Anastacia.Mama accepted it without knowing the entire truth about my secret. Only Tessie knows everything, and she promised me that she would never tell anyone about it.Bumalik na si Mama sa probinsya. Marami siyang ginawa para mapagaan ang lahat sa akin dito sa loob ng bahay. Babalik siya sa kabuwanan ko, at mananatili ng iilang linggo.May isang anak si Mama sa bago niya, pero malaki na ito. Nasa high school na si Neri. Mabait na bata at magalang. Malapit siya sa ama niya at nakakaingit ang closeness nila.I have no memories of my father. He left us when I was only five years old. Mama and he were never married. Since then, I haven’t seen him. The last I heard, he was doing well and living in Baguio with his five kids."Okay ka lang ba, Anastacia?"“Oo, okay lang.”Abala kaming pareho ni Kagawad Camilla. Siya ang kasama ko ngayon sa convention ng lungsod. Nasa Cagayan de Oro kami, at dalawang araw kaming mananatili rito dahil sa convention. Parte ito ng bagong proyekto na iniluns
New BeginningAnastacia.Note: This is seven years later. The twins are now six years old.Binalot ko ang makapal na jacket sa katawan. Tumigil na ang ulan. Kailangan kong umakyat sa bubong kahit na hindi mabuti ang pakiramdam ko. Wala kong choice at kailangan ko ng gawin ito. Baka kasi mamaya ulit ay uulan na naman. Mas mabuting maagapan ko na ngayon.I need to climb up the roof to check the leak. The rainwater drips in Zev's bedroom. It's not that bad, but it really annoys me every time I hear the drip sound inside his room. It sounds frustrating, and my poor boy can't even complain. It hurts to the bones to see my children struggle along with me.Hindi man nila sinasabi sa akin ito, ay ramdam ko ito bilang isang ina. Naiinis ako at galit ako sa kung ano man ang sitwasyon meron ako ngayon. Wala akong ibang masisisi kung 'di ang sarili mismo."Mama? Aakyat ka?" Celestine Skye looked innocently at me, my sweet, beautiful baby."Yes, Skye. Get back inside. You will get wet, anak."Kin
Diego’s POV .What a beautiful day, baby, and bingo! My mind speaks. My mouth never stops chewing. It tastes minty and sweet. And yes, it feels like I'm floating on cloud nine while looking at my target. Using my Barret M82, sure dead my target will no longer have a heartbeat. "Huh, let's bring home the bacon, baby," I said silently and counted the numbers in the back of my mind. Fucking damn it! Malutong na mura ko. Uno, dos, tre. . . Fuck! What the hell!? Bloody lucifer! Nagkagulo agad ang lahat sa yate. The party was over, the target was lying and everyone was screaming. Then all the heavy security came, and the place was in chaos. Fucking dimwit! I swore in silence while dismantling my equipment. Mabilis ang kilos ko at sinigurado na walang matitira ibidensya rito. I hurriedly covered my face with black covering with my full black combat. Damn it! This is my mission. Twenty million effing dollars, and someone blew it up! Who the hell? That congested ugly face! I wil
Cariena’s POV.I walked like I'd won the Miss Universe title. I smiled wickedly and dropped the lavish black port bag I had taken with me.Nawala rin agad ang ngiti sa labi ko, at tumaas ang kilay ko nang makita ang mga tauhan ni Papa. Nakalinya silang lahat at nakayuko.They're in line like idiots in my way. Huh, mga walang silbi! "Good afternoon, Miss Cariena," bigay galang ni Edu, ang kanang kamay ni Papa. Agad niyang kinuha ang maitim na bagahe ko at napatingin siya sa helicopter na gamit ko.I lifted my brows and rolled my eyes while giving him a smirk. "T-that's not ours - " Awang ng labi niya at pilya akong ngumiti "Yes, it's not one of ours, Edu. Sa bobong mukhang aso ang helicopter na iyan!" Taas kilay ko, at nagpatuloy na ako nang hakbang. Pero nahinto lang din ako sa sarili at hinarap siyang muli.Lumawak ang ngiti sa labi niya at kinindatan pa ako.Oh heck! Ang pangit ah! Hindi ko type ang mga mukhang zombie sa harap ko! Ugh! "Drive that helicopter, Edu, and crush it,
