“I entered different battles I never knew I could get in from carrying my children, to hearing their first cries, to witnessing their first steps, until they turned their back against me.” Asteria was staring at her husband, yet I know she was talking to me. “It was not my plan to marry, yet I craved for luxury that was out of my reach, so I did.” Napalingon ako kay Asteon na katabi ko ngunit wala akong nabasang reaksyon sa mukha niya. He was just staring at his mother with a stoic face. Nilingon kami ni Asteria. “It wasn't in my plan to love.” Bawat salita niya ay binigkas nang may diin na tila sigurado siya sa kaniyang mga sinasabi. “I didn't know how to, yet after carrying two souls, I learned.” Muling binalik ni Asteria ang kaniyang mga mata sa lalaking humihinga na lang gamit ang mga makina. “Being a mother is a never-ending march. You'll get tripped, yet you would not afford to fall for a wound that your children might get. Your fall is their harm.” I wanted to leave,
Being seated on a plane for almost twenty hours while knowing that my children together with my mother were being hostage was the longest torture I have ever experienced. If only it was possible, kalalampagin ko na ang eroplano para lang bilisan ang takbo. Ngunit wala akong ibang nagawa kundi ang umupo at magdasal na sana ay walang matamong kahit gasgas ang mga mahal ko sa buhay. “The Supreme doesn't want you to go.” Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Altro. “Pupunta ako kahit ano ang mangyari at wala kayong magagawa.” The man diverted his gaze in front. Siya ang naabutan namin sa private airport kung saan kami agad na nagtungo ni Sever. Iyon pala, nasabihan ni Ruan ang lalaki na pigilan ang pagpunta ko sa Switzerland. But Altro was built different. Hindi niya sinunod ang utos ng kaniyang Supremo at sa halip ay tinulungan pa ako. “I suggest for you to calm down. It is a calm war. Rye won't do anything... until you arrive.” Calm down? I couldn't help but to chuckle in a sarcastic wa
There was an intense battle of eyes between me and Ruan while Rye was busy checking his hand clock to count the time. “Choose our children,” I mouthed. Napapikit si Ruan na tila hindi na alam kung ano ang gagawin. He was clenching his jaw while breathing heavily while Rye was just grinning evily as he stared at him. Sa isip ko ay ang tunog ng paggalaw ng kamay ng orasan habang ilang nguso ng baril ang nakatutok sa akin. “Thirty seconds.” Sinubukan kong lumingon kayla Sever at Altro ngunit hindi ko magawa dahil sa higpit ng pagkakahawak sa akin ng mga tauhan ni Rye kahit nakatali na ako. When I looked back at Ruan, nakita ko siyang nakatitig sa mga anak namin na hindi pa rin tumitigil sa pag-iyak. When he turned his head and our eyes met again, I gave him a nod of assurance. “I'll be fine,” I mouthed him words again. He shall choose them. Bukod sa mukhang seryoso ang kapatid niya sa kondisyon niya ay 'yon na ang pinakamaayos na paraan upang matapos na ito. Hindi papayag si R
Nagising ako na nakahiga sa malambot na kama sa loob ng isang maayos at malamig na silid. I was expecting a chain or rope around my wrists, or a piece of cloth covering my mouth and eyes, hindering me from talking and seeing. However, I didn't expect that I would wake up lying in a comfortable mattress without feeling any pain around my body. Agad akong bumangon at nakitang suot ko pa rin kung ano ang damit ko kanina bago ako mawalan ng malay. Napag-alaman kong gabi na nang mapalingon ako sa bintana. Hindi na ako nagpaligoy-ligoy pa. Agad kong nilapitan ang pinto na unang nakita ko at binuksan 'yon. Bumungad sa akin ang madilim na hallway. Doon pa lang, alam ko na agad na wala ako sa isang simpleng bahay lang. Saan naman kaya ako dinala ng lalaking 'yon? Matapos ang ilang segundong paglalakad ay natagpuan ko ang isang malaking hagdanan pababa kung saan kita ang malawak na sala. Hindi ito tipikal na mansyon sapagkat moderno ito ngunit may halong royal na disensyo. Mula sa mga cha
