Dahan-dahang umupo si Kaizer sa silya habang minamasahe nito ang ulo niya. Halos lahat yata ng activities sa cruise ship ay nasubukan niya. Tuwing nakikita o nakaka-salubong siya ni Lauren ay inaaya siya nito na magliwaliw sa cruise ship. Natatapat pa na nasa paligid nila si Claudia.Hindi niya alam kung nagkataon lang ba o talagang binabantayan ng babae ang kilos niya para makahanap ito ng tyempo na kausapin siya.“Here’s your coffee, Sir.” saad ni Jason matapos ibaba sa harap ni Kaizer ang isang tasang kape. Umayos naman ng upo si Kaizer saka dahan-dahang humigop ng kape. Matapos ilapag ang tasa sa lamesa ay tumingin siya kay Jason.“Report.” maikling utos nito.“Yes, Sir.” sagot ni Jason. Kinuha niya ang tablet saka inabot iyon kay Kaizer. Tinanggap naman ito ni Kaizer at saka tumingin sa dokumento na nakalagay roon.Tumikhim muna si Jason bago nag-umpisang mag-report.“Mr. Romero was the head of purchasing department* and the one that was responsible for sourcing and purchasing ra
Isang simple at romantikong candle light dinner ang bumungad sa kanilang dalawa matapos nilang magtungo sa balcony ng kwarto ni Kaizer. Napa-iling at napa-ngiti na lamang si Lauren habang pinagmamasdan ang mga dekorasyon sa balcony. “Hindi ba’t parang napaka-competitive mo naman?” pang-aasar na puna ni Lauren dahil sa ayos ng mesa. Habang tinatahak kasi nila kanina ang daan patungo sa cabin suite ay doon niya naalala ang usapan nilang dalawa na sabay magha-hapunan ngayong araw. Hindi na siya gaanong nag-ayos dahil ang buong akala niya ay sa dining hall o kaya naman ay sa isang restaurant sa loob ng cruise ship lang ang pupuntahan nila. Kaya naman hindi niya inaasahan ang ganoong set-up. Kailan man ay hindi niya pa naranasan ang bagay na ‘yon. Sino ba naman kasi ang gustong magtangka… hindi ba? At isa pa, wala naman siyang panahon para sa ganoong bagay. Masyado siyang abala para maka-survive sa naging buhay niya. Subalit, katulad din naman siya ng ibang babae na gustong maranasan a
Lauren was peacefully sleeping when she woke up from the loud knock on the door. She drowsily opens her eyes, then looks at the clock on her bedside table. It's already eight in the morning. It means that she overslept.All she could do was blame herself for not being able to wake up from the alarm clock. She was exhausted last night from work because there are many people who need to be accommodated in her workplace. In the end all of them work overtime because of that.“Lauren! You bitch, open this damn door!"Hazel continues to knock and shout in front of her room. Hearing this, Lauren quickly got up.Her hair that almost reached her waist, was in a mess as she doesn’t have the time to comb it. Wearing her old pajamas, she lazily opens the door. "What do you want?" Lauren nonchalantly asks her sister.Wala siyang ideya kung ano na namang problema ng kapatid niya ngayon. Bukod doon, wala rin siyang oras para patulan kung ano man ‘yon. It mu
After the confrontation, Stella and Fernand leave the room. Disappointment was seen in Fernand’s eyes, while there was a sly smirk on Stella’s lips when she turned around. The mother and daughter pair surely planned this all along. They make sure she can't retaliate against them.Only Hazel and Lauren were left inside the room.Hazel smiles triumphantly. She slowly walked towards Lauren – who's crying right now. She even mimics Lauren's cry and acts as if she's wiping her tears.“Tsk. You really look pitiful right now.” A wicked smile clearly showed on her face. “You will never win against me. Don't you know that?"Lauren glared at her. "Are you happy now? You destroy my reputation in front of our father."“Duh, of course! Dad doesn’t even care and believe you anymore. And soon, you will be kicked out of this house! But too bad... you’re not yet destroyed to the point you can't stand on your feet." Hazel laughed, then grabbed Lauren's hair. “If you
Minutes have passed and all that's left in the room was Lauren. She’s still sitting and crying on the floor. She's used to that kind of scenario, but she doesn't know why the hell she is crying right now. Maybe because her father won't believe her anymore or is it because she realizes that from the very beginning, she doesn't have someone to rely on.Her stepmother and sister were always scheming behind her back and she always falls for it. She’s too weak to retaliate, and she’s too kind to plot and scheme back on them. Because above everything that they have done to her, Lauren is still believing that someday… they will change.Lauren sighs. It’s too late… too late for her to realize that it won’t happen.She stood up and composed herself. Why would you cry on something that is not worthy of your tears? She scolds herself for being weak at that moment.Lauren wiped her tears, then she looked around at that messy room. From today onwards, she’s goin
Lumingon si Theo paharap kay Hazel at hinawakan ang mga kamay ng dalaga.Makikita ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya. Hazel bit her lower lip, she knows that Theo only cares for Lauren as a little sister, but she can't help it. Her sister is beautiful, and she is jealous of Lauren. Nagagawa nitong kunin ang atensyon ng lalaki kahit wala siyang ginagawa.“We all know how hard-working Lauren is. Therefore Hazel, as her sister you should remind her to rest." paalala ni Theo sa kanya.“You know babe, I always talk to her about it, but she's hard-headed. She doesn't listen to me anymore. I don't know what to do with her. Our parents were also worried about her." Alam ni Theo kung gaano nag-aalala si Hazel para sa kapatid."Maybe you need to talk to her again. Persuade her, maybe this time she will understand you. And if she's not still listening, I'm the one who will talk to her about it. I don't want you stressing yourself over a small thing."Th
Lauren was so focused on her work that she didn’t mind what was happening around her.The moment she looked at the entrance, shock was written on Lauren's face. It was Hazel. Greeting the other guest as she entered the venue.Lauren was nervous as hell! If her sister knows that she’s there, Hazel for sure would do anything to embarrass her. It’s because she loves seeing her have a hard time.They didn’t know that she was working and even if she was working or not… they don’t care. They assume that she’s living her best life, partying… going somewhere… and creating problems. But it is still different if her sister finds out that she’s working there.Sigurado siya na kapag nakita siya ni Hazel sa mga oras na ‘yon, sasabihin niya ito sa magulang nila at kapag nagkataon ay baka mawawalan pa siya ng trabaho. Like what she did a few years ago.Lauren quickly retreated, and because she was in a panic, she didn't notice the person at her
Lauren makes a trip to the top deck after she finishes organizing the luggage to her designated cabin. She only brought a handbag and one suitcase that had enough clothes for her during a one-week trip on the cruise ship. Soon enough, the cruise ship set sail. Lauren tucked some stray hair behind her ears and stared at the sea. Watching the fiery sun moving towards the sea. The sky horizon turned into a brilliant blue, consisting of mixed colors of red, orange, and yellow. The breeze hummed in silence and in harmony with the waves that gently hit the cruise ship. The waters below reflect the breathtaking scenery. Lauren silently admires the scene as her hair sways as if it’s going with the flow of the wind. She felt a sudden ease in her mind and body. These past few days she felt empty inside, but as soon as she stepped on this ship… the exhaustion she felt was gone like a bubble that popped into the air. In contrast to what she felt in their house, the pain