Carmella."I can't believe this! I'm actually gettingmarried!" Tumili ako habang kayakap si Pepsi. Tumaas ang kilay niya at napangiwi lang ang bruha.Today is our wedding day. It's solemn as it is. We only have one witness each. It's only Pepsi on my side and one on Brodie. I heard his name was Nathaniel. My father called me earlier. Of course, he was okay with everything. This was my father's idea and not mine, and I'm okay with this, provided Brodie and I already had living arrangements.It's as simple as it is. I'll be living in my own backyard, and Brodie will be in the same as hers. The community doesn't need to know. It has nothing to do with them. But in the next few weeks, we have to fly to Italy for Brodie's matter, and I need to accompany him. Bibisitahin ko na rin sina Papa, tutal hindi naman malayo at nasa parehong syudad lang naman kaming dalawa ni Brodie."I hate you, Carmella. Akin dapat ito eh, pero inigaw mo lang talaga." Halukipkip ni Pepsi."But you never liked an
Carmella.It's been two days since we got married, and we still act like we don't exist for each other.Panay ang titig ko sa plantsadong singsing sa kamay ko. Wala nga namang kaartehan ito. Purong bilog na kulay ginto at ni pangalan ko nga at kay Brodie ay wala.Tsk, saan kaya niya nabili ito? Tiyak dito lang din sa tabi-tabi rito. At anong klaseng buhay mag-asawa ito? Ni hindi ko nga siya mapuntahan sa bahay niya dahil nahihiya ako. Dapat tumawag siya at mangamusta. Pero ni hi, hello, how are you, ay wala!"I want to tie Brodie and just give him a damn beating," I exhaled in the line. Feleona chuckled."Oh well, you choose that, right? Nangyari rin naman sa akin iyan noong nagpakasal kami ni Gabriel sa Las Vegas. Don't tell me you tried to copy the same pattern with me?" She laughed again.I pouted. "Of course not! Magkaiba ang sitwasyon mo noon sa sitwasyon namin ngayon ni Brodie. It's Brodie who needs me, Feleona. Not me!" Pagmamalaki ko. Iba naman ito sa kanila noon ng asawa niy
Carmella."He is okay now. Luckily, the venom was not much. It wasn't enough to kill Brodie. He is now safe and needs a rest. He will be discharged tomorrow.""Thank you, Mr. Millie.""That's alright. And by the way, I heard what about Almond. I'm sorry. . . That dog was adamant and such a hero."I bit my inside cheek and smiled a little bit. Mr. Millie patted my shoulder and then trailed off. I sighed, feeling so heavy at the moment.Almond is dead. He probably found the snake inside Brodie's working shed and managed to chase and kill it. But it also bites him. And unfortunately killed him. . . My poor baby.Napasandal ako sa dingding habang tinitigan ang pinto ng kwarto sa pribadong hospital na ito. Nagpapahinga si Brodie sa loob na kasama si Nathaniel. Nalulungkot dahil wala na si Almond at wala ng maingay na tatahol sa akin kada umaga sa tuwing pupunta ako sa farm.Nakakamis naman pala ang mga alaga. Kaya ngayon naiintindihan ko kung bakit walang pakialam si Smokey sa mga hayop,
Carmella.I smiled wickedly after picking Brodie. Hindi pa siya lumabas ng kotse at ako ang nauna. Nilingon ko siya at hinintay para sabay kaming papasok sa loob ng bahay niya. Buong biyahe nga siyang tahimik at nirerespto ko ito. May pinagdadaanan siya at masakit mawalan ng aso na katulad ni Almond.He stepped out, and I watched him fully while walking towards me. He then stopped two feet away from me."Do you want something that I can offer?"I smirked. It wasn't a partner's offer but a stranger's."Brodie, let me ask you. Who am I to you?" I tilted my head, looking at him in the eyes, waiting for him to say something."Carmella. . . You are, of course, my wife." Brodie's jaw tightened."Yes, I'm your wife!" Pinakita ko agad sa kanya ang sing-sing ko sa kamay at itinapat ko ito sa kamay niya."See that? It's perfect." Sabay hawak ko sa kamay niya. "So don't ask me what you can offer when you know the answer. Come one, let's get inside together." I tightened my grip on his hand and
