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
Erykah Sunshine.WE head back to the yatch holding hands like some kind of a teenager couple. Ang dami kong problema sa araw na ito, pero naglaho lahat dahil nakangiti ako. Kahit pa nakahawak ang isang kamay ni Glenn sa steering wheel ng yate, ay hindi niya mabitawan ang isang kamay niya sa akin."Kukuha muna ako ng maiinom." Tumayo ako at akmang bibitaw sa kanya. Pero ayaw niya akong bitawan talaga."I'll come with you.""What? You can't leave the boat without a captain on board. Otherwise, we will crash." I looked ahead and saw nothing in the wide ocean to bump into."I'll put it into auto pilot." May pinindot siya, at saka tumayo na. Tiningnan niyang mabuti ang screen at nang mapagtanto na okay, ay saka lang siya tumitig sa akin."What do you want to eat?" He looked down at my lips and licked his lower lip. I swallowed hard, and the butterflies inside my stomach danced."No. We're not doing that!" Pinutol ko agad kung ano ang iniisip niya ngayon. Natawa siya."What? I'm not think
Zebedee Glenn.Sumakit ang ulo ko. Ang hirap hulaan ng ugali niya at konti na lang mababaliw na ako rito."Okay, let me clear things up. You want me to attain the business until the end of this month. Is that right?" Reeve's sounded lethargic. He sighed."Yes, Reeve."Diezel made an impeccable laugh, looking at me in my misery. I gave him a dagger look, and that made him laugh again."I can't let Erykah go. I will fucking go insane," I mumbled under my breath."Sigarilyo, gusto mo?" Diezel offered and I jut look at it. In the end, I took it and puff a few."Okay. I will do that. I will wait for you when you come back. Mama might want to stay in the BV if that's okay.""Yes. Do anything you like. I will talk to the staff to prepare her room. I will prepare the one that's closer to the sea. It will do her good.""Thank you, Glenn. I appreciate that," Reeve winked.Reeve's mother is sick, and at the moment, the test came out of her having cancer. It's a stage one. Treatment is now requi
Morris.We found ourselves at Bryce's hideout, the nearest place to our location. It's well-positioned. The securities remain secure, and Cappytano has likely not tracked us yet. Bleu and Reeve, along with their team, are at Cappytano's site. If they find him, it will be a nightmare for Cappytano... this will be his end. "Sa labas muna kami ni Glenn, Mors. I will update you soon. Reeve and Bleu are on it now.""Okay. . ." Napaigting ang panga ko nang maisaradoni Bryce ang pinto ng kwartong ito.I inhaled deeply and turned halfway to look at Brielle. My brows knitted together as she averted her eyes, evading my piercing stare."What the hell are you doing there, Bree?" I already know the answers to that, but I still want to listen to her.I step closer towards her and she looks at me shyly. We stared."Come on, talk…" I placed my hands on my hips, preparing to listen.She blinked and swallowed hard. "C-Cappytano gave me the mission… Hindi ko naman alam na ikaw iyon!"I chuckled, sha
Morris.We have our plan. Bryce is here for that and Glenn is making himself the sidekick.My brother does not belong into this type of business. Malinis siya at iba ang linya ng mundo sa mundo ko, pero sadyang matigas ang ulo niya. Ito yata ang ugali namin na magkapareho.Renzo and the other boys remained extremely vigilant. Cappytano was making a move, trying to get a lot of bad people onto his side to put me down. But it was too bad, and he still couldn't bring me down that way. An ominous black sheep like me is hard to tame. I will kill him first before he can make his moves."We have a spy on our side, Mors. We need to find out who it is." Bryce furrowed his brow while working on the gadgets.Magaling siya, at katulad ni Xavion ay mabilis nilang nakukuha ang signal ng kalaban at napasok ang sistema nila.It must be because Bryce, Xavion, and Hendrix used to work in the same gang before. Of course, they all have the line that was given by their parents. Bryce may not have the sam
Brielle.Ba't hindi ko ito alam. Bakit wala akong alam sa pagkatao niya? Napaupo akong wala sa sarili at tulalang nakatitig sa kawalan.Si Morris ba talaga ang gusto ni Cappytano? Bakit? Pero nasa Italya na siya. Sigurado ako rito. Tinawagan niya ako noong nakaraang araw. Nasa Italya na si Morris!Pero. . . Ano 'to? Ba't may isang katulad niya? O, baka may kakambal siya?Kalokohan talaga!Ginulo ko ang buhok. Sumakit ang ulo ko, at ayaw ko ng basahin pa ang lahat ng tungkol sa kanya.Ibang Morris yata 'to eh? Kakambal niya? Ganoon lang siguro. Pero impossible talaga! Hindi maari ito.Binuklat ko ulit at tuluyan nang binasa ang lahat. Huminga ako nang malalim, at saka bahagyang natawa na sa sarili. Napatingin na tuloy ang iilang matanda na malapit lang sa kinauupuan ko. Siguro naisip nila na baliw na ako.Oo! Magiging baliw na yata ako sa mga sandaling ito!Dalawang basong tubig na malamig ang naubos ko. Malayo ang nilakad ko. Hindi ako sumakay ng taxi, at sinadya ko talaga na maglaka
Brielle.Nanginig ang tuhod ko nang tuluyan na akong nakalabas. Nagmaneho ang isa sa mga tauhan ni Cappytano para makabalik na ako sa lugar nila Clara.Ibibigay raw sa akin bukas ang kaisa-isang misyon ko at pera. Isa lang ang pinapagawa sa akin ni Cappytano. At kung matagumpay ko itong magampanan, ay pinangako niya na hindi na niya kailanman kami gugulohin ni tiya."Don't trust Cappytano, Brielle. Halang ang bituka niya. Wala akong tiwala sa kanya."At nakuha pa talaga ni Alfred na mag komento tungkol sa bagay na ito. Eh, siya nga itong nagpahamak sa akin!Nakabalik na kami at wala na ang mga tauhan ni Cappytano sa paligid ko. Pero alam kong meron nagmamanman sa akin ng sekreto. Maraming mga mata na sa paligid, kaya dapat ay mag iingat na ako sa bawat galaw ko."Get the hell out of here, Alfred! I don't need you. You better save yourself and run away from here." My eyes cut sharp on him."Kung ayaw mo na matuluyan ka, ay umalis ka na! Bumalik ka sa lungga mo!" Galit ko siyang tinali
Brielle.Tatlong katao agad ang sumalubong sa amin. Tinitigan ako mula ulo hanggang dibdib. Nagtagal ang tingin nila rito sa dibdib ko at napangiwi ako."Hindi ko alam kung anong pinasok mo, Alfred. Nananahimik ako ng iilang taon.""It’s not my fault, Brielle. I was lucky that I was alive… Akala ko nga pinatay ka nila noon. Kaya noong nalaman ko na buhay ka, ay inisip ko na sa mga tagong Isla ng Pilipinas ka nagtatago. Wala ka namang record na lumabas ng bansa." Pabulong niya.Napabuntonghininga ako at nahintong saglit. "At talagang hinanap mo ako ano? Kasalanan mo rin pala 'to!"Nawala agad ang ngiti niya. "Nagbabakasakali lang naman…"Nagtagpo ang kilay ko sa kanya. Umiwas siya ng tingin at nilampasan ako. I slightly scoffed at his back, annoyed at him.Noon paman ay talagang balakid na si Alfred sa buhay ko. Para siyang linta na ang hirap alisin sa balat ko. Sumisipsip sa dugo ko. Paunti-unti hanggang wala nang matira sa akin. Saka lang din bibitaw kapag wala na siyang nakukuha."
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