"Charlie, are you even listening?" anang Grandma Liza ni Charlie sa kanya. Mabilis siyang nag-angat ng tingin sa kanyang lola na noon ay kasama niyang nag-aagahan sa family house nila sa Tagaytay. That's where she spent her weekend. She wanted to be away from the city for a while. Away from all her cares. Away from Gael. It was a beautiful Sunday morning. But she doesn't feel beautiful at all. She looks like shit and still feels conflicted. Why wouldn't she? She just learned that her stupid heart still loves Gael. How could she do that? How could her stupid heart do that? Hindi man lang ba siya nadala? Gael is her family's enemy now. Were his threats not enough to make her unlove him? How can she fall for him again-- the man who abandoned her for money? The cause of all her heartaches? She released a slow breath and collected her thoughts. "Sorry, Grandma. I was thinking about... What's your question again?" aniya. Her Grandma studied her face for a while and reached fo
Puno ng kaba ang dibdib ni Charlie habang pinagmamasdan niya ang floor counter ng elevator. She was on her way to Gael's penthouse. Doon nila napagkasunduang magkita ngayong gabi para sa pag-uusapan nila. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa envelope na hawak niya. Humigpit ng hawak niya roon. She doesn't know how Gael will react on it but she knew now what must be done.And that is her doing the right thing for her and her son. Nang bumukas ang pinto ng lift, tahimik niyang binagtas ang hallway hanggang sa marating niya ang mismong pinto ng penthouse. She was hesitant for a while. Until she mustered the strength to press the doorbell.Ilang sandali pa, bumukas ang pinto at bumungad sa kanya ang bulto ni Gael. He was wearing his casual jeans and shirt. His gray eyes are dancing as he looked at her, like she was his favorite person in the world. On his face, his familiar smirk. 'Dammit! Why does he has to look so good?' lihim niyang reklamo, lalong lumakas ang pagkabog ng dibdib.Niluwangan
Gael was staring blankly at the document in front of him. He had been staring at it for the last hour and yet he doesn’t seem to comprehend any single word written on it. The past three days had been the same. Pumapasok siya sa Crown Bank subalit lumilipad ang isip niya. He cannot think straight nor function well when his mind was preoccupied by Charlize. His thoughts are always for her, most from the night he insulted her. He knew he shouldn’t have said what he said. But he was angry when he served him their divorce papers. Kung bakit, hindi niya alam. For the past five years of his life he lived and breathed with only one thing in his mind, ang pabagsakin ang mga Sandejas dahil sa kasalanan ng mga ito sa kanya. He still wanted that. His mind was still set on bringing justice to what happened to his T’yo Berting—to him. But his heart, his damn heart doesn’t seem to agree with his mind anymore. Why, the fcking thing won’t stop beating for her! He had never felt that way for Lena
"Are the documents I've asked you to prepare now ready?" tanong ni Gael kay Hugo. Magkapanabay silang naglalakad ng assistant patungo sa opisina niya sa Crown Bank. "Yes, Sir. It's already in your office," mabilis na sagot nito. "Good. What about that thing that I've asked you to do?" aniya alanganin. Alanganing umiling si Hugo. "She said she won't see you anymore, Sir. And that's final," anito sa mababang tinig. A slight shot of disappointment rose from his chest. He'd been meaning to talk to Charlize for days now, subalit ayaw na talaga siya nitong kausapin. Kaya naman si Hugo na ang inutusan niyang gumawa ng paran para sa kanya. But even that, failed. He knew she has every right to be angry at him-- he's a damn confused jerk who cannot control his emotions when it comes to her. But... he really needs to talk to her, even for one final time. Nagpasya na siya, sa itinakbo ng mga pangyayari sa nakalipas na ilang araw matapos niya itong insultuhin nang huli silang magkita, a
Lena carefully roamed her eyes around the hotel suite Gael had booked for her. The place was fine, luxurious if she might add. But that did not ease the anger she's feeling right now. She went straight to his new office to surprise him but he didn't seem surprised at all! Gael was indifferent to her flirtatious advances. He didn't even responded to her kiss-- he just gently pushed her back and said that he had a lot of things to finish for the day. That he will just see her in the hotel suite. That's a first in the five years that he had known Gael. She was used to Gael following her wherever she goes-- needing her close to him from time to time. He was quite possesive of her but it does not bother her. She likes it in fact. It was just how they had planned. Gael's fondness of her for the past years had made things easier for her. It meant she was doing a great job of keeping him entertained-- distracted, easily manipulated. But now, the Gael she had known and left in Manil
"To what reason do I owe you this visit for, Ms. Schulz?" seryosong tanong ni Charlie sa babaeng kaharap niya. The woman stands statuesque in front of her in the middle of her office, looking at her with controlled fury in her eyes. This is the woman Gael loved, she reminded herself. The woman whom he'd get to spend the rest of his life with. The woman who will take her place in Gael's life. A wave of hurt rose from her chest. After all these years... after everything... in the end, she will still lose Gael. The woman smirked. She remained unfazed though and maintained her eye contact. "I don't have all day," seryosong pukaw niya sa babae na sigurado siyang minamata siya nang palihim kaya kanina pa ito tahimik. The woman forced a smile. " You know my name. I'm sure you know by now who am I in the life of Gael." "Of course, I know that you are his fiancee." The woman smiled. "I'm glad you--" "And I am still his wife," mabilis niyang putol sa sasabihin pa nito. The woman's
Charlie nervously walked over at the makeshift stage where all the new members of the business circle will be inducted... by her.Out of all people, siya pa talaga ang napili nilang tawagin para mag-induct sa mga bagong members ng grupo! There are more well-deserved people in the crowd to do that. Why does it has to be her?!She took in a sharp breath and collected herself.Get this done and over with then you can get the hell of here, she convinced herself.Uncle Nate, the son of Mrs. Cobarrubias, took her hand and helped her climbed up the makeshift stage. Once there, she quickly get done with the task nang hindi siya tumitingin sa mga bagong miyembro ng grupo.Kaya lang nang magsimulang kamayan ng mga officers ang mga new members, she was forced to do it too.That’s when she saw Gael. He was wearing a blue suit that perfectly accentuates his well-built frame. He wore his dirty blonde hair long like how he used to since she met him again. And his aura-- authoritative, proud… dangero
"What do you mean let's talk? What part of I don't want to talk to you can't you understand,Gael? Pwede ba, lumabas ka na lang. Leave me be!" Charlie yelled, anger swiftly running in her veins."I really need to tell you a few things," mabilis na sagot nito, tunog desperado subalit wala siyang pakialam. She scoffed. "I am not interested with anything that you will say, Gael. They mean nothing to me so--""I'm sorry," mabilis nitong putol sa kanya. "I am an asshole for saying those things to you. You were never a lose nor a cheap woman, Charlize. And believe it or not, I respect you."She huffed. "That's rich coming from the person who never fails to threaten and insult me every chance he'd get. Pero sige, pagbibigyan kita para matapos na 'to. I'll accept your sorry. You're forgiven, now go. Baka hanapin ka pa sa 'kin ng fiancee mo," she said rolling her eyes secretly."She' not here anymore. She already went home... to Germany."Her brows furrowed instantly. "B-but you were just dan