36 - "What?" I immediately asked him violently when he blocked my path.I want to talk to him, but I can't talk to him right now after what happened. Maybe instead of us being able to talk properly, I'll just yell at him because of the extreme annoyance I feel towards him."Anong problema mo? Kung ano man iyang plano mong sabihin sa akin ngayon para harangan pa ako, sayo na lang iyan. I still need to do something. I won't waste my time on you." Tuloy tuloy na sambi ko nang hindi siya nagsalita agad."Iwan ko muna kayo—" It's Anna, pero hindi ko siya hinayaang ituloy ang sasabihin niya. She doesn't need to leave. Gaya ng sabi ko, ayokong sayangin ang oras ko sa taong 'to. How dare he make my daughter cry?"Stay here, Anna," seryoso kong sambit kay Anna.Napanguso siya at alanganing tumango sa akin."Ngayon, pwede bang lumayas ka sa harapan ko? May importante pa akong gagawin," baling ko naman kay Yrony.He sigh at hindi ko alam kung anong meron sa kanya. Para siyang naging maamong as
37Yrony:Goodmorning, Baby.I sighed when I read one of his messages this morning. I don't want to phonebook his number, but I think that this is the best I should do for now. I will phonebook his name so that I know who I will ignore if someone calls me.When he calls, I won't answer because I know it's him. Right! That's the only reason I phonebooked his phone number."This is the first project of Alvarez Food Chain under YZ Construction Company. Bali po may meeting po tayo mamayang 1pm kasama ang CEO ng YZ Construction Company, ilang architect at engineer para mapag-usapan na po ang detailed ng gagawing bagong branch ng AlvaRez Restaurant," my secretary said.Ang sabi ay isa ito sa pinagkakatiwalaan construction company rito sa Pilipinas kaya heto ang pinili kong companya para maghandle ng bagong branch ng AlvaRez Restaurant. May dati namang construction company na under sa iba pang pinapatayong bulding, but Ivo last time talked to me, na nagkakaroon na raw ang kompanyang iyon ng
38I don't know why he is suddenly the CEO of that construction company. Isn't he the one who owns and runs his family's company, so why? Why is he the CEO of this construction company?"These are our sample designs," the architect said while standing in front and discussing their plan for the restaurant designs and all.Binaba ko ang tingin sa lamesa ko dahil may hardcoppies naman silang binigay sa amin. It's good… No, it's not just good, It's almost perfect. They seem to be right that the architects working for this company do a good job, but of course it's not all about the designs, and I know that they know that. I want the new restaurant building to be beautiful—not just beautiful, but I want it perfect. Gusto kong maganda, pero matibay at hindi tinipid."The designs were good, but what about the quality? I will be a bit rude here, but I know that you heard about the building na gumuho dahil binulsa ang malaking pundo. I'm not saying that you will pocket the other funds of this
39I breathed a sigh of relief when the meeting was finally over. We end up signing a contract even though I want to withdraw, but I'm thinking that I shouldn't put my personal reason in this important matter for the company.Ang inaalala lo lang naman, kaya ako nagdalawang isip ay iyong sinabi ni Yrony sa text. Damn it! This should be pure business, but hinahaluan niya!The case is that he is putting his personal matters into this project! He's crazy! I even saw Engineer Vince smirking at me when he said goodbye: Na para bamg palihim niya akong inaasar sa nakita niya. Damn it!Fvck him! Fvck him! Fvck him! Why is he still the CEO of that construction company? Then I suddenly remembered that Mr. Diego didn't recommend that construction company. Wasn't he mad at Yrony because of the bad things he said that night? If that's the case, maybe that's the reason why Mr. Diego didn't recommend YZ Construction Company."Mrs. Bueno," my secretary called me, so I closed my eyes tightly and stood
