"Girl, masakit na paa ko. We don't have enough beauty rest din kasi maaga mo 'kong ginising. Konting ganda na nga lang itong nasalo ko, malapit na ring maglaho dahil sa stress. Saan ba kasi talaga tayo pupunta?" reklamo ni Micha kay Lauren habang naglalakad sila sa mall. Doon niya niyaya ang kaibigan dahil wala naman talaga siyang pupuntahan ngayon. They already had lunch. Nagpa-book din siya ng spa for her pamper day. Kaya lang mamayang hapon pa daw ang schedule niya-- nila ni Micha. She really didn't think things through that day. If she'd be honest, she's been winging it from the moment she left Kiel's house. Basta ang alam niya, she cannot stay inside Kiel's house the whole day. Mabuti na lang at nakumbinsi niya si Micha na samahan siya sa kung saan mang lupalop siya ng siyudad mapunta."We still have a few hours to go before our pamper day schedule. Please bear with me, Miks," pakiusap niya, sipping on the tall cup of coffee she ordered earlier. "My feet are already killing me,
Nakaupo si Kiel sa conference table sa SSL kasama ang kanyang mga kapatid. There's an ongoing meeting between him and his brothers about the annual report that they will all present to the conglomerates' board in a few weeks time. It was an important meeting subalit wala roon ang isip niya.Nakay Lauren na hindi na naman siya 'ata maalala. It's almost lunch subalit wala man lang update si Claine sa kanya. Gano'n ba talaga dapat? Not even a location update.He huffed. Mukhang namimihasa na si Lauren sa pagbulabog sa mundo niya. Lagi siyang nag-aalala rito. Na hindi naman sana dapat. He shouldn't care about her affairs. Just like how she mustn't with his. Kaya lang, hindi niya alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa kanya. Since he stepped back and agreed to give her the freedom to make choices for herself, lalong nagiging kumplikado ang nararamdaman niya para kay Lauren. If he'd be honest, Nicole didn't stir his emotions like the way Lauren does.Lauren is driving him mad whenever she's away f
Namimintig ang ulo ni Lauren nang magising siya kinabukasan. Not only that, she can feel a slight ache on her bones na para bang nabugbog ang katawan niya nang nagdaang mga araw. With a groan, she forced her eyes to open.Agad na tumambad sa kanya ang pamilyar na kisame ng guest room na tinutuluyan niya sa bahay ni Kiel. She sighed and bit her lower lip. She doesn't even know how she got there. The last thing she remembered was she's with Micha. There's a great chance that Micha was the one who sent her home. She trusts her assistant, hindi siya nito papabayaan.Maya-maya pa, nakarinig siya ng katok sa pinto."Ma'am, pinapa-check lang po ni Sir Kiel kung gising na po kayo," anang isa sa mga katulong."I-I'm awake," sagot niya, sa paos na tinig."Sige po, Ma'am. Pinapasabi po ni Sir Kiel na hinihintay po niya kayo sa lanai," anang katulong.Mabilis siyang napatingin sa digital clock sa bedside table. It's past eight in the morning on a Tuesday. Bakit naroon pa si Kiel? Dapat nasa opisi
Lauren spent the rest of the morning inside her room--pondering on how she should deal with her feelings for Kiel. She also informed Mrs. Cabral na pinirmahan na niya ang endorsement contract para sa Ace Logistics. Her manager said that the shooting for the commercial will start within the next two days.Pagdating ng tanghalian, nagpahatid na lang siya ng pagkain sa kanyang kwarto. Ayaw niyang makaharap ulit sa pagkain si Kiel. She doesn't want to risk it anymore. She knew now that she always make a fool out of herself whenever Kiel is near. And so at comfort of her own room, she hoped to spent the rest of the day in peace. Subalit pagpatak ng alas tress ng hapon, Kiel came knocking on her door again. "Lauren, it's me," anito matapoa kumatok.She took a deep calming breath before she went and opened the door."Go wear your jeans, we're going somewhere," anito, seryoso.Agad nagsalubong ang kanyang mga kilay. "S-saan tayo pupunta?" "Just somewhere. See you in fifteen minutes," anito
