Hindi mapigilan ni Charlie ang panginginig habang inihihinto ni Gael ang sasakyan sa ilalim ng isang puno. They drove to a small dirt road, just a few hundred meters away from the highway. They were surrounded by bushes, hiding them from the view of anyone. It took them almost half an hour to reach there and shake the damn black car away. And now she can really feel the cold. Moreso, when there is a storm raging outside. "Take off your clothes, Charlie," nagmamdaling utos ni Gael.Sinubukan niyang tumalima subalit masyadong malakas ang panginginig ng mga kamay niya. Seeing that she was struggling, si Gael na ang nagtanggal ng mga damit niya until all that's left were her underwears. Gael reached for the backseat and took from there the big blanket they bought when they first went to the market before they went into hiding by the sea side. Ibinalot nito iyon sa kanya. But she still can't stop shivering. "G-Gael, i-it's c-cold," sabi niya. She heard him curse under his breath. And b
Agad napasinghap si Charlie, lumingo sa likuran ng sasakyan. There she saw a black sedan that was gaining its speed to their direction. “I will send men to hunt you and Gael, Charlie. And when you both are caught, I will make sure Gael will pay for his crimes. And you young lady, will surely know what it really meant when I tell you not to mess with me.”Tinotoo ng Daddy niya ang banta nito sa kanya kanina. He will chase them. And he won't stop until she surrenders. "Oh my god!" wala sa sarili niyang usal, tarantang muling bumaling kay Gael. Magsasalita pa sana siya but Gael cussed under his breath. "Keep your head low, Charlie. Now!" nagmamadaling utos nito. Agad siyang tumalima. Umuklo siya at mabilis na itinakip ang kanyang mga kamay sa kanyang mga tainga. Pagkatapos niyon, naramdaman niyang lalong bumilis ang takbo nila.A memory from the time she and her mother were kidnapped when she was still a kid resurfaced in her mind. But she quickly shut her eyes, willing the bad mem
Hindi maampat-ampat ang pagpatak ng luha ni Charlie habang nakaupo siya sa waiting area ng maliit na private hospital na pinagdalhan niya kay Gael.Halos kalahating oras na mula nang ipasok sa operating room si Gael. At hindi niya alam kung anong nangyayari sa asawa.Her mind and ears were silenced by the chaos inside her head. Marami siyang naiisip at inaalala.She took in a sharp breath and clasped her hands tighter. She wanted to pray but her mind cannot process any coherent thought. And so she just cried some more.Her heart was heavy with guilt. She will not be able to forgive herself should something happen to Gael.Muling tumulo ang luha niya sa naisip at niyuko ang wedding ring nila ng asawa.Palagi.Yumuko siya at muling humagulgol. Ayaw niyang maramdaman na nagsisisi na siya sa ginawa niyang pagpapakasal kay Gael because she loves him so much. And with everything they’ve been through for the past two weeks, she loves him even more. But she can’t stop thinking that if she had
“Nasabi na sa akin ni Ms. Sandejas kung ano ang nangyari sa ‘yo, Gael,” umpisang pahayag ni Sir Eric kay Gael nang sila na lang dalawa.Inipon niya ang lahat ng lakas niya upang makaupo siya sa kama. “Mrs. Estrada,” sagot niya pagkatapos.Nangunot-noo ang boss niya. “What?”“Charlie is Mrs. Estrada now, Sir. I married her,” seryosong pahayag niya.Bumagsak ang balikat ni Sir Eric, sandaling sinapo ang ulo bago umiling-iling.“Kailan pa?” tanong nito nang muling mag-angat ng tingin.“Two weeks ago. Mula nang umalis kami nang Maynila. Tinulungan kami nina Gray at Judge Almazan,” paliwanag niya sa mababang tinig.Sir Eric huffed, muling umiling. He knew his boss will have this big talk with his son and his uncle, the judge. “Anyway, nasabi sa akin ni Ms. San—ng asawa mo na may mga humahabol sa inyo kaya ka nabaril. Do you have any idea about the identities of these men?”He blinked a few times, battling with himself if he’d tell his boss on not. “Sir Aaron threatened Charlie that he’d hu
