David’s P.O.V.
[The dialogues inside ~YAN~ and ~ZEL~ are all flashbacks]
After two months, unti-unti nang naitatayo ang main building ng Charmed Hotel. We initially targeted the project to be finished in just a year.
Well, if only I could make it in less than a year for me not to work with her any longer, I would do it—but finishing a high-cost project in just a year was impossible to happen. Lalo pa ngayon na nag-back out ‘yong isa naming material supplier para sa annex building.
In addition, lots of key segments should be considered in constructing a five-star hotel. Hindi dapat ‘yon minamadali. And that was the main reason why Chad was here in my office—we had discussed about the new construction plan and improvements.
Two months ago, Sir Benneth informed me if I would want to be relocated at the Innovest Design Lab in Taiwan for six months. The good
Athena’s P.O.V. “Yes, I am. Why and who is this? What happened to Denise? Where is she?” aligaga at nag-aalalang mga tanong ni Cristoff—I mean, ni David—doon sa kausap niya sa telepono. Dala marahil ng matinding bugso ng damdamin, napatayo pa talaga siya mula sa pagkakaupo. On the verge of being defeated, I rolled my eyes before letting out a deep sigh of annoyance. Pagkatapos ng modelong si Melissa na lantarang kahalikan niya sa seaside ng QDMC Avenue Mall at kahalikan pa rin niya noong nag-scuba diving kami sa Casa Evangelista; sa ex-girlfriend slash secretary niyang si Vanessa na hanggang ngayon ay palagi niyang kasama; sa iba’t ibang babaeng nali-link sa kanya sa loob at maging sa labas ng kumpanya; tapos ngayon, Denise naman? Ilang babae pa ba ang makaka-engkwentro ko sa kanya? Ilang babae pa ba ang kailangan niyang gamitin para ma-realize niyang ako talaga ang mahal niya?
Athena’s P.O.V.Tahimik ko lamang siyang sinundan. It was a good thing na hindi si Mariah ‘yong gamit ko ngayon, kung hindi ay baka nakilala na niya ako agad. I was driving Carah—my white Convertible Corvette now, which was named after my second name. And as props, I was even wearing shades.It was the first time I brought Carah in the EGC, so I didn’t think David knew that I was the owner of this car. After all, he was still clueless that I knew his sabotaging plans, and he wouldn’t mind about me given his urgent situation right now.Focus lang talaga ako sa pagmamaneho habang sinusundan ko siya. Kung mabagal akong magmaneho noon, hindi na ngayon. I made sure na hindi siya mawawala sa paningin ko.Pero kung noon ay kinakabahan ako sa pagpunta ko sa ibang lugar nang mag-isa, ngayon ay ibang klase na ng kaba ang nararamdaman ko—kaba na nagsasabing k
Athena’s P.O.V.Mamayamaya pa ay pinahid ni David ang mga luha sa magkabilang pisngi ng babae at niyakap niya ‘yon nang walang kasing higpit. Sa mga oras na ‘to, I just wished that I knew how to do lip-reading! I wished I knew how to read minds as well, because I wanted to know David’s thoughts and feelings. I didn’t care at all kung kasama man ako roon o hindi.Hell, damn it!Nakakainis lang na hindi ko naririnig kung ano man ‘yong pinag-uusapan nilang dalawa. Nakakainis na nakikita ng dalawa kong mga mata na ‘yong lalaking ni hindi man lang ako magawang ngitian ay nakangiti ngayon sa piling ng iba… na para bang sinasabi ng mga ngiti niyang ‘yon, na magiging okay rin ang lahat.Throughout my entire life, I had never felt this level of pain… not until I saw how David was smiling at her. Ako dapat ‘yon eh. Ak
Athena’s P.O.V.Habang hinahalikan ko si Cristoff, naramdaman ko na mabilis niya akong niyakap sa baywang at hinila papasok sa penthouse bago niya sinara ang pinto nito. I was about to let him go nang gumanti siya ng mga nag-aalab na halik sa akin at kulang na lang ay sakupin na niya ang buong bibig ko.I couldn’t exactly put everything into words, pero nanggigigil din niyang binuksan ang mga labi ko para laruin at sipsipin ang dila ko. Well, that was how I felt and it was entirely magnificent.Hindi lang ‘yon, umabot pa talaga ang mga labi niya sa aking leeg at tingin ko’y nag-iwan pa nga ‘yon ng marka sa aking balat. Ang mga kamay niya na kanina ay nasa baywang ko lang ay nakaakyat na at dahan-dahan nang pumipisil sa magkabilang umbok ng dibdib ko, na nagdudulot ng kakaibang kiliti sa buo kong katawan.Then, he owned my lips again while cupping my chee
