Naghihimagsik ang kalooban na pinagmamasdan ni Belle ang proposal na nasa harapan niya. It was the proposal given by Zyrone to Mr. Padilla. Apparently, the Craigs had been talking to the Padillas about their proposal of renting a part of the property where the Prime Mall will be built.That was the reason why Zyrone met with Mr. Padilla yesterday morning. He presented the full proposal to them first because he knew if he’d come to her or to Eliseo, she’ll reject it right away. Of course she would! She doesn’t want him in her life, mapa-personal man o sa trabaho.And yet… somehow the jerk’s preposterous proposal made a way to reach her through one of the best business allies of Eliseo, Mr. Padilla.She released a slow breath, trying to calm her nerves.“The proposal is good, Isabelle. The Craigs are right that with this collaboration, we can maximize the location of the property. What do you think?” ani Mr. Inocencio sa kanya, isa rin asa mga board of directors.She's now in the confer
Belle anxiously looked at her reflection on the mirror. She was wearing her branded little black dress, diamond stud earrings and light make-up. She looked… perfect given the place and occasion where she’s going to. But perfect is so far from what she's feeling right now. Maybe because tonight, she will finally talk to Zyrone for one final time like how he’d put it in words. One final time, pag-uulit niya sa isip. Nang um-oo siya noong isang araw na payag na siyang makipag-usap dito, humiling siya ng panahon para paghandaan ang pagkikita nila. She wanted to compose herself and gather her wits. She wanted to make sure that she’d behave like how she’s supposed to—an ex wife who had been living the best days of her life since she’d left him. Because as she sees it and given the many chance encounters she had with him, her stupid heart is not over yet with Zyrone.And so she wanted to be sure that she will not expose herself when they would finally talk. She had rehearsed every damn sce
Nanlalaki ang mga mata ni Belle na muling bumaling kay Zyrone. “What did you do? Bakit mo inutusang lumabas ang bodyguard ko?” gigil niyang sabi. Panic now racing in her veins. Why wouldn’t she? She’s alone with Zyrone… again! “What is so with the private matters we will be talking about that--“ Mabilis na tumayo si Zyrone at hinawakan ang braso niya. Gulat siyang napatingala dito. “C’mon, let’s go,” anito bago siya marahang hinila patayo. Lalo siyang naguluhan. “A-anong let’s go?” “We will talk to some other place,” anito, habang hila siya patungo sa isang pinto sa dulo ng silid. Napasinghap na siya, lalong tinambol ng kaba ang dibdib. Anong pinagsasabi nitong mag-uusap sila sa ibang lugar? They agreed to talk there! Bakit ito nagdedesisyon nang mag-isa? But the more important question is, saang lupalop na naman ng Pilipinas siya nito dadalhin? “No! We will talk here!” reklamo niya, pilit pang piniksi ang kamay nito na nakahawak sa palapulsuhan niya. He didn’t reply, he just
“This is really good food, as always, Aling Imelda,” ani Zyrone sa ale na siya mismong nagsilbi ng mga pagkain nila. She had learned that Zyrone rented the whole place for tonight. It seemed he really planned to bring her there despite their earlier agreement on where to meet.Ngumiti lang ang ale bago bumaling sa kanya. “Natutuwa ako sa nangyari sa buhay mo, Belle. Salamat at nagawi ka ulit dito sa atin. Mabuti pa itong Zyrone paglagi dito,” umpisa ng matanda. “Sige na, kumain na kayo,” dugtong pa nito, muling ngumiti bago tuluyang naglakad pabalik sa puwesto nito.Marami nang nagbago kay Aling Imelda kagaya rin ng karinderya nito. Kung noon, lumang daster at apron lang ang suot nito, ngayon naka-slacks na ito at blouse na magandang klase. The older lady was now also wearing light lipstick and gold earrings. The place is no different. Well-ventilated na iyon dahil sa mga electric fans sa dingding. Pati ang mga silya at mesa, nagbago na rin. It seemed the whole place has gone through