Lauren's jaw dropped. "What? Are you crazy? I'm not even a pilot! Thank you for believing so much in me. But doing the impossible, I think I'll have to pass," dire-diretso niyang reklamo. She knew the pay for the work she signed up with his company is good, actually, more than good. But that doesn't mean he can make preposterous requests! Sandaling tumitig si Kiel sa kanya, lalong lumawak ang ngisi pagkatapos. "Don't worry sugar, I'll teach you how," anito bago siya tuluyang hinila patungo sa private plane.Wala na siyang nagawa kundi sumunod na lang kay Kiel. She would've protested but his employees are all looking at them. She doesn't want to make a scene.Pagdating sa loob, she was welcomed by the clean interior of the private jet-- 4 seats plus a mini bar. But she didn't have much time to appreciate the interior of the private jet, dahil agad siyang iginiya ni Kiel sa may cockpit."A-are you sure about this, Kiel?" hindi na niya ito napigilang tanungin habang ikinakabit nito ang
"Akala ko nakalimutan mo na 'ko, Attorney. Isang linggo lang ang usapan natin pero pinaabot mo nang mahigit dalawang linggo. Mabagal kang trumabaho. Mabuti na lang, marunong akong magtimpi kung hindi..." Hinda na itinuloy ni Lileth ang sana'y sasabihin. Humakbang na lang siya palabas sa kulungan. She inhaled deeply, drawing in the fresher breeze of air outside the godforsaken place she has been in for almost a month. Finally, after weeks of waiting, malaya na ulit siya. Temporarily that is."Sinabi ko naman sa 'yo, mahirap kalabanin ang mga Sandejas. Kung wala lang utang na pabor sa akin ang isa sa mga nasa taas, hindi ka mabibigyan ng bail ngayon. Kaya puwede ba, magpasalamat ka na lang," paliwanag ni Atty. Valentin, iritable.Tumaltak siya, umirap. "Ang dami mong sinasabi. At utang ko pa talaga sa 'yo itong paglaya ko pansamantala. Hindi ba sinabi ko sa 'yo, alam ko ang mga sikreto mo. One call and I can ruin you, Atty. Valentin."Nagtagis ang mga bagang ng abogado,nagpatiuna nang
"You didn't tell me that Gail was your ex. Pinahirapan niya 'ko," reklamo ni Lauren kay Kiel habang magka-video call sila.It was thirty minutes past four in the morning. Subalit gising na siya at tapos nang mag-shower. She needs to be at Ace Logistics hub by 5 A.M to take the final scenes of the commercial.The jerk Kiel just grinned, irking her more."I prepared you well, haven't I? Ako pa mismo nagturo sa 'yo how to fly a plane para hindi ka mapahiya sa pilot mamaya. You might've done something to make Gail--""She's getting revenge on me! What possible explanation could there be for making me repeat the same scene over and over but that!" gigil niyang putol rito habang nagsusuklay sa harap ng vanity mirror. Bigla siyang natigilan kapag kuwan. "Or, she might still have feelings for you and... Oh my god! That's probably it!"Kiel chuckled. "You know what they say, once you've tried Kiel, you'd never recover well."She scoffed. "Arrogant much, aren't we?" aniya, pinagbuti ang pagsusu
Tahimik na binabaybay ni Lileth ang daan patungo sa opisina ng kanyang sadya. Despite spending a few weeks behind bars, hindi siya nahirapang makapasok sa building. Aside from learning na walang pumutok na anumang balita tungkol kay Lauren at sa pagkakakulong niya, talagang kilala siya ng mga tao roon kaya hindi siya nahirapan sa security check. The guard even lead her to the lift and she finds the gesture sweet. And now there she is, walking straight to the very people who will solve her current money problems. She thought that letting the 'source' know she already knows their identity would give her more opportunities to collect money from them. At kapag nangyari 'yon, ikakanta niya si Atty. Valentin. She couldn't live even just another month na may kahati pa sa sustento ni Lauren. Ano ito sinuswerte? That rotten lawyer needs to go down, she said to herself, balling her fists.Inayos niya ang kanyang suot na pulang bestida nang malapit na siya sa table ng sekretarya na naroon. She
Buhat-buhat ni Lauren ang isang taong gulang na niyang anak na si Amara habang pinipindot ang top floor button sa elevator. “Dad,” sabi pa ng kanyang anak bago yumakap sa kanya. It has been three days now since Kiel has been coming home late. Paano ba naman kasi, inaasikaso nito ang muling pagba-branch out ng Ace Logistics sa Indonesia at Singapore. The move was brought by the huge success Ace Logistics had in Malaysia. Wala sa kanilang pamilya ang nag-expect na papatok nang ganoon ang services ng Ace Logistics sa ibang bansa in just a year at that! Kaya naman napagdesisyonan nilang dalawa na mag-branch out na sa iba pang bansa sa Southeast Asia to cater the needs of their clients. But there is a downside, Kiel needs to work for more hours para asikasuhin ang negosyo nito. At nito ngang nakaraang mga araw, halos hindi na nagpapang-abot ang mag-ama dahil maagang umaalis si Kiel sa umaga at late na rin na dumarating sa gabi. Even their baby can sense his absence. Madalas nitong hanap