Athena’s P.O.V.“Can I come in?” I answered David’s question with a question.He might have forgotten to peek through the peephole that was why he was surprised to see me here. It was awkward to ask the same way as how my dream started, but this one was real… and it was impossible for that dream to happen here.David did not answer. He just opened the door wide enough for me to enter his place.“Thanks,” I said as I turned to him… and it was too late for me to realize that I shouldn’t. My jaws quickly dropped off the floor because I wasn’t expecting to see him this way.His mass of unruly hair matched with brown eyes as intense as dark chocolate just added an inexplicable effect to his unique form of handsomeness. My eyes got stuck with his lips and heat rose on my cheeks after remembering how he ate m
David’s P.O.V.“Spill the beans now, my dear handsome brother! Do you really have to make her jealous? I mean, why do you have to hurt her feelings in the first place? Is it really necessary to pull a stunt that I’m your girlfriend? Like, eww! Hindi ka ba nandiri?” Denise roared once we’re already seated in front of the dining table. Magkatapatan kaming dalawa, and I could see how her eyebrows almost got knitted with each other.Quite guilty, I could still remember Athena’s face and how her lovely green eyes were almost begging me to listen to her—when she said that there was something she wanted me to know. But like the previous scenarios, ayokong lumambot lang ulit sa kanya ang puso ko.Once was enough. Twice was too much. Thrice would be over to us!Kaya as much as possible at hangga’t kaya ko, umiwas na lang ako. In additio
David’s P.O.V.I drove Denise back to the hospital where his fiancé was currently admitted. Nagkakasayahan sila kahapon sa The Love Shack—isa sa mga sikat na videoke bars sa Alabana, nang makita raw nilang wala nang malay ang binata sa loob ng CR.Now I realized that despite what she had been going through, Denise was still able to be jolly around me with her slight memories of Athena. Maliit na nga lang na bagay ‘yon, pero ipinagkait ko pa sa kanya. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ngayon ay wala akong kuwentang kuya!When we reached the parking lot and my car came to a full stop, lalabas na sana ako para pagbuksan siya ng pinto nang hindi man lang niya hinintay na gawin ko iyon para sa kanya. Denise was also going through a lot, and yet, I was too stubborn and egotistical para saktan ko siya.Sana ay pinag-isipan ko muna nang mabuti bago ako nagbitiw ng mga masasakit na
David’s P.O.V.“Cancel all my appointments for today, Vanessa.” I told my secretary.It wasn’t really true that I filed a leave for today. I only planned to report to office late because of Denise. But now, it looked like I would finally use the said leave.If only Athena knew that I would use my leave for her. If only she knew that it was her, I would have ever wanted to spend all of my days with. But was it already too late?“But, Dave—” Vanessa attempted to protest, but I cut her off. Her eyes were full of confusion.“You heard me right! No buts, no ifs. Cancel all my meetings!” I grimly said while checking some of my e-mails. Wala namang gaanong importante sa scheduled meetings ko ngayon. Those could still be moved. Mas importante pa rin ang babaeng tanging sinisigaw ng puso ko.&ldquo
Athena’s P.O.V.“Please, Cristoff. Tap your wristband!” I was impatiently tapping my wristband, but I couldn’t do anything to know his exact location… unless he would be the one to tap his.Pakiramdam ko, nauubusan ako ng oras at sa sobra kong pagkalito kung bakit kailangang mangyari ang lahat nang ito ngayon ay wala akong ibang maisip na paraan para makita siya agad. I was about to call Kuya Liam, when I suddenly remembered Denise…“Wow, how cute!” I snapped.The mini robot’s height was only about twelve-inch long. “This one is also for you. But you only have to turn it on once, Ate Athena. Sa oras lang na ikaw naman ‘yong naghahanap kay Kuya at hindi mo siya makita.”“Hmm, what do you mean by that?” I was staring at the
