SPECIAL CHAPTER III: Il Tesoro, te amo. HERA is enjoying the breeze of the air in the veranda, hitting her face directly as she inhale the fresh air, relaxing her nerves. It’s already midnight and she can’t still go back to sleep. A nightmare woke her from her slumber sleep. The memory of her being shot in the park still struck her brain, parang hindi na ito nawawala sa isipan niya. The excavating pain still linger on her side, hurting like hell. Ang pilat na resulta ng pagkakabaril sa kanya ay naroroon pa rin sa kanyang tagiliran, hindi nawawala sa paglipas ng panahon. It’s been eighteen years and she can’t still forget that scenario. “What’s my wife thinking, huh?” A deep baritone voice of her husband suddenly spoke behind her. Hindi na siya nagulat sa biglaang pagsulpot nito dahil nasanay na siya dito. Augustus would appear out of nowhere. That’s what she noticed about him after they got married. Maraming nagbago, hindi maipagkakaila ni Hera iyon, but their love to each other
PROLOGUE"WOOO! Party, people!" Nahihibang na sigaw ni Hera habang sumasayaw sa dance floor na may dala-dalang isang bote ng tequila.She keeps on swaying her hips and dancing to the dirty music. Nagsisimula na din siyang mahilo pero kahit ganun ay hindi parin siya tumigil sa pag-inom at pagsayaw. She wants to enjoy this night, minsan lang siya makalabas kaya lulubos-lubusin na niya."Hera! Hera! Umuwi ka na, you're freaking drunk." Napalingon si Hera nang may biglang humawak sa braso niya at pilit na hinihila siya paalis sa dancefloor.Nang makita kung sino iyon ay kaagad niya itong ningitian. "Hey, couz. Wazzup?"Umiikot na ang paningin niya pero patuloy parin siya sa ginagawa niya. Tinunga niya ang tequila mula sa bote at napasimangot ng wala siyang malasahan na alak. Naubos na pala kaya naman ay pakembot-kembot siyang naglakad papunta sa Bartender Station.
NAGISING SI HERA nang may brasong biglang pumulupot sa beywang niya. Hindi siya sigurado kung totoo bang may brasong nakapatong sa beywang niya o nananaginip lang siya. Nakapikit na kinapkap ang unan niya, nang may makapa siyang isang bagay, pinisil-pisil niya ito.Napakunot ang noo niya ng pisilin ang bagay na yun. Bakit matigas ito, hindi ba dapat malambot ang unan niya. Nakapikit parin siya at minasahe an matigas at malapad na bagay na nasa harapan niya.Her eyes open widely when she heard a groan. Lalaki?! Parang binuhusan siya ng malamig na tubig ng makita ang isang gwapong lalaki na nakahiga sa tabi niya. Mahimbing itong natutulog habang siya naman ay napabalikwas ng bangon. Naramdaman niya ang paghapdi sa pagitan ng mga hita niya at kaagad na rumihestro ang nangyari kagabi.She thought she was just dirty dreaming last night! She screamed. Nagising ang lalaki sa lakas ng pag
CHAPTER 1NAPANGITI si Hera ng umapak ang mga paa niya sa lupang sinilangan. It's been five years since she'd been in the Philippines. Sa limang taong iyon ay abala siya sa kanyang trabaho sa Barcelona, pati na din sa mga anak niya. Yes, pagkatapos ng pangyayaring iyon ay maraming nangyari. That's why she stayed in Barcelona for a long time. Ngayon ay bumalik siya sa Pilipinas, syempre, kasama ang dalawa niyang anak, para ipagpatuloy ang trabaho niya. Namiss din niya ang mga magulang niya."Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" Tili ng anak niyang babae, si Hermina. Nang lingunin niya ito ay nakita niyang may tinuturo ito sa kung saan kaya naman ay sinundan niya ng tingin ang kamay nito.Tumaas ang magkabilang kilay ni Hera ng makita niya si Lacan na papalapit sa kanila. He's wearing a black suit matched with a black sunglasses. Napailing nalang siya ng tuluyan itong makalapit sa kanila at inagaw ang hawak niyang dalawang
