Paris, France"Napakagaling mo talaga, Miss L!" Congratulations!" bati ng kanyang mga tauhan matapos ang matagumpay na exhibition at ng kanyang nang-iinis na kaibigan sa panggagaya na pagtawag sa kanya ng pangalang iyon."Congratulations, mi nieta!" may pagmamalaking pagbati ng kanyang abuelo't abuela.Nabaling ang tingin ni Leila sa katabi ng kanyang abuelo. Tinaasan siya nito ng kilay."What? Are you also waiting for me to congratulate you?"Inirapan niya ito. "Whatever, ate." Muli siya humarap sa mga tao at kinuha ang atensyon ng mga ito. "Thank you everyone and most especially to my grandparents and my bitch sister, for all your help and support. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be able to make it through this day successfully. To my friend, my secretary, my assistant, thank you so much. I know and I saw how you struggled just to help me with everything not only in this exhibition but also in teaching the children while I was away and taking care of the shop."Lahat naman ay nakan
Parang gusto niya magsuot ng red ngayon?Leila tood in front of her wide cabinet in the walk-in closet, checking which of her clothes to wear for dinner with Albert. It was only five o'clock so she still had enough time to get ready before he picked her up. She woke up late earlier that is why she couldn't have breakfast with her family. She didn't even catch up with Lara because she went to work early. Sumabay na lang siya ng tanghalian sa abuelo't abuela niya bago siya pumasok sa trabaho, kahit I'm sobrang late na niya.Leila heard her phone beep. She went out for a while and took it from her bed.She saw Patty's name in her WhatsApp notification. Binuksan niya iyon."You should wear this."Kalakip niyon sa ibaba ay ang larawan na pinadala, na agad niyang binuksan. It is a blue-gray dress of the House of CB Number. It is knee length with a slit on the right leg and a thin spaghetti strap. She remembered this dress because it was the one they had bought when they went to London for a
Nakatanga lamang si Leila habang naghahalo ng watercolor sa kanyang palette. Hindi maalis-alis sa utak niya ang nangyari kagabi. Matapos umalis ni Stefano sa kanilang harapan na parang wala lang, siya naman ang nawalan ng gana at agad nag-aya kay Albert na umuwi matapos nilang kumain.Ramdam ni Leila ang pag-aalala ni Albert sa kanya kagabi habang nagbibiyahe sila pauwi dahil sa pananamlay at pananahimik niya. Hindi ito nagtanong sa kung ano ang dahilan ng biglaan niyang pagkaganun na ikinapapasalamat niya. Albert knows how to keep shut and when is the right time to ask. Ang daming tanong sa utak ni Leila na nagpapagulo sa kanya. At sa nangyaring iyon, hindi na naman siya nakatulog ng maayos kagabi. Ganun ba kagalit ito para magkunwari na hindi siya kilala? 'Di ba dapat siya ang gumawa nu'n? Sa kanilang dalawa, siya ang nasaktan at nagawan nito ng mali pero sa ipinapakita nito, parang balewala rito ang lahat. Na balewala lang siya dito."Miss," tawag ng isang batang babae kay Leila. H
"Gosh!"Napatakip na lamang si Leila sa kanyang tenga dahil sa pagtili ng kaibigan nang makita ang mukha nito sa isang magazine, humahanga sa sarili. Napapailing at natatawa naman ang iba niyang tauhan sa nakikitang kasiyahan kay Patty. Lagi itong ganito sa tuwing nakikita nito ang sarili sa pahayagan, na ikinatutuwa rin niya.Totoong napakaganda ng kanyang kaibigan. Sa purong dugo ba naman nitong pranses, iwan na lang niya. Nasa nasabing magazine ito nang kuhanan ng artikulo patungkol sa kanya o mas tamang sabihin kay 'L'Dahil nga sa nakatago niyang pagkatao, ito ang nalalagay palagi sa mga interview at photoshoot para sa mga magazine kapag may gusto ilathala ang mga nakukuha niyang tagumpay sa mundo ng sining."Stop screaming and let our ears rest. No one will argue with you how beautiful you are there," aniya, sumimsim sa kanyang kape.Apat sila nandito ngayon sa kanilang pantry habang ang ilan sa mga tauhan niya ay abala na sa pagtuturo sa ibang mga bata na hawak ng mga 'to."Dam
Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ni Riza sa kanila ni Lara habang nakaupo sila sa harapan nito. Hindi niya masisisi kung ganito na lamang ang naging reaksyon nito sa kanila."Am I dreaming?" she said unconsciously."Of course, you're not, duh!" sikmat ni Lara dito.Riza chuckled. "Of course not. Sa pananalita mo pa lang, alam ko na kung sino sa inyo ang sino.""Kuya mo lang naman talaga ang tanga, 'di ba?" Bumalik uli ang galit sa mukha nito sa sinabi ng kapatid."What did you say?!""Lara," pag-awat ni Leila sabay kapit sa damit ng kapatid. Alam na nga nito na galit na ang kaharap ay mas ginagalit pa talaga nito. "I'm sorry for my sister's behavior," baling niya sa kanilang kaharap."Huh, teach your twin sister a good manners!""You bitch—""Riza..." sambit ni Leila na nagpatigil kay Lara. "I am Leila Pérez, Lara Ortega's twin sister," pagpapakilala niya. Hindi sila nito nabigyan ng pagkakataon na magkakilala noon dahil sa ang akala nito ay siya si Lara.Sana naman ay hindi siya nito ulit
Mabilis pa sa alas kwarto na dinampot ni Stefano ang kanyang cellphone nang may tumatawag roon. Katatapos lamang niya maligo, sakto paglabas niya ng banyo tumunog iyon. Kita niya sa screen ang caller ID ng tumatawag."Did you get anything?" he asked directly when he answered it. Dalawang araw na niyang pinag-utos rito ang pinapagawa at ngayon lamang ito tumawag sa kanya."I have sent some details to your email, sir, just check it." Agad niya pinatayan ito ng tawag at lumabas ng kanyang silid upang pumunta sa kanyang opisina na tanging tuwalya lang ang nakatapis sa kanyang pangibaba.Stefano opened his laptop and went to his email. He felt anxious as he clicked on the email the investigator had sent him. Gayon na lamang ang pagsalubong ng kanyang mga kilay at pagtiim ng bagang nang mabasa ang basic information na nakuha nito. Hindi ito ang inaasahan niya. Galit na pinindot niya ang numero nito't tinawagan. Sa laki ng ibinayad niya, 'to lang ang nakuha nito?Fuck him!"Sir—""What kind
"Juan, what happened to him?" bungad ng isang magandang babae pagkabukas pa lamang ng pinto ng sasakyan sa backseat. Namukhaan agad ito ni Leila. This is the same woman who helped Stefano when they met at the downtown café.Natigilan 'to sandali pagkakita sa kanya, ngunit ibinalik rin ang paningin sa lalakeng na nasa kanyang tabi na namimilipit sa sakit. "Take him to his room!" pag-utos nito kina Juan. "Hurry up!"Juan and Oscar helped get Stefano out of the car while supporting his on both sides. The woman followed them while Leila was left outside. Nang makita sila kanina ni Juan at Oscar, hindi na sana siya sasama sa mga 'to ngunit ayaw siyang bitiwan ni Stefano at nakiusap na samahan 'to.Leila couldn't stop looking around the entire house in front of her. This is a private mansion here in Paris that is on top of the hill. She turned to the entrance door that opened and saw Juan coming out of it."Ma'am, hinahanap ka po ni Sir..." anito't iginiya siya papasok ng bahay.Umakyat siy
Tumunog ang cellphone ni Leila, dahilan kung bakit siya nagising sa mahimbing na pagkakatulog. Inaantok na kinapa niya ang kanyang bedside table. Hindi na niya tiningnan kung sino ang tumatawag at deretsong pinindot ang answer button."Hello?" she answered, keeping her eyes closed."Baby, I'm here outside your apartment," dinig niya sa kabilang linya.Baby...?Napabalikwas ng bangon si Leila nang maalala kung sino ang tumatawag sa kanya ng ganon. She didn't care what she was wearing and ran out of her room. She almost slipped on the stairs because of her hastiness. She opened the door panting, but she hadn't even recovered her breath when Stefano kissed her on the lips. Napaungol siya dahil sa pagkabigla.Stefano arms wrapped around her waist then lifted her up, which immediately wrapped her legs around his waist without breaking the kiss.Jesus Christ! Hindi pa siya nakakapag-toothbrush at kagigising niya lang, pero heto na sila!"S-Stefano..." she said as he passionately kissed her