Carmella's POV."Oh, I love this!" I whirled around and grabbed the chilled wine. Brodie is still showering, and here I am, preparing our food like a wife."Oh hang on, I'm not like a wife because I'm his wife legally. Tsk, ano ba itong iniisip ko. Nakakalito rin naman pala ang pagiging baliw ano?"I hummed while preparing everything. I kept talking to myself and my audience is my cat, Smokey. He settled here like me. Parang wala siyang problema sa bahay ni Brodie at mabilis siyang nakapag-adjust katulad ko."Okay, Smokey, here's yours." Ibinigay ko na ang para sa kanya, dried cat food. Kumain agad siya.Lumabas na si Brodie mula sa banyo at napangiti ako, dahil isinuot niya ang damit na inihanda ko."Dinner's ready. Let's eat?"He nodded and never said anything and followed me.I made a silent prayer and we started. Hindi ako sanay na magdasal dahil makasalanan ako. Hindi na siguro ako mapapatawad ng Dyos dahil sa daming masasamang taong pinaparusahan ko noon. Pero kahit papaano ay
Brodie's POV.I shook my head. Carmella is a handful of sly, tempting tigress. I know that. I better keep my wall solid in between us. This marriage was planned according to each benefit. She might now know the real reason why we have to get married, but I'm choosing this as an opportunity to resolve everything."Oh, the night is cold. I love this! Now I understand why you like to work at night, Brodie." She gestured in a gunshot."Okay, let's begin shooting!" Taas na hawak niya sa shotgun."Be careful with that, Carmella. That's not a toy that you can just fire around. Make sure that there's no casualty around the area, or you will go to jail," I reminded her."Alam ko ano. Huwag kang ano!" Pilyang ngiti niya at napailing ulit ako sa sarili. Nahinto akong saglit at pinagmasdan lang siya.Yeah, pretty dumb, Brodie. What else do I expect from a family background of her? She's not any Carmella because she's a Del Fiore—a Del Fiore who can do unimaginable things around me."Hey, mahal!
Brodie's POV . One hundred lips? What the — kind of a woman is she? Dammit. "As you can see, Brodie, we need to make some amendments in this part, bro. I suggest putting a 10 percent deflation rate on the market. What do you think? It's not bad, right?" I heaved deep enough to get out some bad air, but I felt down still. Hell, is wrong with me? "Hey, Brodie, are you even listening to me? Hello?" "Yes? What did you say again?" "Tsk, sabi ko na nga ba. Hindi ka nakikinig at wala ka na naman sa sarili mo. Kung hindi lang kita kaibigan ay ninakawan ko na ang kompanya mo at wala lang ito sa 'yo." Iling ni Nathaniel. "What's bothering you?" "Is it normal for a woman to kiss one hundred men?" My brows crossed. I'm out of my mind. "You mean your wife kissed one hundred lips? What the heck, bro," he chuckled. "Anong klaseng tanong iyan." He stood up and put the papers away. He put them back in the drawer. "I will do the plan as what you suggest, okay? Here have a drink." Ibinigay ni
Carmella's POV."Get this right, Carmella. Don't let that sly fox seduce your husband. Remember, Brodie is yours now. It's not like you guys are not married. That was legal, Carmella. My gosh! I will never let this slide. Nicolle De Pruta can go to hell if she'll lay a finger on my man. What's mine is mine and mine alone!"Naningkit ang mga mata ni Butter nang sabihin niya ito. Nahinto ako sa pag-nguya ng apple at pinaikot ko nalang ang mga mata ko.I stood up to peel the skin off. I don't like eating apples like this. I can't swallow the skin. It's too chewy, and it's making me choke.After discovering Nicolle and Brodie's past, I wanted to skin Brodie alive!Sinadya niya yata na pakasalan lang ako dahil kay Nicolle. He knew I'm the last resort. Sly! Pareho silang dalawa ni Axton! Kaya pagsasamahin ko silang dalawa sa hukay."Did you forgot what she did to you when we were young? My God! Kung ako lang sana ang nasunod noon sunog na ang balat ng haliparot na iyon!"Napangiwi ako. Mas
Brielle."We need to leave, tiya."Hindi umimik si tiya. Alam ko na pagod na siya sa kakatakbo. Medyo matagal na rin kami sa isla. Mag tatatlong taon na. Ito yata ang pinakamahaba na nanatili kami sa isang lugar. Madalas naman kasi noon ay palipat-lipat kami ng tirahan dahil sa mga taong humahabol sa amin."Pagod na ako sa kakatakbo, Breille… Matanda na ako."I press my lips together and look at her.Naipasok ko na ang iilang gamit na kailangan ko. Sa syudad na muna kami. Mas mabuti roon, dahil maraming tao at madali kaming gumalaw.Iniwan ko na ang susi sa bahay ni Morris kay Manong Paeng. Siya na muna pansamantala ang magmamatyag sa paligid. Sa kanya ko na rin iniwan ang susi ng bahay at ng tindahan."Tiya, we have to go, or else…" my lips trembled."Kilala ko ang mexicanong mafia na 'yon, tiya. Mas halang ang kaluluwa nu'n kaysa kay Alfred. Si Cappytano ang nagpapatay sa halos lahat ng mga tauhan ni Alfred, tiya. Kailangan natin na umalis!""Pero bakit ikaw ang hinahanap, Brielle?
