Maingay sa tenga ni Aaron ang pagtik-tak ng orasan niya. Sumasabay sa tunog na nililikha niyon ang pagkabog ng dibdib niya habang nakatingin siya sa abandonadong bahay kung saan dinala ang mag-ina niya.
Kanina, nang ma-locate nila nang tuluyan ang kinaroroonan nina Sam at Charlie, Major Javellana immediately coordinated the information to the other agencies his family had sought help for. Maging ang ibang mga tauhan ni Eric sa SSA, pinagalaw na rin niya upang tulungan slia sa rescue operation ng mag-ina niya. Wala pang isang oras, narating nila ang Nueva Ecija where they were welcomed by the police head na kakilala rin mismo ni Eric. The head of provincial PNP in Nueva Ecija instantly alerted his men about the operation and from there they travelled another half an hour just to reach their destination.
And after more than 10 agonizing hours since Sam and Charlie was taken, here they are, in front of an old abandoned house— the ex
Nagmadaling humakbang si Samantha sa kinaroonan ng baril upang sana ay pulutin iyon. Subalit mabilis na inabot ni Kristine ang paa niya at buong lakas nito iyong hinila. Agad siyang napaluhod at napahiyaw sa sakit na sumigid sa mga tuhod niya.“Mommy!” sigaw ulit ni Charlie.“Stay where you are, Charlie. Hide behind the sofa,” mabilis niyang utos sa anak sa kabila ng iniindang sakit. She turned to Kristine who was still holding her ankle.“You are not going anywhere, bitch,” anito.She mustered all the strength she had and kicked Kristine’s face. Agad nitong binitiwan ang paa niya, humawak sa ilong nito at humiyaw sa sakit.She was determined to fight. At kung mamamatay lang din siya talaga ngayong gabi, mamatay siyang lumalaban.When Kristine let go of her foot, she crawled her way to the gun and grabbed it. She struggled to stand. He knees were still hurting from the impact of the fall.
Abot-langit ang kaba ni Aaron habang pinagmamasdan niya si Samantha na nakahiga sa stretcher. They were now inside the ambulance and was on their way to the nearest hospital. Hawak niya ang anak niya na ayaw nang bumitiw sa kanya mula nang makita siya nito. Truth be told, he doesn’t want to let go of her child too.Nangyari ang mga nangyari ngayong araw dahil hindi niya kasama ang mga ito.And he doesn’t want to make the same mistake again now or in the future.Agad na nag-replay sa isip niya ang nakita niyang pagkakabaril kay Samantha kanina. Muli siyang nilukob ng galit at takot. Galit para sa tauhan ni Eddie na bumaril kay Sam at takot para sa babaeng pinakamamahal niya na ngayon ay nag-aagaw-buhay.Sam, groaned. She was going in and out of consciousness for some time now and he’s getting more and more anxious by every minute they spend there in that cramped up ambulance.“Are we there yet?” tanong niy
Aaron’s mind was in a daze. Pakiramdam niya nananaginip lang siya at ang mga nangyari ng nakalipas na ilang oras ay hindi totoo. Kundi isa lamang mahabang bangungot na kahit na anong ipilit niya, hindi siya magising-gising.He had been awake for almost 24 hours now subalit parang wala siyang maramdamang antok. Wala kasi sa pahinga ang isip niya. Iisa lang ang nais niya, ang magising na si Sam.Last night, Sam went critical. Dax and Carlo had to hold him down to keep him from rushing inside the ICU suite where Sam was at. He wanted to see her, be with her and tell her to hold on and fight for him and Charlie. Mabuti na lang din at pinigilan siya ng mga bodyguards niya. Now that he’s sane enough to reflect on his actions, it was really stupid in his part to interfere when the doctors and nurses were frantically working on to save Sam.In the end, he was forced to pray and wait for he had nothing left to do but just that. The uncertainty w
