I lost! I lost!Akala ko na nakalimutan ko na lahat. Bakit ba ganito? Ako lagi ang talo. Can I win atleast? Can someone defend me like how...I suddenly saw myself jumping from a high place. It seems like my soul has left my body. My heart beats so fast that I almost can't breath. I will die. No, I can't die!Napabalikwas ako at nakitang nasa kwarto lang ako. Panaginip lang pala. Sandali lang, bakit parang may mali?I looked around my room and I started to collect tiny bits of my memories last night.Last night...we had a drink. Nag-inuman lang kami hanggang...hanggang sa wala na akong maalala.Who brought me here? Si Yvonne? I should call her.I dialed Yvonne's number."Hey, are you home? When did you leave? Are you alright?""Wait, let me take a breath first. I think I got a headache..." I can hear her murmuring something."Anong sabi mo? Hindi kita marinig.""Let me just sleep. I will call you back." Agad na pinutol ni Yvonne ang tawag.Bumangon ako pero nakaramdam ako ng pagkahilo
"What are you planning now?" Pukaw ni Alfred habang yakap ko ang vase kung saan nakalagay ang mga abo ni lolo.We are on a plane going back to Philippines. Alfred choose to continue his work as my butler because just like me, he has no real family to comeback to. And I don't mind living with him. I always treat him as a family. We only have each others back now."I want to start all over again.""Paano ang kompanya? The company is in the brink of bankruptcy. And right now, your competitor, GRT Electronics is making a move in acquiring the remaining shares in the company. If this goes on, you will lost your grandfather's company.""I will protect what lolo have left me."I will do everything to protect the company. I will not disappoint him. Ipaglalaban ko ang kompanya.We headed straight in our newly bought house after the plane landed.It was a simple house in the middle of a forest but it was still beautiful. We can hear birds chirping and trees are swaying as the cold wind blows. T
"I need to find another company to be our partner. Hindi na ako babalik sa lalaking iyon."Patuloy ako sa pagdadabog habang inaalala ang mga sinabi ng Ruan na 'yon. Hindi niya ako sineseryoso. Akala niya bang naglalaro lang ako kaya lumapit ako sa kanila? Am I that pathetic?"I know. Let's find one company that will save us," sabi ni Alfred para pakalmahin ako."Nakakainis. Teka, pupuntahan ko pala ngayon si Crystal. Sabi niya na magkita kami sa mall malapit sa bahay-ampunan."Ngayon ko lang naalala ang usapan namin ni Crystal. Mula nang umalis ako sa bansa ay nakakausap ko siya minsan pag-online. And now that I'm here, we can talk more than we used to. Ang dami kong gustong sabihin sa kanya."Dito na lang ako bababa." Agad kong pinahinto sa bus stop si Alfred. "I'll just take a bus from here. Magkita na lang tayo pagbalik ko," mabilis akong lumabas ng sasakyan para abutan ang paandar na bus."Keep safe. Call me if something happens or you find something strange!"Narinig ko ang pagsi
I woke up in a bed on an empty room and it feels somehow familiar. I've checked myself and gladly I am fine. Wala akong sugat. Hindi rin ako nakatali. I ran at the door but it opened right before I touch it."Ikaw? Anong nangyayari, Alfred? Why did you kidnap me?!"Nasa harap ko si Alfred at may dalang tray ng pagkain. He is just staring at me."Kain ka muna," he said as he went inside to put the tray on the table."I want an explaination, Alfred. I don't want to eat." Umupo ako sa higaan.I lost all my appetite because of what is happening right now. Why do people I trust ended up betraying me?Alfred was always the one protecting me. He always make sure that I am safe. Hindi niya magagawang saktan ako. The last time we parted, he even told me to call him if something happens."Please help yourself." Alfred just went out like that without telling me why I'm here.Hindi ito magagawa ni Alfred ng walang ibang taong nag-utos sa kanya. Someone is behind this.Sinundan ko siya pero sinara
