13 "Naku, Ma'am! Ako na po riyan! Pasensya na po mukhang na late ako sa gising. Pasenys an po. Pasensya na," I heard a panicked voice behind me while I was busy stirring the last thing I cooked this morning, the fried rice. Kumunot pa ako dahil pa-ulit ulit pa siya sa paghingi ng pasensya na para bang ang laki na ng kasalanan niya ngayon. Hininaan ko muna ang apoy ng niluluto ko saka tuluyanf sinulyapan si Manang Betina. Nakita ko pa ang taranta nitong pagsuot ng apron sa katawan niya at hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit parang naiiyak na siya sa subrang taranta niya. Okay? What just happened? "Ah. Manang, ayos lang naman. Kaunting bagay lang naman ang pagluluto ko. Maaga lang akong nagising kaya ayos lang kung maupo na lang kayo diyan," sambit ko pa at ngumiti sa kanya para hindi na siya matanranta, pero lumapit siya sa'kin at yumuko. "P-Pasensya po, Ma'am. Bukas po, aagahan ko na po ang paggising," sambit niya at umawang ang labi ko dahil mas klaro na sa boses niya na talagang
13"Good morning," I heard his voice immediately when I put my earpiece in my ears. Hindi ako nagsalita at naglakad lang palabas sa kwarto para bumalik sa kusina. Kung pwede lang nga na huwag na gamitin ito ay talagang hindi ko na gagamitin.Saka wala namang good sa morning kung siya ang magsasabi non. Sinisira niya lang naman ang araw ko."Tapos ka na bang kumain?" Tanong pa nito habang pababa ko ng hagdan."There's CCTV everywhere. Bakit hindi mo icheck?" Sarkastiko kong tanong dahil habang pababa ako sa hagdan, saka ko lang napansin na halos kabilaan ang CCTV sa loob ng bahay. "Ang sungit naman," rinig kong sambit niya, pero hindi ko alam kung bakit kahit hindi ko siya nakikita ay rinig na rinig ko sa boses niya ang ngiti."Ako hindi pa ako kumain. Gutom na ako," sambit niya rason ng pag-irap ko."Mabuti nga yan para mamatay ka na!" Iritang sambit ko at nagulat pa si Manang nang marinig iyon dahil kasabay ng pagsabi ko non ay ang pagpasok ko sa Kusina.Alanganin tuloy akong ngumit
14Yrony's POV"So you really kidnapped Affeya? What the heck are you thinking, Yrony!" Hindi makapaniwalang sambit ni Kyle nang gumabi at nag-aya akong pumunta sa bar.He was so shocked when I called him. For the past 5 years, I have always wanted to be alone; he knows that very well. I just couldn't handle it when I heard her crying and begging me to let her go.Wala akong pakealam kung sabihin man niya na masama akong tao.If only it were easy. If it were that easy to let her go, I would have let her go because I really don't want to hear and see her miserable because of me, but it's hard. What she asked me to do was very difficult.I know that she misses her daughter and son; I could feel that, but hell! Gusto kong magpakaselfish lang hanggaang sa makuha ko siya. Naiinis ako dahil gusto kong maging makasarili na lang hanggang sa makuha ko siya, but her cry made me fvcking weak."Tape your fvcking mouth, Kyle," seryosong sambit ko sa kanya. If someone hears it and tells Ivo that, I
16"Cancel all my meetings for tomorrow and tell them to ready the chopper immediately," seryosong sambit ko sa secretary ko habang nag dadrive na at tinutungo ang helepad kung nasaan ang chopper.I was supposed to go back to the island tomorrow night, but because of what happened, I just want to go back to the island to see her and be with her. May mga importante pa akong dapat tapusin, pero gagawin ko na lang doon pagkarating ko.I don't know how I can absorb everything I see. My sister and Ivo were kissing. What the fvck, right? And what the heck is going on with that asshole? What is he thinking? His wife is missing, but look what he is fvcking doing!Alam ko naman na dapat masiyahan ako na mukhang hindi gumagawa ng paraan si Ivo na mahanap si Zay, but damn! Niloloko niya si Zay!Zay was so loyal to Ivo. I kissed her several times, but she tried to bring up the fact that she was married to that fvcking Ivo, but where is that Ivo? He was there, kissing someone else! If I am Zay's h