Aaron slowly entered the ICU room where Sam was at. The room was lighted perfectly, but for him, it looks gloomy—close to hopeless.Alanganin siyang humakbang palapit sa hospital bed. At nang naroon na siya, lalong bumigat ang dibdib niya dahil wala pa ring ipinagbago ang kalagayan ni Sam. It has been two days since Sam was shot. Subalit hindi pa rin ito nagigising. He talked to the doctors over and over. But they would always say the same thing—that Sam is stable only, unconscious. For how long? That, they don’t know. Nakadepende raw iyon lahat kay Sam.The doctors assured him over and over that Sam is stable and have a great chance to recover. But the waiting is killing him. Ganoong ganoon rina ang naramdaman niya pagkatapos maaksidente ni Monique. At aminin man niya o hindi, natatakot siya.The dread of how powerless he is washed over him again. His mother told him that he needs to wait it out fo
Humugot nang malalim na hininga si Aaron nang ipasok ng mga pulis si Eddie sa interrogation room. Eddie was wearing an ordinary shirt and pants. His hair was disheveled and his hands were bound in handcuffs. Napakalayo ng itsura nito sa Eddie na kilala niya na laging pormal at maayos manamit.The bastard looked healthy too even being detained-- no sign of fear or remorse in his eyes. And it angered him all the more! How could he be so healthy and relazed when Sam is in the hospital fighting for her life?Eddie should be tortured and be left alone to die, he thought grimly.The policeman forced Eddie to sit on the chair that was facing a table. Above it was the only light illuminating the room.He was watching on the other room from a one-way viewing window. Kasama niya roon ang mga kapatid niya, pati na rin si Ana, Carlo at Dax.Maj. Javellana entered the interrogation room and sat on the chair in front of Eddie. Ilang sandali p
“Should we go and check her out now?” said Kiel in a worried tone. His brother was walking to and fro inside the library of his penthouse. Doon sila dumiretso na magkakapatid matapos nilang magtungo sa police station para sa confession ni Eddie. Doon kasi pansamantalang tumutuloy ang Mommy niya.His mother had been staying with him for two days now since the incident. Ito ang personal na tumitingin kay Charlie tuwing lumalabas siya at pinupuntahan si Sam sa ospital.And he must admit, his mother’s presence in his life now is very significant. If it wouldn’t be for his mother who had been encouraging him since day one, he wouldn’t have survived that first day Sam was brought to the hospital.His mother was his guide during this time that he’s walking on shaky ground, just like how she had been to all of his brothers. At kahit na nakukunsensiya siya na kuwestiyunin ito tungkol mga bagay na ipinagtapat ni Eddie kani
Aaron tightened his grip on his leg as he awaits for his mother's explanation of things.His mother cleared her throat before she continued.“Irina came from a wealthy family and used to be a part of your father’s inner circle in college. Their families were close too. They practically grew up together. Your father said that Irina was sweet and caring. But she started to change when Irina learned that your father and I was already in a relationship. Irina maligned me in front of other people—most especially to your grandparents. She even spread a rumor in the university that I was carrying another man’s baby. But your father trusted me and didn’t believe all of Irina’s allegations about me. Your father confronted Irina and she confessed that she loves him. But should I be the one to weigh things, Irina was obssesed with your father. Greg rejected her that instant and threatened to sue her should she continue to trea
Agad na lumapit si Joshua kay Aaron.“What does she want now?” his brother asked, his fists were balled.‘’I don’t know. She just specifically asked me to go and see her,” aniya.“Will you go?” si Kiel.He gently shook his head. “I-I don’t know. I cannot go near her now without wanting to hurt her,” pag-amin niya, ikinuyom ang mga kamay.That’s the truth. Hindi pa humuhupa ang galit niya kay Gregory at sa mga kasama nitong nagplano ng masama sa pamilya niya.And if Kristine only wanted to see him to beg for her freedom, he surely will not give it to her kahit na lumuha pa ito ng dugo. He promised himself that he will make sure that Gregory and Kristine will suffer for the rest of their lives for what they did to his family. And he will do just that.“I understand,” umpisa ni Kiel, marahang tinapik ang balikat niya. “Go see her whene