LEVChaos like no other claimed the place.Kahit saan ako tumingin, dugo, apoy at karahasan ang sumasalubong sa akin. Tinutupok ng apoy ang kaliwang bahagi ng sky bar habang sa gitna'y may ilang katawan ang nakahandusay. Baliktad ang mga lamesa't kanya-kanyang kubli ang mga kasamahan ko.I'm still processing the whole scene but as I fill my lungs with soot and the scent of blood, one thing is clear to me. Death hangs in the air. It's everywhere, to the white walls and marbled tiles beneath my feet. Madaragdagan pa iyon at sisiguraduhin kong bago matapos ang gabing 'to, nakapinta sa buong rooftop ang dugo ng mga hinayupak na sumugod sa amin. Of course, after I made them spill the name behind this atrocious attack.Wala pang tatlumpong minuto ang nakakalipas ngunit nagmistulang battle ground ang buong lugar. Nakataob ang lahat ng mesa't nagkalat sa sahig ang mga handa. I even spotted the cotton candy maker pushed against a wall, spinning and whirring. People are running towards the exit
LEVMay hawak 'tong AK-47. His eyes are bleeding with violence as he nods at me.I nodded back to acknowledge him. Silent gratitude was passed between us."We need to get out of here." Kinuha ko ang kamay ni Bree at pinisil iyon. Gumanti ng pisil ang dalaga. Shit. She's ice cold.Panakaw kong sinilip si Bree. She's still pale but I can see that she's trying her might to shove down her nerves. Yakap ng kaliwang kamay nito ang sarili habang nakatingala sa akin."Here. You know how to fire a gun?" Tanong ko sabay lagay ng Sig Sauer p365 na palihim na iniabot ni August sa 'kin.Bree shook her head. Biting her trembling lips.Marahas akong napahinga."Simple lang, Bree. Aim. Don't hesitate or tremble. Release the safety pin, fire." Itinuro ko ang noo, ang dibdib at ang balikat."Here. Here and here. Got that?""I d-don't know, Lev. I'm scared.""I know. Pero walang lugar ang takot sa mundo natin. . . sa mundo ko, Bree. Don't think, just shoot. It's you or them and I am saying you that it m
BREE"LEAVE. August and Theo will drive you to your house. I'm sending some of my men to guard you. 24/7."Those were Lev's words when we arrived at his penthouse after we escaped his birthday salubong ambush. Of course, I am mad at the man. How dare he!"Pambihira ka naman talagang Jurassic ka.Oo. Muntik na tayong mamatay kanina. Tapos palalayasin mo lang ako!" Nanggagalaiting sigaw ko sa lalakeng ngayon ay susuray-suray papasok sa loob ng elevator na direktang maghahatid sa kanya sa penthouse.Apparently, I'm not welcome in his lair."May pa-home, home ka pang nalalaman kanina. Animal ka talagang gurang ka. Scam!"I heard him let out a harsh sigh and then muttered a series of Russian words na hula ko'y puro 'di kanais-nais ang meaning."Bree, stop acting like a child. Don't defy me on this one. Go now."Binelatan ko siya. Lev's nose flared and to add icing to the cake, nag middle finger ako sa kanya."Brethany!"Deadma ang lola n'yo kay Tanders. I wasted no time, halos ihagis ko ang
BREE"Why care so much for a monster like me, Bree?"I looked at Lev. He's frozen to place but I am not buying his cool façade. It's his eyes that betray him. Tensiyonado ito at takot? Kung para saan hindi ko alam.Gusto kong sugurin siya't sipain. Bakit kailangan niyang pigain ako nang ganito? Hindi pa ba malinaw sa kanya ang lahat? Kung bakit sa kabila ng kawerduhan niya't kabaliwan, nananatili ako sa tabi niya? Tila maamong tutang kumakawag ang buntot isang sitsit niya lang?May pa surprise party pa nga akong nalalaman, hindi ba? Okay, plan naman talaga siyang i-surpresa nila Paige but damn I exerted so much effort in that.I'm more that invested and interested. With him. Sa koneksiyong mayroon kaming dalawa. Alin ba doon ang 'di niya ma-gets?Nang muli kong salubingin ang mata niya, doon ko na-realize kung bakit. He's Lev. My unfeeling sociopath who loves numbers and complex problems but is clueless when it comes to reading me."You're an asshole, Lev. A sociopathic, psycho who kn