Diego's POV . "That fucking lunatic! The bloody insane witch from hell! I swear, I will choke her to death and sell her body to the devil!" I repeatedly swore in the back of my mind while taking my gear out of my body. "The hell, Diego! That brain of yours is not working, man! What do you think you're doing? Why the hell you turn off that effing signal? Alam mo na iyon ang konesyon mo sa akin, at nagmamagaling ka? Huh, ang talino, pre!" kantyaw ni Morris. Umikot na siya at kinuha ang barret m82 na gamit ko kanina. He checked everything, and it was all intact. This means I did not fire a single bullet at my target. And that's a significant damn offense. Damn it! "Mainit ka kay Cariena at matunog ang pangalan mo sa lahat." My jaw tightened and I move my head in both sides. Uminit ang ulo ko at ang sarap magwala sa mga sandaling ito. That was my pure mission with a million dollars in the line. And just like that, that damn witch screwed it up! No one dared and messed up my mis
Cariena’s POV . I can feel the warm water around my skin, which feels refreshing. It feels like I'm floating out of space. Walang iniisip, blanko ang utak. I had a few bruises that I got from the escape. I could still hear the people's screams when I fired the shotgun at my target. Huh, that was not even half of the money that Diego would get, but I stole that from him. I don't care if it's going to cost less. I want him dead. Naimulat ko ang mga mata at sa malinaw na tubig ng bathtub na ito nakasubsob ang buong katawan ko. Hubad, walang saplot at walang pakialam sa mundo. Tahimik ang buong paligid, hanggang sa marinig ko ang mahihinang hakbang na papasok dito sa banyo ko. I cursed in the back of my mind and slowly held my gun with me. It's behind me, in this bathtub, just behind my naked body. Dahan-dahan ang paghawak ko nito at mariing nakabukas ang mga mata ko. Hanggang sa naaninag ko na ang anino niya sa harapan ko. I'm like a sleeping beauty to him, but it's just that I'm
Diego's POV . "How much did you lose?" si Ranger sa akin. "Half a mil." I jerk up and then face down. I covered my face using my hand. "Half a mil my ass," sagot ni Morris sa gilid. "You effing lost ten million? Idiot!" ngisi niya at napailing pa. "Woah, beauty!" kantyaw ni Ranger. Bahagya na siyang natawa. "May magsasayaw mamaya sa stage, bro! A freaking dimwit hot mafia!" kantyaw ni Diezel. Nag-apir pa ang tatlo. Mga walanghiya talaga ang mga baboy na ito. "Cha, cha, cha, yo!" si Morris. I looked at the three of them, and they were dancing like crazy pigs. I almost chuckled when Ranger shook his booty. Tama nga siguro na binansagan sila noon ni Saraid na tatlong baboy na nanirahan sa kabilang tuktok ng mundo. Una, si Ranger, ang happy go lucky na walang pakialam sa buhay. Pangalawa si Diezel, ang matigas at astig na walang kinatatakutan, pero pagdating sa babae ay napaka-unggoy naman. Pangatlo si Morris, ang pinakamakapangyarihan at pinakamayan sa kanila, pero baliw at wa
Cariena's POV."Ano!? No way, Papa. Ayaw ko!"Nagtagpo ang kilay ni Papa at galit itong nakatitig sa akin. Habang si Mama? Heto, sa gilid, pilit na kinakalma ang sarili.They're getting worried after hearing from the De Lourdes Clan that the crazy El Cappuccino ordered his gangs and circle of friends to collaborate with them. . . And the mission? Is to extinguish me from this planet.Huh, ang galing nga naman ng pesting Diego De Luna de letsi ano? At talagang sagad na sa pagkadesperado sa buto, dahil pati ang kaalyado ni Papa ay ngayon ay kakampi na nila.That pest! Mura ng isip ko."This is for your safety, Siobeh. Just be away for two months while I will sort everything with the others. I will ensure to get them back at our side, which will be our payback.""Payback?" pamaywang ko, "why not do it now, Papa? Hindi ba pwede na ngayon na?"Tumalikod si Papa at napabuntonghininga. "Not now, my dear. . . El Cuppuccino put an end to my business down the north-side. That bloody idiot with
New BeginningAnastacia.Note: This is seven years later. The twins are now six years old.Binalot ko ang makapal na jacket sa katawan. Tumigil na ang ulan. Kailangan kong umakyat sa bubong kahit na hindi mabuti ang pakiramdam ko. Wala kong choice at kailangan ko ng gawin ito. Baka kasi mamaya ulit ay uulan na naman. Mas mabuting maagapan ko na ngayon.I need to climb up the roof to check the leak. The rainwater drips in Zev's bedroom. It's not that bad, but it really annoys me every time I hear the drip sound inside his room. It sounds frustrating, and my poor boy can't even complain. It hurts to the bones to see my children struggle along with me.Hindi man nila sinasabi sa akin ito, ay ramdam ko ito bilang isang ina. Naiinis ako at galit ako sa kung ano man ang sitwasyon meron ako ngayon. Wala akong ibang masisisi kung 'di ang sarili mismo."Mama? Aakyat ka?" Celestine Skye looked innocently at me, my sweet, beautiful baby."Yes, Skye. Get back inside. You will get wet, anak."Kin