40"Hoy! Anong meron at parang may plano kang maglasing? May problema ka ba? I was surprised by your sudden call, huh?" Anna asked, but I didn't answer even one of his questions."Hinay hinay lang. Mahaba pa naman ang gabi," natatawang dugtong pa nito nang tuloy tuloy ang pag inom ko ng alak sa harap niya.I didn't say anything to her or even listen to her na maghinay hinay lang. I just took the other glass of alcohol that was in front of us at agad muling ininom ang lahat ng laman nito. Dahil sa ginawa ko ay malutong na lang siyang napamura.Si Ivo at ang kambal ay nasa bahay ni Daddy, and Ivo said a while ago na pwede kaming lumabas ni Anna, so I'm here. Sa totoo lang, wala rin naman talaga akong plano na pumunta sa kung saan, but after what happened, I think I need this. Kailangan kong makalimot.Why is he like that? Why is he shocked, and what is he saying? And why did I let that happen again? Why did I let him kiss me again and occupy my mind? Shìt! After he said those words, he
41I heard Anna's curses one after another as she chased me up the stairs. I want to stop myself, but as usual, it's like my body is not my body. My foot just kept on going up, even though I almost fell and everything because I'm dizzy."Hoy! Ano bang binabalak mo! Affeya!" Tawag nito sa akin."I'm just going to fvcking punch that asshole! After what he did and said to me, ano? Mambubuntis siya sa iba?! Fvck him! Fvck them! Subukan niyang makipag fvck ulit sa iba at talagang bubutahin ko ang mukha niya!" Iritang sambit ko at muli nanamang muntik pang madulas habang paakyat, buti na lang at nakahawak ako sa gilid at may nakahawak sa akin na pababa ng hadgan."What the fvck?" Hindi makapaniwalang sambit ni Anna sa akin.Tinaas ko ang kamay ko sa umaalalay sa akin at hindi ko na nga rin nagawang magpasalamat."Teka! Ano ba, Affeya! Huwag ka ngang padalos dalos! Baka may kasama siyang importanteng tao! And don't act like a jealous girlfriend! Susko kang babae ka, gagawa ka nanaman ba ng i
42Yrony's POVShit! Fvck! Damn! Why doesn't she just leave for now? Doesn't she know what kind they mixed in my drink? I'm just doing her a favor! Fvck that! They really did put robust into my drinks. That's why I feel something strange now. There was something mixed in my drink.At paano kung mas malaking dosage ang nilagay nila? Fvck?"Leave," I said weakly, and I almost choked when he didn't even move from where he was standing after I told him to leave.I can't even open my eyes now, afraid that I will pull her again and claim her here. Fvck! My whole body started to heat up, and that's because of what they put in my drinks. Mahihirapan akong pigilan ang sarili ko kapag nagkataon.Even without that thing they put in my drinks, I already want to own every inch of Zay, paano pa kaya ngayon? Fvck that!Kung sa ibang pagkakataon ay magsasaya pa ako dahil para siyang nagseselos sa mga sinasabi at ginagawa niya ngayon, but I can't. I groaned when she still didn't leave this room and ju
43I didn't think anymore or anything. I immediately tore and ripped the red dress she was wearing."Tsk! Sagabal," I said, making him stop. I saw her stare at her clothes that I had ripped. Umawang ang labi nito sa gulat at hindi makapaniwala sa ginawa ko sa walang moyang niyang damit."What the? Yrony, Why did you?" Gulat na sambit niya habang nakatitig pa rin sa katawan at damit niya.I didn't mind what she said and just pulled her little back to meet her. Nailiyad niya ang katawan and she immediately grabbed my head to have support when I removed the nipple tape she was wearing to immediately suck on one of her nipples.Mumunting vngol ang pinakawalan siya at nakita ko ang pagkagat niya sa labi niya habang nakapikit. Because of what I saw on her, mas lalo kong pinag-igihan ang ginawa ko.I want her to moan my name. I want to hear from her that I am making her satisfied with what her body wants. I want her body to know where it belongs.She lost herself again and was unable to noti
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