17"Stay there!" I screamed and took the fork to point at him when he entered the kitchen, but my whole face crumpled when I just heard his low chuckle. Like, what I am doing is kind of laughing.He didn't sleep in the room after that. He went out and let me sleep alone in his room after what he did. I didn't sleep well and just ended up cursing myself for not doing anything and letting him do it.I was so mad at myself because, to be honest, I liked what he did. I was very angry at myself for enjoying what he did to me. Nakakahiya ako.Pero hindi man lang siya natakot sa pagtutok ko sa kanya ng tinidor. He even smiled at me. Nakakainis ang mukha niya! Gago! Sino naman kasing matatakot sa tinidor? He is a good fighter ba kahit naman isang kutsilyo pa ang itutok ko ay balewala iyon. Ilang taon na ang nakalipas, pero naalala ko pa rin ang nangyare noong kikidnapin namin siya.Wala bang baril dito? Nang matuluyan ko ng barilin ang isang 'to. Gusto kong gamitin ang salitang kasal na ako
18I let the water soak my feet and stared at it for a moment. I just held my breath and continued to go down so that the water would also soak my body. When the water was up to my chest, agad na akong lumangoy at sinubukang kalimutan ang mga nangyare.Mapatagal pa ako sa ilalim ng tubig para makalimot, pero imbes na makalimuta ay muli namang naglaro sa isip ko ang lahat ng nangyare. Pag ahon ko ay muli akong lumangoy, nagbabakasakali na tuluyan nang mawala ang mga iniisip ko ang lahat ng iyon.Sa pangalawang pag-ahon ko ay halos mahigit ko ang paghinga ko. Paano ba anamn ay nakatayo na ito sa harap ko, kung saan ako mismo umahon. His body was already wet, but his hair was not yet wet. The water was up to my chest, while the water didn't reach his chest because he was tall.My lips parted when I noticed what was on his neck. I'm sure that I gave it to him in the form of a bracelet, but I also know that what he was wearing around his neck was really what I gave him. Kung bakit naaging
19I wasn't surprised when his lips travelled to my neck again when he didn't hear anything from me. My body is like a robot. It's like he has control over my body, and I just let him cross the line again between us.I bit my lip before giving him better access to my neck. I even hold on to his shoulder very tight to have strength because my body is really weak right now.I felt him stop a little when he felt that I was giving him access, but after that, he continued to kiss my neck until it landed on my jaw.I closed my eyes very tight when I felt his gently smacking kiss on the side of my lips. several times, he did it; he planted me with shallow kisses there.You are crazy, Affeya. stop him. Stop this Fvcking shit! Kabaliwan ito! You are not Azaylie anymore that easy to fvcking get! Kaya umayos ka! You're crazy. You are a married person, but look! Look what you're doing!I kept my eyes closed and was afraid to see whatever expression his eyes had. I just let him kiss me until he st
20Yrony’s POVVenus' daughter was a kind of stress reliever for me. I am close to her daughter. She even called me Papa Ninong, but she knows that I'm not her real father. Alam niya na ninong niya lang ako.Venus and the one who got her pregnant never met again, so Vanie grew up without a father beside her, and they always bullied her because of that. She always cried because of that, so I told her that she could call me Papa if she wanted, and Vanie was very happy to hear that from me. I just forgot the date today, hindi ko tuloy maiwasang makonsensya dahil nangako pa ako doon sa bata. But while talking to them, I couldn't help but give my attention to Zay. Even though I was talking to them, my attention was still on Zay. I secretly glanced at him despite laughing at what Vanie was saying, but then I heard her sob. Nakaharap na ito ngayon sa dagat, pero kahit na hindi siya nakaharap sa'kin ay alam ko na agad na umiiyak ito.“You okay?” Napabalik ang tingin ko kay Venus ng tanung