Anastacia.Mama accepted it without knowing the entire truth about my secret. Only Tessie knows everything, and she promised me that she would never tell anyone about it.Bumalik na si Mama sa probinsya. Marami siyang ginawa para mapagaan ang lahat sa akin dito sa loob ng bahay. Babalik siya sa kabuwanan ko, at mananatili ng iilang linggo.May isang anak si Mama sa bago niya, pero malaki na ito. Nasa high school na si Neri. Mabait na bata at magalang. Malapit siya sa ama niya at nakakaingit ang closeness nila.I have no memories of my father. He left us when I was only five years old. Mama and he were never married. Since then, I haven’t seen him. The last I heard, he was doing well and living in Baguio with his five kids."Okay ka lang ba, Anastacia?"“Oo, okay lang.”Abala kaming pareho ni Kagawad Camilla. Siya ang kasama ko ngayon sa convention ng lungsod. Nasa Cagayan de Oro kami, at dalawang araw kaming mananatili rito dahil sa convention. Parte ito ng bagong proyekto na iniluns
Anastacia."Ano? Dalawang buwan!? Anong klaseng lalaki ba siya? Hindi pwede 'to, Anastacia! Babalik tayo doon. Kakalbuhin ko ang lalaking 'yon!""Ang galing naman niya! Pagkatapos siyang magpakasarap sa 'yo ay ganun na lang ba? Wala lang sa kanya ang lahat? Anong klaseng lalaki ba siya!? Pesti! Halika! Babalik tayo! Bilis!"Hinila niya ang paa ko at pinadyakan ko siya. Bumitaw siya at mabilis kong binalot ang kumot sa katawan. Umiiyak ako. Hindi hihinto ang luha sa mga mata ko dahil nasasaktan ako ngayon. Pinipilit kong magpakatatag, pero bakit ang hirap? Sinusubok ako ng tadhana at pakiramdam ko ay wala na akong pag asa sa lahat.I have no work, and I'm running out of money. What will I do next?"Anastacia…"Ramdam ko ang pag upo ni Tessie sa paanan. Minasahe niya ang paa ko, at tahimik siyang nakikinig sa hikbi ko.Promise, huli na ito. Bukas at sa mga susunod na araw ay ayaw ko ng umiyak. Nakakapagod umiyak. Nakakawalang gana sa buhay. Pero ganito naman talaga 'di ba? Kasalanan ko
Diezel.My eyebrow raised while listening to John. He's got less than twenty seconds before he fuck up. How the hell will he bring an investor to this project if he can't deliver his report properly? He can't even justify some of this. I'm not listening to him while I read his report. It's full of nonsense."Next!""B-But, Sir. I'm not yet done.""You're fired. Next!" I blurted out, fixing them with a hawk-like stare. When I locked eyes with them, they all averted their gaze."Damn it! Wala bang maayos na proposal sa inyong lahat? These reports are all boring! How will you bring a golden egg to the table if all your proposals are as boring and useless as shit!Tumayo ako at saka napabuntonghininga sa sarili. I need some air, or I could end up dismissing the entire team.Lumapit si Joel sa akin at bumulong."Your secretary is on the line. It's important, she said."I rolled my tongue, and Joel handed me the phone."Yes, Sharon?" I raised my eyebrows. "I'm not in a good mood already, S
Anastacia.Bago na ang lahat. Pinalitan niya ang lahat ng staff rito at hindi ko na kilala ang mga ito. Kahit pa ang gwardiya ng gusali ay bago.What the heck? Talaga bang ginawa niya ito dahil ayaw na niya akong makitang muli?Shit.Hindi ko na tuloy alam kung tama pa ba itong ginagawa ko ngayon. Nanginig tuloy ang tuhod ko, at peke akong ngumiti sa babae rito sa front desk. Nasa likod ko naman si Tessie."Yes, Ma'am. How can I help you?" She smiled, but it was obviously a fake smile. She looked at me from head to toe and back again."Uhm, I would like to see Mr. Dennis Ezequil Mondragon?" Kumurap kurap ako. Nilakasan ko na ang loob."Oh? Do you happen to have an appointment with him, Ma'am?""A-Appointment? Wala, Miss."Nawala ang ngiti ko. Inaasahan ko na ito. Kilala ko si Diezel, at kahit noon pa ay hindi siya basta-basta tumatangap ng bisita.Ang buong akala ko ay nandito pa sina Kimmy at Dora. Pero wala na. Ano kaya ang nangyari sa kanila? Nilipat din ba sila ni Diezel?"Sorry
