Selena’s POV
"I want you tonight, Selena." His voice was a whisper, low and intense, and those words seemed to hang in the air long after our lips parted. A rush of heat flooded through me as he stepped closer, pulling me toward him, and before I knew it, we were in his bedroom.
His fingers found the hem of my blouse, lifting it slowly, almost reverently, as though he was taking his time to savor every inch of the moment. My hands moved of their own accord, helping him, the sensation of his touch on my skin making everything else fade away. It was like a spell I couldn't break.
Soon, we were both standing there, vulnerable and exposed, our bodies bare before one another. There was a brief pause, the air thick with anticipation, before the world seemed to narrow down to just us. It wasn’t just physical—it was a moment of connection, raw and real, like everything else had fallen away, leaving only the tension between us.
He was staring at me, his gaze filled with admiration, and I couldn’t help but return the look, my eyes tracing the lines of his body. I couldn’t believe this was Andrew—he was nothing like I had imagined. At twenty-two, he didn’t look like a typical guy his age. Instead, he exuded a quiet strength, a maturity that made him seem much older, much more experienced. Every inch of him was the embodiment of a man, not a boy.
“Sigurado ka ba sa gusto mong mangyari?” tanong ko sa kanya, may halong kaba sa boses ko. “Wala akong maipapangako sa’yo, Andrew, hindi ko alam kung saan tayo dadalhin nito. Natatakot ako na baka masaktan lang natin ang isa't isa,” paliwanag ko, at ramdam ko ang bigat ng mga salitang iyon. Nanatili siyang nakatingin sa akin, wala akong mabasang emosyon sa mga mata niya, at hindi ko alam kung anong ibig sabihin ng titig na iyon.
“Hayaan mo lang akong ipakita sa’yo ang nararamdaman ko, Selena, wala akong hihilingin pa sa’yo,” He said it very calmly, and his words were reassuring.
I didn’t know how we ended up on the bed, but in an instant, Andrew was above me, his eyes tracing every inch of my exposed skin. The way he looked at me sent a shiver through my body—his gaze intense, filled with desire. I couldn’t look away, my own eyes drinking in the sight of him, every movement he made igniting something deep inside me.
His lips found my neck first, soft and slow, but with a hunger that made my pulse quicken. As his kisses moved lower, I couldn’t suppress the quiet moan that escaped me, the warmth of his touch sending waves of sensation through me.
He shifted slightly, parting my thighs with hands that were gentle yet firm, sending a wave of warmth through my body. His touch was both tender and assertive, the contrast leaving me breathless. When his fingers brushed against me, a jolt of electricity ran through me, and my body responded, every nerve alight with sensation. My breath hitched, the world shrinking until it was just the two of us—the sound of our heartbeats, the heat of his skin, and the growing intensity between us.
When he sensed I was ready, he positioned himself against me, moving slowly, almost deliberately. The moment he entered, I felt a rush—a mixture of pleasure and something else, something deeper. My grip tightened on his arms as his movements began, slow and measured at first, testing the boundaries, drawing out sensations I couldn’t fully control. It felt good—too good—and for a moment, I couldn’t focus on anything but the way he moved inside me, the way he made me feel.
It was a dangerous thing, this moment. A mistake, perhaps. But it felt like this was something I couldn’t turn back from.
Hindi ko na kayang kontrolin ang nararamdaman ko. Ito yung pakiramdam na matagal ko nang hinahanap mula nang huling makita ko si Leonardo sa party. Pero ngayon, habang tinitingnan ko si Andrew, ibang-iba. With Leonardo, there was a hollow emptiness, a distance I couldn’t bridge. But with Andrew, there was no comparison. The intensity of what I was feeling now was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.
As Andrew moved faster, his lips trailing over my neck, I felt my senses spiral out of control. Each thrust sent shockwaves through me, the pleasure building with every movement. Hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko. I let out a breathless moan, unable to hold it in as I felt something stir deep inside me, a rush of heat threatening to consume me.
A moment later, I heard him groan softly, and then the warmth of him filled me—he had finished. I could feel the warmth slowly leaking out of me, his body still pressed against mine, not moving.
With his weight resting on top of me, I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close, not wanting to let go. The world around us faded as I clung to him, the intensity of the moment lingering between us.
We cuddled for a few more minutes, neither of us saying a word. Pagkatapos ng ilang sandali, kinuha ko ang mga damit ko at sinuot muli.