WakasYrony's POVMabilis ang paghawak ko kay Zay nang muntik na siyang matumba pagkatapos niyang sagutin ang tawag mula sa Doctor ng Lolo niya.“S-Si lolo. Yrony, si L-Lolo,” nanghihinang sambit niya habang sabay sabay na tumulo ang luha sa mga mata niya.She tried to hold me tight, pero talagang nanghihina siya. It's been an hour since our simple wedding was held. I was so happy that, finally, I can already really call her mine without thinking anything. She is really mine. She is already Delazardo; at last, for many years, she can still be ended up as Delazardo, but now, how can I be happy when she is in too much pain right now?I pulled her closer to hug her tight. Wala akong magawa para pawiin ang sakit na nararamdaman niya ngayon pagkatapos niyang marinig ang balitang iyon.Don Alvarez. Napapikit ako ng mariin.“I-I know that I don't have any r-right to ask a favour to y-you after what I did to you, but please, can y-you please make my granddaughter happy? I-I want to see her hap
94It was so fast, or maybe that's just what I think? After we finished eating, we immediately went to the building where the Delazardos' company is located. Gagamitin namin ang Chopper nila papunta sa ibang bansa.Sa mismong kompanya ng pamilya nila, and I can't help but reminisce about the time when I first came here and let my life change into the life that I didn't expect that I would become.Subrang tagal na non, pero nananatili pa rin iyon sa isip ko.They are really serious. Akala ko ay makakausap ko pa sila at sasabihin na huwag silang padalos dalos, pero they are both serious.“You own this?” Napasulyap ako kay Rony nang casual niyang tinanong ang ama niya.We are already on the chopper. Gulat na gulat pa nga sila Tita and I am sure na pagbalik namin, kalat na panigurado ang tungkol sa kambal. Ipagsigawan ba naman ni Yrony ang salitang mga anak sa harap ng mga empleyado niya, kaya paniguradong malalaman ma ng mga nakakakilala sa amin.“You also want to own something like this?
93Affeya/Azaylie's POVIsang malakas na kalabog ang nagpagising sa akin at halos umawang ang labi ko nang makitang nasa baba na si Yrony habang nakahawak sa likod niya at nakangiwi.“Rony!” Hindi makapaniwalang sambit ko nang makita ang ayos ni Rony. Sa pwesto niya ngayon ay mukhang tinadyakan niya si Yrony kaya siya nahulog mula sa kama.Zally was just staring at Yrony while Rony was so angry. Parehas na silang gising.“Leave!” Bulyaw nito sa ama niya habang nakaturo sa pinto. “Son—” Yrony tried to talk to him, pero agad ulit siyang binulyawan ni Rony.“Don't call me that!”“Rony!” Saway ko ulit. He looked at me."If you don't want to leave, then I am going to be the one who leaves!" My lips parted at what he said.Before I could stop him, he was already out.Zally immediately followed his older brother, so Yrony and I were left behind. Napahilot ako sa sintido ko.“Sorry. Kakausapin ko sila ngayon—”“I-It's fine,” sambit ni Yrony kaya tinignan ko siya. Kumunot ang noo ko at napasi
92I stared at my son, my daughter and my Fiance.Fiance.I kissed Zay's hand that I have been holding until now, even though he is fast asleep next to our children. It's already 5 a.m. in the morning. I can hardly sleep. I can't sleep because I'm scared to wake up, and suddenly all of those become dreams. I don't want to go to sleep. I just want to sit here and stare at them.Napapikit ako ng mariin at agad na pinunasan ang luha ko nang agad na tumulo iyon galing sa mata ko.I'm crying. I am fvcking crying because of the happiness that I feel right now. She said she loved me. She said that there's nothing between her and Ivo. Wala naman akong pakealam kung may namagitan sa kanina, yes, it's hurt, but even if there's something on them, if she said that she loves me, wala na akong pakealam sa iba.This is the scenario that I've been dreaming of all these years, which I thought would never happen. I'm very tired. I was already told that word after all the desperate things I did. I was a
91I tried to remain cool while texting my team to investigate and to start finding Zally. Fvck! I shouldn't be overacting. It's normal to worry, but fvck! What I am feeling right now was not normal. If only I could have stood up and led the investigation right now, I would have done sa subrang pag-aalala ko ngayon kay Zally.Hindi ko naman anak ang kinidnap, pero halos pagpawisan na ako sa pag-aalala nang marinig kong nawawala si Zally at may kumidnap. I just arrived, and that's when the news came to me right away. It's their birthday. It wasn't in my plan to go here and see how happy they are while I was away watching them, but the courage to see Zay and give Zally and her brother my gift was the reason why I still go here.Ang kaso, wala akong lakas para bitbitin iyon kaya iniwan ko kuna sa kotse ko. I am planning to talk Zay, but I don't know how.Napasulyap ako sa batang nakamaskara. That must be Zally's brother. Hindi ko pa siya nakikita kahit isang beses. All I always see was