CHAPTER 2NAGMAMADALING sinagot ni Hera ang kanina pang tumutunog niyang cellphone. Galing pa kasi siya sa banyo dahil naligo siya ng maaga para sana puntahan ang kaibigan niya. Hihingi siya ng tulong dito. Gusto niyang maghanap ng marangal na trabaho, di bale ng hindi gaano kalaki ang sahod basta wala lang ang lalaking iyon. "Uhm?" She hummed while brushing her teeth."Hera, it's me. You're aunt July." Nanlaki ang mata niya at mabilis na nagmumog at pinahiran ang bibig niya gamit ang palad niya."Yes, tita?" "Mr. Florin contacted me earlier, he wants you to go to his company now and have a discussion about your work." Her aunt said strictly.Sinasabi ko na nga ba eh. Bakit pati ang buhay niya pinapakealaman nito? Sinabihan na niya ito kahapon na magtatrabaho siya sa ibang kompanya basta wala siya at ngayon
CHAPTER 3 “Ipapahatid ko nalang sa sekretarya ko ang kontrata sa condo mo.” Iyon ang sinabi ni August sa kanya nang hingan niya ito ng kontrata kaya naman ay salubong ang kilay siyang lumabas sa kompanya ng lalaking iyon. Tinawagan niya si Lacan dahil alam niya na hindi naman talaga ito busy, nagpapalusot lang yun. After three rings, Lacan picked up and spoke. “Hey, baby. How’s your day?” Nanunudyong tanong nito kaya naman ay umirap nalang siya sa ere dahil wala naman ito sa harapan niya. Huminto muna siya sa may exit at pilit na ningitian ang guard. “It was fun, babe.” Sarkastiko niyang sagot, “I’ll choke you until you can’t breath anymore, Lacan. How dare you do that to me?! I’m your beloved. You have to make it up to me. Come to my condo now.” Hindi parin maipinta ang mukha ni Hera habang kausap ang lalaki. The man on the other line chuckled. “I won’t. I know you’re just going to yell at me, so no, baby, no.” Nanliit ang mga mata niya sabay isinandal ang likod niya sa semento
CHAPTER 4TINATAMAD na bumangon si Hera mula sa pagkakahiga nang may sunod-sunod na nagdoorbell sa condo niya. It’s still 4 A.M for goodness sake! Walang pag-aalinlangang binuksan niya ang pinto sa pag-aakalang si Lacan iyon. Nang buksan niya ang pinto ay halos lumuwa ang mg mata niya ng makita kung sino ang hindi inaasahang bwesita na kanina pa nagdo-doorbell.“Anong ginagawa mo dito?” Kaagad na usal niya ng makita si Augustus. She can’t help to raise her eyebrows on him.Nagkibit-balikat ito at walang hiyang pumasok sa loob ng condo niya. Nakita niya ang panunuri sa mga mata nito habang tinitingnan ang kabuuan ng condo niya.“Sinong may sabing pumasok ka? Hoy!” Sigaw niya ng hindi siya nito pansinin.Prente itong umupo sa couch niya. May dala-dala itong brown envelope. He’s wearing the same business attire he did wea
CHAPTER 5"NAKUU, Miss Hera, ako na n'yan. Nakakahiya naman po." Sabi ng isa sa mga empleyado ni Augustus na nagpapicture sa kanya kahapon habang pinipilit na kinukuha ang dala-dala niyang mga papeles."No, I insist. Ipagtimpla mo nalang ng kape si Mr. Florin, black coffee and hot water only.Ciao!" Pagkasabi ay naglakad siya papunta sa elevator para ihatid ang mga papeles sa opisina ni Augustus.Natutulog pa ang ito, hindi na niya muna ginising kahit lampas na alas nuebe. She can see how tired he is. He's sleeping like a baby. Ang amo ng mukha nito kapag natutulog, not unlike he's awake. Para itong problemadong tao na pinasan lahat ng problema sa mundo, palagi niya itong nakikitang walang emosyon ang mukha, malamig at matulis ang mga bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig nito. Mas mabuti pa sigurong matulog nalang ito palagi para hindi na siya mabuwesit.&nb
