“W-Where are you? Ruan, y-yung mga anak natin—” “D-Don't come here, okay? Stay where you are, Zalaria.” Kinasa ni Rye ang kaniyang baril. Hindi siya nagdalawang isip na itutok 'yon sa direksyon ng nanay ni Zalaria. A silenced gun shot followed, causing the woman to collapse after realizing that the bullet hit the wall just inches away beside her. I quickly signaled my men to come and get her, ngunit naging mabilis ang mga tauhan ng lalaki na 'di hamak na mas malapit sa puwesto ng ginang. Dinala nila ang nanay ni Zalaria sa labas ng kuwarto kung nasaan kami. I dropped the call with Zalaria and threw deadly glares at Rye who was already laughing evily while shaking his head. “Make a move and I won't hesitate to kill these two, dear brother,” he warned. Suddenly, silence enveloped the place. The whole room was hushed, yet the silence only fueled the danger around. The fear inside me was ignited. It was the first time I saw my sons in person, but with guns pointed at them. Nakat
“And just like that, we're done!” Zalaria came. For the first time ever, I was in the same room with my sons and her, but all we could do was to stare at each other and talk with our eyes. Hindi ko sila malapitan. Hindi ko sila mahawakan. Hindi ko sila mayakap. Rye made me choose between Zalaria and our twins. I didn't want to choose, handa na akong isuko ang lahat ng meron ako kay Rye huwag lang malayo ang mag-iina ko akin, but Zalaria answered his question for me. “He's choosing his sons over me.” I was released from the ropes ngunit hindi pa rin ako hinayaan ni Rye na makalapit kay Zalaria. I couldn't be careless because my sons were still in danger. It was also the first time I carried Ruin in my arms. Nanginginig pa ang mga braso ko noong mga oras na 'yon habang pinapatahan siya mula sa pag-iyak. It was the weakest point in my life. Hindi ako makapagdesisyon nang maayos sapagkat ang mga anak ko at ang babaeng mahal ko ang nakasalalay. When Zalaria entered the room,
Dalawang araw na ang nakalipas simula nang mangyari 'yon. “Your mother must be furious right now. According to our spy, Vanda have lost half of their income globally in just one week.” It was a good sign. Sooner or later posibleng malaman na ng grupo na ang Sleverions ang dahilan kung bakit unti-unting pumapalya ang kanilang mga transactions, ngunit wala akong pakialam. Handa ang Sleverions sa anumang gagawin nila. It was my goal— to make her aware that I would cause her downfall and she would pay for everything she did. Wala siyang magagawa upang maisalba ang lahat ng bagay na akala niyang mananatili sa buhay niya. Hindi niya ako anak. She was never a mother to me. “Sooner of later, Vanda would lose its assets too.” I couldn't wait for it to happen. Altro and I were talking at the balcony. It was raining outside. Medyo naninibago rin ang mga anak ko sa lugar kaya hindi ako makaalis. Nahihirapan ang mga kinuha kong katulong sa pag-aalaga sa pagpapatahan sa kanila sa tuwing s
“Ikaw ha. Tahimik ka lang pero nakadalawa ka na pala agad,” Cauisent teased me. It was midnight when we celebrated the birthday of my twins. Dahil nga magkaiba sila ng kaarawan at medyo huli na nakarating ang mga inimbita ko ay gano'n na lang ang nangyari. Nagsimula ang party gabi bago matapos ang kaarawan ni Ruin at natapos madaling araw ng kaarawan ni Aero. We knew the celebration was odd, yet it was also special since sakto talaga ang oras ng party sa oras ng kaarawan ng mga anak ko. I only invited the closest ones to me— Altro, Sever, Alshiro, Caiusent, and Ervo. And yes, it was only six of us in the party together with our twins who slept immediately after blowing their cakes. Galing pa sila sa iba’t ibang bansa at lumipad lang talaga sila para dumalo sa kaarawan ng mga anak ko. They all looked stupid in their tuxedoes, nauwi rin lang naman sa inuman ang party. I'm pretty sure that this wouldn't happen if Zalaria waa here. Surely it would be a whole different party but Seve
