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Chapter 7: Duty
Huling Na-update:
2021-12-02 19:58:53Aaron woke up from the hushed noises surrounding him. He opened his eyes only to curse under his breath when he felt that instant pounding on his head.
“Aaron, are you awake?” said the familiar voice of his mother. Not a second longer, he saw his mother’s face hover over him. Agad nitong hinawakan ang pisngi niya. “Thank goodness you’re awake!” anito bago iniba ang direksiyon ng tingin. “Citas, isang tasa ng kape, please,” masuyong utos nito sa mayordoma nila sa bahay.
Lalo siyang napangiwi, naguluhan. Why is Manang Citas there in his house? And more importantly, what is his mother doing in his house?
He gritted his teeth and forced himself to sit. That’s when he realized that he slept on the carpet and was just wearing his boxers on. How the hell did he ended up like that, he doesn’t have any idea.
He saw the plump figure of Manang Citas walked towards him from the kitchen. Inabot
Kaugnay na kabanata
That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 8: Duty 2
Paglabas ni Aaron ng kuwarto niya, wala na ang Mommy niya at ang mga katulong nila. Nalinis na rin ang bahay niya. Wala na ang mga bubog sa sahig. Wala na rin ang mga basyo ng alak sa bar.He will go for a drive today. Before his mother left, sinabi nito sa kanya na ito mismo ang nag-cancel ng mga meetings niya ngayon so that he could think.Maya-maya pa, tumunog ang cellphone niya. He quickly fished out is phone from his pocket and answered the call.“What the bloody hell, Aaron! What have you been doing there that Mom’s calling me to get married and give her grandkids already?” said the man with heavy British accent on the other line.Napangsi siya. The caller was Joshua, his younger brother. He had been living in London for three years now for his masterals. He’s supposed to be the interim CEO ng SSL pero ayaw nito. Mas gusto nito ang buhay sa abroad. Or mas tamang sabihin na mas gusto nito ang bachelor life abroad
Huling Na-update : 2021-12-02That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 9: Decisions and Grief
Hindi mapakali si Samantha habang hinihintay niyang matapos ang pagkakabit ng Central Venous Catheter o CVC para sa emergency dialysis ng Mama niya. Lumipad ang tingin niya sa labas ng bintana ng ospital. Malapit nang lumatag ang dilim at hindi niya mapigilan ang maiyak dahil hindi siya sigurado kung bukas, kasama pa niya ang Mama niya. Yumuko siya at pinagsalikop ang mga kamay niya.Kanina pa niya gustong umiyak pero pinipigilan niya. Mula nang mamatay ang Papa niya at magkasakit ang Mama niya, ni minsan hindi na siya nakaramdam ng pagod o panghihina. Ang alam niya, malakas na siya—immune sa lungkot at takot ng anumang hamon ng buhay. Pero hindi pala.Nang sabihin sa kanya ng doktor na tanging kidney transplant lang ang makakagamot sa sakit ng Mama niya at maging iyon ay walang kasiguruhan, pakiramdaman niya, pinagsakluban siya ng langit at lupa.Ayaw niyang mabuhay na wala ang Mama niya. Kahit alagaan niya ito habambuhay, basta
Huling Na-update : 2021-12-03That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 10: Decisions And Grief 2
Aaron lifted his gaze from his laptop as soon as he heard the soft knock from the door of his office. Maya-maya pa, sumilip sa pinto si Viviane, ang dating secretary ng Daddy niya na secretary na rin niya ngayon.“May bisita ka,” seryosong balita nito.Mabilis niyang ibinalik ang tingin sa laptop niya. “Tell them I’m busy—““It’s Kristine,” putol ni Viviane sa kanya.He huffed and returned his eyes to the older woman. He clenched his fists and tried to restrain his anger. He hesitated for a while but in the end, he gave Viviane a gentle nod—signaling the older lady to allow the visitor to enter.Maya-maya pa, niluwangan ni Viviane ang pagkakabukas ng pinto ng opisina niya. Agad na pumasok si Kristine, wearing her pretty New Yorker inspired outfit. He suppressed a smile as soon as his eyes landed on her. His Kristine is really very pretty. And his heart thumped into a familiar