Panay ang patak ng luha ni Lauren habang dinadala siya ng nurse sa loob ng delivery room. She wanted Kiel to be there with her, see for himself the birth of their daughter. Kaya lang…“It’s okay, Lauren. I know you can do this. Mukhang excited talagang lumabas ang baby ninyo ni Kiel dahil alam niyang excited na rin kayong makita siya. Sometimes, babies do that, you know," sabi ni Doc Angel habang nagsusuot ito ng gloves. Inalalayan na siya ng nurse at pinahiga sa delivery bed. She can't help but tremble when the nurse helped her to put her feet on the stirrup. Impit siyang dumaing at lumuha. Ngayon siya nagsisisi kung bakit pumayag-payag pa siya na umalis si Kiel noong isang araw. Subalit alam niya, kailangang kailangan ang presensiya ni Kiel sa Malaysia kaya siya mismo ang pumilit dito na pumunta.They had a birth plan. It’s been finalized for months. Part of the birth plan was Kiel would be with her as she push their baby out into the world. But that most important thing is missin
Maingat na inilapag ni Lauren ang pink stuffed toy sa crib na inihahanda niya para sa magiging baby nila ni Kiel. She’s 38 weeks pregnant and she had been nesting for weeks now. Kahapon lang inihanda na niya ang go-to bag niya kung sakaling mag-labor siya anumang oras. Marahan niyang hinaplos ang kanyang tiyan nang maramdaman niya ang muling paggalaw ng anak. “Easy, sweetheart. I know you’re excited. Excited na rin sina Daddy at Mommy na makita ka,” aniya, bahagya pang ngumiwi nang mapalakas ang sipa ng baby niya. She took a deep breath. Lately, hirap na siyang matulog sa gabi dahil doon mas nagiging aktibo sa paggalaw ang baby niya. Maging pagtayo at pagbangon hirap na rin siya. But she’s just fine with it. She’s enduring and enjoying the process. She knew it would all be worth it. She knew that dahil madalas niyang nakikita ang saya kay Ana. During Sundays, when they’d have their regular family lunch in Tagaytay, madalas niyang makita na nagbo-boding ang mag-ina sa pool o kaya sa
Marahang hinaplos ni Lauren ang kanyang tiyan. At 23 weeks, talaga namang maumbok na iyon. Panay na rin ang galaw ng baby niya, which she finds weird and happy at the same time.Nag-angat siya ng tingin at tinanaw ang baybayin sa ibaba ng glass house. Abala na ang mga tauhan ng events company na kinuha nila ni Kiel para sa baby gender reveal nila na gaganapin mamaya. Sa totoo lang, she doesn’t want to share that special moment to the public anymore. Kaya lang, kinumbinsi siya talaga ni Mrs. Cabral na gawin iyon dahil na rin daw nami-miss na siya ng kanyang mga fans at iba pang katrabaho.Mula kasi nang malaman niyang buntis siya, she preffered to step away from the limelight. Kahit noong hind pa sila maayos ni Kiel, she really planned to spend the rest of her pregnancy in some peaceful place na malayo sa nakasanayan niya. She really valued her privacy during those times.But she also know that she owe a glimpse of her current life to her loyal fans. Kaya naman pumayag na rin siya sa g
Mystery Enemy POVMarahan siyang sumimsim ng alak mula sa champagne flute na kanyang hawak bago ipinaikot ang kanyang tingin sa kasayahan ng pamilya Sandejas na nakapaligid sa kanya. From that little dark corner of the lanai where he stood, he can clearly see the happy faces of everyone invited to the party. Everyone’s happy except for him—burning with rage for the family that has ruined his life.He would’ve ditched Kiel’s wedding and just spend the night drinking in the comfort of his home. If only he hadn’t thought that attending the wedding is a social responsibility for him now that he is closer than ever to the family. Of course, he must play the part well now. He has to. He needs to.He took a deep breath as he took another swig of the alcohol he was having. Pinaglipat-lipat niya ang tingin sa bawat miyembro ng pamilya Sandejas na naroon, mula ay Liza, sa mga anak nito, sa manugang nito, at sa apo nito.Death. That’s all he wishes for all of them, their death.“What are you doi