Death is the most painful thing that can happen to a person. And that was the most painful thing that happened to Stefano and Leila."I'm sorry, Mr. Altagracia, we did everything to save your child from your wife's womb," the doctor told him. His mother who was behind him gasped and cried.Stefano was shocked and unable to process what the doctor told him. Even after the doctor left, he still stood there and couldn't move."Ang apo natin..." dinig ni Stefano mula sa kanyang inang umiiyak."No... no," he said shaking his head. Not their child. "No!" galit niyang sigaw na umalingaw-ngaw sa buong hallway ng emergency room."Stefano!" his parents called him."Where are you going?" Randall followed him. His fists were clenched as he headed to a place. The people he passed in the hospital hallway looked at him. Batid niya ang takot at pagilid ng mga ito upang makadaan siya."Stefano—" si David.Sinuntok niya ang kaibigan nang hawakan siya nito sa balikat para sana pigilan."Fuck!" Napahawak
"Bitiwan niyo kami!" sigaw ng dalaga nang hatakin ito ng isang kasama ni Randall, nagpupumiglas."Nakikiusap ako, ako na lang. Huwag niyo ng idamay ang anak ko sa kung anuman ang kasalanan ko sa inyo," umiiyak na pakiusap ng ginang habang nakapiring ang mga mata. Hawak ito ni Randall habang papalapit sa puting van kung nasaan ang boss ng mga ito."Trabaho lang, misis. Hindi basta-basta ang ginawa ng asawa mo sa kaibigan ko, kaya pasensiyahan na lang tayo," nakangising tugon ni Randall.Pagkalapit ng mga ito sa van ay bumukas 'yun at lumabas roon ang naghihintay na si Stefano. Stefano clenched his jaw as he looked at the two women in front of him. He angrily removed the cloth covering the eyes of the two women. He wants them to see how much he hates them. Ang pamilyang ito ang sumira sa nararapat na pamilya sana ng babaeng mahal niya. "I... I know you," the young woman stuttered.Stefano smirked at her. It should be. She should know him because he is her half sister's husband. "Who
It was still early, but Stefano was already busy with the papers in front of him. It was only seven in the morning when he said goodbye to Leila who was still sound asleep when he left their house. They had to leave on Friday for Paris so before that he would finish the paper works he had to finish.Kinuha niya ang kanyang cellphone at tinawagan si Manang. Nakailang ring pa iyon bago nito sinagot."Hello, Stefano?""Manang, has Leila woke up?" Patuloy siya sa pagbabasa ng dukomento na nasa kanyang harapan saka pinirmahan nang makitang maayos na iyon."Hindi pa, hijo." Stefano looked at his wristwatch, it was nine o'clock in the morning."Manang, pakigising nga siya para sa'kin. Pupunta pa 'yan sa bahay ng kapatid niya mamayang alas-dyes." Sinabihan na niya ito kagabi na ipapahatid lang o ipapakuha kay Oscar ang mga papeles na kailangan nito, pero tumanggi ito dahil gusto raw makita ang abuela nito."Okay, sige. Sandali lang." Narinig niya ang paghabilin nito sa isang kasambahay sa gin
Last night was the happiest thing that ever happened to Stefano and Leila, but it wasn't what Leila expected to happen to her either. Even though that happened to her, the mother of the man she loved succeeded in her plan that she did not expect that she had prepared something like that.Kahit nahihilo at nanlalabo ang kanyang paningin nang oras na 'yun, ramdam naman niya sa boses at hiyawan ng lahat ang kasiyahan sa nalaman ng mga ito. Ngunit para sa kanya, mas nangibabaw ang sobra-sobrang kasiyahan na naramdaman ng lalaking mahal niya nang sandaling iyon base na rin sa pag-iyak nito, pagyakap ng mahigpit sa kanya, at pagpugpog ng halik sa kanyang tiyan matapos sumigaw nito na tatay na ito.After everyone found out about her pregnancy, Stefano didn't let her finish the party. He took her inside his room at his parents' house so she could rest.Leila woke up to the noise heard from the open glass door of the room's terrace. She turned to her side, but was surprised to see that she was
Gustong sapakin ni Leila si Patty. Pinakaba siya nito sa sobrang takot. Iniisip niya na baka kung ano na ang nangyari. Patty is the owner of the number that called her, which she said she bought it from NAIA. She was surprised when Patty introduced herself while laughing and said that she was at the hotel in BGC.Buong akala niya ay gabi pa ito dadating dahil iyon ang sinabi nito sa kanya at balak pa nga sana nilang sunduin ito ni Stefano.Kinabukasan niyon, doon pa nila pinuntahan ni Stefano sa hotel nito. Stefano invites her friend to stay at his house but Patty refuses because she doesn't want to be a nuisance. Nasapak nga niya dahil sa pinagsasabi nito.Kahit kailan hindi magiging istorbo ito sa kanila. She treats her like her family. Patty knows that but knowing her, she always wants to be independent. That's why she learned that from her. They didn't force her and respected her decision.Saturday came and she woke up early. She was thankful that Stefano didn't wake up when she r
