Belle had been watching the view of the city’s flickering lights from her penthouse’s room for a while now. It’s not that she’s amazed by it or something. It’s just that she feels weird looking at that same view after a few years had passed.She was also wondering why the view seemed to be the same from the last time she remembered it and yet… she feels like the place has changed.Gone was the joy she had last felt when she looked at the same view years ago. Gone was the wonder, the awe and the beautiful feeling she thinks every time she used to get a glimpsed of the city from above.Maybe because she has changed.Yeah. That might be it, she said to herself.It has been three years since she had last set foot in the country. And to be honest, if it weren’t for Lee Ann and Drew’s insistence that she attends their wedding, she would have not come home. Matagal na niyang nilimot ang Pilipinas. Mula nang magpasya siyang magbagong-buhay, nangako siya sa sarili niyang hindi na siya muli pa
Kusang nag-angat ng tingin si Belle nang tumigil ang sasakyan niya sa harap ng isang hotel kung saan gaganapin ang rehearsal dinner nina Drew at Lee Ann. She saw some media people waiting outside the hotel. And somehow she had a glimpse of the previous life she had long abandoned three years ago. Marahil nag-aabang ang mga ito ng exclusive scoop tungkol sa kasalan ng mga De Ocampo at Chen—two of the most well-known families in the upper class.From the passenger’s seat, Marco turned to her. “There are… people, Miss. What do you want me to do?” tanong nito sa kanya in his perfect Australian accent.She took a deep breath. “Just the usual. I’m in no mood talking to other people yet. Besides, this is supposed to be a private event. I won’t spoil this night for Drew and Lee Ann,” sabi niya. Mabilis na tumango si Marco, tumuwid ng upo at bahagyang inayos ang kurbata nito.When she said the usual, she meant she doesn’t want to be interrupted in way by whatever or whomever. Marco knows the
“How was the wedding?” tanong agad ni Eliseo sa kanya pagkadating na pagkadating niya sa penthouse niya. It was almost midnight and she just came home from Drew and Lee Ann’s wedding reception in Tagaytay. And though she hates weddings, she really enjoyed this one. Not just because it was Lee Ann’s. But the main reason was, she had not seen any of the Craigs tonight.Last night when she saw Miranda at the rehearsal dinner, she thought she’d see more of the Craigs tonight. Subalit, ni anino ng mga ito, hindi niya nakita. And so she was relaxed the whole time. She even cheerfully led a toast for the newlyweds. It was the most fun she hand in a long time.Sa London naman kasi, puro trabaho siya. If it weren’t for Eliseo and their dates, she really wouldn’t have a night life.“It was fun, Eli. You should’ve come with me,” sabi niya bago ito dinaluhan sa veranda ng penthouse niya.Eliseo chuckled and took a swig of from the glass of red wine he was holding. “And watched you dance the nigh
Hindi alam ni Belle kung gaano na siya katagal na nakikipagtitigan sa lalaking matagal na niyang nilimot at isinumpa.Marami kasing gumugulo sa isip niya. Una na riyan ang kung bakit hindi man lang siya na-inform na imbitado ang mga ito sa event nila. Maricel, Eliseo’s secretary had given her a copy of the guests lists. Ginawa niya iyon dahil gusto niyang makasiguro that she’ll never have an unexpected meet-up with any of the Craig’s again gaya sa rehearsal dinner nina Drew at Lee Ann. Subalit nangyari pa rin.And honestly, aside from that wave of familiar hurt that immediately washed over her but now has subsided, she doesn’t really know how to act or what to feel with this chance encounter she had with Zyrone and Grace. Basta ang alam niya, iisa lang ang gusto niyang mangyari, ayaw niya sa presensiya ni Zyrone sa kahit na ano pang paraan. Because no matter how many times she had rehearsed that scene in her head, mukhang hindi pa rin siya talaga handa. Her emotions are all over th
Pagod na ibinagsak ni Zyrone ang katawan sa sofa. He had just arrived home from the party Grace had forced him to go. Not knowing that he’d see Belle there. He closed his eyes and gently balled his fist. He was trying to recall the familiar softness of her skin when he touched her. The warmth that had washed over him when he caught a whiff of her sweet scent. And how the heavenly gates have opened when she spoke.She is still the Belle he knew but… She was not his anymore. She now belongs to someone else.And it was your fault! sumbat ng isang bahagi ng isip niya.He opened his eyes and swallowed to what seemed like a dagger in his throat. He looked over the bar in his penthouse. He contemplated if he'd have a drink or not. After a briefest of hesistation, mabilis siyang tumayo at naglakad patungo doon. He quickly grabbed a bottle of brandy on the rack and poured some of it on the glass in front of him. Ilang sandali pa, gumuhit ang pait ng alak sa lalamunan niya. Subalit hindi iyon
Belle took an impatient breath as she drummed her fingers on the table. She’s at a high-end restaurant, sitting alone on her table with just a cup of coffee in front of her to keep her company. She had been there for fifteen minutes now, but the real estate broker whom she’s supposed to meet is not yet around. Kung siya ang masusunod, uuwi na siya. But this meeting is important to her. Too important that she refused Maricel, Eliseo’s secretary, to represent her. She’s spearheading the next business venture of PSC-- a mall. And this is her chance to prove herself that she is more than what people believed Eliseo have made out of her. That’s why she wanted to be on top of everything. Besides, hindi naman na bago sa kanya iyon. After her MBA, she started working in a financial firm in London. And it has given her more than enough experience to learn the ins and outs of running a business and how to make every effort profitable.Her taking up a masters was more than just an effort for
“What do you mean? How did that happen?” takang tanong ni Zyrone sa kausap niyang abogado ng Tan Propeties Inc. o TPI. Ang kumpanya na may hawak sa lupa kung saan niya sana itatayo ang Aurum Tower, ang condo building na bagong business venture ng kanilang kumpanya. The Aurum Tower will be the start of their company’s expansion to land development business. And he himself is spearheading the project. That's why the project is important to him. “Mrs. Tan said that the reservation fees made by your company about a year ago on the property has now been forfeited. It was written on the agreement your representative signed when you made the reservation that properties must be fully paid within the next six months after the reservation fee is paid. And the reservation period has already ceased 3 months ago. But since we haven’t heard from you in a while, Mrs. Tan has decided to give the property to the next interested client,” malumanay na paliwang ng abogado sa kabilang linya. He called
“It’s been a while Eliseo,” Zyrone heard his father greeted the old man in front of them. They were sitting down on one of the tables that were under the big tent they were in. The make-shift stage for the program is just a few steps away from them. “Indeed, Richard. The last time I saw you was decades ago, during Wyatt’s wake. Your father was a good friend. Allow me to personally apologize for not coming during your mother’s wake. I had an accident that year, I was bound to a wheelchair,” paliwanag nito, seryoso. The old man went on to tell a story about how he and his grandfather used to go along as friends. Stories he’s not interested to listen to because he is annoyed. Erase that. He is pissed as hell! Kung hindi lang kasalanan, baka kanina pa niya nasuntok ang matanda. Bakit hindi? This is the man Belle is now living in with! The old man is Belle’s husband. He clutched his fists tighter when his chest constricted with the thought. How can Belle stand to have sex with the ol
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