BadI immediately went outside of the building. Who cares if he owns the building after all?! For him to think I came there for another reason is absurd! I saw Hunyo heading towards me as I called for my driver. Kanina pa pala siya nakikipag-usap sa mga matatanda doon. Hindi man lang niya napansin na wala na pala ako sa paningin niya. This family is the worst! "Did something happen?" Mukhang napansin niya ang busangot sa mukha ko. I calmed myself down and smiled at him. There was no reason to lie to him. But because I'm not sure with how this family runs, maybe I'll lie for the meantime. "My company called for me. I'm really sorry but I need to go."Bumuntung hininga ito at tumango sa akin. "I'm a bit busy too. Do you mind driving you to your hotel?" "No need, Hunyo. I'll call when I get there."I did call him when I got back. I roamed around my hotel room thinking about Teo. I said to myself that I'll spare him. But he's been annoying me since we found out about each others tru
BidNapabuntong hininga na lamang ako nang nakapasok na kami sa venue. Halos hindi ako makahinga nang nasa red carpet kami. Everybodyâs suspicious eyes were on me and Teo. Gulat silang lahat. Pati ako. Agad ding napalitan ang mga tanong tungkol sa amin ni Hunyo nang mga tanong na tungkol sa amin ni Teo.Nainis ako na ginawa pa niya iyon kanina. I wish he just minded his own business. He just caused a scene earlier. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ng mga Valleros.Pagkapasok ko palang kanina sa venue, umiwas ako kaagad kay Teo. He tried to pull me back to him pero dinumog agad siya ng mga kilalang negosyante. I was immediately entertained by possible business partners too.And I thought the questions would wonder around business and about this charity program. Pero mali ako. Dahil lagi nilang tinatanong ang tungkol sa eksena kanina. Now, I donât know how to answer their questions.Kapag may relevant sa trabaho at negosyo sinasagot ko. Pero kapag tungkol na saâmin ni Teo, iniiwa
PaintingHis hand settled on my small waist while he held my other hand. I swallowed hard as I placed my hand on his shoulder. Itâs been a long time since we havenât been this close. Napalingon ako sa aming paligid. All eyes are on me and Teo.Nasa labas ang media pero hindi imposibleng walang nakalusot dito. They might be talking about me and Teo. They might be curious if who really is my fiancĂ© now. Or who Iâm dating.âRelax,â wika niya.Hindi ko napansin na medyo wala ako sa sarili. I unconsciously tighten my hold on his shoulder.âWe shouldnât be dancing with each other.â I heard his small chuckle and a smirk formed on his lips. Umiwas na lang ako ng tingin. I can feel my heart going wild inside its fragile cage.âI like the rumors going around,âKumunot ang noo ko.âWhat rumors?â I asked slowly.âThat weâre dating.ââAt gusto mo âyon?ââI like it better than you fooling my brother.âBiglang pumait ang timpla ng mood ko. He really has to say that. This man in front of me was once
WasteâHija, Iâm really sorry.â Iyon ang bungad sa akin ng ginang. Ngumiti na lamang ako. Napalingon siya sa dala ng driver ko. Nasa likuran ko, dala-dala ng driver ko ang painting ni Daddy. Kumunot ang noo ni Tita Riona pero agad ding lumiwanag nang tiitigan nito ng mabuti ang painting. âHijaâŠââItâs okay, Tita. Bumawi naman si Mateo by giving me Dadâs painting.â Alam ko ang ibig sabihin ni Tita Riona. She called me earlier when I was in the hotel. Naghihinga ng pasensya dahil sa nangyari kagabi. She said sorry for Hunyoâs absence pero hindi pa ako nakatanggap ng kahit ano kay Hunyo. She also said sorry for Mateoâs actions last night. She then looked at me with questioning eyes. Hindi ata niya ito inasahan. I flew back here to La Libertad. Because my first move for revenge is happening now. I smirked at Tita Riona. âHija, itâs so beautiful but⊠why is it here?â Napatingin din ako sa painting. âMateo won the bidding, not me. Plus, since Iâm getting married to Hunyo, it would b
