“When are you coming back?” tanong ni Zyrone kay Belle. She just had a hot shower and was getting ready to sleep when Zyrone called her.Umupo siya sa vanity mirror at nagpahid ng cream sa kanyang mukha bago pinagmasdan ang mukha ng asawa sa screen ng phone niya na nasa harap niya.Kahit hindi nito sabihin sa kanya, her husband looked tired. He probably had a rough day and she wasn’t there with him to give him a little comfort. She sighed when guilt rose inside her chest.“Lee Ann is not yet awake. The doctors weaned her from sedative just this morning. They said she might wake up this afternoon.” She tried to smile. “Bakit? Nami-miss mo na ‘ko agad?” she asked in a singsong voice, teasing.“Every second that I’m not with you, I always miss you, Mrs. Craig,” anito, seryoso.Natigilan siya. The sadness in his voice tugged something in her heart. Malungkot siyang ngumiti. Isang araw pa lang silang magkalayo ng asawa, but she can already feel that the distance from her husband was beginn
Belle anxiously drum her fingers on the table as she await for Drew at the coffee shop just below where his condo building was. Doon nila napagkasunduang magkita. Malapit lang iyon sa Angelicum Hospital kung saan naka-confine si Lee Ann.She was anxious not just because Drew was late, but she's also thinking about Marco, whom she asked to get something from her house in Brgy. Happy Village. Alam niya kasi na hindi na ito papayag na makipagkita siya kay Drew outside the hospital. Kaya naman ginawan niya talaga ng paraan na mapaalis ito upang makausap niya si Drew. At nag-aalala siya dahil late si Drew, baka makabalik na ang bodyguard niya sa ospital pero hindi pa rin niya nakakausap si Drew! Mabilis siyang sumulyap sa wrist watch niya. It's almost lunch. Zyrone will call her by the next hour. If she really wanted to talk to Drew, she better make it fast dahil kung hindi, mabubuking na siyang talaga sa kanyang pagtakas.She was about to bring out her phone from her purse when someone cl
"How long have you been feeling dizzy?" ani Dra. Angel Pedroza o Doc Angel, ang doktor na nakatira rin sa building at pinsan ni Drew. She had met the lady doctor a few times before. Mabait ito. Maganda rin. Bagay na bagay rito ang pangalan nito.Drew called the doctor ilang minuto matapos siya nitong dalhin sa unit nito dahil ayaw mawala ng pagkahilo niya. He suggested to rush her to the ER subalit tumanggi siya. Kaya ngayon, naroon si Doc Angel upang tignan siya. She chewed her lower lip."Madalas po nitong mga nakaraang araw," sagot niya.The lady doctor released a controlled breath and turned to Drew, who was anxiously standing at the bottom of the bed."Can I talk to Belle privately, Drew?" anang doktora sa pinsan nito.Mabilis na lumipad ang tingin ni Drew sa kanya. Hesitation was written on his face. Alanganin siyang tumango, urging him to do what the doctor said. In the end, he just gave her a small nod and left the room quietly.As soon as Drew closed the door behind him, agad
Bumaling si Belle sa labas ng sasakyan kung saan siya nakalulan. Nasa Nevada na siya at pauwi na sa mansiyon ng mga Craog. Marco arranged that car himself dahil biglaan ang naging pag-uwi niya sa Nevada. Kung hindi nga lang siya nagpatulong kina Vincent at Drew na hanapan siya ng private plane na magbabalik sa kanya pauwi ng Nevada, baka hanggang ngayon, nasa Pilipinas pa rin siya. Hindi pa rin niya kasi nagawang tawagan si Zyrone. When she tried calling Treyton or Ivy, all they say was that Zyrone was working and cannot be disturbed. And honestly, she found the excuse just pure bullshit, for lack of a better word. Paanong hindi? Kahit siya na asawa hindi ito puwedeng istorbohin? What kind of bull of an excuse is that? Pa’no kung may emergency? Pa’no kung kailangan niya si Zyrone, sila ng anak niya? Pa’no kung— She released a slow breath and secretly shook her head. Halos buong flight na siyang gigil at masama ang loob sa asawa. And she knew, she must not let the negativity get th