Lauren was smiling as she looked at herself in front of the mirror. She was wearing an elegant and flowy wedding dress. Her hair was curled on the ends and her make-up was simple, just like how she liked it.She's getting married today... again. She smiled at the thought. It has been two weeks now since Kiel made that heartfelt proposal to her by the beach. From then on, hindi na ito pumasok sa Ace Logistics. Well except for the launching of his company in Malaysia a week ago. But that was only a one day affair. He went and came home the same day. Ito kasi ang nag-ayos sa lahat sa kasal nila, except for her gown which she had customised sa isang sikat na local designer na paborito niya. Ang madalas nitong sabihin sa kanya tuwing tinatangka niyang tumulong dito, she only need to be there beside him on the day of their wedding and say yes. Honestly, she still cannot believe that she's marrying Kiel today for the second time. The first time was not even supposed to happen if they were n
"Here you go, as promised, six new investors for NTS Films," nakangising sabi ni Tyler kay Lauren bago iniabot sa kanya ang isang folder.Nang buksan niya, naroon ang profiles ng mga bagong investors na nakausap nito para sa bagong venture ng kanyang kumpanya, ang NTS Films.Pinigilan ni Lauren ang mapangiti. Tyler really is efficient when it comes to business. Well, he is a a Sy, that's a given. But she really is glad that someone like Tyler is now working with her at NTS.Maingat niyang tiniklop ang folder at ipinatong iyon sa coffee table na nakapagitan sa kanilang dalawa. Nasa lanai sila ng bahay nila ni Kiel, binisita siya nito matapos ang tatlong linggong paglalagi nito sa Palawan for a 'spontaneous business trip'. Well whatever that spontaneous business trip is for, she only knows one thing, something has changed with Tyler mula nang manggaling ito sa Palawan. Well, maliban sa malaya na itong nakakabisita sa kanya at nakikihalubilo sa mga Sandejas dahil maayos na ito at si Ki
Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Lauren nang tuluyang huminto sa private hangar ang private jet ng Star Airlines. She’s officially back in Manila with Kiel. “We will be fine. I promise, walang makakagalaw sa atin dito. I will make sure of that,” ani Kiel, bahagya pang pinisil ang kamay niyang hawak nito. It has been days since the incident in her house. Kinausap siya mismo ni Eric na mas makakabuti kung sasama siya pabalik kay Kiel pa-Maynila sa oras na mai-discharge na ito sa ospital. She wanted to argue at first. She had been living the best life in San Ildefonso for some time now. But she knew, she needed to make the hard choices not just herself but also for the sake of Kiel and her baby. Besides, her family’s old house was in ruins. It will take some time to repair it and to make it livable again. Kiel promised to hire the best engineer and architect to restore her old home. She believed that. Kiel was discharged from the hospital early that morning. They didn’t waste any time
Nagising si Lauren dahil sa masuyong paghaplos sa kanyang pisngi. Nang magmulat siya ng mga mata, bumungad sa kanya ang maliwanag na silid na kanyang kinaroonan. Her vision needed a few seconds to adjust until she can finally figure out where she was. White walls, smell of antiseptic, and a soft beeping sound. Hospital. She’s at the hospital. She gasped as memories of last night surfaced inside her head all at a fast pace. Agad siyang napabalikwas. That’s when she realized na nakayupyop siyang nakatulog sa tabi ng mismong hospital bed ni Kiel! ‘K-Kiel,” she whispered as she looked at him, still looking a bit pale but with a small smile on his face. Last night, when the doctors allowed her to go and see him in the recovery room, nakatulog na ito. The nurse told her that the medication they had given him had taken effect and that it’s best for her to just wait for him to wake up after a few hours. Kaya naman naghintay siya. Hindi siya umalis sa tabi nito kahit na anong pilit nina A