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
Brodie's POV.Having Carmella around helped me ease my sleep. Holding her hand next to me, lying in bed, put me to sleep.Hindi ako dating ganito, dahil hindi ako nakakatulog sa gabi. Kailangan ko pang pahirapan ang sarili ko para mapagod ang katawan ko para makatulog. But Carmella changed that routine for me. One touch of her and her smiles is my lullaby.Learning her likes and dislikes, I kept that in mind. I've done my research, and she's easy. The easy type when it comes to heart.Mataray siya, pero malambot naman ang puso pagdating sa iilang bagay. At matigas sa mga desesyon na gusto niya. She can put up a fight. There's no doubt about that. She's a fighter. I know that. But one thing that up until now made me puzzle about her. I don't think she had one hundred exe's. I just can't believe it.Today, after a busy day at the farm, I prepared her favorite dish. The dish that she misses a lot at home. . . Pasta.It's not ordinary pasta because every ingredient and even the sauce was
Carmella's POV.And just like that, I've lost half a million dollars.What the. . .fudge."Oh, that was — you know. I-I didn't expect it." I acted calm, like it didn't affect me. Brodie shook his head as he looked at the field ahead. He was calm, sipping his alcoholic drink.How the hell did that happen? I was sure Butter told me that that horse would win! Did she perhaps lie to me?What the fudge, again.Tumayo ako at pasimpling dinukot ang cellphone sa loob ng bag. I sweetly looked at Brodie before turning away from him. Malagkit ang titig niya at tila walang pakialam sa mga tao sa paligid namin.If he could devour me here, he could probably done so. My message was loud and clear. I bet myself in exchange for the money. And I'm sure he's looking forward for it. Sa uri ba naman ng titig niya kanina sa akin kanina nang matalo ang kabayo, ay tiyak puwede na niya akong gahasain mamayang gabi."Butter, I lost," I pouted. It doesn't worry me at all."Oh, I see. . . Is that a big deal?"A
Brodie's POV.She blew up the half a million dollars? Huh, damn. . . This is cool anyway. I have the best excuse to have her."So, anong gusto mo?" Matapang ang titig na pinakawalan niya sa akin. Napasandal ako sa dingding at seryoso siyang tinitigan.I'm not drunk, but I'm hot enough to make her mine tonight. We are back at the hotel now. It was early to go. There are still events at the venue, but I lost my appetite. All I want to do is to drag her to bed, kiss her hard, and make her moan in pleasure.Damn this. The alcohol is now playing a little guilt in my system. This is why I hate drinking."Like I've said, I'm cool about this, Carmella.""Okay. That's fine. May pangangailangan ka at ako rin naman 'di ba?"She crossed her arms together, and I swore behind my mind. She's hard to tame. That's for sure, but why do I find her more sexy? Huh, I must be crazy.I nodded and sighed in relief."Okay, but I have my condition, Brodie."Brodie? She's calling me Brodie now instead of mahal
Brodie's POV."Brodie!" Carmella whimpered, feeling annoyed. Her eyes shot like dagger towards me. I came panting, staring at her.Ilang segundo ko muna siyang tinitigan na nakapamaywang sa sarili.Damn, I was right. She's a virgin.Then, what's the big deal, Brodie? Carmella is mine. She's my wife.I captured her mouth again in another kiss, pushing her body back to the mattress. There was no noise from her. She's hungry as fuck and still wants to be eaten by me.I kissed and licked her down to her nipple. Suck the other one and massaged the other. She came panting, trying to touch me below. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at pinako ito sa ibabaw ng ulo niya."I only have one rule from this, Carmella," I said, panting at her. She nods."You break yours by kissing me, and that's alright, mahal ko. But mine can't be broken by any type of weapon."I pushed my member at her entry, and she gasped, feeling tense, excited, and at the same time so fucking hot."Once I'm inside, there's no turni
Brodie's POV."Is she still sleeping?""Yes," I sighed, looking at myself for the final time."How do you like your haircut?" Her brows narrowed."Perfect. Thank you, Vein." I stood up, composing myself for the final time."Are you sure you are not going to regret this? The organization is spying on you, Brodie. Sooner or later, they will find out about this, and you will know what will happen next.""I don't care, Vein. I'm ready for anything. I'm nearly there. Just a few steps away, and this will be over." I turned my back, grabbed my stuff, and got ready to exit the place."And what about Nicolle?"Napaigting ang panga ko at hindi ko nilingon si Vein. Itinaas ko nalang ang kanang kamay ko sa kanya.Bahagyang yumuko agad siya.---"Thank you, mahal. It felt like we were living in the dream." Carmella looped her arms around me, burying her face against my chest."Hmm, ang bango mo talaga? Ano ba ang gamit mong shave? Perfume? Sabon?"I scoffed and hugged her tightly. "Just the hotel
Brodie's POV . "Are you sure about that? Baka naman pagdating natin ng Italya ay magbabago ka." Naningkit ang mga mata niya sa akin at natawa agad ako. "Carmella, this is not you. When did you lose your confidence, mahal?" I shook my head. "I didn't lose my confidence, mahal. I'm just making sure. So, ano? Deal?" She extended her hand, and I looked at it. "What are you trying to play this time, mahal?" I sighed. She's full of surprises, and sometimes it does my head in. Noong isang araw nakipagpustahan siya sa akin at ang nakataya ang kalahating hectaria ng lupa ko sa kabilang bundok. Alam kong mananalo ako, pero para sa ikakatuwa niya ay kusa akong nagpatalo sa kanya. She got that share now. It's not a problem for me. She can get everything she wants as if she needs it. I know she's got more money than I have in the bank. "I'm betting my heart here, okay? So be responsible." Umikot siya sa likod ko at sa huminto sa harapan ko. Pilya ang pagtitig sa akin at saka naupo siya sa
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