It didn't take me long to arrive in the place where I would meet Rye. Tahimik sa paligid ng lugar at bihira ang dumadaan na sasakyan. After riding the plane, I drove my own car until here. The small building used to be a café until the owner abandoned it after bankruptcy. Unfortunately, hindi namin 'yon naabutan na bukas. The owner must've forgotten about this place already. Halatang hindi na napupuntahan ng kahit sino. The memories we had in this place were still vivid to me. Ito ang paborito naming tambayan sa tuwing umuuwi ako noon galing Espanya. We liked it here simply because of the silence— away from the chaotic sound of cars and deafening noises of crowd around the city. You could only hear the melodic chirping of birds flying around and the sound of insects hiding somewhere near and far. We would play around here like technology doesn't exist. The happiest moments I have with Rye happened here in this place. Dito niya rin ipinakilala sa akin si Haiver. This is the place
Exactly that day I have sent Rye the evidence that it was Lemery who planned the accident, and that Creia and his daughter are alive. It took Rye three days to reflect and realize everything. “Tell me about your plan,” he asked through a phone call. “I'm still here in America. Why don't we talk about this in person?” “Send me the location,” he said then ended the call. I sent him the same location where we met three days ago. Wala pang isang oras ang layo niyon sa tinutuluyan ko kaya naman nakarating ako agad doon. What did I do for the past three days here? Inalam ko kung paano gumalaw ang Vanda. With my most trusted connections, hindi naman ako masiyadong nahirapan. At first, I was hesitant to stay here longer because of my sons. However, Sever assured me that I don't need to worry about them. Hindi naman siya nahihirapan sa dalawa dahil alaga niya na ang mga ito dati pa. Dahil doon ay nakampante ako kahit paano dahil hinding-hindi sila pababayaan ni Sever. Isa pa, kasama ri
Five months. It has been five months. “Mommy! Uncle Haiver is here!” “Mommy's coming, baby!” I made sure there was no hair irritating the skin of my face before leaving my room. Naabutan ko sa sala ang dalawang anak ko at ang bagong dating na si Haiver. Ang kaninang maiingay na mga anak ko ay natahimik dahil sa dalang pasalubong ng lalaki. Agad nagtaas ng kilay sa akin si Haiver. “How was the check up?” I chuckled. “Hulaan mo.” Naningkit ang mga mata ng lalaki. “Is it a girl? I feel like it is.” Tumango ako, dahilan upang dahan-dahang nanlaki ang mga mata ng lalaki bago natawa. “That fucker is really lucky.” Napalingon ako sa salamin na nakasabit sa dingding malapit sa kinatatayuan ko. Dahil nga nakatagilid ako, kitang-kita ang umbok ng tiyan ko na medyo malaki na rin. “Kumain ka na? Dito ka nga muna sa sala, bantayan mo muna mga anak ko. Tutulungan ko lang si Nanay magluto sa kusina.” Hindi naman nagreklamo si Haiver. Agad akong nagtungo sa kusina upang gawin ang paalam ko
“Babalik kami sa 'yo.” It was for assurance. Para sa amin din naman ito at panandalian lang naman ang lahat. Babalik din kami sa kaniya. Tama ang mga sinabi ni Rye. Hindi kailan man papasok sa isip ni Ruan na palayuin kami ng mga anak namin mula sa kaniya dahil hindi niya 'yon kaya. His plans would be influenced by his will to protect us. Mahihirapan siyang isaalang-alang ang mga bagay. Isa lang naman ang paraan para hindi siya mahirapan sa pagprotekta sa amin at 'yon ay ang aming paglayo— malayo sa lugar kung nasaan sila. Sa lugar kung saan hindi kami mahahanap ng mga taong gustong manakit sa amin. “My life is you and our sons, Zalaria. Mahal na mahal ko kayo.” Si Haiver ang sumundo sa amin ng mga anak ko noong gabing 'yon. Nagulat nga ako dahil kasama niya ang dating kanang-kamay ni Ruan na si Ervo. Kilala ko siya dahil napakilala siya sa akin noon ni Ruan sa mga kuwento niya. “I'm not friends with that guy, but I know him.” Tukoy niya kay Haiver na siyang piloto ng ero