Nangunot ang noo ko nang masulyapan ang matandang lalaki na may bilugang katawan na papalapit sa amin ni Daddy. Nakasuot ito ng magarang suit at may hawak na tungkod na sumusuporta sa paika-ika nitong paglalakad na dulot ng katandaan. Bali-balita na biyudo na ang nasabing lalaki.
"You will marry him," my father gestured his hand toward him. Is Dad really serious? Ang akala ko pa naman ay ipakikilala niya na ako bilang susunod na leader ng Dayron Organization kaya niya ako inutusang maghanda para sa party na ‘to—pero nagkamali ako. "No, I won't. Dad naman!" mariin kong sambit sa kanya. "Nakikita mo ba ang agwat ng edad naming dalawa?" inis kong dagdag. "It doesn’t matter. The most important thing is saving our business," pangangatwiran nito. My father's words stunned me, leaving me speechless. "But I am not a thing you can just use so that you can pay your debts! " I yelled at him. "How could my own dad do this to me?" "How could we pay all the debts if you don't do this?!" galit niyang bulyaw. “Ikaw lang ang makakalutas sa problema natin,” dagdag pa niya sabay buntong-hininga. "I’m leaving," galit kong sabi. I walked out in front of him because I was so angry and disappointed. "You're free to go, but keep in mind that we'll cross paths again!" While I was walking, he said it in an angry tone, and I chose to ignore him. I went to the bar where all the mobsters go to unwind and deal with tough times. This is a social club, private and exclusive to mafias. "Hindi ako papayag sa gusto niyang mangyari," sambit ko sa sarili. I ordered an espresso martini while I continued to deal with the situation. Taking a deep breath, I decided to call the mobsters in my group who might want to join me. I dialed their number. "Hello, Miss Airah?" one of the members answered. "Come to the social club and decide whether you want to join me, because I’m quitting," I said, gritting my teeth as I spoke, my frustration clear in my voice. Habang naghihintay ako sa kanila at umiinom ng alak ay may lumapit sa aking lalaki. Biglang hinawakan ang balikat ko na ikinagulat ko naman at agad ko itong nakilala dahil tauhan siya ng matanda. Nagpupumiglas ako habang kinakadlakad nila ako at pinipilit na sumama sa kanila. May mga hawak silang baril. "Sumama ka na lang kung ayaw mong may masamang mangyari sa ‘yo," pagbabanta pa ng isa. Napansin ko na nasa amin lahat ang atensiyon nilang lahat hanggang sa may nakita akong lalaking tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo nang mapansin ang sitwasyon at naglakad palapit sa direksyon namin. "Hands off her," he commanded calmly, but the men holding my hand just laughed. I gazed into his deep brown eyes and his furrowed eyebrows, which seemed to show he was losing his temper. His full, pink lips and perfectly straight nose added to his intense expression. "Ikaw ba ang amo namin para sundin ka namin?" mayabang na sambit ng isang lalaking nakahawak sa akin. He directly confronts them with a firm, authoritative tone. "Step away from her now," he says, making it clear he's in charge. "You heard me. Leave her alone, now." Steps between me and the mobsters, standing firm. His serious expression and strong stance show he means business. The crowd goes quiet, sensing that something important is happening. Tututukan na sana siya nila ng baril ngunit nakita nila kung gaano karami ang mga tauhan nito sa likod niya samantalang lima lang silang inutusan ng matanda. Agad, silang nakaramdam ng takot sa isiping iyon dahil imbes na makuha nila ako at dalhin sa matanda ay maaga silang papanaw sa mundo. Nervously looks around, realizing their out numbered. "Alright, we’re leaving since we’re in danger, but remember, we’ll find you again," one of the mobsters said before leaving. He turned to me, his tone softening. "Are you alright?" I nodded, visibly shaken but relieved. "Yes, thank you for saving me." Moments later, while we were talking, the mobsters from my group arrived and found me with the man. "What happened?" one of them asked. The stranger glanced at me and gently led me away from the scene. "Let’s get her to a quieter place," he suggested. "You’re safe now," he added. We walked outside to a quieter area. "By the way, my name is Ronald Navarra," he introduced himself, extending his hand for a handshake. "I’m Airah Jhoanne Dayron," tugon ko, habang iniabot ang kamay para sa isang mabilis na handshake bago ito bawiin. I felt a spark of attraction towards the stranger who had saved me. I believed he could help me and potentially add valuable support to my group. "Why are they forcing you to go with them?" bigla niyang tanong sa