Third P POV
"Artia! Hindi ka na nahiya sa tito mo! Akala ko ba kaya mong gampanan ang posisyon na iyon?! Bakit pumalpak ka?"
Umalingawngaw sa buong sala ang malakas na boses ni Lauretta. Sinisigawan ang anak. Mahigpit na nakasarado ang kamao ni Artia. Tinatanggap ang mga sinasabi ng ina.
She didn't expect she'd be this angry. Inasahan niya na magagalit ito pero hindi ganitong sobrang galit. She's been shouting at her for am hour. From the office and now here. In the house of Conrad.
"I didn't know this would happen." She lied. This is part of her plan. Hindi naman talaga siya pumalpak dahil successfull ang plano niya.
Pumayag siya sa posisyon at trabahong binigay sa kanya ni Conrad. She became business analyst in their company in an instant. She took part in one of their new project. Sa totoo lang ay aprobado niya takaga ang proyektong pinresent sa kanya. She knows her instinct and knowledge as a business woman th
Labyu all❤ Sana lab niyo din ako👉❤👈 Stay tuned! xoxo♡
Third P POV "To join your celebration." Walang emosyon sabi ni Kingsley. Pwersahan niyang inalis ang kamay ni Artia na nakahawak sa kanya, na para bang nandidiri doon. "What celebration are you talking about?" Dahil sa kalasingan ay hindi gumagana ang bagsik ng kutob ni Artia. Hindi niya mahinuha na ang tinutukot ni Kingsley ay ang scheme na ginawa nito, ang sadyang pagwala sa isang milyon. "You're going to deny it, and then say sorry after?" He asked darkly, his drowsy are now sharp as knife. "Teka, hindi ako makasunod sa sinasabi mo." Litong sambit parin ni Artia at bahagya pang gumewang nang subukan ulit hawakan ang binata. Gusto niyang hawakan dahil ramdam niya ang hilo at naiisip na baka umalis ito kahit hindi pa sila tapos mag-usap. "I know what you've done, Artia. The supplier who took the 1 million pesos, is your f*cking ally. That was your plan, huh?! This is why you wanted t
Third P POV "You'll stay here for good. You rest for a month. I already talked with your secretary and to our managers. Sila na muna ang bahala sa mga trabaho mo. I will also visit the company everyweek. They'll keep me updated, you don't have to worry about our businesses. For a while, you rest." Sandaling hindi nagritiro sa isip ni Artia ang sinabi ng ina. Nalilito ito sa sinabi niya. "Po? Bakit po? Anong pahinga, Ma?" Tanong niya. Bumigat ang paghinga at nakakunot ang noo. "Nag-usap kami ng tito mo, and we came up with a decision that you should rest from your work, kahit saglit lang. Baka pumalpak ka dahil sa sobrang dami ng trabaho na hinahawakan mo kaya naaapektuhan na ang pamamalakad mo sa iyong trabaho." Umiling ng mabilis ang dalaga. "No, Ma. Hindi naman po sa gano'n. Hindi naman po ako nahihirapan at nabibigatan sa trabaho. Its just that, I... I failed to do a background check with that, with that supplier! Ka
"Hmphf!" Her words are muffled.Inalis niya ang hawak sa brasong nakapulupot sa kaniyang bewang. Hinawakan niya ang kamay na nakatakip sa bibig niya at sinubukan alisin iyon. Kingsley noticed that and slowly let go of her.Hinila ni Artia palayo ang kamay na nakatakip sa bibig niya at kahit pa hindi na iyon nakatakip sa bibig niya hindi parin iyon binitawan. Lumingon siya sa likod upang makita ang mukha ng lalaking hawak-hawak siya.It's really Kingsley. Gumaan ang pakiramdam niya ang nabawasa ang takot. Kumalma na ang kaninang naninigas na katawan."Kingsley," sambit nito sa mahinang boses. Hindi makapaniwala na ang binata nga ang nakikita ngayon.Humigpit ang hawak ni Artia sa kamay ni Kingsley. Ilang sandaling nagtitigan lang sila. They don't know if its just because of their situation but something feels strange with their hearts. It felt alive and safe.Her eyes are teary and her lips pouting. L
