Erykah Sunshine.Trade."Paano kita ipapakilala sa asawa ko aber? Seloso 'yon eh." I looked at Philip and he taunted."Just tell him I'm a good friend. Tell him the truth about who I am, Erykah."Pinaikot ko lang ang mga mata ko habang inaayos ang seatbelt. Nasa loob ng eroplano kami, at parehong naka-business class kami. Katabi ko siya at makulit. Personality na ito ni Philip noon pa man. Maalaga rin siya pagdating sa kung sinong babaeng nakakasama niya. Kaya siguro na in love si Samantha sa ugali niya."Huwag kang dikit ng dikit sa akin ah. Sasabihin ko na matalik kitang kaibigan dahil iyon naman ang totoo. Pero hindi mo puwedeng sabihin kay Glenn ang tungkol sa pagkatao ko at sa kompanya."Nagtagpo bahagya ang kilay niya. Pero ngumiti rin nang ma-e-serve ng attendants ang inomin namin. Ladies cocktail ang ini-order ko at wine naman sa kanya."Thank you, beautiful," he said flirtatiously to the attendant."Okay. If you say so, but I have already made an excuse for us, Erykah. Don'
Erykah Sunshine.I couldn't move. My eyes kept pacing back and forth to Glenn, beside me, and to Philip, sitting across us. I expected them to be good friends at first, but somehow, it felt like there was a huge wall between them. The way they looked at each other in the eyes made it seem like they were shooting daggers."What do you do for a living, Philip?" Glenn shoots a question while adding salt to his chicken porridge.Ang akala ko ay kakainin na niya ito, pero mali, dahil inilapag niya ito sa harapan ko at kinuha ang akin."Thank you," I smiled, feeling the tension."I haven't add salt yet to that," I added. Talagang hindi ko pa nalagyan iyong akin dahil naging abala ang mga mata ko sa ibang bagay, at sa kanilang dalawa ito. Glenn ordered a family-sized portion of chicken porridge at his favorite restaurant, which offers morning food delivery.Pagod kaming pareho dahil sa pinaggagawa namin. Inabot kami ng madaling araw. Purong kalandian at ni wala nga'ng proteksyon iyon. Hind
Erykah Sunshine."Umalis na si Elmelda kasama si Elloida. I don't think she wants to push more for this case. Alam niyang marami siyang kasalanan… the best option that Judge Caladios offered her was to walked away without anything. Nakakapagtaka nga eh. Inakala ko pa naman na lalaban siya. Eh, hindi na. Kaya okay na ang lahat, Erykah."Kausap ko si Samantha sa kabilang linya. Dinetale niya ang nangyari. The board of directors expelled Emelda. Sangkot din si Emelda sa milyong dolyares na funds na magpahanggang ngayon ay nawawala.Sumakit ang ulo ko nang ma-e-presenta ni Samantha sa akin sa email ang legder ng kompanya ni Papa. Hindi ko alam kung paano aayusin ito, at saang anggulo ako magsisimula. Ayaw kong magbawas ng tao, dahil alam kong umaasa lang din sila sa kompanya ni Papa."The only solution we could do, Eres, is to shut the other branch in San Francisco. Kung gusto mo na ma-e-salba ang New York. Wala tayong choice, Eres. Ito lang din ang nakikita namin solusyon.""I have to c
Erykah Sunshine.I looked at them in the distance as they stepped out of the yacht. Glenn was right beside his father, and Saber was right beside Simone. Two bodyguards were with them, including the two persons on board, which I believe are the staff.Sa tingin ko ay si Glenn ang nagmaneho ng yate niya. Masaya siyang bumaba at kausap niya ang Papa niya. Saber was just behind Glenn, and I witness how she tried to gets Glenn's attension.Malayo ako, at hindi ako nakikita ni Glenn ngayon. Manong Max was just behind me and was quiet. I told him that I wanted to check them, but without Glenn knowing that I was checking.Tumikhim si Manong at naputol ang seryosong titig ko kay Glenn at Saber. Nilingon ko si Manong sa likod at tumango siya. Hudyat na kailangan na naming bumalik bago pa ako mapansin ni Glenn.Mabilis agad ang hakbang ko pabalik sa villa. Sa kabilang banda kami dumaan ni Manong. Hindi kami makikita ni Glenn, dahil nasa entrada naman sila ng port.The other staff looked at me
Erykah Sunshine."Salamat, Manong, ah. Don't worry, Manong, may komisyon ka sa akin!" Thumbs up ko. Bahagyang natawa si Manong Max at napailing ito. Hinila na niya agad ang lubid na pinagtalihan sa yate.Glenn, along with his father and the others, left the VB an hour ago. Saber was eager to go to the island earlier without me because Glenn's mother arrived last night.Parang nawala ako sa eksena kagabi dahil hindi ko inaasahan ang pagdating ng Mama ni Glenn. She was with her bodyguards and it was obvious that Glenn's father knew she's coming. Hindi niya lang sinabi, dahil siguro ayaw niyang umalis si Glenn ng maaga na kasama ako. Ramdam ko sa kilos ng Papa Glenn kagabi ito. Pinipilit niyang isali ako sa pamilya nila. Pero mailap ang Mama ni Glenn. Halatang ayaw niya sa akin.They all left this morning using the big yacht.Last night, I had a quick conversation with Manong Max. I asked him if he knows how to maneuver a yatch and if possible we could use the small one for today. Mabut
