Warning: Gruesome scene ahead. Please proceed with caution.///Jenica gritted her teeth and pulled Alex out of everyone's sight. Huminto lang siya sa sulok kung saan walang tao saka hinarap ang asawa na na-a-amuse habang nakikita siyang hindi mapakali. She frowned. "Ano bang kailangan mo? Can you just leave me alone?" "Why should I?" he teased.Ilang minuto niyang tinitigan si Alex saka seryosong nagtanong. "What do you want?" Umikhim si Alex. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa aking may background ka sa medisina?" Tumaas ang kilay ni Jenica. "Why? Should I tell you my all secrets at once?"Bumuntong-hinga si Alex saka pabulong na napamura. At alam ni Jenica kung bakit frustrated ang lalaking kaharap niya. Surely, maging siya ay mafu-frustrate kung malalaman niyang magaling gumamot ang asawa niya pero hindi man lang naglahad ng palad para tumulong nang magkasakit siya. But that's all five years ago. He won't mind, right? Pero mukhang nagkamali siya. Mahigpit na hinawakan ni Alex ang br
"Are you sure with this, Agent J?" tanong ng assistant niya. Tumaas ang sulok ng mga labi ni Jenica habang inaayos ang fox mask sa mukha. Nakaharap siya sa vanity mirror at naghihintay ng tawag mula kay Jobert. "Didn't I teach you to be professional in your work? I don't need an assistant who dictates me.""Sorry."Half-face lang ang fox mask kaya kita ang kalahati ng matangos na ilong at mga labi niya. Inabot niya ang nude lipstick at kinulayan ang mga labi. "How's Alex Fuego?" "He was last seen by our spies at Fuego Hospital. After that, there's no news about Mr. Fuego.""Really?" Inayos niya ang buhok. "Those babies can't get their job done," she mocked."The truth Agent J, our spies can't get past Fuego Hospital. Not only on Fuego Hospital but all of Fuego Empire's establishment."Naningkit ang mga mata ni Jenica at binaba ang suklay. "Then... how did you trace him before?""Our spies succesfully tailed him after he got out of Fuego's establishment. But after that, we couldn't r
Warning: May mga eksena na hindi angkop sa mga bata. Gruesome scene ahead. Please read with caution. ///Hindi pa tumitilaok ang tandang pero mulat na ang mga mata ni Jenica. Kahit sa pagtulog ay suot niya pa rin ang maskara. Mahirap na. Hindi pa naman kumatatok sa pinto ang aksidente. Umihip ang malamig na hangin papasok sa bukas na bintana at sinayaw niyon ang kurtina na hinawi ng isang kamay. *Blag*May mahinang yabag na narinig sa loob ng kuwarto nang lumapag ang isang nakaitim na lalaki. Mabilis na kumilos ang kamay ni Jenica. Naglabas siya ng dagger at binato iyon sa direksyon ng bagong dating. Umiwas ito. "Agent J, ako 'to!" boses ni Carlos. Naningkit ang mga mata ni Jenica saka tumakbo tungo sa kawatan. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Carlos at mabilis na umiwas sa paparating na kamao ni Agent J. Bumuka ang kamao at akmang didikit ang dalawang daliri ng babae sa vital points niya nang agad niyang tinaas ang kamay para dumepensa. Nagpalitan sila ng suntok nang ilang minuto bago hi
"Prepare a place for your wife in the hospital. I will treat her tomorrow morning," anunsyo niya pagkalabas ng silid. Ilang segundong natahimik si Jobert bago maingat na nagtanong. "You can... treat my wife?"Tumaas ang sulok ng mga labi niya at pumaling ang ulo sa kanan. "The last time I checked, ikaw 'yong mataas ang confidence na kaya kong pagalingin ang asawa mo. Now that I can, you doubt my abilities?""Haiyaaa, sabi ko naman. Kayang-kayang pagalingin ni Doctor Acinea ang asawa mo boss. Approve na 'yan! Tatawagan ko agad ang ospital!" masayang sambit ni Carlos at tumawag nga. Kumibot ang sulok ng mga labi ni Jenica. Sabing huwag nakawin ang spotlight sa main agent, hindi mag-astang istupido at ignorante! And what's with that Haiyaa? Ninakaw pa 'yong famous expression ng isang chef. "But Doctor, ano bang sakit ng asawa ko?" tanong ni Jobert nang nakakunot ang noo. Naging matalim ang tingin nito sa kaniya na kinataas ng kilay niya. Marahan siyang ngumiti. "Your wife was poisone