"Wake up." Tinulak ko sa higaan si Ruan nang magising ako. Nasa iisang higaan kami ngayon.Kasalanan ito ng magpipinsan! Pinilit nila akong pumasok sa kwartong ito na kasama si Ruan. Agad nilang nilock ang pinto kagabi kaya hindi ako nakalabas.Tumayo ako at tinulak ang unan na nakaharang sa amin. Naglakad ako sa ibabaw nang kama at nilakaran si Ruan na natutulog pero gumalaw siya bigla at natumba ako."What are you up to, my dear wife? Ang aga aga pa," he faced me while still looking sleepy yet so annoying. Nakkikita ko ang pagtaas ng kanyang labi.Hinila niya ako pahiga sa tabi niya paharap sa kanya at nagpumiglas ako."Don't touch me!" Pilit kong kinukuha ang mga braso niya na nakayakap na ngayon sa akin."Tungkulin kong yakapin ang asawa ko. This is not a crime, Mrs. Guevarra.""Mrs. Guevarra mukha mo! I refused to use your surname Mr. Guevarra. I will be an Acusta hanggang sa huling hininga ko."Umupo ako sa kama nang pakawalan niya ako."How I wish we could go back to that happy
"Enjoy the real honeymoon!"Patricia shouted as their car ran away from us. Umuwi na ang lahat pagdating ng hapon. Kami na lang ni Ruan ang natira sa resthouse.They were so happy to enjoy their stay. Ang ingay nilang lahat. Panay biruan at asaran sila buong araw.All I did was watch them. I somehow envied their freedom. 'Yong tipong ginagawa nila ang mga bagay na nagpapasaya sa kanila.Ako, ano ba magpapasaya sa akin? All this time, I forgot to enjoy life. Ang daming bagyong dumating sa buhay ko. Siguro, oras na para pasayahin ko naman ang sarili ko."Let's go inside," napabalik ako sa sarili nang magsalita si Ruan sa tabi ko."I want to go swimming. Mauna ka na lang sa loob," I said and went right away to the pool outside.I want to think. Gusto ko mapag-isa at isipin kung ano ang gusto kong mangyari sa buhay. Pag naging stable na ang kompanya, maybe I can try doing all the things that can make me happy.Noong nasa New York ako, madalas dinadala ako ni Yvonne sa fashion show nila. I
"Ang phone ko pala. Tatawagan ko si Yvonne," I searched for my phone on the bed. Nandoon pa rin si Ruan at hindi gumagalaw. He is watching me in every move I make.Winalis ko ang kumot para makita ang phone ko pero hindi ko parin ito mahanap. Nauubos na ang pasensya ko sa kakahanap."Umalis ka muna. Baka kasi naupuan mo ang phone ko," hinila ko siya paalis sa higaan at nagpatangay lang siya sa paghila ko. Ngayon ay nasa gilid ko siya at nakatuon pa rin ang tingin sa ginagawa kong paghahanap."Are you not going to ask me?" Natigil ako sa paghahanap at nilingon siya.I can't help but raised my eyebrows. He really is annoying me."Nakita mo?" Walang-buhay na tanong ko sa kanya. Pagod na akong makipagtalo at awayin siya. Gusto ko na lang ay magpahinga. Nakakaubos ng lakas makipag-usap sa kanya.He suddenly take a heavy step towards me. Bigla tuloy ako nataranta. Napakrus ako ng braso sa kinilos niya."Don't dare do stupid things on me," babala ko sa kanya na patuloy lang sa paghakbang pal
"Did you already miss me?" A cheeky smile formed on Ruan's face as he faced me.Nanatili lang siyang nakaupo sa swivel chair niya habang ako ay nakaupo na sa upuan na nasa tapat niya."I just want to know how are you managing my company," I coldly told him.The partnership of GA Technologies Inc. and ACDC Electronics happened as planned in the agreement that Ruan will be the new company president.Naging mabango naman ang pangalan ni Ruan sa mga shareholders ng kompanya kaya walang naging problema."We are now planning to deploy our newly developed technology to produce highly efficient electronic products in your company's overseas plant.""That's good. But how about our current projects? Did you hold them?""The projects are now resuming. Alfred is taking charge of all those projects, so you don't have to worry."Lumipat ako sa sofa at tumingin sa mga magazines na nandoon sa shelves niya.I saw some of the magazines on which I modeled as Cassiopeia. From my first magazine cover unti