THEY went back to Sorsogon after a week. They spent little time exploring the City of Baguio before going home.
Einille suggested trying ghost hunting, but they couldn't do it due to her tight schedule. Besides, she was sure that Vale would be around anytime she needed him.
Vale sent her home because he left his car there. And they could not miss the teasing stare of Shari. Her cousin was off-duty and waiting for them.
Shari immediately asked her about their activities for the past week when Vale left.
“It seemed the mountaineering adventure refreshes you. And surprisingly, you and Vale looked closer now. Is this a rebound relationship?” Shari tickled Einille’s waist.
“We’re friends now. Don’t get me wrong, I never planned on getting into a new relationship. When the time is right, I will. I’m thankful to Valentino. I like his company. He is witty and funny, plus drop-dead gorgeous.” Einille did not conceal her smile while Shari rolled her eye
VALE moved fast, and he pulled his caliber .45 pistol and pointed it to Hero while he shielded his body in front of Einille. “If I were you, don’t try that.” Vale’s voice sounded dangerous. His usual playful expression was gone, only a stern face of an assassin. “Hey, easy! I’m just getting my car key.” Hero stepped backward. Perhaps he knew he was on the losing side, especially that Shari was only a few meters away from him with her gun in hand, pointing at him as well. “Einille says, get out! Don’t bother her again, or else you’ll have to deal with me.” Vale slowly puts his gun down. “I’ll go for now, but I’ll come back soon.” Hero strolled fast, going out of the house. They all breathed out in peace when they reached the roared of an engine going away. “Sorry about that.” Vale sharply exhaled. He lightly scratched his hair after he rested his gun to the holster behind him. Shari came closer to them. “I swear, I would h
EINILLE’S eyes traveled around when she reached the firing range. And somehow, she felt a disappointment because Vale was nowhere in sight. She held herself not to frown since she had expected him to be here earlier than her. “Hey, your neck might crack. Are you looking for someone?” Rab teased. He just came, wearing the black and red uniform of a Range Officer. “Excuse me? I’m just checking around the number of participants.” She rolled her eyes to conceal her embarrassment. “You say so. Vale won’t be around now because he had to run some errands. He sent a representative, though. Didn’t he tell you?” Einille shook her head, “He dropped by at home last night. He said he’ll be here.” “There must be an emergency. Although I’m surprised, Vale used to be your worst nemesis. Why a sudden change of heart?” Rab giggled. Einille got the notion that even she didn’t tell anything to Rab, this man knew what was going on between her and Vale.
EINILLE quietly settled on the passenger’s seat. Vale concentrated on driving beside her. He would give her a furtive glance from time to time. He appeared lost in his thoughts “Are you still uncomfortable with me?” Vale broke his silence. “It's not like that. I’m just conscious because I’m reeking of gunpowder.” “Don’t worry, no one will smell you. I won’t do it either.” He giggled. “Crazy! Where are we going to eat?” “I know somewhere. By the way, are you still on a diet? Because the last time you told me you’re into intermittent fasting.” “Intermittent fasting is not a diet, but an eating schedule. Besides, I’m not worried even if I gained weight. Is that a problem?” “Of course not. You’re still pretty even if you gained weight. It won’t change the fact that I like you.” Vale’s eyes still on the road, “Being confident is the new sexy,” he added Einille swallowed and cleared her throat. Vale had always been straightfo
“IF I hadn’t heard about what happened to you and Vale, I would’ve scolded you for forgetting Uncle Ricky’s birthday. Are you sure you’re all right now?” Shari said while they were having their dinner. At this moment, Einille was feeling better. Thanks to Vale, who stayed at her side when she almost broke down in shock. Although her marksmanship skill was impeccable, it was her first real encounter. Since the day she entered the service, she was usually in her office in the Crime Laboratory. What happened earlier gave her body a chill. She knew this would happen and thank the heavens she survived unscathed. “Don’t worry. I’ll get used to this. This is a part of our job.” She reassured her cousin. “So, it won’t bother you attending the birthday party tomorrow?” “We can’t say no to our uncle. The only problem I had in mind is the dress for the party.” “Consider it solved. I bought a few formal dresses.” Shari proudly said. “I’ll
THEY reached the venue after almost half an hour. It was located on her uncle’s private resort in Irosin.There were a lot of visitors. Shari and Kyler were waiting for them. They were on the veranda, then the celebrant came and greeted the two.“Uncle Ricky, Happy Birthday!” Einille greeted her uncle when they reached his location.“Einille, darling. Thank God you made it here.” The old man beamed. He exchanged hands with Vale, who greeted him, too.“That’s impossible, Uncle. How could I forget?” she sweetly held his arms and exchanged more pleasantries. But she casually distanced herself when her cousin, Meja, was going in their direction with a wineglass in hand.“Einille, Shari! My dearest cousins.” Meja greeted them by kissing on their cheeks. She appeared tipsy, and maybe she had been drinking since earlier.Meja looked at Kyler and Vale, and she couldn’t h