Ilang oras ang tinagal nina Jenica at Carlos sa loob ng operating room. Nang lumabas sila ay isang walang ngiting Jobert ang bumungad sa kanila. "How's my wife?" tanong nito. Inalis ni Jenica ang gloves at mask bago humarap sa lalaki. "Success." Bahagya niyang sinulyapan ang ilang nurse na naiwan sa loob ng kuwarto. "She's gonna be fine."Ilang segundong hindi makakibo si Jobert, saka ito tumango-tango. "Good... it's good."Nagpaalam si Jenica saka nagpunta sa doctor's quarter. Sumunod sa kaniya si Carlos na namumutla. Nilingon niya ito at ngumiti. "Why are you looking like you've just experience death? Hmm?""Agen--- Doctor, kailangan ba talagang balatan nang buhay ang pasyente?" tanong nito. She pursed her lips. "There's nothing we can do except that thing. We need to get rid of her skin lesions and we can only do so if we'll peel of her outer skin." Pabiro siyang tumingin dito. "It's your first time so it's understandable."Hindi umimik si Carlos kaya natawa si Jenica. Alam niyan
True to her words, makalipas ang ilang araw matapos niyang ibigay kay Jobert ang pill na ginawa niya ay nahinto ang paglaganap ng sakit. Nabalitaan niya mula kay Carlos na pinadampot ni Jobert ang solid waste sa tabing ilog at inilibing sa paanan ng bundok. Pinagbawal na rin ng gobernador ang pagkuha ng tubig sa parte ng ilog malapit sa pabrika nang isang taon. Nagreklamo ang mga tao kaya nagpagawa ng malaking tangke si Jobert kung saan pwedeng makakuha ng tubig ang mga mamayan. Mula ang tubig ng tangke sa bukal na kumokonekta sa ilog. Mula noon ay wala nang reklamong natatanggap ang opisina ni Jobert. "What about his wife?" tanong niya saka nagpahid ng red lipstick sa labi. Tumingin si Carlos sa mga labi niya bago umikhim. "Nagpapagaling pa rin sa ospital. Tungkol kay Yvette at Jobert, ilang araw nang nagkakalabuan ang dalawa dahil sa issue sa pabrika na gusto sanang ipasara saglit ni Jobert pero ayaw pumayag ng pamilya ni Yvette. Hanggang ngayon ay na
Naabutan niya ang bata at mabilis niya itong niyakap para pigilan ito sa pagtakbo. "Shhh.... Hindi kita sasaktan," bulong niya rito.Doon lang huminto ang bata sa pag-iyak at nangunot ang noo niya nang mahimatay ito. Bumalik siya sa kotse bitbit ang bata sa mga bisig niya. Patakbong lumapit si Carlos at tumingin sa bata. "Agent J?" "Look for a vacant hotel room in next town."Hindi na nagtanong kung bakit si Carlos at agad na ginawa ang inutos niya. Nilapag niya sa passenger seat ang bata saka sinukbitan ng seatbelt bago siya umikot at lumulan ng kotse. Pinatakbo niya ito palayo at naiwan na naman si Carlos sa kalsada. "Walang puso," bulong nito bago lumulan ng sasakyan at pinatakbo iyon pasunod kay Agent J. Hindi nagtagal ay narating nila ang sunod na bayan. Dinala ni Jenica ang batang paslit sa hotel at ingat na pinaligoan at binihisan. Nahigit niya ang hininga nang makita ang malinis nitong itsura. "Hmm... mukhang anak-may
"What?" maang na sambit ni Alex at hinawakan ang balikat niya. "We had a child?"Tumango siya at umiwas ng tingin. "He's five years old now and a sweet little boy."Inalis ni Alex ang kamay sa balikat niya at pinasadahan ng kamay ang sariling buhok. Huminga ito nang malalim. "I'm sorry. Wala ako sa tabi mo sa panahong kailangan mo ako, Jenica." Mahina itong nagmura at pumikit nang mariin. "Dapat hindi ako tumigil sa paghanap sa 'yo noon. It's my fault. I'm sorry, wife."Kinagat ni Jenica ang ibabang labi sa sinabi nito at nagbaba ng tingin. "I should be the one saying sorry...""No. Naging duwag ako noon kaya hindi kita pinakilala sa pamilya ko. Dapat hindi ko na tinago na kasal tayo, Jenica." Bumuntong-hinga si Alex at hinila siya sa isang mahigpit na yakap. "I'm sorry. Natakot ako na madamay ka sa gulo ng pamilya ko at balak kong ipakilala ka sa kanila kapag nalutas ko na kung sino ang gustong magpabagsak sa pamilya Fuego. Ayokong may magtangka sa buhay mo. But I underestimated those
"This is the heiress of Guam?" biglang tanong ng lalaking kanina pa masama ang tingin sa kaniya. "I didn't expect her to be so young and incapable" dagdag nito. Bumaling ang tingin ni Jenica sa nagsalita at ngumiti nang malapad dito. "I just arrived in the company and might need the guidance of the senior," sabia niya.The old man snorted. "If you can't handle this big empire, then you should not come back!""Why?" Pumaling sa kaliwa ang ulo niya at ngumiti nang malapad sa lalaki. "The senior didn't ask help from anyone?"Nagkatinginan ang mga tao sa loob. If the man said no, then it means he shoot himself on the foot. If he would say yes, then he is declaring that he never experienced being a newbie and it would make him a liar. In the end, he didn't say anything and just snorted.Lumawak ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Jenica at muling nilibot ang tingin sa loob ng conference room. As an agent, she's not easily intimidated by the scornful faces of everyone present. In fact, it made her
