“How is he?” tanong ni Ivan Sandoval kay Dr. Matthew Lavigne or Dr. Matt. Kaibigan niya ang doktor at kapatid ng isa sa mga katrabaho at pinakamalalapit niyang kaibigan na si Dax. Dr. Matt just finished checking on Arturo De Gracia, the man he had saved from a burning car weeks ago.
The old man asked for help to hide him and keep him safe before he lost his consciousness. And what kind of a protector is he, if he will not heed the injured man’s request?
He used to work for The Organization— a clandestine international security agency sanctioned by the CIA and was composed by elite protectors designed to guard world dignitaries and the ultra-rich. Sina Carlo, Will, Dax at Eric Samaniego ay mga dati rin niyang kasamahan sa The Orgnanization. They live through codes that they have to uphold all through their lives. At kahit pa matagal nang nabuwag ang The Organization, dala-dala pa rin nila ang isa sa mga code ng agency kahit saan sil
Masayang pinagmamasdan ni Samantha sina Charlie at Gael na naglalaro sa mababaw na parte ng beach habang nakaupo naman siya sa buhangin malapit sa pampang. Tila walang kasawa-sawa sa paglalaro ang mga bata sa tubig kahit na halos maghapon nang iyon lang ang ginagawa nila. Kung sabagay, nakakahalina naman kasi ang tubig sa beach. Maging sila ni Aaron, madalas din maligo doon lalo na sa umaga. The beach has its own magic, easing the worries and fears of this world for a while. She heard Charlie giggle as Gael handed her something. The scene was so poignant at nostalgic Sometimes she misses being a child—innocent to the cares of the world. It has been more than a week since they’ve been there. At aaminin niya, they have been living in bliss despite the threats still surrounding them. Their beach house has become their own paradise—a safe haven for her family. She wonders how long it would last when in just a week, birthday na ni Charlie. After that, tutu
Pasimple niyang pinanood ang paglayo ng sasakyan ni Aaron Sandejas at Sam Bautista. Ang ipinagtataka niya, may kasama ang mga itong batang babae. Sa ilang araw na hinahatid ng mga ito ang batang lalaki na taga-aplaya, noon lang niya nakita ang batang babae na kasama ng mga ito.Maya-maya pa, lumabas ang batang lalaki sa bahay nito at lumapit sa tindahan na pinagtatambayan niya.“Pabili po ng toyo, Aling Myrna,” anang bata. Nang tumalikod na ang tindera, kinausap niya ang bata.“Ang gara ng sasakyan na naghatid sa ‘yo kanina a,” aniya.Tumingin sa kanya ang abuhing mga mata ng batang lalaki. “Sa kapatid po ‘yon ni Mayor,” anito.Tumango-tango siya. Kailangan pa bang ipaalala ng bata sa kanya na kaya siya nahihirapan sa pagmamanman niya dahil masyadong maraming bantay si Sam Bautista na kapatid pala ni Mayor Aguinaldo?Pero sanay na siya sa ganoong trabaho. Kaya naging m
Lalong isiniksik ni Samatha ang sarili sa dibdib ni Aaron. Humigpit naman ang yakap nito sa kanya. It was barely 6 o’clock in the morning, subalit naroon na sila sa baybayin at hinihintay ang pagdating ng chopper na nirentahan ni Aaron pabalik sa Maynila.The view of the horizon from afar was amazing. The sky was bursting with beautiful colors— welcoming the rise of the morning sun. The sea was also calm. The sounds of the little waves touching the shore was soothing—like a lullaby. Subalit…“I’m s-scared,” she admitted, hugging him tighter.“I will be fine,” anito bago ginawaran ng marahang halik ang buhok niya. She closed her eyes and relished that moment with him for she never knew when will the next time she would be in his comforting arms again.And sabi nito, he will need to stay in Manila for a few days. Subalit susunduin sila nito ni Charlie roon sa Huwebes—ang araw ng birt
Aaron was instantly surrounded by his brothers the moment his rented chopper landed at SSL Building. His brothers never said any word. They just silently walked with him as they walked to his penthouse of which he has not visited for weeks now.“Mom is inside,” ani Joshua nang nasa pinto na sila.“Hindi siya mapakali sa bahay kaya sinama ko na,” ani Kiel.He took in a sharp breath before he key-in the passcode for his door lock. Nang tumunog ang door lock, agad niya iyong tinulak pabukas.He instantly saw his mother sitting on the couch, anxiously waiting for him—for them. Nakakailang hakbang pa lamang siya papasok sa penthouse niya nang agad siyang salubungin ng Mommy niya.His mother instantly held him into a tight embrace before she finally broke down into tears. “Oh, Aaron. Hindi ko na alam ang dapat kong isipin. Who would have done this… this… evil thing?” his mother s