MAY CONTAIN SALACIOUS SCENES AND EXPLICIT WORDS THAT MAY BE HARMFUL AND DISTURBING TO SOME READERS. IT IS INTENDED FOR MATURE READERS ONLY. DISCRETION IS ADVISED.LEVSAKTONG pagsuot ko ng damit pang itaas, bumukas ang pintuan. Jake's figure emerged followed by August. They both looked at me and Jake let out a long sigh after giving my disheveled figure an annoyed look."You look–ahm, not very Lev." Si Jake. Naglakad ito palapit sa coffee table at inilapag ang bag."Casual is the word, doc."Pumalatak ito."Yeah. Can you please settle down? Let me see your wound."I narrowed my eyes at him."Tinahi ko na. Daplis lang iyon kaya sana 'di ka na nagpunta pa rito. I've been in worst conditions, I came out alive. I'll survive this one." Sumalampak ako ng upo sa couch habang umiiling ang kaibigan ko."Let me be the judge of that. Patingin." Jake snapped his surgical gloves and glared at my left side.Wala akong nagawa kung hindi itaas ang damit nang matapos itong magprepara. I know him too w
LEV"Huwag kang gumalaw kung ayaw mong mas lalong magalit 'yan. He's confused with his age right now.""Let me go." Bree snarled at me but she stopped from writhing."What happened to my stubborn girl? Why are you running away?""Alam mo kung bakit!""Oh, I am clueless, kiska. Enlighten me."Isang suntok sa dibdib ang ibinigay nito sa 'kin. Sa nanlilisik na mga mata itinuro ang sahig at ang direksiyon ng cabinet na siyang naglalaman ng mga gadgets ko. The R-18 ones.The corner of my mouth lifts. Jealousy fits my Bree."Don't tell me that the mere sight of vibrators and butt plugs scare you? How much more kapag nakita mo ang cane, St. Andrews cross at iba't ibang klaseng whips ko?""Bastos! Over my dead body. Ilang babae na ang dinala mo rito, ha? Ilang babae na ang gumamit ng mga paraphernalia mo. Ilan? Ang kapal ng mukha mo. Pare-pareho lang kayong mga lalake. Makakati!""No one. Fuck. Nakakarami ka na." Singhal ko sabay huli sa mga palad niya.She tried to stifle her sobs. Her eyes
LEVI filled my lungs with a copious amount of air.Relax, Lev. It's her."Anong silbi ng mga palad na 'to, Lev? Kung hindi mo 'ko mahahawakan dito. Kung 'di mo nararamdaman ang init ko," inilipat nito ang palad ko sa ibabaw ng kaliwa niyang dibdib. Napalunok ako."B-bree.""How my heart beats for you." She made a small circle on top of her soft breast using my palm.I growl. This is torture but the kind na gusto ko.Kasabay ng marahas kong paghinga, gumalaw ang mga daliri ko. Touching, sampling her skin. A barest graze at first, a scratch here and there. Then, I let go.I touched her. And it's bliss. Bree's warm body is heaven. I'm addicted to the first touch. I'm like a boy who got his first-ever gift at Christmas.Kusang pumikit ang mga mata ko. My hand moves on its own accord, and I cupped her mound. Tentative at first, learning every delicious curve. I massaged it and toyed with it. Fondle it. I weigh it on my hand and I feel my cock dripping with precum.Every touch I made burns
MAY CONTAIN SALACIOUS SCENES AND EXPLICIT WORDS THAT MAY BE HARMFUL AND DISTURBING TO SOME READERS. IT IS INTENDED FOR MATURE READERS ONLY. DISCRETION IS ADVISED.LEVONE TASTE, one lick. That's all I want and I'll stop. That's a scam. The biggest lie I said to myself 'cause when it comes to Bree, once will never be enough.I groan, irritated, and throw Bree into the waiting bed. She yelled midair."Damn it, Lev! Ano bang trip mo't hagis ka nang hagis?" Talak nito pero itinikom ang bibig nang makita ang ekspresyon ko."Come here." I grabbed her ankle and pulled her at the end of the bed. Idinagan ko agad ang katawan kay Bree't walang abog-abog na kinuyumos ng halik ang mga labi niya.Naparalisa ito ng ilang saglit bago gumanti ng halik. Napa ungol ako't lalong sinibasib ang bibig niya. She hooked her arms on my neck and wrapped her trembling legs around my waist. Pressing our bodies closer. Breathes mingled. Our moans and touch fuse together.I kissed Bree, sucked her tongue, licked,
BREEKAHIT saan ko ibaling ang paningin kadiliman ang nakikita ko. The starless sky. The pitch black sea and my bleak future.My world was now wrapped with thick black clouds. An abyss and endless darkness I wouldn't be able to escape cause I am part of it.They made me part of it.I'm filthy and destroyed.They did this to me.And I'm getting back the rein now. I will dictate how this will end.At isa lang ang nakikita kong paraan. Death.Walang kasing pait ang ngiting sumilay sa labi ko. Ano pang silbi ng buhay ko matapos ang lahat ng nangyari sa 'kin? Wala na.I have nothing.No future. No Lev and no dreams. I'm just a shell, walking aimlessly. Numb. I'm as good as dead anyway.Itinaas ko ang mga braso't hinayaan ang malakas na hangin at dagat na tangayin ang buhok ko't sirang gown.Tumingala ako't mapait na napangiti nang tumama sa mukha ko ang mahinang patak ng ulan."Is this your mercy? Are you mocking me, Lord? Or are you just l-lonely–for me!" Sigaw ko sa tahimik na gabi. Tangin