DAYS had passed, and Einille expected Vale to show himself after what happened at the party. Although he tried to reach her via call, she didn’t answer. She was even more disappointed when he didn’t put in an effort to see her. But what to expect? They ended it up so badly the last time they talked. Perhaps this was the perfect time to realize that Vale was just the same man who couldn’t stay loyal.This morning, she went to work with a heavy heart. She missed Vale’s presence, but she couldn’t reach out to him. She was still perplexed about her feelings. She had to remind herself that Vale was just a nobody. She regretted the day he let him be closer to her. And now she was not used for him to be missing in action.I hate him. She gritted her teeth. They were not officially dating, yet he had shown his true color. A cheater!The thing she witnessed between Vale and Meja wouldn’t leave her mind. She didn&
EINILLE finally agreed to meet Vale’s parents. Vale sent her home to be prepared. She decided to give him another chance. He was sorry, and she forgave him. She reasoned out that nobody was perfect. She only made sure that such an incident with Meja would not happen again.She composed herself while inside the car. She was feeling uneasy. She had an idea that Vale came from a well-off family. What if his parents wouldn’t like her?Einille filled her lungs with oxygen before entering the Grefaldeo’s mansion. Vale offered his arm, and she held it tight.Their house was a three-story building with a spacious roof deck. She silently swooned to the paintings hanged inside.The helpers greeted them, and from there, she plastered a warm smile on her face.“This is my father’s ancestral house. I just had it renovated. My parents would stay here while in the Philippines. I have two other brothers, both living in C
“WITH that smile of yours, I knew something happened,” Shari said the following day while on their breakfast. She held a cigarette while drinking a black coffee, “Did you sleep with Vale last night?” she flashed a teasing smile.“No! Don’t give me that look.” She giggled.“I don’t believe you. Tell me, is Vale yummy? On a scale of one to ten, ten being the highest, where would you put him? How about the girth size?”Einille laughed, “You’re crazy. Nothing happened. And even if we did, I don’t kiss and tell.”“So, you’re keeping secrets from me.” Shari blew a cloud of smoke to her side.“I am just happy, and I deserve this, right?” she drank her tea, “How about you and Mazareno?”“We’re doing good!”“Good to hear that.”Einille told her cousin about Vale’s
PEOPLE were funnily arguing with whom to babysit the son of Vale and Einille. It was his first birthday, and his godparents wanted to play with him. They named him Viel.“Aw, my nephew is so cute!” Shari pinched Viel’s chubby cheeks. She was with Kyler, and they were officially engaged. Their love story was no joke, too. But her cousin beamed in joy now. They were getting married next month.“Guys, let’s take a picture!” Rab caught the attention of the photographer. He was being bullied for being single, but he just laughed at it.Einille quit her job. She chose to be a full-time mom to Viel. She helped her husband with his business. She would never bargain her happy family to the job she left behind.“Okay, let’s have a family picture!” Vale got the attention of their official photographers. He held Viel, and he snatched a kiss from her when the camera flashed.&ldqu
“THIS is all your fault, Hero! If you weren’t stupid because of that woman, we wouldn’t be in this mess!” said the man from the center.Everybody was ready to fire up, pointing the gun at each other. Einille was puzzled because Hero was at their side this time.Einille’s body was shaking involuntarily because of exhaustion. It was Hero whom she saw at her side the moment she opened her eyes after the ambush. She thought it was her end. But she found out that Hero was also the reason she was still alive until now.“It’s not my fucking fault! I never betrayed the organization.” Hero’s eyes glowed in anger.Einille felt the firm touch of Vale in her hand. She gave a furtive glance to her gun. She had not reloaded yet!The man from the center went berserk. He pulled the trigger aimed at Vale.Vale jumped on the side, and the bullet landed on his right thigh. He fired back, and t
THE test result just came in time. Other officials gathered inside the laboratory. Even Hero was just staring at her intently. He appeared flustered.“Is he positive either on Methamphetamine or Tetrahydrocannabinol?” General Blanco asked, referring to illegal drugs.Einille looked down and shook her head, “Negative, Sir.”The old man nodded. He immediately gave an order to bring Hero into the Regional Office.Einille arranged the documents, and the General gave her a separate order. “Join the security team. You need to personally present the test results.”“Yes, Sir!” she gave him a salute.“Carry on, be careful.”Einille rode the patrol car, following the vehicle where Hero was contained. The security was tight since Hero was considered a high profile.She was not bothered at all. She had been doing this before, only that she felt bored. She had a lot o
