Tahimik si Samantha habang pinagmamasdan niya si Charlie na natutulog sa kama nilang mag-ina. It was a long day and she’s supposed to be tired.
But tired isn’t exactly what she feels right now. She’s worried and afraid not just for herself but for her daughter—for her family.
Kanina, habang tulala siya, Aaron quickly went on top of everything. Ito ang nagtawag sa mga kakilala nitong puwedeng tumulong sa sitwasyon niya. She would’ve done that herself if she wasn’t too shock to even move. Within an hour, their house was filled with authorities talking to her and taking her statements. Si Maj. Javellana mismo ang kumuha ng statement niya. At kahit na iniinterview na siya nito, kalat-kalat pa rin ang lohika niya.
Kung hindi pa siguro umiyak si Charlie, she wouldn’t have snapped out of her shocked state.
Nakiusap siya kay Aaron na ito na muna ang bahala sa mga pulis na nasa bahay nila because
Samantha was delirious. She was torn between reality and dreams as Aaron continued to kiss her with so much urgency and need. A part of her mind was telling her to muster all her strength and move away from him, but she can’t. She won’t.His kisses were drugging her, melting her resolve to let him go and do the right thing.She wanted him. Every fiber of her being wanted him. Wanted him so much that it hurts to know he belongs to somebody else.Maya-maya pa, bahagya siyang binitiwan ni Aaron. Confused, she gazed up at him and met his dark eyes as she lean her back on the door to support her weight. They were both breathless at halos sabay sila sa paghahabol ng hininga. Afterwards, his jaw clenched, as if trying to restrain himself from the many emotions coursing through him and were evident in his eyes. He lifted one of his hand and ever so gently brushed his thumb on her lips like she’s a wonder.“I want you, Sam. So
Malakas sa tainga ni Samantha ang pagtiktak ng orasan sa bedside table. But she’s not bothered by it anymore. She has been listening to it for more than an hour now while she stares blanky at the ceiling.She glanced at the window and saw that it’s still dark outside. She’s sure however that few more minutes, the sun will rise to start a new day.A new day.A wave of hurt rose on her chest as she repearted the words in her mind. Tapos na ang nagdaang gabi at magsisimula na ang bagong umaga. Ibig sabihin, si Aaron, pag-aari ulit ng iba at hindi na kanya.Bumaling siya kay Aaron na payapa pa ring natutulog sa tabi niya.She blushed when she recalled every single time they’ve made love last night. Pagod siya at halos walang tulog. The only sleep she got through the night where the small in between moments when she’d doze off to sleep because of exhaustion. But then again, once one of them should shift
Ilang minutong natahimik sina Sam at Carlo sa loob ng Range Rover. Honestly, kinakabahan siya sa kung saan siya nito dadalhin. But she trusts him. If her brother trusts Carlo, she knows she can trust him too.“Yes. Have it ready for us. We’ll probably be there in a few minutes,” she heard him talk to someone using his smart watch. “Yes. Dax will be coming. No, we’ll fly back from San Gabriel probably before lunch.”San Gabriel?Agad na dumiretso ang upo niya sa backseat ng Range Rover. Tama ba ang dinig niya, dadalhin siya nito sa San Gabriel?“You’re taking me to San Gabriel?” mabilis na tanong niya nang tapusin nito ang tawag sa kausap nito. Sumulyap ito sa kanya mula sa rearview mirror bago tumango. “But you can’t, Carlo! You can’t!” tarantang protesta niya.“You are safer there, Sam,” sagot nito, kalmado.“You don’
Agad na napabangon si Kristine sa kanyang kama nang marinig niya ang malakas na pagkatok sa pinto ng kanyang kuwarto. Singkit ang mga matang bumaling siya sa bedside table at tinignan ang oras.She instantly cursed under her breath when she realized it’s just 7 o’clock in the morning! She angrily raked her fingers through her hair and went out of her bed and marched to her door with a hateful look on her face.Pagbukas na pagbukas niya ng pinto, nagmamadaling pumasok ng kuwarto niya ang Daddy niya. Imbes na singhal ang isalubong niya rito dahil inistorbo nito ang tulog niya, napatanong siya.“Bakit pawis na pawis ka,Dad? S-Sa’n ka galing?” naguguluhang tanong niya, kunot ang noo habang pinapasada ang tingin sa ama na basang-basang sa pawis ang gusot nitong polo. He looked like he just got home.Imbes na sumagot, nagmamadaling humakbang ang Daddy niya patungo sa bintana ng kanyang kuwarto at tarantang sumil
