"Sir, I apologized; we're working on the plan, but our men are insufficient. In order to dispose of those bombs promptly, we require more backups. I've also contacted the authorities to help us keep track of Miss Alvandra."I closed my eyes for a moment. I still can't believe Raviel was willing to involve innocent people just to lure me out. I don't think this is about his parent's death anymore. He must have held a huge grudge against me. "Do everything, Mr. Tory. Jothea's life depends on it," I pleaded. "How about we call her parents?" he suggested. "No, don't do that." I declined. Knowing her parents, they won't bother to help, since I know they were trying to conspire with Raviel before. I just realized that when they went to Mondalla's residences. They knew about Jothea's recent stay in my penthouse. Just like how Raviel discovered it when he told everyone back at Marcus University about us.I also received a couple of blackmails from Jothea's mother, and that's why I was reall
I finally found myself arrived in the lot where Jothea is. A long chain hung from the ceiling, binding her hands. She was standing up, wet in every part of her body. Her head is dripping blood down to her ivory face. She was unconscious. I immediately rushed over to her in haste to free her, but I suddenly noticed it wasn't water at all; rather, her entire body was drenched with gas.I tapped her face, waking her up, and I did it several times, losing hope for her to open her eyes."Jothea, please wake up. I'm here," I cried while clearing the hair on her face and tucking it behind her ears.Slowly, her lids opened, and her eyes met mine, and that was when tears started to pour again. "Ismael..." She called my name with a smile. "You're here. I'm saved. You saved me again." She closed her eyes again, causing me anxiety."Yes, my love. I'm here. Please don't close your eyes for me. Keep yourself awake," I told her while completely unbinding her hands. She immediately fell into my arms,
I took a second glance at Jothea again, and I saw her still unconscious because of the amount of gas she had inhaled. We need to get out of here as soon as possible, both for her safety and for the baby in her stomach.The environment had transformed before my eyes. The light was fading. My gaze rose to the heavens. A deafening rumble emanated from the clouds."What's going on?" Raviel inquired in surprise. "Did you call for the police?"With a shake of my head, I opposed it. "It wasn't the police, Raviel, but because that thing was in the air, you wouldn't be able to set fire in this place."Cloud seedling...Gradually, heavy rain fell. While he was preoccupied with the mayhem around him, I seized the opportunity to flee from that location. The intense downpour and gusty winds prevented him from lighting the lighter as he had intended.I kept trying to escape with Jothea, thinking that maybe we could get out of this nightmare together, but the world only kept pulling me in deeper and
I slowly opened my eyes, and what welcomed me was a white room. I must be in a hospital room. Unti-unti akong bumangon at dagli kong naramdaman ang kirot sa likod ko. Muli kong naalala ang nangyari. Maging ang balang sinalo ko para kay Ismael. Hindi ko mapigilang mapaluha."You're awake..."I turned to my right to see Ismael's face. His eyes were swollen, and he even had a dark circle under them. He must not have been sleeping well, because he's looking over me."Ismael." My voice cracked when tears welled up in my eyes. I immediately opened my arms to ask for a hug, which he did. His thighs are in between my legs."Jothea, my love..." he mouthed as he sniffed my scent. I felt his embrace tighten. "Ismael, hindi ako makahinga," giit ko, pero hindi niya ako pinakawalan. Narinig ko na lamang siyang parang sumisinghot, dahil tahimik na umiiyak. Patuloy ang paghaplos niya sa buhok at likod ko na para bang ako ang kailangang paamuhin ngayong siya naman ang umiiyak."Brace yourself. I coul
"Was that a name?""Yes, baby. I recently came up with our child's name. It would be Cal Mondalla."Namangha ako sa sinabi niya. Huwag niyong sabihing iyon ang pinagkaabalahan niya, habang binabantayan niya ako rito. I doubt it; baka nga hindi lang isang pangalan ang mayroon na siya ngayon, baka labing-dalawa."Why would all of the names in this world make you choose Cal? Sinasabihan mo pa ako noon na ang pangit kong mag-isip ng pangalan dahil ang ibinigay kong pangalan sa pusa natin ay Mael, eh, galing naman sa pangalan mo 'yon!"Tumawa siya. "Cal as in Calculus."Ako naman ang natawa. "Mukhang walang tatawag sa pangalan ng anak natin dahil pangalan palang nakaka-trauma na," I jested. "Were you traumatized because of the subject I teach or because of me?""Pwede both?"We laugh at each other. I missed talking to him like this. Makipag-asaran at makipagtawanan, pero sa lahat ng namimiss ko, ang pinakanami-miss
He looked at me. "No, don't say that." He caressed my tummy. "When this one is born, I will not be the only one who will prove to you that you are relevant in this world, Jothea. You are not a mistake. You would be the mother of men who would be the line of gentlemen who respect and treat women just like I treat you. If our parents failed to be parents to us, then at least we shouldn't be like them, right?"Naalala ko ang pag-uusap namin ni Joth noon. This is also what we wanted. We don't want to be like our parents. Kung magkakaroon man ng pagkakataong mabuhay kaming muli, mas pipiliin ko na lang na ako ang maging magulang ng mga magulang ko at sila na lang ang maging anak ko. "We shouldn't be like them, Ismael," I stated as I placed his head on my chest. We remained just like this for a moment before we chose to sleep together on the bed. Magkayakap.*****Ismael told me that Raviel and Roxsielle were in jail. The gathered evidence proved their
"Then was it because of what happened to you?"Hindi ako nakapagsalita. I knew it. They probably knew that the woman Ismael wanted to marry was raped by someone else. They wouldn't want their son to marry someone like me; it would tarnish their reputation."It might be hard for you, Jothea, but we're here for you. Don't worry. Walang makakaalam ng bagay na iyon, bukod sa amin. Our relatives won't know, even Isa, Jothea. Hindi niya iyon malalaman. I assure you." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko, para pagaanin ang loob ko. Namuo ang luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko. "Hindi mo naman ginusto ang nangyari, at hindi iyon magiging kabawasan sa iyo. I still want you for my son, hija."Hinaplos niya ang buhok ko at dahil sa paraan ng pagtingin niya sa akin na may halong pagtanggap ay hindi ko na napigilan ang mga luha ko. Mahigpit ko siyang niyakap.Patuloy niyang hinaplos ang buhok ko na para bang iniibsan niya ang bigat na nararamdaman ko sa puso ko. "That memory
Natawa ako. "He's awake. He keeps on kicking every side of my tummy.""I have something for you," he said, bago ipinakita ang bouquet of daisies na nagtatago pa kanina sa likod niya."Ismael!" reklamo ko. Bigla na lang akong napaluha dahil sa nag-uumapaw na sayang nararamdaman. "Magkakasipon ka sa ginagawa mo!"He flashed a smile. "I don't mind. As long as I can see you smile, I'm willing to give you flowers every day." "Ismael naman, eh." Niyakap ko siya at hinalikan sa pisngi. "Thank you. I love these.""I also brought you an egg pie, which you always craved." Ipinakita niya sa akin ang isang kahon ng mamahaling egg pie na palagi kong nire-request sa kaniya na bilhin niya. Mas lalo akong napangiti."Thank you, but I forgot to tell you that I want an egg pie that is extra burnt on the crust."He scoffed. "For real?" Binuksan niya ang kahon ng egg pie bago umupo sa bedside sofa. Hinawakan niya rin ang baywang ko bago ak