Athena’s P.O.V. It was just a short drive as we only decided to dine in at the ground floor of the Lexington Hotel, located at the east part of Countryside, Alabana. Halos hindi na nga kami nakapag-usap sa loob ng sasakyan. And that was a good thing dahil hindi ko rin naman alam ang sasabihin ko sa kanya. Not until… “Grabe, Cristoff! Ang dami naman nang in-order mo. Pinapataba mo ba ako?” nakangiting sabi ko sa kanya while still exploring my sight sa iba’t ibang putahe na inilalagay ng waiter sa mesa. I guessed Cristoff ordered via call or online. From the looks of it, I could say that he even reserved the restaurant for the two of us tonight. Masasarap ang lahat nang in-order niya at paniguradong masisira ang diet ko. Like The Mediterranean, the Lexington Restaurant also offers European foods—probably, to get three Michelin stars and have a healthy competition with the former. What I was seeing right now were paella, pierogi, goulash, gyros, and cheese fondue. “Hmmm, sort of!” C
Athena’s P.O.V. Another day had passed at hindi ko pa rin maiwasan ang mag-overthink. For almost four months, hindi na ako nakakatulog nang maayos sa gabi. Hindi dahil sa masyado akong busy sa EGC at CD Squared, kung hindi dahil sa isang bagay na patuloy lang na gumugulo sa aking isip. Pakiramdam ko, kung makakatulog man ako ay paulit-ulit ko pa ring mapapanaginipan ang nangyari nang mga oras na ‘yon. At paulit-ulit din akong sasampalin ng katotohanang ayaw sa’kin ng nakatatandang kapatid ni Cristoff. As much as I didn’t want to bury myself with what I heard, insecurities were reigning over me. I wanted to win Ate Diane’s favor, but I didn’t know where I would start with… until the plans went into ashes. “I don’t like her for you, Dave. Bakit ba paulit-ulit ka na lang na nahuhumaling sa babaeng ‘yan? High school pa lang, sinaktan ka na niya. No’ng college ka naman, halos
Athena’s P.O.V. It had already been almost four months since my accidental eavesdropping happened, and until now, I still didn’t know how to treat Cristoff right. I was guilty as hell, knowing that I was slowly walking away from him while weaving different sets of alibis. What I said when we were on the fire exit was true—Nadine and I really stayed at our mansion in Quezon City to talk about the reason behind that old letter. She explained to me her reasons and I was informed then, that she had also explained her side to Cristoff. I let that one pass. Siguro, kung ngayon niya ginawa sa’kin ‘yon ay hindi ko ‘yon mapapalagpas. Magagalit talaga ako kay Nadine dahil parang trinaydor niya ako sa kabila ng tiwalang ibinigay ko sa kanya. But then, hindi pa naman niya ako noon kilala at kailangan niya lang talaga ng pera. There was nothing weaker than a person’s mind, most especially in the face of money. Kapag gipit na gipit ka na, gagawin mo talaga ang lahat kahit na ang kumapit pa sa pa
Athena’s P.O.V.“Iniiwasan mo ba ako, Athena?” tila nagdududang tanong sa akin ni Cristoff—isang linggo pagkatapos ng insidenteng iyon.We just bumped into each other when we opened the same fire exit door at the twelfth floor. Paakyat siya at pababa naman ako. Naka-preventive maintenance kasi ang main elevator at malayo naman ‘yong secondary elevator sa office ko.It felt like my chest had swiftly congested by his question. Dahil hindi ko siya kayang tingnan nang diretso, I averted my stares away from Cristoff. Bababa na sana ako para pumunta sa tenth floor nang hawakan niya ang kaliwang braso ko.My mind was cloudy at first, but I chose to pretend like nothing had happened. Tutal, doon naman ako magaling—ang magkunwari.“Huh? Ano bang sinasabi mo diyan? I was just in a rush to see Evanna. At saka, bakit naman kita iiwasan?” pagmamaang-maangan kong tanong sa kanya pabalik. I was smiling at him, just for the two of us to feel that everything was still at ease.Pero sa totoo lang, naii
