Matapos kong e-lock ang pinto tahimik akung sumunod sa likuran ng lalaking hindi ko alam ang pangalan. I discreetly examined his entire back. He was tall, taller than me, fair-skinned, and he wore his clothes neatly and cleanly. His shoes were polished and well taken care of, exuding a sense of meticulousness. He had a very masculine aura, with clean and well-styled hair that seemed to be carefully maintained with wax. I also caught a whiff of an expensive cologne from him. However, it was his demeanor that was not clean. In other words, he seemed difficult and intimidating to be around.Paglampas namin sa eskenita, isang magarang itim na kotse ang sumalubong sa aming dalawa.“D’yan tayo sasakay?” tanong ko habang nakaturo sa itim na kotse.Binuksan niya ang backseat door at nilingon ako. “Why? What do you expect my car to be? A Jeep? I think you're underestimating me.”“Hindi naman sa gano’n ang gusto kong sabihin,” agad kong pagtanggi sa sinabi niya.“Kung gano’n ano pala?” seryoso n
Kinuha ko ang catalog metal clasp envelope, binuksan iyon, maingat at dahan-dahan kong kinuha ang laman na contract. Nang makuha ko na ang nilalaman ng envelope, isa-isa ko iyon binasa nang mahina.“This Contract Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the 'Agreement') is entered into on March 02, by and between Ace Zion Levine with an address at Gael Monroe, and Knoxville Ledger with an address as the witness. The parties hereby agree that the Debtor shall pay the Creditor an amount of 4,950,000 pesos.” sandali akong natigilan dahil sa halaga nang babayaran ko at napahinga nang malalim. “The parties agree to secure the debt amount mentioned above, 4,950,000 pesos, by entering into a new agreement. This agreement will establish a structured payment plan in accordance with the terms and conditions provided by Ace Zion Levine.”Palihim akong tumingin sa ka-kontrata ko... Ace Zion Levine pala ang pangalan niya.Sumandal si Zion sa kinauupuan at pinakatitigan ako. “Naiintindihan mo ba ang mg
“Payag ako sa condition mo, aasahan kong maging ikaw rin... Mr. Levine,” agad na pagpayag ko at pareho kaming naglagay nang lagda sa contract agreement kahit hindi ko pa narinig ang gusto kong marinig.Ngayon na nakalagda na ako hindi ko na alam kung ano na ang susunod na mangyayari; magiging maayos ba ang buhay ko at ng kapatid ko o mas lalong gugulo ang buhay naming magkapatid sa daan na pinili kong landasin.Kinuha ni Mr. Levine ang papel, nilagay sa loob ng catalog envelope at inabot kay, Knox at muling humarap sa akin.“Now that I have your testimony agreeing to my terms and conditions, as a gesture of goodwill, let me offer you a bonus.” sabi niya na nagpa curious sa akin.“Ano naman iyon?” tanong ko na may halong kunting kaba sa dibdib.“I’ll be blunt, I don’t like the place where you live, and since you got along with me so well and without complaint.” paliwanag nya at nilingon si Knox. “Put them in the best condo, but I prefer to put them in a penthouse, take them there and le
KNOX’S POVAs I drove, I tried to understand Mr. Levine's mindset. I don't comprehend why he had to do this. I know he was merely being cautious, but why did he decide to allow those two individuals to stay in his penthouse? Just why?I let out a silent sigh because Mr. Levine wasn't present to answer the question lingering in my mind. Even if he were here, there was no guarantee he could provide an answer.I escorted Mr. Gael to the city's most coveted penthouse, an exquisite testament to architectural design and lavish amenities. This condominium, along with the penthouse, had been bequeathed to Mr. Levine by his mother, Madam, Giselle.“Nandito na tayo, Mr. Gael,” I said and got out of the car first.“Pinapunta kona pala ang kapatid ku dito, hindi lang ako sigurado kung binasa niya ang text message ku,” he explained while I took the things he bought from the shop.I looked at him. “Alam ko, kaya nga itinanong mo sa akin ang address hindi ba?”He suddenly closed his mouth because of