She had a dream. A girl of five was wearing a pink dress while smiling brightly at the woman who was sitting beside the round table. The woman had a pair of almond eyes and a sweet smile was hanging at her lips. Suddenly, a tall man walked towards them and lifted her up while laughing happily. That warm picture of a family of three was replaced with a bloody scene. The woman was lying in a pool of blood while the man was telling her something with a pained expression on his face. Just like the woman, the man was bathed in blood.She could not read his lips nor hear what the man was telling but she could feel the child's fear. The girl cried and ran away from that room. The scene changed into a huge mansion being eaten in fire. The girl was standing in front of the mansion and a man with the same face as her Uncle Marc approached the little girl. Jenica slowly opened her eyes. She noticed her tear-stained cheeks and she frowned. Her heart was heavy and she knew it's because of that d
"Aren't you too calm for someone who's reputation went downhill in one night?" tanong ni Jared nang lumapit ito sa kaniya. Tumingin siya sa lalaki. She smirked and twirled the wine glass she's holding. "So you're able to walk around with the HQ's men, huh?" tanong niya saka tumingin sa mga spies at agents na lihim na nakikihalubilo sa mga bisita. Afterall, it's a big party of the elites at hindi palalagpasin ng HQ ang pagkakataon na makipagkonekta sa naglalakihang angkan sa bansa. What made her frown was the fact that her workmates didn't realize that Jared's around. He's really able to fool a lot of agents from the HQ."I told you." Ngumiti nang pagkalaki-laki si Jared. "No one will be able to find me unless I let them."She rolled her eyes at him and looked around again. Nakita niya si Alex na may kausap sa hindi kalayuan. Lumapit siya sa lalaki at tumayo sa gilid nito. Nang mapansin siya ni Alex ay nagpaalam na ito sa kausap. Bago pa man humakbang palayo ang kausap ni Alex ay tum
Alex smiled and said, "Yes, grandma."Nanlaki ang mga mata ng matanda at nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin nito kay Jenica at kay Alex. Disbelief was clearly written on the old woman's face. Natahimik ito nang ilang minuto, at maya-maya pa ay bumuntong-hinga."Alright. If that's really the case, what else could I do?" Taimtim na tiningnan nang matanda si Alex. "I know you don't like that Antonete lass and I won't make things hard on you and your wife, but you need clean the mess you made, understood?"Tumango si Alex at nagpasalamat sa matanda. The old matriarch then turned her hawk-like gaze on Jenica. Tiningnan siya nito mula ulo hanggang paa. "You don't seem like a country bumpkin to me so I suppose you have someone backing you up young lady. From what clan are you? Alex didn't tell me anything about your origin so I expect honest words coming out from that sinful lips of yours," sabi nito sa kaniya. The corner of lips twitched. Mukhang hindi talaga maganda ang gising ng matanda dahil
When Jenica saw the man, she froze. Is she seeing things? Bakit niya nakikita ang Tito Marc niya? Nawalan ng kulay ang mukha ni Jenica.More than 40 years ago, the old man from Guam clan adopted a boy who lost his parents from the big fire that killed more than a thousand lives. The boy is said to have possessed great resemblance to the old man that prompted him to adopt the child. And according to the DNA result, the boy was the old man's illegitimate grandson that made the whole Guam clan scorn him. The old matriarch of the Guam disliked the boy and made things difficult for him. For years, the boy endured everything until an accident occured in the Guam family. A big fire engulfed a huge mansion in one night and killed all members of the Guam family except for the only survivors, Marc Cenizo the adopted grandson, and Jenica's favored father. Starting from that day, the Guam family hid behind the spotlight for years and the masses slowly forget the powerful family who shook the en