Charlie can't help but smile while she's checking on her new ink on her ring finger. Actually, it's the only tattoo she has and probably she will ever going to have in this lifetime. Getting inked is painful. Nang sabihin ni Gael na matching tattoo na lang ang ipapakit nila sa nawala niyang wedding ring, muntik na siyang mag-walk out sa shop ng local tattoo artist na pinuntahan nila. But Gael held her hand the whole time. And now that she's seen the the final output, she's more than glad that her husband talked her into it. Palagi. Always. That's the word they had tattooed on both of their ring fingers. When all of the chaos they’re facing are over, she promised herself that she will be a good wife to Gael-- loving and taking good care of the home they would build together. She will be a good mother. She'd allow her children to make choices for themselves. A thing she felt she was not able to do freely growing up. Agad na bumigat ang dibdib niya nang maalala ang mga magulang
"Saan daw po nagpunta? Wala pong sinabi kung kailan ang balik?" narinig ni Charlie na tanong ni Gael sa katulong ni Dr. Andres. Naroon sila sa bahay ng doktor upang sana magpa-check up. Subalit mukhang wala roon ang doktor. She's was having an upset stomach for 2 days now in a row. At sobrang nag-aalala na ang asawa niya sa kanya kaya naman pumayag na siya sa hiling nito na magpa-check up. At base sa narinig niyang usapan ni Gael at ng katulong, baka kailangan nilang humanap ng doktor na maaring tumingin sa kanya. Maya-maya pa, bumalik na sa kotse si Gael. Umayos naman ang pagkakaupo niya sa passenger's seat. The car is older than that of Gael's car kaya hindi siya masyadong kumportable sa upuan niya. Sir Eric exchanged Gael's car with that old one as part of their precautionary measures while they settle there. "Kailangan daw nating pumunta sa susunod na bayan para magpacheck-up sa doktor na kakilala ni Dr. Andres sabi ng katulong," ani ni Gael nang makaupo na ito sa driver's
“Where are we?” paos ang tinig na tanong ni Charlie kay Gael. She just woke up from sleep and she can almost see the sky filling itself with different kinds of colors—ready to welcome the rising sun. She stretched her back a little as she roamed her eyes outside of the moving car. Her brows instantly furrowed as she was seeing familiar buildings and landmarks around. It seemed like they were back in the city. Napakurap siya? Are they really back in the Metro? Awtomatikong kumabog ang dibdib niya sa naisip, tarantang bumaling sa asawa. “G-Gael, are we back in Manila?” naguguluhang tanong niya. Gael glanced over at her and gave her a small smile. Subalit imbes na sagutin ang tanong niya, “Nakatulog ka nang maayos? Are you feeling better?” anito. Naguguluhan man, wala sa sarili siyang tumango, kumurap-kurap. She was going to ask him again when they passed by SGU’s majestic main gate. Lalong kumabog ang d*bdib niya. She felt numb for a while. They can’t be back in the city. Lalo si
Ilang sandali pa, natanaw na niya ang dulo ng daan ng tinatahak nila. It was a clearing on the edge of the mountain. A chopper was seating in the middle of it. “Gael, kanino ‘yong chopper?” tanong niya ulit. But like the first question, he didn’t answer. Maya-maya pa, itinigil ni Gael ang sasakyan ilang metro mula sa chopper. Walang imik itong bumaba ng sasakyan bago siya pinagbuksan ng pinto. She’s still confused and full of questions but she did climb out of the car anyway. Gael quickly cupped her face as soon as she was able to stand. His beautiful gray eyes were filled with sadness. “G-Gael…” “I am doing this because I love you. So much. I am doing this for you, Charlize,” he declared in a hurried voice. Her brows furrowed. “I-I don’t understand, Gael. What are you—“ Her next words remained lodged inside her throat when she saw familiar faces coming out of the chopper. Una niyang nakita si Axel, kasunod nito si Jacob. Then her father’s assistant, Diego. Agad siyang pinan