Huling Na-update : 2021-12-03That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 11: After The Loss
Tulala si Samantha habang nakatingin sa ataul na ngayon ay nasa sala na ng bahay nila. Kung paano niya nagawang itawid ang kahapon na unang araw ng lamay ng Mama niya, hindi niya alam. Siguro, kung wala si Bettina at ang iba pa nilang kapitbahay na tumulong sa kanya, hindi niya alam kung kaya pa niyang tumayo ngayon. Masyadong malungkot, palihim na nadudurog.Kagabi, pinilit siya ng doktor ng Mama niya na uminom ng pampatulog upang makatulong daw sa pag-process niya ng pagkamatay ng Mama niya. Nakatulog siya, subalit paggising niya kaninang umaga, ramdam pa rin ang walang kaparis na hinagpis sa puso niya. Ilang beses siyang humiling na sana, panaginip lang ang lahat. Na sana, hindi totoo ang mga nakikita niya ngayon sa bahay nila—ang mga bulaklak, ang mga kapitbahay na nakikiramay, at ang ataul kung saan nakahimlay ang bangkay ng Mama niya.Kaya lang, kahit na anong gawin niyang pagpikit, tuwing magmumulat siya, ganoon pa rin. Walang pagbabago.
Huling Na-update : 2021-12-04That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 12: After The Loss 2
Aaron watched his mother pace anxiously in his office at SSL. It’s 7 in the evening and truth be told, though he has been trained to spend indefinite hours in the courtroom, his body has been feeling the strain of the day. Or should he say, the strain of the past few weeks.It’s just supposed to be an ordinary day, had it not been for that damn accident on one of their cargo ships. At kahit hinihintay pa niya ang pagbabalik ng mga tauhan niya sa SSL for an emergency meeting, alam na niya agad na malaking halaga ang mawawala sa kanila dahil sa aksidente.The ship carries products from their biggest clients. And though they had always practiced insuring the goods entrusted to them, still, the accident will cost them much in paying for the damages and penalties. As if the pulling out of investment of Mr. Smith, one of their biggest investors, was not enough for him to handle. The move shook their financial stability and some of the board me
Huling Na-update : 2021-12-05That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 13: Inevitable
Kabado si Samantha habang hinihintay niya si Ms. Lalaine na bumalik sa office nito. Pagpasok niya sa opisina kanina, alam niyang mayroon nang kakaiba sa paligid. Kung noon, ang iba niyang kasamahan sa trabaho nagagawa pang makipag-tsismisan bago magtrabaho, ngayon, walang gano’ng eksena. Lahat aligaga sa pagtatrabaho.Si Shantelle na ang nagsabi sa kanya kung bakit—nahaharap sa matinding financial crisis ang SSL at nagdesisyon na raw si Sir Aaron na mag-downsize ng manpower.Ang tsismis na narinig lang niya noon sa HR, magkakatotoo na. At kahit na alam niyang kaya siyang ipaglaban ni Ms. Lalaine, hindi pa rin niya maiwasang kabahan dahil sa employment status niya.Contractual employee siya at madalas, ang mga gaya niya ang natatamaan sa retrenchment. Gusto sana niyang kausapin si Ms. Lalaine tungkol doon kaya lang, ang sabi ni Shantelle, gaya ng mga nakaraang araw, maagang nagpatawag ng meeting si Sir Aaron sa conference room.Kaya ngayo
Huling Na-update : 2021-12-06That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 14: Inevitable 2
