50Akala ko ligtas na ako sa mga ibabatong mga tanong niya sa akin. She's right, but I am really afraid. Paano kung sa pagsubok kong ayusin, imbes na maayos, maging magulo?“Isang tanong, isang sagot,” sambit nito nang hindi ko nagawang magsalita pagkatapos niyang sabihin ang napakahabang sinabi niyang iyon.“Anna, you know that it’s not—” She cut me, like she didn’t want to hear anything from me right now at ang gusto lang niyang marinig ay ang magiging sagot ko sa tanong niya.“Mahal mo pa?” Tanong nito ng seryoso kaya umawang ang labi ko.Mahal ko pa ba? Malalim ang pinakawalan kong paghinga dahil alam ko ang sagot doon. Hindi ako papayag sa set up namin at hindi ko kakalimutan ang ginawa niya noon sa akin kung hindi ko siya mahal.“Oo, pero–” She cut me again.“I know, right. You love him, so you should tell Yrony everything. Everything, including Zally and Rony,” she said, like it was so easy to just tell Yrony about it."It's not that easy, Anna. Come on. Zally and Rony have gro
51I did what she said, pero para na akong tanga na naiiyak pagkarinig ko ng sinabi ng receptionist. Kaya ba anak anakan niya kasi mag papakasal sila? Kaya ba ayos sa kanya ang set up na ito kasi alam niyang ikakasal din naman siya at wala din naman itong patutunguhan? I did everything not to cry habang tinutungo ang nag iisang lamesa sa floor ng opisina ni Yrony.“I’m really sorry, Mrs. Bueno. Binilin kasi talaga ni Sir Yrony na huwag muna tatanggap ng kahit sino na hindi naka schedule o nagpa appointment ngayong araw. Ininform naman ako ng secretary niyo na ibibigay ngayon ang mga dapat permahan, pero ang akala ko po kasi ay siya ang magbibigay at ipapaiwan niya lang ang mga papeles kaya hindi ko na nasabihan si Sir Yrony,” magalang na sambit sa akin ng secretary ni Yrony, kaya sinubukan ko pa ring ngumiti kahit na kitang kita na pilit na iyon.Napalunok pa ako dahil parang may nakabara sa lalamunan ko.“Kung ganoon iiwan ko na lang,” tanging nasambit ko at binigay sa kanya ang env
52"Shut up. Sabing hindi ako nakikipaglukuhan. It's not right if you fire your employee right away just for the slightest reason. What if they are the breadwinner of their family? Edi sinira mo ang buhay nila? Don't be like that, Yrony." I said and continued to argue with him because I really don't understand why it is so easy for him to fire an employee.“Pero pinaiyak ka—” Mabilis akong sumabat. At talagang ipipilit pa niya ang dahilan niya?“Bakit naman ako iiyak? Napuwing lang ako kanina kaya medyo namumula ang mata ko,” tanging palusot ko na lang. He tried to say something again, but he couldn't continue when I pulled him to sit on his swivel chair. I was about to move away, but he pulled me and placed me between his legs. He locked me between his thighs and looked up.“Fine. Hindi ko na sila tatanggalin. Don't be mad. Tsk! Nakakainis! Ang swerte siguro ni Ivo kapag palagi mo siyang sinesermunan,” malumanay na sambit pa niya gamit ang mapungay na mga mata.Inis ko siyang tinign
53I put down the basket I was holding with a beer in it and immediately took the food that Venus had brought earlier.When I got it, I immediately went back inside his room and found him massaging his head again, like his head was really giving him a hard time. He looked at me immediately when he heard me come in. Tinigil niya agad ang paghilot sa ulo niya.“Kainin mo na muna ‘to habang wala pa iyong gamot mo,” mabilis na sambit ko at nilapag ang lunch box sa side table niya. Binuksan ko iyon at nakita ko agad ang loob non na inayos pa ang bawat paghiwa ng mga ulam at pati ang pagkaka ayos ay may designed pa. It was really nice."What do you mean about that? Who's my fiance?" That was his serious question to me when I finally finished arranging the food. He even pulled my hand away so that I could sit on his bed. I stopped and looked at him.He was now sitting, with his whole body leaning against the headboard of the bed. He held my hand and played with it."Hmm? Tell me what you me