Hindi mapakali si Belle habang naghihintay siya sa waiting area ng ER ng Angelicum Hospital. Malakas ang pagtiktak ng orasan sa tainga niya. Nakikisabay iyon sa pagkabog ng dibdib niya. The past hour has been replaying in her mind in an endless loop. She was trying to recall any clue that could lead her to the reason of the predicament Zyrone was in. Subalit para siyang na-blangko. Wala siyang maalala maliban na lamang sa mga masasakit na sinabi niya kay Zyrone. And now she felt guilty for her words.She’s guilty and confused… and afraid. Afraid for the life of the man she loved and hate at the same time.Kanina, nang marating nila ang ospital, halos talunin niya ang palabas ng kotse. Zyrone has been groaning through gritted teeth the whole time of their travel. And she doesn’t know why! Not that she didn’t ask. She did. Multiple times. But Zyrone was too deep in pain that all her questions were left unanswered.Kaya naman nang tanungin siya ng mga hospital staff kanina sa ER, halos w
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Belle. The rawness of his confession is burning a hole in her chest.She bit the insides of her cheeks and balled her fists. She felt her throat burned as she suppressed her tears. She was confused and hurt… terribly hurt. Painful memories came back like a bullet train hitting her in the head and heart.Him talking about the past, their past, was opening an old wound she had thought she had already healed from. But feeling the overwhelming pain she is feeling right now, mukhang hindi pa siya talaga naghilom. Hindi pa siya maayos.She just convinced herself that she did have moved on because she had too. She had a child to love and nurture. Lillie needed her.But her heart… still broken. “Belle, I didn’t know what happened that night. I was drunk. Grace told me that we…” He shook his head. “But… I’m not really sure. I-I… I’m sorry.”Umiwas siya ng tingin, pilit na pinakalma ang sarili. There he is again with his sorry that never seemed enough. How could sorry b
Belle's mind was wandering. It kept on looping to the events of night she and Zyrone had their final talk.She thought that she'd be fine after that night. She thought that she's finally getting the closure she had been looking for. That night was supposed to formally end her connection with Zyrone. That night she wanted to draw the clear line between her future and past.And almost a week now after that night, she's supposed to feel fine. But fine was far from what she feels right now.She felt... stuck. Moreso when Zyrone's words still occupies her mind-- the rawness of his confession and the way he begged for another chance with her.Magsisinungaling siya kung sasabihin niyang wala ni katiting sa puso niya ang gustong pagbigyan ang hiling nito ng isa pang pagkakataon. A big part of her does.But she had learned that love is perfect-- no darkness nor stain of pain must come with it. How can she reconcile her situation with that? How can she feel love and hate for the same man—the ma
“B-Belle,” wala sa sariling sambit ni Miranda bago ito alanganing naglakad palapit sa kanya.Belle wanted to run, to hide, to get lost to anywhere. She went there just to visit her Baby Theodore’s grave not for her to expose her secret! But she knew, it doesn’t take a genius to connect the dots that would lead to one of the secrets she so carefully kept for the past three years. She quickly dried her tears and tried to compose herself. “W-why are you here, Miranda?” tanong niya, sinusubukang magpakatatag.Miranda’s eyes bore on the grave of her child. Maya-maya pa, naguguluhan nitong muling inangat ang tingin sa kanya.“I-I was… visiting my parent’s... when I saw you…” Kumurap ito, lalong naguluhan. “B-Belle, who’s grave is that?” Nanghihinang tinuro ni Miranda ang puntod ng anak niya.Hindi siya nakasagot. A great wave of hurt and confusion rose from her chest. Ilang sandali pa, tuluyan na siyang napaluha.Marahang umiling si Miranda. “W-were you--”“Y-yes,” she admitted bitterly. “
Thank you for sticking with me up to the very end of this book. This story is a witness to the many silent battles I had to face while writing it. And I'm still glad that despite the struggles, I can say that I have given Belle and Zyrone a beautiful ending they deserve. And just like Belle, we may enocunter a rough patch on our journey, but that doesn't mean we will have to remain in there. May we all find the courage to stand up after a fall, give forgiveness after getting hurt, and restore our faith in love after the pain. Thank you once again my beautiful readers. On to the next story! Keep dazzling!