Malakas sa tenga ni Samantha ang tunog ng pagtik-tak ng wall clock habang nakaupo siya sa cubicle niya. Alas-tres na ng hapon at iyon na ang huling araw niya sa trabaho. Subalit imbes na mag-concentrate sa pag-aayos ng files na iiwan niya, inaabangan niya ang pagbalik ni Sir Aaron sa opisina nito. Maya’t-maya ang tawag niya kay Ms. Viviane, tinatanong niya kung nakabalik na ba ang boss nito at puwede na ba itong kausapin. Kaya lang, humapon na at malapit nang matapos ang working hours, pero hindi pa rin niya natitiyempuhan si Sir Aaron.Buo na ang loob niya, makikiusap siya na i-retain siya trabaho kahit na ilang buwan lang. Hanggang sa sigurado na siyang may malilipatan na trabaho. Ayaw niyang mabakante sa pagtatrabaho. Mas mahirap kasi iyon para sa kanya. Lalo pa ngayon at sumusubok siya ulit na umutang sa iba pang lending companies.Naisip na rin niyang isanla ang mga natitira pang alahas ng Mama niya. Pero hindi pa niya iyon nagagawa. May sentim
Huling Na-update : 2021-12-07That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 15: Threats
Pagod na bumaba sa babaan ng jeep si Samantha. Pagkatapos niyon, patamad siyang naglakad. Dalawang kanto lang ang layo ng inuupahan niyang bahay mula doon kaya talagang nilalakad lang niya iyon pauwi. Kaya lang, sa mga oras na ‘yon, parang mas gusto niyang magtraysikel na lang pauwi. Pagod na pagod na kasi ang mga paa niya. Iyon na ang ikatlong araw na maghapon siyang nasa labas at naghahanap ng trabaho. Kaya lang, wala pa rin talaga siyang mahanap na trabaho na puwede niyang pasukan. Kung hindi siya qualified dahil undergraduate siya, nagkakaproblema siya sa working hours dahil ang iba, night shift ang schedule ng pagtatrabaho.Kanina, matapos niyang magpasa ng application sa isang call center, dumaan siya sa university. Nag-file siya ng LOA para sa kasalukuyang sem. Desidido na kasi siya. Alam niyang importante ang sem na iyon upang makatapos siya. Pero sa ngayon, mas kailangan niyang magtrabaho upang mabuhay siya at makapagbayad ng uta
Huling Na-update : 2021-12-08
Pinakabagong kabanata
That First Night With Mr. CEO Epilogue 2
Dahil na rin sa pagod sakakaiisip at kakaiyak, tuluyang nakatuog si Charlie. Nang magising siya, madaling-araw na. She can’t believe she slept that long and missed dinner!Dinner. Shes' not supposed to miss any meals!She secretly groaned, realizing what she did.That has sent her to the edge of panic and relief all at the same time. Sandali siyang nakiramdam. Gael wasn’t cuddling her like he used to. She turned to her side carefully and she saw her husband sleeping on his side too facing away from her. Napalabi siya. Mukhang nagtampo na talaga sa kanya ang asawa.Hindi bale, today is officially their anniversary. She can tell him her secret now.Mabilis niya itong niyugyog. “Gael, wake up,” she whispered.He groaned, shifted slowly and lied on his back. Singkit ang mga matang tumingin ito sa kanya. “W-What? What is it?”Umusog siya kaunti palayo rito. “You have to get up. I’ll tell you something.”He huffed and clicked his tongue. Subalit bumangon din. Sandali itong bumaling sa orasa
That First Night With Mr. CEO Epilogue 1
“Again? Pero puno pa ang fridge niyan, love. Nakita ko kagabi nang bumaba ako sa kitchen,” reklamo ni Gael kay Charlie nang muli siyang maglagay ng dragon fruit sa cart. They were out grocery shopping in a local grocery store in Cancun. They have been staying there for a week now in celebration of their second wedding anniversary. It was a trip she didn’t really want to take at first because she easily gets tired lately. But when Gael told her that she will call the shots every time, she was in in no time.She rolled her eyes and faced him. “Can’t you get it? I’m not buying them for me to eat. I’m buying it because they looked cute,” pagrarason niya, muling naglagay ng dalawang piraso pa ng nasabing prutas sa cart.Gael huffed. “Should I buy you a dragon fruit farm?”“Of course not!” sabi niya, muling naglakad sa aisle ng prutas na kinaroroonan nila.“What about a grocery store then? You want me to purchase this grocery store for you?”Namawaywang na siya at hinarap ang asawa. “You