90Yrony's POV“Don't worry. I don't want your Papa Ninong to be my father. I have my own father, so I don't need yours,” Zay's daughter said in her serious voice.Sa subrang seryoso niya sa pagsabi non ay para akong dinudurog. I tried to calm myself.I don't know the exact reason why I felt a tightness in my chest when I heard that from Zay's daughter.She's right. She doesn't need me because she has her own father, but my chest tightened when I heard that. Maybe because I know that I love their mommy very much, and loving their mom was also wanting me to make them my own. Pero sabagay. Zay also have Ivo, kaya hindi niya panigurado ako kailangan."I didn't raise you like that, Vanie! Where did you get those words? Where did you learn to talk like that!” panenermon ni Venus sa anak niya habang papasok sa bahay.But Vanie didn't seem to hear anything. She just keeps going up the stairs. Pagod akong naupo sa isa sa sofa ng bahay nila at inihilamos ang palad sa mukha.“Vanie! I'm talking
89“Huh?” Gulat na tanong ko at talagang napanganga na ako sa harap niya. Muli ulit siyang lumapit sa akin at halos umawang ang labi ko nang maramdaman ko ang pagdausdos ng isang bagay sa daliri ko.“I said let's married right now. May kilala akong mayor at pwede ko siyang tawagan ngayon,” bulong nito pagkatapos niyang mailagay ang singsing sa kamay ko.Nahigit ko ang paghinga ko habang nakatingin sa daliri ko.I don't know what I am gonna say. Saan galing iyong singsing? Bakit may singsing? I bit my lower lips nang mag init ang mata ko. I felt his face on my neck, and he started kissing me there.Hindi ko maiwasang isipin kung nasa likod pa ba namin sila Janica o ano, pero wala na akong pakealam doon. I look at the ring he gave me right now. Pakiramdam ko nananaginip ako. Hindi kami nag uusap kanina, then aaway kami, tapos… tapos… may singsing.“I want us to marry, immediately,” he whispered again.Kinagat ko ang labi ko at sinubukan ang lahat para matigil ang pagtulo ng luha ko. I
88“Yrony!” Tawag ko sa kanya habang mabilis siyang naglalakad papunta sa parking lot.“Teka, Yrony!” Tawag ko pa. I wipe the tears on my eyes while chasing him. Gusto kong palakasin ang loob ko ngayon dahil alam kung iyon ang kailangan ko.Galit siya at nasampal ko siya. He said na nakakapagod na ako. Parang pinagpipirapiraso ako habang iniisip nga na titigil na siya at susuko na. Hindi pwede. Hindi siya pwedeng sumuko ngayong handa na ako. I know that I have no right to say that sa sobrang dami na niyang hirap dahil sa akin, pero ayokong tumigil siya.Hindi niya ako pinansin kahit na alam kung naririnig niya ang pagtawag ko sa kanya. Patuloy lang siya sa paglalakad paalis.Nang malapitan na niya ang kotse ay pinatunog na niya ito. He didn't even look at me kahit na naabutan ko na siya. He seriously opne the door at agad na pumasok. He is about to close the door, pero agad kong hinawakan ang pinto, rason kaya agad na naipit ang kamay ko nang isara niya ang pinto.Napamura siya at bin
87I am happy to see Anna like this. She always there when I needed her and I was really thankful that she was here. She was a best sister to me kahit na hindi naman kami magkadugo.“Kakausapin ko naman siya—” But she cut me.“Kailan? Ngayon na! Lumabas ka rito! Huwag kang babalik hanggang sa hindi kayo makapag usap. Kung nakapag usap na kayo at hindi pa rin maayos ang kung ano kayo, saka ka na maupo diyan!” Biglang bulyaw niya ulit sa akin.Bumuntong hininga ako. Inabot ko ang sinasabi ni Ivo na hard liquor at nilagyan ang baso ko. I think I need this to tell Yrony everything I want to say.Kyle and Anna let me drink that and just watch me, na para bang alam nila na kailangan ko ang alak na iyon para magkaroon ng lakas ng loob.Tumayo ako pagkatapos non, pero ilang sandali pa ay nakarinig kami ng pamilyar na sigaw mula sa ibaba. Kyle immediately stand up para pumunta sa balcony para tignan kung anong ingay iyon. Pagbalik niya ay sunod sunod ang naging mura niya habang nagmamadaling t