It’s just a few minutes past 10 in the morning but he’s already pouring himself a glass of brandy. He was never one to admit fear or worry, subalit sa mga nangyayari ngayon, hindi maikakaila sa kanya ang makaramandan ng kaunting panic patungkol sa mga plano niya.He sat on the bar stool and looked at the glass he was holding.Bumalik sa isip niya ang lahat ng mga pinagdaanan niya. All the rejection and shame he had to put up with while growing up without a father. Not that he doesn’t know his father. He knew his father. His mother had repeatedly told him who his father was. But…Kumuyom ang kamay niya nang maalala kung paano siya tinaboy ng mismong ama niya nang maglakas-loob siyang puntahan ito sa opisina nito noong high school siya. He was desperate then. He wanted to have a parent. But he dismissed him like he’s some lost dog! Sinabihan pa siya nito na h’wag na h’wag nang babalik doon o magpapakita man lang dahil ipa
Aaron was standing in front of the glass wall panel of the conference room in SSL. He was looking at the skyline of the city as if by looking at it, he’d find the answers to his questions.“Aaron, we should tell, Mom,” pukaw ni Joshua sa kanya maya-maya.He heaved a sigh. Hind pa man, he can almost hear their mother’s protest.Nasabi na niya sa mga kapatid niya ang tungkol sa plano niyang pagkalas sa compromise agreement nila ni Arturo—ang pakasalan ang inaanak nitong si Kristine.His brothers understood him. And he got his brothers support with his decision. Ang mommy na lang nila ang kulang. Kristine had charmed their mother way too much for the past years. Alam niya, mahihirapan siyang ipaintindi sa Mommy nila ang sitwasyon.Also, he has yet to talk to Arturo. He and his brothers had decided, should Arturo wants to be compensated with him backing out with their compromise, they are all willing to
“But why are you there? Kung may nagbabanta sa buhay mo, the safest place you can be at is here, in our home?” nag-aalalang sabi ng Daddy ni Samantha sa kanya sa cellhphone.They arrived in San Gabriel almost an hour ago. Subalit imbes na sa bahay nila or rest house siya nito ihatid, Carlo took her and Charlie at Trevor’s mango farm. Tago kasi ang mango farm, mas malayo sa bayan kung saan naroon ang bahay nila. The place was conducive for hiding.“Carlo said this is better Dad hanggang wala pa ang imbestigasyon tungkol sa nagpapadala ng death threats sa akin,” kalmadong sagot niya sa ama.“How is this better, Sam? Malayo ka sa amin, ikaw at si Charlie. How can we protect you?”Nagbuga siya ng hininga. Pilit niyang pinakalma ang sarili. The hurt and worry in her father’s voice is wounding her heart. She must admit, the first time Carlo brought up the idea of her hiding, she was at od
Aaron was staring at the glass of brandy he poured for himself. Iniisip niya ang mga nangyari nang nagdaang mga araw— ang pagtatago ni Sam, ang pakikipagkalas niya kay Kristine, at ang pagkamatay ni Arturo.Arturo De Gracia’s inurnment was held this morning—just three days after his burned body along with his car was found in an abandoned lot. Arturo’s widow, Melinda, came home from Spain alone. She barely talked to anybody and grieved in private. Ang huling balita niya, bumalik na ito sa Spain pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng libing.Ni hindi man lang niya ito nakausap. He was hoping Melinda would stay for a while , that he’d still have time to talk to her about his compromise agreement with Arturo. Subalit tila nagmamadali itong makabalik sa mga anak nito sa Spain.And now with just days before the engagement party, he had ran out of any possible solution to fix the dilemma he’s in. All he can think of is to t