Morris."Don't tell her that you're still here, Mors," Linus advises."And why is that?" My brows met halfway."Because that's not you. You don't give your location to anyone, lunatic."I laughed a little bit and shook my head. Linus was right. I don't easily give my location unless it's them, my cousins, asking for it. But Brielle is not just anyone. . . I like her."It seems like you like her. How serious?"I stared at Linus on the big screen. He's not even looking at me. He was busy sorting something. I did not answer and just rested my back on my chair.I'm not sure about it, but one thing is sure… I miss her."Hey, Mors. Don't you know that Cappytano is after you?" He changes the subject.Napatingin na siya sa akin ngayon na seryoso. Nawalang bigla ang tanong niya kanina tungkol kay Brielle.It wasn't important anyway. Linus knows that, and he doesn't care much about it. He is more concerned about the enemies around us."And what does he want? Cappytano was off the hook a long t
Brielle.Pagkatapos malinis ang paligid ay ang mga halaman naman ni tiya ang inasikaso ko. Nakakabagot nga, dahil wala man lang akong lilinisan sa territoryo ni Morris.Lahat ng mga alaga niyang hayop ay wala na roon. Inilipat niya ito sa pangangala ng isang kaibigan. Hindi ko alam kung sino, at tiyak sa kabilang isla iyon.Wala rin siyang halaman sa paligid at purong malalaking bush shrub at mga puno lang. Hindi na kailangan ng tubig dahil nabubuhay naman.Inside Morris house is clean. Nothing else to do there. Nalulungkot lang ako sa tuwing bumibisita ako roon. Dahil naaalala ko siya sa bawat sulok nito.It's not even a week, but it seems like months for me."Tapos na, tiya. Ihahatid ko na lang ito mamaya," tugon ko. Naramdaman ko kasi siya sa likod. Hindi siya sumagot."Siyanga pala, tiya. Ang aga mo naman nakabalik. Hindi ba dapat mamaya ka ba? Wala na bang ganap sa baba?" Pinunasan ko muna ang kamay gamit ang basahan na meron ako. Tumayo ako at saka nagpawis ng pawis sa mukha ba
Eva.I feel lonely already while seeing him walking away from me. Nangilid ang luha ko sa mata at mabilis akong tumingala sa lahat.Sana nga pala ay hind ko na siya hinatid dito sa pier. Heto tuloy. Nakakaiyak na.Kumaway siya at nasa top deck na ng barko. Kumaway rin ako, at nag-flying kiss pa. I want him to remember me as lively and lovely, and will try to wait for him. Alam kong alam ni Morris kung saan kami hahanapin ni tiya kung wala na kami sa isla.Bleu, his only friend was also with him. Wala ng natira sa bahay niya sa tuktok, dahil iniwan ni naman talaga ang lahat sa akin. Nasa akin ang mga susi nito.Nakauwi na ako, at ang tahimik na paligid agad ang namasdan ko. It feel strange. The quite environment around me seems like a haunting dream from my past.Nakakatakot at nakakalungkot. Ibang-iba na. . .Ibang iba na, dahil wala na si Morris sa Islang ito. Naiwan na lang kami ni tiya."Tatawag naman siya 'di ba? Brielle?" si tiya sa likod ko.Gabi na. Madilim ang langit at wala m
Brielle.I look at the blue sea sadly, feeling uncomfortable at the moment, trying to make everything alright.Gusto kong manatili kami ni tiya rito, para pagkabalik ni Morris ay nandito pa rin ako. Nagdadalawang isip na tuloy ako ngayon. Hindi ko alam kung tutuloy pa ba kami sa paglilipat ni tiya sa malayong isla na iyon.Ibinaon ko ang paa sa buhangin at ramdam ko ang lamig nito sa ilalim. Nilingon kong muli si Morris mula sa karagatan.Malayo siya, at hindi ko na halos makita."Inomin mo muna ito, anak." Inilagay ni tiya ang malamig na inomin na gawa niya. At kasama na ang kay Morris."Salamat, tiya." Tinikman ko agad ito, at ibinalik ko lang ang mga mata ko sa kung nasaan na si Morris ngayon. Tahimik ako at panag ang pagbuntonghininga sa sarili."Babalik na ako sa tindahan," aniya. Hindi ako kumibo at tulala pa rin habang pinagmasdan si Morris."Mamimiss mo ano?"Ang akala ko ay umalis na si tiya… hindi pa pala. Nilingon ko siya at katulad ko, ay nakatingin din pala siya kay Morr