SPECIAL CHAPTER III: Il Tesoro, te amo. HERA is enjoying the breeze of the air in the veranda, hitting her face directly as she inhale the fresh air, relaxing her nerves. It’s already midnight and she can’t still go back to sleep. A nightmare woke her from her slumber sleep. The memory of her being shot in the park still struck her brain, parang hindi na ito nawawala sa isipan niya. The excavating pain still linger on her side, hurting like hell. Ang pilat na resulta ng pagkakabaril sa kanya ay naroroon pa rin sa kanyang tagiliran, hindi nawawala sa paglipas ng panahon. It’s been eighteen years and she can’t still forget that scenario. “What’s my wife thinking, huh?” A deep baritone voice of her husband suddenly spoke behind her. Hindi na siya nagulat sa biglaang pagsulpot nito dahil nasanay na siya dito. Augustus would appear out of nowhere. That’s what she noticed about him after they got married. Maraming nagbago, hindi maipagkakaila ni Hera iyon, but their love to each other
SPECIAL CHAPTER II: Hero Augustine FlorinKANINA PA NAPAPANSIN ni Hero ang mabigat na atmospera sa paligid nila habang kumakain silang pamilya. They are currently eating their dinner and silence enveloped them. No one bothers to talk, not even her mother or father. Tanging ang ingay ng kutsara't tinidor lamang ang naririnig niya.Pansin niya din ang pagiging mailap ng kakambal niya sa kanila, wala ni isang salita ang namutawi sa bibig nito mula kahapon. Speaking of yesterday, sinugod niya si Ramses sa penthouse nito at inambahan ng suntok pero kaagad din niyang binawi ng makita ang kalagayan nito. He looks like a lost boy in the woods, asking for guidance. He saw it, the disappointment and pain in his eyes. And now he wonders what really happened yesterday between his twin sister and his best friend.Hermina suddenly spoke making Hero look at her. “Mom, I accept your proposal. I will be the head of the Aris
SPECIAL CHAPTER: Hermina Callista Arison-Florin HERO is currently waiting for his twin sister to come out from her office. He's been waiting there for almost two hours but he didn't bother to enter because he respects his sister's privacy. Ano ba kasing ginagawa pa nito sa loob ng opisina nito at napakatagal nitong lumabas. He already messaged her that he is already there. Hermina is already a professional and also a successful doctor while Hero is already a businessman, he's following the steps of his father. His father will give his all assets to him while Hermina will inherit and rule the Arison clan. Pero hindi ito pumayag dahil mas gusto nito ang pagdo-doktor kaysa ang pasukin ang magulong mundo ng negosyo ng mga Arison. Hero can't rule two different businesses, an empire and a huge clan, it would just give him a headache. The Arison, especially their mother, gave
EPILOGUE"MOMMY! DADDY!" Hera and Augustus' youngest child welcome them with a warm hug. Kaagad na umuklo si Hera at Augustus para yakapin ito at halikan ang pisngi ng babae nilang anak na si Ashera."How is my little princess doing?" Augustus asked in a soft voice and slightly pinched Ashera's cheek.Si Hera naman ay nagtungo sa sala kung nasaan nandoon ang kambal niyang anak, si Hero at Hermina. The two of them are both turning eighteen next month while Ashera is turning five four months from now. Hera can't still accept that her babies are now grown-ups, especially Hero who is now changing like his father, a womanizer, and a handsome one. While Hermina on the other hand is busy with her studies."Hey, Mom." Kaagad na bati sa kanya ni Hero nang makita siya nito. Hero hug her and kissed her cheeks.Hera glared at her son and flick
CHAPTER 55IT'S BEEN FIVE CONSECUTIVE DAYS since her mother and Augustus' mother got along. Pagkatapos nitong magkaayos ay halos hindi na ito humiwalay sa isa't-isa. Palagi nalang itong magkasama at isinasama din ng mga ito ang anak niya kaya siya nalang ang naiwan sa mansion. Augustus has been so busy with his company this five days, palagi nalang itong gabi umuuwi at maaga namang umaalis kaya hindi na niya ito nakakasama sa umagahan.She sighed as she pouted her lips when silence enveloped the mansion. Halos mabingi si Hera sa katahimikang lumukob sa mansion. She already taken down her works too kaya wala na siyang maisip na gawin.Three days after her mother and Mrs. Florin talked and clarify things, her father transferred all his properties and business to her. Pero hindi naman siya naging abala masyado, her relatives, the Arisons, are helping her. Not to mention the three loyal families, protecti