BREEWE collect scars. Battle scars. Sa dami ng nakolekta ko I think I can make a mosaic from it. It's made up of different mistakes but dominated by two colors– black and white. Never gray. Specifically not red. But after tonight, I know that it's a lie. I was just too blind to see the crimson dripping from every corner of the canvas that is my life.Buong buhay ko, pinaniwala ko ang sariling hindi ako kailanman maabot ng kasalan ng pamilya ko. That me being the only girl in the family and my zero knowledge with their dealings made me somehow an innocent onlooker. There's a rule to every exemption, right? Akala ko ako 'yon. Nakalimutan kong hindi nga pala iyon applicable sa mundo namin.Kasalanan ng ama, kasalanan ng lahat. That's how our world operates.Unlucky for me, I'm the one reaping the seeds of their sins. Ang hirap lang dahil sobrang laki ng sinigil sa akin. Buhay, pangarap at puso ko. Sinong dapat kong sisihin ngayon?Ang ama dahil sa kapalaulaang ginawa niya? Ang sarili ko
BREE"That's the whole fucking plan, Bree. Hurt the rest of your family. Get even. Your hell, my heaven, right? Pero mapagbiro ang putang inang tadhana. Dumating ka. You are the very definition of fucking off-limits! Pero dahil gago ako, baliw, I ignored it. I dive head-on, Bree. Into you. Fuck consequences. But this– I don't sign up for this." Bawat bitaw n'ya ng mga salita'y puno ng poot at pait.I can't stand it anymore. Tuluyan na akong humagulgol. I am helpless and at his mercy. My heart broke not just for me but for him also. I'm shaking like a leaf when I looked at him."I c-can explain. W-wala akong alam sa plano ng papa ko. I swear. Maniwala ka. . . Please." Lumuluhang samo ko. Lihim akong nagdarasal na sana'y hindi pa huli ang lahat.Na sana, abot-kamay ko pa rin ang Lev na minahal at hinayaan akong haplusin siya't mahalin.Dumaan ang confusion sa mga mata ni Lev pero dagli ring nawala iyon. It's back to its icy state."Stop lying to me. Pare-pareho lang kayo. Ikaw. Ang mga
BREETHIRTY minutes and five glasses of punch later, I'm running outside the parking lot with my purse in my left hand and cellphone in my right. Mabilis ang tahip ng dibdib ko sa pinaghalong adrenaline at inis.He's in his office. Maybe, in his basement. August will hand you the RFID. You don't hear it from me. Good luck.- T.DMensahe 'yon mula kay Trace. So Lev's in his lair, hiding from me. Why?You know why.Natigilan ako. Mukhang nag-materialize na ang kinatatakutan ko. Nalaman na ni Lev ang pangdo-double cross sa kanya ng ama ko. Knowing him, he'll think this as betrayal on my part."No."Nanginig ang kalamnan ko. Habol ang hiningang itinaas ko ang kamay upang parahin ang taxi. I ignored Theo and Indi, who were hot on my wake. Nilunod ng sumarang pinto ng taxi ang nag-aalalang boses ng dalawa. I need to see him and explain my side. He'll listen to me. Kesehodang manikluhod ako sa harapan niya, gagawin ko. Habang nasa biyahe, ilang senaryo na ang naglalaro sa utak ko. My knees bo
BREELIVING is so freaking expensive. Life will give you a bill so long, you'll end up broke. Literally and figuratively. I embody it–the brokenness, as I stand in front of our campus gate waiting for Lev, pacing back and forth.Seems that I paid handsomely just for a glimpse of happiness pero mukhang galit at pagkawasak ng puso ang maiuuwi ko?Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses akong nagparoo't parito. Rinig ko na nga ang mga pikon na buntong-hininga ng mga guwardiya ng school namin, pero wala akong pake. I'm seething with anger as I searched the crowded parking lot. Once na maispatan ko ang kotse ng animal, lalaslasin ko talaga ang gulong n'ya.The nerve! Saan ka nakakakita ng date na nauna pa sa venue ang babae?"How dare him stood me up! Usapan alas-7 ng gabi, mag a-alas otso na. Akala ba niya bukas ang grad ball? Hayup ka, Lev. Sasakalin kita." Naiiyak na bulong ko habang sa back ground ay rinig ko ang malakas na tunog ng sound system at ang boses ng emcee, calling the student