When I finished telling him what I could tell, I stood up, turned my back on him, and went inside the house. In the kitchen, I saw Mr. Gael cooking, seemingly lost in thought.“I know you don't own this penthouse, and I know I asked you to cook food, but I didn't tell you to burn this place down,” I said from behind him, causing him to snap back to reality and immediately face me. “Do you intend to compound your Father's sin by burning down the penthouse? Isn't the debt amount of 4,950,000 enough for you?”“Iniisip ko lang kung ano ang mga sinabi mo kay, Caden habang nandito ako,” he answered and returned to cooking.I leaned against the wall, observing him cook with a poker face. “I just mentioned what he should be aware of regarding why you and your brother are here. I also made it clear that if you do something foolish, either he or your father could end up dead at any moment.”“Dapat ba sya’ng matawa?” he asked, but his attention was not focused on me.I stood up straight, retrieve
GAEL'S POV “Anong plano mo?” tanong ni, Caden mula sa aking likuran.I looked at him; from what I can see, this conversation will just end up in an argument between the two of us. “Kanina ka pa d’yan?”“Hindi iyan ang gusto kong marinig.” seryoso nyang sagot habang magka cross ang kanyang mga braso.“Kung umasta ka parang ikaw itong mas nakakatanda sa akin,” I jokingly said it just to change the conversation, but it seems like Caden didn't like what I said even more.“Ikaw nga ang mas matanda sa atin, pero kung mag isip ka parang isip bata.” pangsusupalpal nya pa na ikinainis ko.“Anung gusto mong gawin ku?” pigil ang inis at kalmado kong tanong sa kanya.To be honest, I'm also getting tired of overthinking, tired of trying to understand my fate... I'm exhausted. I'm really, really tired.“Bakit ka pumayag na makipagkasundo sa kanila? Tayo ba ang nagnakaw sa halaga ng pera na nawala sa kanila? Wala ba silang utak? Hindi ba sila marunong mag isip? Kung tayo ang kumuha ng pera na iyon k
GAEL'S POV “Anong plano mo?” tanong ni, Caden mula sa aking likuran.I looked at him; from what I can see, this conversation will just end up in an argument between the two of us. “Kanina ka pa d’yan?”“Hindi iyan ang gusto kong marinig.” seryoso nyang sagot habang magka cross ang kanyang mga braso.“Kung umasta ka parang ikaw itong mas nakakatanda sa akin,” I jokingly said it just to change the conversation, but it seems like Caden didn't like what I said even more.“Ikaw nga ang mas matanda sa atin, pero kung mag isip ka parang isip bata.” pangsusupalpal nya pa na ikinainis ko.“Anung gusto mong gawin ku?” pigil ang inis at kalmado kong tanong sa kanya.To be honest, I'm also getting tired of overthinking, tired of trying to understand my fate... I'm exhausted. I'm really, really tired.“Bakit ka pumayag na makipagkasundo sa kanila? Tayo ba ang nagnakaw sa halaga ng pera na nawala sa kanila? Wala ba silang utak? Hindi ba sila marunong mag isip? Kung tayo ang kumuha ng pera na iyon k
KNOX POV“ What are you planning to do? ” I asked Ace as a friend, not as a colleague.“ Will I be able to make my mother happy with the gift I will give her? ” tanung nya habang ang tingin ay nakatuon sa kanyang ama na sinisimulan nang cremation.Katulad ni Ace ay tumingin rin aku doon. Hindi ku alam kung anu ba ang nararapat kong isagot sa katanungan nyang iyon. Iba ang takbo ng utak ni Madam Giselle, hindi normal ang kanyang pag iisip hindi katulad ng sa amin. Pakiramdam ku ay hindi magandang idea na ipaalam kay Madam Giselle na patay na ang kanyang asawa, may pakiramdam akong magwawala si Madam, kahit kasi tinakasan na ito nang katinuan ay ang asawa parin nito ang hinahanap. After just three minutes, the ashes of Mr. Amos Levine were transferred to a white urn. Aku ang nag abot sa urn ni Mr. Amos Levine, hanngang sa paglabas, pagsakay sa kotse, at sa mansion na pagdadausan ng lamay... kung lamay nga ang maitatawag. Piniling ipalagay ni Ace ang urn ng kanyang ama sa glass table sa
