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
Erykah Sunshine."Glenn? Kanina ka pa ba?" I ran towards him like a child and hugged him tightly. "I miss you, babe!" I sniffed his chest and kissed him there.I miss him so much. Kahit pa araw-araw kaming nagkikita at nagkakasama ay namimiss ko siya ng sobra."I'm done with everything. Is there anything you want to do tonight?" I twinkled my eyes. I'm excited for us to go to the outdoor cinema. He promised me the other night that we would go for the last show of my favorite movie. It's a movie date before I fly to New York."No. I have no plan earlier, but I have a plan now."I twisted my lips, dismayed at his response. He smiled a little bit, trying to tease me again. My eyebrow raised."Is there something wrong?""No. Nothing," he blinked. "We can watch a movie now." Agap niya. Bumawi agad ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya sa akin."If you want to watch, we can do that. I have nothing on tonight.""Really? Then, let's go!" Sabay hila ko sa kanya palabas ng kwarto. Excited ako. Bahala n
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