EINILLE had been crying for a while now. She couldn’t forget what just happened. Why she had to go through this? Or maybe she deserved this after all. She was so gullible and stupid. She suffered this kind of fate because she always prioritized her heart.“Hey, that’s enough. You will not accomplish anything if you continue sulking. Better if you talk with your husband, he’ll explain everything.” Shari caressed her back because she wouldn’t stop her sob.“He just used me. I hate him. I trusted him my life!”“You’re just blinded by your anger. You know Vale loves you. I can tell, just by looking the way she gazes on you.”“I doubt it. That was just part of his plan!”“Talk to him first before you make any decision. But did it ever cross in your mind that he violated the protocol of his mission when he marries you? If he is a high-ranking official of NIC
“TELL me what I need to know?” Einille asked Hero straightly. She just arrived at the restaurant where he instructed her to meet.Hero didn’t bother to answer her yet. He urged her to eat the food before he would explain everything.Einille didn’t press him. Hero casually ate his food while she never bothered to touch anything on the table. She was already fuming.“I’m just preparing you for all the things I need to spill. Toughen up. You really need it.” Hero drank the pineapple juice then slowly shake it as if arranging the ice cubes.She gritted her teeth, “I didn’t meet you here to exchange pleasantries. I still don’t forgive you for ruining my life.” She glared at him. The man still looked unbothered.“I know I caused you this mess. And I’m really sorry, I mean it. I don’t wish you to forgive me because I dragged you into a greater danger aside fr
THE next morning, Einille woke up with her husband’s hand wrapped around her from behind. She turned around to look at his handsome face while in his slumber. It had been a week since the day they got married. And she would not trade this happiness for anything in this world.She carefully got up. She was off-duty today, and she had a lot of time to make a good meal for her husband. Usually, he would cook for her. Vale spoiled her so much. And she didn’t want to get used to it. She wanted to serve him, too.Einille was in the midst of cooking fried rice when her cellphone rang. The number was unregistered. Her one brow raised because she knew who it might be. And she was right because she received a text message when she didn’t answer the call.This is Hero. I guess the honeymoon is over. You need to meet me because I have to tell you something about your husband. And the threats surrounding you.She didn’t r
VALE silently cursed. A black sedan had been tailing him from the restaurant where they ate. He didn’t mention it because Einille was somehow traumatized during the last shooting encounter. Whoever this bastard, the target was him not Einille.He alerted himself and snatched his gun from the compartment. He hastened the car, but the sedan caught up. He decided not to go straight home. He had to know the identity of his pursuer.Vale parked the car on the sidewalk. He assessed the situation and peered to the dashcam if someone would go out from the car behind. But it stayed at a safe distance from his location.He immediately called Rab and asked for a reinforcement. He waited a bit longer until he noticed the black sedan pulled over and left. Its driver must have had grasped that he called for an aid. Because after a few minutes, two patrol cars came and police big bike where Rab rode.“What happened?” Rab sounded worried.
VALE asked her to join in touring around the well-known tourist spots in Sorsogon. Einille was excited since she badly needed to unwind as well. Their relationship went fine so far. Vale gave her all the attention she needed even without asking for it.“Happy monthsary, Sweetheart!” Vale cheerfully greeted her when they reached the Laug Fish Sanctuary. He had food for the fish in his hand.“Monthsary? Are you serious?” she giggled. She never counted the day since they became an official couple because it was not a big deal for her.It had been a month indeed. But a monthly celebration was not her thing, except if anniversary.“This is an important day. Of course, I counted!”“Monthsary is for kids. It’s giving me bad omen that we wouldn’t reach an anniversary.”“Everything that has connections in our relationship is special.” His eyes traveled to a floating
“WITH that smile of yours, I knew something happened,” Shari said the following day while on their breakfast. She held a cigarette while drinking a black coffee, “Did you sleep with Vale last night?” she flashed a teasing smile.“No! Don’t give me that look.” She giggled.“I don’t believe you. Tell me, is Vale yummy? On a scale of one to ten, ten being the highest, where would you put him? How about the girth size?”Einille laughed, “You’re crazy. Nothing happened. And even if we did, I don’t kiss and tell.”“So, you’re keeping secrets from me.” Shari blew a cloud of smoke to her side.“I am just happy, and I deserve this, right?” she drank her tea, “How about you and Mazareno?”“We’re doing good!”“Good to hear that.”Einille told her cousin about Vale’s