“Good night!” I whispered to him. “Good night, I’ll see you tomorrow!” he said and kissed me on the forehead. Nginitian ko lamang siya at tahimik na naglakad pabalik sa kwarto ko. Hindi pwedeng may makaalam ng nangyari, kaya kailangan kong maging maingat.Nang makarating ako sa kwarto, parang binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig. Wala akong lakas, napaupo ako sa sahig, at feeling ko parang nawalan ako ng enerhiya sa lahat ng nangyari. Bigla ko lang naisip ang lahat ng ginawa ko, at parang gusto ko na lang mag-collapse sa bigat ng nararamdaman ko. I suddenly felt guilty, because after all, I was still engaged to Leonardo. What I did wasn’t just a mistake—it was a betrayal. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako naguguilty sa ginawa ko when in fact, kasalanan niya kung bakit ko nagawa ito. He betrayed me first.
Selena’s POV"Good morning," bati ko nang makababa ako ng kwarto. Nakahain na ang almusal at naroon na sina Mando, Agustin, at Andrew, nagsisimula nang kumain."Good morning, kain na, maaga tayong aalis ngayon," sabi ni Agustin. Nakaupo na si Mando sa usual kong upuan kaya wala akong ibang choice kundi tumabi kay Andrew.Agad akong napatingin sa kanya nang maramdaman ko ang pagtitig niya sa akin."Good morning," sabi niya at binigyan ako ng makahulugang ngiti. Hindi ako sumagot at nagsimula na akong mag-sandok ng pagkain.Abala ako sa pagkain nang bigla kong maramdaman ang mainit na palad na humahaplos sa hita ko. Nagpumiglas ang puso ko at mabilis akong napatingin kay Andrew, binigyan siya ng matalim na sulyap. Ngunit hindi siya nagpakita ng kahit anong pagkabahala, at tila hindi siya naapektuhan sa titig kong iyon. Maya-maya, naramdaman ko na paakyat na ang kamay niya. Kuminig ang katawan ko, kaya’t ibinaba ko ang hawak kong kutsara at pasimpleng inalis ang kamay niya mula sa hita k
Andrew’s POV“This is such a great portrait, Andrew! Thank you so much!” Patty said, her smile practically reaching her ears as I handed her the finished portrait of her. She even gave me a tight hug out of sheer happiness.“I’m glad you like it,” I replied, smiling back. There’s something so fulfilling about seeing my clients happy with my work. It always gives me an extra boost of confidence and makes me even more dedicated as an artist.“I love it! I’ll definitely refer you to some of my friends,” she added.“Thank you for that, I will really appreciate it.”“As a thank you, let me treat you a dinner tonight,” she invited me in such a sweet way and then clung to my arm.“I am sorry Patty; I still have other things to take care of after this. I need to head home ASAP.” I told her, almost sounding too bad, that I couldn’t make it to the invitation, but honestly, I just wasn’t that interested. It was getting late, and I really wanted to head home because I already missed Selena.As soo
Selena’s POVHis lips blazed a trail of kisses down my neck, over my curves, and back up to my mouth, where our passionate kisses intensified. His hands cradled my breasts, sending shivers of pleasure through me. I entwined my legs around his waist, our bodies moving in sync as desire sparked between us. When his fingers began to softly rub my clit and his lips kissed my breast, I fought to stifle a groan. But as he expertly moved his finger, I couldn't help but pant and moan softly. My body tensed, and I tugged at his hair as his fingers slipped through my fluids. He gazed up at me, his eyes locked on mine as he savored the moment. I wondered how much longer I could endure the pleasure before I screamed."Andrew, babe," I whispered, still gasping for breath. "I want you, now!" I demanded, my voice laced with urgency. He flashed a sweet smile, his eyes gleaming with desire."As you wished, sweetie," he replied, his voice low and husky. He slowly began to settle in, his movements delib
Selena’s POVHindi ko alam kung seseryosohin ko ang sinabi ni Andrew kagabi na magdi-date kami. Maaga akong nagising at nag-ayos ng sarili. Suot ko ang usual kong semi-formal outfit para sa trabaho, para hindi naman isipin ni Andrew na sobrang excited kong makipag-date. Nang matapos akong mag-ayos, bumaba ako ng kwarto. Wala pang tao sa dining area, kaya naglakad-lakad ako at napansin kong nakabukas ang pinto ng study room ni Agustin. Lumapit ako ng kaunti para sumilip. Nag-uusap sila ni Andrew. Pareho silang seryoso, pero kitang-kita ko na parang hindi maganda ang mood ni Andrew, may kakaibang ekspresyon sa mukha niya.Maya-maya, nakita kong tumayo si Andrew, kaya agad akong bumalik sa dining area at naupo. Ilang sandali lang, pumasok si Andrew, mukha pa rin siyang seryoso, pero nang makita niya ako, parang biglang lumiwanag ang mukha niya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero lihim ko itong ikinatuwa. Kasunod niyang dumating si Agustin, at binati ko silang dalawa ng “Good morning.”"Selen