“Jax Dominic!” nag-aalalang tawag ni Belle sa magtatatlong taong gulang na anak nang bigla itong kumawala sa kamay bago nagtatakbo sa direksyon ni Zyrone.She tried to hasten her walk kahit na alam niyang kahit na anong gawin niya hindi niya mahahabol ang anak dahil kabuwanan na niya sa ikatlong anak nila ni Zyrone. And according to her last prenatal check up with Doc Angel, she’s due to give birth any moment. And running is not just prohibited, it’s nearly impossible!She sighed and turned to Willa na siyang yaya na ngayon ni Jax. Nanikwas ang nguso nito bago nagmamadaling hinabol ang alaga nito. Natawa na lang sila ni Marco na siyang kasama nila ni Lillie na naglalakad patungo sa loob ng Prime Mall.Jax, just like Lillie, is really a handful. More active than Lillie was, actually. Her little boy loves to explore and discover new things like any kids his age. And he particularly has interest in cars and buildings. He has endless questions too with just about anything under the sun. E
Marahang naglakad sa aisle si Belle kasama sina Eliseo at Lillie. She still cannot wrap her head around what’s happening because she still thinks it’s impossible to happen at that very day when she received an answered prayer and a gift, but then again … it’s really happening!She’s really getting married to Zyrone… again!She looked up at the night sky peppered with stars, blessing them with their dazzle and beauty—a perfect background for their wedding ceremony. The air smelled soft and delicate, coming from the flowers surrounding them. And the music, sweet—full of promises.She quickly surveyed their guests. They were the same people who came and visited Zyrone today, people who had shared with their joy that finally the storm had passed and her little family is complete again. Their guests were just a handful compared to the number of people included in their original guests list. But she’s fine with it. They are the most important people in her and Zyrone’s life anyway. And she
Panay ang kabog ng dibdib ni Belle habang binabaybay niya ang hagdan patungo sa rooftop ng hospital. She took the stairs because the elevator on the floor were Zyrone’s hospital suite was in, suddenly was not working. And so she took the stairs instead. She’s actually quite thankful that the lift was not working because she had more time to think things through. She wanted to buy some time to think. She wanted to take careful steps on how she would handle the situation all by herself.Yes, by herself. Dahil apparently, wala siyang makontak sa mga kaanak niya—not Miranda nor Richard. Not even Eliseo! She had tried countless times to call their phones but her calls just won’t go through. Mukhang sabay-sabay na nag-off ng cellphones ang mga ito. Which is just so freakin' weird! Maging sina Marco at Leon, hindi rin niya matawagan. Not even Willa and Marie!At first she was having second thoughts about the note. Why wouldn’t she? She had just survived a kidnapping incident two-weeks ago. A
Lalong naiyak si Belle sa sinabi ni Zyrone. Walang sabi-sabi niyang kinalong si Lillie bago umupo sa gilid ng hospital bed. She looked at Zyrone and more tears fell from her eyes.Her emotions were overwherlming her, leaving her speechless but grateful.That day, she woke up and prayed to God to end her waiting. She thought that today, like all the other days that has passed, would be just another day of hoping and waiting. Never did she know that today, God will grant her pleas and bless her with a gift-- her very own miracles.Masuyo niyang hinaplos ang pisngi ni Zyrone. He leaned on her palm and another wave of warmth rose from her chest. “Y-you are really here. I-I missed you,” she tearfully confessed.Zyrone just smiled and said, “I missed you too and Lillie.”She smiled as she sobbed and gently pressed his free hand on her cheek. They are much warmer now—alive.Oh how she missed his warmth.Maya-maya pa, bumungad na sa pinto sina Eliseo, Leon at Marco. His grandfather quickly s