That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 95: Always
“Are you ready?” tanong ng Mommy ni Charlie sa kanya.She filled her lungs with air and gave her mother a slow nod. “Yes,” she replied smiling.Gumanti ng ngiti ang Mommy niya, nangingilid ang luha. Masuyo pa nitong inabot anag kanyang pisngi. “I wish you all the happiness in the world, sweetheart.”“Thanks, Mom,” sabi niya bago niyakap ang ina.They stayed like that for a while bago sila nakarinig ng katok sa pinto. “Hey, the music’s starting and all the guests are waiting. Don’t tell me may balak ka pang itakbo ‘yang anak mo, Sam,” said her father’s familiar voice outside the door.Natatawa nilang binitiwan ng Mommy niya ang isa’t-isa. Sandaling nitong pinunasan ng panyo ang gilid ng mga mata nito bago siya muling nginitian. “Let’s go. Your Dad cannot wait to give you away… officially,” pabirong sabi ng Mommy niya bago inabot sa kanya ang kanyang bouquet.When her mother opened the door to her room, she was met by her father’s loving gaze. “Finally,” anito, nakangiti. He gave her
That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 94: Home 4
“Ate, sa ‘yo na po ito,” anang sampung taong gulang na batang babae sa kanya. The girl was handing her a big white gumamela flower she probably picked near the gate of the orphanage. Napangiti siya, bahagyang yumuko bago tinanggap ang bulaklak na inaabot ng bata. “Talaga, akin na lang ‘to… ano nga ulit ang pangalan mo?” “Chamy po, ate.” “Salamat, Chamy.” The child gave her a soft smile in return. Akma na sana itong tatakbo pabalik sa mga kalaro nito sa ‘di kalayuan nang pigilan niya ito. “Ano nga palang gusto mong maging paglaki mo, Chamy?” The child beamed at her.“Gusto ko pong maging nurse, Ate!” Sandaling nangunot ang noo niya. “Bakit naman nurse, Chamy?” “Gusto ko po kasing alagaan si Lolo Gael d’yan sa kabilang building.” Lalong nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. “Lolo Gael?” Mabillis na tumango si Chamy. “Gael lang po kasi ang alam niyang banggitin. Kaya Lolo Gael.” Tumuwid siya ng tayo, hinayon ng tingin ang building ng carehome sa mga matatanda na naroon din sa compoun
That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 94: Home 3
It was a manic day for Charlie. No. It was chaos spelled in all caps.She’s running late from her appointment “Hey, slow down, beautiful. You’ll hurt yourself,” nakangiting sabi ni Gael sa kanya, sumandal pa sa hamba ng pinto ng walk-in closet niya.“Go away, Gael. You know I cannot be late today,” sabi niya habang naglalagay ng sunscreen sa mukha. Gael chuckled. “Bakit, hindi ka naman late a. You still have at least an hour and a half to spare.”She scoffed and picked up her blush powder. She won’t wear her full make-up today. “An hour and a half spare that I’ll spend for travel. You know how’s Manila traffic in the morning, Gael. It’s one of the worse and I can’t afford to be late today. Nakakahiya sa orphanage at carehome! At lalong nakakahiya kay Ate Sophie.”It’s true, kasama niya sa pagpunta sa bahay-ampunan at carehome ang kapatid ni Jasmine ngayon. Siguro, kung hindi lang kapapanganak ni Jasmine, baka kasama rin niya ito ngayon.Visiting orphanages was a thing she had been d
That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 94: Home 2