Andrew’s POV“Are you okay?” I asked Selena as I walked up to her. She just froze when she saw me, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she was stunned because she thought I looked good, or if I just looked off in her eyes. “Y-yeah, I’m okay,” she replied, her voice soft, and flashed me a quick smile. I couldn’t help but smile back, though I was still wondering what had caused her to freeze like that. “You’re so beautiful, babe,” I said, and this time, I really meant it. “Thank you, you’re not bad yourself,” she said, her tone casual, as if she hadn’t just frozen when she saw me.Inaya ko siyang umakyat sa rooftop, kung saan nagpareserba ako ng table para sa aming dalawa, at isang table para kay Theo para kumain siya mag-isa. Kaninang umaga, tinawagan ko siya para tulungan akong bumili ng dress ni Selena. Wala na kasi akong sapat na oras kung gagawin ko pa ito mag-isa. Kinausap ko siya para tulungan akong planuhin lahat ng ito. I wanted Selena to have a wonderful first date with me.Na
Selena’s POVSMS From Andrew: I am at school na babe, I miss you alreadyI couldn’t help but smile as soon as I read the text message Andrew sent. He’s starting to get clingier, and now he’s bombarding me with messages. I purposely didn’t reply to his texts, hoping he would focus more on his studies instead of me.Abala si Agustin ngayon sa paghahanda dahil may aattendan siyang Business Summit bukas. Inutusan niya akong kunin yung suit na pinasadya niya para suotin sa event. Mukhang may mga bagong prospect siyang pinaghahandaan para sa underground business niya, kaya seryoso siya sa mga preparations.Before I picked up the suit, I decided to take the chance to visit Leonardo and Vania. I texted them ahead of time, just to make sure I wasn’t caught off guard again in case they were… involved with each other. I wasn’t really ready to confront them just yet, but I figured it was better to check in first to avoid any surprises later on.“Selena, you’re finally here,” Vania greeted me with
Andrew’s POVNasa pool area ako, abala sa pag-paint, nang lapitan ako ni Dad. Sabi niya may house party siya mamaya, and that it would be the perfect time to introduce me to people as his son.“You can’t just tell people I’m your son because you need a successor when you finish your term, Dad," I shouted, my voice barely containing the anger and frustration I felt. "I’m not a robot you can use or dictate what you want. I don’t even want to be in politics!”“If you’re worried about not knowing anything about politics, that’s fine,” he said, leaning back in his chair, calm and collected. “I just need you to run for mayor. That way, when my term is over, I can run as your vice mayor. You won’t have to do any of the work. I’ll handle everything for you. We’ll keep our power in the family.”I stared at him, my stomach twisting with disbelief. Power in the family. That’s what this was all about—an elaborate game to hold on to something that meant more to him than anything else.I shook my h
Selena's POVKaninang umaga, hindi ako kinakausap ni Andrew. Dinadaan-daanan niya lamang ako kapag nagkakasalubungan kami sa mansion. Pakiramdam ko ay wala na naman siya sa mood dahil narinig kong nagsasagutan sila ng daddy niya kanina. Hinayaan ko na lamang ito, baka matindi na naman ang argumento nila.Nang dumaan ang gabi, nakita ko siyang umalis ng bahay kasama ang kaniyang mga bodyguards bago magsimula ang party ng daddy niya. Hindi ko na nagawa pang tanungin siya dahil abala rin ako sa mga inuutos ni Agustin kanina. Ramdam ko na malungkot siya kanina nung umalis siya. Hindi siya mawala sa isip ko, at gusto kong malaman kung nasaan siya.Sa kalagitnaan ng party ni Agustin, kung kailan abala siya sa pag-entertain ng mga bisita at pakikipag-socialize habang pinag-uusapan ang politika, tumakas ako upang hanapin si Andrew. Alam kong kapag may problema siya o gusto niyang makalayo sa bahay, sa Poblacion siya pumupunta. Kaya nagtungo ako sa Poblacion, Makati, at inisa-isa kong pasukin
