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. “
Zyrone huffed as he entered the elevator that will take him to the office of Json Marcus De La Vega of De La Vega Development Corporation or DLVDC. The company and its sister company DLV Construction are in-charge of Sapphire Waters Resort’s construction and development. About a year ago, he was approached by Don Antonio Tortilliani-Zechinini an Italian investor and a family friend if he would want to try venturing into resorts. He agreed to the terms, thinking it would be beneficial for him to have a separate personal investment from Gold Hotel. Just six months ago, they opened a few of their branches up north. And business was really good and thriving. The fact that he co-owned the resort had his elite friends and associates flocking their branches. All were trying to have their promised taste of paradise like what they have advertised. And thankfully, all of their guests are fully satisfied with their service. They have a perfect rating from different travel companies as proof. An
“Lee Ann, just do what the doctor says. Kapag sinabing bedrest, just stay in bed. ‘Wag matigas ang ulo,” sabi ni Belle kay Lee Ann. She was talking to Lee Ann over the phone via video call. It has been like that for days now, since Lee Ann and Drew returned from their honeymoon. Lee Ann is pregnant and was advised by her doctor to have a bedrest due to a subchrionic bleeding that was detected during her first ultrasound. But her bestfriend, who was never fond of staying at home nor enjoy the word confinement, kept whining about how pitiful her situation was. “But how can I stay like this, Belle? I want to work. I need to work. I’ll die of boredom if this goes on!” reklamo ng kaibigan niya, bumulong-bulong pa nang hindi niya maintindihan. “But you are working, Lee Ann. You are growing a baby inside you. For me that is work. Kaya kung ako sa ‘yo, eat well, take proper rest, and make the most out of this time to make Drew suffer,” natatawang sabi niya. Kumurap si Lee Ann, parang may