54I really don't know what to say after hearing that from him. Sa subrang gulat ko ay ilang segundong natahimik. Should I say that too? Pero kasi…“Matulog ka na nga muna,” I tried to laugh after we both became silent. After hearing what I said, huminga siya ng malalim. Tumango siya at nahiga na nga.He closed his eyes and put his arm on his forehead. I took my phone out of my sling bag when it vibrated. I look at Yrony first before reading the text. I ran my fingers through my hair when I read my secretary's text.Secretary Garry:Mrs. Bueno. You have a meeting 30 minutes from now.God knows that I don't want to leave right now, pero masyado ng importante ang sunod na meeting ko."I think I need to go. I still have a meeting to attend with, sorry," I said, and I knew he heard it even though his eyes were closed. He didn't say anything and just nodded while staying in that position.I bit my lower lips and held my bag tightly.“Pupunta mamaya si Anna at Kyle rito. Inutusan ko silang
55Yrony:Can’t wait to see you again. I miss you.I was in the middle of the meeting when I got that message from him. Because he got sick, he had a lot of work to do these past few days. Marami siyang meeting na hindi nadaluhan. He even goes abroad to meet someone. We have no time to see each other because of that, pero ayos lang naman sa akin dahil marami rin akong tinapos sa mga nakaraang araw.I'm planning to have my vacation week for the twins birthday, kaya talagang hindi ako nagaaksaya ng oras ngayon. Kailangan kong matapos ang mga trabaho ko ngayon para wala akong aalalahanin.Me:Nasa office mo ka na?Pagkasend ko non ay binalik ko ang attention sa harap. Meeting. Meeting. Meeting. Walang katapusang meeting. Kung ako lang talaga, mas gugustuhin ko na lang maging hands on sa kambal, pero dahil isa akong Alvarez at walang mapagpapasahan na iba ang posisyong ‘to, wala akong magagawa.I sigh when I remember Zally. We already said yes to her that they would have their birthday he
56“But the question here is kung sino ang nagsimula,” seryosong sambit ni Venus. Nang matapos kong gamutin si Zally ay binigay ko na ang lahat ng attention ko sa principal.Napabuntong hininga ang Principal na para bang ayaw niyang sagutin ang tanong na iyon, but we all know that she need to tell us.“Ang sabi ng ibang studyante, Vanie was a bit rude to Zally. Vanie is bullying Zally. Mula iyon sa mga ibang studyante rito, malumanay na sambit niya naisuklay ko na lang ang daliri ko sa buhok ko.Binubully na ang anak ko, pero wala man lang akong kaalam alam. I heard Ivo sigh at mukhang hindi nito nagustuhan ang nalaman."Then why didn't you act immediately? You should have done something right away," Ivo said seriously."I'm sorry, Mr. Bueno. We did talk to them, but even after we talked to them, nothing has changed. Akala namin simpleng away lang ng bata at maaayos naman nang hindi namin kayo pinapatawag, pero hindi namin inakala na lumala pa nga dahil umabot na sa pisikalan," punong
57Mula ngayon, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa lahat ng sinabi ni Zally. Kung si Rony ang nagsabi ng lahat ng iyon, baka madali lang sa akin paniwalaan iyon dahil talagang si Rony, mature siyang mag-isip, sa ibang bansa pa lang ay ganoon na siya, pero kung si Zally? I don't know.The last time I check, hindi naman ganito mag isip at magsalita si Zally.Yrony:Is Zally okay? I saw her bruise a while ago. I hope she is.I look at Yrony's message, and I want to cry, thinking everything happened. We are already here in our condo. Zally and Rony were already in their room with Ivo. Ivo is talking to them right now while I'm just here in the living room na parang tangang nakatitig sa kawalan at. Tulala. Because of what happened, our plan to have dinner with Yrony did not go ahead.Ang malala, dahil sa nangyare, paniguradong mas mahihirapan nanaman akong sabihin na mag ama sila. She doesn't want Yrony to be her father. Kahit anong gawin ko hindi ko iyon maalis sa isip ko ang mga sinabi ni
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