akin. "Nais kasi akong ipakasal ng aking ama sa isang matanda ngunit hindi ako pumayag at tumakas ako," sagot ko naman. "Tauhan rin iyon ng matandang ipapakasal ng aking ama," dagdag ko pa. "Dahil ba ito sa negosyo?" tanong niya. "Oo, at mababa rin ang tingin ng aking ama sa babaeng katulad ko," sagot ko habang nagmamasid naman sa paligid ang mga tauhan ko. "Don’t worry, I’ll help you," he said with a smile. "I’ll also teach you some basic self-defense and protect you for now," he added, which surprised me. Lumambot ang mga tingin ko habang tinitingnan ko siya. Hindi ko inaasahan na sasabihin niya iyon, ngunit napagtanto ko na talagang kailangan ko ang tulong niya.CHAPTER 2 Ronald took me to his mansion, and I was amazed at how big his entire property estate was. I and my mobsters even noticed that there were a lot of Black men guarding the whole estate. “So, Miss kung kailangan mo ang tulong ko,” panimula niya. “huwag kang mag-aatubiling sabihan ako,” pagpapatuloy pa nito sa sinasabi niya. "I will, and I didn't know this is how big your fortune is," I commented, wandering my eyes in the surroundings. "And it's bigger than our fortune," I added. Napangisi naman si Ronald sa narinig niya, "I am one of the top mafias in the city, and the whole authorities are looking for me," he uttered while fixing his black suit. "I am also a mafia queen but got abandoned because my dad wanted me to marry the old man because his business went bankrupt,” naiirita kong paliwanag na naman. Napangisi na lang siya sa naging reaksiyon ko at naghithit ng sigarilyo. Napansin ko rin na tila naging seryoso ang ekspresyon nito at parang bang may mga nalalaman siya.
Sa maiksing panahon na magkasama kaming dalawa ay paunti-unti nang nahuhulog ang loob ko sa kaniya. Sinusubukan ko namang pigilan pero hindi ko kayang labanan ang damdamin ko. Tuwing sinusubukan ko itong pigilan ay hindi ako mapakali. Hindi ako matahimik na tila ba gusto ko itong ilabas at iparamdam sa kaniya ang tunay na nararamdaman ko.“Airah,” biglang pagtawag ni Ronald sa pangalan ko.Nasa living room ako, umikot ako para harapin siya. “Bakit?” nagtatakang tanong ko ngunit nginitian lang niya ako. “Bakit nga?” pagtatanong ko muli."Hmm, breakfast is ready," he uttered in a soft voice. "We'll be going to have your training today as promised," he added before he left me here in the living room. Pumunta na agad ako sa kusina at pagkarating ko doon ay nagulat ako dahil iba't-ibang masasarap na pagkain ang nakahain sa mesa. Narito rin ang dalawa nitong kasambahay at nakatayo malapit sa mesa.“Ma'am, may kailangan pa ba kayo?” nakangiting tanong ng isang kasambahay sa harapan ko."No
"What's this all about? Why did Ronald hold my hand and we look so close together?" I asked, still confused about it. "Why didn't he even tell me about it?" "Maybe, it's time to ask him or you should call your grandma since she left a letter for you," my mobster suggested. I took a deep breath. "My grandma wouldn't answer it," I replied. "Also him, so we should do something that he must confess it himself," I stated my idea. "No, let him confess, Miss Airah." My mobster suggested so I glanced up to him. "Okay, that's a good idea," I replied. “Labis lang ang pagtataka ko dahil wala siyang sinasabi sa akin tungkol dito,” komento ko habang nakatingin pa rin sa mga larawan, medical records at ang sulat na iniwan ng aking lola.Napatingin ang tauhan ko sa likod niya nang mapansing biglang pumasok si Ronald kasama ang kaniyang mga tauhan sa pintuan.Malimit itong ngumiti sa akin kaya ngumiti ako sa kaniya ng pilit. Sumenyas siya at itinuro ang hagdan, "I'll rest," I heard him state i
Ronald decided to take me out and take me to the restaurant which was owned by one of his associates. His associate took us inside without people in the restaurant getting suspicious and drawing attention to us. Inside, there's also a table and chair just like how it appears outside. "I have organized this and asked him to make this for you," said Ronald, smiling. "I'm sorry if I wasn't the one who made this, I was just busy dealing with my personal stuff," he explained and planted a kiss at the top of my forehead. "It's okay, I understand," I replied. He pushed backward a chair for me so I can sit before he went to the left chair and pushed backward a chair for himself. There's a musician playing a romantic violin for us and at the center of the table there's a flower vase containing roses, and a lit candle.Hinintay namin ang i-se-serve na pagkain para sa amin. Nang saktong ilalagay na sa mesa namin ay naamoy ko kaagad ang mabangong aroma ng pagkain. Napangiti a