SufferChapter 13Biglang humagalpak ng tawa si Teo habang kami ni Tita Riona tulalang nakatingin sa kanâya. Napakurap-kurap ako habang umiiwas ng tingin sa kanâya. What the hell did he just said?I glanced at Tita Riona. Sheâs shaking her head in disbelief and later on, smiles at Teo. Napailing ako sa sarili. Though I know Teo is just joking and I know I shouldnât be having any reaction but I feel my stomach having the flutters.I licked my lips and tried to smile at Teo but it turned out sarcastically.âMalayong mangyari. From the looks of you, youâre bad news, Mateo.âTumawa ang ginang at umiiling. She doesnât agree with me, eh?âHija, trust me. Mateo just likes to joke.âI saw him stop for a moment and looked at me intently. Napalunok ako. May kung ano sa paraan ng kanâyang pagtitig sa akin. Hindi ko mawari. Thereâs something in his eyes so mysterious and wanting. We stayed like that, looking at each otherâs eyes. Na para bang wala si Tita Riona.Na para bang meron kaming sariling
BegChapter 14Sa gabing iyon, sa mansyon ng mga Vallero ako nakatulog. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako sa tabi ni Veronica. I watched her sleep deeply. Bakas parin sa mukha nito ang sakit. I saw her flinched and groaned.Doon ko lang napansin na pinapawisan na pala ito. In her airconditioned room, I touched her cold sweats. I sighed when my hand came in contact with her skin. Ang init niya. Babangon na ako nang narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan.There, Teo went inside. Dala nito ang bed table. Sunod na pumasok ay ang kasambahay nila dala rin ang isang bed table. Diretso ang lakad nito papunta kay Veronica. Nakita ko ang gamot at agahan sa bed table.Binigyan din ako ng katulong ng bed table. Puno ito ng pagkain para agahan.âSheâs sick,â wika ko.Nakita kong pinunasan ito ni Teo ng lampin sa noo at ibat-ibang parte ng katawan. Kukunin ko na sana ang bimpo mula kay Teo nang iniwas niya ito sa direksyon ko.âI know what youâre going to do. Eat breakfast first, Zell.âHindi na
MeetingChapter 15I took my hand from him. It dropped. At tinignan lang niya iyon. He looked so weak with every step I take away from him.Nababaliw na ba ako? Why did I even let him do that? I breathed in heavily. Ramdam ko parin ang kalabog ng aking puso. I feel the trembling of my knees even if I stand straight and strong in front of him.âNandito si Hunyo. Hindi na nakakatuwa ang pinagsasbai mo, Mateo.âHe glanced at me weakly. Nakasandal na ito sa dingding. Parehong kamay ay nasa bulsa at nakayuko na ang ulo. Mas mabuti iyon. I donât think I would have the strength to reject him over and over again if I look straight into his eyes.âI knew you would disagree.âI gritted my teeth. Hinding hindi ko talaga siya maintindihan.âWhat the hell are you planning, Mateo?ââIâm supposed to ask you that,â his eyes bore on me coldly.Napalunok ako. Natigilan ako habang iniintindi ang sinabi niya. Heâs supposed to ask me that? May alam ba siya? I was in the verge to breakdown to my thoughts w
BeginI slowly adjusted my earrings as I finished my make-up. Napatingin ako sa aking maliit na mukha. Nanginit ang pisngi ko nang mapagtanto kung ano ang ginagawa.Nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan ng aking office, agad kong niligpit ang aking make-up. Pumasok si Gracy at tinignan akong mabilis na nagligpit ng gamit.âMay lakad ka ba mamaya?â nagtataka nitong tanong.I pouted.âJust a meeting.ââEmergency meeting? Wala sa schedule mo, ah?âNagkibit-balikat lang ako at inayos din ang buhok. Gracy gave me a wary look. Napataas ang kilay nito at mukhang hinuhula pa ang ginagawa ko.âMay date na naman kayo ni Hunyo? Why do you look so dolled up?âI bit my lower lip. Halata ba? I sighed and sat back in my swivel chair. Tiningnan ko ang wrist watch. Goodness! Iâm two hours early para sa meeting namin ni Teo! I must be crazy!âIs my make-up too much?âTumawa ito at umupo sa harapan ko.âYou have a full eyeshadow on! You usually settle for natural make-up when it comes to office work.