Anastacia."Ano!? Buntis ka? At dalawa pa talaga? Shit!"Parang putok ang boses ni Tessie sa tainga ko. Sinabi ko na sa kanya. Wala akong ibang mapagsasabihan at siya lang din."At ano ang plano mo, aber?"Namaywang siya at seryoso akong tinitigan. Umiwas ako at nagpabalik-balik ang lakad ko sa harapan niya."Hindi ko alam. Nalilito ako, Tessie." Kinagat ko na ang pang-ibabang labi."No, Anastacia. I know what you're thinking. Hindi puwede 'to! Kailangan mong sabihin sa kanya! Sasabihin mo at sasamahan kita!"I paused and inhaled deeply."Paano kung ayaw niya? Paano kung ipagtabuyan niya ako, Tessie?"Takot ako, at hindi ako handa kung sakaling magkikita kami ulit. Hindi na kailanman sumagi sa isip ko na makipagkita sa kanya.After he abandoned me, I erased his existence. I hated him so much! I want to forget him. At kung kailan ay okay na ako at handa na ang puso kong makalimot sa lahat, ay saka naman dumating ang problemang ito.Talagang hindi ko na makakalimutan si Diezel dahil bu
Diezel.What are the odds? I'm so effing bored. I raked my hair in exasperation, feeling so frustrated.I'm back here in the business after Italy. I went to Italy to forget Anastacia, but damn it. I couldn't get over with her. I couldn't forget her. Every time I shut my eyes I always see her face, crying, pleading and I feel effing guilty about it.Kung hindi ako pinigilan ni Joel ng gabing iyon, ay tiyak kasama ko na si Anastacia ngayon.I was determined to leave because it was the right thing to do, even if my heart said no. I hesitated and briefly considered going back to Anastacia, but Joel stopped me. He told me there was no hope for me and Anastacia. If I chose her, it would only complicate everything.Damn him! Damn them!They think my life is a game, right? Eff them all.Yes, I have set my goals. I want to build a perfect family with an Italian heritage. That's the ideal gift I could give to my mother and to the whole clan. The Elders are hoping that I will produce an Italian
Anastacia.I was crying the entire time I was inside my bedroom. After he dropped me off yesterday morning, I never went out. I have no work anymore. I've finished all my work at Diezel's company, and I have no plans to look for other work at the moment. Ang buong akala ko pagkatapos ng masasarap na gabi namin ay iisa na kami. Nagkamali ako, dahil heto umiiyak ako ng wala sa sarili.I was hoping that he would come back. I never went to bed last night. I was waiting for him the entire time. My cell phone was not even turned off. I was waiting for Diezel to call me, but it never happened.Siguro nalilito siya at nag iisip? Iyan lang ang iniisip ko, na baka hindi siya nakatawag agad dahil nag iisip pa siya. Pero mukhang wala na yata, dahil dalawang araw na ngayon simula nang huli ko siyang nakita, at wala pa rin akong balita sa kanya.The two days have suddenly passed into seven days, and still, Diezel has not even contacted me.Mataas ang pride ko, pero sobra na ito. Ganun na lang ba
Anastacia.Naimulat ko ang mga mata at wala na si Diezel sa tabi ko. Bahagyang nakabukas ang bintana. Maliwanag na, pero maaga pa naman. Humikab ako at saka napangiti nang maalala ang ginawa namin. Nakakataba ng puso iyon, dahil ramdam ko na mahal ako ni Diezel sa kabila ng lahat. Gusto niya ako!Tumayo ako para hanapin siya. Lumabas ako ng kwarto niya at bumaba ng hagdanan."Diezel?" I called him, and my eyes surveyed his place as I descended the stairs.This place is massive. This is one of Diezel's place in town. "I'm here, Anastacia." He calls back.Binilisan ko ang hakbang. Nasa kabilang banda siya, sa baba, sa mismong opisina niya.Ang bahay na ito ni Diezel ay malapit lang sa opisina ng kompanya. Madalas na ako rito dahil na rin sa trabaho. Alam ko na ang lahat sa kanya, at pinagkakatiwalaan niya ako sa lahat ng bagay.Nakabukas nga naman ang pinto ng opisina niya rito, at nakaupo siya nang pumasok ako. Parang tinatapos lang ang ginagawa."Nagtatrabaho ka?" Nangunot ang noo