Chapter 1

SAUNIGAN ISLAND, PHILIPPINES

Galit na tinanggal ng babae sa harap niya ang piring nito nang lumaya ang mga kamay mula sa pagkakatali. Kaagad na lumabas ng pinto ang tauhan niya at naiwan sila ng dalaga. At nang magtama ang mga mata nila, shock ang nauna nitong reaction saka siya sinugod ng hampas. He was expecting it. Who wants to be taken against their will anyway? No one.

"Damn it, Estefan! Why the hell would you do this to me? Ano'ng kasalanan ko sa 'yo?!" Pinaghahampas siya nito at kung saan-saan siya tinama.

He would never hurt her kaya panay ang salag niya. Naiintindihan niya ang reaction nito at mapapagod rin ito sa pananakit sa kaniya. Reina is tall and a beauty queen at her own right. Long legged, morena at itim na itim ang mahabang buhok nito. Malantik ang mga pilik nito na bumagay sa bilugang mga mata at maamong kilay. Her lips are not too thick nor too thin.

She's... perfect. Kaya baliw na baliw si Leon sa babaeng ito. Ni-represent nito ang Pilipinas sa Miss Universe at nakamit ang second runner up. She could have represented Spain, pero mas pinili nito ang kinalakihang bansa. She's a half Spanish half Filipino like him. Parehong Pilipina ang kanilang ina.

"Would you rather see Leon?"

Lalong nagningas ang mga mata ng babae. "He's going to come for you and he's going to kill you when he finds out about this." Leon has been pursuing her for the last two years pero sa kung anong dahilan ay hindi sinasagot ni Reina.

"Sure. I'll be waiting for him. For the meantime, what would you like for dinner?" Estefan asked her so casually na para bang wala itong ginawang masama.

Laglag ang balikat ni Reina. She realized she's wasting her breath on him. "Estefan, I'm not kidding. He is going to kill you and then what? He's going to jail for it while you're six feet under. Why are you doing this? Iuwi mo na ako sa amin and I won't tell a soul about this." Ni hindi umiyak si Reina. Hindi ba ito natatakot sa kaniya?

"How about you let me worry about that, and you think about what's good for dinner?" Panay ang hugot nito ng malalim na hininga. "Or we can just go on hunger strike. Hindi rin ako kakain kung hindi ka kakain."

"Sure. I'll have water and you can just starve yourself. Sanay naman akong hindi kumakain," sagot nito sa kaniya.

Kaya ba payat ito sa karaniwan? Alam ni Estefan na kailangang mapanatiling maganda ang katawan ng mga beauty queen, but the pageant is over years ago. Hindi na nito kailangang gutumin ang sarili. She has quite a few commercials on TV and Reina appeared on some magazines. Ang hindi lang nito pinasok ay ang pag-arte. Still, hindi 'yon nakapigil sa mga producers para alukin siya. Kahit sa Spain ay gustong gusto si Reina.

"Can we just eat dinner so we can rest?"

"I want to talk," sagot nito sa kaniya.

Tinitigan niya si Reina at hindi ito nagbaba ng tingin. "Okay. I promise we will talk after dinner." Tumayo si Estefan at tinungo ang pinto. "By the way, you'll be sleeping here with me. Lahat ng kwarto rito sa mans'yon ay naka-lock. And you're free to do whatever you want in here. Hindi ka naman siguro tatakas dito sa isla unless gusto mong malunod. I heard it's painful when people choose to drown themselves."

Reina didn't answer him, but followed him out. Tahimik itong sumunod sa kaniya hanggang makarating sila ng kitchen para kunin ang mga iihawin sa labas. Dahil wala itong preference sa hapunan ay naisip ni Estefan na ipagluto ng barbeque ang babae. He would also make a couple of stuffed peppers. He bought a magazine once dahil may interview doon si Reina at nalaman niyang stuffed peppers ang paborito nito.

***

All the lights were on outside at nagmistulang maliliit na alitaptap ito sa paligid. Lumubog na ang araw kanina at kahit maganda ang kalangitan na kulay kahel, higit na mas maganda si Reina roon.

Inihain niya ang dalawang plato na may manok at stuffed peppers. He also asked one of his men to bring a bottle of Chardonnay and two wine glasses for the both of them. Kung may makakakitang ibang tao sa kanila ngayon ay iisipin ng mga ito na nasa date sila. But it's far from that, and they both know it.

Hindi kinibo ni Reina ang pagkain na inihanda niya. "This is a lot."

"Eat what you can. I am not going to punish you if you don't finish your food, Reina. You're not a prisoner here either."

Matiim siyang tinitigan ng babae. "I'm not a prisoner but I can't leave?"

"May nakita ka bang rehas?" balik tanong niya sa babae.

Ramdam ni Estefan ang inis ni Reina. If the chicken was alive, it would be dead by now. Bawat tundos nito ng tinidor ay gigil. He gave her a steak knife at hindi siya magtataka kung bago matapos ang dinner ay nahati na sa gitna ang plato. Madiin ang paghiwa nito sa manok kahit na tender naman ang pagkaluto niya. She ate quietly... but deadly. Hinihintay na lang niyang i****k nito sa leeg niya maalin sa tinidor o steak knife.

Sinabayan ni Estefan ng pagkain ang babae, at bahagya pa siyang nagulat nang makitang buto na lang ng manok ang nasa plato nito at tangkay ng bell pepper. Everything else is gone and she's now sipping her wine.

"Masarap?" lakas loob niyang tanong. He knows how to cook, but he never cooked for anyone but himself. Si Reina ang una.

Reina looked at him then looked away. "Pwede na."

Well, Estefan is going to take pwede na anytime of the day basta nauubos nito ang niluluto niya. He just might enjoy the island life with her. They can go snorkeling, fishing or go on a boat ride saka sila tatalon sa malalim na parte ng dagat. It's something to do while Leon is going crazy. By now, hinahanap na nito si Reina. Too bad, he won't be able to find her. Estefan made sure of it.