Dahil wala naman akong ginawa halos buong araw sa terrace, naisipan kong magpaabot nang gabi. Tulad nga nang inaasahan mas lumitaw ang ganda ng penthouse, pakiramdam ko ay abot ko na ang langit dahil sa taas nang lugar na ito kapag dudungaw naman ako ay nalulula ako sa taas at pakiramdam ko parang humihiwalay sa aking katawang lupa ang kaluluwa ko.Nang magsawa ako sa katatambay sa terrace napagdesisyonan kong bumalik na sa loob dahil na rin sa lakas nang hangin. Naabutan kong mag isang kumakain si Caden sa dining table, nang tingnan ko kung ano iyon, iyon pala ang pagkain na tinabi ko kanina pang umaga. “Gutom ako kaya ko kinain ang luto mo, hindi ako kumain dahil nakikipagbati ako sa’yo.” pagkatapos ay tumayo dala ang kanyang pinagkainan at dinala sa lababo.“Ikaw din ba ang maghuhugas nyan?” tanong ko habang sinusundan ang bawat galaw nya.“Hindi.” tipid nyang sagot, hindi tumitingin sa akin at nilagpasan lang ako palabas ng kusina.Hindi na ako nagpumulit pa na kausapin o makipag
KNOX POV“ What are you planning to do? ” I asked Ace as a friend, not as a colleague.“ Will I be able to make my mother happy with the gift I will give her? ” tanung nya habang ang tingin ay nakatuon sa kanyang ama na sinisimulan nang cremation.Katulad ni Ace ay tumingin rin aku doon. Hindi ku alam kung anu ba ang nararapat kong isagot sa katanungan nyang iyon. Iba ang takbo ng utak ni Madam Giselle, hindi normal ang kanyang pag iisip hindi katulad ng sa amin. Pakiramdam ku ay hindi magandang idea na ipaalam kay Madam Giselle na patay na ang kanyang asawa, may pakiramdam akong magwawala si Madam, kahit kasi tinakasan na ito nang katinuan ay ang asawa parin nito ang hinahanap. After just three minutes, the ashes of Mr. Amos Levine were transferred to a white urn. Aku ang nag abot sa urn ni Mr. Amos Levine, hanngang sa paglabas, pagsakay sa kotse, at sa mansion na pagdadausan ng lamay... kung lamay nga ang maitatawag. Piniling ipalagay ni Ace ang urn ng kanyang ama sa glass table sa
GAEL'S POV “Anong plano mo?” tanong ni, Caden mula sa aking likuran.I looked at him; from what I can see, this conversation will just end up in an argument between the two of us. “Kanina ka pa d’yan?”“Hindi iyan ang gusto kong marinig.” seryoso nyang sagot habang magka cross ang kanyang mga braso.“Kung umasta ka parang ikaw itong mas nakakatanda sa akin,” I jokingly said it just to change the conversation, but it seems like Caden didn't like what I said even more.“Ikaw nga ang mas matanda sa atin, pero kung mag isip ka parang isip bata.” pangsusupalpal nya pa na ikinainis ko.“Anung gusto mong gawin ku?” pigil ang inis at kalmado kong tanong sa kanya.To be honest, I'm also getting tired of overthinking, tired of trying to understand my fate... I'm exhausted. I'm really, really tired.“Bakit ka pumayag na makipagkasundo sa kanila? Tayo ba ang nagnakaw sa halaga ng pera na nawala sa kanila? Wala ba silang utak? Hindi ba sila marunong mag isip? Kung tayo ang kumuha ng pera na iyon k
GAEL'S POV “Anong plano mo?” tanong ni, Caden mula sa aking likuran.I looked at him; from what I can see, this conversation will just end up in an argument between the two of us. “Kanina ka pa d’yan?”“Hindi iyan ang gusto kong marinig.” seryoso nyang sagot habang magka cross ang kanyang mga braso.“Kung umasta ka parang ikaw itong mas nakakatanda sa akin,” I jokingly said it just to change the conversation, but it seems like Caden didn't like what I said even more.“Ikaw nga ang mas matanda sa atin, pero kung mag isip ka parang isip bata.” pangsusupalpal nya pa na ikinainis ko.“Anung gusto mong gawin ku?” pigil ang inis at kalmado kong tanong sa kanya.To be honest, I'm also getting tired of overthinking, tired of trying to understand my fate... I'm exhausted. I'm really, really tired.“Bakit ka pumayag na makipagkasundo sa kanila? Tayo ba ang nagnakaw sa halaga ng pera na nawala sa kanila? Wala ba silang utak? Hindi ba sila marunong mag isip? Kung tayo ang kumuha ng pera na iyon k
When I finished telling him what I could tell, I stood up, turned my back on him, and went inside the house. In the kitchen, I saw Mr. Gael cooking, seemingly lost in thought.“I know you don't own this penthouse, and I know I asked you to cook food, but I didn't tell you to burn this place down,” I said from behind him, causing him to snap back to reality and immediately face me. “Do you intend to compound your Father's sin by burning down the penthouse? Isn't the debt amount of 4,950,000 enough for you?”“Iniisip ko lang kung ano ang mga sinabi mo kay, Caden habang nandito ako,” he answered and returned to cooking.I leaned against the wall, observing him cook with a poker face. “I just mentioned what he should be aware of regarding why you and your brother are here. I also made it clear that if you do something foolish, either he or your father could end up dead at any moment.”“Dapat ba sya’ng matawa?” he asked, but his attention was not focused on me.I stood up straight, retrieve