David’s P.O.V. [Back to the Present] Nagmamadali akong bumalik sa opisina ko, pero wala na akong inabutang Athena na naghihintay sa loob nito. Just when I thought that I would be able to surprise her, I was the one who got surprised at all. And what made me even more surprised was seeing her mini robot still on top of my coffee table. I even knocked on the door of my personal restroom dahil nagbaka-sakali akong nasa loob lang siya nito, pero ni anino niya ay hindi ko nakita nang buksan ko ang pinto nito. It had been a month and I wasn’t yet able to tell her what I had discovered. Actually, hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa kanya ang totoo. Alam kong mabibigla siya, kaya hanggang ngayon ay humahanap pa rin ako ng tamang tiyempo. Nagmamadali akong lumabas at napag-alaman kong naka-lock na ang glass door ng opisina niya, which possibly means na umuwi na siya. Kumatok pa ako roon nang ilang beses—making sure na baka nasa loob lang siya, pero wala talaga. These past few days ka
David’s P.O.V. “Take care of Athena, Dave. Angelo and I—we are leaving. We are going back to Germany,” Tyler hissed. “You don’t have to tell me what to do. I’ll always take care of her. But why are you leaving so soon? Is it because of Angelo’s mother?” walang paligoy-ligoy at diretso kong tanong. Hindi naman sumagot si Tyler. Nag-iwas lang ito ng tingin at saka sinuklay paitaas ang buhok. It was none of my business, but I wanted to make him realize some sense. I wasn’t expecting him to listen to me, but for Angelo’s sake… I was hoping. Then, I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t have any right to tell you this or instruct you on what you should do next, but just a piece of advice. Angelo deserves to meet his real mother. Huwag mo naman sanang ipagkait sa kanya kung ano ang totoo.” Tyler remained speechless for a while until he was able to say, “I had to resume work and take care of our business in Germany, Dave. Well, about Angelo’s real mother… she’s dead. That’s why Athena stood up for
David’s P.O.V.But whatever it was, I would not make a big deal out of it. Kung tutuusin ay pabor na pabor ‘yon sa’kin. I knew that Kuya Liam only did it for good. For all the things he did to me, alam kong hindi ako kailanman ipapahamak at pababayaan ng bayaw ko.Kuya Liam was the one who bailed me out of the jail and at that time, he even flew all the way to Europe. He gave me a lawyer who would take care of my case, without me worrying so much about my future. Of all the people, I would trust Kuya Liam even more.Kung ano man ang naging usapan nilang dalawa ni Don Miguel involving Athena and I, the deal was indeed at my advantage if part of the plan was for our paths to cross again in the corporate world. I wished it was, pero hindi ko pa rin napigilang mapalunok.If that was the case, what about the stage
David’s P.O.V. “About Angelo. Whose son is he?” I found myself asking him despite the fact that I didn’t want to begin any conversation with him. If I had a firearm here, I would have threatened him at gunpoint for him to divulge the truth to me. Mahina ang pagkakasabi ko dahil baka magising sila Athena, ngunit binigyang diin ko naman ang bawat salita—habang diretsong nakatingin sa mga mata ng taong naging bahagi ng masalimuot kong nakaraan. Nagtatagis ang aking mga bagang habang kaharap ang isa sa mga taong minsa’y pinagkaitan ako ng kaligayahan. “Enough with all the lies, please!” My voice was still controlled as I snapped at Tyler. Right now, the gushing blood through my whole system was already at boiling point and my nose was indeed flaring in anger. Matigas kong kinuyom ang mga kamao ko. Pinipigilan ko ang sarili ko ngayon dahil kaunti na lang talaga ay baka bigla ko nang mahawakan at maiangat ang kanyang kuwelyo. His son already spilled the beans, and I believed Angelo with