Amanda’s POVI watched Andrew, his gaze fixed on the pictures in the photo album I’ve held onto for years. Every image, every snapshot of Audree was a piece of time I had carefully collected—her first smile, her tiny hands, even her sonogram, all of it was there. It felt like a sacred collection of moments; ones I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand. But as I saw his face, the way his eyes lingered on each photo, something inside me shifted.I pulled the album out to show him, thinking I was sharing a memory, but instead, I saw the raw pain in his eyes. I felt this wave of guilt wash over me, a heaviness that I hadn’t anticipated. In my desire to preserve these moments, I hadn’t considered how much I had taken from him. I had experienced the joy of Audree’s early days, the moments that a first-time father should have been there for, and in doing so, I had unknowingly robbed him of that.It wasn’t intentional. I never meant to keep those moments from him, but somehow, I had. I ha
Andrew’s POVGinabi na ako sa Casa Reyes kakahintay kay Amanda na umuwi. Si Audree ay nakiusap na magstay ako ng kaunti pa upang makita ko ang mommy niya, at pabor din sa akin iyon dahil gusto kong makausap si Amanda. Alas siyete na ng gabi nang dumating si Amanda. Nagulat siya nang makita akong nandun sa dining area ng dormitory kasama si Audree.“Andrew? Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito?” Amanda asked, clearly startled by my presence.I could see her reaction, and it was clear that she wasn’t ready for the conversation or the questions that I had. But I knew I had to do it. I needed to talk to her about everything that had happened—and about our daughter.“Mommy, si kuya pogi ang naghatid sa akin pauwi galing school,” sabi ni Audree, nakangiti habang palapit kay Amanda.Tumaas ang kilay ni Amanda, mukhang naguguluhan. “Kung kani-kanino ka sumasama, diba sinabi ko na si Ate Miranda ang magsusundo sa’yo?” pangaral niya kay Audree.Di ko na rin napigilan. “Huwag mo siyang pagalitan, Amanda. Ako
Andrew’s POVI could hardly hold back tears when I read the results of the DNA test I had ordered. Audree... she’s my daughter. The weight of those words hit me like a ton of bricks, overwhelming me with emotions I didn’t know I could feel. A mix of shock, disbelief, and a deep, overwhelming love flooded my chest. All this time, I had wondered and doubted, but now, the truth was laid out in front of me. The little girl who had unknowingly captured my heart was my flesh and blood. But as much as my heart swelled with the realization, there was also a growing anger and confusion. Amanda had kept this from me, hidden our daughter from me for years. I needed to talk to her, to understand why she chose to keep Audree away from me. What could have driven her to make that decision? How do I step into this role of a father after everything that’s happened? I didn’t have all the answers, but I knew one thing for sure—I needed to confront Amanda.I went back to Audree's school, but this time, e
Amanda’s POV“Sigurado ka na ba dito sa desisyon mo, Amanda?” tanong sa akin ni Bea habang kumakain kami sa bar area. Bumisita siya rito sa Casa Reyes kasama si Tita Lara para kamustahin ang mga staff.“Oo, Bea, sigurado ako,” sagot ko, sinisikap na mapanatili ang kalmado sa kabila ng kalituhan sa loob ko."Bakit bigla mong naisipan makipag-date?" she pressed, her curiosity evident.I had asked for her help earlier, borrowing some clothes and makeup because I told her I had a date in two days.“Naisip ko lang na gusto ko sanang mabigyan si Audree ng kumpletong pamilya,” I reasoned, trying to sound confident, though deep down I wasn’t entirely sure about the path I was choosing."Bakit hindi mo na lang sabihin kay Andrew ang tungkol sa kanya?" Bea asked, her tone softer, as though she were suggesting the simplest solution."Speaking of Andrew, I met him," I confessed, the weight of my words settling heavily between us."What? Wait, how?" she asked, shock evident on her face."He was th