Heaven in HellBinaba ko ang monitor nang marinig ang pagpasok ni Gracy sa aking office. She saw the monitor on my table. Napataas ang kilay nito. âStill watching the Valleros?â Iâve been monitoring the Valleros for a few days now and so far, wala naman akong suspicious moves na napapansin. Thanks to the painting I placed there. Tinanggal ko nalang ang earphones bago sinagot si Gracy. âNone.ââI know we have concrete evidences that they are involved with Titoâs death pero paano kung si Mateo lang talaga ang may pakana?â Hindi ko iyon kailan man naisip. Maybe my mind refuses to think that Teo is the only one involved. I sighed heavily. Binalik ko nalang ang mata sa aking laptop at sinimulan ang trabaho. âSa tingin mo, inosente ang mga Vallero? Sa tingin mo wala silang nagawang mali?â âIâm just saying na huwag sana mapuno ng galit at hinanakit ang puso mo. Lately, youâve been very different.â âIâll have my revenge and thatâs it, Gracy.â âThatâs it? Paano si Mateo?â Napataas ang
UseHindi ko alam kung saan ko nakakuha ang lakas na loob para pagsabayin si Teo at Hunyo. Is it the right thing to do now? Obviously, no. Do I care if ever they get hurt? No. I was raised with different pirniciples and morals. So different from what I am doing right now. I feel guilty committing to do this. But at the same time, I need to do my revenge. I need to be tough. Walang lugar ang pagiging mabait dito. âThey killed your father, Zell,â paalala ko sa aking sarili. Iyon palagi ang hinahawakan ko. Kahit nakikita ko lang si Teo, bigla iyon nawawala sa aking isipan. I canât fathom why a single man could make me forget about my revenge. I sighed heavily as I went inside my room. Umuwi na ako ng La Libertad. Manila was suffacting after my heated conversation with Teo. Pagod akong humiga sa aking kama. Somehow, his touc last night got imprinted in my mind. Unlike before, bawat haplos at halik niya kagabi hindi mawala sa isipan ko. I just snapped back to reality when I heard the
High Road A voice at the back of my mind told me that I shouldnât have turned in this direction. But there was also a different voice. A louder one. Mas malakas. Nagsasabi ito na puntahan siya. Na bumigay na. Dahil sa huli, hindi ko rin mapipigilan. Bumangon ako galing sa pagkahiga. I bit my lower lip. Napalingon ako sa bintana. The curtains are slowly revealing the view on the outside as the wind blew harder. The cold breeze of the wind touched my bare skin. I glanced at my shoulder. Then down to my back and then to the sheets covering me. At paunti-unting bumababa ang mata ko sa kanâya. I looked at Teo. Mahimbing itong natutulog. I yawned and stood up. Umalis na ako sa kama at kinuha na isa-isa ang damit ko na nakakalat sa sahig. I looked for my panties and I couldnât find it. I looked at every corner pero wala talaga. Hindi ko nalang hinanap pa. I went inside the bathroom and took a bath. Cold bath for the morning. Gustong gusto kong buhusan ang sarili ng malamig na tubig. Hind
Ruined âW-what do you mean?â napatawa ako sa sinabi niya. I nervously laugh. Alam ko sa loob-loob, nagustuhan ko ang sinabi niya. Pero⊠it made me alarmed. He would let go of our engagement that easily. Kailangan ko siya para sa mga plano ko. Para sa paghihiganti. But hearing him, mukhang hindi ko pa secured ang engagement. One thing is sure, he has a deep reason. Hindi ko pa alam pero malalaman ko rin. âIâm fine with you choosing Mateo.â âWhy?â His lips rose to a small smile. My eyes narrowed, now focusing on him. He had this regretful small for a while until it vanished. âI know how it feels to want someone but canât have them.â My jaw dropped slightly. Iyon ang rason niya. Does that mean, he likes someone? He looked away from me when he noticed me observing him. âPero ayaw ko rin naman sa taong hindi ko gusto,â pertaining to Teo. Napaisip pa ako kung tama ba ang sinabi ko. I swallowed the lump on my throat. He chuckled and looked down. Parehong nasa bulsa na ang dalawang k
ProposalChapter 17Kumunot ang noo ni Teo nang makita ang gulat kong mukha. I surveyed the office, looking for a space where I can hide.âHunyoâs here,â sabi ko at papunta na sa isang corner ng kanâyang opisina para sana magtago.Ngunit naramdaman ko nalang ang paghigit ng kamay niya sa akin. He looked confused why Iâm acting this way. Ako naman, hindi magets kung bakit parang kalmado lang siya.He should panic because weâre alone together in a room! Pero naalala ko, he really doesnât care about me.âAnd? Why do you look flustered?âNapanganga ako.âAno sa tingin mo ang iisipin niya na tayo lang dalawa dito? Did you plan this?â I accused him.âWhat? No! Youâre the one putting malice in our meeting, Zell.âNapasinghap ako. Somehow, nagets ko ang sinabi niya. I am putting malice to our situation. And how sure am I na masamain ni Hunyo ang pagbisita ko dito kung wala naman talaga kaming ginawang kababalghan?I am overthinking this. And why do I feel like a cheating wife? I sighed heavil
BeginI slowly adjusted my earrings as I finished my make-up. Napatingin ako sa aking maliit na mukha. Nanginit ang pisngi ko nang mapagtanto kung ano ang ginagawa.Nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan ng aking office, agad kong niligpit ang aking make-up. Pumasok si Gracy at tinignan akong mabilis na nagligpit ng gamit.âMay lakad ka ba mamaya?â nagtataka nitong tanong.I pouted.âJust a meeting.ââEmergency meeting? Wala sa schedule mo, ah?âNagkibit-balikat lang ako at inayos din ang buhok. Gracy gave me a wary look. Napataas ang kilay nito at mukhang hinuhula pa ang ginagawa ko.âMay date na naman kayo ni Hunyo? Why do you look so dolled up?âI bit my lower lip. Halata ba? I sighed and sat back in my swivel chair. Tiningnan ko ang wrist watch. Goodness! Iâm two hours early para sa meeting namin ni Teo! I must be crazy!âIs my make-up too much?âTumawa ito at umupo sa harapan ko.âYou have a full eyeshadow on! You usually settle for natural make-up when it comes to office work.