Zebedee Glenn.The phone slipped through my hand, and it landed on the floor."Glenn? Hey! Are you there?"Ilang segundo ko itong tinitigan, hanggang sa bumalik ang utak ko noong una ko siyang nasilayan sa SOLO FF.There must be a reason why she was there at that time. I heard, the Brittsman Corporation was one of the leading sponsors of SOLO at that time.Dammit. No wonder Papa was so keen to me to go there. He told me that a dear friend of his wanted to meet me at that time, but I refused. Maliban kasi sa may gustong ipa-bid sa akin si Mama noon, ay hindi ako sumipot sa usapan namin ni Papa na magkita.I don't want an arranged marriage. I don't want them to choose for me because I want to find the right one for myself."Glenn?""Yes, I'm here. I'll call you back later, Xav. Thank you," I said, ending the call. I whirled around and looked at them ahead. They're already on the sand and see the other people around them.Mabilis kong pinaandar ang jetski at saka inihinto ito sa tabi ng
Erykah Sunshine.I keep my stand as I looked at Glenn's parents. For me, their reaction is important. Glenn's mother looked shocked, her eyes widened as she looked at me. Halos matumba siya at mabuti na lang ay mahigpit ang hawak ng Papa ni Glenn sa kanya."I'm sorry, Tita, Tito…" Ito lang ang lumabas sa bibig ko.I still call them Tito and Tita because they haven't accepted me as Glenn's wife, and I respect that."What did you say?" Saber came in a defense."You heard her, right. Erykah Sunshine Britts is the only daughter of Mr. Benjamin Britts to her deceased wife Sunshine Beaumont-Britts, who happened to own this Island," Philip started.Tumahimik na ako at hinayaan na si Philip na magsalita pansamantala. Naka-focus na ang mga mata ko sa dalawang taong kontrabida sa buhay ko. . . sina Emelda at Sarah."I have all the legal documents with me. I worked at Brittsman Corporation as one of their legal advisers. Judge Caladios provided all the legalities within the last will and testam
Zebedee Glenn.Dammit. What am I doing? Why am I acting like this?I just realized that Eres agreed to marry me because of the contents of her parent's will. What the hell.I gritted my teeth, and my heart ached for her the moment she turned her back away from me.Gusto ko lang naman na masulo siya. Gusto ko lang naman na makausap siya at makapag-usap kami. Marami akong tanong, pero hindi ko kayang itanong ngayon ito sa kanya.After hearing and witnessing, I no longer have the energy to ask her why she needs to hide her identity. It's obvious. Those people who are supposed to be her family want her dead."Erykah. . ." I followed her. My strides are longer.Kinausap ko si Papa saglit at pinasigurado sa kanya na hindi papakawalan ng mga pulis ang dalawa. Philip is present to provide evidence, and Simone must have been shocked to discover this, just like me. We didn't see this coming.She stopped the moment she reached the tent and grabbed a cold drink."May itatanong ka? Magtanong ka n
Anastacia.My heart raced when I saw Zev's face. He's got bruises around the right eye like someone had punched him in the face."Anong nangyari sa 'yo? Who did this to you?"Napaluhod ako at ininspeksyon ang mukha niya. Hindi ko sila nasundo ngayon dahil delivery ngayon ng orders ko galing Amerika. Ako mismo ang kumuha ng mga ito sa pantalan. Kaya pansamantala si George ang kumuha sa mga bata."Tinanong ko rin, Ate. Pero ayaw magsalita. Ganyan na ang mukha eh. Gusto ko sanang kausapin ang guro nila, pero wala raw. Kaya umuwi na kami."Bitbit ni George ang bag ng dalawang bata. Inilapag niya ito sa gilid at saka namaywang sa likod ko."Patingin nga. Dios ko…" Tumayo ako at kumuha ng maligamgam na tubig. Pina upo ko si Zev at tahimik siyang nakayuko. Samantalang si Skye ay nasa gilid lang. Nakasandal sa dingding at pinagmamasdan kami."Ano ba ang nangyari, Skye? Who did this to your brother?"Siya na ngayon ang tinanong ko. Alam kong matigas ang ulo ni Zev at madalas ay hindi siya na
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