Gael jumped out as soon as the car pulled over infront of the police station. Doon sila dumiretso nina Gray at Jacob mula sa simbahan. Aside from Lena, wala nang sino pa mang nasaktan sa masamang insidente na plinano ni Alaric. And it was more than a relief for him. Now he can focus on one thing, ang puntahan si Charlie sa mismong police station.Pahapyaw nang sinabi ni Jacob sa kanya kung ano ang nangyari, subalit hindi pa iyon buo. And not only does he need to talk to Charlie for the full details but he also needs to see his wife to calm the lingering worry in his chest. The picture of Lena dying in his arms was still vivid iin his memory. And he cannot stop thinking that, it could've Charlie dying in his arms and...He shook his head, willing the unwanted thoughst away. Charlie is fine, he convinced himself before picking up his pace. He was at the director’s office in no time. Agad naman siyang hinarap ng pinuno ng kapulisan. Sandali niya itong kinausap at sinabi nito mismo sa ka
That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 93: Home
Sandaling namanhid si Gael sa kanyang nasaksihan. Panandalian niyang kinumbinsi ang sarili na imahinasyon niya lang ang lahat. Na nasa maayos na lagay si Charlie at walang kaguluhan na nangyayari sa mismong araw ng kanilang kasal. He even tried to blink a few times—willing the dreadful scenario away from his head. But when he opened his eyes, his bride, his wife still laid there on the cold ground, bleeding.With his chest constricting, he tried to stand up, wanting to go to Charlie as soon as he can. But his bodyguard nearby kept him from doing so. Anger burned his skin in an instant. He had to go Charlie and no one, not even the damn death god himself could prevent him from doing so.He turned himself onto the ground, lying on his back, and gave the bodyguard hovering over at him a straight jab to the jaw. Napaupo ito, bago siya mahilo-hilong binitiwan. He took that chance to crawl his way to Charlie, who fell near the entrance of the church. ‘I like the water, Kuya Gael. Can you t
That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 92: Wedding 4
Hindi matapos-tapos ang pagsipat ni Charlie sa sarili niya sa lifesize mirror na nasa kanyang hotel suite. Hindi pa rin siya halos makapaniwala na naroon nga siya at ikakasal ulit kay Gael. This time in a church and in the presence of their family. Well, some of their family. But nevertheless their families are present and that’s the most important thing.She looked down at her ring finger. The emerald engagement ring and the ink she had five years ago are there, a testament of everything she had gone through loving Gael. But she’s glad she finally made it right there at that very moment, when she can declare to the whole world that Gael is hers as much as she is his. That in the world of broken promises and dreams, of heartaches and of tears, Gael is her always—the one she will keep on choosing to love as long as she breathes.Her phone rang, immediately stopping her train of thoughts. Agad na nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya nang mag-register sa screen ang pangalan ni Gael. She picked
That First Night With Mr. CEO Chapter 92: Wedding 3
Kanina pa nasa harap ng salamin si Gael subalit panay pa rin ang pag-aayos niya sa kurbata ng kanyang suit. The damn thing just won’t align! Frustrated, he took it off altogether and huffed. He’s anxious for some unknown reason. Gray, who arrived last night, said at it must be the wedding jitters but he refuses to believe so. He’s just on edge because he didn’t get to see his wife and son for hours now. Sneaking in at Charlie and Levi’s hotel room crossed his mind a few times last night. With his skills as a former elite boduyguard, he could do that with no sweat involved. But his grandfather gave him a talk about keeping his word and just wait until it’s time for them to meet at the altar again. Subalit naging sobrang napakahirap niyon sa kanya dahil sa iisang hotel lang silang naka-check –in na mag-anak—just different floors. Idagdag pa na talagang makulit si Tala at panay-panay ang pagbabantay sa mag-ina niya, h’wag lang niyang makita ang mga ito. Gray told him to have a little