It was not the first time that Jenica saw Alex and Jared talking to each other. Pero ngayon lang niya napagtanto na sa harap ni Alex, bahag ang buntot ni Jared. It looked like Alex held the upperhand against the HQ's number one enemy. Naningkit ang mga mata ni Jenica. Matapos ang pag-uusap ng dalawa ay ngiting lumapit si Jared sa kaniya. "It must be fate that we came to know each other --""We're not done yet," sabi niya. "We still have business to settle."Nag-isip saglit si Jared, pagkuwa'y ngumiti na naman nang abot sa tainga. "It is about those poisonous needles?""I'm not talking about that," aniya at sa isang iglap ay sinapak ang mukha ni Jared. "Oww!" hiyaw nito at hinawakan ang nasaktang mukha. Masama itong tumingin sa kaniya. "Do you still wanna fight?!" galit nitong sambit. "Alex and I agreed that my forces will stop fighting you. Or do you think that my temper will let you trample my face?" dagdag pa nito. Nag-igting ang bagang ni Jenica. "You owe me a child."Jared w
It was a one night's mistake. Nagising si Jenica sa kama ni Alex and she didn't know what to think while looking at her husband's sleeping face. For all those years living with the 'dying' him, Jenica was in good hands. Actually, Alex treated her well except on circumstances that'll involve his family.Jenica knew that his family was a bunch of greedy dogs whose after their master's crumbs, and it was the reason why Alex had to marry her in order to secure his wealth against those bunch of dogs. Kaya sa ilang taong pananatili niya sa poder nito ay hindi naman talaga siya minaltrato ng asawa niya. Sadyang may pagkakataon, lalo na kapag bumibisita ang matriarch sa mansion, na kinukulong siya ni Alex sa loob ng kuwarto nilang mag-asawa para itago siya sa mata ng mga Fuego. And except for that foolish Robert na nakahuli sa kaniya minsan, walang sinuman sa mga Fuego ang nakakaalam na may asawa na si Alex. The Matriarch was worried that Alex will die without leaving an offspring, kaya ila
"Am I obliged to answer your question?" tanong ni Jenica. Umasim ang mukha ni Gia at akmang itataas ang kamay para sana sampalin siya pero umiwas si Jenica at humakbang palayo. Narinig pa niya ang nagtitimping impit na sigaw ni Gia sa likod pero hindi na niya pinansin ang babae. She didn't know why the two of them always cross paths. Parang itinadhana talagang mag-away sila sa public places. Gia should be thankful na wala siyang time para makipag-away dahil hindi talaga siya magpapatalo sa rambolan. But she'll admit. There's something off about Gia's presence that she needs to find our sooner. Hindi kalaunan ay narating niya ang likod ng hospital. Isa iyong malawak na bakanteng lote at walang katao-tao, but Jenica knew better. The place was full of discarded medical equipments and knee-length wild grasses were growing around them. Hindi kalayuan ay may abandonadong subdivision na ayon sa mga tagaroon na pinamahayan na umano ng masasamang elemento. Hindi naman naniniwala si Jenica
She heard footsteps coming down from the stairs and Jenica squinted her eyes and crossed her arms against her chest. It seemed like her husband was a good friend with her enemy? Or maybe not?Nakita niya nalang kasi na kinaladkad ng mga security guards si Jared palabas nang sumenyas si Alex. "Who is that guy?" tanong niya, glancing at him and studying his expression.Tumayo si Alex sa gilid niya at sabay nilang tinanaw ang nagdadabog na lalaki sa tapat ng main door. "A nuisance," kunot-noong sagot ni Alex sabay tingin sa gawi niya. "What would you like to eat?" "Chicken," sagot niya. Iginiya siya ni Alex sa kusina and Jenica stole a glance at the main door, where she saw Jared standing there. The man grinned when their eyes met and Jenica smirked in response. Tumaas naman ang kilay ni Jared pero kalaunan ay gumanti ng ngiti. Jenica smiled in secret and followed Alex onto the kitchen. Pero hindi pa roon nagtatapos ang pagdaupang-palad nila ni Jared. Kinabukasan ay nakita niya ang