Panay ang takbo ni Belle sa tila isang madilim na tunnel na kanyang kinabagsakan. She doesn’t know where she was or how she got there. All she knew was, she had been running for some time now and she needs to reach the light at the end of the tunnel before the darkness behind her overtook her. Sumasabay ang pagkabog ng d*bdib niya sa bawat paglapag ng mga paa niyaa sa lupa. At ang ingay na nililikha niyon ay dumadagundong sa sa kubuan ng madilim na tunnel—hurting her ears, bringing her closer to her fears. Maya-maya pa, natigilan siya nang may makita siyang pamilyar na bulto sa hangganan ng tunnel. The light behind the person was too bright, almost blinding her. Subalit kahit na ganoon, hindi siya puwedeng magkamali. The man at the end of the tunnel was her husband, Zyrone. She tried to call him but her voice didn’t come out of her mouth. Agad siyang nataranta. Muli niyang sinubukang ibuka ang kanyang mga bibig upang sana’y sumigaw, subalit ganoon pa rin, walang lumabas na salita
They say a picture is worth a thousand words.. But out of a thousand words, there is only one truth. And Belle is determined to let Zyrone know the truth about those pictures. Nanginginig ang mga kamay niyang pinulot ang picture na nasa paanan niya at ang iba pa na nasa malapit lang niya. She carefully studied each and realized that the pictures were not taken just on the day she almost fainted while she was with Drew. Kasama na rin doon ang mga pagkakataong nakikipag-usap siya kay Drew sa loob ng hospital suite ni Lee Ann. Was she stalked? Malakas siyang napasinghap at nag-angat ng tingin kay Zyrone. Her husband’s eyes were still in hers, void of any emotion. “D-did you have someone…stalk me?” she asked just above whisper. The hurt she was feeling was so overwhelming that she found it hard to speak and even breathe. “I didn’t,” he answered indifferently. “But fortunately, someone did. Those pictures were day sent anonymously in my office the other day while you were having a swe
Nang muling magkamalay si Belle, nakahiga na siya sa kama ng bagong kuwarto niya. Una niyang nabungaran ang mukha ni Estelita."Thank God you are awake now, young miss," the older woman said, genuine relief was written on her face.Kumurap siya, sandaling inalala ang mga kaganapan ng araw na iyon. At nang tuluyang magbalik sa isip niya ang mga iyon, malungkot niyang muling ibinalik ang tingin sa matanda."H-how long was I out?" she asked."About an hour or two, child," sagot ng isang pamilyar na tinig na nasa kabilang bahagi niya. She quickly turned to the direction of the voice and gasped when she saw Grandma Eve, sitting on her wheelchair with a sympathetic look on her face. The older woman looked so frail. Mas nangayayat din nito kaysa nang huli niya itong makita halos isang linggo na ang nakakaraan. But still she managed to smile at her.And that was all it took for her to push herself up off the bed and cried."G-Grandma, Zyrone... He hates me," she said bitterly while reaching f
Belle was tossing and turning again on her bed. It has been two days since she last seen Zyrone. Ganoon na rin siya katagal na nakakulong sa kuwartong iyon dahil mahigpit na ipinagbawal ni Grandma Eve na lumabas siya sa bago niyang kuwarto.Grandma Eve had her moved to the bedroom just beside the old woman’s. Ang sabi nito mas makakabuti raw iyon dahil mas madali siya nating mapuntahan. Estelita personally takes care of her needs now. The old maid makes sure that she gets her food on time. And in between the day, she checks on her. Mukhang nagre-report ito kay Grandma Eve na mula nang bisitahin siya sa dati niyang kuwarto ay hindi pa niya ulit nakikita.Pakiramdam niya tuloy para siyang preso.She scoffed inwardly. Mabuti pa nga ang mga preso may dalaw, pero siya ni isa, wala. Well, si Miranda sinilip siya kahapon. Pero hanggang sa pinto lang ito. She just gave her a forced smile and waved at her. Nagmamadali pa nga. Kasama kasi nito si Richard. And inasmuch as she wants to talk to h