"What?" He asked surprised."Your plan isn't gonna work! You'll only get yourself at risk. You're just surrendering yourself!"His jaw tightened. Bumuntong hininga bago nagsalita."I'm doing this for you. Hindi ba't importante sayo ang phone mo?""Yes. But I will not let you risk your life for me!" Sagot nito kaagad.Napapitlag silang pareho nang makarinig ng kabog. Mga nahuhulog na bagay sa pagkalkal ng mga magnanakaw.Artia eyes looked at the door. Afraid it might be opened anytime and they'll ger caught. Weirdly, Kingsleys eyes are glued on her face. Intently staring at her beauty. Natulala ito sa ganda ng dalaga.Magulo ang mahabang itim niyang buhok pero kahit ganoon ay hindi ito nakabawas sa ganda ng dalaga.Nang ibalik na ng dalaga ang tingin sa kaniya ay mabilis siyang umiwas ng tingin. Kunwari ay tumingin siya sa ilaw malapit sa ulo ni Artia."I can't just stand he
Third P POVTinawag ni Conrad ang anak upang kamustahin at kausapin tungkol sa nangyari. This is the first time robbers successfully break inside their house. There are guards on the front gate of this subdivision and there are also two guards ensuring the security of their house.Nakapagtakang napasok ng mga ito ang bahay nila.Kingsley glance at Artia who's now embracing her mother tightly. Bakas parin ang shock sa mukha nito. Lumayo sila upang makapagusap ng maayos, siniguradong walang makakarinig sa pag-uusapan.Nakatalikod si Conrad sa mag-ina, si Kingsley naman ay nakikita parin ang dalaga."Alam mo ang itatanong ko." He said tough.Bukod kay Kingsley, alam din ni Conrad na ang may pakana sa pang ambush sa kanya at ang pagkawala ng isang milyon ay pakana ng dalaga. But he's angry with that, in fact he's amazed. Nagmana daw ito sa kaniyang ama."It's not her." Mabilis na sagot ni Kingsley sa am
Third P POV"Saan ka matutulog apo?" Tanong ni Manang Belinda sa alaga.Umahon sa pagkakasandal sa pader na salamin si Kingsley upang magbigay galang sa kausap."Sa baba na po. Ako na po ang mag-aayos sa kwarto ko. Tamad pa ako ngayon kaya bukas nalang." Sambit niya.Tumango ang matanda."Sa gitnang guest room natutulog si Artia. Ikaw na ang bahal kung saan ka matutulog. Baba na din ako at akoy matutulog na.""Is she sleeping?" Tanong niya bago makaalis ang matanda."Pinainom ko siya ng gatas, sana ay makatulong iyon para antukin siya." Sagot ng matanda saka muling nagpaalam at tuluyan ng umalis.Sumandal uli si Kingsley sa pader na salamin at ipinasok ang mga kamay sa bulsa. Hindi siya mapakali at hindi din dinadalaw ng antok. He can sleep in his room, but Artia's visiting his mind.Naiisip niya parin kung gaano takot ang dalaga kanina. At naiinis sa ina nito dahil hindi man lang sina
Artia's POV"No! Ba't naman ako iiyak? Mukha ba akong umiyak?"Nilagok ko ng isahan ang beer na inuunti-unti ko kanina. Lumunok ako ng laway pagkatapos. Bakit niya natanong kung umiyak ako? Namaga ba ang mata ko? Halata ba sa mukha ko na kakagaling ko lang umiyak?Hindi ako makatingin sa kaniya. Nangangambang mabasa niya sa mata ko na nagsisinungaling ako.Tumayo ako ng mabilis."Hindi kapa ba aakyat? Matutulog na ako." Mabilis kong sabi at ipinatong sa lababo ang baso bago naglakad paalis. Nakita ko siyang tumayo na din at iniligpit ang pagkain.Binagalan ko ang paglakad ko para maabutan niya ako. Medyo madilim na sa buong bahay. Nakapatay na ang ilang ilaw at napakatahimik na, baka mamaya multo naman ang makasalubong ko hindi na magnanakaw.Walang umimik sa amin hanggang sa makarating na ako sa tapat ng kwarto. Hinawakan ko ang door handle pero hindi iyon pinihit. Tinignan ko siya sa g
Artia's POV "Why? I mean what? May ibibigay ka?" Dumaan ako sa hagdan dahil hindi ko kayang iangat ang sarili ko papanik. Nakatingin siya sa mga upuan hindi makatingin sa akin. Just like the last time he saw me swimming here wearing only my underwear. Tawang tawa ako sa kaniya noon dahil nakatingala siya. Nasa harapan na niya ako, tumutulo pa ang tubig mula sa katawan ko. He looked at me in the eyes then took out something from his pocket. I frozed when I what that thing is. I immediately recognized that it is a phone and that freakin' phone case is so familiar to me. My eyes turned wide as the headlights. My mouth dropped open and I felt freakin' cold and my heart is pounding so damn hard. "Paanong..." hindi ko matuloy-tuloy ang sasabihin. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa nakikita. Paanong hawak niya ngayon ang phone ko? How the hell did he get it? Kasama ito sa mga ninakaw! Bakit nasa kaniya? "Naibalik kagabi ang lahat ng kinuha nila sa bahay.