Samantha was holding Charlie on her lap as they sat on the swing. They had been there for almost two hours now—comforting her baby from the two bad news she had woke up from.Kanina, nang magising ito, agad nitong tinanong kung nasaan si Aaron. And when she told her that Aaron went to Manila to fix something and will only be back to pick them up on her birthday, agad na naghurumentado ang anak niya.Charlie cried endlessly asking for her father. At hindi naman niya ito magawang tawagan dahil alam niyang abala ito sa pakay nito sa Maynila. Charlie barely even had breakfast. Her daughter was so upset. Nang magyaya ito sa beach, tinanong naman nito kung anong oras ang dating ni Gael upang makapaglaro na ang mga ito.At that moment, she hated herself to be the bearer of bad news but she needed to tell Charlie the truth that Gael will not come to play with her anymore because he went back to
Aaron was angrily pacing inside his house. That was the first time their mystery enemy had done something bold like that. At hindi niya alam kung matatagalan pa niya ang ganoong klaseng ayos ng buhay.“Have you checked the CCTVs?” tanong niya kay Dax na noon ay kasama niya rin sa sala ng penthouse niya. Kasama rin niya roon si Carlo at ang mga kapatid niya.“Yes, we already did. Pero sa pinadala sa legit courier ‘yong box. Maingat talagang trumabaho, boss,” anito.“Na-trace na rin ni Eric ang mismong rider na nagdeliver ng box. Hindi raw nila alam kung kanino galing ‘yong box. Basta pina-pick up na lang daw sa isang palengke na bayad na.” dugtong pa ni Carlo.He huffed and angrily raked his fingers through his hair. His patience is running thin. And he doesn’t understand why these things have to happen now when he was planning to live a peaceful life abroad with his Sam at Charlie.
Tahimik na pinagmamasdan ni Kristine ang libing ng Daddy niya mula sa ‘di kalayuan. She wasn’t able to visit for the three-day wake of her father dahil alam niya, may mga nakaabang na media. At hanggang ngayon, halos ayaw pa niyang makipag-usap sa kahit kanino maliban na lang sa boyfriend niya. Idagdag pa na ayon sa boyfriend niya, hinahanap pa rin daw siya ng mga Sandejas dahil sa eskandalong ginawa niya. Kaya sa sementeryo na lang siya nagpunta upang daluhan ang libing ng ama. Mas mabuti na iyon. Mas tahimik. Mas nakakapag-isip siya gaya na rin ng ginawa niya nang nakalipas na ilang araw. Pinanood niya ang pagbaba ng crane sa puting casket ng Daddy niya sa lupa. Lalong bumigat ang d*bdib niya nang maisip that she’ll never ever see her father again—the only parent who had stayed with her throughout the years. Her only parent who was taken to her unjustly by her powerful enemies—the Sandejas. Nang tuluyang maibaba sa lupa ang casket ng Daddy niya at unti-unti
“Are you sure you didn’t forget anything?” tanong ni Sam sa anak. Charlie’s brows furrowed and checked her little pony bag she had with her. Sandali nitong ininspeksyon ang laman niyon. Pagkatapos ng ilang segundo, nag-angat ito ng tingin sa kanya at ngumiti. “Mama Duck and all of her babies are inside my bag now, Mommy,” balita nito. Napangiti siya at marahang kinurot ang pisngi ng anak niya. Today is her baby’s birthday. And she can’t believe how time flew. Parang kailan lang noong nalaman niya na buntis siya. Even then she had never thought of Charlie as a burden even though her life was turning upside down. She always knew she’d fight life tooth and nail, just to give birth to Charlie. Kahit siguro hindi niya nahanap ang Daddy niya at si Lucas, she would’ve strived harder just to give Charlie a better life. Her baby is her joy. Her very own miracle. Maya-maya pa, lumitaw na ang isa sa mga katulong sa pinto ng