LEV"Kinalawang ka na ba? Asan ang El Diablo na pinagyayabang nila? Gago. Makikipagtitigan ka lang ba sa 'kin?"I spit. When I speak, the calmness in my tone betrays the turmoil I feel."I'm just being generous. Kapag tinapos kita ngayon, uuwi na ang mga tao. Sayang naman ang binayad nila sa ticket."Namula ang mukha nito."Hambog!" Sabay sugod sa akin. Ngunit bago tumama ang sipa niya sa katawan ko, nakailag na ako.I jump, turn and gave him a sidekick that landed on his left jaw. Sumuray ang gago habang nagwawala na sa gilid ang mga kaibigan ko."Tang'na, Gurang. Ayusin mo. Ipinusta ko na 'yong mansion ko sa isla. Huwag kang papatalo, kungdi papakain kita sa muning ko."Umiling ako kay Trace. Balak ko sanang sagutin na kita ko na ang ngala-ngala niya nang matigilan ako.James was standing a few meters from Logan. Nilukob ako ng lamig sa klase ng tingin na ibinigay nito. I gulped and for a fleeting second, I was rendered immobile.My ears buzz with the grating sound of the crowd and
LEVIpinilig ko ang ulo't ilang segundong tinitigan ang cellphone. I'm still mesmerized by how Bree changes my mood in just a flick of a finger when James' stern voice floats in the room.Ibinulsa ko ang aparato't tinungo ang maliit na opisina. James was perched on the single couch facing the big mahogany desk. If his brows and the rage painted on his face are any indications, I would say that shit is about to hit the fan.Purposefully, I stride towards him."You're up for serious business now, lover boy?"Hindi ko pinansin ang pang iinis niya. Inukopa ko ang office chair. My gaze is fixed on his laptop."What do you have for me?"Tumigil ito sa kakatipa't sinalubong ang mga mata ko. Matiim akong tinitigan. Pigil ang hiningang hinintay kong magsalita ang kaibigan. Sa uatk ko, samo't sari ng senaryo ang naglalaro but I know that I pulled the stoic mask on. Sheilding me from his inquisitive eyes.Ipinatong ko ang magkabilang kamay sa lamesa. I steeple my fingers. There's this foreboding
LEVWHEN I eased my Bugatti into the parking space of The Ruins, I know something is not right. I can smell it in the air and feel it through my blood. I don't believe in superstitious shits but I must admit that there were times when instinct saved me.Now, there's that little voice at the back of my head that keeps on nagging me. I can't shake it off.Inis na inumpog ko ang ulo sa headrest ng upuan ko't ipinikit ang mga mata. Nerbiyos lang 'to. Or mabe, excitement. Cause at last, mabibigyan na ng linaw ang lahat ng kasagutang bumabagabag sa akin sa simula pa. Besides, ano pa bang mas lala pa sa kaalamang natukoy na ni James ang katauhan ng taong nag traydor sa papa ko?As if on cue, sinalakay ako ng mukha ng ama ko. Dread and hate skittered through me while I fight for some semblance. My father's face conjured the nightmare I tried but failed to bury. Lalo kong ipinikit ang mga mata. Visions formed and each one of them vivid. My mother's plea, my father's eyes, my baby sister's inno
LEVFORTY-five minutes after naming lumanding, I found myself parked outside Bree's campus. Waiting. I shouldn't be here, but the thing about me is that I don't just let go. If someone hurt my family of Foedus, I will surely rain hell on them. At walang gusto ang demonyo sa loob ko kung hindi ang gawin iyon.My fingers are drumming into my steering wheel as I wait for the pest I'm gonna squash. Namely, Anya. Sinulyapan ko ang mga larawang nasa tabi na tila ba hindi pa iyon naka ukit sa utak ko. I gripped the steering wheel, imagining it was the bitch's neck.Gusto kong yakapin sina August kanina nang sabihin sa aking alam na nila kung sino ang may pakana ng nangyari kay Bree. It's intense I know and uncharacteristically me but everything about Bree made me extreme.My assistant even volunteered to do the deed–meaning teach Anya a lesson. But I turned it down. This is personal.Muntik madurog ang mga buto ko sa kamay ng maglagutukan ang mga iyon. The bitch was coming out with her cliqu