-----fast forward----- ***Artia's POV*** "How about you two? Hindi niyo pa ba naiisipang magpakasal? You're on your right age naman. Maaari na kayong magpakasal." "Honestly, I've thought about that. Matagal na kayong magkasintahan, alam kong mauuwi kayong dalawa sa kasalan. Why don't you start planning about it?" Keep remembering it Artia. Keep thinking about it. About their conversation earlier on your dinner. Hindi kapa ba natatauhan? Even your mother and his father are pushing the two to get married. Hindi pa ba sampal sa iyo iyon? You should stop now, before you drown yourself you might not be able to save yourself. Nalulunod kana sa sarili mong patibong. Your great f*cking plan won't work. Ang tagal tagal na pero wala pang improvement ang plan mo. Ang sarili molang ang sinasaktan mo at isinusugal dito. Don't you think its time to back out? Now is the time to change your mind. Wake up, Artia! None of your plan will
Artia's POV Kinabahan ako, akala ko may nagwawala na. Akala ko sinadya ni KIngsley na basagin ang mga bote dahil sa ginagawa namin ni Iulian. But why would he do that? Mukhang wala naman silang pake kahit pa magsex kami dito ni Iulian. Sila nga naghahalikan din kanina. The wine from the broken bottle is spilled on the floor and flow down to the water pool. Some broken glasses fell down in the pool also. What happened became clear to me when I saw a cat near the bottles. Mukhang tumalon ito at iyon ang mga natamaan. Kingsley doesn't own a cat. Kanino kaya ang orange na pusang ito at bakit nandito? THe cat looked like the famous cat in the movie. I forgot the cats name. Mahihirapan akong alalahanin iyon lalo na't lasing. My eyes glance at the two. Courtney slightly in panic moving away from the pool. And then Kingsley, eyes blanked looking at us. When our eyes met he immediately looked away, turned around and left the pool too. I blinked
***Artia's POV*** I couldn't fall asleep why I decided to take a bath. After taking a bath I just wore a thin silk of dress and sat on the floor facing the mirror and resting my back against the table placed in the middle of my walk in closet. I stared at my own reflection in the mirror. From my face, to my body and back to my face. My lips trembled, and my eyes started to sting. I have the face. I have the body. But I have no one. Unlike Courtney, she have friends, she have Iulian and Kingsley beside her for years. She have Kingsley who's loving her. I bit my lips hoping I could stop it from trembling. Now I know the answer to my questions earlier. The kiss I shared with Iulian felt empty. I've kissed many guys, and the truth, it all felt empty. Ako lang itong naglalagay ng meaning at emosyon doon. Sa paraang iyon, nababawasan ang kalungkutang nararamdaman ko. Something really changed, because now I know and have realized that all those
***Artia's POV***Our lips touched and dance together. Just like the music being played, it was slow at first but then coped up with a steady pace. His lips are tender and warm just like Kingsley's lips but it didn't made the butterflies in my stomach fly. I was the one who cut the kiss.I stared at his lips, didn't want to stare at his eyes so he wouldn't see I was distracted while we are kissing. I'm confuse. Why do I feel like something is missing? Why didn't it felt good? Its not because he's not a good kisser, but I didn't enjoyed like how I enjoyed the kisses of Kingsley.Isinantabi ko muna ang mga katanungan na iyon. I should say something. Iulian might get offended with my reaction."Walang magagalit?" I tried to joke. I felt relieved when he chuckled."Sayo? Walang magagalit?" tanong niya pabalik may ngisi sa labi. Umiling ako at itinago ang pasimpling paglunok ng laway.I hope meron. Sana may magalit at sana ay si Kingsley iy
***THIRD P POV***"I feel better with you, next to me."It's strange, how he can remember the words she said. Kingsley looked away and turned his attention to his girlfriend. He didn't want to start a conversation with Artia now that Courtney, Iulian and their other friends are next to them.He just had an argument with his girlfriend, he doesn't want her to have another reason to argue with. Courtney might get jealous. Artia didn't talkedtoo