CHAPTER 2

“ELIZA VILLANUEVA… nice seeing you again, my love.” Malalim ang boses na sabi nito sabay tanggal sa face mask at sunglasses na suot nito. Halos mapugto ang hininga ni Elizabeth nang makita ang kabuuan ng mukha ng lalaking kaharap niya.

But remembering the past and his background, she erased all the emotions in her face and gave him a forced smile. She can’t deny the fact that he became more handsome and so as his features, it became manlier. His stubborn jaw that moves every time he clenches it, his pointed nose that added up to his handsomeness, his green eyes that look so mysterious, his eyebrows that always met like he hated the world, and his luscious lips that always look inviting.

She smiled bitterly when a pang of pain struck her heart. She tried to calm herself and force herself not to show any weaknesses to the man in front of her. Hindi pwedeng maging mahina siya. Pinaghandaan niya ang araw na ito kaya dapat pulido na ang bawat galaw at mga salitang lalabas sa bibig niya. She can’t lose herself again.

“Elizabeth Stheno Vasiliev,” she formally introduced herself as she waited for him to shake her hand. Tiningnan lang siya nito na para bang minimemorya ang bawat anggulo ng mukha niya.

Elizabeth was expecting him not to shake her hands but when he did… she almost flinched when their hands touched. Parang may kuryenteng dumaloy papunta sa sistema niya pero pinigilan niya ang sariling maapektuhan sa simpleng pakikipagkamay nito. For God’s sake, Eli, it’s just a simple handshake! She scolded herself.

“Zachary Israel Velasquez…” pagpapakilala nito sa sarili at halos mapairap si Elizabeth sa sinabi nito. Lies, lies, lies. She said in her mind. Puro nalang kasinungalingan ang lumalabas sa bibig nito. Hindi ba ito napapagod?

She smiled once again bago niya binawi ang kamay niya. Iminuwestra niya ang upuan sa harapan saka umupo sa kaharap nitong upuan.

She cleared her throat before talking. “So, let’s settle this down—“

“Don’t bullshit me, woman. I know your Eliza Villanueva. You can’t fool me,” matalim ang boses na sabi nito habang seryosong nakatingin sa kanya.

Matapang na sinalubong niya ang mga tingin nito bago pekeng tumawa. “I think you mistook me for someone else, Sir. You can even do a background check on me, Mr. Velasquez.” Kampanteng sabi niya at nanghahamong tinitigan si Alaister.

You can’t fool me, Alaister. Never again.

Alaister’s face crumpled like he didn’t like what she said, not buying her lies. “I hate liars,” sabi nito na nagpaangat ng dalawang kilay niya.

“You should start hating yourself then, Mr. Velasquez.” Aniya na nagpasalubong sa makakapal na kilay ng kaharap niya. “Okay, let’s get back to the issue. Can you give me any proof and evidence to support your certain complaint? So that we can take an immediate action to it,” pormal ang boses na aniya pero hindi nawala ang pagkasalubong ng kilay nito.

“My cousin bought a white diamond ring here, online. But when he received the product and tested if it was real, he found out that it’s fake. Pero ang mas malala pa dun ay madaling natupok ang bato nang pukpokin niya ito ng martilyo.” Maikling paliwanag nito at hindi mapigilan ni Elizabeth ang mapangiwi.

“Then why are you here? It should be your cousin that has to be here and complain, hindi ikaw.” Hindi niya mapigilan ang inis sa boses niya habang nagasalita. “And Mr. Velasquez, sino ba ang nasa matinong pag-iisip ang pupupokin ang isang diamond na hindi gaanong kalakihan para lang patunayan na peke ang isang gem.” She said in a matter of fact tone. “But you didn’t answer my question… Do you have any proof or evidence to support your complaint?”

Alaister gave her an unbothered shrug. “We don’t but the fact that you scammed someone remains that this issue should be open in court.”

Hindi napigilan ni Elizabeth ang mapairap sa kaharap at walang ganang kumuha ng cheki sa purse niya.

“How much?” she asked in a bored tone.

Gulat na napatingin sa kanya si Alaister. “What?!” he hissed.

“Come on, Mr. Velasquez, just tell me how much your cousin bought the ring and I’ll double it. Or just tell me how much does your cousin need at nang matapos na tayo dito. This matter shouldn’t have to be in court since I can pay how much your cousin bought the product. Look, Mr. Velasquez, I don’t know the exact amount of every product under my company so will you be so kind as to tell me the amount you need? I still have more matters to deal with,” aniya.

“How about ten million—”

“Okay,” kaagad na sagot niya at isinulat ang halagang sinabi nito sa cheki niya. She then handed him the cheque.

Alaister just stares at her like he can’t believe what’s happening.

“Come on, take it—“

“Stop it, already, Eliza. Hindi na ako natutuwa.” Madilim ang mga matang anito pero ewan ba niya at hindi man lang siya tinubuan ng kaunting takot sa uri ng mga tingin nito.

“I’m here because of you. When you left me, I did an investigation,” paninimula nito but didn’t show any emotions to him. “Elizabeth Stheno Villanueva-Vasiliev,” pagbanggit nito sa buo niyang pangalan at doon siya kinabahan. He knows. But the hell she cares. Wala na siyang ni katiting na pakealam dito. If it wasn't for her father's order, she wouldn't come back here.

"Why did you left me?" he asked with sadness in his voice but she didn't notice and gave it a care.