Naalimpungatan si Leila na kumakalam ang sikmura. It's still dark outside and it's only four o'clock in the morning when she sees the wall clock, but she's already hungry. She looked at the person next to her who was sleeping soundly with his arms wrapped around her body. She carefully removed his hand and slowly got up so she wouldn't wake him.She breathed a sigh of relief when she successfully got out of bed without Stefano waking up. She wore a black silk robe that was a pair of her nighties.Bumaba siya mula sa ikalawang palapag kung saan ang silid nila ni Stefano at tinungo ang kusina. Malapit na siya nang makarinig siya ng mga boses na nagkukuwentuhan. Mukhang gising na ata ang kanilang mga kasambahay."Hesus Maria santisimaan!" hiyaw ng isang kasambahay na siyang nakaharap sa puwesto niya kung nasaan ang pintuan. Natapon pa ang kape nito sa sobrang pagkagulat.Iilang ilaw pa lang ang nabuksan kaya may parteng madilim lalo na sa kanyang kinatatayuan. Agad naman napalingon sa ka
"Why would mom take you with her if Riza was there? I want you to be with me, baby," kunot noo na sabi ni Stefano habang nilalagyan ni Leila ng shaving foam ang panga hanggang baba nito. Nakaupo siya sa sink countertop ng kanilang banyo habang nakatayo naman si Stefano sa gitna ng kanyang mga hita."Remember, Riza has a business meeting at your father's company and your mother wants me to go with her." Hinalikan niya ang tungki ng ilong nito dahil mas lalo lamang gumwapo ito sa kanyang paningin kapag ganitong may hindi nagugustuhan o naiinis.She can't be with him today because his mother told her last night that they are going somewhere today. His mother didn't tell her where they were going so she didn't know anything. Maging ito nang tanungin ang ina kung saan siya dadalhin, tanging sagot lang ay 'surprise' raw. Kahit anong pagpilit nito sa ina na sabihin kung saang lugar para alam raw nito kung saan sila pupunta ay wala ring nagawa. Hinabilin na lamang nito na ipapasama sa kanila
Malakas ang kabog sa dibdib ni Leila. Kinakabahan siya. Ngayon na papalapit na sila sa kanilang pupuntahan ay mas lalo lamang dumoble ang kanyang nararamdaman."Your hands are cold, baby." Hinalikan ni Stefano iyon. Paanong hindi manlalamig kung matinding kaba at takot ang kanyang nararamdaman sa sandaling ito?He held her shoulder and made her face him. He looked at her intently in her eyes. "Relax, baby. My parents won't do anything to you as long as I'm by your side, hmm?""I can't help it, Stefano. Your whole family is there." Yes, they have a family dinner with his whole family, his parents and sister Riza.She has been here in the Philippines for more than a week already and just yesterday Stefano's mother called to him and said that they are back here in the Philippines. His mother talked to her also and invited her for a dinner that will happen right now.Naikuwento na niya kay Stefano ang nangyaring pagpunta ng ina nito sa event niya't pag-uusap nila. At first, he was surpris
"What? Where is she?" tanong ni Stefano. Kausap niya si Juan sa kabilang linya pagkatapos mismo ng kanyang meeting."Narito po sa loob ng kotse niya, sir, underground car park," sagot nito na agad niyang binabaan.Stefano held his cellphone tightly as if it was going to break. Kung hindi pa nagpadala ng mensahe si Oscar sa kanya kanina na narito si Olivia at pumasok pa mismo sa kanyang opisina kung saan natutulog si Leila sa silid ay hindi pa niya malalaman.Agad niya pinaakyat si Juan sa kanyang opisina upang ilabas ito at paghintayin sa lobby dahil nais niya rin harapin ito.Stefano looked at her wristwatch, it was eleven o'clock. Their meeting lasted three hours because of the problems they discussed and resolved. Bumukas ang elevator pagkarating sa underground car park at agad siyang lumabas. Hinanap ng mga mata niya ang sasakyan na ginagamit nito 'pag narito sa Pilipinas. Agad niya nakita iyon dahil sa labas niyon ay si Juan na nakasandig at nakahalukipkip."Sir..." Napatayo ng m