Hindi masamang makinig. Sometimes, the smallest voices you hear around you will lead you to what you are looking for— like trail of breadcrumbs toward the jackpot. However, maaaring ito rin ang maging sanhi para maabot mo ang dulo— ang dulo na malayo mula sa hinahangad mo. Ang dulong tatapos sa mga inaasam mo. Be aware of your surroundings but do not get fooled easily. Blistering footsteps echoed around the hallways. I was on my way back to the room where I woke up earlier when the servants inside the mansion started panicking. “The guards just called. Lady Lemery is on her way here!” It was a whisper from an old lady that walked passed me. She was talking to a younger servant who immediately crumpled her face— I don't know if it was because of annoyance, worry, fear, or nervousness. Who's Lady Lemery? “Señor just left! What shall we do?” Hindi ko na narinig pa ang sumunod na sinabi ng babae dahil nakalayo na sila mula sa puwesto ko kung saan ako napatigil. Malapit na ako s
Halos isang linggong hindi nagpakita si Rye pagkatapos ng gabing iyon. Halos isang linggo na rin akong nabuburo sa loob ng mansyon. Kain at tulog lang ang ginagawa ko at hindi ko alam kung paano ko 'yon nakakayanan lalo na't hindi ako sanay sa gano'n. Isang beses kong sinubukang mag-aksaya ng lakas upang tumakas, ngunit mga sugat sa braso lang ang natamo ko matapos kong labanan ang mga bantay sa labas ng mansyon. However, hindi naman ako nakaramdam ng pagsisisi. I was bored that's why I did that. Hindi lingid sa aking kaalaman na nasa loob lang ng mansyon si Rye, ngunit hindi ko alam kung saan banda. Hindi naman lahat ng parte ay maaari kong puntahan sa loob. May mga bahagi na hindi ako pinahihintulutang puntahan kaya naman hindi ko mahanap-hanap ang lalaki. Kaya naman suwerte ako nang bumaba ako sa kalagitnaan ng gabi dahil kinailangan kong linisin ang sugat ko na aksidente kong muling napadugo, muli kong nakita si Rye. “I already missed my sons' birthday. Until when do you wan
I knew I was fucked up real hard when all I could see whenever I was closing my eyes is her; her delicate lips and her pair of dark sultry eyes. The electricity that her touch sent me that night together with her sweet moans even bugged my system for I don't know how fucking long. “The woman you met that night is not the daughter of Articus Severino you have chosen as your fiancée.” I knew it. From the moment she turned off the lights first before taking off her mask, I fucking knew it. The Astean Severino I was talking with told me she prefer it lights on. Fuck. What now? Sino ang babaeng 'yon, kung gano'n? Hindi niya ba ako paninindigan? “I don't know who is she.” Nakakunot ang noo ko nang balingan ko ng tingin ang kanang-kamay ko na si Ervo. “How did you know it wasn't her then?” “According to Altroin, Astean Severino is currently under medication for her illness. The Severinos are hiding it.” Napapikit na lang ako at napamasahe sa aking sintido. “Articus used another woma
After having a nice talk with him, I got Sever Hareon as my right hand. He was easy to talk with. Hindi ko naman siya binantaan. I just gave him reminders as his boss. “What did you do? Bakit may pasa sa mukha 'yon?” Ervo was so worried when he got into my office. Nagtaas ako ng isang kilay sa kaniya. “You know him?” “I am the one who trained him before he became the head of Derrivy in the Philippines.” Nagkibit-balikat ako. “Nice. He's my right hand now. Pinapayagan na kitang umalis.” Huminga nang malalim si Ervo bago itinaas ang gilid ng mga labi. “Alright, then. Sa wakas. Malaya na ako. Goodbye, boss. See you when I—” “Sinabi ko ba na ngayon?” I asked Sever to be with Zalaria while she was carrying our twins in exchange for a billion dollars. However, the man told me that it was really his plan to do so, even if I did not ask him. If only I was able to do my duties as the father, edi sana masaya ako ngayon. Pangarap kong magkaroon ng sarili kong pamilya, ngayong meron na, hi