ni Matteo. 

Tyson just ignored him as he drank another hard liquor.

"D*mn man, hindi ko akalaing papatol ka sa mas bata sa’yo. Okay sana kung ilang taon lang ang tanda mo sakan’ya. But Tyson, 9 years gap is no joke. Mabubugbog ka ni Vin kapag nalaman nyang pinatos mo ang bunso nila,” kunot noong saad ni Matteo habang napailing iling pa. 

Pero napabuntong hininga nalang din nang mapansing hindi sumasagot si Tyson at mukhang mabigat talaga ang pinagdadaanan.

"Age doesn't matter Tyson,” iyon na lang ang nasabi niya para pagaanin ang loob nito.

'And jail is just a room,” dagdag niya sa kaniyang isipan. 

As if on cue ay bigla nalang sumulpot kung saan si Zayne Carson. One of his crazy friends.

"Wooy! Andito rin pala ‘tong mailap na ugok! Tyson my man how are you? Himala ata at naisipan mong damayan ‘tong si Mat-Tigang hoy dika pa nakakamove on Matt? tagal na ah, tigang ka padin?" tuloy tuloy na saad nito.

 Matteo glared at him making the annoying prick laugh, shaking his head then joined them.

Sakto namang nag ring ang phone niya.

"How was it?" he asked the person on the other line.

"Ginamit ko na ang lahat ng connection ko Matt. Lahat na ata ng babaeng kamukha nung nasa sketch ay no parin ang sagot mo. D*mn man, bakit ba kasi di mo alam ang pangalan niya? But whoever she is, I have this bad feeling about her. . . Malakas ang koneksyon ng organization ko at madali ko lang dapat siyang mahahanap kahit sketch lang ng mukha niya ang pinakita mo," napakunot noo nalang si Matteo sa sinabi nito. 

It's been a year since he decided to find the woman. Hindi na kasi talaga niya makaya. He thinks that once he finds the woman, he'll finally figure out why he's being like this.

Baliw na ata siya.

"Satingin ko ay may pumoprotekta sa kanya at nasisiguro kong hindi ang organization namin iyon.”

“I have two on my mind at ang dalawang iyon lang ang pwedeng pumoprotekta sa kanya na dahilan kaya nahihirapan akong hanapin siya. Kaya kung sino man itong babaeng kinababaliwan mo ay binabalaan kita, posibleng mapanganib siya,” litanya nitong nag palalim ng gitla ng noo ni Matteo.

“Those two were as powerful as our organization. The first one is the mortal enemy of our organization and the second one? Isang mailap na mafia org na parehong kalaban ng agencies namin. So if I were you? ititigil ko na tong kabaliwang ‘to dahil nasisiguro kong tinatago siya ng isa sa dalawang organizations. Masyadong mapanganib para sumugal Matt, at isa pa ay baka nga nakalimutan ka na ng babaeng ito."

Napailing nalang si Matteo at padabog na binabaan ito saka nagpatuloy nalang sa pag inom kasama ng dalawang kaibigan. Naikuyom niya na lamang ng mahigpit ang mga kamao niya.

If I could stop,I definitely would. If I could, I wouldn't have this problem in the first place. But that's the damn problem! I can't! I f*cking can't! And I’m confused.

Marahas na lamang itong napa buga ng hangin. Hindi niya alam kung anong meron sa babaeng iyon at hinahanap hanap niya ito.

"I'll be on vacation for about a month. I think I need a break."

Sambit niya, kunot noong napa tingin naman sa kanya ang mga kaibigan niya.

"Not a good Idea man. Kung sa vacation house rin lang, I heard your aunt was there at tiyak na kung kani kanino ka nanaman i-rereto kapag nalamang may free time ka. Naalala mo?"

His aunt really is determined for him to finally tie the knot. Na suportado rin ng mga magulang niyang akala mo ay bumibili lang ng candy sa tindahan kung makarequest ng apo. Gusto na kasi ng mga itong magkaroon ng bata sa bahay. 

Napailing na lamang tuloy ito.

"How about our friends? Siguradong may mga lugar silang pwede mong pagbakasyunan,” Zayne blurted out.

Umiling nalang siya sa sinabi nito. Wala siya sa mood, humingi ng pabor sa mga kaibigan niya dahil tiyak na guguluhin lang din siya ng mga ito sa bakasyon niya at mas naistress pa siya.