Nagising si Belle na nakahiga sa isang hospital bed. At first she was confused. Why wouldn’t she? The last thing she remembered was she just arrived at the hospital together with Marco after her secret visit with Laura and then…She gasped when the events came back to her all in one go. Nahilo siya sa parking lot. It was not long before that when everything around her went black. And now this… she’s waking up in a hospital bed, which she can surmise, based on the noise and curtains surrounding her, is located at the emergency room. Unti-unti siyang bumangon. Sakto namang nahawi ang kurtina na nasa may bandang paanan niya. Nagulat pa siya nang biglang lumitaw doon ang bulto ni Eliseo. His face was contoured with worry. She saw a glimpse of Leon and Marco outside the cubicle she was in nut they didn't come in with her grandfather. “I came as soon as I can. Itinawag ni Marco sa akin ang nangyari,” anang lolo niya nang tuluyan itong makalapit sa kanya. Marahan nitong hinaplos ang buhok
“Why are you here?” bungad agad ni Laura kay Belle, hindi pa man ito nakakalapit sa mesa na malapit sa kanila ni Marco. Bumaling si Laura sa kasama nitong pulis. “Ayoko silang kausapin. Ibalik mo na ‘ko sa loob,” utos nito.Subalit imbes na tumalima, tinulak lang ng pulis si Laura. The crazy bitch was forced to step forward until she was just a few steps away from her. The policewoman never left. She just stood behind Laura, alert.Laura looked at her with all the hate she could muster from the world. Like all she did for the past decades of her life was to live and breathe to hate. Well, that’s what Laura really did with her life—wasted life.Laura was wearing plain clothes. Her hair was in a messy bun and dark circles were visible under her eyes. Kumakalansing din ang mga posas na nakakabit sa mga kamay at binti nito. Malayong-malayo ang hitsura nito ngayon sa glamurosang Laura na nakilala niya.“Oh please, save your pity line to yourself.” The old lady rolled her eyes in annoyanc
Ten days. Ten lonely days.It has been that long since Zyrone was shot and yet… he is still unconscious. Doctors kept reassuring her though that he is stable and that they are confident that he will make a hundred percent recovery. But still, her worry will only stop when her husband will finally open his eyes and envelope her in his familiar warmth.Husband.She smiled bitterly. Tatlong araw na mula nang malaman niya kay Richard na hindi pinirmahan ni Zyrone ang divorce papers nila. And honestly, she doesn’t know what to feel about it. She’s happy that she’s still married to him and yet… the guilt that’s overtaking her was too much.She had spent three years hating Zyrone for the many things she thought he did but actually didn’t. She had deliberately hurt him several times but he stayed quiet and patient—telling her how much he loved her still despite of everything. She used to wonder where was his confidence was coming from. Ngayon alam na niya kung bakit.He really stayed true t
Umingit ang pinto ng private suite sa Angelicum Hospital kung nasaan si Zyrone. Agad namang napabaling si Belle sa direksyon niyon. Awtomatikong dumiretso ang upo niya sa sofa nang mapagsino ang nasa pinto. It was Richard.“Hi,” matipid nitong bati sa kanya bago tuluyang pumasok sa silid. Tahimik niyang tinanguan ang matandang lalaki at sinubukang umakto ng normal.But with Richard around, she knew she could never act normal. Heck! She didn’t have any pleasant memories with him, paano siya aakto nang normal?It has been almost a week now since the incident happened. Nakasampa na rin ang mga kaso laban sa mga Del Valle. At nai-transfer na rin nila si Zyrone sa Maynila—sa Angelicum Hospital and Medical Center. But still the same, her Zyrone is not yet awake. And though the doctors said that he is stable, no good news would count for her until he opens his eyes.Kaya naman, sa bawat araw na dumaraan, patuloy siya sa pakiusap sa Diyos na sana, bigyan pa siya ng pagkakataon kay Zyrone—pagk