since she really doesn't have anything to say. She stretch a small smile to Courtney, she smiled back but she know she's not really okay that she's here.She chitchat with Iulian and sometimes with the other guys whose name she can't remember. Well, she's not really interested, her mind is clouded with the couple next to her and the trauma Rom left to her.She's thirsty but she don't have the spirit to drink the glasses of alcohol served in front of her. She didn't voice it out. At kahit pa gustuhin man
Kingsleys POV"Bukod sa gusto kitang kasama, wala na akong ibang kaibigan.""Look out for, Artia.""I lost everyone. My Dad's dead. I have no more friends."I closed my eyes tightly hoping I get to focus and stop remembering her voices and those words she said and what her mother said to me too. It keeps visting my mind. I can't stop thinking about it.[Why do you have to take her with you?] I looked out of the window for a second. I can feel her staring at me, listening to my conversation with Courtney on the phone."We already talked about this." No matter how much I lower my voice she can still hear me. I glance at her and her face says it. She's asking if we are arguing.[Yes, we talked about it but I want us to talk about it again. I thought it will just be for a while. Don't tell me she'll come with us sa lahat ng lakad natin.]"Mamaya natin ito pag-usapan."[Fine! Let's just meet there. Hin
Artia's POV "What?" He asked stern now back to being suplado. It was only for a short moment but it was gold for me. Him laughing together with me. Staring at my eyes not to others. Finally he laughed with me. I can't hide the smile formed in my lips. I shook my head and looked away, not wanting him to see that I was too happy just seeing him laughing with me. My heart still feels like its floating in the air above the clouds. Butterflies inside my stomach flying around. Giving the feeling that I haven't felt for years now. "Nothing." I answered. He noticed I was staring at him for a long time why he asked me what. I admit I stared at him so intently. It was too obvious. I should've been careful so he wouldn't get back to being stern so quickly. "I feel sorry to Iulian. I didn't know it tasted so salty. Ang dami niyang kinain," mahinang sambit ko habang nilalaro gamit ang kutsara ang sinangag na niluto ko. Buti nalang pala at hindi si Kingsl
Artia's POV "I just want to say sorry too, about what I said yesterday. No woman wants to be disrespected and molested. Sorry." Parang naisama ko sa paglunok ko ang dila ko dahil hindi ako nakapagsalita. Parang lalabas na din yata sa d****b ko ang puso ko sa lakas ng tibok nito. Dang! What is wrong with me? Bakit ganito makapagreact ang puso ko sa ginawa niya? When I recovered I smiled sweetly at him and said, "Babe, its okay." I bit my lips after talking. Dang! Baka magalit ulit sa akin dahil sa pagtawag ko sa kaniya ng babe. Hindi ko naman sinasadya! It just slip out of my tongue. "You're forgiven." I said my voice automatically turned husky. Our eyes wandered at each other for a while before he looked away and walked. Akala ko ay aalis na siya pero napangiti ulit nang makita siyang sumandal sa may bar counter. I giggled and open the fridge to look at the sandwhich he made for me. Ngiting-ngiti ako habang tinitignan iyon at
Artia's POV "You two already kissed." Mula kanina ay hindi na ako tinantanan ng batang ito. She keeps on asking the same question over and over again everytime she sees me-- no she's following me. "Why are you so eager to know if we did kissed or not?" Gaya ngayon, sinusundan niya ako kahit saan ako magpunta. Kanina ay may kinausap kami ni Kingsley why we left her for a while. Pagkatapos doon ay naghiwalay kami ni Kingsley. I don't know where he went to and if he talked to someone but now I can see him and I'm walking towards his direction. "I heard the other girl is Kuya Kingsleys girlfriend. So if you two already kissed, maybe you seduced him to kiss you. Or you stole a kiss from him since you like him." Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at binalingan ang batang nakasunod sa likod ko. "I like him?" I asked. Parang sure na sure sa sinasabi niya. "Yeah. I can see it in the way you look at him