Andrew’s POVSumunod na araw, bumalik ako sa school ni Audree. May dala akong laruan at mga pagkain, at matyaga kong inantay siya sa may waiting shed kung saan siya nakaupo kahapon. Maya-maya lang, nakita ko na siya papalapit sa akin, at ang saya ko nang makita siyang papalapit na.“Ikaw si kuya pogi kahapon, diba? Ano pong ginagawa niyo dito? Sinusundo niyo po ba ang anak niyo?” tanong ni Audree nang malapitan ako.Umiling-iling ako habang nakangiti, “Hindi, may binisita lang ako na kaibigan dito.”“Ah, okay,” sagot niya nang inosente, sabay tinanong ako. "Ano po yang dala niyo?"“Meron akong laruan at pagkain para sa iyo, Audree," sabi ko, habang inabot sa kanya ang dala ko. "Gusto mo ba?"Ang mga mata ni Audree ay kumikislap nang makita ang mga laruan at pagkain. "Wow! Salamat, kuya! I like it!" Sinimulan niyang tignan ang laruan nang masaya. Habang naglalaro siya, nakaupo ako sa tabi niya, habang nag kukwentuhan kami."Anong paborito mong laro, Audree?" tanong ko, habang binibigya
Andrew’s POVDalawang araw ang lumipas at hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko, basta na lang akong nag-book ng flight patungong Dumaguete at bumalik sa Siquijor. Nag renta ako ng kotse at nag-drive papuntang Casa Reyes. Hindi ko alam kung anong pwersa ang nagtulak sa akin, basta ang alam ko lang ay gusto ko muling makita si Amanda at ang anak niya.Dahil ayokong magmukhang invasive, tumigil ako sa isang sulok sa labas ng resort, malayo sa mga mata ng iba. Sana makakita ako ng kahit saglit na pagkakataon na masilip sila ni Amanda.Sakto bandang hapon, sa hindi kalayuan, nakita ko si Amanda at Audree na bumaba mula sa isang tricycle. Ang bata ay nakasuot ng school uniform, habang hawak-hawak ni Amanda ang backpack nito. Mukhang galing lang si Audree sa school. Naglakad sila papasok ng Casa Reyes, at ako naman, hindi ko maiwasang sundan sila ng tingin. When they disappeared from my sight, I drove away. Just catching a glimpse of them
Andrew’s POV"Andrew, let's go to the port, we might miss our flight to Dumaguete," Alexa’s voice snapped me back to reality. I hadn't even realized I had been standing there for a while, staring at the front desk, lost in my thoughts after the moment with Amanda earlier. She has a child. How? How did she have a child? Who's the father? The questions kept swirling in my mind, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something more to the story.Part of me wanted to talk to her, to ask her all the things I needed to know, but time was running out. I had a flight to catch, and I couldn’t let this moment slip by.Sumakay na ako sa van patungo sa port ng Siquijor, pero parang naiwan pa rin ang isip ko sa Casa Reyes. I couldn’t shake the image of the little girl, Audree. Her innocent face kept replaying in my head. There was this strange pull, this need to know more about her. How old was she? What did she like to eat? What were her favorite toys? I couldn't explain why, but som
Amanda’s POVToday is Andrew’s last day at the resort, and I find myself torn between conflicting emotions. Part of me feels a sense of relief, knowing that things will finally return to normal, that the chaos and uncertainty surrounding him will fade away. But there’s another part of me, a quieter part, that feels a deep sadness, the kind you can’t quite put into words. It’s the realization that once he leaves, I won’t see him again, and whatever lingering connection we had will be severed for good.I tell myself that I should be happy, that I should embrace the peace that’s coming, because I know deep down that there’s no future for us, that the past is nothing but a painful memory we can’t bring back. And yet, as much as I try to convince myself, the truth is harder to face. Maybe this encounter, this brief time we shared again, was the universe’s way of allowing us to finally close that chapter — a chapter that, even though we’ve tried to move on from, still lingers in the corners
Amanda’s POVThat evening, Andrew became preoccupied with the woman he was with. He didn't join his students for dinner, instead staying with her. They ate together, talking seriously, and I could see them from a distance. I was sitting in one of the lounge chairs by the pool area, feeling a strange mix of emotions as I watched them.Meanwhile, his students were in the function room, busy with indoor games after their meal, but Andrew seemed completely absorbed in his own world with the woman. It was as if he had forgotten about everything else, and it stung to see him so focused on her while I sat there, lost in my own thoughts.I don’t know what it was, but seeing him with someone else made me restless the entire night. I spent hours just staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts I couldn’t quiet. It wasn’t until around 4 a.m. that I finally fell asleep, and when I woke up, it was already 7 a.m. The lack of sleep left me exhausted, but my mind kept replaying everything I