MeetingChapter 15I took my hand from him. It dropped. At tinignan lang niya iyon. He looked so weak with every step I take away from him.Nababaliw na ba ako? Why did I even let him do that? I breathed in heavily. Ramdam ko parin ang kalabog ng aking puso. I feel the trembling of my knees even if I stand straight and strong in front of him.âNandito si Hunyo. Hindi na nakakatuwa ang pinagsasbai mo, Mateo.âHe glanced at me weakly. Nakasandal na ito sa dingding. Parehong kamay ay nasa bulsa at nakayuko na ang ulo. Mas mabuti iyon. I donât think I would have the strength to reject him over and over again if I look straight into his eyes.âI knew you would disagree.âI gritted my teeth. Hinding hindi ko talaga siya maintindihan.âWhat the hell are you planning, Mateo?ââIâm supposed to ask you that,â his eyes bore on me coldly.Napalunok ako. Natigilan ako habang iniintindi ang sinabi niya. Heâs supposed to ask me that? May alam ba siya? I was in the verge to breakdown to my thoughts w
BegChapter 14Sa gabing iyon, sa mansyon ng mga Vallero ako nakatulog. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako sa tabi ni Veronica. I watched her sleep deeply. Bakas parin sa mukha nito ang sakit. I saw her flinched and groaned.Doon ko lang napansin na pinapawisan na pala ito. In her airconditioned room, I touched her cold sweats. I sighed when my hand came in contact with her skin. Ang init niya. Babangon na ako nang narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan.There, Teo went inside. Dala nito ang bed table. Sunod na pumasok ay ang kasambahay nila dala rin ang isang bed table. Diretso ang lakad nito papunta kay Veronica. Nakita ko ang gamot at agahan sa bed table.Binigyan din ako ng katulong ng bed table. Puno ito ng pagkain para agahan.âSheâs sick,â wika ko.Nakita kong pinunasan ito ni Teo ng lampin sa noo at ibat-ibang parte ng katawan. Kukunin ko na sana ang bimpo mula kay Teo nang iniwas niya ito sa direksyon ko.âI know what youâre going to do. Eat breakfast first, Zell.âHindi na
SufferChapter 13Biglang humagalpak ng tawa si Teo habang kami ni Tita Riona tulalang nakatingin sa kanâya. Napakurap-kurap ako habang umiiwas ng tingin sa kanâya. What the hell did he just said?I glanced at Tita Riona. Sheâs shaking her head in disbelief and later on, smiles at Teo. Napailing ako sa sarili. Though I know Teo is just joking and I know I shouldnât be having any reaction but I feel my stomach having the flutters.I licked my lips and tried to smile at Teo but it turned out sarcastically.âMalayong mangyari. From the looks of you, youâre bad news, Mateo.âTumawa ang ginang at umiiling. She doesnât agree with me, eh?âHija, trust me. Mateo just likes to joke.âI saw him stop for a moment and looked at me intently. Napalunok ako. May kung ano sa paraan ng kanâyang pagtitig sa akin. Hindi ko mawari. Thereâs something in his eyes so mysterious and wanting. We stayed like that, looking at each otherâs eyes. Na para bang wala si Tita Riona.Na para bang meron kaming sariling