KNOX’S POVAs I drove, I tried to understand Mr. Levine's mindset. I don't comprehend why he had to do this. I know he was merely being cautious, but why did he decide to allow those two individuals to stay in his penthouse? Just why?I let out a silent sigh because Mr. Levine wasn't present to answer the question lingering in my mind. Even if he were here, there was no guarantee he could provide an answer.I escorted Mr. Gael to the city's most coveted penthouse, an exquisite testament to architectural design and lavish amenities. This condominium, along with the penthouse, had been bequeathed to Mr. Levine by his mother, Madam, Giselle.“Nandito na tayo, Mr. Gael,” I said and got out of the car first.“Pinapunta kona pala ang kapatid ku dito, hindi lang ako sigurado kung binasa niya ang text message ku,” he explained while I took the things he bought from the shop.I looked at him. “Alam ko, kaya nga itinanong mo sa akin ang address hindi ba?”He suddenly closed his mouth because of
“Payag ako sa condition mo, aasahan kong maging ikaw rin... Mr. Levine,” agad na pagpayag ko at pareho kaming naglagay nang lagda sa contract agreement kahit hindi ko pa narinig ang gusto kong marinig.Ngayon na nakalagda na ako hindi ko na alam kung ano na ang susunod na mangyayari; magiging maayos ba ang buhay ko at ng kapatid ko o mas lalong gugulo ang buhay naming magkapatid sa daan na pinili kong landasin.Kinuha ni Mr. Levine ang papel, nilagay sa loob ng catalog envelope at inabot kay, Knox at muling humarap sa akin.“Now that I have your testimony agreeing to my terms and conditions, as a gesture of goodwill, let me offer you a bonus.” sabi niya na nagpa curious sa akin.“Ano naman iyon?” tanong ko na may halong kunting kaba sa dibdib.“I’ll be blunt, I don’t like the place where you live, and since you got along with me so well and without complaint.” paliwanag nya at nilingon si Knox. “Put them in the best condo, but I prefer to put them in a penthouse, take them there and le
Kinuha ko ang catalog metal clasp envelope, binuksan iyon, maingat at dahan-dahan kong kinuha ang laman na contract. Nang makuha ko na ang nilalaman ng envelope, isa-isa ko iyon binasa nang mahina.“This Contract Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the 'Agreement') is entered into on March 02, by and between Ace Zion Levine with an address at Gael Monroe, and Knoxville Ledger with an address as the witness. The parties hereby agree that the Debtor shall pay the Creditor an amount of 4,950,000 pesos.” sandali akong natigilan dahil sa halaga nang babayaran ko at napahinga nang malalim. “The parties agree to secure the debt amount mentioned above, 4,950,000 pesos, by entering into a new agreement. This agreement will establish a structured payment plan in accordance with the terms and conditions provided by Ace Zion Levine.”Palihim akong tumingin sa ka-kontrata ko... Ace Zion Levine pala ang pangalan niya.Sumandal si Zion sa kinauupuan at pinakatitigan ako. “Naiintindihan mo ba ang mg
Matapos kong e-lock ang pinto tahimik akung sumunod sa likuran ng lalaking hindi ko alam ang pangalan. I discreetly examined his entire back. He was tall, taller than me, fair-skinned, and he wore his clothes neatly and cleanly. His shoes were polished and well taken care of, exuding a sense of meticulousness. He had a very masculine aura, with clean and well-styled hair that seemed to be carefully maintained with wax. I also caught a whiff of an expensive cologne from him. However, it was his demeanor that was not clean. In other words, he seemed difficult and intimidating to be around.Paglampas namin sa eskenita, isang magarang itim na kotse ang sumalubong sa aming dalawa.“D’yan tayo sasakay?” tanong ko habang nakaturo sa itim na kotse.Binuksan niya ang backseat door at nilingon ako. “Why? What do you expect my car to be? A Jeep? I think you're underestimating me.”“Hindi naman sa gano’n ang gusto kong sabihin,” agad kong pagtanggi sa sinabi niya.“Kung gano’n ano pala?” seryoso n