CHAPTER 54"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME, HERA!" Malakas na tinig ng kanyang ina ang kaagad na bumungad sa kanya pagkapasok niya sa mansion ni Augustus.Lumabas kasi silang magpamilya, her, Augustus, and their kids, to the mall and amusement park. They spend almost three hours wandering around the mall and enjoying the rides in the amusement park.She gave her mother a forced smile and asked innocently."What did I do, Mom?"Her mother shook her head as she placed her hand on her temple, massaging it.Of course Hera knew why her mother is acting fury to her. She set her up to talk to Augustus' mother."I can't believe this," her mother whispered in the air and point herself. "Me, your own mother. How can you frame me with that woman?!"Hindi natinag si Hera sa lakas ng
53"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU AND MOM? Why are you both crying? Nagkasagutan ba kayo? Inaway ka ba ni Mommy?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ni Auntie sa kanya nang makapasok silang dalawa sa silid nila.Remembering how Augustus' mother pleaded with her to talk to her mother. She can't help to feel sorry for her, for what her mother did in the past. But she can't just let her judge her mother that easily. Paniguradong may matibay itong rason kung bakit nagawa nitong talikuran ang pagkakaibigan nila ng ina ni Augustus.Her mother left his mother for unknown reason. And it makes her wanna ask her Mom right away but she has to stick to the plan. Kailangan niya gumawa ng paraan para mag-usap ang dalawa. Mrs. Florin wants to see and talk to her mother very much, but her mother might won't agree if she tell her the truth. Kaya kahit gustong-gusto na niyang tanungin ang ina niya ay pinigilan niya. Her curiosity is eating her!
CHAPTER 52 NERVOUSNESS attacked Hera's heart when the two of them sitting on the sofa. Nakaharap siya sa ginang na kasalukuyang nakaupo sa mahabang sofa habang siya naman ay nakaupo sa kabilang sofa. She can feel the awkwardness between them, or it's just her feeling it? Facing Augustus' mother is making her heart thumps loudly as it will explode at any moment. His mother is really intimidating as she stared at her. She tried to hide the nervousness she is feeling, hoping that it will really be hidden. "You're an Arison, right?" The woman suddenly asked after a long silence. Bahagya pa siyang napaigtad sa biglaang pagsalita nito, kapagkuwan ay tumango. "Daughter of Feloso and Heraya, the only woman in the Arison clan. Balita ko ay ikaw na ang mamamahala sa lahat ng negosyo at ari-arian ng ama mo?" Hindi alam ni Hera kung bakit napunta sa mga magulang niya ang topic nila. She thought she wants to talk about her and Augus
CHAPTER 51AUGUSTUS BROUGHT his family to his mansion the next day. Finally, he can now call someone his family. His own family. Mukhang ayaw pa ngang sumama ni Hera dahil kailangan pa daw nitong ayusin ang gulo sa angkan nila. Even though Hera still doesn't hold their whole clan, she has to prove that she deserve to be the leader of the Arison clan. Kaya naman ay laking pasasalamat ni Augustus at nakulit niya itong sumama sa kanila. He knows that Hera can't resist his charmness.As they entered their home, he carefully put his kids down to the floor. The both of them are running around the mansion excitedly. It's been a long time since the twins have been living in Arison's mansion.