Brielle.Busog ako at masaya. Nagpahinga na si tiya at naiwan kami ni Morris na gising pa. Maaga pa naman, at alam ni tiya na sa bahay ni Morris ako matutulog ngayon. Kaya inayos ko muna ang lahat, para wala na siyang iisipin pagkagising niya bukas.Mahigpit ang hawak ni Morris sa kamay ko, at panay naman ang ngiti ko habang tanaw na ang treehouse. Huminto kaming pareho, at saka dumampi ang labi niya sa likod ng kamay ko na hawak niya. "I'll be missing you, Bree…" Humarap siya sa akin, at saka hinaplos ang gilid ng mukha ko."And I will miss you too, Morris…" Pinalupot ko agad ang mga kamay ko sa leeg niya at saka hinalikan siya.With both of our eyes shut, we kissed. . . It was majestic. Nakakatawa ang hitsura namin pareho. Para kaming mga teenager rito. We kissed, hugged, laughed and kissed again. Morri's jokes were not funny at all. Kahit pa anong jokes ang sabihin niya ay hindi nakakatawa ito dahil hindi bagay sa hitsura niya. Kaya heto, tudo tawa ako.Morris is also not romant
Morris."Ilang linggo ka sa Italya? Buwan ba? Taon?"Glenn grimaced as he looked at me with never-ending questions. I shook my head, sipping the light champagne.It must be my last family dinner for I am going to go back to Italy in the next few days.“I will be back before you know it, Glenn.”He laughed a little bit.“I will keep an eye on your woman if you want.”I chuckled as I looked at his wife below."Brielle is fine. She's easy and she'll never go anywhere. Hindi naman siya katulad ng napangasawa mo ngayon. Mukhang palaban ang misis mo."“A little bit. She’s stubborn, but I can handle her.”"Sinusuban ang pasensya mo ano? In that case, I will not bother you to keep an eye on Brielle. I trust her,” I proudly said, and it was his turn to chuckle.“So, are you going back into business again?”I know Glenn is worried, but everything is okay with my business abroad. Iyon nga lang may mga bagay na sadyang naiiba sa kalakaran, at alam na niya kung ano ang mga ito.My father knew abo
Brielle.I couldn't sleep, ending up staring at him while he was asleep.Noon, hindi ako naniniwala sa pag-ibig. Wala akong alam kung ano ang nagagawa nito sa buhay ng isang tao. Marami akong tanong tungkol sa pagmamahal, at nang hindi ko makuha ang tamang sagot ay kinalimutan ko na ang mga ito.Si tiya lang ang mahalaga sa akin noon. Siya lang ang pamilya ko. Siya lang ang kinikilala kong ina. Pero nang dumating si Morris sa buhay ko, ay nagbago ang pananaw ko sa pangalang 'pag-ibig'.I suddenly feel a weird desire, longing, and love for him. I want to be with him. I can't be at peace without seeing him. I want to sleep and wake up beside him. I want him to be a part of me. I want him with me forever… I know I'm selfish at times, but… that's me.Pero hindi naman ako bulag. Alam ko ang pangako namin ni Morris sa isa't-isa. Pumayag ako sa gusto niya, dahil wala namang kasiguruhan ang buhay.I'm not a good person. I've done a lot of bad things, and I have a dark past that I've been try
Brielle."You don't want us to go somewhere, Brielle. Why not? The weather is good, baby. Let's go out fishing.""No. I don't feel like fishing." Tumalikod ako kay Morris at saka nag-kunwaring abala sa lababo."Alright. So, when do you feel like fishing or swimming?""I don't know. . ." Kibit-balikat ko. Nilingon ko siya. Nakaupo siya at hawak ang mainit na kape sa kamay. Dapat sana ay pupunta siya sa kabilang Isla para mamalengke, pero pinigilan ko. Si Bleu ang gumawa nito. Inilipat ko ang gawain na ginagawa niya madalas sa amin ni tiya."Why don't we finish the project you started at your place?" I sweetly smiled and walked towards him.Nasa bandang likod na niya ako nakatayo at niyayakap siya."The tree house?""Oo... Hindi ba matagal mo na na gusto matapos iyon. Mas mabuting tapusin na natin bago ka bumalik ng Italy."Humawak siya sa kamay ko, at saka umikot ang tingin sa akin. Tumayo siya at nakatingala na ako ngayon sa kanya.Matangkad si Morris, at polido ang katawan. His broad