"How about your sister? Ang alam ko hindi na nagagamit ang vacation house niya." Matteo looked at his friend blankly.

"Seriously Zayne? Bat halos lahat ata ng chismis alam mo?" Matteo said with a deadpan look. Zayne just laughed at him loudly.

Napangiwi siya doon.

"I am just being aware of my surroundings,” he shrugged. Matteo rolled his eyes on him.

"Ang sabihin mo tsismoso ka lang talaga," kunot noong saad niya na nagpahalakhak muli sa parang t*ngang si Zayne. 

Si Tyson naman ay mukhang lunod na lunod na sa alak at kanina pa tahimik lang na umiinom habang tinatawag ang pangalan ng kapatid ni Vin.

Zayne's Idea wasn't bad actually. Walang maghihinala sa mga magulang niyang nasa vacation house siya ng kapatid niya. 

For now he just want to stay somewhere that might give him a peace of mind.

Hindi naman siguro malalaman ng kapatid niyang makikitira muna s’ya sa vacation house nito kahit saglit lang.

***

"Mommy, where are we going?" Zaffiro asked while holding a book, making her smile at the blue eyed kid.

"To your tita Kristine's vacation house on an island baby, " She answered. 

Napa Tango tango ang bata doon.

"Island? Will there be fishes in there? Can we make sand castles?" he asked, looking at her innocently. 

He really resembles his father. 

Habang lumalaki ay mas nakikita niya ang pagkakahawig nila ng lalaking iyon. It's been five years but that man never left her mind. Hindi lang niya alam kung paano ito hahanapin. Sa totoo lang ay naduduwag siya.

Her life is dangerous enough, natatakot siyang madamay ito. Ngunit sa loob loob niya ay nag aalala din siya sa kapakanan ng anak.

Naguguluhan din siya.

"Of course, we'll do anything you want,” she answered, making her son smile at her happily.

'Kamusta na kaya siya?' she asked at the back of her mind.

'He probably, already forgotten about me,’ napatingala siya kalangitan at napangiti na lamang at nailing.

"Mommy?"

He called again, and that caught her attention.

"You're disguising as tita Emerald again?" he asked, looking at her mother.

She’s wearing a realistic contact lense that changed the color of her eyes into green. Unlike other contact lenses, it doesn't just change its color, but will also seem like it is the real color of your eyes and not some contacts.

Emerald is her twin sister, madalas silang nagpapalitan ng identity nito, para sa kanilang kaligtasan. Kagaya na lang ngayon.

"Let's go baby, baka mahuli tayo sa flight natin," Zaffiro Mathew Just nodded his head. 

Saphire carried him while Zaffiro was looking at a picture book about cats, Saphire just smiled. Zaffiro truly is a special gift to her. An unexpected blessing in the midst of chaos. 

Akala niya dati ay mawawala na ito sa kaniya nang minsang maaksidente sya nang ipinagbubuntis niya ito.

Her son is now her life.

Kay Zaffiro na lamang umiikot ang mundo niya at ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit gusto niya pang mabuhay nang matagal, Kung bakit siya patuloy na lumalaban.

Ibinaba niya muna si Zaffiro saka hinawakan ang kamay nito at umakyat na sa hagdanan pasakay ng eroplanong sasakyan nila.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the Fasten Seat Belt sign. If you haven't already done so, please stow your carry-on luggage underneath the seat in front of you or in an overhead bin. Please take your seat and fasten your seat belt. And also make sure your seat back and folding trays are in their full upright position.”

Umupo na silang mag ina sa upuan sa loob ng eroplano habang si Zaffiro naman ay nakapwesto sa tabi ng bintana. Mukhang mamimiss nito ang bansang minulatan.

"Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Jessica Suho and I'm your chief flight attendant. On behalf of Captain Ed Malouwag and the entire crew,welcome aboard to the ZEC Airlines flight 7500 , non-stop service from ***to *** (then continuing on to ***).

Our flight time will be of 14 hours. We will be flying at an altitude of ***feet/meters at a ground speed of *** miles per hour/kilometers per hour.

At this time, make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position and that your seat belt is correctly fastened. Also, your portable electronic devices must be set to 'airplane' mode until an announcement is made upon arrival. Thank you."

Saphire sighed. Na Pahinga na lang ito ng malalim, habang nakatanaw sa labas ng bintana.

Napa-buntonghininga si Saphire doon at napapikit na lamang. For some reason, she feels nervous, kahit hindi na bago sa kanila ito.