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,
LEV"Just for you.""My own masochist. You really are a twisted one for liking and trusting me. Though, there's just one problem with your claim, baby doll. Pagdating sa'yo ang salitang sapat na'y hindi sapat, Bree. I will always want and hope for more. One more kiss. One more hug. One more lifetime. I will never get enough of you.""Oh, Lev." Sinubukan ni Bree na halikan ako but I pushed her."Higa."Nataranta si Bree sa biglang pagbabago ng mood ko. So I decided for her. Hinuli ko ang mga pulsuhan niya't inilagay iyon sa magkabilang gilid ng ulo niya. I glared at her, making sure that she understand who's in charge. When she sigh, resigned. I resume my position earlier. Kneeling between her parted legs. Staring down at her with my hooded lids."Will do it my way, Bree. Binigyan na kita ng pagkakataong umatras, but you're so stubborn."The smile that broke her lips is sultry and full of challenge."Give it to me then."I growl. My nose flared. Bumaba tumaas ang dibdib niya habang hin
LEV"WHERE'S the snake?!" Bungad ko kay James pagka apak ko pa lang sa loob ng malamig na silid.The moment I'm sure Bree was sleeping, I left my unit with a pair of fresh gloves and my favorite Beretta on my back. It's high time to take care of business. Seriously.My friend pushed his six feet and three figure against the wall. He sauntered in my direction and when we were toe-to-toe, James stopped. A pissed-off expression on his face. Walang kurap na nakititig sa 'kin habang abala ang kanang kamay sa paglalaro sa blade niya. I arched my brow questioningly at the most brutal reaper I know on the planet, waiting for a response.He lifts his shoulders in a nonchalant manner."James." Banta ko. I hate repeating myself and he knows it.Tonight of all night niya pa binalak akong asarin.Pumalatak ito. Tumikwas ang sulok ng labi nito then tilted his head to the right."There. Patience. Apurado ka masyado, Lev. Akala ko hindi ka na bababa. Tatapusin ko na sana ang isang 'to. Enjoying your d
LEVUnti-unting lumitaw ang isang makapal na tempered glass at sa pinaka ibaba'y isang madilim na pit. Nataranta ang binata. His eyes darted from me to the floor beneath him and a series of shits came from his mouth. Panay ang hila nito't palag mula sa kinauupuan."What the fuck are you up to?""I'm a simple man, Alberona. An eye for an eye. So to make it poetic, I decided to bring your friends here." I pressed the small remote and a blinding light was on, showing one of my most prized possession. The vipers."Say hi to them.""Putang ina!"Ngumisi ako sa nakitang ayos ng binata. He gulped and the dumbfounded look painted in his face is epic. Nite pulled the chains so hard, malapit na niyang matanggal ang mga palapulsuhan n'ya. He's staring at one of my twisted torture chambers.Can't blame him or any man for that matter. Some even peed themselves when they catch a glimpse of what's waiting for them. Sino bang hindi kung naka upo ka sa ibabaw ng isang glass caged at sa ibaba mo'y nagh
LEVMY day is uneventful until it is not.For a start, I woke up with the badass headache in history coupled with aching muscles. Everywhere."Shit." Hinilot ko ang sentido't kinapa ang bedside table.I grabbed the Tylenol and popped it into my mouth. Down the tablet with a glass of water. Hope the pounding will stop.Ilang minuto akong nakatungo lang bago ko sinipat ang paligid at napakunot noo. Nang maalala kung bakit ako nasa en suite ng master's bed room ko, agad akong nagbihis at pumunta sa karatig silid.I called her name a few times when I spotted my empty bed. Wala aong nakuhang sagot. When I opened my bathroom, silence greeted me and Bree's distinct vanilla and jasmine scent. She was here, in my bed. That thought alone made my smile wider. My insides are warmer. Shit. Possible bang epekto pa rin ito ng gamot na ibinigay ni Jake sa akin kahapon?Fool. No. That's her full Bree effect. No amount of drugs can rival that, huwag mong masyadong gawing kumplikado ang lahat.Hinilot k
LEV"BREE, I said no. Sakay. Huwag mong sagarin ang pasensiya ko." Timping saad ko sa dalaga. I pinched the bridge of my nose.Kasalukuyan kaming nasa parking lot ng building ko, nagtatalo. Ang salarin ay ang Maserati Ghibli ko. She's insistent on driving my 5 million peso sports car and I'm hell-bent on saying no."Iyon lang naman ang kaya mong isagad sa ngayon. Don't me." Bulong nito sabay padyak."WHAT?!""Wala! May dumaan kakong anghel naka wheelchair. Tinutulak nung devil." She gave me a toothy grin.Nagngalit ang mga panga ko. Nose flaring, I pointed at the car."Sakay. Now.""No. I want to drive. Let me drive, Lev. Ten minutes lang. Sige na. Maingat naman ako. Hindi ko gagasgasan 'tong si Elmo.""Who the fuck is Elmo?""Duh. Itong kotse mo. Color red." She gave me an incredulous look after pointing to my car."No.""Hindi ka lang nuknukan ng kuripot. Madamot ka pa. Stop treating me like a child, I can drive.""Then stop acting like one. The answer is and will always be no."She
LEV"Decisions. Options. That's what you want, da? You'll have it. Cause spoiler, I was born to please and spoiled you, Bree." Rinig ang pagkikiskisan ng ngipin ko habang nakatunghay ako sa namumutlang mukha ni Bree.Naguguluhang hinatak nito ang braso. This time, I let her go. I fished my phone and dial Keros' number."Master.""Hack into the system of the amusement park that I'm currently in. No electricity for the next two hours until I say so. You can also do a rattle of some shitty rides, here and there. I want results in 10 minutes." Pinatay ko ang phone, ikiniling ko ang ulo sa kanan."Y-you are a jerk, Lev. That's a dick move. Aalisan mo ng power ang buong park just because I don't obey your command?""First. I will and always be a dick, jerk, or psycho if I am threatened or there's something or someone that comes between what I want. And that is you, Bree. Second, hindi kita inutusan. You agreed. Ikaw pa ang nag-propose ng hinayupak na concession na 'to. Not me." My nose flar
BREEIN LIFE and love, everything is a package deal. Actions and consequences. Right and wrong. Love and hate. Light and dark.Ako at si Lev.I smile at myself while staring at the screen of my phone with that thoughts.Bigla, sinakop ang isip ko ng asul na mga mata. Cold, soulless and displeased. I shiver. But for some odd reason not because of fear. Kabaliktaran no'n. Excitement runs through my veins. I had it bad, alam ko iyon. Walang oras na hindi ko naiisip ang kumag na 'yon.Naipilig ko ang ulo. Nabaliw na nga akong tuluyan. Pero kasalanan ko ba?After last night, napatunayan kong, Lev, and I go hand in hand. We're a package deal. One cannot function without the other. I don't know kung kailan nagsimula ang lahat, na-realize ko na lang, Lev already ingrained himself into my life. Into my system. Little by little. Now, it is too late for me to turn my back on him.On us.Mahaba ang pinakawalan kong hininga.Lev may be a merciless monster. The devil who collects life–mine included
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