"Let's get back to business, Sir—"

"I'm not here for business, I'm here for personal matters. Eli, just answer me, honestly this time. Why did you left me?" May pagsusumamo sa boses nito kaya hindi niya mapigilang mag-iwas ng tingin.

Sila nalang palang dalawa sa loob ng malaking opisina. Ni hindi niya namalayan na umalis na pala ang sekretarya niya. Is she focusing too much on him? Naiinis na napabuntong-hininga si Elizabeth at galit na tiningnan ulit si Alaister.

"Ask yourself, Mr. Zachary Israel Velasquez—or should I say… Zacchaeus Alaister Silvestri-Romano. I wonder who you really are. So mysterious and a great pretender." Pagkasabi ay walang pag-aatubling tumayo mula sa kinauupuan. Inilapag niya ang cheque sa harapan nito at tumayo ng tuwid. "We're done, excuse me."

NAPATITIG si Alaister sa cheking nasa harapan niya. Pagak siyang natawa nang maalala ang pag-uusap nila ng dating kasintahan. Nagpanggap pa talaga itong hindi siya nito kilala. He can identify someone whether he or she is lying or not. Kitang-kita niya sa mga mata nito ang pagpapanggap.

Nang matauhan ay kinuha niya ang cheki at hinabol ang babae. He wants an answer. Hindi pwedeng hindi siya makakuha ng matinong rason kung bakit siya nito iniwan. He was willing to give up everything he had just to be with her. He’s willing to sacrifice everything just to keep her. Pero parang gumuho ang mundo niya nang pagkagising niya ay wala na ito.

Nakita niya si Eli na papasok sa isang sasakyan kaya tumakbo siya papunta sa kinaroroonan nito.

“Hey!” he shouts to get her attention and thankfully he did. Lumingon ito sa kanya at binigyan siya ng nagtatakang tingin.

She has changed a lot, he can say. Her body became sexier, her face became more beautiful, her features became strong. Mukhang ibang tao na ang kaharap niya. Gone with sweet and innocent Eliza. It was replaced with an intimidating and authoritative aura. Sa loob ng anim na taon ay palagi niyang kinukwestyon ang sarili kung bakit siya naggawang iwan ng dalaga. He was good to her. Only to her.

“What?” she asked with irritation in her voice.

Nagtatakang tiningnan niya ito. Bakit parang galit ata ito sa kanya? Dapat siya pa nga ang magalit sa ginawa nitong pang-iiwan sa kanya eh.

“Why do I feel that you hate my existence?” he can’t help but to ask and Elizabeth rolled her eyes at him.

“Back off then kasi ayaw ko talaga sayo—“

“Why?“ puno ng kuryusidad na tanong niya.

“Just because. At pwede ba Mr. Velasquez or whatever your surname is, ‘wag kang magmalinis. Why do you think I left you before? Because you were so mysterious that even I didn’t know your real name. Hindi ko nga alam kung totoong tao ka ba o nagbabalatkayo lang.” Anito na halata ang pagkadisgusto sa mukha nito. Akmang magsasalita siya nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Elizabeth dahilan para mapunta ang atensyon nila sa cellphone nito.

Then he saw a man named Greg…

ELIZABETH blew a loud breath before answering Greg's call. It would probably be about her son kaya tumawag ito.

"What is it, Greg—"

"Mommy!" tili ng kanyang anak mula sa kabilang linya kaya awtomatikong napangiti siya. Her son can really melt her anger away. Marinig lang niya ang boses nito ay kumakalma na siya.

“Yes, baby?” Malambing ang tonong sabi niya at nawala na sa isip niya na nasa gilid lang pala niya si Alaister. She absentmindedly went inside her car and drove it away from the place.

Pero hindi pa man siya masyadong nakakalayo sa kinatatayuan ni Alaister ay kitang-kita niya ang pagdidilim ng mukha nito at ang bahagyang paggalaw ng panga nito mula sa side mirror. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin at itinuon ang atensyon sa daan. Habang bumabyahe siya papunta sa mansion ni Greg ay kausap niya ang anak niya na walang humpay sa pagkukwento.

“GREGORIO ESTEFANO ALVAREZ, what have you done?!” Galit ang boses na sabi niya nang makarating siya sa mansion ni Greg.

She saw her son, holding a gun and aiming somewhere. Mabilis niyang kinuha ang baril sa mga kamay ng anak niya at pinandilatan si Greg na inosenteng nakatingin sa kanya. Galing ito sa kusina, nagluluto, nang marinig niya ang boses ni Elizabeth na umalingawngaw sa buong mansion niya.

“What?” Greg asked.

Ipinakita niya ang baril na Glock 18 na may suppressor. Imbes na magulat ito ay nagkibit-balikat nalang ito na parang walang dapat ipakabahala.

“Gusto mo iputok ko to sa ulo mo?” she put a warning tone in her voice but Greg just turned his back at her. Kahit kailan talaga wala itong modo at parang walang pakealam sa mundo. Hindi na ito nagbago.

“Bwesit,” she mumbled as she disassembled the gun and put it above the cabinet. Kaagad niyang kinarga ang anak niya at pinaupo ito sa stool na nasa kusina.

“Ala, what did I tell you about holding a gun?” sabi niya habang marahang sinapo ang mukha ng anak niya.

“Mom, I was just checking it…” pagdadahilan nito na nagpabuntong-hininga kay Elizabeth.

“Just… don’t do it anymore, Ala.” Tanging sabi nalang niya saka bumuntong hininga ulit. “And by the way, I met your father earlier.”