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
Kinarga ni Sam si Charlie habang namimili ng laruan ang anak niya sa isang kilalang toy store sa mall. She was glad that when she explained to her daughter na sandaling male-late ang ama nito sa pagsundo sa kanila, hindi na ito nagreklamo pa.They have been roaming the big toy store for minutes now. Subalit wala pang napipili ang anak niyang laruan. It seems like her daughter is very particular with her gift— the big duck stuff toy.“What about a doll, sweetheart? Don’t you like a doll?” aniya sa anak maya-maya.Umiling ito, tiningala siya. “Just duck, Mommy,” anito bago muling iginala ang mga mata nito sa hilera ng mga lauran na nasa harap nila.“Just let her choose, Sam. We have time,” anang Daddy niya na nakasunod din sa likuran nila. They only have two bodyguards walking with them.“What if she didn’t pick anything? Siguradong gulo ‘yon pagdating ng chopper, D
Agad na napangiwi si Sam nang magkamalay siya. Masakit ang ulo niya at ibang bahagi ng kanyang katawan. Para siyang nabugbog na hindi niya malaman kung ano. Nang mapilitan siyang magmulat, agad siyang binati ng ‘di gaanong naiilawang silid. She tried moving. Napagtanto niyang nasa isang luma siyang papag na gawa sa kawayan nang umingit iyon.She tried to push herself up out of the bed only to be stopped by the continued throbbing of her head. Frustrated, muli siyang napahiga at sinapo ang kanyang nanakit na ulo. Agad na gumala ang mga mata niya sa lugar na kinaroroonan niya.Walang kisame, diretsong bubong at mga lumang kahoy na beam ang nasa itaas niya. Doon nanggagaling ang kakapiranggot na liwanag na nagmumula sa labas ng bahay. Wala ring bintana ang silid. Kung mayroon man, it’s probably the part that was covered by an old plyboard. Nagkalat din ang mga sapot ng gagamba at amoy na amoy ang alikabok sa paligid.How the hell did I e
Tahimik na pinagmamasdan ni Ivan si Arturo De Gracia sa may pintuan ng silid nito habang sinusubuan ito ng agahan ng private nurse na kinuha niya para dito. The man is gaining health by the day. At sabi ni Dr. Matt, it wouldn’t be long and the man would soon recover from the trauma of what had happened to him. Responsive na rin kasi ito sa ilang mga bagay. Hindi katulad nang nakaraang mga araw ng ilang linggong lumipas na lagi itong tulala at hindi makausap nang matino. Malaking tulong na unti-unti na ring naghihilom ang ibang sugat nito sa katawan at mas malaya na itong nakakagalaw sa loob ng silid nito.Madalas, nanonood ito ng TV. Mostly English movies that have a happy theme and doesn’t have violent themes. Dr. Matt said those kind of movies will trigger happy memories of Arturo with his family who still doesn’t have any idea that he’s alive.Honestly, he’s getting bored. He’s supposed to go back to CIA for his next
Agad na hinarap ni Aaron sina Carlo at Dax.“Tumawag kami sa kakilala namin sa San Gabriel. There was a kidnapping that happened in the mall where Sam and Charlie were waiting for you. There was also an open fire that happened at the parking lot when the bodyguards found that Sam and Charlie was taken. Sam’s father got shot and one of the bodyguards was dead on arrival at the hospital,” pagbabalita ni Carlo.Lalo siyang nanlumo. Hindi niya mapigilang sisihan ang sarili niya sa nangyari. Maling-mali talaga na iniwan niya ang mag-ina niya sa San Gabriel. They were never safe anywhere but near him.He clenched his jaw, angry at himself.“The initial investigation is still rolling,” ani Dax. “There’s no lead yet for who did this—““It was my family’s damn enemy isn’t it? Kagagawan niya ‘to,” putol niya kay Dax, humigpit ang pagkakakuyom sa kamay.“A big cha